Paphos People

Full Draw.

Group A:
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay
France

Group B:
Argentina
Nigeria
South Korea
Greece

Group C:
England
USA
Algeria
Slovenia

Group D:
Germany
Australia
Serbia
Ghana

Group E:
Netherlands
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon

Group F:
Italy
Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia

Group G:
Brazil
North Korea
Cote d’Ivoire
Portugal

Group H:
Spain
Switzerland
Honduras
Chile

Watched the draw live last night, and not just because Charlize Theron was doing it!

Very good group for England.

Good group meaning easy group!

David Beckham now out of the World Cup. With Ashley Cole and Aaaron Lennon also doubtful and Wayne Bridge refusing to play we're already having some bad luck.

Mind you, if we're looking for a player who can take corners and free kicks and not much else then Ryan Taylor is available....

Need to pray Rooney stays fit...

Only a Toon supporter could think any of their squad still has a chance of making the England squad, give up on it, it aint gonna happen.

Sad news about Becks, I know he would not have been in the starting 11 but would have made the squad. I just hope he recovers and his career is not at risk as initial reports seem to indicate.

Cheers

John

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Never let truth get in the way of a good rumour.

Is the world cup gonna be on CY or UK free tv or ...... (here we go again - addicted) ..... will we have to watch in our Cyprus House in the Sun ?

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My opinion; worth price charged.

I will be in Cyrpus for the first half of the tournan=ment and fully expect to be able to watch the games while I am across. In the UK the games will be shown on BBC and ITV. Hope this helps.

Cheers

John

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Never let truth get in the way of a good rumour.

I'm not a footie supporter but like to watch the odd England game if they play in big matches, however if my memory serves me right games in the world cup in the past are always on at odd times and that was in the UK without a time difference, can anyone tell me if these games are likely to be shown at a decent hour of the day, or don't we know that yet

Note to single girls....................pubs are packed out with men lol

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http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html we are +1 hr on those times.

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My opinion; worth price charged.

Thank You BD

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Well, even if they aren't that fit in the pubs, at least the ones on the telly will be

Yes, sad about Beckham, I guessing that may be him finished in playing football completely now.

I think we got a chance of having a pretty good squad. Just please leave Heskey at home for years I never understood why he keeps getting pick at club level never mind international. There are definitely a least 3 young(ish) Aston Villa players that need more of a chance at international level. You could almost put out a full squad of English players from Villa.

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Alison - Ali for short

Getting closer now - any predictions?

I predict Darren Bent won't be going, therefore I predict I'll be supporting Greece.
Outside bet.........Ghana.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Discopants,

Darren Bent not going to the World Cup??????? What am I to do about showing my "Axxe in Fenwicks window"?????

Not surprised mind, does not have the quality to play at the International level. How about Andy Caroll for an outside bet?

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

Trust you to say that just to try and provoke a response from Gary.

In one breath you say Bent is not International quality but Andy Carroll the Geordie thug should be considered as an outside bet. Andy Carroll is not even Premiership quality never mind International quality, and to that the fact he is likely to be spending the summer at her majesties pleasure and I think you need to leave off the Cumberland Ale as you have had too many.

Cheers

John

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Never let truth get in the way of a good rumour.

Any suggestion for the English keeper?
I wonder if Joe Hart - Birmingham (loan from Man C) will get a chance. "They" were there watching the Villa v Birmingham match and I thought he put in a good show.

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Alison - Ali for short

For me Joe Hart has ben the most consistant keeper this season. Problem is his lack of International experience and I am not sure the World Cup is the right place to bed him in. England have 3 friendlies I believe, I hope he gets his chance in those games. If he doesn't then for me it still has to be David James.

Cheers

John

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Never let truth get in the way of a good rumour.

I too think Hart should be played in the friendlies and I 'd like to see Adam Johnson tried too.
I feel obliged to defend Darren's honour. I know a lot of Geordie fans and they all say Darren should go. When the season is over they will be pulling for England and will cheer if Darren scores just the same as I did when Anal scored for England.
To say he is not International class is piffle. He's hardly had the chance to prove or disprove that. What he doesn't do is create chances for others but what he does do is score goals and he has the knack of being in the right place at the right time. That's not taught he's born with it.
He's scored 24 Premier goals this season up to now, only behind Rooney and Drogba. If he played for a better team than Sunderland then I'm convinced he would have scored more. Check out his most recent against Hull. The Hull defenders had presumed Kenwyne Jones knock down was going out but Darren chased it and slotted it in from an acute angle, making it look easy.
Personally, I don't think he will go and one of the reasons may be that the so called experts don't think he is England class, but I tell you, they are missing the trick and the trick is that his positioning and finishing is definately England class and far more impressive than some who will be going( Capello ain't watching him this weekend against Man United, he's watching Liverpool against Chelsea so that says a lot, even though Darren has scored against all the top teams and hopefully will do so again this Sunday)
He relies on pace and getting behind defenders, surely the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Barry or Milner could provide him with the bullets.
Put it this way, if anything happens to Rooney( and it very well might as he's injured now and could be targetted or may be suspended as has happened before,) who can you trust to score you goals ?
Over to you Roger.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

If Capello goes with his usual big target man and one playing off him then he could rely on Defoe or Agbonlahor to play that role if Rooney was not available. Bent, as good as he has been this season does not play that kind of role and for me that is why Capello will not play him.

Cheers

John

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Never let truth get in the way of a good rumour.

De foe is injury prone. I give you he has the advantage of playing for a fashionable club and a Southern one at that. He has his moments like 5 in the 9 against Wigan.
Agbonlahor for me should never go before Darren. I mean I accept that he is preferred to Heskey at Villa so let him go instead of Heskey who is now a Villa reserve. I agree that Crouch should go, even though he is only a Spurs reserve, but why do we need Heskey ?
Are you saying that Darren Bent doesn't link up with his target man, Jones ?
What happened to that Capello saying, if you are not playing regularly and not scoring you will not be chosen ?
Sir Alex Ferguson doesn't play a big useless lump alongside Rooney and he seems to do very nicely out of it so why even think of Heskey ?
We have made the mistake before of only taking 4 strikers to a tournament, I hope we don't do it again.
My point Boogs, is that Rooney may well end up unavailable, Darren Bent would be a good option to have.
I think we should/must take 5 strikers, they should be Crouch, Bent, Defoe, Rooney and Zamora( because he, like Bent, is in form)
Form players should go..
Gary

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So close yet so far away

I suppose we will just have to wait and see who Capello chooses for the squads for the friendlies. Once we se them we will get some idea of his plans and who his preferred playrs are.

Cheers

John

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Never let truth get in the way of a good rumour.

Well, like I've said, I don't expect Darren to go, not for a minute.
Hope that decision doesn't come back to bite us on the bum.
Talking of rashes on backsides, Looking Forwards9 didn't reply did he ?
Past his bedtime ?
Gary

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So close yet so far away

An outside bet for what ? Strangeways Cricket team ?

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So close yet so far away

It's strange how some strikers get tagged like that - Andy Cole was similar - always scored bucketloads at club level but never got a look in for England.

Discopants,

My friend - actually I was in bed as most normal people would be at 11.07 and 11.08 at night, unless they are Internet Geeks.

I stand by my comment - Darren Bent is not International Class, hence he will not be chosen for the World Cup. There is a major difference between scoring goals in a poor Premiership and against World Class opposition. Malcolm McDonald was in the same position years ago - lots of goals but International Class - not without Terry Hibbit in the team.

My prediction for England - Semi place, but no further.

And by the way we have something in common - I am also supporting Greece as my second team, which will go dowm well with the locals in Julies Bar in Kissonerga.

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

So are you saying then Roger that the others who may go are International class ?
What constitutes being International class ?
Darren Bent is the second highest goalscorer in the English Premier League. He is the second highest English goalscorer, if that does not make him International class I don't know what does.
Why am I arguing a point with someone who thinks Andy The Hit Man Carroll ( who is at court tomorrow) is International class and Darren Bent is not !
Oh and of course, the premier league is poor this year..........I wonder why.
Twaddle ! Stick to darts Roger you may know something about that.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

HMM International Class - a definition. "Someone and something out of the ordinary, an ability to go past players, an ability to see a pass others cannot, an ability to bring other players into the game, an ability to raise your game to ever higher standards, a team player" will do for starters, now how many of those boxes does Bent tick? Maybe I'll ask him when I am doon on the Quayside tomorrow morning (that's where he lives you know, not in the Dark Country) and I'll see if he thinks he should go!

On the poor Premiership front and I quote from Page 85 of a National Newspaper today "The weakest Premier League in recent memory is all that saved West Ham this Season...". I rest my case.

On the Andy Caroll issue, it was stated "tongue in cheek" - however, by your definition of "International Class" he scores goals so he should go!

Now let's not fall out over this my friend Discopants!

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

If that is your definition of International class then Darren has it.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Are you serious?????

If Bent has more than one of the attributes mentioned I will be amazed. A good goalscorer, but team player????

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

Come on now gentlemen, lets not quarrel!


For what it's worth I would take Darren Bent to the World Cup - he's fit and in form and has scored loads of goals. Just imagine what he could do with a decent midfield behind him?

Also think Andy Carroll will be a genuine contender for the next one if he keeps developing at the rate he has this season, and if he can keep our of trouble, but that's 2 very big ifs....

Roger, you obviously have not seen him play. Maybe you should stick to commenting on players you actually know something about.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

I'll have word with him today when I am down on the Quayside today to see what he thinks about it all. My understanding is he loves Newcastle so much he is thinking of spending all the Summer on the Quayside.

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

Good for you Roger. I don't blame him for preferring to live in Newcastle, it's got far more to offer than Sunderland.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

He seems a genuinely nice guy. Had a pint (he had a coke, the bottled variety) and a sandwich and we got on quite well. He seems happy at Sunderland (probably found his level), but loves the Toon nightlife and the people, apparantly they do not abuse his Mum. I have invited him to come across to Cyprus to stay with me (Martin, sorry but he is a bit of a star and I like people like that around me) and he has said he will arrive 12th June.

Discopants- let me know if you want to meet up.

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

I wouldn't mind meeting up with Darren but I'm not too sure I'd want to meet up with you. It's your wicked sense of humour I'd struggle with.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Ouch felt that in Limassol

Get over it - Darren likes the Toon as we all do. I would gladly meet up with you in Cyprus Discopants.

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

Can you 2 stop bickering please - I'm feeling all left out!

Roger, you seem to think Darren living in Newcastle is a big thing. I don't give a flying f**t where he lives as long as he turns out for us and keeps scoring goals !
You know, at the level he has found
You need to try harder old mug.
BTW, if Newcastle is such a great place, how come you don't live there ?
Have you ever been inside the SportsDirect.Com arena ?
Martin, sorry marra, but I know you have
Gary

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So close yet so far away

A bit touchy I think old Discopants.

I was bred and born in the West End of Newcastle Pendower Estate and now live in the Coastal Area where people tend to seek to live a more leisurely life, although I spend about 8 months of the year in my little Bungalow in Kissonerga. As far as St James Park is concerned - I am surprised at you. I attending mass at the Park for almost 50 years, saw my first game at 6 years of age (we lost 2-0 to Preston North End) and have travelled all over the UK and Europe with the Toon (how many Eurpoean games you been to - oops sorry can't be more than 1 I think?). I stopped attending when Graeme Souness was in charge, walked out at half time Toon v Charlton, because I could stand the poor quality of football and the tactics employed. I now watch my footy from the comfort of the Cumberland Arms in Tynemouth, or Julies/George and Dragon in Paphos.

As far as Darren is concerned, why does he and many of his team-mates choose to live in Newcastle instead of the Dark Place I wonder???? Could it be a nicer, more vibrant, party-going, friendly place, amongst people who don't abuse him and his family?

Just when I thought you and me were pals!!!!

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

Well old mug, you got it wrong about me and you.
I wish I had a twenty pound note for all the old mugs who claim to have followed the mugs for 40/50 years but inexpicably no longer do.
Your admission that you do not attend football matches means that I will give less creedence to the posts you make about football as you are clearly not properly qualified.

Gary

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So close yet so far away

EHR it is a bit difficuly attending football matches in Newcastle when you live 2,500 miles away, but I am sure when/if you move to Cyprus you will be returning to the UK weekly to watch support youyr sad reflection of a football club.

Off topic, but spent the afternoon in Tynemouth Village and who turned up to support the lads, but Gordon Brown. Apparantly, he is a Toon Army supporter and had spent the AM in the City of Darkness. His opening comment was "Thank Goodness I am among real people and not those horrors I have just visited across the water!"

I rest my case.

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

Roger, I think you are biting................ Mr Brown is as much a toon fan as you are. He doesn't go to see them and neither do you
I'll excuse you for not paying to support your team when you are in Cyprus and I'll take your word for it that you are there 8 months of the year .
What about the other 4 months ? You must have some neck walking into your pub in Tynemouth to watch your team when they are playing at home !
Mind there'll be plenty of others there doing the same thing who've been going to Sid James' for the past 50 years .
I do hope you invited Mr Brown over to your pad in Cyprus, he'll be out of work by then and you do like to be amongst stars, don't you ?
Gary.

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So close yet so far away

Do you think if one of our defenders crocks Rooney tomorrow, it will increase the chances of Darren going ?
Seriously, if Darren scores tomorrow, will it do his chances any good ?
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Answer ro Q1 - NO

Answer to Q2 - NO

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

I'm off to Sunderland, wish me luck !
Haway Haway Haway !!!
Gary

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So close yet so far away

What you are off to Sundeland, so you don't live in Sunderland?

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

No.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Gary

I should point out Roger goes the Cumberland to watch Sunderland games as well when he is in the UK

Cheers

John

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Never let truth get in the way of a good rumour.

Only to laugh at their pathetic attempts to play football, especially with scum like Cattermole in their team. Neher Team has a hope in Europe unless it is a day trip from North Shields.

By the way went down to the Ferry terminal today to see HMS Dauntless the new Type 45 Destroyer - very impressive!

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"