Not SAM, Argie thing. I thought the whole La Bombonera thing was a terrible idea from Day 1. It's Argentina-Peru at home, they should win that without a second thought. All this malarkey does is put further pressure on the players while also being a huge no confidence vote. Crazy.
World Cup Qualifiers | October 2017 | Play off draw on Tuesday
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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.
It was pretty similar to his performance during the weekend tbf. He had more bad touches during the first half vs Las Palmas than yesterday for the whole game. By the 60th minute against Las Palmas he had a pass accuracy of 50% and had missed a couple of easy chances. Then he killed the game while making it look easy.
The difference is that he only got one great chance in this game and his teammates missed every one of his moments of magic.
Here they've stopped showing the European qualifiers and show the Commebol instead and it's been great. Far more entertaining.
Scolari did that too at the WC. Didn't he even had a witch/psychologist/astrologist who was one of the key figures of the NT staff? Regina something?
Alright I actually watched a summary of the Argentina - Peru game now and I've rarely seen a team having chances like that and failing to score. 
If they continue to create like that they are bound to score at so me point right...?
If they continue to create like that they are bound to score at so me point right...?
Hoddle did that too and I don't go around saying Europeans believe in magical shit.
We've all been waiting for the floodgates to open for months.Alright I actually watched a summary of the Argentina - Peru game now and I've rarely seen a team having chances like that and failing to score.
If they continue to create like that they are bound to score at so me point right...?
Lucky for Argentina, Ecuador are in a similar spiral of not getting a point to save their lives. Ecuador actually won in Buenos Aires and led the qualifiers for much of the first round of games.
Hoddle had a faith healer not a witch!
That Peruvian keeper should buy lottery tickets. He pulled off miracles.
No wait, not Peru. Whichever team played against Brazil.
No wait, not Peru. Whichever team played against Brazil.
Same shit really. Player mental fragility stuff.
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Bolivia
I don't think they'll beat Ecuador. They're playing bang average football and prefer picking lesser players for silly reasons.
That's just bizarre. Talk about mismanagement. Reminds of Maradona's attempt at 'managing' Argentina at a World Cup.
Also if your only game plan is to give it to Messi then have some great finishes on the pitch as well. Even with Dybala who cares if he's similar to Messi? Let him play further forward. He's likely to finish one of the chances Messi creates with that hammer of a left foot he has.
Should have just used viagra.
He did? Wow. And please, that was obviously hyperbole. Quicker than saying why is he banking on a boca juniors player playing at la bombonera over a far better player? This is a thing with Brazil and Argentina. Maybe less so with others because they don't have the same talent pool. Still, managers tend to favour "local" players a lot, even when it doesn't make sense, rationally
I don't even think it's smart what they are doing there. From what I have gathered about high-altitude climbing, some people avoid to use additional oxygen for as long as possible because the second you are using it, your perfomance level will drop even more than usual should you run out and be forced to breathe normally again.
Problem is they tried that against Venezuela, and with Maradona. Names don't matter, teamwork and some form of tactical approach does.
Come on Georgia!
@giorno, the old fecker is going with a 3-4-3 formation 
Wales playing now.
They needed to get rid of the players who lost 3 finals, but they either have had no decent replacements or wouldn't change. They still rely heavily on guys who are terrified of failing
Also, they need to stop catering to Messi. It doesn't work. Not playing Dybala because he and Messi are too similar? Find a way to make them coexist. Do whatever you have to do, but you simply can't leave your second best player on the bench for Messi, because you're not winning with the best team for Messi
Makes sense@giorno, the old fecker is going with a 3-4-3 formation
Group I looks tasty, it's very close at the moment.
The Turkey vs Iceland game should be good.
The Turkey vs Iceland game should be good.
Georgia - Wales, dreadful game so far. Like watching a friendly between two Scandinavian teams at La Manga during the summer...
Good
Wales are woeful.
He should put Woodburn and Robson-Kanu on
Literally the worst first half ever played. I have now watched England - Slovenia (up until 90 mins), Bolivia - Brazil, second half of Venezuela - Uruguay and this half.... that is almost 300 minutes without seeing a goal! Turned off right before Kane netted yesterday. Internationals suxx.
Can’t see a goal from either side, this will end 0-0. No matchwinners on the pitch at all
Can’t see a goal from either side, this will end 0-0. No matchwinners on the pitch at all
Wales 0-0 at HT.
I would have never thought of this
. He can change!Tom Lawrence puts Wales ahead.
Come on Moldova!
Not sure "playing" is the right word
Too cautious and too defensive..... inviting pressure and no out ball when get possession. Seem to have reverted back to pre 2016 style .... I know we miss Bale but that doesn't excuse that 45 minutes and things like not being able to put a free-kick into the box
What great timing?Come on Moldova!
Not sure "playing" is the right word
Too cautious and too defensive..... inviting pressure and no out ball when get possession. Seem to have reverted back to pre 2016 style .... I know we miss Bale but that doesn't excuse that 45 minutes and things like not being able to put a free-kick into the box
I know it was hyperbole but only now you are getting to the real issue which has nothing to do with magic.
Managers do indeed favour local players when things aren't working. I wouldn't call it some irrational South American thing seeing as Europe doesn't face the challenge of having its best players plying their trade thousands of miles away. Other regions have that with a few token players, their Messis, but only South America has entire XIs and benches in that situation.
It's been an ongoing issue and discussion for ages. When I was a kid you simply didn't call up Europe-based players (clubs didn't have to release them, there were no FIFA international weeks, etc). In 1981 Uruguay was so clearly missing it's biggest star that fans raised the funds to buy him back for a then record fee of 1.2M. Funny enough, fans from all clubs chipped in for one team to get back their superstar. By the time the fundraising was done and the transfer sorted we had already missed out on World Cup qualification, but Peñarol went on to win the Libertadores and beat Aston Villa in Tokyo.
That was one guy. The drain intensified in the 80s, I missed out on watching quality players like Venancio Ramos playing for us just because some no mark French club had more money to offer. Soon enough the rule was left behind and "the expats" started getting called up. After crashing out of Italia 90 in the second round the expats were blamed: they didn't feel the shirt, mercenaries looking after their legs worried about potential injuries, etc.
This led to a renewed ban on expats and probably the worst Copa Américas we ever played with absolute dross turning up for the national team. We also continued to miss out on World Cups, first for not calling them up, then because those having a specific agent got called up... it was only Diego Forlán that eventually broke this up in 2002 given the insanity of a Manchester United player not being considered just because he didn't want to have Paco Casal as his agent (a Raiola type that virtually owns half the clubs in our league as he systematically took advantage of them running into debt to buy their best prospects and leave them there on loan while searching for the big move. With no great players staying or leaving funds behind after leaving, they never turn things around).
It was only in 2007 that Tabárez got all that shit sorted out and implemented both a tactical blueprint for all to follow (U-XX to NT) and profiling criteria for candidates (e.g. selfless, team-oriented, etc), emphasises participation in that process rather than form, and explicitly favours players exposed to CL and European football (different tactics, discipline, pace...). There's a plan, and while stars are important we survived Forlán retiring, Lugano gave way to Godín as the defensive rock, Giménez coming through... We may not be the easiest on the eye, but we actually led the qualifiers early on despite both Cavani and Suárez being suspended. Only teams can manage that, not random assortments of in-form players.
I just ran through Uruguay's ups and downs but I'm sure you can write a similar history for others just changing dates. The many Romario-gates in Brazil were very much about that. He was old and spent but still banging them in locally.
And don't get me started on agents paying managers and/or the FA to use the NT as a shop-window... a big issue in Brazil for years.
Tom Lawrence loves a cracking goal.
You've done that?
I'm pretty sure that picture is after the match had finished.
Georgia need to cop on.
TryingNot sure "playing" is the right word