The Football Thread

[Devius]

England to wear new away shirt during friendly against Germany in Dortmund.

The team will debut the 'midnight blue' away strip, with navy shorts, socks and a light blue crest.

However I don't think the new kit is going down well...

[snowy25]

I read an interesting stat on the BBC website today. Apparently James Milner has now set a new record of games where he has scored and his side have not lost. In the last 47 games where he has scored his team have won 37 and drawn 10. He has now surpassed the record previously held by that blast from the past, Darius Vassell. Although it seems he has a long way to go to match a football legend. Ian Rush enjoyed a staggering seven year spell of 145 matches before Liverpool finally lost a match in which he had scored

[buttsie]

Originally Posted by ginny76

You might be lucky and Monsieur Wenger could sign a new 20 year contract.
or
Roy Hodgy Hodgson might be the new manager and it'll be Arsene Who?

Exciting times ahead.

Not forgetting the self proclaimed 'Winner' Tim Sherwood
currently helping Swindon drop down a league as their director of football


Sherwood was appointed Swindon's director of football in November 2016.

They are 22nd in League One, seven points from safety with seven games remaining.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39334610

[Meini Again]

Does 'Tactics Tim' still sit in the dug out with the manager at Swindon?

I ask because he's just served a 2-match Stadium ban ...not a touchline ban.

The only manager I know who is more clueless than Zola.

[TCrout]

Well that game was distinctly forgettable. A good England first half but I guess it's appropriate that Podolski scores a cracker on his final appearance. He's been a good player so let Die Mannschaft enjoy it.

[Greenman]

To be honest after today's incidents who cares about a meaningless friendly between rivals(not that the Germans are vehemently against England, it is the Dutch they care more about beating than us) and wouldn't you just know that in his swansong match for his country, Podolski would score the winning goal. Lithuania is much more important next week and I hope Southgate plays a better side and brings back some of the more experienced players for the first half at least.

[victor meldrew]

"We have to reflect on a very good performance - a new system that I felt worked well and allowed us to control possession of game but also create chances.
"They've scored a fairytale goal, but I've got to be proud of what the players have done.
"I thought we were the better side up until their winning goal. That was a good learning experience for our young players who made their debuts.
"All that was missing was the finish to get the winning goal I felt we deserved."

The downside, cannot defend or score against class opposition and we wonder why we never get anywhere in final tournaments.

[snowy25]

Cahill a big strong lad who was captain for the night. Yet when he should have stood tall and strong turned his back and allowed the shot past him. In the past a defender would stand strong, take the hit and carry on. Now it seems players turn their backs because they may get hit by the ball and it might give them a fucking boo boo. Shocking display of self preservation even if it was a friendly.

Dele Alli showed why he needs to keep his head down and put the effort in. He may have the potential to be a very big player. However tonight showed he still has lots to learn about finishing. If he wants to be a great player he needs to change that otherwise he will never reach that potential. it was harder to hit the keeper than the back of the net yet somehow he did.

Overall England played decent enough and the loss won't hurt the team in any way, shape or form. It was a nothing game and even more so after the events earlier in the day.

[buttsie]

A 1-0 defeat does more than 2-3 (2016) or 1-5(2001) win against them

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39275693

No chance of suddenly believing they can now win the 2018 WC in a canter

Germany in friendlies have a pretty ordinary record of late for a nation that always performs well at tournaments so its dangerous to read anything into a result against them either way.

Maybe they use the games to experiment with lesser squad players as
opposed to looking for a good result to keep the media of their backs.

Originally Posted by Meini Again

Does 'Tactics Tim' still sit in the dug out with the manager at Swindon?

I ask because he's just served a 2-match Stadium ban ...not a touchline ban.

The only manager I know who is more clueless than Zola.

No doubt hes back in their playing the expert advisor...

He was recruited as Manager under a different title for mine

Has a cherry picker lined up for the next 2 stadium ban

[buttsie]

When i watch a side play you like to know whose playing by the colours

Funny how none of these away strips ever get used on the europa/champions league stage

At home their in their traditional garb but away seems to have become this realm where anything will do as long as it doesnt clash withthe opposition

How hard could it be to keep something on the strip that still gives you a clue of who your watching - even if its just a CREST that stands out


The Man U Grey strip that lasted 1 half of football (0-3 at Southampton from memory)
the biggest example of how stupid it can really get

A black shirt with orange screams Everton - a part of their history apparently

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...e-success.html