Underwhelmed

[RodBee]

Is anyone else totally underwhelmed by the forth coming World Cup - or any World Cup?

I am already fed up with the pages of World Cup articles in the media and it has not started yet!

I usually book to be away for at least two weeks of a World Cup but this year made an error and will be at home.

Of course I want England (and had they been in it all of the other home nations too) to do well but have seen too many abject failures since watching 1966 to expect anything other than depressing play and results. I will watch England games and hope but as for the other matches, for example, Saudia Arabia v Russia, etc - no chance of any interest from me.

Roll on the fixture list being produced for 'our' football and then pre-season friendlies and the season to commence but for the World Cup I can only say thank goodness I have the box set of 'Soldier Soldier'.

Sorry lads!!

 

[rebus]

You aren’t compelled to watch it.

 

[badgerbee]

Nope!!!

World Cup fever hit me this morning!!!

Sought out some old Italia ‘90 and Euro ‘96 TV programmes on You Tube this morning, then went up into the loft to bring down my 3 Italia ‘90 shirts (White, Red AND Blue versions, which incredibly still fit me!!!) 6’ “Brentford FC” cross of St. George flag, plus smaller flags and inflatables in preparation!!!! All of which will be displayed proudly (much to the embarrassment of the rest of my family!!!) until we crash out!!!

If you can’t enjoy the actual games, due to the likelihood that we probably won’t do well, at least enjoy the build-up!!!

COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!!

 

[Stanley]

Love it all although it tends to go a bit flat once England go out so here's hoping for a longer stay in the competition than recent tournaments.

Its' also getting interesting in the 2026 bid which will be voted on just before it starts. Was virtually a one horse race with the Yanks and their joint bid with the Canadians and Mexico but the Morocco bid has gained momentum and the anti Trump vibes around might just swing it, you never know. Personally I really hope Morocco wins it.

 

[A Real Mysteron]

It leaves me a bit cold from a team England point of view, but as an event it is a great thing.

Let’s hope England go out at the group stage so the country can enjoy the knockout rounds without the inevitable let down.

 

[nocoat]

For a football messageboard this place has an inordinate amount of people who hate football England the premier league etc etc multiple times on repeat. Like it’s a badge of honour not to watch the best footballers doing our favourite sport. All very strange lol

 

[Darren J]

I'm excited by it.

Going to watch the friendly vs Nigeria later and hopefully plenty of positives.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I'm looking forward to it.

 

[A Real Mysteron]

For a football messageboard this place has an inordinate amount of people who hate football England the premier league etc etc multiple times on repeat. Like it’s a badge of honour not to watch the best footballers doing our favourite sport. All very strange lol

I’ve really thought about it a lot, but I think it is due to the fact that I don’t have any emotional investment in it at all. When I was a kid, in the early 80s the England team were a bit like mythical beings- I wasn’t old enough to stay up for the highlights and no one was that bothered about their private lives.
These days it is first story on the news if one of them gets an iffy tattoo, or front page in the tabloids if one of them bangs somebody from love Island.
Never mind the iffy shampoo and skin care adverts.
They are presented for the masses like an old trollop, whoring herself around the docks.

Watching England is a bit like watching Geordie Shore, or an episode of Hollyoaks.
Not for me.

 

[wibs]

My Mrs had regularly been receiving"thirty days to go" "24 days to go" etc updates from me.

I'm well looking forward to it. It's the World Cup ffs!

The only difference from twenty years ago is I won't be devastated when we get knocked out. Just gutted.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

It's a shame there's not a better game than Russia Saudi Arabia to start though.

 

[wanderer paul]

I'm looking forward to it.

Agreed. I just hope there isn’t too much play acting on the pitch and just good football.

I worry more about off the pitch stuff though. Some innocent supporter will get a tonking just as in the euros.

Germany, France, Argentina & Brazil....... can’t see past the top 4. maybe Chile, England, Spain or Belgium can make the semis?!

 

[rebus]

Just as I can’t name the top 40 charts any more I struggled to recognise England players awarded caps this season as I rarely watch premier league football on TV.

Looking at this page http://englandstats.com/players.php?q=Current there were a few unfamiliar names!

 

[badgerbee]

The only difference from twenty years ago is I won't be devastated when we get knocked out. Just gutted.

My sentiments exactly!!!!

Although if we end up going out at the Q/F or S/F stage, that might be a bit different.....

 

[Banana]

For a football messageboard this place has an inordinate amount of people who hate football England the premier league etc etc multiple times on repeat. Like it’s a badge of honour not to watch the best footballers doing our favourite sport. All very strange lol

It's a BFC fans' messageboard

 

[mhead bee]

Love it all although it tends to go a bit flat once England go out so here's hoping for a longer stay in the competition than recent tournaments.

Its' also getting interesting in the 2026 bid which will be voted on just before it starts. Was virtually a one horse race with the Yanks and their joint bid with the Canadians and Mexico but the Morocco bid has gained momentum and the anti Trump vibes around might just swing it, you never know. Personally I really hope Morocco wins it.

The yanks had it in 94 so should not get it again so soon when we have had failed bids, Morocco, another hot bed of world football. I despise FIFA and all the corruption so all WC bidding makes me angry so I have to ignore it.

Years ago I used to be so desperate for us to qualify and I couldn't sleep in the weeks leading up to it, the England games were so nervy I couldn't watch them. It took me over 10 years to get over WC90, every time I thought of it or heard World in Motion I would well up, 96 was bad but my heart strings had already been pulled to breaking point before that. When we were kids this is the only chance we had to watch all these great players we had only ever heard of, now we watch them every week in the flesh or on TV and realise they love their clubs money more than the WC so that has helped kill it a bit.

When we drew with Italy to qualify in 98 I watched it at my football club and spent the whole game walking round our pitch outside because my nerves couldn't take it, when we beat Argentina I was at a stag do in Leeds and we watched in in the hotel at 8am, I spent 20 minutes of the second half in my room with the TV off pacing up and down just wishing the game away. My mate from my team back home knew what I was like and was so nervous himself he text me and said I bet you're not watching this are you

The last 20 years has eroded me, our awful performances, underachievement and lackadaisical approach has just killed it for me. My 5 a side football lot were down the pub 2 weeks ago and between us we couldn't remember who was in group, that is how bad it has got. I wanted us to boycott it because it is all a corrupt fix but now it is upon us I know me and my son will watch every single game. I will watch the England games hoping but not really sweating much just hoping we come home with some pride and not a complete sense of injustice or underwhelmed.

Sure I am not as excited as I used to be and I am so battle hardened I will not lose sleep whatever happens but it is going to be much better than walking around counting the days until the season begins.

 

[mhead bee]

It's a shame there's not a better game than Russia Saudi Arabia to start though.

We thought the same about Argentina V Cameroon in 1990, however nowadays I don't think FIFA will allow Russia to lose the opening game,

 

[Banana]

Where the tournament is held means little to me. It's about the football.

As supporters that go to the tournament I am sure that they would get bored of it being held in England all the time. The World Cup is a brilliant way to spread the game of football. I can't agree with some choices (Qatar!), but let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

 

[Banana]

We thought the same about Argentina V Cameroon in 1990, however nowadays I don't think FIFA will allow Russia to lose the opening game,

Russia won't allow Russia to lose the opening game!

 

[mhead bee]

Where the tournament is held means little to me. It's about the football.

As supporters that go to the tournament I am sure that they would get bored of it being held in England all the time. The World Cup is a brilliant way to spread the game of football. I can't agree with some choices (Qatar!), but let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

I don't want England to get it because losing at Wembley to Germany again would be pretty awful, it is the whole corrupt process that irks me, Qatar.....really?

 

[sonofabee]

Best one ever was 1970, 1978 was special and 1990 was great apart from the final. This one doesn't excite me one bit now but as soon as we start I'll be just as excited as I was in 1970 until we get knocked out.
Hopefully the excitement lasts for a month and Harry the Donkey makes me eat humble pie!

 

[IDontBeeLieveIt]

Is anyone else totally underwhelmed by the forth coming World Cup - or any World Cup?

I am already fed up with the pages of World Cup articles in the media and it has not started yet!

I usually book to be away for at least two weeks of a World Cup but this year made an error and will be at home.

Of course I want England (and had they been in it all of the other home nations too) to do well but have seen too many abject failures since watching 1966 to expect anything other than depressing play and results. I will watch England games and hope but as for the other matches, for example, Saudia Arabia v Russia, etc - no chance of any interest from me.

Roll on the fixture list being produced for 'our' football and then pre-season friendlies and the season to commence but for the World Cup I can only say thank goodness I have the box set of 'Soldier Soldier'.

Sorry lads!!

Do you actually like football?
Even if England are sh*t (again) the tournament as a whole is great fun.
If really necessary, bet on a couple of outsider teams who play with passion and have a slight chance of getting through, and follow them.
Stop being a grumpy sausage

 

[Darren J]

, when we beat Argentina I was at a stag do in Leeds and we watched in in the hotel at 8am, I spent 20 minutes of the second half in my room with the TV off pacing up and down just wishing the game away.

Sure this game was a Friday lunch time. I worked in a bank at the time and the manager got demoted because he left the bank with insufficient staff as everyone bar one person had gone to watch it down the pub!
Remember the QF against Brazil being on very early in the morning.

 

[sonofabee]

Sure this game was a Friday lunch time. I worked in a bank at the time and the manager got demoted because he left the bank with insufficient staff as everyone bar one person had gone to watch it down the pub!
Remember the QF against Brazil being on very early in the morning.

Argentina was lunchtime and remember it kicking off outside our local wine bar in Weybridge with two stabbings which is unheard of usually.
The Brazil game we seemed to be happy to lose 2-1 and didn't even bother going for it in the second half, gutless and forgettable rather like Sven.

 

[GP200]

I'm looking forward to it.

..............does Tracey know?????.........

 

[wibs]

The thing people are forgetting about this WC is they will be using VAR for the first time with all the farcical consequences it has the potential to entail.

 

[Travel Tavern Bee]

Just imagine the lift the country will get if England do well ? Really would lift the bloody gloom .

I love the World Cup but I think it’s a bit like Christmas , as you get older it never seems to live up to your expectations . I’m not expecting anything from England been let down too many times although we don’t have ( maybe Kane an exception) a Robson, Gazza, Owen, Rooney etc we are relying on , lots of ok players maybe just maybe it will work in our favour ?

 

[RodBee]

Do you actually like football?

Well, I have followed the Mighty Bees home and away for 65 years and seen them play at 113 away teams grounds so I think I am either an incredible masochist or, yes I like football.

The hype and off-field revelations are such a bore yet fill hundreds of column inches in the papers.

 

[Darren J]

Argentina was lunchtime and remember it kicking off outside our local wine bar in Weybridge with two stabbings which is unheard of usually.
The Brazil game we seemed to be happy to lose 2-1 and didn't even bother going for it in the second half, gutless and forgettable rather like Sven.

All rather acceptable wasn't it. We had beaten Argentina, won a knockout game routinely in normal time all in alien conditions and of course the golden generation was just around the corner...

 

[hughbee]

For a football messageboard this place has an inordinate amount of people who hate football England the premier league etc etc multiple times on repeat. Like it’s a badge of honour not to watch the best footballers doing our favourite sport. All very strange lol

Never seen anyone post that they hate the England team.

 

[grutter]

Just imagine the lift the country will get if England do well ? Really would lift the bloody gloom .

I love the World Cup but I think it’s a bit like Christmas , as you get older it never seems to live up to your expectations . I’m not expecting anything from England been let down too many times although we don’t have ( maybe Kane an exception) a Robson, Gazza, Owen, Rooney etc we are relying on , lots of ok players maybe just maybe it will work in our favour ?

That's pretty much my feeling too. There was always an expectation that we would/should do well through the 80s up to about 2010. Expectations are low now, which is the reason me and many others approach this tournament in an indifferent manner. In the 80s we had Lineker, then Gazza and Owen later on, who you really felt could change a game. Players that followed were either over-hyped or under-performed when it really mattered, but the truth is it hasn't been exciting watching England for over 10 years now. I'm pleased that expectations are realistic, but it's pretty damning that the national team has got worse the longer the PL has been in existence, given we were all told it was set up to give England the best chance. Given all that, If they make the QF, who knows?

 

[Mr Tree]

i understand the sentiment, but i don't recognise it - i'm well up for this, it should be a fun tournament! i've watched the majority of all the others, and actually those late games in Brazil were not so ideal. it's the best chance you get to see what the likes of Algeria and South Korea are up to. what's not to like

 

[RoyBee]

Looking forward to it, hopefully a better overall spectacle than some of the recent ones.

I do feel the competition will be poorer without Italy and Holland. I always make a point of watching their games.

Definitely looking forward to watching Denmark though, with hopefully Hendrik and Andreas in the team.

 

[chizbee]

I can't wait for it... Love the world cup. I'm not expecting England to do well, but you never know... Its a very young squad and maybe... Just maybe.

 

[IDontBeeLieveIt]

Well, I have followed the Mighty Bees home and away for 65 years and seen them play at 113 away teams grounds so I think I am either an incredible masochist or, yes I like football.

The hype and off-field revelations are such a bore yet fill hundreds of column inches in the papers.

You could just watch the tournament and enjoy it (and that doesn't just mean following England)......

 

[IslandBee]

Counting the days down … actually make that hours! I am more excited about this one than for a while. Might as well start positive and optimistic!

 

[nocoat]

Never seen anyone post that they hate the England team.

well maybe you should spend a bit longer in the football forums then ,

 

[hughbee]

well maybe you should spend a bit longer in the football forums then ,

You posted that the gpg was full of people who hate the England team. You’ll really struggle to find any posts like that anywhere on here.

Maybe you should think before you post.

 

[nocoat]

You posted that the gpg was full of people who hate the England team. You’ll really struggle to find any posts like that anywhere on here.

Maybe you should think before you post.

1) I said no such thing. i said its full of people who hate england, football premier league or whatever. one post after someone said they wanted england to get knocked out in the group stages lol
2) I have absolutely no interest in anything you ever say ever. the only reason you are not on my ignore list is for moderation purposes. i genuinely havent disliked anyone on this board ever until you so whatever you say to me means nothing. EVER.

 

[hughbee]

1) I said no such thing. i said its full of people who hate england, football premier league or whatever. one post after someone said they wanted england to get knocked out in the group stages lol
2) I have absolutely no interest in anything you ever say ever. the only reason you are not on my ignore list is for moderation purposes. i genuinely havent disliked anyone on this board ever until you so whatever you say to me means nothing. EVER.

For someone who doesn’t care you do go on quite a bit.

 

[nocoat]

I go on a bit!! Excuse me while I replace my irony meter. It has just exploded

 

[rhbee]

I just like watching football, couldn't really care less who's playing (if Brentford aren't involved obviously). Already checked to see how many games are during my free lessons.

 

[TW3Bee]

Watching the second half of the England game won’t help you get clues to being overwhelmed.

 

[Fat Bee Slim]

The hype and off-field revelations are such a bore yet fill hundreds of column inches in the papers.

Well, the easy answer is...stop reading the 5hitty tabloids and get a real newspaper!!

And then enjoy the feast of football. England have our best goalscorer in a long time and there are two BRENTFORD PLAYERS WHO WILL PLAY AT THE WORLD CUP!

 

[gbems92]

At the very least it helps pass the time between the domestic calendar, if England do alright it's a bonus!

 

[brooks]

I'm looking forward to it but, now, when I see the England team most of them are strangers to me and I haven't a clue which teams half of them play for.

 

[mhead bee]

Just imagine the lift the country will get if England do well ? Really would lift the bloody gloom .
?

I am not so sure. I am sure I heard Alli being booed every time he touched the ball and when Stirling got booked for diving there was a huge cheer in the pub I was in. I am not sticking up for embarrassing cheating but it tells you a lot about our fans who hate our own players more then they hate the Argies or Germans.

 

[mhead bee]

Argentina was lunchtime and remember it kicking off outside our local wine bar in Weybridge with two stabbings which is unheard of usually.
The Brazil game we seemed to be happy to lose 2-1 and didn't even bother going for it in the second half, gutless and forgettable rather like Sven.

I am sure I had my first Guiness at 8am.

The second half versus Brazil was pathetic, even with two minutes to go we passed sideways on the edge of own area, we brought Teddy on and didn't even knock it up to him once. I was waiting for us to throw everyone up front and launch it in injury time but we played keep ball in our own area until the whistle went, really frustrating..

 

[A Real Mysteron]

Alli was being booed by the Nigerian fans, as he chose England despite have a Nigerian father.

Although if I had felt the need to waste £100 on watching that, I would have booed him as well.

 

[badgerbee]

I am sure I had my first Guiness at 8am.

The second half versus Brazil was pathetic, even with two minutes to go we passed sideways on the edge of own area, we brought Teddy on and didn't even knock it up to him once. I was waiting for us to throw everyone up front and launch it in injury time but we played keep ball in our own area until the whistle went, really frustrating..

Yeah I remember feeling like that too......all very odd......
A bit like when Bees didn't 'go for it' in the penultimate game at Hartlepool in the Doncaster/Trottagate season, when a draw/defeat made no diffefence to what we would have needed in last game......