World Football Thread V

[alva]

Originally posted by MikeH
Anyway, jealous Chelsea haters - Check out the two games against Barcelona last season. Were there any better more flowing, exciting games of football anywhere on the planet last season?

And it wasn't all about Barca.

Hope you don't object the small correction.

[MikeH]

Chelsea scored 5, barca scored 3...

I suppose Barcelona were also to blame for the great matches against Bayern Munich in the next round...

If people come and play football against us it's exciting, if they come to the match more afraid of letting us play than concerned with scoring goals like Liverpool it'll be a dull game.

In fact, all Liverpool's knockout rounds were very dull, only in the final did they produce some good football, and then only for 10 minutes of it. Everyone looks boring playing Liverpool.

[CerberusIV]

Originally posted by MikeH
If people come and play football against us it's exciting, if they come to the match more afraid of letting us play than concerned with scoring goals like Liverpool it'll be a dull game.

Did you actually watch Wednesday night's game? Without the blue tinted spectacles that is? I would not have been surprised to see Everton or Sunderland pack midfield and defence the way Chelsea did and try for a draw but to see the allegedly best team in the Premiership do so was very boring.

As for Mourinho managing on a budget, perhaps he's better that way. £23M for Essien? On Wednesday's showing he's barely worth a place in the Barnsley team - Barnsley reserves that is.

[alva]

Oh c'mon...even you are being very defensive, now what does that say.

EDIT: X-file eugh post

[duke o' york]

Originally posted by MikeH
ps. Swedish then?

Further east, past Finland even!

[MikeH]

Originally posted by CerberusIV
Did you actually watch Wednesday night's game? Without the blue tinted spectacles that is? I would not have been surprised to see Everton or Sunderland pack midfield and defence the way Chelsea did and try for a draw but to see the allegedly best team in the Premiership do so was very boring.

Yes, and yes they did. You have to give Liverpool credit though, they defended very well and denied us space but it was a bad game all round. You'll note that my first post on the issue was that it was a boring game. Teasing of reds aside I have a lot of respect for Liverpool. They get results, but they also aren't very exciting to watch. I'm sure the Liverpool fans aren't that bothered though? They won the European Cup last season playing 10 men behind the ball and scoring the odd one on the break. No-one criticises them for being boring though, only Chelsea.

Mourinho also obviously respects them because, as you said, he picked a team for a draw more than a win. It's an away game in a European competition, you make sure you don't concede and try and nick and away goal. People are treating it like a Premiership match but it wasn't. You just need to get to 10 points from 6 games. We've got 4 from 2 so far.

Judging a team on one match is pointless though. No team is exciting in every match they play against every opponent. And no matter how good a team is they don't win 5-0 every match.

Chelsea haven't had a great start to the season, they are still far from their best but they've managed to win 9, drawn 1, and scored 17 goals.

This is a team that plays two of the most exciting wingers in the premiership, they are lacking a real killer striker, if they had an Adriano or a Van Nistelrooy they'd get dozens more goals but it's their only weak spot, they are a joy to watch going forward.

I was only at Stamford Bridge for one match last season (it's SO expensive!) but the way we took apart Newcastle was joyous.

Oh and Essien has great potential. - FACT.

[MikeH]

Originally posted by duke o' york


Further east, past Finland even!

Russia?

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by MikeH

They get results, but they also aren't very exciting to watch. I'm sure the Liverpool fans aren't that bothered though?

Amen!

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by MikeH


Russia?

Ipswich?

[CerberusIV]

Originally posted by MikeH
Oh and Essien has great potential. - FACT.

He does. But potential isn't worth that amount of money.

Before the transfer window closed Benitez was complaining that he was being quoted £7M for players he regarded only as prospects, not established, just because Liverpool were CL champions. He wouldn't pay. Mourinho, with money to burn apparently, does pay. Unfortunately that simply distorts the transfer market for everyone.

[reds4ever]

The only people Chelsea distort the transfer market for are themselves.

The transfer market is split in three:

1) the players Chelsea want
2) the players the rest can have
3) Steven Gerrard.

[MikeH]

Well the teams selling us players should stop asking for silly money shouldn't they!

We haven't paid a fair price for a player since Abramovich took over. Every fee has been at least doubled.

[MikeH]

And also we haven't been able to get the player we really want (any world class striker).

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by MikeH
And also we haven't been able to get the player we really want (any world class striker).

So you paid £24m for Drogba instead?

Thats both amusing and disturbing.

[MikeH]

Drogba's underrated - his champions league strike rate is better than Raul's and Henry's Drogba has 18 in 25 starts vs 49 in 94 (Raul) and 43 in 72 (Henry)

Only Van Nistelrooy has a better European record in British football. His league performance last season was mixed, mainly because of injury problems but he still has 13 goals in 21 starts. And he does and incredible amount of work for the team holding the ball up and defensively too.

But he's not worth £24m. £12m or so...