As my father said to me many years ago ‘I don’t care what other people do and neither should you, unless they make it compulsory’ . Good advice about a lot of things. I only want him to be a great player for us. Full stop.

I’ve got a feeling for Vieira in the second half of the season. Technically he’s there and has incredible ball striking. He missed nearly all of pre season and so these 4 weeks with the coaches and in Dubai are huge for him.

So this story has appeared in the UK media about White.
https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/09/ben-whit ... wsnow-feed

I smell a fix in the first 2 quarter final games with only European refs. Brazil get Oliver who sent off Martenelli in the 2 booking stitch up. Obviously has a problem with Brazilians. And a Spanish ref for Argentina Netherlands. I will be interested to see who France and England get.

Interesting games. We've moved on from upsets in the group stages , to seeing real quality in the knockouts, with the odd wildcard still there to spice it up.

I agree with your earlier comment about this WC being very engrossing! Morocco keeping a clean sheet all the way through 120 mins and the penalty shootout was particularly pleasing.

Thanks Gaz - reminiscent of Charlie George.

I was actually warming to the more salacious explanation.

I had read previously that he doesn’t really like football and that none of his family were interested. Also that he doesn’t watch other games. For him it is a job.

If anywhere near true then I would imagine that he wouldn’t enjoy a month long squad environment.

I can recall going away several times for work with several colleagues for an intense ‘brainstorming’ week locked away in a remote hotel. By the end of the week I couldn’t wait to get out. Far too much of a ‘good’ thing.

Rumour about us lining up Evan Ndicka on a free transfer in the summer. The free transfer market is going to be crazy in the summer.
Ndicka is a left sided CB, 6ft 3, a good passer, currently with Frankfurt.

Obviously. The evidence is overwhelming.

From March 2022. Thing is, the girl in this photo looks a little bit different from the Sun photo. Besides, couldn't give a toss. If Ben swings both ways, so be it.

https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football ... s-23217172

Well that’ll teach them not to play Martinelli. Who would have seen that coming?

Come on Croatia! Nerves of steel

Martinelli comes back to Arsenal as Brazil get knocked out.

So is that now just Saka, Ramsdale and Saliba left at the world cup

Well Martinelli certainly hasn’t been overplayed.

Why? Saw the rumours but it's what we need.

I mean it’s going to be crazy because there are so many excellent players who are available on a free. Lots of teams are going to get bargains

Neymar wanted the 5th penalty for the glory but Brazil didn’t even get that far. Brazil let Marquinhos take a decisive do or die penalty before Neymar and he’s never taken one in his life.

70% of shootouts never get to the 5th taker. The 4th penalty is the decisive penalty in 55% of shootouts.

If casual fans know this how do professional teams not know this and implement their strategy accordingly

Enzo Fernandez looks like a very good player

I’m old enough to know better but Argentina really wind me the f..up ….f ing tossers…always moaning at the ref….rolling around dramatically after not being touched….and Martinez ….I never minded him with us but he is a real p..k
All around scummy bunch . Alf Ramsey had it right.
Come on Croatia

Emi Martinez makes the difference for Argentina in the shootout.

Brilliant player, but he really gets up my nose.
The way things are playing out, a Morocco Croatia final seems nailed on

Started several brawls, snide sh/tz to a man. Also what is that floppy hand thing the fans do??? Looks so crap.

70%, interesting.

So Rich, Arsenal are in a penalty shoot out. Who are you choosing and which PK are they taking?

As an aside, I think it was Edu, not 100 percent sure but someone gave up their spot for RvP to take it because they weren't confident. Edu is who I think it was and he was leaving that season. I recall before the season's end he was given a PK as a sort of going away gift I presume and it barely made it under the keeper. and that's one of the main reasons we won the cup in 2005 I think. He'd have fluffed it. RvP took a fantastic PK, he always does. I was surprised how well Ashley took his PK. Keane took a cool one, almost arrogantly took...lol. RVN was always going left. Freddie's penalty was very savable.

I remember being told at the pub in LA by a neutral that we were thoroughly outplayed and didn't deserve it and I laughed and said 'Yeah, that's why I feel so f*cking good'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDAGuxk4N2s&t=365s

I completely get it Andy. Their fans and players seem to take things to a whole higher level of drama. That being said, the Argies I've met personally have been brilliant (some of the hottest women as well). There was an Argentina restaurant in LA I stopped by once in a while to get empandas. My spanish is doable but I recall their spanish was pretty much inconceivable to me.

Anyway, individually, nice. They taught me their song as well, very simple "vamos, vamos, Argentina"
The guy there said, football is all we have and the one thing people can say nice about us.
To be fair, when they are in the news for anything else its usually not good.

The players didn’t make it easy for him but the ref lost control of that match last night. 17 yellow cards!

There was one point an Argentine player committed a clear yellow card foul and then booted the ball hard at the Dutch subs bench. Should have had 2 yellows in that one moment. After he’d booted the ball it started a brawl with the subs pouring on to the pitch and Van Dijk can steaming in and kind of chest bumped the Argentina player to the floor forceablu and Van Dijk didn’t get a yellow.

No chance that refs gets another game

Arsenal penalty takers would be Saka, Martinelli, Ødegaard, Zinchenko and Jesus(although his record isn’t great) I’m of the mind that attacking players have to put their hand up to take them ahead of defenders. But penalties throw up odd takers. I can imagine someone like Cédric being good and wanting to take one. Maitland-Niles has taken a lot of very cool penalties. Put your two best takers 1st and 4th

Some players go the same way all the time. RVN to keepers upper right corner. Almost all the time. I was surprised Lehmann didn't know or wasn't told. I have to assume (or am I assuming too much?) that keepers don't study the PK takers for the opposition and where they may go if a PK is given.

Obviously, I'm not GK or know much about it. I did play hockey and was a GK when I was in Philly for a season and I played street hockey in my friends neighborhood a lot. I was in a youth league and I knew where some of the best players were going to go how their move on breakaways. We were all friends and played all the tie.

That said, wouldn't a way to throw off players in a shoot out is to go to one side the first 2 or 3 times? Make the 4th and 5th think that's where you will go? And if that's their side they may switch up?

Or play slightly off center. Just enough to suggest you are giving a wider area to one side?

Or is that a bit too much overthinking?

'Overthinking' is not the word that immediately comes to mind.

Saka has been excellent for England. Probably been fouled at least another 3-4 times than he’s been given, and he’s won plenty of free kicks and the penalty. Turns out Saka is reffed in internationals the same as he is in the prem

If England loses, will Kane get the same abuse as Saka and Rashford? Rhetorical question obviously.

Surprised the ref brushed off the possibility of a penalty so quickly. It looked anywhere from probably to a certain penalty live.

In the moment, I didn't think about Kane and Lloris being teammates. It's going to be awkward in training the first week back.

Bad luck for England. I thought they were the better side. Saka was arguably man of the match.

I blame brexit

No doubt for me that Saka was englands player of the tournament.

French media saying they were delighting when he got subbed off.

Weirdly I see so many rival fans dispute his ability. The kid just isn’t phased, he dominates his full back in 9/10 games at every level. Englands biggest threat time and time again. There is a reason Southgate is picking him every game.

Phenomenal tournament from him and such a comeback from missing the pen in the euros

Wow, you really couldn’t wait to provide a negative spin could you, actually I feel quite sorry for you. Fantastic effort, not quite enough but that’s the way it goes. English and proud.

I agree totally. Best England player and how some commentators and fans think he is not good enough is beyond me. If he wants to ditch his citizenship and come and play for Australia I have no problems.

A harmless joke? English plus proud didn't used to equal no sense of humour?

From a purely footballing point of view, England needed to be in the final. Best team in the tournament. England v Brazil would have been brilliant.

France are effective but for me a bit unexciting and not at all likeable. The amping up of superstar plus supporting cast narrative by the commentators is getting very tedious. Morrocco vs Croatia would be better the Messi +10 vs Mbappe +10.