Tips for Tikay

[BigAdz]

The not lost at home for 16 months I think is 4 games

wins vs Iceland, Latvia, San Marino

draw vs Poland.

Not quite a full strength England team

[AndrewT]

I really don't buy all this 'Podgorica is a tough place to play' bollocks.

It's an open ground with 2/3rds the capacity of Loftus Road and England are full of players who regularly play in away games at big Premiership grounds in febrile atmospheres of crowds of 50-75,000. I really don't think that the England players will be intimidated in front of a crowd which is slightly bigger than watched Gillingham v Accrington on Saturday.

[redarmi]

I really don't buy all this 'Podgorica is a tough place to play' bollocks.

It's an open ground with 2/3rds the capacity of Loftus Road and England are full of players who regularly play in away games at big Premiership grounds in febrile atmospheres of crowds of 50-75,000. I really don't think that the England players will be intimidated in front of a crowd which is slightly bigger than watched Gillingham v Accrington on Saturday.

You haven't been to Old Trafford or the Emirates recently have you?  The only time the atmosphere there gets febrile is when they run out of Chardonnay.

[AlunB]

I really don't buy all this 'Podgorica is a tough place to play' bollocks.

It's an open ground with 2/3rds the capacity of Loftus Road and England are full of players who regularly play in away games at big Premiership grounds in febrile atmospheres of crowds of 50-75,000. I really don't think that the England players will be intimidated in front of a crowd which is slightly bigger than watched Gillingham v Accrington on Saturday.

You haven't been to Old Trafford or the Emirates recently have you?  The only time the atmosphere there gets febrile is when they run out of Chardonnay.

I had to look that up. Some wordsmith I am...

[AndrewT]

I really don't buy all this 'Podgorica is a tough place to play' bollocks.

It's an open ground with 2/3rds the capacity of Loftus Road and England are full of players who regularly play in away games at big Premiership grounds in febrile atmospheres of crowds of 50-75,000. I really don't think that the England players will be intimidated in front of a crowd which is slightly bigger than watched Gillingham v Accrington on Saturday.

You haven't been to Old Trafford or the Emirates recently have you?  The only time the atmosphere there gets febrile is when they run out of Chardonnay.

I think even Old Trafford or the Emirates get lively when Liverpool or Tottenham visit.

[AndrewT]

I really don't buy all this 'Podgorica is a tough place to play' bollocks.

It's an open ground with 2/3rds the capacity of Loftus Road and England are full of players who regularly play in away games at big Premiership grounds in febrile atmospheres of crowds of 50-75,000. I really don't think that the England players will be intimidated in front of a crowd which is slightly bigger than watched Gillingham v Accrington on Saturday.

You haven't been to Old Trafford or the Emirates recently have you?  The only time the atmosphere there gets febrile is when they run out of Chardonnay.

I had to look that up. Some wordsmith I am...

I look forward to the new, less prolix, EGR.

Congrats on new job.

[AlunB]

I really don't buy all this 'Podgorica is a tough place to play' bollocks.

It's an open ground with 2/3rds the capacity of Loftus Road and England are full of players who regularly play in away games at big Premiership grounds in febrile atmospheres of crowds of 50-75,000. I really don't think that the England players will be intimidated in front of a crowd which is slightly bigger than watched Gillingham v Accrington on Saturday.

You haven't been to Old Trafford or the Emirates recently have you?  The only time the atmosphere there gets febrile is when they run out of Chardonnay.

I had to look that up. Some wordsmith I am...

I look forward to the new, less prolix, EGR.

Congrats on new job.

freedictionary.com getting a hammering today

Thanks!

[Snowball]

I really don't buy all this 'Podgorica is a tough place to play' bollocks.

It's an open ground with 2/3rds the capacity of Loftus Road and England are full of players who regularly play in away games at big Premiership grounds in febrile atmospheres of crowds of 50-75,000. I really don't think that the England players will be intimidated in front of a crowd which is slightly bigger than watched Gillingham v Accrington on Saturday.

15000 going at it for 90 minutes is far more intimidating than 60000 mutes rustling their crisp pokes.
For what it's worth, English grounds must have the worst atmosphere's in all of top flight Football in Europe.

[TheDazzler]

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2013/03/25/exclusive-qatar-hoax-a-cautionary-tale-of-delusion-fantasy-and-lucre-dfl-250301/

well worth a read

That is unbelievable. Very long but yes, well worth a read. Thanks for posting that.

[AlunB]

Any value on Robshaw for Lions captain now he's 6/1?

[AlunB]

“There is no room for sentiment in what is a results business and when we come to naming the starting XV against Australia the captain won’t be the first guy on the team sheet,” said Gatland. “You can’t get too hung up on these things. Ideally, you would want your tour captain to be there but he’s got to warrant his place and be able to do the job. We’ll have to make a call at the time and if others are playing better, they will be in.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/britishandirishlionsrugby/9950131/British-and-Irish-Lions-coach-Warren-Gatland-ends-Jonny-Wilkinsons-dream-of-one-last-tour-Down-Under.html

[horseplayer]

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2013/03/25/exclusive-qatar-hoax-a-cautionary-tale-of-delusion-fantasy-and-lucre-dfl-250301/

well worth a read

That is unbelievable. Very long but yes, well worth a read. Thanks for posting that.

glad you enjoyed it

[Tal]

Carlsen was a little behind for most of his game today but was never in any real danger with accurate play. He managed to draw.

Of greater interest is Aronian has been behind all day against Gelfand and the Israeli is giving us all a huge sweat because he was as good as won but has misplayed and allowed Aronian to get some of the deficit back. Gelfand is still winning, though, and if he can hole out, we will be on the sole leader. 

[hector62]

“There is no room for sentiment in what is a results business and when we come to naming the starting XV against Australia the captain won’t be the first guy on the team sheet,” said Gatland. “You can’t get too hung up on these things. Ideally, you would want your tour captain to be there but he’s got to warrant his place and be able to do the job. We’ll have to make a call at the time and if others are playing better, they will be in.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/britishandirishlionsrugby/9950131/British-and-Irish-Lions-coach-Warren-Gatland-ends-Jonny-Wilkinsons-dream-of-one-last-tour-Down-Under.html

That statement appears to me a better case for backing O'Driscoll , Ryan Jones, or Heaslip.

[Tal]

Gelfand beats Aronian.

Fred should be pleased with this.