I've been here so many times before....I honestly don't care.
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I've been here so many times before....I honestly don't care.
Well that was fun.....
let's all do it again Saturday afternoon...
The minute we play a top rank side we are going to get absolutely bent over and shafted.
But still in it, that's what cup football is about.
Crap game, good goal.
1-0 England after 40 minutes
2-0 winner's
What would you say is a quality side, Germany? Spain? Switzerland? Argentina? Brazil? Portugal?Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
I agree France are probably favoutites but I would say that all the remaining sides are beatable on the day..
I reckon croatia are tired where we are getting better...France v England Final :D
The youth are playing with their hearts and that might give them an edge we need..
I understand your point, that we are still in the competition, and those teams are not. But it's a cup competition, and stuff like that happens. We fully deserve to be in the semi final, based on the performances we've displayed, but we have been very fortunate with the draw and how things have panned out.Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
Were Greece the best side in Europe in 2004...? Not a chance. What about Portugal in the last Euros... they didn't win a match in 90mins until the final (i stand to be corrected on that fact).
You don't have to be the best side in a cup to win it. Which gives us every chance. But Croatia is a huge step up in quality to who we've played so far, and should we get through that, Belgium/France an even bigger step.
I've just re read the comment I made exactly 9 months ago on this thread.
"But when was Southgate ever a good manager? His record is not inspiring. He was just the safe choice made by the FA. Somebody who doesn't say or do anything controversial. He has managed to inherit the team that lost so miserably to Iceland and make them look even less impressive. A remarkable feat".
Hmmm, have to admit I might have got this a little bit wrong. :rolleyes: A great achievement by the England team to get this far no matter what happens now.
A good point Travs that it is not always the best team that wins the major tournaments. Teams that are well organised with a bit of talent like the 2004 Greek side can overcome the odds. The German team that got to the 2002 world cup final (although didn't win it) was very ordinary indeed. In fact they had been thrashed by England 5-1 the previous autumn. Saying that I still expect the winner to be Belgium or France. But if England do manage it I will be more than happy to eat humble pie again.:rolleyes:
Progress is progress.
You get a format, then a draw takes place.
You then play who's in the group.
I agree that the opposition have not been of any great quality but confidence is a wonderful thing in sport and should the shock happen and they reach the final, i wouldn't be surprised to win it.
There is a good game in every side. Its just when you play it.
At least we could move on from 66.
Ok, I was the sad person who went to check this out. In fact the only match they won in 90 minutes was the semi-final against Wales. Three group matches were all drawn. Round of 16 (a.e.t.), Quarter final (penalties) and Final (a.e.t.).Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
...YesQuote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Any predictions?
Oh dear.
There going home, England's going home.
No real shame in it.... hopefully the press and the general population won't go looking for a scapegoat... it's just the first game (aside from the farce that was the Belgium game) that we've come up against a superior side, and it showed in the end.
Good match. Croatia came back into it after the break (good manager - changed things up). England should have scored another with the many chances they had in the first half. Nice to see a team avoid penalties and win in extra time by going for it.
I don't fancy them against France.
Superior side??? They are 8 places lower in Fifa rankings!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Alli, Kane very poor in the second half and extra time.
England are still poor, still back passing in the last 5 minutes. One dimensional.
Only saw extra time due to marshalling club fell race and England were useless.
Same old over hyping of average players, by the pundits and media, who were found out the first time they met a decent team.
But never mind they will still be paraded as heroes on their return in that strange British way of celebrating losers
Oh I hope so. I am going to Croatia soon on holiday and I am looking forward to free drinks after I say I am English.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
FiFA rankings.... the rankings that have Wales above Croatia... Poland, peru & Denmark above us... and Germany ranked no. 1.....? Weren't England top 3 at some point in the rankings recently? I wouldn't pay too much notice to the rankings.
Croatia were undoubtedly superior to us. Look at their players, particularly up front and midfield. Sprinkled around the best clubs in Europe... Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Inter Milan... they just had quality over and above us.... and once they figured out that putting a bit of pressure on our midfield, we passed it back to the defence or keeper, and a long ball up, and they could win the ball without too much effort.
Certainly no lack of 'bottle' or effort... just a bit of quality.
But football is won and lost on such small margins. Let's not forget that for the width of a crossbar in the penalty shoot-out against Colombia, we would likely have been out in the 2nd round, it would have been another "disaster" and everyone would be slating the team and manager. And on the other hand, had we gone 2-0 up last night we'd probably now be in a world cup final. It's the nature of cup football.
Me too, next week.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Spot on. The rankings are nonsensical, you could add the very mediocre Argentinians who are rated 5th. The Croatians thrashed them 3-0. No disgrace at all to lose to Croatia, as you say they have quality in abundance in midfield.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Croatia did what likes of Sweden have done to England in the past but with some real quality. They have some great footballers (two played for Derby in the 90’s. Stimac a modern Rams legend)
I’ve really enjoyed the World Cup. Chapeau to Gareth and the boys. It’s not only been okay to support you it’s been fun. Thank you
I saw fom 60mins to the end. 2nd best at everything apart from back passes.
The second half was much flatter than the first half. Maybe it was because I'd run out of beer.
Bielsa's Leeds fast out of the traps. Even if it all ends in tears and recriminations (very probable given club and manager), a rare win away at Derby is always a nice surprise
Very entertaining they were too.
Passing and pressing with goal attempts is always pleasing to watch.
Its when there's no end product that's poor and boring.
Any comments from DT?
In the first two matches Leeds have been astonishingly good, hard to believe it is substantially the same team that finished last season so tamely. Bielsa has made a huge impact. I thought Kemar Roofe was on his way out at the end of last season but now he looks like a world beater.Quote:
Originally Posted by Conor74
It is only two games though. We were top after seven games last year and obviously that all petered out rather dismally. I also wonder whether a fairly small squad can keep up the high octane pressing game. Injuries and suspensions will inevitably happen and Leeds seem rather light in terms of back up. But for now I'm really enjoying the ride.
Leeds.... fond memories of playing them at both Highfield Road and Elland Road.
At Highfield Road i don't think i ever went to a Leeds match where there wasn't massive crowd trouble. I particularly remember the final game of the 1995-96 season when we stayed up and there was a big pitch invasion from both sides and massive fights.
But Leeds always bought a good atmosphere with them. In fact my fondest memory of Highfield Road was a match round about 97-98-99 in the Premier League when we actually lost 3-2 to Leeds in a stunning game with a quite amazing atmosphere from both sets of fans. Funny that for all the great victories over Villa, Manchester United, Newcastle, Liverpool, Chelsea, etc, it's a loss which is my best memory.
Away to Leeds we never seemed to fare too well, i think i saw us scrape a draw there, in amongst a series of defeats. Worst memory is going up there on boxing day and the pub outside the ground (The Pheasant/Peacock?) having ran out of beer the night before and not having anything to serve us.
With that kind of "rivalry" with the crowd trouble etc, plus a few local lads supporting Leeds, i naturally grew to dislike them, but no denying they are a big club with a big following, and i'd certainly rather see the likes of Leeds, Forest, Sheff Wednesday in the top division, rather than any number of "family clubs" (i hate that term, such as Reading, Fulham, etc.
That said, the championship is a great league at the moment, although i grew up with Cov as a 1st division/Premier League side, most of my travelling to away matches was done in the championship, and i'd love to get back there. Maybe a lack of ambition, but got no real desire to see us back in the Premier League. For one, the prices are stupid, it just seems to be a glorified soap opera. Championship would do nicely.
One of my most vivid football memories is the 1987 FA Cup semi final between Leeds and Coventry at Hillsborough. I was there, standing in the Leppings Lane end. Coventry were in the top flight while Leeds were in the old second division and very much the underdogs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
It was a tremendous match with Leeds taking the lead in the first half. With 20 minutes ago they seemed to be coping comfortably with everything Coventry could throw at them. But then the Leeds centre half, Brendon Ormsby tried to shepherd a harmless looking ball out of play. David Bennett nipped in and crossed for Micky Gynn to equalise. Coventry then added another and that seemed to be that. With a few minutes to go however the Leeds substitute Keith Edwards rose to head in a glorious equaliser right in front of us. Cue ecstatic celebrations. A bloke standing next to me tipped his drink over my head and I couldn't care less. The game went into extra time but it was not to be. David Bennett got the winner for Coventry.
Coventry went on to win the FA cup by beating Spurs in the final. Leeds went on to reach the inaugural play-off final but again fell short, losing to Charlton.
1987 was sadly before my time as i was only 5 when we lifted the cup. But the 87 Final was a great end-to-end match (i have it on VHS), and apparently the semi-final with Leeds was even better, although I've not seen the full match. The quarter final at Sheffield Wednesady, again at Hillsborough was also pretty superb. City fans had the Leppings Lane End on this occasion and took a huge following, and a disaster type scenario was narrowly averted a couple of years early. People who were there have said it was decidedly hairy.
We also turned Manchester United over at Old Trafford in the 5th round, after a riotous (off the pitch) 4th round game away to Stoke, so was by no means an easy route to the final.
I must say that Yorkshire is a fantastic place to watch football. Leeds obviously, Sheffield is a great football city, Barnsley is a great away day and very underrated. Even went to York City in the FA Cup when our local non-league team had a giant-killing attempt at toppling York, although the less said about this particular trip the better.
I was 16. I used to go with a mate to Elland Road at the time but I had a season ticket and he didn't. This meant that he couldn't get a ticket for the semi final so I actually went on my own. In retrospect I can't believe my parents allowed it. I remember Coventry beating Sheffield Wednesday in the previous round, 3-1 as I recall. I recollect thinking before our match, this is going to be really tough. You did have a good team.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Your comments are interesting about a potential disaster at the Leppings Lane end because the same thing has been said about the 1987 semi final too. This is from the Yorkshire Post in 1996.
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news...ster-1-7880063
I was never aware of this at the time. The problem appeared to occur in the central pen, just as it did two years later. I was in the right hand pen and don't remember there being a problem. The article also mentions that 38 people were injured in the Leppings Lane end the last time a semi final had been played in 1981 - between Spurs and Wolves. Lessons were clearly not learned.
It seems strange now to look at photographs with big perimeter fencing caging the fans in. But that seemed normal at the time, we didn't know any different.
I did recall a game involving Wolves which was probably the closest to a disaster, and knew it was in the 80's.... didn't realise it was as early as 81 though.
I go to a fair amount of football in Italy, where the grounds are way behind in terms of facilities and "quality" compared to the premier league (but absolutely streets ahead in terms of character and atmosphere).
Have never been fenced in over there, but even at Serie A grounds such as Bologna and Atalanta there are huge barriers at the front of the stand, and deep moats, to prevent pitch invasions. And one of my abiding memories of the massively high-profile showcase match AC Milan vs Juventus is the Curva Sud being massively overpopulated. Every time someone put a ticket through the automatic turnstiles, about three people without tickets also jumped through. If you go in an Ultra's end in Italy, forget about getting anywhere near your seat, it's just an absolute free-for-all....
Oh my, what's going on at City? Swales out!
Noisy neighbours ha ha ha
Not only does it look like Bielsa could take Leeds up at the first attempt, but he may do so with everything you want to see, superb football, youngsters playing like seasoned pros, continuing to attack deep into injury time. If they go up, they could surprise a few top flight clubs with players fannying around on hundreds of thousands a week.
Like Wolves are every week..?Quote:
Originally Posted by Conor74
Are man u player's the most un-professional bunch the club has ever had.
The new manager in summer had better start by buying a load of new players because you can't trust this lot!🤡
How does Vincent Kompany get away with it.
He doesn't play many matches but in every one that he does play he commits at least one "horror tackle" and gets away without a red card.