The Rolling Football Thread 2017-18 (inc Russia World Cup 2018!)

[BelfastBloke]

As in previous years, footy fans please sign in with

1. Which team you support.
2. Which country you support, or will be supporting in the World Cup.
3. Which team(s) and/or countries you loathe.
4. How you are getting your kids to follow the correct team.
5. A thought on this season (Premiership/Championship/Champions’ League/FA Cup/World Cup/all leagues world wide.)

Vodvodkelas?

Here you go if anyone is interested in an MN WC league. The league code is JAW6DJTI

Oh, I suggest you sign up before selecting your team, otherwise it will probably lose all your hard work speaking from experience

I am rubbish at selecting teams but might have a go later.

Done

Good stuff. Any other takers?

Afraid not, for me.

WC Kickoff tomorrow!

..... and Spain have sacked their manager!

Maybe fat Sam can take over

The 2026 WC to be held in Mexico, Canada and USA

Interesting times...

This is essentially a USA World Cup. I can see why, if they're stumping up most of the costs, they get the lion's share (80%!) of the matches, but it still does seem off that Mexico and Canada will not get any of the QFs, SFs, or Finals!

While it seems crazy for Spain to sack their manager, it also seems crazy for him to be managing a team of Catalans and Spanish, while ALSO being the manager of the most anti-Catalan club. That must be the main thing behind the sacking.

How are they going to manage the USA/Canada/Mexico World Cup with that wall in the way?

48 countries, 80 matches over 34 days, that is a lot of football.

Will all 3 countries get automatic qualification? Maybe that is why Canada doesn't mind hosting only 10 matches.

As far as I know all three will automatically qualify. Be rude not to, with the expansion to 48 countries.

I suspect I’ll attend that one. If I’m not too old and decrepit by then...

The 2018/19 fixtures list will be out tomorrow as well

“Here we are now
Entertain us.”

Fixture list is out :-D some intresting combos for Chelsea. Opening day looks intresting.

Newcastle away for Spurs again - same as last year.

Anyone not working and able to watch todays game? I don't work Mondays/Thursdays/Saturdays so that's those days sorted next week! I'll have to miss the England/Panama game sadly. Looking forward to Spain/Portugal though.

Wolves away, tricky but not too bad. Some difficult home games in March/April and the final match is away at Spurs. Overall not a bad fixture list.

I will be watching today. DS should be home in time for the match as long as his exam starts on time.

Hope his exam goes well. My 4 year old will be watching asking "what colour do you like mummy" (meaning the strip) and which one is Harry Kane!!

Hopefully the answer will be 'Kane is the one who keeps scoring goals'

2 German exams to go next week and then he has finished his GCSE's. I am thinking of preparing him by making him watch the matches with German commentary

Hope so, if he can play how he has played for Spurs he should do. If not we have a good attacking front line in Welbeck, Rashford and Vardy. Not convinced by Sterling atm.

Good idea is he off to college or staying on at 6th form? My DS1 starts Yr7 in Sept. Trying to prepare him for the increase in homework without scaring him.

Arsenal's new boss will have to prepare for Man Citeh as the first home game, followed by Chelsea as the first away!

Not an easy start for Emery. At least both teams will be suffering from world cup fatigue

DS will be off to 6th form college, schools here only go up to year 11

Any predictions for Russia v Saudi?
I'll go for a 1-1 draw, not expecting an exciting match but hope to be pleasantly surprised.

Oh and I just found out that I have Tunisia in the sweepstake