The "Golden Generation"

[chriswallace85]

I don't know what this nonsense about the golden generation is all about, ours ended years ago.

Our golden generation was when we had Beckham, Scholes, Owen, Neville, Campbell and Hargreaves.

[hoolio]

Originally Posted by chriswallace85

I don't know what this nonsense about the golden generation is all about, ours ended years ago.

Our golden generation was when we had Beckham, Scholes, Owen, Neville, Campbell and Hargreaves.

No it wasn`t Charlton,Moore,Hurst Banks,Ball and Peters was our Golden generation

[TopCat]

Adam Crozier was to blame for that phrase.

The worry is - where are the next players coming from? England now should drop any player who will be 31 or over in 2014. The Euro 2012 should be a test tournament for us to blood the youngesters with a plan to peak at 2014.

I like what i saw from Milner in this tournament, hopefully Adam Johnson, Ashley Young, Jack Rodwell, Jack Wilshere, Joe Hart and Theo Walcott can form the basis of the next team.

[Howard the Duck]

Originally Posted by TopCat

Adam Crozier was to blame for that phrase.

The worry is - where are the next players coming from? England now should drop any player who will be 31 or over in 2014. The Euro 2012 should be a test tournament for us to blood the youngesters with a plan to peak at 2014.

I like what i saw from Milner in this tournament, hopefully Adam Johnson, Ashley Young, Jack Rodwell, Jack Wilshere, Joe Hart and Theo Walcott can form the basis of the next team.

I forgot all about him!

[statepooper]

Originally Posted by chriswallace85

I don't know what this nonsense about the golden generation is all about, ours ended years ago.

Our golden generation was when we had Beckham, Scholes, Owen, Neville, Campbell and Hargreaves.

Aye the current bunch of losers are the 'Golden Shower' Generation!!! Piss poor!

[chriswallace85]

Originally Posted by hoolio

No it wasn`t Charlton,Moore,Hurst Banks,Ball and Peters was our Golden generation

Fair point. But I do believe the players I mentioned above were our last real hope of doing something. I just wish we had had them all fully fit in Japan.

[My Boy Harry]

Its all hype isnt it - no more or less than that - and loads of people bought it. A few lads on here have called it like it is about Gerrard, Lampard, Terry etc. but are in the main shouted down because "he plays well for his club".

Rooney has been shown to be international class but not world class for example.

[SPUFF]

Originally Posted by TopCat

Adam Crozier was to blame for that phrase.

The worry is - where are the next players coming from? England now should drop any player who will be 31 or over in 2014. The Euro 2012 should be a test tournament for us to blood the youngesters with a plan to peak at 2014.

I like what i saw from Milner in this tournament, hopefully Adam Johnson, Ashley Young, Jack Rodwell, Jack Wilshere, Joe Hart and Theo Walcott can form the basis of the next team.

Couldnt Jordan Henderson get in the side?

Oh no, I forgot, he plays for little old Sunderland, he`ll have to blast in 30 goals from midfield just to get a place on the bench in 2012.

Feck the lot of them man.

[The Great Soprendo]

I don't think the future is that bleak to be honest, well no bleaker than it has been for a while. There are talented players coming through (even Sunderland have nurtured one or two) and the U21s have done well recently.

I wouldn't necessarily drop all the old players now, it's always about achieving the right blend. But I would stop guaranteeing them a start...then watch them all announce their 'international retirement'.

There are many ways of looking at the situation, but something England always had was the bulldog spirit and togetherness. It didn't win any tournaments on its own but it was a key element, and something that if combined with a bit of ability always had the chance to make something happen. England have never been able to compete with the top teams for technical ability, now they can't compete on spirit either. The team lacks character and characters and that needs to be found again, or we'll never get even close to narrowing the technical gap. Without wanting to seem biased (I use them as examples because I watch them regularly), the likes of Bent with his boundless enthusiasm, and Cattermole with his spirit, are the kind of players England should be including in future squads, alongside (hopefully) the likes of Jack Rodwell who have the talent, and a smattering of experienced international players who don't think they rule the roost and are willing to play the team game (eg Rooney, Gerrard, Crouch).

[The Mighty Mackem]

IIRC a lot of the German squad barring 3 or 4 are their U21 squad from 4 years ago.