| Archive for forum.sports-pro.co.uk A discussion forum devoted to people who want to talk about sports and sports betting! People without a sense of humour need not apply!! |
| shamardal84 |
World CupI know we have numerous threads on the world cup, like which colour socks john terry will wear on the plane etc but I couldnt find out for the outright winners of the world cup.Ive had a look through the market today while im at work and I just cant get away from Spain, 5/1 is short I know but when you have Brazil at the same price then it looks quite good. I tried to find an outsider but I was struggling. I cant see a team from Africa winning it just yet, not sure how strong South America is this year, so was looking through the rest of the european teams. Didnt really come up with much. Anyone got any strong views? |
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| accajacca |
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| Gorg_George |
ENGERLAND NAR NAR! | ||||||||
| archie mackenzie |
personally think ghana will surprize a few teams and after they win the african nations cup in january that 80-1 will dissappear
im a complete novice regarding this back to lay punting but worth a look imo on there day they can beat any team in the world cheers archie anyone agree or im i talking tosh again.cheers |
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| lenahan |
I suppose if an African team or shock winner is going to emerge then this could be the tournement.
If youre stickking wtiht the tried and tested though: Tournements outside europe go to the south americans..i.e Brazil and Argentina ! I cant fancy brazil myself. Not the force of old and given they got to 3 finals in a row before last time i just cant imagine them doing it yet again in such quick succesion. I know the Argies struggled but they are a great team on there day and can really turn it on. Id have almost expected them to struggle with marradonna in charge for qualifying but then really turn it on at the finals. Its not usually the teams who storm through qualifying who go onto to perform outstnading at the finals so im not worried about there dodgy cmapaign to get there at all. Of the euro teams france and portugal are past it and in a slump cycle. Italy and Germany are never to be ruled out. Holland always manage to mess up like england. And spain are still the team to beat. There are plenty of dangerous floaters about but it takes something special to go all the way. For me: Argentina/Spain the teams to beat. I see the winners coming from those two and Germany/Italy. It would be a surprise to me if at least one of these two euro giants didnt make the semis and in all likelihood the final. Would love to see the Spanish win it in the same style as the Euros. England have a chance but this is a harder tournement to win that the last one imo. Far more teams are now in a good cycle. Imo 2006 was englands chance and its gone. I can actually see us doing quite well. my prediction another glorious failure in the semis maybe. All depends on the draw really though. Which is onyl a few weeks away coincedently. |
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| johnnio |
Can't see Argentina winning it if they keep with Maradonna, if they sack him then they've a big chance. Can't see Spain getting it all their own way again, I think like a few others that an African team might win it, I'll go for Ivory Coast, reckon the Drog will come into his own in this tournament. | ||||||||
| Darren |
As I heard it described the other day, if you take Spain out, its a tournament full of quarter finalists.
The most open tournament where luck will play a huge part, but Spain are a cut above at this moment in time. |
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| archie mackenzie |
my mate reckons chile will surprize a few teams and has done like you i cant get me thick head around to understand betfair but hes got me money and weve punted on 3 teams who we think are way too big in price,so fingers crossed the draw is kind to us and he can make a wee profit i see you logged on but not posting   hope things are well.cheers archie.
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| Jimbob |
The Stats say Spain will not win. No European team has ever won a World Cup in the Southern Hemisphere, or even outside of Europe for that matter. Plus I think Spain are a bit over rated personally.
If you are looking for a dark horse I think Paraguay have a hell of a chance. They were top of the South American qualifying group for a long time before Brazil's class showed through and eventually they finished top. In the end Paraguay finished third to Chile on goal difference but only 1 point sperated the 3 teams. Paraguay owe a lot of their success to the fact that they are one of the most difficult teams in the world to play at home because of the high altitude of the country(coupled with them being a pretty handy team to start off with). If they get games in the area's of South Africa that are at pretty high altitude, the 66/1 offered at the moment could look enormous very quickly! I admit that's a big if though. |
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| alfieatkins |
cant understand how they have the dutch priced up at about double the price of england
the 14's available will do me nicely thank you very much |
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| glennie1970 |
I would think that the Ivory coast will be the top African team - they Have drogba , the two toure brothers, eboue , traore, dindane , kalou whereas Ghana are a one man team in Essien.
I think I might actually have a punt on them to win |
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| The_Pilgarlic |
It's hotting up and it's not even 2010 yet.
Controversy in qualifying and a potential 33rd team 
The South Africans getting their 'Kangeroo' courts ready to deal with influx of nutcase supporters (those who are in a fit state to appear after the local police have dealt with them). 
Still work to be done on some of the Stadiums
..... and now, they have attracted the attention of the Animal Rights brigade! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8388001.stm (I'm not sure I see what their beef is about though) 
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| johnnio |
That's a load of bull. | ||||||||
| YAIYAM |
I wouldn't say Ghana are a one man team as I can think of Adiyiah @ Ac Milan Muntari @ Inter Milan Asamoa @ udinese(i think) Appiahh @ another Italian club Ayoow marseile or Lyon Inkoum @ one of the top swiss clubs(Zurich or Basel) |
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| Machiavellian |
Appiah's at Bologna, I really like him. |
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| YAIYAM |
I think he is there captain is he not? |
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| Machiavellian |
Yes, he is. |
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| The_Pilgarlic |
I understand how it may be 'nice' for the host team to do well and historically a number have, but isn't it about time FIFA updated their seeding policy and stopped automatically making the host nation seeds?
SA are ranked 86th! However, FIFA have amused me this morning by 'warning-off' Mr Maradona from the draw on Friday
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| geordie_racer |
why not just abolish seeding put everyone in a hat and draw them out and stop the fannying on that goes with these things. |
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| value seeker |
NICE TO SEED YOU,TO SEED YOU NICE
Not Brucie ,Englands manager. |
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| lenahan |
Draw will be HUGE tommoro in the context of a teams chances of lifting the trophy.....
Ill be happy to go through it tommoro and rule those in contention and those not due to the draws they receive..... As most years one half will probably be more top heavy than the other! |
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| Death n Taxes |
david beckham perfoms his most important role for england since that free kick against greecce. Pulling out the right team for us play in the group stages will be critical to our progress. Not sure which seedings he is pulling the balls for but if he could get new zealand or switzerland that would be great. | ||||||||
| archie mackenzie |
couldnt agree more geordie 10 minutes max teams (groups) venues and kick off times the end but cause fifa is full of clowns we have to have the circus if theres anyone still awake after the draw could they be so kind to copy and paste the draw on here please i really hope fifa give the refs all the help/support they need cause i reckon this world cup with be full of cheating/play acting from the players cheers archie. |
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| The_Pilgarlic |
here's some more guff for you archie!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8393348.stm |
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| L.C. |
What do you we think then - to compensate France for not being a seed, they get drawn in South Africa's group?
Cheers L C(ynic) |
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| geordie_racer |
no south africa will get a soft group to get them through. england will gt a really hard group france wil gte argentina, maadonna v henry the handball experts |
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| L.C. |
Like the idea of a handball group, but cant for the life of me see how South Africa can get an easy group! I'd fancy even New Zealand to take something off of them
Cheers LC |
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| LongJ0n |
I backed Ivory Coast at 25/1 pre draw. They're now 33/1. Failure. | ||||||||
| value seeker |
England should have no problems qualifying from that draw. | ||||||||
| value seeker |
SKYBET GO 1/8 TO QUALIFY ,9/2 NOT TO QUALIFY |
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| lochsong |
That 9/2 looks tempting.
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| lenahan |
Top group. 2round exit to germany or 1/4 exit to argies ?
I know those teams are not that great at the mo but come on theyll prob knock us out wont they! at least if i predict the gloom and status qou i can be happy i got it wrong ;) |
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| timeform |
well that couldnt have gone much better if i had picked it myself
tf |
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| theGoingStick |
Great draw, we'll win that group in a canter. | ||||||||
| Rochesterlad |
Hardly the group of death is it.......
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| lenahan |
Boys take a look at the route to the final though...yes the group is a peace of piss but after that it could have hardly been any worse the way we have been drawn....we are going to need to knock a tough team out in every round from the group onwards to lift the trophy....
Germany/Ghana....Argentina.....Brazil/Spain/IvoryCoast......Take your pick in the final.... that is the kind of route i was looking for to declare a team would not win it and unfortunetly for us that is the path england have got...we wont knock those teams out one after one succesfully....we are just not good enough...yes the odd good result but not one after another against the best which we dont belong to.... ill need to have a glance at the routes for other teams cause no doubt some will have got routes with effective byes in certain rounds.... italy the canny sods have got an easy group so i wouldnt be surprised if theyre path to the trophy is not a bad one ! |
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| The_Pilgarlic |
You could get a world cup predictor and tap in all the resluts from the group matches and maybe do a couple of other versions where there may be shocks. It's fun and may throw up the winner. However, if at the end of it you are going to tell us that it's a bit premature to be re-living '66 and at 9/2 England are a bit skinny and there is possibly value elsewhere, I expect a number of people are already there
Oh, and if anyone has already got a link to a WC predictor can they post it so I can work out who will win it!
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| shamardal84 |
On form England have nothing to fear apart from any team apart from Spain, who we will almost never beat. But we are closely matched with the rest of the seeds, so whoever we play from the seeds its gonna be much of a muchness. Brazil are no better than the likes of Italy, Argentina etc, and Holland have probably closed the gap on the rest so I cant see any reason apart from Spain anyone would be tougher than the other. England aren't value at 9/2 I agree however the African team's aren't a massive worry. I dont see a massive improvement in the last 4 year. And like most African teams there goalkeepers are a massive worry. Did anyone see the African Nation's? | ||||||||
| kickingkyle |
Spain have got such an easy group il be backing Villa and Torres to be top goal scorer. COuld get 6 a piece by the end of the groups. | ||||||||
| YAIYAM |
Group D & G look the toughest groups. | ||||||||
| lenahan |
Its amazing how many people i know who really should know better have already put there rose tinted england spectacles on though. England are never value are they but amazing thing is you can almost for certain back them pre tournement and lay them lower after the group stages. Ive started to think Germany are looking good at 14/1. A german friend of mine who knows his football reckons Germany are now at there best player and potential wise since the demise of the great German era in the mid 90s. Thinks this could be a tournement too early but that there are signs of things clicking. They are tough to beat anyway but they dont look to have a bad path to the semis by which time they wont be 14s and its anyones to win. |
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| shamardal84 |
I agree that Germany look overpriced, and I think Holland will do well this year. I have already backed Spain not long after the WC for much better odds than they are now, so hopefully come the semi finals I will have two left to lay off and have some free bets for then |
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| YAIYAM |
I can't understand why none of the bookies besides offering 1/2 first 2 are not doing 1/4 first 4 I am sure it would be a real money spinner for them as some people might not be that keen on taking Nigeria @ 100/1 to make the final for the 50% but may chance a bit of cash for them to make first 4 @ 25%.
I know there will be a market to reach the last 4 but bookies are always slow at putting prices up for these type of markets |
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| merrymozzer |
You know some stuff Geordie
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| shamardal84 |
Its about as accurate as his prediction for Newcastle at the start of the season
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| YAIYAM |
If you are going to back another team besides England but still want England to win then Skybet have said they will refund all losing outright bets if England lift the WC | ||||||||
| archie mackenzie |
i pulled ENGLAND out (the quickest tenner ive ever lost   )
cheers archie. |
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| archie mackenzie |
but imo the german group is the most evenly matched group and i think any of the 4 could win the group and actually think the germans could be knocked out before the knock out games. cheers archie. |
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| johnnio |
I had a look at the Mirror world cup pull-out and had a guess at the results. I predicted that France and Germany wont get out of the groups, England will get to the semis, where they'll get put out by Brazil, the other semi would be between Ivory Coast and Ghana, think Ghana might win that one and the Final will be between Brazil and Ghana. | ||||||||
| lenahan |
I trust my german mates judgement on this one. Even if they were poor i personally coudnt see germany going out at the group stages archie. As you say opinions but its a brave man wholl go against the germans. They are relentless in these tournements. It took an exceptional spain team to prevent them lifting the euro trophy. They have been a shadow of themselves for well over a decade and yet look at there record in that time. WC runners up, semi finalsitts, euro runners up. There wont be many teams capable of knocking them out next summer. Looking at the draw i expect the semi final stage to look something like this: England/Argentina/IvoryCoast Germany/Argentina v V v Brazil/Holland Spain/Italy Therefore think the final will be something like: Brazil/Argentina v Germany/Argentina/Spain Winner comes from Argentina,Germany or Spain for me. Do think England & Ivory Coast have a squeak of getting to the final but even then would think it would be just one step too far beating too many other good teams for them to ultimetly do it and lift the trophy. At the prices i think Germany are the outstanding each way bet for the tournement at 14/1. I have them down as almost certain to reach the semis. |
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| archie mackenzie |
whats your thoughts on portugal lenahan ???
i cant decide wether the portugese or ivory coast will qualify out the group yet anyone else will thoughts/opinions on the groups etc cheers archie. |
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| lenahan |
I dont think Portugal are a threat to win the trophy archie. Not at all. I really cant have them. They have had the best part of a decade towards the top in world football and Ronaldo apart i see them at the drag end of a cycle now. They are difficult to assess though as to how far they can go to my mind. I think they could go out at the group stage and yet if they do qualify i could see them knocking out a good team through the next stages. Best for Portugal would be a quater/semi appearance imo but i dont expect it. Ultimetly i think the portugese will go out in the group stages. They play in the opening match of that group agaisn the ivory coast and id say whoever wins that will probably qualify. I thihk it suits the ivory coast as an opening game. They will be highly motivated for that one. They will know what they need to do. I think they will win that opening encounter and qualify. They are the real dark horse for me. They have a tough job to go and lift the trophy looking at there route to the final but at the very least i see them roughling some feathers. I cant rule them out though and they could be a value bet to trade. |
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| L.C. |
Hi Archie, All the groups will be won by the top seeds if you ask me, except (obviously) for the South Africa group. Cant say i was impressed by France, i wouldnt touch South Africa, so i reckon there might be a bit of value in backing Mexico (4/1 Bet365) or Uruguay (9/2 Corals) to win that Group? If pushed, i'd probably go Mexico - seem to have turned the corner since getting rid of Sven. Other than that, will probably do top scorer and outright winner scorecast bets nearer the time (if the tournament was starting today, my bet would be Rooney and Brazil) Of course, as the tournament gets nearer, i'll get more excited and put on loads of silly bets, but i'm not there yet! Cheers LC |
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| BurntFingers |
I intend to bet on almost every game if I can in the World Cup.
The bet I intend to do is half time / full time by betting either Team to beat the other after going behind first half. Said I would the last time, but never did and I am positive there were clear profit margins in doing this. You only need this to happen a couple of times throughout the competition to show profit as the odds on this occurring will be anything from 25 - 1 to 66 - 1. Not generally a great fan of this bet in the Prem, but in a World Cup with what's at stake, and some Teams playing each other for the first time ever, there is more chance of this happening. I will be selective on some matches i.e not back Italy to go ahead against NZ for the Kiwi's to come back and win second half - that's chucking money away. Apart from this, I will back Holland and Germany to win outright .... |
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| value seeker |
Good for England ,Owens hat trick. | ||||||||
| Gorg_George |
If Capello doesn't take Owen I'm going to support Germany. | ||||||||
| lenahan |
Id take him over Defore for sure. A good season for Owen is just what England need. Not a huge fan of him anymore but deserves to at least end his carrear on a high. |
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| Gorg_George |
Why all this talk of his career trailing off? He's not even 30 yet. He could play at the top level for another 4 years easily. | ||||||||
| lenahan |
Not for me. He has lost some of his pace and thats a big part of his game. Depends how you look at it though:He is at the best club for him now. He can play at the top for a while i guess if he is used in the same way Giggs has been for a few years. Odd game here and there. Odd 20 minutes here and there. Dont see Owen being able to compete over 90 minutes once to twice a week though. |
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| Gorg_George |
He's 29 for petes sake not 59! Of corse he could play twice a week, he was still sprinting with 30 seconds left tonight. I don't get why people have come to this conclusion that he wasn't what he was when quite clearly he's still got it. I've a feeling we wont take him to the WC, and that'll be a sad day for English football. | ||||||||
| kickingkyle |
I dont think Owen should go for 90 mins but should go, last 20mins hes clinical in front of goal. If anyones been watchign him, 2 weeks ago he wouldnt of got away from that defender to score last night. Cant remember who it was against when he played 90mins but he looked slow and tired, last night much fitter. | ||||||||
| archie mackenzie |
and out the two owen is clearly the better finisher and that for me gives him the nod anyone guess how maney forward cappello will take owen,bent,rooney,heskey,agabahor ?? crouch ?? defoe?? cole?? |
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| BurntFingers |
He'll take 5 me thinks.
That's how many usually get the nod. Rooney, Defoe and Owen booked up. With two from either ... Crouch / Heskey or Agbonlahor / Bent |
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| johnnio |
His squad should be:
James Green Hart Johnson Richards (can't think of another rb!) Ferdinand Terry Upson Lescott A Cole Bridge (Even tho he's shite) Lampard Gerrard Barry Carrick J Cole Milner Bullard Beckham!!! - how could I forget him!! Defoe Rooney Bent Heskey There's no mission of Owen being on the plane over, unless he gets a job with itv or bbc. |
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| Gorg_George |
James
Robinson Kirkland Johnson Terry Ferdinand Lescott Upson Cole Bridge Gerrard Lampard Barry SW Philips Beckham Lennon J Cole Milner Owen Rooney Heskey Defoe Bent |
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| johnnio |
You've only one right back gg, and I dont think he'll bring 5 forwards. He'll have 3 keepers and 2 players for every position, he needs 4 central midfield players, if something happens to Gerrard and Lampard or they get yellow cards, you've no cover for them. | ||||||||
| Gorg_George |
Beckham can play in the middle, J cole can and should play in the middle if involved. Milner/SWP/Lennon could all cover RB, would make so much more sense to take an extra attacking option. | ||||||||
| archie mackenzie |
im not actually thinking of a financial investment on portugal but looking at getting ivory coast beat has ive been looking at the markets available and see ivory coast at odds on to be best african team,which with there draw i think is ridculous short and fancy a punt on two other african teams.cheers archie. |
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| archie mackenzie |
hows your luck?? fair point about sven the money grabber and mexico i remenber the last time when yaiyam tipped them up and actually watched them a couple of times and they did look a decent outfit if they still have the nucleus of that squad why not this season im just contsentrationing on the domestic football including the highland/junior football and a few punts on european games i watch on espn best of luck cheers archie. |
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| johnnio |
I did forget about Beckham, had a bit of a mental block there, I take your point about the extra attacking option, but I don't think Capello thinks that way, I definitely don't think he'll take 5 forwards and I'm pretty sure Owen won't be there, as he has hardly even looked at him. I think it'll be 4 from Heskey, Defoe, Rooney, Bent, Agbonlahor, Crouch. |
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| archie mackenzie |
is it really nessary to take 3 keepers ???
take two and get another forward on board
cheers archie. |
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| shamardal84 |
Rooney is supposed to be a really good keeper. Maybe we could have him as third choice cos at the end of the day he's gonna struggle to get in the first team with Ameobi and Ranger on the plane |
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| L.C. |
Hi Archie, I'm good thanks - cut down on betting since the end of last season - but i had 3 days at Cheltenham for the Open last month, which has got me back into horses a bit (coming back in profit helped!). Fixed odds i'm kind of going through phases at the moment - i'm now learning to walk away some weeks and just not bother, rather than just put a coupon on for the sake of it! I avoid Scottish games completely now, i can never call them I quite like that Goals Galore thing, but not done if for a few weeks - far easier picking a team to score, than it is to win! Hope you keep on winning! Cheers LC |
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| Gorg_George |
Unfortunately I think your right Johnio, I don't think he'll take Owen either but it's just ludicrous that he'll consider Crouch/Cole/Bent/Heskey/Bongie before he'll consider Owen, even if via some miracle he does take 5 strikers I very much doubt Owen will be one of them which will do us no favours in this comp at all. |
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| archie mackenzie |
you could be right sham regarding Ameobi being on the plane wasnt nigeria having a look at him regarding a call up for the african nations cup and then the world cup ??? anything come of that ??? cheers archie. |
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| lochsong |
England really need to be winning Group C. Runner up spot would likely see them playing against Germany in the second round, and we know what that usaully means. 
Looking at the match schedule, if things fall right for the lads, the first 'big' team they would meet would be Brazil in the semi's. Then Spain in the Final. Easy Peasy
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