We Go Again! The Premier League thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Would very much appreciate it if Utd stopped being poo thanks

Ta

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Quality of overall player maybe, but momentum, happiness, squad cohesion and atmosphere of the club is hugely important

[GSC]

Aye, but Swansea had the promotion momentum behind them. Picking a team up is a different job.

[Crimey]

Guardiola is on £25 million a year at Manchester City, most likely that is including all bonuses etc. but still a huge amount of money.

Mourinho's highest wage was supposedly £12 million a year to put it into perspective.

[GSC]

If he can get it, good for him

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Off to villa park tomorrow - big big game

Hoping to see Bamford start and Redmond back in the side.

Need the three points, but gut feeling is a tight cagey 1-1 draw

[westisbest]

Enjoy Villa Park. Could be last time you visit it for a while(if you stay up of course).

Think it could be a draw to.

Few injuries and of course Ayew suspended.

Hopefully Bunn can continue his good form and keep his old side out.

However I was a bit critical of him Tuesday night, certainly for second goal. Went down to quick.

But have been impressed with him since he came in.

Could be one of the top keepers in the championship next season.

That is if we keep hold of him.

[Guest]

big game at st. james' vs wba 2moro & we've got a defensive injury crisis. lose & mcclaren will be gone.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Guardiola is on £25 million a year at Manchester City, most likely that is including all bonuses etc. but still a huge amount of money.

Mourinho's highest wage was supposedly £12 million a year to put it into perspective.

Guardiola in all honesty isn't in Mourinho's league as a manager so it's stupid money for a name manager.

[Guest]

Guardiola in all honesty isn't in Mourinho's league as a manager so it's stupid money for a name manager.

Looks like it will be Mourinho vs Guardiola in Manchester next summer, so we'll get to judge for ourselves, who's worthy of their pay.

big game at st. james' vs wba 2moro & we've got a defensive injury crisis. lose & mcclaren will be gone.

has 0-1 berahino written all over it

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Guardiola will be remembered longer than Mourinho

[GSC]

For someone who isn't in his league, he gave him a few pastings.

[Guest]

Not sure I agree with that. Do you mean in terms of achievements, because there's really not much difference. In terms of style, yes, but football is not all about one particular style of football, it's about winning & there isn't really another manager in world football, who knows how to achieve that, than Mourinho. Jose has won the Champions League with two different sides, whereas Guardiola has just won it Barcelona. Jose has won the Uefa Cup, PL, Serie A, La Liga & Primeira Liga, whereas Josep has just won league titles in Spain & Germany. So in terms of achievements, Jose has a strong case to be remembered. Character wise too, Mourinho is far more colourful & opinionated & engages with media in ways that have only further enhanced his standing as one of the most controversial figures in the game. I'd say more people, outside of the game, recognise the Jose Mourino name, than Josep Guardiola.

Who knows what they will achieve over the next decade, but I'm not sure you can state that Guardiola will be remembered more than Jose. I honestly think he needs to showcase something quite extraordinary at Manchester City, because I still think your 'remembered' comment, is purely based on that Barcelona side, including possibly the greatest footballer that there has ever been, who Guardiola will always be linked too.

[Duty281]

Whilst the majority of the time Mourinho and Guardiola have merely piggy-backed on the success of already-established clubs, thus contributing little of note and achieving very little, it can at least be said that the former's European victory with Porto was rather...special.

So that gives Mourinho the edge over the other hugely overrated manager.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Whilst the majority of the time Mourinho and Guardiola have merely piggy-backed on the success of already-established clubs, thus contributing little of note and achieving very little, it can at least be said that the former's European victory with Porto was rather...special.

So that gives Mourinho the edge over the other hugely overrated manager.

That is absolutely spot on Duty, I do not buy into the theory of Guardiola turning Barcelona around as they'd taken us all the way in the Champions league and as far as i'm concerned Bayern were better under Heynckes. Mourinho has Porto and Inter as stand out achievements.

I do however think both Manchester teams will end up with the right manager; City have the players and don't require a rebuild whilst we need tinkering, would like to Guardiola take on a challenge for once though.

[compelling and rich]

city will be peps biggest challenge so far, i agree with duty that porto success (uefa then champions league back to back lets not forget) does tip mourinho in the lead. winning the league with bayern after buying dortmunds best players doesnt add up much in legacy between the two. any half decent manager would win the league with them (say pellgrini for instance, we wouldnt be lauding him as much)

mourinho now needs to prove he can stay at a club for a time without its all falling to pieces after a few years. peps hardly stuck about either to be fair. as a united fan cant say ive been mourinho's biggest fan on a personal level but he's clearly the best manager out there and will surely do better than the last two if he does come

[compelling and rich]

Whilst the majority of the time Mourinho and Guardiola have merely piggy-backed on the success of already-established clubs, thus contributing little of note and achieving very little, it can at least be said that the former's European victory with Porto was rather...special.

So that gives Mourinho the edge over the other hugely overrated manager.

That is absolutely spot on Duty, I do not buy into the theory of Guardiola turning Barcelona around as they'd taken us all the way in the Champions league and as far as i'm concerned Bayern were better under Heynckes. Mourinho has Porto and Inter as stand out achievements.

I do however think both Manchester teams will end up with the right manager; City have the players and don't require a rebuild whilst we need tinkering, would like to Guardiola take on a challenge for once though.

not too sure about city not needing to rebuild HH, yaya will be gone in the summer. fernando and fernadinho both fairly average barely any back up other than delph. thats nearly a whole new midfield they need. all there full backs are average (including zab these days) and there all getting older and worse. still a total reliance on aguero up front with bony probably going, and still a decent cb to partner kompany (although pep will probably play a cm there)

[Dolphin Ziggler]

The cult of Pep will be remembered long beyond Mourinho. They will write books about Pep's teams years and years in the future, hark back to the Barcelona he created that reinvented how they were seen and had the whole world chasing them in terms of style. Jose may have the CV points, that Barcelona side were arguably the best theres ever been. And a real dynasty was created. There'll always be wingless wonders, Brazil 1970, Total Football and Pep's Barcelona is part of that conversation.

"Achieving very little" is just stupidity. And certainly Pep leaves his teams in better shape as he parts than Jose does.

[GSC]

Pep also tends to leave clubs without burning all his bridges.

[Hammersmith harrier]

The cult of Pep will be remembered long beyond Mourinho. They will write books about Pep's teams years and years in the future, hark back to the Barcelona he created that reinvented how they were seen and had the whole world chasing them in terms of style. Jose may have the CV points, that Barcelona side were arguably the best theres ever been. And a real dynasty was created. There'll always be wingless wonders, Brazil 1970, Total Football and Pep's Barcelona is part of that conversation.

"Achieving very little" is just stupidity. And certainly Pep leaves his teams in better shape as he parts than Jose does.

To be honest the subsequent success of other managers puts his achievements at Barcelona into context, the group of players he inherited were the main driving force behind his success rather than he himself.

[Duty281]

The cult of Pep will be remembered long beyond Mourinho. They will write books about Pep's teams years and years in the future, hark back to the Barcelona he created that reinvented how they were seen and had the whole world chasing them in terms of style. Jose may have the CV points, that Barcelona side were arguably the best theres ever been. And a real dynasty was created. There'll always be wingless wonders, Brazil 1970, Total Football and Pep's Barcelona is part of that conversation.

"Achieving very little" is just stupidity. And certainly Pep leaves his teams in better shape as he parts than Jose does.

They did achieve very little. The majority of the time Pep and Mourinho do exactly as expected, nothing more, nothing less - and the huge resources granted to them negates the challenge quite heavily. How successful would Pep be at a club at the opposite end of the spectrum?

Could Pep do something similar to what Ferguson did at Aberdeen, or Clough at Derby or Forest? I wouldn't hold my breath.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Out of interest Dolph who were the managers of those teams?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Its this bizarre view that its easy to just be the best. There's a reason Sam Allardyce doesnt get to manage Real Madrid. Pulis will never manage top four. They arent the managers for it.

And I think the man himself is the reason for the subsequent success. That Barcelona team of before Pep were nothing to what they became. The only player he did not improve was Puyol.

[Hammersmith harrier]

The Barcelona team before Pep were sensational Dolph, the improvements he made to them are overblown; any manager with Messi, Xavi and Iniesta is going to have success.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Good point, although I know it was Zagallo, but I know what you mean, and Total Football isn't really of one manager. But Pep has moved on his style to Bayern and there is no doubting City will change for Pep's influence, so its slightly different.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

That Barca team were good, but not renowned like Pep made them.

And Leicester are winning

[Duty281]

Atrocious defending from City.

Whilst I still think Arsenal will ultimately triumph, I would love Leicester to pull off the greatest victory of them all.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Good point, although I know it was Zagallo, but I know what you mean, and Total Football isn't really of one manager. But Pep has moved on his style to Bayern and there is no doubting City will change for Pep's influence, so its slightly different.

The style might be at Bayern but he needs to replicate Heynckes treble to be remembered, just like Klopp benefitted from Bayern being in transition there is no doubting Dortmund have been as equally poor.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Happy to see Zabaleta back in City's team. Always been a fan

[kingraf]

Yep definitely hard to see Pep succeeding in a league where Ranieri is on top of the log

[Guest]

Whilst the majority of the time Mourinho and Guardiola have merely piggy-backed on the success of already-established clubs, thus contributing little of note and achieving very little, it can at least be said that the former's European victory with Porto was rather...special.

So that gives Mourinho the edge over the other hugely overrated manager.

The Inter CL triumph was even sweeter, in my opinion. There was a better field in the 09/10 Champions League.

Both of Mourinho's CL wins are impressive, mind.

[GSC]

Most CL wins tend to be impressive

[Guest]

Smart arse.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

We'd win the league if we had Aguero, nearly every other team in this league would win the title with Aguero up top. City are not playing well, but Aguero is incredible.

[Duty281]

Leicester's shield wall is so endearing; Aguero is being bullied out of the game beautifully.

[Hero]

Pep has won as many trophies as a manager as he's lost league games (19).

[guildfordbat]

There's a lot of his dad in Kasper Schmeichel's goalkeeping.

I've heard Peter Schmeichel comment, ''Often the manager wants the ball played out from the back but sometimes you have to kick it upfield or into touch. I don't care. Just away from the goal.''

Young Kasper has far more about him than just being a hoof it away merchant but what impresses me is that, just like his father, he has the judgment and confidence to make the right decision regardless of what it looks like.

[Guest]

Mahrez is unbelievable . Player of the year easily

[Duty281]

What a cool finish.

They still have to go to the Emirates, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, but are Leicester now favourites for the league?

[Guest]

Sit back frustrate Arsenal & hit on counter, it suits Leicester. United aren't great & Chelsea have lost at home to palace, Southampton , Liverpool etc etc. Leicester have no fear about away games.

[Guest]

This is unreal.

[Guest]

0-3

[Hammersmith harrier]

This is crazy, they were fighting for their premier league survival this time last year.

[Guest]

Pulis has decided to be overly-negative, as WBA have Lambert, Berahino, Pritchard, Sessegnon & Rondon on the bench, against a Newcastle side struggling with no confidence

[Guest]

Pulis has decided to be overly-negative, as WBA have Lambert, Berahino, Pritchard, Sessegnon & Rondon on the bench, against a Newcastle side struggling with no confidence

What you making of Pulis' reign? Happy with him?

[Guest]

He's doing the job the club require. The club lack any ambition, so 17th or above & it's job done. The football we play is dire, especially at the Hawthorns. Not quite sure why we have our best attacking options on the bench, against a Newcastle side, who leak goals & have Steven Taylor back for the first time in months & Rolando Aarons at left back. They're vulnerable, so Pulis goes negative.

[Guest]

Newcastle 1-0 WBA - Mitrovic

[Guest]

17% possession for WBA. Beyond bad

[nathan]

Man city had £200m more than Leicester on the pitch today. It certainly didn't look that way

[Guest]

Stoke 0-3 Everton - Lennon

Hughes has a problem now, United did them with ease, out of both cups & now a mauling at home. Palace, another side in danger of entering a relegation fight.

[Guest]

Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich - Lescott

WBA up to 23% possession

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