El Clásico. Barcelona vs Real Madrid (21 Apr). KO 7pm BST.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sky's programe starts at 6:30 pm on SS1.

Four points is the gap. Realistically Barca have to win although a draw would technically give Barcelona an advantage but they'd still need to win all the games and hope Real Madrid drop points twice.

Apart from David Villa and possibly playing Cesc I think both sides are at full-strength. :popcorn:

[Marc Overmars]

Gutted I'm going to miss it.

[Cripps_orig]

Come on Real

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Come on good football

[Letters]

Hmm. Might watch this.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Hmm. Might watch this.

Good Drama tbh you know there is bound to be a Jose M show at some point during the game.

[Cripps_orig]

Whos the laporta for this match?

[Kano]

hopefully pepe will be smashed face down into the rotten turf of camp nou, triggering a dormant mine from the spanish civil war that not only wipes out all the rotten footballers that play for these disgusting clubs but takes out the stadium leaving a huge crater to mark the spot where football was reborn.

failing that, 0-0, lots of diving, fights and bitch slaps.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

hopefully pepe will be smashed face down into the rotten turf of camp nou, triggering a dormant mine from the spanish civil war that not only wipes out all the rotten footballers that play for these disgusting clubs but takes out the stadium leaving a huge crater to mark the spot where football was reborn.

failing that, 0-0, lots of diving, fights and bitch slaps.

Pepe :lol:

Has he ever had a game for Madrid where he has not be a idiot?

[Syn]

I wouldn't give Real Madrid much of a chance here. Barca will play them off the park. 3-1 and with that, Barcelona will go on to win the league.

[Niall_Quinn]

Barca at home? They don't need to turn up to win this one. Just leave it to the match officials and take the day off.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Kicks off in just over an hour, but sky programme starts in 45 mins.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cesc has been dropped apparently. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Barcelona: Valdés, Alves, Mascherano, Puyol, Adriano, Busquets, Xavi, Thiago, Iniesta, Messi, Tello.

Real Madrid: Casillas, Coentrão, Pepe, Ramos, Arbeloa, Khedira, Özil, Xabi Alonso, Di María, Ronaldo, Benzema

[Xhaka Can’t]

Cesc has been dropped apparently. :lol:

Cesc. How he will be missed.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a berk he is. He was in a league perfectly suited for him.

[Master Splinter]

Lampregas :haha:.

Only a few more more weeks on the bench and he can then link up with Marlon King at Birmingham.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rafa and Michael Laudrup are in the studio. :bow:

[Dennis Bendtner]

Rafa is a tremendous media whore. Soccer Saturday should sign him up.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I'd love to hear him shout GOLGOLGOLGOLGOLGOL.

[Cripps_orig]

Sky Sports coverage show just proves Barca are a one man team :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sky Sports coverage show just proves Barca are a one man team :lol:

Must make him the BPitW with how well they do then tbf.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Here we go. :popcorn:

[Cripps_orig]

Will get to this after RPQ v Spuds

[Master Splinter]

Will get to this after RPQ v Spuds

:gp:

Jamie Maccy >>>> Ronaldo.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Header from Ronaldo, great save from Valdes to tip it over.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great stuff from Casillas to deny Dani Alves.

Hospital pass from Pepe.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Benzema shoots from distance, easy for Valdes.

Both sides are just going for it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great wingplay from Tello, cuts inside , gets his shot away but easy enough save for Casillas.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Busquets booked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Valdes. :haha: What an idiot.

Barcelona 0-1 Real Madrid, Khedira!

[Cripps_orig]

Need to keep the ref quiet and we're doing this

[Master Splinter]

Good goal?

[Xhaka Can’t]

Good goal?

Yeah - Barca should have cleared it though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Decent enough effort from Tello, had Casillas sprawling.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ronaldo blazes one across goal. :lol:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Need to keep the ref quiet and we're doing this

:lol:

I don't support real :haha:

You say.

[Cripps_orig]

:lol:

I don't support real :haha:

You say.I know you dont

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dani Alves is the first volunteer of rolling about. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xavi should've equalised, superb pass from Messi.

[Cripps_orig]

Started watching this now

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ronaldo goes for glory. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Ronaldo just wide

Length was good, line wasnt

[McNamara That Ghost...]

WTF Iniesta?

[Cripps_orig]

Iniesta clears one for Real

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great move from Barca, Messi just offside.

[Cripps_orig]

Messi misses a sitter :lol:

Was offside anyway but he didnt know that

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pepe booked. :lol:

[hobson's choice]

Busquets, rolling around till the the card comes out, then quickly gets up

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Pepe booked. :lol:

Biggest prick on the pitch.

[Cripps_orig]

How the hell was that a free kick for Puyol?

[hobson's choice]

I wanna like Cristiano, but he's such a greedy fuck

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Terrible touch from Tello.

0-1 HT. :popcorn:

Absolutely hammering it down.

[Cripps_orig]

0-1 HT

Khedira with the record breaking goal

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 HT

Khedira with the record breaking goal

And what a goal it was.

[Cripps_orig]

Barcas 2 star players walking off together

Messi and the ref

Prob discussing how to change it in the 2nd half

[Letters]

This hasn't been as good as I was hoping.
Better than the shite I saw earlier though.

[KESSLER]

Barcas 2 star players walking off together

Messi and the ref

Prob discussing how to change it in the 2nd half

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xabi Alonso booked, wasn't a foul.

[Cripps_orig]

Alonso does a Denilson. Tackles Messi clean and gets the ball and is booked

Fucking disgrace

[Letters]

Barcas 2 star players walking off together

Messi and the ref

Prob discussing how to change it in the 2nd half
:lol:

Brilliant tackle on Messi. Foul given and yellow card for the Real player :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Di Maria. :lol:

Great dive.

[Cripps_orig]

Iniesta not booked for a blatant pull back and kick at Di maria

Real have to be careful

Ref is getting more in to the game

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tello.

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tello has done it again!

:haha:

[Cripps_orig]

Tello :haha:

He is terrible

Cesc :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pepe. :doh:

[Cripps_orig]

Pepe :lol:

Legend

[Joker]

Whenever I've watched Alves he's been shit, and doesn't seem able to complete a cross or take it past a defender.

[Cripps_orig]

Alonso needs to be careful and not commit anymore legal challenges

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Messi has annihilated Pepe and now Sergio Ramos apparently.

[hobson's choice]

Whenever I've watched Alves he's been shit, and doesn't seem able to complete a cross or .

That's every game for Alves, has never had good end product, just makes good runs

[Dennis Bendtner]

Think they need to haul Tello off. Cesc :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Shot from Xavi, just wide.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xavi off, Sanchez on.

:unsure:

[Cripps_orig]

Xavi well wide

And hes hauled off cos of it

Sanchez on

Cesc :haha:

[hobson's choice]

Barca's football from last season to now, really aint that beautiful, just a lot of passing, till Messi gets fed up.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid, Sanchez! What a pub team goal!!

[Cripps_orig]

1-1

Sanchez

[Dennis Bendtner]

Pub team goal! :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid, Ronaldo!

[Cripps_orig]

RONALDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOO

Fuck Yes

what a goal

Best player in the world

[hobson's choice]

Game

[Dennis Bendtner]

Sensational. What a man.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Di Maria off, Granero on.

[Özim]

Ronaldo scores a great goal and proves he's a big game player!

Ronaldo :bow:

Mourinho :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Granero on for Di Maria

What a ball by Oezil and that was a great finish by the best player in the world

Josh :haha:

[Dennis Bendtner]

Pique is warming up. But where's Cesc?

Cesc :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Adriano off, Pedro on.

[Cripps_orig]

Barca starting to cheat

Pedro on for Adriano

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dani Alves gives Ronaldo a good kicking.

Oezil booked now. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Oezil booked for nothing

Also something i forgot about the sub

Cesc :haha:

[Dennis Bendtner]

The Laporta overlooking a blatant stamp

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Granero booked, as cynical as you can get. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Granero booked :blink:

[Xhaka Can’t]

This is a fairly shit game.

Which tends to suit Maureen, because I've never seen anyone win so many shit games.

[Cripps_orig]

Pique coming on when they need a goal?

Cesc :haha:

How he is laughed at

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cesc getting ready.

:rose:

[Cripps_orig]

Pep is bringing Cesc on after all

Pep :haha:

[Dennis Bendtner]

Cesc coming on

Oh

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tello off, Cesc on to miss a sitter.

[Cripps_orig]

Tello hauled off

Cesc on

Different players, level of shitness stays the same

[Cripps_orig]

This is football. Thrill-a-minute stuff at the moment with the ball pinging from one penalty area to the other. Ronaldo has now scored in four of the last five el Clasicos.Josh :haha:

[Cripps_orig]

Benzema should have done better

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Benzema goes for goal, straight at Valdes.

Cesc trying to get back. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Callejon is due

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mascherano booked.

[Cripps_orig]

Mascherano booked

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Four added minutes.

[Cripps_orig]

4 mins added

[Letters]

Wow. Ronaldo's diving and rolling around like a fanny really is embarrassing.

[Cripps_orig]

Benzema off, best Argentinian in Spain on

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Impressive timewasting from Real Madrid.

[Cripps_orig]

Has Cesc touched the ball yet?

[Cripps_orig]

Ronaldo just over

[Letters]

Has Cesc touched the ball yet?
:lol: Think he did once.

Super sub :pal:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-2 FT, Real Madrid win!

[Cripps_orig]

1-2 FT

Let this mark the end of the so called best team ever

Messi :haha:

[Letters]

Messi did nothing of note. Overall pretty crap game. Still. It was that or BGT.

[Özim]

He did it at Porto, he did it at Chelsea, he did it at Inter and now he does it at Real.

He's toppled mighty Barca Mourinho what a genius :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Great game.

Best El Clasico since the Cup Final last season imo although i havent seen the others inbetween

Real :bow:

Immense performance.

[Letters]

Great game.
:lol:

[Cripps_orig]

He did it at Porto, he did it at Chelsea, he did it at Inter and now he does it at Real.

He's toppled mighty Barca Mourinho what a genius :bow:Hope he wins the title and CL and then leaves and takes on his biggest challenge ever and takes our Pub Team Side and make them successful

[Letters]

He did it at Porto, he did it at Chelsea, he did it at Inter and now he does it at Real.

He's toppled mighty Barca Mourinho what a genius :bow:
Oh yeah. In a league with 2 teams in it he came 1st instead of 2nd. Genius :lol:

[Özim]

I think this puts an end to all the doubts about Mourinho, he's proved he can beat the best everywhere he's gone.

Great to see Real finally beat Barca to the league title.

[Letters]

Hope he wins the title and CL and then leaves and takes on his biggest challenge ever and takes our Pub Team Side and make them successful
Whoa. Hot WUM on WUM action here ##

[Syn]

Yesssss!

I didn't think it was possible tbh. Say what you want about Mourinho - and we do - winning the title from, arguably, the best team in history, takes some doing.

[Özim]

Oh yeah. In a league with 2 teams in it he came 1st instead of 2nd. Genius :lol:
He's a genius alright, look at his record at all his clubs..don't remember a 7 year drought either.

In addition Barca were apparently the best team in the world, thus beating them to the title is some feat.

[Cripps_orig]

Oh yeah. In a league with 2 teams in it he came 1st instead of 2nd. Genius :lol:La Liga is better than our league

[Letters]

:lol: He's won trophies with bottomless pots of money. Genius!

[Cripps_orig]

I think this puts an end to all the doubts about Mourinho, he's proved he can beat the best everywhere he's gone.

Great to see Real finally beat Barca to the league title.Best in the world at what he does

BBLs have all gone quiet :lol:

[Xhaka Can’t]

He did it at Porto, he did it at Chelsea, he did it at Inter and now he does it at Real.

He's toppled mighty Barca Mourinho what a genius :bow:

Incredible how he takes the minnows of world football to glory.

[Letters]

La Liga is better than our league
Maybe. Only 2 teams can realistically win it though.

[Cripps_orig]

Maybe. Only 2 teams can realistically win it though.Just like our league when he took over at Chelsea...it was only us or Mancs winning it....and he changed all that

What a man

What a coach

Mourinho :bow:

[Özim]

La Liga is better than our league
Of course it is, he's proven he can beat the best in every league he's been in...he's delivery the CL at clubs that had no chance or were desperate for a win and is the only guy who's outdone Ferguson over a period. Some record.

[hobson's choice]

arguably, the best team in history,

:rolleyes:

More like best team in an incredibly utterly weak era.

[Syn]

:rolleyes:

More like best team in an incredibly utterly weak era.

Yeah, sure.

[Özim]

Incredible how he takes the minnows of world football to glory.
Porto weren't exactly giants.

Chelsea hadn't won a title for years before him.

Inter were desperate for the CL after years and year of failure and he won it and topped it off with the treble.

Now he's outdone Barca.

Quite some achievement if you ask me, or anyone who doesn't hate him and refuses to give him his dues.

[Cripps_orig]

Puyol :lol:

Why didnt he just clear it instead of shielding it for the first goal?

[Cripps_orig]

Porto weren't exactly giants.

Chelsea hadn't won a title for years before him.

Inter were desperate for the CL after years and year of failure and he won it and topped it off with the treble.

Now he's outdone Barca.

Quite some achievement if you ask me, or anyone who doesn't hate him and refuses to give him his dues.

Pretty much.

Plus it should be seen as a plus that big clubs want him, not a negative.

[Letters]

Just like our league when he took over at Chelsea...it was only us or Mancs winning it....and he changed all that
Nope. When he took over Chelsea had already bought their way to 2nd.
Real were very clear in 2nd, and very close to Barca, when he took over there too.
He's a good manager but he's hardly transformed the fortunes of either club, they'd already done most of the work before he got there.

[Özim]

Just like our league when he took over at Chelsea...it was only us or Mancs winning it....and he changed all that

What a man

What a coach

Mourinho :bow:
Pretty much

[hobson's choice]

Yeah, sure.

Look at the quality of teams post 2006 WC, it's bad, just about every big team quality wise has gotten worse. The level players after the 2006 WC it's nowhere near the level of players from the 1998 to 2006 World Cups.

[Joker]

Whatever you think of Mourinho, he's definitely a great manager. He's succeeded in every league that he's been a manager in, taking teams that were previously unsuccessful in their recent history and then converting them into winners. Sure, he's a dickhead but tactically he's brilliant, on a different level to Wenger.

[Letters]

Chelsea hadn't won a title for years before him.
They hadn't had a billionaire for years before him either.
They'd already bought their way to 2nd before he got there. He pushed them on but most of the work was done before he arrived.
Don't get me wrong, he's a great manager. Let's see him win the league with a team like Spurs who haven't done so for yonks and don't have a billionaire backer though.

[Özim]

Nope. When he took over Chelsea had already bought their way to 2nd.
Real were very clear in 2nd, and very close to Barca, when he took over there too.
He's a good manager but he's hardly transformed the fortunes of either club, they'd already done most of the work before he got there.
Chelsea were nowhere near the title though, he made them winners and dominated the league...he's really the only guy who's been able to outdo Ferguson consistently.

Barca were the best around and arguably one of the best teams ever, to beat them is about as good as it gets to be honest.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Porto weren't exactly giants.

Chelsea hadn't won a title for years before him.

Inter were desperate for the CL after years and year of failure and he won it and topped it off with the treble.

Now he's outdone Barca.

Quite some achievement if you ask me, or anyone who doesn't hate him and refuses to give him his dues.

In Portugal - Porto were and are giants.
Chelsea - do I need to explain that to you? Really?
Inter - again resource laden
RM - it is them or Barca

He is a good manager - no doubt, he wouldn't get those jobs otherwise, but by god, you can bet your ass that when you are watching a shite game where he is involved (there are many) he'll usually come out on top.

If you don't give a fuck how ugly and how sick the methods are to win, he's your man.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Look at the quality of teams post 2006 WC, it's bad, just about every big team quality wise has gotten worse. The level players after the 2006 WC it's nowhere near the level of players from the 1998 to 2006 World Cups.

Why are you mentioning the World Cup? :unsure:

[Cripps_orig]

Pretty muchCame to England at the time of the Invincibles and oversaw us at a time where we looked like ruling for years to come

And now done the same to Barca

Best manager in the world by some distance

Fergie 2nd

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

I think this puts an end to all the doubts about Mourinho, he's proved he can beat the best everywhere he's gone.

Great to see Real finally beat Barca to the league title.

spot on

[Özim]

They hadn't had a billionaire for years before him either.
They'd already bought their way to 2nd before he got there. He pushed them on but most of the work was done before he arrived.
Don't get me wrong, he's a great manager. Let's see him win the league with a team like Spurs who haven't done so for yonks and don't have a billionaire backer though.
Ranieri was around when Abrahmovic arrived, in addition Chelsea spent loads with Vialli and Gullit.

He didn't spend huge amounts at Inter either, he just bought the right players and made them play for each other.

[Cripps_orig]

Rafas "fuck-oos" :bow:

[Özim]

In Portugal - Porto were and are giants.
Chelsea - do I need to explain that to you? Really?
Inter - again resource laden
RM - it is them or Barca

He is a good manager - no doubt, he wouldn't get those jobs otherwise, but by god, you can bet your ass that when you are watching a shite game where he is involved (there are many) he'll usually come out on top.

If you don't give a fuck how ugly and how sick the methods are to win, he's your man.
Porto won the CL, they were giants in Europe.

Chelsea had gone I don't know how long before winning a title.

Inter hadn't won the CL in yonks and once again he delivered, easy to say they were resource laden, fact is no other manager could deliver what he did.

I'd rather have someone who will do what it takes to win than to have a manager who is indifferent about it.

I don't find the football Real play bad at all, in fact it's rather good to watch.....in addition they are successful, Inter were good to watch too IMO.

[Letters]

Chelsea were nowhere near the title though, he made them winners and dominated the league...he's really the only guy who's been able to outdo Ferguson consistently.

Barca were the best around and arguably one of the best teams ever, to beat them is about as good as it gets to be honest.
Consistently? He was only there 3 years. They won the league twice, the 3rd of those years ManYoo won it again and Mourinho got sacked.

As for Real, they finished 3 points off Barca with 96 points (the 3rd placed team got 71 points) the season before he got there. He's hardly transformed them from also-rans to champions, they were already very close to Barca before he got there.

[Syn]

Look at the quality of teams post 2006 WC, it's bad, just about every big team quality wise has gotten worse. The level players after the 2006 WC it's nowhere near the level of players from the 1998 to 2006 World Cups.

I think that's garbage. There's no way to conclusively prove either view but whilst we all hate the money involved these days, the standard of football has only got higher. In terms of footballing technique, this Barca team are widely regarded to be the best ever. And whilst we can quibble over whether they actually are, it takes some doing to beat them over a 38 game season.

I always believe in the saying 'the league table never lies'. This season, I think it will have lied. Barcelona are better than Real Madrid. It takes a great manager to pull that off IMO.

[Cripps_orig]

I'd rather have someone who will do what it takes to win than to have a manager who is indifferent about it.

I don't find the football Real play bad at all, in fact it's rather good to watch.....in addition they are successful, Inter were good to watch too IMO.Real have just broken the goal scoring record in spain in one season

And they have scored 5+ countless times this season

Ridiculous to say they play shit football

Hes WUMming

[Cripps_orig]

Barcelona are better than Real Madrid.They really arent

League table never lies after all

[Letters]

He didn't spend huge amounts at Inter either, he just bought the right players and made them play for each other.He spent about €60m Euros in his first summer with them.

[Joker]

Consistently? He was only there 3 years. They won the league twice, the 3rd of those years ManYoo won it again and Mourinho got sacked.

As for Real, they finished 3 points off Barca with 96 points (the 3rd placed team got 71 points) the season before he got there. He's hardly transformed them from also-rans to champions, they were already very close to Barca before he got there.

But there is no manager in the world who could take someone like Tottenham and make them into Championship winning material in a short space of time. The manager in football is important of course, but they can't do miracles without the resources in hand. You have to have a decent base of players with which you can work with. Wenger had that as well, when we won the double in 97-98, so it's not as if he turned our fortunes around singlehandedly.

[Cripps_orig]

He spent about €60m Euros in his first summer with them.Mancini spent a lot more and did f all in the CL

Mourinho comes in and they do the reble

[Xhaka Can’t]

Real have just broken the goal scoring record in spain in one season

And they have scored 5+ countless times this season

Ridiculous to say they play shit football

Hes WUMming

No, you're making stuff up.

[Letters]

Mancini spent a lot more and did f all in the CLThat's nice, but irrelevant.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Mancini spent a lot more and did f all in the CL

Mourinho comes in and they do the reble

I'd have Maureen before Mancini.

[Cripps_orig]

That's nice, but irrelevant.How?

[Özim]

Mancini spent a lot more and did f all in the CL

Mourinho comes in and they do the reble
Didn't they get a footballing lesson by Liverpool the season before he joined in the CL as well, think they lost 3-0 at Anfield

[Joker]

I don't think Wenger ever got the better of Mourinho did he? Before that, our record against Chelsea was excellent. If you claim that Chelsea were already becoming a top team then how come our record changed so drastically when he took over? He is tactically very strong, and clearly got the measure of Wenger is a short period of time.

[Cripps_orig]

No, you're making stuff up.:blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I'd sum Mourinho up as, very, very good but ultimately a ****.

[Syn]

Mourinho does pick his clubs well - he won't manage at a club he has no chance if winning a trophy at.
And he's an absolute dick. But I think it's a massive achievement to best Barcelona. Maybe I'm overrating them. If Mourinho's messiah complex grows, he will hopefully take on a team on Evertons level and we'll see. He seems to be a real man-manager and will make the most of te players he has.

[Letters]

How?
Zimm said he hasn't spent that much. I pointed out he spent €60m in his first summer, hardly pocket change.
The fact that others have spent money is irrelevant to that exchange.

It is, of course, entirely possible to spend a lot of money and not achieve success but that is also irrelevant.

[Cripps_orig]

Mourinho does pick his clubs well - he won't manage at a club he has no chance if winning a trophy at.
And he's an absolute dick. But I think it's a massive achievement to best Barcelona. Maybe I'm overrating them. If Mourinho's messiah complex grows, he will hopefully take on a team on Evertons level and we'll see. He seems to be a real man-manager and will make the most of te players he has.And if he did that, the WUMs on here would be saying the following

"Everton are hardly a small club. They were very successful in the 80s and have been in the top league for longer than everyone bar Arsenal (if Wenger hasnt relegated us by then) so it was just their time again and Mourinho got lucky"

[Letters]

I'd sum Mourinho up as, very, very good but ultimately a ****.
:lol: I'd go along with that.

[Dennis Bendtner]

It will be interesting to see how now he's over the first hurdle of winning the title, whether Mourinho can sustain it next year. Or sticks around to do so. Overhauling The Laporta in the first place is very impressive. But this year is Cesc's fault.

[Joker]

But the list of managers who have managed to take a mediocre team and made them into league champions while not spending a lot must be extremely small. The standards you have are extremely high and no manager can really be expected to attain them.

[Xhaka Can’t]

:blink:

Why would my genuinely believed comments on someone completely unconnected with the Club for which this is a fan forum constitute wumming?

Also, you made an accusation about me that was entirely false.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Nope. When he took over Chelsea had already bought their way to 2nd.
Real were very clear in 2nd, and very close to Barca, when he took over there too.
He's a good manager but he's hardly transformed the fortunes of either club, they'd already done most of the work before he got there.

yeah but id argue he has.

madrid were a shambles from board level to dressing room before jose arrived. they've only won the league twice in the past 10 or so years and barca were completely outperforming them in every way up until this season. in europe, madrid were knocked out in the 2nd round 6 years in a row from 2005-2011 and were by no means an 'incredible' force (although they were a force) in champions league.

inter were domestically a powerful force but on the european stage nothing spectacular either, in fact, he was given the job of solely winning the european cup and they did so for the first time in 35 years.

granted he's had shit loads of money to spend but even so, that doesnt guarantee success does it? just ask mancini. jose has so much more than just 'winning by spending'.. its the dedication, desire and togetherness the teams he manages display that breeds success. its no coincidence that every club he's left have spiralled into mediocrity; surely if it was all about money then his predecessors have an easy task of simply carrying on his success seeing as jose's build the base? yet that hasn't happened.

[Letters]

And if he did that, the WUMs on here would be saying the following

"Everton are hardly a small club. They were very successful in the 80s and have been in the top league for longer than everyone bar Arsenal (if Wenger hasnt relegated us by then) so it was just their time again and Mourinho got lucky"Well, no. If he took over Everton and (without the aid of a billionaire) won the league with them then I'd be massively impressed. I'm already impressed with him actually, I just don't think he's quite the messiah you seem to think. I do think he's a better manager than Wenger but he's also, as Mac said, a massive **** and I wouldn't want him anywhere near our club.

[Cripps_orig]

Zimm said he hasn't spent that much. I pointed out he spent €60m in his first summer, hardly pocket change.
The fact that others have spent money is irrelevant to that exchange.

It is, of course, entirely possible to spend a lot of money and not achieve success but that is also irrelevant.Fair enough

I think its more to do with the Mourinho factor rather than the money factor

[Cripps_orig]

It will be interesting to see how now he's over the first hurdle of winning the title, whether Mourinho can sustain it next year. Or sticks around to do so. Overhauling The Laporta in the first place is very impressive. But this year is Cesc's fault.This

Widely regarded as the FOF through out the world and how we laugh

[Letters]

yeah but id argue he has.

madrid were a shambles from board level to dressing room before jose arrived. they've only won the league twice in the past 10 or so years and barca were completely outperforming them in every way up until this season. in europe, madrid were knocked out in the 2nd round 6 years in a row from 2005-2011 and were by no means an 'incredible' force (although they were a force) in champions league.

inter were domestically a powerful force but on the european stage nothing spectacular either, in fact, he was given the job of solely winning the european cup and they did so for the first time in 35 years.

granted he's had shit loads of money to spend but even so, that doesnt guarantee success does it? just ask mancini. jose has so much more than just 'winning by spending'.. its the dedication, desire and togetherness the teams he manages display that breeds success. its no coincidence that every club he's left have spiralled into mediocrity; surely if it was all about money then his predecessors have an easy task of simply carrying on his success seeing as jose's build the base? yet that hasn't happened.
I don't disagree with any of that. Just saying he hardly took a mid-table side and made them champions. I don't even think that's possible. He's a great manager but I'd be interested to see how he'd do at a 'normal' club.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Mourinho does pick his clubs well - he won't manage at a club he has no chance if winning a trophy at.
And he's an absolute dick. But I think it's a massive achievement to best Barcelona. Maybe I'm overrating them. If Mourinho's messiah complex grows, he will hopefully take on a team on Evertons level and we'll see. He seems to be a real man-manager and will make the most of te players he has.

I figured out early on that this was a match Barca were going to lose. They remind me of Arsenal at our zenith. When things are easy for them and/or going well, they look incredible. But all too often, when faced with adversity, they completely lose their composure. This happened tonight and on Wednesday. It was also the case last season when we we played them in the second leg. The longer that game went on, the more they snatched shots and blew opportunities and the more they dived. On that occasion, they had a ref that was happy to accommodate them.

[Cripps_orig]

I don't disagree with any of that. Just saying he hardly took a mid-table side and made them champions. I don't even think that's possible. He's a great manager but I'd be interested to see how he'd do at a 'normal' club.Thats a cop out

Big clubs go for him cos hes the best around so why would he want to join a mid level club?

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

I don't disagree with any of that. Just saying he hardly took a mid-table side and made them champions. I don't even think that's possible. He's a great manager but I'd be interested to see how he'd do at a 'normal' club.

yeah but who has? it's impossible to take a midtable team to champions in just 1 season or even 3. it takes longer.

it's taken man city 3 years to challenge, not win, but challenge, for the league... and it looks like they've got to wait another season to maybe win it.

you can't use that as your argument to say mourinho's overrated or isn't as good as people make out because no manager in the world can suddenly turn a midtable team into domestic winners in a short space of time or without serious investment.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I don't think anyone would expect even the bestest manager of all time to take a mid-level club to Champions in one season and I doubt anyone here even suggested that.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

I don't think anyone would expect even the bestest manager of all time to take a mid-level club to Champions in one season and I doubt anyone here even suggested that.

if there was no suggestion then why use it as an argument? to me it seems like he said the only way jose can prove himself is by taking a 'normal' club i.e. average/midtable club, to a domestic title.

[Xhaka Can’t]

if there was no suggestion then why use it as an argument? to me it seems like he said the only way jose can prove himself is by taking a 'normal' club i.e. average/midtable club, to a domestic title.

I'm saying nobody suggested it!

Your post was saying people WERE suggesting that.

[Xhaka Can’t]

if there was no suggestion then why use it as an argument? to me it seems like he said the only way jose can prove himself is by taking a 'normal' club i.e. average/midtable club, to a domestic title.

Also, no one said he had to prove himself.

[Dennis Bendtner]

yeah but who has? it's impossible to take a midtable team to champions in just 1 season or even 3. it takes longer.

it's taken man city 3 years to challenge, not win, but challenge, for the league... and it looks like they've got to wait another season to maybe win it.

you can't use that as your argument to say mourinho's overrated or isn't as good as people make out because no manager in the world can suddenly turn a midtable team into domestic winners in a short space of time or without serious investment.

Agree largely with this. It's not a fair argument to make. I'd say the best gauge right now is how long he remains at Real Madrid, and how long he can continue to win titles for. Plus obviously the Champions League. That is the gap on his record - for one reason or another he does not stick around for long. His transfer purchases (shitloads of young Germans, basically) would suggest that there's a plan to stay there. Have to see what happens for the next few seasons - that being four or five rather than one or two.

[Marc Overmars]

Just seen the result.

Barca. :haha:

[Master Splinter]

Frankcesc Lampregas Loser :haha:.

Even Hleb was a better signing.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

cesc :rose:

for what he was and not what he became

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Oh yeah. In a league with 2 teams in it he came 1st instead of 2nd. Genius :lol:

Yep its easy to go to one of th top 2 leagues spend money and win that league, lets not go over board about him working miracles with real thats rubbish.

Only Barca or Real with ever win the spanish league really. Barca have been shite this season rather then Real have been wonderful.

Real sqaud has been better then Barca's this season, not to mention Barca have not been playing with a striker for months. Real should be winning the league, had they bottled it would have been embaressing.

Jose may be a good manager but he's a cock thank feck our board would never employ him and thank feck he'd never want to come to us.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I'd sum Mourinho up as, very, very good but ultimately a ****.

Pretty much.

[Cripps_orig]

Yep its easy to go to one of th top 2 leagues spend money and win that league, lets not go over board about him working miracles with real thats rubbish.

Only Barca or Real with ever win the spanish league really. Barca have been shite this season rather then Real have been wonderful.

Real sqaud has been better then Barca's this season, not to mention Barca have not been playing with a striker for months. Real should be winning the league, had they bottled it would have been embaressing.

Jose may be a good manager but he's a cock thank feck our board would never employ him and thank feck he'd never want to come to us.:lol:

20 odd wins in a row

Record breaking goals scored and still 4 games to go

Just destroyed the so called best team ever at their own ground

Yeah they havent been wonderful

BBLs are out in force here. Anything to belittle Reals and Joses achievement of overhauling this brilliant Barcelona side who imo are the best ever

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I think this puts an end to all the doubts about Mourinho, he's proved he can beat the best everywhere he's gone.Great to see Real finally beat Barca to the league title.


Well thats easy when you go to 1 of the top 2 teams in the country Spend money. If he did it with Levante then it be more impressive.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Well thats easy when you go to 1 of the top 2 teams in the country Spend money. If he did it with Levante then it be more impressive.

if anyone did that with levante that would be impressive.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

:lol:

20 odd wins in a row

Record breaking goals scored and still 4 games to go

Just destroyed the so called best team ever at their own ground

Yeah they havent been wonderful

BBLs are out in force here. Anything to belittle Reals and Joses achievement of overhauling this brilliant Barcelona side who imo are the best ever


Don't give to shits about La Liga or any of its teams or the stats you showed. My point was Barca have regressed and the table showed that, they have lost and draw more games then real, had they been better im sure they'd have won the league.

I have never said this is the best Barca side so please don't say i have.

[Cripps_orig]

had they been better im sure they'd have won the league. http://4closurefraud.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/captain-obvious.jpg

[Olivier's xmas twist]

In Portugal - Porto were and are giants.
Chelsea - do I need to explain that to you? Really?
Inter - again resource laden
RM - it is them or Barca

He is a good manager - no doubt, he wouldn't get those jobs otherwise, but by god, you can bet your ass that when you are watching a shite game where he is involved (there are many) he'll usually come out on top.

If you don't give a fuck how ugly and how sick the methods are to win, he's your man.

Pretty Much.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

He did it at Porto, he did it at Chelsea, he did it at Inter and now he does it at Real.

He's toppled mighty Barca Mourinho what a genius :bow:

Toppled the mighty barca? you do talk some waffle tbh.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Ach :rose:

La Liga better then the prem

If you belive that then your a massive wum or a massive Bellend.

[Cripps_orig]

Not been many shite games this season for Real

Most entertaining team in the world and play the best football

This reputation Mourinhos got comes from his time at Chelsea where admittedly they were boring as fuck but they won and we'd all take that in a heartbeat. His time with Porto, Inter and Real have been full of goals and good football.

He can play both defensively and offensively. When needs must. Sign of a good manager. Wenger sets his team up one way and one way only. And its failed

[Cripps_orig]

Ach :rose:

La Liga better then the prem

If you belive that then your a massive wum or a massive Bellend.Look at the European competitions.

The so called Pub teams of Spain are in the Europa League semis, 3 in fact

The big 2 are both in CL Semis.

Name me Englands representatives in those 2 competitions.

Bilbao a midtable side at best outplayed our champions with ease not once but twice.

Their big clubs, Real and Barca are better than our big clubs, (2 Mancs, Chelsea, Arsenal)

Their pub teamers, Valencia, Atl madrid etc are better than our pub teamers (Spuds, Newcastle)

[Cripps_orig]

Toppled the mighty barca? you do talk some waffle tbh.Miss the game?

[Marc Overmars]

Will Pep leave if Chelsea knock them out this week?

:popcorn:

Barca 2008-2012. :rose:

It's all over...

[Cripps_orig]

Its more 09-11 tbh and even in 2010 they weren't all that. Worst best side of all time ever? I'd say so

[Letters]

Its more 09-11 tbh and even in 2010 they weren't all that. Worst best side of all time ever? I'd say soSo you agree that Mourinho hasn't had to be that good to beat them if you don't think they're not all that?

##

[Olivier's xmas twist]

So you agree that Mourinho hasn't had to be that good to beat them if you don't think they're not all that?

##

:haha: If Jose was managing barca Watch how ACH would be calling him a pub teamer and all sorts.

Barca have been the best side in spain Since Frank R took over, they not have won the title in all that time but they played better football the real.

The ETO/Ronaldhnio/Henry line up was the best by far imo.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Will Pep leave if Chelsea knock them out this week?

:popcorn:

Barca 2008-2012. :rose:


It's all over...

No he is not coming to England to manage he said so, he is taking a year out.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Look at the European competitions.

The so called Pub teams of Spain are in the Europa League semis, 3 in fact

The big 2 are both in CL Semis.

Name me Englands representatives in those 2 competitions.

Bilbao a midtable side at best outplayed our champions with ease not once but twice.Their big clubs, Real and Barca are better than our big clubs, (2 Mancs, Chelsea, Arsenal)

Their pub teamers, Valencia, Atl madrid etc are better than our pub teamers (Spuds, Newcastle)

All that shite mean nothing. Bilbao are not a better team then UTD and never will be, man utd hava a poor sqaud this year and thats why they were poor. do you think had Bilbao played Chavs or Spuds when they played the mancs they have gone through no chance or a better UTD team no chance.


[QUOTE] Their big clubs, Real and Barca are better than our big clubs, (2 Mancs, Chelsea, Arsenal)
/QUOTE]

http://4closurefraud.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/captain-obvious.jpg


Their pub teamers, Valencia, Atl madrid etc are better than our pub teamers (Spuds, Newcastle)

If you are calling those team pub teamers then you really are a mug.

[Letters]

BBLs are out in force here. Anything to belittle Reals and Joses achievement of overhauling this brilliant Barcelona side who imo are the best ever
And then, a few hours later


Its more 09-11 tbh and even in 2010 they weren't all that. Worst best side of all time ever? I'd say so

:lol:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

:lol:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Yep its easy to go to one of th top 2 leagues spend money and win that league
No it isn't.
Both citeh and Liverpool prove that. Also recently the chavs to some extent.

[Syn]

I figured out early on that this was a match Barca were going to lose. They remind me of Arsenal at our zenith. When things are easy for them and/or going well, they look incredible. But all too often, when faced with adversity, they completely lose their composure. This happened tonight and on Wednesday. It was also the case last season when we we played them in the second leg. The longer that game went on, the more they snatched shots and blew opportunities and the more they dived. On that occasion, they had a ref that was happy to accommodate them.

Bold claim, that. Hope you're right - they need to be brought down a peg. Which is why I was happy Real Madrid won yesterday. They'll probably blow Chelsea away on Tuesday but if it goes on with Chelsea leading on aggregate, I'll be looking out for a bit of panic. Usually Messi turns up and gets a goal. Even yesterday, when they needed an equaliser, it was his burst forward past 3 players that eventually led to the goal.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

No it isn't.
Both citeh and Liverpool prove that. Also recently the chavs to some extent.

Liverpool/City have never really been top 2 teams have they, Real and Barca, AC and Inter always have.

Not saying what he has done is not a great achievement but its not the great mircale people on here make it out to be.

[Syn]

very good vs great vs miracle...we're all splitting hairs a bit aren't we?

I guess it comes down to how hot you think the competition is. To me, Barcelona still seem to be a much better side than Real Madrid (no hyperbole intended...IMO they're a level above everyone else). A big test on Tuesday for them though - it'd be nice if Chelsea make a good game of it and lets hope a refereeing decision doesn't decide the match in Barca's favour.

[Niall_Quinn]

Liverpool/City have never really been top 2 teams have they, Real and Barca, AC and Inter always have.

Not saying what he has done is not a great achievement but its not the great mircale people on here make it out to be.

Whaaaaaa....? Liverpool were the most dominant team in the history of football. Domestically and in Europe.

[Niall_Quinn]

very good vs great vs miracle...we're all splitting hairs a bit aren't we?

I guess it comes down to how hot you think the competition is. To me, Barcelona still seem to be a much better side than Real Madrid (no hyperbole intended...IMO they're a level above everyone else). A big test on Tuesday for them though - it'd be nice if Chelsea make a good game of it and lets hope a refereeing decision doesn't decide the match in Barca's favour.

Chelsea will be robbed by the ref. Barca are a good team alright but they get a massive advantage from all the cheating that goes on. For them not to win their domestic league is a huge failure.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Whaaaaaa....? Liverpool were the most dominant team in the history of football. Domestically and in Europe.
I think (hope) he means in the last few years ie: in Mourinho's career.

[Niall_Quinn]

I think (hope) he means in the last few years ie: in Mourinho's career.

Whippersnappers.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Whaaaaaa....? Liverpool were the most dominant team in the history of football. Domestically and in Europe.

No i mean in the last few season or in the last 10 years.

[Niall_Quinn]

No i mean in the last few season or in the last 10 years.

Whippersnapper.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Liverpool/City have never really been top 2 teams have they, Real and Barca, AC and Inter always have.

Not saying what he has done is not a great achievement but its not the great mircale people on here make it out to be.You said top 2 leagues though :shrug:

No it's not a miracle, far from it, but Jose doesn't get the credit he deserves for what he has achieved so far in his managerial career by people on here, mearly because they don't like him or don't like his way of doing things, or the colour of the coat he wears, etc.

It's laughable tbh.

[Cripps_orig]

Clutching at straws they are

[Letters]

Clutching at straws they are


BBLs are out in force here. Anything to belittle Reals and Joses achievement of overhauling this brilliant Barcelona side who imo are the best ever
And then, a few hours later


Its more 09-11 tbh and even in 2010 they weren't all that. Worst best side of all time ever? I'd say so

:lol:

[Cripps_orig]

And then, a few hours later



:lol:Its called WUMming?

Praise Barca to back up how good Mourinho is

Belittle them all other times

[Letters]

Which is why you can't be taken seriously in any debate. It's impossible to know whether you're posting what you actually believe. And every time I accuse you of WUMming you go into "who me?" wide-eyed innocent mode.

:shrug:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

You said top 2 leagues though :shrug:

No it's not a miracle, far from it, but Jose doesn't get the credit he deserves for what he has achieved so far in his managerial career by people on here, mearly because they don't like him or don't like his way of doing things, or the colour of the coat he wears, etc.

It's laughable tbh.

I said top 2 teams in each league. If Jose Went to Madrid when they were not a big name in spain then id appreciate his success their more.

But they will always be a top 2 team there. He won the legaue with a team/Sqaud he should have since they are the best in spain. Its not a Mircale Or Spectular IMO its something they should be done.

He has achieved some incredible things fair play to him, but most has been with the help of a chequebook.

I admire him for what he did with Inter though.

[Niall_Quinn]

Clutching at straws they are

Feisty one, you are!

[KSE Comedy Club]

I said top 2 teams in each league. If Jose Went to Madrid when they were not a big name in spain then id appreciate his success their more.

But they will always be a top 2 team there. He won the legaue with a team/Sqaud he should have since they are the best in spain. Its not a Mircale Or Spectular IMO its something they should be done.

He has achieved some incredible things fair play to him, but most has been with the help of a chequebook.

I admire him for what he did with Inter though.See that's what bugs me, the chequebook comment.

Tell me the name of 1 manager at a top team in any league that has won it or other cups without spending money.

As has been said elsewhere, spending money does not guarantee success.

You can spunk all the money in the world on buying players, but if you don't manage them correctly, get them playing as a team and use the right tactics, then you will ultimately win fuck all.

[Cripps_orig]

Which is why you can't be taken seriously in any debate. It's impossible to know whether you're posting what you actually believe. And every time I accuse you of WUMming you go into "who me?" wide-eyed innocent mode.

:shrug:WUMs have a tendency to do that tbh

You do it for example

I just do it better :coffee:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

One of Barca's young players leaked their team news apparently. :lol: