World Cup 2026

[bobzmyunkle]

Scotland face reality.

 

[Pblakeney]

Scotland face reality.

FWIW, from what I’ve heard Scotland always knew the reality. They just like a party before going home. Ranked 40 while 32 teams go through.
Playing out from the back against Brazil though? 🤣

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

FWIW, from what I’ve heard Scotland always knew the reality. They just like a party before going home. Ranked 40 while 32 teams go through.
Playing out from the back against Brazil though? 🤣

It really was just daft. Accept your limitations as players and play accordingly. It's like all the PL teams that think they are Man City and try and do the same thing, only to concede stupid goals when they lose the ball on the penalty spot!

 

[AndyRM]

Youse aren't Scotland fans then? Or at least haven't been watching us much?

We've played this way for years.

It's what Steve Clarke does, either to his detriment or credit.

 

[First Aspect]

It really was just daft. Accept your limitations as players and play accordingly. It's like all the PL teams that think they are Man City and try and do the same thing, only to concede stupid goals when they lose the ball on the penalty spot!

I thought they were playing quite well. It was just the strange decision to pretend to be Barcelona in their own penalty area that undid them. Other than that, they were just slightly outplayed.

They main issue was Haiti and the 71 second goal. Really could have been one or both of a better goal difference and 4 points, because I don't think Morocco are that great.

 

[spen666]

It really was just daft. Accept your limitations as players and play accordingly. It's like all the PL teams that think they are Man City and try and do the same thing, only to concede stupid goals when they lose the ball on the penalty spot!

Its worse than that, I watch a lot of non league football and see teams at tiers 6-9 of English football doing this.
The logic is not to lose possession, but the teams inevitably do, and lose it around their own penalty area, whereas if they booted it up field, they may lose possession, but opposition are 60 or more yards from your goal, so less likely to score

 

[AndyRM]

Its worse than that, I watch a lot of non league football and see teams at tiers 6-9 of English football doing this.
The logic is not to lose possession, but the teams inevitably do, and lose it around their own penalty area, whereas if they booted it up field, they may lose possession, but opposition are 60 or more yards from your goal, so less likely to score

Pep (and Del Bosque who he basically copied) have a lot to answer for in this regard I feel. Tiki taka is all well and good, but if you can't do it, just belt it and hope for the best.

Not pretty, but it's effective.

 

[Beebo]

Pep (and Del Bosque who he basically copied) have a lot to answer for in this regard I feel. Tiki taka is all well and good, but if you can't do it, just belt it and hope for the best.

Not pretty, but it's effective.

AKA The Wimbledon tactic.
Stick it in the box and hope John Fashanu can score.
It also worked well for Niall Quinn, but you do need a big target man who is prepared to get stuck in.

 

[First Aspect]

Pep (and Del Bosque who he basically copied) have a lot to answer for in this regard I feel. Tiki taka is all well and good, but if you can't do it, just belt it and hope for the best.

Not pretty, but it's effective.

Tiki taka is like watching paint dry. Thankfully teams have got progressively better at playing past the press that it requires and it seems to be going out of fashion.

 

[AndyRM]

Tiki taka is like watching paint dry. Thankfully teams have got progressively better at playing past the press that it requires and it seems to be going out of fashion.

Exactly.

Boring your opponents to sleep is tedious beyond reason.

 

[spen666]

Pep (and Del Bosque who he basically copied) have a lot to answer for in this regard I feel. Tiki taka is all well and good, but if you can't do it, just belt it and hope for the best.

Not pretty, but it's effective.

I'm not sure I blame those 2. The system works very well for their teams with highly skilled players, not sure it works for well for North Shields in tier 9 playing on a pitch at The Morgue that is one step up from a ploughed field
Managers seem to have adopted this because it works for Pep without realising it doesn't work for cloggers in lower leagues, especially those playing on ploughed fields or mud baths

 

[AndyRM]

I'm not sure I blame those 2. The system works very well for their teams with highly skilled players, not sure it works for well for North Shields in tier 9 playing on a pitch at The Morgue that is one step up from a ploughed field
Managers seem to have adopted this because it works for Pep without realising it doesn't work for cloggers in lower leagues, especially those playing on ploughed fields or mud baths

I could walk over to The Morgue and take a picture if you'd like me to prove you're wrong if you'd like?

 

[spen666]

I could walk over to The Morgue and take a picture if you'd like me to prove you're wrong if you'd like?

As they are not currently playing football on The Morgue - its not relevant what pitch is like today.

Compared to the surface at The Ethiad/ Emirates etc, the surface at most non league grounds is like a ploughed field, and that is what The morgue and most northern League pitches are like in the middle of winter
PS - it wasn't a lot better when it was part of The Ralph Gadener School set up

 

[Pblakeney]

Youse aren't Scotland fans then? Or at least haven't been watching us much?

We've played this way for years.

It's what Steve Clarke does, either to his detriment or credit.

Which was pretty much my point.
Expectations were met.

 

[BoldonLad]

Not a football fan, but, I suppose I hope England win. However, if they don’t win, please, can it be an African Nation (Somalia would be perfect, are they still in?), because, that would really piss Trump off. 😊