Fans guilty of underrating ‘smaller’ countries (and s**tting on England)

Joe Williams

Mail us at theeditor@football365.com

 

Fans guilty of under-rating ‘smaller’ countries (and s**tting on England)
I love the World Cup and the almost carnival atmosphere that comes with it. There’s the joy to come from watching games involving teams and players you wouldn’t otherwise typically watch and to see what it means to them and their supporters to play at a World Cup.

There’s also the nervous excitement that builds in the lead up to England matches, and whilst unfortunately they often end as a bit of a damp squib/in disappointment, there’s that addictive hope that you cling to that they might just be able to turn on the style this time, or at least grind out a valuable win.

The one thing above all others that I don’t like however are the fans; or more specifically, the bitter, negative ‘fans’, that fill up the comment sections under match reports on websites, or to football forums.

It’s very predictable stuff, such as decrying how s**t England are (noticing how ‘we’ often becomes ‘they’), how the players are overpaid c***s who ‘don’t care about playing for England, they just care about money’, with the occasional ‘we should call up Championship players/U20 players because at least they’d play with pride and/or passion’, and ‘they’re just not good enough’ (with the implication that they ought to be the equal of the likes of Germany, Brazil, Spain, France etc). Don’t get me started on those thunderc***s who declare ‘I’m supporting Spain instead because I like their players/style of play’…

You also get those that say: ‘I don’t care anymore/I’ve given up on them’. Good, p** off then. Stay true to your word and butt out. But if England somehow manage to do well and reach the semi-finals then don’t come back saying how they’ve done us proud, stay out. Some might say that the true mark of a fan is enduring the bad times (particularly testing for an England fan!)

This leads on to my next point, which is the level of expectation and perception of other nations’ ability/standing.  Much has been made about how expectations are low and how that might be liberating to England, and whilst I do agree with that (even though I can’t remember the last time anyone truly thought we stood even a decent chance heading into a World Cup), I still think that there’s an arrogance amongst some fans in their rating of other countries.

Tunisia are a perfect case in point. Yes, England should be able to beat them, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it ended a draw and fear it may even be a narrow defeat, not just down to England’s deficiencies, but because of Tunisia’s strengths. Because a lot of fans would be unlikely to be able to point out Tunisia on a map and haven’t heard of their players, they chalk them up as being back-water semi-pros that would struggle in League 2, whereas in reality they are one of the best teams in Africa, who only last night came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with European Champions Portugal.

World Cup history has been littered with nations that were previously rated as minnows but made a big impression. Cameroon in 1990 is one of the best examples, though there’re also Senegal in 2002 and Costa Rica in 2014 that are good examples. Football has because so global now, with scouting networks reaching so far and wide that I believe the gap in quality between teams has reduced. Sure, the usual suspects will likely be there still at the end, but there will be ‘shocks’ like there always are, often pre-meditated by sides being unknown and under-estimated by their more illustrious peers.

The opening game is possibly England’s most important, as it’s likely to be a straight shoot-out between the two countries to qualify along with Belgium. From what I have heard, they are good on the counter-attack, which could be a killer if we’re struggling to break down a rugged defence after 80 minutes, as teams England face are often set-up to do. I’m hoping we don’t fall into the pattern of slowly passing side to side, hoping/waiting for a gap to appear than almost never does, before finally opting to fire crosses into the mixer as full-time approaches. A 1-0 win should be considered a very good result indeed, but to a large number of fans would be greeted with ‘it’s only Tunisia, we should be beating them 4/5/6-0. We should be aiming for the last 16, with a hope to go further, but the challenge in achieving that should not be under-estimated.
Nick Hamblin (even Panama could be a Trinidad and Tobago style obstacle – is it too late to bring Peter Crouch back?) Bristol

 

The banter is back, baby!
You lose the European Cup final. You’re sad but not devastated as you know that wasn’t the culmination of what your team is doing but was, in fact, a nice bonus. However, you’re ready to just take a break from them and throw yourself into the World Cup.

Then the club goes and signs a top-class player not 2 hours after being linked with them and reports of more to come…

Just when you think you got out they pull you right back in. The banter is back, baby.
Kris, LFC, Wirral

 

If there’s anything that can help you recover from the disappointment of losing a Champions League final, it’s an out of the blue signing of a highly regarded player in a position we need. I’m not claiming to be an expert on French or Brazilian football, but from what I’ve read, we’ve done very well here with the signing of Fabinho.

We haven’t had what you’d call a classic DM player for a long time. Can was never really a true defensive player, so we’ve definitely added something to the team that wasn’t there before. He’s also seemingly versatile which allows for a bit more tactical flexibility. It’s quite impressive that we’ve suddenly gone from midfield being an area of weakness, to one where we’ve got strength and depth. With Keita and Fabinho coming in, plus the cliched “like a new signing” return of Lallana, the midfield is looking good.

Now we need another player up front. We definitely need one more 1st XI callibre player to be able to rotate and to have options from the bench. That would make our attack pretty solid. Solanke and Woodburn can get minutes when needed and we have the Ox and Lallana who can play those roles too if things get tight. Obviously the absolute number 1 (literally) priority is a keeper, but that is seemingly on the cards.

One of the most impressive things about Liverpool under Klopp and FSG is that we now get players we want. In the past, we were in for Eriksson. He choose Spurs. We were in for Salah, he chose Chelsea. Now though, it’s different. Big teams were interested in VVD, he wanted to come to us. Chelsea were after the Ox. He chose Liverpool. I don’t know whether PSG & United being after Fabinho were true or just rumours, but great to see Liverpool signing players that are even being linked with the top clubs of Europe.

We probably won’t win the league next year, City seem too strong, but either way it’s bright times ahead.
Mike, LFC, Dubai

 

Lack of leadership cost us
Now the dust has settled and blame on Karius has turned (partly) to pity and sympathy, it’s worth focusing on one of the several players who were shielded from criticism by the Karius horror show.

The mistakes and injury to Salah were instrumental, but at 1-1 the game was also lost in midfield. Kroos and Modric ran the show while our 3 plus Lallana were poor. The stats speak for themselves.

It is worth noting that just as Klopp has been manager for 3 lost finals for us, Henderson has been the captain. Just like the blind spot for GK, this is another.

First he is good but not good enough technically to match some of the best players around. He does enough to get by, enough to keep him out of the limelight but rarely excels or controls the tempo of a game. The performance of the front 3 has also shielded him for much of the season.

Second, he is not a born leader. When Salah went off injured the whole team went into shell shock. There was no rallying arm waving gesturing to gee up the team or the crowd. I’m not expecting him to be Gerrard (maybe a little) but just to show some animated and vocal energy and leadership on the pitch. This is not the first time, it happens time and again in the league too when we are crying out for someone to take charge.

The fact that people including Liverpool fans were slightly bemused at the prospect of Henderson lifting the European Cup, and be among the company of true greats, speaks volumes.  He is a player who would not get into any elite team, let alone captain them.

A lovely guy he may be, but he is not good enough for a first team place for aspiring champions. A handy squad player yes. We have persisted with him for long enough, just as we did with Mignolet and Karius and it has been a costly and painful few years.  Hopefully the arrival of Fabinho and Keita will shift things around in the middle, but it really is time to be ruthless if this team is to get to the next level.

Klopp do the right thing, drop your captain and find another, maybe give VVD a chance to wear the arm band.
Riyaz (LFC)

 

Draw of the manager
Much has been said about players joining Arsenal over the years to work with Arsene Wenger. We have managed to sign some amazing players, and some ok players, purely because they want to learn from one of the most experienced and revered managers in the game.

Klopp can now bring this to Liverpool. Players see how much he has improved the Liverpool squad, how he is a friend as much as a coach and most important, how much he cares about his team as a group of players.

Keita and Fabinho are 2 of the more sought after players in Europe, going for around 50m and could have probably had their pick of the elite teams and their elite wages. Instead, they went to Liverpool.

This isn’t to belittle Liverpool or their achievements this season (I’d take a champions league final…) But they are just in or around the top 10 of Europe’s Elite in terms of stature and financial status. Utd, PSG, Barcelona and Bayern, even City, could have done with a player such as Fabinho but he’ll be at Anfoeld next season.

If they aren’t going for the wages or the sunny climate, they are going to play in this exciting, young team in the image of it’s manager.

Henderson, Keita and Fabinho is a vastly improved midfield. Next year could be their year and I’m jealous…
Rob A (hopefully Emery will bring the same in time) AFC

 

Gareth Bale better than Gascoigne, Rooney and Scholes?
As a fellow Welshman, it was especially satisfying to see Gareth Bale’s moment of genius on Saturday evening. He’s been Madrid’s best player over the last three months so it’s no wonder he was furious about starting on the bench. If you’ve seen  some of the other stunning goals he’s scored in that period, it was no surprise to see him do something spectacular in the final…though maybe not something quite THAT spectacular…

His fourth CL trophy extends his lead as the most decorated UK player to have played abroad and it sparked a debate with a mate: How different would his profile be in the English press had he been born in Carlisle rather than Cardiff?

Surely an English Bale would be treated as some sort of messianic figure? Beckham and Rooney rolled into one? That lead to another discussion – who was the last English player who was better, more influential, and more successful? Who made the very most of their significant talent in the way Bale has?

Gascoigne?  Amazing ability of course, but held back by his demons, and never played for a top club consistently challenging for serious honours. (And yes, of course Rangers doesn’t count).

Rooney? I’d argue he never fulfilled his astonishing early promise, and after 2004, never truly shone for his country. Banging in penalties against low ranked sides in qualifying may make him England’s top scorer, but Lineker and Charlton are obviously the more important goal scorers. His flashes of brilliance at Utd became further and further apart over the last decade.

Perhaps Scholes comes closest? Terrific player but never truly shone on the international stage. He never elevated his national side in the way Bale did in qualifying for Euro 2016. He never terrified international opposition the way Bale did (and does). Plus Scholes never left his comfort zone and chanced his arm abroad.

I’m not saying Bale is the best UK player since Bobby Charlton. Merely that because his extraordinary success has so far been achieved abroad, he doesn’t get his due from the English press as the true great he is already. He may not be at quite the level of Messi and Ronaldo, but if Real Madrid sell Bale for Neymar, it’s hard to argue it’s anything other than a downgrade.
Mikey P, Cardiff (P.S. Ronaldo’s unhappiness at being outshone by Bale in the CL final (again) was almost too delicious…)

 

Manchester City weren’t really entertaining this year
Reading Wayne’s attack on deluded scousers I fell compelled to point out that, well, man city really weren’t entertaining this year.

The thing is. Domination is boring. Yes you played some lovely football and scored some lovely goals but… it’s like enjoying the chorus of a pop song you otherwise hate. Nice sure, and hopefully you get some joy out of it as you pass a shop window but being sat down and forced to watch is something else.

Excitement comes from surprise, whether it’s comedy or magic or music or, yes, football. I can’t remember the last time I went into a man city game not expecting them to win. Which I’m sure is lovely as a man city fan, awful for a top six fan and for the rest of us just… well… a bit boring.

Think of those celebrity football matches that people used to care about. Was it exciting watching Clarence Seedorf be as good as expected? Or was it more fun to see Boris Johnson clattering in to people or to see that bloke from Kasabian score a worldy?

Generally speaking, I’m actively anti-LFC but with the champs league final, I can’t remember the last time I went into a game my team wasn’t involved in and being that excited. Cos I had no idea what would happen.

That’s what football should be.
Geraint, (that said I’d take it if the Swans ever managed the trick), SCFC

 

Net bloody spend
Hi there,

I had to write in after reading so much guff on Twitter about how Liverpool and Klopp are working wonders on a low net spend.

Firstly, what disgusting, cesspool-like hellpit brought forth the idea of ‘net spend’?

From a fans’ perspective, it appears to be a relatively new concept. I don’t remember it being a thing in the 90s when the Italian teams were the big spenders or in the noughties when the Spanish giants were hoovering up the talent.

No, it appears to be a creation by fans of certain clubs (I’m staring extra intensely at you Liverpool fans) whose only seasonal success is that they finished with a positive net spend.

But when you actually look into it and think about it for more than 5 seconds, you realise that Liverpool, as a club, get away little to no criticism, despite their relative lack of trophies over the past 26 years and the amount of money that they’ve spent in that time.

Let’s compare them to the club who seems to get ‘net spend’ thrown in their face more than any other, Manchester United.

Since the inception of the PL, United have spent just £46million more on transfers than Liverpool. United’s net spend is £307million more than Liverpool’s. Which is a lot, I’m not denying that.

However, why do clubs spend money? Presumably, it’s to win trophies. So why don’t we talk about spend-per-trophy?

Since 1992, Liverpool have won just 9 major trophies to United’s 27.

Per trophy, Liverpool have spent over £123million to United’s £43million.

Net per trophy sees Liverpool having spent £39.8million to United’s £24.7million.

As a United fan I’m glad that we don’t have a positive net spend. I want to see the owners pump any and all available cash into the club and I don’t want us to sell our best players.

Apologies for the long-winded mail but the way it’s portrayed by fans and the media you would think that clubs like Liverpool are working on shoe-string budgets and performing above where they should be. But they’re not. They’re really not.

Particularly Liverpool, who under-perform season after season relative to what they’ve spent over the years in order to win actual trophies.

Thanks for reading and keep up the great work.
Dave (firmly ‘Jose-out’) in Dublin

 

Tip of the iceberg
So the ‘popular’ media vilification of the England team for the World Cup has started early and predictably with an attack on Raheem Sterling (I am not a particularly big England fan and certainly no fan of Sterling but can you imagine the mental anguish for tabloid hacks if Sterling scores the winner in the semi or the final?).

I want to make a prediction, that is that they already have their stories nicely filed away. They have trawled social media, they have paid the exes and they have dredged up old school friends etc. When the ‘outrage’ stories come out, check the dates. Check the dates of the incriminating photographs, of the tweets or the posts. They will be from six months, a year, two years ago just nicely filed away for when they are needed for maximum impact.

And that maximum impact won’t be after they are knocked out, it will be on the eve of a game so the players and the manager have to respond to that rather than focusing on the game. If they respond they lose focus, if they don’t respond it is the Euro 16 darts match all over again. Does any other country do this to their players?
Micki Attridge

 

Sterling job…
Dear MC,

Your Mediawatch special today was absolutely brilliant. So brilliant in fact that I think it needs to be brought to the House of Commons. How about approaching your local MP?

You may think I’m being reactionary but actually it perfectly sums up all that is wrong in the media and the world in general right now. In fact the article in question is effectively ‘fake news’. I really do worry where this country is heading, and Europe in general. There is a far right element brewing right across the continent (Austria, Italy to name two) and articles like the one in The Sun today will only help stoke these particular flames.

The knuckle dragging idiots who read The Sun will be sticking a label on Sterling’s head which will match the stereotype they have for many others. This is very sad and feels very irresponsible.

Then we have the counter argument. What was Sterling playing at? I mean, you’re a young chap and you can see that you’re being bullied here. Fine, get a tattoo of a gun but use some of your money to hire a decent PR team to help you reveal it on your terms. Surely anyone could see that it will be controversial and need explaining?!

I have a lot of sympathy for Sterling as when I was his age I was still smoking weed and playing Goldeneye rather than focussing on anything approaching study/work. I didn’t really grow up until I hit 28/29. And even then I think I’m still a bit of a d**k. I’d have had no clue how to handle the media, and I’m white.

So, Sterling please get yourself some PR protection/advice. And as for The Sun, please for the sake of humanity, stop being such a bunch of c**ts. We all know what they breed. More c**ts.
JazGooner

 

Dear Mediawatch,

It shouldn’t need to be the case, but I really hope that Raheem Sterling is aware of what a sterling job you do defending him against the less-than-human ‘hacks’ who have turned him into a villain to sell their poor excuses for papers. Keep up the good work.
Milton, AFC, London

 

I just want to say thanks for not diluting todays Mediawatch, and dedicating it to the one topic. Excellent work- keep it up.
Andrew, Ireland

 

Spurs v Liverpool, season-by-season
The ridiculous contest between Liverpool and Spurs fans in the mailbox is very tedious, but since I’m sure it will continue, I wanted to contribute the only way I think makes sense to evaluate this: looking at things season-by-season. I started in 2004 because prior to that the comparison is obvious and doesn’t need analysis. I only counted cup final appearances as significant/material (I used the term “did nothing” quite liberally below; please don’t take it too literally).

2004/05, Spurs finished 9th and did nothing in the cups. Liverpool finished 5th and won the Champions League.

2005/06, Spurs finished 5th and did nothing in the cups. Liverpool finished 3rd and won the FA Cup.

2006/07, Spurs finished 5th and did nothing in the cups. Liverpool finished 3rd and reached the CL final.

2007/08, Spurs finished 11th and won the League Cup. Liverpool finished 4th and reached the CL semi-final.

2008/09, Spurs finished 8th and reached the League Cup final. Liverpool finished 2nd and did nothing in the cups.

2009/10, Spurs finished 4th and did nothing in the cups. Liverpool finished 7th and did nothing in the cups.

2010/11, Spurs finished 5th and did nothing in the cups. Liverpool finished 6th and did nothing in the cups.

2011/12, Spurs finished 4th and did nothing in the cups. Liverpool finished 8th and won the League Cup + reached the FA Cup final.

2012/13, Spurs finished 5th and did nothing in the cups. Liverpool finished 7th and did nothing in the cups.

2013/14, Spurs finished 6th and did nothing in the cups. Liverpool finished 2nd and did nothing in the cups.

2014/15, Spurs finished 5th and reached the League Cup final. Liverpool finished 6th and did nothing in the cups.

2015/16, Spurs finished 3rd and did nothing in the cups. Liverpool finished 8th and reached the League Cup final.

2016/17, Spurs finished 2nd and did nothing in the cups. Liverpool finished 4th and did nothing in the cups.

2017/18, Spurs finished 3rd and did nothing in the cups. Liverpool finished 4th and reached the CL final.

It seems that the difference in opinion between Spurs and Liverpool fans about “who has been better recently” largely depends on whether you think it was significant for Spurs to finish over Liverpool in 2011, 2013 and 2015. Personally I see it as two bald men fighting over a comb. In my humble opinion, Liverpool’s “good seasons” have generally been more impactful/material than Spurs’ (lows the joyous stuff of dreams indeed), but this is all subjective until someone develops an objective criteria to evaluate the above.
Oliver Dziggel, Geneva Switzerland

 

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