Official Euro 2012 Thread

[Bob's Orange]

Glenn Johnson is poo.

He was absolutely horrific on Saturday. If Kelly is back up to him, we are in deep shit.

[mrverve]

People were moaning after South Africa that we should have a clear out and go with the kids.  All the replacements have been kids and people are still moaning saying we should put an injury prone hasbeen in instead.

I think this is the best thing that can happen.  The tournament is a write off anyway so pack the squad full of youngsters and start building for the future.  It worked for Germany, and spain to a certain extent.

The last thing these young England players need is to be thrown in to a major tournament without any experience players around them, get thrashed (because they lack the experience and not to mention they're not international level yet) and subsequently get absolutely annihilated and written off by the press and fans.

Germany in 2010 still had Klose, Schweinsteiger, Mertesacker, Friedrich, Lahm and Podolski who were experienced Internationals, same with Spain.

The young England players need to be integrated slowly and with seasoned campaigners around them.

[walcot red]

The last thing these young England players need is to be thrown in to a major tournament without any experience players around them, get thrashed (because they lack the experience and not to mention they're not international level yet) and subsequently get absolutely annihilated and written off by the press and fans.

Germany in 2010 still had Klose, Schweinsteiger, Mertesacker, Friedrich, Lahm and Podolski who were experienced Internationals, same with Spain.

The young England players need to be integrated slowly and with seasoned campaigners around them.

fuck em, throw them in the deep end, if they're good enough to play/be on the books for the top flight then they're good to play for the national side. sink or swim the best way.

[Costanza]

Looking at players age and caps earned, England have a nice blend of youth and experience in the current squad.

Age is not an issue, strength and depth is (which is an issue that goes beyond Euro 2012).

[mrverve]

fuck em, throw them in the deep end, if they're good enough to play/be on the books for the top flight then they're good to play for the national side. sink or swim the best way.

Not how it works. Players need to be integrated slowly and when they're ready, not just for the sake of it.

By your reasoning, Jay Spearing and Bradley Johnson are international footballers just because they play for a top flight side?

[pericarp]

Spearing for England!

[Flashheart]

I'm with Mr. Verve

I'm all for the youngsters playing and I do not like John Terry, but the have to have some guidance from older heads while they find their feet.

[walcot red]

fair point though, surely if they're playing at man u, city, arsenal, chelsea then they should be learning from the experienced players anyway? if they're not then there must be something wrong?

[mrverve]

fair point though, surely if they're playing at man u, city, arsenal, chelsea then they should be learning from the experienced players anyway? if they're not then there must be something wrong?

You would hope so but just because you play for one of those sides doesn't necessarily mean you're good enough to play for England.

Most teams that do well in tournaments are ones who have the right blend of youth and experience. Look at the Italy team in 2006, the core was of experience players (who had failed in tournaments in the past) along with younger players in and around the team to freshen things up.

I can't think of a national side who have won a major tournament or got to the latter stages made up only of young players.

[matt_jada]

Not sure i agree with this latest statement from Platini

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18338838

I mean reacting to fans calling you a wanker is one thing and the player in question should probably be booked but getting booked after being racially abused is
a bit of a shocker, good luck to the referees in this tournament.

Anyone else thinks this tournament could be a fucking shambles.

[Reg Smeeton]

Not sure i agree with this latest statement from Platini

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18338838

I mean reacting to fans calling you a wanker is one thing and the player in question should probably be booked but getting booked after being racially abused is
a bit of a shocker, good luck to the referees in this tournament.

Anyone else thinks this tournament could be a fucking shambles.

Could very easily get farcical....for example the Czech's have Theodore Selassie, and they play Poland and Russia...very easy to see this lad get abuse and so the ref has to take the sides off...

[Chubbs]

Defoe has flown home after the passing of his dad, nothing said as to if he will go back or a replacement will be sent.

Rio is waiting anxiously.  

[Chubbs]

Defoe has flown home after the passing of his dad, nothing said as to if he will go back or a replacement will be sent.

Rio is waiting anxiously.   

scrap that, just read that no replacement will be flown in.

[kerry red]

There's just something about England and championships - always distractions off the pitch.

Mind you, with the usual shite served up on the pitch, maybe that's a good thing.

[Shaw Rosso]

Sad to hear the news regarding Black Dutch players being subjected to Monkey chants in training today 

Why did they award Euro 2012 to a bunch of fucking neanderthals? Disgusting