Anyone bar England for me, though I do like the way they are going about things for once.

comment by Cinciwolf--Say it with me...Co-LOM-bia (U11551)
posted 28 minutes ago
Anyone bar England for me, though I do like the way they are going about things for once.
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That sounds like the gormless attitude up here in Scotland just now. Even the papers are being negative. I don't like it because it's just sour grapes as the Scottish team has declined to take part once again.

Basically it's envy. You'll get a fat lump of lard criticising a player who's made it to the very top in the professional game, maybe full international level. I've seen similar on this board. Pure envy.

Basically.its rivalry, growing up through school, work etc having banter with England fans, it would be far more odd to support your main rival than not wouldn't it?

Certainly no envy, England have been awful my entire lifetime and their international tournament record is an embarrassment given what it should be.

Looks like Oniangue may finally be on the way out with French club Caen hoping to sign him this week

comment by Tube of Lies (U16473)
posted 10 hours, 54 minutes ago
Basically it's envy. You'll get a fat lump of lard criticising a player who's made it to the very top in the professional game, maybe full international level. I've seen similar on this board. Pure envy.
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it's a misfortune for anyone to be not english - to be of its celtic fringe is almost too cruel .

comment by brian law's conductor (U8869)
posted about 2 hours ago
comment by Tube of Lies (U16473)
posted 10 hours, 54 minutes ago
Basically it's envy. You'll get a fat lump of lard criticising a player who's made it to the very top in the professional game, maybe full international level. I've seen similar on this board. Pure envy.
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it's a misfortune for anyone to be not english - to be of its celtic fringe is almost too cruel .

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Thankfully i am British first and foremost and very proud of that fact and more aware than most of the massive contributions to our nation the 'celtic fringe' have made the last 300+ years.

Fulham prepared to increase their £12m offer for Cavaleiro. How much can we get for him?

14-15 would be about the going rate I would say

I thought Suarez was superb for Uruguay yesterday. Talented and tough, a proper centre forward. Impressed to read that his career spans 638 games and he has only ever missed 6 through injury

I love Suarez, such a fantastic player

I have to say I can only see positives in the signing of Léo Bonatini. He said last year that Wolves was where he wanted to be and had no desire to go back to Saudi Arabia. He is the perfect age. He is an instinctive goal scorer. He already has a rapport with Jota and to a lesser extent with Costa and Cavaleiro. And finally the fans love him.
Obviously there is a reason why he stopped scoring half way through last season, once Nuno and his coaches have worked out what that is, I'm sure they will find the solution and we will see Léo hitting the back of the net again.
Ruben Vinagre is a no brainer, I stated previously that I thought it would be a huge mistake not to sign him so I am very happy about both signings.

Also delighted to see that Ben Marshall has a permanent move. A hard working and talented professional who was under utilised by Wolves. I wish him all the very best with his new club.

Bonatini arrived at Wolves from the Middle East where the football is far less intense, less physical and less fast, and he only had about 3 weeks of pre season. He was brilliant for the opening months but then, because we didn’t have an alternative centre forward, he was played for at least a month beyond the point where he was desperate for a rest. Then after he was finally given a break he struggled to recapture his sharpness.

He will be much better prepared and much fitter for the start of next season, and what we saw from him in the first three months of last season was far too good to be some kind of fluke

He did have a shoulder issue from xmas time as well

comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted about an hour ago

He will be much better prepared and much fitter for the start of next season, and what we saw from him in the first three months of last season was far too good to be some kind of fluke.

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Agree 100%

Well that's Spain out then!

What garbage from Spain today. 80% of tippy tippy possession and hardly threatened the Russian goal at all. A few years ago opposition used to chase after the ball and run themselves into the ground against teams playing like that. Nowadays they just sit back and let them have the ball as much as they want. It’s such boring football to watch, and nowadays mostly ineffective. Delighted the Russians knocked them out

Spain were dreadful and didn't even try and get out of second gear, Russia aren't even a solid defensive unit but Spain did little to open them up, serves them right.

comment by Cinciwolf--Say it with me...Co-LOM-bia (U11551)
posted 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
Spain were dreadful and didn't even try and get out of second gear, Russia aren't even a solid defensive unit but Spain did little to open them up, serves them right.
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Spain play possession for possession’s sake though. It is boring to watch at times. Every team needs to be able to pass now, but you also need a bit of directness and forcing things to happen at times. Barring Costa, they didn’t really have that in their armory today and the style they played didn’t allow Costa to isolate or bully defenders; Russia were just allowed to get into shape all game and crowd the edge of the area.

Teams have sussed out how to play that style of football now, which is why both they are Germany have been eliminated. Pacey and skilful forwards with width is what the major teams need to complement the passers at the moment. Pep Guardiola knows this, which is why Sane and Sterling have been so successful this year. Nuno does it with the two wing backs and pacey skilful forwards. All the teams who look like they might do something at this World Cup have it.

Personally, I am glad both Spain and Germany went out. It means the game can start to move away teams playing the boring possession for possessions sake style that has been creeping in, to they way teams like Liverpool and Man City have played this season. Spain and Germany both had the players to do it this tournament, they just chose the negative option.

Cinci, anybody but England, you miserable feckin sweaty, shouting for a load of Death peddling, coke producing skumbags, still bitter about '66' are we ?
Come on ENG-ER-LAND.

You ok babe

I don't think the passing was the big issue today with Spain to be honest Tam, it was more the fact they seemed quite content doing it and showed zero urgency until the last ten mins when they started opening Russia up with ease

comment by Ohsoproudwolf (U11548)
posted 7 minutes ago
Cinci, anybody but England, you miserable feckin sweaty, shouting for a load of Death peddling, coke producing skumbags, still bitter about '66' are we ?
Come on ENG-ER-LAND.
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Don't go much on Colombia then Ohso