"luck of the draw" doesn't work for tournaments
you have to have some seeding, otherwise your scenario could leave the Qatar 2022 world cup looking completely unwatchable.
think about it....you could end up with a World Cup Finals with only 8 decent teams if in the 2 pre-tournament knockout 32 highly ranked teams get drawn against each other
and lower ranked teams get three knockout games against each other. There are many more poor teams than good teams...
Thistle · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]brENsKi wrote:[/b]
"luck of the draw" doesn't work for tournaments
you have to have some seeding, otherwise your scenario could leave the Qatar 2022 world cup looking completely unwatchable.
[/QUOTE]
I'm not sure I can go with that. If the stronger teams really are so good, the shape will look familiar come the business-end of things anyway? To me, it should be about what is fair, not necessarily about what is more attractive to see. If that means a New Zealand v Kazakhstan match, then fuck it - it'll take a great effort, so if it just happened to pan out that way, then it would be deserved.
Surely better than saying "your continent is shite, so don't bother...." lol.
Thistle · Member since
Sorry mate, just re-read your last post - of course there is the potential for the top sides to be drawn against each other. In a knock-out scenario, this would be exciting but could leave the finals devoid of "class". On the other hand, if the qualifiers were groups (still on the luck of the draw) instead of your proposed knockouts, then there's still the potential for a good number of the better sides to go through. I'm still all for fairness though, so if Brazil missed out to Ghana (for example), at least it was because Ghana deserved it, not because they *had* to have an African qualifier at the tourney.
Thistle · Member since
Oh, fuck it. It's all dreaming anyway. Scotland and Ireland would still never have a chance :p
brENsKi · Member since
you can speak for your own "third world tin-pot footballing nation"
as for my own "third world tin-pot footballing nation"....everything went decidely turdish after the Thierry Henry (cheating bastard) handball/goal
BUT - i can see good times on the horizon - a return to the days when Ireland were regularly in the top 20 in the rankings, beating Italy in the USA, getting knocked outin the ¼-finals by Italy @Italia 90.
The reason? who in the name of fuck won't play like their life depends on it with Keane/O'neill in charge?
Thistle · Member since
^ yeah, the Henry thing really peed me off too. Firstly, because he's an Arsenal legend and I'd like to think better of him, and also because I really wanted Ireland to go through. Always do, unless it was against Scotland. I think the O'neill/Keane pairing will do really well, I've always had a lot of time for O'neill and plenty respect for Keano (even though he played for Moan U). I'd love to see them do well.I can see a positive turnaround for them. Us too, tbh.
brENsKi · Member since
and i have to say that - on pedigree alone - i must've been the only one to see the Crappatoni appointment being another "Bonny Vogts" calamity
Thistle · Member since
Nah, me too. He was too senile to be coaching. You'd have been better with Staunton for all Trappatoni was worth. I think that a national coaches should be native to the country they're managing. Well, I know that O'neill is actually from the other side, but it's better than we had with Vogts, and Keane is in there too. I never actually used to think that way, because Charlton was quite a character for your lot....it was actually Vogts that made me take that stance.
YourValentine · Member since
I really detest the seeding process but if you have the lucky draw which I would prefer, you must make sure that the best teams qualify and not let underperforming teams in via quotas. As the system works now the underperforming teams only deliver the points in the group phase. I would enjoy a group with Germany, Italy, Argentina and Brazil but not if the other group would be Japan, Costa Rica, New Zealand and Luxembourg. Because this would make the beginning of the competition interesting but not the play offs.
As to Ireland - they will be sorely missed, mainly for their fair play, passion and the fantastic and unique support they bring. Ireland vs Spain in EURO 2012 is unforgettable. Actually, Ireland should have a free ticket to all international cups just for bringing these fantastic fans.
brENsKi · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]YourValentine wrote:[/b]
As to Ireland - they will be sorely missed, mainly for their fair play, passion and the fantastic and unique support they bring. Ireland vs Spain in EURO 2012 is unforgettable. Actually, Ireland should have a free ticket to all international cups just for bringing these fantastic fans.
[/QUOTE]
love you Barb - you talk sense (as always)
now do you think you could get this made "football law" for me? have a word with Prattini and Splatter would you? let the c*nts know that a permanent entry to finals of european and world finals for Ireland is the only way they can undo the Thiery Henry wrong
Thistle · Member since
The above two posts are among the best I've seen here :)
brENsKi · Member since
much as i love the idea - it'll never happen - simply because there are dozens of countries who could cite a unique case for a "finals bye", primarily:
[b]Ireland [/b][i]- party, passion, spirit, fair play[/i] [b]Scotland[/b][i] - all of the above[/i] [b]Wales[/b][i] - because it's been like f*cking forever since they ever got an invite[/i] [b]Brazil [/b][i]- because how better can you say "it's just like watching Brazil"[/i] [b]England [/b][i]- because "if Carlsberg did holliganism, it'd probably be the best hooliganism in the world"[/i] [b]France[/b][i] - because, well "what's a major tournament without the f*cking hand-balling cheating c*nts", and anyway, it's nice knowing they'll all fall out with each other...just anticipating it is like the expectancy of Christmas.[/i] [b]South Korea[/b][i] - because it's nice to have an underdog to beat France[/i] [b]Iran [/b][i]- because - why else would the USA even bother to attend?[/i] [b]USA[/b][i] - because - why else would Iran even bother to attend?[/i] [b]Germany[/b][i] - because they play classy football - every time, and hardly ever go to war with anyone lately (sorry barb, couldn't resist) ;-)[/i] [b]Holland[/b][i] - because everyone likes the 1-1-8 total football, kids in the playground formation football[/i] [b]Saudi Arabia[/b][i] - because goal-hanging and public executions can sometimes mean the same thing :-) [/i][b]San Marino [/b]- [i]because i miss the days of final's tournaments when someone gets beaten 8-nil[/i]
Thistle · Member since
^ I keep hoping that San Marino, one day, will actually get a competitive win. The closest they came to a worthwhile result was when (sorry Bren) it took a last gasp Stevie Ireland goal for Ireland to beat them 2-1 a few years back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpbAlEtJGNI
The funniest ever thing San Marino did was score against England in eight seconds :)
