England

[Hasta]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c14p3dmdld1o

 

Dick Advocaat still managing and going to the World Cup at 78 !

[RevidgeBlue]

2 hours ago, Hasta said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c14p3dmdld1o

 

Dick Advocaat still managing and going to the World Cup at 78 !

Schteeeve McClaren has now resigned as manager of Jamaica after earning the dubious distinction of failing to qualify automatically for the WC as a result of finishing behind the smallest Country ever to qualify (Population 156,000)

[K-Hod]

3 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Schteeeve McClaren has now resigned as manager of Jamaica after earning the dubious distinction of failing to qualify automatically for the WC as a result of finishing behind the smallest Country ever to qualify (Population 156,000)

The biggest loss here, is McLaren never accidentally slipping into a fake Jamaican accent, like he did with the Dutch one, once….

[wilsdenrover]

26 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

The biggest loss here, is McLaren never accidentally slipping into a fake Jamaican accent, like he did with the Dutch one, once….

Always trying to integrate is Steve…

 

[Mattyblue]

Why am I getting a cross between Cool Runnings and Joe Biden?

[wilsdenrover]

Oh dear

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckgkg1d49v7o

[chaddyrovers]

Nico Reilly and Lewis Hall both playing tonight. I guess these will be our 2 left backs. 

Good news Livramento is back, surely he will be James's back up in squad 

[wilsdenrover]

Ridiculous

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvg84knn2p5o

[Upside Down]

1 hour ago, wilsdenrover said:

Ridiculous

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvg84knn2p5o

What's the point in even having any other rounds. 

They've managed to take something that was magical and turn it into complete shit all for a few quid. 

Pathetic small timers.

[DE.]

When it comes to FIFA and commercialisation, nothing surprises me. Next they'll announce top seeds have an automatic bye to the knockouts regardless of where they finish in the group. Maybe they can create a new rule where top ranked players can be transferred to other countries if their team exits the tournament early. Keep the superstars around as long as possible. 

[wilsdenrover]

9 minutes ago, DE. said:

When it comes to FIFA and commercialisation, nothing surprises me. Next they'll announce top seeds have an automatic bye to the knockouts regardless of where they finish in the group. Maybe they can create a new rule where top ranked players can be transferred to other countries if their team exits the tournament early. Keep the superstars around as long as possible. 

I hope you’re not suggesting they’d favour certain players over others.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c30jp9q4jp6o

[Upside Down]

1 hour ago, wilsdenrover said:

I hope you’re not suggesting they’d favour certain players over others.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c30jp9q4jp6o

So so pathetic.

[wilsdenrover]

2 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

So so pathetic.

and so blatant too.

Edited November 25 by wilsdenrover

[DE.]

2 hours ago, wilsdenrover said:

I hope you’re not suggesting they’d favour certain players over others.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c30jp9q4jp6o

"BBC Sport understands that the fact it was his first red card in 226 international appearances was taken into account."

Ah right, so past good behaviour allows the rules to become flexible. Who knew. I'm sure they'd do the same for a player who was less financially lucrative. 

[wilsdenrover]

16 minutes ago, DE. said:

"BBC Sport understands that the fact it was his first red card in 226 international appearances was taken into account."

Ah right, so past good behaviour allows the rules to become flexible. Who knew. I'm sure they'd do the same for a player who was less financially lucrative. 

and the fact he’s never been sent off before doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have been.

[DE.]

3 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

and the fact he’s never been sent off before doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have been.

The ref probably got a good telling off for putting world cup revenue in jeopardy for something as silly as the rules. 

[Mattyblue]

They don’t want him missing the Portugal group with the likes of Curaçao and Jordan, even at 41 he’d be getting the Siuuu out.

 

[...]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c997y4l20jgo

 

World cup draw tonight starts at 5pm uk time.

New system in place for the top 4 teams, they all get separated into 4 quadrants.

Spain, Argentina, France , England all begin in separate quadrants

Should be interesting 

 

[DE.]

This world cup makes me feel very uneasy. The location it's being held in, the unnecessarily expanded format, the manipulation to ensure 'bigger' countries don't get eliminated early... no sir, I don't like it. Although of course I'll still watch it, out of morbid curiosity if nothing else. 

[G Somerset Rover]

39 minutes ago, DE. said:

This world cup makes me feel very uneasy. The location it's being held in, the unnecessarily expanded format, the manipulation to ensure 'bigger' countries don't get eliminated early... no sir, I don't like it. Although of course I'll still watch it, out of morbid curiosity if nothing else. 

Not to mention Ronaldo avoiding the two game ban to ensure he's playing.
Like you say, it's already beginning to smell and it's still a good six months away.

[roversfan99]

Exactly. The quality will be massively reduced now there are 48 teams and most of the jeopardy is removed in the group stages now most 3rd place teams go through.

Making the top 4 seeded teams is also a stupid decision.

Thats before you even consider non footballing issues.

[jodrell]

I might be in the minority but I hope it's massive failure. All the travelling in the heat. Plus Trump's involvement. just heard about the ticket prices £8000 the cheapest for the final tickets and allowed to go for resale above face value plus they are on that system used for oasis and FIFA takes a 30,% cut.

[chaddyrovers]

I still remember the USA 94 world Cup. 

I am similarly looking to this one despite the expanded or being played a different time zone, and being held during North America summer weather will be challenging for all teams. 

 

[wilsdenrover]

I think the FIFA peace prize may have been rigged.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 minute ago, wilsdenrover said:

I think the FIFA peace prize may have been rigged.

No shit Sherlock.