tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25555967.post4449106843556887533..comments2024-02-09T08:07:26.090-08:00Comments on Dodgy At Best: Euro2008 Day 7 Open ThreadKanuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02959256951835399304noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25555967.post-52240452765786168652008-06-17T09:23:00.000-07:002008-06-17T09:23:00.000-07:00M-Good stuff as always.1. I certainly see where yo...M-<BR/><BR/>Good stuff as always.<BR/><BR/>1. I certainly see where you are coming from, but Nasri & Benzema are still young unproven talent at the national level, as is Gomis. My point is that when I see this team play, and I compare it to France teams of 1998-2006, there are several dudes on the field that would never have seen the field during that stretch. Toulalan? Goivu? I also think Malouda is pretty damn average. Hell, for me the fact that Sidney Goivu wears the #10 pretty much sums it up.<BR/><BR/>1a. Agreed, but then Domenech is a crazy old man, and I mean literally crazy. We're talking about a dude who has never selected Robert Pires a single time since taking over in summer of 2004 because Pires is a Scorpio. When you're dealing with that level of nuttiness there's a good chance you'll get head-scratching tactical decisions as well. Simply put the man is a buffoon.<BR/><BR/>1b. Yes the veterans are a bit indifferent. I wonder is this is subconsciously because for all those dudes mentioned, they came through and played under iconic talisman Zidane, and he was their leader, so they are used to following him and now that he is gone it is not natural for any of them to assume such a role because they are basically conditioned to be followers over the last 10-12 years. I think only Vieira can assume that leadership role, and he hasn't played.<BR/><BR/>2. Never liked RVN, but I will concede he has expanded his repertoire from the dude who scored 150 goals for ManUtd and 149 of them were from inside the box {read: one dimensional goal poacher} while diving cheating and whining all along the way. I've seen this expansion in the last year watching RM matches as well, and although I see less of him than I used to he seems to have toned down the diving & cheating as well, so good for him.<BR/><BR/>3. He's good at what he does, working his ass off to compensate for not being as skilled as others and playing the workmanlike role. Is he the Mark Lemke of Holland?<BR/><BR/>4. I didn't catch that, but Moin says it was indeed JC and was amused by his reaction: http://dctrojan.wordpress.com/2008/06/14/orange-crush-will-turn-you-inside-out/#comment-8933Kanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02959256951835399304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25555967.post-24969340039523521702008-06-16T11:24:00.000-07:002008-06-16T11:24:00.000-07:00A couple thoughts:1. The French have loads of tale...A couple thoughts:<BR/><BR/>1. The French have loads of talent. Any side that can leave Nasri and Benzema on the bench has plenty of quality players. For me, their problems are two-fold:<BR/><BR/>a. Their tactics are inept. WTF are you doing with two defensive midfielders when you're trailing by two goals? Ribery and Malouda would be much better if they had any support from the midfield.<BR/><BR/>b. Their veterans - Henry, Thuram, Makelele, and Gallas - seem indifferent. That's where the leadership comes from.<BR/><BR/>2. After seeing RVN's array of touches, you can't call him one-dimensional any more.<BR/><BR/>3. I like Kujt on this team. With a bunch of very skilled players, you need a workhorse who doesn't need the ball at his feet to make plays. He blends beautifully with RVN, Sneijder, and van der Vaart up front. I've never been a fan of Kujt, but he's growing on me.<BR/><BR/>4. When the Dutch scored, didn't the camera show Cruyff? The ESPN guys said is was Neeskens, but I'm almost positive that it was JC.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25555967.post-32793169315564456832008-06-13T17:09:00.000-07:002008-06-13T17:09:00.000-07:00Hate to admit this since he plays for Chel$ea, but...Hate to admit this since he plays for Chel$ea, but I like Cech a lot. He's well-respected and a good sportsman at all times. But if I were choosing sides, right now I'd go with Gigi.<BR/><BR/>And when Camoranesi (sic, this time) goes with the ponytail look like he does so often with Juve, he's an absolute dead ringer for a younger Bruce.beast in 'bamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07562281321749885044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25555967.post-46024424759332519982008-06-13T16:53:00.000-07:002008-06-13T16:53:00.000-07:00Face= yes. Hair, not sure. Merits more research o...Face= yes. Hair, not sure. Merits more research on my part.<BR/><BR/>Agreed on Buffon. Before the broken skull, I'd maybe put Cech as 1 and GB as 1A, or them both as Co-Best In The World. I think these days it's Gigi 1 and Cech 1A. Pretty amazing that Cech is still so good after a broken skull and a ripped up face.Kanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02959256951835399304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25555967.post-80547298811645503802008-06-13T16:38:00.000-07:002008-06-13T16:38:00.000-07:00Continuing your looks-like theme...Cameronesi of I...Continuing your looks-like theme...<BR/><BR/>Cameronesi of Italy: Bruce Springsteen c. 1973 - <I>The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle</I>. Check out the album cover if you don't agree. Hell, I'm not sure Cameronesi isn't actually Boss Jr.<BR/><BR/>And I'm gonna go all Larry King on you here: If there's a better goalkeeper than Buffon, I haven't seen him yet. I just saw the highlights, and he saved (no pun) Italy's collective ass today.beast in 'bamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07562281321749885044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25555967.post-36376694978746291062008-06-13T15:59:00.000-07:002008-06-13T15:59:00.000-07:00BIB-Yup- well said about DK.No worries, I hope you...BIB-<BR/><BR/>Yup- well said about DK.<BR/><BR/>No worries, I hope you get to catch the matches this weekend. Enjoy.Kanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02959256951835399304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25555967.post-31200043648302129932008-06-13T14:49:00.000-07:002008-06-13T14:49:00.000-07:00What I dread about Dirk Kuyt? He flies around at 1...What I dread about Dirk Kuyt? He flies around at 100 mph, and you never know what opportunities he's going to miss or what damage he's going to do.<BR/><BR/>What I love about Dirk Kuyt? He flies around at 100 mph, and you never know what good he's going to do or your team.<BR/><BR/>One thing is for certain about Kuyt: he will never, ever get out-worked on the pitch. You know, he's really having a really, really good tournament so far, with a goal and two assists in two games. Of course, it would be difficult to name a Dutch player who's NOT having a good tournament right now.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the break down of the matches. I was on the road visiting a client today and didn't get to see a minute of either game.beast in 'bamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07562281321749885044noreply@blogger.com