This season's footy 2017-18

[Nebraska Red]

1-1

[Billy Talbot]

Bit weird that pen. I think it is a pen, but it's neither of the defenders fouling, it's the combination of both. 

[Nebraska Red]

Think he was on his way down there before the lad trod in his foot. No pen, for me.

Ashley Young was thereabouts, so definitely a penalty.

Solanke got a goal for the U21 team.

[DPD1973]

The Spain Argentina game got quite feisty, Anthony Taylor should have booked several Argentina players and send off a couple, instead he booked 2 Spanish players and 4 Argies, blew for time when the clock had not yet hit 90 minutes, I doubt he’ll get a game featuring teams of the same calibre again

[Jarg Armani]

It's going to take money.

I know, if I set my mind to it.

Sterling is an outstanding talent

He's brilliant isn't he.

[Conrad]

Sad to see how average Italy are.

[Earl Hafler]

The Spain Argentina game got quite feisty, Anthony Taylor should have booked several Argentina players and send off a couple, instead he booked 2 Spanish players and 4 Argies, blew for time when the clock had not yet hit 90 minutes, I doubt he’ll get a game featuring teams of the same calibre again

He’s abysmal. Game after game.

[Jarg Armani]

The Spain Argentina game got quite feisty, Anthony Taylor should have booked several Argentina players and send off a couple, instead he booked 2 Spanish players and 4 Argies, blew for time when the clock had not yet hit 90 minutes, I doubt he’ll get a game featuring teams of the same calibre again

 

Thanks for posting, lovely stuff.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Taylor is an absolutely awful ref - continuing that fine English tradition on the international scene from Clive Thomas, to Poll & Webb

[DecidedByPoll]

I really like the shape Southgate is using for the England side and the way he’s using certain players. It looks like a back five with a midfield diamond. Light years ahead of Hodge/Allardyce. It’d be likeable if it wasn’t England.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

FIFA investigating racist abuse of French players by Russian fans

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/28/fifa-investigates-alleged-racist-abuse-of-france-players-by-russia-fans

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I really like the shape Southgate is using for the England side and the way he’s using certain players. It looks like a back five with a midfield diamond. Light years ahead of Hodge/Allardyce. It’d be likeable if it wasn’t England.

 

Was thinking similar myself - not afraid to try something different, not afraid to leave players out, willing to give young and inform players a chance - almost a revolution

 

Oh - & I've also been impressed with his willingness to stand up for the kids getting racially abused - talks well, isn't an Owl

Edited March 29, 2018 by Behind Enemy Lines

[Cobs]

FIFA investigating racist abuse of French players by Russian fans

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/28/fifa-investigates-alleged-racist-abuse-of-france-players-by-russia-fans

 

really does make me fear a bit for the World Cup - could be horrendous

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

in every way - racism, hoolies, match fixing, doping...

[Nebraska Red]

in every way - racism, hoolies, match fixing, doping...

They'll have to be bloody good at match fixing to help the pathetic Russian team.

 

They'll be top class  at all the other stuff though.

[DecidedByPoll]

really does make me fear a bit for the World Cup - could be horrendous

Yep. But there’s a bit of me that will relish watching Minty from Peterborough running scared from roided up Russians wearing go pros.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

They'll have to be bloody good at match fixing to help the pathetic Russian team.

 

They'll be top class  at all the other stuff though.

 

S Korea made the semis in 2002.

[Hassony]

Apart from south Korea getting a couple of favourable decisions against Italy, is there a history of home teams getting through to last 8-4 with help from the officials? Or is this another one of these conspiracy theories that have no basis

[Hightown Phil]

Apart from south Korea getting a couple of favourable decisions against Italy, is there a history of home teams getting through to last 8-4 with help from the officials? Or is this another one of these conspiracy theories that have no basis

 

1978 maybe?

[Hassony]

1978 maybe?

Before my time, whats the story there?

 

82 with Germany (not hosts obviously) and Algeria is the obvious one

[pipnasty]

There were issues with Spain and referees in 1982, I think. Spain were property dirty t***s and not that good and I think there was a feeling that, for the sake of the WC and everybody elses safety, they had to get through the group phase. It was only a few years since the end of Franco and there were concerns about terrorism.

 

Same kind of thing in Argentina - military coup in 76. The Argentina v Peru match was probably fixed to allow Argentina to progress.

Edited March 29, 2018 by pipnasty

[DPD1973]

Both Spain 82 and Argentina 78 are too old for my vintage, South Korea in 2002 though was more that a bit suss.

[Nebraska Red]

78 was a disgrace. The Peru game was very poor, but the final was a joke. Holland never had a chance of winning.

[_00_deathscar]

Both Spain 82 and Argentina 78 are too old for my vintage, South Korea in 2002 though was more that a bit suss.

 

Definitely got a lot of help, especially in that Italy game. It was a fairly well drilled Korean unit though. Reckon you add someone like Park Ji Sung and Son Heung Min to that lot and you've got yourselves a pretty decent team to work with.

[Redwire]

Apart from south Korea getting a couple of favourable decisions against Italy, is there a history of home teams getting through to last 8-4 with help from the officials? Or is this another one of these conspiracy theories that have no basis

1966