The Football Thread

[ultimatewarlord]

Fuck you James McClean. You aren't going to the World Cup. A few days after Remembrance Day too. Kiss my Poppy.

[scoundrel]

Russia 2018? They can shove it. Not to mention Qatar 2022. The World Cup should be the very pinnacle of football, the most popular and representative of all sports (IMHO); but of course it isn't. I have lost interest in FIFA's nice little earner. If they can organise a mass execution of the FIFA board and its former members as the centrepiece of the opening ceremony then I will eat my words and watch avidly.

[Motorboater]

Originally Posted by m100

at least they won't get ripped off against the italians this time.

It's not about Italy v Australia. It's about Italy v Guus Hiddink teams.

[Motorboater]

Originally Posted by ultimatewarlord

Fuck you James McClean. You aren't going to the World Cup. A few days after Remembrance Day too. Kiss my Poppy.

Can you give us an insight into your anger?

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by Motorboater

Can you give us an insight into your anger?

Probably the fact he will not wear a poppy and has been abused by fans up and down the country.

If you believe the songs that are aimed at him from the terraces, you would think he was an IRA sympathiser.

Just wear a poppy mate, it could save you so much grief.

[countjimmoriarty]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

Probably the fact he will not wear a poppy and has been abused by fans up and down the country.

If you believe the songs that are aimed at him from the terraces, you would think he was an IRA sympathiser.

Just wear a poppy mate, it could save you so much grief.

Full marks to him for standing up for his beliefs. He is allowed to not wear a poppy, it's called free choice. What the war was fought for.

[pierrelm]

in the meantime, although it fels odd to say it, Southgate deserves some credit for giving the likes of Gomez, Maguire and Solanki an outing. It confirms that
1. we look a LOT better with a back three, and the line up against Brazil worked as well as any
2. we have barely got a midfield worthy of the name - Lallana is sorely missed; most of the rest can barely pass a ball. Dier continues to get worse, Lingard is the new Cleverley - picked because of who he plays for. Alli is in danger of believing the hype and stalling.
3. the appalling dullness and negativity does indeed come from the players; the younger squad members have, at least within their ability range, had a go
4. I suspect Hart will start; I'd have liked to see Pickford given another go.

As for the Irish North - tough - you couldn't score against an average Swiss side; the Romanian ref was shite but there were another 175 minutes in which to score

Eire - not even close.

We're back to a stage where all the 'home' nations have little to brag about - England has Kane and some promising youngsters; Wales have an increasingly injury prone Bale and some good young players, but as for Scotland and the Irish nations - where the heck are the next generations?

[Meini Again]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

Probably the fact he will not wear a poppy and has been abused by fans up and down the country.

If you believe the songs that are aimed at him from the terraces, you would think he was an IRA sympathiser.

Just wear a poppy mate, it could save you so much grief.

I haven't worn a poppy since the 1970s.
Each year, by not wearing one, I probably pay for a few dozen, because wearing one acts like a shield to some people.

I stopped wearing one after a blistering row with an old friend who was not very complimentary about Haig and his family. Since then, I pay, quite regularly, but will not wear it ~ because of Haig.

I know a few people do this as well. McClean might be one of them.
~imo~

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by pierrelm

in the meantime, although it fels odd to say it, Southgate deserves some credit for giving the likes of Gomez, Maguire and Solanki an outing. It confirms that
1. we look a LOT better with a back three, and the line up against Brazil worked as well as any
2. we have barely got a midfield worthy of the name - Lallana is sorely missed; most of the rest can barely pass a ball. Dier continues to get worse, Lingard is the new Cleverley - picked because of who he plays for. Alli is in danger of believing the hype and stalling.
3. the appalling dullness and negativity does indeed come from the players; the younger squad members have, at least within their ability range, had a go
4. I suspect Hart will start; I'd have liked to see Pickford given another go.

As for the Irish North - tough - you couldn't score against an average Swiss side; the Romanian ref was shite but there were another 175 minutes in which to score

Eire - not even close.

We're back to a stage where all the 'home' nations have little to brag about - England has Kane and some promising youngsters; Wales have an increasingly injury prone Bale and some good young players, but as for Scotland and the Irish nations - where the heck are the next generations?

Might have ben different for England had Neymar removed the glue from his boots, too many times trying to do it all on his own. Our newbies trying to make it a regular business for England and then becoming as complacent also ran if it happens, hopefully not though, but I still think the team reflects the manager, lifeless.

The two Irish sides has always been about team spirit and togetherness which NI showed in most games, just lacked the ability to score on occasions, which has cost them a visit to Russia. As for the Republic, they look to have issues with finding a goal scorer while the togetherness disappeared in the wide open spaces of the Aviva stadium, the future looks bleak.

Wales have plenty of good youngsters coming through, just have to get away from the over reliance of the now injury prone Bale.

The biggest worry though is Scotland, where has all he talent gone, the old first division was full of them, now even finding half decent players in Scotland is becoming a problem, it seems strange that a once football production line has now gone dry.

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by Meini Again

I haven't worn a poppy since the 1970s.
Each year, by not wearing one, I probably pay for a few dozen, because wearing one acts like a shield to some people.

I stopped wearing one after a blistering row with an old friend who was not very complimentary about Haig and his family. Since then, I pay, quite regularly, but will not wear it ~ because of Haig.

I know a few people do this as well. McClean might be one of them.
~imo~

I was just pointing out to Motorboater what the issue with Mclean was, I believe our flag is also an issue. I have no objection to people not wearing a poppy, each to their own.

Footballers must be aware that anything remotely untoward and the singers are going to have a field day, even more so in these modern times, social media and all.

I always buy a few poppies, I normally wear one and have four pinned on the living room wall, to remember the four relatives I never knew.