OT: - World Cup 2018 | Page 30 | The Boneyard

OT: World Cup 2018

Yeah, I think I'll retract my unwavering support of pro/rel. My thinking was that there needs to be some kind of system in place to keep teams from tanking, so that owners had to worry about being competitive and not just making a buck, like the issues that have plagued the MLB and NBA at times.

I do think however that the league is advanced enough where we don't need overarching control, especially in regards to money. If a team wants to spend, let it spend. That will attract better players, raise the quality of the team(s), and sell more tickets.

Also, I'd be happy to see the MLS adapt the Aug-May calendar like the rest of the world instead of the current look. I'm sure it's possible to schedule in such a way that there are less games in the north during the colder months while maintaining schedule balance.
 
the only way Russia wins this is if they can some how draw another PK. Otherwise they will never get enough possession to score.
 
Jaker said:
the only way Russia wins this is if they can some how draw another PK. Otherwise they will never get enough possession to score.
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That's the strategy it seems. Spain doing exactly what Russia wants. Russia happy to sit and let Spain pass around the back.
 
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Spain sucks. The Barcelona possession game works at times, but against an entrenched D with a solid counter, it doesn’t allow them enough real scoring chances.

Even if Spain gets through, I think Croatia will take them out.
 
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Robertelamin said:
Has either goalie made a save?
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Akinfeev had a great save off an Iniesta strike. Other than that, not much. Does Spain have anyone that can put the ball in the back of the net? So many balls bouncing through the box. They desperately need a Torres.

If it comes down to pk's, should be a great keeper duel.
 
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Did Spain consider maybe they could open up and go for goal more since they are miles better than Russia, and they could save energy for the QFs by not playing ET in the meantime?
 
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I understand Russia are essentially playing 11 behind the ball but, sheesh. Breathe some life into this game, you're Spain.
 
HuskyHawk said:
Spain sucks. The Barcelona possession game works at times, but against an entrenched D with a solid counter, it doesn’t allow them enough real scoring chances.

Even if Spain gets through, I think Croatia will take them out.
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Spain's a good team, but they just don't have a David Villa type player right now, who can score in tight spaces (Iniesta still can) when the other team is packing all 11 players back.

Russia just blows.
 
You have to take a couple of chances, do they really want to play the tossup game of penalty kicks?
 
bobbygt said:
Spain's a good team, but they just don't have a David Villa type player right now, who can score in tight spaces (Iniesta still can) when the other team is packing all 11 players back.

Russia just blows.
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Yeah, this is more on Russia than Spain imo. It's never fun when all 11 are back. And as you say, they lack that dynamic attacker. Even the best guys struggle to get through so many bodies.

Of course, Spain compounded that by sitting back and knocking it around too leisurely. They needed to switch the field quicker to open up some space for a probing pass.

The game opened up a little more when Iniesta and Aspas came in.
 
intlzncster said:
That's the strategy it seems. Spain doing exactly what Russia wants. Russia happy to sit and let Spain pass around the back.
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... or, hope for a convenient bounce & potential counterattack. Shortly, the russkies will transition to any way to delay with hopes of penalty shots.
 
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I’ll give Russia credit for being much better in the air. Spain can’t get any kind of cross-header opportunity going. They have to keep everything on the ground.
 
Can you imagine if Russia goes through? Not only a monumental result, but given the lopsided brackets....teams like England/Croatia licking their chops.
 
HuskyHawk said:
I’ll give Russia credit for being much better in the air. Spain can’t get any kind of cross-header opportunity going. They have to keep everything on the ground.
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In the air, Russia's average team height being a few to several inches taller might have helped.
 
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