The Football thread

rio · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:40 pm

stuartn15ted wrote:

rio wrote:

stuartn15ted wrote:

rio wrote:

Azrael wrote:

i think Gerrard would be as important to England as he is to Liverpool.

as for playing beckham in the middle, he doesn't run or help out at the back like Gerrard does.

I can see Beckham working as a defensive midfielder, but that would really negate his main purpose, ie to cross from the right wing. And let's face it, that's how we get most of our goals. I can't see Lennon making an impact against a really top side, and we can't afford to have anyone but Beckham in that position. As someone wrote in the Guardian- there seems to be a lot of people saying "hey, Lennon looked great against Bolton and Belarus B... He's going to murder Roberto Carlos". Without Gerrard I would either use Carrick or Hargreaves, or alternatively put Cole into the middle and use Downing on the left. But I wouldn't fancy using any of those options.

I would personally go for carrick, that way, as you said we got beckhams cross's from the right, and with crouch in the middle it seems the most logical way to play.

I guess so. I want to see Hargreaves though... You know, this guy is regarded as one of the most important players at one of Europe's best club sides... He just can't be as average as he always loks for England.

Yeah, its strange, if he plays like that for BM then its hard to see why sevn picks him and also why he seems to like him so much. He has to be a lot better then what hes showing us.

Yeah, I'd want to see him play 90 minutes in a strict holding role alongside Gerrard and see what happens then. Shame it's too late for that kind of experimentation (unless we beat T&T and Paraguay, then we can try it against Sweden).

stuartn15ted · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:50 pm

rio wrote:

stuartn15ted wrote:

rio wrote:

stuartn15ted wrote:

rio wrote:

Azrael wrote:

i think Gerrard would be as important to England as he is to Liverpool.

as for playing beckham in the middle, he doesn't run or help out at the back like Gerrard does.

I can see Beckham working as a defensive midfielder, but that would really negate his main purpose, ie to cross from the right wing. And let's face it, that's how we get most of our goals. I can't see Lennon making an impact against a really top side, and we can't afford to have anyone but Beckham in that position. As someone wrote in the Guardian- there seems to be a lot of people saying "hey, Lennon looked great against Bolton and Belarus B... He's going to murder Roberto Carlos". Without Gerrard I would either use Carrick or Hargreaves, or alternatively put Cole into the middle and use Downing on the left. But I wouldn't fancy using any of those options.

I would personally go for carrick, that way, as you said we got beckhams cross's from the right, and with crouch in the middle it seems the most logical way to play.

I guess so. I want to see Hargreaves though... You know, this guy is regarded as one of the most important players at one of Europe's best club sides... He just can't be as average as he always loks for England.

Yeah, its strange, if he plays like that for BM then its hard to see why sevn picks him and also why he seems to like him so much. He has to be a lot better then what hes showing us.

Yeah, I'd want to see him play 90 minutes in a strict holding role alongside Gerrard and see what happens then. Shame it's too late for that kind of experimentation (unless we beat T&T and Paraguay, then we can try it against Sweden).

In an interview after the jamaca game sevn said he knew who he was going to pick for the holding role, but he didn't say who. so it seems it is indeed to late for expermentation.

Azrael · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:12 pm

Hargreaves is one fine player.

dunno, portugal plays with two midefielders in the "core" besides the number 10. Petit/Costinha are more physical and help out at the back a lot, Tiago/Maniche have more technical ability and often go up front to attack.

i can see that working with Gerrard/Hargreaves.

mind you, we usually only play with one forward, and we lack a player like Gerrard or Patrick Vieira than can handle both defense and attack in the midfield.

stuartn15ted · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:13 am

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006060530,00.html

I think half of our supporters are going to end up in prison. What Englishman could resist!

rio · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:24 am

Good thing too. The whole "don't mention the war" thing makes me pretty ashamed to be British a lot of the time. And seriously, what kind of moron goes to Germany and says "hahaha, we beat you in 1966". Do these people really have no idea how many times they've beaten us?

I hope anyone pulling that kind of shit does get arrested, including all the reporters/troublemakers the Sun will have there. Boo I say!

stuartn15ted · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:31 am

rio wrote:

Good thing too. The whole "don't mention the war" thing makes me pretty ashamed to be British a lot of the time. And seriously, what kind of moron goes to Germany and says "hahaha, we beat you in 1966". Do these people really have no idea how many times they've beaten us?

I hope anyone pulling that kind of shit does get arrested, including all the reporters/troublemakers the Sun will have there. Boo I say!

I find the whole thing hilarious, but if it offends the hosts then its shouldn't be done. but you just know that 100's of pissed people are gonna get aressted for it, the combination of beer, football, Englishmen and germans is bound to end up that way.

rio · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:40 am

stuartn15ted wrote:

rio wrote:

Good thing too. The whole "don't mention the war" thing makes me pretty ashamed to be British a lot of the time. And seriously, what kind of moron goes to Germany and says "hahaha, we beat you in 1966". Do these people really have no idea how many times they've beaten us?

I hope anyone pulling that kind of shit does get arrested, including all the reporters/troublemakers the Sun will have there. Boo I say!

I find the whole thing hilarious, but if it offends the hosts then its shouldn't be done. but you just know that 100's of pissed people are gonna get aressted for it, the combination of beer, football, Englishmen and germans is bound to end up that way.

Yeah. I like Germans, you see, and dislike drunken English hooligans intensely, so I really hope they do come out of it with egg on their faces.

Anyway, I worked through a Pizza Express World Cup planner this morning to find my OPTIMISTIC prediction. I also had some random teams doing really well just for interest.

Quote:

Last 16:

Germany v Sweden (Sweden to win)
Argentina v Mexico (Argentina to win)
Czech Rep v Australia (Australia to win)
France v Spain (Spain to win)
England v Poland (England to win)
Portugal V Ivory Coast (Ivory Coast to win hahahahaha @ Azrael)
Brazil v Italy (Brazil to win)
Ukraine v Switzerland (Ukraine to win)

Quarter finals

Sweden v Argentina (Argentina to win)
Australia v Spain (Spain to win)
England v Ivory Coast (England to win)
Brazil v Ukraine (Brazil to win)

Semis

Argentina v France (Argentina to win)
Brazil v England (England to win of course!!!1)

Final

Argentina v England

stuartn15ted · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:49 am

rio wrote:

Yeah. I like Germans, you see, and dislike drunken English hooligans intensely, so I really hope they do come out of it with egg on their faces.

Anyway, I worked through a Pizza Express World Cup planner this morning to find my OPTIMISTIC prediction. I also had some random teams doing really well just for interest.

Quote:

Last 16:

Germany v Sweden (Sweden to win)
Argentina v Mexico (Argentina to win)
Czech Rep v Australia (Australia to win)
France v Spain (Spain to win)
England v Poland (England to win)
Portugal V Ivory Coast (Ivory Coast to win hahahahaha @ Azrael)
Brazil v Italy (Brazil to win)
Ukraine v Switzerland (Ukraine to win)

Quarter finals

Sweden v Argentina (Argentina to win)
Australia v Spain (Spain to win)
England v Ivory Coast (England to win)
Brazil v Ukraine (Brazil to win)

Semis

Argentina v France (Argentina to win)
Brazil v England (England to win of course!!!1)

Final

Argentina v England

Ivory Coast eh? I can see them causing problems in that group (which is easily the hardest) and in any other i think they would get through but...... hhh

mmm. Tough one to call. And i would love a final against Argentina! (oh and how did france get from the last 16 to the semis?? lol)

rio · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:52 am

stuartn15ted wrote:

rio wrote:

Yeah. I like Germans, you see, and dislike drunken English hooligans intensely, so I really hope they do come out of it with egg on their faces.

Anyway, I worked through a Pizza Express World Cup planner this morning to find my OPTIMISTIC prediction. I also had some random teams doing really well just for interest.

Quote:

Last 16:

Germany v Sweden (Sweden to win)
Argentina v Mexico (Argentina to win)
Czech Rep v Australia (Australia to win)
France v Spain (Spain to win)
England v Poland (England to win)
Portugal V Ivory Coast (Ivory Coast to win hahahahaha @ Azrael)
Brazil v Italy (Brazil to win)
Ukraine v Switzerland (Ukraine to win)

Quarter finals

Sweden v Argentina (Argentina to win)
Australia v Spain (Spain to win)
England v Ivory Coast (England to win)
Brazil v Ukraine (Brazil to win)

Semis

Argentina v France (Argentina to win)
Brazil v England (England to win of course!!!1)

Final

Argentina v England

Ivory Coast eh? I can see them causing problems in that group (which is easily the hardest) and in any other i think they would get through but...... hhh

mmm. Tough one to call. And i would love a final against Argentina! (oh and how did france get from the last 16 to the semis?? lol)

I'd imagine with the help of some time travelling Wizard.

Actually, I meant to write "Spain" in the semis. I suck at this :oops:

stuartn15ted · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:09 am

rio wrote:

stuartn15ted wrote:

rio wrote:

Yeah. I like Germans, you see, and dislike drunken English hooligans intensely, so I really hope they do come out of it with egg on their faces.

Anyway, I worked through a Pizza Express World Cup planner this morning to find my OPTIMISTIC prediction. I also had some random teams doing really well just for interest.

Quote:

Last 16:

Germany v Sweden (Sweden to win)
Argentina v Mexico (Argentina to win)
Czech Rep v Australia (Australia to win)
France v Spain (Spain to win)
England v Poland (England to win)
Portugal V Ivory Coast (Ivory Coast to win hahahahaha @ Azrael)
Brazil v Italy (Brazil to win)
Ukraine v Switzerland (Ukraine to win)

Quarter finals

Sweden v Argentina (Argentina to win)
Australia v Spain (Spain to win)
England v Ivory Coast (England to win)
Brazil v Ukraine (Brazil to win)

Semis

Argentina v France (Argentina to win)
Brazil v England (England to win of course!!!1)

Final

Argentina v England

Ivory Coast eh? I can see them causing problems in that group (which is easily the hardest) and in any other i think they would get through but...... hhh

mmm. Tough one to call. And i would love a final against Argentina! (oh and how did france get from the last 16 to the semis?? lol)

I'd imagine with the help of some time travelling Wizard.

Actually, I meant to write "Spain" in the semis. I suck at this :oops:

lolz!

When you look at it like that England have a pretty good run to the semis. Even if you put holland in for Ivory Coast, its a match i would expect us to win. And IF we can beat brazil, argentina in the final! We know we can beat them. Its just a matter of playing to the standard that the team are capable of.

rio · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:19 am

That's quite true, although honestly I'd be tempted to just not try very hard against Sweden, because if we finish second in that group we get to avoid Brazil

Haha, I guess that sounds patronising to Paraguay and T&T, but I'm pretty sure it'll be us and Sweden contesting the order of the top two places in the third match. And in that event it'd be worth considering wether we actually are that desperate to win the group.

Anyway, I'm only saying this because I have a gig on the 1st July, which is the date of our potential quarter final if we do win the group :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x

crast · **Joined:** Thu Feb 09, 2006 1:29 pm **Posts:** 1502

rio wrote:

That's quite true, although honestly I'd be tempted to just not try very hard against Sweden, because if we finish second in that group we get to avoid Brazil

Haha, I guess that sounds patronising to Paraguay and T&T, but I'm pretty sure it'll be us and Sweden contesting the order of the top two places in the third match. And in that event it'd be worth considering wether we actually are that desperate to win the group.

Anyway, I'm only saying this because I have a gig on the 1st July, which is the date of our potential quarter final if we do win the group :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x

Arghh, I have the exact same problem. 'Cept the gig is on the 30th, so I'm hoping that Sweden will win the group. :]

Oh, and the scenario above, Sweden would win aganist Argentina, easily, ;)

.:crast:.

rio · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:49 am

Man, I would be so happy if Sweden beat Argentina. And like I said I want you to top the group... so actually you guys have my full support until you come up against us in the final or something like that :o

stuartn15ted · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:51 am

rio wrote:

Man, I would be so happy if Sweden beat Argentina. And like I said I want you to top the group... so actually you guys have my full support until you come up against us in the final or something like that :o

well we haven't beaten sweden for nearly 50 years so it could happen.

Azrael · **Posted:** Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:12 am

here's a nifty World Cup chart, just fill in the scores and it'll update the goals and points and stuff automatically:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Q400B35U

anyway, Portugal's screwed. even if we do get past group stage (and, not wanting to sound arrogant, WE HAVE TO!), whoever comes from Argentina's group will be damn hard to beat.

England has a very good team, very solid defense and midfield. attack, well, depends on rooney and owen, and we'll have to see wether Crouch is actually good or if he only scores against Jamaica

(notice how i didn't mention Pauleta when i talked about scoring against jamaica... i'm improving eh?)

ElTipo · **Posted:** Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:22 am

RAWR!!! ARGENTINA WILL WIN FINALS! RAWR! Sorry, I'm from Argentina, you could call me a fanboy. 8) The problem with Argentina is they have to get 1st in the first round so that they can stay in the bracket opposite Brasil. If Argentina manages second they would have to play Brasil in the Semi-Finals, which would not be as astounding as an Argentina - Brasil Final.

Fingon · **Joined:** Sun Mar 20, 2005 3:11 pm **Posts:** 3207

ElTipo wrote:

RAWR!!! ARGENTINA WILL WIN FINALS! RAWR! Sorry, I'm from Argentina, you could call me a fanboy. 8) The problem with Argentina is they have to get 1st in the first round so that they can stay in the bracket opposite Brasil. If Argentina manages second they would have to play Brasil in the Semi-Finals, which would not be as astounding as an Argentina - Brasil Final.

i love both brazil and argentina but i have been hoping for argentina to win this WC, Messi, Crespo and the rest..great players. Does anyone know if Aimar is selected?

ElTipo · **Posted:** Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:56 pm

Fingon wrote:

ElTipo wrote:

RAWR!!! ARGENTINA WILL WIN FINALS! RAWR! Sorry, I'm from Argentina, you could call me a fanboy. 8) The problem with Argentina is they have to get 1st in the first round so that they can stay in the bracket opposite Brasil. If Argentina manages second they would have to play Brasil in the Semi-Finals, which would not be as astounding as an Argentina - Brasil Final.

i love both brazil and argentina but i have been hoping for argentina to win this WC, Messi, Crespo and the rest..great players. Does anyone know if Aimar is selected?

No, I don't believe Aimar will be playing. Unfortunately a year back or so he lost too much weight and wasn't weighed in as a heavy hitter (no pun intended).

rio · **Posted:** Sat Jun 10, 2006 4:47 pm

Crappy first game by England. Impressive first half, but seriously awful second. Once again some really terrible substitutions. Downing for Owen? hargreaves for Joe Cole? Sven doesn't understand that just getting one goal, then bringing on a load of defensive players and just hanging on (when we were the better side that should have been pressurising!) just won't cut it for an English team. Paraguay came from absolutely nowhere to become a big threat through a combination of careless distribution and negative tactics.

Still, 3 points, and hopefully Ivory Coast can cheer us al up by beating Argentina tonight.

ElTipo · **Posted:** Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:37 pm

rio wrote:

Crappy first game by England. Impressive first half, but seriously awful second. Once again some really terrible substitutions. Downing for Owen? hargreaves for Joe Cole? Sven doesn't understand that just getting one goal, then bringing on a load of defensive players and just hanging on (when we were the better side that should have been pressurising!) just won't cut it for an English team. Paraguay came from absolutely nowhere to become a big threat through a combination of careless distribution and negative tactics.

Still, 3 points, and hopefully Ivory Coast can cheer us al up by beating Argentina tonight.

You funny. Get ready, because Argentina is going to bring the heat. As for the England game, that was not only bad, but boring as well. Paraguay was very close to scoring a goal, and the first goal of the game wasn't even by England, it was an own goal by one of Paraguay's defensive players.

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