Ameritoon

Jonas always seems to score in my dreams.

Balotelli is so ridiuclous.

Glad to see the tactics backfiring, leaving Rooney, Hernandez and Nani on the bench is ridiculous.

Two cunts going at it. That's the most entertainment so far.

I hate Sir Alex's big game tactics.

I don't think you do.

Those are such beautiful words to read.

Pleased they got Estonia, I'd really like to see Ireland at a major tournament. One of the few times a playoff draw has worked in favor of the teams I want to see.

You're right, he's only shit most of the time. I used to like him as a player, but the past season and a half he's been extremely inconsistent, I'd love to have him out there against us.

And Corluka is shit.

Brilliant Orange is fantastic, As well as How Football Explains the World. I've had The Ball is Round on my shelf for a while now, I need to start that. Bloody Confused by Chuck Culpepper is pretty interesting, but mainly for American readers (I think it has a different name in the UK), and I'll always love The Damned Utd. Foul! by Andrew Jennings is a must, although slightly outdated as this point. And there's a Robert Enke book out I'd like to check out.

http://www.virtualsportsdaily.com/forum/images/smilies/resultpng1307002385%5B1%5D.png

Everybody needs something to feel good about, I guess.

It's either deadly quiet in the Ireland game, or the broadcasters have muted the crowd noise.

Another brilliant German goal. Belgium likely out now, as much as I'd like to see them next summer, they really don't deserve it. So unorganized and sloppy, the decision making is horrible, too.

Ozil with a blast. Comon Belgiam.

I wouldn't mind starting him when Tiote is gone. He seems to play his best when he sits back deeper than the other CM, but doesn't necessarily play in a defensive mid roll. Had some of his better performances there last season and started in that roll during our best stretch during the Championship season. Ideally, Gosling will be good enough to slot in that roll in Jan/Feb, but Guthrie shouldn't be ruled out.

I completely forgot about Diatta. That was such a low season.

How is it a terrible rule? I just dislike it. It doesn't reward your cumulative efforts over the group stages like goal difference does. I don't feel sympathy for us in 2006 or South Africa now, though. They've been set against inferior teams and have failed because of their own underperformance, disorganisation, and infighting. To be honest, I think the head-to-head rule makes a lot of sense in these kind of group stages with wildly uneven opposition, where qualification shouldn't hinge on who put more past Liechtestein or Andorra. Indeed. Just look at the general logic on going by goal difference. One team could get knocked out by goal difference to another, despite beating that team once or twice. Just based on that it doesn't make sense to do it otherwise. It has helped the US though, when they got through in the Confederations Cup despite losing to Italy.

How is good positional sense luck? It's a big part of any strikers' game surely. It's not necessarily luck, I just don't appreciate players who are known for a good positional sense, but nothing else.

Not sure what the obsession with him is in Italy. He's had one very good season, coupled with two good seasons. Hardly been impressive his entire career, not sure why someone would even consider 9.5mil realistic.

The thing with Shola is he has some technical ability, and shows it about once every seven games. Loven just lucks into goals (ie has a good positional sense)

Better than Loven, I suppose. I'm sure he'll be getting on ahead of Ben Arfa though.