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World Cup Discussion Thread - Day 18 (1 July)

Spursh

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2009
2,558
6,514
Serves the Spanish right for keeping possession ad nauseam, devoid of any attacking intent
 
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aliyid

Well-Known Member
Dec 28, 2004
6,944
19,927
Costa is being much less of a $hit in this World Cup, wonder if that’s a knock on from VAR as they can see all his off the ball antics
 

dondo

Well-Known Member
Jan 4, 2006
8,603
14,091
Serves the Spanish right for keeping possession ad nauseam devoid of any attacking intent


I find Spain painful to watch.
They are brilliant technicians but they need to go forward and take more risks
 

truebluespur

Well-Known Member
Dec 11, 2006
137
309
Fernando Hierro looks like a cross between Poppie from Seinfeld and Ray Romano's brother in Everybody Loves Raymond
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
Isco’s a great little player but he’s no Iniesta. Spain badly missing him.

I said before the game, I don't think its completely illogical to drop Iniesta. He's 34 and played all the group matches, and I don't think he's played too well (though that goes for a lot of the Spain players) and you can see why he's leaving Barca.

This has been another game where the patterns of possession play in this world cup are being repeated. Teams/players comfortable taking the ball towards the flanks, but a real lack of bollocks to find space centrally in and around the box, and quick interchanges to play past teams. That's what the Spain/Barca/Guardiola teams in this style do at their best, rather than sterile possession ball. It's not an easy task against well-drilled and disciplined defences who are restricting space, but a lot of teams are just not even trying to play centrally.
 

goughie1966

Well-Known Member
Aug 28, 2008
5,150
17,874
Phil Nevile takes banality to new levels.....
And we're paying for it. From what I can tell the BBC have 4 pundits in the Moscow studio, Steve Wilson and Kevin Kilbane doing the TV, Phil Neville's there pitch side with another BBC reporter. I presume they have another couple on the radio. That's 8 or 9 I can think of on the BBC gravy train at the expense of the licence payer. And it could all be covered in a studio in Manchester. The BBC are just as bad as Fifa when it comes to use of their 'funding'.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
I said before the game, I don't think its completely illogical to drop Iniesta. He's 34 and played all the group matches, and I don't think he's played too well (though that goes for a lot of the Spain players) and you can see why he's leaving Barca.

This has been another game where the patterns of possession play in this world cup are being repeated. Teams/players comfortable taking the ball towards the flanks, but a real lack of bollocks to find space centrally in and around the box, and quick interchanges to play past teams. That's what the Spain/Barca/Guardiola teams in this style do at their best, rather than sterile possession ball. It's not an easy task against well-drilled and disciplined defences who are restricting space, but a lot of teams are just not even trying to play centrally.

I think at this stage they might as well just flog Iniesta to death, I like Isco but in midfield he sometimes wants to take an extra touch, which isn’t always best with this type of ethos. I’d prefer Isco further up the pitch a little and Iniesta in the CM3 helping to bamboozle.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,554
I find it a bit shocking that a professional top level footballer like Busquets simply can't shoot for toffee.

I know it's not his game but he's still a professional and plays the game virtually every day.
 

buckley

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2012
2,595
6,073
Am I the only one that finds Ticka Tacka football really boring to watch ;evidence the Mexican wave a sure sign that whats going on in the match is very dull
With Guardiola the main man in this type of play it is possible that other teams will adopt this type of play in the premier league as they take a lead from Man City success ;forgetting that city can buy the worlds best players and will get success whatever style they play
If Ticka Tacks became endemic in the premier I would seriously have to consider whether I wanted to pay £1000 for a season ticket to watch this sterile bore fest and I have been a season ticket holder for over 50 years
The only times I have had second thoughts on season ticket renewal was the final year under Graham and after two months under Vilas Boas
 

tiger666

Large Member
Jan 4, 2005
27,978
82,214
Am I the only one that finds Ticka Tacka football really boring to watch ;evidence the Mexican wave a sure sign that whats going on in the match is very dull
With Guardiola the main man in this type of play it is possible that other teams will adopt this type of play in the premier league as they take a lead from Man City success ;forgetting that city can buy the worlds best players and will get success whatever style they play
If Ticka Tacks became endemic in the premier I would seriously have to consider whether I wanted to pay £1000 for a season ticket to watch this sterile bore fest and I have been a season ticket holder for over 50 years
The only times I have had second thoughts on season ticket renewal was the final year under Graham and after two months under Vilas Boas

City don't play like this.
 
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