The world cup thread: We know how it is, so keep it footy only

I was in two minds about if I should start this one, but there’s hardly anything else to talk about and we know it’s going to dominate.

I have some very strong political views, but this is not the place and it’s a football site, simple. I’d like to think we can keep it Villa related, but that’s hardly going to happen, given our poor showing.

Let’s lay down a couple of rules, as much as it grieves me to dictate how anyone comments on here;

There can be no racism, as much as anyone might think the locals have called this wrong.
Likewise, there can be no talk of sex.

I’m massively annoyed about this WC, as it seems it’s been taken over by politics.
The fool who is in charge of that corrupt outfit that is FIFA has only made things worse, to my mind.

But I’d discourage any mention of him.

You can mention him if you want, but I’d be more interested to know what you think of Southgate’s squad.

FWIW, I think we’ll be knocked out at the quarters.
I just don’t think our players have the bottle to win anything.

And Argentina will win the cup.
Mainly because they just don’t do politically correct.

Shoot, I’m venturing into what’s not allowed, already.

I appreciate it’s tricky.

UTV.


Comments

420 responses to “The world cup thread: We know how it is, so keep it footy only”

  1. badger123 avatar

    The US are well worth that 1-0.
    Is Bale playing?

    To be fair though, I’ve always thought the expectation on his shoulders is some of the worst I’ve ever seen.

    1. Dan James off?
      Strange, they have absolutely no pace now.

      1. badger123 avatar

        Agreed. He must be injured?

        1. As much as this kills me (sigh) a draw is the perfect result form an England point of view.

  2. William Pearson avatar
    William Pearson

    Wales are like a fish out of water, Bale has past his best and no use in the game, they don’t close players down , they won’t win any game in the first round yes your right Yanks and us to go through.

  3. Ardent Villain avatar
    Ardent Villain

    Neither team looks much use to me.
    Agree about the expectation on Bale – & that he’s past his best.
    I expect that Wales will produce one decent performance at the WC, and that’ll be against England, other than that they’re just there to make up the numbers.

    The US lot seem hyped-up on something (like Leeds often do) — must the American style of coaching. Can’t say I like it, and would like a few more yellow cards…

    1. badger123 avatar

      Good summation, Ardent.

  4. badger123 avatar

    Jeez, the way these players go down like they’ve been shot 🙁
    He got a knee in the back, fgs!

  5. badger123 avatar

    Now Pulisic is temporarily dying 🙁

  6. Nice one Bale!!!!!!!!!

  7. badger123 avatar

    Wales pen and Bale scores 1-1.
    That’s good for England.

    1. Stays like this we’ve qualified (more or less)

  8. Ardent Villain avatar
    Ardent Villain

    It’s reminding me of a typical game in the Championship, like two teams both on the edge of the play-off places. All effort, but not a huge amount of skill.

  9. badger123 avatar

    9 mins of extra time?
    Blimey.
    Good job Martinez isn’t playing 🙂

  10. badger123 avatar

    Seems there’s loads of Wales fans there, but I’ve hardly heard them and I’d always be expecting them to give it big licks?

    I don’t trust what I’m hearing at all.

    1. Ardent Villain avatar
      Ardent Villain

      What I want to know is how Wales have managed to get so many fans over there given how all we’ve heard is how expensive it is?

      1. badger123 avatar

        Good question.
        Maybe I need a close up of those fans to see if they look like they might actually be Welsh?

        Again, it just didn’t look right, as there was line after line of people and every single one had a Wales shirt on.

        That’s just not right.

        1. badger123 avatar

          row after row, I mean.

        2. CGI??
          Conspiracy theories abound?

          1. Ardent Villain avatar
            Ardent Villain

            Well, wasn’t there something about the organisers ‘cancelling’ the payment for so-called ‘fans’ to attend, just a few days ago?

            1. badger123 avatar

              There was, but as per, I think it’s been overblown.
              The payments were for a couple of hundred, every 4 days.
              Which was only ever meant to pay for refreshments, given the prices.

              I’m not defending anyone, but they were warned that they needed enough money to provide for themselves, from what I understand.

  11. badger123 avatar

    A good result for England, but were Wales worth a point?
    Maybe, at a push.
    If we don’t beat both of them, well…..

    1. I’m more worried about the septics, they’re very physical and look a damned site fitter than the welsh and we have a terrible record against them.

      1. Ardent Villain avatar
        Ardent Villain

        Physical , yes. But vastly over-rated IMO if this was an example.
        Still think they’re Leeds in mufti

        1. I agree Ardent but the thing that’s worrying me is we’ve never beat them in a World Cup game (I’m a bit superstitious when it comes to bogey teams).

          1. Ardent Villain avatar
            Ardent Villain

            But this lot didn’t llok as good as previous US teams to me.

  12. Great result (for us)
    (-:

    1. Have u not seen the alleged national fans in the Daily Mail??? Absolutely hilarious? 100% locals!!!!! And the singing of It’s Coming Home…so funny. Total gaslighting…Seems to be the order of the day. ” You WILL think this…”.
      If Wales can beat Iran, they can qualify for the next round!

  13. What on earth made Hyundai use Gerrard as the mouthpiece for their new range????
    I was considering one. Not any more!!!

    1. 3 reverse gears (-:

      1. Hitchens60 avatar
        Hitchens60

        🙂

    1. Lmao
      That rendition of “it’s coming home” is just so authentic.
      (-:

  14. I particularly loved the England Supporters Club band!
    Did you note there were no old shirts there ? Just brand new ones…

    1. You’re such a cynic Bum Bum.
      (-:

      1. Just an eye for detail…😃

        1. OLL again avatar

          And no town names on the large England flags. They may be the local Indians but they have all been kitted out in Qatar.

  15. Amazing Saudi v Argentina result!!!!! Emi could do absolutely nothing about those 2 goals!
    Maybe the WC starts here!!!???

    1. Ardent Villain avatar
      Ardent Villain

      Did SA have all of their outfield players given yellow cards?

  16. badger123 avatar

    A Yahoo article again mentions some real loud support for the Saudis.
    False or perhaps genuine and the Arabs are really more interested than our media likes to suggest, I wonder?

    2-1 eh? The Argies get their loss out of the way, then go on to win the cup. It makes sense to me anyway 🙂

    That is some result though and why we love the sport, I guess.

    1. Hitchens60 avatar
      Hitchens60

      Good teams sometimes start slowly in WC’s / Euros etc. and find their form later in the competition when it really matters.

      England in the T20 WC losing to Ireland then having to win every match to lift the trophy.

      Certainly far too early to write off Argentina or to suggest England will do well just because they beat Iran 6-2

    2. I was about to post how poor the Argies were and how they’d got no chance but decided to google Saudi’s.
      They don’t score many but neither do they concede.
      Tough game, they can only get better.

  17. I must admit, although we now all know what goes on in Qatar, not all Qataris are complicit in this. Should we cut them a bit of slack and enjoy the tournament now lessons seem to have been learned?
    Considering our PMs recent Saudi agreement, few of us have totally clean hands.
    And finally, Come On Australia! Beat the Froggies!!!!!!!

    1. House!!! I hope the Missus bought you a drink????

      On another note, I bought myself a new guitar today!!! 😁

  18. …Hmmm…that ain’t gonna happen now. Shame. Still not impressed by France.

  19. Hitchens60 avatar
    Hitchens60

    Seen a bit of a couple of games sat at the bar but, like me, no one that interested out here.

    Still the rum’s excellent and not expensive 🙂

    1. Ardent Villain avatar
      Ardent Villain

      Rum – are you in the WIndie’s ?

      1. Hitchens60 avatar
        Hitchens60

        Yup – our second home – Barbados

        1. Back to the palm trees?
          (-:

        2. Ardent Villain avatar
          Ardent Villain

          Nice.
          Imagine the weather is much warmer than here in November!

          1. Hitchens60 avatar
            Hitchens60

            Yep definitely warmer but we’ve had lots of rain over the last three weeks – not that I’m bothered – more time in the bar 🙂

  20. Must admit, all the politics aside, I’m starting to enjoy this WC. Japan and Saudi games have been astonishing. Although Spain won well, Costa Rica just gave up. Canada’s finishing in this game is terrible.
    Souness and Keane nearly having a punch up was comical too!!!
    Gotta bloody well go into London so will miss a few games…Grrrrrrrrr…

    1. Ardent Villain avatar
      Ardent Villain

      Canada’s play was enetertaining, but some of their long cross-field passes were hilarious – passing to where the intended recipient had been 60 seconds earlier…

      1. I know. They looked like an over excited League 2 side at times. Shame as they could have got something from the game. Awful, awful finishing and that penalty was totally wasted.

  21. Badger123 avatar

    Haha, I saw that pen, while I was in the middle of playing bingo on behalf of the missus (she can only do two cards here, so I did the third and won 160 euros. Guess who got the money, lol) and it was shocking.
    That’s why I think you should bladder it every time.

    1. Ardent Villain avatar
      Ardent Villain

      Unfortunately the Canucks then did that to every shot from about 35 yards out of the goal, all of which went miles out into the stands…

      1. Badger123 avatar

        Just like the Villa then?

  22. Big Fat Ron avatar
    Big Fat Ron

    OK, I have to get this off my chest, although I’m not sure Badger will allow the post.
    [EDITED]

    You’re right BFR, I won’t allow it.
    It’s not because I agree or disagree with you.
    It’s because this is not the right place and I’ve asked that we stick to the footy as much as is possible.

    Hopefully you’re not offended and you did at least get a couple of hours before I saw it.

  23. Badger123 avatar

    Ghana gave Portugal a tough time then, apparently.
    It is indeed quite an interesting WC, where it looks like anyone can beat anyone.

    I’m definitely watching the Brazil – Serbia game, as I think it might be a cracker.

    1. Sitting down to it too Badger!!!

      U do know when u edit a post like BFRs, it leaves the rest of us wondering what on earth was said!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

      1. Ardent Villain avatar
        Ardent Villain

        It wasn’t all THAT controversial!

        1. Is Badger getting all woke??? 😝😝😝.

          Come on Serbia!!!!!

          1. Ardent Villain avatar
            Ardent Villain

            “Is Badger getting all woke?” – doubt it.

            BFR’s post just didn’t mention the football!

            1. Maybe if he’d have alleged ‘John Gregory said this…’…
              This Brasil gane is a bit rubbish. A smash and grab for Serbia?
              Up early for the Wales game too.
              Don’t like Neymar at all.

  24. Badger123 avatar

    Bum Bum, it talked about the Uk’s duplicity.
    As Ardent says, there wasn’t even a mention of the footy, so there were no grounds at all for me to allow it, given that I’d set the rules in the post.

    And no, I’m not going woke. I’m far too old for that! 🙂

    As for the game, I thought it was great. Good pace to it and Richarlison’s second was a cracker.
    I felt sorry for Serbia’s goalie, who I thought had a great game.