Originally Posted by Louie Dawgs (Post 1037544)

Yea, not like Munich hired Pep to play the Tiki - Taka or anything.

Originally Posted by Louie Dawgs (Post 1037548)

Howard is a class keeper, he has kept the USA in games.

Originally Posted by Fidel Z (Post 1037593)

You guys are sleepy if you think Deutschland won't make it to the finals.

Originally Posted by Nicholas (Post 1037471)

They play good club football. Dortmund & Munich. Certainly much, much more enjoyable to watch than the tiki taka Barcelona play.

Originally Posted by Mayneak (Post 1037606)

He was probably the best keeper last season in the premiership for Everton. He's quality

Originally Posted by Just C (Post 1037253)

Or they pick a nation with a chance then act like they part that nation and always supported that nation because their grandads grandad grandad was born there when really it's nothing but coatalling the winner because USA realisticly can't win it. I've stubled accross a few like that.

For everyone else it's win lose or draw you support YOUR country.

You smile with them. you cry with them. they build you up only to let you down. time after time it doesn't matter. Go all the way and win. drop out after the first game. thats your team. There is NO alternative. I might sound soppy but it's a bond you really can't break.

It's the same at domestic level. Whether you support the premier league and champions league winners or you support a 4th division team under the threat of financial liquidation and then going extinct.

Nothing changes.

Thats your team.

America seems to be a bit different. I've encountered a shit ton of people who jump form 1 team to the other.

They'll have a west coast team. 2 from the east coast team. A team who makes the play offs.

If you did that here you'd get roasted like fuck. it's a tribal thing. us vs them and fuck everyone else.

Originally Posted by Mayneak (Post 1037606)

Can't see them getting past Holland the way there playing. Blind, Sneider, Robben & Van Persie been quality throughout. I backed holland pre-tournament so they better do the job lol

Originally Posted by Dave (Post 1037609)

I couldn't disagree more. Barcalona to me play the best football in the world.

Originally Posted by Louie Dawgs (Post 1037692)

Here in the States it's garbage that Howard doesn't get the respect he deserves. Players that regularly receive more praise are Dempsey (who is the only real quality USA outfield player), Altidore (who sucks) and Bradley, who is decent but not convincing.

In my mind Howard is the USA's best player and their only real star.[COLOR="Silver"]

Originally Posted by Nicholas (Post 1037697)

They're on opposite sides of the brackets so they would only meet at the finals. That's my pick for the finals too Holland vs Germany. Some people have pointed out Germany aren't playing their best but look at the opposition.

Originally Posted by Mayneak (Post 1037725)

I agree that Howard is there best player, by far. Dempsey only that popular coz he's the main man for bagging goals but its not only about scoring. I was impressed with Johnson against Portugal but could have been coz he had alot of space. Jones is decent too. They have a chance against Belgium but If they get past them, Its Argentina & lights out lol. Done well regardless



Oh yeah, could have sworn they were on the same side. My mistake. In that case..

Semi Finals:
Brazil Vs France/Germany
Holland Vs Argentina

Final
Brazil Vs Holland.

Although I wouldn't care if Argentina win it with Messi the top goalscorer of the comp :D

Originally Posted by Nicholas (Post 1037697)

They're on opposite sides of the brackets so they would only meet at the finals. That's my pick for the finals too Holland vs Germany. Some people have pointed out Germany aren't playing their best but look at the opposition.



I was mainly referring to entertainment value, in which Barca are probably the most boring team you could watch. However even from a football perspective, Total Football > Tiki Taka. This was shown in the CL before last when Munich thrashed Barca and Dortmund thrashed Madrid. Although admittedly Madrid are far less reliant on tiki taka than Barca. In terms of tactics we've also seen anti-football dominate over tiki taka time and time again particularly with clubs managed by Mourinho.

Originally Posted by Dave (Post 1037846)

Because those teams lost one time, doesn't prove that it's not effective.

I also find Barca to be the most exciting team in the world to watch, based on the number of goals. Sure, for a lot of the game you're dealing with short passes, but to me there is no more enjoyable football to watch that the play of Messi, Iniesta and Xavi.

Originally Posted by Nicholas (Post 1037847)

Anti-Football has proven effective over Barca time and time again. I didn't say it wasn't effective I said it was boring. Do you actually watch football? lol I just don't understand how anyone can find Barca entertaining it's like watching paint dry. Even when they score I struggle to get excited because I'm already bored as fuck. Everyone else I know who knows football has agreed with me that they're a very boring team to watch. Conversely I've met a lot of people who say how awesome Barca are because of their success but rarely watch football.