Well done Iran for ignoring their national anthem and their supporters for the banners. Shame they are not that good at football! Or were England just a class act on the night? Great display by the youngsters Saka and Bellingham. Nice football too. Wales went from numpties to. heroes (almost) after a dreadful first half they retrieved a draw with excellent 2nd half performance. The next game will give us a better idea of the relative abilities of the two home nations, and the only two sides not representing a country.
WORLD CUP
I see the right wing ghouls have not started ghouling about whether Kane and Bale should wear LGBT arm bands. They are having too much of a good time criticising the team for taking the knee! I used to think that those on the left complained too much! But the ERG and Bruges Group ir incandescent with rage – the gammon faces can be seen from space. They hate the Conservatives more than Labour. Is fascist anarchism a fair name for them?
I just realised that the World Cup is a football tournament. It will raise millions of which some will get through to poorer nations. Who will win? It is often not the best team. So there is hope for England. I do not think Wales have the squad to make it far. Will Messi or Mhappe or Pedro or de Bruyne or Neymar or Ronaldo or Suerez; or will a new one like Gave, Leaf, Valverde or Kudos come through to be the star.
England have played well against Iran. Good possession then touches of brilliance from Saka, Bellingham and Stirling. Iran have just got one back. Lovely goal from Rashford, on as sub and one, two three touches and a very cool goal.
FIFA WORLD CUP
Many give died in building the stadiums, the regime is homophobic and misogynist. Should we boycott?
Firstly we need to be aware of the £400 billion invested by the Atari government in the uk. SevernTrent Water, to Selfridges, Claridges, the Shard, PSG, Barclays Bank, Sainsbury’s and many other companies. So whilst I am happy to boycott these we have to be realistic. Lineker and Gary Neville have been slated for commentating, maybe the fact they are doing this has raised the profile of objections to the regime. Beckham is getting £10 million to promote the tournament and therefore the Qatari government. Is there a difference? I believe so.
The government there is as bad as those in Israel and Iran. Would I be in favour of a boycott if it was in one of those? Almost certainly! I can avoid “I’m a celebrity .. blah, blah crap” but this is football!
It should never have been the go ahead in the first place. Jurgen Clop is correct.
FIFA WORLD CUP
I will boycott and not go! However if anyone would like to join in with a free/no prizes very competitive game please leave your email and player name. Or if already a player just let me know via email.
Rules will be 1 point for correct result, 4 points for correct score. If there is a need for a tie break I will add together all your predicted scores and see who has the closest total.
Predictions can be changed up to kickoff times. I will collate results.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1umGPoC7T5eFxJFZm6LVDteQ5N5KQMAoDmdxYC7MtzBo/edit#gid=0
FOOTBALL
Week 13 sees more unlikely results with only ManC in top 5 getting full points, Newcastle maintain their push for a top 4 season, without spending millions -yet. Further don Sunderland continue to be abysmal, as do Bristol City. Plymouth doing really well – promotion looking good. FGR still poor, but Chelmsford City are looking better than for a few years.
Footie 2022-3 Free game – no prize
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_p9_-JOtrUspoD3cFKVUm67EhabnYWL3IRiDIkR_LwE/edit#gid=0
Just add your name to the spreadsheet and live your email for me to send you fixtures if you wish
FOOTBALL
England Womans Team – The Lionesses have produced fast, skilful attractive football and will hopefully win on Sunday. Very good to watch – few fouls, no surrounding the referee.
LIVERPOOL
The Royal Family are unelected privileged representatives of the ruling class that treats the working person with contempt. Our democracy has not been totally eroded by tories crooks yet, so booing Willie was perfectly legitimate.
FOOTBALL – END OF APRIL
What a brilliant season, although not for all. Everton’s game with Liverpool is incredibly important for both. Will Pickering take out an important cog and ruin the season for Liverpool? A win for the reds would leave the toffees 1 point ahead of Burnley with a worse goal difference. Watford and Norwich seem destined for the championship and Leeds are by no means safe. Villa have plummeted whilst Palace and S’hampton are below the 40 point mark.
At the top Liverpool and ManC will battle to the last I suspect. Chelsea have faltered (a run of easier matches in December may have misled their true ability. Arsenal/Spurs for the last place in Europe? ManU – despite not being as bad as some suggest are out of luck and belief at the moment so might miss out on all European competitions (if not in the big one, this is probably a result of sorts – they will not miss the few million in prize money or TV ).
Fulham def promoted and already being criticised for playing style “which will not hack the Prem”. Bournemouth also looking good for guaranteed spot – then the next 4 for the playoffs. Peterborough, Derby and Barnsley down. The in-betweens house some biggish names – but I think all have yoyo written all over them.
League One -Wigan, Rotherham and MKDons will battle for 2 auto places. Sunderland will get a playoff but a club of their size and status should be trouncing everyone in this league – maybe they are not ready yet for resurrection? Pilgrims in with a chance as are the Owls. Plymouth vs MK Dons next week could be important.
League Two – FGR promoted, Exeter should join them and could Bristol Rovers make it a West Country party? Oldham become first Premiership club to exit football league, along with Scunthorpe (another rude joke gone). Exeter play Northampton in another crunch match.
Much lower down the leagues Chelmsford may have survived for another season in Vanarama National League.
WORLD CUP DRAW
8 Groups – looking at Pot 2 with Germany and Netherlands, and England, Spain, Portugal, France and Belgium in Pot 1 it makes a point for UEFA Euro Championship being more difficult to win than the FIFA World Cup. Will anyone come to challenge them and Brazil/Argentina – and note that Italy did not qualify! Whilst some individuals from outside these countries have been totally outstanding (Salah, Male, Son amongst many others), the ‘big 10’ still dominate in team strength based on thorough youth programmes.