The World Cup Thread

[qwertyell]

3 hours ago, The Curse of St Mary's said:

ABK 👏

 

Turns out the "leaked" 55 man provisional squad that was doing the rounds a few weeks back was bollocks. Bella-Kotchap wasn't in it.

[qwertyell]

22 hours ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

Squads are slowly being announced now.

Croatia’s today, no DCC in their squad, that’s one that I thought would be going.

Apparently had a poor year domestically (Marseille didn't exactly dig their heels in to keep him from us), and also some grumblings about his character in the dressing room - ducked out of a national U21 tournament to go on holiday with his girlfriend. Not a popular chap. 

Then again, they keep selecting rampaging asshat Lovren, so Croatia aren't that picky.

[LeBizzier69]

23 minutes ago, Atlanta Saint said:

He's played one minute more than you and I have in the Premier League this season, so he shouldn't be too tired.

 

Let’s get Phillips match fit and ready to play in 45 degree heat. Good one Gareth. 

[warsash saint]

50 minutes ago, sydney_saint said:

No it's not the truth. It's an opinion, and a bizarre contempt for him. 

I don't think Dman's comments are bizarre at all - think they are pretty much spot on.  Anyone who thinks JWP should be in the England squad, needs to take off their Saints tinted glasses!

Whether Gallagher, Phillips, Henderson should be there either, is another matter!

[Saint WGC]

I really hope JWP learns from this omission, he has to start being a lot more positive on the ball.  I'm a massive fan of James Maddison, he is one player who has actually been picked on form not to mention talent.  He has been picked because of the correct type of stats, most goals and assists in the league - they are the sort of numbers JWP needs to be setting himself.  He needs to create and score more goals from open play, his goal at Brighton last season shows he has technical ability.  He is not unlucky to be left out, he is only unlucky compared to some of the unfit players who have been picked.  There is too much obsession with possession stats and how many completed passes are made, let's face it, most players can pass a ball five or ten yards sideways or backwards.  When was the last time JWP opened a team up with a defence splitting pass leading to a goal.

I quite like Conor Gallagher and think he should have been picked if it was based on his Palace form rather than this season as he has not been a regular starter.  There are a few overrated players picked purely because of who they play for, Mount and Rashford being two - Mount is nowhere near the quality of Jude Bellingham who I would love to see stay at Dortmund as he will no doubt get ruined playing for one of the PL elite.  Rashford has had about four decent games recently but because he gets a few kids a free dinner, people gloss over how poor he generally has been for quite some time now.  The excuse that he's young wears a bit thin nowadays.

I know people all think he's amazing for England because he trips over his own feet or falls over when a player just breathes on him but just because of a couple of decent substitute cameos, why the hell is Grealish been picked too (oh sorry, cos he cost £100m and plays for everyone's darling Pep, yuk).  He showed what a c*** he is with his comments re Miguel Almiron, probably when he was p*ssed as usual.

Maguire is a joke selection, because someone was supposedly good two years ago does not mean you should be picked automatically two years later when you are dreadful.  Walker is another one, just because he can run like Usain Bolt, everyone raves about him, watch him actually defend, the bloke is a liability who is arrogant and switches off thinking his pace will get him out of trouble. It won't against the best players who have great movement and technical ability where their first touch is so good that it is too late no matter how quickly you can run back.

As usual, England have got out of jail because they had an easy qualifying group and now have an easy World cup group.  Anything less than nine points with the resources compared with the other nations in the group would be very poor, they will probably get found out as soon as they play anyone half decent.  They could somehow get lucky with the draw like in the Euros but I would be amazed if they get to the semis as I don't think Southgate will be adventurous enough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Saint86]

2 hours ago, bpsaint said:

Missing out on the Euro 2020 squad was harsher on JWP for me when he was a lot more involved in the squad in the run up. It’s probably not in his nature but if Southgate comes calling again for some pointless friendly I hope Prowsr tells him to shove it 

Agreed on the Euros, that was Prowsey's chance and he was mugged off properly by Southgate in favour of the unfit Henderson. But re your second point, it shouldn't matter as Southgate won't take charge of another england game beyond the world cup - not unless he suddenly develops even basic level of tactical awareness and bravery.

[bpsaint]

6 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Agreed on the Euros, that was Prowsey's chance and he was mugged off properly by Southgate in favour of the unfit Henderson. But re your second point, it shouldn't matter as Southgate won't take charge of another england game beyond the world cup - not unless he suddenly develops even basic level of tactical awareness and bravery.

Potentially yes this World Cup could be the last we see of Gareth in charge in England. That being said the FA seem quite happy with a non confrontational yes man at the helm so I also wouldn’t be surprised if they offered him a new deal.

I guess the decision might also factor in who is available to replace him and when.

[goodymatt]

Extra 3 players going to this tournament, with fitness issues around Philips and Hendo. He’s the best free kick taker and would score a pen if needed unlike some. Poor form this season is true but this is largely down to missing a decent CDM partner for many games due to Romeu sale and injury to Lavia IMO. He’s not been able to fully play to his strengths and it has made him overly cautious without that protection. Other players are being picked on historical form, such as Maguire but Prowsey’s 15 PL goal contributions, running further, intercepting lots etc are just forgotten. For his position and in a hot and cold team like Saints, statistically he’s been good enough to go to both tournaments. I think Southgate has just further demonstrated that if you’re a Saints player you need to move to a perceived bigger club and be a bit part player, a la Philips in order to guarantee selection. I wouldn’t be surprised if Prowsey wanted to do that in the summer, which would be a crying shame. I’m definitely guilty of some Saints bias, but generally I think he’s unfortunate to have missed both major tournaments. 

[whelk]

Just looking or listening to Southgate makes me cringe now. No issues with excluding JWP but sense we are going to be so shit and this fucker is going to be like Graham Taylor. Still low expectations and all that.

[davefizzy14]

Really pleased for Bella-Kotchap Prowsey should have been picked in my opinion by Southgate as offers world class dead ball delivery and takes a dominant penalty as proved once again last night (twice). At least he will get time to work with the new manager now. 

[badgerx16]

Two words sum up England's chances;

Harry Maguire.

[FarehamSaintJames]

Some that didn’t make it: Tomori, Abraham, Sancho, JWP, Guehi, Toney and one I actually think deserved to go was Trevor Chalobah (Chelsea). He’s played consistently and has more often than not been one of the stronger players in that side.

[aintforever]

JWP will be better off out of it. It's going to be a shit World Cup and England don't have a chance.

I really don't see the point in taking Phillips, he's barely kicked a ball this season so even if he's fit he won't be up to speed.

 

[Charlie Mealings]

I wrote a quick one this afternoon on James Ward-Prowse, Southgate and the England squad if you've a couple min.

TLDR: Southgate has known him too long, he's a baller who deserves it, but not the one England need.

https://cmealings.substack.com/p/a-quick-late-word-on-southgate-and

[AlexLaw76]

We’ll be lucky to mate the 1/4 finals.

maguire will be pump, Kane will be barely break out of a walk and Sterling will fall over his own feet.

[cloggy saint]

1 hour ago, bpsaint said:

Potentially yes this World Cup could be the last we see of Gareth in charge in England. That being said the FA seem quite happy with a non confrontational yes man at the helm so I also wouldn’t be surprised if they offered him a new deal.

I guess the decision might also factor in who is available to replace him and when.

Why do you say he's a yes man? Is it because he's well spoken and presented?

[SaintTex]

OK, to post United States Squad in this thread, I hope? They are in England's group after all.

 

17  from European Clubs (6 from PL)

9  from MLS

Edited 10 November, 2022 by SaintTex

[Saint86]

7 hours ago, badgerx16 said:

Two words sum up England's chances;

Harry Maguire.

Gareth Southgate 

[woodsaint1]

 

Martin Caceres off to another WC at the age of 35

[woodsaint1]

As much as Southgate selecting the likes of Phillips and Henderson is a head scratcher given their lack of games and poor form, JWP cant feel too hard done by. His form just hasnt been good enough this season (coinciding with our poor form). Maddison has played his way in and is the alternative dead ball specialist that JWP offers. 

Still think he could get in with injuries.

[bpsaint]

14 hours ago, cloggy saint said:

Why do you say he's a yes man? Is it because he's well spoken and presented?

No, because it’s pretty obvious that the sway the big 6 and sponsors have over the England team is behind some of his squad selections. Remember when he used to claim that he wouldn’t pick out of form players, maybe that was his original intention, until the powers that be had their say.

Gareth for me is the future of what the FA want as a manager. No big personality, good in front of the cameras, can be influenced, and wouldn’t get near a top 6 Premier League management job for love nor money.

Theres no way that Maguire. Phillips, Henderson or Gallagher get into that squad based on current form if they weren’t still at their respective clubs.

 

Edited 11 November, 2022 by bpsaint

[AlexLaw76]

11 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

No, because it’s pretty obvious that the sway the big 6 and sponsors have over the England team is behind some of his squad selections. Remember when he used to claim that he wouldn’t pick out of form players, maybe that was his original intention, until the powers that be had their say.

Gareth for me is the future now of what the FA want as a manager. No big personality, good in front of the cameras, can be influenced, and wouldn’t get near a top 6 Premier League management job for love nor money.

Theres no way that Maguire. Phillips, Henderson or Gallagher get into that squad based on current form if they weren’t still at their respective clubs.

 

Southgate doubled-down on Maguire yesterday, calling him Englands best CB.

 

[bpsaint]

28 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Southgate doubled-down on Maguire yesterday, calling him Englands best CB.

 

Slab head has been shocking for a while now, even in his England appearances of late.

 

Edited 11 November, 2022 by bpsaint

[The Cat]

6 hours ago, woodsaint1 said:

 

Martin Caceres off to another WC at the age of 35

He's a good player. No idea what was going on with his time here but nice to have another Saints link however tenuous.

Uruguay must have the oldest defence in their squad. I'm sure Godin is about 45.

[JRM]

7 minutes ago, The Cat said:

He's a good player. No idea what was going on with his time here but nice to have another Saints link however tenuous.

Uruguay must have the oldest defence in their squad. I'm sure Godin is about 45.

Where's Gaston Ramirez? 

[JRM]

I've noticed teams are starting to announce friendlies for December before the restart, any news on Saints plans? 

 

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/november/08/west-ham-friendly-announced/

[AlexLaw76]

11 minutes ago, JRM said:

I've noticed teams are starting to announce friendlies for December before the restart, any news on Saints plans? 

 

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/november/08/west-ham-friendly-announced/

Will be interesting given we are still in the cup and have a very favourable tie at home as the season kicks off after the world cup

[Toussaint]

18 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Not sure how much he will offer after being injured for most of the season. 

and last season

[AlexLaw76]

Anyone else watched FIFA uncovered. 
 

nothing in it is a surprise. 
 

shocking still!

[Saint_clark]

46 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Anyone else watched FIFA uncovered. 
 

nothing in it is a surprise. 
 

shocking still!

Bit of a contradiction between your second and third sentence.

[AlexLaw76]

14 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Bit of a contradiction between your second and third sentence.

Good point. Well made

or, despite expecting to be told the level of corruption, the said expected detail remains at a shocking level!

Edited 12 November, 2022 by AlexLaw76

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Not seen it, but will having read a couple of books on it ages back.

Like Alex, you know they are greedy and corrupt. But seeing that no level of greed is ever enough for them and no corruption would ever deter that greed is an eye opener. All with the tacit approval/ active collusion of governments, banks, sponsors etc.

 

[AlexLaw76]

1 hour ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Not seen it, but will having read a couple of books on it ages back.

Like Alex, you know they are greedy and corrupt. But seeing that no level of greed is ever enough for them and no corruption would ever deter that greed is an eye opener. All with the tacit approval/ active collusion of governments, banks, sponsors etc.

 

After watching, you can't help get the vibe that if the USA had won the 2022 WC bid, then it would have been far less likely that the house of cards would have fallen as much as it did regarding the key personalities. 

[Turkish]

If you were a gay fan would you travel to it? There is a huge amount of uproar about the foreign secretaries comments recently and he's just been grilled again about it on GMB. 

[whelk]

Terrible decision to award to Qatar but don’t know why the liberal West expects a strict Muslim country to suddenly liberalise to our western values in terms of LGBT acceptance. It doesn’t work like that. Someone also pointed out last time we hosted the World Cup it was illegal to be gay here. Middle East is medieval in comparison to the west and everyone knew it. 

[Turkish]

9 minutes ago, whelk said:

Terrible decision to award to Qatar but don’t know why the liberal West expects a strict Muslim country to suddenly liberalise to our western values in terms of LGBT acceptance. It doesn’t work like that. Someone also pointed out last time we hosted the World Cup it was illegal to be gay here. Middle East is medieval in comparison to the west and everyone knew it. 

Yes it was a terrible decision and should never have gone there, but it is what it is. The foreign secretary got a lot of criticism for saying LGBTs need to be flexible but i cant really see too much wrong it what he said, they do. They're not going to change their laws because a few gay people will be walking around for a 4 weeks. It's accepted that when a women goes to the middle east they need to cover up and dress respectfully, no one screams and shouts about that its just expected thats what they do. 

[Noodles34]

37 minutes ago, Turkish said:

If you were a gay fan would you travel to it? There is a huge amount of uproar about the foreign secretaries comments recently and he's just been grilled again about it on GMB. 

What did he say? I don't really have a problem with what he said in the first place, he was being pragmatic about it. Clearly the majority do not condone what this country stands for in respect of LBGT... rights etc. but that is what it is and if you cannot go and respect their laws then don't go. It is without argument that the WC should not be played there and at this time of the year, but it is and we have to get on with it. Hopefully it will be a financial disaster for FIFA, it's already a moral one. I mean you could argue that gay rights are as important as black rights these days, so if Qatar had a race agenda, it would have never been chosen. But if gay people want to go there and make a point, holding hands or kissing in public then they deserve to get fined, jail etc. for being fucking stupid more than anything. 

[Turkish]

20 minutes ago, Noodles34 said:

What did he say? I don't really have a problem with what he said in the first place, he was being pragmatic about it. Clearly the majority do not condone what this country stands for in respect of LBGT... rights etc. but that is what it is and if you cannot go and respect their laws then don't go. It is without argument that the WC should not be played there and at this time of the year, but it is and we have to get on with it. Hopefully it will be a financial disaster for FIFA, it's already a moral one. I mean you could argue that gay rights are as important as black rights these days, so if Qatar had a race agenda, it would have never been chosen. But if gay people want to go there and make a point, holding hands or kissing in public then they deserve to get fined, jail etc. for being fucking stupid more than anything. 

they were trying to get him to say LGBTs shouldn't hold hands over there but he called them out and said they were looking for a headline, kept badgering but he just kept saying people need to keep themselves safe. all the crying and wailing over it isn't going to make a blind bit of difference, the laws need to be respected, if you dont like them dont go. If you're stupid enough to kiss in public then all they're doing it trying to make a look at me point and be a martyr. Much like you'd be a dickhead for running around  with your shirt off pissed with a couple of plastic cups full of warm lager signing 10 german bombers, just dont bring attention to yourself. 

[Noodles34]

15 minutes ago, Turkish said:

they were trying to get him to say LGBTs shouldn't hold hands over there but he called them out and said they were looking for a headline, kept badgering but he just kept saying people need to keep themselves safe. all the crying and wailing over it isn't going to make a blind bit of difference, the laws need to be respected, if you dont like them dont go. If you're stupid enough to kiss in public then all they're doing it trying to make a look at me point and be a martyr. Much like you'd be a dickhead for running around  with your shirt off pissed with a couple of plastic cups full of warm lager signing 10 german bombers, just dont bring attention to yourself. 

I'm hoping Peter Tatchell goes back there and they lock the cunt up for life. 

[Dman]

A mountain being made out of a mole hill, as per.

I remember a few years back, before the euros in Ukraine, where they had TV shows (iirc, sol campbell was the presenter) trying to deter people from going and basically saying, if you’re black, you’re unsafe. 

From those that I know who went, said it was one of the best they’ve been to and saw little to no trouble at all, much like the recent Russian WC. 

Much like anything, if you go and act like a provocative bellend you’ll find trouble. Wether that’s being unable to keep your sexual feelings to yourself for a few hours or being a pissed / geared up twat walking along the streets. It’s not difficult. 

[whelk]

So there are two different documentary series about Italia90. One on CH4 italia 90 that changed football forever and one on Sky italia 90 and four weeks that changed that world, 

[Turkish]

4 hours ago, Dman said:

A mountain being made out of a mole hill, as per.

I remember a few years back, before the euros in Ukraine, where they had TV shows (iirc, sol campbell was the presenter) trying to deter people from going and basically saying, if you’re black, you’re unsafe. 

From those that I know who went, said it was one of the best they’ve been to and saw little to no trouble at all, much like the recent Russian WC. 

Much like anything, if you go and act like a provocative bellend you’ll find trouble. Wether that’s being unable to keep your sexual feelings to yourself for a few hours or being a pissed / geared up twat walking along the streets. It’s not difficult. 

I would remind LGBTs of these wise words...

 

[Turkish]

21 minutes ago, whelk said:

So there are two different documentary series about Italia90. One on CH4 italia 90 that changed football forever and one on Sky italia 90 and four weeks that changed that world, 

neither are true though are they.

[whelk]

25 minutes ago, Turkish said:

neither are true though are they.

No although CH4 is closer that football did definitely change but cannot be charged just to that WC.

[LaptopSaint]

Is the Premier League back yet? 

[Turkish]

19 hours ago, whelk said:

No although CH4 is closer that football did definitely change but cannot be charged just to that WC.

What a little prick Colin Moynihan was.

[whelk]

7 minutes ago, Turkish said:

What a little prick Colin Moynihan was.

Yes a complete twat. Last night’s programme at least highlighted the shit England fans got. We were in Rose and Crown that night and proud of Battle of Rimini. Italians stupid to try and stir up a pub rammed full of English lads. The police beyond laughable just rounding up anyone later to show they did something when mostly they did fck all when kicking off.

[benjii]

On 10/11/2022 at 19:24, LeBizzier69 said:

Let’s get Phillips match fit and ready to play in 45 degree heat. Good one Gareth. 

It will be high 20s or low 30s. Cooler than a summer tournament in most places.

[East Kent Saint]

3 minutes ago, benjii said:

It will be high 20s or low 30s. Cooler than a summer tournament in most places.

Also air conditioned stadia because it was going to be in the summer ! 

[qwertyell]

21 hours ago, whelk said:

So there are two different documentary series about Italia90. One on CH4 italia 90 that changed football forever and one on Sky italia 90 and four weeks that changed that world, 

Watched the first two episodes of the C4 Italia 90 documentary and they've both been predominantly about hooliganism in the 1980s, framed sympathetically with various old hooligan talking heads reminiscing wistfully about all the faces they used to stove in on a weekend during the glory days.

The other 2% of the episodes was old footage from Kevin Allen's Italia 90 documentary which I saw when it originally aired.

Pretty shoddy stuff so far. Hope the Sky one is a bit better.