Football 18/19

[kaosmark2]

31 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

Depends what team Croatia put out. Also if your Croatia and losing 1-0 to Iceland, if Argentina are winning what's the point putting the effort in to keep a stronger opponent in the competition.

That's true, if Croatia make 6+ changes then Iceland might nick something. I still think Croatia will make an effort to secure that top spot and avoid France.

[TheGayTent]

If I was Dalic, and assuming everyone is 100%, I’d be playing his strongest XI, anything else is a bit daft. 

[WS_Jack_III]

Mitrovic!

 

Rafa please don't sell him.

[kaosmark2]

I certainly don't think you try to let Iceland through so as to avoid Argentina in the final. Neither of those would get through many knockout games.

[kaosmark2]

1 minute ago, WS_Jack_III said:

Mitrovic!

 

Rafa please don't sell him.

Isn't the theory that Mitrovic doesn't suit the counter-attacking style Rafa's using, and that he doesn't trust his temperament?

Either way, he's probably our best finisher, and definitely offers something different up front to our other strikers (none of whom are good enough for the Prem).

[Ted Dansons Wig]

Cracking game....

could have gone either way

[dentalplan]

1 hour ago, kaosmark2 said:

That's true, if Croatia make 6+ changes then Iceland might nick something. I still think Croatia will make an effort to secure that top spot and avoid France.

They still have the likes of Kovacic, Badelj and Kramaric on the bench, right? Possible that they could switch players out and still find a result.

 

Group E is now pretty interestingly set. If the Swiss register a better result against eliminated Costa Rica than Brazil do against a good Serbia team playing for survival, they top the group on GD/GS. Would be more interesting if it meant avoiding Germany but whatever.

[pink_triangle]

20 minutes ago, Ted Dansons Wig said:

Cracking game....

could have gone either way

One of the best games so far, Serbia unlucky to lose.

[WS_Jack_III]

3 hours ago, kaosmark2 said:

Isn't the theory that Mitrovic doesn't suit the counter-attacking style Rafa's using, and that he doesn't trust his temperament?

Either way, he's probably our best finisher, and definitely offers something different up front to our other strikers (none of whom are good enough for the Prem).

Yes he doesn't suit our formation/style.

 

Looks like there are no funds again though so Rafa may have to hold onto some players. Are Fulham going to be able to pay 20m plus for Mitro? Who can we get to replace him?

[kaosmark2]

36 minutes ago, WS_Jack_III said:

Looks like there are no funds again though so Rafa may have to hold onto some players. Are Fulham going to be able to pay 20m plus for Mitro? Who can we get to replace him?

Well we weren't using him this season, so it's not exactly "replace" is it?

[WS_Jack_III]

12 hours ago, kaosmark2 said:

Well we weren't using him this season, so it's not exactly "replace" is it?

True, we need someone to get double figures though next season.  

[kaosmark2]

54 minutes ago, WS_Jack_III said:

True, we need someone to get double figures though next season.  

Completely agree. Did Perez just hit 10 in his end of season run or not? Either way we need a real goalscorer.

[WS_Jack_III]

12 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

Completely agree. Did Perez just hit 10 in his end of season run or not? Either way we need a real goalscorer.

Think he got 8 or 9 for league but 10 plus overall. Think Gayle and Joselu got around 5 each.

[dentalplan]

[jyoung]

Lukaku with some nice finishes and Hazard really asserting himself on the tournament. Not overly impressed by their back line though!

[pink_triangle]

I think some of the analysis comparing England and Belgium's performances with the other top teams, is ignoring the relative strength of the opposition. 

[pink_triangle]

I feel slightly wrong in saying this, but I think I find the ITV coverage less bad than BBC.

[Dan R]

1 hour ago, pink_triangle said:

I think some of the analysis comparing England and Belgium's performances with the other top teams, is ignoring the relative strength of the opposition. 

In the second round of games teams have more urgency if they need the win as well. Changes the dynamic of lots of games.

[Ted Dansons Wig]

Fuck me

45 from the Germans going out

[lost]

There we go thats what the Germans do.. still doesn’t make dropping Sane look ridiculous 

[pink_triangle]

3 minutes ago, lost said:

There we go thats what the Germans do.. still doesn’t make dropping Sane look ridiculous 

To be fair to Germany they kept their heads after the sending off, made an attacking substitution and their big player performed when needed. For all the talk about Sane, I feel performing in the premiership should give you an opportunity in the national team, rather than a guarantee. Brandt (who went instead) has looked good when he has come on. I would start him next game.

[dentalplan]

Yeah, as fun as a Sweden result would’ve been for us, they fluffed great chances to establish a lead and didn’t make the advantage count either. And Germany didn’t put on a masterclass or anything, they just capitalised on their chances better in the end.

Definitely deep problems in the German camp though - judging by events leading up to this game and the bench’s reaction to Boateng’s red - so I’m not convinced there’s a great revival about to happen.

Edited June 23, 2018 by dentalplan

[pink_triangle]

35 minutes ago, dentalplan said:

Yeah, as fun as a Sweden result would’ve been for us, they fluffed great chances to establish a lead and didn’t make the advantage count either. And Germany didn’t put on a masterclass or anything, they just capitalised on their chances better in the end.

Definitely deep problems in the German camp though - judging by events leading up to this game and the bench’s reaction to Boateng’s red - so I’m not convinced there’s a great revival about to happen.

I remember the French squad being a mess in 2006, failing to win their first 2 games and reaching the final with Domenech as manager!

[jyoung]

Would've been too good to be true.

[pink_triangle]

4 minutes ago, jyoung said:

Would've been too good to be true.

I disagree, but then again I don’t have a horse in the race. While Germany going out would be amusing, your left with Sweden stinking out the knockouts. I don’t want a World Cup like 2002 with only one decent side in the semis.