World Cup 2018

[Deleted member 16999]

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.

Your issue is with the media and Southgate is a nice bloke, then we slip in to England have now been average at best.

So we had an easy group to get out of and now teams are falling out of our way so we progress.

All backed up by your ABE comment.

Nope, my apology, no bitterness there :rofl:

 

[Deleted member 18588]

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? 😀

So is not the purpose of FIFA rankings to compare national sides and was not your reference to those rankings an attempt to compare England and their performance to that of sides ranked above them?

Or was it just another opportunity to reveal the chip on your shoulder, or should that be shoulders?

 

[pendodave]

Never mind all this arguing nonsense. Check out these rather wonderful Twitter memes on this guardian page.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/05/its-coming-home-england-meme-world-cup

My personal favourites are del boy, back to the future and Shrek...

 

[larmen]

If you are all so worried that the English press is bigging them up, the German press does the same. And I don't think they are doing it out of favour. They seem to have a realistic view, at least on other countries.

 

[Golfmmad]

I think that’s spot on - England have struggled to create from the middle of the park , something I said when the squad was picked and Lallana wasn’t going , there is no one who can thread that little ball through or produce a touch of magic to open it up for someone.

The players are working very hard and their energy levels are superb but they are relying on set pieces and ill discipline from the opposition. If Colombia had concentrated on playing football instead of the antics then England could have been in big trouble. They have a great chance to get to a final with the teams ahead but they need to find the creative spark from open play , Sweden will be much more disciplined so England will need to find another way to open them up. They should have enough to get through but it’s going to be tough - Sweden are no push over

But one thing that’s good for England is the expirence the players are getting - this is nothing but good for them at the moment and they are going to grow but hopefully with Southgate there keep their feet on the ground at the same time.

I'm really surprised at some of the negative comments about Englands performances, especially against Colombia. Before they played them there were lots of comments like: "Colombia will be a lot tougher, they are a good strong - tough side". One thing that Colombia were very good at was their defence. A lot of talk about, we were not creative enough. The game I saw was that most of the chances England created were stopped or cut out because of their strong defence, it wasn't a case of not taking our chances, Colombia were very good defensively.

We cannot expect our players to be all out attacking, creating chance after chance all the time. It just aint gonna happen at International level. There is another team that will just not let us do that, or any team for that matter. I haven't mentioned yet, about Colombia's dirty tactics, how they tried to goad our players - even one of their coaches shoving Sterling as he went off. the way they surrounded the ref at every decision that went against them. And all the time England kept their nerve and rose above it all and showed great maturity.

Make no mistake, England have come a long way at this World Cup and anyone that says things like, "Average at best" is just not seeing the bigger picture. And before anyone says it, I'm not getting carried away and saying, "It's coming home, we're gonna win".
Rather, I'm quietly confident and think we have every chance and what will be will be.

COME ON ENGLAND!

 

[rudebhoy]

So is not the purpose of FIFA rankings to compare national sides and was not your reference to those rankings an attempt to compare England and their performance to that of sides ranked above them?


Or was it just another opportunity to reveal the chip on your shoulder, or should that be shoulders?

Clutching at straws there. If you look back, you will see I was referencing the rankings to explain why England will be favourites to beat Croatia should they meet in the semis. Nothing to do with scoring points, bitterness or chips on shoulders.

Now, how about addressing the point about you not comparing teams?

 

[Don Barzini]

Never mind all this arguing nonsense. Check out these rather wonderful Twitter memes on this guardian page.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/05/its-coming-home-england-meme-world-cup

My personal favourites are del boy, back to the future and Shrek...

Saw some of these earlier. Shawshank was my fave!

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Clutching at straws there. If you look back, you will see I was referencing the rankings to explain why England will be favourites to beat Croatia should they meet in the semis. Nothing to do with scoring points, bitterness or chips on shoulders.

Now, how about addressing the point about you not comparing teams?

OK as it's obviously confusing you.

Bookies will pay little regard to FIFA rankings as they barely reflect current form and that was my point in referring to the standings of various others.

They are primarily interested only in protecting and mitigating their liabilities and UK bookies aren't likely to take many bets on Croatia regardless of them being 20th or 2nd in the rankings and, in fact, being a very decent side.

On the other hand they will, I agree, take a possibly disproportionate amount on England but their odds setting will have little or nothing to do with world standings.

The rankings, in which you appear to have so much faith, have long been discredited due to the time span utilised. They clearly disguised from many just how far an ageing German side had slipped.

 

[Slime]

MetalMickie & rudebhoy, can you please carry out your petty bickering via PM's please, as it's spoiling an otherwise interesting thread?
Thanks guys. :thup:

 

[rudebhoy]

OK as it's obviously confusing you.

Bookies will pay little regard to FIFA rankings as they barely reflect current form and that was my point in referring to the standings of various others.

They are primarily interested only in protecting and mitigating their liabilities and UK bookies aren't likely to take many bets on Croatia regardless of them being 20th or 2nd in the rankings and, in fact, being a very decent side.

On the other hand they will, I agree, take a possibly disproportionate amount on England but their odds setting will have little or nothing to do with world standings.

The rankings, in which you appear to have so much faith, have long been discredited due to the time span utilised. They clearly disguised from many just how far an ageing German side had slipped.

Are you a professional politician?

Every time I ask you to acknowledge that despite your denial, it was you who compared Switzerland, Peru and Poland to England, and give you proof, you go off on some ridiculous tanget and totally ignore the question.

I'm out of this thread, will leave it to you and the rest of the Little Englander squad.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Out with a little dig :whoo:

🦁🦁🦁

 

[PJ87]

If we win this how long before the press try to take all credit saying something like “if it wasn’t for us undermining him big Sam would still be our manager”

 

[Orikoru]

Out with a little dig :whoo:

女女女

And he definitely won't be back to check for bites because he's 'out of this thread'.

Anyway, enough of that nonsense, FOOTBALL IS BACK TODAY! God it's been a tough two days. As evidenced by some of the posts on the last 3 pages. Roll on 3 o'clock!

 

[Orikoru]

If we win this how long before the press try to take all credit saying something like “if it wasn’t for us undermining him big Sam would still be our manager”

Sterling will score in the final, and The Sun will be like "thanks to our reverse psychology he overcame his daemons to come good for Ingurlund!"

 

[ColchesterFC]

It's coming home...........

 

[Don Barzini]

Some tasty football to come today.

Predictions anyone?

Hopefully a 7-goal cracker between Uruguay and France! Think France will edge it.

And I'm gonna go big with this.....I think Belgium might turn Brazil over!

 

[Orikoru]

Some tasty football to come today.

Predictions anyone?

Hopefully a 7-goal cracker between Uruguay and France! Think France will edge it.

And I'm gonna go big with this.....I think Belgium might turn Brazil over!

Well, I think the opposite of you. I fancy Uruguay to nick it over France in extra time (although if Cavani isn't fit to play I'll be changing my mind on that). And Brazil will have too much for Belgium - they are wide open at the back with Bobby's dodgy tactics, Neymar & Coutinho and pals could have a field day.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I’d love Belgium to turn over Brazil, for no other reason than another big team out.

 

[Beezerk]

I’d love Belgium to turn over Brazil, for no other reason than another big team out.

Same here but like Orinoco or whatever he’s called 😉 I see Brazil having too much quality up top for Belgium.

 

[pbrown7582]

I’d love Belgium to turn over Brazil, for no other reason than another big team out.

aren't rom, toby, jan and vincent big? not to mention Tibault