10 hours ago, Argo said:

He's also 8 points behind a club that was considered in crisis at the beginning of the season.

Right now I'd kill to be only 8 points behind Arsenal LOL. That would be 15 points better than where we are right now (effectively 13-7-3 instead of 8-7-8) , and we'd still have something to play for in the PL if that was the case ! 

10 hours ago, WeatherMan said:

Yep. We definately don't need a manager with the skillset who's capable enough of coming back from 2 nil down away in the last 16 of the Champions League to get his team scoring 5 and blast the scousers do we ?

Seriously ?

Ancelotti isn't perfect, but who is? I would take him back in a second. Real Madrid are always looking to hurt teams and then you look at us and we take an age to move it out of defence. Everything with us has to be so precise and intricate, if we don't spot an opening, it goes back to the defenders. I hate our football and even when it's done right like with City, I still hate it. Ancelotti's sides are exciting, not always perfect, but they can be ruthless when it clicks. This is the kind of football we should be aiming for with the players we have.

It's weird to say, but I almost think Ancelotti is underrated by some sections of the football community.

His longevity and consistency over two decades is outstanding.

• 1996/1997 (Parma) = 2nd in the Serie A
• 1999/2000 (Juventus) = 2nd in the Serie A
• 2002/2003 (AC Milan) = Champions League and Coppa Italia winners
• 2003/2004 (AC Milan) = Serie A champions and Super Cup winners
• 2004/2005 (AC Milan) = 2nd in the Serie A and Champions League runners up
• 2006/2007 (AC Milan) = Champions League winners
• 2007/2008 (AC Milan) = Super Cup winners
• 2009/2010 (Chelsea) = Premier League champions and FA Cup winners
• 2010/2011 (Chelsea) = 2nd in the Premier League
• 2011/2012 (PSG) = 2nd in Ligue 1
• 2012/2013 (PSG) = Ligue 1 champions
• 2013/2014 (Real Madrid) = Champions League and Copa del Rey winners
• 2014/2015 (Real Madrid) = Super Cup and Club World Cup champions. 2nd in La Liga.
• 2016/2017 (Bayern Munich) = Bundesliga champions
• 2018/2019 (Napoli) = 2nd in Serie A
• 2021/2022 (Real Madrid) = Champions League and La Liga winners

13 hours ago, WeatherMan said:

Yep. We definately don't need a manager with the skillset who's capable enough of coming back from 2 nil down away in the last 16 of the Champions League to get his team scoring 5 and blast the scousers do we ?

Seriously ?

Going by that logic why did we incessantly boo a manager who got Valencia two La Liga titles, came from 3 down to beat peak AC Milan, prime Fergie's United 4-1 at Old Trafford and Real Madrid 5-0 on aggregate?

Managers have different strengths and weaknesses, Ancelotti's strengths is going into peak teams and man managing the high egos. He's not in his entire career got a proven track record with a rebuild and developing a young squad (which we need badly right now), the only time he's properly tried to commit to one was with Everton and he left a team that's been fighting relegation ever since. When our team needed one he chose signing Torres and overplaying a finished Anelka over developing a young hungry Sturridge and overplayed an knackered Cole when he had Bertrand (who I didn't rate as high as most but he was clearly a capable deputy against most opponents).

Maybe in a few years when Enzo, Reece and co are at their peak if he hasn't retired and we're looking for a coach then it's a discussion worth having, but right now it's the managerial equivalent of signing a small silky centre forward and playing him as a target man.

Edited February 22, 20233 yr by Argo

3 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Right now I'd kill to be only 8 points behind Arsenal LOL. That would be 15 points better than where we are right now (effectively 13-7-3 instead of 8-7-8) , and we'd still have something to play for in the PL if that was the case ! 

Maybe we would, but I can guarantee you Real fans are not declaring their season a success due to doing better than the 10th best team in England. 

let's go Timo!

werner offside 

nostalgic

22 hours ago, carrickblue said:

Ditch Potter, bring back Carlo

But we need a manager who shows emotion and rage on the touchline, who gets angry and furious in interviews.

You can't have any success unless a manager had those traits as a minimum.

and I don't know why this is in italics!

11 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Ancelotti isn't perfect, but who is? I would take him back in a second. Real Madrid are always looking to hurt teams and then you look at us and we take an age to move it out of defence. Everything with us has to be so precise and intricate, if we don't spot an opening, it goes back to the defenders. I hate our football and even when it's done right like with City, I still hate it. Ancelotti's sides are exciting, not always perfect, but they can be ruthless when it clicks. This is the kind of football we should be aiming for with the players we have.

I agree Scotty, our style is f**king awful , I'm watching goals from 20 yards or more on motd every week , we would rather pass than shoot. Even Chillwell passed up an opportunity the other week and passed instead.

Been going on for years .

And we never make best use of our players with pace, it drives me insane !

Still, there's a goal fest coming soon, I can just sense it. 

Yup very soon 😝😝

 

That Napoli second goal was beautiful last night.

Box office. 
 

 

Leipzig is doing pretty well against 'world class' City. Dortmund is a good measuring stick to Leipzig. We played very well against them.

18 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Box office. 
 

 

That tramp shouldn’t be employed by any TV company after the spitting incident. Good to see his misery. 

On 22/02/2023 at 04:01, Argo said:

He's also 8 points behind a club that was considered in crisis at the beginning of the season.

They are 1 point and 2 goals better than where they were at the same point last season. Barca have won 59 of the 66 points available. This sort of form will get any team the top spot and a big lead in the table in any of the top leagues in Europe. Closest reference is Napoli who have won 62 of 69 points available and have 15 point lead at the top.

Phenomenal. Sublime. Otherworldly. This guy is a special breed.

he's using again 

15 hours ago, Term_X said:

Phenomenal. Sublime. Otherworldly. This guy is a special breed.

napoli are so fun to watch

especially to cleanse the palet after watching our beloved chelsea 

Monaco and Leverkusen putting on another action packed game. Fingers crossed ManU and Barca do similar again too.

Those European nights at Anfield are certainly special, I really enjoyed it last night.

19 hours ago, Term_X said:

Phenomenal. Sublime. Otherworldly. This guy is a special breed.

A thing of beauty 

That's a weak penalty for Barcelona. Can't see the ref giving that to any other club.

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

That's a weak penalty for Barcelona. Can't see the ref giving that to any other club.

It's usually United getting those decisions!

The ref will have to even it ip

On 22/02/2023 at 09:16, Scott Harris said:

Ancelotti isn't perfect, but who is? I would take him back in a second. Real Madrid are always looking to hurt teams and then you look at us and we take an age to move it out of defence. Everything with us has to be so precise and intricate, if we don't spot an opening, it goes back to the defenders. I hate our football and even when it's done right like with City, I still hate it. Ancelotti's sides are exciting, not always perfect, but they can be ruthless when it clicks. This is the kind of football we should be aiming for with the players we have.

And yet you can see what we are capable of when the shackle were off v  Madrid away.

Can't see Barca holding out .