Shoddyrob wrote:I know it's technically nice football but Spain are so boring to watch. I wonder if the grass is the right length/wet enough/the right shade of green for them tonight or if they'll be moaning again
I know what you mean. There's brief passages of play which are stunning little interchanges, but the rest of the time I'm just desperate for something to happen. Barca are a little better to watch because they have Messi who will often break away from the one touch stuff and just bomb at the defence. Spain don't seem to have anyone like that.
Shoddyrob wrote:I know it's technically nice football but Spain are so boring to watch. I wonder if the grass is the right length/wet enough/the right shade of green for them tonight or if they'll be moaning again
I know what you mean. There's brief passages of play which are stunning little interchanges, but the rest of the time I'm just desperate for something to happen. Barca are a little better to watch because they have Messi who will often break away from the one touch stuff and just bomb at the defence. Spain don't seem to have anyone like that.
Totally agree with this. They are absolute quality but, to watch, it's pretty dull. They're the sort of team I can't really actively watch, I have the game on in the background and pay attention when the commentator gets excited. I suppose it's just because we are all used to the British game and the fast paced nature of The Premiership or in my case SPL.
The atmosphere sounded incredible tonight those Irish fans deserve a lot of credit for that and the Spanish fans clapping along in time to Fields of Anthenry was magnificent. I hope Ireland somehow manage to beat Italy.
I find it interesting comparing things like the movement and awareness of the two teams. If you watched the Irish players when Spain had the ball, pretty much none of them were looking around to see where Spanish players were and were just staring at the bloke with the ball. When Ireland had the ball, the Spain players were constantly looking around, looking where Ireland might pass to and moving to cut avenues off - whilst also closing the ball down. It's absolutely brilliant how they swarm in 3s and 4s to win the ball back so high up the pitch. It's similar with the ball, Ireland players have no clue where their team mates are, they pass it and then don't move to get into space to receive it back etc etc. The gulf in quality was huge. Still, at least Robbie Keane continues to do those ducks and weaves, trying to fake the opposition like you used to do in Primary School, brilliant.
The McCoist leaving thing was a clever PR stunt to introduce Smith and his team to take the stage. I fully expect Green to stay a week or so, and sell for a small profit. Now Smith has made it known, there is only one man the fans want!
I'd shut off from the goings on at Rangers for the last few weeks, but this morning when I walked into the shop to get my juice and say the papers headline that "McCoist Quits" was the first time I felt physically sick over it. Green has stated McCoist is his man this evening.
Shoddyrob wrote:I know it's technically nice football but Spain are so boring to watch. I wonder if the grass is the right length/wet enough/the right shade of green for them tonight or if they'll be moaning again
I know what you mean. There's brief passages of play which are stunning little interchanges, but the rest of the time I'm just desperate for something to happen. Barca are a little better to watch because they have Messi who will often break away from the one touch stuff and just bomb at the defence. Spain don't seem to have anyone like that.
I generally really enjoy watching Barcelona because Messi gives them something extra and the way he combines with Xavi and Iniesta makes those two much more interesting and exciting to watch too. With Spain everyone seems to want to do short passes all the time without being incisive or direct. I can appreciate good quality passing football as long as it's going somewhere, I know the point is to tire teams out and results-wise you can't argue with it but I found them dull at Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 and it's the same so far at this tournament
I find it a lot more satisfying when I really want the opposition to lose, seeing Keith Andrews trying to prevent Iniesta/Xavi from passing all around him is great.
Arbeloa seems to have come in for some heavy criticism on twitter, I thought he played quite well, he's a bit more direct than the majority of their team, but that isn't a criticism really. Apparently Xavi kept telling him off, but I didn't notice it.
Shoddyrob wrote:I know it's technically nice football but Spain are so boring to watch. I wonder if the grass is the right length/wet enough/the right shade of green for them tonight or if they'll be moaning again
I know what you mean. There's brief passages of play which are stunning little interchanges, but the rest of the time I'm just desperate for something to happen. Barca are a little better to watch because they have Messi who will often break away from the one touch stuff and just bomb at the defence. Spain don't seem to have anyone like that.
I generally really enjoy watching Barcelona because Messi gives them something extra and the way he combines with Xavi and Iniesta makes those two much more interesting and exciting to watch too. With Spain everyone seems to want to do short passes all the time without being incisive or direct. I can appreciate good quality passing football as long as it's going somewhere, I know the point is to tire teams out and results-wise you can't argue with it but I found them dull at Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 and it's the same so far at this tournament
There must have been at least 10 instances last night where Spain had counter attacked and Xavi had the ball outside the box, Ireland only had there back 4 back and in a bit of a mess and there were at least 2 Spain players making runs for a through ball to them and Xavi held the play up so they could get an additional 20 passes in, before they decided to create a chance.
I think they must do it to wear the other team down, play with them a bit before cutting in, but it's so boring to watch.
Anybody know of a good site for football gifs? There's been some good comedy and skillful moments in the Euro's so far but i haven't seen any gifs about them.
There was a brilliant bit yesterday actually, someone had hoofed a ball down to Keane but it just went out for a throw. Keane turned and put his thumb up and then it cut to Del Bosque, smiling, who then also put his thumb up. It was a nice exchange.
i love that the ref didn't even offer him a hand up, or seem to apologise.
there was a similar bit to what duncan said, when silva took it past o'shea and o'shea just fell over, it then ended up going out for corner and cut to silva just laughing about it.
The montage of slow motion shots of people's expressions they keep showing when there's a break in the match are also great. There was a proper scary one of Howard Webb winking yesterday.
I actually enjoyed watching Spain against Ireland. Admittedly, they're often not direct enough, but their passing is wonderful once they up the tempo.
Iniesta is such a pivotal player for them. He's the one attacker who constantly appeared willing to take on a man and he's just fantastic to watch. I don't think I've seen him lose the ball yet.
I still think that the Germans have been the most impressive side thus far, though.
On the topic of GIFs, does anyone have one of Joachim Low knocking the ball from the grasp of the ball boy during the Holland game? It was incredible.
Amazing. It's just as great as the first time I saw it. I'll look into using one of those sites, though I failed miserably when I last attempted to make one.
Loved Jim Beglin's honest comments at the Spain v Ireland game about how the Irish shouldnt even be allowed in a group alongside Spain, Croatia, and Italy because they are just so poor in comparison.
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