[Kazan]

incase you missed it

USA match v czech republic was a very odd exception to the rule - they didn't show up on the pitch at all, it's a stasticial outlier - chuck it from your figuring

USA v Italy was more violent than a normal match - the high intensity of play is typical but overzealous carding is not.

Italy v Ghana showed italy spanking ghana 2-0, USA tied Italy 1-1 a man down on italy
Ghana v Czech Republic showed again that Czech Republic v USA was a oddball match

Czech Republic lost Jens Koller to injury, possible others to cards (dunno)
Italy is missing De Rossi - not enough to cost them v Czech

Ghana is missing both of it's strikers that scored on Czech Republic in the match v USA
USA is missing Pablo (important player, but we can live without him) and Pope (can be lived without)

[Colonol Dekker]

This is true fan science, the sort of thing people discuss down the pub, One of those discussions its just great to listen to and smile 

[vyper]

Right well its amusing the most passionate poster in this thread is a damned yank. I mean really...

As for more interesting issues, looks like Owen is definately out for a long while: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5100516.stm

Combine that with the fact they had to pull Rooney off during the game last night (and his little strop afterwards) I'm not going to be expecting a fantastic showing from England in their next game. A solid back line could hold them up, but its going to be tight.

[aldo_14]

Look, it's become obvious he's not going to accept any odds (or indeed opinion) you give that don't explicitly agree with him, so I wouldn't even try to bother.

no i'm not going to accept baseless opinion that shows no analysis

i've posted my analysis - if you want to have a difference of opinion then attempt to point to flaws in my analysis and we'll discuess them, otherwise stfu

I've already pointed out reasoning.  right from the start of this thread, when you were predicting a 'clean sweep', I've pointed it out.  And your response is basically summed up in that 'stfu'.  Now, you're 'analyisis' is basically twisting every fact to suit what you've decided; US were utter ****e against the Czechs, ergo that match does not count.  Ghana were superb vs that same - minus Koller - Czech side, ergo that match does not count.  And soforth.

We post the consistent opinion of bookies - people who make their money through prediction - and you call it 'biased'.  You really think people who, as i said, make their money from prediction are going to allow bias?

Right well its amusing the most passionate poster in this thread is a damned yank. I mean really...

As for more interesting issues, looks like Owen is definately out for a long while: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5100516.stm

Combine that with the fact they had to pull Rooney off during the game last night (and his little strop afterwards) I'm not going to be expecting a fantastic showing from England in their next game. A solid back line could hold them up, but its going to be tight.

fortunately for them, they have probably the easiest 2nd round they could hope for.

[Kazan]

Ghana were superb vs that same - minus Koller - Czech side, ergo that match does not count. 

I said the ghana match DOES count and implied as much - I said that ghana match was reinforcement that Czech Republic v USA was an anomaly. I pointed out that Ghana is missing their two strikers who scored against the Czechs for a reason.  I was saying Ghana did well against the Czechs - but since they lost to Italy and USA tied Italy a man down that helps reinforce my s tatement that USA v Czech was an anomaly.

Right well its amusing the most passionate poster in this thread is a damned yank. I mean really...

that it is

[aldo_14]

Ghana were superb vs that same - minus Koller - Czech side, ergo that match does not count. 

I said the ghana match DOES count and implied as much - I said that ghana match was reinforcement that Czech Republic v USA was an anomaly. I pointed out that Ghana is missing their two strikers who scored against the Czechs for a reason.  I was saying Ghana did well against the Czechs - but since they lost to Italy and USA tied Italy a man down that helps reinforce my s tatement that USA v Czech was an anomaly.

Or, Italy vs USA was an anomoly.

[Col. Fishguts]

@Kazan:

Ok.

First, You're making the assumption that the USA vs Czech. Rep. match was a big exception. But stating that usually the US would have been better is more wishful thinking. That's the harsh reality of the WC, either you're up to the pressure and show your best game, or you don't. The US team didn't in the first game, which for the rest of the world wasn't a surprise, because the US still has the reputation of a nobody in the world of football.

Further, have you followed the EC 2004 ? If yes, you should know that the Czechs clearly outclass the US team, and thus it's more the Czech. Rep. vs Ghana match, that is the oddball. Or rather that Ghana is better than expected.

Also, all your predictions are pure speculation. If you followed any previous WC, you should know that reasonable rules don't apply to the WC.

And at last, there really is no reason to use that many sweary words in your posts. All it does, is make you look like an ill-tempered 15 year old fanboi, which we know you're not. So, cool it down a little.

[Kazan]

I don't give a rip about the world's estimation of the US MNT because it's been proven wrong multiple times - WC2002 we drove to the quarter finals and barely lost to germany in a tight match in which the germany press declared that the better team lost.

that should have gained us some respect, but nope you keep writing us off.

I'm also taking something into account that the rest of you probably aren't - the send off series.

In the Send off Series we played 3 friendlies - one against a team that played in Czech's style, one against a team that played Italy's style and one against a team that played Ghana's style

we lost to the team that played czech's style (1-0), we beat the other two - thus far the pattern has held true (i consider the Italy v USA match holding with that because we would have won on an even playing field)

[Col. Fishguts]

I don't give a rip about the world's estimation of the US MNT because it's been proven wrong multiple times - WC2002 we drove to the quarter finals and barely lost to germany in a tight match in which the germany press declared that the better team lost.

That's the same press that stated that the ref in US vs Italy made everything right.

In the Send off Series we played 3 friendlies - one against a team that played in Czech's style, one against a team that played Italy's style and one against a team that played Ghana's style

we lost to the team that played czech's style (1-0), we beat the other two - thus far the pattern has held true (i consider the Italy v USA match holding with that because we would have won on an even playing field)

Care to elaborate what teams those were ?

[Kazan]

That's the same press that stated that the ref in US vs Italy made everything right.

they're not always correct - that pablo red card was inconsistent with every other card issued for that same tackle, and worse versions of it, in every other match in this world cup including matches refereed by the same ref

Care to elaborate what teams those were ?

Morocco 1-0 L
Venezuela  2-0 W
Latvia 1-0 W

we were playing with our lineup and figuring out the best combos, etc

[Wobble73]

I'm also taking something into account that the rest of you probably aren't - the send off series.

In the Send off Series we played 3 friendlies - one against a team that played in Czech's style, one against a team that played Italy's style and one against a team that played Ghana's style

we lost to the team that played czech's style (1-0), we beat the other two - thus far the pattern has held true (i consider the Italy v USA match holding with that because we would have won on an even playing field)

What Style are you talking about, and a team playing those styles isn't playing those teams, not the same players and not in the same class!

[Kazan]

What Style are you talking about, and a team playing those styles isn't playing those teams, not the same players and not on the same class!

 : 

[Colonol Dekker]

I'm also taking something into account that the rest of you probably aren't - the send off series.

In the Send off Series we played 3 friendlies - one against a team that played in Czech's style, one against a team that played Italy's style and one against a team that played Ghana's style

we lost to the team that played czech's style (1-0), we beat the other two - thus far the pattern has held true (i consider the Italy v USA match holding with that because we would have won on an even playing field)

I believe Wobble wants to know what style you are reffering to.
As do i

[aldo_14]

Morocco 1-0 L
Venezuela  2-0 W
Latvia 1-0 W

we were playing with our lineup and figuring out the best combos, etc

In a stunning, seemingly unrelated coincidence, all those teams are far worse than their world cup counterparts, making the actual result rather worthless when you consider things like, ooh, the ability of individual players.

[Col. Fishguts]

You may think those teams play the same style, but they're all inferior to Czech Rep. and Italy (Ghana is a blank paper).

The Pablo red card has been debated at good length. So you already know that you're the only one around here who thinks that way.
Not giving a red card in another game because the ref didn't see it clearly doesn't make the foul any less red card-worthy.

[Wobble73]

I'm also taking something into account that the rest of you probably aren't - the send off series.

In the Send off Series we played 3 friendlies - one against a team that played in Czech's style, one against a team that played Italy's style and one against a team that played Ghana's style

we lost to the team that played czech's style (1-0), we beat the other two - thus far the pattern has held true (i consider the Italy v USA match holding with that because we would have won on an even playing field)

I believe Wobble wants to know what style you are reffering to.
As do i

Is right Dekker!

[Kazan]

You may think those teams play the same style, but they're all inferior to Czech Rep. and Italy (Ghana is a blank paper).

thank you Captain Presumption Obvious for telling me what I already know and for presuming that I'm not taking that into my analysis

The Pablo red card has been debated at good length. So you already know that you're the only one around here who thinks that way.

not my fault you cannot read the LOTG and refuse to acknowledge that every other time that call has been made in this cup, including other times by this ref, it has only been a yellow card even for significantly more dangerous ones (like the one in Ecuador v Germany or the one in Australia v Brazil .... )

Not giving a red card in another game because the ref didn't see it clearly doesn't make the foul any less red card-worthy.

I'm talking about referees who CLEARLY see the foul, including the ref from USA v Italy, who are giving yellow cards for  more severe versions of the same tackle

just admit it was a bogus makeup call and a prime example why make up calls ahve no business in football and be done with it

[Colonol Dekker]

That old chestnut,...

The refs getting blammed now.

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/team/stats.html?team=USA
A good artist never blames the canvas cos his paints runny.........

[Col. Fishguts]

Do you have a video (link) to one of those more severe fouls ?
I haven't seen the Ecuador vs Germany match.

[Kazan]

i'll see if i can find it - i'll describe it though

ballack passes away the ball and is up on one foot - ecuadorian slides in under ballack's lifted leg, catches his ankle and flips him - ecuadorian was 3 to 5 seconds late (as opposed to pablo's 1/2 second lateness)