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Why on earth are players no longer clambering to grab a chance to represent the Country?  Our summer tour of USA is a joke, so many players have dropped out with 'injuries'.

Whats the betting they want a holiday, and a break instead of playing for their country. I was thinking about this last night after i saw McAteer crying, there is really a lack of passion in football at the minute and i dont know why... maybe im not just seeing the right things, but take ur club. Which player can you say is passionate about Swindon?

the likes of kieron richardson are now in the sqaud. i think this is because managers of premiership teams dont want their players to be burnt out so they fake injuries to make them pull out. sad really isnt it?  surely one of those managers played for their country but they wont let their players play for their country.

They have added Zac Kinght and Keiron Richardson to the England squad now...

Wonder if we will do as well as last time we went over there with Graham 'the grass was too long' Taylor?

Stefani Miglioranzi....

Apart from that......no one really....

That has to be one of the lowest points in our nation's history, along with losing 3-1 to the aussies.

Sam Parkin? Grant Smith? they seem to be the only two that try

Cares yes, but passionate im not sure. To be fair to him, hes the players representative of the Study Centre. Top Bloke.

We never seem to win friendlies under Sven, so why he even bothers?

i dont know either i dont care about shitty friendlys anyway to be honest

Hes too scared of dropping 'the big guns' and giving the rest a go, Stuart Downing and Andy Johnson come to mind...maybe it is a good thing that some players are not going to the states and they can actually get a run out?

we will probably win all our games out there with players who can be bothered! e.g. wright philiips an downing. USA are shit anyway (they call the damn game soccer for crying out loud!) so even Swindon town would beat them!

When was the last time Migz wasnt the last one off the pitch, he ALWASY goes round the whole ground (home) and to the end (away) and claps the fans no matter how shit the performance has been.

Some games we are awful and the players cant wait to disapear down the tunnel, Stef is always the last one out on the pitch....

He always has time for the fans, if you see him and say hello he will stop and have a chat none of this im footballer leave me alone I need to drive my merc home right now stuff....and as you said he is involved in most STFC Community related things...

Its a know fact there have been times when our players havent been paid on time, I think Migz would be the only one who went out there and played for free if he had to....

Playing for your country doesn't mean as much to the players anymore, which is a great shame. And for the likes of Owen and Beckham, and to a certain extent Campbell, there isn't even competition for places.  Some players are more likely to feature internationally than domestically!  In an ideal world, all those casualties would be fighting to be fit and represent England, but that just doesn't happen.  As for Ericsson's selection policy, it is a strange one when you bring up the likes of Downing and Johnson to see if they can make it, and then leave them on the bench while letting tried and tested players prance around with no drive or commitment. It's baffling.

I know exactly what you mean. You would have seen the 'Boyz on Film' video he did for the centre. He is the nicest bloe you'l ever care to meet, and he has huge respect from the staff because of it.

Stef does strike me as someone who is happy to be here, rather than say an Igoe who strikes me as someone who is happy we are paying him to be here if you get what I mean.

I mean with Stefs injuries King and STFC took a big gamble on him and Stef hasnt forgotten that

Yeah, i do believe though, that his injuries are one of the reasons that pompey let him go.

Harry Redknapp said he was one of the most talented players he's seen. Just injury-proneness (if that's a word) let him down...

The whole tour of the US is fucking pointless.

Personally I dont blame some of the big name players for pulling out. The games are meaningless and several are carring injuries (Lampard, Terry, Gerrard) after playing 50 odd games this season. I'd much rather our top players had a rest this summer so they arnt burnt out by christmas or injured for the world cup.

If anyone needs some shit for this its the FA for arraging 3 pointless games after a long hard season. Woner how much the FA got paid for taking an England side over there?

That may be the real reson for going, how else are they going to afford to pay Sven?

Exactly. Where's the logic in playing some pointless friendlies halfway across the world in the only free summer before the World Cup? We'd be better off resting the players for the summer, let the clubs give them a good pre-season and they will be fighting fit for next summer, as opposed to fucking up their pre-season and everyone will moan when they're too tired for the World Cup.

As for Stef, I met him at a supporters club meeting and he's probably the nicest bloke I've ever met.

I am with Sonic 110% on this.

I was about to post (pretty much) that very point.  The best thing for England's players to do this summer is have a total rest.  Everyone, players and fans alike will get the benefit in the long run.  Sven's policy of playing 20 odd players in friendly games makes them farcical any way.

Of course, as the Piester suggests, the Sweet FA will have been paid a shed load of money for sending a team over there.  The modern game is all about money, money and more money.  I think we might be about to get a wake up call though in that respect thanks in no small part to Mr Glazer.

Oooh, it appears I also agree totally with Sonic.  I didn't see that one home boy!

P.S It is a scientific fact that Stef is a BLOODY nice bloke!

And wait for Sven to start bitching about the number of games top players play should we not do so well in Germany next year.....Hypocrits, just like top clubs going to Asia and  USA on preseason.

Edit: Forgot to say, Stef is a nice bloke. He had a prang in his car. my mate works in the parts department of the garage that fixed it. He (migs) took a shirt in to the club and got it signed by everyone for my mate.

I want to kiss Stef  :kisskiss:

I was hoping counciller Tomlinson was going to arrange a big Gay march through Swindon.Ive rushed out and bought some bottomless leather trousers and a cowboy hat already :(

Sure, some of these players deserve a run-out, but several of them will be playing Championship/reserve football next season. You can't tell me that, even if one or two of them have a blinding game or two, Sven will pick them when everyone is fit! He's got his favourites, several of who have been lacklustre for several years, and thats not likely to change soon.

FA are getting a few million for the trip, thats the sole reason the team is going.

It's the changing face of football that's to blame. Football has come a long way from the 'have a drink and a fag and kick a football around somewhere in between' days. Football is so commercialised now that it's left fans dissilusioned. Man Ures Glazer takeover being a prime example.

It's a fact that very few players care about things beyond their paycheck. I doubt they even enjoy playing football anymore. Think about it, top players aren't allowed to enjoy themselves, probably why they spend all their money on cars and gambling.