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Pre World Cup chat (take mind off things)

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Fox

Fox

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So regular England woes, Rooney injured and likely to get fat, players coming back from injury like jack W and jagielka and others all looking shattered like Stevie.

At least Hendo will be fresh, hope sterling has good World Cup

Can't see England getting past group.

I think Argentina will win it.
 
Fox said:
So regular England woes, Rooney injured and likely to get fat, players coming back from injury like jack W and jagielka and others all looking shattered like Stevie.

At least Hendo will be fresh, hope sterling has good World Cup

Can't see England getting past group.

I think Argentina will win it.
Click to expand...
Funnily enough, in my efforts to figure out who's gonna win it, I was looking closely at Argentina yesterday and their achilles heel is their lack of a decent goalie. To win the world cup you need a top keeper and particularly a good penalty saver (as it's very difficult to win the world cup without facing a penalty shoot-out along the way) and apparently their No.1 Romero can't get a game with Monaco!
 
The best thing that could happen to England (other than Roy quitting) is Rooney getting injured, almost every other player there suits a fast breaking counter attacking style, he's way too slow & scores way too few goals in tournaments to complement that.

Lallana behind Sturridge with Rodwell/Henderson in front of Stevie & that central spine looks boss.

Pace down both wings, solid centre backs & keeper, two class full backs, a boss dm who can actually play, two central midfielders who can run all day to choose from, a link up player who turns the ball quickly & provides as well as anyone in the premiership & a class striker having the season of his life.

With a top manager that side could get to at least the quarters, the only weak links imo are Johnson (& that's arguable, his international form is usually better than club, possible due to the pace of the game, I'm unsure) & Rooney, who I'd leave out.
 
I had that argument in the pub the other week. The other guys had Rooney as one of their first picks - "you have to pick him" - and I just don't understand it. He's been fucking crap for England for years and somehow gets a pass. That said, I think we'll get out of the group despite the Rooney handicap.

In terms of who will win it, I'm inclined to go with Brazil. They've got a good balance in that team and they'll be desperate to do well in front of the home crowd.
 
Even though Rooney is a top player at club and international level it has proved very difficult to fit him into a system and usually the system has to be adapted to suit him. Rooney should be left out but won't be...to England's detriment.

......................................Hart.....................................
Johnson............Jagileka.........Cahill.................Baines...
....................................Gerrard...........................................
Sterling.........Henderson.........Barkley........Lallana
.....................................Sturridge..................................

The above line up would be exciting and could actually get England further in the tournament than most "experts" think.
 
keniget said:
I had that argument in the pub the other week. The other guys had Rooney as one of their first picks - "you have to pick him" - and I just don't understand it. He's been fucking crap for England for years and somehow gets a pass. That said, I think we'll get out of the group despite the Rooney handicap.

In terms of who will win it, I'm inclined to go with Brazil. They've got a good balance in that team and they'll be desperate to do well in front of the home crowd.
Click to expand...


I was just thinking about Brazil. I have not been watching or following them over the past few years but are they still a team of stars? Offhand I only know Neymar, Oscar, Thiago Silva and Alves?
 
DHSC said:
Wait, Rodwell, FFF?

I don't think he will be going to the WC.
Click to expand...

Neither do I, but I don't think that dickhead in charge will play counter attacking footy like we do or drop Rooney either, I'm just saying what I think is painfully obvious that he should do.
 
FoxForceFive said:
Neither do I, but I don't think that dickhead in charge will play counter attacking footy like we do or drop Rooney either, I'm just saying what I think is painfully obvious that he should do.
Click to expand...


But why Rodwell? I havent seen anything to be convinced that he is England material.
 
Pesam said:
Even though Rooney is a top player at club and international level it has proved very difficult to fit him into a system and usually the system has to be adapted to suit him. Rooney should be left out but won't be...to England's detriment.

......................................Hart.....................................
Johnson............Jagileka.........Cahill.................Baines...
....................................Gerrard...........................................
Sterling.........Henderson.........Barkley........Lallana
.....................................Sturridge..................................

The above line up would be exciting and could actually get England further in the tournament than most "experts" think.
Click to expand...

You just said almost exactly what I did dude.

I'm gonna let you off cos you're right though. X
 
We should fucking sign Lallana and Barkley for next season.

That would be fucking awesome.
 
DHSC said:
We should fucking sign Lallana and Barkley for next season.

That would be fucking awesome.
Click to expand...

If we could do that (we can't he's a blue & always has been who lives in the city as do his family, never gonna happen) then it'd be one of the most important signings we could make regards our future.

Sadly the lad will either stay at a rejuvenated Everton, dragging them to trophies as stevie did with us so many times, or move down the East lancs to the PLC or the Sheiks plaything.
 
Trivia - who has the better defensive record at the World Cup, Brazil or Germany?
 
I'd love us and Uruguay to get out of the group and send Italy back. They're so far up themselves when it comes to football that they'd roll all the way home. As long as that happens I couldn't really care what else does, but twist my arm and I'd tip Brazil to win.
 
DHSC said:
I was just thinking about Brazil. I have not been watching or following them over the past few years but are they still a team of stars? Offhand I only know Neymar, Oscar, Thiago Silva and Alves?
Click to expand...


Not so much a team of stars these days - they're more pragmatic and often play on the counter. At least that's the impression I always get and the articles by Tim Vickery on BBC seem to reinforce that.

As for players, there are a fair few more in England that you forgot, such as Willian, Luiz, Ramires, Paulinho, Fernandinho, Cesar and Lucas. Then there is Marcelo, Felipe Luis, Dantes, Hulk et al.

The main point to note is that they're lacking star power in the #9 position. I'm guessing they'll stick with Fred (formerly of Lyon) and Jo as backup, which is kinda crazy when you think of who they used to be able to call on.

The main torch bearer for the samba magic that has come to symbolize Brazilian football is Neymar really. There is a lot of quality in the rest of the team but it's definitely lacking the flair of previous generations.
 
I've backed Spain quite heavily in the last 3 tournaments (2 Euro's and the Wold Cup in SA) and I was 100% sure they were the best team each time but this is the hardest tournament to predict for many years. Questions that need to be asked........

Despite home advantage do Brazil actually have THAT good a team?
Can Argentina go far without a top goalie?
Can Germany win it without a world class forward?
Have Spain got too old and lost their motivation?
Can European teams adapt to the climate?
Will Belgium become the first "dark horse" to actually win the world cup?
Will England give youth a chance and cause a surprise?

I'm gonna have to do a lot more research before I tell you all who's gonna win it.
 
keniget said:
Not so much a team of stars these days - they're more pragmatic and often play on the counter. At least that's the impression I always get and the articles by Tim Vickery on BBC seem to reinforce that.

As for players, there are a fair few more in England that you forgot, such as Willian, Luiz, Ramires, Paulinho, Fernandinho, Cesar and Lucas. Then there is Marcelo, Felipe Luis, Dantes, Hulk et al.

The main point to note is that they're lacking star power in the #9 position. I'm guessing they'll stick with Fred (formerly of Lyon) and Jo as backup, which is kinda crazy when you think of who they used to be able to call on.

The main torch bearer for the samba magic that has come to symbolize Brazilian football is Neymar really. There is a lot of quality in the rest of the team but it's definitely lacking the flair of previous generations.
Click to expand...


:jawdrop:
 
I wouldn't write Spain off but I think they've lost some of their edge. It'll be interesting to see if Costa (should not be allowed!) can help restore it though he's having injury problems so who knows whether he'll be fit. Still got a great squad though defence could prove to be an issue.

Argentina is an interesting one. It all hinges on Messi for me. He's coming off the back of a hugely disappointing season (relative to him and Barca) so it'll be a real test of his fitness, mentality and hunger. Either way, I'm not convinced his supporting cast is good enough to go all the way. Also, Aguero, like Costa for Spain, can't seem to stay fit at the moment.
 
Fox said:
I think Argentina will win it.
Click to expand...

I met a young Argentinian lad last week in Malaysia, he was just going from country to country but was going back for the WC. Said none of them could get tickets even though prices weren't high for the cheap seats. All snapped up locally it seems. Scalpers out in force no doubt.
 
keniget said:
I wouldn't write Spain off but I think they've lost some of their edge. It'll be interesting to see if Costa (should not be allowed!) can help restore it though he's having injury problems so who knows whether he'll be fit. Still got a great squad though defence could prove to be an issue.

Argentina is an interesting one. It all hinges on Messi for me. He's coming off the back of a hugely disappointing season (relative to him and Barca) so it'll be a real test of his fitness, mentality and hunger. Either way, I'm not convinced his supporting cast is good enough to go all the way. Also, Aguero, like Costa for Spain, can't seem to stay fit at the moment.
Click to expand...
I think Argentina's supporting cast is as good as any my only doubt is the keeper.

...............................Romero....................
Zabaleta.......Garay.......Fernandez.....Rojo
...............Banega..........Mascherano........
Di Maria............Messi............Aguero.....
.............................Lavezzi.......................

They've also got Higuain, Collocini, Gago etc.
 
Very very open, any one of the favourites could win it, as could a Dark Horse such as Belgium. Should be great ! I'll be watching every match I can.

Forced to pick a winner it's tough to look past Brazil with what will be amazing home support.
 
Spain or Brazil will win it. Mentality is always key in a cup and Spain despite not shining as brightly as they have done, still have that wc winning experience oozing through their squad.

One of Germany and Argentina could easily make the final also
 
European sides just don't win in S.America though. Spain at their absolute peak *might* have had a chance but I can't see it happening now.
 
Fox said:
So regular England woes, Rooney injured and likely to get fat, players coming back from injury like jack W and jagielka and others all looking shattered like Stevie.

At least Hendo will be fresh, hope sterling has good World Cup

Can't see England getting past group.

I think Argentina will win it.
Click to expand...
Cannot wait. 4 cities, 6 weeks 6 games (including whoever comes 2nd in England's group in the last 16)

Roll on June!!!
 
I don't think Spain have it in them to win this one.

That's just a gut feeling though. I'm going to wait to see what team @Pesam picks then stick a fiver on them.
 
For me, it's a Brazil Germany final.

Germany have got such class in all positions and such depth.

Weak Brazil side, but with home advantage I think they'll get that far.

Spain have got weaker as their players have aged.

Argentina still don't have a particularly good team behind that heavenly attack.

Italy don't have a quality, consistent striker.

France are improving BUT they're a few years too early. Netherlands will get far as always, but come up short.

Belgium will be at the very least quarter finalists and I've no doubt they'll progress further than England.
 
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