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Thread: World Cup Russia 2018

  1. #121
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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    But I didn't pull these predictions out of my ass, I consulted with several people who do know what they are talking about.
    Fair enough, but had they actually watched any of the teams concerned playing before assisting you with your selections, or were they simply picking who they considered were currently (or historically) the better teams/highest ranked? I suspect the latter...

    Without blowing my own trumpet, I know a little about football, as does Grant, so you should've asked us instead! I predicted that Denmark wouldn't beat the Ozzies and that Croatia would cause an upset against Argentina, based on what I'd seen from those teams so far. It was certainly clear to me that this Argentina team weren't at the races.

    One to bear in mind next time before you go to the bookies

    Marco.
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  2. #122
    Join Date: Aug 2009

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    Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
    Fair enough, but had they actually watched any of the teams concerned playing before assisting you with your selections, or were they simply picking who they considered were currently (or historically) the better teams/highest ranked? I suspect the latter...
    .

    No, they really do know and watch their football. And the success rate so far has been good, overall. But I'm happy to take on board your predictions. You haven't named your top three slots yet and everyone has played one game now.
    Current Lash Up:

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  3. #123
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    Thumbs up Argentina 0 Croatia 3

    Well, what a boob that was from the Argentinian goalkeeper, but beautifully finished by Rebic! And after that, the writing was on the wall for this Argentina side, including a tremendous goal from Modric, culminating in the third from the (similarly superb) Rakitic.... Is there a better midfield duo than those two at this World Cup? For me, no.

    Anyway, it was clear after having watched Argentina in their first match against Iceland, where they were marginally less woeful than today, that they would struggle against a very good Croatia side, full of verve and creativity, and that's what happened. Aguero huffed and puffed, but largely did nothing, until he was substituted, and Messi was absent for most of the game.

    I acknowledge that he's a quality player, and rated as one of the world's best, rightly so on past performances, but I still feel he's somewhat overrated, and his performances so far in this tournament have simply served to reinforce that notion. I mean, let's be honest here, does anyone really think that he could've laced Maradona's boots? Now he *truly* was a WORLD CLASS player, who pretty much singlehandedly won the World Cup for his country in 1986.

    Have we ever seen that type of leadership and ability from Messi, when he plays for Argentina? Not that I've noticed. For me, overall, Ronaldo and Bale are right now ahead of him in the best player in the world stakes, and that's why, coupled with a crap manager who clearly doesn't have much of a clue what he's dong, and disharmony behind the scenes, Argentina will NOT win the World Cup this year - and indeed are instead on the brink of going out.

    However, I think they'll beat Nigeria and avoid that fate, but they're not destined to do much after that, unlike Croatia, who for me are, minimum, quarter-finalists and possibly more. I have a soft spot from them because I like how they play football and Del's family are also half-Croatian. Serbia are also a talented side, who could go far in the tournament, but Serbians and Croatians historically don't get on...

    Anyway, I'm looking forward to having another look at Brazil tomorrow, and further assessing their credentials as possible winners, along with watching one of my other favourite teams, Iceland. I just love their passion and spirit, and how successful they've been recently for such a small nation. Scotland should take a leaf out of their book!

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

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  4. #124
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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    No, they really do know and watch their football. And the success rate so far has been good, overall. But I'm happy to take on board your predictions. You haven't named your top three slots yet and everyone has played one game now.
    No worries. I'm surprised then that they hadn't noticed what I did with Argentina. Quite simply, after struggling to draw with Iceland, they were an 'accident waiting to happen' against a team like Croatia.

    Top 3? Hmm... I'll stick my neck out and say:

    Spain
    France
    Germany.

    In that order. I'll stick with that as my 'official prediction', for judgment at the end, but just for fun I may reassess matters as the tournament progresses!

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

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  5. #125
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    Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
    Scotland should take a leaf out of their book!
    The problem with the Scotland team is there's too many Scots in it.
    Get up to three Scots in a team, and "us against the world" works really well.
    Add any more and they start infighting.
    Chris



    Common sense isn't anymore!

  6. #126
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    The thoughts I posted were not mine, by the way, but those of Sir Matt Busby.
    Chris



    Common sense isn't anymore!

  7. #127
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    Yo, Strats, nice to see you commenting on this thread at last! Would be good to see more input from you here, even if you just pipe up for the England games!

    Anyway, to your point... I'm not sure infighting has been an issue in recent times, quite simply a lack of quality! However, thankfully, there are signs that things are improving, with a crop of quality youngsters coming through.

    Btw, as an aside, are you going to Cranage this weekend?

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  8. #128
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    Carnage?
    Probably Saturday. England are playing midday on Sunday, and I don't want to miss that.

    Now once upon a time there were loads of Scots players playing in English Teams - I don't see anything like as many as there used to be.
    Busby himself played right midfield for Manchester City, and later on Liverpool.
    Dennis Law played for City, transferred to United where he became The King of Old Trafford, and transferred back to City for his final season.
    My first City game had Willie Donachie at left back - it was City v Liverpool, and it was Bill Shankly's final season as Liverpool manager, and I saw Shanks leading the team off the coach.

    Liverpool had more than a few - Dalgleish and Souness being a couple that spring to mind.

    If you went around all the teams in the English leagues you'd find Scots just about everywhere, and it's no longer the case.

    Changing tack completely - I'm astonished at the shambles that is the current Argentina team, so woeful have their performances been.
    Their manager is blaming the lack of success on players not supporting Messi properly - in truth the problem rests squarely on the manager's shoulders. There doesn't appear to be any team unity, and tactically it's all over the place.
    Chris



    Common sense isn't anymore!

  9. #129
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stratmangler View Post
    Carnage?
    Probably Saturday. England are playing midday on Sunday, and I don't want to miss that.

    Now once upon a time there were loads of Scots players playing in English Teams - I don't see anything like as many as there used to be.
    Busby himself played right midfield for Manchester City, and later on Liverpool.
    Dennis Law played for City, transferred to United where he became The King of Old Trafford, and transferred back to City for his final season.
    My first City game had Willie Donachie at left back - it was City v Liverpool, and it was Bill Shankly's final season as Liverpool manager, and I saw Shanks leading the team off the coach.

    Liverpool had more than a few - Dalgleish and Souness being a couple that spring to mind.

    If you went around all the teams in the English leagues you'd find Scots just about everywhere, and it's no longer the case.

    Changing tack completely - I'm astonished at the shambles that is the current Argentina team, so woeful have their performances been.
    Their manager is blaming the lack of success on players not supporting Messi properly - in truth the problem rests squarely on the manager's shoulders. There doesn't appear to be any team unity, and tactically it's all over the place.
    Nice one on Cranage. Then I'll see you there tomorrow

    I take your point about the Scottish players who used to feature much more regularly for the top teams in England, and that definitely will have had a bearing on things. I think it's also a coaching thing, too.

    No way are the players in the Iceland team collectively *that* much better than the Scotland players who didn't manage to qualify for this tournament, but they've been coached/managed in such a way [tactical organisation I believe is the key] that they're able to punch well above their weight, and also highly motivated to do their utmost best for their country - a passion that I think doesn't exist to the same degree when Scotland players take to the pitch.

    Anyway, I concur fully with your thoughts on Argentina. It's Uruguay and Brazil who I think will do best for the South American teams, perhaps the former more so than the latter, as although I dislike their rather dour brand of football, it's extremely effective and made for tournaments like this.

    As for England, i fully expect them to beat Panama, but think they'll struggle against Belgium. Realistically, the Quarter Finals is their best hope, and that's only if they get a kind draw in the last 16 (and of course they've still got to get there first). They're a very good young side, but for me currently just short of the quality of the best teams in the competition, and of course naturally lacking a little experience.

    However, if they can keep this team together and improve further, then I think they'll have a chance of doing really well at the Euros. I like what Southgate's doing with them.

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  10. #130
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    Seeing Maradonna with his hankie out made me chuckle
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