Not specifically colours but there aren't many generally nice looking kits.
General discussion thread
- Thread starter Sassy Colin
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
All very plain aren’t they?
Not a fan of the very popular Nigeria shirt but at least it’s different.
The underdog teams are doing overall well, and the top teams will need to play hard to make it. That’s good to see.
However, for the most part, the quality of football is not that great. So far, 26 goals in 12 games. 11 of those goals were scored in two matches (Russia-SA and Spain-Portugal). And so only 15 in the other 10 matches.
Teams are typically cautious in the first game, but I always expect a bit more of what we saw so far.
I don't think the overall standard of football has been that impressive. It has been competitive and there have been some decent stories but a lot of mediocre football being played. Hopefully that improves as the competition moves on.
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Hopefully no one is injured and the fire was not too serious.
Their tournament just about can’t get any worse.
Get impregnated by a World Cup player, win free Whoppers, says Burger King / / The Guardian
'Burger King's Russian division has apologized for a social media campaign offering free burgers for life to women who get pregnant by football stars.'
'Burger King's Russian division has apologized for a social media campaign offering free burgers for life to women who get pregnant by football stars.'
The trumpets at the stadium sound God awful on telly. They are ruining the atmosphere. A band in one section of the ground with drums and maybe just one good trumpet player would be alright. But to have 8000 fans with those wretched things is terrible. The atmosphere in 2010 was pathetic as well because of them vuvuzelas.
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Awesome campaign
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Spains away jersey is weirdly nice looking.
Perhaps I am being harsh, and employing confirmation bias, but I have been disappointed by the top level at this tournament. A rather mediocre standard of football being played,. There have been some cracking goals but the general play has been so patchy. I think only Spain for 20/25 mins in the second half against Portugal really hit a high level.
It has been watchable because it has been competitive, the floor level may be higher, but I had hoped for more from some of these big names. France looking 4 years away.
It has been watchable because it has been competitive, the floor level may be higher, but I had hoped for more from some of these big names. France looking 4 years away.
I, too, feel incredibly underwhelmed by the ‘top’ nations thus far. I still believe Belgium have looked the most impressive and that they have absolutely nothing to fear from any of the others.
Also, after a good first round, this World Cup is hanging on the precipice of sinking to WC2010 levels of boredom. The number of ‘top’ teams content with 1-0 leads is astounding.
Also, after a good first round, this World Cup is hanging on the precipice of sinking to WC2010 levels of boredom. The number of ‘top’ teams content with 1-0 leads is astounding.
If someone had told me before the tournament that half way through the group stage, the best performing teams by a distance were going to be Mexico, Russia and Croatia I'd have had a decent chuckle.
Still I'm really enjoying this World Cup. No violence or much contreversy - just great atmosphere all around. Some good matches although the standard hasn't been that great. But we've still the knockouts to go where all the real drama begins. Can't fecking wait.
The context around the WC matches has been excellent. Troublefree stadiums and big enthusiastic crowds. Other than the friggin' horns all else is good in that regard.
My biggest beef with this HC has been the atrocious finishing exhibited by 80% of the teams. Just dire. So few goals from open play. Teams are coming out soo nervous. So scared to lose. I wonder how much of it is individual players under pressure from social media that just magnifies everything tenfold.
My biggest beef with this HC has been the atrocious finishing exhibited by 80% of the teams. Just dire. So few goals from open play. Teams are coming out soo nervous. So scared to lose. I wonder how much of it is individual players under pressure from social media that just magnifies everything tenfold.
It is group stage though, so very little pathos. It is true we have no flashy teams, but weren’t such squads deemed naive at the end of the day? I am pretty sure real drama will ensue in the knockout stage, many fiercely contested games going to ET and penalties... we could have SFs played by knackered teams and all.
Why are all the fans mixed? I don't think this is helping with the atmospheres, which bar the odd game have been disappointing
How many teams are in the next World Cup? 40?
We should have a separate discussion just for VAR.
It’s been great the few times I’ve seen it used. The purists against it can feck themselves. Takes very little time too (less than a fake injury).
Would like to see it used to discipline divers/fakers too, even if retroactively.
It’s been great the few times I’ve seen it used. The purists against it can feck themselves. Takes very little time too (less than a fake injury).
Would like to see it used to discipline divers/fakers too, even if retroactively.
A lot of people are writing Argentina off, but I've seen this movie before.
Everyone was laughing the ass off at France in 2006 in the group stages, 0-0 against Switzerland, 1-1 against South Korea. They had to beat Togo and they nearly didn't win that game. They were a complete joke. Domenech had lost the dressing room.
Spain were swashbuckling 9 points from the group. They were outstanding best team in the tournament.
They played each other in the knockouts, and of course who went through...
You keep giving big players too many chances and you'll pay, Argentina may eventually get it right yet. They've got world class match winners in that team. The result against Croatia may force him to make changes, probably sticking in Dybala next time, which might work.
Everyone was laughing the ass off at France in 2006 in the group stages, 0-0 against Switzerland, 1-1 against South Korea. They had to beat Togo and they nearly didn't win that game. They were a complete joke. Domenech had lost the dressing room.
Spain were swashbuckling 9 points from the group. They were outstanding best team in the tournament.
They played each other in the knockouts, and of course who went through...
You keep giving big players too many chances and you'll pay, Argentina may eventually get it right yet. They've got world class match winners in that team. The result against Croatia may force him to make changes, probably sticking in Dybala next time, which might work.
Are there statistics available for the amount of time the ball has been in play on a game by game basis?
Still the most impressive side so far. I’ll be amazed if they don’t reach at least the semi-finals.
I'm so pleased there aren't any England thugs tearing up the place. I suspect in the past this has had an impact on the atmosphere in the England team. It can't be good for the team knowing their fans are causing trouble. It's just embarrassing.
It appears since Marseille, when they got a pasting from the Russian Ultras, the England thugs have lost their bottle and haven't showed up. They may well be afraid of the Russian police who won't be messing about. I'm pretty sure the Police would nip any trouble in the bud. Instead of turning up in their 10s of thousands there are currently only 3000 fans there. The fans who have turned up are probably real fans who have no intention of causing any trouble. These fans have nothing to fear, unlike the missing thousands who haven't bothered to turn up.
It appears since Marseille, when they got a pasting from the Russian Ultras, the England thugs have lost their bottle and haven't showed up. They may well be afraid of the Russian police who won't be messing about. I'm pretty sure the Police would nip any trouble in the bud. Instead of turning up in their 10s of thousands there are currently only 3000 fans there. The fans who have turned up are probably real fans who have no intention of causing any trouble. These fans have nothing to fear, unlike the missing thousands who haven't bothered to turn up.
That's a great point. I was surprised how few English fans I saw in the last 2 weeks in Russia. I swear I saw more Saudi fans than English fans. The media really did a number on them, fearmongering. But to be honest, I'm glad at least now some of the press are admitting they were wrong. Sky with this piece today: Maybe now that England fans see they aren't gonna be returning home bruised up and in coffins, more of them will make the journey there for the knock-outs? Provided they can get tickets, of course.
Belgium and England are playing well(possibly against 2 of the worst teams in the competition) but the rest have been pretty awful, the contenders that is. Standard is not improving, so much poor football being played, still been fun in the way that watching lower league football can be fun certainly doesn't feel as if we are watching the best in the world at their craft.
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Apparently 33 million pints of beer were drunk in England during the Panama game. Great news for the economy but not so good for Monday morning.
Why are refs always warning defenders not to grapple attackers before set-plays? Just give the pen if they do it. You don't see refs reminding players of other rules during the game.
I even saw one ref warning a defender he was in an offside position before a free kick was taken. It just slows the game down.
Not all by the same person.
The next World Cup will have 32 teams, just as the past many Cups. But the one after that will have 48 teams from that one onwards. The World Cup is expanding to 48 teams.
Some of the big European teams have been awful the past couple of years. Italy, Netherlands and Germany this tournament. The WC needs these teams there.
They need to bed new players. It will take time but the talent is clearly there in the clubs.
They need to bed new players. It will take time but the talent is clearly there in the clubs.
The BBC highlights programme is streets ahead of the ITV one.
I also like Dion Dublin, he's funny and has lots of character. Only seen him on 'Homes under the hammer' before and he's a really good presenter.
I also like Dion Dublin, he's funny and has lots of character. Only seen him on 'Homes under the hammer' before
and he's a really good presenter.I disagree. It's still been a very good World Cup without them, and now there are tons of fans from "lesser" nations who are ridiculously excited about going deep into the tournament.