I was in two minds about if I should start this one, but there’s hardly anything else to talk about and we know it’s going to dominate.
I have some very strong political views, but this is not the place and it’s a football site, simple. I’d like to think we can keep it Villa related, but that’s hardly going to happen, given our poor showing.
Let’s lay down a couple of rules, as much as it grieves me to dictate how anyone comments on here;
There can be no racism, as much as anyone might think the locals have called this wrong.
Likewise, there can be no talk of sex.
I’m massively annoyed about this WC, as it seems it’s been taken over by politics.
The fool who is in charge of that corrupt outfit that is FIFA has only made things worse, to my mind.
But I’d discourage any mention of him.
You can mention him if you want, but I’d be more interested to know what you think of Southgate’s squad.
FWIW, I think we’ll be knocked out at the quarters.
I just don’t think our players have the bottle to win anything.
And Argentina will win the cup.
Mainly because they just don’t do politically correct.
Shoot, I’m venturing into what’s not allowed, already.
I appreciate it’s tricky.
UTV.
Amazing Saudi v Argentina result!!!!! Emi could do absolutely nothing about those 2 goals!
Maybe the WC starts here!!!???
Did SA have all of their outfield players given yellow cards?
A Yahoo article again mentions some real loud support for the Saudis.
False or perhaps genuine and the Arabs are really more interested than our media likes to suggest, I wonder?
2-1 eh? The Argies get their loss out of the way, then go on to win the cup. It makes sense to me anyway 🙂
That is some result though and why we love the sport, I guess.
Good teams sometimes start slowly in WC’s / Euros etc. and find their form later in the competition when it really matters.
England in the T20 WC losing to Ireland then having to win every match to lift the trophy.
Certainly far too early to write off Argentina or to suggest England will do well just because they beat Iran 6-2
I was about to post how poor the Argies were and how they’d got no chance but decided to google Saudi’s.
They don’t score many but neither do they concede.
Tough game, they can only get better.
I must admit, although we now all know what goes on in Qatar, not all Qataris are complicit in this. Should we cut them a bit of slack and enjoy the tournament now lessons seem to have been learned?
Considering our PMs recent Saudi agreement, few of us have totally clean hands.
And finally, Come On Australia! Beat the Froggies!!!!!!!
House!!! I hope the Missus bought you a drink????
On another note, I bought myself a new guitar today!!! 😁
…Hmmm…that ain’t gonna happen now. Shame. Still not impressed by France.
Seen a bit of a couple of games sat at the bar but, like me, no one that interested out here.
Still the rum’s excellent and not expensive 🙂
Rum – are you in the WIndie’s ?
Yup – our second home – Barbados
Back to the palm trees?
(-:
Nice.
Imagine the weather is much warmer than here in November!
Yep definitely warmer but we’ve had lots of rain over the last three weeks – not that I’m bothered – more time in the bar 🙂
Must admit, all the politics aside, I’m starting to enjoy this WC. Japan and Saudi games have been astonishing. Although Spain won well, Costa Rica just gave up. Canada’s finishing in this game is terrible.
Souness and Keane nearly having a punch up was comical too!!!
Gotta bloody well go into London so will miss a few games…Grrrrrrrrr…
Canada’s play was enetertaining, but some of their long cross-field passes were hilarious – passing to where the intended recipient had been 60 seconds earlier…
I know. They looked like an over excited League 2 side at times. Shame as they could have got something from the game. Awful, awful finishing and that penalty was totally wasted.
Haha, I saw that pen, while I was in the middle of playing bingo on behalf of the missus (she can only do two cards here, so I did the third and won 160 euros. Guess who got the money, lol) and it was shocking.
That’s why I think you should bladder it every time.
Unfortunately the Canucks then did that to every shot from about 35 yards out of the goal, all of which went miles out into the stands…
Just like the Villa then?
OK, I have to get this off my chest, although I’m not sure Badger will allow the post.
[EDITED]
You’re right BFR, I won’t allow it.
It’s not because I agree or disagree with you.
It’s because this is not the right place and I’ve asked that we stick to the footy as much as is possible.
Hopefully you’re not offended and you did at least get a couple of hours before I saw it.
Ghana gave Portugal a tough time then, apparently.
It is indeed quite an interesting WC, where it looks like anyone can beat anyone.
I’m definitely watching the Brazil – Serbia game, as I think it might be a cracker.
Sitting down to it too Badger!!!
U do know when u edit a post like BFRs, it leaves the rest of us wondering what on earth was said!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
It wasn’t all THAT controversial!
Is Badger getting all woke??? 😝😝😝.
Come on Serbia!!!!!
“Is Badger getting all woke?” – doubt it.
BFR’s post just didn’t mention the football!
Maybe if he’d have alleged ‘John Gregory said this…’…
This Brasil gane is a bit rubbish. A smash and grab for Serbia?
Up early for the Wales game too.
Don’t like Neymar at all.
Bum Bum, it talked about the Uk’s duplicity.
As Ardent says, there wasn’t even a mention of the footy, so there were no grounds at all for me to allow it, given that I’d set the rules in the post.
And no, I’m not going woke. I’m far too old for that! 🙂
As for the game, I thought it was great. Good pace to it and Richarlison’s second was a cracker.
I felt sorry for Serbia’s goalie, who I thought had a great game.
Wales 0-2 Iran.
Oh dear, how sad, never mind.
I didn’t watch it, but it sounded like a very decent game. Very tense, apparently.
As long as you’re not Welsh, of course.
It’s looking a bit bleak for them, but England need to beat the US first, as a defeat to the Welsh, while doubtful, is always possible!
Didn’t watch it, just kept up to date via the online BBC text; sounded like Hennessey lost his head there…
Did a Schumacher mate.
Now that I do remember!
He should have done 4 years for assault, disgusting behaviour.
Loved that French side Rocheteau – Tigana – Platini – Six (remember his cameo performance for us?)
Great side.
That France team was one of the all-time greats, as I remember them.
Seen them player’s for the last 3 years , they haven’t improved much have they .the way we play we’ll see them with beards next.,
Come On Mexico!!!!!
Sorry Emi!
This is the most hilarious game!! So much acting!!!!
“Centuwion, thwow him to the floor.”
😂😂
Terrible ain’t it mate?
)-:
The UK duplicitous?…Hmmmmm…
Anyway, the Wales v Iran game was a corker. To be honest Wales were not good. Iran were cracking. Had some super Iranian friends over the years. Lovely people. Awful govt. Bit like us really!
Dutch match showed they aren’t much of a threat. Really love Van Gaal though. Hope his treatment is a success.
Log burner going, cats and dog asleep. Beer in hand. Feet up on the sofa. TV on.
COME ON ENGERLUND!!!!!!
So far it’s been a painful half-hour watching England; zero creativity and suspect at the back.
Normal service has been resumed ☹️
“The Southgate Method”
Lol
Told you they were our bogey team.
Canada, what a load of Donkeys and to think they get a free start in the next world cup ,yes it’s in the USA but two host nations .
Too many holes in our defence !! We have new players like Stone, Maguire, Shore, bad luck that Mount . I wonder if we might play a footballer at any time ..
Kieran Trippier’s having an absolute mare
None of them are doing much better
But I (for some totally irrational reason) can’t stand the geezer.😁
Is it just me or do these WC pitches seem very narrow?
I wish someone will tell that twat Southgate that game was crying out for a footballer, Foden Grealish both was needed not that selfish idiot Steeling along with Saka, they cut through us with footballers and its time for coaching clubs to bring back football not athletes with one two pass . That game was a disgrace to a country that brought football to the world.
I’ve just watched an American player carve our defence wide open playing football, i know Southgate didn’t play football so he refuses to use any ..
England remind of us under you know who.
A good bunch of players with a clueless, shite manager.
It would have been more entertaining if I’d sat in front of our tumble-dryer for a 90-minute cotton-dry session.
So I’m sat at the bar and the game is on – after 20 minutes we decided a rum tasting session was more exciting.
Who won 🙂
0-0 to the US (a morale victory for the Septics, we were woeful, that is unless you listen to big noses version of events).
Bar
Rum
Sunshine
Barbados
Better option hitch 👍☹️
See the interview?
We played out well from the back?
Excuse the f¥ck me Gareth but did you see the same game as me?
Oh, yes. The constant sideways passing between the back-4: must have taken up almost 45 minutes across the game…
(I might have nodded-off for a bit during all that.)
I’m sure it made the posession stats look good though.
As they say AV “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”
I wish someone will tell that twat Southgate that game was crying out for a footballer, Foden Grealish both was needed not that selfish idiot Steeling along with Saka, they cut through us with footballers and its time for coaching clubs to bring back football not athletes with one two pass . That game was a disgrace to a country that brought football to the world.
Bill Saka is one player I really don’t get.
Fodden or Grealish or Rashford all day.
I think Southgate comes from the same brand of non football managers as no idea Stevie G – but they do fancy themselves!
I think it’s the style of ‘management’ typified by the likes of Howard Wilkinson, Steve Mclaren and Sven, when Southgate & SG were around the England team as players…
Badger, posts seem to be added in the wrong place quite often. Summat wrong???
I’ve had that Bum Bum, found it to be a reply up the post that I missed earlier. ,had to repost .
Hmm, I’ve noticed replies in odd places, but not sure why it’s happening.
I’ll have to think about it.
Thanks for letting me know chaps
Meanwhile, Belgium get exactly what they deserved against Morocco – zilch.
They’re totally past their peak.
My post jumped twenty five post up .
The Scottish FA making moves on reducing heading of the ball. Welcome but not enough. I love a good headed goal or clearance, but the time has come to BAN heading in football, period. As Cloughie used to say, football should be played on the ground. Apart from the aesthetic benefits, there is now enough evidence to prove benefits to players’ future health. It’s not as radical as you might think. Football without heading would be an even more beautiful game.
Ban heading – ban tackles – ban football. There are those who would seek to ban anything they don’t agree with and use social media as their conduit.
The beginning of a very slippery slope – mark my words!
Fair point, Hitch, but it’s a very general one. My point is only about heading a football and it’s not that I ‘don’t agree’ with heading. There is clear EVIDENCE that it turns what used to be strong, athletic men into cabbages. Do you think it’s worth it? Should this evidence be ignored? Would football still not be an amazing game without it?
BFR – my comment was somewhat influenced by a significant intake of exceptionally good rum 🙂
The debate goes wider than football though – rugby for instance appears to have a much bigger problem. Should we ban boxing or maybe just punches to the head – wouldn’t bother me because I don’t like it
There is a big difference between the balls that footballers like Geoff Astle headed and the modern lightweight balls that don’t become like lumps of rock when sodden with water as the old leather balls did.
What is the evidence? Is the incidence of dementia in professional footballers any greater than that generally seen in the population – I honestly don’t know?
The debate will rumble on.
Depends upon the evidence you are reading BFR
https://www.nicswell.co.uk/health-news/no-proof-heading-footballs-causes-brain-damage
Thanks for this, RSS. It is, however, contradictory. I quote: “Discussing the study’s findings, lead researcher Dr Michael Lipton said: “Our study provides compelling preliminary evidence that brain changes resembling mild traumatic brain injury are associated with frequently heading a soccer ball [football] over many years.””
I could do with some of Hitch’s quality rum!
Think what we have to look at is when did the weight of the ball change, they are not the ball I played with as a young footballer in the fifties, a case ball that was like heading a cannonball and God it knocked you senseless, the age of players getting ill are after years of playing with what ball ?. Just an observational thought .
Agree with you and Hitch. I can remember the old leather case balls ( & what was all that greasy stuff we used to have to put on them…?) which would easily knock you flat-out if you were standing in the wall and someone decided to fire it straight at you!
It should come down to evidence, and the first part would logically be “Is the incidence of dementia in professional footballers any greater than that generally seen in the population?”
Statistically Swimming,cycling and running are 2nd – 3rd and 4th most dangerous sports, should they also be banned??
No one suggested banning football, RSS. And it depends what the ‘dangers’ are. As an example, if running on A roads results in a disproportionate number of runners being splattered by lorries, then banning running on A roads is sensible, not banning running.
I appreciate that anything that poses a risk to health and life can’t logically be banned (Hitch’s rum would have to be on that list). But where adjustments can be made to mediate or eliminate the risk, surely, that can’t be a bad thing? Anyway, you know me. I’ll argue either way until the proverbial cows come home. So let’s agree to disagree.
BFR – ban rum – even diabetics can drink it as all the sugar is distilled out – a fact I learned from my good friend who’s diabetic, 83 years old and can drink me under the table!
I’m not a great believer in the ‘nanny state’ approach. People should be left to make their own decisions based on the premise (actually Premise is a great designer rim – but I digress) that they are fully informed.
*designer rum -;)
I was kidding about the rum, Hitch! 🙂
As for the ‘nanny state’, I’m one of the most rebellious anti-state people I know (I do my wife’s head in, as I’m sure you can imagine!).
The ‘people should be left to make their own decisions’ argument is great and I fully agree with that. The problem with that is many people are stupid. And their actions impact on other people, who are less stupid. Anyway, we’ve veered away from the footy again. Congratulations to Mr Southgate and his squad for successfully and pretty effortlessly qualifying for the knock-out stages of the WC!
You could make an argument BFR, that MRI scans of 37 amateur players is hardly compelling evidence?
Is such a small restricted study worthy of the media coverage it recieved?
Or maybe someone sees a funding opportunity?
Dubin was the grease in them days and remember how you tied the lace up ..
Dubin – wonder whether anyone still uses that!
On my leather walking boots
There was a tin of Wren’s Dubbin in our family shoeshine box, which lasted there 20 years before I realised there was nothing left on which I could use it. Using Dubbin to waterproof street shoes, made it difficult to get a shine back.