I think that my money would be about as safe if I was betting on San Marino to win it...
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Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
I take it that the "utter lack of hype" does not include that ever-so-regularly featured ridiculous cartoon-type trailer on the TV that seems to have a Russian-sounding "musical" background music. Nothing more certain in this household to cause the TV sound volume to be changed to "mute".
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Are the other teams not going to turn up?
Quarter finals at best. Group stage exit more likely. We lack quality and technical ability. We lack tactical flexibility and we lack a player with the "X factor" to open up solid, well marshaled defenses.
Win our group and we play the runner up of group H. If we are runner up in our group we play the winner of group H. That group contains Poland, Senegal, Columbia and Japan.
Yes the lack of hype is refreshing. I think it reflects reality. We are not a very good side. Looking objectively using this tournament as experience and developing a good ( if unspectacular) group of relatively young players into a cohesive unit for the future should be the objective imo.
nlogax
Established Member
Pretty depressing statement there. Surely it's worth striving to be more than 'slightly better than average'?
It feels as though there's a last minute undercurrent of 'England look happy and settled and no-one's hyping them, which must be really good for their fortunes' - which turns into hype..
I don't see the remotest chance of us failing to get out of our group and we should beat the group H team as well, so it should be a comfortable path to the quarters.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
That sounds very logical. Until you remember we are talking about England! We will find a new and exciting way to mess things up. BTW we made very similar statements about the last Euros. We got beaten by Iceland.................................
That's true, but I think we have a better team this time round that genuinely believes in itself.
Warwick
Member
I see the bookies are offering odds of 10 to 1 for England. For those not familiar with betting it means that you give the bookmaker £10 and you never see it again.
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
I know I'll enjoy watching games that don't involve England more than games that do... I get enough stress during the regular season!
I seem to remember there wasn't much hype about England during the last World Cup either, though no pundits predicted that we'd be home with a game to spare. However just like last time, in the days before the tournament folk are starting to think "maybe we can do it, nobody expects it...".
There's still hype, it just isn't as loud. The red-tops will still find a scapegoat when we go out, and that player will end up receiving sacks full of hate-mail.
We have a chance, in the same sense that Brighouse Town have a "chance" of winning the FA Cup. I'm just going to try and enjoy the football and not worry about England. I do have a few wild predictions though...
Russia will defy the odds and make the knockout stages, but only down to some strange calls by referees/assistants. No corruption will be uncovered, but speculation and conspiracy theories will go on for years.
Egypt will become the first African side to reach the semi-finals, and will eventually finish 4th.
France will win the World Cup.
I seem to remember there wasn't much hype about England during the last World Cup either, though no pundits predicted that we'd be home with a game to spare. However just like last time, in the days before the tournament folk are starting to think "maybe we can do it, nobody expects it...".
There's still hype, it just isn't as loud. The red-tops will still find a scapegoat when we go out, and that player will end up receiving sacks full of hate-mail.
We have a chance, in the same sense that Brighouse Town have a "chance" of winning the FA Cup. I'm just going to try and enjoy the football and not worry about England. I do have a few wild predictions though...
Russia will defy the odds and make the knockout stages, but only down to some strange calls by referees/assistants. No corruption will be uncovered, but speculation and conspiracy theories will go on for years.
Egypt will become the first African side to reach the semi-finals, and will eventually finish 4th.
France will win the World Cup.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Russia should qualify second in their group. Uruguay should win it. It is the second round game where your dodgy refereeing call will come in useful. Offside? NEVER!
No they wont. Firstly they have to get out of a group with the host nation and Uruguay. Tough. IF they manage that they will play one of the group B teams. That should be Spain or Portugal. Tougher.
I would say Senegal have the best chance of being the last African competitor. Nigeria are in group D which is "6 to 5 and pick em" for the runner up spot behind the Argies. We have Tunisia on our group so i have to count them out (
) and Morocco have Spain and Portugal in theirs.EDIT - of course this is all woulda coulda shoulda. Until the games play out we don't know who will be a surprise and who will have a 'mare but it is fun to plot and speculate.
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Likewise although I've a nasty feeling we'll go out in the semi-finals on penalties................again!
Warwick
Member
What did Emma Thompson do to deserve a Damehood?
What did Tom Jones do to deserve a Knighthood?
What did Chris Hoy do to deserve a Knighthood?
The answer is they are just good at doing their job.
They haven't discovered the cure for cancer.
They haven't ended poverty.
They haven't discovered limitless energy.
They're just good at their job for which they are amply rewarded.
That really doesn't cut it for me.
I’m not expecting us to win it, if we got to the semis I’d be amazed.
It just feels a little less dysfunction than it has for quite a long time now, and that can only be a good thing.
Famous last words.
I don't suppose anybody predicted 5-0?
No I'm certainly not expecting us to win it but I wouldn't totally rule it out.
Indeed - I was just about to post final score 4-0 - glad I waited for that last minute free kick to go in.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
.....In the words of Captain Bertorelli in 'Allo 'Allo...."What-a mistake-a to make-a"
Well at least he stuck his neck out and made a prediction, I didn't, did you?
I'd have probably said 1-1.
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Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Predictions are a very dangerous game to indulge in and are something that I would never involve myself.
Butts
Veteran Member
Seems a strange Tournament without Italy and the Netherlands.
I wonder when the last World Cup Finals with neither of them qualifying took place ?
Answers on a posting please
I wonder when the last World Cup Finals with neither of them qualifying took place ?
Answers on a posting please
Seems a strange Tournament without Italy and the Netherlands.
I wonder when the last World Cup Finals with neither of them qualifying took place ?
Answers on a posting please
The only previous times Italy haven't been at the World Cup were 1958 (didn't qualify) and 1930 (didn't enter). The Netherlands didn't make either of those tournaments either so that's your answer. They also didn't qualify for 1962,1966,1970,1982,1986, and 2002. They also didn't enter in 1950 and 1954 in addition to 1930.
Iskra
Established Member
Leeds United: Marcelo Bielsa signs contract to become new manager http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44460259
Hallelujah
On my phone abroad so can’t format it as per board rules easily, would appreciate if a mod could do this for me. Thanks.
Hallelujah
On my phone abroad so can’t format it as per board rules easily, would appreciate if a mod could do this for me. Thanks.
The_Train
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Jun 2018
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Will he survive as manager until the season starts?
Iskra
Established Member
He walked out of Marseilles on the first day of their season. We’re a perfect match
Seriously though, I think it will be either a brilliant appointment or a complete car crash. But that’s Leeds all over.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
A dangerous game? Making a silly prediction for a football match?
What about looking totally inept in the eyes of others when a forecasted 2-1 win became a 5-0 defeat in actuality.