Flip

If it wasn't for Pardew I'd say based on this WC I probably wouldn't take 28-30 of the manages. van Gaal, Scolari, Sabella, Löw have all had problems getting performances from their teams against weaker opposition. It's not as simple as that. Same way Belgium went to the quarters and lost is the same way the so adored Chile and Colombia lost to an extremely weak Brazilian performance.

I like you as a poster and you know that but sometimes you post without thinking . Wilmots was given the job because he's one of the most respected players to grace the Belgian football. He has a huge respect and is the hero of many of the guys on the team as they grew up watching him. He did a fantastic job with them during the qualifiers and friendlies since he took over. His Belgium side had one of the best performances in the WC when they played the US. He only lost to Argentina due to a single goal. To take his old achievements and pedigree as football manager and condemn his achievements with the national side is ridiculous. His win percentage as a manager for Belgium is the highest ever with the national team. I mean van Gaal didn't qualify Netherlands with a pretty good team to the 2002 World Cup. He also had a terrible return to Barcelona after that if I'm not mistaken, or did he resign from that? Just because a manager has failed at one job doesn't make him a bad manager, I disagree regarding Wilmots. Holland appointed Rijkaard (EC 2000) and Van Basten (WC 2008, EC 2010) in a similar situation: both highly respected (ex) players without any relevant management experience. They both failed to deliver. Argentina did it with Maradonna and it didn't work out. I can't really think of any successful NT manager without at least some experience at top club level. In my humble opinion a great football (and I'm not even sure Wilmots is that) does not a great international manager make. You're basically saying the appointment is rubbish despite his record speaking for itself. Quarter-finals is what everyone expected and they played Argentina and lost. I didn't once say that a great football player makes a great international manager, but his stature in Belgian football has helped gain respect from players in a team that before used to be completely split into two camps. I'm not saying he's an excellent manager, I'm just saying that you're condemning his ability based on what he's done in the past and not present. i'm with unbelievable on this one, called it before the tourament that a better manager could take belgium close to winning it...and by that i mean a van gaal or someone england are proof that being great in qualifiers means f*** all Belgium beat every team except Argentina, how is that bad? If they beat Argentina they could easily have gone on close to winning it. Some people don't seem to realize that tiny details can change everything. If Netherland don't score a 45th minute equalizer against Spain or get a wrongly allowed 3-1 goal against Spain they might not have gone through their group, if Brazil doesn't get help from Nishimura we might've lost every game as well. There are tiny tiny details that change games in World Cup. Wilmots had his team get through the group on 9p, 3 of them coming from behind in an opener against a team that played extremely well against Germany, another 3p against a Russian side that isn't bad at all and another 3p with 10men on the pitch for majority of the game. I'm not comparing van Gaal to Wilmots historically, but van Gaal has fucked up in international football as well when he failed to qualify for the 2002 WC, so nothing says he'd be certain to do a better tournament then Wilmots with the Belgian side.

I like you as a poster and you know that but sometimes you post without thinking . Wilmots was given the job because he's one of the most respected players to grace the Belgian football. He has a huge respect and is the hero of many of the guys on the team as they grew up watching him. He did a fantastic job with them during the qualifiers and friendlies since he took over. His Belgium side had one of the best performances in the WC when they played the US. He only lost to Argentina due to a single goal. To take his old achievements and pedigree as football manager and condemn his achievements with the national side is ridiculous. His win percentage as a manager for Belgium is the highest ever with the national team. I mean van Gaal didn't qualify Netherlands with a pretty good team to the 2002 World Cup. He also had a terrible return to Barcelona after that if I'm not mistaken, or did he resign from that? Just because a manager has failed at one job doesn't make him a bad manager, I disagree regarding Wilmots. Holland appointed Rijkaard (EC 2000) and Van Basten (WC 2008, EC 2010) in a similar situation: both highly respected (ex) players without any relevant management experience. They both failed to deliver. Argentina did it with Maradonna and it didn't work out. I can't really think of any successful NT manager without at least some experience at top club level. In my humble opinion a great football (and I'm not even sure Wilmots is that) does not a great international manager make. You're basically saying the appointment is rubbish despite his record speaking for itself. Quarter-finals is what everyone expected and they played Argentina and lost. I didn't once say that a great football player makes a great international manager, but his stature in Belgian football has helped gain respect from players in a team that before used to be completely split into two camps. I'm not saying he's an excellent manager, I'm just saying that you're condemning his ability based on what he's done in the past and not present.

I like you as a poster and you know that but sometimes you post without thinking . Wilmots was given the job because he's one of the most respected players to grace the Belgian football. He has a huge respect and is the hero of many of the guys on the team as they grew up watching him. He did a fantastic job with them during the qualifiers and friendlies since he took over. His Belgium side had one of the best performances in the WC when they played the US. He only lost to Argentina due to a single goal. To take his old achievements and pedigree as football manager and condemn his achievements with the national side is ridiculous. His win percentage as a manager for Belgium is the highest ever with the national team. I mean van Gaal didn't qualify Netherlands with a pretty good team to the 2002 World Cup. He also had a terrible return to Barcelona after that if I'm not mistaken, or did he resign from that? Just because a manager has failed at one job doesn't make him a bad manager,

Wilmots isn't even fit to lace Van Gaal's shoes man. Wasn't a couple of weeks ago people everywhere would tell me that Belgium had the much better players, were outsiders for the World Cup whereas Holland wouldn't even get out of the group stage. Belgium failed to impress against really mediocre opposition four times and than went out without a whimper in their first real test. Add to that the fact Marc Wilmots couldn't settle on who his best players were even after the tournament had started and he's been an unmitigated disaster. Belgium was less than the sum of their parts, whereas Holland are more. To compare Van Gaal to Wilmots is laughable. Wilmots will need a lot more years to even come close to being compared to van Gaal , but I don't agree that they failed to impress against four teams. They were very impressive against the US and Algeria showed they're no pushovers either. I think in the end the four best teams in the WC are in the semi's, not because they've played well but because neither team has really impressed and yet are in the semi's because they have that extra quality. Whatever final we get it's going to be one of the best in recent history. It's four historically great teams (even if Holland has never won it)

....refereeing decisons and FIFAs 'dream wishes' not withstanding.

Probably the best post I've read on here about the Brazilian side. *Just got back from the Costa Rica - Holland game. Can't stop getting more and more in love with Robben. What a fantastic footballer he is.

Im on my cell so couldn't see who wrote. Agree regarding van Bommel but Fernandinho is twice the player on the ball. Van Bommel was an excellent player on his day but he never had the ability on the ball like Fernandinho. Must've misunderstood/misread the post

Exactly, only Neymar has the capabilities to play that way. What the pundits are expecting of them they are not actually capable of. Everyone wants us to play with four #10s so when we lose we're naive and idiots. Also Fernandinho has given this team so much inte knockouts. Been so impressed with his ability on the ball. He brings aggressiveness and roughness defensively and calmness and class offensively. Say what you want about being lucky with the yellow cards, but he's class and comparing him Van Bommel is an insult. (Whoever did that)

Fair enough. I didn't realise he'd actually fractured his spine. Neymar dives and all, but players will keep doing it while they 1. Can gain advantage from it as the ref are incompetent as fuck. 2. They don't get any protection from the ref. That really doesn't warrant a fractured vertebra and removal from the biggest two games that will happen in his life.. What Zuniga did yesterday was criminal, it wasn't a normal play, his only goal was to hurt Neymar with that challenge. He's never getting the ball. There's a huge problem in consistency of punishment. Sakho and Song have escaped further punishment for horrible things this WC and Zuniga will as well, while Suarez will get 4 months (although they've now removed the 'can't train with team' that I was so against).

Hulk has had two decent games lately, just the finishing that is lacking. Feel sorry for him as he has been working hard, but he just doesn't seem able to beat the goalie. Hope he gets one of those long shots to go in at the Mineirao.

I just can't see them beating Germany without Neymar and Silva. Would it be viewed as a massive failure in Brazil if they got knocked out in the semis? The expectation for them to win it on home turf can't be played down but it will be a massive ask for them to get the final without both of their talismans. The likes of Oscar, Paulinho, Willian and Fred really have to step up in a big way. Expectations are down, we're underdogs now and throughout the last two games whoever we play. I think pressure will be off and that with this injury the team will actually get better. It's Oscars time to shine just like he did in the U20s when Coutinho disappointed and he took over and scored a hattrick in the final. He has the talent to be the star of this team, and it's time he steps up in the absence of Neymar. As for Thiago Silva, it's never good to lose your captain and leader on the pitch who also happens to be the best central defender in the world. But if I could pick anyone to step up in his place it's Dante, he knows the German side and he knows how to handle pressure.

You know what my problem is with all this, it's that when we play the beautiful game and don't win people call Brazil out for not being intelligent. When we then do it the other way, criticism changes because we don't win it our way. We're not playing well no one is even questioning that, but football has changed and we don't have a #9. Now we don't even have our two best players possibly for the semi and despite that I'm more confident than I've been all tournament.

:lol: No s*** sherlock. 31 fouls commited by Brazil, 24 by Colombia. James didn't get any dangerous challenges all day, hard but not 'dangerous'. I've seen players be treated 10x worse than that in less important games. I understand the love for James, but come on. Didn't say they were dangerous but they were definitely targeted. I'm not saying the ref favoured you but you can't complain when it happens to Neymar then defend it when it happens to James Defend? I'm not, I'm saying it's the same treatment top players who likes to have the ball at their feet get every week. He'll see plenty more of these days. Ref allowed it to happen, it was obviously the game plan, we're a dirty, disrupting team that will defend and hope to score enough to grab a win.

:lol: No shit sherlock. 31 fouls commited by Brazil, 24 by Colombia. James didn't get any dangerous challenges all day, hard but not 'dangerous'. I've seen players be treated 10x worse than that in less important games. I understand the love for James, but come on.

We win games because while we are horrible offensively we have the best centerback pairing in the world and fantastic defensive midfielders. We don't concede many, we're solid and don't let other teams. I've read all about Chile and Colombia but we sent both out.

Yup, doctors came out of the hospital, unless they're lying. Fractured vertebra, some months and missing possibly the two biggest games of anyones life. Time for Oscar to show up and Hulk to actually score on his million chances. Step forward Willian. Sorry Flip - about Neymar's injury. Massive blow to the team, to the nation, to him, and of course to you, my friend. Hope you guys prosper and fight on with the same passion you had tonight. I think we'll be fine. Neymar is the star, but now, pressure is off. Everyone thinks we're down, we're going to prevail as underdogs.

It's absolutely ridiculous. I'm not going to deny the fact that there were plenty of decisions going Brazils way, but jesus f***ing christ some on here completely forgetting plenty of occasions. No wonder why someone calm like Kanji got p*ssed at some of you lot. I'm just going to laugh as I'm going to be in Belo Horizonte watching Brazil v the most likeable German side I can remember. Svein Oddvar Moen was the ref. He absolutely loves favourites. Loves them. He's got years of priors. s*** ref. Yeah, he loves them, just like Howard Webb loves us as well and almost sent us out. Moen must've missed the foul on Maicon prior to the penalty. Get over, ref was terrible, both ways just like it's been for almost every game this World Cup. Also, Zuniga escapes a yellow card and fractures Neymars back. Funny how everyone thought James was getting kicked around. That's because James was getting kicked around. And the challenge Neymar got injured in didn't deserve a yellow card I'm sorry, but what James got today is what players like Messi, Neymar and many others get every single game every single f***ing week. Now that he has shown what he's capable off, he can expect as much as them. Also, not a yellow? So a f***ing knee to the spine off someone who is chesting down a ball and you have zero chances of getting first to it ain't a yellow? I'm happy you have your specs on. Not surprised. I must apologise for the bit on Neymar. I thought at the time it wasn't a yellow but I looked it up on Youtube now and it was a bad challenge. There should really have been about 10 yellow cards in the game though

Yup, doctors came out of the hospital, unless they're lying. Fractured vertebra, some months and missing possibly the two biggest games of anyones life. Time for Oscar to show up and Hulk to actually score on his million chances.

It's absolutely ridiculous. I'm not going to deny the fact that there were plenty of decisions going Brazils way, but jesus f***ing christ some on here completely forgetting plenty of occasions. No wonder why someone calm like Kanji got p*ssed at some of you lot. I'm just going to laugh as I'm going to be in Belo Horizonte watching Brazil v the most likeable German side I can remember. Svein Oddvar Moen was the ref. He absolutely loves favourites. Loves them. He's got years of priors. s*** ref. Yeah, he loves them, just like Howard Webb loves us as well and almost sent us out. Moen must've missed the foul on Maicon prior to the penalty. Get over, ref was terrible, both ways just like it's been for almost every game this World Cup. Also, Zuniga escapes a yellow card and fractures Neymars back. Funny how everyone thought James was getting kicked around. That's because James was getting kicked around. And the challenge Neymar got injured in didn't deserve a yellow card I'm sorry, but what James got today is what players like Messi, Neymar and many others get every single game every single fucking week. Now that he has shown what he's capable off, he can expect as much as them. Also, not a yellow? So a fucking knee to the spine off someone who is chesting down a ball and you have zero chances of getting first to it ain't a yellow? I'm happy you have your specs on. Not surprised.

It's absolutely ridiculous. I'm not going to deny the fact that there were plenty of decisions going Brazils way, but jesus f***ing christ some on here completely forgetting plenty of occasions. No wonder why someone calm like Kanji got p*ssed at some of you lot. I'm just going to laugh as I'm going to be in Belo Horizonte watching Brazil v the most likeable German side I can remember. Svein Oddvar Moen was the ref. He absolutely loves favourites. Loves them. He's got years of priors. s*** ref. Yeah, he loves them, just like Howard Webb loves us as well and almost sent us out. Moen must've missed the foul on Maicon prior to the penalty. Get over, ref was terrible, both ways just like it's been for almost every game this World Cup. Also, Zuniga escapes a yellow card and fractures Neymars back. Funny how everyone thought James was getting kicked around.

It's absolutely ridiculous. I'm not going to deny the fact that there were plenty of decisions going Brazils way, but jesus fucking christ some on here completely forgetting plenty of occasions. No wonder why someone calm like Kanji got pissed at some of you lot. I'm just going to laugh as I'm going to be in Belo Horizonte watching Brazil v the most likeable German side I can remember.

The pressure is on Paulinho and Fernandinho. If they can dominate the midfield as I've seen them do before than there's nothing for Colombia. Excellent news with Maicon! Less nervous now, but my pulse is already at pretty much max anyways.

Fred has been abysmal in the World Cup, but this team has played this tactic the last 18months and Fred has a 0.5 goal ratio per game for the national side, higher than most players in the world. Helps when you're playing Australia, Scotland, New Zealand, Canada etc Huh? Scored 2x England, 3x Italy, 1x Argentina, 2x Spain, 1x Uruguay. Half his goals has come against those big teams. Some against the okish teams. He's been terrible in this World Cup and I hope he doesn't start, but don't post that shit TDick.