Barbara

it's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine

this thread only gets better with time. So proud to be part of that signature too, Kev. Hail the king

I have an entire folder in my computer with pics of Ana Ivanovic. Even I have a 'boner' for her, Ron. She's my fave tennis player and I have a HUGE girl crush on her. She can invite me to a threesome any time she wants. The third person in that is irrelevant

I was so positive they would drop points here. well, they still could, but Hull seems to lack any confidence when playing the very top dogs... look at this it sucks

lolDid you seriously just compared expressing opinions on a forum with a guy talking as part of his job. I wonder what my bosses would think if i spoke publicly everything in my mind... especially if the job description included interviews. Yep, just the same context... and as this is part of his job it's definitely something he should be judged for imo Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4G using Tapatalk

So let's agree to disagree. A lot of players want to succeed and be among the top. They speak half Lukaku does, starting with for example, Daniel. He thinks of himself more than he is that much is clear. And he isn't alone it seems.Hopefully someday he becomes the player he and others think he already is, arrogance or not. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4G using Tapatalk

The worst part is that he got his facts wrong. Mourinho was beating Barça as of lately during his RM spell, but whatever. Bitch is pressed because in four days they got their arses kicked out of two cups. Weeping and moaning is for free, Yaya.Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4G using Tapatalk

I can definitely see a battered City dropping points against Hull away. I'm not saying it'll happen, but I don't think it's unlike as some do. City are down now, their spirits completely defeated (just as their results, bahahaha), and a Hull is quite the decent side playing at their stadium. If you don't consider the off day they had against United (!!!) and the two goals we scored there, they conceded very few goals in their turf throughout the whole season, scrapping results such as beating Liverpool and drawing with Spurs. If they didn't have collective and repetitive brain-farts like Spurs defense had against us, they would have beaten (or at least drawn) against United. So I don't think City will have a cake walk after being kicked out of UCL once again. They're hangover and not the good kind. Perfect timing for them to face a team like Hull away. Then their little fixture madness will start and I think could escalate quickly if they don't recover fast from being out of the two other cups they were destined to win this season. I have a good feeling about it

a 40yo male virgin in a brothel to pop his cherry has about the same confidence City has these days. And I was supposed to believe they'd win the quadruple. But I'm sure Pellegrini will state how unlucky they were to play against one of the best teams of the century or how their fans will be comforted with at least moving into the knock-out stage. Quadruple my ass - and I'm actually happy to have stated such a month ago. Now let's watch they crumble under pressure in the EPL. All that buzz and noise for them to end the season with COC!!!!!! COC!

nope, sorry I'm actually very tired these days, sweetie, need to take a rest even from writing

I'm not saying they're bad under Pep, just that they were more overwhelming with Jupp. I felt like they were more feared and teams had less hope of beating them because they were brutal. This Pep team isn't by any means weak, poor, bad, or even only good. They're great, but the style will always afford a good opposition to gamble with a result especially in UCL knock-outs. I just think last year Bayern >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> this year's Bayern, both performance and excitement levels. They're still a great team, one that is hard to beat, but I think they were nearly unbeatable under Jupp, I don't feel that as much under Pep. Now @Eligius does have relevant points about a few players. Lahm is one of my fave players in the world and is a pleasure to watch him. I'm not sure if Pep improved him. I don't know, I'll always see him as a FB... but yeah, he did a great job with Rafinha, that's for sure. if we consider RM the second best squad in the world (or the best as you do) I think Bayern's defense is better than Pepe + Ramos. it doesn't need much to be better than Pepe + Ramos. Marcelo isn't that amazing defending (although he improved 300% working under Mourinho) and Carbajal still has to prove a few things imo. And that comes from someone who dislikes Dante.

it's just @Rmpr is literally all way over me, lol, my bad

you skipped me

in all honesty, losing a title sucks either way. It doesn't matter if it's because of one goal or one point, at the end of the day it just sucks, we're bitter as hell because we're close and the talking for weeks will be the matches we drew or lost instead of 'it was only because of a point' or 'it was only because of a goal' Our chance here is City dropping more points than us... I think we'll still be behind them in the GD by at least six goals (and that's me being nice about it) to them. I do believe we have big chances of finishing ahead of them in points. If we lose the title (if is only here for caution reasons, we're not leaving the top of the table again , they shouldn't have let us get it, now they're screwed), I just hope it isn't like United lost two seasons ago. You're already celebrating and then someone scores during stoppage time. Kill me, that must have sucked monkey balls - but then it was United, so I just laughed my arse off.

And so what? If Mourinho decides to play tiki taka tomorrow I'll hate it just the same. I hate the STYLE, not the guy. I'm no Guardiola's fan, but I only hate the FSW I don't like parking the bus either, but Mourinho's pragmatic style mixed with objectiveness is something I actually like. I'll never forget a line I heard about tiki taka football: it's too much sex for too few orgasms. In that case, no thanks. I don't think Barcelona poor form has that much to do with that. Of course they felt his absence, but they were still a top team two years ago. The thing is the form of their players. Xavi, Iniesta and especially Messi had physical issues in the last couple of years and they've always been the core of their team. I'm not saying Pep isn't a top manager (nor am I now saying he is, as I'm one of those people who would like to see him work with not a super team and see what he gets from that), but imo his Bayern doesn't play anywhere close Heynckes'. That team was a machine, the way they played while not my fave style of football was exciting. Pep's boring, just like his Barcelona was boring (then again, it's my personal taste). They seem better simply because there was an incredible drop from other german sides - especially Dortmund. I've watched their matches against Arsenal and ManCity and imo that team doesn't compare to Jupp's, but as you said, it's about opinion (and I guess also taste). That doesn't mean I don't think Bayern isn't one of the faves. They just don't have the large gap they had last season compared to others. Nobody came close to them, now there are teams that can play against them equally imo. But I wonder what any of the good managers in Europe wouldn't do with the best squads in the world of football at their disposal. I'm not dismissing Pep's work, I'm just not totally convinced he's that great when the two works he's done he did it with the best teams in the world squad wise... I'd just like to see him managing a club that while one of the top, not the best. He would have convinced me of anything if he accepted United, for example, and had them leading EPL.

I said it then, and I won't walk away from what I've said when he was appointed. Pep is going to destroy this Bayern team. The entertainment is all gone. Bundesliga is a big joke and while I think they're still very, very competitive and one of the best teams in the world, that's what they are, one of the best. Last season they were absolutely the best by a fair lead and a thrilling team to watch. If he played a more challenging league, I don't think Bayern would be doing that well. Champions League is a completely different matter, but imo he's already destroyed part of the aura Bayern had. No one looks to Bayern now the way they did last season, unless the bandwagoners and the fans.

to do it Kevin style Swiss Park, Campinas, Brazil

I gave you exactly why and furthermore that's my opinion, so we're not discussing facts here. For me it's about match-ups. I think Bayern's style is less challenging for us than RM. Simple like that, never said Bayern is a better or worse team nor that it would be easy. We drew with Bayern in a glorified friendly a week after we were slammed by Real Madrid - in case you don't remember... All three teams progressed a lot since then, but I think the difficulties each team offers would still be the same and I think we can handle better a possession team like Bayern, than an explosive, offensive and mainly objective Real Madrid. You talk about Bayern not being the same team then, but you seem to ignore we aren't the same as well. I'm talking about styles, not simply about those matches, but I think one thing we can take from those matches is that RM and Bayern improved, but they didn't change their philosophies. I hope we don't get either, but between the two of them, I'd rather Bayern.

I think we can beat anyone at UCL right now except Real Madrid. Bayern would be difficult but I believe we can do it. I hardly see us beating RM right now but I believe Bayern can beat them. I guess Bayern is a bad match up for them and they're a bad match up for us because of the teams' styles. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4G using Tapatalk

the problem is if it comes to GD it means they won all their postponed matches... meaning they're adding at least another three goals, making it 11. Then we'd have to keep outscoring them in the other nine. I think it's still farfetched to think about surpassing them in the goal difference. Their attack is likely to score 3-4 goals against weakest sides - which they still have to play plenty. I don't think we'll end the season anywhere close their GD, unless as I said the other day, we win 7-0 or 8-0 one of the easiest matches (if there are any easy matches to start with). The eight-goals difference with three less games is very misleading, even more than the nine-points lead.

We all know Goal.com shouldn't ever be used as a reliable source, but well, let's do it for fun anyway. They're saying Mourinho is going to sign a new CB, LB and ST as his main targets during the next window. I really wish he didn't love Ramires that much and actually replaced the CB for a top #8, but as I also said a few times, it's not going to happen. Ramires is going to stay at Chelsea forever under Mourinho. Anyway, this is aligned with what we've been talking and I do hope Shaw comes and a great striker. Now who could the CB be? I'm still not sure Varane's release clause is so low, but if that's the case, then I'd say bring him. I can't think of a better prospect unless it's someone more experienced... but we only need experience if Luiz leaves http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2014/03/10/4674683/revealed-mourinho-finalising-chelsea-summer-overhaul-plans

thanks, everyone. I don't watch Bundesliga, so I still have no idea who he is for real, but now at least I know where he came from. Sort of.

pardon my ignorance, but who the heck is Firmino?

I had this discussion a few days here. Again it's only my opinion, not a fact either. Brazilian players are light - in the style and physically by default. Hulks aren't easily found here except for defenders and from time to time a CF. Our wingers, midfielders and strikers are normally very light, used to a lot of space, with slow football and way less physical. When they go to a league like English it's a shock of reality. Why do you think Ramires took two years to really be able to cope? He said for a few months he felt like a truck ran over him after he finished the matches. When they play for the NT they normally play Brazilian style. Also the same reason they more often than not play better in Europe. The style of many countries is less demanding physically, they have big pitches and the teams are slower than what they face in England. Other South American countries are more physical, or faster or other characteristics more similar to Europe although in general South American football is about flair, talent and time to think style, while European is faster, more physical and more tactical. Tactically we're years behind Europe (generally speaking). That's the reason why. David Luiz may have had half-heartened presentations for us. Ramires, Oscar and Willian never had one. They give their all every single match, even if they suck that particular day and have dips of forms now and then

I stand corrected by the semantics of it then. I think the title has our name on it. That we're likely to win. I've seen that expression being used in tennis matches a lot of times before the matches. I thought people used it loosely in football too. When there's a #1 or #2 of the world playing a GS final against number #40 American tennis commentators often say it's the top guy title to lose. Also I'm not making any case... nor stealing anyone's thunder. That's my take on this. We're likely to win. Two weeks ago I said 50/50 two weeks prior to that I said City had the edge. Now I think we do.