angelman

I tried to find out, but couldn't see anything definitive only this DM article and the such like http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/euro2012/article-2153865/Euro-2012-England-set-100k-bonus.html Still the amount is a lot less than they get paid week in week out.

I would also add that the Clubs are not behind the national team, do not care about the national team and would prefer their players not to play for the national team. I realise that this is a problem quite a long way down the line and that there are many other problems to over come before one gets to that stage. But it rather reflects the whole ethos of things. The supporters of the big clubs are more interested in their club side than national side. Those supporters of the not so big clubs also feel this way because they don't want to watch the dross served up by the England team that is (usually) made up of players from the big teams. This WC was slightly different, but the South African one was truly diabolical and it appeared that the players were disinterested. Hell, if they get paid £100k a week by their club, and nothing by their country, where do you expect their loyalties to lie? When I say nothing, I mean very little - what is it - £1500-2500 for a win down to £70 for a loss. A £650k win bonus if we had won the WC? (Could have added a 0 to the end of that and been fairly confident that you wouldn't have to pay out). £750 for a loss - that wouldn't even cover their bar bill, and a player on £100k a week would earn more than that in 90 minutes. There seems little pride in appearing for the national side.

Some say that a lot of it is down to the number of coaches that the respective countries have. The cost of doing the relevant coaching courses in this country and Germany varies hugely. Level 3 B Licence - England £2450 vs Germany €430 (about £344) Level 4 A Licence - England £5820 vs Germany €530 (about £424) As a result, England has about 1100 A Licence holders and Germany has about 5 times that many. Similarly, Germany has about 5 times the number of Pro Licence holders. Looking at other countries, I think Spain and Holland have even more coaches. So to me, the problems are more fundamental and maybe we have to change things right down at the bottom of the pyramid with kids who are 8 years old. I can't see a quick fix, and if you go with what Germany did, it will take 10 years.

I feel a certain affinity with Coventry - we both were in the top division for many many years, often struggling. Had SISU sniffing around us, and fortunately going to Coventry. Shocking what has happened to them recently, but now going back to the Ricoh, first game probably in 2 weeks time.

I'm not sure what is up with Lambert either. Bit confused that he was given #9 shirt - seems some players/clubs/fans take shirt numbers seriously. Hope that he does get some time rather than just warm the bench. I know that it was his choice but that's his heart rather than head speaking. His career in the last season or two has been nothing short of Roy of the Rovers stuff, so no wonder his heart is doing the decision making. But if he is happy there, then there is no problem.

And how much **** off the field will they have to deal with?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2730685/Liverpool-agree-16m-fee-Mario-Balotelli-AC-Milan-striker-prepares-Premier-League-return.html Balotelli for £16m (and please no comparisons to Long, as wages are incomparable). God knows what he will be on - £80k, £100k, more? Not sure Lambert is going to get any PL playing time as the preference will be Sterling (yes, I know he is a midfielder), Sturridge, Balotelli and then Lambert, with Markovic and Borini behind (??). I expect if this goes through, then Borini will be sold to Sunderland for near enough the same amount that Balotelli will cost.

Is English football the same as German though? No - they seem to be a lot more pragmatic than us and are more than happy to take a step back to take two steps forward. The German people seem to know that that is happening accept it, and bide their time. We in this country demand instant success and are not prepared to take a step back to rebuild. Maybe given the 20th Century rebuilding of their country, the Germans can see things more clearly. We just seem to flog a dead horse. One of their great strengths is the way the WC winning side played tournament football together at the different ages (U18, U21, U23 and any other), while it seems that U21 is greatly over looked in this country. It is often populated with reserve team players or players from the Championship.

What on earth do you mean a "fair fight"? He has been superseded by what the club consider a better keeper. What is unfair about that? It's harsh but do you think that the club should hold itself back so not to upset one player? How have things suddenly become an "unfair fight" or different from what goes on at any other club? Is it unfair because he isn't considered to be #1 any more by the new goalkeeping coach and manager - is that it?

Best think to do is call the Club and ask them.

Not having a go or anything, but what do you mean by "there should be more competition"? This is something Irene/AB has been going on about. I suspect that there is just as much competition as there ever has been for #1, it's just that AB has been superseded, by someone Dave Watson considers superior who has automatically taken the #1 spot, and he/Irene are making noises about lack of competition. AB/Irene were also making noises about leaving, but I ask where is he going to go to be #1? And then, if he expects to walk straight into the #1 slot at another club, I guess the irony of that would be lost on him.

No problem with that. One could say that the national press has been somewhat "hostile" towards us, so might as well have a friend in the local press rather than them being "hostile" as well. Had some quite good pieces in past weeks from them.

OK, many of us have questioned whether we really needed to spend £10m on a keeper. Most of us thought not, but RK and Dave Watson obviously think it was very important and an area that was vital to strengthen. I think that tells you all you need to know about their faith in AB, which differs from ours. Phil Thompson on one of those Sky programmes, went against the grain (of the other panellists) and said he thought it was a good move and that it might save us 10 points a season. We can go on all we like, but I think Dave Watson (whose decision I think it probably is) is better qualified than all of us. Maybe he didn't like what he saw for the goal vs Bayer, maybe he saw technical faults elsewhere - who knows? But a club like ours does not go and splash £10m on a keeper without having thought through it pretty damned thoroughly.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2730291/Steve-Bruce-eyeing-12m-rated-Blackburn-striker-Jordan-Rhodes.html So the £12m we gave Hull, seems that it might be going on Jordan Rhodes. Rhodes, aged 24, scored 25 last season and 28 the season before (I think that the most Long got was 21). Out of interest, would people have preferred Rhodes to Long?

Last season he played 29 - missed 7 with a fractured hand and 2 others (Man City & Cardiff). Of those 9 games, we lost 6, drew 2 and won 1.

He'd only be 5th choice because of his attitude. It's up to him really, how he wants to play this one and at present it would appear from the outside that he isn't playing it too well.

Has he been on the sauce tonight?

Ah I see. He is just going to give up. Thought the Poles were made of sterner stuff. Bye bye then.

You Irene come here in a guileful manner, and it isn't particularly attractive. He cannot compete? Boo ****ing hoo and how awful that the club is trying to improve under a new manager. Either tell us exactly what you mean by the "he has no competition" or stow the violin. Your histrionics are trite and boring.

It's not our management team, it's his (yours?)

I really hope he does and knuckles down. Would love him to stay. But guess it might mean something else - suspect it does.

What did he say about Gaston? And if he is to be a left side (wing) back, where exactly does Shaw fit in?

LOL, well that's one way of looking at it

56 last season

I am not sure that you can say that we missed out on Rojo.