Mirallas

It's almost december and there's just 3 points separating number 5 and number 15 in the standings.

Welcome to EFC, Moise!

I don't think it'd necessarily be smart from Pickford's perspective to leave EFC for Chelsea. Especially cause it's Chelsea, the team that didn't believe in Salah and De Bruyne. They're kind of  known as a team that stalls progression of young top talents and rather fields the "more proven" players. I'd stay at EFC, mate.

16 hours ago, Matt said:

I meant he has his head so buried in his philosophy that he doesn’t see the glaringly obvious. I used to think he was just too proud or stubborn to change when things go wrong, but in hindsight I think he just doesn’t see it. If he did, I honestly think he’d be up there with the worlds best coaches 

I rather suspect he might be the sort of person who doesn't do something if he doesn't fully understand the sense of doing so. So even if a certain action is often done by other managers or seems vaguely to him that it might even make sense, I think he may be the sort of guy who won't do it unless he fully, for 100% understands the logic behind doing so within the strategy he has set out.

Here's an instagram pic of De Bruyne celebrating his third place at the world cup. Pay close attention to what's on the cake 

When the ref whistled that French free kick that lead to the first goal and whistled that penalty, which, for those who didn't see it, not a penalty, the ref has not just stolen the world cup victory from Croatia, but also stolen any honour with which the French could have won this tournament. Utter travesty and a dark day for football.

Technically, if France win against Croatia tomorrow, it'd be fair to have a last game between Belgium and Croatia to determine who the real second place is 

Everyone is somewhat tired at this stage and Russians seem to effortlessly run like madmen all over the place... hmmm.... 

11 minutes ago, Peter H said:

I hope you win it all but i fear France will be too strong fo you.

Why are you suggesting England will be playing the losers' finals? 

5 minutes ago, MikeO said:

I agree, Alli is the one glaring weak link thus far.

And Sterling

6 minutes ago, Bailey said:

Functional but lacking in creativity.

Basically IKEA

The red guys are beating the yellow guys again.

Just now, hafnia said:

Just keep running at them.  Is Zaha not English? 

I think he's locked in for Ivory Coast.

Finally something happens

1 minute ago, Finn balor said:

I enjoyed Martinez in his first season and equally hated his others. I’ve never been more disinterested as a fan. He was fucking clueless. Don’t know why yamar always has a wank fest over him. Fuck me he was walked in with the golden ticket. Any half decent manager would get a tune out of Belgium 

His management style probably fits international football a lot better than club football.

Easy half of the table.

Maradona being somewhat racist on Venezuelan TV, saying the ref Geiger shouldn't referee games of this importance, ironically noting how it's a coincidence that he's a USAmerican when he referred to some referees as thieves.

Easy peasy, Sweden next.

Just now, holystove said:

Which was worse, France - Denmark or this?

Yeah you're listening to Filip Joos commentary.

Just now, nyblue23 said:

Minus that yellow card, though, you can’t say he’s done much wrong. The fouls he’s calling are fouls. Any referee would have trouble controlling this one.

That free kick called against Dele Alli wasn't a foul whatsoever

The ref's having an off day, the Columbians are a bunch of twatty crybabies... geesh what a shitshow. Good thing England is 1 up.

2 minutes ago, nyblue23 said:

Damn Americans. To be fair, it looked like a yellow to me if he’d seen it. The contact on the chin looked unintentional.

The VAR rule book from FIFA seems to state: 

Quote

Missed’ yellow cards can only be issued as part of a review that occurs because of a clear error/serious missed incident involving a goal, penalty, direct red card or mistaken identity.

So it's true, the ref wasn't allowed to give a yellow card in that situation based on info from the VAR.

The ref is making professional mistakes. It's apparently against the rules to give a yellow card after the video ref called for it. Either red or no card.

No fear. I am quite confident in an England win tonight.