At last, back to the real stuff, and off to Colchester, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
As much as I support and enjoy watching England, I much prefer club football.
Do not get me wrong, I dearly want England to get to the Finals in Austria and Switzerland next summer.
Yet, when asked recently whether I would choose promotion for the Baggies or England to win a major tournament, there was no hesitation, I would choose Albion every time.
This summer we had no major international tournament to watch and it makes the summer of no football seem like an eternity, and it is more for this selfish reason why I want England to qualify.
I think part of the problem is that we have not produced an England International for so long, although, through other internationals we have a good chance of having club players at the Finals next summer (Beattie and Morrison).
Also, I nearly always feel let down by England, the media and fans always big up our chances of success, and then we go through a media frenzy of blame for underachieving.
I find the whole process not only deflating, but also predictable. Supporting Albion I have found our fans have our own identity, we like to see football played the right way, we have seen good times and we have survived the bad times, and through it our fans have developed a humility that enjoys success but by no means demands it.
England on the other hand, simply demands success, and lo and behold anybody who doesn’t live up to expectation.
We witnessed this when England fans booed the introduction of Lampard on Saturday, and the disgusting treatment of Beckham when he was sent off against Argentina.
And so to Colchester, and back in the bosom of the best fans in the land, and win, lose or draw, I don’t think you will be seeing any effigies of Tony Mowbray hanging outside the pubs in West Brom.
So, given the choice, I choose promotion for the Baggies. If only it was that easy.
22 Comments
Club before country any day of the week.
I’ll be 10X more disappointed if we lose to Colchester tomorrow than I was when England lost to Russia.
most honest n true football fans would choose
club over country
a few glory supporters i.e utd fans may choice england over champs league
but without a doubt i would rather my wolves come up then england win euros even if we in prem for 1yr
Club everytime. I love the national team - but as with the greed league, it is far removed now from what football should be - seems any old average player can get 20+ caps.
However as it looks unlikely any of the home countries will qualify is this a good time to introduce a GB & I tournament ??
It would take our minds of the Euro championships and this would be a competition we could ALL enjoy.
I think I feel that way too but only because I think half of the England team are mercenaries who don’t care. I would drop Robinson ( cause he’s not good enough) Ashley Cole Ferdinand Terry Lampard and Gerard and bring in some younger players who care.
My problem is I don’t feel any affinity with those guys who drive Bentleys etc and earn millions and don’t give their all but I am so proud of the rugby boys—they are real people. Yes Albion are far more important than the above!
Scott Darton and Bobby Gould might disagree with your last few paragraphs, but I think you’re right about preference.
An England World Cup win, whilst good, could never compare to the feeling when Igor Balis slotted that penalty at Bradford!!
I think we feel more of a sense of belonging with our club. I watched the England game in a pub in Manchester and had to listen to some ill-informed moron shout things at the TV which he’d probably read in the paper that week.
Give me Albion fans any day, we’ve all been through the same things and we all have a similar self-depreciating outlook on all things football.
The one good thing about the England team is to see all the fans of the so called lesser clubs displaying their banners at away grounds.
It should prove to the FA that there is life after the prima dona premiership.
But I would chose 3 points to the Wolves over an England victory.
Good idea by H B re. a UK tournament.
I hate the football-less summers when there is nowt to watch, and knowing that there IS a tournament we aint in will be unbearable…
However the prospect of England V Scotland etc… will certainly make up for it.
The new all seater stadia should enable the fans to watch in safety and so there is no reason why this cannot be re-introduced..
Home games can be played in all four counties with cheap flights available now.
Hope the FA etc give it a go.
Warren,
You gave me goose bumps, Balis penalty, wow, for some reason that was the pinnacle of that season, once that went in we knew we were there.
On the topic of a UK competition, i think they have discussed it before, however the FAs involved could not agree terms (ie tv rights).
On another note, did anyone watch the Scottish game the other night?
Beattie looks so out of sorts its untrue, i have also heard a rumour Miller has agreed to sign for us in January.
I always get left feeling very let down by England.
I agree that the passion you feel for your team is greater than that for our National Team. Especially when we have Maclaren in charge. The England manager job is amongst the highest profile jobs in the world. Would Maclaren have been mentioned for any of the other high profile managerial vacancies accross the continents, of course not! Neither would Curbs or Big Sam, the other former front runners for the england post. Phil Scolari was the best of the serious contenders mentioned, as far as acheivements were concerned, but the press scared him off. If the press aren’t behind you as National team manager, you are doomed from the start. This is why we have to have a change and I strongly believe Mourinho is the man to lead us to success and he would enjoy the backing of the press and fans alike. We have got the talent, but I think some of the big name players are not putting it in for england. Are they too worried about getting injured and not picking up there big fat club salaries, if they are out of club footy for a long time?
There used to be a cmpetition every year, similar in format to the annual Rugby 5 Nations ( now 6 with Italy included), but if memory serves me right, it was discontinued at the request of The England Manager as England were dominant at the time and he considered the competition as a distraction from preparing for the major competitions.
I agree with Happy it may be good to resurrect it whilst Euro 2008 is on(if we don’t qualify) but can’t see it becoming regular unless the competition ran through the season to replace the International ‘friendlies’.
I think you would have had a far more difficult choice in 1966. England and being English was special to us, the players were still approachable. Now, greed, The Prem, dilution of identity by Political Correctness, politicians rail-roading us into a European State, means the only place we can be TRIBAL is when watching our club teams. When Albion play Wolves or Villa, a 10-0 win is my wish, but when Villa or The Wulfies play say Tottingham, then I’m a Black Country bloke and cheer them on. Why? Identity mateys. Pure and simple!
Dont get me wrong i do like supporting England. It is the only time all of my mates (we all support different local sides)can unite to support one team, and some of the England games at tournaments has been special, Euro 96 the best.
However, like Cyril Randle correctly idetified, it is alot to do with unity and identity.
Finally - good luck to the England rugby lads and also to Lewis Hamilton.
I got 12/1 today on England winning and Hamilton winning the F1 championship - but i would still swap them for 3 points against colchester.
Boing Boing.
Happy baggie
12/1 who with??
I am going to go with England scoring 10 points dead.Havent got the odds yet. Or i might go with no try to be scored.
I have had baggies to win 3-1, with Miller to get the first.
I have a feeling both Hamilton and England are going to blow it this weekend, but lets hope not.
wbabomber - i got it on with paddy Power. I actually don’t think i will be collecting but it makes things more interesting.
You can have 10/1 on jason robinson scoring in the 80 mins… which i may get on.
I NEVER bet on the Albion - its always too tense without putting my cash on it.
10/1 Robinson sounds good to me, thanks for that, if it comes off i will be in the Vine if you want to collect your commission, (next home game).
you can collect your commission….and a damn fine Balti at the same time !
Bomber,
The very thought of that Igor Balis penalty still has tears streaming down my face!! (It’s on YouTube by the way, if you’re ever having a bad day at work)
Have just finished reading Adrian Chiles’ book on Albion fans (a damn good read by the way) and he speaks to someone who says to him ‘One of our wins is equal to twenty of Manchester United’s’.
Never a truer word spoken, and in a strange way I think you can apply it to international football.
A World Cup win would be amazing, but ten of them wouldn’t even get close to that Igor Balis penalty at Bradford.
Like Cyril rightly says, it all comes down to identity.
I can see that looping ball from Derek McInnes into the Bradford box now………..
Albion over England anyday. I’m disgusted with them too be honest overpaid and OVER RATED. We think we have the right to be there. Plus the man who picks our manager (well he is actually a coach-big diff) knows nothing about football. Also mac was too arrogant to realise paul robinson is currently way out of form, I thought he watched prem games?? If so, shocker v’s villa, shocker v’s liverpool.. but still plays??!! Idiot.
Anyway up the baggiessssssss
as an italian baggies fan i have to tell you that when you see your national side lift the major trophy live its every bit as good as being as seeing the baggies win
To Italian baggie,
Im English, and born in 74, not sure whether i will ever see our national side lift a trophy.
On the other hand, i have already witnessed a small amount of success from the baggies, ie promtion. Hope to see it again, some time soon!!!
All the best.
20 - bloody show off.
40 years of hurt - never stops me dreaming……