Euros 2012 - Predictions and general chatter

First topic message reminder :

A bit short notice I know but I just got notification of this

SportsGuru (the predictions site that the people on the darkside use for rugby pools etc) are running a predictions comp for the Euros

I'm entering anyway but I've set up a Golf Chat league if anyone wants to jon in

The main site is at www.sportguru.co.uk/euro2012 - you'll have to register if you aren't already but it's free registration and it doesn't seem to send too much spam or share your details with anyone else

Once registered (or logged on if you are already registered) you can go to the Euro 2012 section and search for an existing pool - you can search either by the pool name "Golf Chat UK" or by the pool code "byestogs" (without quotes)

Then all you need to do is predict the results! You can make all your picks for the group matches in one hit, though beware, once you've made a pick you can't change it. So if you want you can predict for the 1st round of matches and then wait until you see how they go before picking the rest - or just do all the group matches in one hit

Let me know here if you apply to join too so I can accept your application

Tournament starts tomorrow so get to it if you want to join! I can't see us getting that many entered but you never know, we may get enough to have a bit of fun

BTW I've just seen your "cuddled in a bad way" comment - is that a hangover from the darkside? I thought I'd turned the censor filter off in here - we are all grown ups after all!

Me too, although I'm supposed to be comparing and contrasting two different presentations at the moment but it's not working out so well.....

super_realist wrote:You obviously don't remember mpb. The rush keeper IS whichever of the 11 outfield players who is nearest the goal.

Incorrect. Scramble is when the nearest player is the keeper. Rush is when the goalie can go running out of goal (like in 'real' football), the opposite of stick.

I remember very well!

Davie wrote:BTW I've just seen your "cuddled in a bad way" comment - is that a hangover from the darkside? I thought I'd turned the censor filter off in here - we are all grown ups after all!

The filter is off I just thought it might make you smile.

It worked

MustPuttBetter wrote:

super_realist wrote:You obviously don't remember mpb. The rush keeper IS whichever of the 11 outfield players who is nearest the goal.

Incorrect. Scramble is when the nearest player is the keeper. Rush is when the goalie can go running out of goal (like in 'real' football), the opposite of stick.

I remember very well!

I agree with MPB, Rush allowed you to run down the field, Stick had to stay in the area. We had Scramble although we used to call it Pop Goalie or Goalie When. Always used to cause arguments when two kids saved the ball at the same time.

Did disputed goals get settled by Penalty or No Goal?

I think that's you agreeing with me Grumpster

Stick = stay in goal
Rush = goalie can go wherever
Scramble = closest player to goal can pick it up

Agreed? That's how we played it

Oh and disputes = a penalty. Usually because the mouthiest kids were always forwards!!

MustPuttBetter wrote:I think that's you agreeing with me Grumpster

Stick = stay in goal
Rush = goalie can go wherever
Scramble = closest player to goal can pick it up

Agreed? That's how we played it

Apologies MPB, I have corrected my earlier post.

That's what you get for not concentrating properly. I was trying to post on here, keep up with live text on the other PC, speak to my boss about invoice charges and check out two or three spreadsheets at the same time. Won't happen again, I'll concentrate on the proper stuff like this and the live text and ignore work in future

Ha ha don't worry, I accidentally called LP fat the other day whilst trying to watch the football and post here ha ha!

It used to be more about being called wide of the post or over. Basically if the goalie couldn't get his arm near it, it was over. Always seemed to end in a penalty as the other option was no goal which would never do.

MustPuttBetter wrote:Ha ha don't worry, I accidentally called LP fat the other day whilst trying to watch the football and post here ha ha!

I see lightning does strike twice MPB, I believe it was Mary you referenced as being chubby Don't go bringing LP into or you'll never score any fantast league points ever again.

PS. I do not, in no uncertain terms, think that either Mary or LP is fat or chubby or in anyway overweight. I just want to clarify this for the sake of peace, love, and harmony on the boards, oh and fantasy league points.

Damn it!!!

MustPuttBetter wrote:Damn it!!!

Never heard of stick, scramble or rush, we only had a proper keeper or 'rushie' keeper who did what you say a scramble keeper did.
I absolutely hate it when you organise a game of fives and only nine turn up. The necessity for a 'rushie' keeper really ruins the game, especially when I've driven 50 miles to get there.

Agreed it's a nightmare when its odd numbers. Worse in 5 a side than 11 a side as if you've got less players and if the other team are any good you just can't get the ball back. Of course no real breaks of play in 5 a side so before long you've had it!!

Our 5 a side team found it was better to forfeit the game if we didn't have enough players as that was an automatic 3-0 defeat as opposed to trying to play with 3 or 4 players and getting murdered.

In one game where we down 2 players I happened to play really well and kept the scoreline to 4 much to the dismay of one of the opposing strikers who had boasted he was going to get a double hat trick. He was properly pissed off when I was basically stopping everything wih pretty much anything.

Looks like the Irish could be in for a caning tonight. 1-0 down already

Funny story: a mate of mine just told me he'd been in a betting shop today and some guy was trying to put on a bet for 3-0 to Spain with Messi as first goal scorer. He'll get good odds on that one!

Why does Torres decide to find his scoring boots now??

Davie, I was listening to the radio the other day and some American had phoned in and was saying Americans only knew about Ronaldo and Messi and what were both of their chances in the Euros. Oh dear?!

LOL - I guess they're still learning about "soccer" in the USA.

And geography!!

And obesity!

Can England get a win tonight? I think we can...

Sweden are always a problem to us - don't think we've beaten them in 7 competetive matches, but they really didn't look as good as usual against Ukraine in the first match

We aren't that good either but achieved a point against France, one way or another. Wasn't a great performance by any means but it got the job done.

I fancy us to get one over on the Swedes tonight - 2-0 England

I think (and hope!) we will sneak it but I have got a feeling that we won't keep a clean sheet tonight.

So I am going for a nervy 2-1 win, with a couple of silly bookings for us and no fingernails left at the end!

I think it depends on how Ibrahimovic decides on playing.

I firmly believe the way England play, whether we win, lose or draw our games has nothing to do with us. It completely depends on how good a day the other side have.
If Roy's 3 games to date are anything to go by (and i don't see us changing our ethos at this point), all teams will have more of the ball than us, and all teams will create chances against us. We will create 1 or 2 chances ourselves and so may well score 1 goal but highly unliekly to be more unless from set pieces.
On that basis any team that catches us with a forward in form tucking away his chances will beat us, because they will get chances. Otherwise we might get a draw or a 1-0 win.

If Zlatan is good tonight we'll lose, if not we'll draw. That's my guess.

Dont really agree with that MPB, England defend well and break well. So other sides have to be able to break us down and be prepared to stop us scoring. Sure teams get chances against us but not very many good ones and we have a decent keeper which helps.
I think we will see a more open England tonight though, I actually think a 2-0 win for England. Sweden are a poor side IMO though.

I'm going for a 2-1 win, which will have us biting our fingernails until the final whistle.

Well if I'm wrong I'm not the only one then Mary! I think we will both be right about the fingernails...

Great minds, and all that!

I'm not so sure Digs. We do defend well but break well? I must have missed that as in open play we created one chance v Norway, one chance v Belgium and one chance v France. No attacking threat whatsoever. If any of those teams had a sharp forward we'd have lost all three.

I hope it's different tonight and word is we start with Carroll and Welbeck up front.
But if you asked me know if I think we'll be open, attacking and creative? Not a chance!

So they're going to make them continue the game, hopefully that will make it difficult for the French.

Just tuned into the BBC for the delayed kickoff and I'm invited to press the red button for alternative commentary from "Chris Moyles and Comedy Dave" (at least I think that's what it said)

Ummmm no thanks BBC - normal commentators are bad enough

Talk about scraping the barrel - and that's what we pay our licence fee for??

Nice work by Carrol and Stevie G though!

Good header from Carroll, plus he had been pretty good since the start. Nice to see Terry crunch Ibrahimovitch or whatever his name is.

We are SO bad!

Why do we have to shoot ourselves in the foot. Nice strike from Walcott.

Come on ENGLAND!!!!!

Thank god for that!!
We're still dreadful though!!

Phew - let the nailbiting begin!

...... and breathe!

Not perfect, but better England sides have not beaten Sweden so credit where it's due. Please no more Milner, at least not out wide starting. Rooney to come in, looking a bit brighter all round.

That was entertaining to say the least. Not sure of what kind of entertainment though. Would be interested in everyone's assessment of the team for this match and what's expected against Ukraine.

Win or draw guarantees progression to the knock out rounds. Ukraine need to win to advance so it's likely to be a tasty match on Tuesday.

Sloppy start to the second half so that needs to be put right. Agree with Digs, Milner needs to drop to the bench, hasn't produced the goods in two games and has looked very tired. Does Rooney get handed a start? Both Welbeck and Carroll scored, would be harsh to drop one of them.

Think he might start with Wellbeck and Rooney Grumps, they know each others games and might bring a not of slickness to the attacks. Hope he starts Walcott, Young was poor last night but has been good prior to that.
Centre mid is the real problem. Gerard and Parker don't have the legs for 90 mins and we have zero decent options to replace them, though I'd rather see Milner there than out wide.
Completely agree that it should be a good game, be very dangerous to play for a draw. I don't say this often but best player for me was Glen Johnson, he is getting better as the games go on.

Interesting how we all view things differently Digs. Paul Hayward in the Daily Telegraph today rated Glen Johnson with 4, the lowest mark in the team, below James Milner and Ashley Young whom he rated 5

I was just relieved that we got a win in the end. Fantastic towering header by Andy Carroll and then a stupidly reckless tackle which led to the equaliser. Didn't see a way back for us at 2-1 down, bit of a strange goal from Theo Walcott, not sure that was the best bit of goalkeeping I have ever seen. Decent move for the winner though, good bit of pace from Theo and a clever touch from Danny Welbeck.

Just hope that we try and win the game against Ukraine, the nerves can't take it if we play for a draw.

A 4, seriously ? He was sound at the back and more of a threat going forward than Milner in front of him. Both commentators agreed he was our best defender.
I do wonder if they actually watch the game sometimes.

Does make you wonder doesn't it! Hayward wrote:-

"Played Mellberg onside and then carried the ball into his own net from Hart's save. Had actually started the game OK with a great recovery tackle on Ibrahimovic, but played his team into trouble too often"

I'm no fan of Johnson but I think he's been very good in both matches

Theo made a big difference - he is one of those players who seems to turn it on for England more than his club side - Arsene Wenger must be scratching his head that Theo can't turn those games on for Arsenal week after week. I can't think of too many England appearances where Theo has let us down where he seems to go missing far too much for Arsenal. Agree his goal was a bit unexpected last night (the look on his face when it went in says it all) but he deserves all the plaudits he gets for his international appearances

The team selection against Ukraine will be interesting. I can't see Hodgson leaving Rooney out yet that probably means Carroll or Welbeck get left out - which will be harsh on either of them. I suspect Rooney will play up front with Welbeck and Carroll maybe coming on as replacement. The only way he could play all three would be Welbeck and Carroll up front with Rooney playing just behind them as attacking midfielder, but that would probably mean leaving Young out who didn't have his best game against Sweden but probably deserves another chance.

I'd put Walcott in for Milner and let Milner come on if Gerrard or Parker get tired. G/K and back four pick themselves unless there are any injuries

I expect to see the same keeper and back four, with Gerrard, Parker, Young and Walcottt and Rooney/Welbeck up front- but Carroll to come on later, and Milner filling in for Gerrard/Parker if they get tired - an Ox to also come in as an impact sub if we need him

That would be my set up too Davie. I thought Walcott had turned a corner with his form at Arsenal last year, before he got crocked he was playing well. He looks fresh, hopefully Rooney will be the same.
It's a good front 4, I'm warming to Wellbeck, the defence is sound. The only problem is will the attack see the ball against the better sides ?