The English Football Thread

[LAM09 6,687]

Look at the ambition our board has shown with Conte. I doubt he's losing sleep over not coming here. 

Emenalo has now gone. Lets see want happens in the next two windows

 

 

True, but his Bayern team was a machine. 

 

In Germany. I honestly expected this side to be humbled at some point in the CL.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

2 minutes ago, LAM09 said:

Exactly. Had a better squad at Bayern & still demanded more. Only PSG or City could have satisfied him.

 

 

 

They aren't exactly playing against the best that this country has had to offer over the years. Burnley have a legitimate case for top 4 right now.

What has this country had to offer? This is the best this country has had to offer if you consider Klopp at Liverpool, Mourinho at United, Pochettino at Spurs and Conte at Chelsea. There are more teams fighting for the title with more money to go around than ever before. City are just pissing the league making it look easy. 

[samzilla 517]

While it sucks to see City doing so well, likely to break our wins and points records, at this point it's probably best they take points off the teams below us to help us consolidate a top 3rd position.  

[Pizy 18,323]

Unless ourselves or United go ballistic next summer and spend huge money like City do it's hard to see anyone stopping them for the next couple of years. I get the feeling that the embarrassment of seeing their Manchester rivals dominate like this will pressure United to spend like maniacs again next summer but I'm not sure we will.

We have the coach to compete with them and many of the pieces are in place. We just need about 3-4 top quality players (another attacking player, LWB, RWB, second striker) and we are on their level. That's assuming we keep hold of Hazard, of course.

[manpe 10,861]

1 minute ago, communicate said:

More than half. Maybe only Christensen can stay at the back. In midfield only cesc 

Nah, from our team I think only Hazard and Christensen would make his team. Maybe Kante too with Fernandinho dropping to bench, but I'm not sure about that either. Fabregas probably too slow for starting material, but would make an awesome supersub to feed their fantastic movement.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Just now, samzilla said:

While it sucks to see City doing so well, likely to break our wins and points records, at this point it's probably best they take points off the teams below us to help us consolidate a top 3rd position.  

Also goals record as well. 

[LAM09 6,687]

What has this country had to offer? This is the best this country has had to offer if you consider Klopp at Liverpool, Mourinho at United, Pochettino at Spurs and Conte at Chelsea. There are more teams fighting for the title with more money to go around than ever before. City are just pissing the league making it look easy. 

They've outspent most, if not everyone. The league doesn't consist of Mou's first Chelsea side, The Invincibles or one of Sir Alex's sides at Utd.

Take nothing away from this City side, but we almost broke the consecutive winning run with our current squad. Let that sink in for a sec

[communicate 2,703]

Just now, manpe said:

Nah, from our team I think only Hazard and Christensen would make his team. Maybe Kante too with Fernandinho dropping to bench, but I'm not sure about that either. Fabregas probably too slow for starting material, but would make an awesome supersub to feed their fantastic movement.

Not Kantw for me, he won't be in pep team. He is the best ball winner in epl but his passing is not sharp enough. Cesc can play for pep maybe not as starter. Of course Hazard, Willian and Pedro. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

1 minute ago, LAM09 said:

They've outspent most, if not everyone. The league doesn't consist of Mou's first Chelsea side, The Invincibles or one of Sir Alex's sides at Utd.

Take nothing away from this City side, but we almost broke the consecutive winning run with our current squad. Let that sink in for a sec

Problematic argumentation. So there are 38 games a season City will only have to play in these hypothetical matches 2 times against either one of those legendary teams. What about the remaining 36 games? 

They have 52 from a possible 54 points. Have scored the most goals in 18 games and are blowing away their (considerable amount) of rivals. The league is stronger than its ever been. Miss me with all the reminscing. This is the best team we've seen till now. Not sure how 52/54 can be argued against. 

[communicate 2,703]

6 minutes ago, LAM09 said:

Emenalo has now gone. Lets see want happens in the next two windows

 

 

 

 

In Germany. I honestly expected this side to be humbled at some point in the CL.

Maybe but in UCL luck play a big factor. If you watched how his Bayern team lost against rm, barca and atletico you will see that his team actually played quite well. Against rm, it was two set pieces. Against Barca, they dominated but Messi happened. They actually battered atletico team, I have never seen that atletico team got destroyed like that but they scored only one and Griezmann scored from counter. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

9 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Unless ourselves or United go ballistic next summer and spend huge money like City do it's hard to see anyone stopping them for the next couple of years. I get the feeling that the embarrassment of seeing their Manchester rivals dominate like this will pressure United to spend like maniacs again next summer but I'm not sure we will.

We have the coach to compete with them and many of the pieces are in place. We just need about 3-4 top quality players (another attacking player, LWB, RWB, second striker) and we are on their level. That's assuming we keep hold of Hazard, of course.

Another central midfielder. We literally need Sandro, Meunier, Verratti, Neymar and maybe an Immobile type level as the second striker for solutions to seriously compete and overcome with this team.

[LAM09 6,687]

Maybe but in UCL luck play a big factor. If you watched how his Bayern team lost against rm, barca and atletico you will see that his team actually played quite well. Against rm, it was two set pieces. Against Barca, they dominated but Messi happened. They actually battered atletico team, I have never seen that atletico team got destroyed like that but they scored only one and Griezmann scored from counter. 

That's it. All his sides have been suspect at the back and this side are no different. The best will punish them

[Pizy 18,323]

When you really go player by player it isn't like City have world beaters in every position. They've go a brilliant coach and brilliant players in just the right positions. For example, the likes of Fernandinho, Otamendi, Delph, Mangala, Stones are good but not great players. I wouldn't swap any of those with our starting players. Hell, their two primary wingers Sterling and Sané are super talented but still very inconsistent. They benefit massively from the team and system they play in.

Like us, they've got between 2-4 genuine world class players mixed with a bunch of good ones. We need quality additions in key areas and we're there.

[manpe 10,861]

Just now, Pizy said:

Unless ourselves or United go ballistic next summer and spend huge money like City do it's hard to see anyone stopping them for the next couple of years.

Spending money needs to be done wisely though. United have splashed some insane money, but they have barely improved let's be honest. We spent ~100 million on Drinkwater, Bakayoko and Zappacosta, but did those buys really improve us greatly? Judging by this season, I'd say no. You look at the money spent and go "wow, they must have really invested in some serious quality". Then you see that every equal amount that City spent compared to us was aimed at improving their quality and depth. Every equal amount we spent compared to them was to replace somebody. We will never overtake them with this policy, never.

[communicate 2,703]

4 minutes ago, Pizy said:

When you really go player by player it isn't like City have world beaters in every position. They've go a brilliant coach and brilliant players in just the right positions. For example, the likes of Fernandinho, Otamendi, Delph, Mangala, Stones are good but not great players. I wouldn't swap any of those with our starting players. Hell, their two primary wingers Sterling and Sané are super talented but still very inconsistent. They benefit massively from the team and system they play in.

Like us, they've got between 2-4 genuine world class players mixed with a bunch of good ones. We need quality additions in key areas and we're there.

Agree to certain extent but in order to compete with city we need two really good wb and we have been searching for them for maybe 5 years now and we haven't found it.

 

[Ledg 639]

It’s mid-December and the season is already depressing. It’s not a marathon, but a sprint for City towards the title.

And the way team around us drop points, top 3 could be sealed very soon.

My only hope for some excitement atm is in the CL. If we can knock out Barca, then from QF onwards everybody has a chance.


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[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Also there goes the myth that Guardiola needs to work only with the absolute best to produce the best results.

Sane and Sterling are talented young players but they aren't one of the best. Even Silva and Aguero two PL legends still really good players but not the same players of 4 years ago. Gabriel Jesus is still a kid. Pep is just amazing. The haters will learn to give him his due. 

[communicate 2,703]

3 minutes ago, manpe said:

Spending money needs to be done wisely though. United have splashed some insane money, but they have barely improved let's be honest. We spent ~100 million on Drinkwater, Bakayoko and Zappacosta, but did those buys really improve us greatly? Judging by this season, I'd say no. You look at the money spent and go "wow, they must have really invested in some serious quality". Then you see that every equal amount that City spent compared to us was aimed at improving their quality and depth. Every equal amount we spent compared to them was to replace somebody. We will never overtake them with this policy, never.

Agree our net spend this season is actually close to 0. This summer we  improved our squad a little bit and made it younger but we also make our 1st 11 worse.