It was a reference to the game currently ongoing which has been utterly dross. Really sloppy passing at times and absolutely no cohesion it seems. I think they'll win, and they should against Panama, but this does not look like a top 3 world team.
Day 5: Sweden vs South Korea, Belgium vs Panama and Tunisia vs England (19H00)
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
The hell are Belgium even doing. All the big teams except Spain have had such poor showings so far.
You do realise all top teams
have underperformed so far. It’s the first game and it’s not even finished yet. Relax.
The referee is very bad, playing right into Panama's hands. Belgium has been even worse. It sounds stupid, but I think sometimes national teams suffer from having too much talent. They never get together for more than a couple weeks so there isn't time for a manager to lay down the law and impose tactics on them, and you've got a bunch of players who are used to being stars at the club level who aren't usually used to sticking to a particular job.
Imagine being able to field a midfield of Dembele, De Buryne and Naingollan, and instead lining up with Witsel and De bruyne as the deep midfielders in a 3-5-2.
I thought that was technically not correct. That it's the Netherlands .
And the problem with you guys was messing up the van Gaal succession. Cost you for both the Euros and WC.
I don't SK is better than Italy. But I do believe Italy can be just as boring. We arent missing out on much.
How big does lawro think Belgium is?
Spain abd not Portugal?
This is another referee blowing every time a player hits the deck. Is it only the European refs that have a concept letting play go on?
Not sure I get the Spain praise. Portugal aren’t special and they held them to a draw, scoring 3 along the way. Surely that fragility is an indication that Spain have massive issues? Even going forward they were hardly swashbuckling.
Surely we need to see some cards for timewasting?
This is absolutely awful
This is absolutely awful
Netherlands have more problems than the manager. Their league is now below the Belgian league. Not many players in top teams now.
This is why I'm not worried about Belgium.
Great individual players but they've no clue how to play as a team and Martinez is a terrible manager.
Great individual players but they've no clue how to play as a team and Martinez is a terrible manager.
I had a tenner on Rom finishing top scorer at this WC. Off to a good start then.
Ref is ruining bel vs pan game. No touch policy. Horrible to watch.
Lazy way to perceive thing. It's clear where the problem is with this Belgium team (bunch of individuals). Their best games together was when they share the responsibility and work together. So ask yourself this. If Lukaku is the problem and the others are doing fine, why ain't they stomping Panama by now?
Edit:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/30/louis-van-gaal-manchester-united-strikers
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That was terrible by Mertens.
That doesn't excuse them from not looking like a decent side. Just because Argentina, Brazil, Germany ballsed their games up? My issue is that Belgium don't play like a team, it's kinda like the Hazard show, which is very frustrating to watch.
Belgium too slow until the final third and then it’s too rushed. Really poor.
I don’t watch enough of Belgium to know but is this humping the ball long purely down to first game nerves or is this a genuine tactic?
Card waving
Fellaini to save the day?
Hazard refuses to cross, then gives the ball away trying to play a clever ball to the FB so he can cross from where Hazard refused to do so.
How is a striker supposed to time his run with that?
How is a striker supposed to time his run with that?
It's like watching a United match
I just switched into the match and expected Belgium too already lead with some goals...
Second half, bring on Afro and hoof. 1-0 win c/o Fellaini masterclass.
Hazard definitely hates Lukaku.
All the star players are playing only for themselves so far, except Ronaldo. No surprise he's the standout performer so far.
This has been their issues for years. Always one of the teams ppl think could potentially win until the tournament starts
The others arent doing fine either. I still think it's up to lukaku to get involved more. So often for United he doesnt get involved and you barely notice him. Not a single player on the pitch has fewer touches then Lukaku does in this half so far, not even the keepers. No matter how the others are playing, that's on him.
Technically it’s the Netherlands yes.
It’s one part LVG’s succession (though we flattered to deceive in Brazil honestly) and one part Sneijder and Robben aging. That last world cup, Robben was absolutely insane. In 2010 it was Robben and Sneijder with a fantastic link up striker in RVP coupled to the infamous cnut block of Van Bommel and the Young. (Edit: err De Jong
)Current problem is having a drought of good attackers and being unable to adapt to it in our playstyle. On paper our team is definitely world cup worthy. Players like Van Dijk, De Veij, Wijnaldum, Strootman and Memphis are by no means terrible.
Meh this world cup makes me sad.
Regarding Italy (and us) we deserve missing out we were shite in the qualifyers.
The big teams are absolutely awful so far. Belgium yet another team ruining my betting patterns.
Lukaku would do well to not punch Hazard during half time.
That was not good.
Belgium have been very poor.
Their crossing has been awful.
It's quite possible that they are the new England from 2002-2008, i.e. a 'golden generation' of disseminated individuals who look to be a fantastic team on paper but never ultimately come close to winning anything.
I'd be interested to see if you think the same about those England sides, were they poorly managed several times or was it to do with the players? I think winning at club and international level are completely different things and so I'm not sure they do have the steely mentality you describe above at least when they play in major international tournaments.
I need a double whiskey.
That was fecking dreadful.
That was fecking dreadful.
Laughable isn't it.
No idea why Belgium playing three at the back, and expect England to be having the same issue in their game. They could be using an extra man up front or in midfield against these teams who have to sit back.