The TT Football Club

C

crosscourt

Professional
A great player. Truly great. But sport is one of the few things left that can expose the strengths and weaknesses of a character - its complete failures - in an almost Shakespearian way. Our monarchs are now all media trained, our politicians are middle class, but sportsmen can still have fame and riches, and disaster, heaped on them in ways for which they are totally unprepared. By comparison with Oscar Pistorius, Roy Keane has only minor demons.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
crosscourt said:
A great player. Truly great. But sport is one of the few things left that can expose the strengths and weaknesses of a character - its complete failures - in an almost Shakespearian way. Our monarchs are now all media trained, our politicians are middle class, but sportsmen can still have fame and riches, and disaster, heaped on them in ways for which they are totally unprepared. By comparison with Oscar Pistorius, Roy Keane has only minor demons.
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Very true, that's part of the reason we love sport though, no? :)

Players getting into trouble on Twitter, post match interviews going wrong etc.. Can you imagine a member of the royal family going to France and giving a speech with a French accent, like Barton has been doing lately? :)

It can be car crash at times, seeing the lives of these insanely rich, twentysomethings play out, it's entertaining though!
 
N

NickC

Professional
Roy's on the money here and has every right to call out the England team. He's earned the right to be able to say what he wants when he wants.

I like that. He and Ian Holloway are beacons of hope in football. They take no s*it and tell it how it is. That's admirable these days. Keeps the rest of 'em honest. I wish more people were like that.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
NickC said:
Roy's on the money here and has every right to call out the England team. He's earned the right to be able to say what he wants when he wants.

I like that. He and Ian Holloway are beacons of hope in football. They take no s*it and tell it how it is. That's admirable these days. Keeps the rest of 'em honest. I wish more people were like that.
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I have to agree with alot of what he said about England, he also said some home truths and was critical of Man Utd after the Chelsea game in the FA Cup. As a pundit, he usually tells it how it is. He got alot of stick from Man Utd fans for doing so, not really sure why.

I'm not a fan of him as a manger though, he seems to look down on players as he can't understand how they can't do the things he used to do so easily. The players he had at Sunderland and Ipswich are obviously well short of the quality he had in his playing days, he can't seem to get his head around that one.
 
N

NickC

Professional
Feña14 said:
I have to agree with alot of what he said about England, he also said some home truths and was critical of Man Utd after the Chelsea game in the FA Cup. As a pundit, he usually tells it how it is. He got alot of stick from Man Utd fans for doing so, not really sure why.

I'm not a fan of him as a manger though, he seems to look down on players as he can't understand how they can't do the things he used to do so easily. The players he had at Sunderland and Ipswich are obviously well short of the quality he had in his playing days, he can't seem to get his head around that one.
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Well to be fair to him the game has evolved, hasn't it? I'm sure the quality of the average player improves tremendously every decade just due to the improvements in nutrition, training methods, conditioning, etc (and that's before the natural tactical evolution that the sport has to compensate for; and even more evolutions due to the freak abilities of certain teams or truly special players). Why shouldn't he expect his charges to do as he could? Yeah, as a player he was incredible and had a truly rare skillset and workrate. But even still, I would imagine that the basic things he could do such as read the game, tackle, pass well and run his heart out for 90 minutes should transcend him or Manchester United and affect how players worldwide are developed going forward?
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
NickC said:
Well to be fair to him the game has evolved, hasn't it? I'm sure the quality of the average player improves tremendously every decade just due to the improvements in nutrition, training methods, conditioning, etc (and that's before the natural tactical evolution that the sport has to compensate for; and even more evolutions due to the freak abilities of certain teams or truly special players). Why shouldn't he expect his charges to do as he could? Yeah, as a player he was incredible and had a truly rare skillset and workrate. But even still, I would imagine that the basic things he could do such as read the game, tackle, pass well and run his heart out for 90 minutes should transcend him or Manchester United and affect how players worldwide are developed going forward?
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I'm not so sure, it does seem to be a problem that alot of managers who played at that top of the game have had when going into management. Keegan was another, players tell the story about shooting practice where he would hit the same spot every single time, he couldn't understand how anyone could fail to do so. It takes a huge level of skill and mental ability to do what the greats did at the top of the game, it's not really possible for every player to have that.

In general it seems that managers who had average/below average careers make for the best managers (Ferguson, Mourinho, Wenger, Hiddink, AVB, Moyes, Allegri, Klopp, Loew etc..). There are of course exceptions like Laudrup, Guardiola, Ancelotti, Dalgleish amongst others.

Some are able to do it, some can't. I can understand their frustration in some ways, it's like when I see people playing tennis over the park and they literally air ball it 9 times out of 10. To me that seems more difficult to do than to actually hit it :) i'd probably be one of those who are terrible at teaching/coaching someone.
 
R

Ross K

Legend
One thing I noted watching Spain V France was the performance of Paul Pogba. Okay, he has to calm it down a bit (as sending off shows), but Man U fans must be completely gutted he was allowed to go to Juve. Really liked his style, a lot of drive and and technique. Actually, I think the French didn't look so bad at all and I'm sure they'll qualify. Interesting too to see how they evolve under Deschamps, who, along with Laurent Blanc, I would have liked to have seen managing in the PL.

How England could do with a Pogba style player... Cleverly, Welbeck, Smalling, etc - these guys have been given a fair few outings but they're clearly not consistent enough.

Wonder how long Hodgson will be given should things really turn sticky. I know there's the 'we don't have the players' argument and all that, but from all I've seen from his England teams, I, for one, hope his tenure is brief. I don't think he's up to it. Perhaps he should have been given the job many years back, but not now though.
 
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Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Ross K said:
One thing I noted watching Spain V France was the performance of Paul Pogba. Okay, he has to calm it down a bit (as sending off shows), but Man U fans must be completely gutted he was allowed to go to Juve. Really liked his style, a lot of drive and and technique. Actually, I think the French didn't look so bad at all and I'm sure they'll qualify. Interesting too to see how they evolve under Deschamps, who, along with Laurent Blanc, I would have liked to have seen managing in the PL.

How England could do with a Pogba style player... Cleverly, Welbeck, Smalling, etc - these guys have been given a fair few outings but they're clearly not consistent enough.

Wonder how long Hodgson will be given should things really turn sticky. I know there's the 'we don't have the players' argument and all that, but from all I've seen from his England teams, I, for one, hope his tenure is brief. I don't think he's up to it. Perhaps he should have been given the job many years back, but not now though.
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Pogba has been excellent for Juventus this year, and to think he's only just turned 20!

Alot of players have been given the label of the new Vieira, but he's as close to it as i've seen, personally. The long strides he takes when running with the ball, the defensive awareness, long range shooting etc.. His class does stick out. As you mentioned though, he can be a bit of a headcase, both on and off the pitch. I think it's likely he will be part of the now trademark French meltdown at major tournaments in 2014 :)
 
R

Ross K

Legend
Feña14 said:
Pogba has been excellent for Juventus this year, and to think he's only just turned 20!

Alot of players have been given the label of the new Vieira, but he's as close to it as i've seen, personally. The long strides he takes when running with the ball, the defensive awareness, long range shooting etc.. His class does stick out. As you mentioned though, he can be a bit of a headcase, both on and off the pitch. I think it's likely he will be part of the now trademark French meltdown at major tournaments in 2014 :)
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Yes, I'd seen only a snippet of him really prior to this week. Agree with the Viera comments. Shame he isn't English, I'd take him over Gerrard any day of the week.:)
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
OK, I'm really late to this game. In all honesty, I thought this thread was about American Football, and I really don't give a crap about that sport anymore. I converted ~ 4 years ago and haven't looked back since. Plus, most of the games are on Saturday & Sunday mornings, which works out perfectly, giving me the remainder of the day to do stuff.

Anyway...teams...

Since I'm not from England, I had to chose a team to root for, so I went w/ Man City. Why? Well, I had to start somewhere, and I liked Tevez. No BS footballer while on the field. Maybe trouble off the field, but what talented guy isn't?

I also root for West Brom because a friend of mine is originally from there.

Right now my oldest daughter is over in Spain for a high school trip. She's staying with a host family in Palencia, so I'm going to start following Real Valladolid (the closest team to Palencia) because we now have a connection there (she's supposed to bring me back a jersey).
 
R

Ross K

Legend
McLovin said:
OK, I'm really late to this game. In all honesty, I thought this thread was about American Football, and I really don't give a crap about that sport anymore. I converted ~ 4 years ago and haven't looked back since. Plus, most of the games are on Saturday & Sunday mornings, which works out perfectly, giving me the remainder of the day to do stuff.

Anyway...teams...

Since I'm not from England, I had to chose a team to root for, so I went w/ Man City. Why? Well, I had to start somewhere, and I liked Tevez. No BS footballer while on the field. Maybe trouble off the field, but what talented guy isn't?

I also root for West Brom because a friend of mine is originally from there.

Right now my oldest daughter is over in Spain for a high school trip. She's staying with a host family in Palencia, so I'm going to start following Real Valladolid (the closest team to Palencia) because we now have a connection there (she's supposed to bring me back a jersey).
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Hello D. May I say first say welcome to our ranks and commend you over your sage decision to jettison the American football in favour of our great game. :wink: And secondly, as money usually goes hand in hand with success here, you've probably chosen wisely going for mega-loaded Man City. :)
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
Ross K said:
you've probably chosen wisely going for mega-loaded Man City. :)
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Yeah, when I sat back & looked at the roster this year, I realized they were loaded (Tevez, Yaya, Aguero, Dzeko, Silva, Kompany, Zabaleta, Milner, Nasri, Richards, etc.). But, $ doesn't guarantee championships, and there will be no miracle finish this year. Man Utd. sealed it back in February...

I'm just glad they dumped Balotelli. That guy was a dick.
 
R

Ross K

Legend
McLovin said:
Yeah, when I sat back & looked at the roster this year, I realized they were loaded (Tevez, Yaya, Aguero, Dzeko, Silva, Kompany, Zabaleta, Milner, Nasri, Richards, etc.). But, $ doesn't guarantee championships, and there will be no miracle finish this year. Man Utd. sealed it back in February...

I'm just glad they dumped Balotelli. That guy was a dick.
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What must be galling for City fans is how fantastically well Balotelli is suddenly playing in Serie A.
 
C

crosscourt

Professional
Feña14 said:
Very true, that's part of the reason we love sport though, no? :)

Players getting into trouble on Twitter, post match interviews going wrong etc.. Can you imagine a member of the royal family going to France and giving a speech with a French accent, like Barton has been doing lately? :)

It can be car crash at times, seeing the lives of these insanely rich, twentysomethings play out, it's entertaining though!
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It probably isn't why I watch in the first place, but it may be why I keep watching sometimes when in all decency I ought to look away.

I do feel for Roy. A great player, potentially a great manager, now a TV pundit alongside Gareth Southgate and some nobody Arsenal defender who probably played for England when there was no one else. I suppose there are people who think being a TV pundit is a good job. But it is a humiliation for Keane.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
crosscourt said:
It probably isn't why I watch in the first place, but it may be why I keep watching sometimes when in all decency I ought to look away.

I do feel for Roy. A great player, potentially a great manager, now a TV pundit alongside Gareth Southgate and some nobody Arsenal defender who probably played for England when there was no one else. I suppose there are people who think being a TV pundit is a good job. But it is a humiliation for Keane.
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Absolutely, the sport itself will always be the main attraction to purists. The tangles the athletes get themselves into these days, both competing and away from their sports can add to it at times.

Like at the weekend, the drama with Webber and Vettel adds to the next race. Things like Terry and Ferdinand, although wrong on so many levels, it adds an extra dimension to the games themselves. Pietersen and the text saga with the South African's last year, the way Australian cricket is going at the moment with 4 players being sent home for being fat and not doing their homework :)

The sport itself should, and hopefully always will be the main event. The positions some of these athletes get themselves into though, it certainly creates an extra edge at times.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Great game today, between the youth teams of Chelsea and Arsenal in the NextGen tournament.

It looks like being a Chelsea v Villa final for the title of European Champions. It would be great to have the senior team being Champions League holders, and the youth side winning the equivelant.

I needed that afer the week of tedious Internationals :)
 
N

NickC

Professional
Feña14 said:
Great game today, between the youth teams of Chelsea and Arsenal in the NextGen tournament.

It looks like being a Chelsea v Villa final for the title of European Champions. It would be great to have the senior team being Champions League holders, and the youth side winning the equivelant.

I needed that afer the week of tedious Internationals :)
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I see that ESPN over here in the states is broadcasting the NextGen finals. Should be an interesting one!
 
P

PureAlph4

Semi-Pro
Ross K said:
Rocky deserves to be remembered today.
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Yep - good shout. As an Arsenal player he was before my time (I came in with the PL in 92/93, so my only recollection of him was as a Leeds player in the Merlin sticker album!), but he seemed to be a real fans' favourite, and of course is a legend courtesy of being in the team that won that league at Anfield in 89.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
NickC said:
I see that ESPN over here in the states is broadcasting the NextGen finals. Should be an interesting one!
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It should be! Villa lost 4-0 in the FA Youth Cup in the 3rd round, whilst we're defending Champions and in the semi's again this year. It all points to Chelsea winning, but we'll see.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
PED said:
Here we come Fena :)
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:)

The way we played in the Champions League this season, after we were lucky to get in after finishing 5th. Combine that with our terrible League performances, it mean I don't think we really deserve it.
 
N

NickC

Professional
Feña14 said:
:)

The way we played in the Champions League this season, after we were lucky to get in after finishing 5th. Combine that with our terrible League performances, it mean I don't think we really deserve it.
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I don't think we're good enough to be honest. Benitez has truly lost the plot (not that he ever found it or had it to begin with barring moving Luiz to midfield).

This summer we need a manager who has a clear idea of what to do now, what to do next season, what works, what doesn't, and above all else will make serious long term plans.




Speaking of managers, I see that Sunderland have sacked O'Neil for having the audacity to loose 1-0 away to Manchester United?
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
NickC said:
I don't think we're good enough to be honest. Benitez has truly lost the plot (not that he ever found it or had it to begin with barring moving Luiz to midfield).

This summer we need a manager who has a clear idea of what to do now, what to do next season, what works, what doesn't, and above all else will make serious long term plans.

Speaking of managers, I see that Sunderland have sacked O'Neil for having the audacity to loose 1-0 away to Manchester United?
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I meant 6th, not 5th in the previous season :)

But yes, that's about the level we've been playing to for the last few seasons. We were rubbish today, but with the massive fixture pile up, I can't really blame Benitez too much for this one. Playing today, Monday, Thursday, Sunday etc.. Mata was ill and Cahill injured, so it was pretty much the only way he could of gone.

I agree about what is needed, that becomes difficult though if we don't get top 4. I can't see Falcao and Mourinho coming if there is no Champions League football :)

As for Martin O'Neill, he's spent alot and the results haven't been good enough. To sack him with only a handful of games left, when involved in a relegation battle is a huge risk. I would of given him till the end of the season.
 
R

Ross K

Legend
Re O'Neill getting the chop, seems like (and it was the same with Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes and many more) he isn't really able to cut it at the highest level of management in todays PL. First Villa, now Sunderland, hmmm.

Wonder if he'll now be considered for the Rep. of Ireland job actually? Not a bad shout maybe?
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Ross K said:
Re O'Neill getting the chop, seems like (and it was the same with Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes and many more) he isn't really able to cut it at the highest level of management in todays PL. First Villa, now Sunderland, hmmm.

Wonder if he'll now be considered for the Rep. of Ireland job actually? Not a bad shout maybe?
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I think he did well at Villa, he left when the owner started selling players from under him. He did spend alot, but he built a top 6 team.

I'm not sure where it all went wrong really, on paper, Sunderland have a pretty good squad. I remember when Wolves sacked McCarthy with a handful of games left, they still got relegated and are looking like they could be down again this season. I just think that sacking anyone at this point in the season is crazy, maybe Benitez is the only exception :) all the Mourinho coming back talk has probably got him fired up to make sure it doesn't happen. Having Chelsea finish outside the top 4 would pretty much guarentee it! It would be satisfying for him to screw over the fans who dislike him so much, plus his old rival Mourinho.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
I see Fergie has the mind games going for tomorrow :)

Apparently Chelsea have only won the FA Cup 4 times in 6 years because of lucky draws, oh and we blew our chance against them in the first tie at Old Trafford (after Man Utd were 2-0 at home and let it slip).

I know he's getting old these days, but come on Fergie! I've loved listening to his mind games over the years, they're usually clever and funny, these latest ones are well short of his usual standards.
 
R

Ross K

Legend
Okaaay, so Sunderland have gone and appointed DiCanio.:shock:

'Mystic Ross' predicts disaster for the ex-Hammer, Swindon manager, and well known fascist. Pretty surprised I must say.

Can't see, in managing terms and re what you'd imagine Sunderland need right now, that Paolo is the man for the job.
 
R

raging

Professional
At risk of spoiling it for anybody...
Man U & Chelsea doing it up & down the pitch.
Cech & Ba feature...Fergie needs to call on RG.
Use your imagination!
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
“I think Chelsea have enjoyed the benefit of home draws over the past few years, and I don’t think they have had one hard game in their runs over the years. And that helps, there is no doubt about that, but they have us to play at Stamford Bridge and that won’t be easy.”

Yeah, ok Fergie. I said yesterday about his strange comments before the game, maybe he'll be changing his mind about Chelsea and the FA Cup now. I thought his team selection was uninspiring, Hernandez usually scores against Chelsea? Yeah let's play him. If it doesn't go well, bring Giggs and van Persie off the bench, yawn.

The League is theirs, it's wrapped up and has been for some time. His predictable team selection, benching the best players and failing to get his team up for the game were what cost them a chance at the double.
 
Breaker

Breaker

Legend
Feña14 said:
“I think Chelsea have enjoyed the benefit of home draws over the past few years, and I don’t think they have had one hard game in their runs over the years. And that helps, there is no doubt about that, but they have us to play at Stamford Bridge and that won’t be easy.”

Yeah, ok Fergie. I said yesterday about his strange comments before the game, maybe he'll be changing his mind about Chelsea and the FA Cup now. I thought his team selection was uninspiring, Hernandez usually scores against Chelsea? Yeah let's play him. If it doesn't go well, bring Giggs and van Persie off the bench, yawn.

The League is theirs, it's wrapped up and has been for some time. His predictable team selection, benching the best players and failing to get his team up for the game were what cost them a chance at the double.
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Their real cup final is next Monday, can't blame him for resting players for it maybe with rested players they'll only concede 4 or 5 at the swamp this time.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Breaker said:
Their real cup final is next Monday, can't blame him for resting players for it maybe with rested players they'll only concede 4 or 5 at the swamp this time.
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As much as i'd love City to pull it off again, it pains me to say it's all over :) it has been for a while really.

The double is a big achievement, personally I expected to see them give more today. Either they are still putting all their eggs in one basket, in regards to the League.. or Chelsea are just the better team! Maybe it's a bit of both :)
 
C

crosscourt

Professional
Ross K said:
Re O'Neill getting the chop, seems like (and it was the same with Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes and many more) he isn't really able to cut it at the highest level of management in todays PL. First Villa, now Sunderland, hmmm.

Wonder if he'll now be considered for the Rep. of Ireland job actually? Not a bad shout maybe?
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Not sure that either Villa or Sunderland are high level management. They seem like badly run clubs. All the same O'Neill may have run out of steam. I hope not, he has developed some good sides. As for Bruce and Hughes, I am not sure. Was Bruce ever a successful manage? Hughes, I still think, could be a very successful manager. But he may now be on the downward treadmill of clubs in the relegation zone.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
crosscourt said:
Not sure that either Villa or Sunderland are high level management. They seem like badly run clubs. All the same O'Neill may have run out of steam. I hope not, he has developed some good sides. As for Bruce and Hughes, I am not sure. Was Bruce ever a successful manage? Hughes, I still think, could be a very successful manager. But he may now be on the downward treadmill of clubs in the relegation zone.
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I think you could be right, Sunderland was the team he supported as a boy apparently, it was the one team he always wanted to manage. It did seem like his heart wasn't in it, which is strange considering.

As for Hughes, he's done a good job at some clubs, whilst he's been a failure at others. I think leaving Fulham was a huge mistake, so he has something to prove after that. He also seems to take awhile to settle in and see improvements. I'm not surprised Sunderland didn't go for him, with them only having a few games to go and relegation a real possibility.

I still think it was strange they made the change now, waiting for the summer and bringing in someone like Poyet would of been a good move. Being a Chelsea fan, I probably shouldn't be commenting on managers though :) especially with Benitez in charge! He's doing what is right for him and trying to improve his CV with an FA Cup and Europea League, which you can't really blame him for. Finishing 5th in the League is an improvement on last year, but top 4 ultimately is the biggest prize. No Champions League = no top manager, no top players.. That could set us back for the next 2-3 years.
 
R

Ross K

Legend
crosscourt said:
Not sure that either Villa or Sunderland are high level management. They seem like badly run clubs. All the same O'Neill may have run out of steam. I hope not, he has developed some good sides. As for Bruce and Hughes, I am not sure. Was Bruce ever a successful manage? Hughes, I still think, could be a very successful manager. But he may now be on the downward treadmill of clubs in the relegation zone.
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What I meant was - as with Bruce, Hughes, loads of others - I'm not too sure O'Neill is actually capable of being successful at the highest end of the PL. I could be wrong.

I also think the same re Redknapp. Would perhaps have been interesting if he'd not opted for QPR but held out for a higher placed PL side. I personally am not convinced he'd have done hugely better elsewhere. Anyhow, can't say I feel a scintilla of sympathy for the mess he is in at QPR. His briefings and the manner he used the press in undermining AVB, Spurs in general; in him originally abandoning Spurs in pursuit of the England manager's job which never materialised - and how catastrophically the team played once he decided he was England bound. Well, you all know I'm not a huge Harry Redknapp fan. :)
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
Feña14 said:
As much as i'd love City to pull it off again, it pains me to say it's all over :) it has been for a while really.
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Agreed. Unfortunately, there will be no thrilling finish like last year. Watching the players from Man U think they'd won it, only to see City score twice in stoppage was priceless.
 
PED

PED

Legend
Feña14 said:
No Champions League = no top manager, no top players.. That could set us back for the next 2-3 years.
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Other than City, Chelsea is probably the team at which this isn't true. Red Rom will likely bank roll the team as do City's owners.

Not bitter at all but Red Rom has never had economic success as a cornerstone of what he's trying to acheive. If I had his $, I might not either :)

Well done Chelsea yesterday-they came to play and deserved the result.

RvP has officially run out of gas. He did the same for us last year and the goals dried up. The last two months, he was running on fumes. How different Utd looked yesterday to the side that was so dynamic in the first leg.

Both Nani and Valencia looked if they've packed on some pounds and it's def made them less effective. Not sure if they tried to bulk up for strength or its just too many mince pies (picture Nani with a pie in his mouth). Nani was horrible yesterday, giving the ball away everywhere.

Hard to believe Mata can't get on the field for Spain, that guy is quality!
 
R

raging

Professional
PED said:
Other than City, Chelsea is probably the team at which this isn't true. Red Rom will likely bank roll the team as do City's owners.

Not bitter at all but Red Rom has never had economic success as a cornerstone of what he's trying to acheive. If I had his $, I might not either :)

Well done Chelsea yesterday-they came to play and deserved the result.

RvP has officially run out of gas. He did the same for us last year and the goals dried up. The last two months, he was running on fumes. How different Utd looked yesterday to the side that was so dynamic in the first leg.

Both Nani and Valencia looked if they've packed on some pounds and it's def made them less effective. Not sure if they tried to bulk up for strength or its just too many mince pies (picture Nani with a pie in his mouth). Nani was horrible yesterday, giving the ball away everywhere.

Hard to believe Mata can't get on the field for Spain, that guy is quality!
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Chelsea will be fine, offload a few, buy a few.
Great to watch Mata playing with Hazard and anybody coming forward.
He has been awesome for chelsea this year.
 
C

crosscourt

Professional
Ross K said:
What I meant was - as with Bruce, Hughes, loads of others - I'm not too sure O'Neill is actually capable of being successful at the highest end of the PL. I could be wrong.

I also think the same re Redknapp. Would perhaps have been interesting if he'd not opted for QPR but held out for a higher placed PL side. I personally am not convinced he'd have done hugely better elsewhere. Anyhow, can't say I feel a scintilla of sympathy for the mess he is in at QPR. His briefings and the manner he used the press in undermining AVB, Spurs in general; in him originally abandoning Spurs in pursuit of the England manager's job which never materialised - and how catastrophically the team played once he decided he was England bound. Well, you all know I'm not a huge Harry Redknapp fan. :)
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If you had to make a list of successful domestic Premier League managers from the current league who would you go for? Ferguson, of course, but who else?
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
PED said:
Other than City, Chelsea is probably the team at which this isn't true. Red Rom will likely bank roll the team as do City's owners.

Not bitter at all but Red Rom has never had economic success as a cornerstone of what he's trying to acheive. If I had his $, I might not either :)

Well done Chelsea yesterday-they came to play and deserved the result.

RvP has officially run out of gas. He did the same for us last year and the goals dried up. The last two months, he was running on fumes. How different Utd looked yesterday to the side that was so dynamic in the first leg.

Both Nani and Valencia looked if they've packed on some pounds and it's def made them less effective. Not sure if they tried to bulk up for strength or its just too many mince pies (picture Nani with a pie in his mouth). Nani was horrible yesterday, giving the ball away everywhere.

Hard to believe Mata can't get on the field for Spain, that guy is quality!
Click to expand...

We did play well yesterday, the big 3 got alot of praise, but I don't think any of them were at their best. Mata has been ill this week, but still managed to decide the game, which is a sign of just how much class he has. I agree about it being strange he doesn't play much for Spain. Silva and Cazorla seem to get more playing time, they're great players, but Mata is the best of the 3 imo.

As for missing the Champions League not being huge because of the Abramovich money, i'm not so sure about that one! Cavani and Falcao will be offered £200,000 a week from Madrid, City and Chelsea, being the only club not in the Champions League means we will miss out. Will Lewandowski leave Dortmund for a team not in the Champions League, when he could go to Juventus or Man Utd? These are problems. Same for Mourinho, an open cheque book at PSG and a run at another European Cup, or coming back to Chelsea and a Thursday game away to some Slovakian side? It's an easy choice.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
PED said:
This made me LOL :)
Click to expand...

Well I wouldn't be laughing. Although it could be a better option than getting hammered in the Champions League group stages like we did this year!

Have you seen Drogba's interview today, for the build up of tomorrows game? He says he is open to returning to Chelsea if Mourinho takes over in the summer, they have unfinished business :)
 
R

Ross K

Legend
Was just listening to David Ginola and Frank LeBeuf giving some interesting thoughts on Mourinho and why he SHOULDN'T go back to Chelsea and should go to PSG, and I agree...

There would be everything to lose if he goes back to CFC where he was massively successful previously, and where anticipation and expectation would now correspond to a very high degree; PSG would represent something utterly fresh, new and exciting; he'd have mega-funds (not of course that he wouldn't at the Bridge) to bring in Ronaldo, Rooney, whoever; he wouldn't have to deal with Roman A; he'd still have the opportunity to manage Man U in the future, etc.

I could very well be proved completely wrong, but I reckon if PSG indeed fail to proceed in the CL after next leg VS Barca, that increases the possibility of Jose finding Paris a really enticing proposition. It does seem to have been often demonstrated in the past that it rarely work out for past successful coaches returning and seeking to emulate previous success with their old clubs.
 
PED

PED

Legend
Wow, I was impressed with PSG, if Zlatan had on his shooting boots, it could have been 4-2.

Barca without Messi=Club side

Never realized how dependent they've become on him. As Xavi and Iniesta get older, they become less influential, a younger version of Giggs and Scholes.

They really need to spend over the summer. Glad we didn't get Villa, I've seen him play a half a dozen times over the last month or so and he's really ineffectual. #overthehill
 
R

Ross K

Legend
Gawd, I wish Zinedine would keep his bloody mouth shut! :)

Zinedine Zidane: 'Gareth Bale not far off Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's level'

Zinedine Zidane has claimed that Gareth Bale is not far behind the level of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Messi and Ronaldo are widely regarded as the best two players on the planet, and the legendary Zidane thinks that the Tottenham Hotspur winger is getting closer to the standard set by the Liga pair.

"The problem is this year the player who has impressed me most is not actually playing in the Champions League," Zidane is quoted as saying in The Mirror.

"He is playing in 'the other cup' (Europa League), and that is Bale. He's perhaps not quite at the level of the other two, but he's different. So personally I don't think he's far off.

"You can't compare him. He's unique, he makes things look easy, his pace is frightening. His acceleration is unbelievable because of his ability to go through the gears in very little space. Plus he is very good technically, which is also very important. We must not forget that he plays football very well."

Bale will be part of the Spurs squad to play Swiss champions Basel in the Europa League on Thursday.
Click to expand...

Seriously, Spurs have to keep hold of Bale for a year or two longer - with him there it of course elevates us massively, and along with a few signings for next season, AVB could have the makings of a team capable of actually challenging for the PL itself and competing at the highest end of the CL.

Given Zidane's (one of my all-time fav ever players) connections to Real, and given the attention such comments are sure to garner in Spain, this is worrying.:cry:
 
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