BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 11:26 AM

hi Sen

IVERPOOL ????? Burn it....lol

You are right we caved in after we had scored and missed some sitters.

Steve I have heard that Southgate is not playing his top team.......don't know about Belgium.

regards Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 07:59 AM

We'll be backing Croatia in the Final.

I thought they played very creatively and with verve against us, and deserved to win. After that first goal, our team seemed to go a bit stodgy and leaden
.
Our flags have been taken down by a very grumpy husband, and he's wearing his Liverpool top this morning. (He has all the Premier League tops, and wears them indiscriminately). The England tracksuit has been washed and relegated to his bottom drawer. That's the end of that!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 05:55 AM

Croatia has half the population of London but beats our national team.
I read that only a third of our Premier League players are British. I am sure that is not the situation in Croatia.
Are we failing to train enough Brit. (eligable to play for England) youth?

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 05:25 AM

Actually, the third-place match has has the potential to be an attractive watch. I'd like to see both coaches pick strong teams, not simply use it as a quasi-friendly making experimental use of non-playing squad members in order to be nice to them. Southgate made the severe error of doing that in the group stage dead rubber and we learned nothing from that game.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: michaelr
Date: 13 Jul 18 - 01:09 AM

1. I hope Croatia takes it.

2. No one cares about the third-place match.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 02:49 PM

Hi
""
" Steve is right when he says that we fold if the opposition fold."

The last word should be score.

Cheers

mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 09:15 AM

Hi

We lost because we were not good enough.....simple as that.

We were beaten by a team that was both physically and mentally superior men against boys.

We had a great start and as has been commented on below we failed to score when we had a bundle of chances all missed. Even the hard working Harry Maguire missed a good chance.

We had a lot of better players than Croatia but we did not use them correctly.

Steve is right when he says that we fold if the opposition fold.

I also believe we were over confident and underestimated the Croatia team.

There is hopes of improvement because we were a very young side and there is time for development.

We will have to wait and see.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 06:02 AM

And the sheer wealth of the Premier League militates against our investing in native young talent. Just look at how many of those Belgians, for example, have been hoovered up by our top teams... Another factor in our lack of success is the propensity of the managers of Premier League clubs for withdrawing their key players from international duty at the slightest drop of a hat. Any little bruise or mythical muscle strain would suffice. Ferguson was a prime culprit. Hopefully, a part of Southgate's legacy will be to restore such pride in playing for England that such dishonest ploys become anathema.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 05:45 AM

The Croatian players were technically better, as will the Belgians be on Sunday, and as would the French be if England had played them. The problem in my view is the structure of the game at a young age, where in the UK (lets face it its even worse in Scotland) physical strength and size are appreciated more than skill. Unless things change from ages of around 10, England will never produce another Stanley Matthews or Tom Finney, and Scotland will never produce another Jim Baxter or Jimmy Johnstone.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 05:30 AM

No, Just pointing out that the lack of goals from 'open play' is not always the fault of the players, but can be compensated for by the set pieces which result from opponents preventing open play.
As to last night's match, I haven't seen it. My time was much better spent watching the excellent War Horse with Bob Fox as the 'songman'

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 05:08 AM

England had plenty of chances to score from open play last night. That "world class striker" of ours should have netted two, if not three, and Lingard missed a golden opportunity. We are becoming a good team but we lack the guile and experience of the Modrics and Rakitics and Perisics of this world. Even the Lovrens. The guts fell out of the team after their equaliser, even before it. Southgate has more work to do on our team becoming more wily and psychologically strong when we go behind. Tough, physical and even cynical opposition is the name of the game these days. No use blaming that for our lack of goal-scoring. Wrong target, Nigel, and pointed to with a touch of old-style sour grapes whingeing. Face it. We simply fell short.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 04:53 AM

Yes, I'm a rugby man, but the comment made applies equally to G_Force's question about the lack of a score from open play in soccer.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 04:49 AM

Rugby man, are you, Nigel?

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Jul 18 - 03:38 AM

G-Force:
You made a similar comment after the Colombia game:

Amid all the euphoria, it's worth noting that England have now gone about 240 minutes without scoring from open play

My response now is similar to then:

But they are scoring from free-kicks or penalties.
Why are they getting free-kicks and penalties?
Because they are being illegally prevented from scoring from open play.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 08:23 PM

Never mind.. the July Grand Sumo Wresting Tournament started a couple of days ago...

Daily highlights on NHK WORLD [there's an app if you can't find it on digital TV],

much more interesting and entertaining...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 06:12 PM

Spot on, G. You could have added that Kane has been a lame duck. Where the hell was he tonight? All very well going for the Golden Boot when most of your goals come from penalty kicks, you're the captain and as such get to decide who takes the penalties... you... He's useless. Hendo should be captain, we need a decent striker and one or two attacking midfielders with attitood. We seem to fall in love as a nation with donkeys such as Owen, Rooney and Kane, and, somehow, we can't drop them for about eight years each. They're the kiss of death for our national team. Which, by the way, Dick, is not the same thing as the Premier League...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: G-Force
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 05:09 PM

2 hours of football and no England goal from open play. What we need is a couple of proper playmakers like Kevin de Bruyne who can really create chances rather than just kicking forward into empty space, and some forwards who can kick into the goal rather than 10 yards over it. Plus a defence that stays awake.

Then maybe we can dream of winning something.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: olddude
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 04:44 PM

Dang that was a lame kick at the end I thought they would tie it but not to be

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 04:42 PM

France - Croatia then. Hope it will be a good game. You would have to favour France, but Croatia are decent and were the better team tonight.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 02:15 PM

Let's make the Premier League a repository for fourth-rate dobbins!" hardly, the present english team is made up of a considerable number of premier league players and at this moment they are one goal ahead

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 11:38 AM

Well we'd better deport all those Belgians that populate the Premier League, then! I mean, Courtois, Mignolet, Kompany, Vertongen, De Bruyne, Fellaini, Lukaku, Hazard, Benteke, Mirallas, Origi, Dembele... Useless bunch of tossers the lot of 'em, they come over here, steal our women, eat our babies, play sublime football, shame us for our lack of investment in young native talent...Let's take back control! Send the buggers home! Let's make the Premier League a repository for fourth-rate dobbins!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 08:34 AM

hi

I agree with David great game to watch both sides attacking and two well ordered and organized defenses kept the score down.

I don't agree that France "parked the Bus. They certainly pulled back Pogba who had an excellent first half. S'pose he is the size of a small bus. lol Didn't care who won but I suppose that Belgium going out suit many....we have had enough of Brussels lately.!!!!

In tonight's game I take England in a close game.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 07:05 PM

Oi, the aussies got knocked out weeks ago...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 06:55 PM

Allez les bleus ! Vive les Belges aussi ! [that is a joke, btw.]

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 06:49 PM

France got the lead then parked five buses. It was elegant defending, but the bus station was heaving.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 05:10 PM

Thats probably why I prefer Rubgy Union, Cricket, Hurling or Gaelic Football.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 05:03 PM

All football supporters in bars morph into that.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 04:56 PM

In my defence I was in a bar that was full of French supporters, inconsiderate, obnoxious, noisy bastards to a man.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 04:53 PM

What were you watching Raggy? That was an excellent match, great skill (Mbappe, Hazard), fantastic defending (Varane), superb saves from both goalkeepers. That was football as it should be played and it was a pity it wasn't the final.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 04:49 PM

I've had more fun watching paint dry than I did watching tonights match.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: olddude
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 01:28 PM

England has it I just know and feel it

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 10 Jul 18 - 09:37 AM

Hi Steve

Your view of Sterling is the same as mine. I just hope he finds his shooting boots in front of goal; he had a spell this year with Man City when he was a bit wayward in front of goal, but later the goals came.

I agree that Croatia will target him but I hope they do it legally. .This could help us because they will also be busy with Harry ( the
Kane version).

Harry Mcguire will do some targeting of Croatia, he's not pretty but bloody effective. Should be fun.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 06:56 PM

I've definitely changed my mind about Sterling and am happy to admit it. He is capable of terrorising defences, but you can be sure that the Croatian backroom boys have worked on nullifying him. A good few Premier League clubs have shown how easily it can be done. I've changed my mind about Maguire too. He's a brilliant team man. Alli scored a goal that was beautifully laid on for him but he's been pretty unimpressive overall so far. Croatia will be a damn sight more wily than Sweden.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 03:35 PM

Damn! And I thought Steve had been roped in :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 03:06 PM

PS that should have said YOUNG

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 03:04 PM

Hi Steve

Yes great performance by England. Of course you missed the fact that both goals were from brilliant crosses by You and Lingard ( Man United )!!

Remember your remark made on July 4th ?

" "" And for crissake, Gareth, PLEASE drop Alli and Sterling.."""

Changed your mind eh. lol. Stirling has a wonderful yard of pace that frightens the opposition but he seems incapable of scoring from chances that come his way.

Waiting patiently for next game against Croatia'

cheers Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 08:43 AM

sport brings people & nations together - keep politics out of it as much as sensible & possible...

In the true old fashioned traditional spirit of football,
the only kneejerk reactions required are to the groins of opposing team players
while the ref's not looking...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 05:28 AM

My theory is that a lot of things couldn't be accounted for after the break-up of the Soviet Union, who knows what has fallen into individual hands, and how their alliances fit within the oligarchy system. I would agree to a compromise of the England players wearing black armbands and the name Sturgess on all the team shirts.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 04:23 AM

This whole Novichok business is mysterious though SPB. Some are saying the stuff came from Porton Down. Without any proof (or the government/MI6 revealing the truth) one can't accuse the Russians.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 04:08 AM

Now that Dawn Sturgess has died, the England team need to do the decent thing and walk away from the tournament.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: keberoxu
Date: 08 Jul 18 - 04:47 PM

"a turnip for the books"
you gotta love that spell-checker

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 08 Jul 18 - 04:29 AM

Hi

England were easily the best they have been in the competition.

team played their part. They made Sweden look very ordinary.

We now have to think about Croatia. Should be OK but remember the Wally
with the Brolly ? " Many a slip twix cup and lip " (sic)

I rather play Croatia than either France or Belgium.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 08 Jul 18 - 03:41 AM

Although the England team may be defying tradition, the rioting fans in Benidorm last night showed that the old ways are still with us....

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Jul 18 - 06:40 PM

Not having a stadium full of Russian fans on Wednesday will help. I don't think we have much to fear from Croatia on Wednesday, though the brilliant Modric will need close marking!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 07 Jul 18 - 04:58 PM

I thought England beating the Swedes was a turnip for the books but that Russia Croatia match had more twists and turns than some posters on here :-)

Seriously though. Only saw the highlights of England's win. The Croatian win was a joy to watch for me. None of the Latin American amdram. No cynical fouls. No mobbing the referee. Plus, I reckon we will have the Russian crowd behind us on Wednesday.

Well done Gareth and the lads.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 07 Jul 18 - 04:54 PM

Once again being the cynic I am, England have just got another 144 million fans!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 07 Jul 18 - 04:37 PM

Penalties again. Superb match, neither side deserves to lose.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 07 Jul 18 - 02:55 PM

Quality match now between Russia and Croatia, either of these teams would be a worthy finalist. No matter what Bilic says.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Jul 18 - 01:21 PM

Brilliant. Men of the match Raheem, Jordan P. and that amazing Ramsbottom man Kieran Trippier. But what an amazing, integrated TEAM performance!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Jul 18 - 12:07 PM

A superb performance by England!!