Atlas Lion

Carrick is out for 6 weeks for United. Big blow for them

Two words. Manager stability

The only player on our current side that can be labeled as 'world class' and in their prime is Mata, and he can barley get a sniff of playing time. Now comparing this to our title winning sides, we had the likes of Lampard, Tiago, Makelele, Duff, Robben (to some extent) Essien, Ballack, Drogba, Gudjohnsen, Terry, Carvalho, Alex, Joe and Ashley Cole, etc. Players that established themselves and were at the highest quality of their football when playing for us. We had the best midfield in the league when we won the title in all three years during Roman's era. Lampard, Makelele, Tiago. Lampard, Makelele and Essien. Lampard, Ballack, and Essien. Jose had players that were in their prime and created/bought a squad capable of winning everything. But that didn't guarantee stability. This right now, is much different than his reign in 04/05. He has a group of young 'potential' talents that need a manager to make them blossom and fill in the roles of the ageing old guard. Whilst we have the likes of potential world beaters in Oscar, Hazard, Lukaku, Luiz, De Bryune, Schurrle, and Willian. None of them can be labeled as high quality as of right now. While we have players such as Torres, Cole, Lampard, Terry, Ba, Essien, and Eto'o, who can't deliver quality they were once capable of on a consistent basis. Jose promised stability. And we get stability by working with what we got instead of constantly buying players to fit certain roles when we have talented individuals in our disposal and academy that are more than capable. By some reactions on here, you would assume the league fucking ended in December.

Think he's giving the league and it's clubs too much respect, but the fact people question the reasoning why he was appointed should bare evidence of irrational thought. We're in transition and have a manager needing to get used to our players and the league after a huge leave of absence. Give him time

Agreed. Obvious troll is obvious

FFS frank

Amazing how the term 'world class' is always thrown out, especially when the individual has yet to prove anything to those standards

We have Lampard, Ramires, Mikel, and Essien who can pass forward. That isn't this issue. The issue is that neither of them can lead a transition when under pressure consistently

I'd rest Oscar and Ivanovic for this one

In all honesty, I see that goal more so as a goal keeping error rather than a mistake from Cahill. Yes Cahill should be more aware of his surroundings, but his reading of the game is not at a level of lets say Paolo Maldini, who in all honesty could be the only player in history who could of prevented Aguero from getting behind him and stepping towards the ball. Some people are so extremely unaware of how difficult that job is. Cech was extremely unfocused at goal which is why the ball got passed

They did in 08, when they were actually bearable to watch. --------Costa-------- Villa------------Pedro ---Iniesta--Xavi------ ------Busquets-------

The potential he is capable of reaching is much more important than trying to shift him and Mata in the same team. If there is an offer more than 35mill for Mata, as painfully it makes me to say, we must consider.

I was speaking of the title at the very top, Daily Mail What I've learned from Mundo Deportivo and Marca is that they absolutely love taking any chance at degrading Mourinho and Chelsea as long as it sells.

In all honesty, that 'news' lost all credibility as soon as we saw the source.

We gave United much more respect and rightly so given the fact they are league champions and Michael Carrick excels when given space. He wanted to condense that space and not risk exposing it. Think we conceded a fair amount of goals against United that past few seasons and Jose wanted to make sure that didn't happen. We got a point at Old Trafford, only time will tell if that point will be crucial for us. Spurs are Spurs. Jose despises them just as we fans do and he always approaches the game 'not to lose', which has been proven to work masterfully for him. He is back in a country and league that he has been absent for several years from. He's getting the feel back and I'm sure he will learn from experience as history always shows that Jose always gets the last laugh.

Ask me if I give a flying fuck.

I have a feeling the real reason Bayern showed interest in Kevin was the concept that he could potentially replace Bastian

Chalobah, Kane, and Loftus Cheek make it to the first team someday, my life will be complete.

Would love to see Eto'o bag in a few.

His or her story

A future back line with Shaw and Kane on the flanks would do me in so beautifully

Spain should start both Costa and Villa

Gerd Muller never scored pretty goals yet he is the most prolific striker in history

Wouldn't mind seeing a Ramires/Mikel lineup