England squad announced and doomed to fail? May 19, 2012

Now, most people will assume that this article is going to me moaning about the England squad which was recently announced for the European Championships but you couldn’t be further from the truth.

Allow me to explain. I sat online waiting to hear the squad announcement like everyone else and no sooner than the squad was being announced; #HodgsonOut was also trending throughout the UK.

The world of Twitter was going mad at Roy Hodgson’s decision to put in Stewart Downing over Adam Johnson and including John Terry with his trial pending.

Now I’m not saying that I agree with every decision that he has made in this squad but what is moaning about it going to achieve? We as a nation fail before we even begin because we never even give someone a fair chance. If it isn’t us all moaning about decisions that have been made, then it’s the media finding scandal with the players.

I get annoyed that every time we go to a major tournament we find ways or excuses for our performances. If it isn’t John Terry sleeping with his teammates’ partners or the manager sleeping with Ulrika Johsson it’s the public finding everything wrong with the team. Now don’t get me wrong. Everyone has a voice and an opinion but when we are weeks away from a major tournament shouldn’t we be getting behind our team?

We have a new manager who hasn’t even managed a game yet and all we are doing is calling for his head! It’s about time we as a nation gave someone a chance and gave it a fair shot.

I look at other nations and they fully support their team and their media portrays their players as heroes and role models. I know it would seem hard to call John Terry a hero in this situation but fact of the matter is, we are doomed to fail before we begin. Not because of a manager, but because we as a nation expect something from our team and all we do is constantly find fault.

After the last World Cup campaign I was in the same boat. I couldn’t believe the lack of drive and determination in the side. I sat there and said that I would never believe we would ever win anything ever again. Maybe this mentality made the current situation seem irrelevant to me. It has however made me think from the point of view of the players. No matter what they do this summer it will likely not be enough for our people. If I watch England get beat this summer but lose with pride and determination then I’ll be disappointed but proud. However, some people will call these players losers no matter what.

Ultimately, these people are human beings. Any 11 people can get a result against another 11 people in a football game. Sure form and skill are the main factors but this is a tournament. Look at Greece. They won the European Championships with a team from which you couldn’t name one of their players today. They managed this task by sticking together, playing confidently and believing in themselves. To believe in yourself is to be believed in.

If just one single player from the team reads this message then I hope they take comfort in the fact that I am not watching you and expecting a trophy, I’m watching you because you are the best of the best.

We need to stop this blaming culture we have going on and just let things roll. We have a talented team which on any given day can give any other team a run for their money. Hodgson is a good manager and the coaching staff in place are experienced. Instead of getting the world of Twitter trending with the words of #HodgsonOut why aren’t we trying to get #ComeOnEngland trending?

These chosen players are honoured to wear a jersey with Three Lions emblazoned on it. They are representing everything that is good about our nation. They are servants to the cause and they need to know that we are behind them no matter what. If just one single player from the team reads this message then I hope they take comfort in the fact that I am not watching you and expecting a trophy, I’m watching you because you are the best of the best. I believe that and when the time comes YOU need to believe that. You need to project a confidence that makes your opponents fear you and that is something that comes from within. Go out there and enjoy yourselves! I want to see you play with smiles on your faces and not fear of how the media will treat you. Believe that people are sat at home watching your every move because they support you with everything they have got.

Children across the globe will be watching you, and just as you did with your idols when you were young, they’ll be believing that they can get to the level that you are at today. Show them that it can be done and that dreams can become reality if you work hard enough. Make us proud and most of all, believe in yourself!

COME ON ENGLAND!

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