General Football Thread (inc' Foreign, Non-League & Women's Football)

Thought just occured to me watching England vs Norway in the ladies game... Foul throws;never really get called in pro football (unlike Sunday League, for example). They're allowed to let the game flow. HOWEVER, when it's the last few minutes and teams are getting it in the corner and keeping it there to run the clock down. This would be harder to do if the ref wasn't allowing the short, limp wristed foul throws.

 

They weren't throw-ins; they were some kind of new hybrid football/netball move. Awful.

 

Playing the home team in the quarter finals....that will be tough. Playing the ball into the corner will go well then.

Can we send a tape of how to keep the ball in the corner when winning to Peter Crouch?

 

Indeed, and I find it quite annoying. It's incredible how many foul throws are allowed in Premier League football, for example.

 

Even though we're back, better than before, that memory can never be wiped.

 

I don't need a bucket to carry a grudge.

 

Trevor Sinclair really needs to squeeze that spot...

 

He really needs not to be there as well.

 

The boos were audible enough vs Norway. The ref could have done something about it though. From what I've seen, the standard of reffereeing is no better, if not worse, than in the men's competition.

 

I think it was the League Cup game against Stoke City, earlier in the season, where Crouch got sent off for two yellow cards, the second was pretty much a straight red all on its own, for that knee high attack on Steven Davis. As the ref pointed to the tunnel, the thought whisked through my mind of him saying... and that's for not taking it into the corner against Everton, you twat..!

 

Someone please beat the US Women's team.

They play the most boring 4-4-2, take-no-chances tactic ever. Nothing down the flanks, no midfield play, just make sure those two banks of 4 are behind the ball, and Route 1 balls over the top. No one really likes happy to be out there, just relieved when they win.

The coach was hired for her PR and personal skills and not for pretty or even good play. Doesn't even know the name of the opponents after the match.

We have the best GK in the world, but she is a truly horrible person who shouldn't even be on the team. And she hasn't even had to do anything so it's not even fun to watch.

And the fans are horrible. We're all like "How did they only win 2-0? They should have won 6-0 or they suck!" Which is stupid because the team was never in much danger of losing, and getting the job done is what's important. It's just so tedious to watch a clearly superior team grind out workmanlike victories. And so tedious to complain about the style of winning not being good enough. Talk about hubris. I include myself in this.

We just really need to get our asses kicked and put in our place. It would be the best thing for the US and for the world if Germany or France won. Or England even. Why not?

 

Just googled Hope Solo and now I see what you mean, she has had some difficulties in her private life.

Don't worry ISIRTP, I wasn't rooting for the states anyway... Unlike in men's football where I always hope they do well as I see it as a triumph of soccer over your domestic sports.

 

England won't win because they are like all England football teams....great at qualifying, but poor in tournaments. The present team have done well, but are being congratulated on winning their first game in the knockout stage!! I wouldn't mind too much if the ladies won by adopting American tactics.....winning can be contagious.

 

Btw...I have been channel hopping. Whilst all this has been going on, GB women beat China 2-0 in the World Hockey League final and men are in action today. Only watch hockey during the Olympics, but have to admit it is an exciting game and GB (both sexes) do well. Makes a nice respite from struggling at football. Also Baku games are on and the European Team Athletic Championships have just finished. And NZ v England T20 on today. Weirdly people play other sports

 

Just as England played 3 holding midfielders in the first half vs Norway - shocking tactics, we would have been destroyed by Germany/USA probably France. I didn't watch the second half but fair play for coming from behind to win. Don't know if he changed formation at half time but we were dominated in midfield by one Norwegian girl who played the Pirlo role and always had 20 yards of space!

 

Just like the men's team, we only started to play properly once we went behind. I thought I could get behind England in this, but can't. Same old dross.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33240826

Should be interesting to see how this one progresses... City will be rubbing their hands with glee.

 

Perversely, so shall we. FFP was to make things more competitive in the European leagues, and instead it allowed the bigger clubs to spend more in relation to smaller clubs, thereby strengthening their own positions. I only began to understand that things might not be as rosy as the initial picture of FFP made out when our own then-Chairman Cortese actually voted against the implementation of it, and sided with the glamour clubs. Obviously, he understood what it could entail.

 

Rons son on his way to the Dutch league.....

http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/footba...10/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

Just watching the u21s on BT...what kind of accent has Hargreaves got. Raised in Canada, youth in Germany and some years in England...yet comes out sounding strangely Northern Irish.