Pathetic Shark

There’s a lot of talent on this team enduring disappointing or mediocre seasons. Werner, Havertz, Pulisic, Abraham, James, Kanye, Chilwell, Ziyech. Half of it is due to chopping and changing and players not getting a consistent run in the side but the tactic of buying loads of players without a planned pattern of play means it will probably be next season before the group really gels.

Europa. Too many good teams to pass in the prem

Christ on a bike this is moronic. Time to storm Bellmont

He’s ass my dude

No mention of Oscar Giles leaving? I’m thinking he sticks around since hustle never sleeps

I’ve read dozens of books about the game but other than basic formations haven’t found tactical books very enlightening. The game is so fluid and unscripted that it’s hard to dig deeper than generalizations. Even USSF courses don’t move to 11v11 tactics until the C level course. There are some decent videos about attacking or defending certain formations. Sky generally does a good job on analysis and various NBC Sports nuggets are decent. The things that have impacted the English game over time some of which you can spot today Passing out from the back High press and how to break it Two defensive banks of four, now sometimes five at the back increased specialization, particularly with one or two defensive midfielders Multiple formations: 442 replaced by 433, 4321, 352. This transition was aided by foreign coaches Extreme levels of fitness. The game has always been fast, English fans demand it but with the advent of the press requirements are even higher. Some changes for the worst in my opinion: Large reduction in physicality Too much tippy tap; possession without ambition Pristine pitches and lack of atmosphere- mud and snow added to the unpredictability; too many prawn sandwiches De prioritization of the cups Var Didnt really answer your question but Clemson v Ohio State is boring

Who’s our fourth string qb?

Knocked the gob out of him

Holy shite! TD

Mane or Salah will go in the summer, it’s just the way of things. I expect a star will come in as a replacement but don’t think it will be Haaland. There’s Elliot to come back from loan, Origi and Wij will probably be gone too. I’d love to see them make a run at eze from Palace, I think he’s going to be a star

Top club? This is an interesting time for Arsenal. Clearly no longer top four (Liverpool, Utd., Citeh, Chelsea) their status in the big six is under threat (Spuds, Leicester and Everton). Other than history there is little that differentiates them from the others. Not managers, not stadium (I would say the Emirates is the most soulless in the league and Everton are lining up a new stadium by the docks), not ownership. With the new Brexit rules the academy might be something to capitalize on but I wouldn’t say it’s better than the others listed other than Everton and Leicester.

Footy’s back bitches!

Chances of Kieran dowell playing this year? Him and lookman need to leave. Too much talent to sit

latest was that Tammy wanted to stay and fight for his place. Ridiculous decision if so. Loftus-Cheek and drink water should push for loans too. A couple of carabao cup appearances aren’t enough

At least it took longer for all of the “told you so’s” to come out this time around. Proud of my team, went further than expected, don’t give a fuck who they played against. Southgate got his players performing at greater than the sum of their parts as opposed to previous teams filled with stars who never played as a unit and underperformed. Can’t help thinking that Kane and Alli were injured or just not sharp enough throughout the tournament. Rose made a difference but wasn’t fit enough for most of the tournament either so don’t blame Southgate for sticking with young. Henderson played to the best of his ability and had a good tournament but isn’t a top level player and it showed today. Rashford showed today why he wasn’t picked ahead of Sterling. Vardy had a good season but isn’t the best fit for international football. So there were few options available to Southgate to change the game. Wilshere, shelvey, llalana or the Ox are all what if’s but none could be considered world class. The only thing that gives me hope is that since the EPDP was put into place the country has started to produce a different type of player and this has been reflected in the success of the youth teams. Foden, Sancho, Hudson Odoi, Lookman, McEachran, Lookman, Brewster, Gomes, Sessegnon, Dowell, Winks and co are the promising group in ages.

West Ham’s transfer policy is a complete cluster. They are also interested in Wilshere and Payet. Just randomly buying players with no view of how they would fit together. Final word (maybe) on the Sterling discussion- he plays a different position for England than MC. MC play a 4-3-3 with him playing in the 7 or 11 position. England play 3-5-2 but he floats between the 10, 8, 6 positions, sometimes even dropping deeper than Henderson to receive the ball. It’s his job to create space for Alli and Lingard as well as pulling defenders inside to allow Trippier and Young to get forward. People say put Lofus Cheek in there or add Dier and move Henderson further up. None of them can dribble like Sterling, none can be a threat with balls over the top or interchange with the inside forwards like Sterling can. I’d be very surprised is he gets dropped

Thinking about it more I would make a run at Grealish if I were Spurs. Still young, strong and good on the ball with some flair. Sounds Spursy to me.

The Pulisic thing confuses me. He didn’t have much of a season and Spurs have some promising talent like Marcus Edwards waiting in the wings. I don’t buy the comment above that he’s better than Sterling. Raheem has been great this season and has plenty of headway to improve under Pep. Pulisic might be feeling the heat from Sancho but he will get more games if he stays put.

All Shit House team: schumaker, Billy Bremner, Pepe, Gentile, Simeone, Rattin, Maradona, Dunga, Joe Jordan, De Jong, Suarez, Rivaldo, Neymar, Vinnie Jones, Roy Keane, Materazzi, Bettega, Ramos, Klinsman, Lalas

Just because someone is athletic from the standpoint of speed and strength doesn’t mean it will translate to being a good player. Theo Walcott comes to mind; he’s lightning fast but often leaves the ball behind. Messi isn’t fast or strong but is brilliant on the ball. The US needs kids out in the street playing for hours every day and growing up loving the game and also watching it to learn from the best. Right now the sport in the US is viewed more as a way to get a college scholarship rather than a game that kids just love playing. How many keep playing after college? I’ve played in men’s leagues in Houston and Austin for many years; the majority of players are from other countries

To Argentinians Messi will never equal Maradona. It’s true, he’s never been kicked out of the World Cup for failing a drugs test, never been sent off in the World Cup finals, never karate kicked the opposition after the match, never doled out racial slurs like candy, never shot reporters with an air rifle etc. Messi will never be able to match Maradona’s legacy

Don’t take me home, I just don’t wanna go to work. To the Moscow, all the way

If Tunisia score first it’s going to be tough. Similar to the other group matches like Iceland, Switzerland’s, Mexico etc. Tunisia will look to defend deep and look for the counter. I’m predicting 1-1 and England will need to wait until the Pathetic Shark shows up in Nizhy for their first win of the tournament

Terrible defending for the goal. No reason for the right back to leave his man

brilliant miss! So he stopped his run which is illegal, would have been interesting to see if it would have been overturned if it went in