Must be great to be icelandic tonight. I imagine a big part of the population at least know someone who knows someone in the team.
Euro Qualifiers - Matchday 7 & 8
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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.
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I think I can tell for almost all of us that we almost can't believe that it really happened!! We are so proud of them!! And Lars is a genius!!
I think I can tell for almost all of us that we almost can't believe that it really happened!! We are so proud of them!! And Lars is a genius!!
Congratulations. Under your current management you might just be a bit of a surprise package at the European Championships. Small nations tend to play above their weight at big tournaments, like New Zealand - the only unbeaten team at the 2010 World Cup! I can see you doing ok next summer.
Not only that but myself and many others have played numerous times against some of the players. The core of the team is made up of those players.
Ah that.
Well you have a big chance now. We are 4 points behind Italy and if they beat Azerbaian they could as well let you win, they're not exactly very good right now, and the form we're in and given the chaos around and in the team us not beating Bulgaria or Malta can easily happen.
It's a problem when the coach has played with many of these players. At first it's not so bad because they are usually in their prime, but then a few years in, the coach can't let his ex-teammates go. Srna was brutal. I thought Modric was awful, as well.
There's something rotten in that squad.
The new formula of Euro means that everyone will have a shot at qualifying. Even if you end up in the group of death all you're going to need is 1 win and you're almost through (4 out of 6 third placed teams will still make it). That will give a chance to teams like Iceland, Albania, Northern Ireland, Wales or even Poland to go into the knockout stage, and there anything could possibly happen. You could get to play a team not well above your status and make QFs, or even semis with a bit of luck.
Looking at Netherlands' and Turkey's fixture list they are probably still going to make it (Dutch). Turkey have screwed up their results up until yesterday which will make it very tough for them to capitalise on that 3-0 win. Netherlands will probably collect all 3 points in Kazakhstan and if it needs to be, they will probably beat Czechs at home somehow too. That late equalizer at home against Turkey could prove essential. Turkey will be disappointed because they also considered a stoppage time equalizer against Latvia last Thursday. That two points would have all but secured top 3 for them.
Thank you sir! Electric atmosphere, the best we've played at home since defeating Portugal some 5-6 years ago. Berget is in the form of his life at the moment, that beard is doing wonders! And btw, 5 goals conceded in our last 5 games. All 5 came in Croatia, 4 clean sheet since. That hammering was a blessing in disguise, we've toughened up and become less naive.
Still think you are in a better position than us. Empty stadium against Bulgaria might be a bit tough but still a game you should win. And Malta is a pushover for both you and us. Then we would be needing a victory in Italy, they haven't lost a qualifier for 48 games. I'm well prepared for a play-off against an unseeded team. Hopefully all three teams will qualify and all will be good.
How are the local media reacting this morning? Heard some Croatian journalist fuming at Modric's performance saying that his heart doesn't bleed for the NT, strong words. And any indication that Kovac will be sacked?
I hope both, Norway and Croatia, manage to qualify. Norway haven't been at a big tournament for a while and I also like to see how Ödegaard would perform at such a stage. I always liked Croatia but every time I watched them in the past years they seem to underperform despite having a decent squad. How come @Mali_Zeus that your NT often puts out such dire performances when the midfield is arguably world class and the attackers (Mandzukic, Perisic) good on paper as well?
I think the higher ups, the players and Wilmots himself would be very surprised if they knew how little support he has anymore. I always get the feeling Wilmots thinks very highly of himself, but literally everyone I know wants him gone. I always go to watch the games on a big screen with hundereds of people around me and the general feeling there is people are fecking sick of Wilmots' inept management. He's holding back a generation that's supposed to be our best ever. It's abysmal and utterly boring football while barely scraping results. It'll be the World Cup all over again, crashing out against the first decent team we meet.
Well its a complex problem.
One of the problems is our 2 last coaches didnt have much experience if any with senior squads. Štimac led 2 small league clubs and was awful there. I was completely against him as a national coach cause he's a total prick, ego maniac and has a criminal background, majority of the public was against it and in the end we were right. He didn't have an idea how to play, shifted players all over the pitch, blamed players for bad games (blamed Rakitić for the defeat vs Belgium for instance) and in the end lost the dressing room which led to his sacking.
Public was then happy for Niko Kovač being a new coach cause he was the legendary captain and was loved but that to proved to be a mistake cause he also didn't have much experience, only led a U21 national team, was good there, but that isn't enough for a senior NT. National team isn't a team with which you learn how to be a coach. In the end it's obvious he's exactly the same as Štimac, he doesn't think he is to blame of anyhing, yesterday blamed the players for not giving their all and every game and Modrić said he doesn't agree. It seems something is going on behind the scenes and I wouldn't be surprised if he lost the dressing room. Add to that he played with different formation every game, against Azerbaijan he played some kind of 4-4-2 with Badelj as a DM, Modrić on the right, Perišić, a winger as a LM and Rakitić as AM. Then vs Norway Rakitić was a DM, Modrić a CM and Brozovović as a AM behind Mandžukić. Also Pjaca finally played as a winger which he is but he and every other player didn't know what their position or task on the pitch is which was evident yesterday cause we played like a broken army, like the players met each other before the game.
Mandžukić is completely out of form but he played both games 90 minutes instead of being subbed. If he doesn't pick form he'll have a bad time at Juventus and Juve fans with him.
With Bilić who also didn't have much experience we got it right but it was risky to go for 2 more unexperienced coaches after him.
Cause of Kovač's and Štimac's lack of expertise and with them mixing formations, positions and completely failing in man management problem is Croatia doesn't have any style of playing, any idea how to play, something which would strike of our way of playing. Players are played out of position, are demotivated and are not so good as in their clubs. For a team with Rakitić, Kovačić, Modrić, Mandžukić it's a shame...
The biggest problem though de facto boss of Croatian football, Zdravko Mamić, picks coaches which he himself said and then expects them to be obidient and play Dinamo players so he can sell him cause he is a boss of Dinamo Zagreb too. Few weeks ago he said Niko Kovač isn't answering his phone and thus he's not his friend anymore. If you read between the lines that means Kovač could be sacked soon. We have Davor Šuker as a president of FA but he is Mamić's puppy and as great player as he was he destroyed his legacy with his acting after his playing career. He cares only about getting money from FA and listens to Mamić....
Mamić is awaiting trial for money laundering and taking money out of Dinamo for his private dealings. Luckily he'll be sentenced and send to prison. It's the only way Croatian football will get better.
Cause of all this people don't care about NT which had near saint status in public. Special place in everyone's hear. People now don't care anymore.
I used to be nervous as hell before NT games and if we would lost it would ruin my week, few weeks, a month. Yesterday I was like, feck them. Why should I be mad or sad cause our team has a coach who doesn't have a clue and the guy who picks a new coach will only pick a new one who will listen to him like a little puppy. No hope we'll get a proper coach while Mamić is around.
All in all depressing. We're completely pissing away a good generation.
Sorry for the long post.
Scotland v Germany tonight should be an interesting game.
You played a good game, when you saw a chance you scored you goals and could have add one or 2. We were completely destroyed and out of ideas.
We still have chance but as I said in other post if Italy beats Azerbaijan they could give the game to you guys cause that way you'll both go through. I can only hope Prosinečki will take 2 points or even win vs Italy with his Azerbaijan team. He owes us now.
We should win both games but our confidence is at the bottom right now and I don't see things getting any better. On Wednesday we'll learn if Kovač is staying at his job.
As for media, I didn't read much, but they're mostly fuming against Kovač cause yesterday was one of the worst games national team every played. Heck when I play 5 a side with my friends we have some better games..
As for Modrić it's kind of true he, with his stature as one of the best mids in Europe mid, hasn't been so good with NT as with his clubs but then again as I said to Kasper - its about the coach too and can he motivate his players. Kovač can't do it, it seems, he acts like a dictator and blamed them yesterday for the defeat but doesn't know how to make us play properly and players maybe got that and don't believe in him anymore.
You could make a case for Rakitić too, Barcelona player but he mostly jogs around for national team.
Yup. Something really stinks. Read my replies to Samid and Kasper.
Srna should have retired 3 or 4 years ago or young Vrsaljko should have been a 1st choice RB. Srna is still playing cause he's captain and a long serving player but he should do all of us and a team a favour and called it a day for international football. If Berget, all due respect to him, has done that to him, played him like a kid, imagine what will far better players in Euros, if we qualify, do...
Modrić was lousy but so was most of the team. Only players who could have a pass are Ćorluka and Vida and to some extent Vrsaljko. All in all it seemed they don't have a clue where to stand and what to do. Lines were totally disconnected, and our CBs were mostly organizing our game which for a team with Rakitić and Modrić is horrible.
I thought we had it ruff, but look at the Dutch, what happened with them?
Can some of our Dutch caftards elaborate on that?
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Last chance for Scotland to get back into this. They probably won't go over us but they can still leap above Ireland with a good result tonight.
We should dispose of Gibraltar easily today. We scored 7 there earlier in the qualifiers and I'd expect at least 3-4 tonight. Then we will probably only need a draw against Ireland to secure 2nd spot. These games against the likes of Gibraltar, San Marino don't really excite me much and we seemed to have been playing San Marino in nearly all qualifiers.
From a midfield with Moutinho, Tiago and Carvalho, we are going to start with Miguel Veloso, Danilo and Bernardo Silva. No experience whatsoever and first time that midfield will play togheter. I hope they can handle the pressure of this type of away fixture. Hoping for the best, expecting the worst.
fecking miserable twats them Scottish players, fans belting it out though
Fergie
Fergie making a point to stop and talk to Schweini, he really is United through and through. Also anyone else think Schweinsteiger is looking trim?
Still makes me sad seeing him. Wish he could go on forever.Fergie
If anyone can get a gif of this, it would be great
His eyebrows (or lack of) freak me out.
Safe to see why we got rid of Brady.
Any chance of Martial coming on today?
Monuel Neuer.
Oh Ronaldo...
BFS seriously needs to lay off the Bratwursts.
You guys playing for the draw? Pretty crap approach against a midfield as poor as ours
Wasn't he supposed to be in line to start?
Nah Giroud is playing. Doubt he'll be getting anything other than sub appearances ATM.
We are a defensive team. Lead by an Italian manager.
Your midfield is still probably better than ours and you have Ronaldo. Hard to attack against you, especially when our main striker is Cikalleshi who is quite bad.
Gashi is probably the only Albanian player who can score, but he isn't being played as a striker.
1:0 Müller
Had a better image of Albanian midfield. It was pretty good in the first match and against a better portuguese midfield. That´s why i was asking.
Class by Greinzmann
Good goal for Muller. He's the kind of player that always seems to get the run of the ball in his favour, whether it's via a deflection or he's trying to dribble past a player. The kind of forward player we're crying out for currently, and hoping Martial becomes.
Lucky reflection there but this is passing practice for the Germans.
Not really sure what sport I'm watching right now. Still nil all in Dublin.
Xhaka is quite good, but that is it. The other are just hard working donkeys. In fact in the entire team the only quite good players are Berisha, Cana, Xhaka and Gashi.
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