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oojason

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Join date
5-May-2004
Last activity
13-Dec-2025
Posts
9,105

Post History

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.



Post
#217145
Topic
Jokes thread : Reloaded
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/217145/action/topic#217145
Time

FEMALE POEM

I want a man who's handsome, smart and strong,
One who loves to listen all day long,
One who thinks before he speaks,
One who'll call, not wait for weeks.
I want him to be gainfully employed,
And when I spend his cash, not be annoyed.

Pulls out my chair and opens my door,
Massages my back and begs to do more.
Oh! For a man who makes love to my mind,
And knows what to answer to" how big is my behind?"
I want this man to love me with no end,
And forever be my very best friend.



MALE POEM

I want a deaf-mute nymphomaniac with huge boobs,
Who owns an off licence and a soccer team.
I know this doesn't rhyme and I don't give a shite.


Post
#216609
Topic
World Cup 2006
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/216609/action/topic#216609
Time

Think England will qualify for the latter stages - but can't see past Brazil to win it. On the day anything can happen though - especially when we get to the knockout stages. Maybe Spain will finally surprise us and do well for a change?

Reckon Paraguay will get the draw vs England come Saturday - still too many unresolved problems in the England line-up - let alone the weak management.

Post
#216045
Topic
Announcing: OT.Com Online Chess Tournament
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/216045/action/topic#216045
Time
You can view each other's games by...

going to schemingmind.com, and clicking on 'My Games', then clicking on 'Mini Tournaments', then click on 'The OT Tournament' and you'll get a grid of the results so far.

Click on any game and you'll see the board of that match - and using the small icons below the chess board shown can watch the whole match to date.

'Tis pretty cool to see what's happening in the other matches.



Skipper - I was far too confident of getting something out of having my queen on a diagonal threatning mate that I didn't take that queen exchange - I really should have gone for it, hopefully I'll learn for next time

Shim - that last game reminded me of the end scenes from the ST2 - Wrath Of Khan battle m8 - slowly moving the pieces around the board in limited space - bit like submarine battles. I don't think I've ever played a game where the queens were threatening each other at the next move but didn't do anything about for aprrox 50 moves! lol

Have enjoyed that nearly every game has been different - lots of various tactics and gameplans. At the moment Warlber has me really boxed in - am enjoying trying to figure a way of it, though may take some time...



Post
#212186
Topic
Star Trek DS9
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/212186/action/topic#212186
Time

Have just finished putting every episode of all 7 seasons of DS9 onto 7 dvd discs - which all fit nicely into one dvd case about the same size as one vhs tape


http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/oojason/DS93DCase.jpg


DivX really does save space

Just don't know what to do with all my old vhs tapes of the series - they take up SO much room, but would be sad to get rid of them...


Post
#211897
Topic
A Series of Questions for Socialism's Proponents
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/211897/action/topic#211897
Time
"socialism = an economic system in which the existing system is abandoned in favor of a system of "...to each according to his needs". In this situation the government must assume near totalitarian powers to administer the economy and ensure that nobody is cheating the system. The government must also take steps to make sure that the system is perpetuated as it would be too difficult to continually switch back and forth between socialism and a market economy. As with pregnancy, there's no such thing as being 1/2 way. Either you are totally or are on your way to being totally socialist." - JediSage.


Why must the government assume totalitarian powers to administer the economy etc? The UK Government is 'quasi-socialist' (though I'm not sure what this means) - and is not totalitarian. Is the UK half pregnant?

I wouldn't agree with you that Labour is on it's way out - I'd say Blair (it's leader) is on his way out - one of the main reasons for this - he is not socialist enough for his own party! It's interesting to see that the person most think will succeed him is in fact a socialist who has been Chancellor of the Exchequor. I, for one eagerly await his appointment as Prime Minister.

Socialism is not 'each according to his needs' - but 'each according to his community's needs'. It is for the betterment of his community and evironment that he works for - which will also enrich his own life as well as others around him. Maybe it sounds an over-simplification, but this is a basic tenet od socialism on how I see it.

North Korea, China and Cuba are not socialist - its' people live under enforced communism who may not wish to live as they do and have no say on how to change the way their lives are run.