Agree with Kink.

The Barca side he took over was terrible and don't forget he got rid of the likes of Eto'o, Henry, Ibrahimovic to fit Messi in, what a decision that turned out to be.

He's not been great for Bayern but his subs won the game for them.

 

I think some of that is just wrong. 

 

The season before Guardiola came in, Messi made a dozen more appearances than Eto'o, he then SIGNED Henry in his first season and then SIGNED Ibrahimovic in his second season.

 

In Rijkaard's final season Xavi, Valdes, Iniesta, Puyol and Messi were established first-team players. You're talking about the greatest spine of any club team EVER being in place when Guardiola comes in.

 

Now he added some great players, like Busquets and Pique, but they were a club on the cusp of greatness and Guardiola took them to that next level. But the foundations were already in place and for that I think you have to look at the impact of Laporta. For me, he is the key person in that era.

 

Man City need to have a lot of things in place to get the best out of Guardiola. I think maybe the ideal time to get him was 3 years ago.

Meanwhile, bemused to see/hear so much positivity over arsenal's performance v barca last night...they lost 5-1 on aggregate against a team you felt were coasting for large periods, knowing they could wipe the floor with Arsenal any time they wanted

Meanwhile, bemused to see/hear so much positivity over arsenal's performance v barca last night...they lost 5-1 on aggregate against a team you felt were coasting for large periods, knowing they could wipe the floor with Arsenal any time they wanted

Brave Arsenal, Unlucky, Plucky, Fighting Spirit...

They got pasted with Barca never getting out of first gear.

The Barca Arsenal was weird, can't remember the last time I've seen a game where the midfield was so ineffectual for both sides defensive-wise. Both sides were running the ball to the oppositions half with almost no resistance. With Arsenal it was because they were poor, With Barcelona it looked like it was just because they weren't treating them as a serious threat and just wanted to score nice looking goals. 

 

Arsenal were poor in defence (why would you leave Suarez completely unmarked in acres of space?) and had poor finishing. You can't expect to win a game/tie like that.

I think some of that is just wrong.

The season before Guardiola came in, Messi made a dozen more appearances than Eto'o, he then SIGNED Henry in his first season and then SIGNED Ibrahimovic in his second season.

In Rijkaard's final season Xavi, Valdes, Iniesta, Puyol and Messi were established first-team players. You're talking about the greatest spine of any club team EVER being in place when Guardiola comes in.

Now he added some great players, like Busquets and Pique, but they were a club on the cusp of greatness and Guardiola took them to that next level. But the foundations were already in place and for that I think you have to look at the impact of Laporta. For me, he is the key person in that era.

Man City need to have a lot of things in place to get the best out of Guardiola. I think maybe the ideal time to get him was 3 years ago.

Agree with of that expect guardiola didn't sign henry. He was already there.

I really rate guardiola, and I would've loved him here. However He has inherited 2 fantastic groups of footballers.

If city make the semi's this year, then he will have never took over a club lower than the top 4 in Europe.

Does that make him any less of a manager? Possibly. City will be his biggest test, and I don't think he will have it all his own way, like the media would have you believe.

Our game at Anfield will be on 11May.

Assuming Liverpool get past United tonight, they'll play 8 games in April - possibly 9 if they reach the Europa League semi finals.

I don't think they have the squad to cope with that. Didn't Klopp complain about having to play too many games on the trot before Christmas?

Umberalla's at the Football...Tsk...Barcelona fans are most certainly NOT hardcore.

 

I wouldn't normally post a link to the Daily Fail, but I did quite like this one - "Arsenal have not won a Champions League knockout tie since 2010... rivals Chelsea have won two European trophies since"

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3496789/Arsenal-not-won-Champions-League-knockout-tie-2010-rivals-Chelsea-won-two-European-trophies-since.html

I'd imagine they are the team holding England's coefficient down most

I wouldn't normally post a link to the Daily Fail, but I did quite like this one - "Arsenal have not won a Champions League knockout tie since 2010... rivals Chelsea have won two European trophies since"

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3496789/Arsenal-not-won-Champions-League-knockout-tie-2010-rivals-Chelsea-won-two-European-trophies-since.html

 

20 years Wenger has managed them in the CL and 1 final to show for it. That's pretty poor, especially given how good his sides were from '98 to '03-'04.

I'd imagine they are the team holding England's coefficient down most

 

City too. They couldn't even get out of the group for the first few years.

Brave Arsenal, Unlucky, Plucky, Fighting Spirit...

They got pasted with Barca never getting out of first gear.

Yup over both legs

City too. They couldn't even get out of the group for the first few years.

Very true, I hadn't thought about City as CL regulars... probably because they don't usually get out of the group!

Finally reached last eight but city got lucky with the draw getting Kiev, who hadn't played for months and even we'd beaten them in group stage when we were really sh*t...like Arsenal, they will get destroyed once they come up against a good team, as usual

Edited March 17, 201610 yr by The Brit

Finally reached last eight but city got lucky with the draw getting Kiev, who hadn't played for months and even we'd beaten them in group stage when we were really sh*t...like Arsenal, they will get destroyed once they come up against a good team, as usual

Yep.

City in terms of European football are a poor outfit, they will be even worse if Kompany misses out which looks likely as he is always crocked.

They were due some luck with the easy draw given their past groups in the CL but sooner or later they will have to play one of the big guns and I’m very confident like Arsenal City will get a pasting.

 

Arsenal Choking Syndrome is real & it's getting worse. Spread awareness.

I wouldn't normally post a link to the Daily Fail, but I did quite like this one - "Arsenal have not won a Champions League knockout tie since 2010... rivals Chelsea have won two European trophies since"

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3496789/Arsenal-not-won-Champions-League-knockout-tie-2010-rivals-Chelsea-won-two-European-trophies-since.html

What makes it even funnier is that Tottenham has won a knockout round since Arsenal last won one and Tottenham haven't been in the competition since 2011 

Anyone seen the England squad?

How the f**k have Sturridge and Welbeck been called up?

The central defence is lacking a bit of quality but the midfield selection is full of exciting youth talent.

England are desperate for a winger. The best we have is Sterling and he's sh*t.

United need a win and what does Van Gaal do ? he leaves our Herrera because he has a tight hamstring and doesn't want to risk him.......uh, i think risks need to be taken, United need this or they ain't getting Champions League next season. He also leaves Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin and Memphis on the bench. I know Schweinsteiger has just come back but he made a difference to United when he came on against West Ham so i think he is needed. I also think it's ridiculous that Schneiderlin is being kept out of the side for Fellaini or Carrick, Fellaini is a red card waiting to happen and Carrick is too slow.

Reckon Liverpool will have too much for what is a really poor United side tonight. Tie could be over by half-time

Anyone seen the England squad?

How the f**k have Sturridge and Welbeck been called up?

The central defence is lacking a bit of quality but the midfield selection is full of exciting youth talent.

Not that we're gonna win the bloody thing or even progress from the group stages(!) but if Kane gets injured then we're buggered at the Euro's.

Mata is playing woeful so far, can't pass at all

Fellaini is such a prick. Again elbowing his opponent in the head when jumping for a header.