Playing a player as erratic as Di Maria further back would be risky at best.
World Cup 2018 Qualifiers
- Thread starter DWelbz19
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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.
Some international teams are weird when it comes to players. Alisson in goal for Brazil despite having Ederson in the squad. Has Alisson been that good for Roma? Last season Szczesny was keeping him out of the team.
I might have missed it but why was James an unused sub today for Colombia, in a game at Venezuela which ended 0-0 and they were expected to win? Surely that's blasphemy? He was playing for Colombia and carrying them all the time last season even when he was warming the bench every game for Real, so Pekerman can't really use lack of game-time as an excuse. Is he injured? If so, why even call him up?
Would appreciate someone clearing this up for me if anyone knows. He's always productive and influential for the national team even when he has been dogshit at club level.
Would appreciate someone clearing this up for me if anyone knows. He's always productive and influential for the national team even when he has been dogshit at club level.
Actually James was injured the recent weeks and had not even participated in team training until he flew to Columbia... (started to run outside about a week ago). And there was an oral agreement with Bayern that he does not play in the first match - even if Pekerman said yesterday that there was not written anything and that the country rules not the club...
Think what you want about that... - there is some mad at Bayern about the whole topic. The player has not played a competitive match for you because of injury, you slowly ease him because of the injury and as he missed the biggest part of preseason training... - and then the national teams come and make what they want...
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Great defensive work from Di Maria. Uruguay's counters look dangerous
Alisson shouldn't be Brazil #1 and I believe he starts out of favoritism because Taffarel the golkeeping coach likes him. Personally, I always thought Diego Alves should of been the number 1 .
I swear Robben must be having nightmares of his misses in the World Cup final on a weekly basis. Imho one of the greatest players of a generation and he had to see out his international career trying to pull this lot along. Granted TFM and Blind did pretty good tonight everything considered but otherwise holy shit why are they still relying on Robben, and especially Sneijder and RvP occasionally to get something done. I really hope someone will write an in-depth article to explain how one of the most consistently great footballing nations managed to produce so many world class players and now for what seems like about 10 years or so no new batch coming through to be the new face of the team. The likes of Clasie, Janssen, Memphis and company are clearly not it. I remember the time they used to call the Netherlands the Brazil of Europe, playing their own version of "samba" footie. I really don't understand how a country that damn near seemed to have reinvented youth development with its Ajax system etc just managed to completely fold like this?
Brazil is already qualified, or? So why not give the second goalkeeper a chance?
Thanks.
Some blame the system right now. That the young players leave the Netherlands too early to go to the EPL and sit on the bench there. Maybe the jump is too big for them and the difference between the league to the other big leagues got to big? Too low league quality does not let you develop - but sitting on the bench of a top club does not make that either.
Di Maria crosses are shocking
Are you in Portugal? Kind of late 1:30 there
Di Maria is pretty much useless on the left wing.
Chile get thrashed by Paraguay at home. Gotta love Conmebol qualifying.
Argentina are shockingly dull considering the players they have.
Are you in Portugal? Kind of late 1:30 there
There's not a lot of quality football during the international break so I have to watch what I can
Well that was terrible. 0-0 FT
If Argentina get 6 points from their next 2 games as expected they should be fine
If Argentina get 6 points from their next 2 games as expected they should be fine
Baffling how poor Argentina is with their options in attack.
Anyone watched that? Was Sánchez on the pitch? Sulking?
73% possession for Chile but absolutely no ideas how to break the Paraguayan bus.
what a terrible match... Alexis clearly still with his head who knows where.
Statistically second worst attack in Conmebol. Only Bolivia is worst.
They're the second best defense only behind Brazil and the second worse attack only behind Bolivia. You'd never guess that looking at their line ups.
It was the same in the World Cup in 2014 too, they nearly went all 4 knockout games without conceding goals.
I'm 99% this 0-0 result was fixed once they knew Chile lost.
There's no other explanation for what just happened. The last 10 minutes were too evident, with Uruguay parking the buss and Argentina doing defensive passes all the time.
There's no other explanation for what just happened. The last 10 minutes were too evident, with Uruguay parking the buss and Argentina doing defensive passes all the time.
wouldn't be the first time.
Chile is going to the altitude facing Bolivia, Uruguay will visit Paraguay (interesting match considering today's results), Brazil will face Colombia.
We'll receive Venezuela, and atm we need to score 3 goals against them to go over Chile on goal average.
We'll receive Venezuela, and atm we need to score 3 goals against them to go over Chile on goal average.
10/10 to Neymar for the dive. He was fouled but I've seen high jumpers go less airborne.
Nothing is certain except for Brazil in the CONMEBOL race.
Tonight's results have gone in Argentina's favour.
Win their next 2 games and they should qualify. They need Ecuador to not win tonight, as they will play them in Ecuador on the final matchday.
Tonight's results have gone in Argentina's favour.
Win their next 2 games and they should qualify. They need Ecuador to not win tonight, as they will play them in Ecuador on the final matchday.
Wow. Just finished watching Chile losing to Paraguay. Good watch.
Chile looked like they couldn't believe Paraguay could beat them.
I was impressed with that Romero kid. He looked pretty good and had some glimpses of young Cristiano Ronaldo.
Chile looked like they couldn't believe Paraguay could beat them.
I was impressed with that Romero kid. He looked pretty good and had some glimpses of young Cristiano Ronaldo.
Both Romero brothers are really good.
Ofcourse you can win.... our national team is a joke right now.
Oscar Romero's been showing those glimpses for the last 3 years. I'm surprised that no big club hasn't taken a punt on him. Hopefully he makes an impression in Alaves.
Having said that, Chile really struggle din that horrible pitch. You could tell that they couldn't play their usual, fluid passing game as the ball was slowing down too quickly. Paraguay just had an easy time defending against Chile because of that.
How did Jesus not score there? That was a great early cross from Dani Alves. Jesus was all open, but his header was right above Banguera.
Velasco with that fluffed pass attempt
Brazil have improved themselves in the past few minutes. Their more direct approach is getting Jesus more involved, and he'll eventually get a goal with the supply he's currently getting.
The Coutinho substitution has made Brazil even more dangerous. Both Paulinho and Renato Augusto were quite conservative with their movement, but Coutinho in there has made them quite fluid and allowed them to play with a quicker tempo. That goal looks even more inevitable now.
Both Valencias have looked quite dangerous for Ecuador so far. Enner has constantly tested Marquinhos and held the ball up excellently in this game, and Antonio has caused Marcelo several problems himself. If Gaibor can start to provide some more consistent supply to Enner and offer better support, Ecuador has a chance to score here.
Brazil have finally broken the Ecuadorian wall. That inevitable goal has finally come, and it's from a corner. Paulinho was all open, and with great control, he's able to settle the ball in the middle of the box and smash it above Banguera into the net.
That's because everyone sets up to defend against them. And yes, they are not as good as they look on paper.
Paulinho continue to goat for Tite.
Neymar's been playing more like his Santos self today. He's been allowed to everything on the pitch.