We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
We're still sick at heart over England pressing the self destruct button yesterday, but the World Cup doesn't let you sulk. We're off to the races with Day 3 of the competition starting with Algeria v. Slovenia followed by the Group D matches.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 7:38 AM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
345 Comments:
We're looking to be completely bored to tears by this morning's match. 0-0 would definitely suit after the 1-1 draw yesterday.
Algeria have looked the more threatening so far, especially Belhadj with a tasty free kick that hit the bar. Fifteen minutes gone so far.
UWS has just found an article that mentions that FIFA are seriously considering banning the vuvuzela after continual complaints from broadcasters. I made my opinion clear on Day 1 of the tournament. I hate them.
The line-ups, btw:
Algeria: Chaouchi, Yahia, Bougherra, Halliche, Belhadj, Kadir, Lacen, Ziani, Yebda, Djebbour, Matmour
Slovenia: Handanovic, Brecko, Suler, Cesar, Jokic, Kirm, Koren, Radosavljevic, Birsa, Novakovic, Dedic
I agree with Bob... let's be bored to tears!
22 minutes in.. no goals... long may it continue
Half an hour in with this early afternoon affair. No goals so far and a Slovenian bloke is down wasting time. Nice one.
Good morning Blue Devil and UWS. I am joining you for the action.
Past the half hour mark
Still going swimmingly
Two consecutive Slovenian players are down injured.This time it is Radosavljevic
Belhadj is fouled and Radosavlejvic is booked.Corner to Algeria.
Halliche heads just wide from the corner.
Belhadj is Algeria's main attacking threat. He does need more support.
I'm a bit worried by these Algerians right now, particularly Belhadj. Yes, he places for Pompey, who were relegated, but he's looking handy.
Morning, MUR. You're on my wavelength about Belhadj. Matmour is also handy.
Good morning MUR
Were you rooting for the US yesterday... if so, be off with you!!
What is your time?
Ohhh - what a save from the Algerian keeper. Nearly an opening goal from Slovenia.
Slovenia nearly score as the Algerian keeper tips a long range effort over the bar.
Hello UWS . It is 7:15 AM in Texas.
It is halftime and 0-0.Here is hoping for more action in the second half.
Half-time: 0-0. Everything going to plan.
Second half underway now....
The teams are out for the second half. If this match ends 0-0, and England and the U.S. do the business in the remaining matches then both teams will advance. A draw may have been a good result for both teams yesterday. To answer UWS, I was rooting for the U.S. yesterday.
We're looking for 42 more minutes of absolute tedium with this one.
Was Yebda playing for Pompey ? If so, then we have some Pompey representation in this match.
Don't mind UWS, MUR. All are welcome here. He's just still depressed from that Green howler. I had to prevent him from putting his head in the oven yesterday.
I blame the Slovenians for the lack of entertainment. The Algerians are attempting to attack.
Yeah - I think so. Pompey apparently have eight players here in South Africa. I can think of Calamity, John Utaka, Kanu, Belhadj, Yebda.
True enough - the Algerians are scaring me. If England don't sort themselves out in the next few days, they could give us a game. I think the US can easily beat Slovenia.
One of my facebook friends referred to Green as a pretty boy and a jerk. She was rooting for England. UWS will appreciate that remark.
Definitely - nice comment.
Both England and the U.S. should be able to beat both teams in this match. Seventeen out of twenty three Algerians were born in France. A brilliant cross from those entertaining Slovenians
Nearly an hour gone now. Ziani appealing for a penalty now.
There were some interesting statistics on soccernet last night. You will love this stat. Robert Green committed FOUR errors that directly lead to a goal, more than any other keeper in the EPL. Wayne did not touch the ball until the 17th minute. He did not touch the ball in the penalty area after that until the 70th minute. The U.S. completed only 66% of their passes. Their second lowest percentage since 1990. What is your opinion?
Robert Koren shoots high and wide. He was just released by WBA.
Bougherra of Rangers makes an excellent tackle in the penalty area.
How did the Russians ,with Guus Hiddinck in charge, fail to beat these entertainers?
I see why Slovenia conceded only four goals in qualifying. They lack attacking options.
Radoslejvic is down injured AGAIN. If he cannot stay on his feet then he needs to be replaced. He is on a yellow as well.
Unless we see a goal in this match then we are looking at seven goals from six matches. That is a rate of 1.17 goals per game . I am really surprised.
You would hope so, but Capello has several problems to sort out, including:
1. Goalkeeper - I reckon that he probably will stick with Green but he'll be a worry from here on out.
2. Central defender - King is crocked; Carragher didn't keep up the pace.
3. Lampard/Gerrard - they still nullify each other.
4. The left side - Milner's on a card; I'd go with Joey Cole.
5. The front line - Heskey plays well as a complementary player but he doesn't score enough. Crouch would make England play more long ball. Defoe?
Ghezzal is sent off for a second yellow and a cheap one at that.A 0-0 draw seems more likely.
Ghezzai after only being on for about ten minutes is off for a second yellow. He picked one up a few minutes ago and now he's gone off for a deliberate hand ball.
I agree, MUR. It looks really likely. Only 15 minutes left. This is the poorest match so far. Neither side is really good enough to advance out of the group.
Nearly a balls-up between the goalkeeper and the defender. The Algerian nearly crept up on them. Close thing there.
Capello does have some problems. He might decide to give Joe Hart a start. I wonder if Michael Dawson or Mattie Upson might start ahead of Carradonna. Capello should drop Heskaey. I would not have started him.
GOAL! Oh dear oh dear. The Slovenians have scored out of nothing. The keeper was all over the shop on that one. Almost as bad as Rob Green on that one. What is going on with the keepers? Is it the Jabulani effect?
Come on, the Algerians - get the equalizer!
GOAL !!! 1-0 SLOVENIA .KOREN WITH A SOFT IN THE CORNER. THE KEEPER COMPLETELY MISJUDGED THE SHOT. WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR THIS GROUP?
Big shout for a penalty there. Referee not having it with the Algerians.
I still reckon that the US can do over the Slovenes on Friday at 10am but it does make things interesting.
That should have been another corner as Bougherra appeals. I agree with the Rangers player.
Algeria has been the better team. They can consider themselves unlucky to be losing. England and the U.S. should defeat the Slovenes. The Russians should have done the same.
Zidane is in the stands lending his support to the Algerians.
I agree. I hope that Algeria have a right sulk before playing England and decide to shoot their keeper.
This sets up an epic Battle of the Dodgy Keepers on Friday at 2:30.
Slovenia will have their first victory in the final stages of a major tournament if they hold on. They would be the first Europeans to win a match at this tournament as well.
One fourth of the goals in this tournament are due to goalkeeping errors.
Nearly into stoppage time now...still looking for a miracle Algerian equalizer.
I wonder if UWS would love to play using the Jabulani ball.
Mad scramble in the box. Come on! No, the lob doesn't come off.
I would use Rooney and and Dafoe against the Slovenes, and Rooney with Crouch against the Algerians.
UWS's response is...."no."
That's a good shout, MUR.
There is enough time for one more chance if the Algerians can regain possession.
Kovac is booked for a nasty foul on Belhadj.
Komac goes into the book for a wild challenge on Belhadj.
Nasty one there from Hassan Yebda. Yellow again.
Yebda is in the book. The Slovenes hold on for a rather fortunate 1-0 victory. They will attempt to frustrate the U.S. and England with their defensive tactics.
Full-time: Slovenia shockingly become the first European side to get three points at this year's World Cup. How much money would you have got with a £100 bet on that one?
This is a test of Chelskilad's account.
I have only one thing to say. I admit that Leeds United were robbed in the 1970 FA Cup Final and were far superior to the odious Chelsea.
Missed the game . . . would've preferred a draw, of course. But am pleased that the LOB looks at Slovenia as a crap side. In LOB we trust!
Chelski were very lucky to win the league! United should have won their fourth title in a row... I admit it!
Morning, West Ham. I trust that you've come to your senses at this point. What would your Mum say?
Absolutely!!
Where's the family loyal-ship!
Chelskilad is about to retract a few of his earlier comments... DO NOT EXCEPT THESE RETRACTIONS!
It is in black and white... we must believe his first comments
Bugger.... I meant ACCEPT!!!!!
Second match coming right up. And the teams are in:
Serbia: Stojkovic, Ivanovic, Lukovic, Vidic, Kolarov, Krasic, Milijas, Stankovic, Jovanovic, Pantelic, Zigic
Ghana: Kingson, Pantsil, Vorsah, Mensah, Sarpei, Prince Tagoe, Annan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Ayew, Asamoah, Gyan
I agree, UWS. Absolutely.
Is anyone else collecting their virtual stickers for the WC Virtual Sticker book on fifa.com. Cal and I are having great fun with it.
I would like to retract both
previous comments as they were made
under duress by some evil Man U and
Leeds fans .
Good morning WHR and Chelskilad. We will not accept retractions.
I have no idea what he is on about!
I am sitting here just watching the games in South Africa... I am not thinking about the Premier League
I am sure Bob isn't thinking about the FA Cup either!
Well done MUR!!!
I see more Pompey representation. Does anyone remember the Panini sticker books?
Thank you UWS!
I remember them well.
I used to go into the Newsagents in Mildenhall on the corner of the short street and the street going to West Row.
As I said , it's an evil conspiracy .
I would expect my fellow LOB people
to back me up on this .
Again, don't listen to him
That's " New Street " by the way
David .
A quick check on the Group D predictions:
Those who predicted the Serbs to advance:
Blubber Boy
Blue Devil
Chelskilad
Gooner71
ManUtdRules
Simon Burke
Thomas
United We Stand
West Ham Rising
Yellows
Those who predicted Ghana to advance:
AZ Kicker
Matthew
Someone Said
Those who predicted neither would advance:
Jonathan
Kathy
Glad you're on board Tony
The teams are out of the tunnel. I have predicted a semi final place for the Serbs. Will I be David the prophet or David the dunce? Efan Ekoku, an LOB all time favorite, is announcing. Let's see how those Serbs perform.
Ian Darke and UWS favorite Efan Ekoku on the commentary for this one. Ian just commented that the referees have been outstanding so far. I agree.
I noticed that, MUR. That's a bold prediction of the Serbs advancing top of the group. You must really be a Nemanja Vidic fan, eh?
I expect to see a defensively solid Serbian side with little spark up front against a pacy Ghanaian side who'll flatter to deceive.
I would go to the Newsagent in Lakenheath. My brother has a 2010 Panini sticker book with stickers waiting for me when I go to Florida.
Raddy Antic the former Luton Town player is in charge of the Serbs.
And we're off and Pantelic tries one from half way out. Decent shot.
The match kicks off and the Serbs try to lob Richard Kingson six seconds into the match.
Fantastic - I used to love those Panini sticker books.
Early free kick to Ghana. Vidic with a scything tackle. Usual dirty ManYoo tactics.
Will Super Mario and Klose get the better of Vidic and Ivanovic? I doubt it. Vidc fouls Tagoe just outside the penalty area. Gyan's free kick is over the bar.
And it's the typical ballooned free kick over the bar. The Algerian free kick that hit the bar this morning is the first decent strike I've seen.
Vidic was acting like a Chelski player.
Nice - I'm liking the anti-Chelski atmosphere on the LOB this morning.
Where is Chelskilad?
Free kick to Serbia as Miljiac is fouled.
We're still trying to sort out Chelskilad's LOB account. He's having some slight technical difficulties.
Ghana are winning some free kicks and corners but aren't really doing much with them. That's sort of what I expected.
Hello . Just checking
Welcome back, Chelskilad.
Ghana waste the corner. Too many corners have sailed high past the penalty area. This new ball cannot be considered a success.
The Serbs are really thugging it up so far. Blimey!
No - Gooner was commenting on the phone with me yesterday that they'll have to scrap the ball (and possibly Adidas) after the tournament.
Hello MUR . Hopefully Bob has my
account sorted out .
The ridiculously tall Zigic with a nice sliding block there.
Ghana have another corner. That was better as Zigic scrambles the clearance away for another corner. The Serbs counter without any really success.
The Serbs are a physical side. Should we expect a bruising encounter when they face the Germans?
I would think so, MUR. SuperMario against Vidic - that'll be a bruising encounter.
The Serbs maintain possession, but the cross is too high.
Beanpole Zigic picks up a yellow for a nasty one.
Zigic is booked for a push in the back.
Nearly a free header there for Pantsil.
That was a better free kick, bur Sunderland's Mensah heads wide.
I've noticed that there are a lot more Ghanaian Premiership players than I'd expected on display.
Kevin Prince Boateng puts in a great cross, but Gyan misses the header. that was the first real chance of the match.
I wonder if a vast percentage of the Ghana players were born in England. I believe Boateng is from Germany.
Great to talk to you Chelskilad
We need to do it more often
We have some Premiership representation with the Serbs as well.
The drinks have come out now with Gyan receiving treatment.
Vorsah into the book now. This is getting chippy out there.
Vorsah is booked for a nasty tackle on Zigic.
That was a clever free kick by the Srebs as Miljias crosses for Pantelic, but the new Costa signing fails to control. Typical Costa.
Really poor control there from Pantelic there. And then he's trying to blame the Jabulani for it. Pathetic.
Zigic has really put himself about as he earns the Serbs another free kick.
The free kick is wide.
Pantelic's shot ends up in the side netting from a narrow angle. He should have passed.
Did you see the Ghanaian number 23 waving his arms yelling for the ball and being completely ignored by his teammates?
The Serbs earn a corner after a great tackle by Vorsah on Pantelic. The Serbs struggle with the corner that is over hit.
Ian Darke and Efan Ekoku seem to be in favor of the vuvuzuelas.
Jovanovic with a nice run down the middle. He eventually finds Stankovic and the Inter player's shot is fumbled then collected by Kingson. There was a slight deflectiom.
Still 0-0, but both teams are trying to attack. The final pass has been inaccurate for both teams. Tagoe appeals for a penalty, but the referee is not buying it.
I think the most pathetic comment of the day came from Patrice Evra who apparently is blaming France's toothless display on the Jabulani, the vuvuzelas keeping him up at night, alien abductions and anything else that springs to mind. What a baby!
It is halftime and still 0-0 in an evenly fought match. It seems as if one goal will decide this match.
Half-time: 0-0. Fairly tedious. This World Cup is on track to beat 1990 as the lowest scoring tournament on record. I'm dying to see a decent goal that isn't down to a goalkeeping mistake, the Jabulani or the vuvuzelas putting someone off.
The French are always making excuses. I'm sure the Irish would have dealt with these problems without making any excuses.
Yeah, well the Irish have a fail-safe sleep aid called Guinness.
That's a great point.I didn't think about that.
Where has Chelskilad gone
Stop eating
Ruud Gullit makes the astonishing comment that Gareth Barry is England's "best player." How is it that such a skillful player knows so little about the game?
The second half kicks off.
I did not watch the halftime show, but that comment does surprise me.
Second half starting up...you didn't miss much, MUR. They were talking complete bollocks.
I remember Raddy Antic with a powerful long range effort that kept Luton up and doomed Citeh at Maine Road in 1983 on the final day of the season.
Lovely shot there from Milan Jovanovic there. Shanked well wide.
The German's must be happy with the state of this match.
UWS just got an email from a jerky Yank friend that read, "Hey England, your keepers are as leaky as your oil rigs.
That was a chance for Ghana as the header is just wide.
Yeah - I can imagine. Let's just hope that they were kept up all night by the vuvuzelas. I'd love to see Tim Cahill punching the corner flag this afternoon.
The U.S. is more in the goalkeeping position than England at this time.Any manager would start Howard or Hahnemann ahead of Robert Green.
Ghana is beginning to assert themselves in the match.
Decent run from Gyan but he shot well wide.
Game stretching out a bit but the forward play has been poor. Could easily end up goalless.
Now that was a decent ball in from new Scouser Pantelic but Ziggy came nowhere near the right contact.
Gyan shaved the post there with a header.
That was another opportunity. The Serbs might be thinking about a change.
Tagoe had a chance to sidefoot one in. No hope.
Miljias is replaced by Krazmanovic.
Half an hour left to break the deadlock.
The Serbs have been patient. A well worked move ends with Zigic heading high and wide.
Really poor effort there from Zigic. And that's the end of his afternoon. No before time, he's replaced by former Hatter Raddy Antic.
Finally, we're getting a peek at Steven Appiah.
A 0-0 draw appears to be more likely as this match has petered out in the second half. Kwado Asamoah is replaced by Stephen Appiah.
Lukovic is sent off for a second yellow. This is the third time a substitute has been sent off for a second yellow in this tournament. This is a disturbing trend.
Serb central defender Lukovic trods on a Ghanaian - he's already been booked so he's off! Serbs down to ten.
Subotic, the Utah native, is on for Jovanovic.
Oh - that should have been 1-0. Pantelic whiffed on it and then Krasic hit it straight at the keeper. And then Vidic hanging on the back of the defender heads over from the resulting corner.
That was nearly 1-0 to Serbia as Kingson makes a great save an Vidic heads just over from the corner.
Oh - Chelski's Ivanovic with a hot strike on goal.
Ivanovic shoots just wide as the Serbs up the tempo.
Oh - it's a freak penalty call that gives Ghana a real chance.
PENALTY !!! What was Krazmanovic thinking? What a fool.
Asamoah to take and.....
1-0 Ghana! What a shock!
GOAL !!! 1-0 GHANA AS GYAN SENDS STOJKOVIC THE WRONG WAY. iS THAT THE MATCH WINNER?
Krazmanovic had his arms raised. I believe UWS would agree with me that the referee made the correct decision.
A bit of a heated debate here between us. UWS thinks it was a penalty because Kraz was "making himself bigger" by putting his arms up.
I think that's complete balls and has nothing to do with the rule book. It has to be deliberate - i.e. ball moving to hand - and Kraz was merely jumping up with a natural arm movement.
I agree with UWS.
Oh - Tagoe had a good chance there. No it's been blown up for handball and he's got a yellow for it.
That was just wide by Tagoe and nearly 2-0. I did not see the hand ball. that was a harsh yellow.
Bob is WRONG!!!
I agree the rule it has to be deliberate. I agree it isn't a handball if it is ball to hand but it was an attempt to stretch your body and FAKE that it was an accident
Thank you MUR
Both matches will result in 1-0 victories where the better team lost due to silly red cards.
Agreed, MUR. Very odd morning so far.
Oh - Asamoah with another chance to settle it and it's off the post!
I think I may have to kick Bob out of my house.... dribble is coming out of his mouth!
The Serbs are losing because of a dumb hand ball and a red card due to lack of discipline. Nearly 2-0 as Gyan's shot bounces off the post.
Bob told me the wrong word
DRIVLE!
Well, I did have a lovely breakfast this morning courtesy of Kathy, so I think a little dribbling should be tolerated.
Who taught you how to spell, mate? Good thing you're not teaching English!
All over
Ghana is on top of the group!
There goes my prediction
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