2 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

From experience, an Americans opinion on soccer-ball is much the same as a Europeans on the NFL or NBA.

Nationality has nothing to do with the validity of any given individual's opinion on football (soccer-ball as you refer to it).

Please give this regular casual prejudice - which is fast becoming a trend - a rest. It really is not needed.

Edited May 2, 20251 yr by nonotnowjim

On 01/05/2025 at 11:42, Ukraine Bolt said:

because Maresca has him doing the grave yard shift at CM. Tuchel played him RWB for a single England game and it was like nothing had changed. Have a competent manager and he's still the best RB in the world, you don't lose natural ability.

Agree. We need to play our best players in their best positions. Reece at RWB is one.

3 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Full back all my life through academy football and rarely if ever missed a game. Started playing CB in my mid-20's and knees were shot by the time i turned 28.

Not much easier on the body than running in a straight line.

Similar to me but I wasnt a full back for long, played mostly CB and CM (DM) so had plenty of injuries while you meandering full backs seemed immortal.

4 minutes ago, dkw said:

Similar to me but I wasnt a full back for long, played mostly CB and CM (DM) so had plenty of injuries while you meandering full backs seemed immortal.

RW here, Pacey as f**k…. Then I discovered Benson & Hedges!

17 minutes ago, Mod said:

RW here, Pacey as f**k…. Then I discovered Benson & Hedges!

JPS real blue were one of the reasons i transitioned from full back to centre half....

Losing the ability to sprint for prolonged periods was worth it for that sweet release of nicotine with a cold pint.

18 minutes ago, Mod said:

RW here, Pacey as f**k…. Then I discovered Benson & Hedges!

Stella and Artois for me....not the drink, a pair of blond twins that lived 5 doors down from me....

Edited May 2, 20251 yr by dkw

4 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Hakimi is on 170k a week, we put Reece and Chilwell on 200k+. He didn't want to play second fiddle. Transfer fee means nothing to a player.

Only missed 6 games and played 2,700 minutes the season before he started 'taking it serious'. How strange. Its pretty clear the Ligue 1 is less harsh on the body, Falcao being a prime example.

Slot says we were the only team this season that were better than them on the pitch, do whatever mental gymnastics you want i'm sure you know better.

James was actually only on £100kpw at the time, but that's aside my entire point. We've just won the Champions League and Tuchel made an exhaustive effort to get Hakimi who just helped Inter win their first league title in 11 years. PSG stepped in and threw a sh*t ton of money. This notion that no one cared about Hakimi until this season is widely absurd.

Falcao isn't a prime example. Tore his ACL with Monaco and with Ligue 1 being less harsh on the body I would've expected him to not be as injury prone as a result. It followed him the rest of his career.

What does Slot's comments have to do about my point that we didn't dominate? It isn't supported by any metric nor the eye test especially when no one here was expressing we should've won. If anything, it showed that we can compete.

4 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

From experience, an Americans opinion on soccer-ball is much the same as a Europeans on the NFL or NBA.

My country of origin shouldn't have any impact whatsoever on the value of my opinion.

13 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

It's a really interesting case because recent research [2016] [2022] actually suggests that wide/lateral players should have lower injury risk than central players (defenders, midfielders). That is also supported by the general theory that lateral movement (side-to-side) is much more stressful than running straight, a wide player like a fullback would basically be shuttling straight lines the whole game.

Yet, both Dembele and James have had their best runs in years by moving inside.

Interesting.

I've always been on the side that the greater the volume of explosive moments that put stress on the hamstrings, like sprinting, creates more risk of injuring the fast-twitch muscles in the hamstring. Wingers/Wingbacks will always have more explosive movements sprinting up and down the pitch to get back to position vs a midfielder.

I played left wing in college. Tore my ACL and had a hamstring graft. Couldn't play left wing anymore without chronic hamstring injuries. Finished my final year at DM and didn't experience a single injury. It was sore after every match, but no reaggravations.

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

James was actually only on £100kpw at the time, but that's aside my entire point. We've just won the Champions League and Tuchel made an exhaustive effort to get Hakimi who just helped Inter win their first league title in 11 years. PSG stepped in and threw a sh*t ton of money. This notion that no one cared about Hakimi until this season is widely absurd.

Falcao isn't a prime example. Tore his ACL with Monaco and with Ligue 1 being less harsh on the body I would've expected him to not be as injury prone as a result. It followed him the rest of his career.

What does Slot's comments have to do about my point that we didn't dominate? It isn't supported by any metric nor the eye test especially when no one here was expressing we should've won. If anything, it showed that we can compete.

My country of origin shouldn't have any impact whatsoever on the value of my opinion.

Changing the narrative again. I'm not denying people weren't interested in him, I'm denying there being a general consensus that he's been the best RB in the world for the past 5 years. PSG were interested in Yohan Cabaye, didn't mean he was the best CM in the world. Yes, Tuchel wanted backup for the best RB in the world, same reason City had KDB and still went and signed several attacking mids over the years.

Falcao was injury prone before Monaco. Tore his cruciate at River plate and missed a season. Came to Chelsea and missed 32 games through injury. Went back to Monaco 'only' missed 37 games over the next 3 full season in Ligue 1.

Outplaying a team is the same as dominating. We controlled the game and Liverpool had to rely on long ball football to miss out the midfield because they couldn't get a touch of the ball. Once again, glad you know more than Slot.

Perhaps it shouldn't, but it does.

2 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Changing the narrative again. I'm not denying people weren't interested in him, I'm denying there being a general consensus that he's been the best RB in the world for the past 5 years. PSG were interested in Yohan Cabaye, didn't mean he was the best CM in the world. Yes, Tuchel wanted backup for the best RB in the world, same reason City had KDB and still went and signed several attacking mids over the years.

Falcao was injury prone before Monaco. Tore his cruciate at River plate and missed a season. Came to Chelsea and missed 32 games through injury. Went back to Monaco 'only' missed 37 games over the next 3 full season in Ligue 1.

Outplaying a team is the same as dominating. We controlled the game and Liverpool had to rely on long ball football to miss out the midfield because they couldn't get a touch of the ball. Once again, glad you know more than Slot.

Perhaps it shouldn't, but it does.

Instrumental with Inter winning the league for the first time in 11 years. Champions League winners wanted to sign him. PSG made him most expensive RB in history. Team of the season at the 2022 FIFA world Cup. Been influential in PSG having this outstanding Champions League run. So yes. He's been among the best RBs in Europe this past half a decade and you pretending he isn't won't change facts.

Falcao missed 16 games in 3 years before moving to France. It was in France where he experienced concurring muscular injuries. Again. Not a good example.

We can keep playing this game of semantics but instead, the next time we have more possession than our opponent but they still beat us, they have more shots on goal and have a better xG, I expect to see that same energy from you. Which you wont. Because you made it abundantly clear you hate Sarri/Maresca ball.

Doubling down on being xenophobic. Admirable.

11 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Instrumental with Inter winning the league for the first time in 11 years. Champions League winners wanted to sign him. PSG made him most expensive RB in history. Team of the season at the 2022 FIFA world Cup. Been influential in PSG having this outstanding Champions League run. So yes. He's been among the best RBs in Europe this past half a decade and you pretending he isn't won't change facts.

Falcao missed 16 games in 3 years before moving to France. It was in France where he experienced concurring muscular injuries. Again. Not a good example.

We can keep playing this game of semantics but instead, the next time we have more possession than our opponent but they still beat us, they have more shots on goal and have a better xG, I expect to see that same energy from you. Which you wont. Because you made it abundantly clear you hate Sarri/Maresca ball.

Doubling down on being xenophobic. Admirable.

Lukaku was instrumental in that league win too, see where i'm going with this... CL winners wanted to sign him haha what is this logic CL winners signed Joselu. Please stop using Team of the tournaments as a talking point, its embarrassing. Harry Maguire was in the same TOTT FFS. Going in circles but i'm glad you've been fooled by the flavour of the month based on a handful of knock out games in 2025.

He was injury prone his entire career and was there 3 months before a freak ALC tear. Went back and had the most injury free period between an injury riddled spell and Chelsea and an injury riddled period at Gala after.

What does Sarri have to do with anything? Gonna be a game changer when you can watch a game and understand it.

Stop using big words, you're confusing yourself. I hold no disdain to our brothers across the pond, they just aren't brought up around football and the culture. They don't understand the game to the same level and that's okay, its a global sport and the club benefits from you all commercially. There's a reason we don't see any successful American managers and pundits. No different to the European mind not being synced up to the intricacies of NFL or cans of spray cheese.

1 minute ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Lukaku was instrumental in that league win too, see where i'm going with this... CL winners wanted to sign him haha what is this logic CL winners signed Joselu. Please stop using Team of the tournaments as a talking point, its embarrassing. Harry Maguire was in the same TOTT FFS. Going in circles but i'm glad you've been fooled by the flavour of the month based on a handful of knock out games in 2025.

He was injury prone his entire career and was there 3 months before a freak ALC tear. Went back and had the most injury free period between an injury riddled spell and Chelsea and an injury riddled period at Gala after.

What does Sarri have to do with anything? Gonna be a game changer when you can watch a game and understand it.

Stop using big words, you're confusing yourself. I hold no disdain to our brothers across the pond, they just aren't brought up around football and the culture. They don't understand the game to the same level and that's okay, its a global sport and the club benefits from you all commercially. There's a reason we don't see any successful American managers and pundits. No different to the European mind not being synced up to the intricacies of NFL or cans of spray cheese.

And Lukaku went on a downward trajectory since? Hakimi went on to have a stellar debut PSG season, got f**king Morocco to the World Cup semi finals and has been getting Domestic, International, and European honors every year since he was at Dortmund in 2018. Flavor of the month though!

Falcao missed 5 games a season for 3 years before moving to France. He was not injury prone lmao.

You have a prejudice and preconceived opinion of me simply because of where I am from. If you don't understand the xenophobic undertones of that you are either incredibly thick or actually xenophobic. Pick one.

Edited May 2, 20251 yr by Sconnie Blue

On 02/05/2025 at 15:30, Sconnie Blue said:

And Lukaku went on a downward trajectory since? Hakimi went on to have a stellar debut PSG season, got f**king Morocco to the World Cup semi finals and has been getting Domestic, International, and European honors every year since he was at Dortmund in 2018. Flavor of the month though!

Falcao missed 5 games a season for 3 years before moving to France. He was not injury prone lmao.

You have a prejudice and preconceived opinion of me simply because of where I am from. If you don't understand the xenophobic undertones of that you are either incredibly thick or actually xenophobic. Pick one.

That's great, still has never once been considered the best RB in the world since this CL run.

Just ignoring his river plate and porto days cool cool.

Prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on actual experience. Me not taking the American mind seriously when it comes to soccer isn't prejudice, its logical based on life experience.

I don't like this. Not sure I can recall team get better significantly by keeping the same manager and the same player. Most of the time they get worse.

TT took over from lamp in the middle of the season, play new system, play different style of football and it doesn't take him 1 season to transform that team into the best defensive team in Europe.

I remember watching pep 1st season with City vs Everton, long ball to Lukaku vs slow defender = dead. Season after that they signed walker and suddenly this problem doesn't exist anymore.

Edited May 4, 20251 yr by Bob stark

18 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

I don't like this. Not sure I can recall team get better significantly by keeping the same manager and the same player. Most of the time they get worse.

TT took over from lamp in the middle of the season, play new system, play different style of football and it doesn't take him 1 season to transform that team into the best defensive team in Europe.

I remember watching pep 1st season with City vs Everton, long ball to Lukaku vs slow defender = dead. Season after that they signed walker and suddenly this problem doesn't exist anymore.

TT's football was equally as easy to implement. Equally boring. Equally unambitious. This is the problem...there is no change in what Maresca is asking to what we have had in the past....

2 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on actual experience. Me not taking the American mind seriously when it comes to soccer isn't prejudice, its logical based on life experience.

It is Prejudice. Talking down, or belittling someones view, based on their nationality (or race, or gender, or age) is prejudice - however much you deny it. And there should be no place for it on this forum.

@Mod will be able to give guidance.

17 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

It is Prejudice. Talking down, or belittling someones view, based on their nationality (or race, or gender, or age) is prejudice - however much you deny it. And there should be no place for it on this forum.

@Mod will be able to give guidance.

No place to have an opinion? Surprising coming from you after the tirade you've had on this forum against certain individuals.

Google is free, i welcome you to google the definition of prejudice.

Interesting that now you want to run to Mod for 'guidance' after ignoring his guidance on the Jacko thread LMAO

Have a good day mate, i'm sure it'll get better soon.

23 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

I don't like this. Not sure I can recall team get better significantly by keeping the same manager and the same player. Most of the time they get worse.

TT took over from lamp in the middle of the season, play new system, play different style of football and it doesn't take him 1 season to transform that team into the best defensive team in Europe.

I remember watching pep 1st season with City vs Everton, long ball to Lukaku vs slow defender = dead. Season after that they signed walker and suddenly this problem doesn't exist anymore.

This is the wrong club to make these kinds of comments. How many times in Abramovich's era did we manage to do the opposite of what he is saying?

There was more to this interview as well and he went into why we don't play quicker football

The only thing I agree with is that we are poor in transition when we play a quicker style, but he talks like switching to a slower style has improved things. He's partially solved one problem with the slower style, but he's thrown more problems on top. The performances are worse, the results are worse, the wingers are doubled up on, nobody can find space and our best player may as well not even play anymore.

2 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

This is the wrong club to make these kinds of comments. How many times in Abramovich's era did we manage to do the opposite of what he is saying?

There was more to this interview as well and he went into why we don't play quicker football

The only thing I agree with is that we are poor in transition when we play a quicker style, but he talks like switching to a slower style has improved things. He's partially solved one problem with the slower style, but he's thrown more problems on top. The performances are worse, the results are worse, the wingers are doubled up on, nobody can find space and our best player may as well not even play anymore.

Bloke is in absolute denial.

Players must love it to read/hear in the national press that their manager doesn't think they are good enough.

Such poor management ... if owners and SDs are indulging and supporting this approach, then we are truly f**ked.

1 minute ago, Sexyfootball said:

Bloke is in absolute denial.

Players must love it to read/hear in the national press that their manager doesn't think they are good enough.

Such poor management ... if owners and SDs are indulging and supporting this approach, then we are truly f**ked.

The weird thing is the majority of our players seem to talk him up in pressers

10 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

The weird thing is the majority of our players seem to talk him up in pressers

They do ?

I can remember Colwill trotting out that line, but the "majority" ? Who else can you recall UB ?

18 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

No place to have an opinion? Surprising coming from you after the tirade you've had on this forum against certain individuals.

Google is free, i welcome you to google the definition of prejudice.

Interesting that now you want to run to Mod for 'guidance' after ignoring his guidance on the Jacko thread LMAO

Have a good day mate, i'm sure it'll get better soon.

Of course it is fine to have an opinion about how good/bad something is.…

…but not when that includes making stereotypical judgements or assumptions based on race, gender, nationality, or sexuality etc.

Its not my argument to have - but it is a slippery slope - and you make yourself look a silly by arguing it. Just move on and put it behind you.

You are already persistent enough (argumentative - something I respect ) without resorting to such nonsense.

26 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

No place to have an opinion? Surprising coming from you after the tirade you've had on this forum against certain individuals.

Google is free, i welcome you to google the definition of prejudice.

Interesting that now you want to run to Mod for 'guidance' after ignoring his guidance on the Jacko thread LMAO

Have a good day mate, i'm sure it'll get better soon.

UB. I've learnt that you cant argue with false fixed beliefs or someone who fell out of a tree and hit their skull on every branch on the way down before landing face first. Enjoy the game buddy and have a beer or two and dont get sucked into someone elses vortex

17 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

They do ?

I can remember Colwill trotting out that line, but the "majority" ? Who else can you recall UB ?

TBF it might just be that Colwill one sticking in my head LOL

15 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Of course it is fine to have an opinion about how good/bad something is.…

…but not when that includes making stereotypical judgements or assumptions based on race, gender, nationality, or sexuality etc.

Its not my argument to have - but it is a slippery slope - and you make yourself look a silly by arguing it. Just move on and put it behind you.

You are already persistent enough (argumentative - something I respect ) without resorting to such nonsense.

The irony isn't lost on me.