Comments on: My Starting XI (and Substitutes) http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html France - World Cup - South Africa 2010 Sun, 12 Dec 2010 21:58:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: 433 http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html/comment-page-1#comment-105252 433 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:04:35 +0000 http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html#comment-105252 Sadly, that was me in my relaxed state. I stay a good distance from keyboards when I'm not relaxed. My notes on Makalele from the Faroe Islands game match yours, so your credibility, from where I sit, is impeccable, and I'm reassured that Toulalan is a safer bet than I had him on January 10th, 2008 at 7:11 pm. I've really got to try to watch more Lyon games. My wife's patience has been pushed to the limit by my insistence on watching every Arsenal game in every competition, but we do have TV5, so I can get the odd Lyon game. Generally I'm a big supporter of Makalele, but I'm occasionally worried of late that he's getting on. If Toulalan can produce his best form and get forward, and Makalele can be near his peak form, then maybe I don't need to be so worried about central midfield. Another issue is the tendency of managers to fall back on old war horses well past their sell by date, and I fear Domenech might try that with Vieira. Pat is one of my all-time favorites, but I don't want to see him and Makalele together again unless it's a testimonial match. One of those old war horses in holding midfield could bring stability, but both of them together is starting to look like the geriatric ward, and I mean that with all due respect to the elderly, among whom I count myself. Sadly, that was me in my relaxed state. I stay a good distance from keyboards when I’m not relaxed.

My notes on Makalele from the Faroe Islands game match yours, so your credibility, from where I sit, is impeccable, and I’m reassured that Toulalan is a safer bet than I had him on January 10th, 2008 at 7:11 pm.

I’ve really got to try to watch more Lyon games. My wife’s patience has been pushed to the limit by my insistence on watching every Arsenal game in every competition, but we do have TV5, so I can get the odd Lyon game.

Generally I’m a big supporter of Makalele, but I’m occasionally worried of late that he’s getting on. If Toulalan can produce his best form and get forward, and Makalele can be near his peak form, then maybe I don’t need to be so worried about central midfield.

Another issue is the tendency of managers to fall back on old war horses well past their sell by date, and I fear Domenech might try that with Vieira. Pat is one of my all-time favorites, but I don’t want to see him and Makalele together again unless it’s a testimonial match. One of those old war horses in holding midfield could bring stability, but both of them together is starting to look like the geriatric ward, and I mean that with all due respect to the elderly, among whom I count myself.

]]> By: Inara http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html/comment-page-1#comment-105231 Inara Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:14:55 +0000 http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html#comment-105231 Relax, 433. I'm not attacking you but your opinion on Toulalan. In the Italy game, Toulalan came on in the last ten minutes. He wasn't meant to be an improvement over Ribery since Ribery was told to attack. Toulalan was brought on for more defensive muscle. As for the Faroe Island game, yeah it wasn't his best, but as I recall, neither did Makelele. They didn't have anything much to do in that game, where most of the work was done on the wings by Rothen and Ribery. Relax, 433. I’m not attacking you but your opinion on Toulalan. In the Italy game, Toulalan came on in the last ten minutes. He wasn’t meant to be an improvement over Ribery since Ribery was told to attack. Toulalan was brought on for more defensive muscle. As for the Faroe Island game, yeah it wasn’t his best, but as I recall, neither did Makelele. They didn’t have anything much to do in that game, where most of the work was done on the wings by Rothen and Ribery.

]]> By: terry/FrancoAmericain http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html/comment-page-1#comment-105215 terry/FrancoAmericain Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:24:16 +0000 http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html#comment-105215 call me crazy i think henry play allot more in the backfield i feel he would be a great behing ANELKA BENZEMA,here is my team that no one will like I guess i know how the french coach feels lol COUPET SAGNOL GALLAS ESCUDE ABIDAL MAKELELE L DIARRA RIBERY HENRY ANELKA BENZEMA THINK OF THE FIRE POWER HENTY STYLE HAS CHANGED SINCE HIS EARLY DAYS VOILA call me crazy i think henry play allot more in the backfield i feel he would be a great behing ANELKA BENZEMA,here is my team that no one will like I guess i know how the french coach feels lol

COUPET
SAGNOL GALLAS ESCUDE ABIDAL

MAKELELE L DIARRA

RIBERY HENRY

ANELKA BENZEMA

THINK OF THE FIRE POWER HENTY STYLE HAS CHANGED SINCE HIS EARLY DAYS

VOILA

]]> By: 433 http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html/comment-page-1#comment-105105 433 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:08:40 +0000 http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html#comment-105105 Inara wrote, "Lassana Diarra or Flamimi over Toulalan is a joke." I'm often telling jokes; mind you, they're rarely funny. The defense of Toulalan is reassuring. I have not seem him play often enough (Inara was very generous to omit the other option - that I've seen him play plenty, but that I'm quite simply a tool). I was only able to watch part of the last game versus Ukraine, but I respect the opinions of you lot, so I went to research the origin of my impression that Toulalan is more average than world class. If I had any credibility to lose, it might be a fait accompli when I mention that one of the disappointing Toulalan performances that I had lowering his stock came in a 6-0 France Victory! Against Faroe Islands, I had it that he "could have been better; was not very elegant; was sloppy; gave Faroe Islands reason to hope; and was a good bet to be dropped." Coming on as a substitute in the nil draw away to Italy, I had it that Toulalan "looked slow and was in no way an improvement over Ribery whom he replaced." In short my devaluation of Toulalna's prospects are mostly based on two appearances. Hopefully I have it all wrong and the better-informed trio of Inara, Laurie, and Jen-Michel have it right. It would be true to form for me to bollox things entirely. Inara wrote, “Lassana Diarra or Flamimi over Toulalan is a joke.” I’m often telling jokes; mind you, they’re rarely funny.

The defense of Toulalan is reassuring. I have not seem him play often enough (Inara was very generous to omit the other option – that I’ve seen him play plenty, but that I’m quite simply a tool). I was only able to watch part of the last game versus Ukraine, but I respect the opinions of you lot, so I went to research the origin of my impression that Toulalan is more average than world class.

If I had any credibility to lose, it might be a fait accompli when I mention that one of the disappointing Toulalan performances that I had lowering his stock came in a 6-0 France Victory! Against Faroe Islands, I had it that he “could have been better; was not very elegant; was sloppy; gave Faroe Islands reason to hope; and was a good bet to be dropped.”

Coming on as a substitute in the nil draw away to Italy, I had it that Toulalan “looked slow and was in no way an improvement over Ribery whom he replaced.”

In short my devaluation of Toulalna’s prospects are mostly based on two appearances. Hopefully I have it all wrong and the better-informed trio of Inara, Laurie, and Jen-Michel have it right. It would be true to form for me to bollox things entirely.

]]> By: Laurie http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html/comment-page-1#comment-105100 Laurie Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:17:22 +0000 http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html#comment-105100 Doume, I saw! I dragged myself out of bed this morning and it was the first thing I checked. Color me happy for the entire day!!! (Nico, please, please don't let my faith in you be misguided. And stay healthy.) Doume, I saw! I dragged myself out of bed this morning and it was the first thing I checked. Color me happy for the entire day!!!

(Nico, please, please don’t let my faith in you be misguided. And stay healthy.)

]]> By: Doumé http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html/comment-page-1#comment-105081 Doumé Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:44:41 +0000 http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html#comment-105081 Anelka in CHelsea! http://www.lemonde.fr/web/depeches/0,14-0,39-33867453@7-37,0.html Anelka in CHelsea!
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/depeches/0,14-0,39-33867453@7-37,0.html

]]> By: Jean-Michel http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html/comment-page-1#comment-104992 Jean-Michel Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:07:11 +0000 http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html#comment-104992 The last game vs. Ukraine would be a good Toulalan reference for those who do not know him. He was simply awesome. The last game vs. Ukraine would be a good Toulalan reference for those who do not know him. He was simply awesome.

]]> By: Laurie http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html/comment-page-1#comment-104991 Laurie Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:01:46 +0000 http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html#comment-104991 Oh, yeah, Toulalan was the other one I was going to insist on. I didn't really appreciate him till I saw him play live. He was everywhere -- incredible workrate. I'd pick him over any of our other DMs any day. Oh, yeah, Toulalan was the other one I was going to insist on. I didn’t really appreciate him till I saw him play live. He was everywhere — incredible workrate. I’d pick him over any of our other DMs any day.

]]> By: Inara http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html/comment-page-1#comment-104984 Inara Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:26:35 +0000 http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html#comment-104984 Lassana Diarra or Flamimi over Toulalan is a joke. Toulalan is a very complete midfielder, and calling him otherwise indicates that you haven't seen him play often enough. He can also play a more attacking role quite well and should actually be classified as a CM as opposed to a pure DM (which he isn't - he only started playing that role full time since coming to Lyon. Lassana Diarra or Flamimi over Toulalan is a joke. Toulalan is a very complete midfielder, and calling him otherwise indicates that you haven’t seen him play often enough. He can also play a more attacking role quite well and should actually be classified as a CM as opposed to a pure DM (which he isn’t – he only started playing that role full time since coming to Lyon.

]]> By: Jean-Michel http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html/comment-page-1#comment-104982 Jean-Michel Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:07:35 +0000 http://france.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/my-starting-xi-and-substitutes.html#comment-104982 Can't argue much with a lineup like that.However I'd like to see Henry & Anelka paired together up front. Benzema & Trezeguet would be my subs. The Morocco game gave me the chills defensively. I think you have to go with the old guard there (except Thuram). Sagnol,Gallas, Escude,& Abidal should work. Yes Abidal because he gets back on defense and neglects less his defensive role than Evra. Can’t argue much with a lineup like that.However I’d like to see Henry & Anelka paired together up front. Benzema & Trezeguet would be my subs. The Morocco game gave me the chills defensively. I think you have to go with the old guard there (except Thuram). Sagnol,Gallas, Escude,& Abidal should work. Yes Abidal because he gets back on defense and neglects less his defensive role than Evra.

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