The English Football Thread

[Special Juan 27,424]

Headline on the Mail

Mourinho vs Guardiola in Manchester was supposed to become the great Premier League rivalry... so, why is it turning into 5th vs 6th?

[Fernando 6,455]

Chinese FA confirms limit on foreign players for Super League clubs

http://www.espnfc.us/chinese-super-league/story/3039771/chinese-fa-confirms-limit-on-foreign-players-for-super-league-clubs

 

 

Chinese Super League rule changes could drive prices up, says Beijing football journalist

 

New rules limiting the number of foreign players in the Chinese Super League could drive prices up even further due to competition for squad spaces, according to a Beijing football journalist.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10730964/chinese-super-league-rule-changes-could-drive-prices-up-says-beijing-football-journalist

 

 

Didn't know where to put this, but this was interesting and concerns all clubs as far as China goes... 

[Azpinator 2,325]

It's been quiet without the casual Pep groupies. I would never want his mess at Chelsea.
 

[manpe 10,861]

29 minutes ago, Azpinator said:

It's been quiet without the casual Pep groupies. I would never want his mess at Chelsea.
 

First time Guardiola came to a league where he has to actually defend, not only score, and he crumbles. City is far from the same as Bayern in Germany or Barcelona in Spain, reality check time for Pep here.

[Unionjack 7,531]

1 hour ago, manpe said:

First time Guardiola came to a league where he has to actually defend, not only score, and he crumbles. City is far from the same as Bayern in Germany or Barcelona in Spain, reality check time for Pep here.

How do you think Mou/Pep would work out taking over a club like say Hull fighting for relegation with nowhere near the bufget theyre used to?

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

http://newsthump.com/2017/01/06/chinese-club-to-make-audacious-100m-bid-for-newcastle-united-supporters/

[-Kaplan- 410]

23 hours ago, iceboy said:

 

Why is Klopp bouncing around like he's about to go 12 rounds with Mourinho. 

Tosser.

[Special Juan 27,424]

Craggier spot on tonight on MNF having a right go at Bravo from Man City, like I have been saying for weeks he is simply not good enough and concedes goals other keepers would not.

[BoyBlue96 990]

Just an ordinary chequebook manager. Nothing special. He's exposed. Fraud. 

 

[kmk108 1,186]

Mike Dean has been demoted after having FIVE OF HIS LAST SIX red cards rescinded.

 

[Special Juan 27,424]

Good, disgraceful referee.

[Rmpr 8,977]

16 hours ago, BoyBlue96 said:

Just an ordinary chequebook manager. Nothing special. He's exposed. Fraud. 

 

Pep is still an excellent manager, people are always too eager to jump the gun. He has taken really shitty decisions at City, its true, but that doesnt discredit what he has already done.

Guardiola revolutionized football tactics, anyone who knows a tiny bit of football can see it. He created variations and player distributions on the pitch that no one thought of doing before. Yes, he had the fortune to have Xavi, Messi and Iniesta who were capable of putting all of this in practice. But his greatness is unquestionable. Period.

However, others have already figured his shit out, managers nowadays know very effective ways to counter Pep's style. He is not the king of the hill anymore. Specially in a so well trained league. EPL is full of top, top coaches. It is obviously he would have a harder time.

So, yes, Guardiola's season is terrible and he is mostly the blame. But that doesnt mean he is a fraud nor that he is an average manager who had luck and nothing else. He can very well recover from this and evolve. He still deserves the benefit of the doubt for all he has done. At least 1 more season.

[communicate 2,703]

On 1/16/2017 at 11:48 PM, manpe said:

First time Guardiola came to a league where he has to actually defend, not only score, and he crumbles. City is far from the same as Bayern in Germany or Barcelona in Spain, reality check time for Pep here.

Kinda disagree, pep always want having most of the ball and very offensive. Hence,  they always concede chances but they create tons of chances as well. The problem, in few games that I watch them, is the way they concede. It is beyond comical, they cannot handle simple long ball or they just miss standard pass in midfield.

Plus they lost their key midfield in Fernandinho. When your deepest midfielder is old Yaya toure, you are in a big trouble 

[manpe 10,861]

3 hours ago, communicate said:

Kinda disagree, pep always want having most of the ball and very offensive. Hence,  they always concede chances but they create tons of chances as well.

What do you disagree with? I didn't state the opposite anywhere.

[Special Juan 27,424]

As bad as City have been I fancy them to beat Spurs this weekend.

[Pizy 18,368]

32 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

As bad as City have been I fancy them to beat Spurs this weekend.

That would be lovely, wouldn't it? Not only to widen the gap for us but also to knock Spuds fans down a peg. 

I just can't see it with the state of City's defense. Luckily, City are home so they shouldn't just roll over like they did against Everton.

[Jase 43,479]

1 hour ago, Pizy said:

That would be lovely, wouldn't it? Not only to widen the gap for us but also to knock Spuds fans down a peg. 

I just can't see it with the state of City's defense. Luckily, City are home so they shouldn't just roll over like they did against Everton.

Even a draw would be good for us. And let's not forget that Spurs will be missing Vertonghen.

[akgw13 867]

18 minutes ago, Jason said:

Even a draw would be good for us. And let's not forget that Spurs will be missing Vertonghen.

Any dropped spurs points is great for us. Would love to see a City win for some more breathing room with our Liverpool/Arsenal games coming up. Think they will stick with 3 at the back since they have looked really good with it or go back to 4?