Oh dear what can the matter be.....?

[ONEDUNME]

Originally Posted by trickrick

Let's face facts..England have probably the worst friendly record in the world..

I would suggest that Brazil have a worse one actually (and that backs up your point ) Gambling is all about recognising the tide and going against it. They WILL beat Wales and all the moaning will be forgotten. Lump on.

[Beanie]

In the absence of a decent comeback...

[Winrew]

Right if we are gonna start posting pictures as a reply....

[bluek]

Dunno what it is with James - he always seems to fcuk up, i was going to say at the wrong time, but its better without those 3 words. I agree with Chris though, an over the hill Schmeichel, Nicky 'lets have a cigar, while i dribble round 3 attackers, oh, crap, lost it', Ike Immel, my all time favourite. TC was a bloody good keeper tho, shame he had to go to United to win a medal............

[bluek]

Ok, i meant 4......

[Winrew]

Krankie wins cap for Scotland shock.....



Er btw , i think England are crap anyway

[zonker84]

Originally Posted by Winrew

Er btw , i think England are crap anyway

That's fine, just Scotland are far, far worse and will be for a good time to come.

It's all relative for England. They are one of the top 10 teams in the world probably, but always manage to blow it when it comes to the crunch. We know this, and we know it's going to happen, so I for one don't get too disappointed when we lose

[crowie]

Originally Posted by zonker84

That's fine, just Scotland are far, far worse and will be for a good time to come.

It's all relative for England. They are one of the top 10 teams in the world probably, but always manage to blow it when it comes to the crunch. We know this, and we know it's going to happen, so I for one don't get too disappointed when we lose

The thing is Zonker, we are fully aware how bad we are hence why results like a 2-2 in Austria are an achievement for us. No one argues that point so continuing to state stuff like "Scotland are far far worse" and "Qualifying for a tournament would be a major achievemen" are whats called stating the bleeding obvious. We have no pretensions of greatness, our FIFA ranking doesn't lie at the current time believe me.

However there is optimism in the performances since Smith took over. I will happily take draws here and there as opposed to getting humped 3, 4 and 5 in competitive or friendly matches. Getting draws and being hard to beat is the start of a long way back, sometimes those draws will end up being sneaked wins (and should have been on Wednesday) and not getting a gubbing does turn round a confidence level which was at an all time low.

Comparing England to Scotland is a bit like comparing Brazil to Venezuela or Man Utd to Oldham, its not really like for like. Anyway, we all know and acknowledge England are the better side. And they are better than Denmark too. Wednesdays result was a freak, Gary Neville told us so

“Ask Denmark if we’ve got a good group of players. Football sometimes throws up a freak and that was it. It was the worst result for 25 years, but we’ll be judged on what happens in two weeks. It doesn’t seem like the right time to say it after being beaten 4-1 but, when it matters, there wouldn’t be a problem against Denmark. I don’t think that, I know it.”

Still good to see England get a humping though

[zonker84]

Originally Posted by crowie

Anyway, we all know and acknowledge England are the better side. And they are better than Denmark too. Wednesdays result was a freak, Gary Neville told us so



Still good to see England get a humping though

Sorry Crowie, not meaning to sound like a broken record

The thing is though, I know a lot of Scottish people and go to Scotland quite a bit. You mention football and people will argue till they're blue in the face that Scotland are better than England at football. Also that Celtic would thrash Arsenal, Rangers are better than Chelsea and so on. These people genuinely seem to believe this. So I would disagree with your comment that you all know and acknowledge England are better.

The fact that you don't, is what makes me need to stick the boot in, sorry

[zonker84]

A final comment is also that when England were playing Turkey in 2003, needing a point to qualify for Euro2004, Scotland had an equally crucial game at home to Lithuania. Yet, at the Scotland game, there were probably as many Turkish flags as Scottish ones almost. Why is that?

Would you see any England fans waving Lithuanian flags? Highly unlikely. Most English people don't mind Scotland doing OK. 99% of Scots want England to lose. Unfortunately that will lead to people like me taking every opportunity to remind Scotland how bad they are.

Sorry

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

I can imagine Zonks sitting at home with a pen and paper with a list of all the TDP members written down and thats Crowie been ticked off.

"Thats another one ive managed to disagree with....NEXT"

[crowie]

Originally Posted by zonker84

A final comment is also that when England were playing Turkey in 2003, needing a point to qualify for Euro2004, Scotland had an equally crucial game at home to Lithuania. Yet, at the Scotland game, there were probably as many Turkish flags as Scottish ones almost. Why is that?

Would you see any England fans waving Lithuanian flags? Highly unlikely. Most English people don't mind Scotland doing OK. 99% of Scots want England to lose. Unfortunately that will lead to people like me taking every opportunity to remind Scotland how bad they are.

Sorry

Zonker you have been subject to a case of Chinese whispers regarding the Turkish flags at the Lithuania game I believe. There were two Turkish flags. I was there so I can confirm thats the truth. Even two is an embarresment though.

There was also one bloke in the main pub we go to before the game wearing a Turkey top. He's a well known bampot amongst the TA anyway and he was ripped to bits for it both in the pub and for a couple of weeks later on the TAMB. He is basically shunned by a large % of the TA now. The attitude is we support Scotland first and laugh at England 2nd. However turning up at one of our games wearing the national shirt of Englands opponents is taking it too far.

I posted something here a month or two ago when we were discussing rivalries and to me Scotland laughing at England (and the other way round) is fine. Sure we hoped you got gubbed by Turkey and we all laughed our heads off at Beckhams penalty in the pub afterwards but thats because, pure and simple, we see you as our rivals. And what sort of rivalry would it be if you couldn't laugh at your rivals when they do poorly, or want them to get beat. It just so happens that you have had more chance to laugh at us of late (like the last 10 years!) so when we do get a chance we take it and laugh that wee bit longer and harder.


I also posted that I can never understand this English attitude of not minding Scotland doing well. Slick commented that he didn't view Scotland as Englands main rivals now, more Argentina and Germany, and that could be one reason. Especially since the closure of the Home Championships some England fans may also take this view and their feelings towards Scotland have softened a little but as I said, I don't fully understand it. Its almost like Man Utd or Arsenal not minding if City or Spurs did well. Sure the City/Spurs are the lesser of the two in the rivalry but can you seriously imainge Arsenal or Utd fans saying "Nah, I don't mind if Spurs or City won the FA Cup this year, its quite nice to see them do it...." ---- sounds blatantly homosexual to me

I would also say that anyone (Scottish) who cannot admit that England are a better side than Scotland has some serious reality issues. And should never go anywhere near a gambling event if thats their view of football However they could point to the fact that we did hump you the last time we played you

Also you should never apologise for taking the mick out of Scotland, its what I would expect personally and its what I would be doing myself (about England) if I have the chance. As long as its all done with a bit of humour, a bit of rivalry and a bit of banter and left at that then its all perfectly healthy IMO.

Besides we're the ones on the unbeaten run and were not the ones that got a humping of a set of butchers, bakers and candlestick makers this week

[zonker84]

Fair points Crowie, and I suppose if the Turkisk flag thing was actually more rumour than reality, fair enough

It's hard to explain the not minding Scotland doing well. It's always been the same with all the home countries for me. The Scottish, Welsh and Irish players we're all familiar with, and I've always rather they won than some foreigners.

I remember being pleased for example when Ireland beat Italy in the World Cup, or even when Scotland beat Holland in the first leg of the Euro2004 play-off. I was hoping that Wales beat Russia to qualify as well. It really doesn't matter to me if these countries do well. I'm sure if Scotland ever won the World Cup ( ) , England would never hear the end of it. Maybe it's because England fans know that Scotland, Wales and Ireland will never come close to winning anything, that they are happy to see them win the odd game and qualify for stuff.

The fact that most of the people from these countries hope England lose every game, doesn't matter to anyone really. If Scotland are playing Italy or Germany, it doesn't really bother me who wins, but if I had to choose, I'd always say I'd want the home country to win.

The only reason I'd ever laugh at Scotland or Wales losing, is when their fans start being ridiculous. I remember Wales fans saying Wales would've already qualified from England's group with Turkey going into the last game (even though this was mathematically impossible) and I know probably 4 people from the Glasgow area, at least 3 of which seem to genuinely believe Celtic are the best football team in the world. Needless to say, a few texts were sent after the Artmedia Bratislava game, not many replies though

It's all in good fun as you say though Crowie

[crowie]

Originally Posted by zonker84

I'm sure if Scotland ever won the World Cup ( ) , England would never hear the end of it.

As opposed to England winning it and it being forever confined to the pages of history, never to be mentioned again by any BBC/ITV footy commentator or media outlet

In fact I think one of the reasons that Scotland, and the rest of the UK nations outside England like to see you lot humped is that we get a lot of cack constantly stuffed down our gobs by the English media - commentators, papers, footy pundits etc. Reminders of 66 are never far away when England are playing. Motty can spin some completely tenous link into a 66 story within 5 seconds of a game starting. You only have to be wearing the red away shirts for him to start vocally masturbating about it

Note I do categorise it again as the media that puts this England is super/smashing/great opinion forward. I do realise there are plenty of well balanced English folk out there who do not think they will win every tournament they enter or have a god given right to do so. If they did then again, they should never be allowed in the vicinity of a betting shop. Or at least point them in my direction on Betfair

Originally Posted by zonker84

I know probably 4 people from the Glasgow area, at least 3 of which seem to genuinely believe Celtic are the best football team in the world.

I think we have covered this one before, my arguement would be that our Seville side could have finished top 5, with a couple of years Sky money and good player investment and improvement we could have possibly challenged the big 3 but at present we are miles away from that standard. Like above my comments about a poor sense of reality and not allowing these people ever to bet would also stand

[zonker84]

The problem is Celtic beat Liverpool in that UEFA Cup run, and these people use this as proof that Celtic are indeed the best team in the world These fools aren't saying that maybe Celtic could've competed in the English Premier League a couple of years ago. They stand there and argue that they're currently better than Chelsea, Juventus, Barcelona, Arsenal, Real Madrid and the rest. I had this conversation with a friend from Airdrie about 6 week ago. He swore that Celtic were going to win the Champions League this season And yes, I think he bet on it too :loon

Unfortunately, Celtic won't be gracing any European competitions this season, for the chance to draw an English team and get thrashed to consign that Liverpool victory to history You talk to Rangers fans about this, and all you get is Leeds 1992.

As you say, at present, Celtic especially are a mile away from being decent