Football Focus

[SCSB79]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> SCSB. It's wonderful that you have arranged to be

> alerted when I post. I have never felt to popular.

> You can follow me on Twitter too if you want.

MM.

Grandiose delusions.

I happened to pop in here as a break from "trolling" the McCann's thread and saw your post and couldn't resist.

[Alan Medic]

SCSB79 Wrote:

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> Alan Medic Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I think SB forgot one:

> >

> > Celtic 2 Inter Milan 1

>

> A result from 1967 is going to help them attract a

> well-known manager now? Strange.

Given that 6 of Real Madrid's 10 European Cup wins were prior to '67, I was pointing out that Celtic have a European stature that most clubs don't have. Rangers come to mind. Anyway, who said it has to be a well known manager? Whoever it is, he'll be well known to himself!

[Parkdrive]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> So Fabregas wanted Arsenal, but Arsenal have ruled

> out a move for him

>

> Hope that doesn't bite us on the ass

He wanted to go "home", so off he went. Would he be just a lodger if he came back?

[maxxi]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Jah Lush Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > It doesn't matter who he is. Any bugger could

> > manage Celtic, even you. One team league blah

> blah

> > blah.

>

> I can understand a Spurs fan thinking in such a

> parochial manner Jah but we are a European club

> and think outside our own league occasionally.

Yes - a European club like VS Lichtenstein or Grasshoppers Malta - a tiny foreign club no one gives a shit about.

[SCSB79]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> SCSB79 Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Alan Medic Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > I think SB forgot one:

> > >

> > > Celtic 2 Inter Milan 1

> >

> > A result from 1967 is going to help them attract

> a

> > well-known manager now? Strange.

>

> Given that 6 of Real Madrid's 10 European Cup wins

> were prior to '67, I was pointing out that Celtic

> have a European stature that most clubs don't

> have. Rangers come to mind. Anyway, who said it

> has to be a well known manager? Whoever it is,

> he'll be well known to himself!

I'd say winning one Eurpean trophy and reaching the final of 3 other competitions and being the first Scottish team to get out of the Group Stages of the CL and not forgetting being a balls hair width away from the final in 92/93 when Marseille pipped us (cheats?) is a decent showing.

How is Celtic's away record in the Champions League these days? 1 win in 25 or somehting like that.

[Mick Mac]

maxxi Wrote:

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>

>

> Yes - a European club like VS Lichtenstein or

> Grasshoppers Malta - a tiny foreign club no one

> gives a shit about.

Oooh Maxxi. You don't know how much that hurts.

[maxxi]

only saying what we're all thinking Michael - years ago Celtic may have been relevant in a debate about euro-footy but these days they're an asterisk; a "did you know?"; a once-upon-a-time story for the dwindling band of 'fans' who still give a toss about scottish footy. No one cares.

[Parkdrive]

Is anyone else inolved on a World Cup prediction thingy at work? Our inolves predicting the final standings of each group, the 8 quarter finalists, semi finalists, finalists and the winners. Easy you might think. Anyone got any thoughts on potential dark horses? I quite fancy Belgium and Uruguay, not to win it but to go to semi maybe?

[Jah Lush]

"Work." Don't you go using that kind of language around here.

[Parkdrive]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> "Work." Don't you go using that kind of language

> around here.

Sorry mate, won't do it again

[maxxi]

If they play like this in the WC England won't get a single point let alone get out of their group. No point in singling out the crappier elements - they were ALL shite.

[aquarius moon]

Agree. I dread to think how they are going to cope with Italy & Uruguay.

[Jah Lush]

Or even Costa Rica.

[FJDGoose]

Jumpers for goalposts - marvelous!

[StraferJack]

People read way to much into pre tournament friendlies

Worried about Italy? Why.. Their games have been shocking as well

[Otta]

Agreed SJ.

Although I hope people are wrong in saying that will be the strating line up against Italy. Honestly not just saying this as a Liverpool fan, Sterling surely has to start ahead of Welbeck!

[Jah Lush]

Every time. And I'm still completely bamboozled as to how Welbeck got in the squad ahead of Jermain Defoe. A proven goalscorer with tournament experience.

[maxxi]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> People read way to much into pre tournament

> friendlies

Possibly - but last night wouldn't rankle if it weren't for the tantalising glimpse of what COULD be in the 2nd half v Ecuador. Last night was the same old malaise, as though concentration and confidence disappear when some players play for England; replaced by a nervy, jittery, sloppy perma-panic that thrashes wildly without getting anywhere.

I agree they have to start with the (relatively) nerveless new caps; Barkely, Lambert, Ox-C, Sterling, Lallana etc. who will make mistakes but don't seem to let that throw them or sap their desire to try it again. If they do their stuff then the leaky back isn't such a terrible problem - we'll just score more than them! ...though that could just be the Iron in me talking:)

[Parkdrive]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> People read way to much into pre tournament

> friendlies

>

> Worried about Italy? Why.. Their games have been

> shocking as well

Because they won't be as naive as England have been.

[Jah Lush]

Italy are notoriously slow starters at major tournaments. I'll go for a no score bore draw or 1-1.

[Mick Mac]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> People read way to much into pre tournament friendlies

It will be alright on the night SJ ?

Well it depends on what you think the purpose is of these matches.

Keep possession but move the ball quickly seems to be the message.

My problem with this England team and every other England team in the Gerrard Lampard era is it can't win the ball in midfield and neither can it retain possession in midfield against good teams.

Hence England only pick up new possession when the opposition move breaks down! That means the opposition dictate when they are ready to give the ball up. Hence if England go behind against good opposition they are buggered.

Far too many forward thinking midfield players and even now add Johnson as a forward thinking defensive player who will be exploited.

None of these players are any good when you don't have the ball and I expect England to spend a long time without the ball.

Same old sane old.

You can pass the ball around all you like in deep positions, the opposition won't care.

I hope I'm wrong, it might be different this time. England needs a new hero to pop up over the next few weeks. I don't think it will be Rooney, Gerrard or Lampard. Good luck.

[aquarius moon]

Agree with Maxxi.

Barkley, Lallana, Lambert etc should start.

Fresh, young, exciting players who feel so honoured to represent their country for the first time, they will give their all.

Rather than relying on the older, experienced players who no longer have anything to prove, gave their all once, but no longer give enough.

[Jah Lush]

Agree and drop Rooney. Not good enough. Especially on his most recently displays.

[SCSB79]

aquarius moon Wrote:

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> Agree with Maxxi.

>

> Barkley, Lallana, Lambert etc should start.

>

> Fresh, young, exciting players who feel so

> honoured to represent their country for the first

> time, they will give their all.

>

> Rather than relying on the older, experienced

> players who no longer have anything to prove, gave

> their all once, but no longer give enough.

Lambert,young? He's 32!!

[MrBen]

Based on what I just saw in Miami you boys are in trouble. Organised but no more than "decent". Hodgson has some good players at the younger end but bets are he will play it safe v Italy and only mix it up when the inevitable happens.