Shite World Cup so far...........

[Bob Singleton]

IdolDroog wrote:

> The Germans have had the most advantage to use the ball though.
> 51% of the players have had access to it before hand but not
> one of the england squad because of the English leagues. That
> seems a little harsh when considering the ball is clearly
> dramatically different to a traditional ball.
>


That's NOT the fault of the Germans, nor is it in anyway "borderline cheating" as you claimed earlier.

Could the Premier League, when negotiating their contract with Nike, inserted a clause that said, once every four years in the run up to the World Cup and for a period of no more than 6 months, the Premier League reserves the right to switch to the ball that will be used in the World Cup? Who knows? Certainly, in spite of their various contractual obligations, England could have used the ball during training sessions, but chose not to until very late on.

Germany practice penalties. We send out players to take sudden death spot kicks who have never taken a penalty before. Germany use the World Cup ball in their domestic leagues, we don't. Don't accuse the Germans of "borderline cheating" just because they prepare better than England. As someone once said, "fail to prepare; prepare to fail". That really should become the motto for the FA!

[Marino]

I am sure some of you remember the old leather balls with a bladder you had to coat in Dubbin to try to stop them getting soaked in water. There was nothing like heading one on a cold winters' rainy day that had split and could cut your head open.

What are those over paid wankers going to complain about next?

[David Johnson]

These Germans are fiendishly clever and well organised and for that reason alone should be banned from the World Cup until further notice, the schweinhunds!


Fancy using the new ball well before the World Cup. Typical! I bet they have been playing together loads as a team as well, the bastards!

Cheers
D

[belfast_birty]

England out at the Group stage? The players seem to be blaming the football-but everyone else is using the same ball!

[Dave Wells]

Champions league or cold hard cash !!!

[Flat_Eric]

belfast_birty wrote:

>>


They should beat Algeria, but Slovenia are dangerous and a potential banana skin (they beat Russia in the play-offs to qualify, remember).

England *should* get out of the group, but I can certainly see them finishing second, which would probably mean a third penalty shootout defeat to the Teutons in the Round of 16.

- Eric

[IdolDroog]

To be fair to me at the point I wrote my initial post the article I read released the Germans had had the ball in their league since Dec 09. It wasn't until the second article that I found the 51% fact. As such I dont think saying it seemed borderline cheating that a german manufacturer such as Adidas might have given their league the ball early. As that wasn't exactly the case I rescind it, however it is more than a coincidence they are the most competent with the ball...everyone else are playing like children a lot of the time

[nikonman]

It's improving now we are on the second round of matches.

Have just watched the French match and thought they were awful.
Well done Mexico