Cuenca 'ammer wrote:How anyone can defend Russia's tactics is beyond me. We absolutely rubbished BFS for "respecting the point" but that's what Russia did and gets lauded for it ??
uruguay got lauded for that.
they did the same, just much much better and with much better quality, against a weaker opponent.
at least russia have the excuse they're a bit ****.
DasNutNock wrote:Yeah, all that. But Russia won and Spain lost.
Yeah they did. Doesn't mean that I have to like watching it............
At least Uruguay got forward....they got forward. Russia had no intent except to play for penalties after they equalized.
If England played like that and we won, it would leave a bittersweet taste in my mouth. Happy we won. Disappointed that we had to resort to that style to do it.
How many people on here slaughtered Sam and Moyes for doing the exact same thing ? How many people said they would rather we got relegated if it meant we didn't play like that ?
Hope they are one and the same, and not changing their tune because Spain went out. At least be consistent...
But it's not quite the same when it two teams you don't support and there is one team you would love to see get knocked out.
It cant be compared to the 4 years of utter garbage Fat Sam had us playing. We paid to watch that, this we have not.
When it's your own team then it matters, when it's not. It's harder to really care. I don't care about Spain and Russia and how they play in a one off game (or Cup) that happens every 4 years. I do care how West Ham play over a 38 game season (plus cups) year in year out. .
With all due respect your getting your knickers in a twist by comparing apples to bananas,
Russia played expansive football in the first 3 games they knew they would get ****ed if they did that against Spain and did exactly what they needed to do, they won’t play a team that bdominates possession like Spain in the next game so will have a go
Now if you want to compare West Ham’s set ups , then rather than the dull Moyes allardyce years where every game regardless was respect the point, unlike Russia’s first 3 games, the free flowing 2 bob **** redknapp always attacked, but was not unknown to shut up shop and pick teams off in dull displays, the old Trafford one nil dicanio game was a fine example as was Sunderland in the next round, pards too very expansive in his set up but when needs must we shut up shop and frustrated teams, the Man City cup quarter final even the semi final and final we didn’t go for it, we defended very deep in those games to frustrate as we knew we had pace,
Credit to Russia, and sometimes even the flamboyant teams do have to frustrate when up against better teams if you trade toe to toe with will flatten you
Moyes and fat sam are c**** though as that’s all they knew
Tbh I thought Spain looked just as unlikely to score as Russia did. Russia played for Pens agreed and it was not pretty, but Spain looked awful and offered nothing at all.
Cuenca 'ammer wrote:
Yeah they did. Doesn't mean that I have to like watching it............
At least Uruguay got forward....they got forward. Russia had no intent except to play for penalties after they equalized.
If England played like that and we won, it would leave a bittersweet taste in my mouth. Happy we won. Disappointed that we had to resort to that style to do it.
How many people on here slaughtered Sam and Moyes for doing the exact same thing ? How many people said they would rather we got relegated if it meant we didn't play like that ?
Hope they are one and the same, and not changing their tune because Spain went out. At least be consistent...
I didn't enjoy watching it but:
Uruguay happen to have 2 of the best strikers in the world which helps a touch when it comes to attacking.
I have never had a go at either Moyes\Sam\Slav or any manager for implementing a game plan against far superior opposition, I for one was very happy with our backs to wall against Man City earlier this season under Moyes for example. The gulf between England and any side in this tournament is nowhere near the gulf that there was between Russia and Spain today and therefore I wouldn't be overly pleased if England adopted that form of tactic.
It also isn't a league game or even a regular cup competition, it's a World Cup. They're the host nation and this is a once in a life opportunity for them. Why play Spain at their game? The Russian Manager can't buy better players he has what he has and they to be honest are a bit ****. One team stank the place out today and that was the Spanish. If they can't score a goal against Russia in 120 min of football they only have themselves to blame. Spain played with no urgency and an arrogance that they just had to show up pass the ball slowly and ineffectively and they'd win. They didn't. Such is life
Portugal won euro. 2016 by defensive boring tactics in every game , killing games, every game they bored everyone, whilst the team they beat in the final France entertained every game, Russia have entertained in this years competition and deserve a bit of leeway for that
I agreed that Spain didn't do what they needed to do. They didn't score and didn't break down Russia at all.
@ Sicknote...
I agree to disagree.....host nation should at least try to go out and play..the crowd on my sound at least, booed and whistled throughout... I am sure that they are happy as piss now though..hypocritical imvho.
This is World Cup football. It’s for nations, not just football fans. Most people watching haven’t a clue what’s going on most of the time, they just want their team to win. And when they do win, the whole country goes mental. If England won something with 10 defenders and a penalty specialist, we’d all go f*cking batshit and nobody would care how we did it.
League campaigns are different to knockout competitions, I guess. That’s where I go looking for entertainment. Cup games are all about drama and victory.
Course, I’d rather we player entertaining football every time, but when you’ve got 7 games to become world champion, only the results are important.
Thought our game with Portugal in 66 was brilliant..........
Not many others actually spring to mind where we were great. Odd one or two here and there. Argentina where Maradonna cheated and the Argie game where Beckham got sent off. Didn't win nowt though.
Play expansive and maybe go out ? Play boring dull negative football and still go out ???????
Just saw the interview with Akineev and he said basically "I can't lie, for the most part and for the last 30 minutes we defended and hoped for penalties."
It worked for them in the end. Can't say I am happy for them though, I will be hoping that either Croatia (my wish) or Denmark batter them. God forbid Denmark get through - that will be a borefest....
Expansive football my arse.....you have to wait 4 years and therefore you want to see the very best of the best. It's going to get worse as they expand the competition. Some teams purely happy to be at the party. No chance or thought of winning. Just stifle the opponent. I am glad we battered Panama.
Spain were poor. No real attacking intent and just sideways passing. The last 10 of extra time they went for it and were far better. Should have attacked like that in the 90 and would won it. No sympathy from me despite Russia defensive tactics.
Spain got what they deserved. Yes Russia were boring but so were Spain and created little, with the players they have at their disposal they should have done so much better.