The TT Football Club

[norbac]

Congrats on the impending graduation and on the job, Nick.

Are Chelsea playing David Luiz in midfield now? Seems sensible enough, seeing as he burst forward so much and got caught out of position as a defender.

[SempreSami]

Originally Posted by norbac

Congrats on the impending graduation and on the job, Nick.

Are Chelsea playing David Luiz in midfield now? Seems sensible enough, seeing as he burst forward so much and got caught out of position as a defender.

He wasn't particularly good against Everton and he's still liable to poor short passes and dodgy tackles which he somehow gets away with. His saving grace is that he isn't Mikel.

[norbac]

And with Ba gone, Cisse scores on the second minute. I am guessing he will be played in a central role now?

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by SempreSami

He wasn't particularly good against Everton and he's still liable to poor short passes and dodgy tackles which he somehow gets away with. His saving grace is that he isn't Mikel.

I thought he was pretty good against Everton. Lampard was the better of the two, but that's not a huge surprise.

You're never really going to dominate against a good team like Everton, at Goodison, but i think it was a very good performance under the circumstances.

[NickC]

What the hell? Rafa drops Hazard, Mata and Cole?

Regardless of opposition, doing that is stupid. Awful tactics.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

What the hell? Rafa drops Hazard, Mata and Cole?

Regardless of opposition, doing that is stupid. Awful tactics.

Yeah, he should of started with Mata and Hazard. QPR parked the bus, an early goal is vital in those kind of games.

He could of made changes and taken them off if it was 2-0 with half an hour to go. Especially as it's the FA Cup at the weekend and he's been know to rest players for it.

I think the fact we don't have many options is a good thing with Benitez as manager. At least he can't change the team too much from game to game! He loved that at Liverpool.

[Feña14]

I can't remember how many games it took Torres to get two goals! Ba held it up well, we've not had that all season since Drogba left.

I see Man Utd are up to their old tricks

[NickC]

We've got Demba Ba, we've got Demba Baaaaaaa, f*ck off Torres, we've got Demba Ba!

Amazing. Fena, I think it took Torres 2 seasons or so before he had a brace for Chelsea against a decent opponent.


And what the hell happened at Upton Park? I watched the match and didn't believe what I was seeing.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

We've got Demba Ba, we've got Demba Baaaaaaa, f*ck off Torres, we've got Demba Ba!

Amazing. Fena, I think it took Torres 2 seasons or so before he had a brace for Chelsea against a decent opponent.


And what the hell happened at Upton Park? I watched the match and didn't believe what I was seeing.

I was thinking more of how long it took him to get two under his belt I remember his first against West Ham, it took 903 minutes! Not sure how long after his second came.

I see some of the papers are saying Chelsea have agreed a fee of £15 Million for Isco, not sure if it's true. He's a great player, but it would be better spending the money on someone who can do something in the engine room. Benat is the same price, but I think he would fit our needs better at the moment.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

I was thinking more of how long it took him to get two under his belt I remember his first against West Ham, it took 903 minutes! Not sure how long after his second came.

I see some of the papers are saying Chelsea have agreed a fee of £15 Million for Isco, not sure if it's true. He's a great player, but it would be better spending the money on someone who can do something in the engine room. Benat is the same price, but I think he would fit our needs better at the moment.

Benat is awesome but I don't think Betis will let him go considering how high up in the table they are. After Malaga's shock loss at the Riazor today Betis are joint 4th place, leaving them several points above 6th place Valencia. No club that size would let their best player leave in January when they could possibly qualify for Champions League football with him in their arsenal for the remainder of the season.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

Benat is awesome but I don't think Betis will let him go considering how high up in the table they are. After Malaga's shock loss at the Riazor today Betis are joint 4th place, leaving them several points above 6th place Valencia. No club that size would let their best player leave in January when they could possibly qualify for Champions League football with him in their arsenal for the remainder of the season.

You could be right yeah, it would probably have to be the summer for him. Malaga's financial problems would make it easier to get Isco in January, as I said though, with Mata, Hazard, Oscar, de Bruyne and Piazon and Feruz for the future, another number 10 would be a bit much.

It's strange how the club don't go for any central midfielders, in recent years we've lost Ballack, Meireles, Essien and probably Lampard in the summer. When we still had those the club wanted Modric two years ago, we didn't get him, but they obviously saw it as an area they needed to improve. If anything the situation has got worse there, it's strange.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

You could be right yeah, it would probably have to be the summer for him. Malaga's financial problems would make it easier to get Isco in January, as I said though, with Mata, Hazard, Oscar, de Bruyne and Piazon and Feruz for the future, another number 10 would be a bit much.

It's strange how the club don't go for any central midfielders, in recent years we've lost Ballack, Meireles, Essien and probably Lampard in the summer. When we still had those the club wanted Modric two years ago, we didn't get him, but they obviously saw it as an area they needed to improve. If anything the situation has got worse there, it's strange.

I think Isco deserves to be at a club where he'll get regular playing time, not at Chelsea where he'll have to compete with all the players you mentioned for a spot at the #10 position. If he came, it would probably be harder to keep a starting spot in Chelsea's midfield than Spain's midfield. He should go to a club like Arsenal or Swansea that would play him every week, or even a club like Newcastle could use him.

Yeah you're right it would have to be over the summer for Benat, and by that time he'll be 27 and that seems a little old for the cash Betis will demand for him. I'd prefer someone a tad younger who could provide some steel to the midfield who can sit deep with Luiz and make that deep pass, make a run forward, break up the opposition, or bring the match to a standstill. He could tag-team with Luiz to make runs forward or attack. Like a combination of Mascherano, Pirlo and Fabregas. Although I fear that a player of that statue probably doesn't exist, and if he does, his club aren't willing to sell him.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

I think Isco deserves to be at a club where he'll get regular playing time, not at Chelsea where he'll have to compete with all the players you mentioned for a spot at the #10 position. If he came, it would probably be harder to keep a starting spot in Chelsea's midfield than Spain's midfield. He should go to a club like Arsenal or Swansea that would play him every week, or even a club like Newcastle could use him.

Yeah you're right it would have to be over the summer for Benat, and by that time he'll be 27 and that seems a little old for the cash Betis will demand for him. I'd prefer someone a tad younger who could provide some steel to the midfield who can sit deep with Luiz and make that deep pass, make a run forward, break up the opposition, or bring the match to a standstill. He could tag-team with Luiz to make runs forward or attack. Like a combination of Mascherano, Pirlo and Fabregas. Although I fear that a player of that statue probably doesn't exist, and if he does, his club aren't willing to sell him.

Isco does deserve to play regularly, i'm sure he will have his pick of where to go in the summer. I know Man City want him, he'd be an upgrade on Nasri for sure. Man Utd could use him, with Kagawa not really hitting it off and a replacement for Scholes still needed. I could see him at Barcelona or Real Madrid too, getting alot of playing time.

You're right about Benat's age, he's a bit of a late developer. He is more of a deep lying playmaker though, that's usually a position where it takes a long time to master, but they usually get better with age and play for longer. Pirlo is probably better than he's ever been these days, even though his legs are pretty much gone someone who can orchestrate things and get the ball to the players who can do damage is something priceless. I'm not saying Benat is the one to do that, but it's probably one of the only positions I wouldn't be too worried about going for someone older. Who knows, maybe Modric will be available if their new manager in the summer doesn't fancy him

[NickC]

So I thought it couldn't get any stranger, and then I turned on ESPN3 this morning only to see that they are broadcasting....the world cup of table football. Probably the oddest thing I've ever watched.

Originally Posted by Feña14

Isco does deserve to play regularly, i'm sure he will have his pick of where to go in the summer. I know Man City want him, he'd be an upgrade on Nasri for sure. Man Utd could use him, with Kagawa not really hitting it off and a replacement for Scholes still needed. I could see him at Barcelona or Real Madrid too, getting alot of playing time.

Well Nasri is crap and only was good for Arsenal for a few seasons and City don't play him in the same role Arsenal did. Kagawa still needs more time, he hasn't even been there a full season yet. He's class, people seem to forget just how young he actually is and how good he was in his first season with Dortmund. He'll come good.

You're right about Benat's age, he's a bit of a late developer. He is more of a deep lying playmaker though, that's usually a position where it takes a long time to master, but they usually get better with age and play for longer. Pirlo is probably better than he's ever been these days, even though his legs are pretty much gone someone who can orchestrate things and get the ball to the players who can do damage is something priceless. I'm not saying Benat is the one to do that, but it's probably one of the only positions I wouldn't be too worried about going for someone older. Who knows, maybe Modric will be available if their new manager in the summer doesn't fancy him

Then maybe we should sign Pirlo? I don't want Modric anymore, he's not that good anyway.

[NickC]

So I just took in the second half of the Real Sociedad-Real Madrid match (Real won 4-3 thanks to a cool free kick by Ronaldo) and at the end the commentator mentioned that Casillas was looking to leave the Bernebeau?

Surely he misspoke?

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

So I just took in the second half of the Real Sociedad-Real Madrid match (Real won 4-3 thanks to a cool free kick by Ronaldo) and at the end the commentator mentioned that Casillas was looking to leave the Bernebeau?

Surely he misspoke?

I think Mourinho will leave in the summer That should be enough to change his mind!

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

I think Mourinho will leave in the summer That should be enough to change his mind!

Yeah I think their relationship has reached the breaking point, hasn't it? He's been dropped twice in the past few weeks, surely that is unacceptable for a man considered to be the best on the planet?

I think a majority of Real's squad aside from Ronnie and perhaps the likes of Modric and Essien don't like Mou and are starting to resent him. I've heard Ozil isn't particularly happy there anymore because his relationship with Mou is deteriorating quickly. If that's true, Roman should sign him up, whilst Chelsea have got a abundance of players like him, Ozil is amazing and would walk into Chelsea's XI.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

Yeah I think their relationship has reached the breaking point, hasn't it? He's been dropped twice in the past few weeks, surely that is unacceptable for a man considered to be the best on the planet?

I think a majority of Real's squad aside from Ronnie and perhaps the likes of Modric and Essien don't like Mou and are starting to resent him. I've heard Ozil isn't particularly happy there anymore because his relationship with Mou is deteriorating quickly. If that's true, Roman should sign him up, whilst Chelsea have got a abundance of players like him, Ozil is amazing and would walk into Chelsea's XI.

I think you're right. Ramos, Ozil, Di Maria, Casillas, Coentrao and Higuain seem to be the ones who's relationship with Mourinho is beyond repair.

That's a huge number of big players to of fallen out with. His relationship with the media there has fallen apart too I think, he threatened a journalist before Christmas. I see papers are running polls asking who should be their manager next year, they always do that when a manager is a dead man walking.

[SempreSami]

Originally Posted by NickC

So I just took in the second half of the Real Sociedad-Real Madrid match (Real won 4-3 thanks to a cool free kick by Ronaldo) and at the end the commentator mentioned that Casillas was looking to leave the Bernebeau?

Surely he misspoke?

Livid with the referee for giving Madrid the free kick despite the defender winning the ball. Are Spanish referees scared of Ronaldo?

PES6 hero Xabi Prieto was excellent.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

I think you're right. Ramos, Ozil, Di Maria, Casillas, Coentrao and Higuain seem to be the ones who's relationship with Mourinho is beyond repair.

That's a huge number of big players to of fallen out with. His relationship with the media there has fallen apart too I think, he threatened a journalist before Christmas. I see papers are running polls asking who should be their manager next year, they always do that when a manager is a dead man walking.

Well they'll all stay if Mou is sacked or if they win it all in Europe this season, which might happen. But if that doesn't go to plan, Chelsea should fax over a 40 million bid for the tandem of Khedira and Ozil. That would be amazing to see those two in Chelsea blue. I'd also happy to see Essien back at the club but he and his knees seem a bit happier in Spain where the opposing teams don't try and kick you to death every week.

Mou's fallen out with the media since day one, the way they have 100% access to the dressing room and training sessions isn't something he really agrees with. He's been a major shake-up to the way things are done in Spain and I don't think anyone is happy about that. I think something similar happened with Mou in Italy and that sped up his departure from Inter. I know Perez is ripshit that he can't select the XI and tactics like he used to be able to. The socios don't seem to be too happy either, they booed Mou before and after the match and I reckon his relationship is so bad with them that even if he wins out the season and takes the Champions League they'll still force him out.

The only problem is that they have nobody that can take over such a club, unless the rumors of Jogi Lowe taking over are true.

Originally Posted by SempreSami

Livid with the referee for giving Madrid the free kick despite the defender winning the ball. Are Spanish referees scared of Ronaldo?

PES6 hero Xabi Prieto was excellent.

Yeah it wasn't much of a foul, I for one thought the ball was won cleanly but the referees apparently didn't see it that way. They aren't scared of Ronnie but moreso of Real Madrid as an institution and their political power in terms of having 49.5% control over La Liga as a whole. (Barcelona own another 49.5% with the other 18 teams having a whopping 1% control collectively).

Xabi Prieto was great, his third goal was a good one, an exquisite touch followed by a calmly taken shot into the far corner.