Fantasy World Cup Live Match Chat Day 8
Oki doki we’re getting the hang of this now. The Champions are old, rubbish and are the first team to be knocked out of the tournament, Iranians score better than the Portuguese, Brazil are toothless without Ronaldinho, Ozil and Lukaku are about as reliable in this as they are in FPL and even the Yanks have produced a win – Chins must be bringing them some beginners’s luck.
Today sees the 2nd round of games in Group C and we kick off with what could be one of the games of the tournament so far as those sniffling, snorting Colombians meet Ivory Coast – with both sides having won their opening fixture whoever wins this will have one foot into the next round. The late game sees Japan play Greece, both of whom will be looking for their first win and to keep their tournament hopes alive – the loser alas will likely be flying home.
Sandwiched between the above two games is the big one for many of us as Woy’s Boys take on Uruguay. A must win game for both teams and many eyes will be on selection as we wait to see if Suarez is passed fit while for England, there have been some calling for Rooney to be dropped. For the Goofy one, if he plays, it’ll be a chance for him to test himself vs a few of his talented Liverpool team mates…..and Glen Johnson.
Well good luck, hope your players perform, careful on those formations now.
TheDreamers
they look rattled
elleffcee (ex champ with a potty prize)
Hey Init you about ? That marking by Jags on Suarez for the goal bodes well for us in the derby don’t you think ?
inittowinit
Elle I said it before the game and it’s proved to be true. The 1 area we are particularly weak in is at centre half with those 2 being so similar – slow and poor on the turn. Jags is a decent PL defender but when he’s faced with pace and movement he’s lost. And so we did. Inevitably.
TheDreamers
Init – how much do you put down to sharpness. Jags isnt “back yet”.
inittowinit
When was he ever ‘there’?! Not a sharpness issue IMO. He’s just a steady Eddie and fully fit or not he doesn’t defend well on the turn which that first goal illustrated in glorious techi-color for the world to see unfortunately. Not blaming him at all, he is what he is and he performed as expected. Just a shame that that’s the best we can do.
TheDreamers
you probably nailed it there. If not him, who else.
inittowinit
You nailed it too. That’s the problem right there.
We pick the lad who’s strong and imposing in the air at an early age and peg him as a CB. He’s brilliant, he stops everything. Because he’s playing against that type of football, long balls, crosses in the box etc. Then we fast forward 10 years and he’s then playing against a smaller striker from abroad who’s got more pace and movement and our CB’s ‘qualities’ are then irrelevant. It’s why Cannavaro was world class. He had both, relatively solid but equally as quick and athletic as his opponent. Kevin Ratcliffe was the same. Solid but lightening quick. Ours just seem one dimensional and can be caught out easily. In short mate I don’t know who the answer is!
TheDreamers
I think the CB item is similar to the centre item in rugby. In rugby they have simply become bigger (simplistic view). So now if you say, the important items are 1) a certain size (Medel defies this), 2) positional sense 3) Tackling ability 4) Swiftness on the turn and 5) Awareness
so to put a crazy idea to start the debate (if anyone is actually around).
Rooney as a CB?
inittowinit
Actually….! Not far off the perfect CB. Couple of inches taller and we are there but in all honesty those exact reasons are why Pep chose to play Mascherano there and height wasn’t an issue for him as he’s roughly the same if not a tad smaller than Rooney. Hmmm…
elleffcee (ex champ with a potty prize)
One of the best CBs ever was Cannavaro, only a small guy.
Calvin Clyne
Spot on there guys, think the only ones we’ve had that have looked promising in the past I-don’t-know-how-long were a young Rio, Woodgate, and Ledley King.
TheDreamers
savage leap though ellefe. Another (not cb) is Tim Cahill. He hung in the air and his leap defied his height
ALSED FC
Same old story we take the stick we give it back we get yellow
elleffcee (ex champ with a potty prize)
Hey Al, not being rude but how old are you mate + which part of the country are you in ? Did i read you have a 24 year old grandson ?
TheDreamers
To be fair, Rooney has deserved a goal
NIN
I’d have to disagree, it was a jammy goal after he’d already whiffed two sitters. Average performance at best.
TheDreamers
it would be boring if we all agreed NIN. I thought with all the flak, he showed leadership and there wasnt much on show.
I support Liverpool but thought both Gerrard and Henderson were poor. Didnt think Welbeck should have been in team and was surprised Sterling was taken off before him.
NIN
In fairness, Welbeck should be watching these games from the comfort of his home. he’s way out of his depth at this level, for me. Yeah the Sterling sub was a ropey one, i thought he was playing well.
TheDreamers
you watching the RTE 2 analysis NIN?
NIN
No mate, i wish i was but cant find any good streams. Poxy.
TheDreamers
are you not from Ireland Nin?
Kop Warrior
Give me RTE over UTV and BBC every day of the week!
TheDreamers
Kop – have you tried the rte player? I dont know if it works outside Ireland but its pretty good.
Kop Warrior
Dreamers, I’m Irish and living in Ireland
I dont need the player 😉
Calvin Clyne
Hear hear, Kop. Came over to Dublin a while back and those old fellas on RTE are 100 times better to listen to. You also get all the F1 over here
TheDreamers
Kop – thought you were english…. my bad.
The player is useful even if in Ireland when the wife is getting pissed off with all the soccer on etc.
Kop Warrior
No worries mate
Kop Warrior
Calvin – The old guy who anchors the football (Bill O’Herlihy) is retiring after the WC…I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a day of mourning!!
TheDreamers
Where in Ireland are you Kop?
Kop Warrior
Living in Kildare but originally from Waterford.
TheDreamers
so how did you wound up with this lot
Init, Potty, Cookie etc?
NIN
Hats off to Luis Suarez. Knee surgery a month ago, two chances, both buried. World class.
TheDreamers
Its mentality as much as class I think NIN. He is a winner pure and simple.
NIN
The complete package, no doubt.
ALSED FC
As Ken said in 1966 they think it’s all over it is now!!! I was just 23 at the time. Seem to remember Uruguay were involved then.
elleffcee (ex champ with a potty prize)
Nice age Al, well an OAP, i fear thats your nickname ‘OAP’ :hippo: