7 hours ago, Giordano_Bruno said:

He's???? got two seasons without delivering the title - he finished on 2nd and 3rd spot. And about 8 or 9, I don't kn?o?w the exact number, of winning it. When Conte, Mour?inho, Wenger had "flawed" and "clearly not the strongest" teams in the league - they were close to releg?ation zone at times and finished 5th, 10th, 6th and now probably 6th again. You see the differe?nc?e??

When did Pep have a weak squad exactly or not the strongest team? LOL I know one occasion in 2009 when his team bought CL refs!

He inherited the best ever Barcelona squad that had World Cup winners, easy job mate, then Bayern that just season before he took over won Champions league and then after not being capable to win the Champions League again, Man City that played CL semi finals and were constantly in the top 4 or winning the league and breaking records with Pellegrini...

Conte won the Premier League at his first season in England without spending much and influenced the league with his 3-4-3 formation...Pep just said to his bosses to give him funds so that he can play tiki-taka the only style he can coach.

also don't forget he nearly already had Jorginho's signature on the contract, arogant f**ker

5 hours ago, Gol15 said:

When did Pep have a weak squad exactly or not the strongest team? LOL I know one occasion in 2009 when his team bought CL refs!

He inherited the best ever Barcelona squad that had World Cup winners, easy job mate, then Bayern that just season before he took over won Champions league and then after not being capable to win the Champions League again, Man City that played CL semi finals and were constantly in the top 4 or winning the league and breaking records with Pellegrini...

Conte won the Premier League at his first season in England without spending much and influenced the league with his 3-4-3 formation...Pep just said to his bosses to give him funds so that he can play tiki-taka the only style he can coach.

As good as pep is, he is a check book manager........takes over the best teams only and on top spends immense amount of Cash.

On other news: The Daily Mail have a headline about an American soccer team that get bigger crowds than Chelsea . 

The inference is we get small crowds because we are a small team but the truth is the capacity of their ground is larger .

Just another reinforcement of a negative where we are concerned.

It truly is relentless. Taken from another forum.

Hampton and Richmond in the FA cup on BT.  Ah the mighty Beveree Stadium (well that's a rather grand name for it, but still), home of the famous Beveree Discos in the 70s, site of my first illicit Cinzano and Lemonades aged about 13/14.  Ah memories.

sh*t Oldham have just equalised.

Double sh*t - they've now taken the lead.

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Beerqueen

Daniel Sturridge could face a career-ending ban after being charged with a breach of FA betting rules that concerns

On 12/11/2018 at 05:52, DaRick said:

I get the feeling that you quoted the wrong post. 

On the City situation, I don't have anything against City as a club, but I agree that their situation is different from ours in that we had the wealth of one man behind us whereas they, like PSG, have the wealth of an entire state behind them. 

I also agree that while Chelsea have benefited greatly from their wealth during their time, they weren't allowed to circumvent existing UEFA rules the way that City have. 

I will also note that while Chelsea actually broke into the Top 4 at the time of Roman's takeover, Man City when the Arabs bought them was more of a mid-table club. 

Apologies buddy I was meant to quote @Eight Times, that's why I hate posting off my phone I make so many mistakes. 

22 hours ago, Giordano_Bruno said:

"General" is not appropriate word mate. He's got two seasons without delivering the title - he finished on 2nd and 3rd spot. And about 8 or 9, I don't know the exact number, of winning it. When Conte, Mourinho, Wenger had "flawed" and "clearly not the strongest" teams in the league - they were close to relegation zone at times and finished 5th, 10th, 6th and now probably 6th again. You see the difference?

And, most impotantly, he is not the only one spending money. the media seems to forget \or at least not paying attention when the big OLD clubs like United, Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool spend, but when it's City, Chelsea or PSG.... excuses, excuses, excuses. And I don't want to argue about which case is worse - ours, or City's. they are both not bad , because that's the exact reason why the media twisted it - to excuse their favourites and their incapability of winning. 

Pogba - 105 mil, Lukaku 85, Fred 60, Matic 42, Mkhitariyan 42 and then the cosmic salary of Alexis, he also spent 40 for Baily and 35 for Lindelof to strengthen his defense. Now he doesn't like them... probably Guardiola's fault again? this is the very first season in United that Mourinho didn't spend a huge amount of money. And he cried out the press and everybody. 

Liverpool - Van Djik - 80 mil, Alisson 62, Keita 60, Fabinho 45, Salah 42, Mane 42, Chamberlane 40 - all of these last two transfer windows.

Even Arsenal spent a whole lotta money. 

I can't say the competition is sleeping. Can you? this is just the typical propaganda trying to excuse media's favourite teams miserable existance and trying to underrate what Pep is doing. the same thing happened 14 years ago with us btw. And now you are buying it.  Not only that you guys are being hypocritical but you are also supporting the "old" losers cause with this behaviour. 

Mourinho deserved every single praise and applause for making Chelsea so foking great about 15 ago. Ever since his first period here, he is not able to do it again. Pep has done it three times - in Bayern, Barcelona and now, most likely with City. Give this man the props, he deserves, for crying out loud. Don't be one of these old hypocritical posh farts, starting the excuses with "buts" every time they kicked their asses badly like yesterday. 

He literally walked into a side of World Class players and spent 200 million in one summer on fullbacks, stop pretending that he doesn't have luxuries, no other manager gets these luxuries. 

Mourinho pretty much got banned from signing anymore players at United, Pep can sign anyone he wants without even making a sale, the fact that he wanted Jorginho on top of Mahrez just solidifies that, they've got greater depth than anyone and nobody can say otherwise. 

Pep is definitely better than what I thought he was, he has a great team at his disposal and they're blowing teams away but he also has a huge amount of privileges that no other manager in the league has. Also you trying to conflate our situation with them is laughable, we finished in the top 4 before we were bought, there was no regulation on transfers, any club could go out and spend a sh*t load of money, is that the case now? No. You're making a point about "old hypocritical posh farts" without even realising the difference of circumstances from today and 15 years ago. 

I am getting sick of this misunderstanding. Does he have privileges? Yes, he does, I am not denying that. that's how it works, actually. the greatest have privileges.  But he is not the ONLY ONE with these. As I said, look at the transfer windows of Liverpool, Arsenal and United(before the last summer). they spent amount very close to the City's, isn't that correct? 

Whose fault is that they focked up the transfers? Whose fault is that every single one of the Pep's targets turned out to be great for the team - B. Silva, De Brewin, Laporte, Stones, Walker, Mendi, Gundogan, Sane, even Mahrez and Jesus? All of them - successful. How many flops? Is there any actually? 

Inherited the best team? Not really. For 10 years of spending they had 2 titles - by GD against United, won in the final seconds, and by 2 points against Liverpool because of us. From Mancini and Pelegrini's squad there are only 3 players that still have some role - David Silva, Aguero and Fernandinho. 3 out of 11, mates. 

You don't have to buy so many football players to win. Mourinho added Costa and Cesc for 60 mil combined and dominated the league. See, it's enough.

Conte bought Kante for 40 mils  and Alonso for how much, something like 18 and that was enough. 

the late Wenger, the recent Mourinho and the current Klopp - they buy a lot more than that. And they are failing. Pep's fault maybe? 

You guys are talking about the money because every single transfer of his turned out to be great. And that, in my opinion, should also be praised. 

I'm not sure if you are a fan of Guardiola or not.  Spent like a drunken sailor wherever he has gone, has always managed the dominant team in whichever league he was in, with unlimited funds to buy the very best of talent and still flops desperately in the Champions League.

You say 

6 minutes ago, Giordano_Bruno said:

You guys are talking about the money because every single transfer of his turned out to be great

That's because when you have the funds to buy the very best, they are still going to be the very best after you have bought them.  When you can spend a gazillion dollars on some fullbacks or on 83 midfielders that you don't actually need, then yes, you are the epitome of a chequebook manager.  When Guardiola actually wins something with a team that wasn't the creation of a middle eastern ruler's money-well, then he might be considered a truly great manager. 

And, for what it's worth, give me the City manager's job, and I'll win the league.  So would you, or any other idiot on the streets.

 

You know thats BS, I've just decided not to bury my head in the sands. 

Remember the time in Bayern and Barcelona - "he needs to come in England and prove himself, otherwise he's done nothing". Remember that whining? Cuz I do. And now the same thing is going on again - that's what I call hypocricy. 

And btw, you can't say the "very best" about any of these signings - De Brewin came from Wolfsburg, Laporte - I don't remember, some mediocre team in Spain, Bernardo Silva was ok-ish, but still far from the"hottest" in Monaco, Sane - another mediocre team from Germany, Stones - Everton, Gundogan - a bench in Dortmund, Mahrez - Leicester, Jesus - Brazil or some Eastern european club, I don't know, and only Walker and Mendi were proven stars, and to be fair - they are far from the very best too. 

Just stop hating man. Ain't healthy. 

Edited November 13, 20187 yr by Giordano_Bruno

11 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

I'm not sure if you are a fan of Guardiola or not.  Spent like a drunken sailor wherever he has gone, has always managed the dominant team in whichever league he was in, with unlimited funds to buy the very best of talent and still flops desperately in the Champions League.

You say 

That's because when you have the funds to buy the very best, they are still going to be the very best after you have bought them.  When you can spend a gazillion dollars on some fullbacks or on 83 midfielders that you don't actually need, then yes, you are the epitome of a chequebook manager.  When Guardiola actually wins something with a team that wasn't the creation of a middle eastern ruler's money-well, then he might be considered a truly great manager. 

And, for what it's worth, give me the City manager's job, and I'll win the league.  So would you, or any other idiot on the streets.

 

Nah, that's too easy to say things like that YB. Folk said the same when Mourinho first came to us and was able to spend sh*t loads. Sure it helps, but it doesn't GUARANTEE success. Plenty of others have splashed the cash and failed. I have to take my hat of to Guardiola, yes, with their spending power it has become an unlevel playing field but at least he has them playing football the right way and he sticks to his principals. 

Anyway, most weeks he plays KDB and Srerling - two guys you don't even rate!! 

40 minutes ago, Giordano_Bruno said:

Whose fault is that they focked up the transfers? Whose fault is that every single one of the Pep's targets turned out to be great for the team - B. Silva, De? Brewin, Laporte, Stones, Walker, Mendi, Gundogan, Sane, even Mahrez and Jesus? All of them - successful. How many flops? Is there any actually? 

Claudio Bravo, bought for £18m and then a year later they were paying £40m for Ederson. 

Danilo, not many clubs are spending £30m on a fullback to be their reserve. The guy has made just two league cup starts so far this season. 

Nolito, only lasted a year at City and then sold for a £10m loss replaced with the £45m signing of Bernardo Silva.  

Okay that's just three but let's remember that City are buying from the top shelf here, they broke the transfer record for a fullback (Walker) then broke it again (Mendy). When you're buying players in the way that City do it's much easier for signings to work out than not, look at the first 5 years of when Roman bought Chelsea, the signings were by and large successes because the team as a whole is playing well. 

Take a player like Jesus, he signed for big money but because Aguero (when of the best strikers ever in the Premier League) is already there, there isn't necesarily pressure on him to hit the ground running. He's only got 1 goal in 9 Premier League appearances so far this season but it doesn't matter because of the sheer depth of quality players in that City squad. 

@Nibs It's a different world from when Mourinho turned up.  I'll agree it doesn't necessarily GUARANTEE success, as can be seen by the fact that City flop in the Champions League and don't win everything.  That ties in with my post in another thread about not being arrogant as fans about so-called "lesser" teams, because there is a huge amount of luck involved in football. But it's not about how his teams play the game, it's about having the resources to buy up a million top-class players for each position, pay them shed-loads of cash to keep them sweet and slip  in another world-class player if someone has a bit of an off game or sprains his wrist opening his wallet.

Even at Roman's most profligate, we never had two or three complete teams of top-class players.  We had a top squad, and the very best first team, but it wasn't far down the order before you found players who were more what we were used to.

And you know that I rate KDB very highly (other than the ginger,obviously)  I just wish he had shown one tenth of his current ability when he was with us, and that he had had the patience to stay and work for a first team place.  But that's all old history now. 

Sterling does run about a lot, I'll give you that, and is a standard-bearer for the  world-wide reputation that us British have for honesty, integrity and a sense of justice and fair play that differentiates us from Johnny Foreigner.

4 hours ago, Slojo said:

Apologies buddy I was meant to quote @Eight Times, that's why I hate posting off my phone I make so many mistakes. 

No problem man.  

7 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

@Nibs It's a different world from when Mourinho turned up.  I'll agree it doesn't necessarily GUARANTEE success, as can be seen by the fact that City flop in the Champions League and don't win everything.  That ties in with my post in another thread about not being arrogant as fans about so-called "lesser" teams, because there is a huge amount of luck involved in football. But it's not about how his teams play the game, it's about having the resources to buy up a million top-class players for each position, pay them shed-loads of cash to keep them sweet and slip  in another world-class player if someone has a bit of an off game or sprains his wrist opening his wallet.

Even at Roman's most profligate, we never had two or three complete teams of top-class players.  We had a top squad, and the very best first team, but it wasn't far down the order before you found players who were more what we were used to.

And you know that I rate KDB very highly (other than the ginger,obviously)  I just wish he had shown one tenth of his current ability when he was with us, and that he had had the patience to stay and work for a first team place.  But that's all old history now. 

Sterling does run about a lot, I'll give you that, and is a standard-bearer for the  world-wide reputation that us British have for honesty, integrity and a sense of justice and fair play that differentiates us from Johnny Foreigner.

On the whole I agree but I don't think us Chelsea fans can complain about City as it's exactly what opposition supporters were moaning about us with the old "Chelski" comments back in the day.

Sure it has moved on, but Mourinho always wanted two strong players for every position and we pretty much had it at one point.

Be great if we can push them all the way this season as with weaker Barca, Madrid and Munich teams I can honestly see them winning the CL and maybe even the lot this season. 

I'm not complaining about City, but about people in here venerating Guardiola as the greatest manager of all time, ever, when he has the resources and the backing to buy at that level.  Let him take an average team to some sort of success in a decent league and his credentials might look better, but, as far as he has shown in his career, he does well with the most resources in a league, and that's all.  

Some poster wittering on about how the sun shines out of his arse when he has spent 1 billion according to transfermarkt in his career and 600 million in 2 years at City - and that's how he appears to do so well.  Still done f**k all in the Champions League, though.

Edited November 13, 20187 yr by yorkleyblue

 He's spent so much money I've heard he's changing his name to Cheque Guardiola.

2 hours ago, Giordano_Bruno said:

I am getting sick of this misunderstanding. Does he have privileges? Yes, he does, I am not denying that. that's how it works, actually. the greatest have privileges.  But he is not the ONLY ONE with these. As I said, look at the transfer windows of Liverpool, Arsenal and United(before the last summer). they spent amount very close to the City's, isn't that correct? 

Whose fault is that they focked up the transfers? Whose fault is that every single one of the Pep's targets turned out to be great for the team - B. Silva, De Brewin, Laporte, Stones, Walker, Mendi, Gundogan, Sane, even Mahrez and Jesus? All of them - successful. How many flops? Is there any actually? 

Inherited the best team? Not really. For 10 years of spending they had 2 titles - by GD against United, won in the final seconds, and by 2 points against Liverpool because of us. From Mancini and Pelegrini's squad there are only 3 players that still have some role - David Silva, Aguero and Fernandinho. 3 out of 11, mates. 

You don't have to buy so many football players to win. Mourinho added Costa and Cesc for 60 mil combined and dominated the league. See, it's enough.

Conte bought Kante for 40 mils  and Alonso for how much, something like 18 and that was enough. 

the late Wenger, the recent Mourinho and the current Klopp - they buy a lot more than that. And they are failing. Pep's fault maybe? 

You guys are talking about the money because every single transfer of his turned out to be great. And that, in my opinion, should also be praised. 

You're full of contradictions here as Yorkley pointed out. 

Nobody is misunderstanding you, you keep equating Pep's stance to everyone elses, are you really telling me Klopp and Jose had an easier job than him? Pep walked into a really good side and had the freedom to spend 300 million a season without selling a single player if he chose to. He's definitely still exceeded my expectations, I thought he would flop quite honestly but even so, that doesn't take away the fact that he's had it much easier than everyone else in the league, what Conte did at Chelsea in his first season was much better than what Pep did in my honest opinion. 

He basically inherited a side full of world-class players that had years of experience and transition in the league under the likes of Mancini and Pelligrini, the only experience they didn't have is European experience and what has Pep done with City in Europe so far? Not much yet. 

1 hour ago, Nibs said:

On the whole I agree but I don't think us Chelsea fans can complain about City as it's exactly what opposition supporters were moaning about us with the old "Chelski" comments back in the day.

Sure it has moved on, but Mourinho always wanted two strong players for every position and we pretty much had it at one point.

Be great if we can push them all the way this season as with weaker Barca, Madrid and Munich teams I can honestly see them winning the CL and maybe even the lot this season. 

1

Of course we can, we weren't bypassing FFP laws, when we were spending big so could everyone else. 

Comparing us to City right now isn't fair at all. 

In other news, Sturridge being charged by the FA with gambling offences:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/12/daniel-sturridge-betting 

I suppose he has to be doing something when injured most of the time. Naughty boy. 

1 minute ago, Blueblur said:

In other news, Sturridge being charged by the FA with gambling offences:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/12/daniel-sturridge-betting 

I suppose he has to be doing something when injured most of the time. Naughty boy. 

I always liked Danny boy during his youth and time here at Chelsea, he seemed driven and hungry to succeed. I was furious when we sold him, especially to Liverpool, he always had heaps and heaps of talent. But After 2 years at Liverpool I don't know what happened to him, he didn't just get injury prone he got lazy, he was going out at concerts and partying every week while supposedly unfit to play for his team. 

There's a good reason why Klopp was very hard on him when he first came, and now this... That's if it's true of course but it seems likely, that West Brom move was very unexpected and a good money maker for anyone, shame he wasted all his talent. Well maybe not so much, he went to Liverpool, can't say I wish him well there.

1 hour ago, Slojo said:

Of course we can, we weren't bypassing FFP laws, when we were spending big so could everyone else. 

Comparing us to City right now isn't fair at all. 

To be honest, how many of us really understand FFP? I'm all for the idea in practice but unless it is implemented without ANY loopholes it's a complete waste of time.

FFP didn't exist when we were at our height spending wise. You say everyone could buy back then but not everyone had a Russian multi-billionaire!! Just like City now, we assembled a great squad with some massive buys although we did waste a fair bit too (on the likes of Veron, SWP and Kezman to name a few). It's frustrating to see City buy so many good players but we wouldn't be moaning if it was us.

    

Edited November 13, 20187 yr by Nibs

2 hours ago, Slojo said:

Of course we can, we weren't bypassing FFP laws, when we were spending big so could everyone else. 

Comparing us to City right now isn't fair at all. 

WHat they are doig is clear and utter cheating........we spent alot for 2-3 seasons at max and stopped. When FFP came we adhered to the rules. City not only went the opposite way, they threatened and bribed people at high places. Their spending will not stop......they want to monopolise the league cuz them arabs want absolute power, just as psg, since their arrival that league is owned by psg and will continue so. The same will happen here if it hasnt already. They massiveley sponsor themselves at every corner with out of this world deals.....all from the owners pocket. The players get more wages than stated, and paid in a way that it doesnt touch the balance books. There is so much wrong here.......this will not stop until something is done about it.

“The scale and scope of the City Football Group operation worldwide dwarf any competitors. It allows the City Football Group to spread overhead across more entities but it is also possible to move expenses around in a more arbitrary manner to alleviate any licensing, Financial Fair Play and/or cost control regulations.

A closer examination of the City Football Group and Manchester City’s financial statements for 2016/17 leaves us wondering how expenses have been shared across the family of accounts and whether or not Manchester City is being “subsidized” by other teams.”

1 hour ago, Nibs said:

To be honest, how many of us really understand FFP? I'm all for the idea in practice but unless it is implemented without ANY loopholes it's a complete waste of time.

FFP didn't exist when we were at our height spending wise. You say everyone could buy back then but not everyone had a Russian multi-billionaire!! Just like City now, we assembled a great squad with some massive buys although we did waste a fair bit too (on the likes of Veron, SWP and Kezman to name a few). It's frustrating to see City buy so many good players but we wouldn't be moaning if it was us.

    

If it was us, we wouldn't moan, but at least we would admit that we can do whatever we want and that the finances are a big factor in our strength, that is something that Man City fans don't want to admit, they say that everything they do is totally legal and according to the rules and that it doesn't even matter that they spend money since they got the best manager so according to them they would be in this position anyway regardless of their financial situation and there is the big difference from us and them.

Roman has always been seen as the bad guy in the media, but given the political relations that some western countries have with the middle eastern block nobody dares to question how business is done by Man City owners.

48 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

If it was us, we wouldn't moan, but at least we would admit that we can do whatever we want and that the finances are a big factor in our strength, that is something that Man City fans don't want to admit, they say that everything they do is totally legal and according to the rules and that it doesn't even matter that they spend money since they got the best manager so according to them they would be in this position anyway regardless of their financial situation and there is the big difference from us and them.

Roman has always been seen as the bad guy in the media, but given the political relations that some western countries have with the middle eastern block nobody dares to question how business is done by Man City owners.

Exactly my friend......politics has a huge say here. Oliver holt and Samuel just did a couple of pieces where they not only support what city is doing, they back them to the tilt. If this was us we would have seen it running 24/7 on sky etc until we were thrown to the Wind. But this is city, this is their arab friend who feed them lots and lots of goodies......Thus they escape instantly in Eng. Make no mistake alot of people in high Places have benefited from this. We have a Russian owner.....the big bad bear with less than bad history.......city have them loving arabs.....they are victims in the eyes of the Eng media. And city fans are just pathetic.....all this is false and all their Work has been done correctly.......they can all go spit.