Football 24/25

[oldbluefox]

Good luck to the promoted teams. It will be tough to survive in the Prem especially as small clubs although we have seen the likes of Forest and Brentford promoted and surviving along with the likes of Brighton and Bournemouth so it can be done. As smaller clubs you need a good recruitment team who can pick up young talent cheaply. With limited resources if you overspend you will get caught in the PSR trap which really does work against smaller clubs.

Now for a moan............ I have been watching the England matches and some pretty apathetic performances from Tuchel's men. The from commentators has been that they are tired after a long season and all the matches they have had to play. Does that mean the other teams are playing men who haven't been involved in so many matches, bearing in mind many of them play for top Premier teams? It's an excuse: they are professional footballers. I suppose they are not tired when they go abroad with their clubs playing friendly promotional matches.
Rant over!!!

[Onelife]

That’s not a rant Foxy, it’s the Bl**dy truth…what a shambles and embarrassment to English football. With just under a year to go before the world cup he should be picking his top sixteen players and play them in every friendly/qualifying match in order that they gel together as a well-oiled machine, not as in their last match which resembled a clapped-out washing machine.

[Portsmouth]

Seems like Kane is the only one who can put the ball in the net....we only beat Andorra 1-0 and now we lose against Senegal 1-3
At least Harry saved us from the embarrassment of not scoring any goals.

[oldbluefox]

There just does not seem to be any passion in these England teams, no fire, no aggression just a seeming entitlement to be there and expectation they can stroll around and win. It doesn't happen like that.
I watch other teams like Scotland, Wales amongst others, similarly the rugby "get in my way and I'll tear you apart" lads and they come out all fired up. Watch them as they sing their national anthems then watch the England team. Many can't be bothered to move their lips, some don't bother at all and this is reflected in their performances on the pitch.
Let's take Wales as an example, a team comprising many lower Prem players, some from the Championship and the occasional one from League 1. True the quality isn't there but they make up for much of it with passion and desire. Meanwhile our multi-million pound players on their multi-million pound contracts come out, present a lethargic display against average opposition and then look on in wonderment when they get booed off the pitch. And I'm daft enough to watch them!!!!
And don't get me started on tippy-tappy football which to me translates as no idea what to do with the ball so we can just go sideways or back. My team is a great example of that.Senegal showed what can be done with quick transition from defence to attack. Tuchel has a job on his hands.
In short they need a good sheckin'

[Onelife]

I think we are trying to replicate the skill level that Spain and Portugal etc have perfected over may years. We need to accept that we are still playing catch up and adjust our style of football to compensate for our lack of “all round skill” which other teams have in abundance. imo

[oldbluefox]

We've been doing that for the past 50 years
I would start with motivation and restore playing for the pride of wearing the shirt. It's more than turning up and going through the motions. The skills are there, it's the application of those skills which is lacking.

[Onelife]

If we are looking for motivation perhaps we should be seeking out an English manager who can turn to his players and say “WE” are fighting for our country, and not as the case is now “You” are fighting for your country.

[Portsmouth]

I would start with motivation and restore playing for the pride of wearing the shirt. Yes Yes Yes
It's more than turning up and going through the motions. Agreed
The skills are there, it's the application of those skills which is lacking. Can't argue with that

Well said OldBlueFox

Can you believe England are in 4th place in the World Football Rankings ....ahead of Brazil, Portugal and Netherlands.
Only Argentina, France & Spain are above us.....and Senegal might be a better team than some realized being about 20th place in the rankings

[Ray B]

Maybe they are paid too much by their clubs and don't want to jeopardize thier performance playing for the national team.

[Portsmouth]

Yes....I know its July and we should be talking Wimbledon or Cricket.....but here's a reminder
PSG v Bayern on Saturday.....its the quarter final... I think PSG will win but hopefully Harry will be there with another goal.
He got 2 last Sunday against Flamengo....that's over 40

[Portsmouth]

Well done Chelsea....a good 3-0 victory against PSG to be this years Club World Cup Champions for the 2nd time ( last time 2021 )
Just don't think you'll be good enough to win next years Premier league (but you could be runners up).

[oldbluefox]

Congratulations to Chelsea. I'm not quite sure what the purpose was of yet another international competition. It means their close season is going to be very short and I wonder how much that will impact both at club and international level. There are complaints about burnout from Premier clubs and a movement to have a winter break yet they are quite happy with all of these different events and friendly promotional tours. Looks to me like the domestic product is the one which loses out.

[Onelife]

Come on the Lionesses, I’m very much enjoying the Women’s Euro matches…arguably far more entertaining than watching any of the premier league sides, imo.

[oldbluefox]

Me too. I have enjoyed watching them this tournament. It is quite refreshing to see two teams battling it out without all the histrionics you get in the men's game although it still baffles me how any of them can go down with a blood-curdling scream, lie motionless on the ground and within minutes they are running around like March hares. Must be wonderful spray they have in those bottles!!!!
They would soon get up if they saw my trainer rushing across the pitch with a bucket of cold water and a wet sponge!!!

[Onelife]

The two Laurens, Hemp and James have been the standout performers thus far and when Russo kicks in I can see my £10 at 11/2 going all the way to the final. While Spain are odds on to lift the trophy, they do leave themselves open at the back (due to their attacking style of play) …hopefully England can exploit this should they meet in the final.

As far as the screaming goes, I’m all for the wet tee shirt challenge especially if the do away with their sports bras

Pervert alert!

[towny44]

As far as the screaming goes, I’m all for the wet tee shirt challenge especially if the do away with their sports bras

Pervert alert!

Are you perhaps related to Greg Wallace?

[Onelife]

Not that I am aware of John but I dare say I probably share some of his characteristic. Obviously, I don’t know the full extent of the allegations against him but I’m guessing many of his comments were to his mind just rude banter. I don’t approve of sexualised innuendos towards the opposite sex, but I can see how they can be mistaken as such if someone is easily offended.

Dropping his trousers in front of them is another matter…bloody pervert!

[Ray B]

I believe there is a bit of blubbering when they lose.

[Portsmouth]

How about a crazy little bet against England women
Today they play Sweden who they should beat......that puts them against Italy in the semi -finals
Lets take a closer look at Italy.... only 44% possession but not too bad & 79.75 passing accuracy
England 59% possession & 85% passing accuracy so much better.....but if they have a bad day the Italians might sneak one in
Italy are 25/1 with Corals & Ladbrokes it might fun to gamble a £1 on them to win the Euros as England are about 7/2....4/1 at best.
And yes Spain are the favourites for a reason but who know what will happen.

[Onelife]

FOXY!!!!! Call an Ambulance, I’m having a heart attack.

What a match, what a penalty shoots out?

Sweet Caroline

[oldbluefox]

The Lionesses were dreadful in that first half but what a penalty shoot out. I couldn't believe how many misses and saves. Penalty taking practice beckons.
However it was edge of seat drama with England clawing back victory from the jaws of defeat. Sweden must be left wondering how they managed to lose that one.
Keefys bet is safe.

[Onelife]

Yes; it was a game of two halves…. I didn’t think they were much better in the second half but as they say, you ride your luck.

I’ll be surprised if Jess Carter lines up next week, she looked like she was playing for Sweden at times, awful mistakes which put us on the back foot from the start.

[towny44]

Yes; it was a game of two halves…. I didn’t think they were much better in the second half but as they say, you ride your luck.

I’ll be surprised if Jess Carter lines up next week, she looked like she was playing for Sweden at times, awful mistakes which put us on the back foot from the start.

Jess's main problem is her lack of speed, however she does read the game extremely well. But I do agree that yesterday was one of her poorer games, and Serena may opt to rest her against Italy.

[Onelife]

Yes; it was a game of two halves…. I didn’t think they were much better in the second half but as they say, you ride your luck.

I’ll be surprised if Jess Carter lines up next week, she looked like she was playing for Sweden at times, awful mistakes which put us on the back foot from the start.

Jess's main problem is her lack of speed, however she does read the game extremely well. But I do agree that yesterday was one of her poorer games, and Serena may opt to rest her against Italy.

Yes; it’s a difficult one, whilst she did make a couple of glaring mistakes you are probably right about her ability to read the game, however, I’m not so sure she filled her team mates with a whole lot of confidence with her hesitancy on the ball. The one person I did think made a massive difference (not just because she scored our second goal) was Michelle Agyemang who never stopped running from the moment she stepped onto the pitch, she hassled the opposition none stop…I don’t think she will start on Tuesday but I think she is a big asset when she does come on.

[Portsmouth]

It should be a confident win for England on Tuesday.....they beat Italy in a friendly 5-1 last year.
Also I expect Spain to dominate and win against Switzerland tonight