The Ultimate Football/Soccer Thread (2010/2011 Season)

[Christmahanikwanzikah]

Well, he did make more mistakes leading to a goal in the Premier League this season than any other player.

Why he is first choice for any team, let alone England at the World Cup, is baffling.

Wasn't there a question about who England was going to field for their 1st man? Who would've been the better option (other than, at this point, saying "All of them." for obvious reasons ) ?

Based on that goal? Maybe a bag of oranges.

Wouldn't have stopped Altidore's shot, though.

So, what you're saying is that the result would've been the same 1-1 draw if England had gone with a bag of oranges in net?

...

Yes.

[The Archregimancy]

As a life-long Portsmouth supporter, I feel compelled to point out that we wouldn't have been having most of the last few pages' discussion if only England had played James in goal.

Assuming his knee holds up, expect to seem him in goal against Algeria.


Anyway.... today's predictions....


Slovenia 3-1 Algeria [the knowledge that goal difference could really make a difference, and that this is the big chance for three points for both teams, sees both teams throw caution to the winds; Slovenia defeat Algeria by the same score that Starblaydia just lost to the Holy Empire in the NationStates World Cup]

Serbia 1-1 Ghana [a tense match between two well-matched teams, neither of whom can afford to lose]

Germany 3-1 Australia [Australia are an ageing and overly-defensive outfit who will struggle to replicate their 2006 success; indeed, I expect them to finish last in the group]



So far...

Correct results: 2 out of 5

Perfect scores: 0 out of 5

[HC Eredivisie]

Germany 3-1 Australia [Germany is an ageing and overly-defensive outfit who will struggle to replicate their 2006 success; indeed, I expect them to finish last in the group]

Fixed for my opinion.

[Vonners]

Well, he did make more mistakes leading to a goal in the Premier League this season than any other player.

Why he is first choice for any team, let alone England at the World Cup, is baffling.

Did he? That's a hell of a stat...any source?

[Vonners]

Well, he did make more mistakes leading to a goal in the Premier League this season than any other player.

Why he is first choice for any team, let alone England at the World Cup, is baffling.

Wasn't there a question about who England was going to field for their 1st man? Who would've been the better option (other than, at this point, saying "All of them." for obvious reasons ) ?

Based on that goal? Maybe a bag of oranges.

Wouldn't have stopped Altidore's shot, though.

So, what you're saying is that the result would've been the same 1-1 draw if England had gone with a bag of oranges in net?

...

Yes.

yet Green saved it ...it came off him onto the post...I don't think a bag of oranges all that mobile...

[Vonners]

Germany 3-1 Australia [Germany is an ageing and overly-defensive outfit who will struggle to replicate their 2006 success; indeed, I expect them to finish last in the group]

Fixed for my opinion.

LOL not that yer biased!

can we have 1974 all over again?

[The Archregimancy]

Germany 3-1 Australia [Germany is an ageing and overly-defensive outfit who will struggle to replicate their 2006 success; indeed, I expect them to finish last in the group]

Fixed for my opinion.

Not that Dutch-speakers are in any way biased when it comes to Deutschland

As it happens, I partially agree with you. I very much doubt Germany will do anywhere as near as well as they did in 2006; but with Michael Essien injured, and Australia poor in the run-up to the Cup, I still expect Germany to get past the Australians with ease, and I still expect Australia to finish bottom of the group.

Though following Enke's suicide and Jones returning home due to his son's leukaemia diagnosis, the two sides can at least bond over goalkeeping tragedies.


I sneakily suspect Serbia v. Ghana will be a cracker; tense, but a cracker.

[Eastfield Lodge]

Well, he did make more mistakes leading to a goal in the Premier League this season than any other player.

Why he is first choice for any team, let alone England at the World Cup, is baffling.

Wasn't there a question about who England was going to field for their 1st man? Who would've been the better option (other than, at this point, saying "All of them." for obvious reasons ) ?

Based on that goal? Maybe a bag of oranges.

Wouldn't have stopped Altidore's shot, though.

So, what you're saying is that the result would've been the same 1-1 draw if England had gone with a bag of oranges in net?

...

Yes.

yet Green saved it ...it came off him onto the post...I don't think a bag of oranges all that mobile...

That still doesn't clear the fact that Green just failed epically, and as James has let in a similar howler for England (sorry Arch), why not give Hart a chance.

[Vonners]

As a life-long Portsmouth supporter, I feel compelled to point out that we wouldn't have been having most of the last few pages' discussion if only England had played James in goal.

Assuming his knee holds up, expect to seem him in goal against Algeria.

LOL yeah nothing like a certainty in der footy eh? Calamity has never ever made a mistake?

on a more serious note...I was surprised* to see Green in goal...but to be fair to Green he did come out to give an interview regarding the mistake and handled it quite well...

I think one of the reasons we have such a problem with goal keepers is that instead of just taking the piss and then moving on our tabloids whip people into a frenzy of constant criticism and that I think is the biggest impact on a players morale rather than holding their hand up and moving on.

* then again not hugely surprised not to see James in goal...after all when do you want to blood a new keeper? Having said that James has never played in a WC...and he is getting old...

[The Archregimancy]

Sometimes Green feels he's got to
Run away he's got to
Get away
From the pain that he drove into the heart of us
Those gloves he bears
Seems to go nowhere
And I've lost my light
For I toss and turn I can't sleep at night

(chorus)
Capello ran to you (he ran)
Now we'll run from you
This tainted glove you've given
We gave you all a nation could give you
Take our tears and that's not nearly all
Oh...tainted glove
Tainted glove

Now we know we've got to
Run to James; we've got to
Get away
You don't really want IT any more from me
To make things right
You need someone to hold you tight
And you'll think to Hart we'll pray
And perhaps we might pray that way

(chorus...)
Capello ran to you (he ran)
Now we'll run from you
This tainted glove you've given
We gave you all a nation could give you
Take our tears and that's not nearly all
Oh...tainted glove
Tainted glove

Don't come back please
We cannot stand the way you tease
We love England and you hurt us so
Now please pack your things and go

Tainted glove
Tainted glove
James or Hart, Fabio!
Tainted glove
Tainted glove

[Vonners]

Well, he did make more mistakes leading to a goal in the Premier League this season than any other player.

Why he is first choice for any team, let alone England at the World Cup, is baffling.

Wasn't there a question about who England was going to field for their 1st man? Who would've been the better option (other than, at this point, saying "All of them." for obvious reasons ) ?

Based on that goal? Maybe a bag of oranges.

Wouldn't have stopped Altidore's shot, though.

So, what you're saying is that the result would've been the same 1-1 draw if England had gone with a bag of oranges in net?

...

Yes.

yet Green saved it ...it came off him onto the post...I don't think a bag of oranges all that mobile...

That still doesn't clear the fact that Green just failed epically, and as James has let in a similar howler for England (sorry Arch), why not give Hart a chance.

We can't keep changing goal keepers every time they make a mistake...

[Vonners]

Sometimes Green feels he's got to
Run away he's got to
Get away
From the pain that he drove into the heart of us
Those gloves he bears
Seems to go nowhere
And I've lost my light
For I toss and turn I can't sleep at night

(chorus)
Capello ran to you (he ran)
Now we'll run from you
This tainted glove you've given
We gave you all a nation could give you
Take our tears and that's not nearly all
Oh...tainted glove
Tainted glove

Now we know we've got to
Run to James; we've got to
Get away
You don't really want IT any more from me
To make things right
You need someone to hold you tight
And you'll think to Hart we'll pray
And perhaps we might pray that way

(chorus...)
Capello ran to you (he ran)
Now we'll run from you
This tainted glove you've given
We gave you all a nation could give you
Take our tears and that's not nearly all
Oh...tainted glove
Tainted glove

Don't come back please
We cannot stand the way you tease
We love England and you hurt us so
Now please pack your things and go

Tainted glove
Tainted glove
James or Hart, Fabio!
Tainted glove
Tainted glove

/snort ok ...that's pretty funny...

[HC Eredivisie]

Germany 3-1 Australia [Germany is an ageing and overly-defensive outfit who will struggle to replicate their 2006 success; indeed, I expect them to finish last in the group]

Fixed for my opinion.

LOL not that yer biased!

can we have 1974 all over again?

Well, I do think Germany will win against Australia. But they are old and defensive. (They are old, aren't they, I didn't bother to check)

Not that Dutch-speakers are in any way biased when it comes to Deutschland

Only when football's involved.

As it happens, I partially agree with you. I very much doubt Germany will do anywhere as near as well as they did in 2006; but with Michael Essien injured, and Australia poor in the run-up to the Cup, I still expect Germany to get past the Australians with ease, and I still expect Australia to finish bottom of the group.

I'd say Germany as first, but the rest is pretty equal.

I sneakily suspect Serbia v. Ghana will be a cracker; tense, but a cracker.

Serbia is pretty good I think, it's hard to win from them.

[Vonners]

Germany 3-1 Australia [Germany is an ageing and overly-defensive outfit who will struggle to replicate their 2006 success; indeed, I expect them to finish last in the group]

Fixed for my opinion.

LOL not that yer biased!

can we have 1974 all over again?

Well, I do think Germany will win against Australia. But they are old and defensive. (They are old, aren't they, I didn't bother to check)

Not that Dutch-speakers are in any way biased when it comes to Deutschland

Only when football's involved.

As it happens, I partially agree with you. I very much doubt Germany will do anywhere as near as well as they did in 2006; but with Michael Essien injured, and Australia poor in the run-up to the Cup, I still expect Germany to get past the Australians with ease, and I still expect Australia to finish bottom of the group.

I'd say Germany as first, but the rest is pretty equal.

I sneakily suspect Serbia v. Ghana will be a cracker; tense, but a cracker.

Serbia is pretty good I think, it's hard to win from them.

Well with Ballack out the average age must have dropped!

[Vonners]

Slovenia to win...2 - 1 ...ok ok ....1 - 0

[Cirona]

Algeria 1-0 Slovenia

[Vonners]

Algeria 1-0 Slovenia

I think I fell asleep...what a terrible first half...

[Cirona]

Algeria 1-0 Slovenia

I think I fell asleep...what a terrible first half...

Both teams have no ambition to score...

[Dehn]

Well, I do think Germany will win against Australia. But they are old and defensive. (They are old, aren't they, I didn't bother to check)

Germany's average age is 26.7, so not an old squad by any means

[Vonners]

Algeria 1-0 Slovenia

I think I fell asleep...what a terrible first half...

Both teams have no ambition to score...

Well Slovenia don't seem to have any fire power up front and Algeria...I don't know...I think you could be right...the only exciting bit was the Algerian free kick...that wasn't too bad...

I was rather hoping that Algeria would do a lot better and break down Slovenia's organisation...Slovenia need the full backs to get forward more...Algeria need to stop wasting the ball.

[Vonners]

Well, I do think Germany will win against Australia. But they are old and defensive. (They are old, aren't they, I didn't bother to check)

Germany's average age is 26.7, so not an old squad by any means

Only coz Ballack is out LOL

[Cirona]

Algeria 1-0 Slovenia

I think I fell asleep...what a terrible first half...

Both teams have no ambition to score...

Well Slovenia don't seem to have any fire power up front and Algeria...I don't know...I think you could be right...the only exciting bit was the Algerian free kick...that wasn't too bad...

I was rather hoping that Algeria would do a lot better and break down Slovenia's organisation...Slovenia need the full backs to get forward more...Algeria need to stop wasting the ball.

Agree. Algeria really needs to go go go...

I reckon the Algerian goalie is doing good though... skills

[Dehn]

Well, I do think Germany will win against Australia. But they are old and defensive. (They are old, aren't they, I didn't bother to check)

Germany's average age is 26.7, so not an old squad by any means

Only coz Ballack is out LOL

Ballack would only change the average slightly, he would be the oldest outfield player by a few months, but not the oldest player in the German Squad.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

It seems that the world cup is starting to have an epidemic of draws unless something happens. That would be the fourth draw out of six. I expect a single goal win by Slovenia by observation of amount of goals scored en route to South Africa.

[Playing In The Water]

Germany 3-1 Australia [Germany is an ageing and overly-defensive outfit who will struggle to replicate their 2006 success; indeed, I expect them to finish last in the group]

Fixed for my opinion.

Well, actually, Germany's lineup this year is kinda studded with more than a few younger players. They've lost Ballack, of course, everyone knows that, but they've dropped four or five players that were used in the 2008 Euro, even. So they're gonna have to deal with a bit of an inexperienced side - at least moreso than normal - that haven't had a chance to blend well together yet, which is exactly the opposite of Australia. It annoys me considerably, though; the moment Australia has any experience in World Cup affairs, people start bemoaning them being 'aged'. It's like...no, we've just been there before. Believe me, Australia does have some older boys on the side, but we've got more than enough young guns to back them up. Perfect chance to train the next generation for 2014 and beyond; not that we have to worry about that just yet, of course.

We've got a World Cup to win right now, after all.