Wish we had someone not special, quick and direct who made things happen.

MistaT wrote:

some nice goals being scored

Our 3rd was unbelievable. Rapid fc. 

Liverpool with the easiest CL group I've seen in ages.

Sparta Moscow, Sevilla and NK Maribor

Spurs got Real and Dortmund in their group!

MistaT wrote:

Liverpool with the easiest CL group I've seen in ages.

Sparta Moscow, Sevilla and NK Maribor

We would probably have a harder group in Europa league than that.

Greizmann is such a wanker.

Beautiful strike by Lemar in the France-Netherlands game.

Mbappé lighting the game up immediately after coming on.

Neymar and Mbappé wearing your shirt every week...PSG fans don't follow the same sport I do!

That Lemar goal was so good, technically excellent. Wouldn't surprise me if he will be more expensive next summer

As I type, Lemar scores again.

Lacazette pales so badly beside Mbappe but still very good all round play

Lemar practically nicks a goal from Lacazette.

Van Persie and Robben class there. Lloris with a great reaction save.

Mbappé. Too good. 4-0. Game over.

What a goal Mbappe.

There's Messi and Ronaldo this generation, but Mbappe will be on the class of his own in his generation. 166m pretty much bargain. He's taking the entire dutch team alone!

Here's Lemar goal

Incidentally, the Netherlands really are shite at football these days

Arsenal player Takuma Asano scored for Japan in their 2-0 win over Australia last night with a nice little volley cushioned into the corner. His job was made a lot easier by our defenders standing still and letting him run into the box by himself to connect with the cross.

Japan have now qualified for the World Cup, and did so with Honda, Kagawa and Okazaki watching from the bench. The current crop of Australians are generally not at a high level.

Asterix wrote:

Arsenal player Takuma Asano scored for Japan in their 2-0 win over Australia last night with a nice little volley cushioned into the corner. His job was made a lot easier by our defenders standing still and letting him run into the box by himself to connect with the cross.

Japan have now qualified for the World Cup, and did so with Honda, Kagawa and Okazaki watching from the bench. The current crop of Australians are generally not at a high level.

Watched the entire match, Japan was heads and shoulders better than Australia. Asano was really dangerous, very good movement off the ball. Can see he was not on the same wavelength as his RB Sakai but plenty of positives all round. Should be taking Walcott place next year.

Australia can still qualify automatically and I will back them to do it, at home to Thailand and just need to outscore Saudi who had a tough match against Japan.

I prefer seeing football minnows in the WC ahead of established teams like Sweden, USA and Australia who display great athleticism and organisation but no entertainment.
Of course England have done that for years but we possess grandfather rights as previous winners and everyone loves to beat us.

Welbeck with a great chipped volley for England.

Have to ask, was that his intention or a mishit?

Fell over while hitting it too.

Verratti was absolutely destroyed by Isco last night - Isco must be 2017's best midfielder.

Yep, no contest to be honest.

I was having a chat with a mate earlier about the state of English football. I was wondering what you guys over there think. I'm of the opinion that the youth development system and coaching in England lags terribly behind those of the other European football powerhouses - Germany, France, Spain, Italy. My question is why? They do well enough in youth championships, why do most of the players fall by the wayside when it comes to translating those performances to the senior team?

Fundamentally it boils down to coaching and the support structures in place - remember it wasn't so long ago that Spain were the perennial underachievers in international football. Similarly Germany revamped their youth systems drastically at the start of the last decade in anticipation of the 2006 WC and they've been reaping benefits ever since.

I also think clubs in other leagues are a lot more patient whereas even midtable clubs in the PL would rather recruit elsewhere than invest in local talent as it's more time consuming.

Özil's been great so far.

Lobotka-remember the name. He will be big big player

frusciante wrote:

Lobotka-remember the name. He will be big big player

Has a bit of Modric about him. England being completely outplayed.

Ray wrote:

frusciante wrote:

Lobotka-remember the name. He will be big big player

Has a bit of Modric about him. England being completely outplayed.

yup, he is fearless under pressure  and makes the midfield tick. we miss such a player at arsenal so much 

frusciante wrote:

Lobotka-remember the name. He will be big big player

I like him. Was wasted away in the Danish league. 

Chamberlain, when kept on a very short leash and made to know his place on a football field: hugging the touchline, getting up and down and getting crosses in, I'm down for that, but my word he's one of the thickest footballers we've ever had play for us. I won't miss that one little bit.

There's not a single proper quality player in this England team. They're beyond dreadful.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Chamberlain, when kept on a very short leash and made to know his place on a football field: hugging the touchline, getting up and down and getting crosses in, I'm down for that, but my word he's one of the thickest footballers we've ever had play for us. I won't miss that one little bit.

Think he'll infuriate Klopp, especially in a central position, but who knows.

He will do well in CM if he's played there.

Yep. He will lose the ball so many times it would be good for us as competition.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Chamberlain, when kept on a very short leash and made to know his place on a football field: hugging the touchline, getting up and down and getting crosses in, I'm down for that, but my word he's one of the thickest footballers we've ever had play for us. I won't miss that one little bit.

Ray wrote:

He will do well in CM if he's played there.

He will not be played there because he is not nearly good enough. 

Ricky1985 wrote:

Chamberlain, when kept on a very short leash and made to know his place on a football field: hugging the touchline, getting up and down and getting crosses in, I'm down for that, but my word he's one of the thickest footballers we've ever had play for us. I won't miss that one little bit.

Between injuries, inconsistency and attitude I've thought of him as a liability for years. He might somehow come good at Liverpool, I think it's unlikely and if he does it'll be an indictment of our setup.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Chamberlain, when kept on a very short leash and made to know his place on a football field: hugging the touchline, getting up and down and getting crosses in, I'm down for that, but my word he's one of the thickest footballers we've ever had play for us. I won't miss that one little bit.

Must be tough for you to see him go since you are one of the few who rated him and had high hopes for him, especially as a fullback.

Seems like not long ago he just made his debut for us and tore Blackburn apart.

Slowly but surely working his way up in the 'biggest pieces of shit in football' category.