England

While I was hoping to discard my 1966 World Cup cups (two porcelain versions for drinking tea from) for 2010 England replicas, it was never to be.

Why? It was because England did not have a Gordon Banks in goal (probably the best goalkeeper ever) no Bobby Moore to captain and direct the defence and no Geoff Hurst up front, the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.

Most importantly, England had a master tactician at the top of his managerial career such as Alf Ramsey. A man, a quiet gentleman believe it or not, who had faith in his team and had the utmost respect from an England team who would sweat blood for him and their country.

As a 17-year-old in 1966 you felt that England were world beaters and on home turf looked unbeatable. They were a group of talented individuals moulded together as a team by an English manager who believed that they would win the World Cup.

As a 60-plus-year-old in 2010 I never believed this England team had the skill or the will to go very far.

Cllr. George Dunning, England supporter for over 50 years, via email

AFTER all the disappointments England has suffered since 1966, one would think that by now the media would be able to come up with a more novel excuse than, ‘sack the manager’.

Why sack a manager, who, until recently, was being hailed as the best thing since sliced bread?

Maybe it is to take pressure off themselves as the team that was on the field was the one that they themselves had pushed for.

What about those overpaid prima donnas who bottled it?

The pundits are grasping at straws, blaming the fixtures, too many games, too much strain on the players and the introduction of too many foreigners. They miss the most important factor of all.

What is really killing our game is player power. Too many prima donnas who spit out their dummies at the mention of discipline and would sooner face the camera than the truth.

They wallow in the role of celebrities while blaming their failings on others. As for the excuse of too many games, there are players in other World Cup teams that are still doing well who come from English teams and it doesn’t seem to affect them.

As for those who think there are too many foreigners in our leagues, these players were brought in to make up for the lack of talent in our own teams and it is these players who have made the English leagues the most competitive in the world.

I say it is time these socalled stars stood up to be counted because once that whistle blows, the people in charge are the players themselves so don’t blame the manager.

T Seal, Middlesbrough

THE main reason England failed to perform in South Africa is that they failed to perform as a team. There was no co-ordination and that’s a management fault.

So England need a new manager, preferably one who can speak English.

True, it wasn’t solely the manager’s fault. You also have to wonder about the kind of people who play in the Premier League when, as individuals, they obviously didn’t think it worth their while to pull their weight for their country.

As for them being tired, forget it. Not one’s done a proper day’s work in his life.

Tony Kelly, Crook

I DOUBT I am alone in being disgusted that Fabio Capello has been kept on by the highly discredited English FA. I have been saving for the next European Championships in Poland/Ukraine and fear that by keeping him on we may not make this event. I might have to buy a new carpet or sofa instead!

It is quite clear that the FA, who are up to their ears in debt due to the unnecessary rebuilding of Wembley (I was an on-theroad advocate), have blown the finances required to rid us of this man.

He, unlike the near dozen other managers who have gracefully resigned after poor showings, continues as if nothing happened in South Africa. He can’t blame tiredness – how come Kuyt, Boateng, Van Persie et al seem not to have been affected in the latter stages?

On paper our team appeared stronger than Holland, Germany and Argentina, yet we were as bad as you can get.

It’s now time for a clearout.

No one in the South Africa squad aged 30 or over should be considered irrespective of whoever they may be. Get the kids in instead, at least they may play with eagerness and pride.

If the FA had anything about themselves, Capello would now be gone and Harry Redknapp or Roy Hodgson inserted as boss, even though they have diplomatically ruled themselves out. I just prey that the FA has not made things a lot worse, and will regret the bad decision they have made.

As for the future of England, the government should exert the type of pressure it applied to the FA to make stadia all-seated to ensure they have at least half of all Academy team members, or under 21 years age squad members, from Britain Mark Anderson, Middleton St George

FOLLOWING England’s disastrous World Cup campaign, a reprieved Fabio Capello has pledged to put things right.

Therefore, it is surely time to axe Emile ‘no goals’ Heskey, David James and the media circus that is David Beckham.

However, it could be mission impossible in terms of turning our overpaid flops into world beaters.

To blame our failings on a long domestic season only diverts from the fact that we are not good enough.

England to bounce back – I will believe it when I see it.

Carl Brunskill, Barnard Castle NO surprise then that The Northern Echo’s Chief Sports Writer, Scott Wilson does not include one English Player in his dream team for the World Cup (Echo, June 9).

But it speaks volumes that three English players appear in his worst players list.

Following the disgraceful, lacklustre performance by England in the World Cup it is gratifying that one Englishman, at least, has the skill and professionalism to make it through to the final on Sunday.

Congratulations to the referee, Howard Webb!

Val Hawkins, Langley Park

THE problem with poor England performances will forever be with us until we ultimately accept that the English need their Celtic cousins and cannot be trusted to go it alone.

Home Nations soccer has done no good at all. Quite frankly, it has been an unmitigated disaster. It’s high time that the England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland football squads were disbanded in favour of a single Great Britain national side, drawing strong quality players from every corner of the United Kingdom. Let’s act before we, as Englishmen, have turned into the laughing stock of world soccer.

Aled Jones, Bridlington