Football

[61653 HTAFC]

Yeah sorry I do mean Peter Clarke, not sure why name him Paul. Rumours is Clarke doesn't fancy become Latics new manager anyway so seem like he continued playing football for Oldham next season. (Unless he sign for Bury again that is)

As captain for Huddersfield Peter Clarke was a great leader on the field- the sort of player you'd expect to do well as a manager under the right circumstances.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

As captain for Huddersfield Peter Clarke was a great leader on the field- the sort of player you'd expect to do well as a manager under the right circumstances.

Though it is also true that some of the best players on the pitch translate poorly as managers - see Ally McCoist, Tony Adams, Teddy Sheringham; one that comes to mind to me as a Rovers fan is Henning Berg. Indeed some of the best managers around had little to nothing by way of a professional career.

 

[Cowley]

Though it is also true that some of the best players on the pitch translate poorly as managers - see Ally McCoist, Tony Adams, Teddy Sheringham; one that comes to mind to me as a Rovers fan is Henning Berg. Indeed some of the best managers around had little to nothing by way of a professional career.

Yep. It’s a very different skill set which some players may or may not have.
Making a good manager just because you’re a good pundit being another one...

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yep. It’s a very different skill set which some players may or may not have.
Making a good manager just because you’re a good pundit being another one...

Though usually the pundit angle is only explored once they've failed as managers. Alan Shearer being an example, one which also demonstrates that with punditry being rubbish isn't a barrier! The same doesn't apply to coaching quite as much.

 

[AlterEgo]

Which goes to prove what a load of rollocks the honours system is. Pop stars, football players, actresses all getting a gong for doing their job. The coxswain on our lifeboat is worth twenty of them and he hasn't got a gong.

Probably goes to prove how little you know about Kenny Dalglish or why he got knighted. He wasn’t awarded the knighthood for being the manager of a football team.

 

[Butts]

Though it is also true that some of the best players on the pitch translate poorly as managers - see Ally McCoist, Tony Adams, Teddy Sheringham; one that comes to mind to me as a Rovers fan is Henning Berg. Indeed some of the best managers around had little to nothing by way of a professional career.

One of the most notable "failures" was probably Bobby Charlton at Preston, unlike his brother Jackie, not as good a player but a much better Manager.

 

[greyman42]

Though usually the pundit angle is only explored once they've failed as managers. Alan Shearer being an example, one which also demonstrates that with punditry being rubbish isn't a barrier! The same doesn't apply to coaching quite as much.

Alan Shearer was only a manager for 8 matches so I don't think that's enough to class him as a failure.

 

[greyman42]

One of the most notable "failures" was probably Bobby Charlton at Preston, unlike his brother Jackie, not as good a player but a much better Manager.

Alan Ball had a very poor record as a manager.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Two excellent players that went on to be good managers too, would be Franz Beckenbauer and Johann Cruyff.

 

[EM2]

Which goes to prove what a load of rollocks the honours system is. Pop stars, football players, actresses all getting a gong for doing their job. The coxswain on our lifeboat is worth twenty of them and he hasn't got a gong.

You could always nominate them?

 

[fowler9]

Probably goes to prove how little you know about Kenny Dalglish or why he got knighted. He wasn’t awarded the knighthood for being the manager of a football team.

Agreed.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yeah sorry I do mean Peter Clarke, not sure why name him Paul. Rumours is Clarke doesn't fancy become Latics new manager anyway so seem like he continued playing football for Oldham next season. (Unless he sign for Bury again that is)

Frankie Bunn is the new Oldham Athletic manager, on a one-year deal.

More at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44467345

 

[Darandio]

This is quite a biggie. Some of you will know that yesterday, the Spain manager Julen Lopetegui had agreed to take over at Real Madrid after the World Cup. Now he won't have to wait, Spain have sacked him 24 hours before the World Cup starts! Turns out they weren't informed until 5 minutes before it was announced and were less than pleased.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44467548

Spain sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui after he was named the new Real Madrid boss - two days before their opening World Cup match against Portugal.

Real Madrid announced on Tuesday that Lopetegui would replace Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu on a three-year-deal.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said it had dismissed the 51-year-old because the negotiation occurred "without any information to the RFEF".

The World Cup in Russia starts on Thursday.

 

[WelshBluebird]

This is quite a biggie. Some of you will know that yesterday, the Spain manager Julen Lopetegui had agreed to take over at Real Madrid after the World Cup. Now he won't have to wait, Spain have sacked him 24 hours before the World Cup starts! Turns out they weren't informed until 5 minutes before it was announced and were less than pleased.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44467548

I get being pretty annoyed, but to sack your manager literally the day before the World Cup starts? That's insane!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

One down, just 30 more teams need to implode and England might have a chance of glory...

 

[Darandio]

Looking forward eight years, the 2026 World Cup will be held in the US, Canada and Mexico.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44464913

The 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico after their joint bid beat Morocco's proposal to host it.

The 'United 2026' bid was selected by Fifa member nations, winning 134 votes compared to 65 for Morocco.

The 2026 tournament will be the biggest World Cup ever held - with 48 teams playing 80 matches over 34 days.

Both Mexico (1970 and 1986) and the United States (1994) have previously hosted World Cups.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Well that will be a pretty expensive one in terms of travelling costs etc! Madness to have it spread out over such a large area.

 

[Darandio]

Well that will be a pretty expensive one in terms of travelling costs etc! Madness to have it spread out over such a large area.

Though it satisfies the most important thing they consider when organising a World Cup, maximum revenue for FIFA.

 

[DarloRich]

Well that will be a pretty expensive one in terms of travelling costs etc! Madness to have it spread out over such a large area.

But teams wont play one game in Edmonton, one game in Guadalajara and one in Florida will they!

 

[WelshBluebird]

But teams wont play one game in Edmonton, one game in Guadalajara and one in Florida will they!

For the teams who end up in the later stages, I don't see why not.
I'd assume the group themselves will be organised around a few stadiums, but as soon as you get out of the groups, presumably each country will want at least one quarter final each for example. And the semis probably split between two of the countries.

 

[The_Train]

And the semis probably split between two of the countries.

Knowing FIFA, the final will probably be split between two of the countries as well

 

[DarloRich]

For the teams who end up in the later stages, I don't see why not.
I'd assume the group themselves will be organised around a few stadiums, but as soon as you get out of the groups, presumably each country will want at least one quarter final each for example. And the semis probably split between two of the countries.

There are only 3 cities in each of Canada and Mexico to host a game. There are 10 games in each of Canada and Mexico with the rest in the USA. You would expect each host nation ( if they qualify) to play games in their own country so I suspect one group based in each of Mexico and Canada plus 2 knock out games. It isnt that much different to Russia.

For instance England will play group games in Stalingrad, Nizhny Novgorod and Konisberg. If we win Group G we go to Rostov on Don. If we are runners up we go to Moscow. After that it is either Samara or Kazan for a quarter final followed by Leningrad or Moscow for a semi followed by Lenningrad for runners up play off or Moscow for the final! .

They are not short journeys. Stalingrad to Nizhny Novgorod is about 1000km!

 

[Kite159]

There are only 3 cities in each of Canada and Mexico to host a game. There are 10 games in each of Canada and Mexico with the rest in the USA. You would expect each host nation ( if they qualify) to play games in their own country so I suspect one group based in each of Mexico and Canada plus 2 knock out games. It isnt that much different to Russia.

For instance England will play group games in Stalingrad, Nizhny Novgorod and Konisberg. If we win Group G we go to Rostov on Don. If we are runners up we go to Moscow. After that it is either Samara or Kazan for a quarter final followed by Leningrad or Moscow for a semi followed by Lenningrad for runners up play off or Moscow for the final! .

They are not short journeys. Stalingrad to Nizhny Novgorod is about 1000km!

Don't the hosts normally automatically qualify?

 

[DarloRich]

Don't the hosts normally automatically qualify?

The hosts get automatic qualification but there has never been 3 hosts before! Hardly any point having a CONACAF qualifying tournament!

 

[AlterEgo]

The hosts get automatic qualification but there has never been 3 hosts before! Hardly any point having a CONACAF qualifying tournament!

Good point.

 

[The_Train]

It appears that Spain have sacked their manager the day before the World Cup is due to start. Solid preparation

 

[greyman42]

I honestly think England can win it. No one else has been setting the world on fire in the last 6 months.

 

[Dentonian]

I honestly think England can win it. No one else has been setting the world on fire in the last 6 months.

If Germany haven't been setting the world on fire in the last six months - that's ominous; "Hey, tell you what", it would be some story if Spain win it now.

 

[Cowley]

OK I’m going to say it...

I’m feeling quietly optimistic that England might do a little bit better than the last few times at this World Cup.
Does anyone else feel the same way (I know that I always do this mind)?

 

[AlterEgo]

Nope. Although I am feeling relieved at the utter lack of hype. For once.