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Football Thread 2011/2012

SMD

By SMD
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Timmo

Timmo

Posted
Posted

@phresh

Yeah, I think a portion of the blame lies with AVB for not being a bit more versatile and adaptable during the transition period, and the remaining, large chunk with the board for not getting the tools in place for a transition. I don't think the players can be blamed to any extent for what's gone wrong this season. They've been the square pegs that AVB hasn't had the time or skill to force into his round holes.

That could be read that AVB has been unsuccessfully seducing Chelsea's players. Maybe that was the problem.

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Rsdio

Rsdio

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Posted

I see it as maybe being somewhere between the two extremes. I don't think it takes players consciously not playing for a manager to make a difference at the highest level where teams really are seperated by the tiniest of margins. Just losing their edge a little from morale being a bit flat will do it without an open 'player revolt'. 'PLAYERS NOT QUITE 100% HAPPY' isn't really a paper-selling headline though, admittedly.

Chelsea obviously weren't genuinely prepared to start building a new team so it was never going to be a good fit from the start. Although no-one's come out of it covered in glory, the predominant blame's got to lie with the board.

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aidey6

aidey6

Posted
Posted

Messi names his top three Premiership players....

I'd say the first two are vitally important to their respective clubs, Sergio Aguero has gone off a bit, but I remember when despite City only having 10 men against United in the 3rd round of the cup, he gave the back line a torrid 2nd half..

http://www.bbc.co.uk...otball/17383728

_59091934_meessi.jpg

15 March 2012 Last updated at 12:40

Messi: Rooney, Van Persie and Aguero are Premier League's best

Barcelona's Lionel Messi says strikers Sergio Aguero, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie are the Premier League's three best players.

The Argentine said: "There are several quality players in the Premier League like Kun Aguero, who is my friend. I really like how he plays.

"Rooney [and] Van Persie are playing really well - they are great players."

The forward also admitted he does not think he is similar to any other player in the world.

CLUB FORM THIS SEASON

  • Lionel Messi (Barcelona): 36 games, 48 goals
  • Wayne Rooney (Man Utd): 32 games, 27 goals
  • Robin van Persie (Arsenal): 38 games, 33 goals
  • Sergio Aguero (Man City): 39 games, 21 goals

"No one player is the same as another," said Messi, who has scored 50 goals in 44 appearances for club and country so far this season.

"I think each player has his own style, and we're all different."

When asked who is the best player he has ever played alongside, Messi could not be drawn on just one name.

"I have been lucky to always have really good team-mates," the 24-year-old added.

"I was to lucky to play with Ronaldinho, with Deco, with [samuel] Eto'o, and nowadays with Xavi [Hernandez], [Andres] Iniesta [and] Cesc [Fabregas]. It is very difficult to pick one.

"All those players are spectacular and I was lucky to play with them, to experience that, to train with them, play with them - it was wonderful."

Messi, who was given his debut at 17 by then-manager Frank Rijkaard, also said he has had to develop his game from youth level and become much more of a team player.

"[When I was 12] the truth is I would get the ball and never pass it," he said.

"But I'd try to make everyone to pass to me so I could score. I was a bit like that."

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Headache

Headache

Posted
Posted

Champions League draw has just been made -

Marseille/Bayern v Apoel/Real Madrid and Benfica/CHELSEA v AC Milan/Barcelona

I can only see Bayern and Madrid winning their games, Chelsea might get past Benfica but which ever team wins will only get knocked out by Barcelona. I'd like to see Bayern vs Barcelona in the final, I'm bored of watched Madrid vs Barcelona these days.

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DC Lemon

DC Lemon

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I find myself in the rather unfamiliar position of wanting Chelsea to win the Champions League this year. I suppose it partly down to the Premier League needing a bit of success in the competition at the moment and equally down to it leaving City's chips the soggiest if Chelsea become the mercenary's club of choice once more.

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JDubYes

JDubYes

Posted
Posted

Much as it sounds tedious right now, a Madrid vs Barca final would be absolutely unmissable. About as much Good vs Evil as anything else.

Which one's which?

Seriously though, with the exception of Guardiola seeming a decent sort, and there being a few more likeable players on the Barcelona side, I don't see the real difference between them for the most part. I mean, (I've obviously assumed) you're basically implying that Busquets is a force for good, which is something that doesn't sit right with me at all. There's a difference in style too, obviously, but I'd just as happily watch either team when they're in full flow.

Good vs Evil? Nah. Idealism vs Pragmatism? Sometimes. Finesse vs Power? Maybe. The fierce rivals of the best two club teams in the world playing against each other in (arguably) the biggest one-off match of the season? Yes please.

Oh, and I'd actually quite like Real Madrid to win, partially out of a childhood allegiance (I had a shirt, etc), but also because I'd love Mourinho to win the Primera Liga and CL, and then tell Perez where he can stick his job. That would be glorious.

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Plissken

Plissken

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Posted

Fair enough, but Francos team versus Catalunya, Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi, Mourinho vs Guardiola, state financed dodgy land deal vs La Masia, pragmatism vs purity.

Yes Busquets is an arse, and I have a sneaking liking for Mourinho. But it would be absolutely epic. No game would match up to it for years.

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CGB

CGB

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Posted

Real vs Barca would've been better 2 years ago really (at Bernabeu). As much as I love La Liga, I'd rather see something a bit different instead of another El Clasico. I'd quite like to see Bayern in the final since it's at Allianz Arena. Kind of tempted to cheer Chelsea on too since the Premier League has been a bit of an embarrassment this year but I'm sure the ITV commentary will make me want the English team to lose as usual.

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JDubYes

JDubYes

Posted
Posted

Fair enough, but Francos team versus Catalunya, Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi, Mourinho vs Guardiola, state financed dodgy land deal vs La Masia, pragmatism vs purity.

I agree with all of that, to be honest, I think I'm just tired of Barcelona being worshipped as they are, and decided to play devil's advocate. The fawning over them has gotten tiresome, especially when you watch them play and their negative attributes are largely ignored, and their positives fixated on to such an extent that they become difficult to take just as they are.

This isn't their fault, of course (it's Clive Tyldsley's), but it still irritates me.

Yes Busquets is an arse, and I have a sneaking liking for Mourinho. But it would be absolutely epic. No game would match up to it for years.

This I absolutely agree with, with one caveat - Mourinho has too often tried to play the immovable object to Barca's irresistible force, but when he let them go for it earlier in the season Madrid actually had the better of large parts of the match (though Barca were more clinical and came out victorious again). If he lets them off the leash, and we get the battle of irresistible forces... Yeah, that could be a game to remember.

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Fry Crayola

Fry Crayola

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I just hope that in the event of a Clásico final, both Messi and Ronaldo enter sitting at 68 goals each for the season, and it's a race to see who can get a hat trick first and top Archie Stark's record of 70 for Bethlehem Steel in the 1924/25 American Soccer League.

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Plissken

Plissken

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Apart from the four other Classicos every season

La Liga is a consolation prize for these two. A defeat in a CL final would lead to utter meltdown in the back offices of either Madrid or Barcelona.

I agree with all of that, to be honest, I think I'm just tired of Barcelona being worshipped as they are, and decided to play devil's advocate.

Fair enough. I agree that their play-acting is often overlooked but watching Messi, Xavi and Iniesta is such a pleasure. I don't understand how people can call it boring, except perhaps not understanding that when something is done so easily it can look boring.

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Calashnikov

Calashnikov

Posted
Posted

If we are in for an El Classico final, then I sure as fuck hope there's a documentary crew in tow, recording extensive footage for use in the football equivalent of this:

Where is the final being played? I assume it's not going to be somewhere in Zaire, alas.

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Fry Crayola

Fry Crayola

Posted
Posted

Where is the final being played? I assume it's not going to be somewhere in Zaire, alas.

Nah, we're gonna have a Tunic in Munich.

Ok, I couldn't think of anything good to rhyme with Munich. Or anything that made sense, it would seem.

A Dalliance in the Allianz?

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