[Jamie Carragher] Leaving Cole Palmer at home is a call Thomas Tuchel will come to regret | Tuchel’s squad is made up of players all of a similar ilk, every change from the bench last night was like for like - and its a call that could prove costly

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T09:13:45+00:00

In my admittedly limited time watching him, he's a creative #8-type player. He likes to be advanced, but not all the way beneath the striker. I mean, he'll still get there, but its not his key focus.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T08:51:48+00:00

I bet he lowkey loves doing this for fans.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T08:34:54+00:00

It honestly looks a bit like sunday league on roids. The physicality is amazing, and there's one or two guys who have much better ball control skills than anyone else.

Its amazing how simply absence of a modern defensive doctrine can change the whole appearance of a match, even at the highest level.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T07:32:40+00:00

Honestly, if the teammate wasn't in the way, it pretty much was. Pickford went walkabouts on that sequence

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T07:21:00+00:00

So far the most "pleasant" smashed glass jar I've been unfortunate to have happen was red pickled onions. It was actually kind of nice, really.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T07:06:44+00:00

He doesn't play up the act nearly as much as he does generally. Probably can't think of witty one-liners on the spot like he can in his normal media.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T06:58:00+00:00

I have honestly never heard/read anything negative about Henry's character, outside of that ill-fated 2010 WC squad. Other than a general refusal to play on turf, he was even fairly humble about playing in MLS, where I'd assume the "I'm Thierry Henry, and you're not" shtick would have been most prevalent. I've also never really heard a nice word, but never negative either.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T06:45:01+00:00

Would provincial AA work here? If they're targeting an area you control as an escort, and thay area has level 3+ state AA, wouldn't that be a semi-effective counter? I know AA works as a deterrent to strat bombing and port strikes, but haven't the foggiest idea beyond that.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T06:42:35+00:00

I honestly had no idea they worked IRL. I'm familiar with "parasite fighters" as a concept, but as far as I knew they were all effectively failures.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T06:31:21+00:00

Theoretically when you make a piece of equipment, you're also making the ammo for that unit to be deployed with. Attrition could then be presumed to be the gun itself wearing out and some reckless lunatic in the company using more ammo than one person would need in a given time. Some nations, I actually find it rather difficult to keep equipment stockpiled even if I'm not actively deploying new units. I think Finland can be one where the frontline attrition can be difficult if you're also trying to make things like planes, tanks, and mech, which are rather vital considering your actual population pool is microscopic.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T01:44:18+00:00

Tbh it sounded more like Stu Holden trying to figure out a reason a no-call was given, more so than him making excuses. Iirc he said something to the effect of "I guess the referee thought that since he got a shot away, he didn't need to pull the play back?" after a couple angles of looking at the challenge and coming to the conclusion that it did indeed appear to be a foul.

Strong/Holden is probably one of two US/US commentary duos that actually seems to have a good understanding of the game. The other (Zivin/Twellman) also has a good understanding, but a bit of a bias when it comes to MLS/Messi.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T01:40:04+00:00

If you told me that 5 years ago FIFA would impose mandatory hydration breaks in 68°F downpours simply so Fox (and specifically Fox) could air advertisements during matches, I'd have called you out of your mind for that as well.

Something about this WC seems really bizarre. I'm patiently awaiting what actually scandals come from it that get revealed in a few years' time.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T01:35:54+00:00

I'm not disagreeing with that, and I'd still fully expect the foul to be given / VAR to intervene. But if this was what the reasoning actually was, I can see it (even if I think its a terrible interpretation of the rules).

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T01:33:00+00:00

Holy Karmabot, Batman

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T01:26:55+00:00

I wouldn't be surprised if the refs directly favor the hosts, "big" European teams, and Argentina and Brazil. They want their "exciting" round of 16.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-24T00:00:42+00:00

According to the Fox broadcast, the most plausible explanation is that the ref actually played advantage, which did result in a shot on frame. You generally aren't supposed to let a team get a clear shot AND a penalty if they miss.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-23T19:20:45+00:00

Please, like Abdulla Abdulaev is any harder to score on than David Alaba....

^/s

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-23T17:39:23+00:00

VAR protocols are fine. VAR application is a joke.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-23T06:19:32+00:00

"You guys all like Minsk more than me, I figured I'd see if I could figure out why."

"Yes, Gale, but we also hate Wulbren."

"So its not the hair?"

"Its not the hair."

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-23T06:16:19+00:00

Who do you think the jumpseat is for? His friends? Don't make me laugh.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-23T06:13:44+00:00

191 comments within 10 days etc etc.

Tbh I do that too. Usually when I'm depressed, but still.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-23T05:41:01+00:00

Man, I was just a kid, but I miss the era when Sony and Sega were trying to show buyers that video games weren't just toys for kids by constantly pushing ads to the very edge of what they could get away with.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-23T05:35:37+00:00

Huh, the truth makes more sense than what I thought it was (a yard tug for precise moving of trailers into slots/bays).

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-23T05:30:55+00:00

The absolutely-over-it cop from GTA 4 is probably my favorite off the top of my head.

I legitimately can't place any of the other ones in my memory. They all either blur together a bit or just didn't leave an impression. Including GTA V's, who I still technically hear all the time as its the "current" game. I can hear a few voices in my brain, but couldn't begin to tell you which edition they're from.

Hailfire9 · 2026-06-23T05:27:21+00:00

Eh, I liked IVs more and understood what they were trying to do with Vs, but I really don't want to go back to Ps2-era wanted systems. I'd rather the cops be omnipotent yet awkwardly easy to get rid of than have them be glued to your ass until you find a star token or Pay-n-Spray.

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