Feña14
G.O.A.T.
That's a good point, for all the talent they got over the summer and the good start they had, they've been below where they should be imo. Now he's picking fights with fans. Sounds like something to keep an eye on.
The TT Football Club
- Thread starter Ross K
- Start date
That's a good point, for all the talent they got over the summer and the good start they had, they've been below where they should be imo. Now he's picking fights with fans. Sounds like something to keep an eye on.
I think this is AVB's great Achilles heel as a manager - at an intangible level, he just seems to rub people up the wrong way. He totally lost the Chelsea dressing room (admittedly having to combat a powerful player lobby), he ended up looking a fool after needlessly labelling Arsenal a crisis club in a "downward spiral" from which they wouldn't recover when Spurs were comfortably clear, and now he's breaking an unwritten law of football that a manager must NEVER criticise the fans. He seems to be a technical manager, rather than a man-manager, so I don't understand why he insists on being so abrasive on this front. Granted I don't know the guy, so I don't know whether his personality naturally dictates this, but every time I hear anything in this regard it seems to be the case of him falling out with someone, or some group.
It could be something to do with learning under Mourinho, and seeing the big man who could sway the opinions of many while doing things his own way, but the difference is that Mourinho is a great populist (discounting his time at Madrid, where his relationship with just about everyone was totally broken), and understands how to manipulate players, the media, and the fans, so that people like him, despite his arrogance.
To me, AVB is a 'numbers guy' - one of the breed of modern, younger managers whose skillset is based on using the vast amount of data available nowadays to inform your decisions, while taking a longer-term, stable view about building a club. He's better off sticking to these technical aspects, rather than manufacturing confrontations at regular intervals.
Why so much love for Torres? He missed like a clown in the first half. That one goal and assist don't make up for his horrendous strike rate. English fans seem easy to satisfiy.
He's been better of late, and showing glimpses of his former outstanding form, so I think it's fair enough that he gets some credit.
Would it be right that he gets absolutely slated when he's bad, but when he puts together a few promising performances he gets written off at the same time because "he'll be rubbish next week, won't he?"
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Why so much love for Torres? He missed like a clown in the first half. That one goal and assist don't make up for his horrendous strike rate. English fans seem easy to satisfiy.
Probably because he's playing like he did in those first two years at Liverpool again. Everybody (apart from Liverpool fans) has wanted to see him get back to what he's capable of, he's been to the lowest points but has always put in alot of work to do whatever it took to get back to where he used to be. That kind of attitude appeals to English fans.
BlackSilver
Semi-Pro
I think he is a very, very good player that it is vital to Brazil and very important to your team. I am not sure if he can improve even more and became one of very top players of the world. I think he did the right thing moving to Chelsea to play in a newly rebuild team full of players of similar age.
Out of curiosity, where did you see this stuff of "decided to stay home" ?. I say that because as far as I know, the only reason he stayed here is because he started to get injured when he was beginning to attract attention from Europe. Then he spend the last two years fighting against injuries and his former team Santos and only in the last few months started to play well again. The showed his interest at playing at europe several years ago. Who decided to stay home when he could have leaved was Neymar. I believe that at the first good opportunity he will leave.
BlackSilver
Semi-Pro
I agree, I watched your team's match against Hull City and nearly died.
On a side note, anyone knows how it is Walcott? When he will return?
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Oscar is incredible, in one of his first ever games for Chelsea he man marked Pirlo and completely took him out of the game. He then scored two amazing goals.
Can you imagine the other great playmakers in the game today being able to work as hard for the team as he does? Nobody comes to mind. He scores, he creates, he isn't a passenger for large parts of the game like Ozil can be. There's nobody i'd rather have in that position, you're lucky to have him
BlackSilver
Semi-Pro
Oscar is incredible, in one of his first ever games for Chelsea he man marked Pirlo and completely took him out of the game. He then scored two amazing goals.
Can you imagine the other great playmakers in the game today being able to work as hard for the team as he does? Nobody comes to mind. He scores, he creates, he isn't a passenger for large parts of the game like Ozil can be. There's nobody i'd rather have in that position, you're lucky to have him
Juan Mata?
Juan Mata?
Seconded for truth.
PSNELKE
Legend
Another example why we all love Mr. Blatter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sRa9tmU9Yk
Ronaldo may be a clown, but he certainly doesn't deserve the smashings by the media. Who gives a crap about his private life and his mirror gazing, cause he's undoubtable one of the best players we've ever seen. Just look at his scoring record, that's just insane.
Everybodies darling Messi is as much of a d0uche as Ronaldo at times and in addition he's a multi million dollar tax dodger.
Evidently Mr Blatter will make sure that the "annual Messi appreciation award" also called "Ballon D'Or" will find it's way into Mr Messi's trophy building
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sRa9tmU9Yk
Ronaldo may be a clown, but he certainly doesn't deserve the smashings by the media. Who gives a crap about his private life and his mirror gazing, cause he's undoubtable one of the best players we've ever seen. Just look at his scoring record, that's just insane.
Everybodies darling Messi is as much of a d0uche as Ronaldo at times and in addition he's a multi million dollar tax dodger.
Evidently Mr Blatter will make sure that the "annual Messi appreciation award" also called "Ballon D'Or" will find it's way into Mr Messi's trophy building
Went to the match tonight. Truly embarrassing performance - most of our players didn't even try.
Worst case scenario - we lost 2-0 at home against a rival, and we played pver half our already tired first XI before a vital league match on Saturday.
Terrible night. The away allocation was huge - 9000, taking the whole clock end lower, and half the clock end upper. With the way the match went all you could hear were the away fans. Pitiful.
Worst case scenario - we lost 2-0 at home against a rival, and we played pver half our already tired first XI before a vital league match on Saturday.
Terrible night. The away allocation was huge - 9000, taking the whole clock end lower, and half the clock end upper. With the way the match went all you could hear were the away fans. Pitiful.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Glad you enjoyed it
Juan Mata?
Well yes, he was great again last night. Wouldn't be surprised to see him starting against Newcastle or in the Champions League next week.
Hopefully Azpilicueta plays more too, especially at home. He probably gives a bit more down the right in terms of skill, speed and delivery and that extra width should give the creative players more room to work.
For Fena - very good piece this on Mourinho...
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11096/9001020/hailing-jose
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11096/9001020/hailing-jose
PSNELKE
Legend
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Beautiful, not used to that kind of quality on Sky's website.
There's alot of truth in that, we're seeing it already. The classic away performance against Schalke, the win against City, not breaking sweat to beat Arsenal etc.. He just gets the job done, he's done it with every team he's ever been at, no matter what squad he has to work with. The way he gets players to raise their level is uncanny, Terry and Lampard, Sneijder and Milito, we're seeing it now with Oscar and Torres and i'm willing to bet he'll get it out of Hazard too, the signs are there.
So many people thought he was going to fail at Chelsea, saying he shouldn't of gone back etc.. He's proving them wrong, again.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Just one of those games really, we had two penalties that weren't given, hit the woodwork twice. They hit the post and it went in.
The pitch being so wet and quick meant we couldn't really get the final ball right. We had alot of the ball and did ok, just the final pass wasn't there and had no luck, such is life.
jaggy
Talk Tennis Guru
We'll have that.
Nice bounce back from Tuesday night, and two home defeats on the trot. Back on track for big games in Dortmund and Manchester this week.
Arteta, Rosicky, Cazorla and Ramsey were absolutely immense in midfield. I thought we might struggle without Flamini, but if we can control a match like that without trading extra passing range for better defensive cover, then that's an added bonus.
We are walking a tightrope at the moment, though, in terms of squad depth. Our only attacking options on the bench were Bendtner and Akpom. The sooner we get Walcott, Oxlade, Gnabry, Podolski and Wilshere back the better.
Ah - if you'd believe the media, today was the day Arsenal got found out. Fortunately we live another day.
Nice bounce back from Tuesday night, and two home defeats on the trot. Back on track for big games in Dortmund and Manchester this week.
Arteta, Rosicky, Cazorla and Ramsey were absolutely immense in midfield. I thought we might struggle without Flamini, but if we can control a match like that without trading extra passing range for better defensive cover, then that's an added bonus.
We are walking a tightrope at the moment, though, in terms of squad depth. Our only attacking options on the bench were Bendtner and Akpom. The sooner we get Walcott, Oxlade, Gnabry, Podolski and Wilshere back the better.
Ah - if you'd believe the media, today was the day Arsenal got found out. Fortunately we live another day.
PSNELKE
Legend
Today was such a weird matchday.
Watford-Leicester - one of the strangest goals so far this seasons, topped by...
Stoke-Southampton - Asmir Begovic LMAO
Hull-Sunderland - incapable of scoring another goal against 8 Sunderland outfield players
Man City - Norwich - 7-0 LOL nothing to add there
Fulham - ManU - Nice performance by United, though still pretty shaky at times
Newcastle - Chelsea - Chelsea with 2 shots on target in 90 minutes, Newcastle acutally playing some nice stuff. Still Chelsea should be better than that
Nice come back by Arsenal after that home match against Chelsea on Wednesday
Rayo Vallecano - Real Madrid - Real barely beat Rayo after a 3-0 lead, got pretty lucky there. Rayo definately deserved a point
Hoffenheim - Bayern Munich - Bayern played horrible today, still managed to beat Hoffenheim with pure luck (in Germany we refer to it as "Bayern Dusel")
And Bayer Leverkusen losing to the worst ranked team in the league with 0-1
Funny and entertaining fixtures.
Watford-Leicester - one of the strangest goals so far this seasons, topped by...
Stoke-Southampton - Asmir Begovic LMAO
Hull-Sunderland - incapable of scoring another goal against 8 Sunderland outfield players
Man City - Norwich - 7-0 LOL nothing to add there
Fulham - ManU - Nice performance by United, though still pretty shaky at times
Newcastle - Chelsea - Chelsea with 2 shots on target in 90 minutes, Newcastle acutally playing some nice stuff. Still Chelsea should be better than that
Nice come back by Arsenal after that home match against Chelsea on Wednesday
Rayo Vallecano - Real Madrid - Real barely beat Rayo after a 3-0 lead, got pretty lucky there. Rayo definately deserved a point
Hoffenheim - Bayern Munich - Bayern played horrible today, still managed to beat Hoffenheim with pure luck (in Germany we refer to it as "Bayern Dusel")
And Bayer Leverkusen losing to the worst ranked team in the league with 0-1
Funny and entertaining fixtures.
Well, I obviously gave Chelsea the kiss of death posting up that Mourinho link ...
Arsenal just keep rising to the challenge (How underrated is Arteta?)...
Blimey, City certainly clicked big time yesterday...
Are my lot going to keep in the chase later, or are the Toffees going to take advantage of our slow play and lack of scoring chances?...
Have to say I'm really enjoying the unpredictability and openness of the PL this season.
Arsenal just keep rising to the challenge (How underrated is Arteta?)...
Blimey, City certainly clicked big time yesterday...
Are my lot going to keep in the chase later, or are the Toffees going to take advantage of our slow play and lack of scoring chances?...
Have to say I'm really enjoying the unpredictability and openness of the PL this season.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
The thing is, we've not been that great away from home. Looking at the games we've played though, they've all been tough. Man Utd, Spurs, Everton, Newcastle etc..
Every game away in the Premier League is ridiculously tough though. Sunderland are probably the only exception
but yeah, alot of the big teams will drop plenty of points away from home. The one who dominates at home and can win the games against rivals will be the one who takes it imo.
PED
Legend
Tuesday was dreadful, so flat.
They say we've not had a tough fixture list to start and there's some truth to that but we've had five more games so far this year compared to Liverpool thanks to the CL and we've faced the likes of Dortmund so maybe this toothless(so far) Man Utd won't be so tough next week.
That midfield yesterday.....wow. I was worried as well about the lack of Flamini but Arteta had one of his best performances at that role and we really shone without Jack. Hopefully, he'll get back to being as good as he was at 18 but I like us better without him
Spurs going for it today. I think maybe that deep deep bench of quality will play out in the 2nd half of the year when everyone starts getting tired.
Tuesday was dreadful, so flat.
They say we've not had a tough fixture list to start and there's some truth to that but we've had five more games so far this year compared to Liverpool thanks to the CL and we've faced the likes of Dortmund so maybe this toothless(so far) Man Utd won't be so tough next week.
That midfield yesterday.....wow. I was worried as well about the lack of Flamini but Arteta had one of his best performances at that role and we really shone without Jack. Hopefully, he'll get back to being as good as he was at 18 but I like us better without him
Spurs going for it today. I think maybe that deep deep bench of quality will play out in the 2nd half of the year when everyone starts getting tired.
Hope that's the case, but AVB's denial of our woeful attacking play or lack thereof (embarrassing stats in the goals/chances created category tells all) is a bit annoying... I mean, Everton were for the taking today in the first half. I don't quite know how they can all be incorporated myself, and I doubt that AVB does either, but I'd love to see Erikksen, Lamela, Townsend and Holtby all in the same side.
On a related note, I was pretty aghast that Lloris wasn't forced to come off. Given the well known harmful effects of remaining on a sports field following a head injury (he was out cold for a moment I believe, got up, and his legs went, and afterwards has no recollection of the event)... well, whilst admiring his character, surely this is totally wrong?
Totally agree about this. I think football is well behind the curve on this issue. If there's even the slightest suspicion of a spinal injury there's an elaborate procedure to prevent any further damage, and no question of the player returning. With these concussions, where a player can be knocked out cold from a knee to the head, it seems to be down to the concussed player, which is ridiculous. A similar thing happened with Flamini a couple of games back; he was concussed from a head-to-head collision, and yet he returned to the match until he was forced to leave after 5 minutes due to blurred vision. These guys could have serious head injuries. I think it's down to the PFA to act in the best interests of their members, and demand that the league adopts a clear procedure for concussions.
Honestly i don't know what football should do about this.
What is for certain is this, though: Lloris' head was CLEARLY in the wrong place and he should have been taken off. But Spurs would be in between a rock and a hard place on that one - if he is taken off with 20 or so minutes to play, who's to say that Fridel would be 100% on his game? He had no time to warm up and get into a rhythm, he doesn't know his back line as well as Lloris, hasn't played in a while, etc... For all we know Everton could have been awarded a corner right then and there and it could have resulted in a goal for no other reason than Fridel is/was rusty. Then all of a sudden the great start Spurs have made to their season is done, no points from Everton away means no using the fact that Chelsea lost the day before to their advantage. Firdel would be vilified.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
We know how it is over there in America. As a fan of hockey and the NFL over there we know head injuries are pretty much automatic for you to be taken out of the game, which is right imo. A head injury is bad, it can only take one slight knock that looks like nothing to not only end your career, but even kill you.
Just isn't worth the risk, keepers come on all the time and perform, it's probably the number one thing you look for in a backup. As a Chelsea fan we've have Cudicini, Hilario and now Schwarzer over the years, they've all come on at a drop of a hat and they're experienced enough to perform, Friedel is certainly a keeper in that category.
Someone at Spurs is to blame, either the medical staff should of taken the decision or AVB himself.
Great away performance, mate.
There's no doubt we were under the cosh, especially in the first half, but when we got the chance we struck - basically what you have to do on the road in the CL. That man Ramsey again, but the goal was created by Giroud out-battling the defender for the ball. Dortmund weren't at their best, and missed a couple of good chances, but at the same time it's fair to say that we prevented them from creating many great opportunities.
Can't express how valuable stability has been for our team. For the first time in years we have maintained a stable group of about 18 potential starting players, with noone being poached. Finally we seem to have a well-organised system.
It's another big test against United this weekend, but there's no doubt the confidence is growing by the week.
Oh - and if you want to see something absolutely absurd and unprofessional, watch what Timo Hildebrand did at the Bridge!
There's no doubt we were under the cosh, especially in the first half, but when we got the chance we struck - basically what you have to do on the road in the CL. That man Ramsey again, but the goal was created by Giroud out-battling the defender for the ball. Dortmund weren't at their best, and missed a couple of good chances, but at the same time it's fair to say that we prevented them from creating many great opportunities.
Can't express how valuable stability has been for our team. For the first time in years we have maintained a stable group of about 18 potential starting players, with noone being poached. Finally we seem to have a well-organised system.
It's another big test against United this weekend, but there's no doubt the confidence is growing by the week.
Oh - and if you want to see something absolutely absurd and unprofessional, watch what Timo Hildebrand did at the Bridge!
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PED
Legend
What a cagey first half, we played possum for an hour then BAM, we just rolled to life. That was such a mature performance after we gave away the first leg.
Interesting to watch Dortmund run out of gas with all their pressing, that's a tough style to maintain for 90 minutes.
Looking forward to having Theo back on the bench for Sunday.
We keep playing like this, Arsene will have to hire out the Freddie Mercury hologram from the Olympics to sing we are the champions come May....lol
Nice to see Bale score yesterday, now that he's no longer at SHL, I'm rooting for him.
Interesting to watch Dortmund run out of gas with all their pressing, that's a tough style to maintain for 90 minutes.
Looking forward to having Theo back on the bench for Sunday.
We keep playing like this, Arsene will have to hire out the Freddie Mercury hologram from the Olympics to sing we are the champions come May....lol
Nice to see Bale score yesterday, now that he's no longer at SHL, I'm rooting for him.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Mourinho got it spot on. Schurrle against a German team is a no brainer, Oscar did what he always does, whilst Willian probably had his best game so far. He did all the work for Eto'o's second goal and also played a big role in Ba's goal.
At the end he gave De Bruyne a much needed run out. Let's face it, we've beaten our closest rivals in this group 6-0 over two games. What more needs saying?
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
He's turning into a poor mans Lampard with all the goals he's getting. Maybe in 10 years when he's just finished another 20 goal season he'll be up there
But no, it's great to see him playing so well, hope it continues. Can you imagine Ramsey and Bale in the England team? Shame they weren't born a few miles to the east
Mourinho got it spot on. Schurrle against a German team is a no brainer, Oscar did what he always does, whilst Willian probably had his best game so far. He did all the work for Eto'o's second goal and also played a big role in Ba's goal.
At the end he gave De Bruyne a much needed run out. Let's face it, we've beaten our closest rivals in this group 6-0 over two games. What more needs saying?
But Mata needs a run out too! It seems Mourinho hates him!
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
He played the last two games, against Arsenal and Newcastle.
Three games in 7 days when we have the depth we do is a bit much. That and the fact he was rubbish against Newcastle
He played the last two games, against Arsenal and Newcastle.
Three games in 7 days when we have the depth we do is a bit much. That and the fact he was rubbish against Newcastle
It wasn't just him who was trash against Toon, the whole side were complete ****e.
He's the real deal, Spurs just don't know it yet. Why they haven't placed Lamela and Erikssen together (AFAIK) is beyond me.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Yeah, Mourinho said he was going to make 11 changes, in the end he only made 6. Cech didn't really do anything wrong and we only have 3 midfielders for the two spots so could only change one there. Short of playing De Bruyne for Oscar, he made every change he could really.
The thing with Mata against Newcastle was he was trying to do too much, which can happen at times with Spanish players. Early on in the first 20 minutes when we were battering them, Mata kept trying to play the extra pass and was looking to complicate everything. The early part of the game was when it was there for the taking. My Dad actually said after the second time he wasted an opportunity by taking the hardest option "do we think we're Arsenal? Just put it in the net".
Mourinho makes the game simple, everybody works hard without the ball. The creative players make the right decisions with the ball and all is well. Oscar and Willian did that for the second Eto'o goal midweek. Oscar won the ball deep, gave it to Willian who ran at pace, played the simple pass and Eto'o scored a great goal.
Either way, Mata wasn't the worst one in the Newcastle game. That was Luiz
he decided to have one of his monthly game's where he decides not to defend. Contrast that with how good Cahill was yet again midweek, it's going to be tough for him to be getting back in the team.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
At the end of the day, we've had alot of decisions that haven't gone our way this season. Only last week there were two penalties that weren't given against Newcastle (Mata was tripped up at 0-0, Eto'o's shot was blocked by a raised arm at 1-0).
That's the way it goes, no doubt West Brom will get a decision somewhere else this season they shouldn't, that team will feel hard done by, then get one of their own a few weeks later. The cycle of shocking decisions always seems to even itself out.
PED
Legend
http://i.imgur.com/Lpbr5XO.gif
Fena, you're right, in the long run luck ebbs and flows but this is a pretty brutal call against Reid.
Fena, you're right, in the long run luck ebbs and flows but this is a pretty brutal call against Reid.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
No doubt it is, there are alot of West Brom fans around where i'm living and it's great to have the club be where they are today, i'm also really pleased for Steve Clarke, a Chelsea legend as both a player and a coach.
The future looks great for them with some of the young players and the style Clarke has them playing, hopefully this won't affect them. We were due a decision, whichever team it came against would feel hard done by.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
The way things even out is part of being a football fan. The way you despair when decisions don't go your way, then start jumping around when you get one back in the 93rd minute of a game a few weeks later. The ups and the downs, that's the game in a nutshell.
Ramires didn't dive, but it wasn't a penalty. There was contact, shoulder to shoulder. Reid weighs 35lbs more than Ramires, let's not forget. I'd end up on the foor if someone 2-3 stone heavier came at me from the side when running too.
Being England, it probably wasn't a penalty. Most other Countries you'd expect to get it. That's probably why the description i've been hearing so far is "soft", that's pretty accurate.
