(20-06-2014 15:50 )whorelover Wrote:  

(20-06-2014 02:05 )hugh_g_rection Wrote:  So what you're saying is, having a young English player's passage into the first team of a Premier League football club, blocked by an international player, in 70% of cases, is NOT damaging the national team? Is that what you're saying?

However, I am not suggesting that an entirely English Premier League is the answer. If it were, we would've won every World Cup and Euro between 1968 and 1998. That's why I said the answer would be more of a balance. It's gone way too far the other way.

Yes that's what I'm saying. They wouldn't have their passage blocked if they were good enough to play in the best league in the world

Having said that, I think some clubs particularly the lower premier league teams buy foreign players simply because they're cheaper in both transfer fees and wages. So maybe the likes of Milner and Wellbeck etc. should have their egos crushed, take a wage cut and move to clubs where they'll get more games. There are some absurd financial stats out there, two come to my mind. The Dortmund team that reached the CL final cost as much as Andy Carrols move to Liverpool. Reus earns half of what Ashley young does!

(20-06-2014 16:59 )mikedafc Wrote:  I blame the press and The FA for Terry walking away from England. The press decided because of things in Terry's personal life that he was not fit to be England Captain. Fabio wanted him as Captain but the FA bowed to press pressure instead of backing their manager. After furore of World Cup he was made captain only for the FA to bow to pressure after he was acquitted of racial abuse the FA bowed to pressure and Terry was dropped as captain again against wishes of Capello leading to him walking away from the job

(20-06-2014 15:57 )FormallyInfernal Wrote:  

(20-06-2014 13:42 )Goodfella3041 Wrote:  The short answer is unequivocally, YES, he would have made a big difference. Central defense is all about marshaling, leadership, positional sense and on-field communication. Terry has actually gotten better at all of that as he has lost some of his pace (and he was never that pacey to begin with). I think that that is why he was so strong for Chelsea last year. He makes the whole back line play better.

Which would be assuming that he wouldn't sulk; lead the locker-room no matter who was captain; mutiny anyway...

You won't find any argument from me about his ability - he spent more time than not in my FF team last year and it would have profited me to keep him around for longer - but suitability for whichever role he might have filled is trickier. Perhaps he would have been a inspiring, fierce last line of defence, yet also displaying an admirable modicum of restraint when faced with adversity. And perhaps not.

His retirement is a two-way street, I feel. Roy doesn't want him, but I don't think John Terry wants him to want him - a touch of Groucho Marx in his logic. My opinions -as always - and they are that Terry, after a few earnest attempts, believes that England cannot get to where he or most of you fans would hope they should be. The whole footballing world knew that 2006 and 2010 were excellent opportunities for the English team to actually achieve: to reach an honourable semi-final again might have been the limit but that would be acceptable failure. Whether you attribute blame to Sven, Fabio or the players, the 'golden generation' displayed feet of clay, and allowed other journeyman nations to advance in their stead. I may consider JT to be a little gauche in his demeanour, but he's also astute enough to understand that even if he were to have earned a call-up, then the Finals campaign for 2014 could have topped them all for ignominy. As it may well...

(20-06-2014 18:06 )Fernandez Esperenda Wrote:  Will be good to see Costa Rica win 3 out of 3 group games now, and If Roy Hogeson has any any sense he should play all your young players in the final game, leave Rooney, Gerrard ect on the bench and let Barkley, Lallana, Sterling, Shaw ect show what they can do without his negative tactics, watching games in the world cup other teams look excited and up for a fight but England just look Scared...

(20-06-2014 17:54 )The Robot Devil Wrote:  Funny how La Liga and the Premiership are (supposedly) the best leagues in the world, yet Spain & England are the first two teams out of the World Cup.