Less Than A Month To Go - It's TODAY

[The Doctor]

Spain, at least, have partially compensated for their poor World Cup showing in the Euro's (they have made the final three times and won twice - England have never appeared in a Euro final). They also play the correct way, the short, first time, passing game.

There is no DEFINITIVE correct way to play. There is what you claim is the correct way (pass and move) and "mongball" as well as several combinations of the two.

The correct way to play is to put out a team thats going to play the style neccasery to win BUT the style that will win the match comes down to who you are playing.

For instance there is no point playing the pass and move style against ,say, chelsea because they will sit and wait untill BAM! one misplaced pass, they have possession and it's in your net.

But this is the sort of style to play against your portsmouths and your stokes because if you just launch the long ball then they'll just pick it up and launch it back and your players aren't going to win much in the air against their defences.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Very excited forgoing a full day safari park tour and paying $200aud to get catergoy 3 tickets to Spain V Switzerland and South Korea V Nigeria, also a premium ticket to Brazil V Portugul.

Can't bloody wait for the world cup now as if I wasn't excited enough but to see 3 extra games including premium tixs to one of the matches of the tourni.

[LCFC-ARAB]

Just noticed i never actually posted in this after the draw!!

well fuck me, what a draw

think the pub is off limits for me for the England v Algeria game, as i don't fancy getting my head kicked....

i rekon:

beat Slovenia

lose to England

draw USA

so i think it will depend on how many goals England beat us and how many we beat Slovenia cause i think the USA will do the Same

and then to get Germany in the second round

who we have played twice and beaten twice including the 1982 world cup

one thing for sure is that i seriously cannot wait to watch Algeria in their first world cup in my life time!!

[Finnegan]

Just noticed i never actually posted in this after the draw!!

well fuck me, what a draw

think the pub is off limits for me for the England v Algeria game, as i don't fancy getting my head kicked....

i rekon:

beat Slovenia

lose to England

draw USA

so i think it will depend on how many goals England beat us and how many we beat Slovenia cause i think the USA will do the Same

and then to get Germany in the second round

who we have played twice and beaten twice including the 1982 world cup

one thing for sure is that i seriously cannot wait to watch Algeria in their first world cup in my life time!!

this is the part where Radovan and Father Ted tell you Slovenia will beat you and win the group due to Slavic sporting dominance.

[Uncle Albert]

I hate Eastern Europe, shit football.

[Finnegan]

I hate Eastern Europe, shit football.

[MC Prussian]

this is the part where Radovan and Father Ted tell you Slovenia will beat you and win the group due to Slavic sporting dominance.

I wouldn't go THAT far. But from a sportive perspective, I simply rate Slovenia higher than Algeria, I'm afraid.

[Uncle Albert]

T'was a joke.

[StanSP]

Not many people getting ya jokes these days eh Uncle Albert.

Maybe you're not as funny as you think you are .

[LCFC-ARAB]

I wouldn't go THAT far. But from a sportive perspective, I simply rate Slovenia higher than Algeria, I'm afraid.

FIFA world rankings weren't made for shits and giggles.....

I think Algeria deserve a bit more credit than they are getting.

[Radovan's Caravan]

this is the part where Radovan and Father Ted tell you Slovenia will beat you and win the group due to Slavic sporting dominance.

Nothing would give me greater pleasure than for the Desert Foxes to wipe the noses of those treacherous curs in their own doo doo (though, from a pure footballing perspective, the humbling of the nation that gave mongball to the world would come a close second).

Algeria are a good side by any international measure. They had to beat the current African champions (I won't dignify that wretched Mubarek cash cow tourno by referring to it by its absurd, mistranslated title) to qualify. You may also remember that Egypt stuffed Italy in the Confederations Cup in the summer.

Much as I hate to admit it, Slovenia are also a very good side though under tournament conditions I might just favour the Algerians. Both, of course could easily embarrass The Ingermongs.

Prepare ye for your greatest humiliation in the dark continent since Isandlwana...

[Radovan's Caravan]

There is no DEFINITIVE correct way to play. There is what you claim is the correct way (pass and move) and "mongball" as well as several combinations of the two.

The correct way to play is to put out a team thats going to play the style neccasery to win BUT the style that will win the match comes down to who you are playing.

For instance there is no point playing the pass and move style against ,say, chelsea because they will sit and wait untill BAM! one misplaced pass, they have possession and it's in your net.

But this is the sort of style to play against your portsmouths and your stokes because if you just launch the long ball then they'll just pick it up and launch it back and your players aren't going to win much in the air against their defences.

That's the myth that has been perpetuated by the disciples of Reep and Hughes - the original proponents of the long ball game. In fact the opposite of what you are suggesting holds true: the higher the level of opposition that you are facing the less effective the long ball becomes.

In any case, you misunderstand the first time game. It does not follow that a misplaced first time pass will increase the chances of conceding (over and above a speculative punt) - this is the fear that long ball advocates thrive on. You can still sit deep and play one touch (which is what catenaccio is all about).

In fact because the one touch game is so efficient (reducing the opposition's time to intercept to a theoretical minimum) you can advance and cut through the centre with fewer players - leaving the rest set, deep behind the ball. England don't play this way partly because they are not technically good enough. Individually and collectively they just won't put in the extra hours of skill reps required.

You've also chosen a poor example in Chelsea who, after Arsenal, are the most effective users of this tactic in the EPL.

[The Doctor]

FIFA world rankings weren't made for shits and giggles.....

I think Algeria deserve a bit more credit than they are getting.

the high placing of mexico and the USA (3rd and 4th at one point) suggests that.. Yes they are.

That's the myth that has been perpetuated by the disciples of Reep and Hughes - the original proponents of the long ball game. In fact the opposite of what you are suggesting holds true: the higher the level of opposition that you are facing the less effective the long ball becomes.

In any case, you misunderstand the first time game. It does not follow that a misplaced first time pass will increase the chances of conceding (over and above a speculative punt) - this is the fear that long ball advocates thrive on. You can still sit deep and play one touch (which is what catenaccio is all about).

In fact because the one touch game is so efficient (reducing the opposition's time to intercept to a theoretical minimum) you can advance and cut through the centre with fewer players - leaving the rest set, deep behind the ball. England don't play this way partly because they are not technically good enough. Individually and collectively they just won't put in the extra hours of skill reps required.

You've also chosen a poor example in Chelsea who, after Arsenal, are the most effective users of this tactic in the EPL.

by playing this one touch game you allow the opposition to set up a defence that, bar a moment of sublime skill from one of your players, is nigh on impenentrable.

Whereas if you have a strong, aerial compentent player that can hold the ball up and bring others into the game or alternatively a quick attacker capable of timing his run to perfection and getting in on goal from the single ball , The opposition stand little chance unless they are just a bunch of elephants bred with falcons (strong and brilliant in the air).

First touch football does have its uses but the most effective way of splitting open a defence and therefore creating goal scoring chances ,is the long ball over the top.

After all the game is all about scoring goals and so if you're going to play one touch then you better play the balls fast and accurately to stand any chance.

[lcfc_jme]

I personally can't wait to see what Chandler thinks of the confirmed cities for the 2018 bid. And I miss his WC Facts, they were diamond, those.

[Radovan's Caravan]

the high placing of mexico and the USA (3rd and 4th at one point) suggests that.. Yes they are.

by playing this one touch game you allow the opposition to set up a defence that, bar a moment of sublime skill from one of your players, is nigh on impenentrable.

Whereas if you have a strong, aerial compentent player that can hold the ball up and bring others into the game or alternatively a quick attacker capable of timing his run to perfection and getting in on goal from the single ball , The opposition stand little chance unless they are just a bunch of elephants bred with falcons (strong and brilliant in the air).

First touch football does have its uses but the most effective way of splitting open a defence and therefore creating goal scoring chances ,is the long ball over the top.

After all the game is all about scoring goals and so if you're going to play one touch then you better play the balls fast and accurately to stand any chance.

Oh come on - stop being so silly. If what you were saying was true than England would have won as many World Cups as Brazil and Manchester United as many Champions League titles as Real Madrid. England is the only major football nation that still plays this way (though your top clubs have largely abandoned it due to the foreigners on their rosters).

Not only that your physics is completely up the spout. The long ball game is only really effective when the game is stretched or when the opposition is playing a high line (The English Disease). The main reason why England are so often brutally exposed is because they play the long diagonal ball from the right back position and half the team get caught wrong side haring after the second phase ball like a load of third formers.

They're really a load of light weight wannabe egg chasers (many a true word spoken in jest...)

[The Doctor]

Not only that your physics is completely up the spout. The long ball game is only really effective when the game is stretched or when the opposition is playing a high line (The English Disease). The main reason why England are so often brutally exposed is because they play the long diagonal ball from the right back position and half the team get caught wrong side haring after the second phase ball like a load of third formers.

how has this got anything to do with physics? I'm not considering the effects of gravity, velocity, acceleration, dave the penguin etc.

[Radovan's Caravan]

how has this got anything to do with physics? I'm not considering the effects of gravity, velocity, acceleration, dave the penguin etc.

All depends what defintion of physics you sign up to:

1. (used with a sing. verb) The science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two, grouped in traditional fields such as acoustics, optics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism, as well as in modern extensions including atomic and nuclear physics, cryogenics, solid-state physics, particle physics, and plasma physics.

2. (used with a pl. verb) Physical properties, interactions, processes, or laws: the physics of supersonic flight.

3. (used with a sing. verb) Archaic The study of the natural or material world and phenomena; natural philosophy.

Some pretty inclusive New Labour definitions there - wonder whether any of them could extend to 'talking through one's arse (acoustics?)' Large Al?

[The Doctor]

All depends what defintion of physics you sign up to:

1. (used with a sing. verb) The science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two, grouped in traditional fields such as acoustics, optics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism, as well as in modern extensions including atomic and nuclear physics, cryogenics, solid-state physics, particle physics, and plasma physics.

2. (used with a pl. verb) Physical properties, interactions, processes, or laws: the physics of supersonic flight.

3. (used with a sing. verb) Archaic The study of the natural or material world and phenomena; natural philosophy.

Some pretty inclusive New Labour definitions there - wonder whether any of them could extend to 'talking through one's arse (acoustics?)' Large Al?

which would be actual physics - the science version.

Oh and if you look closely you'll find that there's no space in LargeAl.

[Jaspa]

Why are there 27 guests currently looking at a thread dormant since 2009 ?

[ozleicester]

Why are there 27 guests currently looking at a thread dormant since 2009 ?

its really groovy and retro.....its where the cool people hang out.

[Daggers]

All depends what defintion of physics you sign up to:

1. (used with a sing. verb) The science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two, grouped in traditional fields such as acoustics, optics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism, as well as in modern extensions including atomic and nuclear physics, cryogenics, solid-state physics, particle physics, and plasma physics.

2. (used with a pl. verb) Physical properties, interactions, processes, or laws: the physics of supersonic flight.

3. (used with a sing. verb) Archaic The study of the natural or material world and phenomena; natural philosophy.

Some pretty inclusive New Labour definitions there - wonder whether any of them could extend to 'talking through one's arse (acoustics?)' Large Al?

Yey - It's Dave the Moose!