The TT Football Club
- Thread starter Ross K
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Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Manchester City lost last night!
Now Chelsea needs to beat Southampton to extend the lead of the EPL ladder.
Why so quiet? And lol @ the "last 4 years of spening" Chelsea drivel. Yes, we'll pick any period we like. Like how about since Roman's involvement began? Who's spent what and won what?
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
United played well today at least.
Came out quick, and we got the important early goal. I was expecting more from Tottenham, so no complaints.
Came out quick, and we got the important early goal. I was expecting more from Tottenham, so no complaints.
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Do you think LVG instructed the team to play that way in the 2nd half? As a game plan for the coming games?
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
Arsenal wage bill is not higher than Chelsea's.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...eas-for-first-time-in-more-than-a-decade.html
Certainly was up till January, not sure how the ins and outs over January and contract extensions have changed things since then though.
BlackSilver
Semi-Pro
Saw patches of Leverkusen vs Madrid and nearly died. Hopefully Atletico won't face PSG next round so that both can be eliminated
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
Good result for United today.
Chelsea were in control against Hull, I went outside for a while, came back in to see 2-2.
Theo Courtois, what are you doing? One of the first lessons you get as a kid 'if in doubt, put it out'
K
King Fed WW
Guest
Haha find something else. Huge games all over Europe for the smaller countries. So many of the smaller teams believe they can make the expanded Euros. Really exciting.
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
Yuck at England vs Lithuania.
Another big match to come tonight as well, but I'm putting tennis ahead of El Clasico.
He probably told them not to get complacent. This is my usual tactic for football manager matches.
Whatever he is doing, it is now working. I'm not getting ahead of myself, because United recently have been 1 step forward, 2 back, etc. I'm feeling positive, though. It has been a great response to the Arsenal defeat.
Another big match to come tonight as well, but I'm putting tennis ahead of El Clasico.
He probably told them not to get complacent. This is my usual tactic for football manager matches.
Whatever he is doing, it is now working. I'm not getting ahead of myself, because United recently have been 1 step forward, 2 back, etc. I'm feeling positive, though. It has been a great response to the Arsenal defeat.
BlackSilver
Semi-Pro
I should have expected that you would say something like that, but actually I totally forgot about it because i was expecting you to bash Gerrard endless
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Yuck at England vs Lithuania.
Another big match to come tonight as well, but I'm putting tennis ahead of El Clasico.
He probably told them not to get complacent. This is my usual tactic for football manager matches.
Whatever he is doing, it is now working. I'm not getting ahead of myself, because United recently have been 1 step forward, 2 back, etc. I'm feeling positive, though. It has been a great response to the Arsenal defeat.
The Arsenal game felt like a gut shot, really. Good recovery but that 2nd half vs 10 men was pathetic. The players' psyche is still fragile.
BlackSilver
Semi-Pro
No comments about Liverpool vs Arsenal? Then here go mines.
Am I the only who didn't like to see Sturridge in the bench while the clueless Sterling was playing? Also no idea what Wenger expects with Ramsey playing more in the right, miss all crossed balls? I lost some pieces, most notably the beginning, but didn't saw Arsenal playing a brilliant match and saw them winning in individual plays (the first two goals)
Am I the only who didn't like to see Sturridge in the bench while the clueless Sterling was playing? Also no idea what Wenger expects with Ramsey playing more in the right, miss all crossed balls? I lost some pieces, most notably the beginning, but didn't saw Arsenal playing a brilliant match and saw them winning in individual plays (the first two goals)
Possum
Rookie
When I came in to the current Premier League season, I was pulling for West Ham. I'd never followed football before as I've stated before that I'm from the USA and we don't get the games as much as Europe does. West Ham started strong...really strong, and I was happy to follow them and hear people say "man, they are doing really good". But, apparently they have returned to their normal form...but I'm sticking with them and they are going to finish first next season!!!
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Haha, good on you. How do you follow them from the US? Do you read British press? Andy Carroll is having a real stinker while costing your lot a lot of money.
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Isn't Sturridge being managed to have him help Liverpool to the FA cup? I think Rodgers gave up on the Champions League the previous week already.
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Pellegrini is getting the sack soon, I reckon now.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
You'd think so, all depends on who's available. The people in charge with their Barcelona background seem to want Guardiola, although if Ancelotti is available they could go for him, whilst Simeone seems to be happy at Atletico.
Can't really think of anyone else who is worth the effort to start again from scratch with. The team is getting older but they've spent crazy money, with their FFP problems they have to be careful with their next move.
BlackSilver
Semi-Pro
I heard he got minor injury during international friendships, so maybe is due to that.
Awesome goal from the Stoke City guy, right Fenã ?
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Awesome goal from the Stoke City guy, right Fenã ?
Absolutely incredible, it wasn't even a lob, more of a rocket from 70 yards
K
King Fed WW
Guest
Fena,
Fena, looking forward to your team winning their 2nd title in 9 years? Who would have said than in June 2006.
Fena, looking forward to your team winning their 2nd title in 9 years? Who would have said than in June 2006.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Well it's not over just yet.
Those titles were won when Man Utd were dominating, everyone seems to be a Man Utd fan so the bragging rights were pretty sweet
This one would be different, but still just as special.
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Well it's not over just yet.
Those titles were won when Man Utd were dominating, everyone seems to be a Man Utd fan so the bragging rights were pretty sweet
This one would be different, but still just as special.
What are the chances of Mourinho keeping his job for the whole of next season though? Imagine a scenario where Chelsea are 3rd and out of the Champions League in the first round of the knock-out stage. Will Roman be content?
I still think they need to address some weaknesses. Oscar for Mata was a poor tradeoff. Remy might look good now, but he is being compared to Torres, Ba, and grandpa Drog in games that are not really season-defining. A good 2nd keeper shouldn't be a problem to find but a back-up for Terry?
I still think Chelsea could be hit with the rule-book for 3rd party ownership. Don't know what happened to that.
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Think about this for a minute. Let it marinate. Benitez for City. Now breathe. Extasy.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Yeah Abramovich seems to be happy, his left hand man (who's actually a woman) is speaking at an event next month so we'll find out for sure then. The club has changed alot the last few years with stability and balancing the books the main focus, Mourinho and the ownership all seem to be on the same page with that.
Oscar was the best player in the League up till Christmas imo, he always starts the year playing incredible, but then tails off drastically from January onwards, this year is no exception. He's played alot of football for such a young player, he plays a season and then has been involved in the under 21 internationals, the Olympics, World Cup, Copa America this year. He hasn't had a summer off at all in his career, which could explain why he burns out.
A striker is needed yeah, there are a few young ones who could take the spot behind Costa and Remy (Bamford, Brown, Solanke), Rob Green is said to be a target for the number 2 spot if Cech leaves, a defender to replace Terry is important yeah, someone like Varane who Mourinho has a good relationship could work. The other spot is a deep central midfielder, Matic and Fabregas are fantastic, but if one gets injured/suspended, the whole balance of the team changes. Maybe someone like Henderson could be an option, he's English and is having contract problems with Liverpool. Putting him next to Matic could let Fabregas play further forward, it also gives the option of playing 4-3-3. So it's a position that needs to be addressed in the summer imo.
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
Why was it a poor trade between Mata and Oscar? Mata looks slow as hell and he has declined. Oscar is young and provides the quality Mourinho wants in his team, a good runner up front behind the strikers and a very gifted player.
Mata is slow and not good enough defensively. Also they got like 35 million pounds for him.
Mourinho will stay as long as he wants to btw. He has earned a reputation where managers like him don't get sacked unless he wants to resign. He is most likely gonna win the league, and they won the League Cup. Sure that it was a disappointment to go out in the last 16, but it's an ongoing project. Last year they were in the Semi-finals of champions league.
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
Arsenal is closing in mate. That last minute goal was huge. But Chelsea are not safe I think
Man utd and arsenal next.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Arsenal and Man Utd are both playing incredibly well yeah, but a draw in those two next games suits Chelsea, the gap stays the same and we still have a game in hand.
The way both teams are playing though, you wouldn't bet against them both winning. Plenty of time for things to get interesting still
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
I don't think Chelsea are in any danger. Still hope to see United upset Arsenal for 2nd, though.
BlackSilver
Semi-Pro
It's a pity if Pellegrini leaves City. He made the team play attacking football, which fast infiltrations, triangulations from their star players that Mancini never was able to do. The first goal against United illustrates that. The team is washed up and he not being able to make them play is more related with the stars not being in a good moment and the rest of the team, fairly weak players, being exposed. Milner, Fernando, Fernandinho, Zabaleta, Chlichy, Demichelis and others are weak next to their best players. A midfield of Milner-Fernando or Fernandinho against Barcelona physical pressure for instance was destined to fail
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
He's not totally to blame yeah, the squad is the oldest in the Premier League and that's down to the people high up they bought in from Barcelona. Pellegrini is at fault though, 442 in Europe just isn't going to cut it. His substitutions and tactical abilities are way behind Mancini, he doesn't motivate the players or stimulate them in training. They're like robots out there alot of the time.
He plays nice football and he's a good man who doesn't cause trouble, which is what they wanted after Mancini, but they're learning the hard way that these things don't mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. Chelsea went through that after Mourinho the first time round, wanting someone who played attacking football and said the right things to the media before realising there is alot more to football than that.
BlackSilver
Semi-Pro
Really? I really have no idea of these aspects.
THESEXPISTOL
Hall of Fame
Pooooooortooooooooooo!!!!!!!!1111
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Those were some devastating counters. I can't believe how quickly Quaresma ran for that goal. He seems overweight.
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Quite how they've retained him for this long is a mystery to me. Porto used to be ridiculed for being a selling club but the FFP have made them look a properly ran club. Their scouts are quite possibly the best in the world, for my money.
THESEXPISTOL
Hall of Fame
He was a little bit when he came back from Turkey. He also gained some muscle in the last few years though...
Well, he just missed a putter against Academica. He misses those really easy goals that has no business to miss and then scores these amazing acrobatic goals out of nowhere. I'm always saying my non-tennis pals that he's the Monfils of football.
He's just another good south-american player that came to Porto and is evolving thanks to the strict discipline of the club. And that kind of players always run their asses off in the champions league in order to promote their sale.
I bet you he will be landed by some TOP5 premier league/la liga team and his career will go downhill from there.
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Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Can't believe he's the same player that was at Chelsea 5 years ago, he had huge potential when he was young but it looked like he'd thrown it away. Great to see him doing it on the big stage.
THESEXPISTOL
Hall of Fame
He sure had Feña14. He's a few years older than Cristiano Ronaldo and they both came from Sporting's academy, and when CR started to gather people's attention everyone was saying that Ronaldo would be the next Quaresma. Little they knew...
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Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Absolutely, 12 years ago you'd be forgiven for thinking it would be Quaresma having the career Ronaldo has had. Barcelona certainly thought so.
Seems to me that he's a player who is at his happiest at home in Portugal, his time at Sporting and a couple of spells at Porto have been the best of his career, nothing wrong with that
