Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:45 pm  

Cas Till I Die wrote:

So by 'and co' you meant a 35 yo striker who hardly plays ??? A lot of Uruguays players do play in top leagues across Europe but a high percentage of those players play in a weaker league than the premiership, Suarez and Cavani are a massive threat but that apart we shouldn't have any fear at all.

And we did draw over 90 mins against the Italians in the Euros and defeated them shortly after, an aging Italian side won't fancy the venue much either.

Not a great draw but not a terrible one, if we play near our best we should be ok IMO

I'll be cheering them on though (more in hope than expectation)

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:55 pm  

duke street 10 wrote:

I'll be cheering them on though (more in hope than expectation)

Being a Cas and England fan that's all I ever do

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Fri Dec 06, 2013 9:29 pm  

It will come to the the first game I think. If we beat Italy in the heat we will go through. If we draw to them I think it may come down to goal difference. Should be fun. Looking forward to the 2am kick off to begin with.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Fri Dec 06, 2013 9:44 pm  

I don't believe there's a lot to fear from that group. Uruguay aren't filled with quality, their firepower up top is awesome but the rest of the team doesn't ooze class. Whenever I've watched them they've looked organised and well coached as a unit, but it's always felt like it's been about their strikers pulling something off rather than a fantastic team outplaying the opposition.

Italy, despite knocking England out in 2012, aren't a great side. Balotelli is clearly their most capable player on his day but I imagine the England defence could oust him mentally before he can lay his mark on the game. That game could be pretty close and a lot would depend on Roy believing his team can win. When we last played Italy Roy put all his money on penalties, which was embarrassing.

I think England could get a result against both sides without playing above their current level, but so much could change between now and then so we'll start counting down the days. Can't wait.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:29 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

I don't believe there's a lot to fear from that group. Uruguay aren't filled with quality, their firepower up top is awesome but the rest of the team doesn't ooze class. Whenever I've watched them they've looked organised and well coached as a unit, but it's always felt like it's been about their strikers pulling something off rather than a fantastic team outplaying the opposition.

Italy, despite knocking England out in 2012, aren't a great side. Balotelli is clearly their most capable player on his day but I imagine the England defence could oust him mentally before he can lay his mark on the game. That game could be pretty close and a lot would depend on Roy believing his team can win. When we last played Italy Roy put all his money on penalties, which was embarrassing.

I think England could get a result against both sides without playing above their current level, but so much could change between now and then so we'll start counting down the days. Can't wait.

Indeed, those brandisihing the 'group of death' excuses already confuse me a little. If England beat Costa Rica and draw with the other two we could end up going through. Italy aren't unbeatable and if anything Italian football is a bit of a mess. Uruguay are a good attacking side, but if we can't score against them we don't deserve to be in the competition in the first place.

The biggest danger is England drawing all 3 games.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:57 am  

Roddy B wrote:

I don't believe there's a lot to fear from that group. Uruguay aren't filled with quality, their firepower up top is awesome but the rest of the team doesn't ooze class. Whenever I've watched them they've looked organised and well coached as a unit, but it's always felt like it's been about their strikers pulling something off rather than a fantastic team outplaying the opposition.

Italy, despite knocking England out in 2012, aren't a great side. Balotelli is clearly their most capable player on his day but I imagine the England defence could oust him mentally before he can lay his mark on the game. That game could be pretty close and a lot would depend on Roy believing his team can win. When we last played Italy Roy put all his money on penalties, which was embarrassing.

I think England could get a result against both sides without playing above their current level, but so much could change between now and then so we'll start counting down the days. Can't wait.

Supporting Uruguay, yeah?

I think we can get out of the group, we won't do much BEYOND that, though. Switzerland seeded and France dodging a few bullets... *sneeze* bent *sneeze*

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Sat Dec 07, 2013 8:17 am  

100% Wire wrote:

Supporting Uruguay, yeah?

That depends on two things:

1) Is Suarez looking like he'll stay at Liverpool, or is he pictured in a Real Madrid shirt every day and saying that Merseyside smells like dog poo.

2) Do the police have good evidence that he did kill those people, or is Steven Gerrard's lawyer arguing that the bus full of school kids was going to kill hm so he had to do them first.

If Suarez signs a new contract and the lawyer can get him off after he kills the kids then Roddy's wearing his Uruguay shirt and affectionately calling everyone lovely.

Sadly I think he's going to be the Player of the Year, the league's top scorer and apart from maybe a standard red or two this season keep his nose clean. I think he'll cost too much for anyone to buy and Liverpool will pay Chelsea/Citeh wages to keep him.

Looking at potential moves for Suarez, I reckon if Bale is only above average and not amazing at Real then they might offer Bale for Suarez. But that to me is one of the only ways it happens. Unless Arsenal do get upset about winning nothing again and decide that Usmanov's money can be used to get Suarez.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Sat Dec 07, 2013 10:18 am  

Suarez could re-create 9/11 on the Canary Wharf tower and go all "Anders Brevik" in a children's special hospital and Liverpool fans would still get behind him.

Judging by most message boards and most LFC fans I know, they'll support Uruguay anyway, just like they were Spain fans when the good Torres was playing for LFC.

I've been apathetic about England for years, but I don't go supporting Holland or Mexico

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Sat Dec 07, 2013 2:50 pm  

Go on Moyes, he's tearing it up.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Sat Dec 07, 2013 3:53 pm  

england will draw against italy, draw against uruguay, beat costa rica, go through to the 2nd round, beat whoever they play and then lose the quarter final on penalties.