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oojason

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Join date
5-May-2004
Last activity
20-Jan-2026
Posts
9,216

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Post
#219085
Topic
World Cup 2006
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/219085/action/topic#219085
Time

Have been told by someone who has links with Madrid that Ronaldo is suffereing from 'renal problems' - partly brought on my dieting unhealthily (after almost binging) combined with the physical demands of being a pro footballer. If so a shame - but goes to show what happens if you abuse your body for years whilst being a pro sportsman - eventually it will catch up with you - and in a big way.

Apparently he is alos having problems with his agent and his close cirlce of friedns at the moment - so his head may be not be 'right' recently either...

Post
#218956
Topic
World Cup 2006
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/218956/action/topic#218956
Time
Have to say England were dull tonight - bereft of attacking ideas and any fast paces incisive movement. One of the few pluses is that obviously we are through to the next round - but will have to improve dramatically if we wish to progress any further.

If teams like Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago can stifle England, I'm sure the better teams will attempt to do so too - whilst carrying more of a goal threat themsleves...


It seems so many things are wrong with the current selection - Neville has been injured for a qute a bit of the season - yet Sven does not bring a 2nd choice natural right back. Carragher is head and shoulders above Ferdinand as a central defender - yet Sven picks Rio instead. Ashley Cole looks half the player we know he can be - it is apparent he is not fit enough to perform anywhere like his best - yet the 2nd choice left back hasn't played that much either...

Gerrard and Lampard still don't look right in centre midfield - one of them has to be dropped so the other has the freedom to do what they do so well at club level - with a proper defensive midfielder behind them. The one time Gerrard got into that position he scored - Lampard had about 3 opportunites and missed - whilst doing very little else. Joe Cole on the left is very limited - if he does drift inside he has to play the ball in to an unfit Owen - which is a low percentage tactic. I can't recall him staying wide and putting in a cross for Crouch in the two games so far. Worryingly Owen looks far from match fit - he is labouring and feeding off Crouch's scraps - and not doing that too well either. Hopefully a return to form will come soon - but again a lack of matches this seaon and Sven picking no cover leaves him with little choice...

Rooney did ok considering he has been out for so long - yet he did look a little sluggish - understandably. More games and he should get back in to the rythymn he so needs. Beckham did well on the cross for the goal - yet was upstaged by Lennon's cameo performance - as a captain he failed miserably too. Again, maybe Lennon doing so well will give him the kick up the arse he needs to get back to playing well. Very strange that Sven took Carragher off at right back and brought Lennon on as right wing - with Beckham playing almost as a wiong-back - sends out the wrong meessage to any good team scouting England on that performance - and about Sven's lack of bottle in general.

I've had a bit to drink - and not all of this may make sense in them orning when sober - but right now am glad we won - but we have looked incompetent against 2 sides that we should have brushed aside more convincingly display-wise.


Forgot to say - kudos to Trinidad & TObago for holding England so well - 10 minutes away fom securing their 2nd point of the World Cup and giving themselves a great chance of qualifying if they beat Paraguay in their final game - gotta feel for them - played really well and admire them for it.
Post
#218603
Topic
Announcing: OT.Com Online Chess Tournament
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/218603/action/topic#218603
Time
^ unfortunatley I think you have a good chance vs me too m8!

Have to say you've really upped your game since we 1st played - nice one.

It should be very interesting to see how we all get on if/when we do another tournament - I think there'll be a fair few surprises next time around...


Skipper - IF (and it's a big if) we do finish level on pts (am still playing Ric too), the tourny win should really go to you as you beat me twice - if that's ok with JediSage. But at the mo that looks very unlikely as Warbler looks to have the upper hand vs me)


Post
#218475
Topic
World Cup 2006
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/218475/action/topic#218475
Time

Credit ot the Croatian team as well - they have a gameplan and they stick to it - very organised and most of htem have played together for some time. They make it very awkward for their opponents by trying to force them to change their tactics - whilst posing a threat at the other end.

Very decent team who may well upset a few of the 'bigger' teams along the way...


Post
#218336
Topic
World Cup 2006
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/218336/action/topic#218336
Time
Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
Originally posted by: oojason
Still believe that 18/1 for a 'double bet' - Brazil to win the tournament AND Ronaldo to finish top scorer is worth a flutter of anyone's money...
If I was in England right now I would be putting on my coat and heading to the bookies with a tenner in hand.



ladbrokes.com, willhill.co.uk and paddypower.com are all respectable online betting sites of their high street names - I think they'll take bets from anyone anywhere in the world - though on tonight's performance from Ronaldo maybe I should have just gone for Brazil to win the tournament...





Re USA - McBride is indeed a very decent threat in the air and can hold the ball up well and bring people into play - but he does seem to need a foil to play off him - some one quick and sharp who can take people on and make runs around the penalty area. Also, McBride will need better service from out wide in the next 2 games for the USA to get points on the board...


Post
#218190
Topic
World Cup 2006
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/218190/action/topic#218190
Time
Re the FIFA rankings - they are worked out on points system judged by the results of teams playing in friendly and competitive games.

Therefore, a team like the USA may find it easier to accumulate ranking points as they play agaisnt weaker opponents in their World Cup qualifying group, CONCACAF and Gold Cup competitions - and are more likely to win more games than for eg the Czech Republic - who are likely to be playing against better teams such as France, Italy, Holland, England and Spain etc more often.

So the placing of 5th for a team such as the US in the FIFA rankings is pretty much misleading - this is probably why Mexico's rating is quite artificially high too - they always qualify for the World Cup because their regional qualifying group is probably weaker than that of a lot of teams in Europe, Africa or South America...

All of this explaing why the Europeans and South Americans take the FIFA rankings with a pinch of salt and igonre them in the main...
Post
#218188
Topic
World Cup 2006
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/218188/action/topic#218188
Time
The Czechs have come down from 33/1 to 20/1 at the bookies - some places have them at 16s - some have 'em at 23s.

33/1 was a great price - even at Euro 2004 they were 50/1 to win the thing before it started, and Baros won me £360 for finishing top scorer with a £5 er on at 60/1 - if I'd put my money on him a day earlier he was 70/1!

Can't get a good bet on England these days - in years gone by there were much more generous odds given by the European bookies on them to do well - but now internet gambling has really taken off the odds rarely vary that much - and the more money staked on the likes of England to win the crappier the odds become...

Still believe that 18/1 for a 'double bet' - Brazil to win the tournament AND Ronaldo to finish top scorer is worth a flutter of anyone's money...



Re the Czechs - Strange in that Koller being injured - the main threat is now probably out of the tournament, and Baros - the other main forward - hasn't played for a while - that the odds have come down so much on them winning the thing. Having said that the quality of footy was there for all to see, though they may now struggle against the quality teams later on.

Post
#218060
Topic
World Cup 2006
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/218060/action/topic#218060
Time
^ I wouldn't refer to it as 'soccer' - use the term 'football', mate. Then, use the term 'gridiron' or 'padded US rugby' for American football



On the World Cup front I have to say the Czech looked mighty impressive today - put a £5er on them at 33/1 to win the thing last week - hopefully there attacking play won't be too disrupted by the injury to Koller - and that the returning Baros will more than make amends for any shortcomings up front.

Thought the US were poor after 30mins - too predictable and although they managed to get in good positions out wide - the delivery was sub-par. If they had an attacking central midfielder then it would give them some much needed variation.

Italy looked good, though were under pressure from Ghana's full backs throughout as they played a narow 3 in midfield with Totti as roaming playmaker. Though Ghana did well, but lacked that killer pass & shot. Kuffour should have been still sent off for that reckless challenge from behind when the Italian forward went through on goal - but turned out was offside...
Post
#217923
Topic
World Cup 2006
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/217923/action/topic#217923
Time
well done to the Aussies - rode their luck a bit, especially after Cahill's foul in his own box went unpunished after equalising just minutes before. Fair play to them though - they kept on plugging away and put more and more forwards on to pressure their opponents. Was a good game to watch - and am glad Kewell came through all 90 minutes.
Post
#217715
Topic
World Cup 2006
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/217715/action/topic#217715
Time
re England - on one hand it was great to get the result, on the other hand it was an abject display, with Sven showing his lack of bottle by pushing up Joe Cole to play off Crouch instead of bringing Walcott on - if Sven doesn't trust him (Walcott) to play ok for 30mins there wasn't much point in bringing him (so why bring Jenas and not another forward like Defoe, Johnson or Bent - instead of a poor man's Gerrard/Lampard clone?).

Unsurprisingly, Cole off Crouch did not work, and Lampard and Gerrard still look like they haven't figured out which player does what in centre midfield.

Hopefully these things'll be ironed out in the next copule of group games - because if not England may well be in trouble vs some decent...



Thought the Germany-Coast Rica game was a great opener - esp the two classy German goals. Congrats to Ecuador who played their gameplan very well and took their chances.

Really got behing the Trinidad & Tobagoans vs Sweden - god, Sweden were poor - full credit to the Caribbean side for giving their all to get a result - in spite of only having the 10 men for 45mins.

Seems the ivory Coast have enough to qualify still, despite losing narrowly to Argentina - who seemed to stop playing arunf 60mins in - should be an interesting group.