Soccer/Football, The Beautiful Game

[atttomole]

As a Spurs fan I found it to be an intriguing comment. It implied to me that he sees Spurs as a major threat to his title ambitions. It's funny because in the UK we've generally thought that Pep was a nice guy and there was a tendency - when he was at Barca and Mourinho was at Real - to think that Pep was the good guy and Jose was the bad one. Perhaps it wasn't as black and white as all that!

Not really. Pep is known to be arrogant. Remember he said last year that he would not change his style of play at all because he felt there was no need to do it in the Premier League. He thought that his football was good enough to win the EPL without any adjustments. In Spain he was considered the opposite to Mourinho, a bit like the way they contrasted Messi and Cristiano. In both cases they were wrong. If I am not mistaken, Spurs demolished Man City 4-0 last year, so maybe Pep is still bothered by that.

 

[Federberg]

Not really. Pep is known to be arrogant. Remember he said last year that he would not change his style of play at all because he felt there was no need to do it in the Premier League. He thought that his football was good enough to win the EPL without any adjustments. In Spain he was considered the opposite to Mourinho, a bit like the way they contrasted Messi and Cristiano. In both cases they were wrong. If I am not mistaken, Spurs demolished Man City 4-0 last year, so maybe Pep is still bothered by that.

Think it was 2 0 at the Lane and 2 2 at Eastlands. But your point is well taken. There might be some bitterness there, although I never thought he was that petty. It's just football sometimes you get beat. And no one beat us at the Lane last year. No one even looked close apart from Liverpool I guess. They were the only team who could have left the Lane disappointed last year even though a draw was probably right

 

[atttomole]

Think it was 2 0 at the Lane and 2 2 at Eastlands. But your point is well taken. There might be some bitterness there, although I never thought he was that petty. It's just football sometimes you get beat. And no one beat us at the Lane last year. No one even looked close apart from Liverpool I guess. They were the only team who could have left the Lane disappointed last year even though a draw was probably right

You are right. I was confusing the Spurs match with the one City lost to Everton, which was 4-0 at Goodison Park.

 

[Obsi]

As a Spurs fan I found it to be an intriguing comment. It implied to me that he sees Spurs as a major threat to his title ambitions.

1961

 

[britbox]

Settling down for the closest thing British football has to the "El Clasico" - Liverpool v Man United... Come on you Reds.. (the scouse ones)....

 

[Federberg]

Very important match for Liverpool. If they don't win they'll look like they're drifting. On the other hand this is the first real test for Utd. I really don't know if they're as good as they look as they've played ordinary teams so far

 

[britbox]

Very important match for Liverpool. If they don't win they'll look like they're drifting. On the other hand this is the first real test for Utd. I really don't know if they're as good as they look as they've played ordinary teams so far

Agreed on both counts, even though it's very early... you just can't afford to drop this amount of points. United have been impressive but they haven't played anyone yet.

 

[britbox]

Pretty ordinary first half.

 

[britbox]

0-0 Final Result. Liverpool edged the match, but United will walk away reasonably happy. Liverpool aren't championship contenders and a Top 4 finish will be the aim. United won't win the Championship either IMO. My money is on City.

 

[Federberg]

Mine's on City as well. The Wembley thing is a real bummer. If we had been at the Lane this season I would have put money on us

 

[britbox]

I'll put Tottenham in the Top 3. United are flattering to deceive. It might be a battle for fourth between Utd and Liverpool. Yeah, Wembley will work against you. I think City will win the title and either you or Chelsea will finish 2/3.

 

[atttomole]

Settling down for the closest thing British football has to the "El Clasico" - Liverpool v Man United... Come on you Reds.. (the scouse ones)....

It is without doubt the biggest match in England. I am happy with the draw, and I think Liverpool were slightly better.

 

[atttomole]

0-0 Final Result. Liverpool edged the match, but United will walk away reasonably happy. Liverpool aren't championship contenders and a Top 4 finish will be the aim. United won't win the Championship either IMO. My money is on City.

I still think City will struggle against a physical team that does not allow them to play their passing game, but I agree that they are pretty scary as of now.

 

[Federberg]

Wow! The blue racists losing to Palace?? Glad the Spurs finally managed to scramble a win at Wembley. Hopefully we can move past the hoodoo now! City are fairly running away with it at the moment.

 

[mrzz]

I assume you're talking about the UK? Can't possibly be the EU as that would include Germany! Right?

Answering here not to derail the UK politics thread...

I could bet you would mention Germany... (it was a good punchline and you know that. Anyway good reply too).

About the 7x1, I see a parallel with tennis. The big guys sometimes take a beating from somebody else close to their level -- see for example Federer's 2008 loss to Nadal at RG. He is still ahead in terms of achievements (19x16, etc), but got his occasional embarrassing beat down. Just like Brazil and Germany (5x4).

 

[Federberg]

Answering here not to derail the UK politics thread...

I could bet you would mention Germany... (it was a good punchline and you know that. Anyway good reply too).

About the 7x1, I see a parallel with tennis. The big guys sometimes take a beating from somebody else close to their level -- see for example Federer's 2008 loss to Nadal at RG. He is still ahead in terms of achievements (19x16, etc), but got his occasional embarrassing beat down. Just like Brazil and Germany (5x4).

haha! Well said!

 

[Federberg]

I'm almost scared to say it, but has the worm turned? Have English teams started to figure out how to play in Europe again? These things always go in cycles, and even Italian teams have struggled recently, but we all remember how good Juve have been in the last few seasons. I for one wouldn't complain if the likes of Barca and Real Madrid drop down for a year or ten! I'm fed up with them thinking they can pick the best players from every league! There was a time when English clubs used to spank them in Europe and I would love to see that again

 

[britbox]

Not a bad result for Liverpool eh? 7-0 away from home!

 

[britbox]

I'm almost scared to say it, but has the worm turned? Have English teams started to figure out how to play in Europe again? These things always go in cycles, and even Italian teams have struggled recently, but we all remember how good Juve have been in the last few seasons. I for one wouldn't complain if the likes of Barca and Real Madrid drop down for a year or ten! I'm fed up with them thinking they can pick the best players from every league! There was a time when English clubs used to spank them in Europe and I would love to see that again

I don't think so yet. Spurs are in a tough group but nobody else is really. Good result for your boys yesterday.

 

[Federberg]

I don't think so yet. Spurs are in a tough group but nobody else is really. Good result for your boys yesterday.

wasn't actually talking Spurs specifically. EPL teams as a group are doing better than for quite a few years. Wondering at what point we can call it a changing of the cycle. It's bound to happen sooner or later