BrettNUFC Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I'm always a bit underwhelmed when I look at Belgium on paper, everyone talks about them like they're an awesome force of football quality. They have a fair number of good players, obviously, but it seems slightly over the top the way they're lauded. Bit sick of people prattling on about Belgium at the minute. Individually they've an excellent squad but I don't think they'll go as far next summer as some people are suggesting. I'm now not sure if Belguim are overrated or underrated Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 The actual standard of International Football for me is pretty average at present, apart from a few nations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Good to see his fairly innocuous comments have been blown thoroughly out of proportion. Innit, though. He doesn't appear to have a great deal going on between his ears so, when faced with a large group of journos and TV cameras, he's trotted out the cliches at a rate of knots. People harp on about the media sensationalising every little story, yet they still fall for it, and join in themselves, nearly every time. Players make comments, comments are overblown, player stops bothering with the press, press whinge about lack of access and players being aloof. Rinse and repeat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Forecasting the performance/achievements of national sides based on personnel seems a bit outdated to me. It's about teams and how well players interact together. Look at France (and to a lesser extent) England. They have enough good players to be dominant forces in football, but barely manage to look more convincing than your Russias/Swedens/Uruguays etc (if at all). Seen nothing as yet to suggest that Belgium can threaten Germany/Spain in terms of dominance. They're a threat for traditionally bigger teams in one-off ties by virtue of the calibre of their players, but in terms of over a tournament they're as unproven as they've ever been IMO. Spot on, particularly the last bit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I'm always a bit underwhelmed when I look at Belgium on paper, everyone talks about them like they're an awesome force of football quality. They have a fair number of good players, obviously, but it seems slightly over the top the way they're lauded. I've not read anything that suggests more than that. A collection of highly talented individuals who must prove they can play as a single unit against the very best. Definitely a sleeper in Brazil. They have steamrolled through their qualifying group to this point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Good to see his fairly innocuous comments have been blown thoroughly out of proportion. Innit, though. He doesn't appear to have a great deal going on between his ears so, when faced with a large group of journos and TV cameras, he's trotted out the cliches at a rate of knots. People harp on about the media sensationalising every little story, yet they still fall for it, and join in themselves, nearly every time. Fair point, I just thought it was a shame to have such a young and talented player coming out with that stuff about English blood and thunder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Sometimes you can see why Mourinho didn't think Lukaku was ready for Chelsea. His play on the ball isn't great, his feet aren't that fast. He's scary for CBs to face up against, but he still has a long way to go IMO, the hype is over the top. He's 20. The hype isn't OTT. He's better than 95% of 20 year-old strikers. If he works hard on his game he'll be among the best in the world. He's already one of th top 10 strikers in the division. I'd have Benteke over him if for some reason we could have one for a season. Barely though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 IMO Belgium have maybe the 4th/5th strongest squad in Europe. Spain, Germany, Italy.. maybe the Dutch who have establishde world class players in certain positions. Biggest weakness with Belgium is age and experience. From country that didn't always make the finals of tournaments to one of the strongest it's a big jump Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaKa Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Lukaku over hyped? No chance. That's a 20 year old we're talking about. Incredible potential, and more impressively has the hunger and attitude to succeed. Seems a quality guy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ_NUFC Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Think Mourinho is not into developing younger players, and prefers a finished article? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Sometimes you can see why Mourinho didn't think Lukaku was ready for Chelsea. His play on the ball isn't great, his feet aren't that fast. He's scary for CBs to face up against, but he still has a long way to go IMO, the hype is over the top. Ask Lescott that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikri Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 "We are English. We tackle hard, are tough on the pitch and are hard to beat. "We have great characters. You think of Spain and you think technical but you think of England and you think they are brave and they tackle hard. We have to remember that." Oh dear. Everything that's wrong with English football summed up there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest palnese Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 "We are English. We tackle hard, are tough on the pitch and are hard to beat. "We have great characters. You think of Spain and you think technical but you think of England and you think they are brave and they tackle hard. We have to remember that." Oh dear. Everything that's wrong with English football summed up there. The England team is full of soft cunts and divers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikri Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 "We are English. We tackle hard, are tough on the pitch and are hard to beat. "We have great characters. You think of Spain and you think technical but you think of England and you think they are brave and they tackle hard. We have to remember that." Oh dear. Everything that's wrong with English football summed up there. The England team is full of soft cunts and divers. It's the mentality that hard work (usually meaning lots of running around and diving into tackles) is somehow better than actual ability. It's what leads to players like Alan Smith, loads of running around & hard tackles but the man struggled to pass to a team mate, gave away possession all the time and most of his hard tackles were stupid desperate tackles to win a ball back that he'd lost. People laud defenders like John Terry for his last ditch goal-saving tackles but somehow miss that the best defenders rarely need to make those tackles because their reading of the game is enough that those situations don't arise in the first place. It'll struggle to change in this country because all those involved at the top end of the game, from coaches & managers to "expert pundits" in the media are the exact type of player who succeeded in the shit system that's producing the same shite players year after year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtype Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 This whole idea of naturalized players playing for the national team is interesting. Don't see why not imo. Korea is one of the last holdouts in Asia against any naturalized players, much like England is one of the last holdouts in Europe. I suspect we both suffer quite a bit for it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 He won't be eligible under Home Nations rules anyway. Kinda pointless discussing or monitoring him when he won't be called up. Exactly. And he's scored two goals, fucking laughable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 FWIW http://i.imgur.com/Et9BpUk.png Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiquidAK Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Don't see what he's said wrong there tbh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I didn't think anyone cared about the England team anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ameritoon Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 He's covered his tracks there, but he didn't specify that in his initial comments so I'm not surprised by the reaction. They were pretty obtuse statements. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I don't think he's far wrong with what he said about the way England play either. The national team would've be far better served in recent years playing like a swashbuckling PL team that a faux European team IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I don't think he's far wrong with what he said about the way England play either. The national team would've be far better served in recent years playing like a swashbuckling PL team that a faux European team IMO. They beat Spain (in a friendly) playing like Chelsea did in the Champions League IIRC so there may be something to that. Better equipped to win a tournament like Greece did than most teams if you think about it. Best shot too. The groundwork to win a trophy any other way won't come about for a long, long time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sifu Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 FWIW http://i.imgur.com/Et9BpUk.png The top tweet has pretty much cleared it up. I still think he's a cunt mind and that is one of the reasons why I can never really support him in the England team, don't get me wrong, he's a great player but the demeanour he shows just makes me want to really kick the fuck out of him. How has it come to this? The England team is no longer likeable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I don't think he's far wrong with what he said about the way England play either. The national team would've be far better served in recent years playing like a swashbuckling PL team that a faux European team IMO. They beat Spain (in a friendly) playing like Chelsea did in the Champions League IIRC so there may be something to that. Better equipped to win a tournament like Greece did than most teams if you think about it. Best shot too. The groundwork to win a trophy any other way won't come about for a long, long time Was getting at more the 'golden generation'. England have little to no chance now whatever they try and do. I doubt any team will do a Greece again due to the fitness levels required especially in a WC / expanded Euros. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 What's the big deal with him smoking a cig btw? Certainly not the smartest thing for a professional athlete to do, but the way he's so strongly denying everything makes it seem like a rape allegation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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