ponsaelius

Livingston Vs Hearts for me today

The fact it is only every four years puts it on a pedestal by default. Obviously quality wise the football isn't as high a level as well oiled club sides but given how robotic and dull top level club football currently is that is arguably a perk. Do worry this one could be a bit of a mess with the expanded format but it's still obviously the pinnacle of the game in terms attention and impact.

Legend

735 away fans apparently? That's more than some home fixtures

Eastleigh finished 3-3. Morecambe result is a shame, would have been done done if they'd failed to win I think.

Yeah FA put a stop to teams refusing promotion. They're not allowed to do that anymore. Step 4 was restructured at the same time into three regional leagues rather than two, so the travelling isn't as bad anymore (the NL did try to argue that it should simply be promoted up a step as part of this reshuffle, but it was rejected). Many NL teams have been promoted since then, and you can see that NPL East is quite NE heavy these days (along with other teams with backing who have climbed higher). The play offs came in more recently but basically mean one team up auto and one up from the play offs. Play offs follow a single leg basis with higher ranked teams at home - same for the final. It's a positive as keeps the league alive when you have a runaway leader (quite often the case in the NL). The NL is obviously significantly weaker these days than it used to be, with so many big clubs now moved up, but it has probably strengthened NE non-league football rather than keeping the little kingdom to itself that the league was.

Germany have had the odd stinker too mind - 04, 18, 22. But they would never fail to qualify in the way Netherlands and Italy have done.

Tbh it's become much easier to qualify for every other confederation but not really that much different in UEFA. You still have to either win your group or get through the play-offs if you finish second. Your group draw has a higher chance of being slightly easier than previously but the play offs are more of a lottery than they used to be once upon a time as rather than a single two legged tie you've got to play two single leg ties, the final of which could be away regardless of your group stage performance. I'm all for spreading football around the globe and the WC should be a global tournament but UEFA only getting 3 of the additional 16 spaces they've added is probably a stretch too far. This is going to be a significantly watered down WC quality wise.

I suppose if you look at it like that you take it over never winning anything. Four finals and two wins in the 20th century despite so many disasters too.

Whitley pretty much guaranteed a home semi final in the NL play offs now. Shildon should still be massive favourites but they fucked it last season so you never know.

Obviously they should still be qualifying in theory, but it's a lopsided team lacking in key positions and severely lacking depth. You're always then at risk - particularly with an unlucky draw (IE getting Norway from the second pot) and then one loss means you're in a ropey play off route where one red card away from home means you're out.

Italy in 2021 were good though. They went on a 30+ match winning run post the 2018 play off loss up to Wembley and fully deserved to win the tournament. It was the first time a manager had properly trusted the Verratti/Insigne/Immobile generation of players in their best positions, still had the old guard of Chiellini/Bonucci, and young talent in Donnarumma and Barella breaking through. There's only really the last two left from that side, so it's not really comparable to this team. Teams change quickly at international level. The core problem is such an abject lack of depth in player production which means if you don't strike it with a group and system that works, or there is key injuries, you're badly exposed. Something needs to be seriously done ala Das Reboot in Germany post Euro 04 or the St George's Park project and everything England have done right since then. And clubs need to start playing more Italian players at 17/18/19, even if they're not world-beaters, and suffering the consequences of doing so for the greater benefit. The thing with England/France/Germany/Spain now is they have so much depth in players they're basically bulletproof in qualifying. Italy don't have that.

Italy will probably find lightning in a bottle again with a group of players and a quality manager like they did in 2021 (and to some extent 2016) and it will again gloss over the major need for reform to start producing better players at youth level and trusting them to play in the top flight.

Three world cups in a row. With a Euros win in the middle of that.

Probably although on a bit of a hiding to nowt with this team tbh

It's an absurd system indeed. You could in theory systematically game the Nations League through relegations give yourself a play off failsafe for tournaments. The Nations League is fine as a slightly better option than friendlies to fill the calendar and allow teams to play against those of a similar strength, but it shouldn't be forming part of the qualification structure.

The other defender was behind the one making the tackle though. It was easily as much of a red as the Bastoni one which was much further from goal.

Can't see how that wasn't a red for Bosnia mind

Bringing on Cristante in this situation shades of bringing on De Rossi against Sweden in 2018

This Italy side is painful. I know it's 10 men away from home but the inability to keep the ball is excruciating

Is those unique set or circumstances being we had by far the highest wage bill and best squad in the league both times? Spurs would obviously cruise the Championship.

The turnaround at Gateshead is one of the most mental I think I've ever seen in football

Finished 2-1

I'm only about half way through the second ep but enjoying it. Think it's surprisingly well made and balanced.

Worth noting as well that Brackley's manager went to Shrewsbury 3 days after that game. Some collapse.