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The Euro 2020 Qualifiers Thread

JCRD

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2018
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We'll get told to fuck off.

Seriously, why would he want to leave City for us?...U think he's tired of earning so much and winning loads of trophies?


Dude we are SPURS.

Ofcours he wouldn't leave but let's bid anyways. It'll be fun.
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
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Something I've never understood is why do teams play with at least a back four and defensive midfielders when playing the likes of San Marino? They've scored something like 20 goals in the last three decades.

Probably because some teams only know how to play one way. I guess with limited time with the squads some managers just focus on getting Plan A right.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
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Probably because some teams only know how to play one way. I guess with limited time with the squads some managers just focus on getting Plan A right.
I'd say so. Especially for the middling European teams who are expected to get thrashed by the big boys and beat the minnows, it's hard to drum in two different game plans in such a short space of time. And to be honest, a game against San Marino is basically a training exercise anyway, so why not use it to drill Plan A when there's only a roughly 1% chance of failure?
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
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Probably because some teams only know how to play one way. I guess with limited time with the squads some managers just focus on getting Plan A right.

I'd say so. Especially for the middling European teams who are expected to get thrashed by the big boys and beat the minnows, it's hard to drum in two different game plans in such a short space of time. And to be honest, a game against San Marino is basically a training exercise anyway, so why not use it to drill Plan A when there's only a roughly 1% chance of failure?

But for Plan A to be successfully drilled into the squad it needs to go up against something similar to what it's meant to counter. In the NFL they have practice squads who are used to replicate the offense and defense of the upcoming opponent. San Marino doesn't replicate any of the big boys. Scotland played two defensive midfielders against a team that has scored 23 goals since 1990. Any potential flaws in the formation or whatever troubles the DMs might have playing the role expected of them won't be exposed against a team that bad. San Marino wasn't even the warm-up match before playing a big game as Scotland aren't playing again until June.

McLeish could have tried something different and ended the international break by thumping a minnow, improving their goal difference to something positive and increase squad and fan morale after that shambolic performance in Kazakhstan but instead, he played it safe and has heaped extra pressure on himself and his players for their next game against Cyprus.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
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But for Plan A to be successfully drilled into the squad it needs to go up against something similar to what it's meant to counter. In the NFL they have practice squads who are used to replicate the offense and defense of the upcoming opponent. San Marino doesn't replicate any of the big boys. Scotland played two defensive midfielders against a team that has scored 23 goals since 1990. Any potential flaws in the formation or whatever troubles the DMs might have playing the role expected of them won't be exposed against a team that bad. San Marino wasn't even the warm-up match before playing a big game as Scotland aren't playing again until June.

McLeish could have tried something different and ended the international break by thumping a minnow, improving their goal difference to something positive and increase squad and fan morale after that shambolic performance in Kazakhstan but instead, he played it safe and has heaped extra pressure on himself and his players for their next game against Cyprus.

But there's no guarantee that him changing the formation would have resulted in handing out a thrashing though.
 

LSUY

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Jul 12, 2005
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But there's no guarantee that him changing the formation would have resulted in handing out a thrashing though.

Luxembourg scored 3 against San Marino twice in the Nations League. Cyprus scored 5 against them four days ago. Professional footballers should be handing out a thrashing to a side of amateurs who've only managed to score 4 goals since 2013.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
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Luxembourg scored 3 against San Marino twice in the Nations League. Cyprus scored 5 against them four days ago. Professional footballers should be handing out a thrashing to a side of amateurs who've only managed to score 4 goals since 2013.

Teams who are low on confidence normally need to get back to basics and breed some familiarity so I'm not surprised they didn't drastically change it, being rubbish is one thing but being rubbish whilst having no confidence is another.
 

LSUY

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Jul 12, 2005
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Teams who are low on confidence normally need to get back to basics and breed some familiarity so I'm not surprised they didn't drastically change it, being rubbish is one thing but being rubbish whilst having no confidence is another.

And what did going back to basics achieve? Scotland might be rubbish but they aren't anywhere near San Marino's level of rubbish. San Marino was an opportunity to thump someone who doesn't pose any threat to you. In college football, the big teams schedule matches against minnows who haven't a hope in hell of winning simply because giving them a beatdown breeds confidence among the players. McLeish could have done that but instead, he went negative so played one recognised striker and two DMs against the worst international side in the world and his team got booed off because of it. I'd argue that's done more to harm confidence than telling his players to go for it ever possibly could as the players now know if they get off to a poor start against Cyprus the fans will be on them and if they don't get a result it's likely their qualifying campaign will be over after 3 games.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
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And what did going back to basics achieve? Scotland might be rubbish but they aren't anywhere near San Marino's level of rubbish. San Marino was an opportunity to thump someone who doesn't pose any threat to you. In college football, the big teams schedule matches against minnows who haven't a hope in hell of winning simply because giving them a beatdown breeds confidence among the players. McLeish could have done that but instead, he went negative so played one recognised striker and two DMs against the worst international side in the world and his team got booed off because of it. I'd argue that's done more to harm confidence than telling his players to go for it ever possibly could as the players now know if they get off to a poor start against Cyprus the fans will be on them and if they don't get a result it's likely their qualifying campaign will be over after 3 games.

Right so a couple of things with this...firstly they won the match so they'd achieved what they set out to achieve and get 3 points. Secondly your whole argument is a reach - like I said no guarantees that they would have scored more or played better by being more open - that's a very simplistic argument. Who knows that changing the setup may have had a negative affect on the team and affected their confidence even more, had McLeish had changed it and they lost then he would have come under even more heat.

Also the Cyprus match is in June, the reaction from the fans has absolutely no correlation to that, the fans were pissed from the Khazakstan match and they'd still be expected to bear Cyprus whether they scored 2 or 6 against San Marino.
 
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Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
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Serbia 1-0 up against Portugal after Rui Patricio clattered into a Serb and gave away a penalty, and now Ronaldo's done a hammy.
 

TheChosenOne

A dislike or neg rep = fat fingers
Dec 13, 2005
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Serbia 1-0 up against Portugal after Rui Patricio clattered into a Serb and gave away a penalty, and now Ronaldo's done a hammy.

I can't say like to Ronnie's injury but I bet Ajax are happy enough.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
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Danilo's equaliser for Portugal is a belter. Goal of the qualifiers so far.
 

TheChosenOne

A dislike or neg rep = fat fingers
Dec 13, 2005
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Tuesday Qualifiers..
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image.jpeg
 

wirE

I'm a well-known member
Sep 27, 2005
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I'd put in a cheeky bet for Norway to win against Sweden today.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
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I'd put in a cheeky bet for Norway to win against Sweden today.
It's the most beatable Sweden side in ages, with Forsberg and so many defensive players out, but that just guarantees that we're going to fuck it up.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
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France were always going to be good with the amount of talent they have at their disposal and coming through, I make them clear favorites for Euro 2020.
 

wrd

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Aug 22, 2014
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France were always going to be good with the amount of talent they have at their disposal and coming through, I make them clear favorites for Euro 2020.

That's the issue this generation of England players will face, the france generation is that bit better at the moment.
 
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