So... no World Cup thread yet? (also featuring TTLG fantasy world cup game) - by D'Arcy
D'Arcy on 26/5/2006 at 18:07
Quote Posted by Strontium Dog
Also, when you have the (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGWg8pIYc5g) best passer of a ball in world football to build your team arund, you have to be confident of unlocking any defence
Bah, you just say that because he plays for Liverpool. He didn't impress me that much when you played against Benfica ;)
Quote Posted by Strontium Dog
that England side was genuinely the best in the world in the late 60s, and this was in the face of some petty stiff competition from the likes of Beckenbauer's Germany and Eusebio's Portugal. Players like Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton are among the greatest who have ever played the game.
I don't question their value, I also consider that England's 1966 World Cup squad had great players. Still, they made good use of their home advantage. I don't forget the sudden change of the semi-final venue from Anfield to Wembley, forcing the portuguese team to travel to London when the opposite should have happened. Plus, they've won the final with a goal that only some russian linesman saw ;)
Quote Posted by Strontium Dog
You give Eriksson far too much credit for this. [...] If anything, Howard Wilkinson (the dour, grey man of English football) deserves a lot of the credit for introducing soccer academies to England.
Hey, any Benfica supporter has only the best things to say about Sven! What you say regarding the influx of foreigners in the Premiership is true, but I did see a very clear change in the english team's mentality and approach to the game when Eriksson took charge. Maybe I'm wrong, but I have the feeling that after a few months with McClaren in charge you'll all be missing Eriksson. Plus, I'm shocked by your use of the word 'soccer' ;)
D'Juhn Keep on 26/5/2006 at 20:53
Why yes, I LOVE finishing bottom! :D
Code to join this league: GET AWAY, TROLLS
Edit: the Metro one Paz posted above: (
http://fantasyfootball.metro.co.uk)
Shevers on 26/5/2006 at 21:24
Joined that league. Hopefully a fair amount will join.
As for Xabi Alonso, it's true he does have probably the best ability in football at finding and playing a pass that far. I still don't believe Spain will do overly well this season though. Give them another 2 years and they'll most likely be in a very strong position for Euro 08. (And all of them will probably be playing for Liverpool :p)
OnionBob on 26/5/2006 at 21:39
no idea who will win, but hoping for england to win has kind of become like hoping for a white christmas. everyone just gets their hopes up or somehow finds the faith to actually believe for a little while, but then gets that delicate hope horribly dashed and our miserable little island gets even more miserable for a few more weeks
Shevers on 26/5/2006 at 22:01
Great, isn't it?
D'Arcy on 26/5/2006 at 23:10
Just joined the league. My objective is to win that rock bottom place from Iggles \o/
zacharias on 27/5/2006 at 03:41
'Lampard amongst the most technically gifted players on the planet'..?!
He has his good qualities but c'mon, against top quality opposition he's fairly pedestrian, technically at least..good fighting spirit i'll give ya. Watch Chelsea v Barca again.
Also have my doubts about Gerrard at international level vs the best teams.
All that said, good luck to england. I just hope they play with a bit of adventure for a change instead of nicking one on the break and holding on like grim death.
D'Arcy on 27/5/2006 at 04:35
Well, if by 'technically gifted' he means the reception, ability to pass the ball, ball control, etc, then yes, England has some good players in the midfield like this. If he meant skillful players, who have the ability to dribble easily past an opponent, or create dangerous plays in a very small space, surrounded by adversaries, then no, England doesn't have them and very rarely has one. Probably the last one was Waddle.
Myoldnamebroke on 27/5/2006 at 09:56
Shaun Wright-Philips :(
D'Arcy on 27/5/2006 at 11:56
No, not even him. He's probably skilled considering the standards of english players, but just compare him with latin players and you'll see there's a big difference.
