World Cup - Sad

So there I was in my chair, sunflower seeds on my lap, cold pint a reach away, DVR is on - I went through   Orangie/ Aussies game in about 70mins to get to Da  Game of the day: Spain vs Chile...
Let me say up front: "I'm not a fan of La Roja", but  tiki-taki got to me - in a good way. I'm above all a Futball Fan, so anything “new” on the pitch is a good thing...  The game Holland vs. Spain was a slaughter. Orangie had their cake and ate it too.  I knew that Spain without Puyol, and with Pique not being the same as he was prier to 2013,  going to be a huge issue (thus the Barca's slide).  Without solid CB's they  were exposed,   not to take anything away from the Orangie's offensive machine, Spain was ripe for picking.  Plus Holland wanted a "revenge" - and being the 1st game of the tourney, I gave  La Roja's a "Pass Free Card"...
I was pulling for Espania, because I/we knew what a lose would mean... And there it was (or wasn't), I couldn't believe what i was seeing - THIS is a Number 1 Team in the World??? Now Chile is not a push over, but where's THE mighty Espania..?  Where are the forwards (why are these forwards are even on the pitch), where's continuity?.. I didn't expect them to win Copa del Mundo, or make it to quarter finals, but I did expect more of a showing...   It's  sad – mostly for the fans...  
Soooo, so is it the end  of "Da  La Roja Machine"?   Time will tell.

P.S. I'm just venting 

The coach caused the first round boot by refusing to bring new blood into the team. Casillas starting either game was a huge mistake. His mistakes easily allowed 4 of the goals scored on them (2 each game). De Gea should have been starting. He is a way better keeper than Casillas is at this time.

Costa looked horrible in both games. I am not sure why Spain tried so hard to lure him away from Brazil.

it was a great day for those of us that have a different definition of "the beautiful game" OTHER than tiki-taki

Too bad for Spain. I'll have to pick a new username for the forum. Long life to King Felipe VI!

soccerdadrandy wrote:it was a great day for those of us that have a different definition of "the beautiful game" OTHER than tiki-taki

IMO anything new and/or different, that works, makes it beautiful.  Game is constantly evolving, so who are we to say?..  in the late 1800's they played with 1 defender and 9 forwards   , and look at “us” now... I was a “young skipper” in 1970, Brazil made a lasting impression on me. In 1974 Holland blew me away and changed everything I thought I “knew” about Da Game. So when tiki-taki came along it was “What the.... WOW”, and after a while I was/and still saying: “That's fantastic/ beautiful (yes, I said it) , but how would you play against that and beat them?”...  Now some teams adopting tiki-taki with a constant threat of a long ball = WOW...  

Remember back in the day when James Street and the Wishbone was "all that"? That was great in the 70's until teams began tossing the long ball down the field. Sometimes direct is what you need. However if you build a lead then maybe tiki-taki/keep away or like Dean Smith's 4 corners in basketball is what is needed.

It's all about adapting to game conditions and doing what it takes to win. How many times have we seen team control 70% possession and lose the game on a quick counter play?

You just never know.

soccerdadrandy wrote:it was a great day for those of us that have a different definition of "the beautiful game" OTHER than tiki-taki

What is your definition?

This thing has gone a wrong way. I wasn't advocating for or against tiki-taki... I was just venting about the showing of the number “1” team in the World.   

vman wrote:This thing has gone a wrong way. I wasn't advocating for or against tiki-taki... I was just venting about the showing of the number “1” team in the World.     

Okay then. back to your OP. I'm not sad. I'm happy that this Tiki Taki style team was hammered by a style of play that I prefer.

Just curious to your preferred style of play. Mine is 4-3-3 using the tiki-taka possession game with short passes, give and goes, and build up of play into the attacking third via the outside mids and forwards.

Whether it be the Spanish Tiki Taki possession style or English Premier league possession style; the league strikers they are used to playing with are mostly on Latin American teams now. No wonder Spain and England our out, lack of striker depth.

finish1 wrote:Just curious to your preferred style of play. Mine is 4-3-3 using the tiki-taka possession game with short passes, give and goes, and build up of play into the attacking third via the outside mids and forwards.

What you describe is what I like. Don't be afraid after connecting several "tiki Taki" passes, to send a skillful ball forward. Even if you lose possession. I just always hated the NCAA 4 corners, "run the clock out" possession in basketball. Thank God for the shot clock

It's called stretching the field and Spain also applies that tactic as needed. The trouble with sending a skillful ball forward, even if you lose possession is that a big, fast team like Holland will send one right back and beat you on a counter attack (see their first two WC games as cases in point).

A lot of people new to our sport don't like the tika-taka style of play because their perception is a slower paced game that is boring. In reality, it is the most skilled type of play and is extremely fast paced in the attacking third.

All seriousness aside! I'm sure if I had been a painter for 30 years I would have a better appreciation for "watching paint dry" lol. I just like a team to mix it up. Show me all your talent. And that would include being able to score against the top teams.

What's the difference between England and a teabag? A teabag stays in the cup longer.

BTW - I'm English   

Come on Yanks! USA, USA...

finish1 wrote:It's called stretching the field and Spain also applies that tactic as needed. The trouble with sending a skillful ball forward, even if you lose possession is that a big, fast team like Holland will send one right back and beat you on a counter attack (see their first two WC games as cases in point).

A lot of people new to our sport don't like the tika-taka style of play because their perception is a slower paced game that is boring. In reality, it is the most skilled type of play and is extremely fast paced in the attacking third.

Bingo!!!! your spot on finish with that one    it takes a serious amount of skill to play the barca way and everything else well is just basically some sort of pass pass pass now attack the outside and cross it in or or pass pass pass switch the field with a long cross and attack or the way we play it ntx pass pass 40 yard whack to the coveted BFS FTMFW yea baby   

CoachPaul wrote:What's the difference between England and a teabag?  A teabag stays in the cup longer.

BTW - I'm English   

Come on Yanks!  USA, USA...

    good one maybe its because you guys eat pancakes dry   

And they don't know the difference between biscuits and cookies or chips and fries. LOL!

World Cup-Sad = 3 Lions!

Yanks? Whatever, Bloody Limeys!   

 

finish1 wrote:And they don't know the difference between biscuits and cookies or chips and fries. LOL!

World Cup-Sad = 3 Lions!

Yanks? Whatever, Bloody Limeys!   

 

Hey bro, sorry about the 3 Lions, but I don't think that a self-deprecating humor will stir you toward the “Xanadu”... I tried “Group Therapy” here, and it took me from a occasional little sniff - to a daily cocktail of “Peyote Kool-Aid”    ... Soooo, I'll try to start that Step 1 for you and yours: take your British Heart out of the equation (if you can) – how far did you have the 3 L's “GO” in the Carnival? You can tell me to piss -off, if it's too soon.
P.S. I'm not Dr.Phil, but I did stay in Holiday-Inn Express....