Comments on: 30 Days & Nights http://www.epltalk.com/30-days-nights/2036 Daily News & Analysis of the English Premier League Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:46:46 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ivan http://www.epltalk.com/30-days-nights/2036#comment-9450 Ivan Fri, 09 May 2008 05:09:49 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/30-days-nights/2036#comment-9450 Love to see Ricardo Quaresma have a big tournament with Portugal however that NT has obvious flaws. Upfront without Pauleta who himself was poor when at the major tournaments there is a problem. They have a few promising CFs but no one that stands out, Makukula and Almeida will be there but can't be relied on. International football is tight and they may be able to progress without a recognised or top class CF. Some youngsters have progressed but then again some of the veterans or experience folk from the last world cup and last euros have retired or their form has been lacking i.e. Figo, Pauleta, Deco, Miguel, Maniche, Ricardo... Holland are also in with a shout but obvious weaknesses on paper is their defence. However in practice defensive record in qualifying is fine. The problems were however evident against Austria mainly due to an inexperience back line at international level. Most of the dutch aren't optimistic especially under Van Basten's reign. Spain have arguably the strongest squad along with Italy. Spain have talented players all round however personally i see a problem at the heart of defence. You can never accuse Puyol of playing without heart however at times he looks school boy with his decision making. France without Zidane but will carry with them veterans from many previous tournaments such as Thuram, Makelele, Viera, Henry etc will be interesting. Not only does their manager pick the team on the basis of what zodiac sign you are but i'm afraid he may rely on the experienced players way too much. I think Clichy should play LB but according to Domenech's selection policy, Abidal looks likely to retain his spot despite a poor season. The same can be said about Viera and Henry (even Malouda). What are France to do without the creative figure of Zidane...i guess they will heavily rely on Ribery. On a last note i wouldn't bet against the Germans... Love to see Ricardo Quaresma have a big tournament with Portugal however that NT has obvious flaws. Upfront without Pauleta who himself was poor when at the major tournaments there is a problem. They have a few promising CFs but no one that stands out, Makukula and Almeida will be there but can’t be relied on. International football is tight and they may be able to progress without a recognised or top class CF. Some youngsters have progressed but then again some of the veterans or experience folk from the last world cup and last euros have retired or their form has been lacking i.e. Figo, Pauleta, Deco, Miguel, Maniche, Ricardo…

Holland are also in with a shout but obvious weaknesses on paper is their defence. However in practice defensive record in qualifying is fine. The problems were however evident against Austria mainly due to an inexperience back line at international level. Most of the dutch aren’t optimistic especially under Van Basten’s reign.

Spain have arguably the strongest squad along with Italy. Spain have talented players all round however personally i see a problem at the heart of defence. You can never accuse Puyol of playing without heart however at times he looks school boy with his decision making.

France without Zidane but will carry with them veterans from many previous tournaments such as Thuram, Makelele, Viera, Henry etc will be interesting. Not only does their manager pick the team on the basis of what zodiac sign you are but i’m afraid he may rely on the experienced players way too much. I think Clichy should play LB but according to Domenech’s selection policy, Abidal looks likely to retain his spot despite a poor season. The same can be said about Viera and Henry (even Malouda). What are France to do without the creative figure of Zidane…i guess they will heavily rely on Ribery.

On a last note i wouldn’t bet against the Germans…

]]> By: Patrick http://www.epltalk.com/30-days-nights/2036#comment-9438 Patrick Fri, 09 May 2008 00:45:43 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/30-days-nights/2036#comment-9438 Za Hrvatska! Go Croatia. The team that eliminated England will prevail, and Chelsea will swoop in and take their manager. Za Hrvatska! Go Croatia. The team that eliminated England will prevail, and Chelsea will swoop in and take their manager.

]]> By: Paul Bestall http://www.epltalk.com/30-days-nights/2036#comment-9435 Paul Bestall Thu, 08 May 2008 23:39:19 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/30-days-nights/2036#comment-9435 Some great comments there. Good to see that a lot of people are backing Spain, I do have a soft spot for them as my family originate from Catalonia. I have to agree, other than Euro 64 ( and even I'm not that old to have been around then), they've never delivered when it mattered. They are England's underachieving cousins. All the quality and pedigree, all the big names, but no modern international silverware. I'd love Spain to win a major tournament, I think they deserve to win one tournament in the modern era surely. If Denmark and Greece can win a European Championship and France a World Cup, why not Spain?? Sanjay, you obviously have a feeling for Romania too. They should have done better in the mid nineties, any team with George Hagi at his prime in deserves recognition. What a wonderful player he was. I think it's going to be a belting competition for us all to enjoy. Some great comments there. Good to see that a lot of people are backing Spain, I do have a soft spot for them as my family originate from Catalonia. I have to agree, other than Euro 64 ( and even I’m not that old to have been around then), they’ve never delivered when it mattered. They are England’s underachieving cousins. All the quality and pedigree, all the big names, but no modern international silverware. I’d love Spain to win a major tournament, I think they deserve to win one tournament in the modern era surely. If Denmark and Greece can win a European Championship and France a World Cup, why not Spain??
Sanjay, you obviously have a feeling for Romania too. They should have done better in the mid nineties, any team with George Hagi at his prime in deserves recognition. What a wonderful player he was.
I think it’s going to be a belting competition for us all to enjoy.

]]> By: Sanjay http://www.epltalk.com/30-days-nights/2036#comment-9433 Sanjay Thu, 08 May 2008 23:16:31 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/30-days-nights/2036#comment-9433 When I was looking at the teams in this competition and how many I feel have a legitimate chance of winning it, I was amazed. Out of the 16 teams that are taking part in the competition, I believe that 10 have a decent chance of winning it or atleast getting close. Spain, Netherlands, Romania, France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Sweden( a lot of people dont agree with me here) and Czech Republic are the 10 that I think have a chance. Of the 6 remaining nations, Greece are defending champions while we all know about Russia from their qualification campaign. Which leaves out Poland, Turkey, Austria and Switzlerand. Poland who were winners of a qualification group containing the likes of Portugal, Serbia, Finland and Belgium. And Turkey, who were the 3rd place team in the 2002 Fifa World Cup. So really its the 2 host nations who can be considered as truely 'weak nations'. And again one of them-Switzerland qualified for the 2nd round of the world cup as group winners and left the world cup without having conceded a goal..... Hence, it promises to be a fun and competetive tournament... When I was looking at the teams in this competition and how many I feel have a legitimate chance of winning it, I was amazed. Out of the 16 teams that are taking part in the competition, I believe that 10 have a decent chance of winning it or atleast getting close.
Spain, Netherlands, Romania, France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Sweden( a lot of people dont agree with me here) and Czech Republic are the 10 that I think have a chance. Of the 6 remaining nations, Greece are defending champions while we all know about Russia from their qualification campaign. Which leaves out Poland, Turkey, Austria and Switzlerand. Poland who were winners of a qualification group containing the likes of Portugal, Serbia, Finland and Belgium. And Turkey, who were the 3rd place team in the 2002 Fifa World Cup. So really its the 2 host nations who can be considered as truely ‘weak nations’. And again one of them-Switzerland qualified for the 2nd round of the world cup as group winners and left the world cup without having conceded a goal…..
Hence, it promises to be a fun and competetive tournament…

]]> By: eplnfl http://www.epltalk.com/30-days-nights/2036#comment-9432 eplnfl Thu, 08 May 2008 22:52:54 +0000 http://www.epltalk.com/30-days-nights/2036#comment-9432 Looking forward to your ideas on Euro 2008. It will be a good addition to this site. My sense is from the more recent competitions that it is hard for the big nations to be focused on what is a second level event. I am by no means saying it is a meaningless or 2nd rate competition. Just saying a player for a major Italian, German, Spanish, etc. club, will he risk his club future to go all out to win? For a World Cup, yes, for Euro 2008, I say not. This may explain why some middle size and smaller countries may have better chances to win then expected. So, I will be watching every chance I get and like Croatia or Holland's chances, and keep a eye on the Czech Republic. Looking forward to your ideas on Euro 2008. It will be a good addition to this site.

My sense is from the more recent competitions that it is hard for the big nations to be focused on what is a second level event. I am by no means saying it is a meaningless or 2nd rate competition. Just saying a player for a major Italian, German, Spanish, etc. club, will he risk his club future to go all out to win? For a World Cup, yes, for Euro 2008, I say not. This may explain why some middle size and smaller countries may have better chances to win then expected.

So, I will be watching every chance I get and like Croatia or Holland’s chances, and keep a eye on the Czech Republic.

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