**Official** English Football Season 2024/25

[Skipper Pup]

They weren't a **** team, but those wins are still great achievements considering the context.

Napoli was certainly weaker than some of the other top Serie A teams in the 80s and they won the league twice (out of the 3 times they've won it in their history). They'd never won the league prior to that. Apart from MaGiCa, they had a few others who were decent as well, but if you compare it with the squads of other top teams, there is a difference.

Should someone like Deco be therefore looked at differently for what he did at Porto in 2004?

Does taking a pretty average Porto side to a UCL win (beating much stronger sides on the way) carry more weight than Kaka being instrumental to Milan's success in 2006 despite it being a star-studded team?

 

[Furball]

Should someone like Deco be therefore looked at differently for what he did at Porto in 2004?

Does taking a pretty average Porto side to a UCL win (beating much stronger sides on the way) carry more weight than Kaka being instrumental to Milan's success in 2006 despite it being a star-studded team?

No, because football is a team sport and Deco was surrounded by talented players, and played under one of the best managers of all time.

 

[Himannv]

Should someone like Deco be therefore looked at differently for what he did at Porto in 2004?

Does taking a pretty average Porto side to a UCL win (beating much stronger sides on the way) carry more weight than Kaka being instrumental to Milan's success in 2006 despite it being a star-studded team?

Definitely a great achievement and I think Deco went on to have a pretty good career at Barcelona as well. Carvalho, Maniche, Bosingwa, and Ferreira were all good defensive cogs in that system.

I'd have to credit Mourinho as well for the whole thing, his tactics were excellent for that time and he knew how to win games and control things so that it suited his team. They played a different way in the CL compared to how they played in the Portugese league. I think he had two DM types sitting on either side of Deco to give him the defensive support to operate. The physical aspects and off the ball work, with a lot of players having good tactical nous, made the whole thing work.

I don't know how to compare that with Kaka at Milan though, because that guy at his peak was something else. He was Ballon d'Or level at that time obviously and lightening quick. He wrecked us when we played them - scored one of the best goals I've ever seen.

 

[andruid]

The 'Maradona single handedly carried **** teams to major honours' thing needs to die btw.

Explain how it isn't true. I want answers

 

[sledger]

There are always standout players/stars in teams. But take away the 10 other players and they aren't winning ****.

 

[Skipper Pup]

No, because football is a team sport and Deco was surrounded by talented players, and played under one of the best managers of all time.

Appreciate your answer even though the question wasn't directed at you. We've already established that individual and team honours mean nothing to you when it comes to discussing the greatest.

I'm guessing for you its probably someone like Ronaldinho?

 

[Furball]

Appreciate your answer even though the question wasn't directed at you. We've already established that individual and team honours mean nothing to you when it comes to discussing the greatest.

I'm guessing for you its probably someone like Ronaldinho?

Nope, it's Messi.

Team honours are very important when analysing a player's career, I was arguing against the point you made that 11 major honours (which include a World Cup, a UEFA Cup and 2 Serie A titles) was somehow a small number.

 

[Furball]

Explain how it isn't true. I want answers

Because the Napoli and Argentina teams were full of excellent players, it wasn't Maradona and ten numpties.

 

[Skipper Pup]

Nope, it's Messi.

Team honours are very important when analysing a player's career, I was arguing against the point you made that 11 major honours (which include a World Cup, a UEFA Cup and 2 Serie A titles) was somehow a small number.

It is for a player that's compared to Messi.

 

[Furball]

It's genuinely incredible that VAR was needed for Michael Oliver to produce a red card.

How the **** is he still refereeing at the top level?

 

[Niall]

Fixtures & Results | Man Utd Men's First Team

Find fixtures and results for Manchester United men's first team on the official website, ManUtd.com.

www.manutd.com

So that's Man Utd's fixtures for the rest of the season. They won't win the Europa league obviously and will probably go out in this or next round , so its just the premier league left.

I understand games are not played on paper etc, but I'd only be confident of them beating Leicester (slightly less worse on the night) and maybe they could get a result v West Ham/Wolves.

Then Arsenal, Forest, City, Bournemouth, Brentford, Chelsea and Villa are all favs v them no matter whether those matches are at OT.

Their could be some hammerings their which is really going to put pressure on Rubin. He won't be sacked before the end of the season, but possibly Summer, or heck he might even be tempted to walk.

If he had turned down Utd, he'd have the league wrapped up, in Champions league and would have had his pick of teams to join in the summer.

[/obvious]

 

[Skipper Pup]

Fixtures & Results | Man Utd Men's First Team

Find fixtures and results for Manchester United men's first team on the official website, ManUtd.com.

www.manutd.com

So that's Man Utd's fixtures for the rest of the season. They won't win the Europa league obviously and will probably go out in this or next round , so its just the premier league left.

I understand games are not played on paper etc, but I'd only be confident of them beating Leicester (slightly less worse on the night) and maybe they could get a result v West Ham/Wolves.

Then Arsenal, Forest, City, Bournemouth, Brentford, Chelsea and Villa are all favs v them no matter whether those matches are at OT.

Their could be some hammerings their which is really going to put pressure on Rubin. He won't be sacked before the end of the season, but possibly Summer, or heck he might even be tempted to walk.

If he had turned down Utd, he'd have the league wrapped up, in Champions league and would have had his pick of teams to join in the summer.

[/obvious]

The timing of the move made zero sense. He's ruined his career by taking the United job when he did.

I seriously doubt they give him anything meaningful to spend in the summer. He can't be trusted moving forward

 

[Niall]

The timing of the move made zero sense. He's ruined his career by taking the United job when he did.

I seriously doubt they give him anything meaningful to spend in the summer. He can't be trusted moving forward

Maybe right person, wrong time ?

Its quite possible that he goes on to be an elite coach , but we also have to acknowledge he is still a relatively inexperienced manager whose biggest success was in one of the "lesser" leagues of Europe.

I'd stick with him , but he does need to get some results before the season ends, because despite all the caveats about injuries etc , the team has been diabolical since he took over.

Interesting to see what Bruno does as well, I know he can be inconsistent , but he can't be keen to spend his last few peak years at this shitshow.

 

[Chin Music]

Maybe right person, wrong time ?

Its quite possible that he goes on to be an elite coach , but we also have to acknowledge he is still a relatively inexperienced manager whose biggest success was in one of the "lesser" leagues of Europe.

I'd stick with him , but he does need to get some results before the season ends, because despite all the caveats about injuries etc , the team has been diabolical since he took over.

Interesting to see what Bruno does as well, I know he can be inconsistent , but he can't be keen to spend his last few peak years at this shitshow.

Surely it is going to be dependent on whom United can shift in the summer? Obviously Rashford goes, but it depends on what they can shift of the obviously very dead wood that is there and how much money that brings in. It is then what he does with that cash. Then it may be that they have to cash in on one of the useful players they do have such as Garnacho for big bucks, no matter how unpopular that might be. That kid Obi and Diallo look good to me. There is talk of one or two other youngsters. If they have to gamble on younger players with potential, IMO they should take a bit of a punt on it and give them some games between now and the end of the season when there isn't much to lose. Although, I do recall that saying that you win nothing with kids......

I wonder if Jimmy regrets buying share of the club?

 

[anil1405]

Maybe right person, wrong time ?

Its quite possible that he goes on to be an elite coach , but we also have to acknowledge he is still a relatively inexperienced manager whose biggest success was in one of the "lesser" leagues of Europe.

I'd stick with him , but he does need to get some results before the season ends, because despite all the caveats about injuries etc , the team has been diabolical since he took over.

Interesting to see what Bruno does as well, I know he can be inconsistent , but he can't be keen to spend his last few peak years at this shitshow.

As a rival fan, the appointment of Amorim kinda scared me that the club will be back to its good days. But clearly the issues at Old Trafford are much deeper than I initially imagined. The rotten culture seems to disrupt the harmony no matter who is appointed as the manager.

While Amorim does have it in him to be successful at a club like United, the current atmosphere at the club isn't allowing him to flourish.

 

[Skipper Pup]

It's already known that it's sell to buy.
I just wouldn't trust the Man United R&R team to; either a) sell for good prices or, b) find value in the market.

The whole thing is a mess. It genuinely needs a top class manager (not coach) to come in and be given the power to gut the joint from top to bottom.

Ironic that Ragnick called it but instead of listening they shafted him.

 

[Chin Music]

It's already known that it's sell to buy.
I just wouldn't trust the Man United R&R team to; either a) sell for good prices or, b) find value in the market.

The whole thing is a mess. It genuinely needs a top class manager (not coach) to come in and be given the power to gut the joint from top to bottom.

Ironic that Ragnick called it but instead of listening they shafted him.

So they have essentially kicked change 3 years down the road? That's nuts and was down to the old administration but that they are now having to do this now is crazy. To think of the recruitment that has been done since that time.

 

[govinda indian fan]

Have to say we literally doged a bullet by going for arne slot over amorim. His 3-4-3 wouldn't have suited us and we would have been in same position as man u

 

[govinda indian fan]

@fellow Liverpool fc fans dont you guys think we should go kerkez or frimpong to replace trent?

 

[Skipper Pup]

@fellow Liverpool fc fans dont you guys think we should go kerkez or frimpong to replace trent?

Kirkez plays LB so no, I wouldn't want to sign him to play RB.

Frimpong is a wing back, unproven in a back 4 and too many defensive questions. So also no, I don't want him to replace Trent.

It'll depend on what Slot wants to do at LB. I think they want Hato who's a bit more defensive minded.

RB they will trust Bradley + 1. I'd really like like Kimmich (my dream) or Aina but they probably go someone slightly more attacking - call me crazy but I'd like Djed Spence.