The General Football Thread

It wasn’t so long ago that a John Stones was the scapegoat for England fans (myself included). Gareth stuck with him and now he’s a top quality CB again.

 

I suspect playing regularly alongside Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias has more bearing on his improvement.

 

I wasn't suggesting Southgate was the reason why Stones' form improved, but rather just giving him credit for sticking with Stones, when the fans and media were calling for him to be dropped.

 

Wasn`t bringing on youngsters cold to take penalties in a cup final shoot-out a huge blunder?

 

Yeah that was a bit weird. But it’s not like our senior players haven’t been crap at pens for years.

End of the day if a player misses a penalty, it’s on them. Can’t blame anyone else for that, imo.

 

i really do not understand why there is so much negativity surrounding Gareth Southgate. England have been serious contenders with him in charge in the last two competitions and the failings in the current competition merely reflect the experimental nature of this competion which is essentially giving a competitive edge to friendly matches. The match on Monday produced a good second half performance and is more typical of what Southgate is about. We should not be thinking of making a switch before the World Cup and I would imagine that England will do well in Novemer's competition is an environment where we will have no right to play well. It will be a very "alien" Wolrd Cuop this year and feel the unexpected should be anticipated.

 

How often have the Germans stumbled their way to qualification only to go on and lift the mug?

 

Because, much like Ralph has been doing, GS obsesses over setting up not to lose, rather than playing to our strengths (attack) and trying to win.

 

Haven’t checked this out, but ……


On 27 January 1994, Barbados and Grenada clashed in a qualification match for the 1994 Carribean Cup.

Due to an unusual rule, Barbados needed to win by a margin of two goals or more to qualify while a draw would take the game into extra time.

Also, according to the rule, which was a variant of the Golden Goal rule, a goal scored in extra time not only won the match, but also counted as two goals.

By the 83rd minute, Barbados were leading 2-0 and had hopes of qualifying. But Grenada scored a late goal to make it 2-1 and Barbados had limited time to score and restore their two-goal advantage.

So they decided to score an own goal and force the match into extra time, where they hoped to score a golden goal, which would count as two goals and restore their two-goal advantage.

With the scoreline at 2-2, Grenada just needed to score in either goal to qualify (since a 1-goal win margin would knock Barbados out).

The Barbadians realizing what was going on, had to defend both goals- and they succeeded in doing so. The game progressed to extra time and Barbados scored a golden goal which ensured their qualification.

The Grenadian manager James Clarkson did not find it funny, saying;

"I feel cheated. The person who came up with these rules must be a candidate for a madhouse.

"The game should never be played with so many players running around the field confused. Our players did not even know which direction to attack: our goal or their goal. I have never seen this happen before. In football, you are supposed to score against the opponents to win, not for them."

 

More than 120 dead after a riot at a football match in Indonesia
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-63105945

 

Football matches in Indonesia are crazy. I was at the 2007 Asia cup final in Jakarta when Iraq beat t Saudi Arabia 1-0 much to the delight of the crowd. The ground was full and an exit gate near was unmanned and locked a disaster waiting to happen.
We're hearing the death toll has risen to 180, sad.

 

The sort of calamity Saints can only aspire to.



Although I hear they cheered the GK up by showing Salisu’s one against Spurs

 

Regretfully puts many things into perspective, very sad and horrific.

 

Wow Rangers look so poor at Anfield.

 

Dusan got sent off in the Ajax game last night.

 

By many accounts the Dusan Out vote is now clearly ahead of the Dusan In

 

ouch.

 

Ah bless…..

 

2 more for Haaland tonight.