Euro Division Homepage LXXVI

Azzy to be fair, okay we lost but it is just a friendly and everyone is still getting back to full fitness.

The exact same thing could be said for Bremen too. I think it says a lot about Jose that he no longer cares about friendlies. I remember a manager who would have been furious to have lost an U8s game, never mind a full-team pre-season friendly. The guy doesn't have the passion he used to. It's why I can't see Chelsea ever winning the league under him again.

I know it's only friendly but United have played some good football, best Football I've seen since the 06/07 season.

Results in friendlies are utterly irrelevant. We beat West Brom after all

You're wrong there GSC, performance always matters more than results but no team wants to play in a tournament losing every game. It gives the players the winning run and I know I'd rather see my team win these friendlies than lose.

Friendlies are very important. Sure, they get your players 'match-fit', and gives you an opportunity to try out new formations and players (our manager has done neither). But crucially, they allow you to go into the new season full of hope, confidence and in the knowledge that your hard work over the last two months has put you in a great position for the upcoming season.

In Albion's case, we've looked pathetic, half our squad is injured, £12m of signings still don't have work permits (two weeks on from signing), and our youth is being sold off to make way for expensive foreign flops.

Losing 1-0 to Forest may look like a good result come April.

Dependent upon how things go I'll try and get mine in later as normal, dad still alive and kicking at the mo but moving into hospice today so won't be given his meds from now on so expecting a sharp downturn.

Performance in friendlies is the only thing that really matters along with fitness and trying out things.

Results don't really make much difference

The nodge is gonna smash up wolves next week I can't wait

I disagree with you Azzy when you say that Jose Mourinho has lost his passion, I don't think that at all, if anything he has even more passion which I believe he does.

Don't get me wrong it's nice to win in friendlies and I also think that they are important but like others have said really the main thing is the performance and fitness improvement.

Hero, don't worry about tactics. That can wait.

Miky, when Jose came to this country he was smart, passionate, condescending and smug. I'd say he still has 3/4 of those qualities, but compare the 2014 Mourinho with the 2004 one. I'd rather have 2004 Jose in charge than this guy. 2004 Jose would never have countenanced Torres.

I feel the squads are slightly different though and Jose Mourinho is a smart man and he knows that there is work to be done on the squad. He has said that he wants to build a squad for the future and that is what he is doing. Okay I know that players can still leave but most of the players we have signed in the past 2 seasons have 5 year contracts.

I know I am a Chelsea fan so it could sound bias but If I could choose any manager to manage my club I would choose Jose every time.

I think 2014 Jose recognises you can only burn so many bridges.

To be an all time great, he needs SAF-Wenger length reign where he dominates a prominent league.

I'd choose Alan Irvine everytime personally...oh wait I'm not Jeremy peace

I had a dream last night Turan was playing for United or my Getafe side, I was so happy.

Wenger >>>>> Mourinho 

I don't think Mourinho will ever take over Wenger no matter how many Champions League he wins or league titles.

Arsenal couldn't even win the Emirates Cup. For the last 3 years.

Azzy do you own a Nintendo wii u? Or anybody here. I want to get one but I'm not paying full price but it's hard to find a pre-owned one.

sodhat wrote:Arsenal couldn't even win the Emirates Cup. For the last 3 years.

Mourinho has never played in the Emirates Cup let alone win it.

VivaPaulScholes wrote:Azzy do you own a Nintendo wii u? Or anybody here. I want to get one but I'm not paying full price but it's hard to find a pre-owned one.

Because no one has one   

Arsene Wenger = one of the most overrated managers of modern times. Lived of George Graham 's defence and hasn't done anything since

George Graham's defence was on its last legs. Alcoholic gamblers. What Wenger did with diets and fitness regimes took all of them 7-8 years past the point they would have retired had they carried on the way they were.

Remember I was a Gooner when Wenger came in. I watched Tony Adams get blitzed by Van Basten in 88, get thrown in jail, look great one week then dodgy the next. Wenger came in and turned Tony into the best English CB I've seen in my lifetime. In his 30s no less.

Lee Dixon remained his usual consistent self but added years to his career. Nigel Winterburn added an attacking element to his game that he lacked pre-Wenger. Steve Bould was a colossus like never before, and Martin Keown found pace he never had and turned into an excellent CB. Even with a monkey's head.

Add in the transformation in Ray Parlour's game, and the signings of Petit + Vieira (whom Wenger told David Dein to sign else he wouldn't go to Arsenal), and the picture is one of a revolutionary manager who took a team that had struggled mightily under Bruce Rioch, and turned them into title contenders instantly. Instantly.

sodhat wrote:

VivaPaulScholes wrote:Azzy do you own a Nintendo wii u? Or anybody here. I want to get one but I'm not paying full price but it's hard to find a pre-owned one.

Because no one has one   

I don't get it?

Olly wrote:Arsene Wenger = one of the most overrated managers of modern times. Lived of George Graham 's defence and hasn't done anything since

Harsh, the undefeated season contained a defence shorn of all those from Graham's time.

Cole, Toure, Campbell, Lauren if I remember correctly.

And who signed Henry, Vieira, Pires et al?

He turned Bergkamp from world-class failure to world-class talent. Signed Ljungberg for pittance and made him into a big threat. Resurrected Marc Overmars' career and got £25m for him. Developed Anelka into a lethal goalscoring machine. Developed Fabregas and RVP. Won many trophies.

All Mourinho has done is bought his way to some trophies. Even Roberto Mancini did that.

Lest we not forget:

Reviving Kanu's career
Signing Davor Suker for £500k
Kolo Toure £150k
Sol Campbell leaving Spurs on a free
Gilberto Silva
Flamini for £1m
Developing Theo Walcott
Getting £10m for David Bentley
Developing Aaron Ramsey
Carl Jenkinson on a free
Adebayor for £18m profit

He has only just now started to sign players for Chelsea-type money. I would bet £100 that they finish above Chelsea this season.

I reckon they'll push for second but I think they'll end up 3rd this season, certainly think at present they look to have got closer to the top two squads of City/Chelsea and moved away from the rest.

That website I was on about yesterday who rents game have just sent me an email saying I'll receive my game tomorrow. So far so good, I reckon I'll rent games instead of buying them except for Fifa.

Azzy I am willing to bet you £20 quid that Chelsea will finish above Arsenal in the Premier League if you are up for it.

I will PayPal you the cash if I lose the bet.

Or I can do bank transfer.

Not a chance arsenal finish above Chelsea, because only one team shall this season and that's man city

City>Chelsea>Arsenal>Man Utd>Spurs>Liverpool>Everton

I reckon Man Utd and Arsenal will beat Chelsea and City.

GSC wrote:City>Chelsea>Arsenal>Man Utd>Spurs>Liverpool>Everton

I'd reverse City Chelsea and that'd be my prediction.

Carvalho is trending atm, Portuguese press stating Wenger has bid 24m for him.

I prefer City as a more settled team tbh. No major changes over the summer, stylistically its more evolution than revolution.

I look at Chelsea, perhaps the stronger XI, but they're also implementing a new style, Fabregas and Costa becoming part of the new spine of the side.

Man city
Chelsea
Arsenal
Man utd
Everton
Liverpool
Spurs

Is my top seven

Holymiky wrote:Azzy I am willing to bet you £20 quid that Chelsea will finish above Arsenal in the Premier League if you are up for it.

I will PayPal you the cash if I lose the bet.

I'll take that bet. Can we add it to the OP for perpetuity?

Costa had several injuries last season, once he's picked up his first hamstring strain it'll be Drogba-Torres scoring your goals. Not even Albion are worried by that.

City
Arsenal
Liverpool
United
Chelsea
Everton
Spurs

Is mine.

Are we actually allowed to bet money on this forum.

If we aren't then my apologies, I didn't realise.

Okay, let's make it a £20 charity bet. If Chelsea finish above Arsenal Miky can donate it to the Chelsea Pensioners, and if Arsenal finish above Chelsea, I'll donate it to the French Foreign Legion.

Honestly I have no idea

Chelsea 5th haha you had United 5th when you were debating with me. Make your mind up Azzy.

Let's wait for an admin to confirm.

Just do things in PM guys

Ok thanks.

VivaPaulScholes wrote:Chelsea 5th haha you had United 5th when you were debating with me. Make your mind up Azzy.

Situations change. Chelsea hadn't been thumped by an average German outfit, and United hadn't comfortably beaten Real Madrid with an Ashley Young brace.

Fair enough. 

Azzy you had cod on your Xbox, I'm getting it now. What was it like.

So what happens if Chelsea go out and beat a good Real Sociedad side this weekend by like 3-0?

Holymiky wrote:So what happens if Chelsea go out and beat a good Real Sociedad side this weekend by like 3-0?

Then they've beaten an average European side by a score I'd expect as a minimum. No change.

VivaPaulScholes wrote:Fair enough. 

Azzy you had cod on your Xbox, I'm getting it now. What was it like.

I sold it early on, because once Titanfall came out that was it. COD is to Titanfall as Andy Carroll is to Robin van Persie. Just as expensive, one-dimensional and completely useless on a weekend.

What system are you talking about then? PS4? I'd not bother with COD or BF4.