Rousseau

Will the tactics change?

I know what you mean, but I don't think it's tactics per se; it's individuals not winning an aerial duel or not staying with the runner.

We're not dealing with silly long-balls! Halliday is not defensively-minded enough -- he was in the box for that last attack!? They've had 2/3 one-on-one's!

We look lively going forward, though.

Sheesh! We are very nervy at the back.

The butterflies have started, but I'm excited for this!

C'mon!

Here I was looking forward to seeing some of the new guys and none start! Gilks, Hodson, Hill, Kranjcar and Windass are on the bench; it's nice to see Thompson on the also on the bench, though.

Mmmm...

[tweet]754300446496395264[/tweet]

RVP went to Turkey for that money, and he's picked up a year (or two) of it. Even Premier League sides are not going to be paying him 240k! He will be taking a pay cut wherever he goes. But he's not trading in 240k for 10-15k at Rangers! This is a delusional link usual seen across the city, not here.

So you are judging someone's performance by only looking at 2 areas and ignoring all others? I guess all these great runs he made were worthless.

 

How many of his goals were penalties? How many were against opposition from a lower league? You presumably don't know given you don't know what the 7 games are.

 

Halliday more effective than Holt add an attacking midfielder? I guess it proves that you can justify anything with the use of statistics.

Calm down, mate. I really don't care that much. It was just my opinion that Halliday may be preferred to Holt in the coming season. I can see Halliday playing because I think he's more 'effective', i.e. he's scored more goals, even from deep - but yes, you are correct it was probably penalties more than anything else, and a few free-kicks also. But, I think the more assists is maybe a better judge. You're right in regards to runs, Holts movement is far superior and that probably is quite beneficial to the players around him. We can't ignore the leadership skills of Halliday too.

The games he played AM were against Hibs, Falkirk, Kilmarnock, QotS, Peterhead, Dundee and Celtic. Arguably our hardest games?

Again, I like Holt a lot, but I think Barton will be a shoe-in for DM, which means, I think, that Halliday and Holt may be fighting for the same spot -- although they have played together before on opposite sides? -- and so I was merely making the point that Halliday may be preferred. The stats do suggest Halliday is more 'effective' in terms of Goals and Assists, but you are right that that excludes all those runs Holt makes.

What games were these?

I can't recall really, and it's not worth trudging through the games to find out. I suppose it would be the games where Ball played DM? Which there were a few -- well, 7 to be exact!

As an attacking midfielder, Holt looks a far better option than Halliday.

He may look better, but I think Halliday is more effective; the stats suggest as much: Halliday has played attacking midfield 7 times, with 3 goals and 1 assist. While Holt has played there 32 times, with 6 goals and 2 assists. Even from a deeper position Halliday has scored the same as Holt and, crucially, assisted more.

I like Holt a lot, but I think Halliday may be preferred.

I can see Holt dropping out for Halliday, in the long-term. However, I don't think Barton will play against Motherwell, so Halliday will take his usual DM slot.

It was in fact 2 players. Izzy Brown and a Brazilian called Nathan.

Two for this season, but over the last 2 years they've loaned Kalas, Piazon, Baker, Solankie, Brown, Nathan, Pantic, McEachran, Wallace, Traore, Van Aanholt and Kakuta.

Agreed, Mrs Craig deserves to be placed above!

Many thanks for your participation and company over this past month. Perhaps, not the greatest of tournaments, but although the games have been poor there were some great moments. I have enjoyed running our little game, and it really makes it worthwhile when so many take part. Thanks again, everyone!

Congratulations Whosthedado!

Final Standings:

Another poor scoring game. onevision, BEARGER and Mrs Craig are the only point-scorers, gaining 1 point for correctly predicting the Portugal win.

Brown looks a decent talent. He is part of a crop of young Chelsea players coming through -- winning, I think, an FA Youth Cup? The majority of the crop were loaned to Vitesse Arnham last year.

Forever the optimist!

Pete, have you made a prediction?

A wee bump!

You have until 20:00 on Sunday 10th July to get in your predictions!

We're still waiting on compo, and Pete.

Portugal 1 - 2 France

Please post your predictions for the Final.

The fixture is:

Portugal - France

You have until 20:00 on Sunday 10th July to make your prediction.

Correct Result and Correct Score will be determined at the end of normal match play (90 MINS + Extra Time). Penalty results will not be considered when calculating the points scored.

No one correctly predicted the correct score, but several gained 1 point for correctly predicting the France win: compo, TB, Craig, dB, YB, Germinal and Mrs Craig.

Again, no change at the top -- although dB closes the gap somewhat. We go into the final game with only buster and Whosthedado able to win!

Latest Standings:

That was a great game of football. I thought the penalty was harsh, but he was leading with his arm -- even although it was deflected onto it.

The final looks to be even. Both sides have tended to sit back and break on the counter, so it'll be interesting to see which side takes charge -- probably France. I'd like to see them win it, because they have been good, if not spectacular IMO, throughout the tournament. Portugal have been dull.

Warburton has indicated elsewhere that the real target is one that hasn't been picked up by the press.

I wouldn't mind getting Grigg, but not for £2M. I'm a little put-off Bradshaw for 900k!