The 2017-2018 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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I've only ever taught one class and that was around the time I was doing my masters. Drank with those students the same night (it was multiple classes but I refer to it as 1 class). Rather amusing to see so many lightweights nod off while I was going into the complexities of the near-future for the field of study.
Can't remember what I had, but in those days I'd order a pint of beer with a jigger or two of whiskey splashed atop. It accentuated the flavors of the beer. Having 4-6 pints over the course of three hours was the norm. At three hours your bum and back get tired of the wooden chairs.
c0ppo
macrumors 68000
Southgate is a true gentleman! Even our manager Dalic said so on multiple occasions. After England lost, Southgate comforted his players, and waited for Croatian team to end their celebration with fans. After that he went to our team, and shook hands with every player, manager, medical stuff... Everyone!
Now imagine that. Someone would say it's an easy thing to do. Maybe. But after loosing a dramatic match, one really needs to think hard about this stuff, because there is a lot of going on in your head.
And Southgate managed to do that better then anyone I know off. When Slaven Bilic was leading Croatia, he did that as well with Turks, even though we lost more dramatically then England a few days ago. And that is one of the reasons I really like him. And Southgate as well from now on. It takes courage and manners to do what Southgate did. And that tells you everything you need to know about that man.
On the other hand, look at Sampaoli, Argentina manager... That guy didn't want to shake hands, and never even made it to press conference. That is complete disrespect to your opponents, press, and most of all - your own fans.
Southgate got my complete respect that night. That guy is a true champ.
Centaurr
macrumors 65816
good idea, gonna do the same on sunday. going for Croatia. this is the 'World cup of surprises' cause all the big names didnt reach the finals. now gotta wait another 4 yrs...
the upside is that the Copa America will be in the summer of 2019, thats like a mini World cup.
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Well, come to think of it, I would have thought that France is considered to be a fairly "big name".....
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Obi Wan Kenobi
macrumors 6502a
Penalty shoot outs are uniquely high pressure events, not least because they only arise at the highest levels of knock-out competitions. There is no way to recreate the exact conditions on the training ground, but you can do your best to get there, and in doing so maximise your chances.
Southgate / the players spoke of them being made to practice penalties at the end of long training sessions - to try to anticipate the fatigue of having played a full match and extra time. He had them start their walk up to the penalty spot from the centre circle - as happens in shoot outs, and they were given sports psychology advice / training on how to approach it. This kind of practice and repetition cannot recreate the exact circumstances of a penalty shoot out, but it can go a long way to help. And in this World Cup, it clearly has.
Or as @Apple fanboy put it
This is a level of preparation that is common in other sports, eg rugby, esp by the All Blacks, and I'm pleased that Southgate has taken it up.
When I've read that previous England managers 'don't believe in set pieces as they never come off' or 'you can't practice penalties for a shoot out', I've always wondered how they were allowed to manage a national side, particularly given the money that goes into football, as compared to rugby.
Southgate / the players spoke of them being made to practice penalties at the end of long training sessions - to try to anticipate the fatigue of having played a full match and extra time. He had them start their walk up to the penalty spot from the centre circle - as happens in shoot outs, and they were given sports psychology advice / training on how to approach it. This kind of practice and repetition cannot recreate the exact circumstances of a penalty shoot out, but it can go a long way to help. And in this World Cup, it clearly has.
Or as @Apple fanboy put it
This is a level of preparation that is common in other sports, eg rugby, esp by the All Blacks, and I'm pleased that Southgate has taken it up.
When I've read that previous England managers 'don't believe in set pieces as they never come off' or 'you can't practice penalties for a shoot out', I've always wondered how they were allowed to manage a national side, particularly given the money that goes into football, as compared to rugby.
I'm looking forward to 2026 with 48 nations.
Gutwrench
Suspended
I went from the Dean’s List to academic probation in one semester...and from a partial to no scholarship in the next.
[doublepost=1531525958][/doublepost]
Speaking of Nation’s I miss their hamburgers and chicken sandwiches.
Been there once. Not bad. Went in thinking it was a Nathan's, like the hot dog company? Imagine my surprise. One thing I miss about the older days was Dairy Queen and its knockoff competitor. I can't remember the name at the moment. Oh, and Orange Julius. There was this NorCal based fluffy lemonade company that made, well, flurry lemonades that were out of this world with sourness, bitterness and sweetness that was fantastic. I think they went defunct in 98 or 99 due to the economy hitting them hard. It was cool because they'd use tons of lemons every day and when you walked in to their stores or approached a street stall you could smell the lemon oil lingering in the air. No idea what's the hip thing today. I'd say Starbucks cold drinks but I'm probably wrong.
My oldest nephew liked Red Bull and some competitor product when he was a young teen. I tried some of that stuff, and Red Bull reminded me of this weird pineapple candy that looked like a rocket ship that they sold back in the late 80s with a wax underpart to protect your hands from your own slobber, I guess. It was a fairly gross candy that seemed to be popular with people in those days.
But what do I know? I was a fan of War Heads when they were first allowed in the US. I loved offering people a piece and watching their reaction.
Your daily tangent from Zenithal in sponsored by Tanzanian Peaberry coffee.
Centaurr
macrumors 65816
ohh yeah its gonna be here in the states too, cant wait. dont know what job ill have at that time but im gonna be traveling to see my team play for sure.
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
48 nations sounds like a terrible idea. It's going to be awful teams diving and pushing there way through 90 minutes hoping to get a draw.
All so worse nations can secure a spot and more cash for FIFA.
But before then we have the big brown envelope World Cup in four years time.
All so worse nations can secure a spot and more cash for FIFA.
But before then we have the big brown envelope World Cup in four years time.
c0ppo
macrumors 68000
Infantino even mentioned that there are ongoing negotiations with Qatar to make 2022 WC first one with 48 teams.
I'm already bored by club football, champions league is quite boring in the last 15 years. And frankly, because of all the money flowing in from russians and arabs, I simply have no joy at all to root for any team. My own team is too weak to even go thru group stages, other teams I love are too weak to play vs top teams, and even top teams are mostly too weak to play vs Barca, Real and Bayern.
Last Euro Cup was a joke with all those teams... Now they want to destroy World Cup as well. Why? Because Netherlands didn't qualify? They aren't good anymore, but I do believe they will get very good again, because football is in their blood.
Turkey? Large market, so FIFA needs them in WC no matter that their national team isn't good at all. And if they can get China into WC, well, that would be a blast for FIFA and their one and only interest -> €£$
So yeah, let Qatar take the WC. It doesn't matter that Qatar doesn't even have a solid national team. They are probably gonna purchase a few players from Brazil, Argentina and the balkans. It doesn't matter that you simply can't play football in that country in summer, so FIFA will move it do december...
I really need a new sport to follow, I love handball, but handball is boring because france, denmark, croatia and sweden are unmatched. I'm not a fan of basketball at all, never watched rugby... Maybe ping pong?
I'm already bored by club football, champions league is quite boring in the last 15 years. And frankly, because of all the money flowing in from russians and arabs, I simply have no joy at all to root for any team. My own team is too weak to even go thru group stages, other teams I love are too weak to play vs top teams, and even top teams are mostly too weak to play vs Barca, Real and Bayern.
Last Euro Cup was a joke with all those teams... Now they want to destroy World Cup as well. Why? Because Netherlands didn't qualify? They aren't good anymore, but I do believe they will get very good again, because football is in their blood.
Turkey? Large market, so FIFA needs them in WC no matter that their national team isn't good at all. And if they can get China into WC, well, that would be a blast for FIFA and their one and only interest -> €£$
So yeah, let Qatar take the WC. It doesn't matter that Qatar doesn't even have a solid national team. They are probably gonna purchase a few players from Brazil, Argentina and the balkans. It doesn't matter that you simply can't play football in that country in summer, so FIFA will move it do december...
I really need a new sport to follow, I love handball, but handball is boring because france, denmark, croatia and sweden are unmatched. I'm not a fan of basketball at all, never watched rugby... Maybe ping pong?
pachyderm
macrumors G4
Infantino even mentioned that there are ongoing negotiations with Qatar to make 2022 WC first one with 48 teams.
I'm already bored by club football, champions league is quite boring in the last 15 years. And frankly, because of all the money flowing in from russians and arabs, I simply have no joy at all to root for any team. My own team is too weak to even go thru group stages, other teams I love are too weak to play vs top teams, and even top teams are mostly too weak to play vs Barca, Real and Bayern.
Last Euro Cup was a joke with all those teams... Now they want to destroy World Cup as well. Why? Because Netherlands didn't qualify? They aren't good anymore, but I do believe they will get very good again, because football is in their blood.
Turkey? Large market, so FIFA needs them in WC no matter that their national team isn't good at all. And if they can get China into WC, well, that would be a blast for FIFA and their one and only interest -> €£$
So yeah, let Qatar take the WC. It doesn't matter that Qatar doesn't even have a solid national team. They are probably gonna purchase a few players from Brazil, Argentina and the balkans. It doesn't matter that you simply can't play football in that country in summer, so FIFA will move it do december...
I really need a new sport to follow, I love handball, but handball is boring because france, denmark, croatia and sweden are unmatched. I'm not a fan of basketball at all, never watched rugby... Maybe ping pong?
Baseball?
c0ppo
macrumors 68000
Lioness~
macrumors 601
Find something that inspire you to do some exercising and sweaty yourself.I really need a new sport to follow, I love handball, but handball is boring because france, denmark, croatia and sweden are unmatched. I'm not a fan of basketball at all, never watched rugby... Maybe ping pong?
For instance, I love to watch cross country ski or triathlon and running on my treadmill. Especially on winters.
Ping pong is boring by the way, even though the Swedes had some success in it
c0ppo
macrumors 68000
I play tennis once or twice a week, and I play football 3 times a week. Besides that, I also attend gym 2-4 times a week. I combine all these things, but sometimes it's like twice a day.
I find a lot of 'new' sports to be fun (like Padel for example), but even though I enjoy playing something like tennis, I dislike watching pros playing tennis. Too boring for me
Ping pong is boring by the way, even though the Swedes had some success in it
Actually, ping pong is fun to play. I'm really bad at it, but it is really fun. A few beers and a few friends, it turns into a real fun event. But ping pong was mentioned for jokes, I couldn't ever follow ping pong players since I don't speak mandarin
Lioness~
macrumors 601
Ok, you get you're sweat, great. It’s not always that way with people who watch a lot of sports.I play tennis once or twice a week, and I play football 3 times a week. Besides that, I also attend gym 2-4 times a week. I combine all these things, but sometimes it's like twice a day.
Actually, ping pong is fun to play. I'm really bad at it, but it is really fun. A few beers and a few friends, it turns into a real fun event. But ping pong was mentioned for jokes, I couldn't ever follow ping pong players since I don't speak mandarin
I'm more thinking of saving time, watching & exercising at the same time
Otherwise, I don't have the time to watch a lot.
Ping-pong can be fun to play with friends, absolutely. A lot more then to watch anyway.
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Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Infantino even mentioned that there are ongoing negotiations with Qatar to make 2022 WC first one with 48 teams.
I'm already bored by club football, champions league is quite boring in the last 15 years. And frankly, because of all the money flowing in from russians and arabs, I simply have no joy at all to root for any team. My own team is too weak to even go thru group stages, other teams I love are too weak to play vs top teams, and even top teams are mostly too weak to play vs Barca, Real and Bayern.
Last Euro Cup was a joke with all those teams... Now they want to destroy World Cup as well. Why? Because Netherlands didn't qualify? They aren't good anymore, but I do believe they will get very good again, because football is in their blood.
Turkey? Large market, so FIFA needs them in WC no matter that their national team isn't good at all. And if they can get China into WC, well, that would be a blast for FIFA and their one and only interest -> €£$
So yeah, let Qatar take the WC. It doesn't matter that Qatar doesn't even have a solid national team. They are probably gonna purchase a few players from Brazil, Argentina and the balkans. It doesn't matter that you simply can't play football in that country in summer, so FIFA will move it do december...
I really need a new sport to follow, I love handball, but handball is boring because france, denmark, croatia and sweden are unmatched. I'm not a fan of basketball at all, never watched rugby... Maybe ping pong?
Well, I remember when I first travelled to the Balkans in 1997; I was there to observe elections and we received several days of briefings. One morning, during a coffee break in a day of briefings, I and some of my colleagues watched some kids - they were around nine or ten years old going by appearance and size - play football in the yard of the school where our briefings took place.
And, I remember my amazement at their sheer skill, ball control and mastery of space; in their command of the game, passing ability, control of the ball, dribbling, and ability to read the game, and their lack of fear of possession, these provincial kids - from a relatively obscure region in Bosnia - were light years ahead of any of their contemporaries in northern Europe and the British Isles, - a conclusion that the international observers (comprising several nationalities) were unanimously agreed upon.
This made me realise that we needed to teach kids how to play football, how to master ball possession, control, and passing skills as well as teaching them to read the game, and actually kick that ball, irrespective of whether it is in motion or dead.
Instead, we teach them that winning at all costs is what maters, rather than instilling mastery of the necessary skills into them - skills that these young Balkan kids already had.
Thus, I'm not surprised at how far Croatia has advanced. I remind myself of the extraordinary skills displayed by those kids (yes, they knew we were watching, but they were still damned good) in a sweltering school yard in a school in an obscure part of a country that had just emerged from an extraordinarily destructive and toxic conflict and civil war.
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c0ppo
macrumors 68000
You can teach someone to read the game better. But no one can teach anyone to play like Pirlo, Xavi or Modric. That is just pure basic instinct. One can master a lot, and with training improve to unbelievable level (just look at CR7!), but to get a grip of the game like true masters do, well, I really don't think anyone can master that.. It's either born talent, or what I tend to believe - something you master on your own as a kid, and it sticks with you forever.
1997. I was 12 years old. In 1998, just before WC in France, my team had world championship for kids in France at club level. It was for 15-16 year old kids. I was 13, but at that time, I was a solid left wing back. I had speed, crosses, dribbling and most of all - long range shots.
But no one could compete with teams from Africa. On average, they were bigger, stronger and faster. And I do believe a lot older then they should have been
But I do remember english kids. They were also fast, and really physically strong. A lot stronger then us. But there wasn't even one player who had pure talent, who could control the game.
And that doesn't mean that there aren't any english kids with those kind of skills. It just means that your selection of players at a young age is mostly based of speed, strength and stamina. Those are all really worthy traits, but not the most important ones.
Big football nations in Europe were always Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Netherlands and England. But every country of those mentioned gave some great midfield geniuses over the years. Multiple times. But I can't remember one English player with those abilities. Sure, Lampard and Gerard were great. Lots of strength, excellent reading of the game, one of the best long range shooters ever.
All those positives they had were better then Pirlos for example. But I would choose Andrea Pirlo over them any day of the week. Or Xavi. Or Iniesta...
I do believe your club teams need to choose players based on other criteria, not just speed and strength.
Maybe I'm wrong, I'm just expressing my own opinion
Those days will be lone gone in the near future. As a kid, every chance I got I used to play football. If it was raining, I was playing basketball, tennis or handball. These days kids tend to play on playstation, iphone or pc. No matter if it rains or not
The-Real-Deal82
macrumors P6
It’s weird watching England play Belgium this afternoon knowing that it doesn’t matter if we win or lose. The fire, anticipation and passion seems a distant memory lol. I miss it already.
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Having said that, yes, but another defeat to Belgium will hurt, and it is better to be placed third than fourth in the competition.
As things stand, half time with England losing to Belgium by a goal to nil.
Belgium have been better in the first half, and this time, both countries have fielded their "A Team" or some version of it.
The-Real-Deal82
macrumors P6
Well done Belgium 
That certainly won’t be a match i’ll remember to define England’s performance in this World Cup lol. Pretty proud of every other time I watched them.
My wife will be relieved it’s all over now and we can get back to the busy family life lol.
That certainly won’t be a match i’ll remember to define England’s performance in this World Cup lol. Pretty proud of every other time I watched them.
My wife will be relieved it’s all over now and we can get back to the busy family life lol.
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