World Cup Discussion

[DRFC_AjA]

  Sorry to burst the bubble of the intelligent reading of the game by the lady at full and half time lads, but, I once watched a programme about the professional analysts who sit in the back ground picking out the salient points  on the computer for the so called expert faces to discuss and pass on their expertise to the great thick audience.
  They are just a front with a name.
  Jack at the back the brains, plus the computer and the many play backs of course.

Why have you never pointed this out over the years when we’ve had male experts?

Ironic how when it's suits the women, then apparently the women's game is totally different to the men's. Eg acl injuries or the absolute nonesense spouted when Brighton announced a separate stadium for women. A stadium is a stadium, unless you're a Liberal who is constantly looking to box people

So, since they are so totally different why is it of any relevance to listen to an ex female player pundit tell me what a number 9 does at the men's WC. As I've just had to listen to on the beeb. They're different games dear, a number 9 in the women's game will have to do something different than the men's. Different physical attributes, different abilities, different mentalities etc etc

Oh well, picking and choosing at the equality buffet

[vaya]

  Sorry to burst the bubble of the intelligent reading of the game by the lady at full and half time lads, but, I once watched a programme about the professional analysts who sit in the back ground picking out the salient points  on the computer for the so called expert faces to discuss and pass on their expertise to the great thick audience.
  They are just a front with a name.
  Jack at the back the brains, plus the computer and the many play backs of course.

Why have you never pointed this out over the years when we’ve had male experts?

Ironic how when it's suits the women, then apparently the women's game is totally different to the men's. Eg acl injuries or the absolute nonesense spouted when Brighton announced a separate stadium for women. A stadium is a stadium, unless you're a Liberal who is constantly looking to box people

So, since they are so totally different why is it of any relevance to listen to an ex female player pundit tell me what a number 9 does at the men's WC. As I've just had to listen to on the beeb. They're different games dear, a number 9 in the women's game will have to do something different than the men's. Different physical attributes, different abilities, different mentalities etc etc

Oh well, picking and choosing at the equality buffet

You do realise you've spent an entire post putting people into boxes there, don't you?

[Bristol Red Rover]

I did like that the Scotland game ref let some physicality ride, though maybe too much. A refreshing contrast to the norm.

As for a player falling in anticipation, I think there's times when it can be seen as being soft or diving but sometimes it's avoiding being clattered. I don't think contact is the baseline.

The second US goal could have been given offside as the player did head to and very close to the keeper, but on balance I don't think the keeper was affected. The OG just looked a very poor effort, in the realm of back handers. And we know if the US didn't get past the group stage then an opportunity for major money making - TV fees and ads and not just in the US game - would be lost. Tongue in cheek with a slight pong of dirty dollar.

[IDM]

The one I’m on about, ITV had a ref “pundit” who explained that the first thing to check was contact with the ball, and there was none.  Then is it a clear foul - yes, she said.  So the ref and VAR were wrong in her professional opinion.

Which one was that?

On the right hand side of the box, near the end of the game..

[Bristol Red Rover]

Cote D'Ivoire looking v good. Poor Germany with two disallowed goals, so much for cheating 

[RoversInSpain]

Liking that the referees are not being conned by players chucking themselves to the ground. Seen quite a few games where the ref is letting the game flow.Hope this continues.

[drfchound]

Liking that the referees are not being conned by players chucking themselves to the ground. Seen quite a few games where the ref is letting the game flow.Hope this continues.

Agreed and it is quite funny how some of the players rolling around after being “injured” quickly get up and get on with the game when they realise the game is continuing.

[moses]

Liking that the referees are not being conned by players chucking themselves to the ground. Seen quite a few games where the ref is letting the game flow.Hope this continues.

Agreed and it is quite funny how some of the players rolling around after being “injured” quickly get up and get on with the game when they realise the game is continuing.

Now that should be a booking.

[BillyStubbsTears]

The one I’m on about, ITV had a ref “pundit” who explained that the first thing to check was contact with the ball, and there was none.  Then is it a clear foul - yes, she said.  So the ref and VAR were wrong in her professional opinion.

Which one was that?

On the right hand side of the box, near the end of the game..

The McGinn one then.

Apparently the ref didn't give it, not because it wasn't a foul, but because the ball was going out of play. Which is simply wrong. Step through the video and the time from McGinn knocking the ball forward to the ball crossing the goal line is 1.5-1.6 seconds. McGinn is about 13-14 yards from the goal line when he contacts the ball, and is moving forward at speed. A pro footballer, from a moving start could easily make up enough of  that ground to make a diving lunge to keep the ball in play. Earlier in the move, McGinn had covered 12 yards in about 1.6-1.7 seconds while dribbling and nowhere near at explosive balls out speed, without a diving lunge.

If the ref thinks it was foul contact and he's refused the penalty for this reason, it's an absolute howler. And for VAR not to overturn it makes a farce of the concept of VAR.

[NickDRFC]

Looks like rumours of Spain’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

[scawsby steve]

Looks like rumours of Spain’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Quite true, but Saudi Arabia are absolutely appalling.

[Usher wide.]

Looks like rumours of Spain’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Quite true, but Saudi Arabia are absolutely appalling.

Agreed.

Anyone who thought the Saudi’s could give Spain a surprise after their draw against Uruguay needs to get their head out of the sand.

[scawsby steve]

What a game the Iranian keeper is having.

Belgium now down to ten men.

[BillyStubbsTears]

What a game the Iranian keeper is having.

Belgium now down to ten men.

Really emphasises how unlucky Scotland were when that is considered a red card but the DOGSO on Adams wasn't.

[Usher wide.]

What a game the Iranian keeper is having.

Belgium now down to ten men.

Really emphasises how unlucky Scotland were when that is considered a red card but the DOGSO on Adams wasn't.

That having been said, Scotland are as poor as I expected them to be.

They’re no longer producing players like Dalglish, Strachan, Gemmil, Hansen, Jordan, Law, Wee Willie Winkie to name bur seven.

Whenever England fall short in a tournament I always think to myself “It could be worse, you could be Scottish”.

[graingrover]

I watch my 14 yrs granddaughter play soccer at a quite high level . The coach is a man, and some of his comments fail to recognise the physical realities, eg, chest trapping, of the ball, and the use of physicality at corners .
On TV there is an obligatory PC need to add a woman pundit, which is becoming a bone of contention .

[IDM]

It’s not obligatory, but are you otherwise saying women should be excluded.?

[Usher wide.]

I watch my 14 yrs granddaughter play soccer at a quite high level . The coach is a man, and some of his comments fail to recognise the physical realities, eg, chest trapping, of the ball, and the use of physicality at corners .
On TV there is an obligatory PC need to add a woman pundit, which is becoming a bone of contention .

Does she play soccer or football?

[Avsuptem]

It’s not obligatory, but are you otherwise saying women should be excluded.?

At half time in the Croatia game the comentary i watched I thought I saw section showing a plump lady in her kichen chalking things on a blackboard, or maybe it was a parallel universe thing, not sure which tbh.

[IDM]

You are joking, aren’t you.?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Yet another close VAR penalty call but...are very rare thing followed. Messi misses penalty. Justice??

[NickDRFC]

Yet another close VAR penalty call but...are very rare thing followed. Messi misses penalty. Justice??

Messi’s not great at penalties is he? He’s missed a few at World Cups and Copa Americas.

Scored his 17th goal now, though. The greatest for me.

[roversareback]

Yet another close VAR penalty call but...are very rare thing followed. Messi misses penalty. Justice??

Stone waller for me

[DearneValleyRover]

Danny Murphy, stealing a wage and talking out of his backside again

[ncRover]

Incredible play from Messi at the start and end of that sequence

[PDX_Rover]

Incredible play from Messi at the start and end of that sequence

No doubt he’s one of the best, but he should have been sent off for raking his studs down the opposing player in the first game.

[Chris Black come back]

Messi career penalty average is around 77pc of which his average for Argentina is a little higher at 80pc. These are good numbers given the volume he has taken.

[NickDRFC]

Messi career penalty average is around 77pc of which his average for Argentina is a little higher at 80pc. These are good numbers given the volume he has taken.

77 per cent must be average or even slightly below average which seems strange considering he’s so elite in every other part of his game. Kane for example has an 88% success rate, Ronaldo (C) 88%, Palmer 93% (admittedly from a much smaller sample size).

Just looked it up and he’s missed 3 from 7 at the World Cup so a really poor record in that respect.

[Rupee92ONLY]

Emma Hayes has been one of the best additions to ITV’s coverage. Sam Matterface one of the worst.

Karen Carey is shite. Ally McCoist is the banter likeable one but he’s shit too. Lee Dixon shit. I like Laura Woods as an host.

All my opinion of course.

[Draytonian III]

Most of the time during the World Cup I’ve not bothered with all pre match build up just turn the channel on about 5 minutes before kick off just to see who’s playing, but then again I do that with most of the Premiership matches I watch.
 When it’s a match from League 1 or 2 I tend to watch more of the build up because I have more of an interest it that.
 Also the so called experts are just ex players who have more ability than most, it doesn’t make them any different from someone who has only played lower league or even only amateur football