PloKoon13

Potter revisionism in 2025, we are truly in the trenches.

I actually think that's rarely the case. Often these managers stumble on to a system by adapting a tactic and style that fits a certain group of players, then have the opportunity to refine the squad to suit that style.
Guardiola, for example, stumbled on to his 'false 9' system to accomodate Messi with the Spanish players who had embraced tiki-taka at Euro 2008. He created a system that suited his players. He adapted to injury crises at City by using Gundogan as a deep-running attacker, and using inverted fullbacks.
Mourinho, at Chelsea, created a system to accomodate two left-sided wingers (Duff/Robben) and a no. 10 (Cole), and using a strong defensive core to allow them more tactical freedom. At Inter, he was able to develop a possession-focused outfit into an outstanding counter-attacking unit in Europe, and at Real Madrid he developed arguably the best counter-attacking team ever.

Twenty years on both men are held as the poster children for "systems" football but in reality their most successful moments were when they adapted to their team.

Players don't grow in a vacuum, they learn and are supported and mentored by more experienced players. That is the reality of professional sport.
Even Abramovich didn't empty house when he took over. Man United's freefall started when they did empty house.
It is such an arrogant and idiotic point of view that we cannot judge these owners right now because we cannot possibly comprehend their plan.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/mar/15/jose-mourinho-identity-maniacally-self-serving-but-essentially-unbroken
Really fun article. Then again Ronay would know a thing or two about being trapped by one's own identity, sticking with the same schtick through the decades, etc.

This your Mrs @just ?

If SEZs are anything to go by, I assume that's because our government(s) are all in favour of random criminals plundering state assets.
"Well we don't behead people for supporting the wrong billionaire" - you weren't wrong about the bar being low.

Have we all agreed not to make any sportswashing comments for 24 hours to allow Newcastle fans to have their long-awaited moment?

I'm sure the novelty will wear off by April, they'll be Maresca Out too when they're sick of it

I thought he was okay defensively, the passing mistakes he made half of them was down to the receiver. I remember one where Neto just left the pass.
All in all though yet another player that's no better than what we had in our academy.

Liverpool getting a questionable offside call go their way in a League Cup Final is basically a national institution at this point.
Well-deserved lead for Newcastle. Hope they can hold onto this. Saying that, Jackson could have scored that goal any day of the week.

Tommy T saw this coming - he's going to do that again in the World Cup Final.

Two shots on target - both from Cucurella. Not the most impressive attacking performance I have ever seen.

Tottenham now 2-0 down

I feel like we would play better if BlueCo hadn't sold all our good players and replaced them with sh*t players.
Also if they hadn't got rid of our good manager and [eventually] replaced him with a weird ideologue.

Without Palmer, Jackson and Madueke we don't have a single player who can make a difference in the opposition penalty area.

"He's not actually bald, he's just pretending to get in the gaffer's good graces"

"He's not actually bald, he's just pretending to get in the gaffer's good graces"

First change in the 69th minute:
Off: cup of tea
In: glass of Ardmore

First change in the 69th minute:
Off: cup of tea
In: glass of Ardmore

That wasn't even a convincing dive - ref is on drugs

Think we need a Lamptey-style cameo from Tyrique George