Happy New Year to all of you & your families & all the best that life has to offer in 2007!

Ok, Money talks! & Manchester United has no shortage of money! With or without Owen I hope the Red's keep doing well this year. They have a great squad with a very good number of players scoring goals for them this year so ....March on United! March on!

funny how the best player for England during the world cup is canadian. Eh Rasputin? They bought him for the international team, the domestic leaugue should follow suit. He'd be good for man U

I think almost every national team is doing that nowadays which includes Italy. I know for a fact they have a couple of players that were not born in Italy even though they have Italian parents but really who cares? Not me, it's no big deal. As for Owen of course he was not born in England though his parents were. I guess what's important is for national teams to put together the strongest squads they can for international play.

Yes Giova it is ironic about Owen, where he's from, & that he's one of the best players to play on England's national team. I have mixxed feelings about England as dispite my posting name here I'm Irish but I have high respect for English football but I'm talking more from the 1966 era & earlier. There was so many great players in the old days playing in the English league. It's a tough style of football to play in believe me as I played there but my favorite place that I ever played in was Spain which style wise was a little like the style found in Italy. It's more or less a thinking players style of playing. In England the pace is so blinding it's hard to be very creative but still if a player can tread water there then they will play well anywhere. It's hard to understand why England cannot do better on the international level. They have quality players but to be quite honest they need a much better manager. They need somebody that understands the tactics of the powerhouse teams of the rest of the world. Just like my country it's the same thing. There are many very skilled Irish players playing all over Europe. Very gifted players. As a national team though we crash & burn. We have had a few good showings in some world cups but not good enough.

you are right Rasputin, with all the grit, heart and determination Irish players have, theres no reason why they shouldn't qualify for Euro or Mundial every single time. It must be the tactics. Maybe the only thing they really need is an experienced tactical genius.

We had one a few years back. Jackie Charlton. He was very popular with the players. I think our best player in the last decade has been Roy Keene, very gifted player but then again he has always been his worse enemy with his ugly temper. The Irish national team has always reminded me of the Dutch. We have never been quite as good as the Dutch but like the Dutch we have always had quite a bit of infighting within the team as well as big egos' & strong personalities & there's no room for any of that when your playing in the world cup. Like you Italians we are a people with a lot of passion for Football but with the Italian players they not only are very talented but your guys' stay focused on the task at hand. Take for instance Cannavaro who is one of my favorite players. He's very skilled & very tough but unlike say for instance Roy Keene Cannavaro has the ability to keep his fellow players in line & focused on the game plan. That's the mark of a true leader. You are right though. We need a manager that will run a tight ship if we ever expect to do better on the international level. My keeper on my own team is from Italy & he & I pretty much run the show so it gets interesting at time with the blending of styles & tactics we both bring to the table for games as I've learned alot from him. Even though I understand the English style of bang up the long ball & all that. My time playing in Spain changed me a great deal as I learned to adapt to things in a much bigger picture as far as blending of styles but I guess it's like the old saying goes ...Always something new to learn.

Giova ...

I'm not too sure because it was at least twenty five years ago or more but I'm pretty sure one of our players Liam Brady played in serie A in Italy for a spell & if I'm correct he didn't do too bad. He was more or less a midfield player but I think he was one of the only Irish professional players to play in Italy. Italy has a tough league like England but the tactics are much better in Italy as you can actually see the play develope & all the skill involved. Of course in England now the skill level has improved but that's because they have players from all over the rest of Europe & South America playig there so it's spiced up the overall flavor of the game there.

who cares about were the players were born it does not matter i mean who gives a crap

Well every nation has something good to bring to the table I guess that was my point. When I see a good hard fought game with quality players on the field that's what is most important to me but also what makes Football so interesting is seeing the various styles talented players play depending where they are from. I grew up in Europe so I understand European systems say better than somebody from America. I have also played against many Latin teams so I have learned to understand their various systems a little better. In particular Argentina as I have loads of friends from there. I just stay open minded & try to pick up good things from people I cross who might know a little more than me. Life is a process of learning while we are here anyways.

Hallo DynastySoccerFC ... Rasputin
I had been reading all your comments over football that defenitely originated from Manchester to sign Owen and whatsoever.

Through your comment I come to learn that you are resourceful person particularly life of football in the world.

I know you will agree with me that planning for success,someone must have a spirit of determination to reach the objective set. This is one of the thing most of teams do lack when it comes a point of competition!

You have said to have experience in Euro and Latin America as well, what do you say about Africa teams? Africa seems to have most talented players who most of them are playing in Europe. These are including current sounding giants like Aboutrika, Essien, Samwel Eto's, Didie Drogba, Nonda Shabani, Kanoute, Toure, Geremi and other. Also you can remember elders of football legend like "Pele" from Ghana, Rashid Yekhine from Nigeria,George Weah from Liberia who also was awarded world footballer of the year 1995, Karusha Bwalya from Zambia and others I could not remeber.

Now, Africa teams despite having all these wealth, yet they have been not doing better in the World Championship! Can have your comment please?

I personally I love football and I am Tanzanian by nationality. I wish also to let you know that Tanzania is planning to win the world cup 2010 that will be played in South Africa. "We have got this chance, we can't let it go"

I'm more or less of the opinion that citizenship is all that matters. Agreed, citizenship can often be a matter of convenience or loopholes where football is concerned, but if the governing bodies that establish the rules for cizenship see fit to grant it to an individual, who am I to question their right to play for that country. Of course I love to see mostly homegrown talent playing for national sides because it means the most to them in terms of patriotism. However, there are cases of immigrants that arrived in a particular country seeking a better life and could not have more pride in pulling on the national jersey for the country that has given it to them. Bottom line, Governments determine citizenship, not football, so we might as well leave it at that and not complain.

Rasputin/Giova, definitely agreed on the English and Irish National teams. I always find it surprising that Ireland has such a tough time competing with some of the players they have produced over the years. The EPL and other quality leagues are peppered with solid Irish players, yet it hasn't translated to success internationally. The Irish FA is largely considered responsible for the disconnect from what I read and hear. As for Englan, it's even more difficult to explain as they have loads of quality players, coaches, funding, etc. Always mystifies me.

My mistake :) I should have included all the fine players from Africa as there are many. Your point is valid so now I have yet another person here to exchange ideas with. I always like to read Heath's comments & even though Giova & I might not agree on every topic He's dialed in on the finer points of the sport as well so I repsect his comments also. You have every right Revelian to be proud of African Football as there are many world class players that come from Africa. Heath, you know it's beyond me as to why Irish football fails time & time again on the international stage. We have always had good players & we have had a few good moments in past world cups but we always self destruct. England as well. They have so many good players but again it's almost like a group of rock stars with them rather that a national football team. So much hype & pressure is placed upon them & maybe that's the problem. They might have a tough time with staying focused in internationals. Who knows?

Hi Ras and Co., definitely a good point regarding the African nations. Senegal, Ghana, Morocco, etc. have had good runs. Liberia gave us Weah, Ghana produced Yeboah...Ivory Coast, Senegal and Ghana have sent several quality players into top leagues recently...yet none of them have been able to consistently produce on the international level. Tunisia has been the most consisent in showing up at the finals, but still haven't truly established themselves.

If I were to venture a guess at why, it would be two things, one stylistic, the other administrative. A lack of defensive cohesion has always plagued the African sides at World Cup level, though they have plenty of attacking prowess. The lack of consistency throughout the years, I would attribute to the instability of the FAs for these countries. Lack of funding, political instability, etc. all make it difficult to be at the top year over year.

They are always fun to watch though. The African style of football is always exciting, fast paced and creative.

wow you all type a lot

You have shed a ray of sunshine into the forum. Tnhkas!