The TT Football Club

[crosscourt]

Simon Barnes has quite a good short piece on Terry in today's Times.

[Feña14]

So last week Mourinho gave an interview where he talked of his love of Chelsea, him always being a "London Blue" and wanting to be back in England.

Today he said how he wants to face Ferguson again in the Premier League, sooner rather than later. Now he talks about his friend Abramovich and how it was their great relationship that got him Essien on loan

http://www.givemefootball.com/premie...e-steal-essien

Should Di Matteo be worried?

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Should Di Matteo be worried?

NO i imagie he has a huge clause for being sacked or removed for no reason in his contract!

[SempreSami]

Originally Posted by Feña14

So last week Mourinho gave an interview where he talked of his love of Chelsea, him always being a "London Blue" and wanting to be back in England.

Today he said how he wants to face Ferguson again in the Premier League, sooner rather than later. Now he talks about his friend Abramovich and how it was their great relationship that got him Essien on loan

http://www.givemefootball.com/premie...e-steal-essien

Should Di Matteo be worried?

That just means Mourinho still plays Pro Evolution Soccer.

[NickC]

Lucky, lucky City! Dortmund deserved all 3 points!

[SempreSami]

Second best all night and then gifted a penalty for a handball that Subotic could do nothing about.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by SempreSami

That just means Mourinho still plays Pro Evolution Soccer.

Ahhh! Those horrible blue kits and the crappy badges, not good.

As for City, they've not looked good all season so far. They always seem to steal it in the end like all good teams do, but yeah, their general play hasn't been very impressive. When Man Utd grab a late goal, it's usually as a result of wave after wave of pressure and it always looks like they will score, City just get them from nowhere it seems.

[Feña14]

I just watched the extended highlights of City tonight. Breaker has been a bit critical of Kompany this year, i'm starting to see what he means. Last year he was incredible, but he's not looked right this year for some reason.

I thought Gundogan was amazing for Dortmund, he's a player i've mentioned here for the last couple of years, before he went to Dortmund. They got him to replace Sahin in the deeper playmaking role, he's still learning after being converted from an attacking midfielder, but he's got it all I think.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

I just watched the extended highlights of City tonight. Breaker has been a bit critical of Kompany this year, i'm starting to see what he means. Last year he was incredible, but he's not looked right this year for some reason.

I thought Gundogan was amazing for Dortmund, he's a player i've mentioned here for the last couple of years, before he went to Dortmund. They got him to replace Sahin in the deeper playmaking role, he's still learning after being converted from an attacking midfielder, but he's got it all I think.

I'd take Ilkay Gundogan to Chelsea in a heartbeat. The fact that he can play almost anywhere in the spine of the midfield says a ton about him. He kicked *** left and right today. Great player. Am I the only one who saw a bit of Ballack in him?

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

I'd take Ilkay Gundogan to Chelsea in a heartbeat. The fact that he can play almost anywhere in the spine of the midfield says a ton about him. He kicked *** left and right today. Great player. Am I the only one who saw a bit of Ballack in him?

I think he's more mobile than Ballack, he's 5'11 whilst Ballack is almost 6'3. They do have the same kind of style though, I agree.

I miss Ballack. My Dad always used to point out how Chelsea used to play back then, we got alot of stick for being physical and ugly, but to those who payed alot of attention, there were so many passing options and we did used to keep the ball better. Obviously having Ballack and Makelele helped there, Mikel and Ramires or Lampard doesn't have the same effect.

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by Feña14

I think he's more mobile than Ballack, he's 5'11 whilst Ballack is almost 6'3. They do have the same kind of style though, I agree.

I miss Ballack. My Dad always used to point out how Chelsea used to play back then, we got alot of stick for being physical and ugly, but to those who payed alot of attention, there were so many passing options and we did used to keep the ball better. Obviously having Ballack and Makelele helped there, Mikel and Ramires or Lampard doesn't have the same effect.

Back then? That was only a few years ago surely?

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Dave M

Back then? That was only a few years ago surely?

5 years is a long time in football! back when we were the best team in England, the team was totally different, Mourinho was at the club still etc..

If someone had the ball, there was always a pass available for them. It's a basic thing really, something you are taught as a kid. I don't think we do it as well as we could do now.

[SempreSami]

Originally Posted by Feña14

5 years is a long time in football! back when we were the best team in England, the team was totally different, Mourinho was at the club still etc..

If someone had the ball, there was always a pass available for them. It's a basic thing really, something you are taught as a kid. I don't think we do it as well as we could do now.

Five years ago Mourinho was gone.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by SempreSami

Five years ago Mourinho was gone.

He left 5 years ago, yes. He was still there for the majority of 2007 though, which I consider to be 5 years ago

The game against Barcelona away in that season, where Lampard chipped Valdes from level with the corner flag always sticks in my mind. Whoever had the ball in midfield always had someone to pass to, Ballack, Lampard, Makelele etc.. in that game. Compare that to how few options our players had against Barcelona last year, it's quite a big difference.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

He left 5 years ago, yes. He was still there for the majority of 2007 though, which I consider to be 5 years ago

The game against Barcelona away in that season, where Lampard chipped Valdes from level with the corner flag always sticks in my mind. Whoever had the ball in midfield always had someone to pass to, Ballack, Lampard, Makelele etc.. in that game. Compare that to how few options our players had against Barcelona last year, it's quite a big difference.

I think you're forgetting that the Barcelona of 5 years ago is vastly different to the Barcelona of today.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

I think you're forgetting that the Barcelona of 5 years ago is vastly different to the Barcelona of today.

Xavi, Ronaldinho at his best, Messi, Deco and Iniesta? Oh and they were defending Champions League winners at the time.

[PureAlph4]

And Arsenal were defending CL finalists. Yes, five years is a long time!

[SempreSami]

I contest the best team in England bit as well. 6/7 years ago, then yes, but five years ago Ronaldo entered the demi-god mode which he hasn't come out of yet.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by SempreSami

I contest the best team in England bit as well. 6/7 years ago, then yes, but five years ago Ronaldo entered the demi-god mode which he hasn't come out of yet.

5 years ago we were the two time defending league champions, it might of been the latter stages of it, but still the team to beat at the time.

[SempreSami]

Originally Posted by Feña14

5 years ago we were the two time defending league champions, it might of been the latter stages of it, but still the team to beat at the time.

Five years ago around now you'd lost the league, had sacked your most successful manager evar and got bummed at Old Trafford.