World Cup 2018

[Orikoru]

They're still dreaming 36 years later.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Bit pointless to cite trophies in a debate between a 32 year old and a 25 year old isn't it? Maguire has 7 years to catch up. The point is, on current ability, Maguire is quicker, better on the ball, and an utter machine in the air. His key contributions have been driving the ball forwards and being the target of every set piece, and winning the vast majority. Both things that Cahill would be worse at than him.

Try taking your Spurs blinkers off and actually watch Cahill; he has deficiencies but they aren’t the ones you cite, with the exception of pace. Cahill couldn't be a target at set pieces? As regards all the set pieces that Maguire has won, what has been the net result? As far as I’m aware, it’s still a team game and it’s about picking the best team, not necessarily the best eleven individuals; if it was about the best individual player we’d have given the trophy to Argentina and all gone home.

 

[IanM]

Listening to a really embittered "Big Sam" on the radio this morning....... pretty sad actually.

And sorry Sam, a goal from a set piece counts the same as a 40 yard screamer, or a tap in!

One!

 

[Beezerk]

have you forgotten this classic?

[video=youtube;gmzDOqUdu8A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmzDOqUdu8A[/video]

Word has it the Scotland squad are going to cover the Orville song but call it I Wish I Could Qualify 😉

 

[Lord Tyrion]

have you forgotten this classic?

[video=youtube;gmzDOqUdu8A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmzDOqUdu8A[/video]

Funnily enough yes . There has been some dross over the years from all camps. Some songs just get it right and Coming Home hits the nail on the head. Catchy, simple to remember and anthemic.

 

[Don Barzini]

Don't know if this has been mentioned on here already or if everyone's already heard about it, but this has just given me a chuckle....

#GarethSouthgateWould

https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2018/07/05/people-sharing-things-gareth-southgate-most-british/

 

[Deleted member 16999]

spot on.

I have nothing against Southgate, he seems like a decent bloke doing a decent job to me.

What gets my back up is the way the media go totally OTT - good example being the Tunisia game, we kept being told what a great performance it was, despite the usual running totally out of ideas 2nd half. If Kane hadn't scored that last minute goal, they would have been slaughtered by the same media.

Again, vs Colombia, no mention of another abject performance against a very average team, instead it's coming home apparently (which begs the question, how can you call somewhere you haven't been for 52 years home?)

Can you name a team that hasn’t turned in at least one abject performance this WC, your bitterness shows no bounds.

Do I think “it’s coming home”? No

Do I dream and hope “it’s coming home”? Absolutely.

If you’re fed up of the media feel free to post about them in the random irritations thread.

Winning the WC is about holding that trophy at the end, performances along the way will be forgotten.

The more I hear from bitter Scotsmen the more I dream about us winning it, that way yous can have a chip on each shoulder.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Apart from win everything available to him at club level both domestically and on the European stage? Winning is a habit and a proven winner, with an older calmer head would do no harm. He’s no Adams, Ferdinand, Carragher or Terry but in my opinion he’d bring something that we are currently missing, a degree of calmness and maturity.

Rather than sarcastic bus pass comments how about bringing something useful to the discussion?

Prior to the WC I thought 2 of the back 3 would of been Stones, Cahill plus A.N. Other.

But, seeing how well Maquire has played it looks more and more like Southgate’s got a particular plan and certain players fit his system better than others.

 

[Orikoru]

Try taking your Spurs blinkers off and actually watch Cahill; he has deficiencies but they aren’t the ones you cite, with the exception of pace. Cahill couldn't be a target at set pieces? As regards all the set pieces that Maguire has won, what has been the net result? As far as I’m aware, it’s still a team game and it’s about picking the best team, not necessarily the best eleven individuals; if it was about the best individual player we’d have given the trophy to Argentina and all gone home.

Didn't say Cahill was bad at anything did I? I just said Maguire was better at those specific roles and that's why he's in the team.

Before the tournament I was saying to start Cahill actually, just on the grounds of him having experience when not many of the other players did. But I'm happy to say Maguire has proved me wrong by adding value to the team.

 

[Dan2501]

Try taking your Spurs blinkers off and actually watch Cahill; he has deficiencies but they aren’t the ones you cite, with the exception of pace. Cahill couldn't be a target at set pieces? As regards all the set pieces that Maguire has won, what has been the net result? As far as I’m aware, it’s still a team game and it’s about picking the best team, not necessarily the best eleven individuals; if it was about the best individual player we’d have given the trophy to Argentina and all gone home.

*Portugal.

 

[Orikoru]

Apparently someone added up how long Neymar has spent on the floor in this World Cup. It's 14 minutes so far.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Nope, Switzerland were in Portugal’s group and qualified with 27 points from 10 games.

So they didn't win their group.

Unlike England.

 

[Don Barzini]

Apparently someone added up how long Neymar has spent on the floor in this World Cup. It's 14 minutes so far.

They've also added up how far he's rolled.

It's 26 miles and 385 yards so far.

 

[rudebhoy]

So they didn't win their group.

Unlike England.

What's your point? That England must be better than the Swiss because they won their group with 26 points from 30 while the Swiss could only manage 27 from 30 in a tougher group?

 

[rudebhoy]

Can you name a team that hasn’t turned in at least one abject performance this WC, your bitterness shows no bounds.

Do I think “it’s coming home”? No

Do I dream and hope “it’s coming home”? Absolutely.

If you’re fed up of the media feel free to post about them in the random irritations thread.

Winning the WC is about holding that trophy at the end, performances along the way will be forgotten.

The more I hear from bitter Scotsmen the more I dream about us winning it, that way yous can have a chip on each shoulder.

Why do you feel the need to keep playing this "bitter" card?

I've already said Southgate is a decent bloke doing a good job. My issue is with the media building them up as if they are world beaters, when they will be the first to slaughter them when they fall short. Me pointing out that England have been average at best so far is not bitterness, it's me giving an opinion.

Maybe I should start calling you paranoid every time you post, then we'll be even!

Btw, thanks for the advice on which thread to post on, but I'm happy here.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

What's your point? That England must be better than the Swiss because they won their group with 26 points from 30 while the Swiss could only manage 27 from 30 in a tougher group?

Unlike you I have not compared England with any other team although as far as the current World Cup is concerned it would appear that they are, on current form, performing better than one or two teams who you seem to hold in such high regard.

As for a stronger group in qualifying I am not certain how you're judging that. None of the European Groups were strong.

 

[User62651]

Seems the government's anti Russian stance is being cranked up at just the wrong time for England football team. They need irrefutable evidence for Salisbury and now amesbury before making yet more highly public accusations at Putin. May is so out of touch she'll probably call the team home when they're 1-0 up in the semi final😥

 

[rudebhoy]

Poland, Peru and Switzerland all higher ranked than England yet would anyone truly suggest they are better.

Unlike you I have not compared England with any other team although as far as the current World Cup is concerned it would appear that they are, on current form, performing better than one or two teams who you seem to hold in such high regard.

As for a stronger group in qualifying I am not certain how you're judging that. None of the European Groups were strong.

Actually mate, think you will find it was you who first compared Switzerland to England (along with a few other countries) see your first quote above

And as for how I am judging that Switzerland had a tougher qualifying group than England, I'm basing that on the fact that they had Portugal in their group, the reigning European champions. Who did England have in comparison? Slovakia and Scotland!

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Actually mate, think you will find it was you who first compared Switzerland to England (along with a few other countries) see your first quote above

And as for how I am judging that Switzerland had a tougher qualifying group than England, I'm basing that on the fact that they had Portugal in their group, the reigning European champions. Who did England have in comparison? Slovakia and Scotland!

You actually brought up the FIFA rankings which, I believe, is a pretty general comparison.

As for the groups you could argue that neither England nor Switzerland had testing groups . After all most were agreed that Portugal's Euro triumph was a massive over achievement by a one-man team. This view gained credence after their performance in the World Cup.

And Switzerland struggled to overcome the mighty Northern Ireland in the play-offs.

 

[rudebhoy]

You actually brought up the FIFA rankings which, I believe, is a pretty general comparison.

Dear me.

You were the one who said you hadn't compared any country to England which is true with the minor exceptions of Poland, Peru and Switzerland!

Why not just admit you made a bit of a fool of yourself with that statement, and we can both move on? 😀