^

Thanks. Done!

5/14/2013 10:36:18 AM

Quote :

"But Mourinho was a bust in Madrid? "

Expectations at Madrid are much higher.

Quote :

" I think the ownership had enough of Mancini whining and blaming everybody else when he had unlimited funds to build the exact squad he wanted. And they didn't just not advance out of the group stages, they were dead last in the group and didn't win a single game. That's just unacceptable. "

Fair enough.

5/14/2013 1:03:45 PM

Mourinho to City??

5/14/2013 1:05:01 PM

Quote :

"Expectations at Madrid are much higher."

I mean, apparently not? Looks like they're the same.

5/14/2013 1:10:54 PM

If that's so, then the higher-ups at City need to lower their expectations just a wee bit. You can justifiably ask much more from a RM coach than a City coach. The one club are probably the most storied and famous in the world (with maybe two exceptions) while other are just some upstarts which a huge purse but no history that's even remotely comparable to RM's, and next-to-no experience in elite competition.

If City's board have the same expectations for their club that RM's board have for their club, then a. they need to get their heads out of the clouds, and b. that probably explains a good deal of why Mancini got sacked.

5/14/2013 1:18:41 PM

Fans and history don't mean shit. If it did, Liverpool would still be a top club.

Manchester City has some of the best facilities, the highest paid players, and the ability to get the best players when needed. You have to expect to be the best with that or you're just wasting your time and money. I don't think it was simply because they didn't win a trophy either. The entire season just felt underwhelming, coupled with the stuff about losing the dressing room, and the way he bitches and whines all the time.

Like I said, I'm not really agreeing with the move but I can see why they did it.

5/14/2013 1:37:04 PM

Quote :

" the ability to get the best players when needed."

I disagree...the really elite players are evidently reluctant to play for City. Because Real Madrid had five players in the World XI this season, and Manchester City had none. Part of this is just the snowball effect, I suppose (great players complement each other and make each other better) but part of it is objective reality. Falcao made the World XI and he plays for a team that's certainly no better than MC. City do NOT have the same resources, financial and intangible, that Real Madrid possess..

Also, it's not really fair to compare Real Madrid and Liverpool here: RM have an undeniably world-class squad, and Liverpool undeniably do not.

Quote :

"You have to expect to be the best with that or you're just wasting your time and money."

Experience and confidence play a big role in success (especially at the highest levels of European football.) It's a very big ask to just toss City into the Champions League and expect them to compete for the trophy.

On the other hand, Dortmund were probably no more favored than City were in this year's CL (certainly they were no better situated, player- and experience-wise) and look how they've performed. It's hard to chalk up the difference in Dortmund and City's performances to much else but the coach. Dortmund play like a team; City play, on the whole, like a bunch of superb players who don't really harmonize all that well. And you can lay the blame for that at the manager's door, I suppose.

So yeah, he's had the time and resources to cast City into a coherent team, and he hasn't really done so. I think he's competent, but he's not outstanding: probably 90% of his team is classier than he is. So I guess I understand, too.

5/14/2013 2:07:24 PM

Mancini was never going to be a success long term for City. And if the owners would of kept him, he could very well have won the PL next year and earned a couple more years. This was a good time for the Sheikhs to cut him loose. Looks like they will now do everything they can to get Moureen. They have to. Moureen will kill it at City

[Edited on May 14, 2013 at 2:13 PM. Reason : ...]

5/14/2013 2:13:08 PM

Quote :

"I disagree...the really elite players are reluctant to play for City. Real Madrid had five players in the World XI this season....Manchester City had none. Part of this is just the snowball effect, I suppose (great players complement each other and make each other greater) but part of it is hard facts: Falcao made the World XI and he plays for a team that's certainly no better than MC."

Dude, the entire World XI was from La Liga. I don't know what point you're making here. Aguero, Silva, and Toure aren't elite players?

Quote :

"City do NOT have the same resources, financial and intangible, that are at Real Madrid's disposal."

They most definitely have the financial resources that Real Madrid has.


^ They're going after Pellegrini.

5/14/2013 2:16:59 PM

They're not super-elite. Unless you're going to argue that the World XI is biased towards La Liga (and maybe it is), five super-elite players to zero super-elite players is a pretty big difference. City have nobody of Ronaldo's caliber, obviously. And I'd take Ozil (though he didn't make the world XI) over Silva. Toure's a badass, but he's more of a flash-of-genius player than a week-in, week-out unlocker of defenses. Admittedly, I'm not that familiar with most oif Real Madrid's individuals, but collectively it seems plain to me that they're a significantly better squad: and the World XI supports this. Give me Real Madrid's lineup over City's all day long.

By "intangible resources," I meant the confidence and pride that comes with playing for Real Madrid (as opposed to playing for City.) (I probably should have clarified this.) This might sound like a silly point, but I think it makes a difference.

5/14/2013 2:28:48 PM

okay we're off track here a bit. But I never said Manchester City was better than Real Madrid. All I said was it's okay for them to expect certain things (winning a domestic trophy, winning or even challenging in their league, getting out the CL group stages) that Real Madrid also expect.


ANYWAY

let's go Wigan

5/14/2013 2:36:55 PM

Quote :

"ANYWAY let's go Wigan"

we have reached an agreement

5/14/2013 2:39:07 PM

ah fuck

5/14/2013 2:56:49 PM

....so moving on. Let's take care of Sunderland and become Newcastle fans. Wigan is going to die

5/14/2013 3:05:13 PM

Feels good to wrap the title up before time and just chill a little bit!!

5/14/2013 3:06:29 PM

Excellent free kick from Wigan!

5/14/2013 3:31:05 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK9Mg6gXGdk&feature=youtu.be

EMBED

5/14/2013 3:31:05 PM

Yes I am one of little faith, now hold on Wigan

5/14/2013 3:34:00 PM

Pretty awesome start to the second half. How can any non-Arsenal fan be cheering against Wigan right now?

5/14/2013 3:54:04 PM

Offside

5/14/2013 3:54:44 PM

THEEEOOOO

[Edited on May 14, 2013 at 4:11 PM. Reason : boom... 3-1]

5/14/2013 4:06:09 PM

Sorry Spurs. Back to

5/14/2013 4:11:26 PM

whoomp there it is

5/14/2013 4:13:03 PM

Who is gonna die?

5/14/2013 4:13:59 PM

COME ON YOU NEWCASTLES!

5/14/2013 4:15:16 PM

Fucking Wigan.

5/14/2013 4:32:54 PM

So who's gonna die now that Ramsey scored? If it follows the pattern it will be someone evil.

Will there be any Newcastle Hotspur crests?

5/14/2013 5:10:06 PM

5/14/2013 9:02:03 PM

It's over after today. I hate you, Arsenal, but well played on the season.

We just didn't do enough to get 4th.

5/14/2013 9:25:00 PM

5/14/2013 10:33:53 PM

5/14/2013 10:51:25 PM

Quote :

"Sunderland Manager Di Canio: "We thank Arsenal for beating Wigan and help us avoid relegation, now we will try to beat Tottenham to help them get fourth!""

5/15/2013 3:22:54 PM

It'd be cool if David Villa turned up at WHL

It'd be even cooler if he cut that jizz catcher off

5/16/2013 7:13:11 AM

Lamps signs a 1 year extension to remain at Chelsea

[Edited on May 16, 2013 at 8:01 AM. Reason : s]

5/16/2013 8:01:07 AM

Beckham announces retirement

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1449821/david-beckham-retire-end-psg-season?cc=5901

5/16/2013 11:43:03 AM

Surely Villa to Spurs is dependent on CL qualification. I know he's dropped off quite a bit and has been injured but he would all but kiss goodbye any Spain caps if he moves to a non-CL side.

And I'd say the same if its Arsenal who misses.

5/16/2013 1:14:38 PM

I haven't seen that attached anywhere I've read about it, and they didn't mention it on FSC, but who knows really.

I would actually lean towards it not mattering because we obviously aren't going to qualify now and the story continues to pick up steam. AVB went to Barcelona last month to persuade the player himself from reports.

5/16/2013 1:54:44 PM

I think that would be a huge signing. David villa has been one of the most prolific finishers for every team he has played for over the past decade. I think with the amount of chances tottenham create he'll bag 15 goals in the PL easy, probably more than that.

5/16/2013 3:24:05 PM

^ 3 years ago maybe. He hasn't been the same. Good for around 10 PL goals at best. The man has also played in Spain all his life, will be extremely difficult as a striker at his age to adjust to the premiership.

[Edited on May 16, 2013 at 6:31 PM. Reason : .]

5/16/2013 6:30:31 PM

That and how much would you want to pay for a 31 year old striker? If it's the £15M that's being floated around, seems like way too much.

5/16/2013 6:35:02 PM

He's obviously not 28 year old David villa. But that version would have cost twice as much. 31 is not that old and he hasn't exactly had a ton of opportunities under vilanova. He's still a clinical finisher though and his mind is as sharp as ever. He's a player that's exceeded expectations everywhere he's been and I don't expect that to change. Villa is exactly what spurs need, a striker who can link up with other attacking players well and bury every chance he gets. I've seen some reports that say its £12m, which is expensive but not outrageous. I'd be ok with it.

5/16/2013 7:22:13 PM

The Villa signing would be good for Spurs as a club, even if he only performs so-so, because he's a (formerly, and still somewhat) world class player who's not from England. His addition could conceivably have the sort of catalyst effect that the Bergkamp-signing is supposed to have produced at Arsenal.

5/17/2013 1:08:14 AM

I'm very much looking forward to this off season.

3 of the top 4 clubs will have new managers, Manchester City already had a lot of dead weight to clear out and you know they'll be buying again, and I've seen rumors Chelsea is planning to drop up to 100 mil with Mourinho in. Liverpool is actually stable for once in a summer transfer window and has a decent nucleus of players so a few solid pickups could get them back in the top 4 conversation.

And of course, the Bale transfer saga should be fun.


I think Villa would be a good pickup for Spurs, depending on the price. If I was a club in the 5-10 position range, I'd be making a CHEEKY bid for Arouna Kone from Wigan. He'd be an excellent guy to come off the bench.

5/17/2013 8:16:41 AM

Price is down to £10m now. He's 31 with one year left on his contract. Seems like a decent risk. Wages might be a stumbling block but we've got Ade on 100k/wk, lots of dead weight being let go, and all that sweet, sweet American TV money coming in.

5/17/2013 9:13:29 AM

don't forget champions league money too

5/17/2013 9:20:35 AM

So mike ashley put a million dollar bounty on arsenal?

interesting

5/18/2013 8:17:21 PM

only 1 story line today. Arsenal for 4th for me.

5/19/2013 10:39:00 AM

Dangit Gareth, always diving.

5/19/2013 11:21:35 AM

lol @ bale's card

not a dive tho

5/19/2013 11:21:53 AM

http://www.thatsthejoke.com

5/19/2013 11:23:27 AM