A Stones concert here in Israel would make a nice payback



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-11-22 00:14 by z.

Ok. I'll get on the phone to them now and fix it up. You can have Steve McClaren as a bartender.

With a name like Nikolai, I would have thought you would have been a Russki....

I'm still hoarse after coming back from Northern Ireland/Denmark tonight. What a game.

So they did play? Saw in the news the UEFA officials weren't completely sure whether the game should be postponed/cancelled.

Anyway congratulations to your team.

They did and we won 2-1. Thanks. It means we'll finish 3rd behind Sweden and Spain and ahead of Denmark. The referee was going to call the game off but the UEFA guy (from Russia) overruled him. David Healy's winner was his 13th in the competition so far - breaking Davor Suker's record.

We could still qualify if we win in Spain on Wednesday and Latvia beat Sweden, but thats very unlikely. Still, the fact a country of our size is still in the competition going into the last game (and has managed to beat Spain, sweden and Denmark at home and draw with both sweden and denmark away) is pretty good. Typical though that we lost games we would have expected to win.

Gazza Wrote:
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> I'm still hoarse after coming back from Northern
> Ireland/Denmark tonight. What a game.


I wasn't too thrilled about that game. LOL!!!! Still, would be nice to see Northern Ireland in the EC. I heard that the Healy dude is the most scoring in the Euro qualifiers now.... True?

Glad to know that England really got a chance for going to the Euro Championship now. When Denmark suck as much as they do (And they REALLY do at the moment), I'm always rooting for England instead.

JumpingKentFlash

Gazza Wrote:
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> With a name like Nikolai, I would have thought you
> would have been a Russki....
>
> I'm still hoarse after coming back from Northern
> Ireland/Denmark tonight. What a game.


I'm part-Jock, part-West Indian Gazza. Nikolai was the nickname my great uncle George gave me.

I can't stand the England team at the moment. No passion, no commitment, no balls, no direction, no pride, no effing nothing. Bollocks, I say. Gimme either irish team or the Scots.

And I can't stand that moronic twat McClaren.

One thing I don't get though - since when is Israel in Europe?

Nikolai Wrote:
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> I can't stand the England team at the moment. No
> passion, no commitment, no balls, no direction, no
> pride, no effing nothing.

If they'd all just follow Steven Gerrad's example. He embodies all those things.

JumpingKentFlash

z Wrote:
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> A Stones concert here in Israel would make a nice
> payback

Payback for what ????

for bringing England back to life by beating Russia.

I just don't see why the Stones should be involved in paying back... They're not about soccer / Football. You might want to ask the Football Assosiation - FA - for some "pay back", but they're probably going to think you're a corrupt bastard. Anyway, every national hold should play for the honour - representing one's country! Not for bribes or to help other nations.
The Stones will never play Israel. Not before there's a solution to the situation of the Palestinians. Before this problem's solved, it would be too risky.
So, if you want the Stones to play in Israel, help find a solution for the Palestinians. One that's acceptable from a human rights point of view.

gstone Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just don't see why the Stones should be involved
> in paying back... They're not about soccer /
> Football. > The Stones will never play Israel. Not before
> there's a solution to the situation of the
> Palestinians. Before this problem's solved, it
> would be too risky.
> So, if you want the Stones to play in Israel, help
> find a solution for the Palestinians. One that's
> acceptable from a human rights point of view.



umm...i'm pretty sure he was kidding...

gstone Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just don't see why the Stones should be involved
> in paying back... They're not about soccer /
> Football. You might want to ask the Football
> Assosiation - FA - for some "pay back", but
> they're probably going to think you're a corrupt
> bastard. Anyway, every national hold should play
> for the honour - representing one's country! Not
> for bribes or to help other nations.
> The Stones will never play Israel. Not before
> there's a solution to the situation of the
> Palestinians. Before this problem's solved, it
> would be too risky.
> So, if you want the Stones to play in Israel, help
> find a solution for the Palestinians. One that's
> acceptable from a human rights point of view.


I'm sure Z's on the phone to Hamas right now ...

Anyway, Roger Waters played Israel recently, called Sharon's wall an obscenity and nothing happened to him. Bob Dylan's played there a few times too. Tel Aviv's no more dangerous than London, according to relatives of mine who live there. The Stones would play there as long as the money's right.

As for not playing a country because of its politics .... The Stones played China, right?

Nikolai Wrote:
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> One thing I don't get though - since when is
> Israel in Europe?


Israel have been playing in UEFA competitions since the late 70's. Basically, its too much of a security risk for them to play away games in Asian tournaments against those poor Arab nations who are obviously so traumatized by their very existence.

>As for not playing a country because of its politics .... The Stones played China, right?

Yep. The silence over that one from some people was quite deafening!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-11-18 18:24 by Gazza.

gstone Wrote:
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> I just don't see why the Stones should be involved
> in paying back... They're not about soccer /
> Football.

Whooooooooooooooooooooosh!

I´m getting older and older waiting for England to win a trophy. If they lose to Croatia at least it will be in their own hands. And not to possible permutations.

jagger50 Wrote:
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> I´m getting older and older waiting for England to
> win a trophy. If they lose to Croatia at least it
> will be in their own hands. And not to possible
> permutations.


England don't deserve to go through because of the crappy way they've played. But they probably will, and McClaren will keep his job until they limp out of the Euro 08 quarter finals after another penalty shoot-out with Portugal (my definition of a great team - along with Scotland).

Nikolai Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> gstone Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I just don't see why the Stones should be
> involved
> > in paying back... They're not about soccer /
> > Football. You might want to ask the Football
> > Assosiation - FA - for some "pay back", but
> > they're probably going to think you're a
> corrupt
> > bastard. Anyway, every national hold should
> play
> > for the honour - representing one's country!
> Not
> > for bribes or to help other nations.
> > The Stones will never play Israel. Not before
> > there's a solution to the situation of the
> > Palestinians. Before this problem's solved, it
> > would be too risky.
> > So, if you want the Stones to play in Israel,
> help
> > find a solution for the Palestinians. One
> that's
> > acceptable from a human rights point of view.
>
>
> I'm sure Z's on the phone to Hamas right now ...
>
>
> Anyway, Roger Waters played Israel recently,
> called Sharon's wall an obscenity and nothing
> happened to him. Bob Dylan's played there a few
> times too. Tel Aviv's no more dangerous than
> London, according to relatives of mine who live
> there. The Stones would play there as long as the
> money's right.
>
> As for not playing a country because of its
> politics .... The Stones played China, right?

Surprised they didn't play Sweet Neo Commie on that leg.

It pains me but i agree with Nikolai. The same old out route with the dreaded penalty shoot out. Remember under Terry Venables. Twice out to the Germans. Ouch.

jagger50 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It pains me but i agree with Nikolai. The same old
> out route with the dreaded penalty shoot out.
> Remember under Terry Venables. Twice out to the
> Germans. Ouch.


Trouble is, English managers are - by and large - crap. McClaren needs to get the boot and a no nonsense foreigner brought in. Sven, for all his faults, was the best England manager in aeons. He was once beloved by the fans too. No one's ever liked McCrapper.

All the result did is delay the inevitable. England could lose on Wednesday and then its back to square one. Or more likely they will sqeak through, everyone will get all hyped up only for England to fail miserably next summer. I think it would be best all around if we went out now and took the time to sort things out ready for the World Cup qualifiers.

It's safer to walk the streets of Tel Aviv or Jerusalem than it is Los Angeles, New York or London, especially at night

Also, like in the US if you don't like the politics, you won't be arrested for speaking out (you may not get a visa to return so quickly). Remember, that like the US, about half the population does not like their governments position on foreign affairs.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-11-18 22:58 by BluzDude.

Nikolai Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jagger50 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It pains me but i agree with Nikolai. The same
> old
> > out route with the dreaded penalty shoot out.
> > Remember under Terry Venables. Twice out to the
> > Germans. Ouch.
>
>
> Trouble is, English managers are - by and large -
> crap. McClaren needs to get the boot and a no
> nonsense foreigner brought in. Sven, for all his
> faults, was the best England manager in aeons. He
> was once beloved by the fans too. No one's ever
> liked McCrapper.


Eriksson was blessed with the best crop of players England had in decades. He definitely should have achieved more with what he had. You should have known he'd either lost the plot or was taking the piss when you saw the forwards he selected for Germany '06.

Gazza Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nikolai Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jagger50 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > It pains me but i agree with Nikolai. The
> same
> > old
> > > out route with the dreaded penalty shoot out.
> > > Remember under Terry Venables. Twice out to
> the
> > > Germans. Ouch.
> >
> >
> > Trouble is, English managers are - by and large
> -
> > crap. McClaren needs to get the boot and a no
> > nonsense foreigner brought in. Sven, for all
> his
> > faults, was the best England manager in aeons.
> He
> > was once beloved by the fans too. No one's
> ever
> > liked McCrapper.
>
>
> Eriksson was blessed with the best crop of players
> England had in decades. He definitely should have
> achieved more with what he had. You should have
> known he'd either lost the plot or was taking the
> piss when you saw the forwards he selected for
> Germany '06.

Very very true. But, you know, if you know you're basically going to be out of a job at the end of the tournament - win or lose - you don't give it your all. Secondly, if we had the most gifted crop of players in decades, why the hell did they play like elephants on valium suppositories?

Nikolai Wrote:
> Very very true. But, you know, if you know you're
> basically going to be out of a job at the end of
> the tournament - win or lose - you don't give it
> your all.

Dont agree. It didnt stop Venables in 1996 who was in the same boat - his team's performances in that tournament were the best of any England team in decades (the Holland game was as good as I've ever seen from ANY England side). It's basic professionalism and you'd expect that from a coach of his calibre. If the FA accepted he couldnt be arsed, then they should have cut their losses before the tournament began.


Secondly, if we had the most gifted
> crop of players in decades, why the hell did they
> play like elephants on valium suppositories?


Tactical incompetence? Too many key players carrying injuries who were picked in favour of players who were actually fit? There's two for starters. I think England played like a team who appeared knackered. Baffling.

Gazza Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nikolai Wrote:
> > Very very true. But, you know, if you know
> you're
> > basically going to be out of a job at the end
> of
> > the tournament - win or lose - you don't give
> it
> > your all.
>
> Dont agree. It didnt stop Venables in 1996 who was
> in the same boat - his team's performances in that
> tournament were the best of any England team in
> decades (the Holland game was as good as I've ever
> seen from ANY England side). It's basic
> professionalism and you'd expect that from a coach
> of his calibre. If the FA accepted he couldnt be
> arsed, then they should have cut their losses
> before the tournament began.

They were playing in England in 1996, so the team raised its game - thirty years on from f-ing 1966 and all that. But overall, point taken, and I stand corrected. Sven's going a'ight for Man City though.
>
>
> Secondly, if we had the most gifted
> > crop of players in decades, why the hell did
> they
> > play like elephants on valium suppositories?
>
>
> Tactical incompetence? Too many key players
> carrying injuries who were picked in favour of
> players who were actually fit? There's two for
> starters. I think England played like a team who
> appeared knackered. Baffling.

And Theo Walcott ....Was Sven banging Walcott's mum or something?

Nikolai Wrote:
> They were playing in England in 1996, so the team
> raised its game - thirty years on from f-ing 1966
> and all that.

Any player who needs outside factors like that to be motivated to 'raise his game' when playing for his country shouldnt be there in the first place. They had a good side that year and a very good coach (oddly enough the Dutch game was on ESPN classics again last night)


But overall, point taken, and I
> stand corrected. Sven's going a'ight for Man City
> though.

He is indeed. Took a big risk signing so many players he hadnt seen, but it seems to be working out OK.

Gazza Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nikolai Wrote:
> > They were playing in England in 1996, so the
> team
> > raised its game - thirty years on from f-ing
> 1966
> > and all that.
>
> Any player who needs outside factors like that to
> be motivated to 'raise his game' when playing for
> his country shouldnt be there in the first place.
> They had a good side that year and a very good
> coach (oddly enough the Dutch game was on ESPN
> classics again last night)

True dat. They went to Germany in '06 with a good side too. Played like they were on bad meds. Especially Lamppost.
>
>
> But overall, point taken, and I
> > stand corrected. Sven's going a'ight for Man
> City
> > though.
>
> He is indeed. Took a big risk signing so many
> players he hadnt seen, but it seems to be working
> out OK.

I think he's a good manager, and - unlike our present one - a clever guy too. England never failed to qualify - and comfortably - when he was at the helm. Now we're back to the Keegan/Hoddle era of getting through on other people's luck and misfortune. The Eff All should sack McClaren anyway after this, but they'll keep him on until Ingerland limp out of the quarters after the inevitable penalty shoot-out with Portugal and then they'll give him his P45 ... before bringing in another moron Brit also-ran to manage things.

You could do worse than Martin O'Neill. Ideally, he'd manage his own country but the cheapskates at the IFA couldnt afford him.

Gazza Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You could do worse than Martin O'Neill. Ideally,
> he'd manage his own country but the cheapskates at
> the IFA couldnt afford him.

A great manager. In the frame after Sven left. They bungled getting Scolari, so they went for McCrud. O'Neill's got a personality as well as proven talent - bad combination for the Eff A.