|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 31779 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2024 | Jul 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
Moderator
|
| Quote ="Asim"When I went to Portugal v Norway about a year ago Ronaldo nominally played on the left of a front 3 with Postiga in the centre and Nani from the right. He actually wandered about all over the place though and, IMO, caused Portugal more harm in their attacking play by doing so.'"
I'm in total agreement. It's always all about him to the detriment of the team. If the players around him were good enough for him to indulge his wanderlust - in the manner the Dutch were in relation to Johan Cruyff - then it could be a plus, but they're not, so it isn't.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 1662 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Oct 2009 | 15 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Apr 2014 | Mar 2014 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="John_D"I'm in total agreement. It's always all about him to the detriment of the team. If the players around him were good enough for him to indulge his wanderlust - in the manner the Dutch were in relation to Johan Cruyff - then it could be a plus, but they're not, so it isn't.'"
Probably right. Portugal have got some cracking players, and a team that could rival any on paper. However, when push comes to shove, a fair few of their pivotal players aren't quite as good as what some of the other top nations have and when they come up against them Ronaldo's free role isn't quite as effective.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Coach | 4778 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Apr 2005 | 20 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Aug 2013 | Jun 2013 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Downing says he doesn't fear France. I'm sure the feeling is more than mutual.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 31779 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2024 | Jul 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
Moderator
|
| Quote ="andym1988"Probably right. Portugal have got some cracking players, and a team that could rival any on paper. However, when push comes to shove, a fair few of their pivotal players aren't quite as good as what some of the other top nations have and when they come up against them Ronaldo's free role isn't quite as effective.'"
Not only that, but also there appears to be a willingness for others to think "ah, we'll just give it to Ronnie and he can get us out of this mess". Not taking responsibility for their own performances, if you like.
Don't know if that is the case, but it sure is how it looks sometimes
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 16239 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Apr 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Sep 2024 | Oct 2012 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="John_D"I'm in total agreement. It's always all about him to the detriment of the team. If the players around him were good enough for him to indulge his wanderlust - in the manner the Dutch were in relation to Johan Cruyff - then it could be a plus, but they're not, so it isn't.'"
The contrast between that Portugal display, and that of the German front four I saw in Turkey last October couldn't have been more marked.
While Ronaldo wandered about leaving his "station" the German's were far more fluid, filled in where space had been vacated and had the work-rate to match their prowess.
I think the idea for Portugal is that Coentrao bombs down the left and occupies that space but it does leave them exposed elsewhere.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 5193 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jan 2006 | 19 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Aug 2024 | Mar 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| We should beat Ukraine and Sweden, if we can get off to a flyer against France we stand half a chance of getting to the semis.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 16166 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Mar 2009 | 16 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
May 2018 | Dec 2017 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| [url=http://t.co/Apwt27OeThis is for all the John Terry fans out there[/url
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 3853 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2010 | 14 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Oct 2023 | Sep 2023 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="post"We should beat Ukraine and Sweden,'"
I've read similar stuff all over the media and I'm curious where this almost arrogant confidence stems from?
I can only presume it comes from the '...we are England, so we should be beating these so-called lesser teams' school of thought, because without that thinking, both these games are tight, difficult-to-call, matches.
Sweden, for some reason, we always tend to under-estimate, yet I don't think we've beat them in a competitive game for about 40 years?....I don't see why this rather mediocre England side should suddenly be the side to change that run.
The Ukraine game is basically an away game in front of a hostile crowd - In normal circumstances, we'd happily take a draw, but this won't be normal circumstances - I only hope that we don't have to win that final group game, or that Ukraine don't need to win it, because I can't picture us coming away with a win against them in a winner-takes-all sort of game.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 3853 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2010 | 14 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Oct 2023 | Sep 2023 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Just looking at the groups, I'd go with the following quarter finalists....
From Group A - Russia and Czech Republic
Group B - Germany and Holland
Group C - Spain and Croatia
Group D - France and Ukraine.
I won't go any further than that, mainly because its a similar task to picking the lottery numbers, plus, you can guarantee there will be a surprise or two along the way.....But from those predicted 8, I reckon at least one of the Eastern European sides will provide a surprise and make at least the semis.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 16239 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Apr 2002 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Sep 2024 | Oct 2012 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Dita's Slot Meter"Just looking at the groups, I'd go with the following quarter finalists....
From Group A - Russia and Czech Republic
Group B - Germany and Holland
Group C - Spain and Croatia
Group D - France and Ukraine.
I won't go any further than that, mainly because its a similar task to picking the lottery numbers, plus, you can guarantee there will be a surprise or two along the way.....But from those predicted 8, I reckon at least one of the Eastern European sides will provide a surprise and make at least the semis.'"
I put a quid on that very outcome yesterday, would return just under Ā£900 with Coral.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Board Member | 11032 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2003 | 22 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2020 | Mar 2019 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Dita's Slot Meter"I've read similar stuff all over the media and I'm curious where this almost arrogant confidence stems from?
Look at the squads for all 3 nations, it's obvious to anyone with half a footballing brain which squad is stronger. It's not like England have a history of not making it though groups. Since 1994 When we didn't qualify in 7 major tournaments we have failed to male it out of the group stages at a major tourny once. Hardly over confidence or arrogance just something we usually do.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 7121 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Mar 2007 | 18 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2019 | Oct 2017 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| How many players from Ukraine and Sweden do you watch?
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 3853 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2010 | 14 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Oct 2023 | Sep 2023 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Well, I'm looking at the England squad and all I see is 1 world-class player (and that's being generous), who is suspended for the first 2 games and a good left-back (not exactly a game changing position).
We also have a decent keeper, but apart from that, I'm struggling to see much, but players who are unproven at this level, many of whom have huge question marks over their ability to shine in a major tournament.
I'm not fully upto sync with the Swedish or Ukranian squads, but I'd be very surprised if they were inferior to ours....Throw in the fact that Ukraine have home advantage and I'm still curious as to why people seemed convinced we can make the last 8?
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Coach | 23178 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2004 | 20 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Apr 2023 | Apr 2023 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Ajw71"I've gone with Llorente, so obvs hoping he starts ahead of FT.
Benzema is in fine form, maybe I should have gone for him instead.
'"
Agree r.e Benzema, I like France, think they have good tools to be a threat. I don't fancy England's chances against them. What odds for llorente?
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Board Member | 11032 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2003 | 22 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2020 | Mar 2019 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Roddy B"How many players from Ukraine and Sweden do you watch?'"
Sweden (the better of the other 2 in the group)
Ibrahimovic, larsson and kallstrom all very skilled players with
Andreas Isaksson
Olof Mellberg
Jonus Olsson
Martin Olsson
Mikael Lustig
Anders Svensson
Johan Ellmander
Markus Rosenberg
And a few Gothenburg players
Pure quality there, no way in hell we have a chance of competing with that. May as well pack now
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 3853 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2010 | 14 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Oct 2023 | Sep 2023 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Cas Till I Die"Sweden (the better of the other 2 in the group)
Ibrahimovic, larsson and kallstrom all very skilled players with
Andreas Isaksson
Olof Mellberg
Jonus Olsson
Martin Olsson
Mikael Lustig
Anders Svensson
Johan Ellmander
Markus Rosenberg
And a few Gothenburg players
Pure quality there, no way in hell we have a chance of competing with that. May as well pack now
'"
Do you realise that somewhere on a Swedish website, somebody will have listed....
Andy Carroll
Stewart Downing
Scott Parker
James Milner
and a few others, and will be peeing themselves in a similar way to what you are??....
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Board Member | 11032 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2003 | 22 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2020 | Mar 2019 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Dita's Slot Meter"Do you realise that somewhere on a Swedish website, somebody will have listed....
Andy Carroll
Stewart Downing
Scott Parker
James Milner
and a few others, and will be peeing themselves in a similar way to what you are??....
'"
Scotty Parker....... Are you joking ???
All of the above would walk in the starting 11 of both ukraine and Sweden (barring Carroll with Sweden as obviously ibrahimovic)
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 3853 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2010 | 14 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Oct 2023 | Sep 2023 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Cas Till I Die"Scotty Parker....... Are you joking ???'"
Let's face it, opponents won't be quaking when they see his name on the teamsheet.....He's a good, solid pro, but if he's somebody who you are highlighting to try and prove that we are a good side, then you are truly desperate.
It says it all really....For most other sides, he'd be the dogsbody, the man who slips under the radar.....For us, according to you, he's one of our star players????...
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Board Member | 11032 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2003 | 22 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2020 | Mar 2019 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Dita's Slot Meter"Let's face it, opponents won't be quaking when they see his name on the teamsheet.....He's a good, solid pro, but if he's somebody who you are highlighting to try and prove that we are a good side, then you are truly desperate.
It says it all really....For most other sides, he'd be the dogsbody, the man who slips under the radar.....For us, according to you, he's one of our star players????...
'"
Where did I say he was a star ???? He is as you say a good solid member of our team who will work hard and do what's expected and more.
Making things up hardly strengthens your point.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 7121 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Mar 2007 | 18 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2019 | Oct 2017 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Problem is, and this is the biggest thing that most England fans can't seem to get their heads around; football isn't played on paper. In theory, Ashley Young should be better than Andriy Yarmolenko, but I bet Yarmolenko has a better tournament. The Swedes may not have big names, but they always work their nuts off and work rate alone will force England's rank average midfield to struggle.
At the end of the day, for all their premier league-tasticness, England's player won't live up to the lofty standards expected because they are managed by a pr*ck. There is little balance, chemistry and quality in the side. 4-4-2 with average players may scrape through rounds on defending and work rate alone, but if Sweden and Ukraine take the 'underdog' approach to Roy's England, we may see some of the most dire football ever witnessed in the modern era.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Board Member | 11032 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2003 | 22 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2020 | Mar 2019 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Roddy B"Problem is, and this is the biggest thing that most England fans can't seem to get their heads around; football isn't played on paper. In theory, Ashley Young should be better than Andriy Yarmolenko, but I bet Yarmolenko has a better tournament. The Swedes may not have big names, but they always work their nuts off and work rate alone will force England's rank average midfield to struggle.
At the end of the day, for all their premier league-tasticness, England's player won't live up to the lofty standards expected because they are managed by a pr*ck. There is little balance, chemistry and quality in the side. 4-4-2 with average players may scrape through rounds on defending and work rate alone, but if Sweden and Ukraine take the 'underdog' approach to Roy's England, we may see some of the most dire football ever witnessed in the modern era.'"
Pity Sweden didn't take the underdog attitude in qualification, they might have managed to top there group.
It doesn't matter though, we have sweden In our group so we wont see knockout football like in 2002 and 2006 (and both times didnt they just play us off the park)
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 20 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jun 2006 | 19 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jun 2012 | Jun 2012 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| U tell him mate .
At the end of the day they dont have our PASSION .
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 7121 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Mar 2007 | 18 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2019 | Oct 2017 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Cas Till I Die"Pity Sweden didn't take the underdog attitude in qualification, they might have managed to top there group.
It doesn't matter though, we have sweden In our group so we wont see knockout football like in 2002 and 2006 (and both times didnt they just play us off the park)
'"
What about the last Euros? Where were the mighty English with their on-paper warriors?
I'm not claiming the Swedes are world beaters, they aren't, they are a pretty average nation that consistently reach tournaments through hard work and a sprinkling of magic from players like Zlatan. What I'm claiming is England are a complete and utter pile of w*nk. I have never seen the English national side play 'well' consistently, with a recognised style/brand and a dedication to perform that style/brand. I've been watching England for about fourteen to sixteen years (I'm twenty one), and I've never seen them play properly well. Every single tournament I am forced to believe that the groups will be a breeze, that X nation should be an easy win and that with momentum, we could win it. Every tournament it ends, every tournament expectations aren't met and every tournament the same questions are asked.
For me, England will struggle and they can't guarantee any result. The Sweden game should be the easiest of the three, but given Roy's defeatist attitude to football, England will do very well to get four points.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Board Member | 11032 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2003 | 22 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2020 | Mar 2019 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Roddy B"What about the last Euros? Where were the mighty English with their on-paper warriors?
I'm not claiming the Swedes are world beaters, they aren't, they are a pretty average nation that consistently reach tournaments through hard work and a sprinkling of magic from players like Zlatan. What I'm claiming is England are a complete and utter pile of w*nk. I have never seen the English national side play 'well' consistently, with a recognised style/brand and a dedication to perform that style/brand. I've been watching England for about fourteen to sixteen years (I'm twenty one), and I've never seen them play properly well. Every single tournament I am forced to believe that the groups will be a breeze, that X nation should be an easy win and that with momentum, we could win it. Every tournament it ends, every tournament expectations aren't met and every tournament thek questions are asked.
For me, England will struggle and they can't guarantee any result. The Sweden game should be the easiest of the three, but given Roy's defeatist attitude to football, England will do very well to get four points.'"
So in the first line of your post you make a point about us not getting to the last euros(our first failure in 14 years). Can I ask where Sweden were at the last major tournament ??? Maybe working there nuts off on the beach (consistently getting to tournaments) ???
Read back through my posts we don't breeze through groups but we do usually find a way through..... Once out of the last seven attempts we have failed. Not really a bad record. We have been very unlucky not to do much better once through (2010 apart). My original point was that it would be a disgrace not to get through the group and it would.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Coach | 2917 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2004 | 20 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
May 2023 | Jul 2013 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| I wouldn't say Sweden are the organised defensive team they were. Their defence looks a bit shakey but they're now much more attacking minded. They've recently worked out how to get the best of out Ibra which is bad news for us. I could see us drawing easily.
|
|
|
|
|