The England thread

[TCO]

I propose that we go over to Wembley and start tearing the seats up and getting the match cancelled if we go 1-0 down, see how you like it.

[King Ellis]

Depends who you were asking, most fans probably would because it'd probably take them 5 years to reinstall the seats and we wouldn't have to play every game at Wembley anymore.

[Starvinho]

Brazil, Ireland and Scotland; some good friendlies to look forward to for once.

[Hobo]

I propose that we go over to Wembley and start tearing the seats up and getting the match cancelled if we go 1-0 down, see how you like it.

No. Not even as a joke.

[TCO]

I propose that we go over to Wembley and start tearing the seats up and getting the match cancelled if we go 1-0 down, see how you like it.

No. Not even as a joke.

Wasn't actually recommending or condoning that, but OK. Didn't realise it was wrong to joke about a 17 year old act of hooliganism that resulted in 0 fatalities.

[Dingle]

I propose that we go over to Wembley and start tearing the seats up and getting the match cancelled if we go 1-0 down, see how you like it.

No. Not even as a joke.

Wasn't actually recommending or condoning that, but OK. Didn't realise it was wrong to joke about a 17 year old act of hooliganism that resulted in 0 fatalities.

But you realise now, right? Disgraceful.

[Starvinho]

On top of the three friendlies already confirmed, England are looking to secure home matches against Germany and Argentina in November 2013.

[Lineker]

England will meet Serbia in a two-legged play-off to decide which nation will qualify for next summer's Under-21 European Championship in Israel.

[Lineker]

The FA can confirm that Dan Ashworth has been appointed as its new Director of Elite Development.

Ashworth will join The FA from West Bromwich Albion, where he has spent eight years, most recently becoming the club’s Sporting and Technical Director in July 2008.

The 41-year-old, whose start date with The FA has yet to be confirmed, will be based at St. George’s Park – home of The FA’s new National Football Centre and training base for the 24 England teams.

Ashworth, who holds a UEFA Pro Licence, has a proven track-record in youth development as well as extensive experience of coaching elite players within the professional game.

Working with The FA’s Director of Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking, his key responsibilities will include:

• Leading The FA’s role in delivering the Elite Player Performance Plan [EPPP] in conjunction with the Premier League, Football League and professional football clubs with the ultimate goal of producing more English playing talent
  
• Managing The FA’s coach education team to ensure the provision of a continuously developing, world class, qualified and licensed coaching workforce covering the whole game
  
• Delivering The FA’s high performance strategy to provide the optimum support for users of the world-class facilities at St. George’s Park and including; Performance Analysis, Sports Science, Medicine, Psychology, Scouting and Research
  
• Working with Sir Trevor Brooking and the National coaches of the U16 to U20 teams to deliver the optimum learning experience for elite young English players in order to improve their physical, technical and mental abilities
  
• Leading the new women’s elite performance unit, with the aim of producing more English female playing and coaching talent for progression through the women’s game to international level

Ashworth will not work specifically with the England Senior or Under-21s teams, but will play a key role in the development of the country’s elite talent through his close working relationship alongside Sir Trevor Brooking and Adrian Bevington, Managing Director of Club England.

Alex Horne, The FA’s General Secretary, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dan to The FA and offer our thanks to West Bromwich Albion for their courtesy throughout this appointment process.

"Dan is highly regarded and hugely respected within the game and we believe securing his services at The FA will give the future of English football, from the grassroots to the elite level, a tremendous boost.”

Sir Trevor Brooking, The FA’s Director of Football Development, said: “We are currently enjoying a hugely exciting and important time for football in this country, from the recently approved Youth Development proposals to the completion of the National Football Centre at St. George’s Park.

"I am really looking forward to working with Dan, who will play a crucial role as we continue to develop and deliver The FA’s technical development programme and raise standards of coaching.”

Dan Ashworth said: “I am really pleased and indeed honoured to have been offered the opportunity to join The FA.

"Working within the national set-up has always been a life-long ambition. To do so at a time when the future of the game in this country has never looked brighter, through the completion of St. George’s Park and the Youth Development proposals, is an exciting challenge which I look forward to taking on.”

[therockbox]

John Terry's retired from international football, according to Dan Roan and a few other journos on twitter.

[IAceI]

Says the FA has made his position untenable.

It's good moving forward though, we should be putting in a team who will be likely be at the top of their games come 2014 for the World Cup and John Terry isn't one of them players.

[Colly]

Yay!

[Starvinho]

Probably the best for both parties in the long run. Hopefully this doesn't mean Rio gets a recall, it's time to give younger players a chance now, there's plenty of options at centre-back.

Edited September 23, 2012 by Starvinho

[DavidMarrio]

Getting a bit of a "jump before being pushed" feeling with this retirement announcement.

[stokeriño]

Now if all the other Chelsea players could do the same...

[The Future]

Hope Rio retires as well, Cahill-Lescott or Cahill-Jagielka with the likes of Smalling,Jones,Shawcross all around will be sufficient

[stokeriño]

Purely with an "in support of England football" hat on, I would have no problem with a number of players, including John Terry, retiring to make the whole thing a bit more interesting.

With my Chelsea-supporting hat on, I'm happy that John Terry no longer has this opportunity to go and get injured in the depths of Kazakhstan or similar and would be equally pleased if Frank Lampard and/or Ashley Cole did the same (would like Cahill to get a decent go, though).

Without any kind of hat limiting my viewpoint to only football decisions, I await the FA's bullshit ruling on bullshit principles of "well we don't need actual evidence, see" that has prompted John Terry's retirement.

[Summers]

Hope Rio retires as well, Cahill-Lescott or Cahill-Jagielka with the likes of Smalling,Jones,Shawcross all around will be sufficient

I for one can't wait to see how our new sufficient team does. Who needs good when you have sufficient?

[Jimmy]

I'd actually like to see Shawcross get a call-up for the England team, really solid defender who's still young.

[The Future]

Ferdinand and Terry are both great but Rio's back is fucked and he'll be older once 2014 rolls around, Terry and him have never really been that mind-blowingly convincing for England either. Terry's getting on as well and really struggles against pacy strikers. The center backs that England have available are sufficient to qualify and by the time 2014 rolls around you'd expect them to develop even further.