Yeah but the directors and owners are not being charged, they will get away scot-free.Kai wrote: ↑Sun Feb 16, 2020 1:33 pmThey can appeal all they want but only one man can save them now : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfRKv3JDZO4firlandsfarm wrote: ↑Sun Feb 16, 2020 6:02 amAs I previously proposed the advantage gained should be removed and the directors/owners punished.
Today's Football
- firlandsfarm
- Posts: 3317
- Joined: Sat May 03, 2014 8:20 am
To be fair Bernardo mentions Benfica in such a way in most interviews but I disagree that it's not connected, like Mr. Fox mentioned already their club statement said that this was "not a surprise" for them at all, so I wouldn't be surprised either if some of them were laying the groundwork beforehand in case they need or want to bail ship, including Pep who beforehand said that CL is the only thing he cares about in the whole world and that he is a big fat failure if he doesn't win it.jameegray1 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 17, 2020 1:01 amApparently that interview was over a week ago so not connected.
It does somewhat explain why they're not on their game this season. But no idea how they're going to win it this season, the fans never liked or cared about CL even before this. Maybe Pep can somehow use this to make that final push and win out of spite.
- Kafkaesque
- Posts: 886
- Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2017 10:20 am
Depends how you like your football, and how rigidly you maintain, that's the only way for it to be beautiful (or not ugly, at least).
Having a bit of mare domestically overall, missing your best attacking player on the night, being in a transitional season defensively. To then meet the reigning champions, who's having the opposite domestic season, steamrolling all takers, and come away with a win where the opponents had one, maybe two clear openings, no shots on target, and you yourself having a few very good chances beyond the goal.
That's extremely disclipned by the players, a(nother) masterstroke by Simeone, and yes imo beautiful in its own way.
Simeone epitomises the concept of a team reflecting their manager's personality/character.
I say "good for him".
I dislike his provoking Beckham, but that's his MO and that's the game.
Also it takes some doing to move a team to be recognised as one that can rattle Barca and Real on a regular basis.
Liverpool V Atletico could well be worth a watch.
Typically tame away European performance from Liverpool, there has been quite a few of those last 2 seasons. Disappointed to see them lose control and the composure in the 2nd half, played right into Simeone's hands. Also surprisingly poor game management by Klopp, subbed off both match winners when he needed the crucial away goal, didn't trust Mane not to get sent off for no reason and got booked as well when he lost it in the end.
Not much to say about Atletico, it's the only team I want them to avoid last 5+ years because of their shithousery. Might be an unpopular opinion but having all these issues with injuries etc just helped them here and gave them all the excuses to do what they do best. I have a lot of respect for Simeone but at the same time I don't really have any, not sure how that's possible but to me it makes perfect sense
Not much to say about Atletico, it's the only team I want them to avoid last 5+ years because of their shithousery. Might be an unpopular opinion but having all these issues with injuries etc just helped them here and gave them all the excuses to do what they do best. I have a lot of respect for Simeone but at the same time I don't really have any, not sure how that's possible but to me it makes perfect sense

It's also very strange not seeing Spurs priced as favorites tonight against Leipzig, with Leipzig 1.70 to go through. Is it me or have they gone backwards under Mourinho? Not fully watching their matches but it looks like they're getting dominated and outplayed by everyone last 3 matches yet still somehow riding their luck, against a redcarded City, then a smash and grab against Saints, and the absolute gift from Villa in the last 30 seconds of the game.
- Kafkaesque
- Posts: 886
- Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2017 10:20 am
It does makes sense, to me also at leastKai wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2020 11:17 amTypically tame away European performance from Liverpool, there has been quite a few of those last 2 seasons. Disappointed to see them lose control and the composure in the 2nd half, played right into Simeone's hands. Also surprisingly poor game management by Klopp, subbed off both match winners when he needed the crucial away goal, didn't trust Mane not to get sent off for no reason and got booked as well when he lost it in the end.
Not much to say about Atletico, it's the only team I want them to avoid last 5+ years because of their shithousery. Might be an unpopular opinion but having all these issues with injuries etc just helped them here and gave them all the excuses to do what they do best. I have a lot of respect for Simeone but at the same time I don't really have any, not sure how that's possible but to me it makes perfect sense![]()

For me, the respect for Simeone comes from how much he is a master of setting up a team and use dark arts to subdue and frustrate superior teams, like say Barca or Liverpool yesterday. The lack of respect comes in because the Argentine in his dna is so strong, that if they go ahead through a scrappy goal in the 4th minute at home to Leganes, it's the same shithousery. Not as extreme, but basically the same MO.
- Kafkaesque
- Posts: 886
- Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2017 10:20 am
Backwards compareable to Spurs overall the last 2-3 seasons, or when he arrived? If the latter, I'd say no, not backwards. But not really forwards and upwards either.Kai wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2020 11:51 amIt's also very strange not seeing Spurs priced as favorites tonight against Leipzig, with Leipzig 1.70 to go through. Is it me or have they gone backwards under Mourinho? Not fully watching their matches but it looks like they're getting dominated and outplayed by everyone last 3 matches yet still somehow riding their luck, against a redcarded City, then a smash and grab against Saints, and the absolute gift from Villa in the last 30 seconds of the game.
Not sure I agree, we're being dominated either. Against City (pre red card) yeah, but that was to be expected. On the flip, we're not dominating and dictating outselves as much as you'd want and expect against inferior teams. It's all very meeeeeehhhhh.
The primary concern for me is that the players look like, they're playing under the constant pressure of being terrified of making a mistake. It's choking everything up. The third season syndrome has come early and we have 11 (mental) Luke Shaw's.
As for tonight, about even pricing seems right. If you think, Mourinho can outsmart Nagelsmann, as he has so many managers before, and exploit when RBL gets too frisky, the Spurs are value. Otherwise RBL are.
I wanted to ask weeks ago whether you were starting to get worried about how the players have reacted to Jose in general, seen many games where they were under immense pressure for periods even from lesser teams.Kafkaesque wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2020 2:07 pmThe primary concern for me is that the players look like, they're playing under the constant pressure of being terrified of making a mistake. It's choking everything up. The third season syndrome has come early and we have 11 (mental) Luke Shaw's.
Was watching his Leipzig presser today and couldn't believe how negative he has gotten overall, everyone seems to have bought into the narrative that he's trying so hard to paint, about how Spurs are in an extremely difficult position and have so many different problems while in reality they were only missing one player, albeit an important one. It's fine if you want to protect your players and deflect some pressure off yourself or hide everything behind the Kane injury, but that narrative may backfire if the players start believing all of it as well.
If you prepare too many excuses beforehand for yourself and especially your players then they might just help themselves to a few and not perform. Jose said that Spurs are like a man hanging off a balcony right now, I just don't see it, all I see are one (and now two) injuries to key players.