Year Round The Football/Soccer Thread v2

[goldb]

Did you guys read or follow the interview with Ferguson on Benitez's appointment? Even his compliments carry bits of insults.

What I'd mainly like to pick out from that article is this:

Sir Alex Ferguson has labelled Rafael Benítez as "very lucky" for being given the chance to win his second Fifa World Club title on the back of another manager's achievement. Benítez, who took over at Stamford Bridge after Robert Di Matteo's sacking, will take Chelsea to Japan in mid-December for the tournament. Their participation is based on them winning the Champions League title last May, under Di Matteo, and provides Benítez with a sense of deja vu given he won the title with Internazionale in 2010 after they had won the Champions League under José Mourinho seven months previously.

Ferguson said of the Italian's removal: "You'd think they would give the guy the chance to win a world championship. Rafa Benítez is very lucky because on his CV in two weeks' time he could have two world championships to his name – and nothing to do with the teams.

"José Mourinho won the treble after going to [Inter] Milan. He [Benítez] took over and won a world championship without having to do anything. He had nothing to do with the construction of the teams and that's where I feel real disappointment for Roberto Di Matteo. He could really have on his CV an FA Cup, a Champions League and a World Club Championship."

Arsenal never cease to frustrate me, this time I'm more annoyed because I was at Villa working yesterday and would've loved to rub our victory in the Villa customers faces . Horrible horrible weather though...

 

[FrostyMouse]

Yeah, Bob, I'd read it. I just shook my head and laughed. It really seemed like Fergie couldn't stand an "inferior" manager winning a trophy more times than he's won it, even if it's something uber-insignificant like the CWC.

 

[goldb]

Well I had forgotten that Fergie has also won the tournament only once and I think it irks him because of how hard he had to work to build the team to win his World club cup and Benitez simply got it through someone's else works....so it's more about the work then the number of trophies in my opinion, either way he is right about Benitez, in that he's been very fortunate.

 

[kakashi919]

Benitez sucks.... I don't care if he won UCL with Liverpool, I never thought he was any good. Always rotating the team, not giving certain players the right amount of playing time. He's not a good manger and for once, I agree with Fergie. I wouldn't be too surprised if he is sacked next week when he loses

 

[Hardy]

Last news: suddenly, everyone hates Mourinho (except Rafa Nadal) and he'll be out of Madrid in June 2013.

 

[Mazino]

Last news: suddenly, everyone hates Mourinho (except Rafa Nadal) and he'll be out of Madrid in June 2013.

i like mou

 

[FrostyMouse]

Rafa's been awful so far. I'd rather have Avram Grant, as he had least got the players to play.

I want Jose back.

 

[kakashi919]

Never liked mou, but what can you expect from teams and owners who want instant success? Though Madrid is kind of an exception because they do have the players and history. Chelsea however....needs a lot of work.

 

[FrostyMouse]

Well, if Roman let our managers buy players, we wouldn't be in the rut that we are. Torres would've been gone ages ago (in fact, he'd never have been bought in the first place), we wouldn't have bought Luiz, and we'd have gotten a good CDM.

Also, I think that we might've tried a little harder to buy Schurrle, and perhaps gone after Reus.

 

[kakashi919]

Well, if Roman let our managers buy players, we wouldn't be in the rut that we are. Torres would've been gone ages ago (in fact, he'd never have been bought in the first place), we wouldn't have bought Luiz, and we'd have gotten a good CDM.

Also, I think that we might've tried a little harder to buy Schurrle, and perhaps gone after Reus.

If you mean he should let the managers decide on the players to buy then I agree. Look at how many players you bought.... Harzard brothers, Oscar,Marine,Azepeliqueta. He spent his money to play pretty football, what he didn't do however, was hire a proper manager to implement that style of play. Matteo is an old school italian defensive minded manager, even though that won them the UCL, it was not the style Roman wants. Torres was a waste of money yes lol. Luiz would however fit perfectly in the style of play Roman wants...get the full backs attacking and defending 100% of the game. Something like what Juventus and Liverpool full backs do. Its strange though....because Chelsea have the midfielders to flood the midfield and control it.

 

[FrostyMouse]

If you mean he should let the managers decide on the players to buy then I agree. Look at how many players you bought.... Harzard brothers, Oscar,Marine,Azepeliqueta. He spent his money to play pretty football, what he didn't do however, was hire a proper manager to implement that style of play. Matteo is an old school italian defensive minded manager, even though that won them the UCL, it was not the style Roman wants. Torres was a waste of money yes lol. Luiz would however fit perfectly in the style of play Roman wants...get the full backs attacking and defending 100% of the game. Something like what Juventus and Liverpool full backs do. Its strange though....because Chelsea have the midfielders to flood the midfield and control it.

Yes, I mean if Roman let the managers decide on who to buy.

Yeah, not only did we not get the most effective players around, we didn't do what we needed. If we'd acquired strong, powerful players like we used to have, RDM would've been fine, but trying to make a counter attacking manager play offensive possession football is never really going to work.

A 3-5-2 or 3-6-1 would work fine with the players that we have, but a 4-2-3-1 isn't going to work with who we have.

---------- Post added at 03:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:11 PM ----------

So, three penalties in a six minute span, of which the FCN player had his saved, Hazard had his saved, and then Luiz finished one. Right on the stroke of half time, Torres gets fed by Oscar, and requires two chances to put away the goal. He scored, but the old Fernando would've just scored with a one timer.

It's still 0-0 in Donetsk, so it looks as if we're probably going out.

---------- Post added at 05:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:46 PM ----------

Celtic through, but we're out. It's good for Celtic. In terms of us, we defended poorly at home, so it's understandable, and as we would eventually have faced better teams than Shakhtar (who managed to fail at home today) and Juve, we weren't going to go that far even if we had qualified.

 

[kakashi919]

lol its funny that even if you guys scored 100 goals you would still go out

Juve topped the group, unbeaten in last 16 Europe games I hope we can go unbeaten for the rest of the UCL and actually win it. Want them to draw Madrid just to destroy them

 

[goldb]

UEFA to stage Euro 2020 in various cities across Europe.

 

[FrostyMouse]

kakashi, I thought that you were a Liverpool supporter? Juve's not winning, so...

Bob, I can't see how that's a good idea, although I still don't see how increasing the number of teams in the Euros is a good idea either.

 

[kakashi919]

kakashi, I thought that you were a Liverpool supporter? Juve's not winning, so...

Bob, I can't see how that's a good idea, although I still don't see how increasing the number of teams in the Euros is a good idea either.

Juventus is the first team I ever supported and loved, Liverpool comes right after. If they every play each other again, I'll be supporting Juve. And yes, Juve will win it all!

 

[FrostyMouse]

Juventus is the first team I ever supported and loved, Liverpool comes right after. If they every play each other again, I'll be supporting Juve. And yes, Juve will win it all!

Ah, okay. In my opinion, you can only really support ONE club, although I can see how you could support clubs in different leagues.

 

[Hardy]

Ah, okay. In my opinion, you can only really support ONE club, although I can see how you could support clubs in different leagues.

I only really support 2 clubs in 2 different continents, is that ok?

 

[FrostyMouse]

I only really support 2 clubs in 2 different continents, is that ok?

lol

I'm a lot more okay with that. You just can't support both Liverpool and Juventus. It would be like a person saying, "I support both Madrid and United."

 

[goldb]

Bob, I can't see how that's a good idea, although I still don't see how increasing the number of teams in the Euros is a good idea either.

The idea of hosting the matches in different cities I am in favour of, but adding the number of teams I am not really into. It'd give a lot of nations the chance to host the tournament in the own lands, an opportunity most may never have considering how much the bidding campaign and works cost. Many simply cannot afford it. Plus it's a very unique idea.

 

[kakashi919]

lol

I'm a lot more okay with that. You just can't support both Liverpool and Juventus. It would be like a person saying, "I support both Madrid and United."

Well honestly, I only started supporting Juventus because of Del Piero and Liverpool because of Gerrard Though watching both teams for so long I'm a full supporter of both teams As a former footballer, I just love to see good football and would support any team that plays it... Swansea for example. Though I must say, I have a hatred for Manchester Utd.... because some of their fans are just annoying a ridiculous.