Zidane wrote: ↑

March 18, 2018, 10:57 am

The official crowd at Udons game last night was 9,346.Still pretty hot at the 8pm kick off,I would have thought ? Hope you enjoyed the game Adhoc.

Thanks Zid, Yes I enjoyed the game. Great atmosphere. Would be better if there wasn't a running track around the pitch.
The first half was a bit hot and humid, but after half time it cooled a little and a bit of a breeze helped.

Bit of a blow ....... was looking forward to putting me feet up and watching the 7pm KO Derby v Cardiff on MCOT, but it's been snowed orf :-&

After watching the Fulham QPR game last night, I was left wondering if there were ANY advantages to "Playing out from the back". The keeper literally dropping the ball at a defenders feet 6 ins outside the penalty area with two attackers hounding him to me is completely stupid, so why do they insist on doing it time after time
Fulham were caught in pos at least 10 times and turned the ball over giving QPR a goal scoring opportunity on virtually every occasion. Why the hell is this better than throwing/kicking the ball to a player 20/30/40 yds further up the field? Your team is automatically 30 m closer to your target (their goal), and if you lose the ball the opposition is 30 m FURTHER away from your goal giving your keeper/defense a chance to recover. I have yet to see a goal scored by a defender from 1 m outside his own goal (apart from in his own net) but I've seen oodles where the keeper kicks the ball, someone gets a flick on and a runner is in on goal (Marcus Rashford?).
Perhaps computerised Sports Scientists will learn one day that the idea of the game is to get the ball in the opponents goal, not to have 99.9% poss and make 5000 completed back/sideways passes (beautifully shown up during Stoke v Everton where the parallel lines in the snow showed everyone the ..... to me ..... to you ..... to me .....to you

So Statts, from your post 15 March 9.30pm; and Zid, your post 16 March 11.48 am, are you both expressing the opinion that England's national team playing standard has slumped to 'Grass Roots level'? ; failing that, cannot see any reason why you have both posted , under this thread, instead of the/a World Cup topic thread?

Having had your fun ridiculing Southgate's efforts, form the comfort of your armchairs , how about you each now publish the players YOU would select IN YOUR STARTING ELEVEN, and the SEVEN SUBSTITUTES, for the bench; assuming fitness. Given your disparaging comments regarding the players selected by Southgate, I would expect very few, if any, to make it into either of your nominated squads! :-" I won't hold my breath!

Personally, in Southgate's position, I would be frantically lobbying the Minister for Sport to use the 'Russian poisoning dispute' as an excuse for England's withdrawl from the competition; thus saving a great deal of money, not to mention embarrassment!

Reminder for Zid: I previous wrote: "I guarantee that both Alderweireld & Rose will make miraculous recoveries from the injuries ,( from which Zid insists they are suffering) , well before the English & Belgium world cup squads are announced. Also that both will be protesting loudly and vociferously that they have never been fitter".
And so it has come to pass, with Alderweireld admitting he has been fit to play since January! :-"
Perhaps PAUL or Bob would kindly unravel the , (Statto caused ).tangle by transferring this post and the other two above mentioned posts, over to the World Cup 2018 thread.

Mat, the post is in exactly the correct thread ....... Internationals (especially friendlies) have absolutely no reason to be anywherte else.

Hypo I know but just imagine the damage that could be caused to Swansea City Football Club if Alfie Mawson plays in these ridiculous kick abouts and gets injured for the rest of the season. Their rock taken out of their defense whilst fighting a relegation battle with 8 games to go Could be the difference between staying up and being relegated, and if they go down that could be the club financially finished in a couple of years, and because of what ?? STUPID unwanted fixtures.

Just think how anti I would be if Jamaal Lascelles was in the England squad

stattointhailand wrote: ↑

March 20, 2018, 2:38 pm

Mat, the post is in exactly the correct thread ....... Internationals (especially friendlies) have absolutely no reason to be anywhere else. STUPID unwanted fixtures. Just think how anti I would be if Jamaal Lascelles was in the England squad

Don't necessarily disagree with you Statts; except how about an 'International Friendlies' thread?
Oh, by the way, you both seem to have 'overlooked' :-" the challenge contained in the second paragraph of my post! Why am I not surprised. :-" Do be careful not to fall off that fence!

Having noted your "challenge" in an earlier post I am at present trying to negotiate with the FA for my all expenses paid trips to watch possible players that could be selected. I have noted that the grandparents of several players in LA , Miami and Naples to name but a few make them eligible, and as such require checking before making my selections

Not happy sitting on fences as have morbid fear of splinters

Perhaps the away "friendly" in Holland has been specially arranged to stir up crowd trouble and get us banned from Russia that way

Especially for Mat to pick holes in, and given that I dont get to see players week in week out and everyone on video every week unlike Mr Southgate

Pope & Butland 1 game each Freddie Woodman taken as "cover" and to gain experience.
Ben Mee
Tarkowski
Alfie Mawson
Jamaal Lascelles
Sean Morrison
Ryan Sessegnon
Walker
Rose
Joe Bryan
Deli Ali
Eric Dier
Sterling
Alex Pritchard
Shelvey
James Maddison
Ward Prowse
James Milner (UNRETIRE HIM & GIVE HIM THE ARMBAND)
Rashford
Vardy
Lingard
Zaha
Solanke
Abraham

Done a quick overview and the following dross has been omited from my squad:=

Bertrand
Hart
Henderson
Lallana
Livermore
Pickford
Stones
Welbeck
Wilshire
Young

The following have also been omitted but only because I feel they are not as good as those chosen but would no doubt probably feature in future squads

Lewis Cook
Gomez
McGuire
Ox

Der oh dear Statts; slippery, slippery! Stop trying to baffle me! If you recheck Statts, my challenge was kept very simple, and read:

How about you each now publish the players YOU would select IN YOUR STARTING ELEVEN, and the SEVEN SUBSTITUTES, for the bench; assuming fitness.
The challenge was NOT to pick & choose from Southgate's squad, which you ridiculed, but to name what would be your selections to participate in the World Cup finals, on behalf of England.

Mat you cant pick a "Starting X1 & 7 subs" as it is a TWO match break.

As you correctly pointed out I complained that Southgate s squad for the two warm up games would teach him absolutely Jack Sh*t about any players that he didn't already know, thus rendering the games an even more pointless exercise than it already was. I have indicated the players that I would be giving a "trial" to with a view to them being picked for Russia
Nobody knows how previously untried players will react to playing at this level, the only thing that we all know is that those contained in my dross list have already failed their auditions.

stattointhailand wrote: ↑

March 20, 2018, 5:34 pm

I have indicated the players that I would be giving a "trial" to with a view to them being picked for Russia
Nobody knows how previously untried players will react to playing at this level, the only thing that we all know is that those contained in my dross list have already failed their auditions.

Very clever non reply, reply; I would expect no less of you! =D> =D> =D>

I look forward to your straightforward response to my challenge, once the two remaining friendlies have been completed. Although, in the interests of my health, I will not be holding my breath!

Crewe Alexandra 3 Forest Green Rovers 1
Port Vale 0 Exeter City 1

Neither Rovers nor Vale increased their chances of remaining in the League by playing in mid-week.
Vale do have the excuse that they were playing away to a promotional hopeful, while Rovers capitulated to a side that started level on them on points..
8 games to go & 6 & 7 points clear of the drop. It looks like both will be hoping for no finding of form by bottom sides Chesterfield & Barnet..

Jaap Stam: Reading manager leaves with club 20th in Championship

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42503110

Play offs last year but a very different story this. 1 win in 18 games, 20th. in the table & 3 points from the drop.
No great surprise, even if disappointing, but the Chinese brother & sister owners have probably been more supportive than many would have been...

Maidstone United 2 Macclesfield Town 2

The Silkmen were 1 nil down at half time & then 2 - 1 up with 15 minutes to play.
Very tight at the top with Macclesfield 3 points clear of second placed Sutton United but with a worse goal difference, with just 8 games remaining..

Shock Horror .......... England score goal from open play that doesn't come in stoppage time.

After TWO nil nil draws, a 1 - 0 win Harry Kane from pen spot and a 1 - 0 win Harry Kane in 90+ minute England finally got someone else on the scoresheet as Jesse Lingard got the winner in Holland (are you sure George Graham isnt managing the team) ONE NIL TO THE IN GER LAND

Scunthorpe United 1 - 1 Rochdale
Crawley Town 3 - 5 Cheltenham Town
Forest Green Rovers 2 - 0 Mansfield Town
Wycombe Wanderers 0 - 0 Port Vale

Bottom but 1 side Rotherham scored first at Glanford Park but the Iron pulled it back early in the second half. Luckily for the hosts though Peterborough couldn't do any better at home to Bristol & Plymouth Argyle did even worse away at Charlton. So, for now, they hang onto the last play off place by a couple of points.
Old Cheltonian Mohamed Eisa was again the inspiration as Town went on another goal blitz. He becomes their highest ever goal scoring débutant with his 20th. this season.
Not a good day all round for promotional hopefuls Mansfield Town. Their star striker, Danny Rose, limped off injured after 20 seconds & captain, Krystian Pearce, was shown the exit just before the end. Rovers, however, are now 9 points away from danger.
Port Vale goalkeeper Ryan Boot was man of the match as the visitors frustrated high flying Wanderers. It edges Vale up to 8 points away from danger & they are now probably all but safe for the season.
No game for the Silkmen yesterday but they drop to second on goal difference as Sutton record a 3 - 2 home victory. Tranmere Rovers & Wrexham also both have home wins to bring even more pressure..

Scunthorpe sack manager Graham Alexander ...... a slump in form but still in the playoffs n Mr Swann gets rid .. what a ****

Thats shocking DM.Its getting to the stage if you arent 6 points clear at the top then you are liable to get the sack !
Plus,Bobs posts about Macc Town are making me nervous !

Zid...live from Mukdahan....on his 3rd large beer....