If we win the Europa league

Not true. I think you don't know much about Chelsea then. Beneitz was not the permanent manager, he took charge for the team till the end of the season after Di Matteo got sacked. Interim manager that's what he was, just as Hiddink last season after Jose got sacked.

Not to mention he was extremely hated by Chelsea fans anyway.

rafabenitez_2506234b.jpg


article-2331880-1863B154000005DC-275_634x398.jpg


article-2238257-16356D4D000005DC-873_634x401.jpg
That job title really boiled Rafa's p!ss :)
 
When I look at that Ajax side and the current state of ours I would say they are favourites to win, simply by outscoring us. This will promptly be seen as a blessing somehow. We seem cursed this year rather than fated to have Ibra score against his old team on his home soil.
The bookmakers clearly disagree with that assessment.
 
Benitez was never staying. Even Roman knew he fekked up with that interim appointment. Wenger would have been more palatable and that's not a ringing endorsement ( of either of them)

Well yeah thats true and it ties into what i was saying. Benitez wasn't kept on because the club were unhappy with his performance as the other poster suggested. Mourinho was already lined up and Benitez was just a stop gap.
 
When I look at that Ajax side and the current state of ours I would say they are favourites to win, simply by outscoring us. This will promptly be seen as a blessing somehow. We seem cursed this year rather than fated to have Ibra score against his old team on his home soil.

See Monaco vs Juventus as an example of why being great going forward alone isn't good enough.
 
Think that had more to do with the fact they had Mourinho lined up, than viewing Benitez's 6 months there as a failure.
Just didn't want Rafa there a minute longer than we had to have him tbh. Tried to bin JT, and prioritised EL when we were doing ok in the league.

Decent manager, but an odd choice by both Club and him. He knew he was hated at the bridge, and still didn't even try to recover the situation with the fans.
 
Think that had more to do with the fact they had Mourinho lined up, than viewing Benitez's 6 months there as a failure.
When do you believe that Mourinho was 'lined up'? He signed a 4yr contract in 2012 and made the Champions League semi-final and Copa del Rey final in 2013. I'd suggest if he'd won those he wouldn't have been available.
 
When do you believe that Mourinho was 'lined up'? He signed a 4yr contract in 2012 and made the Champions League semi-final and Copa del Rey final in 2013. I'd suggest if he'd won those he wouldn't have been available.

So we've moved from discussing Benitez in a Europa League thread to discussing Mourinho now?

When was Mourinho lined up no idea, sometime between July 2012 and July 2013 i would imagine. Certainly before or shortly after Benitez was appointed if i had to guess a more specific time. I don't think he would have stayed at Madrid even if he had won something.
 
The bookmakers clearly disagree with that assessment.

Would be strange if Ajax were favorites. Just given the fact that the entire Ajax team that played Lyon in the first match was bought for under 20mio (euro's!). That's about the same amount as Rooney's wages.
 
So we've moved from discussing Benitez in a Europa League thread to discussing Mourinho now?

When was Mourinho lined up no idea, sometime between July 2012 and July 2013 i would imagine. Certainly before or shortly after Benitez was appointed if i had to guess a more specific time. I don't think he would have stayed at Madrid even if he had won something.
Feel free not to.

I simply commented that Chelsea didn't see winning the Europa League as a significant enough trophy to keep an interim manager unlike when Di Matteo won the Champions League. You took this as an opportunity to bring in your ITK knowledge of Chelsea's recruitment policy and I believe you brought Mourinho into the discussion at that point.
 
Feel free not to.

I simply commented that Chelsea didn't see winning the Europa League as a significant enough trophy to keep an interim manager unlike when Di Matteo won the Champions League. You took this as an opportunity to bring in your ITK knowledge of Chelsea's recruitment policy and I believe you brought Mourinho into the discussion at that point.

Well you seem to know more about the inner workings of Chelsea than me mate, seeing as you know why Benitez wasn't kept on. I said i was guessing, you seem certain.
 
Well you seem to know more about the inner workings of Chelsea than me mate, seeing as you know why Benitez wasn't kept on. I said i was guessing, you seem certain.
Now don't be difficult. I've simply pointed out that despite winning the Europa League he wasn't kept on which I'm sure even you can agree is a statement of fact.
 
Not true. I think you don't know much about Chelsea then. Beneitz was not the permanent manager, he took charge for the team till the end of the season after Di Matteo got sacked. Interim manager that's what he was, just as Hiddink last season after Jose got sacked.

Not to mention he was extremely hated by Chelsea fans anyway.

rafabenitez_2506234b.jpg


article-2331880-1863B154000005DC-275_634x398.jpg


article-2238257-16356D4D000005DC-873_634x401.jpg

That's a very slim looking Mike Ashley above the middle sign … ironic huh?

I've bided my time but I eventually knew that I'd get him back for gazumping me on the Mikey Most mansion in Totteridge … fat fecker! :lol:

Was going to write Chelsea fans can't spell "Wenger" but … meh!
 
Last edited:
*If* we win the Europa League this year, and the Champions League next year...

Our route would have been

2016 FA Cup - 6 rounds won
2017 Europa League - 5 rounds won, plus the group qualified.

A very good run... Then we just have to do the same with the Champions League next year. But first we have to win this.
 
Now don't be difficult. I've simply pointed out that despite winning the Europa League he wasn't kept on which I'm sure even you can agree is a statement of fact.

Not quite mate, yeah he did leave but despite your previous posts you don't actually know why he wasn't kept on.

For all you or i know he was leaving no matter what he won, but it's also possible under different circumstances Chelsea would have considered an interim manager winning the Europa League as justification for appointing them permanently.

Who knows.
 
Not quite mate, yeah he did leave but despite your previous posts you don't actually know why he wasn't kept on.

For all you or i know he was leaving no matter what he won, but it's also possible under different circumstances Chelsea would have considered an interim manager winning the Europa League as justification for appointing them permanently.

Who knows.
You really can't let this go can you? Despite winning the Europa League he wasn't kept on as manager - that is a fact, as Rafa himself would have pointed out. If you want to put your own theories around it that's fine.
 
You really can't let this go can you? Despite winning the Europa League he wasn't kept on as manager - that is a fact, as Rafa himself would have pointed out.

:lol:

If you want to put your own theories around it that's fine.

Lets remember what you wrote to start this conversation mate.

Also probably worth noting that Chelsea didn't see the Europa League as enough of a success for their manager to keep his job.

Here's a tip for you mate, if you want to state your own opinions as if they were fact thats fine i suppose. But at least have a bit of self awareness and don't try to have a pop at someone else for sharing ''ITK'' info. Especially when they said they were guessing.
 
:lol:



Lets remember what you wrote to start this conversation mate.



Here's a tip for you mate, if you want to state your own opinions as if they were fact thats fine i suppose. But at least have a bit of self awareness and don't try to have a pop at someone else for sharing ''ITK'' info. Especially when they said they were guessing.
Thanks for all the tips - really helpful.

My tip for you would be to purchase a dictionary as you still seem to be struggling with the difference between a fact and an opinion.
 
At the beginning of the season, I figure the priority for the Big 6 would be in this order:
1. EPL title
2. CL title
3. FA Cup
4. EL title
5. League Cup

This doesn't account for CL spots (i.e. top 4). As the top 2 trophies became less of a probability to us (or nonexistent when it comes to CL title), the EL became more of a priority, as it's still a Euro cup, plus it gave us an in to next season's CL. I'd argue the EL becomes more of a priority for teams looking for trophies (over the FA Cup), but less for those that want to guarantee a top 4 spot, hence why you see Spurs not 'go for it' recently. I'd think any Top 6 team in the EL for the foreseeable future will have to deal with the tension of whether or not to spend precious resources on an EL run. If a top 4 spot isn't nailed on by February, it will be interesting to see how a top 6 team will allot their resources.

Agree, it's the league, followed by CL, EL and then other domestic trophies.
 
So much arguing over the hypothetical scenario of us winning a trophy...

It's a fecking trophy and a route in to the CL. Id be delighted if we won it. In fact I'm getting quite excited at the prospect of beating Celta and reaching the final.
 
*If* we win the Europa League this year, and the Champions League next year...

Our route would have been

2016 FA Cup - 6 rounds won
2017 Europa League - 5 rounds won, plus the group qualified.

A very good run... Then we just have to do the same with the Champions League next year. But first we have to win this.
Jose would have to come up with a better name for himself than special one if that happens :D
 
It won't be easy. I can't remember the last time it's been "easy" when it mattered. We always somehow make things hard and usually hard for ourselves by ourselves.

Notwithstanding that, we should still be considered favourites.
 
*If* we win the Europa League this year, and the Champions League next year...

Our route would have been

2016 FA Cup - 6 rounds won
2017 Europa League - 5 rounds won, plus the group qualified.

A very good run... Then we just have to do the same with the Champions League next year. But first we have to win this.
Ill go one step further. If we win the EL and Jose goes full transfer muppet next year and we win the league and CL double, we will have won all 5 trophies that is possible for an English side to win in the span of 24 months.
Of course thats the dream but that stat alone would validate last season and this instead of the boring draw fest they're made out to be.
 
Last edited:
Ill go one step further. If we win the EL and Jose goes full transfer muppet next year and we win the league and a CL double, we will have won all 5 trophies that is possible for an English side to win in the span of 36 months.
Of course thats the dream but that stat alone would validate last season and this instead of the boring draw fest they're made out to be.

Ah what the heck. Activate full muppet.

Manchester United quadruple 2018! Let's just get to the final and win it first damn it!
 
Thanks for all the tips - really helpful.

My tip for you would be to purchase a dictionary as you still seem to be struggling with the difference between a fact and an opinion.

Yeah ok mate your opinion is fact got it.

I can't decide if you are just stubborn or oblivious.
 
Yeah ok mate your opinion is fact got it.

I can't decide if you are just stubborn or oblivious.
It really isn't. I just don't understand what you're finding so confusing and why you've mate such a big argument out of a simple statement of fact.
 
one step a head...we are not even in the final yet...If we through and being Champion, now matter how shit the football we play, we'll prove that we still deserve to be called one of big clubs in Europe...

Being shit, if win, is a big thing...like Greece in Euro, despite playing more Cattenacio than Italy, once they won the trophy, they carved their name in the history of football...

So, let's us through this first...and hopefully in Final, we win it...so next year in Champions League, we can show to people who think that shit Manchester United don't deserve to be there is wrong...
 
I just don't understand what you're finding so confusing and why you've mate such a big argument out of a simple statement of fact.

Exactly! Come on @stevoc , stop creating big arguments and just post douchey condescending posts to others and moany, snobbish posts undermining the European trophy our club has the cheek of trying to win and pass off as some type of accomplishment!:)

Can't wait for Thursday. A Big European Night at Old Trafford, it's been too long.
 
Exactly! Come on @stevoc , stop creating big arguments and just post douchey condescending posts to others and moany, snobbish posts undermining the European trophy our club has the cheek of trying to win and pass off as some type of accomplishment!:)

Can't wait for Thursday. A Big European Night at Old Trafford, it's been too long.
And we have a new number 1 superfan in the room!!!!!!!!!
 
The bookmakers clearly disagree with that assessment.
Of course United has to win, they'll have to beat a >20 million side easily and convincingly, otherwise it would be a huge embarassment. But United also had make top 4 as the absolute minimum, and has to play better.

Bookmakers just react to what betters think, and most betters are English and have no idea about the continent. Easy money.
 
Of course United has to win, they'll have to beat a >20 million side easily and convincingly, otherwise it would be a huge embarassment. But United also had make top 4 as the absolute minimum, and has to play better.

Bookmakers just react to what betters think, and most betters are English and have no idea about the continent. Easy money.
You talk like there are no bookies in Europe. :rolleyes:
 
Win this cup, and it's been a good season, 2 cups, achieving the essential Champs league qualification, and no one will care we possibly came as low as 6th!

Worst case scenario, come 6th, with just the league cup, and things look much much dodgier!

However, either way, we'll do some major surgery again and it'll be fun!
 
You can only win the competitions you're in and we've been in 4 this season with the league, the F.A cup, the league cup and the Europa so to win 2 from 4 and get Champions League football next season regardless of how it was achieved in Jose's first season following from the debacle of the previous 3 seasons is a successful season in my eyes.

Would this current team do anything in the Champions League ? Definitely not and we'd be lucky to make it to quarters but we're not in that competition this season so can't be elitist about the trophies we win, I think win Europa added to the league cup whilst showing we can on our day beat anyone is progress so Champions League football no matter how's it achieved will bring the biggest names to us with our finances and then we build from there.
when did we do this???
 
Last edited:
You talk like there are no bookies in Europe. :rolleyes:
Yes, ladbrokes, unibet, names like that. It's mainly a British pass time and in lots of European countries it isn't even legal. The odds are dominated by what the British think.
 
It would be incredibly harsh to judge this season a failure if we win two major trophies regardless of how much of a priority they are. We've had a horrendous 4 years by our high standards and to come away with it with 3 major trophies is nothing to be sniffed at and something that some of our rivals would kill to have. It is also important to keep the winning feeling in the group and keep the status of a team that is used to lifting trophies.

This however should not be mistaken for a sign of quality. Winning two trophies or the FA Cup last year does not make us a good team, just like winning the CL did not make those Liverpool or Chelsea sides good teams. I think that's the distinction that needs to be made; it's not nothing and we should be proud that we are still keeping ourselves relatively afloat, but it's also not something indicative of our overall quality as a team.
I am not sure the coca cola cup is a major trophy. In fact it definitely isn't. I am not sure the Europa is. How many people tune into the final for example? The fact that there is a senior competition (Champions League), suggests that this one isn't the major one as there is usually a major and also a minor. The appeal of the Europa today is that it now gets you into the CL, but the average person could not list (off the top of their head) the past 10 finals and winners. You can do that for the major competitions no problem.