Manchester City 17/18 discussion | "If you're here for the Champions clap your hands" (#6505)

@Treble
Etoo was not a trouble maker now. At the time everyone wondered what the feck Barca were doing giving Inter money plus Etoo for Ibra.
Theres no difference between that and KDB. Both talented players were sold for the managers vision of how the team can play rather than getting the best out of every individual player.
On form Ibra would have solved the parked bus problems they fell victim to v Chelsea and Inter never mind help improve Peps failure to implement his plan A away from home in Europe.
Its a black mark against Pep. If Jesus didn't break his foot I would say he would have repeated his mistake with Aguero last summer as well
 
FCBarca said:
Samu was out and the preferred first choice was David Villa but Valencia weren't letting him go for anything resembling a reasonable fee - negotiations went on indefinitely. The Ibra pursuit came late in the window and only by chance, Ibra was never the first choice is my point. And from the start, he was given chances - over & over, in fact. And even the mighty Ibra's ego was clearly affected, his body language drooped and you could see a player truly lacking confidence. That's why I always say he is most emotional about that time because he had fulfilled a dream and then the realisation that while his quality was clearly there & in abundance, he could not execute like his teammates

Did Mou sell Mata after really limiting his minutes? Yet now a key part of the United squad? Same player




As I already pointed out, the player has only himself to blame - much like Bojan Krkic
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I think you're ultimately missing the point here - managers don't just sign players on a whim. Regardless of the circumstances, Ibra was signed as Pep wanted him signed for his squad. He 'identified' Zlatan. He didn't work in his system and that's down to Pep and Zlatan. If a ego like Zlatan is crumbling, there's something going wrong there. Using your terms, he identified Zlatan's talent, but didn't know how to use it. He then preferred Messi who was a much better fit for that style, so let Zlatan go. That's exactly the same scenario with Mou, KDB and Lukaku. He found players that were better suited for his system.

A manager doesn't need to play players to know whether or not they're good for their squads. Pep barely played Hart but knew he wasn't the right keeper for him going forward. Managers have ideas and expectations for squads, they see the game in a much more advanced way than we do. They know what they want and the type of player to provide that - most managers figure that out long before they even join a new club. They do their research and know the qualities of players, not to add they'd see them in person once they get into the club in training etc.

Also yes - you're right it could be down to Gotze, but let me remind you that managing the ego and mentality of players is also down to the manager. I'd say there's exceptions, some players who just don't give a feck, regardless of talent, players like the Nani's and Shaw's - extremely talented but have never shown that ambition. Players like Gotze who were thriving under previous managers though, I don't buy it. He was on top of the World and was being pursued by all the top clubs when at Dortmund. Was the catalyst for their incredible success in that period.

I'd argue not being able to get him firing on all cylinders was Pep not 'using' Gotze's ability well. Let's not even get started on Pep pushing the best Prem striker of the past 5 years or so out the door in favour of a kid. Only for that kid to break his foot and Aguero to remind Pep that he's pretty fecking good at football. He was sitting on the bench and out of favour. The same Aguero who's pissed on this league for years. The same Aguero who is banging them in for fun this season.

This nonsense is pointless, Jose and Pep are both two of the best remaining managers in football, but they've both made many a mistake. They're just so good that they're always good enough to remedy it eventually.
 
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cyberman said:
@Treble
Etoo was not a trouble maker now. At the time everyone wondered what the feck Barca were doing giving Inter money plus Etoo for Ibra.
Theres no difference between that and KDB. Both talented players were sold for the managers vision of how the team can play rather than getting the best out of every individual player.
On form Ibra would have solved the parked bus problems they fell victim to v Chelsea and Inter never mind help improve Peps failure to implement his plan A away from home in Europe.
Its a black mark against Pep. If Jesus didn't break his foot I would say he would have repeated his mistake with Aguero last summer as well
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Ok, I wasn't talking about Jose's mistakes or Pep's for that matter. Zlatan/Eto'o was a big mistake for me too.
 
Mario Götze is a shit example for missmanagement of individual players. He was troubled with injuries and other health problems a lot, he missed several months last season after his return to Dortmund because he was finally diagnosed with some myopathia due to a metabolic disorder.
 
GhastlyHun said:
Mario Götze is a shit example for missmanagement of individual players. He was troubled with injuries and other health problems a lot, he missed several months last season after his return to Dortmund because he was finally diagnosed with some myopathia due to a metabolic disorder.
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Yes because a diagnosis last season effected his 3 seasons at Bayern, but not a single season at Dortmund prior. Got it.
 
I don't recall, but wasn't Fabregas basically a write-off under him too? Benatia and Affellay off the top of my head too. He's a great manager, once he and Jose retire they'll both be amongst the best to ever grace the game given their success, but this nonsense that he's infallible and doesn't make mistakes needs to stop.
 
Womp said:
I think you're ultimately missing the point here - managers don't just sign players on a whim. Regardless of the circumstances, Ibra was signed as Pep wanted him signed for his squad. He 'identified' Zlatan. He didn't work in his system and that's down to Pep and Zlatan. If a ego like Zlatan is crumbling, there's something going wrong there. Using your terms, he identified Zlatan's talent, but didn't know how to use it. He then preferred Messi who was a much better fit for that style, so let Zlatan go. That's exactly the same scenario with Mou, KDB and Lukaku. He found players that were better suited for his system.
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I'm saying, it's not Pep who identified Zlatan but Txiki & Laporta - Villa was first choice, the rest is history.


Womp said:
A manager doesn't need to play players to know whether or not they're good for their squads. Pep barely played Hart but knew he wasn't the right keeper for him going forward. Managers have ideas and expectations for squads, they see the game in a much more advanced way than we do. They know what they want and the type of player to provide that - most managers figure that out long before they even join a new club. They do their research and know the qualities of players, not to add they'd see them in person once they get into the club in training etc
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How much time do you think it'd take any fan to identify Hart can't play the ball at his feet? You think then a coach like Pep would need to see him to be sure? When Pep was rumoured to be hired, I guessed around 5 players that would be out based on a poor fit from the start and Hart was one of those 5. It's knowing how Pep teams play just like watching a match on tv and being able to say - ok, if that's not a Pep team then they were clearly influenced by his/Cruyff/Michels style. Similarly, you know players that can work and those that surely won't. Ibra was more than likely a maybe fit and in the end it was a mixed bag because eventhough he was ultimately abandoned, his stats were still terrific - he absolutely contributed to wins. The Arsenal match itself was all Ibra

Womp said:
Also yes - you're right it could be down to Gotze, but let me remind you that managing the ego and mentality of players is also down to the manager. I'd say there's exceptions, some players who just don't give a feck, regardless of talent, players like the Nani's and Shaw's - extremely talented but have never shown that ambition. Players like Gotze who were thriving under previous managers though, I don't buy it. He was on top of the World and was being pursued by all the top clubs when at Dortmund. Was the catalyst for their incredible success in that period.
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I don't disagree and I can only guess that Pep surely supported Mario - until the player himself wasn't capable of performing in return. And then, again how can that not be on the player when later the situations, teams & coaches change but the player hasn't? Can't be on Pep when he had just arrived. Some players, perhaps even like Shaw - aren't professional enough


Womp said:
I'd argue not being able to get him firing on all cylinders was Pep not 'using' Gotze's ability well. Let's not even get started on Pep pushing the best Prem striker of the past 5 years or so out the door in favour of a kid. Only for that kid to break his foot and Aguero to remind Pep that he's pretty fecking good at football. He was sitting on the bench and out of favour. The same Aguero who's pissed on this league for years. The same Aguero who is banging them in for fun this season.
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Have you watched Argentina? Kun is unreliable even if he is now the leading scorer for City - volume scorer but ultimately, until now, a bottler. Would love it if it were not true but he has not shown it consistently in the biggest matches.
 
Womp said:
Also the german Krkic is hilarious, for all the nonsense you speak about Pep, it must really hurt you that a maniac like Klopp was able to get him to a much higher level than Pep could. He got to a CL final and won the World Cup under one, became obese and warmed the bench under another.
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Götze was a Bayern player in 2014.
 
The best are the best because of what they succeed at, not because they do not make big mistakes. Same with Pep and Jose.

Anyone who knows a bit of 20h century physics knows that even a genius like Einstein made gross mistakes and rejected some of the most important ideas of contemporary cosmology and quantum mechanics because of being absurd. Genuises fail but they also succeed and to an extent that mere talents can't.
 
FCBarca said:
Of course not, it's always someone else's fault - he wasn't ready, he's matured yada yada yada. It merely attempts to deflect from the failure to identify talent & then use/develop

Mata is a great example, up until Mou was fired the Spaniard had to be sold due to not being counted on - you think somehow it's Mata that has changed, developed/matured? Same applies to Lukaku, how much do you think Chelsea hate the fact that the player is no longer there? Much more than having missed out on resigning him this past summer
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You're such a little hypocrite aren't you?

KdB was never going to be a starter for Chelsea in the 2014/2015 season, a season Mourinho won the PL mind you.

How about Alexis Sanchez, why wasn't Guardiola able to use and develop him?

Just like you say that Zlatan was not a great fit for Barcelona at the time, Mata wasn't a good fit for Chelsea at the time. Mourinho sold him and won the league.
 
cyberman said:
@Treble
Etoo was not a trouble maker now.
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I love Samu but that's not true. Most strikers have a certain profile/ego and he's no different, particularly in that he plays with a chip on his shoulder. Many seem to forget but when Pep was hired, besides ushering Ronaldinho & Deco out Eto'O was supposed to board that exit party as well. Xavi had a lot to do with him convincing Pep that it would work, then there was eventual open defiance between Samu & Pep. Many also don't recall that part of the reason he was considered for an exit was the mess he contributed to within the locker room with the infamous substitution fiasco under Rijkaard. So yes, Samu could very well be a problem. He was eventually even run off the Cameroonian NT for similar ego issues
 
podurban2 said:
You're such a little hypocrite aren't you?

KdB was never going to be a starter for Chelsea in the 2014/2015 season, a season Mourinho won the PL mind you.

How about Alexis Sanchez, why wasn't Guardiola able to use and develop him?

Just like you say that Zlatan was not a great fit for Barcelona at the time, Mata wasn't a good fit for Chelsea at the time. Mourinho sold him and won the league.
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Pep didn't bench or sell Alexis, did he?
 
FCBarca said:
I'm saying, it's not Pep who identified Zlatan but Txiki & Laporta - Villa was first choice, the rest is history.




How much time do you think it'd take any fan to identify Hart can't play the ball at his feet? You think then a coach like Pep would need to see him to be sure? When Pep was rumoured to be hired, I guessed around 5 players that would be out based on a poor fit from the start and Hart was one of those 5. It's knowing how Pep teams play just like watching a match on tv and being able to say - ok, if that's not a Pep team then they were clearly influenced by his/Cruyff/Michels style. Similarly, you know players that can work and those that surely won't. Ibra was more than likely a maybe fit and in the end it was a mixed bag because eventhough he was ultimately abandoned, his stats were still terrific - he absolutely contributed to wins. The Arsenal match itself was all Ibra

You're essentially agreeing with my point here - managers don't need to play players to know whether or not they'd work in their system. Jose would have known what he wanted from his players before hand and made the decision what KDB and Lukaku offered wasn't what he needed at the time. Not down an inability to spot talent, down to preference. Similarly to Ibra. Ibra wouldn't have been signed for 60m (which was phenomenal money at that time) if Pep didn't want it to happen. He found a better fit for his system and the rest was history. What Pep did with Ibra wasn't misusing his talent or not being able to identify his talent, he just found a better fit for his system, that simple.


I don't disagree and I can only guess that Pep surely supported Mario - until the player himself wasn't capable of performing in return. And then, again how can that not be on the player when later the situations, teams & coaches change but the player hasn't? Can't be on Pep when he had just arrived. Some players, perhaps even like Shaw - aren't professional enough

Which is fair, but then again, we don't have the inside knowledge on that. Shaw has been publicly criticised by multiple managers, so I agree it can absolutely be down to the player, but regardless, Gotze was utilised to a much higher standard under another manager which is what makes the whole ordeal questionable. He was influential in the CL which is the pinnacle of football. He was sought after by the biggest teams in the World. (I'd know because I was hoping United were interested in him). He was playing incredible football and didn't get anywhere close at Bayern - how much of that is down to Pep we may never really know. I just think it's unfair to put KDB and Lukaku solely on Jose's feet, as we don't have the inside information, whilst just assuming that Pep isn't responsible for the decline of Gotze. It was obvious KDB and Lukaku weren't ready, not for a team that had aspirations to win the title anyway. Especially as their replacements were influential in them winning the title. Jose made a decision on what he thought the squad needed and he was vindicated with cruising to another league title. Both Pep and Jose could have been in the wrong in both those situations, who really knows. All we know is they had other players in mind who they relied on, who they thought would be better fit's for their system and it paid off. Both dominated their league campaigns. Similar to how Ribery fell out of favour for Costa/Robben/Coman, who was their best player in the treble season.


Have you watched Argentina? Kun is unreliable even if he is now the leading scorer for City - volume scorer but ultimately, until now, a bottler. Would love it if it were not true but he has not shown it consistently in the biggest matches.

Yes, I regularly watch Argentina for comedic value. How a team stocked with such talent continues to be so shite continues to baffle me. That being said, Argentinian politics etc. aside, he's a completely different beast in the Prem. He's regularly been in the conversation for Golden boot, years running, whilst being injury prone for large sums of the season. He's not a bottler at all, he's dominated this league, won them their first ever League title after the Arab take over with the most painful experience I've ever had to sit through as a United fan. He looks shite for Argentina, but everyone does. Messi looks shite for them on occasion and he's the greatest ever imo.
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Treble said:
The best are the best because of what they succeed at, not because they do not make big mistakes. Same with Pep and Jose.

Anyone who knows a bit of 20h century physics knows that even a genius like Einstein made gross mistakes and rejected some of the most important ideas of contemporary cosmology and quantum mechanics because of being absurd. Genuises fail but they also succeed and to an extent that mere talents can't.
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Yep - this I agree with. Managers like Pep and Jose are incredible at what they do for a few reasons. The main reason being they understand the sport to a higher standard than most, if not all people involved in the sport. Secondly, it's because when they do make mistakes it's been as a result of trying to gain further success. They make mistakes that they can remedy. For eg; Jose imo fecked up by not improving our fullback situation this summer. I would be very surprised if come the beginning of next season, those positions aren't strengthened. Along with the obvious need for a right sided attacker.

Pep is more stubborn in his approach I feel, whilst also being able to create something more enjoyable and interesting to watch. Pep is the manager you'd want when everything was going well, he could ride that wave for a lot longer than I feel Jose could. Jose is the type of manager you'd want when you need to get back on your horse, or your backs are against the wall. He loves that underdog shite, he's thrived with it his all career.

Both are the best in the business at what they do, but neither are infallible. Both have been exposed in their careers, both have been slapped for some embarrassing score-lines and both have made mistakes from a youth and selection perspective. As great as they are, they're both still human.

Funnily enough - I think Pep is the only manager who could stop Mourinho's dominance in a league format, similarly I think Jose would be the only one to eventually stop Pep's dominance. Both are the best in the World imo and both when given time will win. They're as sure a thing as you can get in this sport.
 
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In terms of class mourinho and Pep are similar, in terms of character there seems to be quite a difference. Pep is cool headed, perhaps even a bit too cool headed even saying this as a city fan. Mourinho has a bit more of a passionate character, which arguably is often funny. In terms of strategy both are obviously world class for which their achievements speak. I think it would be a hard choice between the 2 for any team regardless, there is no strong argument to make imho that one would be better or more effective than the other.

FCBarca said:
Have you watched Argentina? Kun is unreliable even if he is now the leading scorer for City - volume scorer but ultimately, until now, a bottler. Would love it if it were not true but he has not shown it consistently in the biggest matches.
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Luckily city doesn't have to care about his performance for the NT if he still does it for city, which he has always done. if anything his proneness to injury was more a problem when city didn't have anyone of similar level to replace him with. Now that city has Jesus it's kinda nothing to worry about.
 
Blue doomer said:
Not a chance Jones gets in for Otamendi. Matic a big no no over Fernandinho too. These players are at the top of their game this season.
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Matic has been far superior to Fernandinho this season. You might be getting carried away with the fact he's scored a couple. His job though is to shield the defence. Teams are rarely able to cut through us due to the job Matic is doing. If you look at your game against Liverpool (11 v 11) Liverpool were cutting through you with ease like he wasn't even there.

Otamendi & Jones are both prone to brain farts as has been shown already this season. Jones is the technically better defender with the higher ceiling though. I'd personally take Jones any day of the week but ATM you can make a case for either.
 
Dept3942 said:
Matic has been far superior to Fernandinho this season. You might be getting carried away with the fact he's scored a couple. His job though is to shield the defence. Teams are rarely able to cut through us due to the job Matic is doing. If you look at your game against Liverpool (11 v 11) Liverpool were cutting through you with ease like he wasn't even there.

Otamendi & Jones are both prone to brain farts as has been shown already this season. Jones is the technically better defender with the higher ceiling though. I'd personally take Jones any day of the week but ATM you can make a case for either.
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Fernandinho has been the best defensive midfielder in the league this season. Anybody that says otherwise hasn't been watching City on a consistent basis.

He is the engine of this City team and can literally do everything. His goals have no impact on his importance to the team, it's his all round play as the anchor of the midfield - he does the job of two men and plays with two attacking midfielders in front of him. Matic often benefits from having a player like Herrera next to him in a midfield two, not to mention a far more risk adverse defence behind him. Probably City's most important player all things considered, take him out of the team and they have no direct replacement.
 
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As much as they are playing great football just now, scoring for fun and look like they can beat anyone, it is only November and Guardiola is still looking for his first trophy at City. They blew up a bit after starting on a winning streak last season after they drew at Celtic in the CL, although they look stronger and more of a team this season.
How they react when they hit a form slump and/or spate of injuries or suspensions - or both - will be interesting to see. I do think they will probably win the PL this season, but United will push them and I can't see anyone outside of the two Manchester clubs filling the top two spots at the season's end. City will garner plaudits for their football and style, but don't be surprised if Mourinho finds a way to win the Premiership by sheer dint of spirit and will to win.
 
Dept3942 said:
Matic has been far superior to Fernandinho this season. You might be getting carried away with the fact he's scored a couple. His job though is to shield the defence. Teams are rarely able to cut through us due to the job Matic is doing. If you look at your game against Liverpool (11 v 11) Liverpool were cutting through you with ease like he wasn't even there.

Otamendi & Jones are both prone to brain farts as has been shown already this season. Jones is the technically better defender with the higher ceiling though. I'd personally take Jones any day of the week but ATM you can make a case for either.
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And if you look at your game against Liverpool (11 v 11) the other week, the scousers were cutting through you like Matic wasn't even there and that was with United playing far more conservatively than City did against Liverpool. Then again, just like your previous incarnation namco, I'm not sure you even watch United's games given the amount of time you spend talking about City. Anyway, in any case most of the problems Liverpool caused us in the first half of that game were down their right hand side (our left), and much of that was on Mendy and Otamendi rather than Fernandinho.
 
Dept3942 said:
Matic has been far superior to Fernandinho this season. You might be getting carried away with the fact he's scored a couple. His job though is to shield the defence. Teams are rarely able to cut through us due to the job Matic is doing. If you look at your game against Liverpool (11 v 11) Liverpool were cutting through you with ease like he wasn't even there.

Otamendi & Jones are both prone to brain farts as has been shown already this season. Jones is the technically better defender with the higher ceiling though. I'd personally take Jones any day of the week but ATM you can make a case for either.
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Liverpool made 1 good chance vs City 11 v 11 and were 1-0 down at the sending off. 11 v 11 They managed 5 shots in the first half, one on target (Salah).
Against United Liverpool had 19 shots (9.5 per 45 minutes), less than the 5 vs City. They also had 2 clear cut chances (one per half). So 11 v 11 they created about the same rate against both teams just your red tinted glasses won't allow you to see reality. What you are posting is not true plain and simple.
You have had more shots at your goal by far this season then City (9.9 per game against United as opposed to 6.6 against City), given up as many clear cut chances to opposition. It's in the stats.
https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/2...amStatistics/England-Premier-League-2017-2018

You have given up enough chances that was it not for your ridiculously talented keeper and some poor finishing you'd have conceded 12 this term.
Again you'll see Fernandinho and City have given up 6 expected goals and City have conceded 6 which suggests teams are taking what little they create against City.
https://understat.com/league/EPL

Matic is playing great but don't act like United don't give up chances as they have given up far more than City this season, in terms of chances, shots on goal and shots on target.

That is not to belittle Matic as he's been fantastic for you guys, but when I see rubbish like Liverpool (from a few posters) were cutting through City at will, I'll call out said rubbish.
They created the same 11 v 11 against an attack minded City side who had already scored as they did vs a 9 man United backline. I will though give United credit in that they were at Anfield and defended brilliantly while City were at home, but don't act like Liverpool created nothing vs Matic. They had more shots against United 11 v 11 and a similar amount of clear cut chances.

I agree Otamendi and Jones are both good if not world class defenders and prone to lapses. As to who has the higher ceiling, I'd say neither. We've been hearing about Jones high potential for years now but in the end, he's a good solid defender and will never be anything more. I'd take Jones too if I had to choose because he's younger but thats it.
 
Dept3942 said:
Matic has been far superior to Fernandinho this season. You might be getting carried away with the fact he's scored a couple. His job though is to shield the defence. Teams are rarely able to cut through us due to the job Matic is doing. If you look at your game against Liverpool (11 v 11) Liverpool were cutting through you with ease like he wasn't even there.

Otamendi & Jones are both prone to brain farts as has been shown already this season. Jones is the technically better defender with the higher ceiling though. I'd personally take Jones any day of the week but ATM you can make a case for either.
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I'm not sure if your taking the piss regarding Matic being far superior than Fernandinho this season. If you are serious i suggest have a long lie down mate. Oh and i think Matic has actually done well so I'm not having a pop at him.
 
FCBarca said:
History has already shown Mou doesn’t count on a player of KDB’s caliber but in this hypothetical he’d be a regular starter?

Helluva fantasy
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KDB would start for any team in the world. This whole myth that Jose does not like skilful players is a joke. He had Ozil, Di Maria and Ronaldo almost playing regularly for him in Madrid. Hazard in Chelsea. Mata and Mkhi has started many games for Jose here so what makes peopole think he would not select KDB. He would love to have a game changer like KDB here at united.
 
To be fair, As good as Utd's defence have been this season, they also have arguably one of, if not the best keeper in Europe behind their defence who has saved their asses a few times this season. City don't really have the fortune of that as their current keeper isn't on that level yet. Having a keeper of DDG's quality behind you in defence is a huge bonus.
 
FCBarca said:
Have you watched Argentina? Kun is unreliable even if he is now the leading scorer for City - volume scorer but ultimately, until now, a bottler. Would love it if it were not true but he has not shown it consistently in the biggest matches.
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:lol: you just can't make this up. Kun, until The Holy Pep came, was a bottler?
 
FCBarca said:
Have you watched Argentina? Kun is unreliable even if he is now the leading scorer for City - volume scorer but ultimately, until now, a bottler. Would love it if it were not true but he has not shown it consistently in the biggest matches.
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Can you expand? Scores winning goals in big games all the time, both in league and cup. Has a fantastic record against each of the other 5 current top 6 sides. No player scoring a goal every 105 minutes in this league over a 5 year period could realistically be a bottler because there’s too many close games to be decided by fine margins.

What are you talking about?
 
FCBarca said:
Have you watched Argentina? Kun is unreliable even if he is now the leading scorer for City - volume scorer but ultimately, until now, a bottler. Would love it if it were not true but he has not shown it consistently in the biggest matches.
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You mean the same Kun that has been the best striker in the PL for quite a few seasons running?

You'll stop at nothing to big up your idol, no matter how far fetched it may seem.
 
Blue doomer said:
I'm not sure if your taking the piss regarding Matic being far superior than Fernandinho this season. If you are serious i suggest have a long lie down mate. Oh and i think Matic has actually done well so I'm not having a pop at him.
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Dept can't be serious.

He's not said anything yet that makes sense, is factual, is relevant, or hasn't been spouted by his previous incarnation , the banned (hint hint admin) namco.
 
JASR said:
Dept can't be serious.

He's not said anything yet that makes sense, is factual, is relevant, or hasn't been spouted by his previous incarnation , the banned (hint hint admin) namco.
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Can’t be Namco, he’s got 5 posts non City related since joining. Wouldn’t happen with Namco. Just another one of the gang.
 
ZAGREB RED said:
As much as they are playing great football just now, scoring for fun and look like they can beat anyone, it is only November and Guardiola is still looking for his first trophy at City. They blew up a bit after starting on a winning streak last season after they drew at Celtic in the CL, although they look stronger and more of a team this season.
How they react when they hit a form slump and/or spate of injuries or suspensions - or both - will be interesting to see. I do think they will probably win the PL this season, but United will push them and I can't see anyone outside of the two Manchester clubs filling the top two spots at the season's end. City will garner plaudits for their football and style, but don't be surprised if Mourinho finds a way to win the Premiership by sheer dint of spirit and will to win.
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Just heard city are looking at rashford and think they csn temp him away in the summer.on a lighter note we will thump chelsea and hope arsenal can ger summat at the empty place.
 
cyberman said:
@Treble
Etoo was not a trouble maker now. At the time everyone wondered what the feck Barca were doing giving Inter money plus Etoo for Ibra.
Theres no difference between that and KDB. Both talented players were sold for the managers vision of how the team can play rather than getting the best out of every individual player.
On form Ibra would have solved the parked bus problems they fell victim to v Chelsea and Inter never mind help improve Peps failure to implement his plan A away from home in Europe.
Its a black mark against Pep. If Jesus didn't break his foot I would say he would have repeated his mistake with Aguero last summer as well
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Pep didn't want Eto'o because he was a remnant of the previous era. Eto'o still had a big presence in the locker room and Pep wanted to remove that element.

As for Zlatan, Pep's mistake was getting him in the first place and not trying to even become more assured in his ideals. Zlatan offers nothing against a park the bus teamm he isn't great aerially and has never been a great aerial threat in all his career. If the team is not built around him he is ineffective and if it is built around him then eventually against elite teams, Zlatan is bullied because he cannot turn defenders like elite centre forwards like Eto'O and Suarez can/could. He gets bullied by centre backs and then the team has no variation because everything flows through him.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the main reason Barcelona lost to Inter because he was static, didn't press and he lacks movement which is why every big team he has been part of has been dissapointing in the Champions league.

Barcelona sold him and won the Champions League, Mourinho sold him and Inter Milan won the treble. PSG did better against Chelsea when he got sent off in the Champions League.

Against Chelsea in 2012, Barcelona created more than enough chances to win the game. It had nothing to do with park the bus. It was unfortunate finishing. They created chances. Without Zlatan, Barcelona thrashed Inter Milan 2-0 earlier in the season. He blocked Messi's zones and once again lacked the movement to create space for him and hindered the position game of the team.
 
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