The World Cup thread….

[Hirstys 12th Pint]

1 hour ago, KrolMong said:

France are very beatable. The front four is very good. But, midfield, poor, full backs, poor, and not particularly organised. A lot of pressure on Walker and Shaw to deal with Mbappe and Dembele, but, the two France full backs are under even more pressure to deal with Foden and Rashford/Saka.

If he goes 5-2-3, then he’s got to sacrifice Henderson and move Bellingham next to Rice.

I would simply leave the team the same, and MAYBE swap Saka for Rashford, just because he’s a direct runner and will play between left back and left center back.

IF, Bellingham and Foden have control of the game, we’ll win because I have confidence that we can shut down Mbappe with Walker.

Pick the best joint England France line up and would suggest that there is more England players in it.  Take an on form Mbappe out and we are clear favourites.

[Reesh]

11 minutes ago, Hirstys 12th Pint said:

Don't get your G String in a twist Reesh.  Was only a cheap jokey analogy.  

Pretty shit one, probably best to stop trying jokes when you're shit at em.

[mkowlthesexynewversion]

5 hours ago, Andyben said:

CAn't see anyting on the normal internet, MK.

You on 4Chan again?

It was a Twitter search last week - as Musk let you back on yet 😃

Lets just say the suggestion that the first EPL player that may come out as gay perhaps quelle surprise may have prior links with Brighton 

Probably more that a grandparent died or summat as the personal issue but who knows 

As was suggested if this hit the media whilst in err Qatar it may have been a distraction. It is simply a matter of time this arises and frankly most football fans will just get on with it 

(ok this may be singing slightly inappropriate songs for a while)  

[Tylluan]

13 hours ago, Owling_Wolf said:

He's like a mature man when he's interviewed, too. Very calm and self assured.  I really hope his brother's the same, on and off the pitch.  

I think a lot of Bellingham's approach is down to how Bundesliga clubs manage their kids. There's a 'duty of care' in place with all u21s. Their wages are kept 'on hold'. The accommodation, bills, etc are all paid for by the club and the players get an allowance. If they want to spend big then it has to be ratified. They're initially given club cars, sometimes second hand, and all this is designed to keep their mind on the football and have no distractions. They also have media training and classes on how their actions can enhance or undermined club and league values

[holmesfield_owl]

49 minutes ago, Reesh said:

Really, they are at home

 

I said last night are we at home and they said yes 🤣 ok then be hard for travelling owls 😁

[Mark]

42 minutes ago, Hirstys 12th Pint said:

Pick the best joint England France line up and would suggest that there is more England players in it.  Take an on form Mbappe out and we are clear favourites.

I genuinely like your optimism. Have to disagree. France are clear fav 4 me. And how many of our players get in there starting 11? I'd say maybe 4.

Having said that, I think we can certainly win but IMO we will have to beat best team in competition 

[Andyben]

Giroud is exactly the type of player Stones & Maguire will love to face.

Shouldn't pose any problems, M<bappe will, Dembele wont, neither will Greizmann.

But we'll still lose because the fraud will bottle it

[Mark]

20 minutes ago, Andyben said:

Giroud is exactly the type of player Stones & Maguire will love to face.

Shouldn't pose any problems, M<bappe will, Dembele wont, neither will Greizmann.

But we'll still lose because the fraud will bottle it

You don't think Griezmann will pose problems ????

We'd be only team in the World Cup that he didn't 

[Reesh]

14 minutes ago, Mark said:

You don't think Griezmann will pose problems ????

We'd be only team in the World Cup that he didn't 

Hi Gareth.

[Andyben]

Too many Alan Irvines here.

We've got a midfield and strike force which along with the options from the bench, is up there with the  very best, if not the  best group in the WC.

But he'll change it and hamper us 

Edited December 5, 2022 by Andyben

[KrolMong]

If I’m picking a joint 11, I’m going…

Lloris 

Walker, Varane, Stones, Shaw

Rice, Bellingham

Foden, Griezemann, Mbappe

Kane

You saw the blueprint yesterday from a very poor Poland team. The four that played in front of Krychowiak had a lot of joy and had a lot of ball, but more critically, they kept getting behind the two full backs on multiple occasions with ease. So, if they can do that, what will the likes of Bellingham, Foden and Saka do, especially with Shaw backing Foden up.

Griezemann is playing in an area of the pitch against a very mobile Rice and as has been said, Giroud is the type of player that Maguire loves. The key is going to be about the full backs stopping Mbappe and Dembele. But… I think our defensive unit have more chance of stopping their front four, than they have of stopping ours. Foden and Bellingham should absolutely destroy Tchouaméni, Rabiot and Kounde.

 

[Andyben]

Id play Rashford left and Foden right simply because that's the whole of each wing playing at the same club. 

 

Stones Walker and Foden 

Maguire Shaw and Rashford.

Edited December 5, 2022 by Andyben

[KrolMong]

Foden plays wide left for City. It’s generally Silva or Mahrez who play right in that 4-3-3. But, I do think with Foden and Rashford, you can switch them. Whereas with Saka and Foden you can’t.

If he does that play a 5-2-3, then he’s got to play Bellingham next to Rice, and he’s got to throw Shaw up the pitch. Kounde is a center half playing at right back, and he stays at home, Dembele is not interested in anything in his own half. I’d deffo play Rashford in a 5-2-3.

I just think that France are tailor made for us. There’s other teams who I fear more, particularly Portugal and Brazil because they just keep the ball.

[mkowlthesexynewversion]

Be hopes none of the Japanese fans have a pilots licence 

[Mark]

2 hours ago, Reesh said:

Hi Gareth.

😀😀

 

[Mark]

1 hour ago, KrolMong said:

If I’m picking a joint 11, I’m going…

Lloris 

Walker, Varane, Stones, Shaw

Rice, Bellingham

Foden, Griezemann, Mbappe

Kane

You saw the blueprint yesterday from a very poor Poland team. The four that played in front of Krychowiak had a lot of joy and had a lot of ball, but more critically, they kept getting behind the two full backs on multiple occasions with ease. So, if they can do that, what will the likes of Bellingham, Foden and Saka do, especially with Shaw backing Foden up.

Griezemann is playing in an area of the pitch against a very mobile Rice and as has been said, Giroud is the type of player that Maguire loves. The key is going to be about the full backs stopping Mbappe and Dembele. But… I think our defensive unit have more chance of stopping their front four, than they have of stopping ours. Foden and Bellingham should absolutely destroy Tchouaméni, Rabiot and Kounde.

 

A mobile Rice? Crikey. He was a lot better last game but he's a CH playing midfield. 

Our defence will get ripped a new one if not careful.

Love Gareth

[Winco]

Brazil are on fire 

[mkowlthesexynewversion]

That 3rd goal was a thing of beauty 😍

[mkowlthesexynewversion]

I wouldn't kick that 4th out of bed either 

[HoylandOwl]

Brazil are turning it on at the right time... 

[Andyben]

[owl4ever1867]

19 hours ago, Tylluan said:

I think a lot of Bellingham's approach is down to how Bundesliga clubs manage their kids. There's a 'duty of care' in place with all u21s. Their wages are kept 'on hold'. The accommodation, bills, etc are all paid for by the club and the players get an allowance. If they want to spend big then it has to be ratified. They're initially given club cars, sometimes second hand, and all this is designed to keep their mind on the football and have no distractions. They also have media training and classes on how their actions can enhance or undermined club and league values

Should do that here instead of giving kids ridiculous wages so they can prance around in top of the range Mercedes.

[Andyben]

I'd sincerely hope the an afford a better car than a Mercedes 

[Tylluan]

5 hours ago, owl4ever1867 said:

Should do that here instead of giving kids ridiculous wages so they can prance around in top of the range Mercedes.

First thing Sancho did on his arrival in Manchester was order three Range Rovers because he couldn't make his mind on on the colour. 

Not exactly killing it at Old Trafford is he

[HoylandOwl]

28 minutes ago, Tylluan said:

First thing Sancho did on his arrival in Manchester was order three Range Rovers because he couldn't make his mind on on the colour. 

Not exactly killing it at Old Trafford is he

Are you suggesting he didn’t need three? 😄

[HoylandOwl]

Morocco…. Could they?

[Andyben]

Portugal to  win World Cup.

Ronaldo to retire.

[owl4ever1867]

1 hour ago, Tylluan said:

First thing Sancho did on his arrival in Manchester was order three Range Rovers because he couldn't make his mind on on the colour. 

Not exactly killing it at Old Trafford is he

Says it all Ty.

[Andyben]

Should have just bought one Rolls Royce Cullinan and had it done to Atelier spec with all three colours.

Pauper 

[Otto_Man]

Spain 😜

[Otto_Man]

Beat France and we can win this, obviously we won't, but it's there for the taking

[HoylandOwl]

Wasn't the best of games that, but Morocco's defending was very admirable. 

[Andyben]

I've sent 43 emails to the Qatari security services informing them of the Southgate / Trent  bumfest.

 

Fingers crossed 

[HoylandOwl]

No Ronaldo in Portugal's starting XI tonight.

[HoylandOwl]

Morocco, Switzerland or Portugal then for the winners of England v France. 

[Otto_Man]

26 minutes ago, HoylandOwl said:

No Ronaldo in Portugal's starting XI tonight.

Shrewd move IMO, Switzerland will play for a dull draw, he's a fairly formidable impact sub when the game gets stretched later on

[Winco]

Spain were shite as good as their passing and movement is they create fuck all. There a young team but the tikka takka football nether like to play is nowhere good enough anymore not like the xavi/ineista fucking freeky passing was.
I can see us beating France.

[Winco]

Wow what a fucking goal!

[owl4ever1867]

8 minutes ago, Winco said:

Wow what a fucking goal!

The power in the shot was unbelievable 

[mkowlthesexynewversion]

No Ronaldo is doing wonders for them. Football is a team game and no player is bigger than that, irrespective of how bloated their ego has become 

[Andyben]

Well that's my desk not cleaned tomorrow morning 

[mkowlthesexynewversion]

If after going 4 ok 5 up without a certain player, if I was a Portuguese player I would get the ball, run up to my own goal and smash it in the top corner if the ungrateful bastard fans were singing for him to come on 

[M42Owl]

If I was the Portugal manager, I’d have brought CR7 on with three minutes left not 20.

[owl4ever1867]

What a fantastic performance that was by Portugal.

[owl4ever1867]

The 1/4 Final draw is now complete : 

Friday 9th December 

Brazil vs Croatia - 3pm

Netherlands vs Argentina 7pm

Saturday 10th December 

Portugal vs Morocco 3pm

England vs France 7pm

[owl4ever1867]

Ronaldo who.....

[mkowlthesexynewversion]

I am just annoyed for the Gomes lad. Scores a hat trick and your fans are calling for the ego to come on. Barely get clapped off as a result.

One of my bugbears

[mkowlthesexynewversion]

I am not sure Stockport v Charlton in the FA Cup being on TV tomorrow is going to compensate for the World Cup.

For all the political shit the football has been not so bad really

[Owling_Wolf]

2 hours ago, mkowlthesexynewversion said:

I am not sure Stockport v Charlton in the FA Cup being on TV tomorrow is going to compensate for the World Cup.

For all the political shit the football has been not so bad really

The games just keep getting better.  

[EastCraigsOwl]

No group runner-up led at any point during 90 minutes or extra time of any last 16 match.

The aggregate goals scored in the 8 matches was Group winners 22-6 Runners-up.

The only second placed country to progress to the quarter finals was Croatia, who showed Japan how to take penalties. Not that it really matters, as the Croats will be first to go from the last 8 when Brazil get their hands on them on Friday afternoon!

Bizarre quote from Hal Robson-Kanu yesterday afternoon - "it's starting to really feel like a World Cup now. The big boys in the competition are beginning to turn up". This was immediately following Spain's exit to Morocco 🤦‍♂️