International breaks

[Bruce Wayne]

Fucking shit. This new abomination UEFA have conjoured up is bollocks. I have zero excuses for getting out of taking the Mrs shopping tomorrow, I am praying my gout comes on tonight.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

The UEFA Nations League is the best thing to happen to International Football in my lifetime. A start towards proper like v like, league football with promotion & relegation, just like we have at club level week in week out.
In competitive games, England played Spain at the 1982 World Cup, then in EURO 96, and then again just the other week at Wembley in the Nations League. In that time, (since 1982) in competitive games we've had Andorra four times, San Marino six times, Macedonia four times & Luxembourg four times. Absolute nonsense. The sooner FIFA introduce a Nations League, and we can get proper competitive games against Brazil & Argentina the better. UEFA are shit - but this Nations League is a real Game Changer

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The UEFA Nations League is the best thing to happen to International Football in my lifetime. A start towards proper like v like, league football with promotion & relegation, just like we have at club level week in week out.
In competitive games, England played Spain at the 1982 World Cup, then in EURO 96, and then again just the other week at Wembley in the Nations League. In that time, (since 1982) in competitive games we've had Andorra four times, San Marino six times, Macedonia four times & Luxembourg four times. Absolute nonsense. The sooner FIFA introduce a Nations League, and we can get proper competitive games against Brazil & Argentina the better. UEFA are shit - but this Nations League is a real Game Changer

Sorry to disagree pal but it's shit (praying for shingles now)

 

[Carlton Blade]

The UEFA Nations League is the best thing to happen to International Football in my lifetime. A start towards proper like v like, league football with promotion & relegation, just like we have at club level week in week out.
In competitive games, England played Spain at the 1982 World Cup, then in EURO 96, and then again just the other week at Wembley in the Nations League. In that time, (since 1982) in competitive games we've had Andorra four times, San Marino six times, Macedonia four times & Luxembourg four times. Absolute nonsense. The sooner FIFA introduce a Nations League, and we can get proper competitive games against Brazil & Argentina the better. UEFA are shit - but this Nations League is a real Game Changer

Was talking about this earlier. In theory, it's a great idea. In actuality, the format that's currently in play is complicated, convoluted and ultimately there doesn't seem to be much incentive to treat it too much differently to a friendly.

 

[8lade]

I agree it's a decent idea but once again horrifically badly executed.

 

[northsomersetblade]

Johnsons paint gone international innit

 

[davidblade]

Sorry to disagree pal but it's shit (praying for shingles now)

Can I suggest a visit our 6 fingered neighbors from north pigsville in the pub league

 

[diode_blade]

Johnsons paint gone international innit

Sherpa vans trophy....

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

I'm

Was talking about this earlier. In theory, it's a great idea. In actuality, the format that's currently in play is complicated, convoluted and ultimately there doesn't seem to be much incentive to treat it too much differently to a friendly.

What complicated format? It's the easiest competition I've ever heard of. You're in a league with 2 others, you play each other home & away, bottom of the table relegated, top of the table promoted or goes to the Final Four Play Off.

 

[Hague Blade]

It's #nonleagueday - I'll be watching the mighty Berkhamsted FC in the FA Trophy.

Give it a try; it's good fun - right JonnyRed(WCFC) ?

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Johnsons paint gone international innit

So you're saying that England v Spain is "The Johnson's Paint", but England v San Marino year in year out isn't?
Good one......

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Sorry to disagree pal but it's shit (praying for shingles now)

Oh, I'm with you now. Why didn't you say? I'm a big fan of the - it's shit - argument

 

[tomtheblade]

It is shit, but only compared to the championship. Nothing beats the Blades on a Saturday afternoon.

Phil is right that the new format, where teams play opposition ranked close to them, is better than meaningless friendlies. International football outside of tournaments, and especially qualifying, has always been dull. This new way is an improvement. Just don't expect it to compare to the league, because nothing ever will.

 

[Lower Drop Blade]

The UEFA Nations League is the best thing to happen to International Football in my lifetime. A start towards proper like v like, league football with promotion & relegation, just like we have at club level week in week out.
In competitive games, England played Spain at the 1982 World Cup, then in EURO 96, and then again just the other week at Wembley in the Nations League. In that time, (since 1982) in competitive games we've had Andorra four times, San Marino six times, Macedonia four times & Luxembourg four times. Absolute nonsense. The sooner FIFA introduce a Nations League, and we can get proper competitive games against Brazil & Argentina the better. UEFA are shit - but this Nations League is a real Game Changer

I go on my own interest it commands and just like pointless friendlies it gets zero. So for me not a game changer

 

[Muttley]

Well I'm having a break in Majorca without having to miss a match.

 

[SwissBlade]

Johnsons paint gone international innit

International Paints then

 

[SwissBlade]

It seems to be a more competitive idea and at least England will be playing sides that are better than us, so it works from that point.

But why couldn’t they make it so that the friendlies are abolished completely? Do wales really need to play Spain in a friendly when, if they made the groups a proper size, the international break wouldn’t be wasted and that all teams played competitive games.

Friendlies at this stage in the season serve zero purpose

 

[cahill]

International Paints then

Alternatively « Watching Paint Dry Trophy «

 

[Sandygate Blade]

This new format is better than friendlies but holds little appeal. Can't wait for the real football to start again.

Outside of World Cup don't get the appeal of international football.

 

[JonnyRed(WCFC)]

And Salah got injured for Egypt vs the mighty Swaziland last night so Klopp will be happy.

 

[8lade]

if they made the groups a proper size

Exactly my issue with it; 16, 3 & 4 team leagues = crap; 8, 6 or 7 team leagues much better.

 

[Carlton Blade]

I'm

What complicated format? It's the easiest competition I've ever heard of. You're in a league with 2 others, you play each other home & away, bottom of the table relegated, top of the table promoted or goes to the Final Four Play Off.

It's complicated in the fact of I'm not sure what the outcome/consequence of winning and losing is. Does it matter if you get relegated? If you finish second in the group do you stay in the group with the team that won it? I think the 3 in a group format is deeply flawed (think Austria W Germ 82). Like I said, anything to improve on friendlies is good but there's a lot of refinement required to make this worth something

 

[awblade]

International games are shit, I barely even paid attention to the world cup. If they want to make it be more appealing I think that they need to drastically reduce the number of international games per year so that it actually seems a bit special, not just another week

But more is seen as better, let's just not have club games at all and have international games every week instead

 

[JonnyRed(WCFC)]

It's #nonleagueday - I'll be watching the mighty Berkhamsted FC in the FA Trophy.

Give it a try; it's good fun - right JonnyRed(WCFC) ?

Absolutely Haguey dreams of Wembley in what is really a mini FA Cup for Non League Teams , in some ways we're spoilt with both the Trophy and the Vase.

Berkhamsted are playing a bunch of cartoon characters today , South Park

And in the Vase, Worcester have got Long Eaton United which is a tad underwhelming as theyre in the same league as us!

With there being no top flight football on, a lot of lower level games are being promoted as a 'Non League Day' initiative to attract people to go along, some games they will allow you to pay/donate however much you feel on the gate as you go in, kids free etc.

 

[Northyorksblade]

And Salah got injured for Egypt vs the mighty Swaziland last night so Klopp will be happy.

Really? I hadn't heard

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

It's complicated in the fact of I'm not sure what the outcome/consequence of winning and losing is. Does it matter if you get relegated? If you finish second in the group do you stay in the group with the team that won it? I think the 3 in a group format is deeply flawed (think Austria W Germ 82). Like I said, anything to improve on friendlies is good but there's a lot of refinement required to make this worth something

Carlton Blade
All I can say is it's promotion & relegation like the Football League that Sheffield United Football Club are in. If you get promoted enough times England/Sheffield United will be in the top division. If you get relegated enough times England/Sheffield United will be in the Pub League. Maybe I'm missing something in your question. If Sheffield United get promoted we play Manchester City. If Sheffield United get relegated we play Crawley Town. If England stay in the top league they'll play Germany, France, Spain, etc. If England get relegated they'll play San Marino (a fucking gain). I'm thinking, come on mate, you know how promotion & relegation works. You go up, you stay in, you go down....

 

[YES Blade]

It's complicated in the fact of I'm not sure what the outcome/consequence of winning and losing is. Does it matter if you get relegated? If you finish second in the group do you stay in the group with the team that won it? I think the 3 in a group format is deeply flawed (think Austria W Germ 82). Like I said, anything to improve on friendlies is good but there's a lot of refinement required to make this worth something

It’s like any new tournament, it needs a bit of history and prestige behind it to improve its status. That doesn’t happen over night.

Give it until this one is completed and the next one starts before slagging off the format.

 

[JonnyRed(WCFC)]

Really? I hadn't heard

Limped off with a thigh strain. Apparently not too bad.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Carlton Blade
All I can say is it's promotion & relegation like the Football League that Sheffield United Football Club are in. If you get promoted enough times England/Sheffield United will be in the top division. If you get relegated enough times England/Sheffield United will be in the Pub League. Maybe I'm missing something in your question. If Sheffield United get promoted we play Manchester City. If Sheffield United get relegated we play Crawley Town. If England stay in the top league they'll play Germany, France, Spain, etc. If England get relegated they'll play San Marino (a fucking gain). I'm thinking, come on mate, you know how promotion & relegation works. You go up, you stay in, you go down....

When you put it like that, maybe I do sound a bit thick

I probably need to give it a bit of time to bed in. I definitely don't like the current format. Groups of 4 are difficult because of the number of games but if it was worth more towards qualifying then that would justify it.

I haven't looked into it but if they re-group the top division each time that makes sense. Otherwise you could end up with England v Spain over and over.

My issue isn't with understanding the promotion and relegation 'logistics'. More why should I care if we did get relegated?

 

[Carlton Blade]

It’s like any new tournament, it needs a bit of history and prestige behind it to improve its status. That doesn’t happen over night.

Give it until this one is completed and the next one starts before slagging off the format.

Fair points. I'm probably jumping the gun a bit with criticism. Just don't like the 3 team format