Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow …

Posted on November 20, 2022 by thefupress

The quest begins.

It is raining in London as the ptofessional footballers from this green and pleasant land train in the desert heat. The squad is on a mission to bring back the World Cup, a trophy adored across the planet.

Alan Shearer thinks we won’t go far. He fears that we do not have enough defensive talent. There is worry that Maguire is cumbersome, that Stones can be inattentive, that Walker lacks a centre backs spatial awareness. Maybe he has a point.

Jack Charlton was never the most graceful of footballers. He was a classic stopper. The first man up to the high ball. Alongside the wonderful Bobby Moore he could look unsophisticated and industrial. He was a World Cup winner.

Charlton, Moore, Wilson and Cohen.

Things happen out there on the pitch. Stuff goes down in the blink of an eye. Sometimes a situation develops and the only thing that will get you through is something internal. Something inside rises up and pushes you on, pushes on the team. That quality can only be seen in certain moments. You know there are some players who have this. Others have yet to prove it.

As England players train in the Qatar heat the heartbeat of football continues in the football leagues. Beth goes to watch Forest Green Rovers, Martins fabulous Orient win away at Stockport County and Phil is busy managing his under11’s in a top of the table clash. Sunday morning football kicks off across villages, towns and cities.

Tomorrow England will debut in the tournament taking on the proud footballers from Iran. Iran has won the Asia Cup three times and qualified for the World Cup 6 times. They have the chance to showcase their talent against one the major footballing nations of the world.

England will have to be careful. They need to win and to preserve themselves in the heat and to get through without injuries. Nothing is simple. Nothing is easy. It is the World Cup.

The journey starts at lunchtime. Tomorrow. But will there be more tomorrows and will there be enough tomorrows to make it when another tomorrow is the 18th December 2022. Will there?

COME ON ENGLAND.

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The Boys are Back …

Posted on November 18, 2022 by thefupress

The Boys are Back …

The England team gathered at St Georges Park before flying out to Qatar.

As the players arrive the growing sense of excitement is tangible.

Declan Rice declares “World Cup baby” as he gets out of his car

and everyone hands over their passports.

You may have to endure an advert if you watch the Arrivals film on

Youtube but that is a whole lot better than watching the guys havingto endure the sponsored media

sessions that have been arranged.

It seems the fools at the FA thought it was a good idea to allow a food supermarket.

and beer company to associate themselves with the team. The FA does not need the money,

the players do not need the money.  Why do it ?  

Patience seemed to be wearing a bit thin as Rahm Sterling started quizzing the producer

about how they would define the term “technically gifted” and Kyle Walker began an

enquiry into how the word “iconic” is thrown around.  Indeed, comparing Michael Owens     

World Cup goal against Brasil to Gascoignes Wembley strike against Scotland does depend   

on how things are defined.

Regardless everyone agreed “H” is a top trainer and every interaction you can see is laced

with an easy going respect and affection.  Training started in 32 degrees.

The average age of the England squad is 26 and for many of these players this is

their second major tournament.  Declan Rice is 23, Harry Kane is 29 and Saka is 21.

Phil Foden is 22 and Pickford another veteran at 28.

England players have accents from all over the country – from Liverpool to Birmingham to London.  

They are on the way ..

COME ON ENGLAND

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Qatar 2022- A World Cup in the Desert.

Posted on November 15, 2022 by thefupress

For the Love of God / Damian Hearst

The privilege of hosting the World Cup was awarded to Qatar in 2010. The FIFA regime of Blatter and Platini was always mired in allegations of corruption. They did what they did. Maybe they got lots of diamonds. Maybe they handed them out.

At the Euros in 2021 Wembley boasted a UEFA VIP fast lane to launder the executives into their hospitality boxes. Thats why UEFA likes Wembley – all those little boxes. It is what is. A nasty rash of grabbing everywhere you look.

Anyway so now the game must continue with the greatest football tournament held in a country built on sand. It is what it is.

Football in England carries on. These are Southend United fans at an away game in the middle of the week. The fifth tier of the professional game in our green and pleasant land.

On Saturday their opposition was Dorking Wanderers – a mere ten years away from winning their small town league. Six and half thousand fans were at the game.

In the Far Post bar at the Southends famous Roots Hall Darren was frustrated by the mealy mouthed politicking of TV pundits before they duly headed off on their first class flights, to their expensed hotels and swanky media seats in brand new World Cup stadiums. They too get a few diamonds.

Our game, our football was never like this. Ours is jumpers for goal posts, muddy pitches on Sunday mornings, playing with your friends, representing your community, or school or church or town.

Our game is driven into our hearts by long days when kicking a ball was the only consolation there was – when times were difficult. Or celebration when times were good.

Sure we have our gilded heroes playing for our shirt but they don’t need the diamonds. Banks. Cohen, Wilson, Moore, Charlton, Stiles, Charlton, Ball, Peters, Hurst, Hunt won the World Cup for not much money but for a lifetimes glory.

If football is coming home it cannot be for the diamonds.

Come on, England.

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What is it About Being an England Supporter ….

Posted on November 12, 2022 by thefupress

Its the togtherness ..

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Qatar – World Cup 2022

Posted on November 12, 2022 by thefupress

ENGLAND PLAYERS

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Coady (Everton, loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ben White (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United), 

Forwards: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), James Maddison (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Callum Wilson (Newcastle United)

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Coming Last, Losers England Shamed.

Posted on June 25, 2014 by thefupress

Hodgson was pleased with Englands performance as he claimed his team dominated the footballing minnows Costa Rica in a nil all draw. England return from the World Cup eliminated, and last in their group , with a solitary point. Hodgson staggered across the pitch to applaud the England fans who had spent thousands of pounds to watch the shambles produced by the big brains at the FA.

 The lowest of the low excuses being produced by the hierarchy is the number of foreign players in the top league in England. This pathetic mantra will be parroted by the media but the reality is that over 30 % of the players in the best league in the world  are English, that England has 5 full time professional leagues, the biggest and best clubs and supporters but all this is saddled with the worst management and administration of the national team that it it is possible to imagine.

The England fans sang “Always Look On the Bright Side of Life” with the spirit of togetherness that always rises to the surface at times of defeat. The players applauded the massed ranks of fans. It was a long way from home and not the place to get realabout what has gone on. In the TV studios pundits are still fishing for an explanation. Across England football supporters are still reeling.

Roy Hodgson seems to have enjoyed his World Cup and is happy with the teams performance. The white shirts with three lions on their chest came last in their group. The disconnect will not last. When Hodgson shows his face again in England he will beoutside his little bubble and will hear a different story.  The traditional chant  is “You don’t know what you’re doing” but “Hodgson Out” is now the only answer.

Suarez did the England management a favour by filling the back pages with another story when he chose to bite an Italian defender.  It is a great diversion but under blue summer skies England awaits the return of the losing manager and team.  The children of England are no longer dreaming of wearing the white shirt with pride, not now.  Now the shirt has been shamed into mediocrity. Last in the group.   

The 2016 European Championships are in France and England can go to win the 2018 World Cup in Russia as Champions. This is the greatest is footballing nation on earth. We have the players, the supporters, the clubs, the leagues. This is our England and always will be. Come on England.  

There is no other way, England Till I Die.    

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Hopeless Hodgson Humiliates England

Posted on June 23, 2014 by thefupress

The always gentle Gary Lineker said he thinks “Roy Got it wrong”  but generally there is a conspiracy of silence about the embarrassing performance of the England football team in Brasil.  Roy and his cabal at the FA had carefully laid the seeds for their failure with their pitiful incantation of playing youth and making long term plans.  They sucked up to the press to the point where football journalists were picking the team.

Gary only criticised Hodgsons formations and tactics.  And game management.  There is not much else the manager does.  You cannot expect a man who scooted off to South Africa during the cultural and sporting boycott and managed some back woods team in Sweden to be a winner. Hodgson was kicked out of Liverpool  but did quite well at Fulham and West Brom.  Has he ever won a thing ?

The BBC reported that Trevor Brooking was at the training ground as the beaten England squad prepared for their final derisory appearance.  It is unclear why the Director of Football Development at the FA, a man who found the pressure of football management too much , was hanging around.  In  the appalling tradition of all failed English management he and Roy have done everything to secure their own positions first while failing to deliver anything.  Theirs is all the usual duplicity and manipulation and making sure they have done everything to cover their backs. Now they are still on the gravy train.

You could always be sure that Brooking would pull out of a tackle. Roy seems affable and pleasant. It is strange how smeared how Harry Redknapps name was and is.  Of course if they had any pride, if they were in anyway worthy they would go, resign, hang their heads with shame and leave.  The worst result for England at a World Cup finals since 1950 – and they still want the job. Unbelievable.

At least the England players did not roll around on the floor screaming like girls or spend time pursuing referees demanding their fellow players get booked or sent off.  They stood up to the foul and physical challenges. Not much to be proud of but something.  It was a shame that the donkeys were in charge.

Hodgson made sure he brought Gerrard to his post match press conference.  The England  captain had made the error that let in Uruguay. Really  Hodgson was just hiding  behind the player who he was busily shifting responsibility onto.  Its thats sickening sort of non-leadership that makses all this so hideous.

Linekers analysis carefully pointed out Hodgsons tactical and strategic failure.  He did not talk about the lack of leadership, his lack of bottle or how badly the players and the country have been let down.   And no-one is mentioning who gave this worse than mediocre manager the job.

England are out.  People are laughing at us.  As they say nowadays  – suck it up.   Failure and defeat in the game we love so much.

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England on the Edge

Posted on June 19, 2014 by thefupress

England face humiliation and the full weight of a nations crushed dreams if they lose against Uruguay tonight.  The country with the  strongest leagues and the longest footballing tradition can tomorrow be on flights home to a welcome of derision and contempt.  To return this early from Brasil would be sour indeed.

It is not the young men who wear the shirt who decide their level of pay, who determine the assignation of the millions of dollars that surround the game. They are simple athletes, most of whom would still be desperate to play the game without the mad money go round that now surrounds it.  Every boy child kicking a football in the streets and parks and playgrounds of England strikes the ball dreaming that this time the ball crossing some imaginary line will be the goal that wins the World Cup for England.

Now these boys are men and those dreams are being played out for real in some foreign field, some throbbing South American city has built a stadium for the greatest competition in the sporting world. Now Gerrard and Rooney and Cahill and Sturridge – all of them – have to see if they can overcome the hard and hardened professional footballers from two times World Cup winners Uruguay.

It is summer in England and the sun shines on the green fields and trees. Our city parks and gardens bloom and football is played on asphalt, on concrete, on grass. It is played in cities , in towns and villages – by everyone and all the  time.  You need nothing but a ball and some friends and some time. It is the same around the world.

England stand on the edge of defeat. They also stand just six games away from greatness. Six games from the greatest sporting glory of a generation. Time ticks on. This is England. They are our young men.  They cannot hide from the challenge.  We are on the edge now. The edge of greatness.

COME ON ENGLAND.

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ENGLAND 1 ITALY 2

Posted on June 16, 2014 by thefupress

It seems everyone agrees that England had major defensive problems on the left. The vulnerability of Baines  meant that Rooney had to play the role of a journeyman wide midfielder,  attempting to provide defensive cover for the inadequacies of the left-back behind him. Italy had spotted the weakness, took advantage and stole the match.

Ashley Cole, probably the best left back in the world, was not selected for this tournament.Hodgson and his friends at the FA have created an agenda designed to keep their grip on the England team.  It is the agenda of low expectations and playing our young players. They are accommodating failure  in advance so that if England fall they can hang onto their jobs by claiming the next generation of talent is coming through.

The puerile populists of the tabloid press have hounded out Cole and are now after Rooney. Wayne was doing a job designed for Milner  – and if anything should have played forward of Sturridge. He provided the perfect cross for the equaliser but missed a good chance.   Rooney did his job.  England produced poor free kicks and corners. The substitutions were ineffective. They were snuffed out by Italy in the second half.  The England management did not do their job.

Hodgson will not take responsibility for his failure and will continue to try to please and appease the journalists, the pundits, the FA hierarchy, the players, the fans and everyone else.  The former manager of West Bromwich got himself to the World Cup, got tactically taken out by an Italian, was unable to make the changes needed and whatever he said at half time totally took the wind out of the players sails.

The players looked very down returning to their base. It was a game they should have won, could have won and a game when all the problems were foreseeable and solvable.  For England the problem is the manager.  He is lovely guy but hapless and hopeless and incompetent enough to destroy players careers and England’s World Cup dreams.

In the second half Gary Neville was giving instructions to Rooney and Barklay but no-one really knew who was going where. The boys would be better off without this manager. They would be better off with Harry Redknapp telling them to go out there and simply give it a go.  They would be better off putting their heads together and sorting it out for themselves.  Hodgson hasn’t got a clue.

There are still points to play for.  Maybe against Uruguay the English attack can again find pace and accuracy and imagination. Maybe against the fierce physical challenge of the professional footballers of the one time World Champions Uruguay,  England will no longer hear or heed the failed mutterings of a failed manger and go their own way to victory.

They have the talent and the ability and are capable of it.  Now they have to really have to throw off the shackles.  Now they have to rip up the carefully presented agenda of failure and do a job on Uruguay.    Forget about all the blah blah – go out, get stuck in and play our game.

COME ON England .

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Hearts of Darkness – FIFA, Italy and the Amazon

Posted on June 13, 2014 by thefupress

Poor refereeing broke Croatia and allowed Brasil to breeze in 3-1.  It was not looking so easy until a Brasil player threw himself onto the ground and the referee awarded a penalty. A former England player called it cheating while a player from another country called it part of the game.

These are some of the cultural differences that will mark the clash between the professional footballers of England and Italy.  Italian players will use any tactic or strategy to gain advantage. Unfortunately English players have a sense of fair play and a wish to win the match with honour and respect.

These things matter when the referee is selected and of course our vile friends at FIFA control that. The appalling Blatter laughed off any attempt by the European countries to address his corrupt regime by calling them “Racists” and promising his African supporters that “FIFA is still as financially strong as ever” and will be paying out bonuses after the competition is completed.

Blatters running dog Platini mooches around wishing that the English Premier league was dissolved and that his small minded provincial outlook, so ineffective in facing up to the rampant racism in Eastern Europe, Russia and the Bernebau, held sway forever.  You can smell the envy every time another great player wants to test themselves at the top, playing in England, playing in the best league in the world.

England will take to the field knowing that certain influences are stacked against them. In football the margins are tiny and the smallest per centage gain can be decisive.  In South Africa 2010 it was laughable to see Lampards equalising strike disallowed and  in Germany 2006 it was Ronaldo and co working over Rooney.  Blatters boys will make sure England get a referee who allows the hideous “technical” fouls that teams from Europe and South America use to prevent the opposition breaking into attack when they lose possession.

It matters and it matters not. England cannot play that way. We cannot do those things because our eyes are on the prize and the spirit of Charlton and Moore lead us on.  Gerrard and the players in the England shirts will not be plotting dirty tricks or malice – they will be playing for glory.

More flags of St George appear every day, seen across green fields, seen in the cities and in the suburbs. Thousands of England fans will be in Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon and England will play Italy at football.  There is no certainty, no guarantee, no knowing what the outcome will be.  Yet you know the players will never walk alone, this is England on the road to world cup glory – bring it on.

COME ON England.

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