so we're generally s***, we have s*** players, technically s*** and s*** tactics....but still got to the semi final ?

So it's a massive achievement

Can't have it both ways

Paua oouaarancì Irà chiyeah Ishé galé ma ba oo ah

I'm very happy to get to a S/F and that's marvellous - hip hip hooray for larks and all that - but context is all. If you stand no chance when you're there then what's the point? (Of course we have a chance - it's a semi. Well, yes, if we've done anything to get there, then sure, but if it's been a cake-walk to that point then the fact you're in a semi doesn't actually mean a thing in itself, fun aside. And it was fun, no doubt.)

We did bugger all to get to this one (in terms of beating a top-level team) and we've never - EVER - done bugger all before, in terms of beating decent teams (you can't have Portugal or W.Germany, Cucking - I said we're excepting home tournaments. Too skewed. Argentina were another scalp then. At home. Doesn't count. Not when evaluating our achievements in the bigger picture.) We never do. Never have. NEVER. EVER. (If in doubt, see ALL OF OUR HISTORY. I repeat - we've NEVER beaten a top-tier team in the knockout stages - not just WCs but Euros too. EVER. Apart from at home. Which doesn't properly count in the full analysis.)

As for the way I want to have it, I didn't realise I wanted it more way than the way it is. I am fully prepared to agree it is a monumental achievement. Staggering. If we ignore context. While we're at it, let's also ignore all logic, sense and intelligibility too - reaching the semi was also the greatest single achievement ever in the history of medicine, art and literature. Introduce context, however, and the picture changes somewhat, the little bitch.

Good fun, yes. Nice to having something to cheer for a change, certainly. An achievement of sorts, absolutely. Much better than expected, unquestionably (though this is at least in part down to the unexpected failings of others). A "massive" achievement? Only if you ignore context.

I'm pleased I've been able to help.

Edited by Eustace H. Plimsoll (13 Jul 2018 6.52pm)

As a woman, I can step aside, or step up my game...

I wrote of the concept of "dayenu," meaning it would have been enough, on another thread. I'm finding in sports today nothing seems to be ever enough. A great defensive center fielder playing on the team with the best record in baseball should be benched because his batting average is low. Now I read in posts like the one quoted that England did "bugger all" to get to where they got in the World CUp. They're playing for third place against Belgium. My lot couldn't even get a draw with Trinidad & Tobago when all they needed was a point to bloody qualify and they were playing the bottom club of their qualifying group. That's not doing bugger all. Getting to the third place match in the World Cup is a helluva lot more than bugger all. There are no style points for types of goals scored and who scored them. The ball goes over the line, between the posts and under the bar. They put the next number up on the scoreboard. You don't get more than 1 each for a goal no matter how it is scored.

At the end of any day, football like any other sports game is meant to be fun. It's meant to be enjoyed. Winning all the time can get very boring. One of the reasons I stopped being a fan of my hometown baseball team, the NY Yankees is because their stated goal each season was to win the World Series. Every year. Where is the fun in that? They publicly say that failure to win the championship every year is a bad season. That's why I support teams like Crystal Palace, Boston Red Sox and NY Red Bulls. They try to win but also realize you can't win them all. Even when Palace were 0-0-7 with no goals scored, it was still frustrating fun to watch them. The own goal against Chelsea was not only a joy but a relief. Watching players over the years like McGoldrick, Barber, Pardew, Salako, Thomas, Thorn, Eric the Ninja on up through AJ, Moses, Dougie to Wilf, Andros, Luka and Big Ben may not be easy but it is fun. Why can't folks look at this admittedly imperfect England squad and say boy are they fun to watch? They gave us hope and belief. They did far better than imagined. Remember, you could be Germany, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil or real no hopers like Italy, The Netherlands, Turkey, Greece or the good old USA. None of that last group even qualified for the party.

Edited by kenbarr (13 Jul 2018 9.23pm)

Edited by kenbarr (13 Jul 2018 9.25pm)

Divorced...And LOVING it!
VJRAM Rev.
CPFC since Boxing Day 1989 CPFC 2-2 CFC
Gregg Berhalter, US International & USMNT Head Coach
Jill Ellis, England International & Retired USWNT Head Coach
Trevor Francis, International PRAT

Controversy at the World Cup Final.

VAR gives highly dubious penalty, a very dubious hand ball was not reviewed in real time but slow motion.

Griezman dives the ref misses it and awards France a free kick which results in an own goal.

Croatia the better team but an uphill task.

Shearer and Ferdinand pissed as farts.

'Lies to the masses as are like fly's to mollasses...they want more and more and more'

Really?

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)