The Footie Thread

[Tashyboy]

So Englands women’s team are now fourth best team in the world. According to FIFA rankings.
The top team are Sweden, followed by Spain, USA have dropped to 3rd with England staying at 4th.
So the best team in the world are not the world champions, and didn’t qualify for the final.
The second best team in the world are the World champions.
The third best team in the world went on holiday a week before everyone else.
The fourth best team in the world are current European champs World Cup finalists and yet have 10 less points than when the calculations were done last time having got to the final.
Glad that’s cleared up

 

[Swango1980]

The ironic thing is that when people said VAR is rammel, they have been proven right. VAR in its current format is not fit for purpose. We have always said that VAR is down to one persons opinion. But when “ looking after a mate” takes priority over making the right decision. How’s that right. We now have laws to “ protect” refs which results in a yellow. This is to help respect referees decisions. Seriously? How can you respect that? How can you respect anything this tit says again.
The refereeing in this country is a shambles, we have rules for the game and rules for the referees Because they are rammel.

I'll have a go to counter this, if you don't mind.

Was the decision in this specific incident wrong? Absolutely, Dean has admitted that. However, what factors played a part? All too often, it is all on the referee, and they become the punchbag for managers, players, pundits and fans.

We all know that most managers try to act in such a way that will influence the ref, even if it influences them in future decisions for their own benefit. Some act in such a way that clearly crosses a line. If I read about this incident correctly, the on field referee missed the penalty incident, and the bench were outraged. So much so, that the on-field referee felt they crossed the line and started to discipline them. It was this that influenced Dean not to intervene. So, for once the bench actually influenced the officials to their disadvantage rather than advantage. Had they questioned the decision, but much more calmly, it sounds like Dean would have intervened, as the on field official was getting no grief.

So, in a way, even though the decision was wrong, I actually think "served them blooming right, maybe the bench will act more professionally next time and allow the officials to get on with their job"

Is refereeing in this country a shambles? Many times I watch European or international games, there are equally poor decisions. I don't watch much league football outside England, but in the limited games I've watched, I've seen some diabolical decisions. But then again, it will always happen as so many decisions in a game are never 100% one way or another. It may be 100% black and white to most people in their mind, problem is 80% of people may be 100% one way, 10% may be 100% the other way and 10% may be unsure.

VAR hasn't helped their reputation, as there is an expectation they will now get 100% of decisions correct. But then again, so many of those can still be considered subjective, and then the VAR refs have pressure at times to not get involved if there is any subjectivity at all. When that is controversial one week, they then have pressure to get involved the following week, even if it is ultimately very subjective. Then we have the laws of the game being updated constantly to try and make things easier for VAR officials, but it ends up becoming a big mess, where basically common sense no longer applies. We've seen it with handball, where the governing body try and write the law to make handball as black and white as possible, until it is put into practice and we suddenly see incidents that make a mockery of the written law. So I agree with you to an extent on VAR, it has had serious problems since it started, still does. Although, it would be interesting if it was suddenly taken away, what fans would think as soon as their team suffer from a bad on-field decision?

 

[Swango1980]

So Englands women’s team are now fourth best team in the world. According to FIFA rankings.
The top team are Sweden, followed by Spain, USA have dropped to 3rd with England staying at 4th.
So the best team in the world are not the world champions, and didn’t qualify for the final.
The second best team in the world are the World champions.
The third best team in the world went on holiday a week before everyone else.
The fourth best team in the world are current European champs World Cup finalists and yet have 10 less points than when the calculations were done last time having got to the final.
Glad that’s cleared up

If you had a tournament next month, would England be easy favourites or second favourites? I suspect not. I guess it is like when Greece or Denmark won the European Championships, I didn't think they were suddenly the best, or at least one of the best sides in Europe. I just felt they had an excellent tournament, but wouldn't put them amongst the favourites if there was a other tournament coming up.

I don't know enough about women's football to truly know how good USA and Sweden are at the moment. But, was it just a case that they will be very disappointed with their performances in the World Cup, and they simply underperformed? Would they still be forces to be reckoned with if England had to play them tomorrow?

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Rumour of zouma may be out the club, may return for maigure

All depends. Player wants a move to a less intense league to prolong his career with knee injury

Saldi clubs the thought process, heat will help his knee last

 

[Fade and Die]

Rumour of zouma may be out the club, may return for maigure

All depends. Player wants a move to a less intense league to prolong his career with knee injury

Saldi clubs the thought process, heat will help his knee last

Where did you read about Zouma?

I just read this an hour ago and he seems very happy…

Zouma: It's very special for me and my family to captain West Ham | West Ham United F.C.

Kurt Zouma is hoping to draw on his own fond personal memories of the Amex Stadium when West Ham United travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

www.whufc.com

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Where did you read about Zouma?

I just read this an hour ago and he seems very happy…

Zouma: It's very special for me and my family to captain West Ham | West Ham United F.C.

Kurt Zouma is hoping to draw on his own fond personal memories of the Amex Stadium when West Ham United travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

www.whufc.com

I read from an itk that's been spot on every transfer this window

However he said he isn't pushing just seeing options

Kehrer could be off to Munich

 

[Hobbit]

Well that’s no suprize to me.
He should be sacked That’s just blatantly NOT doing your job.

What if that costs a team relagation, as long as his mate dosnt get any grief.
you couldn’t make it up!

In Boro’s play-off match, several years ago, he was head and shoulders above every single ref we’d had all season, home and away. Since then I’ve tended to watch a number of his performances. To be honest, I think he’s a decent ref.

Just floating a thought, if even the best players can make a number of mistakes, why can’t a ref?

 

[Skytot]

Well I can’t really judge players that I didn’t see play hence why no 60’s or 70’s

But not sure who is missing from that top ten beyond Hunt , Cally and Keegan

And 6 of the top ten are from the 80’s

They are all great players but not when talking about top ten players

Allison imo is a better GK than Grobelaar and Clem

Likes of Thommo and Lawernson both very good CB’s but below the likes of Hansen and VVD

Same when talking about Molby , Whelan and comparing to Gerrard and Souness

They are all players that would be in a top 50 of players but not top Imo

It’s even harder to make a best 11

Alisson

Neal
VVD
Hansen
Robbo

Salah
Souness
Gerrard
Barnes

Rush
Kenny

No way is Allison better than Clemence

 

[Lord Tyrion]

No way is Allison better than Clemence

Clemence or Grobbelar? Tough one, both top, top keepers

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Clemence or Grobbelar? Tough one, both top, top keepers

Allison is up with the pair of them and would be the one I pick - clean sheet ratios are very similar and they have all come up with big saves at the right time

Allison is one of the biggest reasons for the success we had since he arrived

 

[TimShady]

Allison is up with the pair of them and would be the one I pick - clean sheet ratios are very similar and they have all come up with big saves at the right time

Allison is one of the biggest reasons for the success we had since he arrived

Keeping clean sheets was harder in the past with teams more evenly skilled and less emphasis on defensive stability. They can’t be compared.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Have to admit if we sign kudas from Ajax (especially after that hattrick last night) I will be delighted with the work this summer

We have seen time and time before players be sold (think bale) and replaced poorly

Alvarez looks very solid
JWP proven prem
This Dino looks a good CB and fast
Kudas exciting

Total cost rice plus £15 mil .. not bad

We sold scamacca for 25 mil , vlasic for 11 mil and masuku for 2 mil so that's still 20 mil spare to apparently put towards the young Chelsea lb who was on loan at Burnley last year

Much better squad balance

 

[Hobbit]

Well I can’t really judge players that I didn’t see play hence why no 60’s or 70’s

But not sure who is missing from that top ten beyond Hunt , Cally and Keegan

And 6 of the top ten are from the 80’s

What? No Stevie Highway? I have to admit I do have some serious nostalgia for Liverpool’s team from the early 70’s right through to the end of Dalglish’s reign as manager. Bob Paisley‘s time was fantastic. I was(am) a full on Boro fan, home and away, but watching those teams was watching another level. And Clemence was better than Shilton but just wasn’t the FA’s favourite.

 

[Swango1980]

Keeping clean sheets was harder in the past with teams more evenly skilled and less emphasis on defensive stability. They can’t be compared.

Are you sure?

Just had a look at the average goals per game over the years in English top flight. Pre 1970, the goals per game was indeed a fair bit higher than today. Between 1960-1970 the rate of goals per game dropped quite rapidly. However, since 1970 the goals per game has remained fairly steady. If anything, the goals per game from 2010 until today is higher than most periods between 1970 - 2010. That would seem to imply that it could be harder to keep clean sheets in the last 10 years than it was in the 40 years previous.

 

[Orikoru]

That's excluding so many of your past generations. A top Liverpool list without Roger Hunt .

To leave out your 60's, 70's and most of the 80's era, wow.

As to the point, Salah has to be up there. His goal scoring consistency is phenomenal.

Far be it for me to defend Phil but he was clearly doing a list of players he'd witnessed play to some degree. Like if I was doing a top ten list for Spurs I probably wouldn't put Greaves in it. Of course he must have been top class by how many goals he scored - but I've never seen him kick a ball, so if I included him it wouldn't be my top ten list. It would just be a list of top ten Spurs players by common consensus.

 

[RichA]

Are you sure?

Just had a look at the average goals per game over the years in English top flight. Pre 1970, the goals per game was indeed a fair bit higher than today. Between 1960-1970 the rate of goals per game dropped quite rapidly. However, since 1970 the goals per game has remained fairly steady. If anything, the goals per game from 2010 until today is higher than most periods between 1970 - 2010. That would seem to imply that it could be harder to keep clean sheets in the last 10 years than it was in the 40 years previous.

I wasn't sure about the claim, so had a glance at the same stats that you probably have. Average goals per game in the top flight over the last 140 years is so unpredictable that it's impossible to make any such claim seriously.
Similarly, clean sheets per team by season in the life of the Premier League is all over the place.

 

[Orikoru]

So Englands women’s team are now fourth best team in the world. According to FIFA rankings.
The top team are Sweden, followed by Spain, USA have dropped to 3rd with England staying at 4th.
So the best team in the world are not the world champions, and didn’t qualify for the final.
The second best team in the world are the World champions.
The third best team in the world went on holiday a week before everyone else.
The fourth best team in the world are current European champs World Cup finalists and yet have 10 less points than when the calculations were done last time having got to the final.
Glad that’s cleared up

World rankings for teams are pointless. Don't you remember that Belgium were ranked top of the men's game for a while? Sure they had a great team but never got close to winning anything. The points are obviously based on qualifying and such, not just final tournament performance.

 

[Deleted member 29109]

Leeds are finally signing some players.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Keeping clean sheets was harder in the past with teams more evenly skilled and less emphasis on defensive stability. They can’t be compared.

was it really harder to keep cleans sheets ?

I’m guessing there is some statics to base that on ?

Has the game not improved in terms of pace and skill


Clem etc faced top players , Allison within the CL you could say faced better players that the old European Cup

Allison in the modern game needed to be better with the ball at his feet

What? No Stevie Highway? I have to admit I do have some serious nostalgia for Liverpool’s team from the early 70’s right through to the end of Dalglish’s reign as manager. Bob Paisley‘s time was fantastic. I was(am) a full on Boro fan, home and away, but watching those teams was watching another level. And Clemence was better than Shilton but just wasn’t the FA’s favourite.

Heighway was just before my time tbh but know he was highly thought of even more so when he moved inside during the later stages of his career

I grew up under Bob Paisleys time and the crowning glory was that win agasint Roma in their own backyard but the best team I have ever seen is that 87-89 team with Barnes and Co - the 5 nil thrashing of Forest was just pure football that imo hasn’t been beaten - that’s one of the greatest teams the top flight has seen imo

 

[Lord Tyrion]

And Clemence was better than Shilton but just wasn’t the FA’s favourite.

Very much agree with this