The Football Thread

[buttsie]

Originally Posted by pierrelm

My man, Jack Charlton, managed 6 goals in 35 matches. I was there for his last one, the winner against Portugal in 1969, from a corner taken by his bro'.

To date, Raheem Sterling, allegedly a goalscorer, has 2 in 38 matches.

They really don't make them like they used to.

The media have built him up as such

The stats at club level really dont back it up

10 goals a season x4 from 38-52 games says he was a winger who sometimes scores

23 goals / 12 assists in 46 games in a dominant Man City team surrounded by world class players
says more about the team but he is improving but still missing easy chances.

Club level has always been easier than international to address issues

Another couple of years and he'll most likely improve his finishing as he learns how to deal with the pressure of playing for England.

Probably better to concentrate on assists and how many penalties he earns you
than goals scored

For a comparison - all be it an out and out winger

7 goals in 59 games
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Kanchelskis


As for friendlies leading into WCs - 6 substitutions make them little more than a training run

You've had 2-4 years to work out who your best 11 actually are and your still trying different combinations ....sounds very Woy 2016


Denmark get boost ahead of WC 2018 - Nicklas Bendtner ruled out injured
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44350548

[Meini Again]

On England v Nigeria

A lot of the Nigerian players are also in 'bands'. From Bass/Drums to fronting Vocals. To play at Wembley alongside their "World-Breaking" kit launch.... was a party no-one would miss. For 45 minutes they were still in 'party-mode'

Second half... different attitude, they clawed one goal back and really exposed England's defence. I don't think Nigeria will be partying at any WC match. They've got skill and speed-with-skill.

Like Bruce / Pullis / Allardydicci etc..... England will train for 'Set-Pieces'.

Trippier...jeez... would have got a Yellow in a serious match for his dive.

~ imo ~

Alli / Kane can be silenced by more professional nations, more effectively than Nigeria did - when they stopped partying.

Sterling is probably our fastest outlet, years past he never passed

Pep's taught him,to look up, be aware and pass in time.... and Gareth has let him recede to the U21 player he managed.... who never passed

Kane, I reckon will be stifled and blocked out every match...he ain't a Linneker in terms of hiding/surfacing, nor does he go in where boots fly.
Linneker rarely - if EVER - scored outside the box. He jokes about being a "tap-in-merchant" - whereas Kane can score from outside the box if he has a yard or two.,,,unfortunately, that won't happen at this level.

Southgate has enrolled the players he managed at Youth/U21 level as he was being groomed by the FA Suits. Vardy is a token An unknown quantity outside of this cosy set-up.

I fear the worst..... Come on Les Bleus....

[buttsie]

heres a bizarre one which feels like fake news but...


Australian football fans are reeling after the visas they had been granted to the FIFA World Cup in Russia were rejected without warning or explanation just weeks before the competition is due to begin.

A growing number of Socceroos supporters received emails from the Russian Government informing them their Fan IDs, which act as a visa for ticket holders, had been rejected despite having already received the physical Fan ID document.

Mr Camm, who has spent several thousand dollars on tickets and flights to attend the competition, asked for an explanation.

After a chain of emails, in which he had to provide passport details to prove his identity, Mr Camm received one final communique.

“Just a copy and paste from the terms and conditions saying that they reserve the right to cancel at any time,” he said.

Now they have to apply for a tourist visa

It was a dodgy tournament during the bidding process

One wonders if this is to free up tickets for Uncle Palo who forgot it was on....LOL

https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/foo...visa-fans-ban/



Where it went wrong for the teams who missed out on the World Cup
Fans from 21 countries explain why they will be staying at home next summer.
Holland were unlucky, Italy were mismanaged and Mongolia were a disaster

https://www.theguardian.com/football...-italy-ireland

[Meini Again]

Can we do the Headlines Now ?

"We waz havin a quiet drink when hundreds of Russians stormed our Coffee House..... Most of us were pregnant Ladies...." The SUN

"Homo camp of European footie fans destroyed by "Patriotic Fans".... RT (Russia Today)

"Chair thrown at Russian By-Standers Came from "Russians Infiltrators" - Daily Star

"Many International Football fans shake hands and watch Big Screen in Peace"....RT (Russia Today)

"English/French/Spanish/German fans create havoc and attack peaceful Russian Patriotic Fans,at Big Screen display showing.... RT (Russia Today)

"Trump send best wishes to Putin for World Cup, and hopes Russia don't beat the USA"....Fox / New York Times / MAD Magazine

[judy84]

Empathy with Hammers' fans or just learning how to react in East End?


West Ham manager Pellegrini mugged




https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-44352813

[victor meldrew]

I wonder...…………………….

[Roger Allott]

736 players are in the 32 squads of 23 each.

126 of these (17.1%) play in England. And that's not including the 6 who play in England's leagues for Welsh clubs Cardiff and Swansea.

Next comes Spain (78), followed by Germany (62), Italy (60, despite no Italian team) and France (incl Monaco) (48).

That means that over half of all participants at WC 2018 earn their daily crust from the 'big 5' European footballing countries.

All 23 of England's squad are based in their home country. Only Saudi Arabia match that, with Russia having 21 home-based players, followed by Spain (17) and Germany (15).

Overall, only 29.1% of players selected for the tournament live & work in the country they're representing, although only 2 squads (Senegal & Sweden) feature no home-based players at all.

19 of the 20 outfield players in England's squad have played in the knockout stages of the Champions League at some point during the last 3 years. The exception is Harry Maguire.

.

[buttsie]

Originally Posted by Meini Again

On England v Nigeria

A lot of the Nigerian players are also in 'bands'. From Bass/Drums to fronting Vocals. To play at Wembley alongside their "World-Breaking" kit launch.... was a party no-one would miss. For 45 minutes they were still in 'party-mode'

Second half... different attitude, they clawed one goal back and really exposed England's defence. I don't think Nigeria will be partying at any WC match. They've got skill and speed-with-skill.

Like Bruce / Pullis / Allardydicci etc..... England will train for 'Set-Pieces'.

Trippier...jeez... would have got a Yellow in a serious match for his dive.

~ imo ~

Alli / Kane can be silenced by more professional nations, more effectively than Nigeria did - when they stopped partying.

Sterling is probably our fastest outlet, years past he never passed

Pep's taught him,to look up, be aware and pass in time.... and Gareth has let him recede to the U21 player he managed.... who never passed

Kane, I reckon will be stifled and blocked out every match...he ain't a Linneker in terms of hiding/surfacing, nor does he go in where boots fly.
Linneker rarely - if EVER - scored outside the box. He jokes about being a "tap-in-merchant" - whereas Kane can score from outside the box if he has a yard or two.,,,unfortunately, that won't happen at this level.

Southgate has enrolled the players he managed at Youth/U21 level as he was being groomed by the FA Suits. Vardy is a token An unknown quantity outside of this cosy set-up.

I fear the worst..... Come on Les Bleus....

I've said this for years but reading anything into friendlies is quite pointless
Leading up to a WC even more so given an injury could mean goodbye WC

6 substitutions make any results meaningless

Players most likely - putting aside Croatia v Brazil - will be playing to not get injured

Germany manage to lose plenty as they try new players & different combinations
but still know who their best 11/squad are when the real games arrive.

England on the otherhand seem to be obsessed with whose inform in the EPL
1 good season and your in contention.

Leroy Sane (age 22) has a standout season for Man City and
Germany cut him from their final 23.

The reasoning Man City doesnt play like Germany which is why Sane is so good in the EPL

[victor meldrew]

I sometimes wonder at those running, or should that be ruining, the game of football. A report on the radio this morning claims UEFA have fined Besiktas £30k for a cat running on the pitch during a Champions League Game, yet Russia get fined £22k for racist chants.

Madness.

[Meini Again]

Racist Cat tho' Vic