(UEFA) Football Thread - Football not Soccer

[Roger Wilco]

Well, Montenegro is not the push-over team people may think it is just because it's a small country and only a member of UEFA since a couple years and all that; I actually think they have a good chance of qualifying for the Euro (I'd rate them higher than Switzerland anyway). But it can't be England's standard to get a draw at home against teams like that either, not if you ever want to win anything again.

[Jax]

Stalkers wrote:

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And Jax, come on and calm down the hyperbole. 0-0 result against an inform team isn't fucking disgusting, getting hammered by Germany is disgusting! This doesn't even come close. Dissapointing perhaps but we didn't lose.

Am sick of Fabio with his rigid, slow, boring 4-4-2 and bringing in the likes of SWP who has never been good enough for England. He refuses to drop people who don't play well, he refuses to change. We are a top 8 team in the world and to not beat Montenegro at home is dissapointing but the way we played and how Fabio refused to shake things up when he saw it wasn't working is digusting.

Capello has the midfield so deep, Gerrard and Barry may of well be centre backs and RIO/Lescott looked so afraid to push up the defence, it makes Capello look scared to attack. Fabio CV and paycheck means he has NO excuse, we managed about 4 shots in the entire game with any meaning, shocking, awful and appauling are more than ample words.

[Eyes]

Stalkers wrote:

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Well didn't see the game but 0-0 doesn't strike me as a terrible result against a team who are obviously incredibly well diciplined and, lets not forget, have beaten their last three opponants is it? Evil Eyes, I'm not too worried about Montenegro, they seem to be a team based on a hard to break down defence more than anything, and even the games they've won have been by a single goal, so if nothing else we should be able to outscore them in the group overall. They might be a good bet for second place though.

The only thing is, if they are so disciplined, we're going to have to watch our step. If they don't make any mistakes in their other games, which seems likely considering they've already played half their games, and we drop any points in our other games, we're going to the playoffs, which is always nervy. At the moment, I can't see anything other than us and Montenegro in the group getting through.

[Starkers]

Jax wrote:

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Am sick of Fabio with his rigid, slow, boring 4-4-2 and bringing in the likes of SWP who has never been good enough for England. He refuses to drop people who don't play well, he refuses to change. We are a top 8 team in the world and to not beat Montenegro at home is dissapointing but the way we played and how Fabio refused to shake things up when he saw it wasn't working is digusting.

Capello has the midfield so deep, Gerrard and Barry may of well be centre backs and RIO/Lescott looked so afraid to push up the defence, it makes Capello look scared to attack. Fabio CV and paycheck means he has NO excuse, we managed about 4 shots in the entire game with any meaning, shocking, awful and appauling are more than ample words.

Well I didn't watch the game so its probably unfair for me to comment really, but it strikes me that Montenegro are a well diciplined side who rely on nicking the odd goal and winning 1-0 so there was no doubt some caution in our play knowing this. Also judging from the bench Capello didn't have a lot of options to change things round (I know he picks the bench but injuries did dent our attacking options)

[Angel4576]

Montenegro played well, very well in fact, particularly in defence, and were unlucky not to snatch a winner when they thundered one onto the bar with a few minutes to play. That being said, when we upped our tempo we sliced through their defence at will, just couldn't get a clear effort in most of the time, and when we did, their keeper was inspired, particularly in the second half.

I still maintain that there are certain players that should not, all things being equal, be anywhere near the England squad, and are only really there because we're so devoid of talent in those areas; namely, SWP, Barry and Glen Johnson, all of whom were awful. Again.

We'll still cruise through the group. Montenegro won't beat us over there. If they try then they'll leave gaps. I can't see them stopping us again. Plus, don't they still have to go to Switzerland? I can see them dropping points there, and potentially to Wales as well.

Wouldn't be England if we didn't have at least one blip through the campaign.

[trekkiebaggio]

We've got a game in hand so if we win that we go top on goal difference anyway. The reaction to the draw was a bit over the top I thought. But then I wouldn't expect anything else from the English media.

[Starkers]

Yup, England; we're either the greatest team in the world, or we're shite.

There is no middle ground!

[HappyDayRiot]

Could someone please tell Cardiff City that letting the opposition go 2-0 up inside 8 minutes is NOT how to begin a game!?

I'm so glad we won that game - David James did a damn good job trying to prevent us winning, fair play to him. Could definitely see why Bristol are propping up the table though - utterly toothless in attack, though they did look strong on set-pieces. I think that was more due to us being shit at defending though!

[Roger Wilco]

What's with you Cardiff fans harassing innocent school teachers?

[HappyDayRiot]

Haha very good! The BBC actually got the CCTV pictures and made an appeal for information on those idiots a week ago... and a girl I work with managed to identify two of them!

I can assure you, the places mentioned are rough as sandpaper. And full of loonies.

[Angel4576]

Roger Wilco wrote:

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What's with you Cardiff fans harassing innocent school teachers?

Dunno, but check out Joanie's crackers!

[Jax]

So how long does Roy have at Liverpool? He should not of touched that job after Rafa, it was a poison chalice. Also I think the FA will now not consider him for the England job in 2012.

[Starkers]

HappyDayRiot wrote:

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Could someone please tell Cardiff City that letting the opposition go 2-0 up inside 8 minutes is NOT how to begin a game!?

I'm so glad we won that game - David James did a damn good job trying to prevent us winning, fair play to him. Could definitely see why Bristol are propping up the table though - utterly toothless in attack, though they did look strong on set-pieces. I think that was more due to us being shit at defending though!

'ang about weren't City your pick for promotion this year

Good result to come back from 2 down. I was more than happy with 3-0 and 5 games unbeaten now!

[Starkers]

Jax wrote:

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So how long does Roy have at Liverpool? He should not of touched that job after Rafa, it was a poison chalice. Also I think the FA will now not consider him for the England job in 2012.

On the one hand you can't blame him for taking the job, but on the other it was such a poison chalice. I hope he gets longer but today's resut won't have helped!

[Jax]

Just watched MOTD and dam Jack Wilshire is looking great this term (red card withstanding). Am sure Capello though will not get the best out of him for England as he'll stick him in a rigid 4-4-2