Euro 2012 sweepstake anyone?

[OngBonga]

I can only find the one source, a Guardian blog, not very reliable. I'll dig deeper tomorrow. I must confess my memory isn't good enough, I thought we were 4-4-2 against the Dutch, can't remember the other games so clearly, apart from Gazza's goal against the Scots of course, and the gut wrencher that was the penalties defeat. I'm 4 years younger than you, plus I'm a stoner, so I'd trust your memory more.

[kevster]

Do a little more research then. I'm 4 years old so have taking drugs longer and memory unlikely clear. Think I'm right and will post more later.

[kiwiMark]

Okay so if everyone will just ship me their $10 then I can close this thread

[WillburForce]

Happy to ship my $10 - but just wanted to confirm I got Spain correct? I really think they're gonna win this. I can just see it. Call me Mystic if you must, but honestly I think they're just too good.

I'm going to really go out on a limb here and say 4-0 to Spain.

[OngBonga]

kev, do you drink?

[kiwiMark]

In the interests of fairness and to stop everyone just wanting the team from their own country, we gave each country to the person who comes from the most geographically distant place to that country. So I got Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany and a few others and am really going to be needing that $10 from everyone.

[OngBonga]

I'm on the exact opposite side of the world to Spain at this very moment. I'm on holiday. Let me just check Google Earth to see where I'm on holiday.

* shit it's NZ, ldo.

Ok I lied, I'm on the Moon.

[kevster]

kev, do you drink?

Typed that last message in a hurry this morning on a wobbly bus on no sleep but, like, duh, yes I drink. Not lots usually but lots sometimes.

[kevster]

And I know loads about football, so there.

[OngBonga]

Typed that last message in a hurry this morning on a wobbly bus on no sleep but, like, duh, yes I drink. Not lots usually but lots sometimes.

K. I'll let it go, I know how horrible busses are in the morning. You can go ahead and mock me for being an idiot stoner if it makes your morning that little more enjoyable. I am an idiot stoner, I can't argue.

But while you faggots go to work, I get up at lunchtime then sit around thinking about circles and gravity and rotating toroid shaped universes while drinking tea and smoking all day. My life rocks, even if I am skint.

Think about that on your next morning bus.

Damn I didn't let it go.

[OngBonga]

Oh, I have an excuse for talking out of my arse when it comes to football... I'm a Birmingham fan, we don't know what football is.

[rong]

K. I'll let it go, I know how horrible busses are in the morning. You can go ahead and mock me for being an idiot stoner if it makes your morning that little more enjoyable. I am an idiot stoner, I can't argue.

But while you faggots go to work, I get up at lunchtime then sit around thinking about circles and gravity and rotating toroid shaped universes while drinking tea and smoking all day. My life rocks, even if I am skint.

Think about that on your next morning bus.

Damn I didn't let it go.

Man, I genuinely miss my days of being a druggy waster, they sure were fun. But Ong, aren't you like in your 30s?

[OngBonga]

Yeah I'm 33, but I act as young as I can get away with. Only the other day I had my head out of the window of the car, tongue out, pretending to be a dog. People looked at me like I'm weird, but I felt sorry for them, I was having great fun, while they go about their miserable lives judging others.

Am I supposed to have grown up by now?

[kevster]

Oh, I have an excuse for talking out of my arse when it comes to football... I'm a Birmingham fan, we don't know what football is.

Ooooo, Birmingham. We're about to buy your keeper for £6M if the papers are to be believed.

BTW, Wife drops me at work 98 times out of 100, plan C this morning. Life's not so bad......

[OngBonga]

Southampton?

As I understand it, our two good young players are not for sale. That means it'll cost more than £6m for Butland. But we're in a sorry financial state right now, so maybe our hand will be forced. I'd be gutted to see Butland and Redmond leave, they're both future England players. You'll see Butland at the Olympics, he'll be first choice keeper for GB.

[kevster]

Yeah, looks bad for Birmingham. They're damned if they do, damned if they don't.

[bigred]

So what's the Arsenal transfer rumors across the pond? Any RvP updates?

[kevster]

Haven't heard about RvP but signing Poldoski and Giroud could easily be interpreted as "planning for the future". Nevertheless, the BBC say...

"Gunners manager Arsene Wenger intends to utilise Giroud in a front three alongside fellow new signing Lukas Podolski and Robin van Persie."

That would be pretty immense if it happens and the early money spend could be luring RvP to stay. Hope so. I love Arsenal and Wenger and think they get a lot of unjustified stick. When they play well, no-one can touch them.

[rong]

Latest Fifa world rankings:

1. Spain 2. Germany 3. Uruguay 4. England 5. Portugal 6. Italy 7. Argentina 8. Netherlands 9. Croatia 10. Denmark 11. Brazil 12. Greece 13. Russia 14. France 15. Chile 16. Ivory Coast 17. Sweden 18. Czech Republic 19. Mexico 20. Japan



lololoolololol

[rong]

So what's the Arsenal transfer rumors across the pond? Any RvP updates?

Not looking good mate, not looking good.

BBC Sport - Robin van Persie will not sign new Arsenal contract

[bikes]

I started rereading this thread and fucking cackled my way off my chair when ong say rooney needs to be dropped.

holy fuck i laughed so fucking hard

[OngBonga]

Did you not watch the Italy and Ukraine games? He was our worst player.

And those rankings are a joke. Italy, Holland, Portugal, Argentina and Brazil are superior to England. We barely make the top ten right now, and that's paying us a compliment.

[WillburForce]

I agree with dropping Rooney....

[rong]

If we play the ox and young on the wings, cleverly and wiltshite in the middle with Rooney and welbeck up front you'll see a better Rooney. He needs clever technically good players on the same wavelength and he'll play to the level he does for utd.

[WillburForce]

yeah, i don't think it should be permanent - but he should not have played in Euro 2012.

[rong]

I suppose we couldn't have done much worse without him.

[OngBonga]

yeah, i don't think it should be permanent - but he should not have played in Euro 2012.

I'm happy to see him start on the bench.

Ox, Young, Cleverly and Wiltshire in midfield? Hmm. Not sure about Young. He reminds me a lot of SWP... all running and no end product. Haven't seen enough of Cleverly.

I'd like to see Walcott and Milner on the wings, with Wiltshire and Gerrard in midfield. Carroll and Welbeck up front. Defence sorts itself out, just swap Cahill for Grandad.

Ox and Henderson waiting for their chance, Young and Rooney subs.

We have to stop treating Rooney like he's a God. He has to earn his place in the team through merit, not reputation. I'd take my hat off to Hodgson if he had the balls to drop him to the bench.

[WillburForce]

I agree. Though not sure about Milner...he can't cross a ball for shit. Nor can Walcott but at least he real pace.

And surely Parker needs to be in there?

Anyway....2 years time Parker and Gerrard to old?

[OngBonga]

I agree. Though not sure about Milner...he can't cross a ball for shit. Nor can Walcott but at least he real pace.

And surely Parker needs to be in there?

Anyway....2 years time Parker and Gerrard to old?

I'm not sure I like the idea of two defensive midfielders in the team. Gerrard is ahead of Parker, that's clear. Nothing against Parker, but I prefer to see one creative midfielder in the team. Gerrard can be creative, but he's usually defending for England because we allow our opponents so much possession.
I think Gerrard will still be good enough at the WC. Midfielders don't need great pace if they are well positioned and their passing is up to scratch. Beckham was still playing well for us well into his 30s. Fact is, Gerrard is our best midfielder by a distance, and the kids will benefit from having such a player in the team.

I also hate Ashley Cole with a passion, but he's world class in his position, there's definitely no better English left back.

[kevster]

I'm not sure I like the idea of two defensive midfielders in the team. Gerrard is ahead of Parker, that's clear. Nothing against Parker, but I prefer to see one creative midfielder in the team. Gerrard can be creative, but he's usually defending for England because we allow our opponents so much possession.
I think Gerrard will still be good enough at the WC. Midfielders don't need great pace if they are well positioned and their passing is up to scratch. Beckham was still playing well for us well into his 30s. Fact is, Gerrard is our best midfielder by a distance, and the kids will benefit from having such a player in the team.

I also hate Ashley Cole with a passion, but he's world class in his position, there's definitely no better English left back.

A good deal of common sense here. Well done.

[kevster]

As for Rooney..... from Wikipedia.....

- England POTY: 2008, 2009
- Players and writers POTY: 2009/10
- 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or nominee
- 75 international caps, 29 goals (often having his position/duties dicked about with)
- 4 PL titles
- 1 CL
- United's fourth highest goalscorer of all-time
- 35 goals last season, his highest total in a single season so far

Yeah, let's drop this guy, he's fucking shit.

What does he have to prove exactly? If you think he doesn't do it for England then you either have a short memory or aren't taking into account a bad run of injuries/suspensions and changes in manager/role - he's never had a consistent run of games for England in his best position. STILL HAS 29 GOALS.

The day that professional managers drop their best player, even to the bench, is the day that either hell freezes over or that manager gets the sack.

I remember Ian Branfoot thinking that Le Tissier was too big for his boots and that we didn't need him. Dropped him to the bench for five games. Matt came back, scored 6 goals in 3 games, Branfoot sacked soon after and Alan Ball came in and kept us up (just).

[WillburForce]

Stats make the Tories look good, but they're still a gang of cunts.......

Rooney fucked up by getting that red card for a start. Then was shit for the games he played. Hodgson still played him on reputation. If he's playing well and is on form of course he should play. But if he's unfit, has got himself banned by being a dick and isn't playing well. Just leave him out. Simples.

[OngBonga]

ALan Ball kept Soton up? Hahaha that's funny. Matt Le Tissier can easily take the credit for that, imo. Without him you guys would've been relegated years previously.

Le Tissier was one of my favourite players back in the day, respect to a man who puts his loyalty to his club before glory and money. He could easily have played for any Prem side. He made big sacrifices.

Nice to see you guys back in the Prem, fwiw.

Re Rooney... did anyone complain when Owen got dropped for not being good enough anymore? He's got 40 goals for England.

It's the manager's job to pick the best team, not the best players.

[Toadstool]

You get the ball to Rooney, you think something can happen, who else in the England team can provide that (apart from Gerrard)? He didn't have a good euros, but that's being results orientated. Welbeck, Carroll, Milner, Parker....they get the ball and what do you expect to happen? Nothing the vast majority of the time. Rooney has his reputation for a reason: Being able to do things that 99% of players can't.

[OngBonga]

You get the ball to Rooney, you think something can happen... and it doesn't.

fyp

[bikes]

i am 99.99999999% positive ongbonga has been trolling the thread for the last 3 pages.

[OngBonga]

i am 99.99999999% positive weed has been trolling ongbonga for the last 17 years.

[kevster]

Stats make the Tories look good, but they're still a gang of cunts.......

Rooney fucked up by getting that red card for a start. Then was shit for the games he played. Hodgson still played him on reputation. If he's playing well and is on form of course he should play. But if he's unfit, has got himself banned by being a dick and isn't playing well. Just leave him out. Simples.

I'm surprised at you Willbur.....

1. The stats make the Tories look like cunts
2. You used the term 'simples'

[kevster]

ALan Ball kept Soton up? Hahaha that's funny. Matt Le Tissier can easily take the credit for that, imo. Without him you guys would've been relegated years previously.

Thanks, I think I know my own team.

Re Rooney... did anyone complain when Owen got dropped for not being good enough anymore? He's got 40 goals for England.

Owen got injured at the 2006 world cup and never returned because of further injuries and his club form went down the drain - incomparable to Rooney.

It's the manager's job to pick the best team, not the best players.

You mean pick the best formation and then the players that best fit this? Some argue that this is a valid approach but either way, Rooney is still in.

[OngBonga]

Thanks, I think I know my own team.

Sweet. So you'll already know that Matt Le Tissier made his debut in 1986 and hit top form in 1989, while Alan Ball joined as manager in 1994. Also, I'm certain you'll know full well that Le Tissier's top scoring season was while Ball was in charge.

I mean really, Ball kept you up, not Le Tissier? He was a god, Ball was very lucky to have a player of that standard at a shitty club, no offense.

[kevster]

Thanks but, like I said, I think I know my own team. I don't need to defend anything I said - at no point did I say Le Tissier didn't keep us up. You've picked up on eight words from a long section that I was only using as an example of how/why managers pick their best players.

To then use this to suggest I don't know my own team (and perhaps anything about football as a result) seems kind of dumb to me.

This has nothing to do with the debate on Rooney. And there is no debate really.

[OngBonga]

Alright I'll stop arguing shit for the sake of it.

Anyone watching the tennis?

[eugmac]

Federer is king again. Discuss.

[OngBonga]

Federer was awesome. I hate him.

[eugmac]

He kind of sucked in the first set (wtf unforced errors), got warmed up in the second and then was unstoppable in the last two. Murray put up a good fight, made for a very good match imo. Murray looks like a ferret. also why hate on roger? he seems a reasonably decent guy who is just ridiculously good at tennis.

[rong]

Murray's only hope of winning a slam ie if nadal, jockich and federer all die in a horrible plane crash. It's unfortunate for him that his career coincides with that of 3 phenomenal players.

[OngBonga]

Why hate on Federer? I acknowledge that Federer is pure class, and I'm sure he's a really nice guy, but, he just beat Murray in the final at Wimbledon, so he's a cunt.

[WillburForce]

I'm surprised at you Willbur.....

1. The stats make the Tories look like cunts
2. You used the term 'simples'

You're completely right.....(I think I was drunk).

[The Bean Counter]

Le Tiss? That fat bast kept you Scummers in the Prem for years.

Still, the compilers of "101 Greatest Ever Prem Goals" would struggle without his usual 20 in them - those 2 against Newcastle were incredible.