Why the lack of National support?

incredible_edibles

incredible_edibles

Well-known member
Cast your mind back to years gone by and every other car would have an England flag attached to it, we'd have the St George's flag in windows and hanging out of bedrooms, loads of England shirts, Vindaloo constantly on the radio and an England prayer mat published by The Sun.

Were those days just hedonistic, cheesy and fun and do we now live in a Po faced world or is it just a sign of a Covid generation?
 
incredible_edibles said:
Cast your mind back to years gone by and every other car would have an England flag attached to it, we'd have the St George's flag in windows and hanging out of bedrooms, loads of England shirts, Vindaloo constantly on the radio and an England prayer mat published by The Sun.

Were those days just hedonistic, cheesy and fun and do we now live in a Po faced world or is it just a sign of a Covid generation?
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Good question
 
Not by any means the sole reason but as above we're made to feel ashamed of showing any pride in being English and / or our national colours.

I do think the general apathy will change IF we managed to win tomorrow.
 
It is noticeable, maybe people are apathetic? I've seen a handful of flags and that is about it. I'll guarantee the percentages in Wales and Scotland were considerably higher. Part of me wonders if some folk are scared/ashamed to fly the St George's Cross, it does feel in general that we (England) are less in your face about it all, then again it could just be less of a big deal given we are regularly competing in such tournaments. Fingers crossed a performance and win tomorrow will have a lot more showing our colours with pride.
 
I think it's just more a result of years of disappointment. Particularly during the 'golden era' where quite frankly, it was criminal we didn't win something. I think the nation has adopted a stance of 'if they can't do then we have no chance with this lot'.

Enthusiasm seems to have wained. But as a conceqeuence so has the expectation on these players. Maybe that's the secret to success?
 
I honestly think that many will feel that the Germans will knock us out on penalties. Not worth the hassle when it will be all over tomorrow night.
Of course we have a 60% chance of victory and the country will go crazy again. Particularly when there will be a great chance to make the final.
 
Win tomorrow and it will all change !

Just tried to to add an England flag to this post, there are several available, including a Welsh one, but no flag of St George !

About sums it up.
 
Interesting point but the Supermarkets are probably the reason - they used to sell all that stuff and not seen any on display this year.
 
I wonder if it’s the lack of personality in the team too? Last season we had players like Jerry and Kenny who were both full of personality and the sort of players you want to get behind.

As good as Kane is, he’s a bit magnolia as a personality. Grealish is our only really interesting personality and Southgate is reluctant to let him loose?
 
I think most people really start to do that stuff when we reach the quarters or semis. I’ve seen a fair few flags around since the start if the tournament, saw my first mini flags on a car yesterday. I expect if we beat Germany we will see a lot more.
 
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 years of disappointment take there toll I guess. I’m trying not to get too excited, but I’d be kidding myself to say I’d not be gutted if we were to lose tomorrow. Same as with Blackpool where some said wait until next season & we’ll go up automatically, NO you need to take your chances now as things may have changed dramatically by then. So come on England.
 
My 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 went up for the beginning of the tournament and will stay flying as long as we remain in the competition.

There's 3 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and 1 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 flying in my street
 
Its because the English Flag Industry has been decimated by Brexit. Imports of cheap plastic flag sticks from suppliers in Belgium, basic plastic white flags from France and complete failure in the supply of vertical red stripes from Italy and horizontal red stripes from the Dutch have all been hit by increases in duties.

Not to mention a severe lack of cheap non EU labour who stuck the flags to the stick and then stuck the red strips on the flag - mind you, there were a lot of scrap flags where they put them on corner to corner to form a cross.

I’d also say that your average flag wankers have worn themselves out over the last few years being indignant about everything leading to a raise in “flag fatigue” cases.
 
The flags were made in Europe, due to red tape as a result of Brexit and a lack of drivers in the UK due to many foreign nationals going back, there is a bit of a hold up. They should be with us in early August!
 
It's mostly about pubs and the disappointing outbreak of measured behaviour we've seen so far this soggy summer. The footballing Engerlish are mostly for better or worse a drinking tribe. Without the ability to walk into your local, or a fan park set up by the council (if they're not too busy removing flags the rotters) and blather to total strangers about inverted wingers and getting between the lines etc, it's hard to recreate that "We're gonna score one more than you" atmosphere. Also missing are the rousing scenes of plastic chair throwing abroad normally associated with our unsteady progress through a tournament. Gareth and his well behaved boys also have much to answer for. Frankly winning this thing won't be enough to get things going, we need a broken curfew or three, let alone a dentists chair job. We've let ourselves down so far. Is it too late though? We'll find out this week ⛱
 
I have an entirely different theory.

You have to pay to watch premiership games on SKY, BT or whoever. Many of us don't, don't read sports tabloids, so do not really have any empathy with the team as individuals like we do with our own team.

So whilst we are generally supportive of any team wearing England colours, many can take it or leave it.
 
I just think people are a little more apathetic and finally don't have hysterical expectations like in previous decades. I think people still watch the games. I know I used to get super nervous and excited for these games but for whatever reason am just watching with complete calm this time round.
 
Chunkylad said:
I wonder if it’s the lack of personality in the team too? Last season we had players like Jerry and Kenny who were both full of personality and the sort of players you want to get behind.

As good as Kane is, he’s a bit magnolia as a personality. Grealish is our only really interesting personality and Southgate is reluctant to let him loose?
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I agree Chunky, Kane is about as stimulating as Southgate's tactics! Regarding the OP, I think it's probably a combination, of a 25% full Wembley and an uninspiring style of play. For me, I'm far more interested in our summer transfer activity to be honest 👍
 
It's because we've been let down so many times previously so many CBA jumping on the bandwagon....however if we do beat the Germans then that may change.

Pubs not being fully opened also contributes as that adds to any fervour
 
I don't think I'm the only one who finds the style of play to be a complete turn-off. The first though seems to be backwards or sideways. And it's not just England. I just can't be bothered with 'top-level' football any more - it is tedious and boring.
Still, I know I will watch the Germany game whether I feel like it or not. I just won't be getting excited about it - unless England go ahead, then all bets are off!
 
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