Rousseau

Really? You couldn't pay me to watch womens football.

Lineker's on his soapbox already...

You need to apply your Joker. Jokers applied to a game will double your points on that match, and can be used only once per round. Just indicate the match to which you'd like to apply it.

Booo!!

Qatar 0 - 1 Ecuador England 1 - 0 Iran Senegal 1 - 2 Netherlands USA 2 - 1 Wales Argentina 5 - 0 Saudi Arabia - JOKER Denmark 2 - 0 Tunisia Mexico 0 - 1 Poland France 3 - 0 Australia Morocco 0 - 1 Croatia Germany 1 - 0 Japan Spain 1 - 0 Costa Rica Belgium 2 - 1 Canada Switzerland 1 - 1 Cameroon Uruguay 2 - 1 South Korea Portugal 1 - 0 Ghana Brazil 3 - 1 Serbia

Rules: You will receive 2 points for a correct score (CS). You will receive 1 point for a correct result (CR). Jokers applied to a game will double the points. Jokers can be used once per round (Matchday 1, Matchday 2, Matchday 3, Round of 32, etc.). Your prediction for the Knockout phase will include extra time, but NOT penalties. Matchday 1 fixtures: Sunday November 20 Qatar vs Ecuador (kick-off 7pm) Monday November 21 England vs Iran (kick-off 1pm) Senegal vs Netherlands (kick-off 4pm) USA vs Wales (kick-off 7pm) Tuesday November 22 Argentina vs Saudi Arabia (kick-off 10am) Denmark vs Tunisia (kick-off 1pm) Mexico vs Poland (kick-off 4pm) France vs Australia (kick-off 7pm) Wednesday November 23 Morocco vs Croatia (kick-off 10am) Germany vs Japan (kick-off 1pm) Spain vs Costa Rica (kick-off 4pm) Belgium vs Canada (kick-off 7pm) Thursday November 24 Switzerland vs Cameroon (kick-off 10am) Uruguay vs South Korea (kick-off 1pm) Portugal vs Ghana (kick-off 4pm) Brazil vs Serbia (kick-off 7pm) Please indicate your JOKER.

Anyone got any ibuprofen for @Bill's burn?

I knew the 12pm press conference was a nonsense, but I got my hopes up anyway...

I don't think 4-year deals for Tavernier and Goldson are bad. They are both stalwarts, who have barely turned 30 - Goldson is 29 I think? - which is not old for defenders. He does indeed, but you need to attempt to be objective in your judgement. Yes, it seems silly.

You really have an axe to grind against Ross Wilson - or, I suspect, a DoF in general. Who got a 4-year deal in their 30's? It's entirely normal for older or longer serving players to have the largest salaries. The only one that really annoys me is Matondo (if it's true). It's ridiculous to give a young, untested player that much.

I did. I thought he was pretty lively. (Then I got bored and didn't watch as much as the game went on... ) You should be able to see who voted for whom. I made it so votes are public. Just click on the little man icon.

Table comparison between this season and our title winning campaign (their Timplosion):

What are your thoughts, folks?

I always liked McKay. I was against selling him - or letting him go. I remember arguing at the time that he created a lot of chances for us, but our forwards always contrived to squander the opportunity. If he had a better forward beside him, he would rack up the assists. Saying that, I'm not in favour of bringing him back. He's had his time.

Ajax drew 3-3 with FC Emmen. But we can't compete.

Not enough. None. Yes, me. Yes.

I don't like the 4-2-3-1. Well - It's alright. It depends how you use it. Nagelsmann uses it very offensively; someone like Benitez has everyone behind the ball and bores you to death. We didn't line up in a 4-2-3-1 under SG, it was a 4-3-2-1, with two #10s and no wingers. Formations are largely irrelevant in the modern game. I agree with your second point. If you have two players to play midfield, one for the holding role, one to play a little more offensive, I don't understand why GvB would pick Lundstram for the holding role and Kamara for the attacking role? I would have thought that, to be honest. Our xG barely limps past 1 per game. We just don't create chances, never mind take them. St Mirren had a higher xG than us, and that's with a penalty!

I don't think that's an issue when you're talking about one of the most influential coaches in world football. (However, I do get the sense that he can speak adequately and that the translator is just for press conferences etc., like Pochettino.)

Oh. The 'whoooosh' is for me, then...

I'm strangely buoyant. I feel like the end is nigh for GvB.

Whoooooosh. I was being sarcastic.

Ross--Get Marcelo on the phone. Pronto. Or Ralph Hassenhuttl. (I wanted Daniel Farke after SG left, but he's at 'Gladbach now and doing very well (they beat Dortmund 4-2 last night).)

It's amazing how St Mirren can compete against a side with vastly greater finances...