| View previous topic :: View next topic |
Wile E. Coyote
In: Arizona
|
|
 |
|
The French (PSG) and the Yanks, (Knicks) havnt got the concept of rioting, they seem to think its something you do when you win.
Mind you as my lot never win anything, I wouldnt know.
Perhaps, if England bring it home, I will go and smash up ALDI.
Happily for ALDI it aint going to happen.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
|
|
|
|
|
It's lucky for you we are sponsored by Lidl. Go ahead. Win, draw or lose.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
|
|
|
|
Numbers Game Quiz Question
| How many Real Madrid players are in the Spanish squad? |
None.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
|
|
|
|
Quadrennial Quiz Question
| Which country in England's World Cup group isn't a nation-state? |
England
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
|
|
|
|
Today's Armchair Round-Up
| We were expecting a fast start from Germany and that is exactly what we got. Chris Sutton |
You didn't mention that earlier. But at least you didn't say, "We were expecting a shock equaliser from Curaçao and that's exactly what we got." Germany has more schwartzes than France these days. Though not as many Dutchmen as Curaçao.
| How many countries in Germany and Holland's World Cup groups aren't nation-states? |
Two, Holland and Curaçao
Despite having a twin strike-force of Isak and Gyökeres, Sweden managed to put five past Morocco. Though their opener was scored by a Swede of Moroccan/ Tunisian parentage. Imagine that, two Berbers finding each other in a sea of blonde mädchens. There will be words when he gets home.
My hot favourites, Ecuador, lost to Ivory Coast but only under orders. One of the cartels back home is running a betting scam. El Presidente was in the stands making sure they got the message. I expect.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
|
|
|
|
Cucurella's gone to Real Madrid!
Just like that. While he was in Toronto waiting to play for Spain and before the window had opened (I thought). Chelsea got back fifty of the sixty million they paid Brighton for him four years ago.
Since new man Xabi Alonso hasn't got his knees brown enough to have been in on the decision we must assume this is the first full flowering of 'the Chelsea model' which reputedly consists of
* Ignore the needs of the team
* Buy any young, gifted player that becomes available
* For an over-the-top transfer fee
* Give them enormously long contracts
* Play them, loan them out, stash them on the bench, whatever
* Flog 'em on.
Now Cucurella was an unequivocal success at Chelsea (and you can't say that about many of their purchases). He frequently got mentioned for full-back-of-the-year. And they nearly got their money back in return for four years of yeoman service in a disappointing team-of-all-the-talents.
So did the model work? I suppose it did. Sort of.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
|
|
|
|
| The Athletic wrote: | | Zohran Mamdani: For Arsenal, the nostalgia of the past has become the beauty of the present |
He's the real deal. After listing all the things he has to do every day to keep New York on the road, he sighs
| But one thing is non-negotiable. Every night, no matter how chaotic the day has been, I have ended it the same way as millions of Gunners around the world — from N7 to Norwood, from Kampala to Kensington, from Cairo to Chinatown — by pulling up the Premier League table and smiling at the sight of Arsenal on top. |
Just because his PR man wrote it doesn't mean it isn't heartfelt. He's probably referring to me when he mentions Kensington so I acknowledge we're brothers under the skin. I just wish he wasn't a socialist.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
|
|
|
|
| The Athletic wrote: | | FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino has taken to calling this World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, “simply the greatest event that humanity — that mankind — has ever seen and will ever see”. |
We AE-ists like world records so this is worth examining. We can, I think, remove those last four words without weakening the claim. It can always be amended in 2030 et seq.
Anybody of a religious slant can be excused for wondering if the birth of Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed et seq might get a shout. Off you go. We can also exclude things like wars and plagues on the grounds they are not, properly speaking, 'events'. Aliens landing might get the nod but that's not due for some time.
So what are we left with? In the sporting field there are only two contenders that spring to mind. The Olympics is one, but we've just had one, in Paris, and nice as it was, it didn't compare. Paris is the finale of the other contender, the Tour de France. You might be surprised at such a nomination but it does get more spectators than several world cups combined, twelve million being the usual estimate. But, no, it wouldn't get the premier vote even in France.
There's the World Fairs. A bit out of favour nowadays but despite the name they were always more national than world. And even the most memorable don't create the anticipation or linger in the memory like a good World Cup. And surely that's the ;point. This 2026 edition seems to have broken some invisible tether to indeed become the greatest show on turf and earth.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
|
|
|
|
So, El Tag has arrived. We open our account against Croatia. In the middle of the night! Huh, only in America. You might not have realised it but we've got the hardest opening match of any of the contenders. Croatia are FIFA-ranked eleven (we're at four). What a stitch-up. The Group of Death (apart from Ghana #28 and Panama #34).
We could easily lose without shame, yet everyone will go ape-shit if we do. So I remind one and all what AE tells us: 'Never judge by results.'
The only worrisome aspect is how to watch the game tomorrow morning without knowing the result. So please, Ladbroke Grove, no honking of horns at five a.m. There's a large Croatian community round here, it wouldn't be nice.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
|
|
|
|
|
At least the Americans have got their tournament launched without the snafu that spoiled the last one. No, not Diana Ross singing I’m Coming Out, they had found O J Simpson's ex-wife's body. Ten-four, Broderick Crawford.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
|
|
|
|
Late Breaking News
When I say the middle of the night in America, that is of course eight o'clock in the evening here, ITV time. A lot of people get confused about that. Glad to have sorted it out for you. I've booked my Uber for midnight (our time).
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
|
|
|
|
After quite a short time I could relax. It was obvious Croatia were on their last hurrah. For twenty years this tiny nation of four million people have been the terror of bigger ones (including us, serially) but you only had to look at Modric to know their bolt had bolted. You can have one Messi or Ronaldo but not eleven of them.
That said, England were still impressive enough to install themselves as runaway favourites. Their best opening performance since I watched them stuff France in an American cinema in God-only-knows which year.
The only worry was having Stones at the heart of the defence. If Pep plays Guehi week in and week out, and they're not renewing Stones's contract, I don't know why he's even on the plane never mind the pitch.
I see I've come over all saloon-bar. Another good sign. The serious business has started. I've cancelled the Uber and started looking for the biggest and slowest open-top bus in the known universe. We're so good we don't even have to worry about hubris. It's Hungary 1954 all over again.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Wile E. Coyote
In: Arizona
|
|
|
|
I dont understand why we suddenly lost our shape.
If this had been a Southgate side we would have got to one-nil up, restricted the two pivots in mid-field, to just in front of the back four, eventually got driven back, and lost two-one.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Mick Harper
Site Admin
In: London
|
|
|
|
Funnily enough this is the Arsenal method too. They go one-up passing it around like an old-time Barcelona, then start hoofing it up the park like old-time Tranmere Rovers. The difference is that Arsenal have the best back four in the business and the game ends one-nil.
I agree with you, six-goal thrillers are too much in the lap of the gods for knockout tournaments. We're not in the entertainment business.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The Library Index 
FAQ 
Search
Register
Profile 
Log in to check your private messages 
Log in 
