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The 2017-2018 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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No: Rather, one of the more popular teams - I would imagine that they will draw huge support and massive goodwill from almost all the neutrals.
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Well, while Wales were without Gareth Bale, Ireland were without Seamus Coleman - their captain who had probably been viewed as their best player, and who had suffered a horrific injury as a result of a tackle in the earlier match between the two sides.
Something tells me that the Irish were more than usually motivated for this match.
I'm sure the English press will have talked us up to be potential winners by the time we get there.
Truth is I think we will be lucky to get out of the group stage. Of all my years watching the English team I would say we have one of our weaker sides.
Kane up front is a great striker, but I'm struggling to think of another player that would get much interest from a top team.
As for Iceland, I think they had a great competition last time. I'd say they are unlikely to repeat the feat. But yes I'll be hoping they can (unless it's against us!).
No crying Maradonna, no garbage men (only ones that should wear orange), we are counting you!!
I'm not so sure this time. Normally we walk the qualifiers which is where the hype comes from,and even though we've topped the group again, the last 2 games were dismal to say the least.
Hopefully that sets the tone for the coming WC because let's face it, if we do get out the group, we're going home after the next game anyway!
On a side note, I really don't rate Henderson. As soon as he gets the ball, he's looking to get rid of it. And I don't mean looking for the killer pass either. He just looked really uncomfortable with the ball at his feet.
For years central midfield was a question of who would partner Gerrard, where as now it's more just a question of who...
Even though I'm English, I'm proud of Scotland for boycotting a sporting event in Russia. More countries should follow their example.
So true. Why did Gerrard and Lampard have to be in the same generation? Could do with someone of that calibre now.
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I'm sure they can all support the English instead!
Henderson to be fair is a defensive midfielder. His job is to get the ball and give it to someone with more flair. Unfortunately England are a bit short of flair central midfielders: your Gerrards, Lampards, Gascoignes to go further back. Winks looks promising. A lot is said about Lallana but even as a Liverpool fan I’d struggle to put him in the England team
Not to mention Paul Scholes, who was shunted aside or outright dropped to accommodate those two.
Oh for a young English guy with his talent.
I missed it myself but someone was telling me about a football show they listened to where they went through all the English midfielders playing regularly in the Premier League.
Needless to say it wasn't a very long (or talented) list!
Not today apparently. Not today. Bruce Arena fielded a sub-average team and they got caught with their pants down undone by a lazy back line.
I missed the game as I was in a meeting.
Watching the "highlights" I'm pissed watching the entire back line just watching Tim Howard chase the ball all over the box and *no one* helps him. No one covers the empty net, no one moves to give Howard an option, just nothing.
Sad.
They simply did not want it.
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Also Messi showed up to bring Argentina to the cup.***Breaking world cup News***
Colombia qualifies but USA does notChile is also out which was a surprise
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Ugh CONCACAF officiating at its finest.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/panama-knock-out-world-cup-11322980
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http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/panama-knock-out-world-cup-11322980
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Taylor Twellman basically summed it up perfectly here.
Panama went through on an obvious phantom goal, so the reality is that the USA, as terrible as they were, still should have qualified.
The team were terrible; no urgency, no coordination. Everyone apart from Pulisic shuffled around with expressionless faces, as if they knew they were going to lose from the first minute. T&T, who had nothing to play for part from spoiling the USA's campaign, actually looked interested in winning the game.
The only thing worse than the USA's performance was the pitch, which was a bog.
So yes, the USA were dreadful and deserved to lose the match, but the truth of the matter is that despite everything we were unfairly denied a WC spot based on a big refereeing mistake.
Bad times for USA. Heads will surely roll for this.
EDIT: Oh, and at the risk of sounding bitter, I think it's pretty clear that Mexico and Costa Rica phoned in their matches. I won't go so far as to say they deliberately threw their matches, but in the back of every Mexican and Costa Rican players' mind was "we are already qualified, and if we happen to lose tonight it might screw the USA..."
But ultimately, the bottom line is that the USA were unable to avoid being beaten by Trinidad and Tobago. And with all due respect to T&T, that is simply unacceptable, regardless of all the other mitigating factors.
Panama went through on an obvious phantom goal, so the reality is that the USA, as terrible as they were, still should have qualified.
The team were terrible; no urgency, no coordination. Everyone apart from Pulisic shuffled around with expressionless faces, as if they knew they were going to lose from the first minute. T&T, who had nothing to play for part from spoiling the USA's campaign, actually looked interested in winning the game.
The only thing worse than the USA's performance was the pitch, which was a bog.
So yes, the USA were dreadful and deserved to lose the match, but the truth of the matter is that despite everything we were unfairly denied a WC spot based on a big refereeing mistake.
Bad times for USA. Heads will surely roll for this.
EDIT: Oh, and at the risk of sounding bitter, I think it's pretty clear that Mexico and Costa Rica phoned in their matches. I won't go so far as to say they deliberately threw their matches, but in the back of every Mexican and Costa Rican players' mind was "we are already qualified, and if we happen to lose tonight it might screw the USA..."
But ultimately, the bottom line is that the USA were unable to avoid being beaten by Trinidad and Tobago. And with all due respect to T&T, that is simply unacceptable, regardless of all the other mitigating factors.
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Any reports I read on the match suggested that the US were not only what you have described as 'terrible' but lazy and complacent and not remotely interested in actually competing or contesting the outcome.
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I can't bring myself to watch the whole game, but from what I saw (maybe 25% of it) only three players were really trying. Pulisic, Howard and Dempsey. Everyone else was putting in a leisurely shift.
I've seen more hustle in the high school and "Over 50s" games we have on Sunday AM in my town.
Truly sad, especially for the players like Johansson and Pulisic that could have played for countries that did make it. (Many of the German-Americans wouldn't make the German team though).
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So as often promised this weekends big game turned into a dull 0-0 draw with Man City being the big winners.
Meanwhile the mighty Hammers have started well. A goal to the good, but plenty of time yet.
[doublepost=1507991597][/doublepost]Andy Carroll sent off. Going to be a long time until the end.
Meanwhile the mighty Hammers have started well. A goal to the good, but plenty of time yet.
[doublepost=1507991597][/doublepost]Andy Carroll sent off. Going to be a long time until the end.
I was going to say that Palace have managed their first goal of the season, but turns out it was an OG.
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