The Official England Thread-The Team We All Support [Vol 3]

[Ntv]

Predictions for tonight?

We have a few players who would cause mayhem missing.

Go 5-0 up in the first half, make loads of subs and then disorganised rubbish in the second half, with the game ending 5-0?

That could never happen!

[darren f]

Ntv said:

Predictions for tonight?

Lots of changes. A messy, disjointed performance by several players trying to impress but failing against very mediocre opposition. 0-2 at half-time, lots of subs and minimal effort in 2nd half. So, indeed, just like Albania

[TEKNOPUG]

A total waste of time, like 90% of international matches.

[darren f]

TEKNOPUG said:

A total waste of time, like 90% of international matches.

Agreed. I’m no fan of the commercial pig-trough that is the modern Premier League, but the disruption to the domestic programme for so many uncompetitive qualifiers is ridiculous. And that’s before we mention the UEFA Nations League.

[Ntv]

darren f said:

TEKNOPUG said:

A total waste of time, like 90% of international matches.

Agreed. I’m no fan of the commercial pig-trough that is the modern Premier League, but the disruption to the domestic programme for so many uncompetitive qualifiers is ridiculous. And that’s before we mention the UEFA Nations League.

Yes, there is a case for just having a bigger world cup I think.

Even say there 64 teams .. just have 32 seeded knock out matches to begin with and then go into group stage.

Get shot of the Nations League I agree

[Leicester Loyal]

I like the Nations League, gives us a chance to play teams we normally wouldn't play, and great for the travelling fans. I dislike international football as much as anyone, but making it a closed shop where you only play evenly matched opponents would arguably make it even worse.

[TEKNOPUG]

Ntv said:

darren f said:

TEKNOPUG said:

A total waste of time, like 90% of international matches.

Agreed. I’m no fan of the commercial pig-trough that is the modern Premier League, but the disruption to the domestic programme for so many uncompetitive qualifiers is ridiculous. And that’s before we mention the UEFA Nations League.

Yes, there is a case for just having a bigger world cup I think.

Even say there 64 teams .. just have 32 seeded knock out matches to begin with and then go into group stage.

Get shot of the Nations League I agree

Just seed the qualifiers. Put all the nonsense countries into a pre-qualifying group. The winner can enter the qualifying group proper. 55 countries in Europe for WC qualifiers. At least 16 of those should be put into pre-qualifying. 40 countries in the proper groups. 10 Groups of 4. 6 games.

[aeropilot]

TEKNOPUG said:

Ntv said:

darren f said:

TEKNOPUG said:

A total waste of time, like 90% of international matches.

Agreed. I’m no fan of the commercial pig-trough that is the modern Premier League, but the disruption to the domestic programme for so many uncompetitive qualifiers is ridiculous. And that’s before we mention the UEFA Nations League.

Yes, there is a case for just having a bigger world cup I think.

Even say there 64 teams .. just have 32 seeded knock out matches to begin with and then go into group stage.

Get shot of the Nations League I agree

Just seed the qualifiers. Put all the nonsense countries into a pre-qualifying group. The winner can enter the qualifying group proper. 55 countries in Europe for WC qualifiers. At least 16 of those should be put into pre-qualifying. 40 countries in the proper groups. 10 Groups of 4. 6 games.

^^This.

But that doesn't suit the money people - just like the Champions League which isn't a league of the Champions...so common sense won't apply.

Its all about ever inceasing amount of games being played and crammed into a season, which is now almost 11 months long as we seem to be having a tournament every bloody season instead on one every other year...and yet Wenger and FIFA want a World Cup every two years now!

[TwigtheWonderkid]

TEKNOPUG said:

Just seed the qualifiers. Put all the nonsense countries into a pre-qualifying group. The winner can enter the qualifying group proper. 55 countries in Europe for WC qualifiers. At least 16 of those should be put into pre-qualifying. 40 countries in the proper groups. 10 Groups of 4. 6 games.

For many smaller nations, in Europe but even more so in Africa and Asia, their FAs only exist off the revenue from WC qualifiers, and TV money from games against the big nations. Funding grass roots football in Estonia or Latvia is tough enough for their FAs as it is, without cutting off their only real source of finance.

[Cobnapint]

What's the playing surface tonight FFS...moss?

[Dracoro]

That’s one of the most ridiculous penalty decisions I think I’ve ever seen.

[RichB]

Needed 'Snicko' or 'Ultra Edge' to tell if he touched that. From that camera angle it wasn't a 'clear and obvious error'

[vonuber]

Dracoro said:

That’s one of the most ridiculous penalty decisions I think I’ve ever seen.

Really harsh.

[Cobnapint]

vonuber said:

Dracoro said:

That’s one of the most ridiculous penalty decisions I think I’ve ever seen.

Really harsh.

Verging on cruel

[The jiffle king]

4 goals in 15 minutes for Harry Kane

[vonuber]

I dont know why they don't do something similar to the Nations League for qualifying.

[darren f]

darren f said:

Lots of changes. A messy, disjointed performance by several players trying to impress but failing against very mediocre opposition. 0-2 at half-time, lots of subs and minimal effort in 2nd half. So, indeed, just like Albania

OK, I was wrong …, any decent pub side could give SM a decent game I reckon.

[Radec]

The jiffle king said:

4 goals in 15 minutes for Harry Kane

He's just getting all the goals out of his system before he returns back to Spurs.

[272BHP]

It kind of feels wrong to keep Kane on the pitch with 4 goals under his belt already don't you think?

When his kids are 5 yrs old and ask Daddy for a kick around in the garden I bet he goes to find his boots.

[TEKNOPUG]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

For many smaller nations, in Europe but even more so in Africa and Asia, their FAs only exist off the revenue from WC qualifiers, and TV money from games against the big nations. Funding grass roots football in Estonia or Latvia is tough enough for their FAs as it is, without cutting off their only real source of finance.

If only UEFA or FIFA had some spare cash to help these smaller nations....