The Official Euro 2012 Natter Thread..!

[Sie Vulture]

I got carted off to Scotland this morning at 30 minutes notice and I missed the game..! Just got to my hotel and listening to 606 on Radio 5 Live...

[enrico chiesa]

10;23: dull, but not heard that poxy band yet,which is a relief.

The band are banned - the FA have made a formal complaint!

Send that brass off to be smelted I say

[jakartajive]

Samir Bloody Fucking Nasri.

The misery continues.
See what I mean?

[Filthy Rich]

Well Ibrahimovic has scored I guess.... also was supposed to be marking Shevchenko when he got his second. Guess Shev is winning the battle of the Milan strikers at the mo.
Anyway, I think that we're gonna be through the first round of games without any 0-0s that's got to be good right?

[babycart]

I'm very annoyed with the scheduling and have only caught the Poland-Russia and the Spain-Italy game in full, plus bits of other games.
Not sure why David Silva doesn't get more praise - he's just won the Premier League for Man City and him and Pirlo were the stand-outs for me in Spain-Italy.
Also gutted that Mario Gomez ignored the officials and scored, denying MIROSLAV KLOSE the opportunity to net three in what is probably his last major tournament.

[peter sundae]

Although England didn't play well at least I could see a plan and formation, normally we just chase the ball after losing it, at least this time we've formed this organized defensive structure which is hard to play through, I do fear it will come undone against better teams. Reminds me of Greece when they won the tournament so who knows !

[d7bohs]

Although England didn't play well at least I could see a plan and formation, normally we just chase the ball after losing it, at least this time we've formed this organized defensive structure which is hard to play through, I do fear it will come undone against better teams. Reminds me of Greece when they won the tournament so who knows !

I found the England defensive 4 and 4 quite hypnotic at times with their synchronisation

[medlar]

Same old stodge on a Hodgson plate, that's all. Gerrard and Parker decided they were both central defenders after 20 minutes, they might have had the decency to ask Terry and Lescott to play in midfield for them Or perhaps it was all part of Hodgson's cunning plan?
Speaking of which, as Hodgson has recognised our weaknesses and has tried to make us a compact counter-attacking team, did anyone notice the amount of unpunished snide fouls committed by the French when we did break out? Also, can someone during the tournament make that prick Ribery roll round in real agony just for a change?

[Filthy Rich]

England well-organised in the second half particularly I'd say. They've sacrificed freedom of expression for organisation but as they have pretty much zero flair in the side that seems like a good deal. Got slowly pushed back as they tired and left the front two too isolated but never looked desperate and France's attacking became increasingly restricted to long-shots.

[Little Jimmy Oddman]

Not sure why David Silva doesn't get more praise...

A completely class act - in England, his performances were praised very heavily in the first half of the season and (unfairly) criticised in the second. Alongside Xavi and Iniesta, he can look like he's playing football with a view of the pitch from above - for example, scoring perhaps my favourite ever goal when the three of them combine here.

[Little Jimmy Oddman]

Gerrard and Parker decided they were both central defenders after 20 minutes...

Sadly, I now think Gerrard is past his best. At his peak, he was the only player in the so-called Golden Generation who would genuinely have got in any side in the world (when England were using him out of position). Now, he's a yard too slow even for a defensive midfielder. England currently don't have many other options in centre midfield, given the injuries to Barry, Lampard and Wilshere and the issue with Carrick - Gerrard will battle manfully on but I thought last night's performance was quite sad. Even though he set up the goal, it showed up how his long passing isn't reliable as he overhit the first one before the referee got him to retake it.

[Filthy Rich]

"Sadly, I now think Gerrard is past his best. At his peak, he was the only player in the so-called Golden Generation who would genuinely have got in any side in the world (when England were using him out of position). Now, he's a yard too slow even for a defensive midfielder. England currently don't have many other options in centre midfield, given the injuries to Barry, Lampard and Wilshere and the issue with Carrick - Gerrard will battle manfully on but I thought last night's performance was quite sad. Even though he set up the goal, it showed up how his long passing isn't reliable as he overhit the first one before the referee got him to retake it."

No doubt about it he is past his best but maybe not way past it and still probably the right choice at the moment. I mean, if you're worried about pace then Barry is hardly a replacement is he? Some wayward passing at times but that's more to do with decision-making than lack of ability I'd say and it's something that his detractors have always complained about.

[Little Jimmy Oddman]

No doubt about it he is past his best but maybe not way past it and still probably the right choice at the moment. I mean, if you're worried about pace then Barry is hardly a replacement is he?

I agree he's the right choice at the moment. I'd also say that his waning is exaggerated by being asked to play so defensively. If everyone was fit, I'd probably be hoping for Carrick or Barry with Wilshere in the central midfield. As those three aren't there, Parker and Gerrard is the best option we have.

As for Barry, I'm a Man City fan and biased but I think he's an excellent player. He's been immense for us this season and very much the unsung hero. The players around him (especially Toure and Silva) will stand out more but he's the heartbeat of the team.

[Filthy Rich]

"I agree he's the right choice at the moment. I'd also say that his waning is exaggerated by being asked to play so defensively. If everyone was fit, I'd probably be hoping for Carrick or Barry with Wilshere in the central midfield. As those three aren't there, Parker and Gerrard is the best option we have.
As for Barry, I'm a Man City fan and biased but I think he's an excellent player. He's been immense for us this season and very much the unsung hero. The players around him (especially Toure and Silva) will stand out more but he's the heartbeat of the team."

He's decent but he's soooo slow - I thought it was slightly an optical illusion or something but didn't he come third slowest in the premiership when they measured them over 100 yards? He'd be an absolute liability against Spain.

[djvw]

He's decent but he's soooo slow - I thought it was slightly an optical illusion or something but didn't he come third slowest in the premiership when they measured them over 100 yards? He'd be an absolute liability against Spain.

Did they really measure the speed of all players? Good idea. To be honest, for some reason I would expect the goalkeepers to be "slow" and not a defender.

Over here we're preparing for the match against Germany. Big match. I'm hoping for good win, 2-0 or 3-0, but a not deserved 1-0 will also be ok.

[medlar]

Over here we're preparing for the match against Germany. Big match. I'm hoping for good win, 2-0 or 3-0, but a not deserved 1-0 will also be ok.

I was going to say that Holland are going home, 2-1 to Germany, but let's wait and see eh? Hopefully it'll be as good as the Poland-Russia game last night, a cracker!

[Filthy Rich]

"I was going to say that Holland are going home, 2-1 to Germany, but let's wait and see eh? Hopefully it'll be as good as the Poland-Russia game last night, a cracker!"

Yeah - well only saw the second half but really exciting. Poland kept breaking speedily and well, such a shame that the final ball was often hugely overhit after they'd linked so silkily through midfield.
Re the speed thing - not totally sure how they measured it but a quick google throws up this article (among others which may well be better)

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/180420...ally-slow.html

"West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green was named the slowest player in the Premier League after managing a meagre 16.11 miles per hour top speed.
Tottenham midfielder Sandro takes the dubious honour as the slowest outfield player, peaking at just 16.28 mph.
Along with Barry (top speed 18.41mph), other ponderous players included David Vaughan (17.02mph), Fabrice Muamba (17.25mph), John Heitinga (18.32mph) and Michael Essien (18.37mph)."

Seems a bit harsh to include the keepers and I wouldn't have guessed Essien was so slow. Probably worth taking with a pinch of salt to be honest.

[babycart]

These stats remind me of the game when Barca's goalie Valdes covered more ground in a game than Ibrahamovic.
That was at the end of the season though, when Guardiola had fallen out with a striker for the second year running.

[Little Jimmy Oddman]

Probably worth taking with a pinch of salt to be honest.

I'd say so. Those speeds seem to be the maximum speed the players ran in one game. So, keepers who don't need to bomb out of their area and midfielders who are expected to hold their position for most of the game (ie all of those players on that list bar Heitinga) are going to look like lumps.

[Filthy Rich]

"I'd say so. Those speeds seem to be the maximum speed the players ran in one game. So, keepers who don't need to bomb out of their area and midfielders who are expected to hold their position for most of the game (ie all of those players on that list bar Heitinga) are going to look like lumps."

It says over recent weeks so surely not in one game. But I guess the only thing they can do is measure the top speed attained (short of actually measuring every player independently over thirty yards or something). Dunno how they do that but as long as they can do it over a distance of a few yards I see no reason why a holding midfielder should be at a disadvantage relative to a striker - he will almost certainly be required to run as fast as he can to win the ball a few times in a game.
I agree that those stats are probably not worth reading that much into on their own but when they confirm what your eye tells you anyway I'd give them a bit more credence. Though probably for a midfielder acceleration and spring over two yards is more useful than out an out speed over a longer distance.

[jakartajive]

Now even Niklas bloody bendtner.
Jesus.
It's like a waking nightmare.

[Sie Vulture]

It's like a waking nightmare.

You don't fancy RvP having a crackin' game later this evening then..?

[Filthy Rich]

Really enjoyed Portugal Denmark... isn't Bendtner still an Arsenal player in theory?

[relkeel]

You don't fancy RvP having a crackin' game later this evening then..?

12 - 1 to be tournament top goal scorer last week - glad I didn't bite!

[Sie Vulture]

Oh dear Holland. Changes needed for the second half...

[medlar]

Now even Niklas bloody bendtner.
Jesus.
It's like a waking nightmare.

Wenger's man management skillz

[Little Jimmy Oddman]

It says over recent weeks so surely not in one game. But I guess the only thing they can do is measure the top speed attained (short of actually measuring every player independently over thirty yards or something). Dunno how they do that but as long as they can do it over a distance of a few yards I see no reason why a holding midfielder should be at a disadvantage relative to a striker - he will almost certainly be required to run as fast as he can to win the ball a few times in a game.
I agree that those stats are probably not worth reading that much into on their own but when they confirm what your eye tells you anyway I'd give them a bit more credence. Though probably for a midfielder acceleration and spring over two yards is more useful than out an out speed over a longer distance.

They were gathered in the players' most recent game, according to the link. I think defensive midfielders would be expected to get into straight foot-races less often, particularly if they have read the game well enough. Either way, whatever his pace, I rate Barry (more than Parker, as it happens).

[Filthy Rich]

They were gathered in the players' most recent game, according to the link. I think defensive midfielders would be expected to get into straight foot-races less often, particularly if they have read the game well enough. Either way, whatever his pace, I rate Barry (more than Parker, as it happens).

Well, fair enough. If it's gathered in just one game it's a pretty worthless statistic I'd say - no more than a guideline to speed at best. You're probably right about the straight foot-races too actually.

[pitch]

I was going to say that Holland are going home, 2-1 to Germany, but let's wait and see eh? Hopefully it'll be as good as the Poland-Russia game last night, a cracker!

Are you an octopus?

[Sie Vulture]

Sort of on-topic, what's Redknapp up to then..?