386 replies to this topic

[mikeford]

France and Sweden come out.


By the way, Ukraine seems like a wonderful place to hold this tournament: http://sports.ndtv.c...ered-in-ukraine

[Phil Plantier]

So far, winning teams have been really fit, and had good fullbacks. Maybe England will actually progress?

[ossie schreckengost]

as always: the faschist fuck´s verschwörung.

sey´d froh:

[ossie schreckengost]

le victoire : c´est a nous . ivotzen.

[koufax32]

I'm all for a good French pile on, but darn it Ossie, leave Napoleon out of it. Dude was more balls than the lot of 'em since. Maybe the Corsican in him made him immune to the stupid.

[Tony the Pony]

I'm all for a good French pile on,

Then you misunderstood



France and Ukraine to go through.

[cjdmadcow]

Slowly but surely England fans are beginning to understand why LFC fans such as myself absolutely detest Hodgson and his methods. How's this for a quote from his interview with the BBC yesterday:

"If it is the most torrid three weeks of my career I hope that it's for the right reasons. By that I mean because the players have let myself and the team down very badly, we have played very badly and that fair-minded people watching us are thinking, 'my God what are they doing?".

Don't blame me, he's saying, it's all the players fault. I prepared them properly but they haven't listened to a word I say. If it all goes well, it's because of Roy, if it's another fuck-up it's the players fault. Typical Hodgson MO, nothing is ever his fault.

France & Ukraine to go through.

Edited by cjdmadcow, 10 June 2012 - 05:36 AM.

[MarkInLondon]

Ukraine aren't very good. They wouldn't be in the tournament if they'd had to qualify.

Home advantage might be worth possibly 2 points to them in the group stage, but that still won't be enough for them to progress. It'll come down to the winner of the Sweden / England game. (Plus France)

There's been a lot of talk from UEFA about referees taking sides off the pitch if players are subject to racist abuse from spectators. If this is going to happen, it'll be in the Ukraine / France game.

[DLew On Roids]

I'm still taking England and France in some order, with England more likely to go through because they're less likely to implode.

We see the warts on England, but they have far more talent than Sweden and Ukraine.

[DLew On Roids]

According to the Football Ramble's FB feed, The Ox is in England's starting XI.

The Guardian's Daniel Taylor has it, too. Ox in for Downing.

Edited by DLew On Roids, 11 June 2012 - 08:17 AM.

[teddykgb]

I really don't see Liverpool besting France in this group,but they may make it out simply due to the lack of other quality.

[cjdmadcow]

Just as a point of reference, if the leaked info regarding the starting XI is true then there are three players from City & two each from Man Utd, Chelsea & Liverpool, so don't blame us when it goes tits-up.

[teddykgb]

There's a decent chance that more Liverpool players will play in this match than City and United players combined. I have no rooting interest in England and just don't want to see any more injuries to City players, but I reserve the right to relentlessly mock Liverpool fans when this team goes belly up because the FA thought that when you have an opportunity to deploy half of your league's 8th place squad for your country you just have to take it.

[DLew On Roids]

That'll make a lot of sense when we're saying, "Well, what did you expect? We know these guys suck."

[cjdmadcow]

France: Lloris, Debuchy, Rami, Mexes, Evra, Nasri, Cabaye, Diarra, Malouda, Ribery, Benzema.
Subs: Mandanda, Giroud, Matuidi, Reveillere, Menez, M'Vila, Martin, Ben Arfa, Valbuena, Clichy, Koscielny, Carrasso.

England: Hart, Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole, Milner, Gerrard, Parker, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Young, Welbeck.
Subs: Green, Walcott, Henderson, Carroll, Baines, Jones, Jagielka, Downing, Defoe, Butland.

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)

[cjdmadcow]

There's a decent chance that more Liverpool players will play in this match than City and United players combined. I have no rooting interest in England and just don't want to see any more injuries to City players, but I reserve the right to relentlessly mock Liverpool fans when this team goes belly up because the FA thought that when you have an opportunity to deploy half of your league's 8th place squad for your country you just have to take it.

Bollocks.

What was the alternative? Outside of Richards, who has made himself look an idiot by not being on the original stand-by list, who would you have preferred?

Check the notice-boards now and in the past and you'll find that a large percentage of LFC fans don't give a fuck about England and would prefer it if 6 players hadn't been selected. England (as a nation) doesn't give a fuck about Liverpool (the city) so the feeling is mutual.

Also, your assertion about player numbers is incorrect. With a possible three subs to be used the max number of LFC players on the pitch can be five. If you include Nasri & some little shit called Evra in the France team, there's already 6 ManU/Citeh.

[teddykgb]

I meant for England. And I'm sure that most Liverpool fans don't want their players going for England. I spent most of yesterday rooting for David Silva to be subbed off so as to avoid injury.

I wouldn't take it so seriously, it's just funny how many Liverpool players are on this squad, given how poor they were. There were alternatives, but probably not from City or United who are full of internationals.

[collings94]

Excited for Svenska since this is our best team since Henrik Larsson retired. Sure, we let an old man take our free kicks, but Sweden is strong up the middle with Ibra, Mellberg, Svensson and Toivonen and coming off 3 straight wins including a drubbing of Croatia. I would like to see somebody other than Isaksson in the net (like, literally anybody) but the group is winnable.

[Zomp]

I don't mind the lineup. Ox and Ashley Young on the wings certainly bring pace, and I'm glad Hodgson came to his senses and started Welbeck over Carroll.

Not sure about Johnson as the right back over Jones, but thats minor.

[Zomp]

Er, now they are saying Young in the #10 role with Gerrard next to Parker. Dislike.

[Phil Plantier]

Michael Ballack cheered up once Rebecca Lowe came on to the set.

[Hendu's Gait]

tons of prime open seats at anthem-time, considering the size, wealth, and history of the 2 nations playing, plus a successful club team in the city/stadium

[sachmoney]

Er, now they are saying Young in the #10 role with Gerrard next to Parker. Dislike.

Young has been playing there in the build up. Why did you expect anything different?

[teddykgb]

at least the referee is Italian so this should be on the up and up

edit: Young in the hole is bizarre but surely it's an attempt to keep a formation that Rooney will slot into when he returns? I'd probably have just put Milner there and left Young on the wing but neither is really a CAM. Too bad Zinedine Cleverly wasn't available!

Edited by teddykgb, 11 June 2012 - 11:01 AM.

[sachmoney]

edit: Young in the hole is bizarre but surely it's an attempt to keep a formation that Rooney will slot into when he returns? I'd probably have just put Milner there and left Young on the wing but neither is really a CAM. Too bad Zinedine Cleverly wasn't available!

None of you watched any of the friendlies? Young has played the second striker role the last two friendlies. He'll probably move back to the wing once Rooney comes back.

[Zomp]

Young has been playing there in the build up. Why did you expect anything different?

In most of the qualifying games for the tournament, Rooney played in the 10 role, with Young on the left, and Crouch or Bent in front of them. I figured Hodgson was trying things out in the friendlys, but they didn't look too good.

[Snakebauer007]

I wish they would just discuss the match and not who was left out in what previous tournament and other pointless info, like if Joe Hart will be keeper of the tournament.

[sachmoney]

In most of the qualifying games for the tournament, Rooney played in the 10 role, with Young on the left, and Crouch or Bent in front of them. I figured Hodgson was trying things out in the friendlys, but they didn't look too good.

Is Rooney playing today?

He was experimenting because he needed to figure out what he was going to do without Rooney. They won both games 1-0. Ho hum.

[Snakebauer007]

In most of the qualifying games for the tournament, Rooney played in the 10 role, with Young on the left, and Crouch or Bent in front of them. I figured Hodgson was trying things out in the friendlys, but they didn't look too good.

Would have rather seen Young out wide regardless of who else is in there, also would have rather not seen Milner out wide, dont care too much for him, but it wouldnt be an England match if the lineup made sense

[SocrManiac]

Hart's shirt is awful.

[Snakebauer007]

Is Rooney playing today?

He was experimenting because he needed to figure out what he was going to do without Rooney. They won both games 1-0. Ho hum.

They looked pretty poor doing so though, the result isnt always the most important factor, especially when you need to step up in talent level from Norway and Belgium to play France.

[Zomp]

Would have rather seen Young out wide regardless of who else is in there, also would have rather not seen Milner out wide, dont care too much for him, but it wouldnt be an England match if the lineup made sense

I agree, but I'm sure sachmoney will reply to you soon that you didn't watch qualifying.

[teddykgb]

are we ok with using these as game threads? Cabaye has to take that shot there.

[Hendu's Gait]

MISS

[Zomp]

Yeah these as gamethreads are cool.


Fucking Milner. You sucks.

[teddykgb]

as is usual for him, a strong first touch made the finish nearly impossible for Milner. Slipped trying to get his foot around, which is happening a lot to the England players

[Snakebauer007]

as is usual for him, a strong first touch made the finish nearly impossible for Milner. Slipped trying to get his foot around, which is happening a lot to the England players

What was the typical breakdown of Milner's matches this season for City in terms of playing wide or in the center? I cant remember the last time I watched him play wide and actually be worth a damn

[teddykgb]

Arsenal really do have a player in Ox, the best move the manager is making is blooding him this early.

[Phil Plantier]

18th minute: Ian Darke brings up 1066 as an example of the "longtime rivalry"

[Snakebauer007]

18th minute: Ian Darke brings up 1066 as an example of the "longtime rivalry"

More very useful info when attempting to enjoy a football match

[teddykgb]

What was the typical breakdown of Milner's matches this season for City in terms of playing wide or in the center? I cant remember the last time I watched him play wide and actually be worth a damn

He's better in the center than out wide by a large margin. In the center his outrageous workrate is an asset that makes up for some of his shortcomings. He's also pretty good at spotting a pass. City seldom played him out wide this season with Nasri being brought in, as we don't really line up with wingers and play Silva and Nasri "wide" and have them come in. Milner didn't play much once Yaya Toure came back from the ACoN as a result.

Only defense I'd say of Milner as a winger is that he can cross a ball, city just don't play with a target man striker, so it's wasted. I could see playing Milner wide right with Carroll on the field, Milner will work very hard on his wing and get plenty of opportunities to fire a cross in.

Edited by teddykgb, 11 June 2012 - 11:22 AM.

[Zomp]

FUCK!

Get up Danny!

[mikeford]

tons of prime open seats at anthem-time, considering the size, wealth, and history of the 2 nations playing, plus a successful club team in the city/stadium

No one wants to go to the fucking Ukraine.

[Phil Plantier]

England's strategy seems to be: "lets put 7 men in our box, none of which will mark Nasri"

[sachmoney]

Would have rather seen Young out wide regardless of who else is in there, also would have rather not seen Milner out wide, dont care too much for him, but it wouldnt be an England match if the lineup made sense

What would be your preferred line up? If you take out Milner, who do you put in?

EDIT: trying to visualize what you're thinking

They looked pretty poor doing so though, the result isnt always the most important factor, especially when you need to step up in talent level from Norway and Belgium to play France.

They looked poor because they are a poor side.

Edited by sachmoney, 11 June 2012 - 11:26 AM.

[Hendu's Gait]

No one wants to go to the fucking Ukraine.

I realize Wales has its own futbol team, but I would have thought that the English hooligans travel well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hughes_(businessman)

Perhaps everyone is at the aquapark

http://uefaeuro2012....st/aquapark.php

[teddykgb]

France not really committing a large number of men to the attack, will be interesting to watch and see if this changes if this remains goalless into the 2nd half. England seems happy to play on the counter....nevermind the forehead scores to make this happen immediately

[Snakebauer007]

Frankenstein!

[sachmoney]

Told Mike that I was feeling a 1-0 England win. We'll see if they can hold this.

[Hendu's Gait]

Beckham-esque free kick by Jerry