The Poolie Bunker

I care.

I'm proud to be English and enjoy watching my national football team. An enjoyment which is greatly increased when they are doing well.

All of this "who cares" stuff is pure bollox.

Stop talking shi'ite.

It is your individual right not to care.

As it is for Tubbs.

But to suggest that nobody except the media cares is pure bollox.

Try reading further back up the thread Mr Goldfish.

I don't think anyone can say this summer isn't going to be missing something without England in the European Championships. If nothing else an England game in a major championship is a decent social event a chance to gather with your mates and get behind your country. I wasn't gutted like I would be when Pools lose when Croatia dicked us, in many ways it was rather amusing seeing the bemused clocks on the arrogant fookers faces at the end but ultimately it's still disappointing. The only thing that's going to benefit this summer now is probably our livers, as England games in the World Cup/Euros in the past have turned into some fairly hefty sessions...

I don't think people care as much as they think they do about England. When we get knocked out people are low for about five minutes then it's forgotten about.

When Pools lose it can take anything up to two days to shrug it off. I still want England to do well but I wouldn't say I care about them.

the last time I was bothered was Euro 96, maybe for France '98, but the money they get for playing for England, and for playing at club level, is disgusting. That's what I can't stop thinking about - I can't get past the fact that the likes of Ray Kennedy had to sell his football medals and England caps to live comfortably in retirement, and he was a winner at the top level with Liverpool. Some no-mark left back for Bolton or Reading probably gets more in one year than Kennedy did in his entire career (even taking into account relevant monetary values between now and then). The bastards don't appreciate how lucky they are in the modern game, they are not even men - they are like little squealing girls in fact. The fuc-king bunch of tossers.
In fact, since I started writing this, I've become even clearer about why I dislike the England footy players these days!!!!

I'm with you all the way there Parmo. When Ray Kennedy was with us someone organised a Coach to go up to his Pub in Seaton Sluice (?). He got us all together in a circle, and passed his medals around, one at a time, chatting about them. He was/is a real gentleman, and it broke my heart thinking about him having to sell those medals. I've always thought that professional footballers don't know how lucky they are. But the current 'stars' certainly don't have any appreciation of it. Don't get me started on tw*ts like Joey Barton.

That was a good yardstick, Tax. It's the same for me.
When England lose, I say "oh, shit" then move on.
When Pools lose a little bit of my happiness in life goes away until they win again.