Terry Fenwick: ‘the drunken scout I blame for never playing for Sunderland’

Courtesy of the British Coaches Abroad Association
Courtesy of the British Coaches Abroad Association


There are worse things
than being the coach, as we must these days call managers, of a team in the third tier of Belgium football.

Perhaps not many worse things, but being the coach/manager who took Cercle Sportif Visé, better but not very much better known as CS Visé, down from the second division in May would have been one of them.

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Brazil 2014. Robson reports in: that phenomenally good and bad Suarez

John McCormick writes: Jeremy Robson has been busy lately but managed to catch up with the World Cup and pass on his thoughts. His considered appraisal of England’s performance and the reasons for it are well worth reading, be you fan, player, owner or member of the FA council. And, if you’re one of the latter, in the words of the one-year king, “something must be done”.

taking  a detached view of events overseas
taking a detached view of events overseas


Few serious followers of the national team
were under any illusions about our prospects at this year’s World Cup, Firstly, we rarely do well and secondly, this is possibly the weakest squad to go to a World Cup in living memory.

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England’s likely exit leaves only Poyet’s victors (or the USA) to support

campo england

OK, not quite out mathematically. Two more Italian victories, England beating Costa Rica, with the right combination of scorelines, would see us through if my maths is right. But still not a great night to be English …


Until England went behind just before half-time,
a draw seemed the least to expect from a mostly scrappy match. Uruguay occasionally ruffled feathers in the England defence but the best approach work and attacking moments had been at the other end.

A piece of Luis Suarez magic suddenly made even a draw appear optimistic. Previously quiet, he utterly lost Phil Jagielka to head in Cavani’s cross expertly.

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Brazil 2014. Sixer, marking the England seniors’ exams, says: ‘Must do better’

Sixer: why Roy should worry
Sixer: why Roy should worry

The strike by senior editors of Salut! Sunderland, cynically timed to coincide with the World Cup, severely delayed the appearance of Pete Sixsmith‘s thoughts on last night’s match. Here is an emergency strike-breaking version. His verdict on the England class of ’14: a decent effort but a long way to go to catch up with the Grade A students in Brazil…

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Brazil 2014: cruel defeat leaves England proud but bitterly disappointed

Jake stayed up in Spain, too
Jake stayed up in Spain, too

This was a noble defeat in a excellent match from which England ought to have taken at least a point. Maintain this level of performance and Roy Hodgson can realistically hope for wins against Costa Rica and Uruguay. My report may be unnecessary; most will have seen it, too. But I offer it in case there is appetite and in the hope that readers will have their own say, too.

The fantasy was that I’d sit back in France, feet up at what for me is midnight and watch the game in the knowledge one of Salut! Sunderland‘s vast team of editors, writers, analysts and illustrators would do all the work. Well no one volunteered though they may pop up later, of course, so here goes …

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Brazil 2014: England vs Italy – let battle commence

Jake flies the flag
Jake flies the flag

In common with Pete Sixsmith, writing here the the other day, I genuinely like Roy Hodgson and that makes it easier to care more about England than has often been the case. International football never rivals club football – my club that is – in terms of emotional commitment.

But England play late tonight, the opener against Italy, and they carry my fervent best wishes for a great start.

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A Bumper England World Cup Bundle for a football know-all

This could be yours
This could be yours

Another competition, more goodies to win, as the World Cup approaches.

In fact, there is no need to be a know-all. These things are much more fun if we banish creativity, frown on encyclopaedic general knowledge and stick to simplicity. So the question will be cinch: all you need do is send me the answer and I will pick a correct answer at random.

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