Euro 2016 Discussion

First topic message reminder :

Duty281 wrote:Sterling and Rooney have been woeful thus far and need to be dropped (but 1 of them certainly won't be), but I would favour giving Kane one final chance. He's had an excellent couple of seasons, and England shouldn't jettison him at the first sign of difficulty.

Rooney woeful? I'm not his biggest fan but he's been pretty good so far, working well alongside Dier allowing Alli to push on further

guildfordbat wrote:

GSC wrote:Sweden look up for it though. Been a big improvement on their last game.

Agreed. Not great though for Westy and his Irish Republic boys. A point today would be a bonus for Sweden and make qualification harder for the Irish.

True Guildford buddy. How's things?

Hopefully Italy can nick it.

Whatever we have to win tomorrow.

Damn!

Parolo against the bar

People don't really expect much of players any more, rooney is a terrible centre midfielder.

Xavi has plenty of assists, managed 27 for barca in one season 08/09 Ffs.

Scholes less assists but over 100 league goals and more (146 in total apparently). Only dropped deeper after some injuries and getting into his 30s.

Christ Eder actually did something good.

Wonderful...all the way from kicking the ball against the swede to get the throw-in

Italia!

Ent wrote:People don't really expect much of players any more, rooney is a terrible centre midfielder.

Xavi has plenty of assists, managed 27 for barca in one season 08/09 Ffs.

Scholes less assists but over 100 league goals and more (146 in total apparently). Only dropped deeper after some injuries and getting into his 30s.

I think you're getting those Xavi stats out your rear end to be honest Ent, it says it on a Barcelona forum so must be true.

This ref really wants to give Sweden a chance

That was risky by Bonucci.

Italy were pretty poor in truth, Sweden never did quite enough and paid the price.

My stats seem good according to at least 4 websites; a Ent said...Xavi had 27 assists in one single season for Barca..and he has had about 30 odd for Spain so that alone is more than 50. Isn't he also the only player too have an assist in two European Championship finals? Add in key assists in 2010 World Cup semi final and last 16 game against Portugal...

Not bad for a bloke you consider to be a simple ball passer who keeps the game moving and was never that creative during his career with only a few assists per season. Where you got your statistics from is anyone's guess Hammer.

If you believe Rooney's only role is to simple ping 30 yard passes to either winger and that's it then I don't even know what era your stuck in. A midfielder is the engine room of a team..they are their for numerous reasons and should be able to do a bit of everything at the very minimum...but as a CM be it deep lying, purely in the middle of the park or as a more advanced player there job is to keep the ball, move it into key areas of the pitch and help dictate play with incisive passes that help either establish an offensive move or indeed create chances for individuals.

Delighted for Italy. Smart side - do their attacking towards the end when the opposition will have little time to pull back.

My favourite side by far in this contest - but then they always have a place in my heart.

Italy poor today, but got the job done. Extremely good tournament side, if things go the way I see them, then they will probably face croatia & I'd probably side with the experience & know-how of the italian side, over the flair of the croatian midfield

What are these websites then Ozzy because all the ones i've seen show Xavi with 49 career assists in La Liga?

You cannot generalise a players role in a team, it isn't football manager where a central midfielder does a select role but watching Rooney in central midfield across 3 matches for England it is clear what he has been asked to do. Midfielders can do multiple roles for a team, you seem to think that the Robson/Gerrard blueprint applies to everyone, all you have to do is look at the contrasting roles Pirlo and Gattuso played playing next to eachother deep.

From what I saw Italy didn't look great.

Result I wanted.

Tall order but if we can beat Belgium then we can take at least second.

Italy got what they wanted from the game.  Had Sweden managed to score, we'd have seen Italy pull out and play more.  But when they do play they seem to do less of the fussy stuff to get into attacking positions.  They seem to strip down their game to the essentials and don't over-complicate the role between defence and attack.

I hope Ireland gets a win tomorrow then we can share a gentle draw with Italy after

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

Ent wrote:People don't really expect much of players any more, rooney is a terrible centre midfielder.

Xavi has plenty of assists, managed 27 for barca in one season 08/09 Ffs.

Scholes less assists but over 100 league goals and more (146 in total apparently). Only dropped deeper after some injuries and getting into his 30s.

I think you're getting those Xavi stats out your rear end to be honest Ent, it says it on a Barcelona forum so must be true.

From espn soccernet, fairly reliable.

Think there was a slight bit of Italy just not being particularly good in the attacking phase secretfly .

They have the know how, but as I recall we also said that 4 years ago. They'll need to find a way to hurt bigger teams.

La Liga assists table:

https://www.statbunker.com/alltimestats/AllTimeCompetitionMostAssists?comp_code=LL

Xavi has 49 on this site. Not that Xavi was all about assists. The best ball playing midfielder I have ever seen, personally.

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/spanish-primera-division/15/statistics/assists?season=2010

No stats on there for the 2008/09 season but am I to believe that Xavi regularly got 6 or 7 assists each season but went a bit mental one year and got 27?

GSC wrote:Think there was a slight bit of Italy just not being particularly good in the attacking phase secretfly .

They have the know how, but as I recall we also said that 4 years ago. They'll need to find a way to hurt bigger teams.

Oh let's wait and see, GSC. Let's wait and see how far they get. I still think the 'better' sides often way over-do the complexity to give the coaches something to boast about (coaches somehow being the real stars of modern football). When Italy go for it, they simply go for it. Like sharks maybe. Maybe rough around the edges but ...we'll wait and see

I have Xavi down as the follows:

Overall for Barca

Played 743
Assists 164
Scored 84

In La Liga only

Played 505
Assists 113
Scored 58

westisbest wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:

GSC wrote:Sweden look up for it though. Been a big improvement on their last game.

Agreed. Not great though for Westy and his Irish Republic boys. A point today would be a bonus for Sweden and make qualification harder for the Irish.

True Guildford buddy. How's things?

Hopefully Italy can nick it.

Whatever we have to win tomorrow.

Hi Westy - well, the Italians left it late but a decent result for you in the end. Very much now up to your boys to come up with a top performance against Belgium tomorrow.

Generally, things good, thanks mate, although Surrey playing almost as badly as Villa!

Why do you keep harping on about La Liga? I have stated the whole season, that's La Liga, Copa Del Rey, Super Cups, Champions league, Internationals etc!

I mean not 6 odd posts ago you were saying that Pirlo and Xavi werent Creative hubs of their team and barely registered a handful of assists per season..they both consistently assisted more than 5 (a handful).

Even if you want to just ignore assists, my opinion is that Rooney does not have the same ability to make the kind of passes to get the ball into the dangerous areas for others to latch onto and finish or create a key cross etc. Nor has he shown the ability to dictate play and tempo in the midfield when the opponents are in his face or of a good ability. Second half against Russia and first half against Wales when neither team sat off when England players got the ball in key areas, Rooney was rather invisible.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/pitchside-europe/xavi-to-say-goodbye-to-camp-nou--a-break-down-of-the-king-of-passing-145504765.html

Article showing he had 60 assists in 210 home games in all competitions...more than the 50 odd you said and that isn't taking all games club and country into account

Looks like Group E could be one of the group's where third place doesn't get through. I think ROI really need a win against Belgium to have a chance.

Don't think anybody else really cares anymore bar you two.

The cameraman charged with finding good looking people in the crowd is on top form so far

Crimey wrote:Looks like Group E could be one of the group's where third place doesn't get through. I think ROI really need a win against Belgium to have a chance.

After Italy's performance today and the fact they're already through, I wouldn't put it past Ireland to get something off them at all

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Crimey wrote:Looks like Group E could be one of the group's where third place doesn't get through. I think ROI really need a win against Belgium to have a chance.

After Italy's performance today and the fact they're already through, I wouldn't put it past Ireland to get something off them at all

Didn't consider that, depends because a poor result tomorrow and Ireland may be low on confidence.

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/player/12907/xavi

17 09/10
10 10/11

Etc etc

He got a Poopie load, played in other competitions that la liga.

He was extremely creative, just a legendary player.

Croatia deservedly 1-0 up and cruising here

Nice finish that.

Croatia look a decent outfit, probably just a level below the real top teams but wouldn't be too surprised to see them get to the semi finals. Modric and Rakitic is as good as any central midfield two in the competition.

[quote="SecretFly"]Italy got what they wanted from the game.  Had Sweden managed to score, we'd have seen Italy pull out and play more.  But when they do play they seem to do less of the fussy stuff to get into attacking positions.  They seem to strip down their game to the essentials and don't over-complicate the role between defence and attack.

I hope Ireland gets a win tomorrow then we can share a gentle draw with Italy after [/quote Yes ]I'll be shouting the Republic on, no reason they can't get a result the way this competition is panning out, plus they have the best supporters in Europe, who deserve to stay longer, great fans.

Nice finish.

Think Italy have a good system and get into good situations but just lack a bit of quality with the final ball.

Fans have been great no doubt.
Have seen a lot of videos, some great stuff.

Fans can only do so much though.

Agree, we have to win tomorrow.
It would be great to get to the last 16.

Belgium will be up for it though.
Feel we need to score first.

Needed to beat Sweden in my opinion.

Very feasible to get draws against Italy and Belgium but can't see 3 points being one of the best 3rd places.

Game on here, terrific header to generate the power from that cross.

This place is mental. Have an opinion and just stick to it regardless of evidence to the contrary

Ala the Referendum thread

Thin your looking for the referendum forum Dolph

Ent wrote:Thin your looking for the referendum forum Dolph

Early pub finish there Ent?

I wish, Just can't work the emoticons.

Feel for Czech Republic, they'd have got out a few of the other groups, but might struggle to get the points required.

Idiot fans throwing flares on the pitch - what's the point?

Think these games have shown you need to play to your strengths.

England, n Ireland, Italy even c republic making the best of what they have and doing better.

Czech Republic were being really stupid splitting the centre halves and taking the ball short when neither of them are comfortable with the ball. Brought on a forward, went direct, got a goal and more opportunities.

Croatian team must be so annoyed, played really well, winning the game and their own fans start messing it up.

What is the defender doing there?

Not good for Ireland this in the 3rd place stakes.

Taking Modric off started the downfall. Fans made the situation worse & the concentration went & they became complacent. Typical Croatia though, lovely flair, no real ruthless streak to see it out or win a major tournament.

Think you have to give Czech Republic some credit, they stopped that Poopie short stuff and went direct.

Stoppage if anything slowed their momentum.