International Friendlies Thread

[Niall_Quinn]

Neymar is pathetic.

[Niall_Quinn]

Crap by Jesus. These Brazilians are a sad joke compared to the great teams that went before. Quite a while since there was a decent Brazilian team now.

[Niall_Quinn]

Dier is at least 3 levels below anyone else on that pitch. And neither of these teams are all that.

[Niall_Quinn]

Willian coming on :doh:

Says it all. The black Dunga.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sorry, forgot about Walker. He's worse than Dier.

Fuck all happening in this bullshit match.

[Niall_Quinn]

Neymar :haha:

90% of what he does is pure pub.

[Cripps]

Woeful from England so far :lol:

Keeping the ball for about 0.2 seconds :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Tammy and Salami on, Vardy and England's only player of note, Rashford, off.

[Niall_Quinn]

Woeful from England so far :lol:

Keeping the ball for about 0.2 seconds :lol:

That's the expected amount of possession tbf.

[Niall_Quinn]

They let Dire take the FK for some reason.

Expected result achieved.

[Niall_Quinn]

Youngy coming on for a dive or two.

[Cripps]

Joe Hart does not instil me with any confidence whatsoever.

[Cripps]

Adebayor on :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

England's midfield is non-existent. Shocking.

A shot on goal :bow:

Amazing.

[Cripps]

England's midfield is non-existent. Shocking.

A shot on goal :bow:

Amazing.

That's because Ruben loftus-zidane went off.

[Niall_Quinn]

When you watch shit like this it makes you think, maybe Bif is a world class striker. He's no worse than any of the ultra hyped garbage on show here.

[Niall_Quinn]

Salami sliced it.

[Niall_Quinn]

Danny Rose is on :haha:

Ridiculous.

[AFC Leveller]

Lacazette bagged two goals V Germany tonight.

Bench it is then on Saturday.

[Niall_Quinn]

Neymar :haha:

He's fucking hilariously poor.

[Niall_Quinn]

Tammy stood by his man rather than getting in front of him. Otherwise England would have snatched a pretty funny win.

As it is, FT 0-0.

Gash. And not the non-diseased kind.

[Cripps]

Absolutely dire.

[Niall_Quinn]

Two 0-0 wins on the trot.

[Niall_Quinn]

Messi and Ronaldo are two remarkable players, they deserve all the hype, the plaudits, the sponsorship deals, the whole circus. Relatively speaking. But I fear their real legacy will be to invite pure marketing frauds like Neymar into the game. Bog standard hype merchants who are in football for one thing and one thing alone, the big cash-in. Why else would a club pay 160 million quid for such an average football player? Has to be all about the shirts deals and the TV money but precious little else.

And if that's Brazil's team for the WC, well you have to laugh. What a shambles.

[AFC Leveller]

http://arsenalist.com/f/2017-18/other/both-alexandre-lacazette-goals-against-germany.html
Laca goals.

[GP]

He's like a black Thierry Henry

[Letters]

He'd better be on the bench on Saturday, we don't want him getting injured :sulk:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

http://arsenalist.com/f/2017-18/other/both-alexandre-lacazette-goals-against-germany.html
Laca goals.

Two nice goals by Blackazette

[Cripps]

Two nice goals by Blackazette

Sexist.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wheelchair is dead. :lol:

Tendinopathy. :rose:

Supposedly might be alright for the second friendly, against Italy.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Netherlands: Zoet; De Ligt, De Vrij, Van Dijk; Hateboer, Wijnaldum, Strootman, Van Aanholt; Promes, Dost, Memphis.

England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Gomez; Trippier, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rose; Lingard, Sterling, Rashford.

[GP]

that is a really shit England team.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That good?

[Globalgunner]

boring,boring England

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fuck this I'm going to sleep to make up for the clocks going forward Sunday night.

And the Aussie GP qualifying.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rose. :haha:

That's a good place to leave it.

[Globalgunner]

Germany Spain is a much better game. England are tripe.

[Cripps]

Ryan Babel :lol:

[Globalgunner]

Ryan Babel :lol:

More than 12 years a muppet.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England v Italy is on at 8pm.

Tarkowski starts. :lol:

Germany v Brazil is also on at 19:45. :haha:

Spain v Argentina at 20:30.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England: Butland; Walker, Stones, Tarkowski; Trippier, Dier, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Young; Lingard, Sterling, Vardy.
Subs: Rose, Hart, Henderson, Maguire, Mawson, Livermore, Lallana, Cook, Dele, Rashford, Pickford, Pope, Welbeck.

Italy: Donnarumma, Zappacosta, Rugani, Bonucci, De Sciglio, Pellegrini, Frello Filho, Parolo, Candreva, Immobile, Insigine.
Subs: Buffon, Ferrari :haha:, Darmian, Ogbonna, Bonaventura, Verratti, Beloti, Spinazzola, Verdi, Galgiardini, Cutrone, Cristante, Florenzi, Chiesa, Perin.

Italy's bench seems a bit oversized but this is what the BBC website says I guess.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Italian national anthem. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trippier boots it out of play for some reason.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great last ditch tackle from De Sciglio. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Who is Charkowski, is that a Pokemon?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 Vardy. Quick freekick taken, seems a bit shit to me.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Germany 0-1 Brazil, Jesus. :popcorn:

[Letters]

I thought that was terrific refereeing.
Our players were fouled twice in the breakaway. Why should we have to wait for the entire Italy defence to get back and defend?
There was a clear advantage in letting us play on.


The ref :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Immobile takes all of them on.

[Globalgunner]

Gabriel Jesus seemsto be the no1 striker for Brazil. Firmino seems a better option to me though. Not a big Jesus fan

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ox booked for dissent.

Higuain just missed a sitter, that game is on Sky Sports Main Event.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spain 1-0 Argentina, Diego Costa.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Romero off injured, Willy on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spain 2-0 Argentina, Isco.

Asensio. :bow:

So good.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spain 2-1 Argentina, Otamendi!

Poor from De Gea I thought.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sterling. :haha:

[Cripps]

VAR gets it wrong:haha:

VAR:haha: :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pel to Italy!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England 1-1 Italy, Insigne! :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spain 3-1 Argentina, Isco with his second. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spain 4-1 Argentina, Thiago! :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England 1-1 Italy, FT. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spain 6-1 Argentina, Aspas and Isco hat-trick!

:haha:

[Cripps]

Messi :haha:

Ronaldo :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Portugal 0-3 Netherlands. Depay, Babel and Van Dijk with the goals.

[GP]

Babel?

As in Ryan Babel?

[Globalgunner]

Babel?

As in Ryan Babel?

Believe it or not. Yes.

[Globalgunner]

Ok, so I got Nigeria in the sweepstakes. Time to back them with a fiver against the 3 Lions later today.
Score 1-2

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Iwobi :bow:


Also didn't realise Obi Mikel was still playing. :unsure:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

1 - 0

Cahill from the corner.

[Cripps]

Nigeria :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Cahill; Trippier, Dier, Lingard, Alli, Young; Kane, Sterling.

Nigeria: Uzoho; Shehu, Troost-Ekong, Balogun, Idowu; Mikel, Obi, Onazi; Moses, Ighalo, Iwobi.

Austria v Germany has been delayed, probably still trying to organise the carve-up. :ninja:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Should have been 2 - 0.

Nigeria are getting taken apart here.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sterling misses the goal again completely.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nigeria's shirt, I mean WTF is that?

[Globalgunner]

Nigeria's shirt, I mean WTF is that?

Selling by the thousands. You may not like it but many do apparently

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How hasn't Lingard scored?

Who needs a centre forward says Hoddle? Kane is on the pitch!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Selling by the thousands. You may not like it but many do apparently

I fail to believe anybody likes it, it just happens to be the current Nigeria shirt.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sterling. :lol:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Iwobi stays too far deep. Unless he plans on becoming a hub type CM he really needs to start busting a gut to get on to chances otherwise he's kind of pointless.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Another Sterling miss.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Kane

2 - 0

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 Kane. Don't need a CF though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Uzoho does a Karius.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Clown keeping from the Nigerian keeper.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England doing adverts for Lidl? :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 IWOBI!!!

[Master Splinter]

IWOBI!!!

[Cripps]

Iwobi :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kane clears off the line.

England. :haha:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Iwobi :bow:

[Master Splinter]

Iwobi stays too far deep. Unless he plans on becoming a hub type CM he really needs to start busting a gut to get on to chances otherwise he's kind of pointless.

He's better coming from deeper positions. He's more an Iniesta/Hleb than the goalscoring, athlete ball winger that people expect because he's black. Playing on the right is probably his worst position, but he's looked like the only competent Nigerian player so far.

I was typing this just before he scored and was also going to agree with you that he should be more decisive and aggressive when he gets into dangerous positions.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The Emery Effect already. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sterling booked for diving!

How can this be, he doesn't cheat we were told?

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Diving in a friendly :haha:

They can't bring themselves to say he's dived. Talking about initiating contact and going down to easily.

[GP]

Sterling booked for diving!

How can this be, he doesn't cheat we were told?

In a friendly?? :doh:

The Sun woz rite!

[Master Splinter]

Pathetic from Sterling.

Hope some of these serial England cheats (basically the whole XI) get what they deserve from competent refs at the World Cup.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Moses parts the crowd like...etc.

[Master Splinter]

Mikel and Moses pubbing it up in quick succession.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

He's better coming from deeper positions. He's more an Iniesta/Hleb than the goalscoring, athlete ball winger that people expect because he's black. Playing on the right is probably his worst position, but he's looked like the only competent Nigerian player so far.

I was typing this just before he scored and was also going to agree with you that he should be more decisive and aggressive when he gets into dangerous positions.

The Hleb comparisons are good though obviously no where near as influential as he was yet let alone someone like Iniesta. He doesn't dominate the game like they do - more he does a few neat touches, swivels, passes and that's that - there's no linkage or product to it all.

I suppose some of it is me projecting the type of player I feel we really need in that position (a pacy, skillful wide player with end product) than what he actually is which isn't his fault.

At any rate I don't think a player with his characteristics should be played in a wide position for us just to shoehorn him in - it has to be in the centre and we've already got a few similar better players there (Xhaka, Elneny).

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dier with a telling clearance.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Musa gave the ball away says Tyldesley.

Racist.

[Globalgunner]

Why keep shit Sterling on so long?. What else is he gonna do except pub it up some more. Time for Rashford i think

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lingard off, Loftus-Cheek on.

Youngy off, Rose on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mikel shoots but little bit scuffer.

Iwobi did well winning it back.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Drinks break?

[Globalgunner]

If this Nigeria coach thinks Odion Ighalo is gonna score him some goals he must need a brain replacement. Ighalo is shit, pubbing it up in the China league. Same with Mikel. He needs to bring on Ndidi and Iheanacho.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kane hauled off, Welbz on! :bow:

Sterling off, Rashford on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ighalo off, Iheanacho on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Welbz with the trademark pub touch. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rashford drags his shot wide.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dele Alli off, Delph on. :blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Players are tired after a long season says Tyldesley. :lol:

[Master Splinter]

The Hleb comparisons are good though obviously no where near as influential as he was yet let alone someone like Iniesta. He doesn't dominate the game like they do - more he does a few neat touches, swivels, passes and that's that - there's no linkage or product to it all.

I suppose some of it is me projecting the type of player I feel we really need in that position (a pacy, skillful wide player with end product) than what he actually is which isn't his fault.

At any rate I don't think a player with his characteristics should be played in a wide position for us just to shoehorn him in - it has to be in the centre and we've already got a few similar better players there (Xhaka, Elneny).

Well of course he's not anywhere near as good as Iniesta or the mighty Hleb. I just meant he's got that type of skill set and plays in similar areas. And I think he's got time on his side to mature and hone his game.

WUMger had been playing him centrally more recently and he gave his best performances there. But I don't see the relevance to Xhaka and Elneny. He's obviously more of an attacking player and is most likely to play in front of players like them as the most advanced of a midfield three. He could potentially give you the creativity of Ozil/Mkhitaryan but also an added athleticism which would be ideal for the gung-ho English game.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rashford heads it over.

[Master Splinter]

Ozil scores for Germany.

Emery :bow:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 FT. World Cup on its way!

Costa Rica next.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mesut. :bow:

Glad he has recovered from his man flu.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Austria v Germany is on BT.

[Niall_Quinn]

Dreadful. The amount of aimless passing in the modern game is just horrible.

[Niall_Quinn]

Austria v Germany is on BT.

Watching it. The step up in quality and purpose after that England plod is so notable.

[Globalgunner]

Modern football is really turgid grit. Either the players are worse or the coaches do not have the will to play with ambition. Not getting defeated is the primary target

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Austria 1-1 Germany, Hinteregger. What a volley. :blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a pass from Alaba. :blink:

Should be 2-1

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Austria 2-1 Germany!

Well worked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 FT!

Germany. :lol:

[Goonermerree]

Mesut. :bow:

Glad he has recovered from his man flu.

He'll be fit until August, then he'll need a rest...

[GP]

He'll be fit until August, then he'll need a rest...

Give a rest, jesus christ. It's boring now.

[Goonermerree]

Give a rest, jesus christ. It's boring now.

Oh get lost, I can have an opinion. The guy gets paid loads and turned up when he wanted to. I hope the new manager gets a firm grip on him and gets the player we deserve out of him.

[GP]

new manager

Exactly!! Why are you still banging on about the past? Let it go ffs!

[Goonermerree]

Exactly!! Why are you still banging on about the past? Let it go ffs!

Why don't you let it go? If you don't like the post, don't reply to it and stop banging on about it!

[Niall_Quinn]

It's extremely important for Arsenal fans to pay close attention to the past. Comparing what comes next to the nonsense of the past will be very instructive. Were the perceived problems with the board real, or where they used as cover for appalling management? We may have a definitive answer soon enough. Or maybe problems will persist, despite a real manager being in place. It will be very useful to finally identify any underlying reasons for the relative lack of success at this club over a prolonged period. How will the new structures compare to the old, in terms of transfers, coaching, the style of play and other key areas that the majority of fans agree need significant improvement? Letting the past go is the last thing Arsenal fans want to be doing. Throwing away the low water mark would not be a smart move at all.

[GP]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DexROizX4AAyrkz.jpg

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:lol:

Brazil 1-0 Croatia, Neymar.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 in the end, Firmino with the other.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England v Costa Rica tonight from Elland Road. :unsure:

Campbell. :bow:

Bryan Ruiz. :cloud9:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

David Platt literally came out of the blue according to Wrighty.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England: Butland; Jones, Stones, Maguire; Alexander-Arnold, Henderson, Delph, Loftus-Cheek, Rose; Vardy, Rashford.

Costa Rica: Navas; Gamboa, Waston, Gonzalez, Calvo, Oviedo; Venegas, Guzman, Borges, Campbell; Urena.

Bryan Ruiz only on the bench.

Fuck this shit.

Also, 10 changes for England and Welbz still doesn't start. :haha:

[GP]

That is a rancid team.

[Globalgunner]

That is a rancid team.

Its actually the Yorkshire national team. They want their independence too, just like Catalonia

[Marc Overmars]

Imagine if that England squad won the World Cup. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sir Harry Maguire.

Fuck off.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0, Rashford flukes one in.

[Marc Overmars]

Rashford should be a starter when the real stuff begins.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How has Vardy not scored?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Horrendous first touch from Alexander-Arnold.

[Globalgunner]

Rashford should be a starter when the real stuff begins.

That would mean dropping Dele Alli. Dont think the press writers would like that.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good defending by Loftus-Cheek.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Campbell boots it out of play for some reason.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England have been excellent apparently. :sarcy:

[Goonermerree]

They started well, then became boring. At one point they didn't get the ball over the half way line for a few minutes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Campbell hauled off.

In other news, Welbz is on. :bow:

[Master Splinter]

Ian Smith.

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rose. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

WELBECK!!!! :bow:

Another one not on his feet though. :ninja:

[Master Splinter]

Welbz :bow:.

By far England's most vital player.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 FT.

Welbz MotM. :bow:

[Goonermerree]

I had to check that the ball hadn't hit Welbz's shoulder and gone in.
If you're English, they're all we've got so we have to support them, but, I've never seen such a poor squad.:shrug:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

The 2010 World Cup squad was pretty horrific.

The likes of Michael Dawson, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock, Wright-Phillips, Rob Green, David James. A 32 year old Heskey ffs.

[Cripps]

It's ours :bow:

[Goonermerree]

The 2010 World Cup squad was pretty horrific.

The likes of Michael Dawson, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock, Wright-Phillips, Rob Green, David James. A 32 year old Heskey ffs.

That squad included a few very good players though,and Joe Cole who turned out to be the best player...:dance:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Germany 1-0 Saudi Arabia, Werner.

:lol:

8-0 again?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0, Om Hawsawi OG. :lol:

[Mac76]

I had to check that the ball hadn't hit Welbz's shoulder and gone in.
If you're English, they're all we've got so we have to support them, but, I've never seen such a poor squad.:shrug:

Welbeck did his best to put a point-blank header beyond the far post, but even he couldn't miss from there

The match was total banter