The whatever footie that's going on (with actual fans) thread

Matthewfalle

Looks like Pellegrini has buggered it up though doesn't it? That won't be going down well with the big boss ......

Its the Scousers' to lose now.

cornerblock

nathancom wrote:

Cornerblock wrote:

Not as scary as Chelsea with a couple of prolific strikers, in my rather biased opinion.

Mourinho has never really set his teams up to play devastating football though.

You will definitely be among the top 4 European teams with 2 good strikers but I don't see him creating a 'memorable' football team ever. Rodgers on the other hand has potential, but can he build a defence or is he just a superior version of Keegan?

His Chelsea that won the title in 2004/05 were pretty devastating but somehow never seem to get the credit they deserve. They regularly swept teams aside that season, amassing the most wins and most points in a season records in the process. Robben and Duff were fantastic that season, playing quick penetrating football that Drogba and Lampard benefited from. I do find it weird how people wax lyrical about that Newcastle side, who don't get me wrong were good to watch, but ultimately won zilch and seem to ignore that Mourinho Chelsea side.
Again you will notice that his Real Madrid side of 2011/12 hold the most points and most goal (121) in a season records in Spain. You can't tell me that side were not devastating.

The thing that sets Mourinho apart from other coaches I believe is that he has more strings to his bow than most. He can send his team out to blow teams away if it's wise to do so, he can also nullify great attacking opponents if that is what's necessary too. He works brilliantly with what he has and this season he has had to play a whole season with not one striker getting into double figures for League goals!! I've seen them enough times this season to know that with someone like Drogba (hopefully next season Costa) up front that teams which we were dominating would have been beaten, instead of constantly being let off the hook.

As for being among the top 4 European teams, one could argue that they already are by being in the semi-final of the CL yet again. Rodgers has won nothing yet, plenty have smelt success but never tasted it. I know Mourinho is not everybody's cup of tea and rubs people up the wrong way, so blatantly sometimes that I can't believe people fall for it and allow him to pull their strings. However the man is a winner of that there is no doubt.

The case for the defence (no pun intended!) rests m'lud.

tim_wand

Cornerblock wrote:

nathancom wrote:

Cornerblock wrote:

Not as scary as Chelsea with a couple of prolific strikers, in my rather biased opinion.

Mourinho has never really set his teams up to play devastating football though.

You will definitely be among the top 4 European teams with 2 good strikers but I don't see him creating a 'memorable' football team ever. Rodgers on the other hand has potential, but can he build a defence or is he just a superior version of Keegan?

His Chelsea that won the title in 2004/05 were pretty devastating but somehow never seem to get the credit they deserve. They regularly swept teams aside that season, amassing the most wins and most points in a season records in the process. Robben and Duff were fantastic that season, playing quick penetrating football that Drogba and Lampard benefited from. I do find it weird how people wax lyrical about that Newcastle side, who don't get me wrong were good to watch, but ultimately won zilch and seem to ignore that Mourinho Chelsea side.
Again you will notice that his Real Madrid side of 2011/12 hold the most points and most goal (121) in a season records in Spain. You can't tell me that side were not devastating.

The thing that sets Mourinho apart from other coaches I believe is that he has more strings to his bow than most. He can send his team out to blow teams away if it's wise to do so, he can also nullify great attacking opponents if that is what's necessary too. He works brilliantly with what he has and this season he has had to play a whole season with not one striker getting into double figures for League goals!! I've seen them enough times this season to know that with someone like Drogba (hopefully next season Costa) up front that teams which we were dominating would have been beaten, instead of constantly being let off the hook.

As for being among the top 4 European teams, one could argue that they already are by being in the semi-final of the CL yet again. Rodgers has won nothing yet, plenty have smelt success but never tasted it. I know Mourinho is not everybody's cup of tea and rubs people up the wrong way, so blatantly sometimes that I can't believe people fall for it and allow him to pull their strings. However the man is a winner of that there is no doubt.

The case for the defence (no pun intended!) rests m'lud.

Good Post^^^^ well considered.

I am no Mourinho fan, the guy just rubs me up, But that's the whole point, I m a Gooner I m not meant to like him and his comment about Wenger being a "Specialist in Failure" really hit home.

I warmed to him before the P.S.G game when Gabriel Clarke reminded him that Chelsea had overturned a 3-1 first league quarter final against Napoli to win the tie 5-4. Mourinho's response was "I don't know I wasn't there!"

Classic and typical of the man, I m quite warming to him, and as the only British team in the ECL good luck to them, I just hope Terry breaks a leg in training and doesn't play.

Still wouldn't stop him coming on suited and booted and claiming all the glory.

Cygnus

Cornerblock wrote:

nathancom wrote:

Cornerblock wrote:

Not as scary as Chelsea with a couple of prolific strikers, in my rather biased opinion.

Mourinho has never really set his teams up to play devastating football though.

You will definitely be among the top 4 European teams with 2 good strikers but I don't see him creating a 'memorable' football team ever. Rodgers on the other hand has potential, but can he build a defence or is he just a superior version of Keegan?

His Chelsea that won the title in 2004/05 were pretty devastating but somehow never seem to get the credit they deserve. They regularly swept teams aside that season, amassing the most wins and most points in a season records in the process. Robben and Duff were fantastic that season, playing quick penetrating football that Drogba and Lampard benefited from. I do find it weird how people wax lyrical about that Newcastle side, who don't get me wrong were good to watch, but ultimately won zilch and seem to ignore that Mourinho Chelsea side.
Again you will notice that his Real Madrid side of 2011/12 hold the most points and most goal (121) in a season records in Spain. You can't tell me that side were not devastating.

The thing that sets Mourinho apart from other coaches I believe is that he has more strings to his bow than most. He can send his team out to blow teams away if it's wise to do so, he can also nullify great attacking opponents if that is what's necessary too. He works brilliantly with what he has and this season he has had to play a whole season with not one striker getting into double figures for League goals!! I've seen them enough times this season to know that with someone like Drogba (hopefully next season Costa) up front that teams which we were dominating would have been beaten, instead of constantly being let off the hook.

As for being among the top 4 European teams, one could argue that they already are by being in the semi-final of the CL yet again. Rodgers has won nothing yet, plenty have smelt success but never tasted it. I know Mourinho is not everybody's cup of tea and rubs people up the wrong way, so blatantly sometimes that I can't believe people fall for it and allow him to pull their strings. However the man is a winner of that there is no doubt.

The case for the defence (no pun intended!) rests m'lud.

The reason they never got the credit they deserve was because they bought the league with Abramovich's money, but now that the most of the money has run out they've found it not so easy over the last couple of years. I just hope man city's owner runs out of money.

cornerblock

Of course Cygnus, because no team ever in the whole history of football ever spent money trying to get to the top, EVER! Now without getting into a whole new (boring) debate about 'buying the title' we were actually discussing the the style of football played. As for the money running out, don't kid yourself. I wouldn't mind being a pound behind Roman! Oh and I think you'll find that the CL was won in the past couple of years, not too shabby for a team where the money is running out! :roll:

nathancom

I like Chelsea, they have added to the competitiveness of the league, continued the tradition of physicality in English football. I don't think money is an issue, it is not enough on it's own to win lots of titles - ManC haven't exactly walked away with everything. The league would be poorer and less colourful without them, again I am not sure the same can be said of ManC...yet.

I don't have time to respond to your long post in detail, but I wasn't really criticising Mourinho. He plays to win before all else and this is what he is here to do. I just don't see him producing a team that is going to be remembered down the years, eg Barca at the beginning of this decade, Arsenal's early millenium teams including the invincibles (I suspect that Wenger had the jump on other Premiership teams in attracting good foreign talent and had less competition in the market, but by god they were amazing to watch play), Cruyff's Ajax (a bit before my time though), Liverpool 2005 (jk)

I think this is because there is a sense that none of these teams sacrificed anything to pragmatism yet still were incredibly successful, the marriage between results and an ideal conception of how to play the game. In short I meant something very rare indeed by 'memorable' that might well be a matter of chance more than design and only lasts a short time.

Mourinho has already proven himself one of the great managers in history, whatever you think about him.

pinno

Fuggle effected winning football for 26 years at MuHoo but somehow Chelsea's style of play is easier to watch even though it is of the same style - winning football, no matter how ugly.
We mustn't forget an Inter side which on paper was 2nd to Barca and Bayern but still won the CL with Morinho.

Wenger could have everything with the squad he has but they don't have a spine or resolve, more's the pity.

tim_wand

pinarello001 wrote:

Fuggle effected winning football for 26 years at MuHoo but somehow Chelsea's style of play is easier to watch even though it is of the same style - winning football, no matter how ugly.
We mustn't forget an Inter side which on paper was 2nd to Barca and Bayern but still won the CL with Morinho.

Wenger could have everything with the squad he has but they don't have a spine or resolve, more's the pity.

A new real ale establishment has opened in my locale tonight and we have partook in male ales for free, I am an Arsenal fan but I still don't comprehend the first 2 lines of your post Pinarello and I don't think its the ale.
Are you talking Kenyan Scottish Afrikanz again

tonye_n

Cornerblock wrote:

nathancom wrote:

Cornerblock wrote:

Not as scary as Chelsea with a couple of prolific strikers, in my rather biased opinion.

Mourinho has never really set his teams up to play devastating football though.

You will definitely be among the top 4 European teams with 2 good strikers but I don't see him creating a 'memorable' football team ever. Rodgers on the other hand has potential, but can he build a defence or is he just a superior version of Keegan?

His Chelsea that won the title in 2004/05 were pretty devastating but somehow never seem to get the credit they deserve. They regularly swept teams aside that season, amassing the most wins and most points in a season records in the process. Robben and Duff were fantastic that season, playing quick penetrating football that Drogba and Lampard benefited from. I do find it weird how people wax lyrical about that Newcastle side, who don't get me wrong were good to watch, but ultimately won zilch and seem to ignore that Mourinho Chelsea side.
Again you will notice that his Real Madrid side of 2011/12 hold the most points and most goal (121) in a season records in Spain. You can't tell me that side were not devastating.

The thing that sets Mourinho apart from other coaches I believe is that he has more strings to his bow than most. He can send his team out to blow teams away if it's w


The case for the defence (no pun intended!) rests m'lud.

Mate.... I don't think Moaningho brought in Robben and Duff.
He inherited them, and even by the end of that season it was clear that he didn't really take to either player.
.... So I would limit the kudos he gets for that.

When Mou goes out and spends money to set up a team, he does not create a team of attractive football.
He basically serves up a better version of 'Football according to Alladyce'', with better and much more expensive protagonists.
He's a winner though.

nathancom

Ranieri built the team - Ranieri has a history of creating great teams but being unable to win anything with them...

I definitely agree that Mourinho has never built a great team of his own but that isn't necessarily his job in modern football.

cornerblock

tonye_n wrote:

Cornerblock wrote:

nathancom wrote:

Cornerblock wrote:

Not as scary as Chelsea with a couple of prolific strikers, in my rather biased opinion.

Mourinho has never really set his teams up to play devastating football though.

You will definitely be among the top 4 European teams with 2 good strikers but I don't see him creating a 'memorable' football team ever. Rodgers on the other hand has potential, but can he build a defence or is he just a superior version of Keegan?

His Chelsea that won the title in 2004/05 were pretty devastating but somehow never seem to get the credit they deserve. They regularly swept teams aside that season, amassing the most wins and most points in a season records in the process. Robben and Duff were fantastic that season, playing quick penetrating football that Drogba and Lampard benefited from. I do find it weird how people wax lyrical about that Newcastle side, who don't get me wrong were good to watch, but ultimately won zilch and seem to ignore that Mourinho Chelsea side.
Again you will notice that his Real Madrid side of 2011/12 hold the most points and most goal (121) in a season records in Spain. You can't tell me that side were not devastating.

The thing that sets Mourinho apart from other coaches I believe is that he has more strings to his bow than most. He can send his team out to blow teams away if it's w


The case for the defence (no pun intended!) rests m'lud.

Mate.... I don't think Moaningho brought in Robben and Duff.
He inherited them, and even by the end of that season it was clear that he didn't really take to either player.
.... So I would limit the kudos he gets for that.

When Mou goes out and spends money to set up a team, he does not create a team of attractive football.
He basically serves up a better version of 'Football according to Alladyce'', with better and much more expensive protagonists.
He's a winner though.

Mate.... I think you need to read my post more carefully.
Who claimed he brought in Robben and Duff? I said that the team he had for the 2004/05 season was an attractive side to watch. They went out that season and blew every other team away playing fast attacking football. Claudio was a decent enough manager, no more than that, a good man but he was never going to take Chelsea onto that final rung of the ladder.

As for Mourinho not taking to either Robben or Duff I think you're wrong. Duff was a regular for Mourinho in that record title winning season scoring many vital goals, but once he had served his time and his performances were beginning to dip it was right for him to move on when he did. I think his form once he left probably shows we and Blackburn probably got the best out of him. As for Robben he was a player nobody at Chelsea really wanted to lose, but when Real Madrid came in then there's not a lot of players who are going to say no.

I think you are allowing your dislike of Mourinho to cloud your judgement mate, (Moaningho, really? :roll: ) To compare his philosophy with Allardyce is a bit silly. His sides at Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid would never have achieved what they did playing a one dimensional game. As I said before he can close a game out like no coach I've ever seen if it's needed but don't kid yourself that he does not like his teams to play good football. That's why he is the winner that he is, because he gets his tactics right more often than most other managers. Take the game at the Etihad this season, all the so called experts, pundits and critics like yourself were saying he was going to go there and park the bus. Did he? No he sent the team out and took the game to City and played them off the park. And to be honest I don't think City have recovered from that night since.

pinno

tim wand wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

Fuggle effected winning football for 26 years at MuHoo but somehow Chelsea's style of play is easier to watch even though it is of the same style - winning football, no matter how ugly.
We mustn't forget an Inter side which on paper was 2nd to Barca and Bayern but still won the CL with Morinho.

Wenger could have everything with the squad he has but they don't have a spine or resolve, more's the pity.

A new real ale establishment has opened in my locale tonight and we have partook in male ales for free, I am an Arsenal fan but I still don't comprehend the first 2 lines of your post Pinarello and I don't think its the ale.
Are you talking Kenyan Scottish Afrikanz again

Mourinho, Ferguson - no style but effective.

nathancom

Not that effective.

Can the glorious redmen handle the pressure of the title being in their laps now?

Stevo_666

Balls.

It's yours to lose now - better put my yellow t-shirt on tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed...

joelsim

Bunlucky Chelski.

ozzzyosborn206

This is the first time this season I have started to think we(liverpool) can actually win it. I expect to see some out of this world performances from Gerrard in the last few game, hopefully Suarez can sweep Norwich aside tomorrow again.

Will be interesting to see what team Chelsea put out against Athletico and then us, will they prioritise between CL and League?

pinno

If only I could see benito's face right now...

Churlishly sore looser Morinho after the game.

They'll have to do better than that against Altetico.
Maybe Arsenal win the FA cup and Morinho and his Russian boyfriend's Chelski get zilch silverware...happy days perhaps.

verylonglegs

Stevo 666 wrote:

Balls.

It's yours to lose now - better put my yellow t-shirt on tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed...

Sorry but as a man who lives in the area I can safely say Norwich are gash, completely fucking clueless...Hughton strangled the life out of them this season with his negative mindset and he's not been gone long enough for it to dissipate. Like you said, only Liverpool can lose it.

Stevo_666

pinarello001 wrote:

If only I could see benito's face right now...

Your wish is my command...



Anyway, my face is on the left of every post I make.

finchy

Stevo 666 wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

If only I could see benito's face right now...

Your wish is my command...



Anyway, my face is on the left of every post I make.

I would imagine that at the moment it's a bit more like this..

Stevo_666

verylonglegs wrote:

Stevo 666 wrote:

Balls.

It's yours to lose now - better put my yellow t-shirt on tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed...

Sorry but as a man who lives in the area I can safely say Norwich are gash, completely ******* clueless...Hughton strangled the life out of them this season with his negative mindset and he's not been gone long enough for it to dissipate. Like you said, only Liverpool can lose it.

Even my yellow t-shirt is f'ing useless today, though TBH I wasn't going to put money on Norwich...it's only a game, as you tell yourself when your team inevitably screw it it up

Stevo_666

johnfinch wrote:

I would imagine that at the moment it's a bit more like this..

I have been told before that I'm 'well hung' :P

Out of interest finchy, who do you support?

finchy

Bolton Wanderers and Maidstone United.

Not really bothered about success. I started supporting Bolton when we were in the old Division 4 and Maidstone in the Conference, so Bolton's current position is a step up from what I used to see and Maidstone are on their way back and the new generation of artificial pitch means that the football is really good to watch throughout the year.

Stevo_666

johnfinch wrote:

Not really bothered about success.

Probably the best approach in the circumstances

mr_goo

Have two teams. I'm originally from SW London and Chelsea vs Stoke was the first match I ever went to. It was in early 70s at Stamford Bridge when it had the old cinder track, The Shed and a strange stand in the corner by the away supporters terracing. Went to see a few Chelsea games as a youngster when visiting family. Saw them quite a bit in the John Neale days in Div 2. Their promotion season was fantastic. Saw some great games when they hammered Newcastle 4-0 and Leeds 5-0, but the best game was away to Cardiff. 3 - 0 down with ten minutes left and scored three goals to save a point. Nigel Spackman had been signed the previous season from Bournemouth.....

.......the team I follow with great interest. It's where I grew up from age of 4. I went to many games in the days of Ted MacDougall (zigger zagger, zigger zagger MacDougal), though I missed his triple hat trick in the FA Cup vs Margate.
I have seen them through tick and thin, mostly a lot of thin. So now it's great to see them in the Championship. They too have a Russian oligarch bank rolling them. I hope they just establish themselves as a good 2nd tier team. It would be fatal for them to go into the Prem this or next season. Far too early. I would not want them to end up like Cov or Pompey. If they do not get promoted in the next couple of seasons, I imagine that Eddie Howe will eventually take up managerial role at somewhere like Aston Villa, Spurs of Newcastle. He is probably the best young English manager in the country at the moment.

Cygnus

How nice, Arsenal and Everton battling it out for forth place.

If we can beat Chelsea next week then it will just be between us and Man City for the title.

pblakeney

Farewell Davie Moyes.

The other team's fans will be gutted.

nathancom

PBlakeney wrote:

Farewell Davie Moyes.

The other team's fans will be gutted.

They still have Rooney on £300k a week and need to rebuild most their team. Some non-trivial issues to sort out whoever comes in.

Stevo_666

PBlakeney wrote:

Farewell Davie Moyes.

The other team's fans will be gutted.

I was going to say stop trying to depress people with sick jokes - unfortunately looks like it may be happening Please please Man Utd, give Moyes another season to prove himself

finchy

St. David of Manure, your name shall live on in our hearts.

Never to be forgotten.