Wonder if this will be kane’s last World Cup?
comment by Baz tard (U19119)
posted 18 seconds ago
Wonder if this will be kane’s last World Cup?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd be surprised if it was unless he has injury troubles. There's no obvious young candidate to take over as England's CF at the moment.
That's nothing, Portugal have a 37 year old free agent who is so desperate for goals he'll try and nick them off his teammates despite clearly not touching it.
Fair observation but also could be secondary to how much more longevity footballer’s have these days. In just 10 years I think there’s so many more footballers playing to a high level (regular starters/key contributors) in the top 5 leagues than previously. So maybe this is also reflected in international squad demographics
comment by Baz tard (U19119)
posted 4 minutes ago
Wonder if this will be kane’s last World Cup?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
no chance. players slow down as they get older.
If Kane slows down anymore he will start going back in time and get younger.
Thiago Silva and Busquests are not doing too bad. It is the attackers where the age can show but this world cup is in Nov/Dec and there is no long travel to cities so all players should be pretty fresh.
Germany still relying on Muller is probably a sign of how poor the talent pool is in Germany.
Belgium golden generation is dead with no replacements.
There does seem a big gap in quality players of the mid 20s age group.
There are a lot of very talented youngsters at the world cup, plus a lot of top quality old timers. There are not many 24-28 year olds who stand out.
comment by (K̇ash) - FSG OUT (Get a move on!) - Free Palestine 🇵🇸 (U1108)
posted 7 minutes ago
Thiago Silva and Busquests are not doing too bad. It is the attackers where the age can show but this world cup is in Nov/Dec and there is no long travel to cities so all players should be pretty fresh.
Germany still relying on Muller is probably a sign of how poor the talent pool is in Germany.
Belgium golden generation is dead with no replacements.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I partially agree on Belgium but surely in 2022 Trossard who has been one of the best attackers in the PL this season is a better starting option than Hazard.
Surely Wout Faes who has had a decent start at Leicester is a better option than the 2 ex-Spurs lads at CB.
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 9 minutes ago
There does seem a big gap in quality players of the mid 20s age group.
There are a lot of very talented youngsters at the world cup, plus a lot of top quality old timers. There are not many 24-28 year olds who stand out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Any idea what the issue's are with Ben White and why he's left the squad?
It tells you more about who is coming through for those teams, though.
comment by KLS (U1695)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 9 minutes ago
There does seem a big gap in quality players of the mid 20s age group.
There are a lot of very talented youngsters at the world cup, plus a lot of top quality old timers. There are not many 24-28 year olds who stand out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Any idea what the issue's are with Ben White and why he's left the squad?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, sounds like it must be serious.
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
It tells you more about who is coming through for those teams, though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To an extent but I feel International managers are often too slow to throw in someone new.
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by KLS (U1695)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 9 minutes ago
There does seem a big gap in quality players of the mid 20s age group.
There are a lot of very talented youngsters at the world cup, plus a lot of top quality old timers. There are not many 24-28 year olds who stand out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Any idea what the issue's are with Ben White and why he's left the squad?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, sounds like it must be serious.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Loads of speculation online (including one that Lineker raised a few weeks ago) but, whatever it is, I hope he gets the help he needs.
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
It tells you more about who is coming through for those teams, though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To an extent but I feel International managers are often too slow to throw in someone new.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
But surely that depends on the players coming through and who they replace.
That’s not to suggest that it’s the correct decision to play some of these players, but managers will replace them if they have the necessary quality to do so.
I think particularly regarding talismanic figures as well, there’s the intangibles that their presence has on a team and dressing room. International managers will always value that, especially from nations that don’t produce many of those players.
International tournaments have always been a stage for such players to have a swansong also, look at Zidane.
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
It tells you more about who is coming through for those teams, though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To an extent but I feel International managers are often too slow to throw in someone new.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
But surely that depends on the players coming through and who they replace.
That’s not to suggest that it’s the correct decision to play some of these players, but managers will replace them if they have the necessary quality to do so.
I think particularly regarding talismanic figures as well, there’s the intangibles that their presence has on a team and dressing room. International managers will always value that, especially from nations that don’t produce many of those players.
International tournaments have always been a stage for such players to have a swansong also, look at Zidane.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes but you could argue in Martinez case he's benching 2 players who are playing well in the best league in the world for players who are clearly not very good any more.
Doesn’t really refute my point. I do find the Hazard decision bizarre, to be fair. Not sure Wout Faes having nine games in a shiiiiite defence with no international experience is a particularly strange decision on balance, however.
Modric
Lewandowski
Are two others that are long in the tooth
Seems like the top sides aren't as good as they used to be and the lesser sides are more competitive now hence the tighter groups and increased number of shocks
comment by Shaun M - Livin da vi la Roca (U9955)
posted 17 minutes ago
Modric
Lewandowski
Are two others that are long in the tooth
Seems like the top sides aren't as good as they used to be and the lesser sides are more competitive now hence the tighter groups and increased number of shocks
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Modric is still pure class.
Nobody is mentioning eriksen though, the guy has little impact on games these days.
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 55 minutes ago
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
It tells you more about who is coming through for those teams, though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To an extent but I feel International managers are often too slow to throw in someone new.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Easy for them. Drop the 'talisman' and lose then its your fault. Play the 'talisman' and lose then its their fault.
We should beware too that so many WC winners are those that peak in the last game, not the first or the groups.
Hazard dropped for Belgium.
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 1 minute ago
Hazard dropped for Belgium.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
a kfc mega bucket awaits
Strikes me as a chicken and waffles man.
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Doesn’t really refute my point. I do find the Hazard decision bizarre, to be fair. Not sure Wout Faes having nine games in a shiiiiite defence with no international experience is a particularly strange decision on balance, however.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Leicester's defensive record has improved massively almost exactly coinciding with this guy breaking into the team.
He's surely a better option than two guys who have declined so much that they've gone back to the Belgian league.
We had seen the results of playing players that were too old for years at United. We all know how it used to wind me up when ever Matic and Mata played and threw me over the edge when they both played in the same game.
This was my main concern with Ronaldo, although the baggage he brings did not help.
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 22 minutes ago
We had seen the results of playing players that were too old for years at United. We all know how it used to wind me up when ever Matic and Mata played and threw me over the edge when they both played in the same game.
This was my main concern with Ronaldo, although the baggage he brings did not help.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was also my concern with Casemiro but thankfully it appears I was wrong.
We've signed too many others too late in their careers.
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Ageing players
Page 1 of 2
posted on 1/12/22
Wonder if this will be kane’s last World Cup?
posted on 1/12/22
comment by Baz tard (U19119)
posted 18 seconds ago
Wonder if this will be kane’s last World Cup?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd be surprised if it was unless he has injury troubles. There's no obvious young candidate to take over as England's CF at the moment.
posted on 1/12/22
That's nothing, Portugal have a 37 year old free agent who is so desperate for goals he'll try and nick them off his teammates despite clearly not touching it.
posted on 1/12/22
Fair observation but also could be secondary to how much more longevity footballer’s have these days. In just 10 years I think there’s so many more footballers playing to a high level (regular starters/key contributors) in the top 5 leagues than previously. So maybe this is also reflected in international squad demographics
posted on 1/12/22
comment by Baz tard (U19119)
posted 4 minutes ago
Wonder if this will be kane’s last World Cup?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
no chance. players slow down as they get older.
If Kane slows down anymore he will start going back in time and get younger.
posted on 1/12/22
Thiago Silva and Busquests are not doing too bad. It is the attackers where the age can show but this world cup is in Nov/Dec and there is no long travel to cities so all players should be pretty fresh.
Germany still relying on Muller is probably a sign of how poor the talent pool is in Germany.
Belgium golden generation is dead with no replacements.
posted on 1/12/22
There does seem a big gap in quality players of the mid 20s age group.
There are a lot of very talented youngsters at the world cup, plus a lot of top quality old timers. There are not many 24-28 year olds who stand out.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by (K̇ash) - FSG OUT (Get a move on!) - Free Palestine 🇵🇸 (U1108)
posted 7 minutes ago
Thiago Silva and Busquests are not doing too bad. It is the attackers where the age can show but this world cup is in Nov/Dec and there is no long travel to cities so all players should be pretty fresh.
Germany still relying on Muller is probably a sign of how poor the talent pool is in Germany.
Belgium golden generation is dead with no replacements.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I partially agree on Belgium but surely in 2022 Trossard who has been one of the best attackers in the PL this season is a better starting option than Hazard.
Surely Wout Faes who has had a decent start at Leicester is a better option than the 2 ex-Spurs lads at CB.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 9 minutes ago
There does seem a big gap in quality players of the mid 20s age group.
There are a lot of very talented youngsters at the world cup, plus a lot of top quality old timers. There are not many 24-28 year olds who stand out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Any idea what the issue's are with Ben White and why he's left the squad?
posted on 1/12/22
It tells you more about who is coming through for those teams, though.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by KLS (U1695)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 9 minutes ago
There does seem a big gap in quality players of the mid 20s age group.
There are a lot of very talented youngsters at the world cup, plus a lot of top quality old timers. There are not many 24-28 year olds who stand out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Any idea what the issue's are with Ben White and why he's left the squad?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, sounds like it must be serious.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
It tells you more about who is coming through for those teams, though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To an extent but I feel International managers are often too slow to throw in someone new.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by KLS (U1695)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 9 minutes ago
There does seem a big gap in quality players of the mid 20s age group.
There are a lot of very talented youngsters at the world cup, plus a lot of top quality old timers. There are not many 24-28 year olds who stand out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Any idea what the issue's are with Ben White and why he's left the squad?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, sounds like it must be serious.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Loads of speculation online (including one that Lineker raised a few weeks ago) but, whatever it is, I hope he gets the help he needs.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
It tells you more about who is coming through for those teams, though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To an extent but I feel International managers are often too slow to throw in someone new.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
But surely that depends on the players coming through and who they replace.
That’s not to suggest that it’s the correct decision to play some of these players, but managers will replace them if they have the necessary quality to do so.
I think particularly regarding talismanic figures as well, there’s the intangibles that their presence has on a team and dressing room. International managers will always value that, especially from nations that don’t produce many of those players.
International tournaments have always been a stage for such players to have a swansong also, look at Zidane.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
It tells you more about who is coming through for those teams, though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To an extent but I feel International managers are often too slow to throw in someone new.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
But surely that depends on the players coming through and who they replace.
That’s not to suggest that it’s the correct decision to play some of these players, but managers will replace them if they have the necessary quality to do so.
I think particularly regarding talismanic figures as well, there’s the intangibles that their presence has on a team and dressing room. International managers will always value that, especially from nations that don’t produce many of those players.
International tournaments have always been a stage for such players to have a swansong also, look at Zidane.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes but you could argue in Martinez case he's benching 2 players who are playing well in the best league in the world for players who are clearly not very good any more.
posted on 1/12/22
Doesn’t really refute my point. I do find the Hazard decision bizarre, to be fair. Not sure Wout Faes having nine games in a shiiiiite defence with no international experience is a particularly strange decision on balance, however.
posted on 1/12/22
Modric
Lewandowski
Are two others that are long in the tooth
Seems like the top sides aren't as good as they used to be and the lesser sides are more competitive now hence the tighter groups and increased number of shocks
posted on 1/12/22
comment by Shaun M - Livin da vi la Roca (U9955)
posted 17 minutes ago
Modric
Lewandowski
Are two others that are long in the tooth
Seems like the top sides aren't as good as they used to be and the lesser sides are more competitive now hence the tighter groups and increased number of shocks
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Modric is still pure class.
Nobody is mentioning eriksen though, the guy has little impact on games these days.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 55 minutes ago
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
It tells you more about who is coming through for those teams, though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To an extent but I feel International managers are often too slow to throw in someone new.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Easy for them. Drop the 'talisman' and lose then its your fault. Play the 'talisman' and lose then its their fault.
We should beware too that so many WC winners are those that peak in the last game, not the first or the groups.
posted on 1/12/22
Hazard dropped for Belgium.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 1 minute ago
Hazard dropped for Belgium.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
a kfc mega bucket awaits
posted on 1/12/22
Strikes me as a chicken and waffles man.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Doesn’t really refute my point. I do find the Hazard decision bizarre, to be fair. Not sure Wout Faes having nine games in a shiiiiite defence with no international experience is a particularly strange decision on balance, however.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Leicester's defensive record has improved massively almost exactly coinciding with this guy breaking into the team.
He's surely a better option than two guys who have declined so much that they've gone back to the Belgian league.
posted on 1/12/22
We had seen the results of playing players that were too old for years at United. We all know how it used to wind me up when ever Matic and Mata played and threw me over the edge when they both played in the same game.
This was my main concern with Ronaldo, although the baggage he brings did not help.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 22 minutes ago
We had seen the results of playing players that were too old for years at United. We all know how it used to wind me up when ever Matic and Mata played and threw me over the edge when they both played in the same game.
This was my main concern with Ronaldo, although the baggage he brings did not help.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was also my concern with Casemiro but thankfully it appears I was wrong.
We've signed too many others too late in their careers.
Page 1 of 2