Football

[DarloRich]

I really hope that England will not be subjected to any FIFA long-term punishments for their reported expressed reticense to participate in the third-place play-off match, as there will have been pre-sold TV rights and also spectator tickets sold for it and stadium security and stewardship already in place.

The FA are more likely to be punished for peolle singing no surrender. They have already been fined for some England players wearing the wrong socks.

England and Belgium will turn up and play what is basically a meaningless friendly for the benefit of the fifa coffers

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The FA are more likely to be punished for people singing no surrender.

Obviously you are far better informed than I, so what exactly is the "no surrender" song referred to above in relation to?

 

[DarloRich]

Obviously you are far better informed than I, so what exactly is the "no surrender" referred to above in relation to?

I think it is something to do with the ira

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I think it is something to do with the ira

Of course, thank you for awakening my "little grey cells".

I do now remember a fiery speech made many years ago by the Reverend Ian Paisley in which he uttered those two words ("No Surrender") over and over again.

 

[AlterEgo]

Of course, thank you for awakening my "little grey cells".

I do now remember a fiery speech made many years ago by the Reverend Ian Paisley in which he uttered those two words ("No Surrender") over and over again.

You’re probably thinking of “Ulster Says No”, where he bellowed “Never” a number of times, rather than “No surrender”.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I think that Bruce Springsteen has sung a song called "No Surrender".

 

[Darandio]

The worst kept secret in football is made official, Antonio Conte has been sacked by Chelsea.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44820563

Chelsea have sacked manager Antonio Conte after two years in charge.

The 48-year-old Italian, who returned to pre-season training this week, had one year remaining on his contract.

Conte won the Premier League in his first season and the FA Cup in May, but the team finished fifth in the league last season, missing out on Champions League qualification.

Ex-Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri is expected to succeed his compatriot at Stamford Bridge.

 

[JamesT]

WRT BBC showing the third-place match, it's also the final weekend of Wimbledon. I'm fairly sure I saw it was scheduled for ITV to have the match from the start, presumably as the BBC would rather concentrate on the Women's Final that afternoon. And who would have predicted England would have been playing in that match a month ago?

 

[Groningen]

After France scored against Belgium they parked the bus in front of the goal. Maybe England should have done that, but doing that for 85 minutes?! No; i followed the game on the radio and it was not a dull game. The name Kane was hardly mentioned on the radio. The Belgium retailer Krëfel is still feeling some pain. If Belgium scores 2 times than the money of some products will be given back, but they say that they are insured if it happens.

 

[Antman]

After France scored against Belgium they parked the bus in front of the goal. Maybe England should have done that, but doing that for 85 minutes?! No; i followed the game on the radio and it was not a dull game. The name Kane was hardly mentioned on the radio. The Belgium retailer Krëfel is still feeling some pain. If Belgium scores 2 times than the money of some products will be given back, but they say that they are insured if it happens.

I think the whole game hinged on the chance Kane had to make it 2-0, the sort of chance he would convert nine times out of ten, although he didn't look entirely fit.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I think the whole game hinged on the chance Kane had to make it 2-0, the sort of chance he would convert nine times out of ten, although he didn't look entirely fit.

He was pretty quiet in the last 2 games, in fact I'd be tempted to drop him for the bronze medal game.

WRT @yorkie 's comment about 13-year-olds referring to Italia 90, that not only makes me feel very old (1990 being the first world cup I remember) but also reminds me of how as kids my brother and I would refer to 1966 as if we'd been around- so vivid were the pictures painted by those who were alive at the time!

Then again, as a family we support a team whose last major honour was in 1926... so looking back is in our blood!

 

[fowler9]

I think it is something to do with the ira

Certain England supporters have sung "No surrender to the IRA" for many years.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Certain England supporters have sung "No surrender to the IRA" for many years.

According to my good friend, Mr. W. Ikipedia, the phrase of "No Surrender" had been used late in the 17th century in County Cork. In 1685, the Catholic James II had come to the throne which led to a sharp reversal of government policy in Ireland, which had previously favoured the Protestant inhabitants. An example of this being in Bandon in County Cork, where the previous town burgesses were replaced by Catholic nominees. The capture of Bandon occurred in 1689 when the town was seized by a force of Irish Army troops under Justin MacCarthy from the rebelling Protestant inhabitants, who often used banners saying "No Surrender".

 

[greyman42]

The worst kept secret in football is made official, Antonio Conte has been sacked by Chelsea.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44820563

Chelsea do not usually 'sack' their managers but instead relieve them of their duties. They then carry on paying them for the remainder of their contract or until they take another managers job. This avoids paying compensation to the 'sacked' manager.

 

[507021]

Liverpool have signed Stoke forward Xherdan Shaqiri for £13.5m.

I'm really happy with that signing.

 

[Cowley]

Liverpool have signed Stoke forward Xherdan Shaqiri for £13.5m.

I'm really happy with that signing.

Not a bad price either.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

They probably didn't want it, pointless exercise.

Does the fact that the time of the 3rd place World Cup play-off match clash with the BBC televising of the Ladies Singles Final at Wimbledon, that the BBC have the TV rights for.

 

[fowler9]

Not a bad price either.

Yeah, I'm happy. Seems a lot of money but that is sadly how it is these days.

 

[Butts]

Yeah, I'm happy. Seems a lot of money but that is sadly how it is these days.

Didn't he have a "buy out" clause in his contract which set the fee when Stoke were relegated from the Premier League ? - otherwise it would have probably been a lot higher !!

 

[greyman42]

Yeah, I'm happy. Seems a lot of money but that is sadly how it is these days.

I think you have got a bargain there, he is underrated. Surrounded by classy players I think he will excel.

 

[fowler9]

Didn't he have a "buy out" clause in his contract which set the fee when Stoke were relegated from the Premier League ? - otherwise it would have probably been a lot higher !!

Yeah he did. Still a lot of money though. The team I support can afford it. Such is life.

 

[Butts]

Yeah he did. Still a lot of money though. The team I support can afford it. Such is life.

He could end up being another Charlie Adam or Robbie Keane - quite good but not Liverpool standard. However at £13.5 million he's not going to be a major waste of money a la Andy Carroll

 

[Butts]

The worst kept secret in football is made official, Antonio Conte has been sacked by Chelsea.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44820563

It's crazy really - in his short time at Chelsea he has exceeded the achievements of any current British Manager in England, winning the League and FA Cup over two seasons.

Interesting to note the new manager is a chain smoker (picture of him in todays "I" smoking on the training field) at least when they play Liverpool he will be able to have a sly fag with fellow smoker Jurgen Klopp afterwards - not sure where in England though

 

[SS4]

After France scored against Belgium they parked the bus in front of the goal. Maybe England should have done that, but doing that for 85 minutes?! No; i followed the game on the radio and it was not a dull game. The name Kane was hardly mentioned on the radio. The Belgium retailer Krëfel is still feeling some pain. If Belgium scores 2 times than the money of some products will be given back, but they say that they are insured if it happens.

England aren't that good. Don't let reaching the semi final cloud your judgement: the path taken was Tunisia (scraped a win), Panama (a convincing win against that great footballing nation), Belgium's B team (lost), Colombia (a win against South America's best MMA team), Sweden (had issues with attacking all tournament). To add to that very few goals were scored from open play - it simply isn't good enough at a WC!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I expect that all who expressed their belief on this thread that England should have already gone home and that the third-place play-off was a waste of time will be true to their beliefs and refuse to either watch it on any media or listen to it on the radio.

 

[fowler9]

I expect that all who expressed their belief on this thread that England should have already gone home and that the third-place play-off was a waste of time will be true to their beliefs and refuse to either watch it on any media or listen to it on the radio.

Yup. Refuse sounds harsh but I can't be bothered watching. If I had the spare cash I may have gone to the Bury Liverpool match.

 

[Darandio]

I expect that all who expressed their belief on this thread that England should have already gone home and that the third-place play-off was a waste of time will be true to their beliefs and refuse to either watch it on any media or listen to it on the radio.

Just glanced at BBC Sport to see the final score, didn't watch it.

 

[Howardh]

So England's record was W W L D* W L L
*w on pens of course.
Doesn't quite look as good as it did after the Sewden game!

 

[Antman]

So England's record was W W L D* W L L
*w on pens of course.
Doesn't quite look as good as it did after the Sewden game!

A rather meaningless game today and we were in with a shout until the error prone Phil Jones struck again.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yup. Refuse sounds harsh but I can't be bothered watching. If I had the spare cash I may have gone to the Bury Liverpool match.

I was watching the game before a phone call interrupted. Had the game on mute but barely watched it. Also considered going to a friendly (Accrington Stanley v Huddersfield Town) But glad I didn't as we lost 3-0!

Not sure how Liverpool did at Gigg Lane, but Bury's pre-season results have not been good. They even lost 0-4 to Huddersfield in midweek so might be just as good a tip for last place in their division as Town are!