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Why do Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana not compete at Copa America? I know for a fact the first two are independent countries (and are therefore full FIFA members). French Guiana is an overseas territory, IIRC, but so is Tahiti which competed in Confed Cup. Surely it would be better and more in the spirit of the competition to include true South American sides instead of inviting one of the numerous Spanish-speaking North American countries or the likes of US, Jamaica, and even Japan to send reserve squads?

I have been putting the United States female team in my prayers in advance of the vicious beating they will suffer at the hands of Oshoala and the Super Falcons. May God protect them.

So, the top two from each group and two best third placed sides qualify?

Reality isn't based solely in your opinion. I simply believe that McClaren is good at his job (not a revolutionary world class talent, but overly competent and very experienced), which is not a statement that has anything to do with the state of the club. It a statement which exists in a vacuum. Whether or not he will be able to have an impact on the malaise the club currently finds itself in is something that depends on a litany of other factors.

Delusion in terms of what? Differing opinions on the club's yet to be appointed manager? I don't think anyone has taken Ashely's talk of trophies and the Champion's League seriously. Unless you are referring to views not expressed on this forum, I don't understand.

Cisse is a fairly small man and she will be wearing massive heels I am sure. I agree, tbh, but you are arguing with yourself, again.

I like McClaren, tbh. I think he will do fairly well here if given good players and/or the finances to pursue talent. Also, a much better face for the club than the Pardew character.There are obviously still persistent and deep issues with the way NUFC is operated, but the manager's seat will have it's best occupant since September 2008, imo.

1 and 2.

Life is not fair and sport is a harsher business than most. Right now both of their careers are in the wilderness and the 6-7 years of service and wear on their bodies they have put into this club will mean nothing when the NUFC no longer owes them a cheque. Both surely knew it was coming and I don't think the manner of it is overly important.

Without exaggerating, the guy is probably the best player over there. Dominates. Happy for Lazio to be back in the in the CL, and it will be interesting for both Rome teams to be in the competition. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if they are knocked out in the playoff before the group, though.

Optimum temperature for football player health and performance is 16 degrees Centigrade and THAT figure came from a doctor at Qatar's Aspire Sports Hospital... Qatar's temperatures in December/January are fine for football. Probably no different than what Spanish players deal with near the end of the season, and definitely less extreme than what was seen at the last World Cup in Brazil, where games were played in an actual rainforest and supporters had to hide from the sun during Netherlands/Mexico. Never mind the Beijing Olympics, which were in a harsh climate in the world's most polluted air. As always, keep players hydrated, have a cooling break if there are unseasonably warm temperatures (I think these should be mandatory in most matches worldwide anyway), and everything will be fine in terms of player safety. That argument is specious, imo.

100% not, if the FA's around the world can't organise their leagues with 7 years notice to compete for 6 weeks then there is something wrong, and I hate the issue of players been to tired to play a few games of football This should be the least pertinent argument against a Qatar World Cup, especially if FIFA had been sensible instead of spending 2-3 years talking about creating clouds, changing the climate, and other nonsense. Qatar was given the tournament 12 years in advance, and even now there are more than seven years to simply adjust the calendar for one year. It is also in a sense unfair, that some countries could essentially never host the World's greatest event because of Europe's schedule. Saudi Arabia, for example, has a fairly storied history in the game, but could never host a summer World Cup. In all likelihood, it goes off without a problem in seven years, the financial backing is massive and the host country is a safer proposition than Russia, Brazil, or South Africa. As always the real issue has been the predetermined nature of Qatar's selection because of euros/dollars changing hands despite Qatar not meeting the criteria set out beforehand, and the morality of Qatar's method in creating a WC.

The same! I assumed it was on Thursday, like every other single Europa League match that has happened this season. A shame, because I anticipated it being a good match. Congratulations to Sevilla.

He has made about 80 appearances for the club and has been fairly nondescript for any number of reasons. His career here has not gone well, do you disagree with this statement? I haven't "come around", either, the guy was just very impressive on Sunday. An authoritative presence, in fact, but anyone can have one good match especially given the varying incentives for the two teams. As I said, hopefully it is a spring board for him to improve and establish himself at the club.

I just recently watched Sunday's match for the first time, and Anita was fantastic throughout (outside of his ridiculous waste on the 4 v. keeper break). Colback was good too, I thought, and quite progressive with his passing (more so than usual), but Vurnon was MOTM by far. The best performance he has had in three seasons. Admittedly, this came in a desperation match against a listless West Ham, but hopefully it is a good platform to improve what has thus far been a lacklustre career at the club. Abied is the most likely to leave out of NUFC's dedicated midfielders, imo. Seems unhappy here, proven elsewhere, and is probably the easiest to sell.

Don't think that will happen. Think some of the big guys are going down, hopefully Marin is one of them. Wonder what happens with the others. Owner of Traffic Sports has already pleaded guilty and forfeited $25m dollars, he will forfeit another $126m. So there is definitely been wrong doing up top and many will be charged. I agree that a few known people will take charges, but I seriously doubt this investigation achieves anything more than getting a few individuals to fall on their sword. Do you see FIFA being affected or deterred in any way?

I cannot wait for this process to last the course of 2-3 years, take down a few minions in minor roles, and produce no real change to anything.

Allegri's time with Milan post-Ibrahimovic was very uninspiring. There is probably more to it, but I remember Milan supporters being happy to see him leave.

I am quite sure Naughton is gone, Yedlin has played for Tottenham ~1 time and Dier is a centre-back by preferred position.

I don't think he has looked the same since the return from injury. Lacking in confidence, imo, as is the whole team, tbf. Anita must be my Colback, because the boy has been here three years and is yet t=o establish himself in any way other than being squad filler. Why are people still asking for him? His best performances of this season were at fullback.

Fwiw, I am not some massive supporter of Colback. I just think he is the best option at the club right now, and is overly criticised. Tiote of 2011 is much better and Abeid definitely has the potential in him to be the better player, but neither are better right now, imo. Good water carrier for NUFC. Honestly Astro, Milner was miscast at NUFC as a fairly average winger. He really found himself when O'Neill unleashed him in central midfield. Colback is a water carrier wherever he goes, the difference will be the quality of player around him.

He'd be in my top five performers for the season. Generally, a pretty steady player while the rest of the players have been a shambles. He has also generally been the best option in his position, especially given the injuries to Tiote and Abeid and the rubishness of Anita.

I just don't see Hull taking full points against Manchester United. I really cannot. They have been rubbish all season without any sort of relent. As someone noted, almost all of their victories have been against sides struggling. Even when they beat Everton, it was at the time when the Blues were languishing in the lower half and Martinez was on sack-watch. All proper teams have handled them easily. I believe that NUFC will draw 1-1 against West Ham, a side with a lame duck manager that has been soulless for months, and it will be enough. A relegation would be quite an accomplishment from Carver, though. He arrived with the club in such a strong position that the worst run in the league since Derby 2008 still leaves his group with the simple task of winning against a below average team at home. Even failure at this task isn't fatal. It is really incredible that the last day has arrived, and the club are in this situation.

I am not a fan of Anita at all, and Abeid has been just OK (with some poor errors) since returning from injury, imo, but the presence of Taylor in the middle is probably the single most baffling tactical decision I have seen in my time following the sport. There is just no reason for it. He was injured and out of contention for most of the season, and only originally saw the pitch because Haidara/Dummett/Janmaat were injured and once in the team performed miserably at his preferred position of fullback. As a result of this, he is now first choice in a position he has rarely if ever played? Colback (who sometimes struggles to compete physically, anyway) may as well play alone in that area because Taylor has no attributes of a midfielder.

In recent history, Bordeaux have had Sagnol, Tigana, and Blanc all within the last five years. A pretty formidable group. Fwiw, I think the low number of players caught taking recreational and enhancing drugs at football's top level is more to do with lax testing protocol than anything else. Most people just get away with it, or have their issues handled internally.