Gribz
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Everything posted by Gribz
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Portugal and Spain's 3rd and 4th best sides are always strong in the UEFA / Europa and English sides get nowhere. I switch off when teams like Stoke are on, Id rather watch Turner and Hooch. West Ham are a shame, I supported them since I was 10 and used to go and watch a terrific entertaining team but since Allardyce came in they have been ugly. Yet its down to money. Managers like Allardyce and Pulis will deploy awful tactics in order to stay in the top league. Allardyce in particular is a disgrace. Bolton, Blackburn and Newcastle were ugly to watch under him and now West Ham. The latter 2 teams there are known for exciting football. Teams like Swansea under Laudrup and Southampton last season are a breath of fresh air for trying to play the game.
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That's a point I was going to put. Italy, France and Spain all have similar populations (give or take a few million) yet they can do it on the world stage, in Italys case 4 time. And then Uruguay can produce a team with a population of around 3 million. Its a team game and England have constantly played to accommodate players who only do it in the premier league. Don't get me wrong I love the premier league for entertainment but standard wise its nowhere near the best in the world like people like Paul Merson says on a weekly basis.
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This is some game between Honduras and Ecuador. 2 sides just going for it. Well done Costa Rica, didn't see that one coming, fair play to them. Wenger needs to keep Joel Campbell next season, he put the wrong one out on loan and kept the worst strikers they've had (Sanogoals and Bendtner).
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Italy didn't look great against England, its was Englands poor defence that cost them. Id back Uruguay to beat them if Suarez plays again.
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I agree don't see how he can be miles out as number one, he flaps and panics all the time. He is IMO Englands 3rd best keeper at the WC and 4th best overall, Ruddy is better than him.
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Anyone know him?
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That sounds like good news for a change. Seems like this would be a good appointment.
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They need a big favour from Italy to beat Costa Rica and Uruguay. On paper it seems a good shout but I think its a tricky ask.
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I should have added, it was quite embarrassing to see a Scotland fan in with the Uruguay fans celebrating like Scotland had just beaten England when Suarez scored. He was wearing the away shirt with a flag around him and one of those stupid tartan hats with the ginger wig. How long will that mentality go on? If I was offered a ticket id have taken it to sample the atmosphere and join in with the crowd but that's it.
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Would still have liked to seen a more glamorous game in July somewhere. Derby away is a good fixture as there was a full house there a few years ago and its nice to go back to places like that.
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Don't know if its age, but I don't get joy in seeing England lose as much as I used to. In the 90s there was odd occasion Id want them to win, and in certain sports I still do want them to win. When Beckham and Owen was in the team 10 years ago it was always nice to see them go out but I quite like this young attacking team. But they have got it wrong from top to bottom. The FA (and Premier League) is ran by fat cats for business profits. Would the likes of Greg Dyke get a job as a coach somewhere? So why are they allowed to run the game if they are not footballing men? Because where the money goes and comes from (sponsors, TV, fan income and owners) football is a win win regardless of the result so as long as the income runs in they are doing a good job. The FA and SFA should be ran or at least have footballing people running the game, and I don't mean ex players all the time, I mean football minded people. Roy Hodgson would be perfect fit at the top of the game running the FA with people like Bryan Robson, Trevor Brooking, Alan Curbishley. But as a manager he wasn't great at Liverpool and did ok with Fulham and West Brom but got the job as he wouldn't be a problem to those running it. Redknapp at the time took Spurs to the Champions league but is outspoken and likes his opinion so much like Brian Clough - he didn't get the job. Hodgson made some poor tactical decisions, when you are chasing a goal to stay in a competition you sacrifice a midfielder or defender for a striker but he went like for like twice until they went behind 2-1 again. The defence was poor bar Gary Cahill who was immense, the rest were awful. Even Joe Hart looked uncomfortable. As for players and selected squad overall: Id have taken Ashley Cole all day long, begged John Terry to come, taken Gareth Barry on form over an injured Jack Wilshire and taken a striker like Defoe who could get any type of goal. Really not sure what Jordan Henderson brings to the team and why he is picked when the class of Lampard is on the bench or the energy of Milner. I thought Lampard was excellent at Anfield in Chelsea's 2-0 win and hasn't played too many games so would fit nicely into that team. Milner is not a world beater but far more effective and gets back to help defend. In saying that the future is bright. They have the bases of a good squad. Going into Euro 16 with Shaw, Flanagan, Stones, Gibbs, Jones (if fit), Cahill, Wilshire (if fit), Barkley, Ox-Chamberlain, Sterling, Lallana, Sturridge, Walcott, Rodriguez....gives them a young squad with good attacking options, yet they need a decent coach to mould them together. For me England should have a look at getting Redknapp again. He would have taken Brendan Rodgers last time around but given his Liverpool role now he probably wouldn't take it, but someone like Paul Scholes should be brought in as assistant.
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Dropping like a stone here, glad im not betting in these games at the moment.
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Holland away
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Nothing to do with the TV money.
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Same for Uruguay which makes in for a good game. A lot will depend on if Suarez plays and how fit he is.
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Chile are my dark horses and playing like that they will go far. I hope they top the group and avoid Brazil. Spain didn't turn up much like France in 2002. Even their body language looked defeated.
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I reckon they could get 5000 but would they be entitled to that? It would make for a good atmosphere but they also cut our away allocation at Tynecastle a few seasons ago to 2/3rds of the stand behind the goal.
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Looking forward to see if the Spanish react tonight against Chile. They have to win. If they don't then I'm switching my bet to the Germans.
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Would like to see how he does. Newcastle would be a good fit, prone to the odd error or two.
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The only reason I can see these 2 lasting more than 8 months is they don't have any opposition this season.
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Guaranteed sell out. I can even see this fixture being a reason for some to renew ST as demand for single tickets will be high. Surely Hearts wouldn't be entitled to 5000 though? TV companies will be after this. I hope we are strong on negotiations.
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Was obvious. Money maker early on. Edinburgh derby week 2 so the cash flow running in early. Then Rangers v Hibs towards end of first quarter to spread the cash out.
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I think we'll get Hibs or Hearts at Ibrox first game. Early TV money and all that for those running the show
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Germany were class. German efficiency! They look superb every where on the park. Ozil looked much better than what we seen in an Arsenal shirt last season, didn't look to happy coming off though. Portugal are an average side without Ronaldo. USA could be stubborn for them.
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Didn't predict USA would win that one, even had a flutter on a draw while they were 1-0 up and thought I scooped until they nicked the winner. Im underscoring in this big time. Tournament is averaging 2.75 goals per game at the moment but I think that will settle down in the 2nd matches.
