The TT Football Club

[NickC]

Originally Posted by SempreSami

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.

Bite your tongue! Madrid is a beautiful club, and Pelli was sacked because he wasn't good enough! Ronnie deserved and deserves better!

Obviously, that's sarcasm. Pelli is class and is tearing it up at Malaga despite the hell that their owner's troubles has put the club through. Good for him, he was awesome at Villarreal, shame Madrid stole him when they did, and then the domino effect is that Villarreal went down and are struggling in turmoil in La Segunda.

Poor Villarreal. Such a great club going through the worst of it all right now, the injuries, the relegation, the firesale, the whole thing. Hell, even their best player, Rossi, whom they turned down a 30 million pound bid from Barcelona for, has now departed to Fiorentina for a measly 8 million.

Originally Posted by 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.

Gerrard is crap and just hooves balls from deep like he's Xabi Alonso or something. I don't know why he's played much these days because he can't run anymore and he has an awful left foot. Frank is still awesome although there are more able players in the team, just talent wise. But he has the heart that is beyond world class. The man oozes class and is a testament to the club's progress since coming there. He should be around as he wants to be and then offered a coaching role if he so desires. He is needed at our club until he says otherwise. He IS Chelsea and the mindset he has needs to be around the youngsters and understood by them. Chances are he'll leave the club in the summer but he'll leave as their alltime top scorer. He'll exit the Bridge with his head held high.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

Gerrard is crap and just hooves balls from deep like he's Xabi Alonso or something. I don't know why he's played much these days because he can't run anymore and he has an awful left foot. Frank is still awesome although there are more able players in the team, just talent wise. But he has the heart that is beyond world class. The man oozes class and is a testament to the club's progress since coming there. He should be around as he wants to be and then offered a coaching role if he so desires. He is needed at our club until he says otherwise. He IS Chelsea and the mindset he has needs to be around the youngsters and understood by them. Chances are he'll leave the club in the summer but he'll leave as their alltime top scorer. He'll exit the Bridge with his head held high.

Gerrard was named as one of the England players of the year, no mention of Lampard to be in the running, funny really!

Abramovich wants to get rid of the big personalities so the next manager in the summer can come in with full control to start a new era. It makes sense in theory I suppose, it's just the lack of effort to recruit in midfield that makes it crazy. Modric was linked a few years ago, Fellaini isn't the right way to go.. apart from that the club don't even look at anyone. The last player linked was Mbia from QPR, it says alot when a team like QPR are looking to replace him with a good young player like M'Vila, and Chelsea are interested in their cast offs.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Gerrard was named as one of the England players of the year, no mention of Lampard to be in the running, funny really!

Abramovich wants to get rid of the big personalities so the next manager in the summer can come in with full control to start a new era. It makes sense in theory I suppose, it's just the lack of effort to recruit in midfield that makes it crazy. Modric was linked a few years ago, Fellaini isn't the right way to go.. apart from that the club don't even look at anyone. The last player linked was Mbia from QPR, it says alot when a team like QPR are looking to replace him with a good young player like M'Vila, and Chelsea are interested in their cast offs.

M'Vila isn't as good as advertised and has a poor attitude to boot. There's a reason Arsenal never signed him despite practically having a deal with Rennes to do so.

[BlackSilver]

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

No, I just enjoy seeing a team full of high profile players having inconstant performance and countless idiotic defeats.

Great tie for Malaga's subs against Barcelonas subs.

[Feña14]

Guardiola going to Bayern Munich doesn't really come as a big surprise. They're obviously the best team in their league, with the best squad. They probably should of won the Champions League last year, there isn't really alot of work needed to be done.

I thought Man City would of been the best choice personally, they're building for the future with their new academy and it would of been a great opportunity for him to bring through youngsters. Man City also don't really have a specific identity like Man Utd, Arsenal, even Chelsea to an extent. The chance to better himself and go head to head with Ferguson and Man Utd would of been something you'd of wanted to see. Also for him to push them on in the Champions League and make the club his would of been a big incentive.

I suppose he was scared of going up against the team he wants to manage next in Man Utd. Barcelona, Bayern then Man Utd? Say what you like about Mourinho, doing what he did with Porto, an unfashionable club like Chelsea, then bringing the glory days back to a fallen giant and 3rd team in Italy shows how Guardiola seems to be taking the easy way out.

I'm glad he won't be at Chelsea, I think he's overrated personally and the fit in general wouldn't of made much sense. I just hope it doesn't mean we have to keep Benitez!

[Ross K]

^^^ Disappointed Pep won't be coming to the Prem. For a while I thought he might be Man City bound. Suspected Chelsea might not be quite to his tastes. Anyhow, will be fascinating to see if he can make a success of himself at Bayern. For me the jury is still out on him as he had such a stellar side at Barca with the likes of Messi, Inniesta etc at his disposal. Mind you, as indicated above, Bayern are a superb team, so, we'll see...

Isn't Benitez a serious contender for Real?

[PED]

Glad Pep had the good sense to stay the hell away from Red Rom.

Pep already has enough money that he doesn't need to sacrifice his dignity like Mourinho, Ancelotti, Big Phil, etc. The only guy who came out on top there is Hiddink and that's because he stopped on time.

Like Fena said, not really sure of Pep's ultimate coaching ability, TBH, I could have coached that Barca squad to the title

Anyone think Poldolski would play well up front as opposed to out wide?

He's not the quickest and hates to track back so that's a big problem when he leaves Gibbs exposed.

[SempreSami]

Considering how Guardiola found Eto'o and Ibra to be insufferable, I wonder how he'll deal with that nob Ribery.

[PureAlph4]

Podolski might play better up front than he does on the left, but I think if he ended up as the lone striker / centre of front 3 then we would be even more limited than we are at the moment. His finish against Swansea in the original tie at the Liberty, though, represents the kind of thing we are missing from the centre forward at the moment. The problem with our forwards is that they are either situational players (i.e Walcott), or not quite good enough.

I wonder if after Arsene has had his original £5m offer for Cavani turned down, followed by having his 'improved' offer of £4.5m + Denilson rebuffed, he will turn his attention in the last couple of days of the window back to the young, marketable Vietnamese striker, Panic Buy, who various agents have been recommending to the club.

It's worrying that in the past big name players would be linked with Arsenal, and would be keen to join, but the limitation was that everyone knew the club would not pay the transfer fee, nor the wages, yet now, regardless of whether we were to splash the cash or not, the top players are simply not interested.

If we lose to Chelsea (A) this weekend, and Spurs were to beat United at home, it would be reaching the point where taking the risk of overstretching in the January window would not be worth it, and all funds should be diverted to real, reasoned moves in the summer.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by SempreSami

Considering how Guardiola found Eto'o and Ibra to be insufferable, I wonder how he'll deal with that nob Ribery.

Him and Robben will most likely leave the club. Both have serious ego-related problems.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by PED

Like Fena said, not really sure of Pep's ultimate coaching ability, TBH, I could have coached that Barca squad to the title

That is something that has been talked about quite a bit. Vilanova is doing just as good a job so far, maybe he will tail off, but with the squad they have there it seems unlikely.

That's the main reason i'm a bit disappointed to see him go to Bayern Munich, the structure they have there is similar to Barcelona in some ways and I feel he's taken the easy option to stay in a relative comfort zone.

I'd of much prefered to see how he would do trying to do something at Man City or Arsenal. I think managers get judged on the job they do under tougher circumstances, say what you like about Mourinho, he's done some incredible things through pure coaching and getting the most out of what he has to work with. People still talk about the things Ferguson achieved with Aberdeen some 30 years ago, he then came to England and knocked Liverpool off their perch, as he likes to say. Surely the opportunity to come and do the same for City, by winning title after title against the great Man Utd would of been a huge opportunity for an ambitious manager.

I'd of liked to of seen him try and push himself, but hey, will be interesting to see how he does anyway.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Guardiola going to Bayern Munich doesn't really come as a big surprise. They're obviously the best team in their league, with the best squad. They probably should of won the Champions League last year, there isn't really alot of work needed to be done.

I thought Man City would of been the best choice personally, they're building for the future with their new academy and it would of been a great opportunity for him to bring through youngsters. Man City also don't really have a specific identity like Man Utd, Arsenal, even Chelsea to an extent. The chance to better himself and go head to head with Ferguson and Man Utd would of been something you'd of wanted to see. Also for him to push them on in the Champions League and make the club his would of been a big incentive.

I suppose he was scared of going up against the team he wants to manage next in Man Utd. Barcelona, Bayern then Man Utd? Say what you like about Mourinho, doing what he did with Porto, an unfashionable club like Chelsea, then bringing the glory days back to a fallen giant and 3rd team in Italy shows how Guardiola seems to be taking the easy way out.

I'm glad he won't be at Chelsea, I think he's overrated personally and the fit in general wouldn't of made much sense. I just hope it doesn't mean we have to keep Benitez!

Oh get off it, you would have been over the moon had he chose Chelsea. I would be too.

Rafa hasn't been awful the whole time though, he's gotten it 200% right a few times so far in his reign. But I think lots of people could with Chelsea's first XI.

Originally Posted by Ross K

^^^ Disappointed Pep won't be coming to the Prem. For a while I thought he might be Man City bound. Suspected Chelsea might not be quite to his tastes. Anyhow, will be fascinating to see if he can make a success of himself at Bayern. For me the jury is still out on him as he had such a stellar side at Barca with the likes of Messi, Inniesta etc at his disposal. Mind you, as indicated above, Bayern are a superb team, so, we'll see...

Isn't Benitez a serious contender for Real?

I'm sure with the football Chelsea have shown to be capable of this season and the availability of Madrid's hotseat will see Benitez take over for a season until they get either Wenger, Klopp or next summer if Germany wins the World Cup, Jogi Lowe. Lowe or Klopp would be absurd at Madrid.

Originally Posted by PED

Glad Pep had the good sense to stay the hell away from Red Rom.

Pep already has enough money that he doesn't need to sacrifice his dignity like Mourinho, Ancelotti, Big Phil, etc. The only guy who came out on top there is Hiddink and that's because he stopped on time.

Like Fena said, not really sure of Pep's ultimate coaching ability, TBH, I could have coached that Barca squad to the title

Anyone think Poldolski would play well up front as opposed to out wide?

He's not the quickest and hates to track back so that's a big problem when he leaves Gibbs exposed.

I think we all could have. But he knows a thing or two about youth development, which is the real lasting effect he had on Barcelona. Anyone with Messi in their team would do pretty well.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

Oh get off it, you would have been over the moon had he chose Chelsea. I would be too.

Nah, i've said numerous times in here that I didn't want Guardiola. A quick search back I found these two posts from the last 6 months..

Originally Posted by Feña14

...Personally I hope Guardiola does say no, I don't think it's a good fit. Mourinho is apparently leaving Madrid after this season, his daughter is starting uni in London, he still has a home there, the relationship with Abramovich is better than it's ever been. Ferguson and Mourinho are the best two managers out there for my money, obviously only one of those is possible.

Originally Posted by Feña14

Mourinho and Guardiola are the best two managers available, but I don't really want Guardiola. Abramovich and Mourinho's personal relationship is great, i'm not too sure how they would get on working together again though!

Alot of people have mentioned it would of been risky appointing Guardiola, managing Barcelona is a special case, any other club is a totally different animal. Maybe he'll be great at it, maybe he won't. Another gamble on a manager wasn't the right move, we've been in limbo pretty much since Mourinho left, with the exception of Ancelotti's first season. Another failure with a manager and it will be another year going nowhere.

This summer is pretty much the last chance to get it right I feel, Guardiola wasn't right for it, he knew it too.

[SempreSami]

Or perhaps Guardiola didn't want to be the driver of some trigger happy billionaire's train set.

Meanwhile, Nigel Adkins has been booted by Southampton! That'll upset people who had money on Lambert being the next manager sacked.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by SempreSami

Or perhaps Guardiola didn't want to be the driver of some trigger happy billionaire's train set.

Meanwhile, Nigel Adkins has been booted by Southampton! That'll upset people who had money on Lambert being the next manager sacked.

Why???

[crosscourt]

It seems amazing but they have brought in either a Spaniard or an Argentinian, I can't remember which. No doubt a capable manager but not the obvious match for Southampton. We might think that it is a club that has done very well in the last few seasons and now needs to consolidate its position in the Premiership. The club management on the other hand seems to think that world domination beckons. I may eat my words when they become the new Barcelona of course but they seem very ambititous. I suppose there are similarities between Barcelona and Southampton -- both are by the sea, for example. But there also important differences -- Barcelona has a legendary football academy, huge support, an international brand, has always been one of the biggest clubs in Spain and is nowhere near the Isle of Wight. Only a small number of clubs can dominate world football at any time and there are many trying to do it.

[SempreSami]

Indeed, very strange to be citing 'long term ambition' as the reason when they have a very serious short term goal of avoiding relegation. Very harsh and disrespectful to Adkins after what he's done for the club as it seems they'd been lining up a replacement for him ages ago.

[PureAlph4]

Makes no sense at all.

Two straight promotions, 15th placed in the PL, and seemingly stable management.

Look at their last 5 results in the PL: Chelsea (A) draw 2-2; Villa (A) win 0-1; Arsenal (H) draw 1-1; Stoke (A) draw 3-3; Fulham (A) 1-1. That's an impressive 7 points from the 5 games, picking up points where they wouldn't have necessarily been expected.

Pochettino may well be a good manager, but he has no experience in English football. The chairman talked of how Pochettino's abilities as an "excellent man manager" helped motivate the move, and yet he doesn't speak English. Just to name two obvious examples, look at how that worked out for Juande Ramos and Capello.

[crosscourt]

As to not speaking English you could add Steve McClaren and Graham Taylor, the latter of whom spoke a sort of Laurie Anderson version of English with constant repetition of asyntactical expressions.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by SempreSami

Or perhaps Guardiola didn't want to be the driver of some trigger happy billionaire's train set.

Meanwhile, Nigel Adkins has been booted by Southampton! That'll upset people who had money on Lambert being the next manager sacked.

I wouldn't want to either if I was Pep but having the likes of Mata, Hazard, Oscar, et all at my disposal wouldn't be half bad!

Originally Posted by SempreSami

Indeed, very strange to be citing 'long term ambition' as the reason when they have a very serious short term goal of avoiding relegation. Very harsh and disrespectful to Adkins after what he's done for the club as it seems they'd been lining up a replacement for him ages ago.

Very disrespectful. Didn't he take them all the way from League 1? I can remember them not being that good not too long ago, although they do have a great academy. Stupid decision to fire him. He'll go to a bigger and better club though.

Originally Posted by PureAlph4

Makes no sense at all.

Two straight promotions, 15th placed in the PL, and seemingly stable management.

Look at their last 5 results in the PL: Chelsea (A) draw 2-2; Villa (A) win 0-1; Arsenal (H) draw 1-1; Stoke (A) draw 3-3; Fulham (A) 1-1. That's an impressive 7 points from the 5 games, picking up points where they wouldn't have necessarily been expected.

Pochettino may well be a good manager, but he has no experience in English football. The chairman talked of how Pochettino's abilities as an "excellent man manager" helped motivate the move, and yet he doesn't speak English. Just to name two obvious examples, look at how that worked out for Juande Ramos and Capello.

Juande Ramos was responsible for the only silverware the Spurs have won in the last decade or so.