Never went to an Old Firm but saw Arsenal play a friendly at Ibrox years ago and It will always stick in the memory as the ground in the UK I saw our players getting the worst racial abuse I’ve witnessed. Ian Wright in particular was getting monkey noises every time he touched the ball and people around me (I was in the home end) were shouting stuff about coconuts and things. Since that day I’ve always been desperate for us to draw them in the European cup or something and absolutely destroy them.

Celtic aren’t much better to be honest too. Their fans see themselves as some kind of trendy IRA lite freedom fighters or something. Have a look at this you tube to see what I mean

https://youtu.be/BzHSr2-QFlo


The whole thing in Scotland is the most utterly pathetic thing I’ve witnessed from a bunch of grown adults behaving like school kids.

Reports that Conte has been sacked by Chelsea. No real surprise but I thought it would have happened at the end of the season.

Is Scotland really that screwed up? Daz, you mentioned that in Wales the anti-English sentiment is confined to sport. The same applies in Ireland apart from the extremist republican loons. And with sport, it is mainly the rugby and soccer teams. Even at that, I would say the support for England's opponents in football is largely influenced by years of ridiculous hype by the English media. For my generation the genesis of this was the 1986 world cup and Jimmy Hill laughing on commentary as England scored a second or third goal and then the explosive reaction to Maradona.

After that, it was tournament after tournament of England talking about winning it beforehand and frequently based on no reasonable assessment of the team. It's worth pointing out that the majority of Irish football fans were cheering for England in 1966.

All of that bears no relation whatsoever to how the Irish view the English. To the majority of us, you are our greatest friends. Just not on the football pitch.

Also, international qualifying campaigns might be a slog but Euro and World Cup finals are far more enjoyable than PL and CL football.

https://arsenal-mania.com/how-many-unai ... ns-demand/

Another piece of good news. As expected, the cursory appointment of Kos as Captain, out of respect to both Wenger and Kos. But, the comments he made, is very clear what he thinks of Kos as Captain. I am happy he has these thoughts. We have had ineffective Captains/Leaders for too long now.

Who is Steve Williams?

Was kind of my point although I only focussed on the English side of it. Equally Belgium could have easily lost to Japan if they'd been able to shutdown defensively.

Like you said the margins have been very fine which has contributed to it being such a good a great World Cup to watch.

And England.

I didn't realise you are still so young you must still be at primary school.

Tough to call the Belgium vs England game. I think it depends on whether or not Belgium are still bitter. If they have some pride and I am going to assume so..then they will do enough to win.

Im also guessing England wants it more. 3rd place would be over achieving for their expectations. 2-1 Belgium in a tough game.



Apparantly Ive been going about it all wrong.

http://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/20 ... -online-ha

Particularly this year, don't you think? The tournament has felt utterly hollow without that undefinable whatever-it-is that Ireland provide. It just been cheap, meaningless thrills.

So you Brits have made the US president feel unwelcome. Breaking all the protocols of over 200 years of friendship. Jeopardizing the 'special relationship'. All because of Trump eh?

No not really it’s been great I just personally like it when more of our teams are present that’s all.

Scotland are also missed, with heroic defeats and comical mishaps being their specialty at one stage. They went out of goal difference in the first round three times running in the 1970s and 1980s when they actually had a great team. It was like Culloden every time

I went to Culloden as a kid. We had a holiday in Scotland and when we went to Inverness, visited where the battle took place.

My grandmother was from the Black Isle.

I've only ever visited that part of the world once, back in 96. I hiked down the Great Glen from Inverness and then around Skye ... quite the most beautiful and evocative scenery I have seen. Even South Africa and Zimbabwe (where I grew up) can't quite match it.

I didn't get to Culloden, however.

Edit: actually it was '92--Denmark were winning the Euros

South African guy I worked with at Gove , one of the very few South Africans who did a bit .

One day we were sitting chilling out , waiting for the kiln to be turned .

He's looking at his fancy arsed phone , one of the one's you dial up NASA etc bit more of a rarity eight years back .

He said ....... "Hey Piet ... do want to have a look at my house back in Durban " He lived in Perth but rents his house back in SA

" Yeah sure Steve "

He dials up Google Maps ...scrolling down the street ... "that's my auntie's place " ... couple of doors down proud as Punch " and that's my place " .......

" Hey that motherf**cker , he hasn't mowed my lawns "

That Trump protest march, I never thought it would be possible to look at thousands of people and see such diversity of weirdness. It's like the Cirque du Soleil tryouts

So many Spurs players in this 3rd place match

Vermaelen was one of our better Captains

Seems like if you want to get away with a foul at this World Cup rather than attempt to play the ball or swing a leg, step on someone’s foot. Seen so many that have just been ignored by referees.

The new Arsenal team is winning 8-0 again at Boreham Wood. From the comments, the team moves from defence to attack at a rapid pace. And movement off the ball is good.

Kane
Dembele
Trippier
Alli
Rose
Dier

Have I missed anyone? Spurs third place playoff.

Loftus-Cheek off. All the creativity in midfield, what little there was, now gone. Unless England can address that this is the furthest they’ll get in for the forseeable. Apart from that not a terrible side. Could we nationalise some Croatians do you think?

Alderwield and Vertongen

TH14 assistant coach for Belgium. A stepping stone to either France or Arsenal manager?

Oh yeah! My gosh 7 players. England could have done with Ericsson and Belgium could do with Kane up front, Lukaku had one of his sledgehammer feet games.

Edit:Or even when eight. I should give up shouldn’t I. My point being, if I have one, a lot of Spurs players, which you already said.

I think their entire first team squad is/was at the World Cup.

https://youtu.be/PCkzlEBA5TE

Nice to see so many young players linking up nicely and scoring.

Sokratis never stopped organising but made a couple of mistakes that could easily have led to goals. They didn't trouble the defence apart from a few breaks when they could have and should have scored.

Reis Nelson had a very good game and other than Aubameyang was the standout layer in the first half. Perez number 28, at least I think it was him, had a busy second half doing a Sterling most of the time. Eddie scored one and made a couple but didn't seem very happy with the Jeff who also scored one.

Enertaining but proved nothing imo.

Fair assessment. Why do you say Eddie didn’t seem happy with the Jeff? With his play? Nelson seemed very assured and took his goal very well. Intersting that he is seemingly on the brink of the first team squad and we didn’t sign any wingers. Big chance for him but he still hasn’t signed has he?

Eddies was a great goal a real poacher's goal. Check out the highlights just after Jeff scored he tried another shot when Eddie was better placed and blew it. Eddie's reaction was possibly ott but imo Jeff shouldn't have tried the shot. Jenkinson tried one first half and never tried again. unfortunately nothing stood out about his play to say he'd make it this season either.

Didn't see the game but Jeorge Bird's report gave a lot of praise to Emile Smith-Rowe. How did he look?

We played little more than a pub team so I'd agree it proves little. But our possession game seemed to have a bit more pace to it. I hope I wasn't imagining it.

Everton beat some Austrian team 22-0 today
I bet that was worthwhile.

Assuming Emery works out, and Arsenal's reputation for giving manager's time, I can't see the Arsenal job opening up for some time. I don't think Henry will go from assistant of the Belgian squad to head of France without some years managing a club successfully. French manager is one of the top 3-5 jobs in the world. I can see him managing a smaller country or a club.

I will say this though, he will get part of the credit for the Belgian success, so his CV is looking good. Like all gooners, wishing him the very best. I'm also curious to see how Vieira does at Nice. I'll be cheering for them....and him.

A Vieira/Henry, manager, assistant manager role for Arsenal in the future? Hmmm...

If Croatia starts out like they did against England, it could be a long day for them and a lopsided score. What's the biggest result in a world cup final anyway?

Worst thing was the lack of a programme so couldn't identify players I didn't know. What number was Smith-Rowe? Viewing Arsenal.com was also pointless as they didn't give the players numbers either. If he was a fair haired kid he was getting involved in a lot of play and yes had a good game.

Yes, blonde hair. Thanks. He's supposed to be quite a prospect.

There was a programme although i didn't buy it. I think the fair haired kid wore the number 35 shirt.

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