June: The Euro 2020-ish Group Stages

[7om]

Phil Foden’s hair is somehow worse than Jordan Pickford’s kicking ability.

[Mellberg]

First 20 minutes were pretty good tbf. You need to turn it off

[Spikey M]

I missed the first twenty or so minutes, but this has been abysmal since I switched on.

It's your fault then. We were all over them for the first 15 minutes.

[Don]

Walker is the best defender of the RBs.

And if you're gonna play Phillips as an 8, why not just play Mount there and bring in Grealish, you mong.

[Waffdon]

Scotland could do with England winning here. 2nd is the best position to finish in this group

[randomlegend]

Phillips has been absolutely fantastic.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sadly, Phillips is a don.

[Magic]

I just don't understand Kane's role at all. He offers nothing whatsoever in a press. Why is Bammy not here.

[randomlegend]

Walker is the best defender of the RBs.

And if you're gonna play Phillips as an 8, why not just play Mount there and bring in Grealish, you mong.

Classic Taz

[Magic]

Walker is the best defender of the RBs.

And if you're gonna play Phillips as an 8, why not just play Mount there and bring in Grealish, you mong.

Clueless as per.

[Spikey M]

Has Sterling ever passed to Kane?

[7om]

That kind of miss from Sterling is forgiveable now but do that in the knockout stages and he’ll be public enemy number 1.

[Spikey M]

We're such a good looking nation. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Croatia have been shit.

[randomlegend]

How Pickford is our number one is absolutely bewildering. He's not a very good keeper who you could at least understand getting picked if he fell into the trendy "good with the ball" category, but his distribution is abysmal.

[7om]

We're such a good looking nation. :drool:

Judging by the shots of the crowd, we’re a nation of fat bastards.

[Spikey M]

Judging by the shots of the crowd, we’re a nation of fat bastards.

Wash your mouth out. Real men, them.

[Spikey M]

It's coming home.

[Waffdon]

Great result. Now to beat the Czech’s, lose on Friday and then snatch a draw for 2nd place against Croatia. So simple.

[7om]

Well done Ingerlund.

[Don]

Sterling and Phillips securing their starting spots ready for a dicking courtesy of Group F :drool:

[Yevrah]

That was alright.

I've no idea who we could get in round 2, but we're basically there with that.

[Magic]

Fucking hell are these questions for real! I'd tell her to fuck off! Jesus wept.

[niko_cee]

How Pickford is our number one is absolutely bewildering. He's not a very good keeper who you could at least understand getting picked if he fell into the trendy "good with the ball" category, but his distribution is abysmal.

Yeah, I always assumed he got picked for being good on the ball, but he really isn't.

Pretty tepid from England, but a first ever opening Euro game win against the next best side in the group isn;t to be sniffed at. Every game from now on at 8pm as well so we've even out-foxed the Great British Weather's attempts to fuck us.

Rashford is absolute shit. I understand the pace thing, but if you're looking to hold out with your 1 goal lead (would England ever doing anything else?) then just stick Grealish on so he can win a foul every time the ball comes near him. As if we'd ever score on the counter late on.

[Manc]

Easy work. That's Croatia done as a footballing nation.

[Lewis]

Frank Lampard has been eating his feelings. He'll be going through three shirts a game if this weather holds.

[Waffdon]

That was alright.

I've no idea who we could get in round 2, but we're basically there with that.

France/Portugal/Germany if you win the group. Sweden/Slovakia/Poland/Spain (whoever finishes 2nd) if you finish 2nd.

[Yevrah]

How in sweet buggery did France, Portugal and Germany all end up in one group?

[niko_cee]

Probably something to do with the weird hosting which gives all the home nations easier groups (are any of those three playing home games)? It does seem a bit anomalous though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Probably something to do with the weird hosting which gives all the home nations easier groups (are any of those three playing home games)? It does seem a bit anomalous though.

Germany are.

The other home team in the group is Hungary.

[7om]

Fuck me, listening to Linekar and Shearer you’d think we’d won the World Cup.

[Mellberg]

France/Portugal/Germany if you win the group. Sweden/Slovakia/Poland/Spain (whoever finishes 2nd) if you finish 2nd.

Don't rule out Hungary. I have no idea if they're any good or not, but still scarred by the ENGLAND, ITALY, URUGUAY and Costa Rica debacle.

[Manc]

Can we talk about Kane? Looked miles off it.

[Yevrah]

Kane seems to be developing a knack for being pretty shit in tournaments, which is quite something given he was top scorer in one of them.

[Don]

ITV still preventing their dogshot app from being cast. What a disgrace.

Mon North Macedonia.

[Spikey M]

Fuck me, listening to Linekar and Shearer you’d think we’d won the World Cup.

Euro's. We've won the Euro's.

[Shindig]

Kane seems to be developing a knack for being pretty shit in tournaments, which is quite something given he was top scorer in one of them.

Yeah, it wasn't happening for him. He had the header that saw him bonk the post and that was it. Not that he tends to get much from open play in tournaments but he usually gets himself in positions for it.

[7om]

The worrying thing about Kane is that he’ll never be dropped. If he plays well then great but if he’s shit he’ll play regardless.

[Serj]

Whatever happens here, I hope we (Austria) at least try to play in a somewhat exciting fashion. Our international games are usually plodding borefests.

[randomlegend]

It's one game, Kane'll be fine. He's one of the three best strikers in the world.

[Manc]

That Macedonia kit is a rancid effort.

[Spikey M]

Kanes main problem is neither of his wide men pass to him. They both just shoot, even if he's in a better position. Mount also wasted an easy assist when he chose to win a free kick instead.

So he drops deep and goes looking for the ball instead... but he's the least capable of the 3 of running with the ball. It's all a bit arse about face.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Pandev :cool:

[Spikey M]

North Macedonia :cool:

[Serj]

I guess I did ask for entertainment. :D

[Spikey M]

Surprised the ref didn't give the goalkeeper a freekick for that though. They usually do in situations like that.

[niko_cee]

Quality little finish from Pandev. I reckon an alarmingly large number of players would fuck that up trying to take extra touches. I'm thinking mainly England players here.

[Serj]

Surprised the ref didn't give the goalkeeper a freekick for that though. They usually do in situations like that.

Yes, after seeing it again I also thought they'd usually punish this kind of challenge. Need so see it from more angles though.

I'm worried our defenders' heads might be gone now.

[niko_cee]

Doesn't the defender essentially foul the attacker into the goalkeeper?

[Don]

Austria are brutal, get Marko on for that beanpole and stop playing like a Big Sam side.

[Kikó]

Some gloriously negative posts in here considering England won. I thought it was a really competent display, Southgate got it spot on.

[Serj]

Doesn't the defender essentially foul the attacker into the goalkeeper?

Possibly, I haven't really seen a good angle yet. Seemed more in the realm of "you usually get a free-kick for that" rather than "it was definitely a foul". No complaints, in any case.

[Serj]

Austria are brutal, get Marko on for that beanpole and stop playing like a Big Sam side.

Not going to happen. Even with him on the pitch it's usually a disconnected mess.

We're sort of a shitter version of England in that we don't know how to create a working system even when we have good individual parts.

[7om]

Some gloriously negative posts in here considering England won. I thought it was a really competent display, Southgate got it spot on.

50+ years of being conditioned to expect the worst.

[Shindig]

Austria are sending some lovely crosses in.

[SincereTheRebel]

Who is this miss piggy in the face. Teletubby in the neck, pundit who wouldnt look out of place in the shameful lustage thread

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Who is this miss piggy in the face. Teletubby in the neck, pundit who wouldnt look out of place in the shameful lustage thread

She's the Chelsea women's manager.

[Bernanke]

That Pandev goal is hilarious.

[Bernanke]

Who is this miss piggy in the face. Teletubby in the neck, pundit who wouldnt look out of place in the shameful lustage thread

https://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/VfL+Wolfsburg+Women+v+FC+Chelsea+Women+Women+Z43hq X_h9-px.jpg

Honestly, she'd be one of the better candidates in that thread in a while if you committed to it.

[Serj]

:cool: The one thing we've been doing well today, get players in the box so we can lump the ball at them.

[Serj]

lol at Arnautovic immediately going after an opposition player after scoring. Class player though.

[Don]

Tom Hardy and that attitude :drool:

Please tell me it was all aimed at that Alioski cunt too.

[Don]

PS. Classic Taz ngngngngngng :baz:

[Lofty]

Some gloriously negative posts in here considering England won. I thought it was a really competent display, Southgate got it spot on.

It was competent but people are wanking themselves dry over the 'revenge' of beating a Croatia side that had the same players 3 years ago, their star player being a 35 year old Modric. Anything other than a win against them with our squad was unacceptable.

[SincereTheRebel]

Wijnaldum has a generic Fifa default Pro Clubs face.

[SincereTheRebel]

Since when do the Dutchies play five at the back. I thought it was 433 4 Life.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This could be a cracking game.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Since when do the Dutchies play five at the back. I thought it was 433 4 Life.

https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-reactions-fails-a-plane-has-flown-over-netherlands-training-ground-with-message-20210612

Only Frank likes the 5 ATB.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dumfries is basically a RW at the moment.

[Lewis]

GB News is on lads imagine watching football.

[Manc]

This is a lovely watch.

[Lewis]

Hold the phone Ally McCoist is on commentary doing his nationwide voice. :cool:

[Manc]

Every player for Ukraine appears to be left footed. Beautiful.

[Offshore Toon]

No matter what Clive says, all I hear is:

1282978420742184961

[Jimmy Floyd]

Holland and Belgium have swapped bodies in the last 10 years, it still makes no sense to me.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Surprised Wijnaldum scored there considering how many good chances he's missed.

[SincereTheRebel]

Every player for Ukraine appears to be left footed. Beautiful.

We have Chernobyl to thank for that

[Manc]

The tournament dark horses have really flopped thus far. Turkey, Denmark and now Ukraine.

[Offshore Toon]

I agree, although it might be a little harsh on Denmark.

[Foe]

This game has been wonderful.

Zinchenko as a CM as a theory died tonight.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a lovely goal.

[Manc]

:drool:

[Kikó]

Clive is such a parody.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Game on.

That's a stunning ball in.

[7om]

Fucking hell. Amazing.

[SincereTheRebel]

I forgot that Ake moved to Man City.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Those were two epic goals. The sweetest of left feet both. Long live tournament football.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ukrainian keeper has had a shit second half.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ukraine keeper (in time-honoured tradition) is utter dogshit. Threw in the first and third.

[Boydy]

Poor Ukraine :(

[Lewis]

I forgot that Ake moved to Man City.

Tragic to see Daley Blind going bald.

[Manc]

Which group pairs up with this lot?

[niko_cee]

Ukraine keeper (in time-honoured tradition) is utter dogshit. Threw in the first and third.

Did also make some stonking saves in the first half, but yeah, passing the ball out to the Dutch leftback for that third goal was mental. THE Ukraine [god bless you Ally] do seem to be heavily committed to fucking about with it at the back though.

[Waffdon]

Which group pairs up with this lot?

1st against whoever is 3rd in Group D, E or F and 2nd should face Italy assuming they win the group

That’s why I have Denmark getting to the semis. Assuming Denmark finish 2nd they face 2nd in Group A (Swiss/wales/turkey) and then potentially Holland in the quarters. Properly easy route

[Shindig]

Ukraine did well to get back into that but they were so bloody careless in possession.

[-james-]

I've really enjoyed every game I've seen so far. The format. :cool:

[Manc]

After consuming 270 minutes of football, Brazil v Venezuela might be a game too far.

[Waffdon]

This is some buzz. I’ve never even seen Scotland at a major tournament before. Train to Edinburgh is in 50 mins. Yes sir, I can boogie

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have. Get ready for an heroic performance in one of the games and crushing disappointment in the other two.

[Waffdon]

Should be enough to sneak through if so :cool:

Would be great if Gilmour got given the nod alongside Mctominay and mcginn but looks like the shite Mc will be playing instead

[Manc]

mugbull

[Reg]

This is some buzz. I’ve never even seen Scotland at a major tournament before. Train to Edinburgh is in 50 mins. Yes sir, I can boogie
Hard to beat a Euros/World Cup.

Apparently Scotland played 4-3-3 v Luxembourg, with McTominay centre-back, Tierney in midfield, and McGinn left wing? Does that get the best out of any of them?

[-james-]

They'll play three at the back with Tierney left center back, McTominay in midfield and McGinn behind Dykes and Adams, most likely.

I think this Scotland side have the makings of a good tournament side, but it really comes down to this afternoon's game. If they win, the England game on Friday will probably be a pre agreed 0-0 draw.

[-james-]

I'm off to one of the Glasgow fanzones this afternoon. Seemed like a good idea when I agreed to it.

[Ian]

Any idea what sort of rip-off you're looking at beer-wise?

[niko_cee]

Is there a price point at which beer doesn't get chucked around in those places?

Or am I doing the Scotch a disservice as to their tightness there?

[-james-]

I think it was seventy quid for the table, including six pints of Tennents and a Large Loaded Nachos to share on arrival.

[Reg]

They'll play three at the back with Tierney left center back, McTominay in midfield and McGinn behind Dykes and Adams, most likely.

I think this Scotland side have the makings of a good tournament side, but it really comes down to this afternoon's game. If they win, the England game on Friday will probably be a pre agreed 0-0 draw.
Almost guaranteed to both play 3 (5) at the back and have nobody but the strikers cross the halfway line.

In fact, it's better to finish 2nd, isn't it? Own goals galore!

[Waffdon]

Hard to beat a Euros/World Cup.

Apparently Scotland played 4-3-3 v Luxembourg, with McTominay centre-back, Tierney in midfield, and McGinn left wing? Does that get the best out of any of them?

Yeah, that didn’t happen. It’s been 3 at the back the whole way. Only positions in question are right centre half and whether it’s 2 up front with Christie/Fraser off them.

It’s the best squad in years though, only problem area is probably the 3rd centre half which isn’t really a blessed area. Right wing back will be sorted with Nathan Paterson coming through

[Baz]

Foden was shite yesterday eh

[Waffdon]

Any idea what sort of rip-off you're looking at beer-wise?

£5.50 for Heineken I think.

Apparently the service is incredibly good, which is surprising.

[Andy]

The Scotland side must be fairly decent if Armstrong can't get a game. He's our best attacker after Ings.

[Manc]

Foden was shite yesterday eh

His tracking back was horrendous. That right flank was wide open.

[Waffdon]

The Scotland side must be fairly decent if Armstrong can't get a game. He's our best attacker after Ings.

He’s my favourite player of all time, I think, but he isn’t too great for Scotland. Our midfield is our best position, full of Premier League players. McTominay/McGinn/Gilmour/Armstrong/Fleck is all decent depth.

[Bernanke]

Spain away is gonna be rough. It's either 3-0 Spain, or if we can keep a clean sheet until half-time Isak will trip over himself on a counter and somehow get it in.

[Reg]

Yeah, that didn’t happen. It’s been 3 at the back the whole way. Only positions in question are right centre half and whether it’s 2 up front with Christie/Fraser off them.

It’s the best squad in years though, only problem area is probably the 3rd centre half which isn’t really a blessed area. Right wing back will be sorted with Nathan Paterson coming through
That makes more sense. The Forza app sometimes gets things wrong.

Yeah, the squad and certainly first XI looks good. I think you should be looking at getting at least a point off Croatia, but could be through by then anyway.

[Jimmy Floyd]

An arranged 0-0 draw with Scotland would be a new low for English football.

[Kikó]

Would benefit the union though.

[-james-]

No Tierney feels a pretty huge loss.

[Manc]

Che Adams on the bench. :happycry:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I wont make an official prediction as they've been so shit thus far but I'll just say that Schick is a top lad.

[Waffdon]

Che Adams on the bench. :happycry:

Clarke out. His loyalty to Christie gives me the fear, as does Tierney being injured

[Don]

Without Adams and, to a lesser extent Fraser, that attack is utterly shite. Keep it 0-0 till the subs come in.

[Offshore Toon]

Yeah, this is worryingly feeling a little bit too much like a Scotland game, but the tournament isn't over win or lose today so I'll be happy to just not look shit. That dark horse spot is up for grabs, though. :o

[Offshore Toon]

The Czech national anthem might actually be worse than God Save The Queen.

[Waffdon]

Stuart Armstrong is the most beautiful man in football

[Jimmy Floyd]

This thing where various nations have home advantage is mickey mouse as fuck. Tournament football should be played in one (or max 2) nation(s). Why not host a whole one in Scotland/Ireland, it would be great.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I wont make an official prediction as they've been so shit thus far but I'll just say that Schick is a top lad.

A top, top lad.

[Waffdon]

Today was the must win game and Clarke shat it and reverted to his usual defensive set ups.

[Baz]

I mean, it’s Scotland. Scraped into the tournament by some weird rule and a fortunate penalty. Just enjoy yourself.

[Lewis]

Yeah, even accounting for the fact it's their final, we should be putting four past these chumps.

[Manc]

Is Tomas Kalas still the next John Terry?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Schick :drool:

What a don.

[Lewis]

lmao

[Waffdon]

What a goal :D

Can’t believe Jack Hendry hasn’t just played it out wide though

[randomlegend]

Scotloland :harold:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What does Lyndon Dykes offer other than shit hair?

[Adramelch]

Kalas so far has had the best chances for Scotland.

[Don]

Scotland to draw this, they deserve to win ffs.

[Waffdon]

What does Lyndon Dykes offer other than shit hair?

Nothing

[Offshore Toon]

How is Adams not starting?

[Waffdon]

Callum McGregor :sick:

[Waffdon]

How is Adams not starting?

Clarke has his favourites. Said dykes started because he played well against Czech’s last year but we were playing their reserve team

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dykes :harold:

[Danny]

What does Lyndon Dykes offer other than shit hair?

Based on that hair, a prime example of nominative determinism

[Offshore Toon]

Clarke has his favourites. Said dykes started because he played well against Czech’s last year but we were playing their reserve team
So frustrating. Hopefully he fucks him off for the next couple games.

[mugbull]

Hlozek on ladssss he’s the only thing I was looking forward to about this tournament

[Baz]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYEuicvX4AAkPmA.jpg

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Again, no prediction but Lewandowski is a TOP lad.

[Spoonsky]

I wont make an official prediction as they've been so shit thus far but I'll just say that Schick is a top lad.

Well played. Unofficially.

I thought Scotland looked pretty decent there, they were going to score at the beginning of the second half if that wild goal doesn’t go in.

Being clinical is definitely one of the single most important facets in a tournament, over the course of a league season things probably revert to average but not when you’ve only got three games to play.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's why chumps like Pauleta used to be prized in tournaments. I can't believe how many national sides at this event basically have no pure goalscorer in their squad.

[Waffdon]

We won the Brighton XG game anyway

[Lewis]

Didn't Pauleta disappear in the actual tournaments?

[Danny]

Didn't Pauleta disappear in the actual tournaments?

4 goals across 3 or 4 tournaments. 3 of them in one game. Proper Rooney record.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Who is this miss piggy in the face. Teletubby in the neck, pundit who wouldnt look out of place in the shameful lustage thread

She's on commentary here.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Horseshit.

[Don]

This is the sort of nothing game absolutely no one needs in their life. Off to the sauna.

[Serj]

Poland need to get a grip here, they're all over the place as soon as someone starts running at them with the ball.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Matterface is so bad on commentary. Just dribbles inanely on about boring shit he has written down pre-match. Shut up and say what you see.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:cool:

We'll dick them in the second half.

[Lewis]

She's on commentary here.

She sounds like the woman on the minicab desk.

[Shindig]

She's on commentary here.

That's who it is? I thought it was Joe Cole or Jimmy Bullard.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Krychowiak is a fucking idiot at times.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I did not expect Skriniar to come up with that shot.

[Spoonsky]

Didn't even send a message to Eriksen. Insensitive cunt.

[Spoonsky]

Matterface is so bad on commentary. Just dribbles inanely on about boring shit he has written down pre-match. Shut up and say what you see.

That comment about the own goal. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We were shit and it's going to be another crap tournament.

[Lewis]

Not a great return to competitive football for Lewandowski.

[Spoonsky]

I don't exactly know what people expect from Lewandowski. He's a world class striker when in a great team, but he's never going to pull a Messi or Ronaldo and start doing it all himself from the halfway line.

[Offshore Toon]

He shouldn't be getting a Balon D'or if he's that shit, then.

[Lewis]

Polish Kris Boyd.

[Bernanke]

Is the BBC One theme music Justice?

[Offshore Toon]

It's Gaspard from Justice, yeah.

[Bernanke]

Oh it's one of his new tracks? Cool.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That comment about the own goal. :D

The worst bit was some time after my post, after the Skriniar goal, when he started going on some sentimental train about the scorer being team mates with Eriksen. Then the co-comm interjected with about 45 seconds of talking about the goal that had just been scored, and then Matterface carried on with the Eriksen guff as if she hadn't said anything.

I wish I could turn the fuckers off and just have crowd/ambient noise.

[Lewis]

We should do a TTH watch-along like the fan channels. Bagsy Claude.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jesus christ, nowhere near as bad as the commentary tears on those Scotland highlights. 50 yard superstrike commentated on as if the Forth Bridge had just collapsed while the Proclaimers were on it.

[Manc]

I don't exactly know what people expect from Lewandowski. He's a world class striker.

Strange.

[Lewis]

Robbie - Sincere
DT - Yevrah
Troopz - Taz
Claude - Me/Offshore on shift
Lee Judges - Floyd
Ty - Mahow
The various brass they have on reading tweets - James

'Gahahahah Southgate man yeah?'

[Pen]

Didn't Pauleta disappear in the actual tournaments?
Possibly the biggest fraud ever in international football.

[Shindig]

Suspicious brown patch.

[Magic]

Danny Mills: "Lap-port"

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sweden early in this game remind me of when Tunisia or Iran make the World Cup, draw a decent European team, drop the two static lines of five and just pray for deliverance inshallah.

They're also kicking the shit out of Spain.

[Bernanke]

Playing like this in this heat seems like a great idea honestly.

[Don]

Please fuck off, we outplayed these cunts and matched Portugal. Fucking take a look at your own band of gammon idols if you want lack of strategy and positivity.

Thiago benched for whatever the fuck a Pedri is :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jeez, no one bites like the ayatollahs. Just ask Salman Rushdie.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Playing like this in this heat seems like a great idea honestly.

They can't have meant to play like this if they named Marcus Berg in the lineup. Are they just shit?

[Bernanke]

They can't have meant to play like this if they named Marcus Berg in the lineup. Are they just shit?


It's not a great team, but the midfield should have better feet between them than to give up possession as quickly as they have so far. To be fair, the Spanish pressing game is pretty intense, but not having any breaks from this siege is not ideal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Morata is pish.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Alvaro still waiting for that corrective surgery I see.

[Bernanke]

Morata. :lol:

[Lewis]

If Spain win anything under him then Luis Enrique is the undisputed King of the Binmen.

[CJay]

This is a very ordinary Spanish team. There are no goals in their midfield, no pace in their attack, and no real creativity anywhere in the team either.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They badly need that Villarreal carthorse to hit instead of Morata.

[Don]

But they've got Pedri making a career out of milking the desperation of Mes Que Un Club :happycry:

With Thiago in and that CB partnership they'll have enough to go far but they ain't winning.

[Lewis]

This game would be made for Mark Lawrenson.

[randomlegend]

How does Morata, a player who cannot finish to save his life, continue to play regularly for top club sides and the Spanish national team? If ever there was a fraud, it's him. It's nothing to do with "the operation" Jimmy, he was like this before he went to Chelsea.

[Don]

Danny Murphy's attempts at humour piss me off. Just random immature barbs aimed at any and all accompanied with his own chuckle.

"Particularly in international football, the more you control possession of the ball the more likely you are to win."

Cheers, you fucking EDL-looking mong.

[Jimmy Floyd]

How does Morata, a player who cannot finish to save his life, continue to play regularly for top club sides and the Spanish national team? If ever there was a fraud, it's him. It's nothing to do with "the operation" Jimmy, he was like this before he went to Chelsea.

He's 408 (124) in his top flight career at a pretty constant rate, yeah. I think he should be quite good, which is why coaches stick with him, but is incredibly mentally weak.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Morata-esque from Berg after some lovely play by Isak.

[randomlegend]

Isak is s straight baller. He's got wonderful feet. He should have Berg done in for missing that.

[Bernanke]

Isak is godly. If he becomes more prolific he's a top 5 striker in the world in the making.

[Lewis]

Blackman Ibrahimovic.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why the fuck did they take Isak off?

[randomlegend]

What have they taken him off for? Game is there to be won and he looks like the only player on the pitch capable of doing something. Absolute bonobos.

[Boydy]

Taking off your most dangerous looking player. :cab:

[Lewis]

And what exactly do you mean by that?

[Boydy]

:D

Knew someone would say that just as I hit "post".

[Jimmy Floyd]

This second half has been football at its worst. One team with no intention of attacking, and the other completely unable to do so.

[Manc]

A masterclass from Sweden thus far.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This second half has been football at its worst. One team with no intention of attacking, and the other completely unable to do so.

But Spain have passed it a million times.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The best thing Sweden have done is take off Isak to rest him for the other two games.

Taz needs to recalibrate his models, bringing Thiago on has made Spain far worse.

[randomlegend]

Taz has been wrong in literally every single football post he's made for about 6 months.

[7om]

85% possession :D

I’ll wet myself if Sweden score in injury time.

[Don]

They've made 12 subs (Fabian Ruiz was also on the bench, christ) and yet Pedri is still strolling around doing his best Xavi impersonation :D

[Bernanke]

I'll take it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Spain possibly being E2 also puts the Southgate models a bit out of kilter, we might have to try and win our remaining games rather than throwing them.

[Lewis]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_Final#Details

Look at that line-up/substitutions what the fuck.

[Dave.]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_Final#Details

Look at that line-up/substitutions what the fuck.

The Dutch team doing their best Coldplay impression there.

[Don]

Have a look at the Argie 23 currently playing:

https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2021/06/14/south-america/copa-america/argentina/chile/3189333/

It's not nostalgia, is it? Human devolution is firmly underway.

[Jimmy Floyd]

France 98

Roberto Carlos
Ronaldo
Rivaldo
Salas
Maldini
Nesta
Del Piero
Baggio
Inzaghi
Vieri
Schmeichel
Laudrup x2
Vieira
Desailly
Zidane
Henry
Thuram
Djorkaeff
Stoichkov
Okocha
Chilavert
Raul
Blanco
Stam
Bergkamp
Kluivert
Seedorf
Matthäus
Kahn
Klinsmann
Mijatovic
Stankovic
Valderrama
Asprilla
Beckham
Shearer
Scholes
Owen
Hagi
Batistuta
Ortega
Crespo
Prosinecki
Boban
Suker

That's 46 players selected at a glance in terms of both quality and entertainment and I left out a shitload. Could we form a similar list today? Could we fuck. The hipsters can do one, like fuck is it nostalgia. Football was just better then, before teams started being picked for the high press.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Meanwhile Sky are nicking our material:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E33hiXlWEAs8H20?format=jpg&name=medium

[Spikey M]

I agree, but... was it actually better? Or are we just old men shouting at clouds?

[Bernanke]

I agree, but... was it actually better? Or are we just old men shouting at clouds?

Both.

[Shindig]

I dunno, I'm of the opinion sport doesn't regress over time but you feel things watching the old stuff.

[Spikey M]

I dunno, I'm of the opinion sport doesn't regress over time but you feel things watching the old stuff.

We do, but I would probably fight someone on the basis that Zidane, Ronaldinho and Original Ronaldo were better than Nonce Ronaldo and Messi... but they weren't. :(

[Spoonsky]

I’m not sure the overall quality of football has gone down but the quality of players has definitely gone down, if that makes any sense.

Or maybe it’s better to say that whereas there used to be iconic players and talismans there are now just very good players. France were brilliant in 2018 but how many of their players were really classic (remembered years down the line)? I’d argue just Kanté and Mbappe. Whereas Spain 2010 or especially Italy 2006 are chock full of them.

[Lewis]

I don't think the quality - as measured in terms of technique etc. - has gone down, but that systems just squeeze and limit/refine (whoever you want to see it) players as individuals. Midfielders aren't running all over dominating teams single-handedly anymore or strolling about waiting to do something; defenders aren't covering massive spaces and engaging in individual battles; attackers aren't doing as they like, moving around, and playing off the cuff despite strikers being statistically more prolific these days because shots from outside the box have halved over the past decade. Mechanisation. Wank.

[Lewis]

With that in mind, we probably witnessed the peak of the sport from the mid-nineties (full professionalism on an individual basis plus globalised recruitment/standards) through to about ten years ago.

[Don]

With the likes of Brighton and Brentford on the cusp of revolutionising the administration of the sport, that mechanicisation will be going into overdrive in the next 5 years, I suspect.

[phonics]

Havent managed to find a podcast to listen to so far, it's either 'rar rar england' or 'england are shit and will be found out'

edit: also all the people 'tournament when i was a child was way better than this' people are thick.

like


I don't think the quality - as measured in terms of technique etc. - has gone down, but that systems just squeeze and limit/refine (whoever you want to see it) players as individuals. Midfielders aren't running all over dominating teams single-handedly anymore or strolling about waiting to do something; defenders aren't covering massive spaces and engaging in individual battles; attackers aren't doing as they like, moving around, and playing off the cuff despite strikers being statistically more prolific these days because shots from outside the box have halved over the past decade. Mechanisation. Wank.

You were aware of absolutely none of this tactical wank, it was blokes kicking a football around in colours.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My long term prediction would be that everyone will end up playing the same way (mad running/counterpress with no one wanting static possession) and they will end up having to make a significant rule change - liberalising offside, perhaps - to try and pull it back a bit. Every sport will face the same challenge once the boffins work it out. As ever it's instructive following baseball as they are ten years ahead in all things and the panic rule changes are starting to happen now.

Actually F1 is an even better example, as it's a sport comprised entirely of boffins and they have to change the rules every few years to stop it from being a settled procession.

[phonics]

My long term prediction is that much like every generation since 1883, professional football will change. Jim comparing football to a statistically predictable sport like baseball just shows that it's not actually true.

[Lewis]

You were aware of absolutely none of this tactical wank, it was blokes kicking a football around in colours.

What?

[phonics]

My long term prediction would be that everyone will end up playing the same way (mad running/counterpress with no one wanting static possession) and they will end up having to make a significant rule change - liberalising offside, perhaps - to try and pull it back a bit. Every sport will face the same challenge once the boffins work it out. As ever it's instructive following baseball as they are ten years ahead in all things and the panic rule changes are starting to happen now.

Actually F1 is an even better example, as it's a sport comprised entirely of boffins and they have to change the rules every few years to stop it from being a settled procession.

You realise they changed the backpass rule in your life time, right?

We’ve changed the amount of games that you play in a year. Association football has gone through more change in 20 years than baseball has in its history outside of steroids.

[Don]

Stick this into the next WDYTOE but Phonics' development over the last few years disturbs me. There used to be a level of coherence and rationality which has been almost completely replaced with the need for conflict, often completely separate to any thought for actual substance.

[phonics]

My bad. I think I just don't interact with this place on the same level so only post when I think somethings just dumb.

I remember calling out Yev for the same so I'll apologise and move on.

[Kikó]

I think we're suffering from old men shouting at clouds syndrome. It's probably tied into the fact that the top of the game are so obviously corporate vehicles for horrible money obsessed bastards that the affinity with those we watch, has been lost.

Bruno Fernandes for example, is the first 'footballing icon' I've been able to enjoy at United for a long time (since Ronaldo or Rooney maybe?). This England team is genuinely exciting for raw talent (compare it to the dross in 2000). Football is still exciting enough to not all be Barca-mate.

Non-league football is still great fun if you can't get over your malaise.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Game's the same, just got more fierce.

[Shindig]

I don't buy the game being homogenised into possession perpetuity. It's nothing if you can't pick the right pass and make the right movement. Much like playing from the back, some teams aren't capable of it.

[Baz]

Already appalled at the lack of a 2PM game.

Luckily, Royal Ascots on.

[Don]

I had the Argie-Chile game on in the background yesterday and a name caught my ear ever so slightly. I now find out Chile's 'Brereton Diaz' is actually Blackburn's Ben Brereton.

https://i.ibb.co/XX7wLbx/E34-Q1k-SX0-AIs-Hon.jpg

A striker with 18 goals in 145 games at Champ level :D

[Ian]

Already appalled at the lack of a 2PM game.

Indeed. First week at least shouldn't see a day with less than three games.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You'd need 32 teams for that. The next 8 teams would be: Iceland, Northern Ireland, Serbia, Georgia, Romania, Norway, Ireland, Israel

I think we could accommodate them. 32 team Euros now.

[Ian]

Yeah seemingly Euro 2016 also had a two game day on the first Tuesday before going back to three games a day (with one other exception) through the groups.

Still, I don't see how me being reasonable about it is going to help me wishing there was a game on just now.

[Reg]

I am also disgusted by this situation, especially as I've got most of the day off work.

Those teams Jim posted all sound like they'd be a match for North Macedonia and their 72-year-old Pandev.

[Boydy]

They should do 32 teams and a straight knockout format.

[Spikey M]

1404407730182496264?s=19

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hungary were in the same group as Portugal at Euro 2016 and ended up topping it after a thrilling 3-3 draw with the eventual tournament winners.

There is no chance Hungary will finish top of Group F and, on paper, this talented Portugal side should have too much for them - but the game is being played in Budapest, so I am going to go with a draw.

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

You have to hand it to the man, still churning these out.

[Kikó]

Haha. It's some ride of a prediction.