Aussies score 346 from 50 overs....

[Simster]

Some of Chings goals from last year are class (look on youtube).
Im surprised noone has taken a chance on Twellman in England.

Yep - Ching scored a great goal against Kansas, but his movement off the ball is suspect. Twellman is class and has just signed a $400k a year deal with the Revs - he is the first part of a strategy designed to keep some of their stars at home. It'd cost a fortune to bring him to Europe now.

Watch Dempsey tho' - I think he was a shrewd purchase at £2m...

 

[CHAPPERS]

Brian CHing is a well good name.

The Yanks can f*** off when it comes to football in my opinion. They'll start telling FIFA to make the goals bigger and that so we get stupid scorelines like 18-12 and that.

 

[crosbysleftear]

Whats wrong with having world groups for qualifying? 30 groups of 6 teams would only not include the complete dross. It would increase the importance of the FIFA rankings as these could be used for seedings so FIFA can feel all big and clever like they need to. Travel time is not really an issue now and their aren't too many places worse the Azerbaijan and that's already in UEFA so the grounds should all be up to standard. Only group winners plus holders and hosts in the finals and you have the 32 best teams in the world.

An added bonus would be the development of the game world wide and as people in the weaker nations would get to see the best players up close. Surely this would be inspiring to the kids?

 

[Simster]

Brian CHing is a well good name.

The Yanks can f*** off when it comes to football in my opinion. They'll start telling FIFA to make the goals bigger and that so we get stupid scorelines like 18-12 and that.

No chance. But they might start insisting on key decisions being referred to a TV referee - which would be no bad thing, IMO.

 

[keaton]

However it did take Sri Lanka a long time to improve and Zimababwe have gone backwards. You do need to try and develop some of the non test playing nations, but at the same time they should not be fast tracked into test status, Bangladesh have offered nothing to test cricket and part of the issue was they were fast tracked in and yet there is mininal club / regional cricket infrastructure in the country.

Zimbabwe going backwards isn't really related to cricket though is it?

 

[CHAPPERS]

See! They are messing with the game already.

Tell em to f*** OFF I say!

Soon we'll have flags on the play.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

And helmets for keepers, o they have already tried that one...

 

[Man of Harveys]

Whats wrong with having world groups for qualifying? 30 groups of 6 teams would only not include the complete dross. It would increase the importance of the FIFA rankings as these could be used for seedings so FIFA can feel all big and clever like they need to. Travel time is not really an issue now and their aren't too many places worse the Azerbaijan and that's already in UEFA so the grounds should all be up to standard. Only group winners plus holders and hosts in the finals and you have the 32 best teams in the world.

An added bonus would be the development of the game world wide and as people in the weaker nations would get to see the best players up close. Surely this would be inspiring to the kids?

...because you'd end up with a WORLD cup comprised of nothing but European and South American sides? With no-one from Africa, Asia or north America? And the better sides from richer countries would get better and richer while the poorer sides would get to the finals and be a laughing stock for five minutes before falling at the first hurdle, lacking in both experience and resources.

All football authorities get a load of stick most of the time. But I think Fifa deserve a lot of credit for NOT having done just that.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

...because you'd end up with a WORLD cup comprised of nothing but European and South American sides? With no-one from Africa, Asia or north America? And the better sides from richer countries would get better and richer while the poorer sides would get to the finals and be a laughing stock for five minutes before falling at the first hurdle, lacking in both experience and resources.

All football authorities get a load of stick most of the time. But I think Fifa deserve a lot of credit for NOT having done just that.

Plus how would teams like San marino afford to travel

 

[Man of Harveys]

The Yanks can f*** off when it comes to football in my opinion. They'll start telling FIFA to make the goals bigger and that so we get stupid scorelines like 18-12 and that.

Mongs always write silly crap like this before every world cup - it's a real failing of WSC, say, that they always pick up on it unquestioningly. Sadly, some mongs even fall for it.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I predict that when big money comes into Yank football they'll soon realise that the error count with referees is unacceptably high and bring in video replays for penalties, balls over the goal line and (possibly) red cards during play.

They brought the "review" procedure in with gridiron, so now very rarely do you get a wrong decision.

 

[crosbysleftear]

...because you'd end up with a WORLD cup comprised of nothing but European and South American sides? With no-one from Africa, Asia or north America? And the better sides from richer countries would get better and richer while the poorer sides would get to the finals and be a laughing stock for five minutes before falling at the first hurdle, lacking in both experience and resources.

All football authorities get a load of stick most of the time. But I think Fifa deserve a lot of credit for NOT having done just that.

I'm not sure you're right about who would qualify but even if you are surely the poorer nations would be improved by playing the best more often? All world groups would do is prevent complete dross like Trindad and Tobago or Scotland from making the finals and cluttering it up. It is meant to be a show piece and should have the best teams.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Whats wrong with having world groups for qualifying? 30 groups of 6 teams would only not include the complete dross. It would increase the importance of the FIFA rankings as these could be used for seedings so FIFA can feel all big and clever like they need to. Travel time is not really an issue now and their aren't too many places worse the Azerbaijan and that's already in UEFA so the grounds should all be up to standard. Only group winners plus holders and hosts in the finals and you have the 32 best teams in the world.

An added bonus would be the development of the game world wide and as people in the weaker nations would get to see the best players up close. Surely this would be inspiring to the kids?

Nothing wrong with Azerbaijan, fairly Wesernised compared with Albania.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Zimbabwe going backwards isn't really related to cricket though is it?

True. Although there does seem to be a lack of infrastructure when it comes to player development.

Bangladesh were I feel rushed in and there is no real structure of cricketing leagues below the national side, which is an issue.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

and still lose .

Nice to know their bowling attack is still top drawer without Warne & Mcgrath eh?

Yes, they look pretty special don't they;

Bowler O M R W
N W Bracken 9.3 0 44 1
S W Tait 10.0 0 60 2
M G Johnson 10.0 0 81 3
S R Watson 10.0 0 88 2
G B Hogg 7.0 0 40 0
A C Voges 3.0 0 33 0

I'm particularly impressed with Watson and Voges. 'bowled fellas!