Football 2011-2012

[pink_triangle]

While I totally accept the modify there game some what for the European football to think they fundamentally change their approach for them is cast iron wrong. Yeah some more patient, a slightly different approach but its direct football... Its not like the italians play (for example)...

And its been massively successful...

Did Greece win by playing extremely technical, patient, created football... Nope... They played to their strengths...

I think Harry, Moyles, O'Neil... Would all do a job, set the team up to play in they way these guys play week in, week out... and not subject them to system and ideas that are alien to them and their playing styles...

[The Nal]

First penalty was a definite, for me the second should have been a wellbeck yellow card for diving. As for the other wellbeck penalty shout it wasnt conclusive enough to give anything but a free kick on the edge of the box.

[the_hedge]

Great game yesterday, really enjoyed it and De Gea's save at the end was awsome, I don't think you will see a better save this season. Tonight's game should be interesting as well.

[The Nal]

Encouraging comments from Fergie about De Gea yesterday.

"We know his potential, we know he's an outstanding talent and we've got to trust that. We bought him on the premise that he could be our goalkeeper for 10 years and he showed that. He dealt much better with all the aerial balls that came in. It's experience. He's not used to the English game, he's had some bad moments this year in terms of dealing with that type of play. But today, I think he's got the bit between his teeth and he's done well."

No doubting his athleticism anyway.

[Steve P]

United's second penalty should never have been given. As with Johnson on Saturday, he deliberately sort out contact. Still despite the generous decisions that they got you have to say it was a great comeback from ManU. The belief that Fergie gives those players is amazing. Still the poorest side they've had in a long time though.

Capello's biggest problem is that he didn't realise just how poor most players are in this country in terms of technique and disciplin. But the odd expections like Wilshere, we don't have players with the ability to actually control a game. It's all well and good calling for the English national team to play to their strengths, but those strengths are only effective against teams that play with a similar style. The only way we'll ever really compete in the major tournaments is if we change the way football is taught in schools and at youth level to actually encourage players to develop real ball skills rather than kick and rush.

Oh and The Ox looks like he's really got something about him.

[eFestivals]

but but but .... back towards the beginning of the season when I was saying he was falling noticably short I had people telling me I was wrong.

On the basis that those who told me I was wrong like to think they have fergie's thinking because I'm a Utd hater that only wants to do Utd down, does that make me a better manager than fergie?

[strummer77]

Anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster today.

Sometimes football just seems irrelevant doesn't it?

[eFestivals]

Oh and The Ox looks like he's really got something about him.

He does - and the improvement over the games that have been his recent starts has been noticable too.

Despite Walcott's great contribution on Saturday I couldn't help but laugh at his recent "I'm a striker, the Ox is a winger" comments as Ox's second goal went in. When did Walcott last score two goals for Arsenal?

[The Nal]

The belief that Fergie gives those players is amazing. Still the poorest side they've had in a long time though.

[pink_triangle]

United's second penalty should never have been given. As with Johnson on Saturday, he deliberately sort out contact.

[Steve P]

True. But give them time. De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Hernandez all kids. And Rafael looking very good recently! Id rather a couple of stuttering seasons now than a free fall and a need for a total revamp like Chelski or Arsenal need in two years time.

[thetime]

I don't think so...

What happened at the weekend is far more relevant to 99% of people on here than a plane crash a very long time ago.

I bet most people on here weren't even alive when it happened.

[strummer77]

Agreed, I know some people say its the skill of the player forcing the contact, but to me it is blatant cheating and something I really dislike about modern day football.

[strummer77]

By 'irrelevant' I didn't mean personally. Meant more the fact that football pales in significance/is a less serious issue.

Can't even imagine what would happen if a plane full of stars crashed today.

[thetime]

By 'irrelevant' I didn't mean personally. Meant more the fact that football pales in significance/is a less serious issue.

Can't even imagine what would happen if a plane full of stars crashed today.

[Kyelo]

I have great respect for what he has achieved as a club manager... What he has done with England to date has been shite.

[strummer77]

Different era mate, im a bit of a utd historian and have seen reels after reels on munich and all the country was in grief. Now the way football is all tribal, alot of people would mock.

Edited February 6, 2012 by strummer77

[The Nal]

Anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster today.

Sometimes football just seems irrelevant doesn't it?

[strummer77]

From a horrible Munich story to a rather nice one

Huge respect for Bayern for this. Saving a rival.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20120206/bayern-dortmund/

[The Nal]

From a horrible Munich story to a rather nice one

Huge respect for Bayern for this. Saving a rival.

http://sportsillustr...ayern-dortmund/

Edited February 6, 2012 by The Nal

[kaosmark2]

very impressed with them sunday, they seem to be a close knit team and you cant say that to much about chelsea. Would love newcastle to get 4th, but if one of liverpool/arsenal/chelsea put a really good run together can see them getting it. Like you said about spurs they might be so pre occupied with the title, they might take there eye of the ball and finish out the top 4.

[kaosmark2]

Higher than Sven ?

EDIT: Apparently Sven had 59.7%... Capello has 66.6%...

I still view Sven as more successful...

World Cup QF x 2

European Cup QF x 1

Capello

World Cup Last 16 x 1 (and it looked AWFUL)

Sven defo has the edge for me....

[eFestivals]

Higher than Sven ?

EDIT: Apparently Sven had 59.7%... Capello has 66.6%...

I still view Sven as more successful...

World Cup QF x 2

European Cup QF x 1

Capello

World Cup Last 16 x 1 (and it looked AWFUL)

Sven defo has the edge for me....

I reckon win-stats like that mean little. The simple fact is that Postman Pat did well in the less important games that there were quite a few of (the qualies) and then did shit in the games that matter (the finals - and there's fewer games there, hence Pat's better win stats), while Sven was more the opposite of that.

And that's actually a pattern with England over decades. If the team does well in the qualies then it does badly in the finals, and if it does less well in the qualies (while still qualifying) then it has a better run in the finals.

To me that pretty much indicates that England are playing consistantly at around the best they're able to do, so the reason why England tends to have a high world ranking comes down to their playing style which has them regularly beating the world's better teams that they shouldn't often beat from what their average level says.

So that then says that the FIFA rankings obviously favour the more geographical narrow friendlies and qualies than they would do if international matches were more widely spread around.

[kaosmark2]

To me that pretty much indicates that England are playing consistantly at around the best they're able to do, so the reason why England tends to have a high world ranking comes down to their playing style which has them regularly beating the world's better teams that they shouldn't often beat from what their average level says.

[eFestivals]

England beat the world's better teams? Such as?

A high world ranking is self-perpetuating. England have a high world ranking, therefore draw weaker teams in qualifiers + tournament group stages, therefore usually get through, therefore maintain a high world ranking through beating average teams.

We beat Germany occasionally. But draws as well i guess.

But yeah, that's a part of it. But most of our games are against the world's big teams, and predominantly the european ones. We get enough results in those - and play too few of the other weaker teams to lose too many of them - to help sustain the ranking too.

If England played a wider assortment of internationals I'm certain that our ranking would fall a fair way from where it tends to be.