Off Topic International Break Thread

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
This is one of the strangest football related stories that I can remember hearing, so bear with me.

Former West Ham and current Everton striker Enner Valencia played 82 minutes of Ecuador's 3-0 win over Chile.
He was then substituted, suffering from altitude sickness, due to the 2,782 metre elevation of the host's Olympic Stadium.
As he was being transported via buggy to a waiting ambulance, the local police gave chase, attempting to arrest him:

You must log in or register to see media

He apparently owes thousands in child support to his estranged wife for their five-year-old daughter.
His lawyer has since suggested that the police are no longer seeking his client.

Bloody weird.

<laugh> <laugh>

Loved the way the one copper was running along with a riot shield too.
 
<yikes>
Centre-half scoring with a flicked backheel volley?
Don't see that every day.

He'd be some midfielder. He has a great range of passing and carries the ball very well. He is just a joy to watch and given a nearly 30 year old Bonucci is valued at £50-60m, hasn't kicked a ball in the PL and isn't as mobile, what would he be worth if we held an auction?

In the last week Jamie Redknapp has called him our most important player. He's the one we haven't lost to injury or suspension (never going to happen given how clean his defensive work is) or rested significantly. Whilst I'd love to see CCV get a run out of a few games but I don't want to find out Toby's the glue holding it all together by him not being there. I gave up on having a 'favourite player' when Graham Roberts left, not any more.
 
He'd be some midfielder. He has a great range of passing and carries the ball very well. He is just a joy to watch and given a nearly 30 year old Bonucci is valued at £50-60m, hasn't kicked a ball in the PL and isn't as mobile, what would he be worth if we held an auction?

In the last week Jamie Redknapp has called him our most important player. He's the one we haven't lost to injury or suspension (never going to happen given how clean his defensive work is) or rested significantly. Whilst I'd love to see CCV get a run out of a few games but I don't want to find out Toby's the glue holding it all together by him not being there. I gave up on having a 'favourite player' when Graham Roberts left, not any more.
We'll see how Carter-Vickers and Wimmer perform in his absence against Liverpool, I expect.
It'll be a real test for them, but a good display would make a big statement.
 
More angles:
You must log in or register to see media
Marked by Dzeko, scored past Begovic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RobSpur
Different angle on the Janssen goal:
You must log in or register to see media
 
NSFW, due to both the challenge and Klinsmann's understandably sweary reaction:
You must log in or register to see media
Shocking. Not even a foul.
 
Southgate's chosen an England team containing Cahill, Rooney and Sturridge. It's only Malta but if that's an indication of a willingness to ignore form or even playing regular football, it's more of the same and an indication that Southgate's not the man for the job. Our front 4 are:

Rooney - Not playing for United and stinking up the pitch when he comes on as a sub;

Sturridge - See Rooney (only his club prefer to play with no forward to putting this lazy fecker back in the team);

Lindgard - hasn't done enough to get a cap for me, yet but Southgate knows him pretty well. Not a game that we can lose, so it can't go too badly wrong.

Walcott - Theo's back. Merited on his early season form but experience screams that it won't last. Given he'll get much worse service than at the Gooners, this could be a short reprise as he loses focus and heart very easily.

No place for our most in-form striker in Rashford is very surprising. Dele looks as though he's playing deeper which doesn't suit him these days and doesn't see the best of him.

Still, no Dier or Rose and that suits me just fine. It's a shame that Walker has to play this ridiculous fixture and next week as well.
 
Last edited:
Rooney as the midfield playmaker and Drinkwater doesn't make the squad? <doh>
 
Rooney as the midfield playmaker and Drinkwater doesn't make the squad? <doh>

The early signs indicate that we've learned nothing, again and we'll be picking the out of form, sick and over the hill, as usual, whilst trouncing Malta, Slovenia, Scotland to the cheers of all and sundry. When we do the same at the WC and get our arses handed to us by slightly better teams, the media will turn on the manager and players. Same old, same old.
 
Against a team that is going to be on the back foot for the entire game, why play Sturridge who wants to come deep and go wide all the time?
 
17 mins in and now our boys are THE ONLY FULL BACKS IN THE SQUAD. ****!
Well done, Southgate. It's not like you've got tons of options in both positions or anything. You pillock.

Another funny injury on the Wembley turf, too. Seems to happen in virtually every game there.
Is something wrong with the surface?
 
Against a team that is going to be on the back foot for the entire game, why play Sturridge who wants to come deep and go wide all the time?
On his own, too. Silly.

Trying to introduce the pressing style that's popular in the Premier League now and I don't remember it being used in the U21s.
Looks like he's going with the tactics of the day, to me.
 
Good header by Sturridge, to be fair. **** marking, but it's Malta, so it's going to be.