Fantasy World Cup Live Match Chat Last 16, Day 4
Welcome to the last 16 of the World cup – or the round of 16 as some choose to call it, or the first knockout stage. In fact, call it what you want – either way, it’s sudden death time – lose and you go home, outta here, offski and this will likely mean that your coach resigns or gets the chop or in England’s case receives a pat on the back and a “bad luck old chap”.
The final day of the round sees the Argies back on display as they attempt to neutralise the Swiss – that shouldn’t be tricky. However, with the likes of di Maria and Higuain quiet so far and Aguero injured (obviously), it’s been down to little Leo to carry the Argies through the group. Easy then, mark Messi out the game and you’ll be fine – how many times have we heard that before?! Switzerland’s only chance of course is if Shaqiri turns on the style and his hat-trick vs Honduras will leave him feeling on top of his game.
The round is concluded as Belgium take on the US of A. Could be a tough one to call this as Belgium have hardly set the tournament on fire as yet, while the Yanks have surprised many with their courage and adventure. Klinsmann of course, has been here before and knows what it takes to get through this stage of the tournament and there’ll surely be cries of “Mashed potato” and “You’re the man” if awesome talisman Dempsey can lead America through to the quarters, or quarter finals, or last 8, or the round of 8…..we’ve gone full circle here.
Is anyone really good with Injury and suspension status’?
Currently I have 2 Germans, 0 French, 2 Brazilians, 3 Columbians, 3 Argentinians, 2 Belgians, and 2 Dutch
Which gives me 14 players, thinking of downsizing a few players like Luiz and Mascherino but I don’t like the looks of anyone (really should get some French players in though!)
I believe Rojo and Gustavo are both out. There will be others too.
Rojo is out? damn
Rojo is out of my team now, wasn’t taking gustavo.. I’m thinking of swapping Neymar out as he looks injured for either Mueller or Benzema, Is that a risk? Thinking of swapping Mascherino with Pogba and Maybe Cuadardo with Tejeda? I’m looking for differentials from the guy at the top of my league
Duarte (Costa Rica defender) is out too and Miller (the guy that would’ve replaced him) is injured.
Neymar an injuy doubt but i bet they’ll play him regardless.
De Jong injured too.
How does this team look?
CILLESSEN
ZAPATA, SAKHO, MERTESACKER, VAN BUYTEN, DE VRIJ, GONZALEZ
RODRIGUEZ, VALBUENA, LAHM, BRUYNE, GAGO, TEJEDA
MUELLER, MESSI, ROBBEN
In my opinion:
Pros: More Players to rotate in if people play badly or become injured, Some less common players, Strong players that are fairly cheap meaning I have 16 Players instead of 14
Cons: No Brazil, Maybe the less expensive players won’t perform as well, Relying too much on France Vs Germany and Argentina Vs Belgium
Please let me know what you think
Looks nicely balanced, but just one playing keeper then?
Thanks, yeah just one keeper and he’s really cheap, don’t think putting lots of money into Goalkeepers is really worth it
How France gets 0 suspensions is just crazy. Some of the players in that team did things 10 times as worse as what Suarez did. Corrupt FIFA.
Just saying that because some French player got a yellow card for giving another player a double leg break. Sounds fair? 😛
That’s nothing Raz… I can’t say for sure, but i think there must be at least one Mexican player due a long long suspension. Did you see what someone has done to Dirk Kuyts face?!
Someone did something do Dirk Kuyts face? I thought it was dehydration, HAHAHA!
They were playing at impossible temperatures.
Afternoon most, Morning some,
http://www.physioroom.com/news/worldcup_2014/injury_table.php
Afternoon Cookie
What’s cooking Kop?
Not much mate, just had a look at a potential squad for the quarters
Valbuena or Lahm ..?
Both if possible, but Lahm if not.
Done my stats based squad
Fra v Ger. 3
Bra v Col. 5
Arg v Bel. 4
Hol v Cos. 8
Non playing: 3
Random Rovers has
Fra v Ger. 2
Bra v Col. 6
Arg v Bel. 6
Hol v Cos. 9
Non playing: 0 (But a few of the randos above have played 0 matches)
Just need to try and pick a team myself now to beat the stats and random picks :smirk:
OK picked as follows
Fra v Ger. 1
Bra v Col. 1
Arg v Bel. 6
Hol v Cos. 8
Non playing 7
Could’nt see much value in Brazil, id Brazil start playing properly Colombia might not get much, France and Germany also seem expensive so not much for me to cheer for on Friday, Saturday however, Game On!
Alec
Are u Guys bringing in J.Rod AND J.Cuadrado ..?
Had them all along Jeet and yes they’re staying right where they are.
Mr init
Mr Calvin
Just one of them for me Jeet.
Can you guess which? 😉
J.Rod All Day Long !
Indeedydoo.
If anyone’s about, here’s my first punt at a team for the next round:
Cillessen
Zapata, Van Buyten, Blind, (Gamboa)
Valbuena, Lahm, Cuadrado, Rodriguez, (Gago), (Tejeda)
Mueller, Benzema, Messi, (Robben)
Remaining players are 1m non-playing. 3.5m left unspent. Problems I’ve identified are one playing keeper, weak bench in defence, no big names on the bench in mid if someone disappoints, and then a lot of money tied into the forwards- though after the poor showing this round I feel staking the game on 2-3 scoring is a gamble.
That said, and I don’t know what remaining games Potty has in store, I’m quietly tempted to go all-out with cheap differentials and build a bigger squad. Griezmann in for Benzema, for example could be great if he’s unleashed against a tiring German backline. Would need to think a bit harder about taking this path though. I think it’s likely we will all have very similar squads right now.
And one final, unrelated question: this is my first go at joining mini-leagues through this site, and I’m loving it. How does the Banterbury League work? Will there be a sign-up at the start of the new PL season?
Looks solid Mr Took, but get that 3.5 working somewhere, preferably for a second keeper. As you said everyone will have almost identical first teams now – dread to think what it will be like for the semis and the final!
The main divisions of the Banterbury League are established now I believe, with the standard promotions and relegations at the end of each season. Bench is the man you want to ask questions on this so if you see him about then try and nab him and see if you can join the Banterbury Conference. Be warned though, it is a murky and overcrowded place that few ever find their way out of!
Pippin I have told Bench, he will probably reply on here later with how to apply.
cheers init. I actually dug through a couple of threads and found the email address, so fired one off. We’ll see. It could be fun to enter into the bottom league and work my way up to professionalism, like a young Rickie Lambert!
Ah cool ok he’ll reply to that then. I think he was up to 6 or 7 leagues last time I checked, I’m sure he will get you in one of them.