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The 2015-2016 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
- Start date
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Abramovich, Mourinho and the players all share the blame. Abramovich for being too results-oriented, Mourinho for being a rotten, narcissistic human being who creates toxic working environments, and the players for being spoiled brats and downing tools in the middle of a season while collectively earning as much as a small nation.
Serves them right.
I won't disagree since it obviously is correct although I think it's quite disrespectful re Paris (a squad with equally 'magically' financial backing). They played extremely well and every team would hqve had a hard time to beat them. If anything Paris shows that indeed it's possible to create a team of 'super'players out of nowhere and get it going almost instantly - also internationally. Makes one wonder what they did at ManCity all these years.
No disrespect towards PSG intended - they are a confident, dangerous side with lots of talent. While they aren't favorites to win the Champions League they are certainly a serious contender.
On the other hand, they face no real competition in Ligue 1, so their "project" to build a contender overnight with lots of money is much simpler than it would be in the Premier League.
May I ask why? Not questioning the joke that is the French league as of now - but could Stephen Curry bring the same game once in a month when he'd play with the Harlem Globetrotters every other week?
Anyway, part of why Paris looked so good was certainly Chelsea displaying any lack of tactical impact. It's crazy when you think about such a squad with such rich talent and the inability to play a coherent system to overcome or threaten the opponent. That's one big "flaw" I see with basically every English team now though. It's almost "kick n rush" or "give the ball to the most talented player and let's see what he can do".
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Good question - I don't know. I'm not an elite athlete, but I think there is a disadvantage to playing inferior opponents who are afraid of you every week, and then occasionally playing a one-off match (or two-legged tie) in a knockout competition against equal or even superior opponents, where the smallest loss of focus could be fatal.
The theory being that playing in a "Mickety Mouse league" hurts a team's motivation and focus, because they are used to winning without putting in a full effort and their mistakes are not always punished. People have made the same arguments with respect to Celtic and Bayern Munich. La Liga is similar, but there are at least two (now three) serious competitors.
On the flip side, playing in a very competitive league is exhausting, which can also lead to a loss of focus or squad depletion due to injury.
There is definitely still a certain cultural mistrust of "systems" in England, despite the growing professionalism and international character of English football. Systems are still seen by some as being effete, continental, tricksy or - the horror! - French, Italian or Soviet. Courage, shouting, physicality and effort are often prized over "systems" by fans, pundits and some managers (though mostly older managers). One of English football's greatest managers (possibly THE greatest), Jimmy Hogan, spent most of his career in Europe because his ideas were disparaged.
One of my favorite quotes from Johnathan Wilson's Inverting the Pyramid comes from the very birth of association football, when it split from rugby in the 1860s. In one of the first meetings of what would eventually become the Football Association, the rules of the game were unified and it was proposed that hacking (tripping an opponent by kicking their shins) be banned.
Francis Maule Campbell, favoring rugby-style rules, objected to the proposal - claiming that banning hacking would
I think that sums up the English attitude nicely. Much has changed since the 1860s, but the English veneration of "courage and pluck" has not.
Thanks for sharing! Btw, I don'T want to sound "elitist" or so, I was just a bit shocked once I saw some matches this year of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or City - regardless the opponents (sometimes big clubs, sometimes not). Makes your head explode a little since there seems to be a rampant stagnation at hand that is surprising when you see some of the best players of the world gathered on the field.
I for one am extremely curious to see how Pep will fit into that. ManCity certainly will be patient enough to give him the time that he needs but I'm still super curious if he will have the impact that I believe he will. He brought Bayern onto another level in terms of tactic and flexibility and to play/positioning intelligently. Bayern will greatly benefit from that for years to come.
I think this season has been an oddity - Liverpool are learning a new system under Klopp, Man Utd are still struggling to find themselves post-Ferg, Man City are still trying to build a club culture and have a dead man walking for a manager, Chelsea had a big implosion. This all leads to chaos in the table and in playing styles.
On the other side, Spurs and Leicester play with very clear systems - and are succeeding with them.
Only Arsenal are truly baffling. They should be running away with the league. They have a great squad, experienced manager, play an attractive style and are always in the top four. But they are miles off the title right now in terms of current form, morale and momentum. Is this the season that leaves Wenger with nothing to hide behind? Mourinho was being cruel when he called him a "specialist in failure," but he does look set to cement a reputation as a bit of a bridesmaid.
On the other side, Spurs and Leicester play with very clear systems - and are succeeding with them.
Only Arsenal are truly baffling. They should be running away with the league. They have a great squad, experienced manager, play an attractive style and are always in the top four. But they are miles off the title right now in terms of current form, morale and momentum. Is this the season that leaves Wenger with nothing to hide behind? Mourinho was being cruel when he called him a "specialist in failure," but he does look set to cement a reputation as a bit of a bridesmaid.
what was Tottenham thinking ? rotating 7 players out of the starting line up to rest players for the aston villa game on the weekend ? For the _easiest_ game of the season ?
For this i hope they miss out on the title on the last game.
i thought Arsenal's second game against Munich was the low point of the PL clubs so far, but this easily tops it.
Resting players at this stage of the european competitions is pure arrogance.
For this i hope they miss out on the title on the last game.
i thought Arsenal's second game against Munich was the low point of the PL clubs so far, but this easily tops it.
Resting players at this stage of the european competitions is pure arrogance.
Tottenham have never finished above local rivals Arsenal in the league since Wenger arrived, and they rarely qualify for the Champions League. Right now they are set to do both, and obviously somebody decided that the Europa League was merely a distraction. But I agree, it is always lame to see a team field a weakened side and essentially throw the game away.
Dortmund look very good though, a real contender to win this competition.
As a spurs fan I was a very disappointed at the rotation and the end result , but saying that I know what I would rather want come the end of the season .
The shame is its all about business now .
The shame is its all about business now .
De Gea with another world-class performance for Man Utd, and Liverpool failing to take advantage of a couple golden opportunities to put the tie away at Anfield...
2-0 is a big result for the Reds though, especially the "0" part. Klopp will go to Old Trafford knowing that a draw, a win or even a loss by one goal will see Liverpool through.
2-0 is a big result for the Reds though, especially the "0" part. Klopp will go to Old Trafford knowing that a draw, a win or even a loss by one goal will see Liverpool through.
Another terrible performance. Season practically over if we lose to West Ham. Say what you want about Mourinho, but he surely can't do worse than LVG is doing now.
No point resting players for Villa, its practically a guaranteed 3pts for most teams right now. Poch's actions suggest they're terrified of bottling it which is never a good thing.
The real test for Spurs is yet to come. They have the toughest run of fixtures left amongst the top 3.
As for United...well...same ol really. Not surprised Liverpool won. Since they have the better team and were at home. Not really sure Mou could do better until he's been given another £250m to buy finished articles.
The real test for Spurs is yet to come. They have the toughest run of fixtures left amongst the top 3.
As for United...well...same ol really. Not surprised Liverpool won. Since they have the better team and were at home. Not really sure Mou could do better until he's been given another £250m to buy finished articles.
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Mou is always an effective short term option. But he comes at a big price.
Maybe LVG got a little complacent because he did the double over Liverpool in the league. Klopp has made some progress since then, and Sturridge is currently fit (knock on wood).
Firmino continues to grow into his role at Liverpool. It's taken a while, but there is now no question that he should be starting most matches when fit.
Perhaps you're right - a club culture infected with an element of defeatism is bound to be overly cautious. Still, when Pochettino has set out to win matches he has generally done well.
Nice game yesterday. Wasn't surprised that Spurs didn't field their complete A-team but that shouldn't result in such an amateurish way of playing. But Dortmund was playing extremely strong and confident - should have scored 1-2 goals more though.
So no surprise, McLaren's gone...
Take an EPL winning team, spend £350m and it's still not better than Liverpool?
Take an EPL winning team, spend £350m and it's still not better than Liverpool?
Gift giving season continues; the game v Crystal Palace minus the sending off and Palace's goal - poor from Manchester United and the officials.
I was out, heard the score, watched a recording, and am left with a strange feeling - wondering why I'm not down in the dumps and bearish. Probably a mix of getting used to being back in the '70s, believing Champions League teams shouldn't be in the competition, and seeing the latter at League Cup level. The Premier League, FA Cup, or Champions League would see.
Liverpool and Manchester United are really mixed up this season; good and garbage.
Cheers,
OW
I was out, heard the score, watched a recording, and am left with a strange feeling - wondering why I'm not down in the dumps and bearish. Probably a mix of getting used to being back in the '70s, believing Champions League teams shouldn't be in the competition, and seeing the latter at League Cup level. The Premier League, FA Cup, or Champions League would see
.Liverpool and Manchester United are really mixed up this season; good and garbage.
Cheers,
OW
Meant if Mou took over at United...not sure there'd be a marked improvement. Until someone wrote him a cheque.
Surprised Benitez took over at Newcastle. Must really love football or need the money.
Benitez at Newcastle is absolutely shocking - from managing Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema to whoever plays for Newcastle! Big respect to him for taking this up - even if he sees that is for a few months until they get relegated (he surely has a clause for that)
But if he does manage to get Newcastle to stay up, I wonder if he'd still want to continue at that club beyond this season. This looks like one of Mike Ashley's way of getting the fans on his side perhaps.
But if he does manage to get Newcastle to stay up, I wonder if he'd still want to continue at that club beyond this season. This looks like one of Mike Ashley's way of getting the fans on his side perhaps.
Ferguson really hated Liverpool - it seemed a poisonous, personal thing with him. Moyes and LVG don't seem to have had that kind of tribal fire in their belly. Nor do the players. In fact, the only time LVG ever gets animated is with journos.
To be fair, most of Liverpool's players are also personally detached from the rivalry, maybe all of them apart from Flanagan, a local boy, and Skrtel, who played in some big derbies that mattered.
Klopp seems to get it too, but maybe modern football has dampened this rivalry? Apart from the fans, of course.