bobzy

I'd be surprised if Colombia don't qualify, but it's a close group. I think I'd probably tip Senegal to qualify with them (they're the strongest African team there IMO - expecting Mane and Niang to cause that group problems), but I wouldn't be confident picking the winner. There's a case for any of them to go through! It's the only group like it on paper.

Whilst I understand people wanting Liverpool to lose, I cannot get my head around them wanting Ronaldo to be the star of the show. He's probably the biggest word removed going.

....or Senegal or Japan? Group H is wide open as ****.

Tune.

Completely correct. All the predicting charts are maddening.

I'd agree with that - which is why DM is a problem for us.

Good excuse for a mass cull right there.

Yeah, I think it's a good opportunity for him too. Good backing, particularly for League One, if he gets them moving in the right direction and also a lot of pressure for an immediate return to the Championship. Both a short-term challenge and a long-term opportunity which, unfortunately, he was never going to get in Scotland.

Salah to score a hat-trick and rightfully win the next Ballon d'Or for actually being the best performer in a season, thus ending the Messi/Ronaldo wankfest. Ideally Salah scores every goal having nutmegged Sergio Ramos at least 10 times and the game ends with Ronaldo crying, but those would just be bonuses.

Nope - he's just not that brilliant in terms of doing really basic things (retaining possession, carrying the ball etc.) that well. What he's great at is stopping the opposition and dominating in the air; and it's worked fantastically against the better sides we've played against recently (Wolves, Cardiff and Boro in playoffs stand out) but he hasn't been as key to a successful season as all the players I previously mentioned. I'd agree that if he had played an entire season as he has done recently, he'd be right up there. Unfortunately, he simply hasn't done this - and he hasn't only played in 4 or 5 games. I'd be disappointed if Jedinak is our first choice DMC next season, irrespective of which league we are in.

Slightly off topic, but as Jedinak is involved... ...is it really classy? I think Guerrero said he “accidentally” had cocaine in a tea or something. If he’s banned, he’s banned. Why should he get to have that ban revoked/temporarily lifted just to play in a World Cup? Sets a dangerous precedent IMO.

I remember one about protection maybe? But if all the guns were gone, why would you need a gun for protection? ....and thus, why are you against them being banned if it’s only a protection thing? Not having a go, I just don’t understand wanting guns at all so trying to see that side of things.

Doing him too much courtesy there. He's been shit and solid in equal measures and certainly not "one of our better players". Snodgrass, Grealish, Grabban, Adomah, Chester and Hutton ahead of him.

Maybe not hundreds of times, but yes - more likely than teams fail than are successful. I guess it would depend on what the foundations are.

I’d say that’s probably the goal for all clubs in that third group.

What do you need your guns for? Genuinely curious why you're so against giving them up/banning guns etc.

Youri Djorkaeff as well. Unreal that those 2 were at Bolton.

I'm fine with that. I like cyclical football and don't want the same old teams at the top necessarily. A whole generation of football fans know Ajax to be just another average Dutch side, but that mid-90's side was incredible. Van der Sar, the de Boer brothers, Davids and Seedorf, Overmars and Kluivert - just such a good Dutch production line. Also, Jari Litmanen! Pretty sure a load of that Ajax side (who beat Milan in the CL final) ended up going to Milan as well.

It's a "good start to the tournament" if you meg a Hong Kong player and fail to deliver any sort of end product? I blame Soccer AM

....which was said because the entire post was about teams staying up. How are your armbands?

Have they just been promoted?

During a wildcard (I.e: hit “random” 3 times and play as the team it lands on) game on an old version of Pro Evo, Bernard Mendy scored a hat-trick from right wing-back for me as my Hull side beat my mates’ Chelsea side 3-2. One was a screamer from about 40 yards. Complete cult hero, purely because of this

Don’t know many of those defenders, but that attack

You’re missing the point with the Aurier thing. Some transfers work - some don’t. The point is that they’ll recycle players with any money earned. They’ve lost Walker and still finished comfortably top 4 by spending elsewhere. The posted above mentions Soldado not working - they sold him for £10m and Townsend for £12m and brought in Son for £22m. Job done, gap filled. Lost Mason and Bentaleb (£29m), brought in Sissoko (£30m). Gap filled (not worked, of course). They’d have a big problem if Kane and Eriksen went, but everyone else is replaceable for the money they’d bring in IMO.

Maybe so - maybe no. Unless Man City (in England) are coming in for you, then you're solely leaving for money; and those are the characters that Spurs are quite happy to let go of (I think Kane would be the exception to the rule). They buy younger talent up and blood them through the team so stop gaps are always filled. Likewise, they're still able to attract players from overseas by paying sufficient amounts - and maybe bonuses too, as mentioned by Stevo - so they lose Kyle Walker for £50m, but bring in Serge Aurier and Lucas Moura from PSG for that money. The stop gap (RWB) is filled and they've bought an additional player. It'll be interesting to see if any club throws money at Spurs' players this summer. I actually think Alderweireld would be absolutely fine to leave - very replaceable, even if he's a good defender. Also noticed they bought Juan Foyth (for £10m) last summer as well; 20 year old Argentine centre back. So, again, buying young, blood them through. What would Alderweireld cost another club? £30m, say? They'll re-invest that amount with cash to spare, and the cycle will continue. Again, as per original point, I don't understand people wanting this system to fail. It's madness.