The Football Thread.

Jfingers

ronnyb said:

Pathetic. 

The FA wont employ a maverick risk taker, its got be be a yes man. I've never forgiven them for not giving the job to Brian Clough.

A great quote from Brian Clough I was reminded of today - "We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately the game was played on grass"

munckee

Hootsmon said:

Peeps, can Scotland still qualify...mathematically

If you win and Germany beat Switzerland it comes to goal difference as you and the Swiss drew.  

You would likely qualify as a 3rd place team with 4 points whatever.  If you lose then you’re out. 

Shrews

... or just take it easy in the group stages, only up the intensity if we fck it up and lose.

The knockout stages are where the energy is needed.

Maybe this is what Southgate has learned in his England reign. Don't overdo it, keep possession, accumulate the points and get to the next round.

**It's the only thing I have as an excuse for our shitness so far.

Today 

Georgia 0 Czech 1

Even enough, but I think the Czech's might just have enough defensively to cope with the Georgian attack. Late first half goal.

Belgium 3 Romania 1

As impressive as the Romanians were in the first game I think Belgium will play much better than against Slovakia.

Portugal 3 Turkey 1

Ronaldoooooo...hat trick in a superb team performance. 

UnclePsychosis

Hootsmon said:

Peeps, can Scotland still qualify...mathematically

Yes. There are three ways: 

1) Absolutely batter Hungary, whilst Germany batter the Swiss. Scotland finish second. 
2) Draw with Hungary, eight million other results also go our way, and we go through in third place on two points 
3) Beat Hungary and go through in third place on four points 


Point 1) is fantasy land stuff, Point 2) is feasible but qualification with 2 points is only about 14% probable, Point 3) is by far the most likely --- a team with four points will qualify in third about 98% of the time. 

mrkb

Looks unlikely 

Rocker

Playing a settled team has one major disadvantage - the opposition have time to study how the team plays and how specific players move. The opposition know more about Harry Kane than Harry Kane knows about Harry Kane. So why not spring a surprise and play someone else up front, at least for the first half. Someone they won’t have studied all that much. Then send Kane on to win the game. That strategy takes courage and will be analysed to death by the home based pundits but football is a game that requires courage - has the manager the courage to try it?

guitars4you

Massive game tonight for Belgium
loose and they could be going home early 

TTony

guitars4you said:

Massive game tonight for Belgium

Good to see Vertonghen playing.  Sold by Spurs 4-5 seasons ago because he’d got too old and had slowed down too much.  

Supposedly.

Also good to see Dragusin on a pitch rather than the Spurs bench!

guitars4you

TTony said:

guitars4you said:

Massive game tonight for Belgium

Good to see Vertonghen playing.  

Always thought he was a good player 

Schnozz

Ally Mushmouth McCoist

Nightswan

Can this commentator chill a bit with the Kevin DE BROYNAAAAAA stuff!!!

mgaw

Cracking game

Schnozz

Offside again

EricTheWeary

Caught bits of the Belgium game, exciting stuff. Group E now almost bizarrely close. 

BigBearKris

Schnozz said:

Ally Mushmouth McCoist

Yeah, I already made a comment here a while ago during champions league- I really have time turn the tv down when he's on. 
"...now tell me Fletch..."

thecolourbox

BigBearKris said:

Schnozz said:

Ally Mushmouth McCoist

Yeah, I already made a comment here a while ago during champions league- I really have time turn the tv down when he's on. 
"...now tell me Fletch..."

I always just think of Ally McMoist from Soccer AM when I see him. 

"Ally, What's that wet mark on your trousers?"
" Ay it's just a wee stain"

ewal

Tyldesley and McCoist are straight out of the Alan Partridge commentary stable. Unbearable.

munckee

ewal said:

Tyldesley and McCoist are straight out of the Alan Partridge commentary stable. Unbearable.

I thought it was Kevin Bridges doing a comedy impression of Mccoist. 

guitars4you

By a large margin, the best pundit is Gary Neville - And when he started I would never have thought that would be the case

There is no shortage of bad pundits on the panels - Shearer, Rooney, Richards(probably they worse) Lampard - I'm going to get shot if I say Jill Scott, but there you go I've said it - Yet many times when they bring in a 'guest' overseas player they talk far more sense - Roy Keane can be good or bad depends on the day, the teams and what comes out of his mouth 

munckee

Roy Keane gives a fair assessment of where we are. When the all English panel were talking about how we should be able to win the tournament before we’d kicked a ball Keane said “you’re all right and you’ll qualify from the group but any of the top nations will take your defence apart.” 

That’s pretty much where we are in think.