Football/Soccer anyone?

[The Chill Master]

BREAKING: Arsenal have activated Cesc Fabregas's buy-back clause. He will do a medical soon and the transfer will be announced after the World Cup.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26590673

nice joke

 

[Nibz]

Considering how stupid the world cup threads here are, I think it'd be better to post the world cup related posts here!

Belgium vs Algeria tonight. So looking forward to it!
Belgium team really has the potential to beat any opponent in this tournament. I truly hope they win the worldcup!

 

[AtemisDelta]

Exactly.
I still cant decide which team to support. Its mostly Uruguay and England due to LFC related reasons.
I direly hope Uruguay and England have a fair and square draw and crash out of the group stages though with no ugly stuff. Again for LFC related reasons.

After they both crash out hopefully I'll be a neutral and one has to admit Belgium is indeed a fantastic side. Especially since Courtois' in it.

 

[Nibz]

That's not gonna happen. It can either be England or Uruguay. Maybe neither. Costa Rica might just pull off another stunner and qualify along with Italy.
I personally want England to qualify though. World cup won't be the same without England.

Yes. Courtois, indeed. And not to mention Hazard, Lukaku, Dembele, Januzaj/Mirallas, De Bruyne, Chadli, Vermaelen, Van Buyten, Kompany, Vertonghen DAMN, the list just goes on. So much young talent. Favourites for me!

 

[AtemisDelta]

I am hoping for the very unlikely neither. Although I do agree England always entertains. Previously they provided some sadistic entertainment with star players missing penalties and the likes but this time its a positive type of entertainment. And just like Belgium's host of youth players, its the same with England. Sterling was simply AWESOME against Italy. Its a real pity they lost. But then again even if they lose early, Hodgson can remain positive about his team. Its their best display since years and as most players are young, he can hope for a bright future.

Yeah they are all there but Courtois stands out for me. Just.
Btw I thought you'd be backing Netherlands. With Van Gaal, RVP all there. They played fantastically against Spain. It would seem they had been plotting revenge all these four years.

 

[Nibz]

Sterling was simply AWESOME against Italy.

Word. Sterling was too good! The best English player on the pitch, imo. And Ross Barklay was good, too. Changed the game when he came on!

Btw I thought you'd be backing Netherlands. With Van Gaal, RVP all there. They played fantastically against Spain. It would seem they had been plotting revenge all these four years.

Yeah, I tend to go for Netherland's win whenever they play. But more on Belgium's side!

Hard earned win tonight, though. And Fellaini scored. Didn't see that coming!

 

[Nibz]

Brazil held to a draw by Mexico.
Neymar - such talent, so skillfull with the ball.
And Ochoa - no words for his goalkeeping tonight.

 

[MarcoReus]

Scolari needs to get back to his senses and play Willian/Bernard over Hulk or Ramires, shift Oscar behind the striker and Neymar to the leftwing. Also, replace Paulinho with Fernandinho. Maybe Hulk uptop too - can't be worse than Fred. :/

 

[MarcoReus]

Word. Sterling was too good! The best English player on the pitch, imo. And Ross Barklay was good, too. Changed the game when he came on!


Yeah, I tend to go for Netherland's win whenever they play. But more on Belgium's side!

Hard earned win tonight, though. And Fellaini scored. Didn't see that coming!

Fellaini has always been brilliant as an AM/ST (target man). That's where he performed best at Everton. He's average as a CM.

 

[AtemisDelta]

Word. Sterling was too good! The best English player on the pitch, imo. And Ross Barklay was good, too. Changed the game when he came on!

Finally. You do acknowledge Raheem Sterling.

 

[AtemisDelta]

Scolari needs to get back to his senses and play Willian/Bernard over Hulk or Ramires, shift Oscar behind the striker and Neymar to the leftwing. Also, replace Paulinho with Fernandinho. Maybe Hulk uptop too - can't be worse than Fred. :/

More like Scholari's squad selection has gone a bit awry. Still mad at him for leaving out Firmino and Coutinho. At least one of them needed to be in the team. And Ramires! Lets not start with that now.

 

[Nibz]

Word Champions (no longer) stunned by the amazing Chile! So much for their tiki-taka domination over the years!

 

[MarcoReus]

More like Scholari's squad selection has gone a bit awry. Still mad at him for leaving out Firmino and Coutinho. At least one of them needed to be in the team. And Ramires! Lets not start with that now.

I still could barely understand Bernard over Firmino/Coutinho/Moura. However, Henrique over Miranda, Maicon over Rafael and Maxwell over Filipe Luis were awful picks.

 

[MarcoReus]

Amazing how people are saying this is the death of tika-taka. Spain lost because they forgot the main aspect of tika-taka (probably due to age) that is pressing when you don't have the ball - which makes sure your high-line isn't exposed. Chile pressed the hell out of them and got their rewards. I expect them to beat Holland too - if they play smartly like they did today.

 

[AtemisDelta]

I still could barely understand Bernard over Firmino/Coutinho/Moura. However, Henrique over Miranda, Maicon over Rafael and Maxwell over Filipe Luis were awful picks.

Even though England are like not in a great position, I totally salute Hodgson for putting faith in inexperienced players (on an international level) and not shying from axing under performing veterans and international regulars. And Scholari has done the very opposite.

 

[MarcoReus]

Even though England are like not in a great position, I totally salute Hodgson for putting faith in inexperienced players (on an international level) and not shying from axing under performing veterans and international regulars. And Scholari has done the very opposite.

I hope Hodgson gets it right today, he has to get this right. Play Rooney as a #10 (no Pirlo to stop), and either ask Gerrard to actually run, press and play as a DM or put Phil Jones there.

 

[AtemisDelta]

I hope Hodgson gets it right today, he has to get this right. Play Rooney as a #10 (no Pirlo to stop), and either ask Gerrard to actually run, press and play as a DM or put Phil Jones there.

Phil Jones over Gerrard. You have to be kidding. Gerrard is 34 and thus he uses Henderson and Sterling, esp Henderson (he's the engine) to do all the running while he pulls the strings from the back (LFC scenario). I dont really understand why people keep criticizing him. He is a great leader on the pitch.

 

[MarcoReus]

Phil Jones over Gerrard. You have to be kidding. Gerrard is 34 and thus he uses Henderson and Sterling, esp Henderson (he's the engine) to do all the running while he pulls the strings from the back (LFC scenario). I dont really understand why people keep criticizing him. He is a great leader on the pitch.

Let's see. He barely presses, he leaves loads of space in between the lines, he's prone to immobility, can't keep his energy up for 90 minutes. All of his flaws were laid bare against Italy. That performance was as woeful as Xavi's against Netherlands. England's problems throughout has been a flat 4-4-2 (or in the case, a 4-4-1-1-) with loads of space in between the lines and Gerrard has just exposed that further.

That's the LFC scenario with the diamond (even then he couldn't keep up with great technical players like Lallana or Silva - players he'll keep facing in WC as almost all sides have great #10s). England's flat lines are wholly different. Henderson is full of running but you cannot expect him to cover the whole MF zone, while Sterling is going to be on the wings.

And I never said Phil Jones over Gerrard, I said Phil Jones over Henderson, and he and Gerrard sit deep. While this stops Henderson's forward running and that route, it keeps England defensively solid and a much better counter-attacking threat. Still, I doubt Roy will do it.

But this is a fact, Gerrard WILL be exposed and owned by Germany (Kroos), Brazil (Oscar), Argentina (Attacking quartet) as well as teams like Croatia, Colombia, Chile etc. Roy has to take the Italy game as a warning sign and correct that MF flaws, and I don't see that with Gerrard DM.

 

[AtemisDelta]

Let's see. He barely presses, he leaves loads of space in between the lines, he's prone to immobility, can't keep his energy up for 90 minutes. All of his flaws were laid bare against Italy. That performance was as woeful as Xavi's against Netherlands. England's problems throughout has been a flat 4-4-2 (or in the case, a 4-4-1-1-) with loads of space in between the lines and Gerrard has just exposed that further.

That's the LFC scenario with the diamond (even then he couldn't keep up with great technical players like Lallana or Silva - players he'll keep facing in WC as almost all sides have great #10s). England's flat lines are wholly different. Henderson is full of running but you cannot expect him to cover the whole MF zone, while Sterling is going to be on the wings.

And I never said Phil Jones over Gerrard, I said Phil Jones over Henderson, and he and Gerrard sit deep. While this stops Henderson's forward running and that route, it keeps England defensively solid and a much better counter-attacking threat. Still, I doubt Roy will do it.

But this is a fact, Gerrard WILL be exposed and owned by Germany (Kroos), Brazil (Oscar), Argentina (Attacking quartet) as well as teams like Croatia, Colombia, Chile etc. Roy has to take the Italy game as a warning sign and correct that MF flaws, and I don't see that with Gerrard DM.

Please. How on earth did they beat City and Southampton.
However I do admit the Italy game was not one of his best games. He put on a pretty average performance and was thus owned by Pirlo and co.
But still you cannot blame him alone for the defeat. Rooney was too despite that assist.
IMO Hodgson should totally omit Rooney from the starting line up and have Lallana/ Barkley to start instead. Rooney can come in as an impact sub or sthg. He has been woeful. But that is not happening. He got the no 10 role.
AND Henderson must start.

 

[Nibz]

Rooney's in the Starting XI, thankfully.
He is a game-changer, we all know this. Unfortunately, he wasn't at his best against Italy because he was played out of position, and even at times had to go searching for the ball. Play him at his best position or don't play him at all; his mere presence can't win matches.
IMO, if he's given freedom behind the striker, he can do wonders. No one knows this better than United supporters.

I agree with AtemisDelta about Gerrard and Henderson: both are currently the best in the midfield zone for England and can control the mid quite well. So, there is no debate over their inclusion.

Let's hope England win this one!