Well, how about them apples?
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Well, how about them apples?
Heskey was the sole bright point for England in that half he has the beating of DeMerit. Gerard got a goal but like the rest of the England midfield hasnt taken control of the game. Is Rooney playing? he is the invisible man out there. Milner wasnt taken off because of the yellow card - he was getting skinned by cherundolo every time, Wright Phillips is on in the hope that he can make cherundolo think more of defending.
England look confused at the back and the US are winning too many headers from set-pieces.
poor very very poor - if England want to win this tournament they will need to play a lot better than that.
Nah - they played well and USA got lucky. Gerard and Lampard combined well, and Johnson had a good game. They were pretty solid at the back too.
As for Rooney - it didn't drop for him today, but he can't be underestimated.
I think you know me too well...Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
England played a little better than I thought but their weaknesses are obvious. As I said before they are just not good enough to progress far in this tournament. Rooney and Gerrard are world class, Lampard and A Cole behind them and then there is a huge void in the team. Heskey is a total liability in terms of going forward, good link up play and good in the air, but constantly gets offside, gives away fouls and CAN'T score. SWP and Lennon are just not good enough, dance around and look quick but there is no end product. Defence is not bad but can have no faith in the keeper whoever he is as has been highlighted today. Not the end of the world, but that performance just confirms my thinking all the way to the bank with Brazil and Spain...Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulclem
Lost my Gogols too...
three wins today brings my coin back to 100! :D
You did say they would lose. USA were on the back foot for most of the second half, and equalised through a fluke.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neely
Heskey had a good game, and Lennon looked dangerous when he got those crosses in.
There's time to build. :D
Yes we had the better game but it doesn't count for much in the end.Quote:
You did say they would lose. USA were on the back foot for most of the second half, and equalised through a fluke.
Yes he links up well and wins the headers, but as a forward option he just isn't one. As a forward you are going to be in a position once or twice in a game when you get a chance and this is where he is the problem because he is physically unable to convert chances. At the one-on-one he couldn't have hit the keeper's chest better if he had a target on it, he is a liability. Much better, I think to push Rooney in that forward position and to sit someone like Joe Cole in behind. Rooney tends to sit too deep because he looks to create as he did today, but we want Rooney forward in that danger area and that didn't happen enough today.Quote:
Heskey had a good game, and Lennon looked dangerous when he got those crosses in.
Sure but we are several bricks short and that's the problem.Quote:
There's time to build. :D
Armchair expert signing off; I need a shower (no hot water for a bath the boiler has packed in...damn)
England did play well but not enough to impress (nor to score a second goal). It was disappointing. And USA's goalkeeper is awesom.
ATM:
Bill: Out!
Kilted: 110
Lulim: 80
Mark: 58
Neely: 82
Niamh: 100
Papaya: 19
Paul : 83
Pren: 27
Scher: 102
Turquoise: 75
Virgil: 91
Tomorrow's games are interesting:
Algeria vs Slovenia
Serbia vs Ghana
Germany vs Australia
Niamh> Way to go! :)
I didn't think either team was that good. From what I saw earlier in the day, Argentina and possibly even Nigeria could beat either of those teams handily.
I wasn't surprised by Tim Howard, but I was surprised by the U.S. midfield. England is gonna have to do better against athletic midfielders and speedy forwards, when they meet some of the other favored teams.
My next set of picks.
Slovenia - Win (4 coins)
Ghana - Win (4 coins)
Germany - Win (20 coins)
My guesses for today:
Algeria vs Slovenia -- Draw, 5 Eliots
Serbia vs Ghana -- Ghana, 5 Eliots
Germany vs Australia -- Germany, 30 Eliots
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neely
Ok so we're not going to win it!
I'm a Heskey fan and have been for years because defenders hate to play against him, he's big and strong and knocks them over. We just haveN't got a Shearer Owen Lineker anymore.
Argentina definitely, they looked quietly comfortable and should have scored a lot more, but Nigeria no, I'd be happy with facing them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Virgil
Aha! So your the sole Heskey fan are you? I thought they must have been one. I agree he is a handful and wins everything in the air but he just does, not, score. :banghead:Quote:
Originally Posted by prendrelemick
Tough call the first game for me, could be anything and hard to predict. Both poor sides but Slovenia have slightly more on paper, though that might not count for much. As I have put a little money on Algeria to finish rock bottom in this group (1.83) with Germany and Brazil to win the group, I'll punt a little on Slovenia, so I will go a cautious 4 Zlotty.
Slovenian win 4 Zlotty (I've exchanged the Gogols because they are not giving me any luck.) I'll post my thoughts on the other games later, just need a little more research on these teams first.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...10/8737455.stmQuote:
South Africa ponders vuvuzela ban after complaints
South Africa's World Cup organising chief Danny Jordaan may ban vuvuzelas from inside stadiums after complaints from broadcasters and supporters.
The constant sound of the high-pitched horn-like instrument has so far drowned out any of the atmosphere-generating singing usually associated with games.
Oh, let's hope so, FIFA was aware of this before and could/should have banned them from the start. One of their reasons for not doing so was the claim that the vuvuzelas things are "part of the African heritage" apparently, what mass produced plastic trumpets?Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
right my bets are in...
Algeria- 5
Serbia/Ghana- Draw 5 (although i'm leaning towards Ghana...)
Germany- 20
Ok
Slovenia for the win - 5
Serbia to get past Ghana (micheal essien's injury is too much for them to overcome) - 10
Germany to rout Australia - 30
40 carrolls on Germany
ATM:
Bill: Out!
Kilted: 110
Lulim: 80
Mark: 58
Neely: 82
Niamh: 100
Papaya: 19
Paul : 83
Pren: 27
Scher: 102
Turquoise: 75
Virgil: 91
Algeria vs Slovenia:
Virgil: Slovenia (4)
Lulim: Draw (5)
Neely: Slovenia (4)
Niamh: Algeria (5)
Kilted: Slovenia (5)
Scher: Algeria (3)
I have no idea how good Algerians are but just wishing them a win.
Mine are
Slovenia 5 vuvuzelas
Ghana 5 vuvuzelas
Germany 10 vuvuzelas
First appearance of a rangers player today Bougherra for Algeria.
I hardly dare bet on anything now!
The recovery starts here
10 Blytons on Germany.
Algeria Vs Snorevenia...:as-sleep:
Putting 5 Zlotty on a Serbian win. :thumbsup:
That was dreadful - Slovenia do look organised and hard to break down however....
Serbia vs Ghana -- Ghana, 2 coins
Germany vs Australia -- Germany, 4 coins
ATM:
Bill: Out!
Kilted: 115
Lulim: 75
Mark: 58
Neely: 86
Niamh: 95
Papaya: 19
Paul : 88
Pren: 27
Scher: 99
Turquoise: 75
Virgil: 95
Serbia vs Ghana:
Virgil: Ghana (4)
Lulim: Ghana (5)
Neely: Serbia (5)
Niamh: Draw (5)
Kilted: Serbia (10)
Scher: Ghana (3)
Paul: Ghana (5)
Papaya: Ghana (2)
Here come the teams, I predict 2 - 1 to Ghana.
What an entertaining game that Ghana/Serbia match was. Lots of energy from both sides. :)
Wait for the big boys, Brazil and Spain!!! Spain will be awesome in this world cup.Quote:
Originally Posted by Virgil
Serbia a big disappointment for me, a lot of people had them as hot dark horses, but on that performance they are nothing at all, over cautious, set piece hopefuls with no creativity. Ghana much more energy and commitment and deserved to win, plus what a stupid hand ball for the sending off.
Putting 10 Zlottys on Germany. I think this will be a little closer than a lot of people expect, but I'm backing the German win. Australia will pack midfield and defend deep, but I think Germany will have too much for them and break them down. Presently looking at odds for a 2-0, might have a pop at that if good enough.
Yes - the Germans have had trouble recently, but they can never be written off. Missed the Ghana Serbia match. I hope i catch it on Match Of The Day tonight!
Are you a footie convert Virgil or did you always like it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Virgil
ATM:
Bill: Out!
Kilted: 105
Lulim: 80
Mark: 58
Neely: 81
Niamh: 90
Papaya: 21
Paul : 93
Pren: 27
Scher: 102
Turquoise: 75
Virgil: 99
Germany vs Australia:
Virgil: Germany (20)
Lulim: Germany (30)
Neely: Germany (10)
Niamh: Germany (20)
Kilted: Germany (30)
Mark: Germany (40)
Scher: Germany (38)
Paul: Germany (10)
Pren: Germany (10)
Papaya: Germany (4)
I hope the Aussies beat Germany though. I like an underdog to win - especially if the underdog is England.
Has no one put anything on the aussies....or a draw even.
That first goal (Germans v. Australia) looked offsides. Here in the U.S., I think they reviewed it on the broadcast just once, but without the special off-sides-shading graphics that they usually use. It looked off-sides to me, but the announcers stayed away from discussion of it after that one look at it.
I might have missed something (my attention is a bit divided). Did I just see things wrong in that one replay?
I've not noticed any comments about off-side, I don't think it was.
It must be said the Germans look very good, by far the best team performance of the world cup so far. Their odds to win the world cup have dropped from 15 to 11.5 on that half alone. (I managed to get a couple of quid on after 1-0 at 14 so I am happy about that.)
That is the best half of football so far (argentina included) whoever finishes second in group C is in for a second round exit.
I missed the first goal :-/Aye, aye, aye!Quote:
Originally Posted by kilted exile
*puts on her clogs and dances*
This is excellent football!
In honour of Germany's game, the beer is on the house!
:cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2: :cheers2:
Ah, I didn't know the guy in "offside position" had to end up touching the ball. Similar to hockey now, I just remember it used to be a little different.