Often Partisan

England

Butland and England

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Birmingham City goalkeeper Jack Butland could be in the rather bizarre position of making his senior England debut before his Blues debut on Wednesday after former Blues keeper Joe Hart pulled out of the Italy friendly. It’s been a meteoric rise for Butland – England’s 3rd choice at Euro 2012, Team GB first choice at the Olympics and now this. Will he really be given the nod?

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Posted in Birmingham City, International Football, Players, Talking Points | 30 Comments »

Poppies

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So FIFA have apparently “backed down” and have decided that they will allow England to wear poppies embroidered on their black armbands during Saturday’s friendly with Spain. It’s a bit of a compromise, and from reading my Facebook feed it would appear that for some people it’s not enough of one either – but it does mean that the players will be able to wear their poppies with pride. I understand that this point of view may be controversial, but I am going to say here and now that I agreed with FIFA’s original point that the poppy shouldn’t be displayed on the team shirt during the game.

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Posted in International Football, Talking Points | 29 Comments »

Nathan Redmond, Young Lion

Whilst most players are now topping up their tans on the beaches, or gambling away their massive wages in Vegas, there are a few who are still on international duty. Amongst them is Nathan Redmond, who is on duty with England under17s at the FIFA u17 World Cup in Mexico.

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Posted in Birmingham City, International Football, Players | No Comments »

Friendly

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Tonight England face Ghana in an international friendly, played to a full Wembley. It’s a historic night for Ghana who’ve never played us in England before, and the match should give them a chance to test themselves against players who consider themselves amongst the better in the world. Except it hasn’t quite worked out like that, has it? Instead of Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole, it’s going to be Gareth Barry and Leighton Baines – something the Ghanaians aren’t happy about.

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Posted in International Football, Talking Points | 1 Comment »

Black Mountain

One thing you learn from being a fan of Birmingham City Football Club is that success wasn’t meant for you. Playing nice football and winning trophies is for other teams; you have to make do with the occasional brilliant moment in a game and maybe the odd run to a decent finish. It prepares you […]

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Posted in International Football, Reviews | 2 Comments »

Post Mortem

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So it’s been a few days now since England ignominiously crashed out of the World Cup, and I thought I might reflect on a few things now the meedja has had it’s say. Firstly, I have to pick up on this: http://bit.ly/cNkYFm (thanks @brucedaisley). It’s true, the internet never forgets, and this is proof that […]

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Posted in General Ramblings, International Football, Talking Points | No Comments »

Anti-hyperbole

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A few hours have now passed since the match with Slovenia, and I thought I’d jot down some notes about the game as I saw it. Bearing in mind the hullabaloo from the weekend about his inclusion (or non-inclusion as it turned out), I think Fabio Capello was justified in not starting Joe Cole. Whilst […]

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Posted in General Ramblings, International Football, Talking Points | 2 Comments »

Flagging

Whilst the crosses of St George still flap happily in the breeze, the hopes of the England football team are flagging in South Africa; and with it the dreams of many back here in blighty. Where I live, there are England flags everywhere. They adorn cars, trucks, houses and places of business. Some have put […]

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Posted in General Ramblings, International Football | 1 Comment »

The World Cup

I have something very shameful to admit. Whilst every football fan is getting whipped up into a frenzy about the World Cup starting today, I have to admit – I’m just not that excited. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the World Cup. The idea of 64 matches over the next month should appeal for […]

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Posted in General Ramblings, International Football | No Comments »

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