The TT Football Club

[PureAlph4]

Originally Posted by NickC

Anyone watching Germany-France?

That second goal was amazing, Ozil's passing is simply out of this world.

Yeah - his vision and touch are outstanding.

Have been impressed by Valbuena as well - a really busy player, but with the quality as well.

A good, competitive match for a friendly. How it has been played it could have been a tournament game.

Mertesacker and Sagna have played well - the complete opposite of their Arsenal form.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by crosscourt

The standard is certainly poor. Whether poorer than last season I am not sure. For all that I was very pleased to see them succeed City must have been the most limited winners of the Premiership for a long time. Some very talented players but the overall picture is at times appallingly one dimensional.

I think you sum it up well, very talented players, but at times it can look very one dimensional. You expect that from teams in the bottom half really, you can't have 20 top teams. The worrying thing is that the top teams don't really appear any different, save for the extra quality who win games.

Man Utd for instance, they look sloppy and keep letting in silly goals, it's the likes of van Persie who have saved them countless times. Against Fulham at the weekend, they gave up 4 or 5 great chances. Chelsea have just been awful the last 3 months, I put it down to sticking blindly with Torres, and having a serious lack of not only numbers in midfield, but players who have the quality and know-how to play the modern way. The top teams all have great midfields, compare that with Mikel and Ramires (which seems to be the prefered duo), to me it's more like a midfield from 2003, not 2013.

[BlackSilver]

Somewhat disappointing match from Germany, as usual it's defence took a nap and so a goal. Many players were flat, even Ozil missed too many passes.

[Ross K]

That wasn't too bad by England. I thought the Arsenal pair looked good.

Also thought you could see a bit of why Naymar is being so touted. Give him a few years and maybe he'll be right up there with the creme de la creme (like Messi, Ronaldo, etc.)

Wonder if he will indeed end up at Barca?

Talking of whom...

Knowing full well the enormous cultural identification and zealous pride taken in their team by the Catalans, what's going on with Gerard Pique's name choice for his new baby... Milan... ??!!...

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Ross K

That wasn't too bad by England. I thought the Arsenal pair looked good.

Also thought you could see a bit of why Naymar is being so touted. Give him a few years and maybe he'll be right up there with the creme de la creme (like Messi, Ronaldo, etc.)

Wonder if he will indeed end up at Barca?

Talking of whom...

Knowing full well the enormous cultural identification and zealous pride taken in their team by the Catalans, what's going on with Gerard Pique's name choice for his new baby... Milan... ??!!...

England looked pretty good I thought. I had to laugh seeing Gerrard starting, only for him to be thoroughly outplayed by Lampard in his 45 minutes, yet again. You have to feel sorry for him really.

As for Brazil, with the high regard they hold the number 10 shirt in, it was strange to see the washed up Ronaldinho wearing it. Oscar has worn it for the last year and he's clearly the future of the position. It seemed strange to stick him out wide and take the shirt away from him.

[Peters]

Originally Posted by Feña14

England looked pretty good I thought. I had to laugh seeing Gerrard starting, only for him to be thoroughly outplayed by Lampard in his 45 minutes, yet again. You have to feel sorry for him really.

He was nowhere near to being 'thoroughly outplayed'. He was excellent in the first half.

If anything, Gerrard was better overall I thought. Lampard was missing in the final 20 minutes and kept giving the ball away for the first 5 minutes in the 2nd half. Sure he had a good finish for his goal, but I find your analysis bizarre.

Thoroughly outplayed?

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by Ross K

?

Talking of whom...

Knowing full well the enormous cultural identification and zealous pride taken in their team by the Catalans, what's going on with Gerard Pique's name choice for his new baby... Milan... ??!!...

maybe he and his Mrs were on holiday there 9 or so months ago?
Could of been worse, could of been called Moss side or simiar!

[PED]

Originally Posted by Ross K

That wasn't too bad by England. I thought the Arsenal pair looked good.

Chelsea, Utd and City are preparing their bids as we speak. Glad we've got them locked up on a long term deal.

Loved the post from the Mirror this am:

After his performance last night, Chelsea are preparing a 50mil pound bid for Lampard....oh that's right.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Peters

He was nowhere near to being 'thoroughly outplayed'. He was excellent in the first half.

If anything, Gerrard was better overall I thought. Lampard was missing in the final 20 minutes and kept giving the ball away for the first 5 minutes in the 2nd half. Sure he had a good finish for his goal, but I find your analysis bizarre.

Thoroughly outplayed?

When you play the midfield that England did, with Gerrard, Wilshere and Cleverley in the first half, there is usually one of the three who doesn't quite play as well as the other two. In the first half that was Cleverley, the second it was Gerrard. The reason the reports and player ratings give for this was that Lampard disrupted it.

That's the way it's always been, if Gerrard plays well and Lampard doesn't, it's because Stevie G is the superior player. If Lampard plays well and Gerrard doesn't? It's Lampards fault! England are pretty inconsistent, but the only thing you can truly rely on coming out of an England game is that will be part of the post match analysis.

[Peters]

I don't really get any of that personally. I think you're over-analysing everything.

I just can't understand how any neutral observer would come to the conclusion Lampard 'thoroughly outplayed' Gerrard in that match.

[Breaker]

I don't think Gerrard has been all that last couple seasons but he's been brilliant this year from what I've seen, making Liverpool tick whereas he slowed them down a bit previously, maybe Rodgers has added a few years to his career at the top level.

Lampard has also been great though, wouldn't go amiss at any big club that can fit him in. Would be a big loss for the league if he goes to MLS.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Breaker

I don't think Gerrard has been all that last couple seasons but he's been brilliant this year from what I've seen, making Liverpool tick whereas he slowed them down a bit previously, maybe Rodgers has added a few years to his career at the top level.

Lampard has also been great though, wouldn't go amiss at any big club that can fit him in. Would be a big loss for the league if he goes to MLS.

I don't think he will leave for MLS, seeing as the rumor now is that Chelsea want to give him a 3 year deal that will see him see out his playing career with the club.

And yeah Gerrard has been outstanding this season, he really fits in well with the tactical scheme that Rogers employs, and it seems his drive and passion on the pitch has really rubbed off on a few of the younger squad members.

[Dave M]

REports today indicating CFC still aren't going to open talks on a contract with him.In your opinions would this be an example of an owner making up his mind about a player and not wanting to back down.He could shouw up at MU next season and would easilly have 2 or 3 years there to cause damage to Chelseas' title hopes.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Dave M

REports today indicating CFC still aren't going to open talks on a contract with him.In your opinions would this be an example of an owner making up his mind about a player and not wanting to back down.He could shouw up at MU next season and would easilly have 2 or 3 years there to cause damage to Chelseas' title hopes.

It's interesting, Abramovich is probably 90% sure of who the manager will be next year. If it's someone like Laudrup, Martinez, Moyes, Simeone, Klopp etc.. Then there is no way he will be offered an extension. If it's Mourinho then I believe he would make keeping Lampard part of the condition for him coming back.

It seems silly not to keep him, he's playing just as well as he ever has, although it's funny he's only really getting huge credit for it now. He's said he's happy to take a huge wage cut, where else could you find a player who brings as much as he does, for around £50,000 a week? You simply can't. The only legitimate reason for moving him on would be to give a new manager a clean slate to do their own thing with the club. It would be sad to see him leave, but as a fan, I can understand the need for a fresh start. The thing that would worry me is the total lack of desire to spend money in midfield, we've seen Essien, Meireles, Makelele, Deco and Ballack leave over the last number of years, the only player who came in since is Ramires. It wouldn't surprise me to see us get rid of Lampard and be playing next season with Ramires, Mikel and Romeu.

[PED]

Originally Posted by Feña14

The only legitimate reason for moving him on would be to give a new manager a clean slate to do their own thing with the club. It would be sad to see him leave, but as a fan, I can understand the need for a fresh start.

Excellent point, for evidence just look at what AVB is doing at Spurs without all the politics.

Hell, I'd love to see Lampard in red and white as he's got the winning mindset but I think he'd slow down play too much. We're already having to fight against Diaby doing that.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by PED

Excellent point, for evidence just look at what AVB is doing at Spurs without all the politics.

Hell, I'd love to see Lampard in red and white as he's got the winning mindset but I think he'd slow down play too much. We're already having to fight against Diaby doing that.

I don't think he means to cause any disruption to new managers, it's just that he's such a huge part of the club and if i'm honest, I see him more as "Mr Chelsea" than Terry, that's always going to make it difficult having him around. He's happy not playing every game, he's even happy being payed average Premier League wages, it's just his aura I suppose.

As for slowing the game down, I don't think he really does that, but alot of people have said that he does. To me he seems to be the one who speeds it up for us, he's always the one looking to play the incisive passes, he's set Ba up a few times already (including the ball through where he got his nose broke I think ). Whenever he gets the ball he's always looking to get rid of it quickly, maybe it seems like he slows things down as he's usually playing with Ramires who isn't the most technical of players, if he had someone next to him who he could play the modern style of little triangle passes with (which Arsenal do), i'm sure he would and could.

I think he would be great for Arsenal or Man Utd, for himself I couldn't hold it against him if he decided to go that route, as opposed to the MLS.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

I don't think he means to cause any disruption to new managers, it's just that he's such a huge part of the club and if i'm honest, I see him more as "Mr Chelsea" than Terry, that's always going to make it difficult having him around. He's happy not playing every game, he's even happy being payed average Premier League wages, it's just his aura I suppose.

As for slowing the game down, I don't think he really does that, but alot of people have said that he does. To me he seems to be the one who speeds it up for us, he's always the one looking to play the incisive passes, he's set Ba up a few times already (including the ball through where he got his nose broke I think ). Whenever he gets the ball he's always looking to get rid of it quickly, maybe it seems like he slows things down as he's usually playing with Ramires who isn't the most technical of players, if he had someone next to him who he could play the modern style of little triangle passes with (which Arsenal do), i'm sure he would and could.

I think he would be great for Arsenal or Man Utd, for himself I couldn't hold it against him if he decided to go that route, as opposed to the MLS.

I want Lampard to come to the MLS. He'd be the best player in the league atuomatically. He can get a lot more of the ball and will easily be able to dictate play with MLS being slightly slower than what you've got across the pond.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

I want Lampard to come to the MLS. He'd be the best player in the league atuomatically. He can get a lot more of the ball and will easily be able to dictate play with MLS being slightly slower than what you've got across the pond.

He would be great in America, no doubt about that. I think he still has plenty left in him though, it could be a good thing if he goes on to another club in a top league and performs there too. Personally I hold players who do it in different leagues very highly. Ronaldo for instance, his record at Man Utd and then Real Madrid is special. If he goes to Serie A and does well, it would further enhance his reputation as one of the greatest players of his generation. He was voted the best player in the Premier League of the last decade, to do it in another league as well would be a challenge i'm sure he'd relish.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

He would be great in America, no doubt about that. I think he still has plenty left in him though, it could be a good thing if he goes on to another club in a top league and performs there too. Personally I hold players who do it in different leagues very highly. Ronaldo for instance, his record at Man Utd and then Real Madrid is special. If he goes to Serie A and does well, it would further enhance his reputation as one of the greatest players of his generation. He was voted the best player in the Premier League of the last decade, to do it in another league as well would be a challenge i'm sure he'd relish.

Yeah I think he should go take a shot in Italy with Inter. They're rebuilding and in a way still suffering the post-Mourinho fallout. Frankie would do well to help Inter rebuild. And he would destroy Serie A, with the way football is played in Italy, he can play like a Pirlo but move forward a bit more.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

Yeah I think he should go take a shot in Italy with Inter. They're rebuilding and in a way still suffering the post-Mourinho fallout. Frankie would do well to help Inter rebuild. And he would destroy Serie A, with the way football is played in Italy, he can play like a Pirlo but move forward a bit more.

There certainly seems to be alot of interest from Italy, i've heard Fiorentina, Lazio and AC Milan so far. Inter would be a good option, although he's not from Argentina, so maybe not

I see they managed to get Kovacic in January, they certainly won't be missing Sneijder when he finds his feet.