deelete my account

Extra time? More like Dinner Time!

On 7/1/2018 at 4:19 PM, puntkick said:

I think Goody should grow a beard !

Cmon mate, we're not pushing him onto the bread line just yet

FIRST EXTRA TIME!! This makes the day better! Go the Ruskies ??

On 7/1/2018 at 4:49 PM, Lord Travis said:

We’re lucky that other teams around us also had surprise losses this weekend. It sort of nullifies our [censored] up today.

Dropping an easy game like that makes the run home harder now though. We now probably need to take a scalp like Geelong in Geelong or Sydney to make it (assuming we don’t stuff up and win our expected matches).

Geelong probably looking gettable, if we raise our standard. What a depressing topic this one is though tonight.

On 7/1/2018 at 4:00 PM, the rolling fog said:

Tyson for Murphy and a pick was the strong mail around the place this arvo

Murphy signed for 2 years today didn't he?

So I guess the collective energy generated by the arrogance in this thread karmically propelled McCartin towards a dominant display against us, with Petracca down the other end looking a bit aimless and subsequently ineffective! I knew this one would come back to bite us. ? Time for Christian to step up and have a big impact, not that he's alone.

On 6/27/2018 at 1:20 PM, John Demonic said:

Massive danger game coming off a gruelling battle vs a fresh and emboldened saint team coming off a bye. Attitude will be the most important factor at the first centre bounce and opening 10 minutes. Expectations have shifted now to these being winnable games, I just hope the boys don't think it will be easy. They will try and exploit us with speed and pressure, let's match them and bring a finals like do or die approach. Obvious points, but we've all seen what happens when they're neglected.

Hope the Mac brothers are fit after last week

 

I guess I sadly nailed this one in the pre-match, much to the mockery of the few comments that followed.

France v Argentina. 1-1. Argentina over time goal 2-1

Uruguay v Portugal 3-0 they will turn it on and cut Uruguays defence to shreds

Spain v Russia 4-1 Another lopsided game. Could even be more. Spain to allow Russia 1 goal so Putin lets them out alive.

Croatia v Denmark 2-0 I think it will be close but Croatia will score a 90' minute goal to seal it

Brazil v Mexico 2-1 

Belgium v Japan 2-1

Sweden v Switzerland 0-0, Overtime, Penalty shootout win for Swiss. Probably a bit too brave to tip 0-0 with VAR

Colombia v England. 2-2 Overtime win  3-2 England

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

Oskar Baker looks ready but where does he play

6 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Beat me to it

Bruce: Ablett squeezes a pass

WTF Bruce, it’s a kick

he makes me nauseous!!

Geelong, Channel 7 and a woeful Bulldog outfit, you'd have to be a masochist to not have planned/switched over to a movie night instead.

7 hours ago, hemingway said:

Despite our improvement, watching the Tigers and Swans last night was depressing, 

We have a long way to go to match their intensity, tackling, contested ball, aerial strength, leg speed, relentless running, confidence and mental toughness. Both sides just constantly will themselves into the contest to win and carry the pill.

They both have a handful of out and out stars supported by a whole plethora of swarming willing worker bees who run through brick walls and attack with frenetic speed of movement and decision making so quick that you wonder how it's done. They may have a great coach but more importantly they have a bunch of players who have the perfect combination of skill, fitness and win at all costs mentality. 

Coaches and players may learn by watching but you need to have 22 players who can go out on the paddock and replicate that same action. 

Not easy but we must aspire to it.  .    

I do hold hope for us this year that we have 'one night' where it all clicks, and our pressure matches Rich & Syd and we capitalise on almost every scoring opportunity with great luck thrown in. And then after the opposition tries to claw back, our defence has their best night in years and absorbs everything thrown at them. I was hoping it could be a top 4 battle with Richmond that catapults us into a prelim, but i've wound down my expectation and hope to a 5-8 MCG battle with Collingwood.

 http://www.hpnfooty.com/?p=30343
 

Some interesting analysis on how we've narrowed our avenues to attack this year without Watts & Garlett, compared to last year with some scoring graphs and how better teams have blunted the attack. Particularly interesting was the contention "Instead of almost completely forgoing the kicks at goal from pockets and low value wide spots, they may need to field players who can plausibly threaten from wide angles. Establishing at least the illusion that leads and shots will eventuate from there should open up other parts of the forward line."

And on some defensive issues with getting the right mix, Jetta's contested one on one's: "This year Jetta has lost 39% of such contests, last year his rate was 27.5%" A result of having to take the oppositions second best forward on many occasions. With a lead in to the selection of Petty being one such move to address our defensive mix and help out Jetta.
 

3 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

England v Belgium will be a fascinating game. The preponderance of opinion is that the loser goes through to the easier side of the draw

PS: If England win tonight they will play Japan in the round of 16... On form you would say England should win which will set them up nicely for elimination in the quarter finals ?

 I'll definitely be cheering on Columbia over England in the "easy bracket" now so it backfires, and Belgium over Japan and Brazil after todays time wasting to eliminate the poor sengalese!

43 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Haha, both games now 1-0. The instructions to the Japanese would be simple right now. No more yellow cards. I had no idea that “Fair Play” was a tiebreaker.

Understandable last 10 minutes with Japan passing it around back. But for Poland to barely give chase at 1-0 and not seek to give their fans some exciting moments before they depart (Like Korea did) was just poor attitude and offensive to watch. Glad we've seen the back of Poland. Hope the Netherlands and Italy return in 4 years in their place. As for yellow cards? I reckon that's 'fair', so long as reffing is consistent, more yellows usually means you've illegally stymied opposition attacks with sloppy defence.

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Well I should not have mentioned the beer.

About five minutes before kick off the German  guy behind me spills his whole beer all over me. I am talking from shoulders to backside and all over my seat. Not happy Ralph.

Anyway a great game because everyone sat down and you could watch the play.

Apparently because Sweden were 3-0 up on Mexico all Germany had to do was score and they would be in the next round in place of Mexico.

And then of course goal.... disallowed.... VAR .....and goal-to Korea. Extra time went 15 mins with the German goal keeper playing as a striker and we all know what happened..runaway goal to Korea. A joy to watch in the end.

My beer spilling mate shook my hand... I toldmy son he should have bought me a T shirt !!

First time that Germany have missed the play off rounds since 1938. Of course there was no German team between 1938 and 1990 which the Guardian reporter failed to point out.

Now time for the late games !!

 

Yeah that was such a fantastic set of games. Ending was pandemonium The mexican fans all biting their nails and looking at their phones in the crowd in the last 20 mins lol this world cup has been amazing. 

Lots of good goal replays and discussions over on www.reddit.com/r/soccer Check out the sheer joy of the Korean broadcasts:

https://streamable.com/9cwhq goal 1 w/ var

https://streamable.com/cjij3 Goal 1 /w var

https://streamable.com/5xhap goal 2

https://streamable.com/h1ygm goal 2

Massive danger game coming off a gruelling battle vs a fresh and emboldened saint team coming off a bye. Attitude will be the most important factor at the first centre bounce and opening 10 minutes. Expectations have shifted now to these being winnable games, I just hope the boys don't think it will be easy. They will try and exploit us with speed and pressure, let's match them and bring a finals like do or die approach. Obvious points, but we've all seen what happens when they're neglected.

Hope the Mac brothers are fit after last week

3 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Well .. that Iceland Croatia Argentina Nigeria group was certainly close. Memories of '87.

So our round of 16 in Kazan will be France v Argentina ... my son is very happy as he gets to see Messi.

It seems that Germany v Korea which is our game tomorrow has not exactly filled the bars ... he may have to talk to his old man !!

As an underdog supporter. Today was dissapointing. i was rooting for Nigeria or Iceland, but as is always the case in sport and politics lately, nothing went my way! Argentina scoring a goal right at the end to beat Nigeria is like Joel Selwood kicking a goal after the siren to beat an underachieving team like Freo, who i'd prefer to see go further than Geelong.

Anyway, no matter how much we dominate possession and have our oppurtunities, i still don't think we deserve much credit. If the oppositions aim is just to take a lead and defend it, then what we do after they score means nothing if we don't equalize or win. Peru put on a masterclass in taking their opportunities and i was happy for their fans. A shame they didn't draw Denmark. Many people saying we deserved more, but i disagree. So now we're 5 goals conceded from this WC. 9 goals in 2014, 6 goals in 2010. I still think i would have preferred to be following a tight defensive team like Iran no matter how little ball they had. They kept in each match. Conceding only two goals and being 1 shot and 1 point away from the 16. An epic performance with Portugal and Spain in their group. 

On 6/19/2018 at 3:35 PM, Dees_In_October said:

Here's hoping one might follow the other!

Why would anyone want to work with their sister? See enough of each other at family gatherings. ?

9 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

The Cup that keeps on giving. Unbelievable drama to finish off Group B. You can’t script this stuff. Missed penalties, VAR intervention, cracking goals. 

Iran almost sent Portugal packing, a one on one at the death and fluffs the shot wide. Iran would have topped the group. Agony!!

 

Iran have been my favourite neutral team to watch so far. Doing the best with what they've got, holding the dam wall and counterattacking. I can't believe they had that shot on goal at the end. It felt like scoring 2 goals against Portugal was a 1% chance when Portugal were all over them hogging possession at 1-0. It's absurd that they nearly won that game.

I kind of wish we had a team that barely concedes a goal each world cup, gives you more of a chance at progressing if you take your oppurtunities. here we are against Peru, and even if they score 1 goal, we're up against it to progress at 2-1 with our goal difference, hoping france who've been unremarkable, smash denmark...

But... I reckon France might even not go for the big win because they hate us after the physical first game. Happy to tie i bet. At 0-0 or 1-0 both teams might park the bus knowing our match is close. ?

What is our Forward line long term? Is it not TMAC and WEID crashing packs with Hogan roaming up the ground and taking a mark on the wing as a solid linkman, running forward with the flight and causing a problem size wise for his HB opponent? Is Adelaide's Tom Lynch a shark? Hogan as the crumber was more attributed to Ports outstanding ability to get back and flood the defence wasn't it? 

She can run but she can't hide...

33 minutes ago, timbo said:

!= consistency expected from captain. A gritty BOG would have been much appreciated against port 

He's been there and done that. He's now almost 31. You can't expect him to be racking up 30 possessions and featuring in the votes consistently every week. Up to others to step up when he's down, and for him to step up when others are down. 

1 hour ago, timbo said:

FMD

 

F*** my defence?

1 hour ago, timbo said:

I can't reconcile my thoughts on Jones. Great clubman, etc etc, but every time I see him play I think WTF

 Yeah, but as soon as you say WTF after one of his inefficient bewildering games, he bounces back with a gritty BOG.