England to win the world cup

or

Newcastle United to win the Worthington Cup

This might only apply to England fans otherwise it's easier to answer

-- Anonymous, September 01, 2001

Answers

Answers on a Postcard

-- Anonymous, September 01, 2001

This is easy. Newcastle to win the Worthington Cup. Over the years I have watched England matches, both on TV and live, and ever increasingly felt less enthusiasm for the games. I more often than not greeted the final whistle with relief that Shearer was not injured and had no concern for the final score. I realised then that there was only room in my life for one team, and that team is not the Liverpool/Man Utd/ Arsenal hybrid.

-- Anonymous, September 01, 2001

Oh yes sorry but Newcastle come first. Doesnt sound patriotic but its true. Last time I saw England was whilst living in Turkey went to see them play in Izmir 1987 think. Bryan Robson, Chris Waddle etc were playing . English fans b4 the game were quiet and chatty until they started drinking the strong Turkish Efes. Then they became loud, obnoxious, totaly unpleasant and very racist. I couldnt beleiveit. When the England team came on the pitch, to a man they gave Nazi salutes and chanted anti-Turkish slogans. The Turks at this time were bemused they had had access to MOTD so didnt realise the extent of hooliganism which was a good thing as they are a hard bunch. I was very ashamed. A lot of the trouble was caused by too old guys who seemed to be giving out instructions. This has stayed in my memory becausea few months later, when a Chelsea thug was arrested there was a picture of him at a game with his NaZi salute and these two same guys behind him. Apparently it was all National Front stuff. I have gone completely off the subject I know but last night was invited back to a Jormans house to watch the game direct from Munich on his Sat, it was so enjoyable apart form a couple of Brits unfortunately, who with loud voices in front of the lasses were on about f**king niggers how many f**king niggers have France got etc etc, call me over-senstive but I thought this was all behind us.I made my excuses and left at half time. I have travlled most of my life and can honestly say I have nearly as many tinted friends (as they would say), as white. Not being patronising just being honest. Of course there are good and bad everywhere but why oh why does it have to be like this... Sorry have gone completely off on a tangent and so pleased England won but my loyalities are with Newcastle United Football Club.

There its off my chest

Sunday morning here in Ashgabat nice weather might go for swim or have a beer in the bar dunno, whens our next match???

(Have not put the spell check on this as it takes forever)

Cole Porter was a good songwriter you know and apologies Ciara for suggesting you take to the grape occasionally!!!

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

It's a tough one for me. Only a few years ago we would have been looking to win the league, but an England World Cup win isn't something you see every day. It's not a big impossibility that I might never see an England World Cup win.

However, I'd still love to see Shearer holding up a trophy in a black and white shirt :)

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

I'd prefer Newcastle reserves to beat Ponteland in a friendly than for England to win the World Cup.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

I've seen England win the World Cup - its our turn. Mind you I was there @SJP in 69. But I haven't seen a domestic trophy win.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

Tough question Paul. If I supported a team that had won the odd trophy over the 35 years or so I've been supporting them - apart of course from the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - then I would unequivocally say England to win the WC. The '66 win was immense, and I still have very vivid and proud memories of that wonderful day.

However NUFC is a very special cause - our lack of success is a damned disgrace, and also an embarrassment. So, I'd have to say the Toon for the Worthy Cup - winning even the League Cup would be a very special moment for me, and if Alan Shearer was the one holding the Cup aloft it would be even more special. In fact, I don't believe there would be a dry eye in the house.

Derek - sadly a country that has contributed so much to the world is now almost universally despised, and with justification. You witnessed one of the reasons - something we've seen on our tv screens all to often. However, every day our 'emissaries' are displaying their bigotry, jingoism, crudity and loutish behaviour in holiday resorts all over the Mediterranean and far beyond.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

Newcastle - no question!

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2001

Hey Derek.......you would NEVER hear racist chants at any NUFC game would ya?

lol

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2001

Clarky....gotta haul you up on this one. You made the following point.. "sadly a country that has contributed so much to the world is now almost universally despised, and with justification. You witnessed one of the reasons - something we've seen on our tv screens all to often. However, every day our 'emissaries' are displaying their bigotry, jingoism, crudity and loutish behaviour in holiday resorts all over the Mediterranean and far beyond"

Yer right..we have contributed so much to the world but to say that we are "almost universally despised" is a shot in the dark...an urban myth...or can I say just plain bollox. We don't seem to like ourselves it seems to me...that's all. We are continually slating our own transportataion system (roads, rail and EasyJet, our education systems, our health service, our weather, our sportsman etc etc. We look upon the actions of a few people in the "Med" on holiday and we take it all very personally. Let me ask you who is "liked" on the international top ten hit list. Probably the Irish, The Belguims, Portugese and the Scandinavians.....and between them have offered the world not a tenth of what this little piss poor racist hooligan controlled country has.

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2001

Purely and simply because the World Cup comes up only every four years, and we suffer the indignity of going out of the Worthy every year, waiting another 4 years to win the WC is less attractive to me than waiting only a year (hopefully) to win the Worthy.

So, on balance, give me the World Cup.

Might also have something to do with age (like mine).

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2001

Im sorry LR, I'd forgotten about our wonderful road system, rail transport system, education system and NHS, foot & mouth, Mad Cow Disease and it's human equivalent vCJD, the countryside economy, The Dome, our cricket team, ITV, Big Brother, and all our other recent national success stories.

Actually, I would exclude the NHS which imho still does a highly creditable job despite the major problems it suffers from, and the complete inability of our political leaders to clearly identify the root of those problems, and put in place a long-term plan to address and hopefully resolve them.

Believe it or not LR, I'm a patriot like yourself, and it saddens me enormously to see the state this wonderful country is in. Among the fundamental underlying problems is our lack of respect for intellect, and our suspicion and petty envy of people who achieve personal success.

I feel we have lost our way as a nation, spend far too much time looking backwards to what we have given the world, have lost the will or the ability to truly get to grips with our national problems, are far too prepared to accept second best, and have become consumed with trivia and hedonism. Open your eyes and look around.

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2001

Im sorry LR, I'd forgotten about our wonderful road system, rail transport system, education system and NHS, foot & mouth, Mad Cow Disease and it's human equivalent vCJD, the countryside economy, The Dome, our cricket team, ITV, Big Brother, and all our other recent national success stories.

Ya see Clarky?....I bet a few thousand years ago the local Egyptians dogged those big triangular tombs as a waste of time and money. You ever been on a bus in India or a Hospital in South Korea for that matter? Still....at leats we haven't really got rabies or malaria over here :-)

Actually, I would exclude the NHS which imho still does a highly creditable job despite the major problems it suffers from, and the complete inability of our political leaders to clearly identify the root of those problems, and put in place a long-term plan to address and hopefully resolve them.

Believe it or not LR, I'm a patriot like yourself, and it saddens me enormously to see the state this wonderful country is in. Among the fundamental underlying problems is our lack of respect for intellect, and our suspicion and petty envy of people who achieve personal success.

I feel we have lost our way as a nation, spend far too much time looking backwards to what we have given the world, have lost the will or the ability to truly get to grips with our national problems, are far too prepared to accept second best, and have become consumed with trivia and hedonism. Open your eyes and look around.

I do look around and I see a country NOT ALLOWED to feel proud about itself. I have NEVER seen A St George day "special" in any pub but I've had St Pat rammed down my throat every year since memory. I have seen schools that have had their nativity plays taken from them in favour of "holiday" celebrations just because there are one or three "ethnic minorities" in said school and I hear about Asian and White schools, or Black and White areas!!! WHAT?...since when has this country had designated areas for Asians, Blacks or Whites?....There is a major fuck-up in this countrey and there can be a lot of reasons why...I think we're pandering too much to the lefties if you ask me. There is hardly ANY racial intergration and this just leads to these "areas" that I described.

I can see your reasons for making yer statements but sometimes I feel that the other side of the fence is hardly taken into consideration when doggin' this country. I still think we're Great Britain....just!

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2001

Well, I'd forgotten about race relations - kindly add that to my list.

You know LR, we're not that far apart in viewpoint here. My frustration is that I just know this country is capable of so much more - but I truly believe we have lost our way and our national vigour.

We need to become far more demanding of our political leaders, less tolerant of failure and anything less than the very best, and the 'make-do-and mend' approach that our political system engenders. We need to develop a wider consencus on our real national priorities, and more vigourously pursue them.

We undoubtedly have the intellect and the potential to do this, but we need to rediscover the respect for it, and encourage again the entrepreneurial spirit that made our country great.

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2001

jingo all the way. INGERLAND!

like any culture there are both good and bad...

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2001

England, but not if it was the Premiership or FA Cup.

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2001