Hi all,
provoked into a semi-defence of Spain.... Their way of playing - possession football on the ground - remains the best quality football over the last decade. Both RM & FCB play this way, it's a joy to watch, has been a joy to watch now for years and you only need to look at their European trophies these last 10 years. RM's midfield has the likes of Modric, Isco and Kroos, FCB have Coutinho, Rakitic and Messi - and none of them know how to tackle because they don't have to with possession football. (Note also that RM haven't really spent that much money recently - their last splurge was 3 years ago, although I suspect that's about to change.) Spain's abysmal failure is due to: - their players and style being so good that every single frickin' team that plays them now has already given up before they start. They park the bus (and then some) and go for a 0-0 draw. Russia in particular yesterday, Iran before them. Even Portugal sat back. Saying Spain are boring, yet overlooking the opposition is plain silly. When Mou's teams do nothing and shut up shop, the other team are accused of being dull? - half the team being from a club team that has Ronaldo, the other half a club team that has Messi. So these guys are all waiting around for a spark of genius that isn't coming, then it's just giving it to someone else hoping they'll have that creativity. Xavi was able to do it, Isco is nearly there, but otherwise they're all passing around hoping for something to happen. You could say the same for Germany too - all waiting for a killer pass or touch of magic that never came. - So, if it's playing against 9 or 10 defenders and you can't dribble through THAT many or thread a pass through minimal space, then the only options are crosses from the wings or long balls from deep. Whilst Hierro played Costa up front, nobody played off him (like what Griezmann does in ATM) and so he's totally isolated and looks like a lemon but when used right, he's outstanding. No wingers: yesterday they had Asensio (not a winger really), Isco went into the middle and Silva is brilliant but not a winger either. All this BS about tiki-taka being dull etc - what do you do if the other team doesn't want to play? You give them the ball? They usually don't even want the ball as they'll just lose it going forward, then get caught. In short, Spain should have went longer with speed - but they didn't and another tournament wasted. As to weather this is a great WC or not - yes it is. So few teams play by lamping the ball up by default, all are playing on the ground, the refs have been mostly outstanding, numerous games decided in the last 10mins and yes, VAR has been a good addition. The lack of "stars" you have to put down to the fact that there are so few very bad teams any more and it's a more equal tournament (compared to others). All the stars before shone because they were basically playing against traffic cones. Also, who can remember Euro 92, Euro 96 (the other games), about half of Italia 90, quite a lot of WC2010 (Algeria vs England anyone?).... they were absolutely dire. Best WC in recent times for me was WC2006 when a young Germany came through under Klinsmann playing amazing football. BMW ________________________________ From: Leedslist <leedslist-boun...@gn.apc.org> on behalf of {broken-address} John Lee <bruvvalee...@yahoo.co.uk.is-broken.gn.apc.org> Sent: 02 July 2018 10:24 To: Nigel Sykes; leedslist@gn.apc.org Subject: Re: [LU] Tippy Tappy Firstly, I hadn't heard about Brian Mac - absolutely the right decision, despite all that has been achieved. The sheer bloody mindedness he's shown recently, at least publicly, in refusing to accept there were problems was ludicrous. The Rhinos need a serious overhaul, so should be very interesting! Re the WC, yep, some of the European teams have been the worst for negativity. I'd hoped Senegal might qualify as I liked their gung-ho approach, but look where that got them? Mind you, the sheer amateurism of teams like Tunisia, Saudi Arabia when defending has been pitiful. God knows how poor the comp will be by the American one as they're increasing the number to 48!! They might make loads of money, but some of the games will be pointless! Now, come on Mexico!!!! From: Nigel Sykes <ni...@sykesonline.com> To: leedslist@gn.apc.org Sent: Monday, 2 July 2018, 10:09 Subject: Re: [LU] Tippy Tappy Definitely not the best ever in terms of quality of football. But in terms of entertainment? Sure - it took until yesterday's turgid few hours of dullness to remind me what the World Cup was usually like, especially in the knock-out stages. Thankfully, there's only on more all-European tie left in this round, because that's where the fun usually drains away. Nigel (the Dublin one) P.S. McDermott gone from Rhinos... -----Original Message----- From: Leedslist [mailto:leedslist-boun...@gn.apc.org] On Behalf Of {broken-address} John Lee Sent: 02 July 2018 09:59 To: Roger Goodair; leedslist@gn.apc.org Subject: Re: [LU] Tippy Tappy I think Spain 10 years ago were brilliant, but it didn't do them much good this time. Keeping posession is one thing, but being ambivalent about creating any chances is another. They were so dull for most of the World Cup - given the quality of players they have then what a waste that they really couldn't switch into a tippy-tappy Mk 2 where creation of chances outsrips the desire to have the ball. What do others think about the standard of teams at this World Cup. The 'Best World Cup Ever' comments are, imho, ridiculous. Some very average teams, petulant and ridiculous defending/over-reacting. France looked very good against Argentina, Croatia looked great (and very dirty) in the group but were outplayed by Denmark yesterday and should have lost, Brazil, average as yet, Russia - 2 excellent group games of old-skool togger, followed by a drubbing from Uruguay. England - doing Ok to very good, but not yet played a decent team with their first eleven - hope they can progress though and think they will. But Greatest World Cup ever - do they not remember Jairzinho, Rivelino, Total Football, even Germany v Brazil last time out? I might change my mind if England win it though :-) JOhn From: Roger Goodair <rmg1...@blueyonder.co.uk> To: leedslist@gn.apc.org Sent: Wednesday, 27 June 2018, 14:17 Subject: [LU] Tippy Tappy And your (and many others in England) "Can't be doing with" is the reason England haven't won a major trophy for 52 years and Spain have won three in the last 10 years. As the German coach of the time put it after their semi final defeat in 2008, death by a thousand passes. Simply awesome in my view and one unerring truth in football is that the opposition cannot score if they do not have the ball. If only the hapless club team of our affections could string 6 passes together what a joy that would be to behold. Southampton 1972 anyone? Rogerre _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ RIP Jimmy WAC-COE _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ RIP Jimmy WAC-COE _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ RIP Jimmy WAC-COE _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ RIP Jimmy WAC-COE _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ RIP Jimmy WAC-COE