World Cup 2018

[God is an Englishman]

well, I guess I haven't underestimated you....resorting to personal insults because your double standards have been highlighted....

I explained how your perceptions were wrong.

[MegaBonus]

you gave no indication you were 'joking' (you have used emojis in the past - but not this occasion)....stop trying to weasel your way out of it...

[God is an Englishman]

you gave no indication you were 'joking' (you have used emojis in the past - but not this occasion)....stop trying to weasel your way out of it...

I explained how your perceptions were wrong

[MegaBonus]

youre like the little kid who picks a fight and when things get serious claims...."I was only joking"....I know your type well....

[Bomber]

a little like you mentioning the following in a post about 'Monaco'

Lewis leading the championship.

That post was tongue in cheek after taking the piss out Bomber for only mentioning monaco because an australian won the race.

I know you're not the sharpest tool in the box but I thought that was pretty obvious. Obviously, I over estimated you.

For the record, I didn't raise the topic because Riccardo won - that was just an aside. :wink:

(notice the subtle use of emoticons)

[God is an Englishman]

youre like the little kid who picks a fight and when things get serious claims...."I was only joking"....I know your type well....

If you knew me, you would know how laughable that is.

Don't see why you're picking a fight here though but I never back down from anyone.

[ozzie owl]

just a fact. Not a complex. Until England have more English players in the EPL and fewer foreigners it won't happen. please don't get personal
So when was the last time England got into a final in the world cup? been a long time.

Please explain how the foreigners effects the English team? Are the best 23 available English players at the WC? Yes. So where is your logic?

Hopefully the recent trend of young English talent heading to major European clubs increases as it is the best opportunity for them to get valuable game time and develope. This should benefit the national side in the long term.

[thebeautifulgame]

Peru beat the Jocks 2-0 in their warm up game.

What are the odds on Orstralia not getting out of the group stage?

We're poor but don't get fooled with that result as Scotland were seriously under-strength. Peru I fear are the only team in the group that Australia are capable of getting a result against. France will be too strong and Denmark you can never tell what you are going to get. Australia to toil for goals and be weak at the back so I for one don't fancy their chances to progress. Would love them to prove me and others wrong all the same.

[pannafc]

France at $7 is seriously good value .. the quality and depth france have is ridiculos , their 3rd string side would easily take the group stage out

Portugal at $26 ... my darkhorse to win it

[God is an Englishman]

France at $7 is seriously good value .. the quality and depth france have is ridiculos , their 3rd string side would easily take the group stage out

Portugal at $26 ... my darkhorse to win it

I reckon their 3rd string side would lose to their first string side

[MegaBonus]

@ Hawksey

what was Strerling booked for???

[God is an Englishman]

@ Hawksey

what was Strerling booked for???

Diving

[Wȁpita]

How English of him.

[ozzie owl]

How English of him.

Why would you dive in a friendly ?

England controlled the first half , but really struggled in the second. Martin Tyler said he felt that the England starting XI last night will be Southgates preferred line up for the opening WC match.

[God is an Englishman]

How English of him.

Another example of foreigners coming in and diving.

[thebeautifulgame]

Dive all day long. Top class by the referee who has the balls to do the right thing. Managers, fellow players and supporters must cringe at a player attempting to cheat like this. Will continue to happen until the LOTG change.

[Facts and Stats]

How English of him.

Why would you dive in a friendly ?

England controlled the first half , but really struggled in the second. Martin Tyler said he felt that the England starting XI last night will be Southgates preferred line up for the opening WC match.

Henderson will start.

[ozzie owl]

just a fact. Not a complex. Until England have more English players in the EPL and fewer foreigners it won't happen. please don't get personal
So when was the last time England got into a final in the world cup? been a long time.

Please explain how the foreigners effects the English team? Are the best 23 available English players at the WC? Yes. So where is your logic?

The logic is that there is a shrinking pool of English players who get serious game time in the EPL from which to pick from. As this pool continue to shrink then the best 23 could include even larger number of fringe and squad players. One day as with Scotland, you could see the England manager forced to dip into the championship. Only hope is that more of the talented English players blocked from opportunities head to Europe.

[Facts and Stats]

just a fact. Not a complex. Until England have more English players in the EPL and fewer foreigners it won't happen. please don't get personal
So when was the last time England got into a final in the world cup? been a long time.

Please explain how the foreigners effects the English team? Are the best 23 available English players at the WC? Yes. So where is your logic?

The logic is that there is a shrinking pool of English players who get serious game time in the EPL from which to pick from. As this pool continue to shrink then the best 23 could include even larger number of fringe and squad players. One day as with Scotland, you could see the England manager forced to dip into the championship. Only hope is that more of the talented English players blocked from opportunities head to Europe.

If the English players are good enough they will play in the EPL or another top division.
England haven't won a WC since 1966 - it has nothing to do with foreign players. How many of the Brazil team play in Brazil, or French players in France etc?

[Con M]

Dive all day long. Top class by the referee who has the balls to do the right thing. Managers, fellow players and supporters must cringe at a player attempting to cheat like this. Will continue to happen until the LOTG change.

Not in the EPL. I liked the initiative in the season just finished. If a 3-person panel is unanimous (when reviewing a dive on post-match video review) that a player dived, then a 2-match suspension applies.

I’m surprised that the English didn’t submit their initiative to IFAB’s AGM for consideration in the March 2018 LOTG review.

Unless they were thinking it’s gonna be stamped out by V.A.R. during the game, now that IFAB approved imperfect V.A.R. at that March meeting.

IMO the upcoming World Cup will be the make or break of VAR.

[ozzie owl]

AAA no one said the flood of foreigners is the only reason why England can't win the WC but it is a contributing factor .

[Facts and Stats]

AAA no one said the flood of foreigners is the only reason why England can't win the WC but it is a contributing factor .

it isn't - if England had the best 23 players in the world we would probably win the WC. The EPL doesn't have a higher % because they aren't good enough - the best 23 according to Southgate (on form and fit) are going to Russia. If we don't win the cup I am not blaming the likes of Salah or Pogba!

[Nice One Cyril]

Henderson will start.

Who will he drop?

[Facts and Stats]

Henderson will start.

Who will he drop?

One of the others!

Henderson is a regular starter, so I said him as he always plays not because he plays for Liverpool.
I would think Dier could be the one to miss out. Or else Kane.

[God is an Englishman]

Henderson will start.

Who will he drop?

One of the others!

Henderson is a regular starter, so I said him as he always plays not because he plays for Liverpool.
I would think Dier could be the one to miss out. Or else Kane.

Not going to drop the captain and the only world class player in the squad.

[ozzie owl]

Sane couldn't make the German WC squad but would into England starting XI.

[Facts and Stats]

Sane couldn't make the German WC squad but would into England starting XI.

No he wouldn’t, are you on the turps?

[Facts and Stats]

Unlike you GIAE :wink:

[Stitch This]

I would think Dier could be the one to miss out. Or else Kane.

Not going to drop the captain and the only world class player in the squad.

Exactly - someone has to 'shoulder' the responsibility

[God is an Englishman]

Unlike you GIAE :wink:

Are you saying I'm not world class or that I'm not on the turps?