tomhbcfc Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 The international break is upon us, which means no City matches :(. In the meantime I have written a piece on Gibraltar, who I have been watching this campaign, and tried to relate it to City - with a couple of potential signings thrown in.If you are having a boring Sunday, I hope this can add a bit of interest https://bristolcitytom.wordpress.com/2015/10/11/gibraltar-a-promising-future/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldstandrobin Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 good read, used to go to Gib a lot when I lived in Spain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Good article.Having watched a fair bit of them in qualifying I have to say none of their players are anywhere near good enough for us.Bar the two who actually play in the football league (one is ex-Preston now at Scunny, the other North of the river) only Walker and the left back look to be even league standard to me and neither of them are better than League One at best.Maybe in the longer term with greater international experience they might have a Championship standard player, but not at present. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Countries like that should have to qualify to get into these qualifying groups. Sick of rubbish like San Marino who are actually getting worse not any better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I am the mole Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Countries like that should have to qualify to get into these qualifying groups. Sick of rubbish like San Marino who are actually getting worse not any better.perhaps if you tried not to watch them so regularly you wouldn't be so annoyed by them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Countries like that should have to qualify to get into these qualifying groups. Sick of rubbish like San Marino who are actually getting worse not any better.Factually incorrect. San Marino drew with Estonia two games ago, if they are "getting worse" how have they just earned their first point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gasbuster Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Don't Gib have a 15ers player "playing" for them ?God help them, if that is the case !(Edit, just read the link !) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Factually incorrect. San Marino drew with Estonia two games ago, if they are "getting worse" how have they just earned their first point?oh come on seriously? It wouldn't so bad if they actually had a go but they just stick everyone behind the ball. That obviously says more about Estonia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanterne Rouge Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 This has been debated as long as I can remember. Back in the days before the break up of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia I think goals scored against these lesser teams didn`t even count for goal difference. The reason was that, if you only had five team groups and the top two either qualified automatically or for a playoff, it often came down to who`d scored more goals against Andorra or whoever.The argument for allowing them in without prequalifying is that they won`t get any better if they never play against better opposition. I suppose you could argue that, if prequalifying had been introduced say 20 years ago, the likes of Norn Iron, Iceland, Wales and Albania would probably have been included and they have just all qualified by right so must have improved in that period. The biggest problem in my opinion is how huge and unwieldy the whole euro qualifying has become with all the new nations but haven`t a clue what you do about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I am the mole Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 oh come on seriously? It wouldn't so bad if they actually had a go but they just stick everyone behind the ball. That obviously says more about Estonia. stop watching them if they annoy you so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhbcfc Posted October 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Unlike other minnows, Gibraltar do try to play football which towards the fact that they have conceded 50 goals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 This has been debated as long as I can remember. Back in the days before the break up of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia I think goals scored against these lesser teams didn`t even count for goal difference. The reason was that, if you only had five team groups and the top two either qualified automatically or for a playoff, it often came down to who`d scored more goals against Andorra or whoever.The argument for allowing them in without prequalifying is that they won`t get any better if they never play against better opposition. I suppose you could argue that, if prequalifying had been introduced say 20 years ago, the likes of Norn Iron, Iceland, Wales and Albania would probably have been included and they have just all qualified by right so must have improved in that period. The biggest problem in my opinion is how huge and unwieldy the whole euro qualifying has become with all the new nations but haven`t a clue what you do about that.let them have there own tournament. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTone Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Condensed Version GibraltarShit hole with big pebble connecting Spain with Morocco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webzcas Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Lived in Gib for six years. Moved back home in 2006. Was on the rock a few weeks ago for work and it has changed somewhat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webzcas Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Condensed Version GibraltarShit hole with big pebble connecting Spain with MoroccoNope. Working town, which over the past few years the govt has chucked a load of money at it. Love the place still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmersonsRed Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Gibraltar have a gas head for them, often makes the bench. Says it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanatopia Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Countries like that should have to qualify to get into these qualifying groupsI tend to agree with you.stop watching them if they annoy you so much! England v Minnow? Harsh. The guy has a point a very valid one shared by a lot of people in and out of the game. Even though Roy Hodgson says it is NOT easier to get an England cap these days he is wrong. It is and this is one of the main reasons for it.let them have there own tournament.Quite right and contrary to what Red Right Hand said I think that by playing each other they will improve more because they know they have a chance of winning.. if they put a tournament of two groups of 5 together with the top 2 in each qualifying it gives a great incentive and will improve their standard quicker than having a meaningless boot about every 4 years and being usually slaughtered in the process.. what does that do for progress? Not a lot in my book.Here are your two groups: Gibraltar, San Marino, Andorra, Monaco (Get em in), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Faroe Islands, Greenland (get em in too - if we can have 4 teams why can Denmark not have one more?), Transdenistra (you know that unrecognised rump on the east side of Moldova), Vatican City and if they find it blasphemous you could always invite Scotland.. they are totally shite these days and it might do them good.Sorted .In answer to the OP's question: No. Will they improve though? Yes... but its all relative. Next time they might score 4 goals and concede 40 that is an improvement and a substantial one. But its not at all promising is it in the scheme of things. Ask the same question in 40 years and they might scrape a draw somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydneybcfc Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 But its all a catch 22 isn't it, playing the teams now gives the players a little experience but is unlikely to make them any better down the line. Its like the downs league player who got called up for a pacific nation(?), at the end of his career he'll still be a downs league player but he might have a few photos to add to his memories.What these FAs really need is more money so they can invest it in youth development and coaching, you won't get that in a minnows cup i'm afraid. Tv deals means they would get more money competing in the big tournaments losing to the big teams then they'll ever get from playing and even winning a small tournament. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhistleHappy Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Lived in Gib for six years. Moved back home in 2006. Was on the rock a few weeks ago for work and it has changed somewhat. ....& do you still like the cut of your Gib young man? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Cyril Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Countries like that should have to qualify to get into these qualifying groups. Sick of rubbish like San Marino who are actually getting worse not any better....and Scotland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhbcfc Posted October 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Good to hear the opinions of others on this topics, I for one feel that every nation has the opportunity to play in a high level group such as San Marino, due to that it could massively better their footballing ability, despite playing horrible football Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTone Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 in a high level group such as San Marino,High level ? At least they make Rooney look like a legend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne allisons tongues Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Wasn't it about 25 years ago, England were beating turkey 8 0 at wembley. Think unless these teams can play higher teams they won't improve and any matches played the tv money will help future development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmersonsRed Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 San Marino are ever improving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
22A Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 let them have there own tournament.Just like cricket does. Then only the top "minnows" are allowed in the main World Cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Just like cricket does. Then only the top "minnows" are allowed in the main World Cup.Absolutely. What are they getting from getting stuffed every game. Let them play teams on the same level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EstoniaTallinnRed Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Factually incorrect. San Marino drew with Estonia two games ago, if they are "getting worse" how have they just earned their first point?Actually, I saw this game and Estonia were not much better than them on the day. I have watched nearly all of Estonia's home games since I moved here 6 years ago and despite changes of managers, they have not improved at all. In fact I think they have got worse, as the midfield is practically only run by one player and their strikers are not up to International standard. The only good thing is that the defence has improved slightly, with a younger and better goalie, although his kicking is not good, his shot stopping is better than the old goalie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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