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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 9:36:05 GMT
With us facing yet another blank weekend (we all know why!) and the World Cup draw this afternoon here's a little snippet I read the other day that got me thinking:
What on earth possessed the FA to base England in a grotty resort NW of St Petersburg close to the Finnish border?
Given the huge distances involved to venues, surely it would be better to be somewhere roughly equidistant to the venues as opposed to on the extreme of the "very top left" of what is an enormous country.
I understand there's a distinct possibility that we could face a group game down by the Black Sea, some 1800 miles or even somewhere east of the Urals.
I might be missing something but methinks it has not been thought through properly.
Any views or additionall information welcome!
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Post by Lobster on Dec 1, 2017 9:45:36 GMT
I don't understand why they book accommodation at all until they know where we'll be playing.
Didn't they do something similar for Euro 2012, booking a hotel in Poland when all our games turned out to be in Ukraine?
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Post by eyeswideopen on Dec 1, 2017 10:15:55 GMT
Might be the extremely unlikely event that someone involved in football at the top level is bent and is given money so that certain Hotels are booked by teams way in advance, in exchange for a lot of money.
I know, I am talking complete rubbish, yeah sounds like its just poor planning.
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Post by Hannibal on Dec 1, 2017 11:02:40 GMT
Don't worry. They won't be there more than 2 weeks.
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Post by sqzl on Dec 1, 2017 11:14:31 GMT
With us facing yet another blank weekend (we all know why!) and the World Cup draw this afternoon here's a little snippet I read the other day that got me thinking: What on earth possessed the FA to base England in a grotty resort NW of St Petersburg close to the Finnish border? Given the huge distances involved to venues, surely it would be better to be somewhere roughly equidistant to the venues as opposed to on the extreme of the "very top left" of what is an enormous country. I understand there's a distinct possibility that we could face a group game down by the Black Sea, some 1800 miles or even somewhere east of the Urals.I might be missing something but methinks it has not been thought through properly. Any views or additionall information welcome! It could be my Geography but isn't the black sea south of Ukraine? With the World Cup being in Russia that would make it significantly closer than East Russia? It could just be me losing the plot in terms of Black Sea location but i could have sword it was south Ukraine in my GCSE's unless it's moved!  |
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Post by Lobster on Dec 1, 2017 11:59:54 GMT
With us facing yet another blank weekend (we all know why!) and the World Cup draw this afternoon here's a little snippet I read the other day that got me thinking: What on earth possessed the FA to base England in a grotty resort NW of St Petersburg close to the Finnish border? Given the huge distances involved to venues, surely it would be better to be somewhere roughly equidistant to the venues as opposed to on the extreme of the "very top left" of what is an enormous country. I understand there's a distinct possibility that we could face a group game down by the Black Sea, some 1800 miles or even somewhere east of the Urals.I might be missing something but methinks it has not been thought through properly. Any views or additionall information welcome! It could be my Geography but isn't the black sea south of Ukraine? With the World Cup being in Russia that would make it significantly closer than East Russia? It could just be me losing the plot in terms of Black Sea location but i could have sword it was south Ukraine in my GCSE's unless it's moved!
Sochi is by the Black Sea and Yekaterinburg is near the Urals. There's also Kaliningrad, which is strangely a bit of Russia that doesn't border the rest of it. I'm guessing it just didn't declare independence when the Soviet Union split. |
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Post by Wortleyblue on Dec 1, 2017 12:17:33 GMT
Obviously they got the biggest brown envelope from this hotel
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 12:44:30 GMT
Southgate is quoted as saying the longest flight would be 3 hours and that the players are used to that sort of journey but fails to mention that the nearest airport is 2 hours away in St Petersburg!
Bet the Germans and French for example are somewhat better located and organised.
Like Hannibal says, however, for 2 weeks max it probably won't matter
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Post by Hannibal on Dec 1, 2017 13:52:54 GMT
I've just had a go on the Telegraph on-line World Cup simulator and England are in the same group ae Argentina, Denmark and Saudi Arabia. We'll finish 3rd in that group and qualify for the Europa League (also known as the plane home), lol.
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Post by Lobster on Dec 1, 2017 15:25:52 GMT
Shearer saying if he was playing for England, the last group he'd want is Poland, Iran and Panama, because if you qualify for the World Cup, you want more to look forward to than that.
Strange argument. Surely you think a bit beyond the group and want the one where you've got the best possible chance of winning it?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 15:55:21 GMT
England in Group G with Belgium, Tunisia and Panama
Portugal v Spain in Group B
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Post by Lobster on Dec 1, 2017 15:58:20 GMT
Very favourable that. Made even more so by the fact that the next round will be against teams from a weak looking Group H. Really a decent chance to make the quarters if England can perform at all.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 15:59:15 GMT
Very favourable that. Made even more so by the fact that the next round will be against teams from a weak looking Group H. Really a decent chance to make the quarters if England can perform at all. IF!!!!!! |
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Post by Hannibal on Dec 1, 2017 16:02:49 GMT
Easiest group. Let's see us bollox that up. I'm sure we will somehow finish 2nd.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 16:05:37 GMT
Be interested to see what pre-tournament friendlies are arranged.
Hopefully one will be in the NW, went to the Turkey game at the Etihad last time out. OK, poor and meaningless game but a decent day out!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 16:07:27 GMT
Easiest group. Let's see us bollox that up. I'm sure we will somehow finish 2nd. Wait for it!!! "There are no easy groups in the World Cup etc etc" You know it's coming! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 16:11:51 GMT
Back to my original point.
England will travel over 4,000 miles for their 3 group games. Still don't think it's ideal but, hey, what do I know?
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Post by South Wirral Blue on Dec 1, 2017 17:56:47 GMT
Very favourable that. Made even more so by the fact that the next round will be against teams from a weak looking Group H. Really a decent chance to make the quarters if England can perform at all. Agreed. It was very important we dodged the Brazil & Germany groups that were next to one another. Not only would 2nd be the best you'd get but you'd then inevitibly get either....yep, Brazil or Germany in the second round! About avoiding the big teams, I don't get the argument that you've to play them all eventually - surely you want to be involved as long as possible? It's a good draw. Of course, we'll make hard work of it. |
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Post by The Swansway on Dec 2, 2017 8:33:55 GMT
We will get Brazil or Germany in the quarter final.
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Post by Derry Blue on Dec 2, 2017 9:02:03 GMT
Easiest group. Let's see us bollox that up. I'm sure we will somehow finish 2nd. Wait for it!!! "There are no easy groups in the World Cup etc etc" You know it's coming! There are no easy groups when you're England in a major tournament. |
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