The TT Football Club

[BlackSilver]

Pathetic this FIFA Ballon d'Or cerimony. Should change it Real Madrid/Barcelona glorification cerimony

Rio is only 2 1/2 hours from Sao Paulo by car, faster by train

Who told you that?

[Peters]

Well...he is the best player in the world over the last year or so. And the few years before that..

I'm no fan of Barcelona, but even I have to admit it couldn't in all seriousness go to anyone else.

He's one of a kind. And he'll only stop winning Ballon d'Or if his form drops (or gets injured) and/or another player has a better year than him.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by BlackSilver

Pathetic this FIFA Ballon d'Or cerimony. Should change it Real Madrid/Barcelona glorification cerimony

Nah it's just the we-recognize-the-fact-that-Messi-isn't-human ceremony.

Come on mate, 91 goals in a single year! That's absurd!

Who told you that?

I read it somewhere. I'm sure it's further.

Are you from Sao Paulo? I will be moving there in August, can you tell me about the city?

Originally Posted by Peters

Well...he is the best player in the world over the last year or so. And the few years before that..

I'm no fan of Barcelona, but even I have to admit it couldn't in all seriousness go to anyone else.

He's one of a kind. And he'll only stop winning Ballon d'Or if his form drops (or gets injured) and/or another player has a better year than him.

He truly is special isn't he? I mean, I'm no Barcelona fan either, but Messi is just something else, watching him at top form is just breathtaking. His control at pace is not of this planet. The scariest thing is that he's still two years from hitting his prime. And I like Messi as a person too, he's humble and in this day and age, it's impressive to see such a player commit to being a one-club-man for his entire career. Class.

[TennisLovaLova]

[Thud and blunder]

Hahaha! He forgot to take off his Fifa '14 motion capture suit before arriving for the awards

[BlackSilver]

Originally Posted by Peters

Well...he is the best player in the world over the last year or so. And the few years before that..

I'm no fan of Barcelona, but even I have to admit it couldn't in all seriousness go to anyone else.

He's one of a kind. And he'll only stop winning Ballon d'Or if his form drops (or gets injured) and/or another player has a better year than him.

Nah it's just the we-recognize-the-fact-that-Messi-isn't-human ceremony.

Come on mate, 91 goals in a single year! That's absurd!

Not talking about Messi, and yes about the team of choice, the pathetic mixture of RM + Barcelona only players plus Garcia.

I read it somewhere. I'm sure it's further.

Are you from São Paulo? I will be moving there in August, can you tell me about the city?

It's about 5 hours from car, 2 and 1/2 hour is a physical impossibility. The train stuff, is still far away in the future.

Yes I am from there.

Some good points are the cultural, culinary, night life diversity. Variety to all tastes in these areas. Lots of museums (in the wealthy areas) many free, with a huge variety of themes, culinary from many places of the world and from another states (although can be very expensive in the fancier restaurants, richer areas), huge number of night clubs with plenty of variety of music.
An area that it is average is the number of public sportive facilities. You can find a decent number of public basketball and football fields to play in parks. But don't expect to find tennis courts to play, with a few exceptions (and nearly always with another people to share with). There are, of course private courts, but as with many things here, it is expensive.
The city is close the several cities in the coast (São Paulo actually has sea view and ends at sea level, bot nobody lives in these places), where you can spend weekends and holidays if you have a car. The cost is affordable if a careful research of hotels is made. This in December and January the high season, in other months is even better like February to May. In these times the water is still warm and from the end February or beginning of March until middle may the rain diminishes dramatically while the water keeps nice and the cities get emptier. The closest cities are about 1 hour driving, the farthest away 2 and 1/2h. On the new year and carnaval, however, costs arises exponentially, plus the traffic in the highways becomes unbearable

The bad points are the overall ugliness of the city (not really in the richer areas, but most city has ugly architecture, bad painting of the buildings, too many energy wires in nearly everywhere, favelas aren't pretty and homeless people that generates garbage around them isn't either). It was worst a few years ago until the former mayor was able to approve a law that limited large size advertising posters from the trade, and banned it in buildings and another places, this made a big difference in the central area, mainly.
The public transportation is bad overall, too many traffic make the buses run slowly overall in the first half of the morning and at the end of afternoon, beginning of night.
Many bus lines are too crowded in these periods. But all depends from where you live and to where you go. There are many good ones too. The city needs more exclusive bus lanes. Let's see what the new administration that is beginning now does in the next four years.

Subway covers an area too limited, which make it too crowded in the periods that I mentioned. This together with the bad education of the general population slowdowns the trains due to people that secure the doors to enter in already too crowded trains, forcing all trains behind it to stop until it can continue.
The trains are too slow and there are too few of them, which make the long daily travels of the unfortunate people that leaves the extremes of the city, or leave the peripheral cities to work in the central area have to endure fairly long travels standing up, which makes for a very educated dispute for the train seats.
The pollution (air pollution due to the excess of cars, the main rivers are polluted and smell badly) is bothersome.
The climate is subtropical, so not cold neither very hot. In the winter you probably has about ten days on average in which the temperature falls below 10°C in most of the city.
On the summer temperature regularly goes in the inferior 30°.
Due to his altitude in most city (650-800 meters), the nights are fresher than in most state capitals, which makes easier to sleep at night (not in this year unfortunately)
The drivers don't respect much pedestrians, although it improved a bit with a new traffic education campaign that started last year.

By last, the city is absurdly expensive. It's more expensive than New York or London last time I saw.

Quite a few negative points, right . This is an overall view of here, taking into account the life of 11 million of it's inhabitants. It's a big city in a undeveloped country. For you, I guess it all depends to where you will live and work. Depending on it's place, it might be easy to avoid most of the downfalls and enjoy the good points, making it a worthy experience.

[Feña14]

^^^

I saw a documentary a few months back talking about the traffic in Sao Paulo, they said the skies are full of helicopters, it's the only way the rich travel throughout the city. Not sure how true it is, interesting though

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

^^^

I saw a documentary a few months back talking about the traffic in Sao Paulo, they said the skies are full of helicopters, it's the only way the rich travel throughout the city. Not sure how true it is, interesting though

Yeah I've heard the same thing from one of my professors this past semester, although I don't know how true it is either, she's from Rio and as such detests anything and everything Sao Paulo.

Good football there though.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by BlackSilver

Not talking about Messi, and yes about the team of choice, the pathetic mixture of RM + Barcelona only players plus Garcia.



It's about 5 hours from car, 2 and 1/2 hour is a physical impossibility. The train stuff, is still far away in the future.

Yes I am from there.

Some good points are the cultural, culinary, night life diversity. Variety to all tastes in these areas. Lots of museums (in the wealthy areas) many free, with a huge variety of themes, culinary from many places of the world and from another states (although can be very expensive in the fancier restaurants, richer areas), huge number of night clubs with plenty of variety of music.
An area that it is average is the number of public sportive facilities. You can find a decent number of public basketball and football fields to play in parks. But don't expect to find tennis courts to play, with a few exceptions (and nearly always with another people to share with). There are, of course private courts, but as with many things here, it is expensive.
The city is close the several cities in the coast (São Paulo actually has sea view and ends at sea level, bot nobody lives in these places), where you can spend weekends and holidays if you have a car. The cost is affordable if a careful research of hotels is made. This in December and January the high season, in other months is even better like February to May. In these times the water is still warm and from the end February or beginning of March until middle may the rain diminishes dramatically while the water keeps nice and the cities get emptier. The closest cities are about 1 hour driving, the farthest away 2 and 1/2h. On the new year and carnaval, however, costs arises exponentially, plus the traffic in the highways becomes unbearable

The bad points are the overall ugliness of the city (not really in the richer areas, but most city has ugly architecture, bad painting of the buildings, too many energy wires in nearly everywhere, favelas aren't pretty and homeless people that generates garbage around them isn't either). It was worst a few years ago until the former mayor was able to approve a law that limited large size advertising posters from the trade, and banned it in buildings and another places, this made a big difference in the central area, mainly.
The public transportation is bad overall, too many traffic make the buses run slowly overall in the first half of the morning and at the end of afternoon, beginning of night.
Many bus lines are too crowded in these periods. But all depends from where you live and to where you go. There are many good ones too. The city needs more exclusive bus lanes. Let's see what the new administration that is beginning now does in the next four years.

Subway covers an area too limited, which make it too crowded in the periods that I mentioned. This together with the bad education of the general population slowdowns the trains due to people that secure the doors to enter in already too crowded trains, forcing all trains behind it to stop until it can continue.
The trains are too slow and there are too few of them, which make the long daily travels of the unfortunate people that leaves the extremes of the city, or leave the peripheral cities to work in the central area have to endure fairly long travels standing up, which makes for a very educated dispute for the train seats.
The pollution (air pollution due to the excess of cars, the main rivers are polluted and smell badly) is bothersome.
The climate is subtropical, so not cold neither very hot. In the winter you probably has about ten days on average in which the temperature falls below 10°C in most of the city.
On the summer temperature regularly goes in the inferior 30°.
Due to his altitude in most city (650-800 meters), the nights are fresher than in most state capitals, which makes easier to sleep at night (not in this year unfortunately)
The drivers don't respect much pedestrians, although it improved a bit with a new traffic education campaign that started last year.

By last, the city is absurdly expensive. It's more expensive than New York or London last time I saw.

Quite a few negative points, right . This is an overall view of here, taking into account the life of 11 million of it's inhabitants. It's a big city in a undeveloped country. For you, I guess it all depends to where you will live and work. Depending on it's place, it might be easy to avoid most of the downfalls and enjoy the good points, making it a worthy experience.

Well considering I'm from the NYC metro area I am completely aware of how expensive it is. You're saying Sampa is more expensive than NYC? Oh dear, I'm going to have to drive a hard bargain when my boss asks me how much I expect to get paid.

I know football is popular, but is playing a pick-up match pretty easy to do? I'm a big fan of playing a proper 11 a side match if it's possible. Also, is tennis big at all down there? My buddy's mom is from there, he says she's from an area called Jardins, and that their apartment's got a few courts. Are athletic clubs that have things such as a pool, tennis courts and a gym hard to come by? I like to get a good workout in every day and hopefully there is a place I can do so and swim some laps in as well.

Speaking of which, what football club should I support when I move down there? Which one do you support; are they any good?

And do you know anything of the music scene down in Sao Paulo? I produce music for fun and in addition to obviously going to the clubs, I am always looking for other people to collaborate with and knowing where a bunch of musicians hang out is always helpful.


What part of the city do you live in? Is it nice; would you reccomend it?

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

Speaking of which, what football club should I support when I move down there? Which one do you support; are they any good?

I had an old girlfriend who was from Rio, she's a Fluminense fan. Put me off them for life you certainly have alot of choice in Sao Paulo, whichever you're closest to, or who's games are shown most on tv makes sense.

[SempreSami]

Loved Messi's suit, the man can do no wrong.

[norbac]

Ba showed so much more than Torres in the 10 minutes he was on.

[BlackSilver]

I have to say, to follow Chelsea in this season has been one of the most amusing football experiences I had in the last few years (outside it's defeat to Corinthians at the end of World Club Finals)

The helicopter stuff is of course a bit of an exaggeration but as in many legends there is some true in that.

You're saying Sampa is more expensive than NYC

Last time a saw in two rankings, São Paulo (and Rio) were ahead of New York and nearly all major cities from western Europe in cost of living. Our currency lost some value in the last months so it mighty have had some improvement in this field, but supposing you are going to receive your pay-check in Reais, this won't help you in anything. Great for tourists.

I know football is popular, but is playing a pick-up match pretty easy to do? I'm a big fan of playing a proper 11 a side match if it's possible

I guess that's more dependent of your social circle than court availability. To get 22 guys to play in a certain hour, in a certain place might not be the easiest thing in the world. I would say it's very dependable on lucky. You make a friend, he has a friend that already belongs a group that uses to play regularly is probably the easiest way around. When I go to some public parks, the larger fields are normally the ones that are less used.

Also, is tennis big at all down there

No, it is not. It got on the spotlight during Guga's time, but that it is far behind now.
Tennis has the second best tv coverage of all the sports. Of course it is pay television only. Only Brasil open is aired on convencional tv.

he says she's from an area called Jardins, and that their apartment's got a few courts

That means that it is likely a very high-level building to have tennis courts in one of most expensive areas from city. Jardins means gardens, it is a more of a generic term to assign a region of city than a formally delimited area. Nice place

The public court availability is limited as I talked before, you would have to share it most of the time. There is many places with courts to rent, but is fairly expensive last time I checked. Join a club would be the best thing to do, since you also want to exercise and swim. The question is if you would live nearby clubs that aren't prohibitively expensive or\and are willing to accept new members. I remember Ronaldo having problems to join the most expensive club because he needed the indication of several members.

Speaking of which, what football club should I support when I move down there?

Palmeiras

Which one do you support

the one above

are they any good?

Do you mean the one I support? Well.......that is...... a tricky question I have to say

And do you know anything of the music scene down in Sao Paulo? I produce music for fun and in addition to obviously going to the clubs, I am always looking for other people to collaborate with and knowing where a bunch of musicians hang out is always helpful.

Not really much

What part of the city do you live in? Is it nice; would you reccomend it?

I live in a district called Perdizes. It is a nice place overall, not far away from the region where the apartment of your buddy's mother it is

[NickC]

Wow, Hazard with a great shot today, apparently that's his weaker foot too. The turn before it was the best part though, sweet little touch and a step before deciding to pop off a 30 yarder with his bad foot.

Good power on it too.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by BlackSilver

I have to say, to follow Chelsea in this season has been one of the most amusing football experiences I had in the last few years (outside it's defeat to Corinthians at the end of World Club Finals)

Are you a Chelsea fan then?

I have to say, Walters is proably our best signing of the window! Sorry Ba

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Are you a Chelsea fan then?

I have to say, Walters is proably our best signing of the window! Sorry Ba

Walters is world class, two goals in his first league match is amazing.

He looked dejected after whiffing that penalty though, got to say I feel for him, he must feel like crap.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

Wow, Hazard with a great shot today, apparently that's his weaker foot too. The turn before it was the best part though, sweet little touch and a step before deciding to pop off a 30 yarder with his bad foot.

Good power on it too.

Hazard was good throughout, which is good to see. Going to play away at Stoke in your first season is usually a tough wake up call for a player new to the League, especially in January when it's -10 and freezing! I know he's more used to this kind of weather than someone from a warmer climate, but still.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Hazard was good throughout, which is good to see. Going to play away at Stoke in your first season is usually a tough wake up call for a player new to the League, especially in January when it's -10 and freezing! I know he's more used to this kind of weather than someone from a warmer climate, but still.

Yeah he's been great. But that's to be expected after what he's done already so far and after his transfer fee.



Shame to see Mou trying to get himself fired in the way he has been, his selection today was awful - the commentators blamed it due to the suspension of Ronaldo but I think that has nothing to do with it, he should haven't of started Modric, and if he wanted to, he should have started with Ozil, Kaka and Modric in the front. The way to win away to a team like Osasuna in the rain is to retain possession, move the ball about in the midfield and create chances and look to break the other team down, and then late into the game throw on wingers and they'll run through the opposition at ease. Awful planning, awful selection, awful tactics. Shame Mou is doing this to such a historic and successful club like Madrid. I like the guy but that's just poor form. I have a feeling that they'll get very far in Europe this year though. Mou's teams often peak the year he leaves, even at Chelsea, where they made it to the Champions League Final the year he was fired.

All credit to Osasuna though, they fought like dogs out there. Good for their fans too.

[SempreSami]

Originally Posted by NickC

Shame Mou is doing this to such a historic and successful club like Madrid.

Scummy club gets what it deserves. How much did Madrid spend to get themselves an inch further than they got with a classy dude like Pellegrini, who was unceremoniously dismissed because he couldn't get a rubbish Madrid + newly acquired Ronaldo and crocked Kaka to overcome all singing, all dancing Guardi-lona.

[Feña14]

What i've been finding funny is the media love-in with Lampard recently. How can Chelsea let him leave? He's playing better than he ever has!

Whilst I agree that letting him go is crazy, he's not playing better than he ever has. He's playing at the same level as he has done for the last decade, which is incredibly high. He never really got the credit for how good he was, people decided to save their praise for Steven "not fit to lace Lampard's boots" Gerrard but there you go.

Just a shame it's taken him leaving in a few months for the media to start appreciating how good he really is.