The Official Euro 2012 Thread

[JNRobert]

Originally Posted by ThePikeman

Funny, after 200 passes not getting closer to the goal, I am usually asleep.

They need a Spanish Messi to help with that finishing thing. Talking of which I watched the Clasico yesterday and Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets and Puyol were breathtakingly good.

Osil, not so much

p.s. But not as bad as Ronaldo.

[ThePikeman]

Originally Posted by JNRobert

They need a Spanish Messi to help with that finishing thing. Talking of which I watched the Clasico yesterday and Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets and Puyol were breathtakingly good.

Osil, not so much

p.s. But not as bad as Ronaldo.

Özil

I am happy that Mourinho lost.

They need a real (in form) finisher, yes. They got a great midfield.

[JNRobert]

Originally Posted by ThePikeman

They need a real (in form) finisher, yes. They got a great midfield.

Perhaps Llorente? Villa seems to have gone off the boil and what the fuck is wrong with Torres? His form at Chelsea is shocking. He looks like a fourth division player these days (slow, indecisive, poor choices). I don't see him being in the Spanish squad and unlike some, I think he's done as a top class player (I hope I'm wrong).

Özil (thanks) showed some big limitations against Barca (as did Khedira). Perhaps Lowe has better tactics when the German's play the Spanish again?



p.s. How Ronaldo is nominated for World Player and Iniesta isn't is a scandal.

[ThePikeman]

Originally Posted by JNRobert

Özil (thanks) showed some big limitations against Barca (as did Khedira). Perhaps Lowe has better tactics when the German's play the Spanish again?

p.s. How Ronaldo is nominated for World Player and Iniesta isn't is a scandal.

I think it is more fun to play for Löw, than it is for Mourinho.

[ThePikeman]

David Villa seems to be out for 3-5 month with a broken shinbone.

[JNRobert]

Originally Posted by ThePikeman

David Villa seems to be out for 3-5 month with a broken shinbone.

And Chelsea were going to buy him too*



* If we mention Chelsea enough we might get Wxwax to start posting

[ThePikeman]

Originally Posted by JNRobert

And Chelsea were going to buy him too*



* If we mention Chelsea enough we might get Wxwax to start posting

He'll feel quite blue at the moment. Chelsea is playing Napoli in the Champions League.
Could very well be a desaster for them.

They made very good experiences with spanish strikers, so of course they are trying to buy him.

[ThePikeman]

Probably the best place to put this here.


The players are blaming each other...
Some of the comments:
"I can't even shoot that far"
"Looks bad"
"He is still twitching"

Merry Christmas!

[ThePikeman]

Just an update on the spring friendlies.

Friendlies 29th feb 2012

14:00	Georgia	2 - 1	Albania
17:00	Hungary	1 - 1	Bulgaria
17:00	Israel	2 - 3	Ukraine
17:00	Armenia	3 - 1	Canada
18:30	Turkey	1 - 2	Slovakia
18:30	Romania	1 - 1	Uruguay
18:45	Denmark	0 - 2	Russia
19:30	Austria	3 - 1	Finland
19:30	Switzerland	1 - 3	Argentina
19:30	Greece	1 - 1	Belgium
19:30	Croatia	1 - 3	Sweden
19:45	Italy	0 - 1	USA
19:45	Germany	1 - 2	France
19:45	Poland	0 - 0	Portugal
19:45	Wales	0 - 1	Costa Rica
19:45	Republic of Ireland	1 - 1	Czech Republic
19:45	Slovenia	1 - 1	Scotland
19:45	Northern Ireland	0 - 3	Norway
20:00	England	2 - 3	Holland
20:30	Spain	5 - 0	Venezuela

[JNRobert]

Originally Posted by ThePikeman

Just an update on the spring friendlies.

Spain looked like champions
France unconvincing (does anyone really believe they'll beat Germany in an actual tournament)
England do what England always do (and Holland have to be one of the favorites come June)
USA USA USA! ( I re-watched the 2002 USA vs Portugal WC game and my what a good team they were that year. If not for that bogus handball decision they would have drawn with Germany).

I haven't watched any of the other games yet.

p.s. Dead Man Walking on Villas-Boas. Abromavich has really screwed the pooch on his manager selection since Mourinho left (and what's the odds he'll be back there in 2013?).

[ThePikeman]

Originally Posted by JNRobert

Spain looked like champions
France unconvincing (does anyone really believe they'll beat Germany in an actual tournament)
England do what England always do (and Holland have to be one of the favorites come June)
USA USA USA! ( I re-watched the 2002 USA vs Portugal WC game and my what a good team they were that year. If not for that bogus handball decision they would have drawn with Germany).

I haven't watched any of the other games yet.

p.s. Dead Man Walking on Villas-Boas. Abromavich has really screwed the pooch on his manager selection since Mourinho left (and what's the odds he'll be back there in 2013?).

I don't think these friendlies showed anything. Most players have more important games in the leagues and in europe to play. France invested much more in the game than Germany. Germany didn't look good though. They didn't give 100% and there were many small problems. Here and there a pass into empty space, mostly little training issues. Schürrle and Reus didn't have many trainings with the team. I also have no idea why Löw put Kroos in 6 position. Bayern already figured out that Kroos is not a holding midfielder. Lars Bender would have been the better solution in my opinion. He is a 6 with Bayer and would at least have been able to connect with Schürrle whilst Kroos doesn't normally play with anyone in the attack (until Müller and Gomes came on). Gomez was his useless self for the national team.
Wiese kept his stats in order. 6 caps, 6 losses.

Every team that is even mildly competent looks like a champion against venezuela. They did have to prove something, after their embarassing showings in earlier friendlies.

Villas-Boas is gone... If he uses the time until summer to learn german, he can get a job at Bayern.

Maybe we should broaden the scope of this threat to include european leagues.

[JNRobert]

Originally Posted by ThePikeman

Maybe we should broaden the scope of this threat to include european leagues.

I'm in

Anyone else

[ThePikeman]

Originally Posted by JNRobert

I'm in

Anyone else

Well, this threat is stormed.

Would probably be Bundesliga and Premier League only anyways. La Liga is as exiting as a coin toss. Serie A has too many hair products. I have no idea about League 1... they speak french there.

What do you expect for tonight? Another trashing for Arsenal? My guess is 1-3 and tears in London.

[JNRobert]

Originally Posted by ThePikeman

Well, this threat is stormed.

Would probably be Bundesliga and Premier League only anyways. La Liga is as exiting as a coin toss. Serie A has too many hair products. I have no idea about League 1... they speak french there.

What do you expect for tonight? Another trashing for Arsenal? My guess is 1-3 and tears in London.

Perhaps it'll pick up once the Euro's start.

What a bizarre year for the Premiership. Chelsea's meltdown aside, the rise of Spurs, Man City and the decline of Arsenal (Van Persie excepted - and his second against Liverpool was exceptional)



Hey! I love Barcelona (but agree Real Madrid aside, not a very interesting league). Seriously, how can you not love this team



And if you mention poor opposition I'll break out the RM and Man U. video's

But, miracles excepted, the Gooners are shedding tears.

You'll have to school me on Bundesliga as I don't follow it, but here's something to read

On the evidence of match day 24, the Germany team will not only enjoy the usual benefit of a Bundesliga winter-break but the highly unusual and somewhat controversial decision by the top clubs to stop playing two months earlier than normal. The DFL will do its best to deny this publicly this but you've read it here first: the season is finished. All results must be void and there will be no champion. Sorry.

The only thing that keeps me interested in Serie A is this fruitcake

[ThePikeman]

Originally Posted by JNRobert

Perhaps it'll pick up once the Euro's start.

What a bizarre year for the Premiership. Chelsea's meltdown aside, the rise of Spurs, Man City and the decline of Arsenal (Van Persie excepted - and his second against Liverpool was exceptional)
Hey! I love Barcelona (but agree Real Madrid aside, not a very interesting league). Seriously, how can you not love this team

And if you mention poor opposition I'll break out the RM and Man U. video's

But, miracles excepted, the Gooners are shedding tears.

You'll have to school me on Bundesliga as I don't follow it, but here's something to read

I do like Barcelona. They have the punch the Spanish team usually lacks. I am a "patriot" when they play against a german team though.
I am not sure that a 4th place in the premier league is an open sign of decline.


You've read guardian.
Usually the top teams take turns having a bit of a bad spell. At the moment all of them are a bit lackluster. Even Dortmund, though they still edge by. They have a 7 point lead at the moment. The games against Gladbach, Bayern and Schalke are still open, so that doesn't mean much. Those teams are 2nd, 3rd and 4th.