Football 2013-2014

[kaosmark2]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/8972980/sir-alex-ferguson-urged-to-come-out-of-retirement-and-manage-australia

[eFestivals]

If you're trying to properly analyse something you shouldn't

the point I'm making is that averages are made up of their parts, and any of those parts can vary quite a lot from the average.

Pulling out any single part to try to disprove the average is non-sensical.

[TheGayTent]

and in '74 we got knocked out in the qualies with a better win percentage than many times when we've gone thru.

England's performance is pretty constant as the stats get to prove, but what varies are the opposition.

And the whole bleedin' point with stats - as it appears to be passing you by - is that you can't just pull out the individual bits that suit your argument. That's not how it works, funnily enough.

[TheGayTent]

the point I'm making is that averages are made up of their parts, and any of those parts can vary quite a lot from the average.

Pulling out any single part to try to disprove the average is non-sensical.

Edited October 15, 2013 by TheGayTent

[eFestivals]

The only way to correctly analyse that theory is to look at each qualifying campaign and it's subsequent tournament.

and you'll find that when the qualies have seemingly gone well the tournament has gone less well, and vice versa. That's predominantly the case over the years.

[TheGayTent]

and you'll find that when the qualies have seemingly gone well the tournament has gone less well, and vice versa. That's predominantly the case over the years.

[kaosmark2]

No Piszczek? Certainly helps tip the balance towards England.

[pink_triangle]

A proper group of death would be exciting...I mean England wouldn't qualify most years ...but it'd be exciting seeing better teams play each other!.

[kaosmark2]

Cracking game so far, let down by the fact we've got ITV's fucking awful commentary team making me want to throatpunch them both.

[lost]

I think we've done enough to have the game sewn up but Wellbeck and Sturridge have missed a hatfull either by bad shooting or poor control. Just hope it doesn't come back to bite us on the arse.

Edited October 15, 2013 by lost

[kaosmark2]

Poland look excellent on the break, I still think they'll get a goal.

[PDAD]

It's weird seeing England actually look like a half decent football team.

[kaosmark2]

It is. Won't last into the Finals though.

[Bobs]

It is. Won't last into the Finals though.

[kaosmark2]

I genuinely think we won't get out of the group. Short of lucking out with something like New Zealand/Iran/Greece I can really see that team struggling in Brazilian climes.

[Bobs]

France failed massively in the last world cup, struggled in the Euro qualifiers, and have had difficulties in this one (partially due to the presence of Spain and the lack of whipping boys).

Greece by contrast, perform well in qualifiers consistently, and usually get out of their groups in Euros. Their 2004 win bumped their seeding up highly, yet because they've rarely lost a game since, they've not really dropped that much. Draws in the finals stage and one loss to knock them out each tournament doesn't actually hit rankings that much.

The rankings system really is fucked up.

[Bobs]

I genuinely think we won't get out of the group. Short of lucking out with something like New Zealand/Iran/Greece I can really see that team struggling in Brazilian climes.

[TheGayTent]

I genuinely think we won't get out of the group. Short of lucking out with something like New Zealand/Iran/Greece I can really see that team struggling in Brazilian climes.

[Bobs]

Making predictions without knowing the draw is nigh on impossible, but if I had to, I'd go for getting out of the group but losing in either the last 16 or quarters.

Anyway, what I want to know is, does finishing top of the group and not losing a game equal qualifying well? Or does only qualifying automatically in the final game and by a single point equal scraping through...?

[kaosmark2]

Making predictions without knowing the draw is nigh on impossible, but if I had to, I'd go for getting out of the group but losing in either the last 16 or quarters.

Anyway, what I want to know is, does finishing top of the group and not losing a game equal qualifying well? Or does only qualifying automatically in the final game and by a single point equal scraping through...?

[PDAD]

whats the point in going through a transition period if you aren't going to Transition.

[strummer77]

Greece have performed well, your not wrong, but you can hardly call Latvia, Liechtenstein and Lithuania tough opposition. When Englands group had Ukraine, Poland and Montenegro in it, who are arguably, 3 tough teams, you wouldn't feel unconfident in going through, yet you have Greece Scraping 1-0 wins consistently, good on their defence mind.

Edited October 15, 2013 by strummer77

[Bobs]

3 average teams really. Did the job, but nothing to go overboard about.

[pink_triangle]

Who cares? We're through, anyone remember Brazil just about qualifying for the 2002 WC by the skin of their teeth? And Look what happened there

[kaosmark2]

Slight difference in the fact that the 2002 world cup wasn't hosted in a country who have not lost a competitive game at home for a zillion years!

Didn't watch the England game so cant comment, but agree its hard to make predictions until the draw. Then again we all remember the EASY headline after the 2010 draw. England will be like most of the 32 teams who are there just to make the numbers up. I think its a 4 way fight between Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Spain for the title. Brazil have to be big favourites with home advantage.

Biggest news of the day for me has to be Bosnia qualifying, well deserved after getting so close in recent times.

I watched Wales v Belgium and a point could be crucial for us in terms of seeding pot for the euro 2016 qualification. Belgium look a very confident team, I can see them being strong in their world cup group, but think they may struggle when they come up against one of the big boys. As for Wales we look better now than we did 12 months ago which is progress, I just wish we could find what it is Wenger has fed Ramsey this summer, bottle it and give it to our other players!