OT: Association Football

[85 Baby]

Our group has the highest ranking cut-off for the fourth team... so in my mind that makes it pretty hard, perhaps the hardest?

Group B has the lowest ranked first two teams, who'll seem to get an easier ride through to the next rounds. Group C is the only group to have two top 10 teams, but then the biggest ranking gap, so ultimately an easier ride for their best ranked two.

World Cup Finals Groups (with current rankings in brackets):
A: Mexico (15), Korea (25), Czechia (41), South Africa (60).
B: Switzerland (19), Canada (30), Qatar (55), Bosnia and Herzegovina (65).
C: Brazil (6), Morocco (8), Scotland (43), Haiti (83).
D: USA (16), Turkiye (22), Australia (27), Paraguay (40).
E: Germany (10), Equador (23), Cote d'Ivoire (34), Curacao (82).
F: Netherlands (7), Japan (18), Sweden (38), Tunisia (44).
G: Belgium (9), Iran (21), Egypt (29), New Zealand (85).
H: Spain (2), Uruguay (17), Saudi Arabia (61), Cabo Verde (69).
I: France (1), Senegal (14), Norway (31), Iraq (57).
J: Argentina (3), Austria (24), Algeria (28), Jordan (63).
K: Portugal (5), Columbia (13), Congo DR (46), Uzbekistan (50)
L: England (4), Croatia (11), Panama (33), Ghana (74).

DNQ: Italy (12), Denmark (20), Nigeria (26), Ukraine (32), Poland (35), Russia (36), Wales (37), Serbia (39), Cameroon (45), Greece (47), Slovakia (48) - stopped tracking here, as were only 48 places in the finals.

I think with expansion the knockout stages could become really random who you could face so whether finishing 1st or one of the luck 3rds is probably minimal impact for a team like us in that we’re probably only minutely less likely to lose to a Algeria as we are a Brazil. So with the lucky 3rds, I’d say you need a minimum of 3 points to have chance (on that interestingly it’s probably better to have 3 draws than a win and 2 losses), so we need to be beating either Paraguay or Turkey at a minimum

 

[King-Gutho94]

I had no idea the Sydney Derby was on last night.

I dont follow the A-League much anymore but are any of these A-League clubs making money anymore.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Tottenham lost this morning.

So there officially in the drop zone 18th spot with 6 games to go.

2 points off West Ham.

The reality is getting real for the Spurs they might be going down.

Fixtures left
Brighton - Home
Wolves - Away
Aston Villa - Away
Leeds - Home
Chelsea - Away
Everton - Home

If they only draw with Wolves on the Road i think there almost cooked.

I cant see them beating Villa & Chelsea.

There going to need 8 or 9 points to stay up imo.

 

[the phantom menace]

I had no idea the Sydney Derby was on last night.

Yep, it hardly registers. Not even written up beforehand on newsites that don't use a paywall. Or afterwards.

I dont follow the A-League much anymore but are any of these A-League clubs making money anymore.

I don't know why the rich club owners still pump money into it to be honest. Or maybe they've been slowly winding back, given the dips in quality and promotions? There's so much better quality football a click away in people's lounge rooms, it's a hard ask to get or maintain any interest in A-league.

Maybe it should go back to a summer sport here?

 

[Trifili13]

Yep, it hardly registers. Not even written up beforehand on newsites that don't use a paywall. Or afterwards.

I don't know why the rich club owners still pump money into it to be honest. Or maybe they've been slowly winding back, given the dips in quality and promotions? There's so much better quality football a click away in people's lounge rooms, it's a hard ask to get or maintain any interest in A-league.

Maybe it should go back to a summer sport here?

It is a summer sport. It just happens to overlap with league/AFL. Starts about October and runs to about May. There are 2 rounds to go then semis.

And yes, standard is very average. You can watch the best from Europe or wherever by clicking a button any time of the day. And that is not a problem that league has. If you like league the best quality is the NRL. Imagine if we say had SL standard in Australia while the UK had our NRL standard. How many would sit up in the middle of the night to watch a game in the UK and the game potentially would struggle locally here in Australia like soccer does.

 

[the phantom menace]

It is a summer sport. It just happens to overlap with league/AFL. Starts about October and runs to about May. There are 2 rounds to go then semis.

Ah, I remember it always used to be... thought it must've shifted back, because the overlap is quite long (post-Easter).

And yes, standard is very average. You can watch the best from Europe or wherever by clicking a button any time of the day. And that is not a problem that league has. If you like league the best quality is the NRL. Imagine if we say had SL standard in Australia while the UK had our NRL standard. How many would sit up in the middle of the night to watch a game in the UK and the game potentially would struggle locally here in Australia like soccer does.

True. So quality or standard is still the biggest issue for attracting above moderate A-league crowds and media interest.

 

[Avenger]

Tottenham lost this morning.

So there officially in the drop zone 18th spot with 6 games to go.

2 points off West Ham.

The reality is getting real for the Spurs they might be going down.

Fixtures left
Brighton - Home
Wolves - Away
Aston Villa - Away
Leeds - Home
Chelsea - Away
Everton - Home

If they only draw with Wolves on the Road i think there almost cooked.

I cant see them beating Villa & Chelsea.

There going to need 8 or 9 points to stay up imo.

Welfare check on @Twizzle ?

 

[King-Gutho94]

Welfare check on @Twizzle ?

Its getting worse for poor @Twizzle

Leeds United beat Man United this morning so they go 6 points clear from the Spurs. With Leeds having Wolves, Burnley & Spurs still to play.

Clock is ticking for the spurs

 

[Twizzle]

It's not over till it's over.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Arsenal fans are getting tight about there situation.

It would be devastating for them to choke this lead and then the Spurs stay up.

It would salvage something from a horrible season for the Spurs.

 

[eels_fan]

Arsenal at 100% bottling it yet again... and its glorious to see.

I don't dislike Spurs so dont particularly want to see the drop, but with so many mates going for them, it would be a laugh i have to say.

 

[Suitman]

I don't even support Spurs, so I don't care whether they get relegated or not.
I sort of hope they do, because they would not be in this position if they hadn't had sacked Ange.
That was a shocking decision.

 

[T-Boon]

Mohomad Toure scored 3 goals for Norwich City and has 8 in 8 games or something. He should be a good piece at the world cup.

 

[King-Gutho94]

A heartbreaking draw for the Spurs this morning.

With Brighton equalising in the 95th min.

5 games left.

West Ham and Forest can widen the gap in the next 48 hours.

If Tottenham cant beat Wolves next week i think there nearly done.

They need the 3 points next week with Chelsea and Villa away still to come.