ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

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Tiny in Japan

Japan Vs Australia WC qualifyer kicks off 30 mins from now at Yokohama in front of 74000 fanatical Japanese. Tiny is supposed to be the middle of three strikers but there is no doubt that Pim Verbeek the Oz coach is going for the draw that would put Australia into the WC finals. Having named two other midfielders to play alongside Tim it seems the line up will be 4-3-3-0. The Jap central defenders are noted hard men so it's fingers crossed that our boy comes through uninjured.
Dick Fearon, West Australia Posted 11/02/2009 at 07:01:59

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Alan Clarke
1 Posted 11/02/2009 at 15:05:51

I can’t stand Australia when it comes to sport after years of being battered by them in the cricket, tennis, rugby, swimming etc. I’m hoping that Tim fakes injury around the 15 minute mark and Japan win 4-0.

Shaun Brennan
2 Posted 11/02/2009 at 15:13:01

Alan mate, it’s not just the Australians who batter us at sport.....

Patty Beesley
3 Posted 11/02/2009 at 15:41:06

If Tim gets injured because of the Ninjan hard boys, ..... God help us... we are fucked

Nick Entwistle
4 Posted 11/02/2009 at 16:00:54

Anyone got a link? haha...

Peter Howard
5 Posted 11/02/2009 at 16:10:01

As someone rightly pointed out on another thread, Tim takes great pride in playing for his country so we should be pleased for him.
The " alternative " is to obstuct him playing for Oz and:-
1. Piss him off so he demands a move and
2. Risk (certain )punishment by FIFA and
3.Upset the loads of Aussie Blues.
It’s a no-brainer.Anyway, he’s just as likely to get injured in training- ask Arteta.

Peter Hall
6 Posted 11/02/2009 at 20:20:08

This link could work:

http://www.iraqgoals.com/en/

looks like kick-off os 10.20 our time

Dick Fearon
7 Posted 11/02/2009 at 20:27:41

Tiny in Japan update.
after a very tough battle as lone striker our lad was rested with 10 min to go.
Apart from exhaustion he appeared to be uninjured but I would be surprised if he did not carry a few bruises. After this 0-0 draw Australia has 10 points out of a possible 12 with 4 more qualifying games to go. Three of those are here in Australia.

Roy Coyne
8 Posted 11/02/2009 at 20:56:29

Hi Dick I watched the full match on euro sport and thought Tim must have upset the rest of the team for the amount of passes he got,hope you qualify but not impressed to honest mind you Im just going to watch us play Spain so feel free to put the boot in if we lose.cheers mate

Dick Fearon
9 Posted 11/02/2009 at 21:59:19

Roy Coyne, I also was not impressed by Australia's game. The best one can say is they luckily achieved what they set out to do.

I am watching Spain/England it is half-time and cannot see any improvement in our game. (I am now speaking as a pommy bastard). It is almost like de ja vu from previous coaching regimes. Same old tactics, same lack of craft, same bull at a gate forwards. Christ' s sake, Heskey is up front and he is a relic of the pre-Erickson era.

Disappointed to see Villa turn Jags inside out when scoring. I bet another Back to the Future episode will see a second half return of golden balls, another previous World Cup failure.

Best of luck anyway. I am now switching on for the 2nd half.

Steve Carter
10 Posted 11/02/2009 at 22:29:39

Bit strong and even inaccurate there, Alan! England did recover the ashes the time before last, won the rugby world cup final in 2003 at Stadium Australia and knocked the Wallabies out in 2007, tennis you do as well as Oz does these days, and everybody knows poms can’t swim. Although, as you’ll recall, the Socceroos did beat England at home on the last occasion.

Mike Burke
11 Posted 12/02/2009 at 01:01:32

I watched the game last night in Japan, gotta say Australia look terrible, Japan should have won that match by two or three!

Dick Fearon
12 Posted 12/02/2009 at 03:43:48

From England's point of view, the second half was worse than the first. Apart from a single decent through ball, that was that.

On the basis of that game most World Cup Finalists including Australia will be hoping to be in England?s group.
It gives me no pleasure to say that.

Nick Xenos
13 Posted 12/02/2009 at 04:19:22

Australia went out with an obvious game plan to frustrate their Japanese opponents and nick the draw, which they did without too many scares. Australia?s coach, Pim Ver Beek, only had about an hour to work with his team so preparation was very limited to say the least. Australia are capable of playing some very good football and with Kewell, Emerton and Viduka to come into the squad, I think they can surprise again in South Africa.

In regards to our Timmy, he was completely isolated in the lone striker role and therefore didn?t really get into the game. He had a glimpse of goal in the second half but stumbled at the critical moment. At least he didn?t get injured.