not only did we lose to the croats, we lost to them in a game they didn't need to win.

wait till arsenal loses. i'll modify this post and send it to your thread.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/11/...e_real_gaf.html

James talks as if England should qualify just because they are England; a God-given right.

Pity the Scots. God must really be against them

I don't know how valid the claims are but I just came across a link to News of the World where it states that Terry, SWP, Joe Cole and Ashley Young had crazy nights out before and after Croatia. It would never happen under SAF or Jose.

And what did they win 10-20 years ago? We have good players just as we HAD then but point is, we have been to trigger happy with sackings. Having said that, McClaren had to go

We still qualify for semi-finals and quarter finals and get knocked out by penalty shootouts every now and then. Your point being? It didn't matter and it doesn't matter if we go that far and still lose. Point being, 0 wins 15-20 years ago and still 0 wins now in terms of major trophies won.

And yes, I use 'we'. Though United comes first but in terms of international football, I support England and you don't have to be based in Manchester to call yourself a United fan, do you?

Yeah, the Sun had the same headlines. I still will go for Fabio should Jose rules himself out.

When did we play good football?

I mean my point is that we had boring football under the past 2-3 managers and we still sat down like idiots. So why suddenly bring it up just because it's Capello?

Yeah, that's what I mean. All the hoo-hah for a manager that plays effective football and when someone who's uglier but just as good comes in, he's gonna ruin the game!

Feck those two. When Foster's fit, he needs to have a crack!

I'd take boring over losing any day, even at United.

Anyone can TRY and play good football and lose but not everyone can play boring football and win? Get the results right and then try and develop/improve a style of play.

Capello has never taken the armband of the captains before him, has he? I mean Totti, Del Piero and Raul all had their armbands with them despite new management, no? I could be wrong on that one but what makes you think drastic changes will be made? Having said that, I don't see a future for Gary Neville in England anymore.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=503686&cc=5739

Has anyone watched Heskey? I haven't but I would like to know why/how he's ahead of Ashton/Johnson.

England's still giving the ball too cheaply. Upson, Brown, A.Cole and Bentley seem nervy. Rooney's been trying to get on every ball and cost Jenas a chance but apart from that, nothing special from the first 45 of the Capello regime.

I think it really depends on the player. You look at Zidane and what he did for France at the World Cup and his contributions in the tournament and would you drop Zidane then, for the future in mind? I am not saying Beckham deserves a spot on the team now but if he's playing well, why not? There won't be a future if there's no present.

Guess we can lay claim for everyone else who failed at United and got a career elsewhere, eh?

Being physically fit and mentally fit are two different stories. Some are still in shape physically but reflexes or desire aren't there anymore.