Ultimate Football (Soccer) Thread (2011-2012)

[Nazis in Space]

No Hazard. Better with Kagawa. OOH Ahh Kagawa!!!

I'm afraid it was a bad deal for both involved clubs and Shinji himself. He won't get as much leeway in England as he had in Bundesliga and he will end up like Sahin in Madrid.

Well. Sahin has a certain Xabi Alonso ahead of him. While competition in Manchester's hardly easy to beat, it's probably not quite that hopeless.

This being said, Kagawa better start out brilliantly immediately. If his start is as rocky as last season's, he may well be in trouble.

[Utopia FTW]

No Hazard. Better with Kagawa. OOH Ahh Kagawa!!!

I'm afraid it was a bad deal for both involved clubs and Shinji himself. He won't get as much leeway in England as he had in Bundesliga and he will end up like Sahin in Madrid.

It's possible you're right, but he's class and that's just what we need.

[Cromarty]

This being said, Kagawa better start out brilliantly immediately. If his start is as rocky as last season's, he may well be in trouble.

Eh, I don't think so. Evra, Vidic, and Anderson all had underwhelming starts to be honest, and they're still around.

[Central Lothian]

I'm glad I don't support Cardiff.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-sout ... s-18337392

For those who don't want to click the link, Championship side Cardiff City have completely changed kit and nickname, so they go from playing in blue and having "Bluebirds" as their nickname to playing in red and having "Dragons" for their nickname. They've also changed their badge from this to this.

I hope (a) Aberdeen never do this and (b) Cardiff fans protest this somehow at their first home game next season.

[Serrland]

I'm glad I don't support Cardiff.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-sout ... s-18337392

For those who don't want to click the link, Championship side Cardiff City have completely changed kit and nickname, so they go from playing in blue and having "Bluebirds" as their nickname to playing in red and having "Dragons" for their nickname. They've also changed their badge from this to this.

I hope (a) Aberdeen never do this and (b) Cardiff fans protest this somehow at their first home game next season.

Trying to break into the Orient isn't really new, but there has been a lot of change for Cardiff lately. Leaving Ninian Park, suddenly finding themselves playing second fiddle to Swansea, and now the kit overhaul. Hold tight now, Cardiff supporters, this could be a wild ride!

[TaQud]

ESPN's TOP 40 EURO 2012 Players/Christiano Ronaldo Number 1

Ibrahimovic is Number 8

[Warhosta]

Ireland winning Euro = new Zealand winning the World Cup

Update: Hungary 0-0 Ireland

Yeah they are going to win the Euro

Username:TaQud Location:USA Male

A Yank. REALLY.
Tell me again how you won the World Cup in South Africa..... hang on I meant crash out to Ghana in the second round. Ho-hum

[TaQud]

Update: Hungary 0-0 Ireland

Yeah they are going to win the Euro

Username:TaQud Location:USA Male

A Yank. REALLY.
Tell me again how you won the World Cup in South Africa..... hang on I meant crash out to Ghana in the second round. Ho-hum

FYI: The National Teams I root for are
1. Slovenia (Don't rant about them not getting in the EURO)
2. USA
3. Sweden

[Cyborg Holland]

My Predictions for Euro 2012

Group A:

Hardest one to call, as the teams are all average. However, I'll plump for Poland, as they are hosts, and honestly a good side, and Russia, as they have the talent to overcome a Czech side well past it glory days and a Greek side whom I just can't see doing anything. Poland to beat Russia.

1. Poland
2. Russia
------------
3. Czech Rep.
4. Greece

Group B

Sorry Denmark, ain't gonna do very well in that group. Surviving that will require a miracle. However Portugal, despite having Ronaldo, don't have the depth of squad which Holland and Germany have access to, and will struggle against the awesome attack of Germans and the rock-solid defence of Dutch. Germany to top it though.

1. Germany
2. Netherlands
----------
3. Portugal
4. Denmark

Group C:

Another hard one to call between Croatia and Italy for Second place, but I'll plump with Italy because they've just managed to stay vaguely a-float after their World Cup success, but Croatia will give them a run for thier money, and Ireland might pop a surprise or two. Spain to cruise through with 9 points. I'd prefer Italy to come second so if England (somehow) top the group, then we get an easier game.

1. Spain
2. Italy
---------
3. Croatia
4. ROI

Group D:

Aaaaah.. England, good to see you back on the Euro stage. Not for long this time round I suspect. A lack of quality experience up front and in the centre (due to the loss of Rooney, Lampard etc) as well the lack of a genuine goal scorer, is what really troubles England. The fact that we hired the wrong manager and have only had him for a couple of months can only make matters worse (should've stuck with Capello until this). The French, despite going through all that stuff, are still really handy, and should win the group. They have players like Nasri and Ribery who can hold the ball and use it whenever they please, and will slice England apart. Ukraine don't have much going for them, except being at home, and considering that Ukrain is one of the most hostile locations in the Football World, that's quite a lot. Sweden have dipped a bit since the likes of Ljunberg, but are still handy with Ibrahimovic to trouble Terry & Co. To be patriotic, I'll call France 1st, England 2nd, Ukraine 3rd, Sweden 4th, although it could go any way. Same with group A

1. France
2. England
----------
3. Ukraine
4. Sweden

Quarters:

Poland 1-2 Netherlands
Germany 3-1 Russia
Spain 2-1 England (AET)
France 1-0 Italy

Semis:

Spain 1-0 Netherlands (AET)
Germany 2-0 France

Final:

Spain 1-1 Germany (Win on PKs)

3PPO:

Netherlands 3-1 France

[TaQud]

My Predictions for Euro 2012

Group A:

Hardest one to call, as the teams are all average. However, I'll plump for Poland, as they are hosts, and honestly a good side, and Russia, as they have the talent to overcome a Czech side well past it glory days and a Greek side whom I just can't see doing anything. Poland to beat Russia.

1. Poland
2. Russia
------------
3. Czech Rep.
4. Greece

Group B

Sorry Denmark, ain't gonna do very well in that group. Surviving that will require a miracle. However Portugal, despite having Ronaldo, don't have the depth of squad which Holland and Germany have access to, and will struggle against the awesome attack of Germans and the rock-solid defence of Dutch. Germany to top it though.

1. Germany
2. Netherlands
----------
3. Portugal
4. Denmark

Group C:

Another hard one to call between Croatia and Italy for Second place, but I'll plump with Italy because they've just managed to stay vaguely a-float after their World Cup success, but Croatia will give them a run for thier money, and Ireland might pop a surprise or two. Spain to cruise through with 9 points. I'd prefer Italy to come second so if England (somehow) top the group, then we get an easier game.

1. Spain
2. Italy
---------
3. Croatia
4. ROI

Group D:

Aaaaah.. England, good to see you back on the Euro stage. Not for long this time round I suspect. A lack of quality experience up front and in the centre (due to the loss of Rooney, Lampard etc) as well the lack of a genuine goal scorer, is what really troubles England. The fact that we hired the wrong manager and have only had him for a couple of months can only make matters worse (should've stuck with Capello until this). The French, despite going through all that stuff, are still really handy, and should win the group. They have players like Nasri and Ribery who can hold the ball and use it whenever they please, and will slice England apart. Ukraine don't have much going for them, except being at home, and considering that Ukrain is one of the most hostile locations in the Football World, that's quite a lot. Sweden have dipped a bit since the likes of Ljunberg, but are still handy with Ibrahimovic to trouble Terry & Co. To be patriotic, I'll call France 1st, England 2nd, Ukraine 3rd, Sweden 4th, although it could go any way. Same with group A

1. France
2. England
----------
3. Ukraine
4. Sweden

Quarters:

Poland 1-2 Netherlands
Germany 3-1 Russia
Spain 2-1 England (AET)
France 1-0 Italy

Semis:

Spain 1-0 Netherlands (AET)
Germany 2-0 France

Final:

Spain 1-1 Germany (Win on PKs)

3PPO:

Netherlands 3-1 France

How does France get that far? They didn't even get far in the World Cup!

[The Blaatschapen]

the rock-solid defence of Dutch

[TaQud]

the rock-solid defence of Dutch

This is the time to question if the person's predictions are biaist or just plain unpredictable...

[The Blaatschapen]

This is the time to question if the person's predictions are biaist or just plain unpredictable...

I go for the latter. Considering he also has a 3rd place play-off.

[Cromarty]

How does France get that far? They didn't even get far in the World Cup!

Because Frace are a very different team than two years ago.

[TaQud]

How does France get that far? They didn't even get far in the World Cup!

Because Frace are a very different team than two years ago.

still don't believe it.

[Cromarty]

Because Frace are a very different team than two years ago.

still don't believe it.

Thus you are silly.

[TaQud]

still don't believe it.

Thus you are silly.

let me see your predictions then

[Disserbia]

Update: Hungary 0-0 Ireland

Yeah they are going to win the Euro

Username:TaQud Location:USA Male

A Yank. REALLY.
Tell me again how you won the World Cup in South Africa..... hang on I meant crash out to Ghana in the second round. Ho-hum

Not only is ad hom not nice, it makes you look incredibly ignorant. Cheers.

FYI: The National Teams I root for are
1. Slovenia (Don't rant about them not getting in the EURO)
2. USA
3. Sweden

ughhh if it weren't for fucking Slovenia

[TaQud]

Username:TaQud Location:USA Male

A Yank. REALLY.
Tell me again how you won the World Cup in South Africa..... hang on I meant crash out to Ghana in the second round. Ho-hum

Not only is ad hom not nice, it makes you look incredibly ignorant. Cheers.

I don't care if he bashes the US. (I wouldn't blame him) Besides Im on the Slovenia 2014 World Cup Bandwagon...

[Disserbia]

Not only is ad hom not nice, it makes you look incredibly ignorant. Cheers.

I don't care if he bashes the US. (I wouldn't blame him) Besides Im on the Slovenia 2014 World Cup Bandwagon...

Why Slovenia? The bain of my existence 2012.

[TaQud]

I don't care if he bashes the US. (I wouldn't blame him) Besides Im on the Slovenia 2014 World Cup Bandwagon...

Why Slovenia? The bain of my existence 2012.

Ancestry

[Disserbia]

Why Slovenia? The bain of my existence 2012.

Ancestry

I guess that's valid. I wish smaller countries had a better chance. Not particularly Slovenia though. The World Cup must have been fun for you lol

[TaQud]

Ancestry

I guess that's valid. I wish smaller countries had a better chance. Not particularly Slovenia though. The World Cup must have been fun for you lol

This close to beating the US

[Cyborg Holland]

TaQud, you are arguing at straws. France are a very good and very capable side, full of talented and experienced players. They have the quality to see off powerful teams. That's why I put them coming 4th.

Okay, perhaps I was wrong about the Dutch defence, but they certainly showed how they could kill a game against a much stronger opposition (in my eyes), in the World Cup final. I suppose their real strength comes in the midfield, with Robben, Sniejder, Van Der Vaart etc and Van Persie, Kuyt and Hunteelar up front.

There isn't a 3PPO is there?

Damn...

[TaQud]

TaQud, you are arguing at straws. France are a very good and very capable side, full of talented and experienced players. They have the quality to see off powerful teams. That's why I put them coming 4th.

Okay, perhaps I was wrong about the Dutch defence, but they certainly showed how they could kill a game against a much stronger opposition (in my eyes), in the World Cup final. I suppose their real strength comes in the midfield, with Robben, Sniejder, Van Der Vaart etc and Van Persie, Kuyt and Hunteelar up front.

There isn't a 3PPO is there?

Damn...

I still have my doubts about France. (Could go either way)