[FOOTY] International Fortnight ft. Southgate's march to full time England manager

[John Arne]

International fortnight, ahoy.

Week 1 - Friendlies

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Week 1 - World Cup Qualification

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Week 2 - Friendlies

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Week 2 - World Cup Qualification

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Literally just picked up my tickets for the Vietnam - North Korea friendly :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Cameroon/Algeria and Morocco/Ivory Coast the big games in Africa. Tunisia/Guinea also a big one. The World Cup really does not need Tunisia.

[John Arne]

Cameroon/Algeria and Morocco/Ivory Coast the big games in Africa. Tunisia/Guinea also a big one. The World Cup really does not need Tunisia.

Is this the final group stage?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yes. Five groups of four, top team from each one qualifies. The draw is quite fruity, especially Group B or whichever one it is Algeria are in.

[Spammer]

I didn't realise that Scotland were in our group.

[Baz]

Montenegro vs Kazakhstan is the big one for me. The scenes when Kuat scores. :youpi:

[Byron]

Scotland assistant Mark McGhee sees merit in Fifa president Gianni Infantino's proposal to expand the World Cup finals to 48 teams.

Believe me Mark, I wouldn't get excited about Scotland's chances of qualifying if there were 100 teams.

[John Arne]

Michael Keane replaces injured Glen Johnson in the England squad. Townsend also replaced Sterling.

[Lewis]

Rio Ferdinand has been bigging Michael Keane up for years, and getting lolled at for doing so; but now I hear that he's the new John Terry.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Maybe he represents low quality fanny (I can't get over that).

[Disco]

It's amazing, how can one man be so thoroughly representative of FOOTBALL.

[Danny]

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12016/10605937/wayne-rooney-reveals-sam-allardyce-apologised-for-he-plays-wherever-he-wants-claim

Didnt take long

[Kikó]

He's[Rooney] absolutely delusional. He can't control a midfield and he's better spending his time getting fit and scoring goals (which he can do).

[John Arne]

I just back from a quality game. Vietnam 5-2 North Korea. Not much of any away following. Biggest crowd in Saigon for a long time - some 18,000. As to be expected, organisation was atrocious, 30-40 minutes queueing to get in - missed the first 25 minutes of the game. Once it started though - decent game.

https://gyazo.com/acb31afd230ada25b92502f6bc6773ab.png

[John Arne]

Meanwhile, China were beaten at home 1-0 by Syria :henn0rz:

[Jimmy Floyd]

China's ongoing shambles of a national team is a curious one. Guess they just have loads of worker ants and no creative stars, which tends to be what elevates you in Asia, as (unlike in Africa, say) everyone has the worker ants.

[Pen]

We're continuing our formidable start against Amigo's train wreck of a lot after holding the so far undefeated (in their qualification history) Kosovo. Anything other than a triumphant away win is completely unacceptable.

Edit: At least are traveling fans are clever, turning that Iceland's 'Hu-Ha' shout into the Genghis Khan song.

[Giggles]

Seamus Coleman has just got an awful jambag of a goal in what is an absolutely horrible performance.

[Pen]

That feels a bit shit. Conceding twice in stoppage time the latter being a goal that should never have stood.

edit: That said, Iceland were better.

[ItalAussie]

We got a draw in possibly our toughest fixture, away to the Saudi team. Japan at home next. If we win that, we can probably start thinking about tickets.

The Saudi result is good, but Al-Shamrani scoring is a bitter pill. He's one of the worst people in football.

[Amigo]

Finland's timewasting in that game. :sick:

Pretty sure one of their strikers spent more time sitting down than he did playing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We got a draw in possibly our toughest fixture, away to the Saudi team. Japan at home next. If we win that, we can probably start thinking about tickets.

The Saudi result is good, but Al-Shamrani scoring is a bitter pill. He's one of the worst people in football.

For some reason I really, passionately want UAE to beat Saudi into third. Maybe because I watched the UAE play Great Britain at the Olympics and they were actually top, top value. I'd like them to qualify actually but presume Japan and Aussie Aussie Aussie will be too strong.

[ItalAussie]

For some reason I really, passionately want UAE to beat Saudi into third. Maybe because I watched the UAE play Great Britain at the Olympics and they were actually top, top value. I'd like them to qualify actually but presume Japan and Aussie Aussie Aussie will be too strong.

The UAE are a really exciting team at the moment. It is a tragedy that Omar Abdulrahman isn't going to leave the Middle East any time soon, because he's comfortably the best player in Asia, and would honestly fit into any team in the world. Creative attacking midfielder whose distribution and vision are absolutely top drawer.

The supporting cast includes Khalil and Mabkhout, who are great at creating goals and finishing chances, and they play both of them at once. The rest of the team is solid and largely unspectacular, but their style of football is attacking and creative.

I really hope they qualify. I'd love it if they got in ahead of the Saudis. Hard to see it happening though, because the Saudi powers-that-be have clearly had a word in the ear of the AFC. Penalties in the 84th, 81st, and 88th minutes of their first two matches to turn 0-0 and 0-1 into 1-0 and 2-1. Very dodgy.

[ItalAussie]

Also, I think Australia are still vulnerable. If Japan beat us next week, then qualification could start to look a little bit ropey. The away trip to Iraq will go from a budgeted draw to a worrying loss of points if we aren't careful.


EDIT: And while I hate to stereotype sides based on where they're from, the Saudi time-wasting was utterly disgusting.


Instead of trusting in the talent of Al Abid, Al Shehri or Al Jassam to once again crack open Australia, Saudi Arabia instead leant on gamesmanship – shoelaces refused to stay tied; cramps laid low athletes in their prime, and the goalkeeper played with ribs of rare Venetian glass.
Shades of Iran in 1997. Middle Eastern sides are the absolute worst for this sort of thing.

[John Arne]

The UAE are a really exciting team at the moment. It is a tragedy that Omar Abdulrahman isn't going to leave the Middle East any time soon, because he's comfortably the best player in Asia, and would honestly fit into any team in the world. Creative attacking midfielder whose distribution and vision are absolutely top drawer.

The supporting cast includes Khalil and Mabkhout, who are great at creating goals and finishing chances, and they play both of them at once. The rest of the team is solid and largely unspectacular, but their style of football is attacking and creative.

I really hope they qualify. I'd love it if they got in ahead of the Saudis. Hard to see it happening though, because the Saudi powers-that-be have clearly had a word in the ear of the AFC. Penalties in the 84th, 81st, and 88th minutes of their first two matches to turn 0-0 and 0-1 into 1-0 and 2-1. Very dodgy.

Decent summary that. I've been raving about Omar for a while - it's a shame that we aren't going to see him in a better domestic league. Apparently he did have trials at Arsenal at one point, but the powers that be in the UAE threw buckets of cash at him - his choice, I guess.

Australia's win in the UAE is huge - If you can get a draw in Japan and something at home - you are pretty much guaranteed at least top 3. You would think that S.Arabia will drop a few more points, especially in their away matches (Japan and UAE).

[John Arne]

And yes, the time wasting is horrendous. As much as the players are at fault, the referring annoys me too, they let them get away with it every time. The ref should just award a free kick to the other team and tell them to play on. One of the worst things about football.

[John Arne]

784234855320154112

[Jimmy Floyd]

And yes, the time wasting is horrendous. As much as the players are at fault, the referring annoys me too, they let them get away with it every time. The ref should just award a free kick to the other team and tell them to play on. One of the worst things about football.

There's almost like a tacit agreement across football in certain parts of the world that if a team's 1-0 up they can do whatever they want. Sometimes you don't even see the oppo complaining as they'd do the same.

There was a brilliant occasion in the Afcon once when Tunisia were at it and the referee basically lost his patience and decided to just screw them repeatedly. This game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Africa_Cup_of_Nations_knockout_stage#Tunisia_ vs_Equatorial_Guinea

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

784765622043443200

So bad.

[John]

There's almost like a tacit agreement across football in certain parts of the world that if a team's 1-0 up they can do whatever they want. Sometimes you don't even see the oppo complaining as they'd do the same.

There was a brilliant occasion in the Afcon once when Tunisia were at it and the referee basically lost his patience and decided to just screw them repeatedly. This game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Africa_Cup_of_Nations_knockout_stage#Tunisia_ vs_Equatorial_Guinea

I'm sure the old board saw some scenes during that game. It was complete madness.

[Raoul Duke]

That England team is a load of derp.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Am I missing something with Lingard or is it just the usual United fixation that England managers have?

[Giggles]

Am I missing something with Lingard or is it just the usual United fixation that England managers have?

Southgate just trying to make his mark.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We want Jordan and Wayne to control the game :face:

[John]

Giving a middling winger his debut against the goats isn't likely to leave a lasting mark. If he genuinely wanted to make a mark he should have picked three promising youths and given them starts, then at least he'd have a chance of being mentioned down the line as the man who gave the kid about to break the caps record his first start. Lingard, fast approaching his mid-twenties, is vanishingly unlikely to have a great international career.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The way seemingly everyone in football just bows down to Rooney's undoubted brilliance is a bit unsettling. Does he have sex tapes of them all?

[P_3]

Sturridge ahead of Vardy is all sorts of silly.

[niko_cee]

Am I missing something with Lingard or is it just the usual United fixation that England managers have?

I was going to say the same, although put it down to personal anti-United bias. He always seems the most bang of bang average players to me.

As has been said, this England side is pure shite.

A midfield trio of Hendo, Wazza and 'Dele'.

Good job they're playing a non-league level opponent.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wazza already 'pinging it' straight into some Maltese knees.

Such a vile selection. Pick a fucking midfielder.

[niko_cee]

Rooney getting caught in possession almost instantly.

:drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

2 fucking minutes.

Absolutely stunning.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

784775210515963905

Bomb the fucking stadium, Christ.

[Boydy]

How empty is it there?

Can't blame people for not wanting to watch that pile of shite though, to be fair.

[Giggles]

How empty is it there?

Can't blame people for not wanting to watch that pile of shite though, to be fair.

The time on the tweet is 40 mins before kickoff so it's probably higher than that looks.

[Magic]

Hopefully Gareth dons it to get the job then drags it slowly out like a stubborn terminal cancer patient

[Shindig]

Dominant 1-0 win forthcoming.

[Raoul Duke]

Wazza managing to injure Bertrand through the sheer shitness of his pass :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sturridge :D

[Ian]

So glad we're wasting our time playing Sturridge.

[Kikó]

Rooney, top lad. Crunching against Malta.

[Raoul Duke]

Ref totally bottling sending him off then

[John Arne]

So glad we're wasting our time playing Sturridge.

He'll score a few today. There aren't many better English strikers available at the moment... you could argue Vardy perhaps.

Sturridge's biggest problem is the fact that he is a monstrous cuntbag.

[Kikó]

It must be heart breaking for actual midfielders watching Rooney. A guy who is basically being indulged for a hobby against players who play there week in week out. Mental.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It would be nice if Hoddle would remove his tongue from Rooney's arsehole.

[Spoonsky]

Only match on tv here is Gabon vs Morocco. I feel like Jim.

[Ian]

He'll score a few today. There aren't many better English strikers available at the moment... you could argue Vardy perhaps.

Sturridge's biggest problem is the fact that he is a monstrous cuntbag.

Always said he was the best.

You're basically right with the entire post but his cuntishness isn't really my issue, it's just that he's fucking injured all the time.

He went missing after one decent game at the Euros but that's one more decent game than most of the rest had. Fortunately I was typing this and didn't see whether he did that dance.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It must be heart breaking for actual midfielders watching Rooney. A guy who is basically being indulged for a hobby against players who play there week in week out. Mental.

And yet you never hear any manager or pundit mention this or slate him in any way.

'He's our best player'

[John Arne]

It must be heart breaking for actual midfielders watching Rooney. A guy who is basically being indulged for a hobby against players who play there week in week out. Mental.

I was just thinking the same thing. If Rooney is there to play 5 yard sideways passes, then just play an orthodox midfielder.

[Giggles]

Where's this on anyway? ITV?

[Magic]

Listen to Tyldsley trying to generate enthusiasm by screaming LINGAAAAAAARD like he was about to score the winner in the world cup final. Stupid cunt.

[Boydy]

Ugh, I hate international weekends. I can't be arsed with shitty England. There;s not one match today that looks particularly interesting. I can't even be arsed with the Northern Ireland game.

[John Arne]

Hogg :drool:

[Max Power]

Who goes to England matches at Wembley? Is it all young families? Are they football fans? Always a weird sound from the stadium.

[Shindig]

What I find disgusting about Rooney is that his insistence on being a midfielder means any goals he score are probably due to ill-discipline.

[Spoonsky]

What I find disgusting about Rooney is that his insistence on being a midfielder means any goals he score are probably due to ill-discipline.

Midfielders can't score goals?

[Magic]

Give the man the job. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Who goes to England matches at Wembley? Is it all young families? Are they football fans? Always a weird sound from the stadium.

I went once and it's basically those who want to worship the England players as demi-gods - so a mixture of kids, chavs, and drooling cab drivers.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We're going to win the World Cup.

[John]

If you want some real entertainment the Americans are currently getting done in seventeen to two by Iran in a sport I simply do not understand.

It looks like some British Bulldogs style playground stuff. Kabbadi.

Sky Sports Mix. Seriously, can someone both confirm this isn't a fever dream and explain what it is.

[Shindig]

To be fair, the ages of 5-13 are probably the time to see them before the grim reality hits you dead in the face.

[John Arne]

Henderson is playing well.

[John Arne]

If you want some real entertainment the Americans are currently getting done in seventeen to two by Iran in a sport I simply do not understand.

It looks like some British Bulldogs style playground stuff. Kabbadi.

I was watching the Kabbadi World cup today... top stuff.. synchronised dance mixed with a spot of rugby.

[Kikó]

I was just thinking the same thing. If Rooney is there to play 5 yard sideways passes, then just play an orthodox midfielder.

It would make a little bit more sense if he was an attacking midfielder but he's actually a defensive midfielder. Just defies logic.

I wonder who the next player will be we have to shoe horn in.

[Giggles]

If you want some real entertainment the Americans are currently getting done in seventeen to two by Iran in a sport I simply do not understand.

It looks like some British Bulldogs style playground stuff. Kabbadi.

Sky Sports Mix. Seriously, can someone both confirm this isn't a fever dream and explain what it is.

I've been watching that and trying to find out the rules as I've watched. It's fucking mental. The rules I've read say the lad who runs into the other half has to be holding his breath but I haven't noticed that yet.

Still, it's better than fucking Azerbaijan and Norway.

[Spoonsky]

I saw England at Wembley when I was 12 and saw Steven Gerrard as a demi-god.

[Browning]

Even against Malta Rooney looks Sunday league standard.

[John]

Holding his breath. :D

I was trying to piece together the rules over the couple of minutes I spent watching it just now but it's impenetrable.

The Americans have a lad named 'Troy Bacon' playing against Iran. It's a fever dream.

[Shindig]

Midfielders can't score goals?

Defensive midfielders don't tend to get that far forward.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They have Indian super league kabaddi on late at night sometimes. India is the world centre for the sport and sometimes at 1am on Sky Sports 4 you can catch a matchup between the likes of the Bengaluru Bulls and the Jaipur Pink Panthers.

India lost to Korea the other day which was their first ever World Cup defeat.

[Disco]

It used to be a staple of Sunday morning channel 4 along with a bit of Sumo wrestling.

[Giggles]

It used to be a staple of Sunday morning channel 4 along with a bit of Sumo wrestling.

I was just thinking that, it had to have been a Trans World Sport staple.

Trans World Sport followed by a hairier James Richardson and his big pink newspapers. Those were the days.

[Raoul Duke]

This second half has been total bollocks.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why are they wanking over Lingard? He's been shite. Kyle Walker is next level though. No idea how he's even been capped. They just love these chaps with 'pace and power'.

[Browning]

Yep this second half has been shit. Southgate out.

[Giggles]

Why are they wanking over Lingard? He's been shite. Kyle Walker is next level though. No idea how he's even been capped. They just love these chaps with 'pace and power'.

The whole basis of British football has been built on pace and power for decades.

[Raoul Duke]

Walker is thick as shit.

Rooney is laughable. I feel sorry for him

[niko_cee]

Not knowing about Kabbadi (kabbadi, kabbadi . . .) is a serious transworld sport failure.

[Shindig]

One of the great joys of unemployment is piling into Eurosport's niche stuff. Trials, tractor pulling, etc.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

One of the great joys of unemployment is piling into Eurosport's niche stuff. Trials, tractor pulling, etc.

I've always loved a bit of competitive eating.

https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/anigif_enhanced-26646-1410890507-9.gif?w=640&h=361

[Spikey M]

EuroSport has been nothing but cunting Snooker this week.

[Shindig]

Well, that's my kitchen floor sorted after accidentally flooding it. I'm not going to say it's more fun than watching England but I got more out of it.

[Giggles]

What are the Czechs like now? Likely to be a decent game vs Germany?

[Giggles]

Germany are a lovely side but they're so toothless.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I literally can't believe I've put Scotland in a threefold bet. Now I have to watch them actually play. Jesus.

[Foe]

This isn't pleasant viewing at all. I can still see Scotland scraping a 1-0 win, but doesn't bode well. Very lucky versus Malta and looking bang average against Lithuania.

The game plan really should be "get the ball to Matt Richie" because he seems to be the best chance of providing chances.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Burke is the best Scottish player for at least 20 years.

[Giggles]

Does Waffelz love child that went to Portugal ever play?

[-james-]

I'm at Hampden for some reason and Jim is right, Burke is the best player on this pitch by a collosal amount.

Scotland are shit but there is a Burke-esque gap in quality between them and Lithuania. The worst side in Europe.

[-james-]

Burke off for Forrest. :D

[Waffdon]

How on earth Strachan has kept his job I don't know.

[Waffdon]

Lmao what a team.

[Adamski]

Burke is alright but someone just said on Twitter there's a reason why Freedman apparently described him as a speedboat with no driver and I can definitely see that.

Sure it'll come in time but bit bizarre he's started.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He'll be your Bale.

[Adamski]

Yeah definite shades of it. Hope he progresses!

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've just realised why Davy Proban is on the Sky Premier League commentary.

He's cheap.

[Max Power]

Burke is alright but someone just said on Twitter there's a reason why Freedman apparently described him as a speedboat with no driver and I can definitely see that.

Sure it'll come in time but bit bizarre he's started.

Is it? He plays for a top half Bundesliga team, who is he keeping out the team? James Forrest?

[Adamski]

They're not a top half bundesliga team, even if the tables suggests that this early.

He's not exactly tore it up so far this season, has he?

[Max Power]

They are good, will finish top half. Who is he keeping out, I was genuinely asking.

[Adamski]

He hasn't played well at all.

I don't think that's really the point, who is Rooney keeping out of the England team?

[Jimmy Floyd]

He has to start regardless of consistency because he has what no Scotland player has had in the last two decades, which is a burst of extra pace/skill/x-factor that can unlock a defence even when the rest of the team is playing shite, which, this being Scotland, they always are.

If you're restricting that to the last 20 minutes of a game then you're not going to score as many goals as you need to.

Strachan should be fired for taking him off in this game, imagine giving him 6 runs at this tiring defence and even 2 of them coming off. A clear case of a manager thinking too much about the 'shape' etc and not realising what actually wins him games.

[Max Power]

Yeah but Burke may well become a top player. Probably worth throwing him in over some Championship jobber for the experience. Scotland aren't getting out of this group so may as well give the talented youngster experience.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Also, this qualifying group is a fucking disgrace. England still being top seeded for these groups is a tragedy for football.

[Waffdon]

Embarrassing stuff. Burke should be playing every minute and Martin should not be anywhere near a starting line up

[Adamski]

Would agree with that. It's a bit mad that Spain and Italy end up in the same group when there's ones like this.

[niko_cee]

It's the death of international football. Coast past dickheads for two years, learn nothing, get mugged off by some vaguely organised goat herders, rinse and repeat, forever.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We could really do with missing out on a World Cup, but if you're getting drawn into this kind of shite group then it's never going to happen. Will be right behind the Slovenes in midweek.

[Adamski]

They should really just fuck it all off and play knockout qualifiers.

[Yevrah]

I never thought I'd say this, but I think I'm pretty close to binning England off entirely.

[Ian]

I'm pretty sure the only reasons I can give for watching yesterday's game are habit and a feeling obligation because while I do and will always support the team (and I'll never give up watching us in international tournaments, even if that's nearly as much of a waste of time as the qualifiers) watching us coast through a qualifying set-up that's designed to try and ensure the likes of England get through just feels like such a waste of time. We really may as well give Southgate the job.

[Magic]

I never thought I'd say this, but I think I'm pretty close to binning England off entirely.

I've done it with Scotland. Makes international breaks worse (better?) but tournaments much more entertaining. Then again we never qualify so much easier.

[Giggles]

You'll be sorry if you do qualify for one.

With our lot, there's fuck all chance of qualifying this time round so it would nearly be better to go tits up and get Giovanni O'Neill out sooner rather than later.

[Spikey M]

International football is shit anyway. None of the decent players can really be arsed and it fucks around with the proper football. Bin it. Or atleast get rid of the qualifying shit. Just have 1 massive world cup every 4 years. No seeds, no groups, just knockouts all the way through.

[Magic]

You'll be sorry if you do qualify for one.

With our lot, there's fuck all chance of qualifying this time round so it would nearly be better to go tits up and get Giovanni O'Neill out sooner rather than later.

Not really. I can just jump on the bandwagon and pretend I was there through the shit times.

[Angelsaint]

Fuck sake. You guys know shit all about football. Can y'all discuss something you guys do understand? big brother maybe?

[Jimmy Floyd]

How bad are Norway, Saint? I've seen them a few times in the last year and I reckon they're now genuinely on a minnow level with the likes of Cyprus and Macedonia.

[Giggles]

Whelan and Hoolahan in for Brady and Hendrick from the Georgia game. This is going to be so dour.

Randolph

Coleman
Clark
Duffy
Ward

Whelan
McCarthy
McClean
Hoolahan
Walters

Long

[Adamski]

Jesus that is rough.

[Giggles]

That's Martin O'Neill Trapattoni for you. He really must have had fuck all else to even play Hoolahan in an away game, normally anyone with a semblance of passing ability is a no no.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Win over Georgia looking like a solid result to be honest, they've caused Wales all sorts of problems here.

Just please one of you stop Serbia.

[Giggles]

Win over Georgia looking like a solid result to be honest, they've caused Wales all sorts of problems here.

Just please one of you stop Serbia.

It was a lucky one the way it went. Up until the goal Georgia completely dominated on Friday night.

I can't see where the goals are coming from tonight so I'd be happy to see a 0-0.

[Giggles]

I couldn't name the clubs of half of that Irish subs bench.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It looks like Moldova is still in the late 80s, judging by the TV feed. Get Liam Brady on.

[Giggles]

That was well worked. He needed that goal.

[Spoonsky]

I'm pretty sure the only reasons I can give for watching yesterday's game are habit and a feeling obligation because while I do and will always support the team (and I'll never give up watching us in international tournaments, even if that's nearly as much of a waste of time as the qualifiers) watching us coast through a qualifying set-up that's designed to try and ensure the likes of England get through just feels like such a waste of time. We really may as well give Southgate the job.

How so? Isn't it partly that what used to be the USSR and Yugoslavia exploded into about two dozen shite teams so the quality has been diluted across the board?

[Raoul Duke]

FIFA is a giant money-generating/laundering scheme. In order to get money coming in it relies on advertisers. If England aren't in a tournament the viewing figures and therefore advertising viewership/spend decreases.

It's like the latest scam to ensure big clubs qualify for the Champions League...

[Giggles]

That's been coming the longer they faffed about at the other end. Lovely finish.

[Spoonsky]

FIFA is a giant money-generating/laundering scheme. In order to get money coming in it relies on advertisers. If England aren't in a tournament the viewing figures and therefore advertising viewership/spend decreases.

It's like the latest scam to ensure big clubs qualify for the Champions League...

I understand why, I don't understand how. In what practical ways is the qualifying stage set up to favor England?

[Giggles]

I understand why, I don't understand how. In what practical ways is the qualifying stage set up to favor England?

It's not. They storm qualifying competitions and are always well up the FIFA rankings so they end up top seeds for the draws. I can understand why their fans think it's boring but they do well enough to deserve the groups they get.

[Max Power]

Algérie bossing it again. Good side.

[Giggles]

Who?

[Giggles]

Moldova are completely dominating this since they scored.

[Ian]

How so? Isn't it partly that what used to be the USSR and Yugoslavia exploded into about two dozen shite teams so the quality has been diluted across the board?

Certainly. But the nature of the rankings, to me, is to weight games too evenly across the board so that doing well (or badly) in a big tournament doesn't really mean all that much and a flat-track bully is given more credit than they're due.

[mugbull]

So that would mean a team that regularly gets into tournaments and plays like ass would be seeded lower than a team that rarely ever makes tournaments? Nah. It's fine the way it is, although obviously a pretty pointless process, but then every region has teams who always qualify. It's just a fact of life, and England could well draw a hard group next time around and miss out on the greatest spectacle in the world

[Ian]

So that would mean a team that regularly gets into tournaments and plays like ass would be seeded lower than a team that rarely ever makes tournaments?

That's not what I said or meant. But a team who gets to a tournament with a weaker qualifying record but then does really well in the tournament should get more of a boost than they do. And no, that's not to say Wales should suddenly rocket to the top because they've gamed the rankings in their own way and had one good tournament either.

I don't really have a solution, but there just doesn't seem much point when a team who haven't done anything in a tournament in a decade or more are still positioned as one of the best teams because they can be relied upon to not fuck up against Moldova.

Any system that has Belgium as the world's second best team needs re-examining (though I suppose that also contradicts the 'FIFA rankings protect the big teams' argument to a point.)

[Bernanke]

Iceland still donning proceedings I see.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Surprised Cameroon got a point in Algeria, that sets the group up nicely.

DRC v Tunisia for a place in one of the other groups is like good versus evil, get it sorted please Mr Almighty.

[Amigo]

Turkey are a right state.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I hope you realise your boys are getting Spain/Italy in the playoffs. No TV market in/for Iceland.

[Amigo]

No need for play-offs when we win the group.

[niko_cee]

The build up to 'Red Monday' has begun.

:sick:

[SvN]

I see that Jordan "5 appearances for Sunderland" Pickford has been called up.

[John Arne]

Seems fair enough to me. I'd much prefer a young 3rd choice keeper than Rob Green or Scott Carson.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Pickford has looked quite good when I've seen him. How many English first choice keepers are there in the top flight anyway?

[John Arne]

Exactly. I'm not at my computer, but i would guess that 5 or 6 English keepers started at the weekend, if that. I've always liked Alex McCarthy - but I don't even know who he plays for anymore.

[John Arne]

Looks like Rooney has finally been dropped. Dier coming in.

[Kikó]

Makes sense. Play a midfielder in midfield.

Rooney to start.

[John Arne]

Makes sense. Play a midfielder in midfield.

Rooney to start.

This sort of thinking is frowned upon.

[Adamski]

Dier the centre half?

[niko_cee]

Aye, but still, Gareth Southgate Badger staking his claim.

We'll probably play like shite, and lose, and thusly cement the fatman's place in the team for another decade. Either that or he'll be in the MLS come the end of January.

[Ian]

Dier the centre half?

Played in midfield through the Euros and some of the qualifying and was one of our few non-disgraceful players at that.

[Giggles]

He signed for Spurs as a defender didn't he?

[CJay]

Netherlands - France is on ITV4 tonight. I really wish ITV would bother streaming in HD. :moop:

[Giggles]

I have a nice page on ITV4 about copyright restrictions. And no channel is even fucking showing it here.

[Adamski]

Did it ask you for a postcode? Just put a UK one in.

[Giggles]

Did it ask you for a postcode? Just put a UK one in.

On the TV.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37606560

Retire, dickhead.

[Mellberg]

TBF he's spoken quite well there. Admire Southgate's handling of it too.

:sherlock:

[Reg]

Fair play to Rooney. He's always handled the press well, unless I'm forgetting things.

By the way, Barney Ronay wrote this rather good piece on Rooney: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/oct/07/wayne-rooney-fall-guy-england-flatlining


Above all there is simply the absence of anyone else to take the brunt. Rooney remains the story because the real story is he’s still the story. There is a kind of sadness in this, the quiet churn of England’s flatline years. Since Rooney’s first cap, 91 players have made an England debut. More than half of those never made it to 10 caps. Twenty-one never played again. Only Danny Welbeck has reached 10 goals in the past decade. In the same period Rooney has scored 44 times. Spin it how you like but this is not Wayne’s fault. He’s not making the rest of them fail. He just keeps turning up and being all right, so-so, decent.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

History shouldn't come into play.

He was a good servant for England but he's a fucking mess right now. He can't play in midfield (I read that some pundit suggested Rooney should leave United to go to a team who would play him every week in midfield, lol) and he's not good enough to play up top each week. Call him up and get him off the bench, fine.

It's time for Rashford to lead the line because he genuinely is the dogs bollocks.

[Yevrah]

History shouldn't come into play.

He was a good servant for England but he's a fucking mess right now. He can't play in midfield (I read that some pundit suggested Rooney should leave United to go to a team who would play him every week in midfield, lol) and he's not good enough to play up top each week. Call him up and get him off the bench, fine.

It's time for Rashford to lead the line because he genuinely is the dogs bollocks.

That line was pedaled on yesterday's Sunday Supplement.

And on Ronay's piece, I wouldn't be as bothered if Rooney was playing up front (actually upfront and not some false 9 bollocks), but shoehorning him into midfield is just absolute lunacy and bar one decent performance (against a shambolic Russian team), he's done nothing to justify playing there.

[GS]

Debating Rooooooney is one of the few things that still seems to retain the interest of your average Ingerlund fan. It's not like it really matters, as the standard of international football is horrendous and you're not going to win a tournament.

[Browning]

What are these managers seeing that make them think he can play in midfield? He can't tackle and the only passes he completes seem to go a few feet to the side or backwards. Anything he passes forwards seems to be over hit and go out of play or to an opponent.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Clearly the center of midfield is the easiest position in football and he can ROAM FORWARD to join in with attacks.

[Reg]

I remember playing centre mid having never done so before (had played left mid, right mid, up front and a little back at left back). I played there for about ten minutes thinking, "What the hell do I do?". It was so strange being in the middle, I had no clue where to be - vertically or horizontally.

A bit like Fellaini.

[GS]

However poor international football may be, comparison with your struggles in Sunday League isn't particularly valid.

[Raoul Duke]

Rooney should go back to Everton and hang out with Gaz Baz and learn how to play in midfield. Bobby Martinez said he's world class, you know?

Barry and Wazziesta :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

However poor international football may be, comparison with your struggles in Sunday League isn't particularly valid.

You wouldn't be saying that if you had seen his heat map.

[Shindig]

Let's be honest, up front you don't have to worry about team shape. Just stay onside. Rooney having a free role compromises the whole midfield unless he has a good understanding with the guy covering him and his fellow midfielders.

It's a right state.

[Reg]

You wouldn't be saying that if you had seen his heat map.
My pass completion rates. :drool:


Let's be honest, up front you don't have to worry about team shape. Just stay onside. Rooney having a free role compromises the whole midfield unless he has a good understanding with the guy covering him and his fellow midfielders.

It's a right state.
I don't even think he has that much of a free role, he's just not very good in midfield. Or rather, he's alright but England and Man Utd have better midfielders.

[Raoul Duke]

Lallana and Rashford are our best players at the moment. The only two who can actually go past someone and not just play a static pass.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

You'd be hard pushed to find a Championship team with worse midfielders.

[Shindig]

I'm still waiting for Colback's second call-up.

[Raoul Duke]

Colback's back: and this time it's personal

[Lewis]

He should just retire after this season (or after next season, assuming United buy big again). The only people who will pay anything like the wages he would want are the Chinese (or maybe an American team looking to exploit his profile), and why would somebody like Everton want him ruining their organised approach?

[Max Power]

Or England lose 1-0 to Slovenia tomorrow and he's back in the team forever.

[igor_balis]

I've thought Rooney's 'all-round' game and especially his passing has been massively overrated for fucking years. People talk about his range of passing, but I swear what they're really referring to is dropping back, dwelling on the ball then curling a 40 yard pass to a static winger or fullback, which most average Championship midfielders could do if they wanted to, but they don't because it is pointless and kills the momentum of an attack even if you do hit the man.

[Giggles]

Never mind the internationals, the big one is tonight :drool:

http://www.the42.ie/dundalk-cork-city-league-of-ireland-preview-3019566-Oct2016/

[John Arne]

https://gyazo.com/03312cddc4688404f4f15b7ce32fbf52.png

[ItalAussie]

We're looking like the better team now, but it took us a while. The penalty really steadied the ship for us. :moop:

Tim Cahill has to be Australia's greatest ever player, surely.

[ItalAussie]

Mat Ryan is such a talented keeper. :drool:

Game much more even now.

[ItalAussie]

Would've rathered a win, but given we were down a goal so early, a draw feels like a decent result. Certainly a fair one taken over the course of the match.

Makes qualification a fraction trickier though, which is a bugger.

[Ian]

We're looking like the better team now, but it took us a while. The penalty really steadied the ship for us. :moop:

Tim Cahill has to be Australia's greatest ever player, surely.

Is there even any real competition? Some other good players but he's done the most for the national team? Not counting that bloke who scored Romario's career total against some Polynesian pineapple herders, obviously.

[Spammer]

I'd say Kewell in his prime was a better player. Then again if Cahill's done this business at international level for years on end, then...

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

785896411074363392

Rashford really needs to start ffs.

[Baz]

Is Walker really first choice RB? :lol:

[Giggles]

First thing Dundalk need to with the Europa money is buy a plough and some grass seed.

[Reg]

I'd have Vardy/Rashford over Sturridge but other than that I like the lineup.

[Dquincy]

Is Walker really first choice RB? :lol:

I think Clyne is unavailable.

[Raoul Duke]

Rashford really needs to start ffs.

Sturridge will get injured in the first 5 minutes and he'll come on.

Lingard at LW is all kinds of derp.

[Lewis]

We don't need to start Rashford, so why flog him to death like we did Michael Owen?

[Browning]

That back pass. :D

Bring back Rooney.

[CJay]

That was such a shambles from both sides.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If Slovenia didn't shit the bed when they got close to England's box they'd walk this.

As it is Rooney will probably come off the bench, have a shot deflect in off his arse and win 1-0.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why is Cahill taking a 35 odd yard shot?

[CJay]

Lingard is terrible, but I suppose he's not alone.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cahill is such a fucking mess.

[Kikó]

This is shite without the controlling influence of Rooney.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Downsend ahead of Rashford? ffs.

[Max Power]

Norway just conceded an equaliser at home to San Marino :cab:

[Browning]

This should be about 4-0. If Slovenia could finish we'd be in real trouble.

[Adamski]

Thanks to that strip not only are Scotland playing like dicks but they look like one too.

[P_3]

Hart. What a don. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cahill :D

He's so lucky that Slovenia can't shoot for shit.

[Kikó]

How does Rashford not get on?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Time for dickhead to save the day, lol.

[Foe]

So glad I decided to watch the Scotland game after a shit day at work. Just what I needed.

[Waffdon]

This is great.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Maybe that goon from the old forums has taken over San Marino.

[Bam]

£5 on Ingerland to win 1-0.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Rashford this late? Jesus.

[Boydy]

A late Denmark equaliser along with the England and Scotland games (the latter's outcome isn't changing) staying the same would win me about £180.

:yn:

[Kikó]

Awful that. Dier and Henderson as a partnership is probably one of the worst ever.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Well at least that's Southgate out of the running for the job.

[Browning]

Well at least that's Southgate out of the running for the job.

He'll probably be offered it permanently tomorrow knowing out luck.

I think we should just have guest managers for one game.

[Boydy]

A late Denmark equaliser along with the England and Scotland games (the latter's outcome isn't changing) staying the same would win me about £180.

:yn:

Useless Danish wankers.

[Spikey M]

International football is shit anyway. None of the decent players can really be arsed and it fucks around with the proper football. Bin it. Or atleast get rid of the qualifying shit. Just have 1 massive world cup every 4 years. No seeds, no groups, just knockouts all the way through.

:jayjay:

[Bartholomert]

England is just not that good at soccer.

[phonics]

Henderson is so useless. What does he offer?

[Amigo]

England is just not that good at soccer.
Where does that leave Turkey then?

[phonics]

785951445606604800

Yeah but did they pick their bums on camera?

Edit: Oh this script doesn't do RTs. It's Lows 94th win.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No better feeling than not having watched Slovenia 0-0 England.

It's actually quite a good result in the context of the group. One of the few tough games ticked off. Only remaining danger is Scotland raising their game like the twats they are.

[Bartholomert]

Where does that leave Turkey then?

Useless with no hope for the future.

[Reg]

I started to watch it and then it just all felt so 'MEH'.

Better atmosphere (in the 18 or something minutes I watched) than Wembley to be fair.

[Giggles]

I started to watch it and then it just all felt so 'MEH'.

Better atmosphere (in the 18 or something minutes I watched) than Wembley to be fair.

Bet they'd no dabcam though. Amateurs.

[John Arne]

Where does that leave Turkey then?


Useless with no hope for the future.

And the football team?

[niko_cee]

Henderson is so useless. What does he offer?

ENERGY!

I think you're in trouble if you are looking for more than that. You can't be expecting him to be some kind of creative fulcrum, because, well, his passing in pretty dodgy. Klopp seems to have figured a roll for him. If only England had any talented, creative attacking players. Sturridge has to be the most bizarrely selfish player in world football. It's too much to criticise his decision making as I don't think he ever gets as far as acknowledging the existence of a potential decision. Get ball, dither, attempt trick, shoot or fall over. He also appears to be one of the most morale sapping players going, always seemingly throwing his hands up in frustration when someone doesn't do something exactly to his liking. Not that I get the Rashford hype but maybe I've not seen enough of him. Didn't get 'Wrighty' and co wetting their pants about his impact at the end.

[Reg]

Gareth Southgate’s stock soars at FA over full-time England job
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/oct/12/england-football-fa-gareth-southgate-2108-world-cup

Naturally, after drawing to Slovenia.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They might as well give it to him, frankly. There's no one demonstrably better who currently looks to be in the frame.

[Kikó]

With Steve Bruce taking the Villa job, I'm inclined to agree. Give it him and then pass it to GNev in two years.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Then Stevie G after that, and Theo Walcott after that. Boot room.

[Giggles]

Is Wenger not likely after this season?

[Jimmy Floyd]

We're going English. Brexit means Brexit.

[Disco]

It barely matters now, if we can't have a lol with Fat Sam then we might as well have someone as grey and tedious as the rest of the team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I know someone who works for Sport England, and he told me he was at St George's Park recently. The under 17s/18s or whatever were there, and he said it was just 20 editions of the same mixed race child, all walking around this vast, empty white elephant of a place with identical Louis Vuitton washbags looking completely miserable.

Think there's a serious culture problem in our football about too much money too early, reports from Chelsea say that Ruben Loftus-Cheek has completely plateaued over the last six months because he's got a contract and thinks he's made it.

[Giggles]

If Conte is sacked already then it's all fucked.

[John]

There was talk of him having had a falling out with Abramovich yesterday but this seems like bookies nonsense.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It will just be Asian syndicates using the information that he had a meeting with Abramovich to make some money.

Nice flurry of bets on him to get fired which moves the market down and then they lay the fuck out of it. Happens all the time.

[-james-]

Asian syndicates would never have anything to do with next manager markets.

The max stake on those is never more than a couple hundred quid, and it only takes about ten punters nationwide to move a price from about 9/1 to evens.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Conte is pissed off with the club (fuck knows who actually pulls the strings day to day) not buying him a proper centre back, but instead investing all their resources in all these mysterious cunts who go out on loan, and with a pissed off Italian the gnocchi are always ready to spread themselves over the wall.

Still, we can get Hiddink until the end of the season again if he goes. Or Sven. I've always wanted Sven.

[Disco]

Ageing ex-Leicester managers are all the rage these days.