What I imagine Pep with RDM as assistant would be like.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

lets see if pep can be even near that successful in another club. of course he achieved all that with barca, who wouldnt? barca is a self-playing piano, they could have a monkey as manager and yet be successful. I dont rate Pep that high tbh....

Ridiculous.

And besides, if ever there was a self-playing-piano-like football team it is (or was) Mourinho's Chelsea.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Ridiculous.

And besides, if ever there was a self-playing-piano-like football team it is (or was) Mourinho's Chelsea.

Precisely. The players have seized responsibility and played the Mourinho way on at least one occasion (under Grant).

He made our club, we cannot change from that style unless we have a complete clear out- 25 players sold, 25 new players bought, all remaining coaches from his era removed, etc.

[The Big Drog 1,110]

That won't last. Give it a few more years, perhaps 6 or 7, and we'll be back to where we were in the mid 2000s. These things are cyclical, and the technical model is approaching the end of its life cycle.

I keep hearing this. I heard it reached the end of its cycle when we beat Barcelona. Then Spain won Euro 2012 and the Spanish under 19 side won their own Euros. Don't be surprised if Spain also win the Okympic tournament. The talent line of Spain never ends, they keep churning out wonderfully gifted prospects. Time to accept that that is where football is heading, less physicality, more technique.

[capriccioso 2,545]

I keep hearing this. I heard it reached the end of its cycle when we beat Barcelona. Then Spain won Euro 2012 and the Spanish under 19 side won their own Euros. Don't be surprised if Spain also win the Okympic tournament. The talent line of Spain never ends, they keep churning out wonderfully gifted prospects. Time to accept that that is where football is heading, less physicality, more technique.

Its been heading in that general direction since the 50s. It'll take several more decades until physicality is completely eradicated.

[The Big Drog 1,110]

Its been heading in that general direction since the 50s. It'll take several more decades until physicality is completely eradicated.

If you accept that then what exactly are you debating?

[BlueDutchy 63]

Obviously the Dutch influence at Barcelona cant be denied with Cruyff, Rinus Michels, Louis Van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard having all coached at the club, though its Cruyff and Michels who made the truly lasting impression. However lets not forget that for quite some time Barcelona were struggling and had almost lost their way. Rijkaard did well to restore the club's image and bring some success but in the dying days of his reign the club was a mess. Guardiola came in, cleaned the mess and created a dynasty. He is the most successful coach in the history of Barcelona. He helped to develop a style of play that has changed football forever. He's changed our view and perception of football, you could argue that we are signing small, technically gifted players like Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Marin ect. is down to the impact Guardiola's Barcelona and Spain have had on world football. For me there's no doubt he will be remembered as Barcelona's greatest ever manager.

You do underestimate the influence of Laporta. He came when Barcelona was a mess and reorganised it and eventually appointed Guardiola. Laporta was again appointed because Cruijff supported him (that was at least one of the reasons). Cruijff didn't just have indirect influence on the succes of Guardiola and Barcelona. He still has a big direct influence. This stopped when Rosell became the new preses.

Guardiola is the most responsible for Barca's succes, but Laporta and Cruijff deserve a lot of credit as well. People who say anybody could have achieved with this team are ridiculous. Xavi wasn't worldclass until Guardiola came..

[capriccioso 2,545]

If you accept that then what exactly are you debating?

That football is unpredictable. Lets say 50 years from now we reach a point where its purely technical. An astute manager could set up a physical side and dominate the world. Then other managers would be forced to get more physical and balance in football would be restored again.

[The Big Drog 1,110]

You do underestimate the influence of Laporta. He came when Barcelona was a mess and reorganised it and eventually appointed Guardiola. Laporta was again appointed because Cruijff supported him (that was at least one of the reasons). Cruijff didn't just have indirect influence on the succes of Guardiola and Barcelona. He still has a big direct influence. This stopped when Rosell became the new preses.

Guardiola is the most responsible for Barca's succes, but Laporta and Cruijff deserve a lot of credit as well. People who say anybody could have achieved with this team are ridiculous. Xavi wasn't worldclass until Guardiola came..

Ye Laporta's message was that he wanted to restore the clib's identity and he did that. In the end he and the club as a whole deserve credit for appointing the young, inexperienced but idealistic Guardiola after Rijkaard. Ye Cruyff's influence was big in the halls of Barcelona and he is still very popular with the fans.

[The Big Drog 1,110]

That football is unpredictable. Lets say 50 years from now we reach a point where its purely technical. An astute manager could set up a physical side and dominate the world. Then other managers would be forced to get more physical and balance in football would be restored again.

Obviously you aren't going to completely eradicate physical players, there will always be a place for them. But with the laws of the game and how they are being enforced, it limits physical players and favours technical players, as long as those laws and the way they are enforced stay the same I suspect that technical players will always have the upper hand.

[sleazyB 58]

Only reason I would ever want pep to come to chelsea, is because I think our board would go balls out for neymar, so pep could have his own messi here.

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

in response to thread..............i dont imagine football fantasies....

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

ONLY ONE DI MATTEO....

FUCK YOUR PEP GUARDIOLA!

[Chelsea? 892]

How anyone can say Pep is not a great coach is beyond me.

[Chelsea? 892]

Only reason I would ever want pep to come to chelsea, is because I think our board would go balls out for neymar, so pep could have his own messi here.

Pep would probably attract more plays. Even though I like Pep, I want RDM given a fair shot.

[Santiago. 1,500]

Only reason I would ever want pep to come to chelsea, is because I think our board would go balls out for neymar, so pep could have his own messi here.

Post of the year

Don't know where to begin