James Collins - England

[splott parker]

Re: James Collins - England

Sport, particularly football, very often has a tradition of not wanting your closest neighbours to succeed whether your side are involved or not. We see that in the local derbies and indeed if your local rival is playing anyone else. Like it or not the majority of us have got a deep, ingrained dislike of Swansea and Bristol City (Rovers seems to get a free pass). The success of these rivals though isn’t rammed down your throat 24/7, the media, who are the real villains, go overboard with any glimmer of English success and we can’t escape it given the papers we buy and the television we watch. A lot of us have most probably admired many English players over the years but it’s difficult not to gloat when it inevitably goes tits up and the media goes into meltdown. Turn the tables though and they win this thing are we going to face an avalanche of back slapping and self congratulation on a scale we’ve never seen before? I reckon we will, much bigger than immediately after 1966 when things were a touch more reserved. I can’t f*cking wait......:facepalm:

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: James Collins - England

I'm not sure that follows. I have lived and worked in England most of my life and I have never supported England. In most sports I am neutral when England play, but when it comes to football (and to a lesser extent rugby union) I have got so sick of many of their fans and media that I slip into the ABE camp. It is usually light-hearted and based on banter at work and with my partner's family (Coventry), but constant exposure to 'Little Engerlanders' can produce anything but attachment. They are also the source of the rare but real examples of ant-Welsh abuse or prejudice I have experienced on this side of the border.

Like you, I have spent more of my life in England than in Wales but my England football-supporting colleagues, neighbours and acquaintances are very pleasant people and I am happy for them if their team does well - and the vast majority of them want Wales to do well.

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Re: James Collins - England

He probably means when you go out of your way to support whoever they play. In your case in any sport including tiddly winks and dwarf wrestling.

I get if someone isn't English, has no connection there and doesn't care either way, but the commitment to want nothing but failure for them I've never understood.

I suppose for me it’s deeper than just sport, I dislike Englands impact on the world and wish nothing but misery for their ruling classes. Regular Joe’s are no different than the rest of us. But then losing at sport is one in the eye for the pricks.

I’m apathetic about any football team other than Cardiff City. I don’t care who wins the premier league, champions league etc.

But for National English sports teams and their fans, media coverage it may as well be Brexit distilled into 90 mins.

The way they get portrayed as being the worlds best, founders of sport or it coming home just makes me think they are all *****.

[blue matt]

Re: James Collins - England

Why does not supporting England equate to having a chip on your shoulder.

Trigger has replied in a way i couldnt add anything

He probably means when you go out of your way to support whoever they play. In your case in any sport including tiddly winks and dwarf wrestling.

I get if someone isn't English, has no connection there and doesn't care either way, but the commitment to want nothing but failure for them I've never understood.

Indeed, if you are not English and dont support them, fair enough, but the idea to support the team they are playing in anything and wishing England fail in everything, if thats not a chip on your shoulder, then i am not sure what is

I suppose for me it’s deeper than just sport, I dislike Englands impact on the world and wish nothing but misery for their ruling classes. Regular Joe’s are no different than the rest of us. But then losing at sport is one in the eye for the pricks.

I’m apathetic about any football team other than Cardiff City. I don’t care who wins the premier league, champions league etc.

But for National English sports teams and their fans, media coverage it may as well be Brexit distilled into 90 mins.

The way they get portrayed as being the worlds best, founders of sport or it coming home just makes me think they are all *****.

losing in sports hardly effect the " ruling classes " but it does effect the average Joe imho

anyway, your post does look like the example of my example of the chip on the shoulder

[Bluebirdman Of Alcathays]

Re: James Collins - England

Ive said it before, move out of / away from Wales and the " chip on your shoulder " appears to diminish

Ive also said before when We ( Wales ) were doing well in the Euro 16's, alot of people i knew were supporting Wales

Wales' run at Euro 16 was a rare joy ride with little or none of the pompous posturing that often comes with a good England run, so it's not really a fair comparison. There were some snippy comments about the parade afterwards though.

With regard to Collins and Davies, it's likely they didn't have a chip in the first place - they're mercenaries who would rock up anywhere that would pay them. They've also travelled all over the country hearing the same attitudes wherever they go.

Perhaps when we look at (part of) England's support people are reminded just how ridiculous football supporting can be. All that pent up anger and swagger about others' achievements. Why take it so seriously? It takes away the joy and sullies the party, and, unfortunately for those who just want to have fun, what's highlighted with England is the boorish arse who thinks it's all about him.

And of course it's not just a small country chip - a lot of English people aren't so keen on their national team because of it.

[J R Hartley]

Re: James Collins - England

Wales' run at Euro 16 was a rare joy ride with little or none of the pompous posturing that often comes with a good England run, so it's not really a fair comparison. There were some snippy comments about the parade afterwards though.

With regard to Collins and Davies, it's likely they didn't have a chip in the first place - they're mercenaries who would rock up anywhere that would pay them. They've also travelled all over the country hearing the same attitudes wherever they go.

Perhaps when we look at (part of) England's support people are reminded just how ridiculous football supporting can be. All that pent up anger and swagger about others' achievements. Why take it so seriously? It takes away the joy and sullies the party, and, unfortunately for those who just want to have fun, what's highlighted with England is the boorish arse who thinks it's all about him.

And of course it's not just a small country chip - a lot of English people aren't so keen on their national team because of it.

By Matts logic the whole world must have a chip on its shoulder.

**** England.

[chrisp_1927]

Re: James Collins - England

I suppose for me it’s deeper than just sport, I dislike Englands impact on the world and wish nothing but misery for their ruling classes. Regular Joe’s are no different than the rest of us. But then losing at sport is one in the eye for the pricks.

I’m apathetic about any football team other than Cardiff City. I don’t care who wins the premier league, champions league etc.

But for National English sports teams and their fans, media coverage it may as well be Brexit distilled into 90 mins.

The way they get portrayed as being the worlds best, founders of sport or it coming home just makes me think they are all *****.

If you dislike England because of their impact on the world. Surely there is a bit of a conflict when they play Portugal, France, Spain, Germany, Russia etc. They've all got histories that are quite colourful

[Vindec]

Re: James Collins - England

Like you, I have spent more of my life in England than in Wales but my England football-supporting colleagues, neighbours and acquaintances are very pleasant people and I am happy for them if their team does well - and the vast majority of them want Wales to do well.

Well said. I watched the Wales v Portugal semi final of euro 16 on a cruise ship and the support for Wales was incredible. The cruise company had Welsh banners everywhere and made a big thing of the fact that a British team had gone so far in the competition. I'm fairly confident the vast majority of passengers were English.

[blue matt]

Re: James Collins - England

Well said. I watched the Wales v Portugal semi final of euro 16 on a cruise ship and the support for Wales was incredible. The cruise company had Welsh banners everywhere and made a big thing of the fact that a British team had gone so far in the competition. I'm fairly confident the vast majority of passengers were English.

Ive relayed a few stories about wearing my Welsh shirt ( especially during the euro 16 ) and People have said " hope you win / your lot are having a great tournament / good luck / etc etc " which is strange and many on here would have you believe English people are supporting whoever Wales are playing

[City123]

Re: James Collins - England

Ive relayed a few stories about wearing my Welsh shirt ( especially during the euro 16 ) and People have said " hope you win / your lot are having a great tournament / good luck / etc etc " which is strange and many on here would have you believe English people are supporting whoever Wales are playing

You know what I think its possible that in a country of 56 million there were both people who wanted Wales to win and those who didn't want Wales to win

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: James Collins - England

Trigger has replied in a way i couldnt add anything



Indeed, if you are not English and dont support them, fair enough, but the idea to support the team they are playing in anything and wishing England fail in everything, if thats not a chip on your shoulder, then i am not sure what is



losing in sports hardly effect the " ruling classes " but it does effect the average Joe imho

anyway, your post does look like the example of my example of the chip on the shoulder

I say, Marmaduke, our chaps have done a super job tonight. How do you fancy putting on our smoking jackets and celebrating with a cucumber sandwich and a tea cake?

[surge]

Re: James Collins - England

There are both nice England supporters who will wish Wales well and England supporters who, if you tell them they haven't been away from home yet this tournament, will be quick to tell you that Wales wouldn't survive without England or will shout "come on England" in the Millenium Stadium when watching the UK play Olympic football - a country of 68 million having both good and bad to it shocker!!

England football does what they think is right for England football though: they've pushed for an Olympics' team because it's right for England despite concerns about what it means for other home nations independent football status, they broke away from home nations youth cup because it was right for England despite it being a knock to other home nations and they pushed David Gill to be lead representative for governing body despite it being the Welsh official's turn because it was right for England football.

There are also many in Wales who will be quick to enjoy this summer but weren't bothered by 2016 because they don't want to see Wales as a nation in any small way. Welsh Tories are second biggest party in the Senedd and basically ran a campaign of "we're doing too much thinking for ourselves" while several other parties picked up hundreds of votes wanting to unwind any sense of nation status. There are MP's (Shrewsbury MP, Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP) in England who would likely agree.

James Collins has right to support whoever he wants, it's really not any different from him saying he'll support Spain now, but doesn't have right to say he's speaking for everyone. A small adjustment to his wording would likely see a different reaction from most.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: James Collins - England

Sport, particularly football, very often has a tradition of not wanting your closest neighbours to succeed whether your side are involved or not. We see that in the local derbies and indeed if your local rival is playing anyone else. Like it or not the majority of us have got a deep, ingrained dislike of Swansea and Bristol City (Rovers seems to get a free pass). The success of these rivals though isn’t rammed down your throat 24/7, the media, who are the real villains, go overboard with any glimmer of English success and we can’t escape it given the papers we buy and the television we watch. A lot of us have most probably admired many English players over the years but it’s difficult not to gloat when it inevitably goes tits up and the media goes into meltdown. Turn the tables though and they win this thing are we going to face an avalanche of back slapping and self congratulation on a scale we’ve never seen before? I reckon we will, much bigger than immediately after 1966 when things were a touch more reserved. I can’t f*cking wait......:facepalm:

The irony being that the press have harangued the England team a great deal over the last half-century due to their lack of success.

[blue matt]

Re: James Collins - England

The irony being that the press have harangued the England team a great deal over the last half-century due to their lack of success.

Build them up and them knock them down

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: James Collins - England

Build them up and them knock them down

Indeed. And it happens in most other countries, of course. The media need a story either way.