2022 World Cup knockouts: RIP four games a day

[Ian]

Just realised we were still using the group stages thread. Poll inspired by the Messi chat in there.

Current state of play:
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/11/30/sports/world-cup/world-cup-bracket-2/world-cup-bracket-2-mediumSquareAt3X-v6.png

Is everybody looking forward to Mason Mount being immediately returned to the starting XI today?

[Offshore Toon]

Messi is clearly spectacular, but I don't find him interesting at all.

[Baz]

Nice graphic.

It’s coming home.

[Giggles]

Looking more and more likely unfortunately.

[Offshore Toon]

ARG-BRA and FRA-POR would be two incredible semis.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Some cracking derbies possible in the other three QFs. Spain v Portugal. England v France. Korea v Japan.

[Clunge]

Korea-Japan would be a real stretch.

[Pepe]

Delete every post made on the wrong thread.

[Pepe]

Korea-Japan would be a real stretch.

I really hope that at least one of those two makes it far.

[Waffdon]

Just realised we were still using the group stages thread. Poll inspired by the Messi chat in there.

Current state of play:
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/11/30/sports/world-cup/world-cup-bracket-2/world-cup-bracket-2-mediumSquareAt3X-v6.png

Is everybody looking forward to Mason Mount being immediately returned to the starting XI today?

Same team as the Wales game but Saka for Rashford apparently

[Shindig]

Now that I'm seeing it laid out, the fixation on sides of the draw sounds a bit mad. They're both gauntlets to get through. :D

[Waffdon]

France’s depth at centre back is ludicrous. Imagine having the luxury of benching Konate and Saliba with Kounde out of position at right back to fill in.

Their depth in general is a bit bonkers. 4 first team players out of the World Cup off the top of my head and you wouldn’t notice. (Though they do play better without 2 of them but they’d have definitely started)

[Ian]

Same team as the Wales game but Saka for Rashford apparently

Hm, interesting. Fingers crossed Saka is more Iran game than USA game.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We're going to get battered.

[Yevrah]

Anyone have a stream for the France game that isn't via iPlayer?

Ta muchly.

[Ben]

Hesgoal.

[Yevrah]

Cheers Ben!

[Lewis]

Anyone have a stream for the France game that isn't via iPlayer?

Ta muchly.

Mate, if you can't cope with a female commentator, maybe football isn't for you, yeah?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Kevin Mbappé, as I always think he is called before I read his actual name again (conflating him with Kevin Mbabu, I think - easy mistake to make), has this God complex of thinking he is owed a foul any time someone challenges him.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Golden chance for the French there.

All from giving the ball away.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In this game the comms are giving the Messi treatment to 'Matty Cash', which is probably worse.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why is he shooting there?

[Adramelch]

France are playing a bit with fire it feels like.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How did we not score there?

[Pepe]

Poland looking better than I thought they would.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Game over.

[Pepe]

Giroud. :cool:

[Lewis]

I would fancy us against this France. Possible concerns would be BOTTLING the occasion and France bamboozling us with a tactical change or early substitutions.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Knockouts so far a case of the favoured teams being utterly clinical and the underdogs creating chances but just not composed enough to finish them.

No doubt England will change all that later.

[Don]

Frances route to the final is piss too, it's in the bag.

[Pepe]

Knockouts so far a case of the favoured teams being utterly clinical and the underdogs creating chances but just not composed enough to finish them.

Isn't that always the case?

[Waffdon]

Lloris continually proving he has stuff on every manager he’s played under

[Ben]

I’d back us against France as long as Lloris keeps getting picked.

[Manc]

Rio playing translator for Poch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why have they got a pundit in the BBC studio who can barely speak English? Is he that desperate for the Chelsea/Tottenham jobs?

[Lewis]

Remember when they had Fabio Cannavaro doing games in his pidgin English? Then he caught a stray off Martin O'Neill donning Adrian Chiles and nobody has seen him since.

[Boydy]

Did Lineker say "Jordan Pickford and Kieron Dyer" there?

[Manc]

That Colombia was wild. Had it all.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Did Lineker say "Jordan Pickford and Kieron Dyer" there?
Yep.

[Don]

Please don't combine piano and strings with Jordan Pickford trying to drool out a coherent sentence.

Mon the African boys, me and Mahow are gonna be partying long into the night.

[Giggles]

Please don't combine piano and strings with Jordan Pickford trying to drool out a coherent sentence.

Mon the African boys, me and Mahow are gonna be partying long into the night.

Today, I feel African.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bruce Dyer > Kieron Dyer > Eric Dier.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a quality finish, shame it doesn't count.

[igor_balis]

I don't think there's any reason why the ref can't wait to blow the whistle there. Enemy of football for chalking that goal off.

[igor_balis]

Please don't combine piano and strings with Jordan Pickford trying to drool out a coherent sentence.

Mon the African boys, me and Mahow are gonna be partying long into the night.

Youssou N'Dour can suck my fat chode.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Since I slagged off commentators earlier, I reckon Robyn or whoever this one is on the beeb is really good. 'You could almost see smoke coming off his feet there' a really good image for how Mbappé plays at this stage of his career.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gave him far too much space.

[Ben]

Since I slagged off commentators earlier, I reckon Robyn or whoever this one is on the beeb is really good. 'You could almost see smoke coming off his feet there' a really good image for how Mbappé plays at this stage of his career.

Her and Dion are easily the best combination on the BBC side.

[Manc]

Matty Cash letting down his second country.

[Waffdon]

He’s just so fucking good.

[Don]

The guy's a cheatcode. If Senegal spoil our evening, at least I can look forward to Trippier showing his defensive quality that has him ahead of the greatest RB in the game :D

[niko_cee]

Someone needs to do to France [Mbappe] what Colombia [was it?] did to Brazil/Neymar in 2014.

Can't have these fuckers going back-to-back.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Her and Dion are easily the best combination on the BBC side.

I just searched twitter to see if they agree with me, and safe to say they don't. Tens and tens of people with middle aged man names and/or profile pics, violently upset about her being on comms. It's such a fascinating phenomenon, like they think that just by having a woman in the box the BBC are personally insulting them and their entire way of life.

[igor_balis]

I just searched twitter to see if they agree with me, and safe to say they don't. Tens and tens of people with middle aged man names and/or profile pics, violently upset about her being on comms. It's such a fascinating phenomenon, like they think that just by having a woman in the box the BBC are personally insulting them and their entire way of life.

Black man in an advert? That's a wokeness. Gay rights? That's a wokeness. A woman commentator? Oh you better believe that's a wokeness.

[Manc]

A team who can comfortable play the ball between the lines will murder France. Thier off the ball work is laughable.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, I was going to speculate that Spain could be a tricky semi-final opponent for them if both get there, but then Spain's defence is a bit of a bombscare.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mbappe is too good.

[Ben]

The guy's a cheatcode. If Senegal spoil our evening, at least I can look forward to Trippier showing his defensive quality that has him ahead of the greatest RB in the game :D

This is an absurd take even for you.

Something something gammon?

[Don]

Spikey's crying into his Haaland blanket.

Edit: what the fuck are you on about now?

[Waffdon]

A team who can comfortable play the ball between the lines will murder France. Thier off the ball work is laughable.

Doubt they set up like this against a decent side. Dembele or Griezmann will drop out for another midfielder if I had to guess.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Comeback is on.

[Adramelch]

What a horrible penalty that was.

[Shindig]

Robert should retire after that. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's getting retaken but that's a horseshit pen.

[Adramelch]

Even the second one would have been retaken if he missed. Or if it had been saved rather.

[7om]

One of the worst penalties I’ve ever seen.

[Manc]

Doubt they set up like this against a decent side. Dembele or Griezmann will drop out for another midfielder if I had to guess.

Who also won't press.

[niko_cee]

France even getting all the bullshit bad VAR calls out of the way as well. :sick:

[Waffdon]

Who also won't press.

The only team that has pressed in this World Cup has been USA and that ended well.

[Waffdon]

Mbappe donning his 2nd World Cup in a row at 23 whilst Haaland is playing Twister with his old man. Spikey in the mud

[Gray Fox]

Mbappe wankfest incoming.

[Don]

Who also won't press.

The whole point, and a smart one at that is allow the opposition to advance by not pressing to maximise turtleboy's impact.

[niko_cee]

By the Haaland metric Mbappe should be playing for Cameroon. Alfe Inge Dipshit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We should have brought Wan-Bissaka to counter him. Also should have brought Alessia Russo to distract the defenders from certain nations.

[Manc]

The whole point, and a smart one at that is allow the opposition to advance by not pressing to maximise turtleboy's impact.

Which you'll get away with against Poland. A top team will kill them with the ball.

[Giggles]

Which you'll get away with against Poland. A top team will kill them with the ball.

There’s only one team left in the tournament with any interest in being good with the ball and there’s no chance Spain are winning this whole thing.

[Gray Fox]

BBC claiming Sir Waistcoat has benched Rashford.

[Ben]

Waff said earlier on it’s the Wales team with Saka for Rashford.

[Giggles]

BBC claiming Sir Waistcoat has benched Rashford.


Waff said earlier on it’s the Wales team with Saka for Rashford.

It appears we will now find out the answer to that age old question - does Waffelz know more than the BBC?

[randomlegend]

Waff is agreeing with the BBC so I don't think we will.

[Giggles]

Waff is agreeing with the BBC so I don't think we will.

Indeed. I had one as Rashford playing.

Presumably he’ll be saving him for France.

[Pepe]

Nice to see players (Mbappe and Giroud) who can actually strike a ball.

I hate the current penalty rules (or should I say enforcement) that have led to all this jumpy twattery. Just smash the ball into a corner.

[Waffdon]

I swear they banned the stutter penalty that Lewandowski done. Maybe I’m tripping.

Looks like Mount’s PR has finally dropped if Southgate is dropping him two games running.

[Ben]

I swear they banned the stutter penalty that Lewandowski done. Maybe I’m tripping.


They did, it’s just not enforced for whatever reason.

[Pepe]

So they enforce moving off the line but not the jumpy shit? I would prefer it the other way around.

[Adramelch]

Per the Laws of the Game: "feinting to kick the ball once the kicker has completed the run-up (feinting in the run-up is permitted); the referee cautions the kicker ".

[randomlegend]

My understanding was you aren't allowed to stop during the run up, but provided you keep moving forwards you can do basically whatever you want. You can't fake kick or anything once you actually reach the ball.

[Yevrah]

9 World Cup goals and counting before he's even 24 is some going from Mbappe. If he makes it back to back World Cups Haaland will have a mountain to climb to eclipse him.

[Spikey M]

That's his own fault for not picking England.

[Magic]

Wonder what Sterling is up to.

[Waffdon]

This feels like the Ukraine game last year. Stupidly thinking they might shithouse their way to a 0-0 and penalties before England put 3 in by half time.

[Yevrah]

Ukraine were dead after their second round game, no?

[Waffdon]

Maybe. Think the non England fans were holding out hope that it being the only game away from Wembley would make a difference.

All hope lays on Mbappe on Saturday.

[Don]

Van Dijk lolling at Gakpo to Man Utd rumours is what we like to see :rasta:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mon Senegal.

[Lewis]

Kneeling against homosexuality being illegal in Senegal. Worthy.

[Spikey M]

How comes they're allowed to white up? Take that knee back.

[Lewis]

Whoever has burgled Sterling Towers has done us a favour.

[Spikey M]

I thought that only happened to the Liverpool contingent.

[7om]

This is boring as shit

[Boydy]

This is boring as shit
It's an England game.

[Spikey M]

Fuck me.

[Ben]

Maguire is going to get us eliminated the big useless cunt.

[7om]

They’ve got the legs on us defensively. Maguire and Stones look like a couple of tractors.

[Dquincy]

I just searched twitter to see if they agree with me, and safe to say they don't. Tens and tens of people with middle aged man names and/or profile pics, violently upset about her being on comms. It's such a fascinating phenomenon, like they think that just by having a woman in the box the BBC are personally insulting them and their entire way of life.
Search any commentator on twitter and you will get the same negative comments. It's what people do. Even here is a good example of people often complaining unnecessarily about commentators.

[Adramelch]

Search any commentator on twitter and you will get the same negative comments. It's what people do. Even here is a good example of people often complaining unnecessarily about commentators.

Not even just commentators to be honest. People with strong negative feelings about anything are just typically more vocal about it.

[Lewis]

I'm on double shifts telling Alex Scott to ignore the trolls.

[7om]

Diouf looks like he’s ready for a stint in WWE

[Lewis]

El Hadji Diouf just got introduced like a heel coming back at the Royal Rumble after seven months out.

[Spikey M]

This is just a replay of the game against the Yanks. Dreadful.

[Magic]

What makes an England game uniquely boring.

[randomlegend]

Get Sir Rarcus Mashford on.

[7om]

If we were to lose this game, does Waistcoat survive as manager?

[randomlegend]

What makes an England game uniquely boring.

The knowledge that it doesn't need to be so.

[Lewis]

There would be a strong case for stripping everybody involved of their citizenship if we lose this game.

[Adramelch]

How is that not a yellow card on Walker?

[Boydy]

Jammy bastards.

[Lewis]

I'll need to watch the replay closely, but that defending looked very naive to me. Not a lot of tactical acumen involved.

[7om]

Bareth Bouthgate, tactical genius.

[Waffdon]

Will finish 3 or 4 nil. Bellingham is just a great footballer. Annoyingly.

[Spikey M]

That celebration with Henderson was just bizarre, mind.

[Lofty]

Are the England fans just AI generated trogolydytes?

[Ben]

Funny how now we’ve stopped pissing around at the back with the two idiots that we look like sticking five past these.

[Adramelch]

That was a great counter attack. Bellingham is just on a different level compared to the rest of the field.

[Magic]

Cellingham really is a worldie.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Well at least Mbappe will produce tears.

[Spikey M]

Cellingham really is a worldie.

:D

[7om]

Great pass from Fil Phoden.

[Yevrah]

Excellent first half performance.

[Baz]

How’ve they done that Nike advert then?

[Spikey M]

Great pass from Fil Phoden.

Filth Oden.

[Baz]

That celebration with Henderson was just bizarre, mind.

Can’t you lipread? “We’ll do that in red next season, pet.”

[Shindig]

Funny how now we’ve stopped pissing around at the back with the two idiots that we look like sticking five past these.

I think Southgate does that because he knows they're shaky. Both centre backs are selected for what they can do at the other end. Maybe giving them time on the ball and the long hoofs forward is a way of protecting them?

[Don]

If the late night walks around Doha with Trent weren't doing it, rest assured that goal has. He's coming home :happycry:

[Spikey M]

Well at least Mbappe will produce tears.

If I was Waistcoat I'd play Kyle Walker and ask him to just man mark him all game. If he doesn't Mbappe is going to make Maguire reach whole new levels of retardation and Stones will need another year of his mongy self affirmation therapy meetings.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We've been quite good going forward, but Maguire is such a worry against the elite.

[randomlegend]

Bellingham is so fucking good.

Mbappe is going to absolutely mince our defence.

[Ben]

I think Southgate does that because he knows they're shaky. Both centre backs are selected for what they can do at the other end. Maybe giving them time on the ball and the long hoofs forward is a way of protecting them?

Pumping it long is definitely the way to go against these even if we had two decent ball players at the back. Senegal’s full backs are horrendous against the hoof over the top.

[Waffdon]

Well at least Mbappe will produce tears.

That’s England winning it all then

[randomlegend]

What's Ronaldinho doing in that Pepsi advert? I thought he was in prison.

[Lewis]

How’ve they done that Nike advert then?

Have you seen any films made in the last twenty years?

[Spikey M]

I know Dier is liable to a fuck up himself, but I can't fathom why he isn't starting over Maguire. Or Tomori. Did we even take him?

[Baz]

What's Ronaldinho doing in that Pepsi advert? I thought he was in prison.
It was Nike.
Have you seen any films made in the last twenty years?

Not the one with prime Ronaldinho and OG Ronaldo in, no.

Seems strange to include someone who’s literally been in jail.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I know Dier is liable to a fuck up himself, but I can't fathom why he isn't starting over Maguire. Or Tomori. Did we even take him?

Southgate hates Tomori for some reason, he's at home.

[Dquincy]

3 changes by Senegal is interesting, they were the better team in the first half.

[Ben]

Southgate hates Tomori for some reason, he's at home.

I reckon he’d be in the squad if he played in England still.

[Lofty]

It was Nike.

Not the one with prime Ronaldinho and OG Ronaldo in, no.

Seems strange to include someone who’s literally been in jail.

What about including the rapist? They have Einstein in adverts now.

[-james-]

Ju Debellignham

[Lewis]

Not the one with prime Ronaldinho and OG Ronaldo in, no.

Seems strange to include someone who’s literally been in jail.

Soz ard. I read it as how have they made it.

[Baz]

I dunno. Sorry.

You’re right CGI is good. Even amateur stuff is unreal:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3FzkEoIQBw

[Jimmy Floyd]

We should drop Phil Foden so that I don't have to look at him.

[Danny]

Nice one Jim

[randomlegend]

It was Nike.

Not the one with prime Ronaldinho and OG Ronaldo in, no.

Seems strange to include someone who’s literally been in jail.
https://youtu.be/fXbSirrXQ4U

It was definitely Pepsi.

[Spikey M]

We should drop Phil Foden so that I don't have to look at him.

His perma-sulking face is the most punchable object in the universe.

[7om]

Can’t wait for Lineker and Shearer to cream themselves over this.

[Lewis]

I can't even lol at the defending now. It's like something from a nineties group stage game. Green shirts just scattered everywhere.

[Shindig]

His perma-sulking face is the most punchable object in the universe.

The youth offender haircut really completes the look. You know he'll still look like that at 40, too.

[Ben]

Matterface doesn’t half chat some wibble.

Made me dig this one out:

1283014324697563140

[Waffdon]

If England win then, their run in will surely be one of the best in recent years? France, Spain/Portugal, Brazil/Argentina.

I’m saying that, I can’t remember the last big nation they beat in a WC. Argentina 2002?

[Lewis]

1599500423789875200

Worth pushing this before the next game. Magic, do you still have the official TTH account?

[Ben]

@Qatar_Racing :D

[Shindig]

If England win then, their run in will surely be one of the best in recent years? France, Spain/Portugal, Brazil/Argentina.

I’m saying that, I can’t remember the last big nation they beat in a WC. Argentina 2002?

Germany last year. Sorry, you meant World Cup.

Carry on. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Our last win over a 'big nation' in a World Cup knockout game was the 1966 final.

Portugal 2006
Brazil 2002
Argentina 1998
Italy 1990 (if you count 3rd place)
W.Germany 1990
Argentina 1986
W.Germany 1974

All lost.

[Waffdon]

There’s hope.

[Shindig]

We don't tend to get far enough, often enough for the big guys to factor, to be honest.

[Manc]

Job done. I'd happily go with the same eleven for France.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh and Deutschland 2010.

I take us over France sans Mbappé.

[Lewis]

I hate Sweet Caroline so much. The theme tune to being an absolute whopper.

[-james-]

Bookies are going to have it 60/40. Bring it. :drool:

[Lewis]

Look at that eyebrow the county lines rat.

[Yevrah]

I hate Sweet Caroline so much. The theme tune to being an absolute whopper.

Completely agree. I can’t stand the Inglund geezer, brand loving bullshit it represents.

[Magic]

1599500423789875200

Worth pushing this before the next game. Magic, do you still have the official TTH account?

Musk shut me down.

[Bam]

Completely agree. I can’t stand the Inglund geezer, brand loving bullshit it represents.


Its Oxford accountants that go to watch England, not real football people.

[Lewis]

Yev-rah's sit-com
(lol, lol, lol)
What the fuck was that about?

[Spikey M]

Where did you get your "England, Taxes, Golf... in that order" flag made Yev?

[Yevrah]

Alright Bam. Give yourself a day off from me living rent free in your head and take it up with Lewis.

[Spoonsky]

That celebration with Henderson was just bizarre, mind.

Sticking it to Qatar.

[Waffdon]

Bellingham is definitely off to Liverpool if this past week has anything to go by. Either that or they’re just trolling on Social Media. Hopefully the latter.

[phonics]

Its Oxford accountants that go to watch England, not real football people.

Sweet Caroline gets played in our pub twice a night when half the people there are either selling cocaine or buying it and the rest are labourers. Don’t even try blame it on posh people.

[Lewis]

Rare bit of class solidarity there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have been to one England game (a 2-2 friendly draw with the Czech Republic in 2008) and the clientele was a fascinating mix. A surprising number of people had travelled from all over the country to be there (at Wembley) - loads of northern accents. There was a large, how can I put this, council estate contingent who were only there to see Beckham and Rooney - not to see them play football, per se, but to see them in a celebrity sense and cheer them personally before and after the game. A lot of the fans seemed to be smaller club fans who don't normally have a taste of the big time. Then there were city boys in suits straight from the office who didn't seem to have much idea about football at all.

Completely different to any club game I've been to.

[Lewis]

The Sweet Caroline mob is twenty per cent the salt of the earth Great British Public as mentioned by phonics, and eighty per cent the neeks who bought waistcoats in 2018, throw their pints around in fanzones, and have had the will to question the lop-sided proliferation of female pundits subliminally shamed out of them by Madri and adverts on public transport about mental health. The latter bear full responsibility for mainstreaming it.

[phonics]

It’s much more northern/midlands to be a travelling England fan. There’s a reason why all the flags have West Brom or Rotheram tags than Southampton.

[Spoonsky]

"The lop-sided proliferation of female pundits" :D

It's the wokeness! The wokeness!!

[Gray Fox]

Bellingham is definitely off to Liverpool if this past week has anything to go by. Either that or they’re just trolling on Social Media. Hopefully the latter.

Under current ownership I don't think we can. He's going to cost £100m at the very least and FSG are known to play it safe financially and will not spend that much without selling.
If you look back, a lot of FGSs Liverpool deals, even under Klopp, were uncontested. The only two times I can think of an exception to this were Van Dijk, who wanted to work with Klopp and Alisson Becker who chose us over Chelsea. Add in that the likes of City, Madrid and likely PSG will absolutely be trying to grab him, I just don't think it'll be done this way.

If there was a takeover it'd change things a lot. I don't see that happening for a while though.

[igor_balis]

I hate Sweet Caroline so much. The theme tune to being an absolute whopper.

The only good patriotic English song is Jerusalem. It's fucking quality tbf, wish it was our footy national anthem.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Even then, the Barmy Army manage to ruin it (last note is LOW not high you twats).

I'm an I Vow To Thee renegade.

[Lofty]

Surely the bigger obstacle for Liverpool signing Bellingham now is the likelihood they will miss Top 4?

[niko_cee]

They probably won't. Arsenal and Spurs will go to bits at some point. How serious is this knee injury Jesus has?


Even then, the Barmy Army manage to ruin it (last note is LOW not high you twats).

I'm an I Vow To Thee renegade.

There's an episode of Bluey [Australian kids cartoon] which has I Vow to Thee running through it and it's absolute quality. Been hearing it a lot over the last few weeks.

[Shindig]

and have had the will to question the lop-sided proliferation of female pundits ...

:D

It's usually 50/50 in the studio. At least where ITV is concerned. Karen Carney and Joe Cole waxing lyrical is .... something. "Yeah, like ... yeah." every three minutes.

[Don]

Bellingham fully well knows we're built different to some shit like PSG/Man City, you sad fucks better just hope he keeps making himself available for England when he becomes an adopted Scouser.

We really are built different:

1599048577292341249

The lollest vid I've seen for a while :D

[Spikey M]

The body language of 2 men that do not want to be there.

[Waffdon]

This current Kyle Walker wank-fest re: him being the best right back in the world to deal with Mbappe is interesting to say the least. Never mind the fact he isn’t even fit he’s properly regressed in the last year.

[Baz]

Is this the football thread?

Mike Ashley’s bought the Ricoh and kicked Coventry out?
wullie

[Spikey M]

This current Kyle Walker wank-fest re: him being the best right back in the world to deal with Mbappe is interesting to say the least. Never mind the fact he isn’t even fit he’s properly regressed in the last year.

Is it a wank fest? I only said it because he's the fastest player / defender we have and we need someone to track Mbappe or he's going to murder our centre backs.

[Waffdon]

I should have clarified from the media/Twitter.

It’s also mostly like going to be Mbappe up against Stones for the majority of the game as Hernandez/Rabiot flood the left and create overlaps.

[wullie]

Is this the football thread?

Mike Ashley’s bought the Ricoh and kicked Coventry out?
wullie

Served an eviction notice at least yeah, two weeks after the Fraser Group and Cov council celebrated how the sale would be a good thing for the relationship between club and landlord. General theory is that Ashley's trying to distress the club to buy it, which makes for a hell of a PR campaign for a potential new owner

[Don]

I've heard the Walker doubters chat pure shit for the best part of a decade now and still he consistently churns out top drawer performances and is relentlessly relied upon by the best tactical mind in the game (and Pep too).

Not saying turtleboy is going to be kept quiet but I don't see a better-equipped alternative in the sport.

[Spikey M]

I should have clarified from the media/Twitter.

It’s also mostly like going to be Mbappe up against Stones for the majority of the game as Hernandez/Rabiot flood the left and create overlaps.

I wouldn't be surprised if he went with 3 centre backs and played Walker on the right of them.

[Waffdon]

I've heard the Walker doubters chat pure shit for the best part of a decade now and still he consistently churns out top drawer performances and is relentlessly relied upon by the best tactical mind in the game (and Pep too).

Not saying turtleboy is going to be kept quiet but I don't see a better-equipped alternative in the sport.

Not in the last year he’s not. Definitely lost a yard or two of his pace as well - Sarr sprinted past him with ease yesterday.

[niko_cee]

I wouldn't be surprised if he went with 3 centre backs and played Walker on the right of them.

You know Southgate is absolutely gagging to do this but I don't see how he can unless he's going to keep the same team but drop Saka back to right wingback. Unless he goes Trippier which would at least give us some sort of threat from set pieces.

I was going to say it would be good if the patriotic burglars could knock over Harry Maguire's gaff next but if Dier is genuinely the only other option then maybe not. Dread to think what he's going to look like running against some of the French lot though. He was losing 5 yards over 10 yards against Senegal.

That left side of the England defence has to be one of the worst ever seen at any sort of elite international level.

[Ben]

There's no point going to three centre backs. We could play nine in defence and good players will still find a way through us because none of them are top level. Mbappé would destroy us.

Our best bet is carrying on like we are and backing ourselves to outscore them. If we get tactical then it's curtains.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, but this is Southgate. The highlight of the last three games has been the three clean sheets, [for him] that's what everything is built on. As you say, trying to make it some sort of crabby shitefest just sees us lose when one of our numpties at the back give the ball away [see the 'great' result against the dreadful Germans last year when they had the better of the chances before we nicked it late on].

Maybe he'll go full mind games and pick Trent at rightback. Didier won't be planning for that.

[Spikey M]

There's no point going to three centre backs. We could play nine in defence and good players will still find a way through us because none of them are top level. Mbappé would destroy us.

Our best bet is carrying on like we are and backing ourselves to outscore them. If we get tactical then it's curtains.

Yeah, but Southgate gonna Southgate. It's taken him until now to realise that he doesn't need 8 defensive players against the likes of Wales and Senegal. I highly doubt he's ready to abandon it against the likes of France.

[Spikey M]

Maybe he'll go full mind games and pick Trent at rightback. Didier won't be planning for that.

Fighting fire with petrol.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Safety first is the best policy. As many defenders as possible. If we lose, at least we'll have tried to stop them. No point trying to score goals and ending up leaving gaps in behind for Djorkaeff and Dugarry to run into.

You could play Walker and Trippier as a double right back against Mbappé, with Walker doing the defending, and Trippier hanging around in case we get a free kick.

[Shindig]

I'm of the other line of thought. Our midfield is our best asset. I wouldn't want to rob the middle of bodies. Four at the back is enough. Kane acts as a fifth midfielder anyway.

[niko_cee]

Fighting fire with petrol.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOwOYVJ9IgA&ab_channel=Futurism

Check out Gerard Houllier giving it a go at 25 seconds.

[Waffdon]

I think he stays with the same sort of formation but wouldn’t be surprised if he brings in Kalvin Phillips to sit along side Uncle Ben and have Bellingham as the slightly more forward thinking player.

[-james-]

What is this absolute WANK tech house tune they play before every match?

[-james-]

Nippon to defeat racism here.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Infantino SPOTTED, Jimmy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What is this absolute WANK tech house tune they play before every match?

Infantino's Theme (Reprise)

I now spend the first 3/4 mins of every game counting down to seeing him on screen. No sign yet! (1:11)

[Jimmy Floyd]

There he is! 1:39. Was over five minutes in the England game last night.

[Ben]

Is this Peter Schmeichel on co-comms? :cab:

I'm playing through BBC Sport website so it might be radio feed.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is this Peter Schmeichel on co-comms? :cab:

I'm playing through BBC Sport website so it might be radio feed.

Radio feed.

[Pepe]

We all cheering for Japan here, right?

[-james-]

There he is! 1:39. Was over five minutes in the England game last night.

I thought this last night actually. Does he even like football? He's probably bored out of his tits.

[-james-]

If Maeda's xG regresses to the mean over the next four games then the world cup/golden boot double is on.

[Ian]

He just can't get enough of focusing on football.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I thought this last night actually. Does he even like football? He's probably bored out of his tits.

I reckon if you or I had his job we'd just live it up and love every minute, so that's probably what he's doing. President of Burkina Faso? Nice to meet you, and thanks for the bung last month, the Under 17 Women's African Nations is yours.

[Waffdon]

Ito should have fun throughout here against Barisic.

[Ian]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/05/portugal-coach-santos-unimpressed-with-ronaldos-reaction-to-substitution-world-cup

Morgan will be leaving him voicemails asking him if he fancies a Part 3, presumably.

Would be funny if he was stripped of the captaincy but I assume he'll keep it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Maeda :cool:

Training ground set pieces :drool:

[Pepe]

Japan :cool:

[Shindig]

Japan have been right up for this.

[Ian]

Love to see it.

[Don]

If Maeda's xG regresses to the mean over the next four games then the world cup/golden boot double is on.

:drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I thought the video grim reaper was going to come for that goal, like No Face out of a fucking wall.

Vamos.

[Waffdon]

Japan/South Korea QF here we go!

[Pepe]

Japan/South Korea QF here we go!

If only. :drool:

[Don]

The heavyweight of football punditry Jenas, Rio, Shearer and Williams claiming Croatia "look leggy" as if a midfield of Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic are going to play an intense pressing game. Fucking imbeciles.

[CJay]

Japan are a serious outfit. I think Brazil or South Korea would prefer the toothless Croats if they had the choice.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rooting hard for the kim chi kids if Japan win. That would be a proper game. Brazil and their 1-0 ways can get to fuck.

[Waffdon]

Japan leading for the first time ever in a knock out game? They were literally 2-0 up at the last World Cup ffs

[Lofty]

Out of nowhere.

[Shindig]

Good header. :moop:

[Pepe]

Fuck off.

[niko_cee]

Croatia are such a weird team. They're a bit like England in that they can look absolute toilet for long periods, and then have everything click.

[Waffdon]

What a header that was

[Ben]

There are few things in football better than a banging header.

[Don]

Strange that because the leggy useless fucks who are nowhere near the team they were with Mandzukic seemed dead and buried. JJ said so.

[Don]

Is it Mitoma/Asano time yet or are they gonna toy with Croaitia a bit longer?

[Waffdon]

Croatia are such a weird team. They're a bit like England in that they can look absolute toilet for long periods, and then have everything click.

Modric is a prime per user. Probably shares his load at half time

[Pepe]

Come on Japan, don't bottle this.

[Waffdon]

Kovacic just looks unfit and has done all season. Definitely going for a surgery of some sort after this tournament

[Pepe]

Croatia will take this, won't they? :sick:

[Waffdon]

Have they reverted back to normal added time?

[Ben]

I get the feeling teams have stopped fucking around as much so maybe it's worked as intended?

[Adramelch]

This game didn't have much time-wasting if any.

Japan probably with a bit of a fitness edge over the aging Croatian squad, but I somewhat doubt it will amount to anything.