Re: Football Chat Thread - Euro 2012 edition : Wed Jun 06, 2012 8:02 pm  

I've gone with Benzema to be top scorer, I think Germany (Gomez, Klose, Podolski, Muller) and Holland (Sneijder, Robben, RVP, Huntelaar) will share the goals around more than France will and I don't think Spain will score that many, so of my predicted four semi-finalists he seems to be the best bet.

Re: Football Chat Thread - Euro 2012 edition : Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:03 pm  

Have a funny feeling the top scorer will be a midfielder this year. Sneijder to have another outstanding international tournament and get himself another big move?

I need to read up a little on some of the big nations. Are Portugal using CR7 centrally or on the left/right? If he's on the left or in the middle, I'd have him as favourite, even if Portugal usually flop like England at the tournament. Will Gotze be fit for Germany? Even if he is, will he play over Podolski/Ozil?

Re: Football Chat Thread - Euro 2012 edition : Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:51 pm  

The reaction to Dani Pacheco is pathetic and the epitome of arrogance. He used a word, to a friend, that he's offered very fair explanation for, and clearly Johnson isn't offended by it, yet people want to say he's racist and that there's a 'race row'. IMO, it's this kind of stuff that will soon force footballers away from Twitter, which is a shame as fans cried for years about their lack of 'access' to the players.

Re: Football Chat Thread - Euro 2012 edition : Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:57 am  

Preciado dies of heart attack link

Preciado dies of heart attack link

Re: Football Chat Thread - Euro 2012 edition : Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:02 am  

Awful news here as it's been announced that Manuel Preciado has died of a heart attack at the age of 54. A true character and a reminder how you can be as passionate about the game as the man in the street at the same time as being a top flight manager. The way he verbally tore Mourinho a new one last season was something that will live long in the memory and I imagine many Spanish soccer journalists will be lamenting the loss of a man who always gave an honest answer and never hid behind his players or chairman.

Re: Football Chat Thread - Euro 2012 edition : Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:46 am  

Roddy B wrote:

Have a funny feeling the top scorer will be a midfielder this year. Sneijder to have another outstanding international tournament and get himself another big move?

I need to read up a little on some of the big nations. Are Portugal using CR7 centrally or on the left/right? If he's on the left or in the middle, I'd have him as favourite, even if Portugal usually flop like England at the tournament. Will Gotze be fit for Germany? Even if he is, will he play over Podolski/Ozil?

Do you reckon Marco Reus will start most games for the Germans? Could be an interesting punt for top goalscorer given the form he's been in this year.

Re: Football Chat Thread - Euro 2012 edition : Thu Jun 07, 2012 10:14 am  

Roddy B wrote:

The reaction to Dani Pacheco is pathetic and the epitome of arrogance. He used a word, to a friend, that he's offered very fair explanation for, and clearly Johnson isn't offended by it, yet people want to say he's racist and that there's a 'race row'. IMO, it's this kind of stuff that will soon force footballers away from Twitter, which is a shame as fans cried for years about their lack of 'access' to the players.

The thing is, in the culture we live in nowadays, people with nothing to do with a situation get offended on behalf of other people, which turns a molehill into a mountain.

Re: Football Chat Thread - Euro 2012 edition : Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:03 am  

Roddy B wrote:

The reaction to Dani Pacheco is pathetic and the epitome of arrogance. He used a word, to a friend, that he's offered very fair explanation for, and clearly Johnson isn't offended by it, yet people want to say he's racist and that there's a 'race row'. IMO, it's this kind of stuff that will soon force footballers away from Twitter, which is a shame as fans cried for years about their lack of 'access' to the players.

I dont think for a moment that he's racist. But I did wonder why he chose to use the phrase publicly after all of the fallout from the Suarez affair. Still trying to keep that incident, and the defense of Suarez, alive?

Re: Football Chat Thread - Euro 2012 edition : Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:17 am  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

This England side will have done fantastically if they reach the quarters.....If I was a bookie, I'd be laying France as red-hot favourites to win the group, with Ukraine a clear second favourite - England and Sweden would be outsiders.

Without making excuses for them, this side was already one which was up against it, but to lose the players they have in the past couple of weeks will have disrupted them badly.

I'll be surprised if we get a single win from our 3 games....Anything more than a couple of draws will be a decent campaign, though I doubt our media and the usual knee-jerkers will allow that sort of outcome to just slip away without one or two 'Hodgson Out' calls.

Fair enough if you think France will win the group however iv seen pub teams look better on paper than ukraine Shevchenko and voronin... Sweden aren't much better. As Harry redknapp said we are very good at underestimating our own team in this country. With the quality in our squad to not qualify would be a disgrace !!!!

Re: Football Chat Thread - Euro 2012 edition : Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:18 am  

[quote="Roddy B"]Are Portugal using CR7 centrally or on the left/right? If he's on the left or in the middle, I'd have him as favourite, even if Portugal usually flop like England at the tournament./quote]

When I went to Portugal v Norway about a year ago Ronaldo nominally played on the left of a front 3 with Postiga in the centre and Nani from the right. He actually wandered about all over the place though and, IMO, caused Portugal more harm in their attacking play by doing so.