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

turbotommy

Stevo 666 wrote:

TurboTommy wrote:

Stevo I agree that points win prizes but it's not all about the trophy cabinet is it? I watch football for entertainment. If it's not entertaining me, I do something else with my time.

I can see why a neutral observer doesn't like seeing another team win like Chelsea sometimes does. It's also a very natural thing for supporters of teams who aren't winning to say things like 'Oh, the entertainment is more important'. But there's nothing worse than paying a shed load of money to see your team lose.

All I can say is that I've never failed to enjoy a day out at Stamford Bridge. And it's properly good fun baiting the opposing fans with a few choice songs when you're winning

Also, success breeds success. You win trophies, you get full grounds and big sponsorship deals; you get top class players wanting to play for you.

Yeah I think that's fair enough really

And to be fair I'm not comparing Chelsea to the arsenal team under George graham. Chelsea have class players all over the pitch and are rightfully top of the league in my opinion. First half of the season in particular they played some very expressive, entertaining footie at times. Of late I think it's fair to say they've just been getting the job done.

I do think it's a shame that in abromovich you have a man who can buy any toy in the shop. But doesnt seem to have the imagination to aim for something more than he has built.

Man city for example seem to have a clearer vision of what they want. The beauty of football I suppose is there's more than one way to win. If Spurs could find anyway to win consistently it would be a bloody good start! :shock:

Stevo_666

TurboTommy wrote:

I do think it's a shame that in abromovich you have a man who can buy any toy in the shop. But doesnt seem to have the imagination to aim for something more than he has built.

Man city for example seem to have a clearer vision of what they want. The beauty of football I suppose is there's more than one way to win. If Spurs could find anyway to win consistently it would be a bloody good start! :shock:

Re: making Chelsea better, there's one big barrier which also applies to City and other clubs - FFP.

BTW I want Spurs to do quite well this season as I've got a tenner bet on with one of the blokes who works for me that you'll finish above Liverpool this season

And just to show we can laugh at ourselves over at Chelski...

pinno

The pain and heartbreak of being an Arsenal supporter is infinitely better than the glory of whoever united FC.

Dunno why but it is.

Stevo_666

pinarello001 wrote:

The pain and heartbreak of being an Arsenal supporter is infinitely better than the glory of whoever united FC.

Dunno why but it is.

I'm just waiting for one of the Liverpool supporters on here to start a Monty Python 'Four Yorkshiremen' type argument on this subject...

pinno

Stevo 666 wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

The pain and heartbreak of being an Arsenal supporter is infinitely better than the glory of whoever united FC.

Dunno why but it is.

I'm just waiting for one of the Liverpool supporters on here to start a Monty Python 'Four Yorkshiremen' type argument on this subject...

A Leicester City, Reading, Liverpool and Boro' supporter would do. Only 2 short.

Stevo_666

Leicester and Boro are not guaranteed candidates yet!

city_boy

Stevo 666 wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

The pain and heartbreak of being an Arsenal supporter is infinitely better than the glory of whoever united FC.

Dunno why but it is.

I'm just waiting for one of the Liverpool supporters on here to start a Monty Python 'Four Yorkshiremen' type argument on this subject...

My team were that sh1t, I 'ad t'spend mi 30th birthdi watchin 'em get tw@tted 2-1 genst York City in t'old third division!

I win :twisted:

Stevo_666

City Boy wrote:

Stevo 666 wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

The pain and heartbreak of being an Arsenal supporter is infinitely better than the glory of whoever united FC.

Dunno why but it is.

I'm just waiting for one of the Liverpool supporters on here to start a Monty Python 'Four Yorkshiremen' type argument on this subject...

My team were that sh1t, I 'ad t'spend mi 30th birthdi watchin 'em get tw@tted 2-1 genst York City in t'old third division!

I win :twisted:

I can't top that

Mind you, the Chelski marketing department should be bloody well shot - look at the pic on this membership renewal notice I got from them the other day

"Membership number: 666

Dear Stevo,

True Blue membership again offers fantastic value and your Ticket Only membership will offer you that vital priority match ticket access to all Chelsea games next season.

Members pay £5 less for tickets than non-members, so your Ticket Only membership saves you money at every game!

And remember due to demand for match tickets membership and the priority access it brings, is more important than ever.

Ticket Only membership for adults is
JUST £25
(£48 FOR 2 SEASONS!)

Remember, renew before 31 July 2015 and we will give you 5 bonus loyalty points that could possibly get you one step closer to those big match tickets.

Join In and stay closer to YOUR club

Renew now"

pinno

Morinho has a look on his face that say's...

Stevo_666

pinarello001 wrote:

Morinho has a look on his face that say's...

...I've won?

chris_bass

Does anyone think there is any chance of Newcastle getting close to the drop this year? They will probably be safe, only need one win or a few draws to be safe but they seem to be in freefall at the moment.

I think if Pardew had gone a bit earlier they could be in a lot of trouble.

lostboysaint

Yes.

Stevo_666

Chris Bass wrote:

Does anyone think there is any chance of Newcastle getting close to the drop this year? They will probably be safe, only need one win or a few draws to be safe but they seem to be in freefall at the moment.

I think if Pardew had gone a bit earlier they could be in a lot of trouble.

Think they have enough of a cushion to be safe but it'll be close I reckon.

orraloon

Dropping:
QPR
Hull
Sunderland

Leicester and Burnley to stay up.

Worth a punt that, wonder what odds I'd get?

Stevo_666

orraloon wrote:

Dropping:
QPR
Hull
Sunderland

Leicester and Burnley to stay up.

Worth a punt that, wonder what odds I'd get?

Have a look on the usual gambling sites - probably not bad odds given it has 2 not currently in the drop zone.

chris_bass

I think the odds would have been much better about 3 weeks ago

turbotommy

You defininately have to have a punt on it!

You'll get a good price and you'll be gutted if it comes in now and you haven't had a couple of quid on it!

orraloon

Chris Bass wrote:

I think the odds would have been much better about 3 weeks ago

Looks like you are correct. All showing odds-on bar Leicester at 2-1, PPower showing confidence in the Foxes.

Stevo_666

Some interesting odds on the Arsenal - Chelsea game this Sunday:
http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/arsenal-v-chelsea/winner
Might put a few squid on Chelsea.

tim_wand

It would be nice to think with a 10 point lead and only needing 2 wins to claim his first Premiership title in 5 years , that Mourinho will come to the Emirates on Sunday and will play attacking football on the front foot.

Me thinks however this is going to be a game to bore the shite out of us, and it wont be the Boring Boring Arsenal that make it that way.

Stevo_666

tim wand wrote:

It would be nice to think with a 10 point lead and only needing 2 wins to claim his first Premiership title in 5 years , that Mourinho will come to the Emirates on Sunday and will play attacking football on the front foot.

Me thinks however this is going to be a game to bore the shite out of us, and it wont be the Boring Boring Arsenal that make it that way.

Have a look at Chelsea's PL record against the other 'big 4' teams (Arsenal, City, Man U, Liverpool) since Mourinho took over in 2013:
Won 9
Drawn 5
Lost 0

Why change something that clearly works?

bondurant

I think the point Tim was trying to make referred to the type of football played rather than the result. Because Chelsea can afford to go for it and show that they are not only the best team but an entertaining and positive team, like they were before Xmas.

Stevo_666

Bondurant wrote:

I think the point Tim was trying to make referred to the type of football played rather than the result. Because Chelsea can afford to go for it and show that they are not only the best team but an entertaining and positive team, like they were before Xmas.

I know, I was explaining why Mourinho probably won't change for now at least. I think that if he gets the title mathematically in the bag, then they can go out and have a bit of fun. But for this game the priority is to at least avoid defeat.

pinno

Chelsea's performance in the CL was f*cking dire*. The lack of attacking football supported by a good defence was tangible. My respect for Boriinho will only be restored when he gets a team to play great winning and attacking football (a la Barca) and gets results at the higher level at Chelsea. The Inter-Barca fixtures were fascinating but his '5-3-2 was ultra defensive. Effective football: The sort of football that wins but never really inspires. You can have him.

*Arsenal's performance wasn't much better but we came close in the second leg with great football.

Stevo_666

pinarello001 wrote:

Chelsea's performance in the CL was f*cking dire*. The lack of attacking football supported by a good defence was tangible. My respect for Boriinho will only be restored when he gets a team to play great winning and attacking football (a la Barca) and gets results at the higher level at Chelsea. The Inter-Barca fixtures were fascinating but his '5-3-2 was ultra defensive. Effective football: The sort of football that wins but never really inspires. You can have him.

*Arsenal's performance wasn't much better but we came close in the second leg with great football.

Group stages were fine, just the PSG games were crap.

I'll take 2 trophies this season as a reasonable haul but in reality FFP will mean that catching Barca/Real/Bayern will not be easy for any team.

pinno

Stevo 666 wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

Chelsea's performance in the CL was f*cking dire*. The lack of attacking football supported by a good defence was tangible. My respect for Boriinho will only be restored when he gets a team to play great winning and attacking football (a la Barca) and gets results at the higher level at Chelsea. The Inter-Barca fixtures were fascinating but his '5-3-2 was ultra defensive. Effective football: The sort of football that wins but never really inspires. You can have him.

*Arsenal's performance wasn't much better but we came close in the second leg with great football.

Group stages were fine, just the PSG games were crap.

I'll take 2 trophies this season as a reasonable haul but in reality FFP will mean that catching Barca/Real/Bayern will not be easy for any team.

Funny how all of those teams are very much in the black. Barca and RM have huge youth academies, I don't know about BM. In a game last season in the Coppa Del Rey, Barce substituted 3 players and that meant 10 of the 11 on the pitch were Barca born, bred and trained. Quite exceptional. I do know that the Bundesliga was re-structured with financial limits and that has been to the benefit of Gernan football, not the detriment.
Although the PL is exciting, the model doesn't really promote youth.

There are youth academies in clubs in Spain right down to the middle of La Liga Adalente. Protected youth contracts are mandatory and minimum fee release clauses are common. It is therefore in the interest of any club to invest in youth development as they might not retain a potential star, they will retain the financial value of that player, justifying all the investment and coaching, benefiting the national cause.
I can't see how without proper structure, we will ever change the make up of British football and ever compete at the highest level.

Just got the draw for the CL:

Barca - Bayern
RM - Juventus

cornerblock

Yes that Wenger fella has proved himself to be a really great tactician. Too much nonsense spouted by a lot of bitter people. When the names are engraved onto trophies I'm pretty sure it doesn't mention how entertaining the neutrals felt the winners were. And besides, who gives a ****? Certainly not the Arsenal fans I know who watched their own team bore their way to success under George Graham. Just the JCL's and the jealous types it would seem.

pinno

Cornerblock wrote:

Yes that Wenger fella has proved himself to be a really great tactician. Too much nonsense spouted by a lot of bitter people. When the names are engraved onto trophies I'm pretty sure it doesn't mention how entertaining the neutrals felt the winners were. And besides, who gives a ****? Certainly not the Arsenal fans I know who watched their own team bore their way to success under George Graham. Just the JCL's and the jealous types it would seem.

Uh?! Wassup CB. have you got PMT?

I didn't even know I was fishing but I caught summat nonetheless.

turbotommy

I think you make some good points pinarello.

But beyond barca's youth system it's also important to note they have some other asvantages over PL clubs in this regard. One being that with modern scouting networks, there aren't that many young players that aren't known to all the major clubs in the world. The spannish clubs traditionally seem to have the advantage in signing players from outside of Europe. This is obv for various reasons. Messi wasn't born in Catalonia and barca didn't 'discover' him. They got his signature along with many other young players from South America

Yes they have an outstanding record in youth policy over the last few years, but they also the cheque book to back it up. Spannish clubs all negotiate their own TV deals which means real and barca are pretty much garunteed to maintain the status quo. Let's not forget how much they paid for Suarez. And the ban on transfers they're still serving because of they're dodgy dealing regarding Neymar. Not sure anyone knows how much they actually paid for him...

And Madrid? I know they have players from the youth set up but don't successive chairman keep the fans happy buy buying the worlds best players at any cost? Don't they have a reputation for being written blank cheques by spannish banks?

Honestly I love watching both these teams play. If Chelsea is our best then it's a bit embarrassing in comparison (sorry Stevo and the rest of blue brigade!) but I believe these things go in cycles. It wasn't that long ago we had 3 teams in the semis of the champions league, and there's nothing to say it won't happen again.

End of the day money always talks loudest and the premier league has an abundance of it. Fair play rules or not!

tim_wand

Cornerblock wrote:

Yes that Wenger fella has proved himself to be a really great tactician. Too much nonsense spouted by a lot of bitter people. When the names are engraved onto trophies I'm pretty sure it doesn't mention how entertaining the neutrals felt the winners were. And besides, who gives a ****? Certainly not the Arsenal fans I know who watched their own team bore their way to success under George Graham. Just the JCL's and the jealous types it would seem.

Talksport the other afternoon was going on about Simeone, after the dreadful tie between Real and Atletico.
A Newcastle fan came on and when asked stated he would not have Simeone as a Manager because the style and brand of football he plays is not entertaining or enjoyable to watch. I must say I agree.

Yes in comparison to Bourinho , Wenger has won very little. But the style (or lack of ) in which Chelsea play under Bourinho is not one I covet, even with the success it brings.

Wenger's Invincibles didn't play with 10 men behind the ball on the edge of their own box. When Chelsea have gone a whole season undefeated, and won with the free flowing football I witnessed for over a decade at Highbury and the Emirates. Then I might be jealous of Chelsea. Until then I just see you as the Sleight on the Beautiful game your are.

Remember No ones second team is Chelsea ( except Stevo because he's actually a Boro fan). Its like Shagging a Robot.