The Football Thread

[Meini Again]

England 2-1 Mexico ~ U21 FINAL Toulon Tournament
Spain 1 -0 Tunisia ~ In Russia
France v USA 1-1 ~ in Lyon

Saw most of all of them

Home-Alone all day, wish that happens next week

I went juvenile and had the last two matches alongside each other, cos they overlapped, as well as txt...probably destroyed me PC

Anyone remember SAF dropping C7 for about 6 months ? Shortly after his first few appearances??

Because of his wonking about, step-overs, going back to beat someone again because he was that good. Meanwhile there's a game going on.
C7 came back tamed.

Pogba now thinks everyone else in his Bleus' side has ESP !
I counted 3/4 back-flips, possibly more before I began counting...obviously not practised on a training field, cos no bugga/team mate anticipated that
'Hollywood-Flash' of a Superstar. Jeez.... And he wasn't the only one in Les Bleus.... lots of others had their C7 style tricks and flicks. Rampant ego's bought down to earth by a gritty USA side.

And Didier......... a man knowing Zinedine is on his shoulder

Too much 'Hollywood' from France.... get serious and be a team !

Tunisia may be too much for England....imo... Yep, Spain were walking it.
Practising new ways of keeping the ball, but, when they actually attacked....toothless. When Tunisia attacked they were fast and fearless
and toothless. However, if they play like that, England will be turned inside out, and we don't have De Gea in goal

U21 match?

Two good future prospects, but, whilst Chelsea/Swansea Abraham did a distractful lone frontman, he screwed up the 2 easy chances he had. One, an open goal from the corner of the box.... he actually hit the bloody post
... and he wasn't under pressure...free as a bird.
Future loaning clubs, take note

[buttsie]

Youth team wins are nice but until they start playing like that against experienced men for their clubs and country its little more than possible potential.

Australia used to have a good record at youth level U17 , U19 , U23 Olympics against the big name countries but it never translated into anything at open level.


The modern day show ponies are just following in the footsteps of Robinho whose own team mates said we didnt have a clue what to expect or where to be to take advantage of his dazzling skills.

England have their own - Barkley - run past opponents and then - what do i do next

[footstep]

Originally Posted by Meini Again

England 2-1 Mexico ~ U21 FINAL Toulon Tournament
Spain 1 -0 Tunisia ~ In Russia
France v USA 1-1 ~ in Lyon

Saw most of all of them

Home-Alone all day, wish that happens next week

I went juvenile and had the last two matches alongside each other, cos they overlapped, as well as txt...probably destroyed me PC

Anyone remember SAF dropping C7 for about 6 months ? Shortly after his first few appearances??

Because of his wonking about, step-overs, going back to beat someone again because he was that good. Meanwhile there's a game going on.
C7 came back tamed.

Pogba now thinks everyone else in his Bleus' side has ESP !
I counted 3/4 back-flips, possibly more before I began counting...obviously not practised on a training field, cos no bugga/team mate anticipated that
'Hollywood-Flash' of a Superstar. Jeez.... And he wasn't the only one in Les Bleus.... lots of others had their C7 style tricks and flicks. Rampant ego's bought down to earth by a gritty USA side.

And Didier......... a man knowing Zinedine is on his shoulder

Too much 'Hollywood' from France.... get serious and be a team !

All is said.
Great analysis.
Except for Didier who doesn't care of anyone, trust me

[pierrelm]

Originally Posted by buttsie

The modern day show ponies are just following in the footsteps of Robinho whose own team mates said we didnt have a clue what to expect or where to be to take advantage of his dazzling skills.

England have their own - Barkley - run past opponents and then - what do i do next

Very true we have a great tradition in producing players with plenty in their boots but bugger all clue about what makes a team. 'Roy of the Rovers' is as near to tactical awareness as they get.

Found out yesterday that Steve McClaren is a Leeds supporter - that explains a great deal.

[footstep]

I ain't talk about football.
Just show my tattoes.
Welcome in 2018.

[footstep]

More serioulsly , last friendly on saturday and a draw 1 1 vs USA


As usual and to sell paper, newspapers wonder if there's any problem there?
I would say: no one is injured.

[buttsie]

Originally Posted by pierrelm

Very true we have a great tradition in producing players with plenty in their boots but bugger all clue about what makes a team. 'Roy of the Rovers' is as near to tactical awareness as they get.

Found out yesterday that Steve McClaren is a Leeds supporter - that explains a great deal.

The EPL club academy system seems to produce very few players in % terms who go on to 1st team football be it club or nation when you consider how many are put through it.

The idea that if you get them young enough you can turn out brilliant footballers seems like an urban myth.

One wonders how they justify their own existence?

Are the academies little more than a place where you stop your rivals from getting them?

[Meini Again]

Except for Didier who doesn't care of anyone,

Has he given up already foots ? I saw him in those comfy seats on TV, in the first half. Not a blink nor a response to the guy nattering in his ear.
Second half he was on the touchline.... and as Gordon Strachan once said
.... Approx Quote: "...if you stand on the touchline waving your hands... the fans think the players are wrong..."

Anyway, one thought I had... and I WANT Les Bleus to win this....
That I didn't post above, on these matches

I thought France had 3/4 Managers. One sitting down first half, and...
2/3 players who thought they were the Manager on the pitch.

I'm worried now. We've all seen "Player-Stupidity" at World Cups before..
Mainly European.

Colour me worried for Les Bleus

[Meini Again]

Originally Posted by buttsie

The EPL club academy system seems to produce very few players in % terms who go on to 1st team football be it club or nation when you consider how many are put through it.

Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer came through this Tournament.

Having won it in 1994 with Sol Campbell, Jamie Redknapp and Robbie Fowler in the team, England then had to wait until 2016 before winning it again. Gareth Southgate was in charge of the Under-21 team that year, which included Jordan Pickford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, both of whom are in Southgate's senior World Cup squad.

Yes, the drop out from Academy kids is severe... there are non-proffit groups coralling and nurturing many abandoned kids.

But the heirarchical structure of footie, does give outlets to many future "stars"... it's not perfect Butts, though more succeed than you imply

~ imo ~

[ultimatewarlord]

Less than 48 hours to go. I'm buzzing. Last day of work tomorrow for at least two weeks. May extend the break further. Four games on saturday. Oh boy. Bought myself a retro 1982 England shirt today.