Right - forgetting the bent bidding process and the conditions of the migrant workers building the stadiums - does anybody else agree that a Nov/Dec competition has the potential to be ace?

 

Firstly because it will take up most of the traditional Christmas bullshit season so we'll all be talking about football and not festivities. Secondly just for the novelty factor. And thirdly because we can see whether or not our well worn excuse about our players being tired stands up to scrutiny.

1 hour ago, London Wanderer said:

👋

Most of the squad are that young, not sure they'd be able to grow one!

2 minutes ago, Steejay said:

Hopefully Hartson will go home with the Welsh when they get knocked out.

I'd imagine he'd like it out there.

Like the Qataris, he likes kicking Jews.

Croatia look like a team very much on the wane

Edited November 23, 20223 yr by jmjhb

2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

I'm aware of her status. Interestingly, she adopted the nationality of the nation she was raised in.

As did sterling. 

Cash on the other hand hasn't changed his nationality, and has taken (understandably) an opportunity to play at the world cup by virtue of spurious sporting rules. Certainly not chosen to stick with the plot of land his grandfather came to, but the one he left. 

Don't blame him, if he can get a game, go for it, but it makes a mockery of nationality. 

How far do you go back- I've got Welsh, Irish and Scottish ancestry not so far back, in grandparents and great grandparents. 

Had I been half decent at football, perhaps I could have put my name forward, and bollocks to any genuine nationals of that nation.

The nationality rules have been silly for ages, I'm thinking of Ireland's World Cup squad of Englishmen with grandmothers in Cork.

I don't blame Cash at all. I do wonder, if his Polish grandfather was on his dad's side (and therefore a born and raised English lad with a surname like Kaczszynski rather than Cash), if it would 'come across' differently.

I ponder this as my surname is definitely NOT English, but I'm Bolton through and through... and I'd definitely be eligible to play for Ukraine. If I was good enough, I'd pick England and enjoy hearing journalists struggle with the six-consonant start to my surname. If, like Matty Cash, there were many better English players ahead of me, I'd have no problem picking my second option as I do have a strong affinity with both nations... I would just have to brush up on the language a bit more!

15 minutes ago, Steejay said:

Hopefully Hartson will go home with the Welsh when they get knocked out.

he's so so bad

danny murphy terrible to

7 minutes ago, TM Trotter said:

The nationality rules have been silly for ages, I'm thinking of Ireland's World Cup squad of Englishmen with grandmothers in Cork.

I don't blame Cash at all. I do wonder, if his Polish grandfather was on his dad's side (and therefore a born and raised English lad with a surname like Kaczszynski rather than Cash), if it would 'come across' differently.

I ponder this as my surname is definitely NOT English, but I'm Bolton through and through... and I'd definitely be eligible to play for Ukraine. If I was good enough, I'd pick England and enjoy hearing journalists struggle with the six-consonant start to my surname. If, like Matty Cash, there were many better English players ahead of me, I'd have no problem picking my second option as I do have a strong affinity with both nations... I would just have to brush up on the language a bit more!

Great post

Good to see you have strong feelings about both your home town and historical roots 👏

6 minutes ago, L/H White said:

he's so so bad

danny murphy terrible to

Danny Murhpy's little tick is to say, 'As we were talking about earlier...' dreadful in its meaningless.

Not quite as bad as Morrisons, 'Nah, nah..I'm just joking...' We know Clinton, we know.....

How many fouls is Luca Modric going to be allowed ?

Big fan of Hartson mentioning turn-of-the-century Moroccan players

A bit disappointed he didn't mention Hassan Kachloul and Youssef Safri though

This has been the kind of game that people forget Italia 90 and Euro 96 were full of when they recall them being the best tournaments of all time 😃

3 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

Big fan of Hartson mentioning turn-of-the-century Moroccan players

A bit disappointed he didn't mention Hassan Kachloul and Youssef Safri though

Or Bolty58 turning on his country

I read that Budweiser are to sue fifa for breach of contract and now have 75 million dollars of bud which they will give to the country of the winners of the world cup.   Seems a tad generous

35 minutes ago, W.cramp said:

I read that Budweiser are to sue fifa for breach of contract and now have 75 million dollars of bud which they will give to the country of the winners of the world cup.   Seems a tad generous

Germany also considering legal action over the armband thing

Just now, DirtySanchez said:

Germany also considering legal action over the armband thing

Denmark also unhappy. 

All very unedifying.

15 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Denmark also unhappy. 

All very unedifying.

FIFA deserve all the shit that's coming their way.  They fully deserve it.  

The only unedifying thing is that the World Cup being played there.

2 hours ago, jmjhb said:

Croatia look like a team very much on the wane

I know they got to the last final at our expense, but ever since France 98 they always seem to be a team with some decent aging players and the rest you've never heard of

At least we dont have to be subjected to the German manager's scratch and sniff routine at this world cup

2 hours ago, TM Trotter said:

The nationality rules have been silly for ages, I'm thinking of Ireland's World Cup squad of Englishmen with grandmothers in Cork.

I don't blame Cash at all. I do wonder, if his Polish grandfather was on his dad's side (and therefore a born and raised English lad with a surname like Kaczszynski rather than Cash), if it would 'come across' differently.

I ponder this as my surname is definitely NOT English, but I'm Bolton through and through... and I'd definitely be eligible to play for Ukraine. If I was good enough, I'd pick England and enjoy hearing journalists struggle with the six-consonant start to my surname. If, like Matty Cash, there were many better English players ahead of me, I'd have no problem picking my second option as I do have a strong affinity with both nations... I would just have to brush up on the language a bit more!

Mattępstwa Cash

tf is the Japanese keeper doin 🤔

39 minutes ago, lobbypond said:

At least we dont have to be subjected to the German manager's scratch and sniff routine at this world cup

Musiala almost scored a wonder goal, terrible finish after a mazy run

Unreal talent this Musiala, best player in German league this season.

how old is muller now?

seems to have been around forever

5 minutes ago, L/H White said:

how old is muller now?

seems to have been around forever

Think I read that this is his 9th World Cup finals.

at least.

Every player in the Japan team looks like a Bond baddie