Flip

http://www.ibtimes.com/another-win-brazils-protesters-congress-rejects-pec-37-nixes-political-immunity-reduces-police Had we had no protests this would've happened. Look at how the politicians want the country to be run. It's ridiculous. Politically best that would happen is Brazil win the World Cup and then get back on the street and don't forget what they've started. Show everyone we can be great hosts and then get down to business again and keep demonstrations until everyone of them are out of job.

That's scary, I dreamt similar, I dreamt that I had slept through the whole group stage. I didn't even care about the reason to it, I was just in panic trying to get hold of anyone that had copies of all the games.

I'm not sure FIFA is the issue in Brazil (Felipao??), corrupt politicians at both local and national level making the cost of the tournament at ridiculous levels. There's also an Olympic games in 2 years time and the IOC said the preparation was a shambles so far. FIFA are absolutely a small part of the problem, they're benefitting from the tournament and have refused to put a single penny into it. That's FIFA though, they do what they want and we as a nation failed when we asked for the WC. All FIFA care about is profit, if people die they don't blink an eye as long as all of them walk away with heavier wallets. Any nation asking for a World Cup is basically helping enrich FIFA. The day this stops and they stop having that power of doing what they want is the day we as a world will be better off. However, our biggest problem is without a doubt the mentality within the politicians. They have all the power, so they vote for what they want, what their salaries should be, how many free paid weeks off work they should have, what advantages they should have as politicians. Here you can read a bit on our scandalous politicians: http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/11/economist-explains-14 Just look at Lula (our ex-president) son. Kid was working in a Zoo before his dad became president, now he's a self-made millionaire with government help. It's fucking ridiculous. All Lula's closest friends in the government even those that have been found guilty of bribery and so on are all millionaires. Brazilian politicians are all thieves. In fact, there was statistics that the most applied job after university degree in Brazil is to work within the government. Everyone knows that once you're in there you can become a millionaire as long as you make the right connections.

Guilty? For what exactly. People blaming the World Cup for a history of corruption within the government? It's a shame that this is where it's all going. Problems have always existed, it's a shame it's taken this long. The change we as the people can do is to not vote for these idiots at the next election. The politicians are there because we voted for them. I'm glad we've opened our eyes.

Absolutely, I'm just saying that there's a reason to why Scandinavian football is decreasing in level over the past years, I do think it has a lot to do with mentality provided by the coaches. I have seen an improvement over the last few years and hope it continues.

What ever happened to Dede? He was supposed to be the next big thing a few years ago For me he should still probably be it as well, injuries have stagnated his development a bit. Is now at Cruzeiro though that won the league and is a very very good defender. We all thought it was between him and Miranda for the 4th CB spot so was surprised to see Henrique there. Remember one paper linked us with him a few years ago, you think injuries were a problem? No doubt he will turn up in Ukraine in the next year or so Think we'll see him in a bigger league then Ukraine. He's that good, Ukraine are more young players that have been good for a year or two only. Dede has played at the top for more than that now. Only player that was capable of stopping Neymar when Neymar was at his best in 2012 (or 2011 can't remember exactly)

What ever happened to Dede? He was supposed to be the next big thing a few years ago For me he should still probably be it as well, injuries have stagnated his development a bit. Is now at Cruzeiro though that won the league and is a very very good defender. We all thought it was between him and Miranda for the 4th CB spot so was surprised to see Henrique there.

When did you live there? It's fairly common knowledge that they changed their youth development policies quite drastically (not just when it comes to separating players but many other aspects, like what the training sessions should focus on), think it was in the early 2000's or late 90's. Most Belgian clubs follow these guidelines. Until 4 years ago. They separated players at 'pre-minime' level (u10), at least at the club I played at that competed with clubs such as Tubize and Anderlecht. We are already separated into levels that are national, provincial and local. Some clubs have youth teams in all tiers, some have them in only one or two. What they did change in the system except for asking the teams all over the country to play a similar role tactic, and to not separate players due to their physical ability. Although I'm reading the new drastic changes started getting discussed in 2002, and I stopped in 2005-2006, so maybe like you said the effect were fast and came around the same time I stopped. At the same time Belgium had an excellent team with these methods in the 80s, in the ealry 2000s they had a good team as well with Mpenza brothers, Wilmots etc. So then it would be interesting to analyze the system over all these years. But I do realize I've missed the changes that you talked about When I played 10 years ago though, it wasn't like that. In Brazil we have always had the winning at all costs, and it works. Think the tactic change has done more than the winning and separating at older. But that's for another discussion

:lol: Dat freekick

Seriously, hope we've paid Cameroon more than Croatia or Mexico are willing to do at the World Cup. Seems like another team having problem with player bonuses in the WC so might as well pay their bonuses in exchange for three points.

You watched us right? It's no feat being good against us Leffe trying to make us change our minds on Bentaleb cause he played well against us this season. Even Pardew would run the show against our midfield if he could coach us and play against us at the same time. A Pardew vs Pardew game would be something to behold.

You watched us right? It's no feat being good against us Leffe trying to make us change our minds on Bentaleb cause he played well against us this season. Even Pardew would run the show against our midfield if he could coach us and play against us at the same time.

f*** the bed. That is the clear definition of that man. The goalie throws the ball in the net ffs.

That own goal.

Sorry, Collage, I lived in Belgium 9 years, played through their youth ranks at top footballing level. We were as kid already at 8 years old separated where we had A and B teams no matter who our friends were. Football in Belgium was serious from an early age and coaches treated us as adults. I do realize it's a cultural thing as it's the same across the whole Belgian culture, domestic, school or football clubs. It's not like in Sweden where kids can play with their best mates until they're 15-16 and then separated because some want to try and go pro.

Bentaleb is a player I wouldn't even wish upon my worst enemy. He had no business to be on the pitch ahead of some players.

£24m for the 5th (debatable) best Brazilian CB. What has the world come to.

I'm thinking of putting £100 on them already. Will be at the match as well so will make it a bit more interesting.

This is the thing, he started Bentaleb ahead of players like Paulinho. At times he started two offensive midfielders centrally and forced one to stay back. He just doesn't really know yet how to get the best out of his players, but at least he wants to attack and if he can take over at a smaller team and learn the traits needed I think he might become a good and mental manager.

True, but if you're going to try to implement a philosophy of imposing your game on the opposition and not worry about nullifying them, that'll happen, especially in the early days. Oh absolutely, I don't think Sherwood is a terrible manager, I just think he's a bit naive tactically tbh. Think he needs more experience and Spurs isn't the right place for it as they're not nice to their managers. Do think Pochettino is an excellent appointment. He did well in Espanyol and a very good job with Southampton who played above their level.

I think the biggest problem with Sherwood was his inability to have his players playing well against stronger opposition.

van der Vaart apparently out as well now. Dutch team looking worse and worse for every day that goes. I do realize he's not their best player either, but it's still an experienced and very good player.

x100 We're too scared of it, it's pure scandinavian mentality, no one should be better than anyone. It's just ridiculous.

I do think however one large part of the problem that we share here in Sweden is that we want to make changes in the youth department while we still have everyone managing these young players with outdated ideas. I see here in Sweden that absolute lack of ability to play on the floor from early ages, the inability to actually understand what football is about because as young people they're already told that they're not technically gifted enough. There's no wanting to invent a style, it's the whole mentality that stinks. I don't think it helps either to have managers like Drillo and Lagerbäck who despite winning games don't help the nations football in the longterm. In Sweden when I watch it, all I see is running, running and running, despite that the big club managers think the biggest difference between Swedish and other big nations football is the fact that they run more than the Swedish players. It's not true, they say that completely overlooking the fact that where other nations excels is the ability to play, ability to interact on the pitch. Intelligence is so underrated, we all look for physical types that can muster 90minutes non-stop while completely forgetting that intelligence on the pitch usually prevails. The ability to make runs at the right moment, to make the right pass, to conserve energy as a group. That's why I don't like Drillo and Lagerbäck and many other managers, because they set this mentality that we just aren't good enough playing so we'll have to win tactically, and yes it's true, but that mentality doesn't help to evolve the game within the nation and that's also why Scandinavian football is just going backwards.