"Back of the net!": The Football Thread

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  • 001001
    Posts: 1,575
    The 20 best Jose Mourinho quotes:


    "If I wanted to have an easy job, working with the big protection of what I have already done before, I would have stayed at Porto - beautiful blue chair, the Uefa Champions League trophy, God, and after God, me." On taking a new challenge at Chelsea

    "Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one.” Announcing his arrival in typical Jose style at Chelsea

    "The way they are, tomorrow we will probably read I am to blame for the volcano. Maybe I have a friend in the volcano and I am responsible for that." Mourinho on Barcelona’s complaining about having to take a two-day coach trip to Milan due to the Icelandic volcano eruption in April 2010.

    "I think he is one of these people who is a voyeur. He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families. He speaks, speaks, speaks about Chelsea." On Arsene Wenger.

    “We are on top at the moment but not because of the club’s financial power. We are in contention for a lot of trophies because of my hard work.” Jose dismisses claims that they win because of the bankroll at Chelsea.

    “If Roman Abramovich helped me out in training we would be bottom of the league and if I had to work in his world of big business, we would be bankrupt!” Putting to bed any doubt that Roman Abramovich has a say in picking the team.

    "It's not even a game between me and him. It's a game where a kid made some statements not showing maturity and respect. Maybe [it's his] education, difficult childhood, no education, maybe [it is] the consequence of that." Cristiano Ronaldo may now be his golden boy, the two Portuguese didn’t always see eye to eye.

    "Ronaldo is a good player but he is certainly not the best. He deserved the Golden Ball award because his team won the Champions League and the Premier League. But, for me, Ibrahimovic is the best." Tarring Ronnie with an mercurial-but-lazy-Swede-shaped brush.

    "The style of how we play is very important. But it is omelettes and eggs. No eggs - no omelettes! It depends on the quality of the eggs. In the supermarket you have class one, two or class three eggs and some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem." On the frustration of the tightening of the transfer market purse-strings in the final months of his Chelsea stint


    "It was a strange game. I think we all understand that it was no coincidence that he showed the red card to Sneijder. I have realized that they are not going to allow us to wrap this title up. But we were perfect. We would have won this game even with seven men. Maybe with six we would have struggled, but we would have won with seven." Mourinho after Wesley Sneijder had been sent off in the 2-0 derby win over AC Milan in January 2010.

    "You can't win the treble every season. But I've done it twice and I think twice is quite a lot." Modesty, Jose-style.


    “It is like having a blanket that is too small for the bed. You pull the blanket up to keep your chest warm and your feet stick out. I cannot buy a bigger blanket becuase the supermarket is closed. But I am content because the blanket is cashmere. It is no ordinary blanket.” During a post-transfer window Chelsea injury crisis.

    “Young players are a little bit like melons. Only when you open and taste the melon are you 100 per cent sure that the melon is good. Sometimes you have beautiful melons but they don’t taste very good and some other melons are a bit ugly and when you open them, the taste is fantastic! One thing is youth football, one thing is professional football. The bridge is a difficult one to cross and they have to play with us and train with us for us to taste the melon. For example, Scott Sinclair, the way he played against Arsenal and Man United. We know the melon we have.” On, er, melons. But not that type of melons.

    "Who were (Frank) Lampard, (John) Terry and (Didier) Drogba two years ago? They were certainly not world stars. And in this moment who are they?” On moulding superstars.

    Ricardo Carvalho seems to have problems understanding things, maybe he should have an IQ test, or go to a mental hospital or something” After Carvalho blasted Mourinho for not picking him to play

    “Why drive Aston Martin all the time, when i have Ferrari and Porsche as well? That would just be stupid” – When asked about rotating Joe Cole, Arjen Robben and Damien Duff



    “Barcelona have a great club. But in 200 years of history they have won the European Cup only once. I have been managing for a few years and I have already won the same amount.” – said during the 2005-2006 season. Barcelona went on to win the Champions League.


    “Barcelona is a cultural city with many great theatres and this boy [Lionel Messi] has learned very well. He’s learned play-acting.” After Asier Del Horno was sent off in Chelsea's defeat against Barcelona in February 2006.


    "We were together in my office. He asked me, ‘What did you say to the press, young man?’ We laughed, we joked, we spoke, we drank and when we go to Old Trafford for the second leg on Jan 26, it is my birthday. I will bring a beautiful bottle of Portuguese wine for after the game. The wine we drank at Stamford Bridge was very bad. And he was complaining about it. He is a wonderful, great manager. I have a lot of respect for the big man. I call him ‘boss’ because he’s our [the other managers'] boss. He’s the top man, a really nice person and he deserves to be the boss. Maybe when I am 60 the kids will call me the same.” On Sir Alex Ferguson


    “In five years I have never had a match where my team has had less possession than the opponents.” Obviously said prior to the 2010 Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona, where Inter had just 20% of the possession but still progressed to the final.

    "I would rather play with 10 men than wait for a player who is late for the bus." Mourinho leaves his Real Madrid players in no doubt about who is boss.

    https://www.joe.ie/sport/the-20-best-jose-mourinho-quotes-23872
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,171
    Peter Crouch linked to a Chelsea move! Oh my, this transfer window might just become…

    giphy.gif

    … if only for the rumours it has produced so far!

    I thought Carroll was out there but come on. That's mental.

    36 year old Peter Crouch. While we're at it, why don't we see if Teddy Sherringham wants to come out of retirement.
    How bloody stupid can you get.
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    edited January 2018 Posts: 25,434
    Benny wrote: »
    Peter Crouch linked to a Chelsea move! Oh my, this transfer window might just become…

    giphy.gif

    … if only for the rumours it has produced so far!

    I thought Carroll was out there but come on. That's mental.

    36 year old Peter Crouch. While we're at it, why don't we see if Teddy Sherringham wants to come out of retirement.
    How bloody stupid can you get.

    As stupid as the large majority of comments on this thread.
  • 001001
    edited January 2018 Posts: 1,575
    Benny wrote: »
    Peter Crouch linked to a Chelsea move! Oh my, this transfer window might just become…

    giphy.gif

    … if only for the rumours it has produced so far!

    I thought Carroll was out there but come on. That's mental.

    36 year old Peter Crouch. While we're at it, why don't we see if Teddy Sherringham wants to come out of retirement.
    How bloody stupid can you get.

    Are chelsea going to get a new manager for next year or keep conte. ?

    Maybe john terry ? :)
  • 001001
    edited January 2018 Posts: 1,575
    No%2Bneed%2Bto%2BCoutinho%2Bcopy.jpg
  • Posts: 19,339
    Carroll's transfer looks to be off,he his ankle has gone again and he is out for a few weeks.

    Lucky escape for Chelski.

    12pm today is the deadline for the Sanchez deal to yay or nay .
  • Posts: 17,821
    barryt007 wrote: »
    Carroll's transfer looks to be off,he his ankle has gone again and he is out for a few weeks.

    Lucky escape for Chelski.

    12pm today is the deadline for the Sanchez deal to yay or nay .

    Is it? If so, I'll be refershing those sports websites all day, haha!
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    jobo wrote: »

    Interesting stuff. There are certainly signs that he has lost some of the old sparkle and player buy in to his methods does seem to be getting more short lived.

    It's very possible his methods are becoming outdated and if he is the truly great manager you don't think he is he will need to evolve somewhat as if he continues to do what he's always been doing he will turn into a Wenger who has been left behind to the extent a once revolutionary coach now looks like he belongs on Last of the Summer Wine.
    barryt007 wrote: »
    12pm today is the deadline for the Sanchez deal to yay or nay .

    Why is that? If Arsenal were shrewd they would drag it out to the last minute of the window to deny Utd his services as long as possible because I'm sure in their heads they think they are still in the running for top 4.
  • edited January 2018 Posts: 19,339
    jobo wrote: »

    Interesting stuff. There are certainly signs that he has lost some of the old sparkle and player buy in to his methods does seem to be getting more short lived.

    It's very possible his methods are becoming outdated and if he is the truly great manager you don't think he is he will need to evolve somewhat as if he continues to do what he's always been doing he will turn into a Wenger who has been left behind to the extent a once revolutionary coach now looks like he belongs on Last of the Summer Wine.
    barryt007 wrote: »
    12pm today is the deadline for the Sanchez deal to yay or nay .

    Why is that? If Arsenal were shrewd they would drag it out to the last minute of the window to deny Utd his services as long as possible because I'm sure in their heads they think they are still in the running for top 4.

    That's what I thought.
    The only reason I can think of (of course its the press saying this so it could all be codswallop) is that Arsenal are forcing people's minds to be made up so they can bring in the rumoured players : Malcolm,Evans,Aubameyang etc .


    Bad news just in about Loftus-Cheek btw.
    His ankle injury is a LOT worse than thought,and might need surgery.
    He could even miss the World Cup apparently.

    What a blow for the lad.

  • Posts: 19,339
    Aaaah The 12pm deadline is for any new players to be legible to play for their new clubs this weekend @TheWizardOfIce .
  • Posts: 17,821

    Sánchez still at Arsenal this weekend, then?
  • Posts: 19,339

    Sánchez still at Arsenal this weekend, then?

    Looks like it,and our interest in Malcolm is over .
    This just in from the BBC :

    No significant developments are expected today on moves surrounding Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

    There is still work to be done and currently the Mkhitaryan deal has not moved on and could yet go either way.

    Arsenal, however, remain hopeful on that and their pursuit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Talks on both situations continue.

    Arsenal’s attempts to sign Malcom are over. Meetings were held but he was eventually deemed too inexperienced by Wenger.


  • Posts: 17,821
    Can't see Sánchez staying at Arsenal after January. It's only a matter of time before a deal goes through, I guess. If Mkhitaryan is a part of that deal, is the question. No doubt in Mkhitaryan's quality as a player – will either do well at Arsenal or not. One thing's for sure, there won't be tension there, like it looks to be at Man Utd, between him and Mourinho.
  • Posts: 19,339
    Can't see Sánchez staying at Arsenal after January. It's only a matter of time before a deal goes through, I guess. If Mkhitaryan is a part of that deal, is the question. No doubt in Mkhitaryan's quality as a player – will either do well at Arsenal or not. One thing's for sure, there won't be tension there, like it looks to be at Man Utd, between him and Mourinho.

    He doesn't suit Man Utd's style,but he does suit the way Arsenal play,and there is a Dortmand link with our new Scout who came from there,and if we get Aubameyang.

    The two of them played very well as a link pair for Dortmand and all 3 know eachother well.

  • Posts: 17,821
    barryt007 wrote: »
    Can't see Sánchez staying at Arsenal after January. It's only a matter of time before a deal goes through, I guess. If Mkhitaryan is a part of that deal, is the question. No doubt in Mkhitaryan's quality as a player – will either do well at Arsenal or not. One thing's for sure, there won't be tension there, like it looks to be at Man Utd, between him and Mourinho.

    He doesn't suit Man Utd's style,but he does suit the way Arsenal play,and there is a Dortmand link with our new Scout who came from there,and if we get Aubameyang.

    The two of them played very well as a link pair for Dortmand and all 3 know eachother well.

    Agree. The one thing that might push a Aubameyang move through, might be Mislintat and Mkhitaryan (possibly) already at the club. Will that push Özil a bit down in midfield – behind a trio of Lacazette, Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan?

    The elephant in the room is the lack of a defensive midfield main man.
  • Posts: 19,339
    barryt007 wrote: »
    Can't see Sánchez staying at Arsenal after January. It's only a matter of time before a deal goes through, I guess. If Mkhitaryan is a part of that deal, is the question. No doubt in Mkhitaryan's quality as a player – will either do well at Arsenal or not. One thing's for sure, there won't be tension there, like it looks to be at Man Utd, between him and Mourinho.

    He doesn't suit Man Utd's style,but he does suit the way Arsenal play,and there is a Dortmand link with our new Scout who came from there,and if we get Aubameyang.

    The two of them played very well as a link pair for Dortmand and all 3 know eachother well.

    Agree. The one thing that might push a Aubameyang move through, might be Mislintat and Mkhitaryan (possibly) already at the club. Will that push Özil a bit down in midfield – behind a trio of Lacazette, Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan?

    The elephant in the room is the lack of a defensive midfield main man.

    And a decent CB - Evans ?

    No,they will find room for Ozil,either alongside Mkhitaryan in the middle or on the left as normal.

  • Posts: 17,821
    barryt007 wrote: »
    barryt007 wrote: »
    Can't see Sánchez staying at Arsenal after January. It's only a matter of time before a deal goes through, I guess. If Mkhitaryan is a part of that deal, is the question. No doubt in Mkhitaryan's quality as a player – will either do well at Arsenal or not. One thing's for sure, there won't be tension there, like it looks to be at Man Utd, between him and Mourinho.

    He doesn't suit Man Utd's style,but he does suit the way Arsenal play,and there is a Dortmand link with our new Scout who came from there,and if we get Aubameyang.

    The two of them played very well as a link pair for Dortmand and all 3 know eachother well.

    Agree. The one thing that might push a Aubameyang move through, might be Mislintat and Mkhitaryan (possibly) already at the club. Will that push Özil a bit down in midfield – behind a trio of Lacazette, Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan?

    The elephant in the room is the lack of a defensive midfield main man.

    And a decent CB - Evans ?

    No,they will find room for Ozil,either alongside Mkhitaryan in the middle or on the left as normal.

    Guess so. Wouldn't be against seeing a lineup with these four players! Re: Evans, I think I read somewhere that Pardew denied that there had been any offers for Evans. But you never know with these things.
  • Posts: 4,045
    barryt007 wrote: »
    barryt007 wrote: »
    Can't see Sánchez staying at Arsenal after January. It's only a matter of time before a deal goes through, I guess. If Mkhitaryan is a part of that deal, is the question. No doubt in Mkhitaryan's quality as a player – will either do well at Arsenal or not. One thing's for sure, there won't be tension there, like it looks to be at Man Utd, between him and Mourinho.

    He doesn't suit Man Utd's style,but he does suit the way Arsenal play,and there is a Dortmand link with our new Scout who came from there,and if we get Aubameyang.

    The two of them played very well as a link pair for Dortmand and all 3 know eachother well.

    Agree. The one thing that might push a Aubameyang move through, might be Mislintat and Mkhitaryan (possibly) already at the club. Will that push Özil a bit down in midfield – behind a trio of Lacazette, Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan?

    The elephant in the room is the lack of a defensive midfield main man.

    And a decent CB - Evans ?

    No,they will find room for Ozil,either alongside Mkhitaryan in the middle or on the left as normal.

    Is Ozil staying?
  • edited January 2018 Posts: 17,821
    vzok wrote: »
    barryt007 wrote: »
    barryt007 wrote: »
    Can't see Sánchez staying at Arsenal after January. It's only a matter of time before a deal goes through, I guess. If Mkhitaryan is a part of that deal, is the question. No doubt in Mkhitaryan's quality as a player – will either do well at Arsenal or not. One thing's for sure, there won't be tension there, like it looks to be at Man Utd, between him and Mourinho.

    He doesn't suit Man Utd's style,but he does suit the way Arsenal play,and there is a Dortmand link with our new Scout who came from there,and if we get Aubameyang.

    The two of them played very well as a link pair for Dortmand and all 3 know eachother well.

    Agree. The one thing that might push a Aubameyang move through, might be Mislintat and Mkhitaryan (possibly) already at the club. Will that push Özil a bit down in midfield – behind a trio of Lacazette, Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan?

    The elephant in the room is the lack of a defensive midfield main man.

    And a decent CB - Evans ?

    No,they will find room for Ozil,either alongside Mkhitaryan in the middle or on the left as normal.

    Is Ozil staying?

    Not going in January, according to Wenger. Don't know if there's been any offers, though.

    __________



    For Christ's sake, Merse! Don't give Conte any ideas!
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    The elephant in the room is the lack of a defensive midfield main man.

    The elephant in the room is Wenger still being employment surely isn't it?

    Does anyone know if Mikhitarayan was even on Arsenal's radar before? Seems like they're almost being forced into taking other people's cast offs without getting very much say in the matter. They're happy to do it because they can say it's a signing to appease the fans.
  • edited January 2018 Posts: 17,821
    The elephant in the room is the lack of a defensive midfield main man.

    The elephant in the room is Wenger still being employment surely isn't it?

    Does anyone know if Mikhitarayan was even on Arsenal's radar before? Seems like they're almost being forced into taking other people's cast offs without getting very much say in the matter. They're happy to do it because they can say it's a signing to appease the fans.

    Well, yes, but Wenger stays put at least to the summer – a DM can be brought in during January.

    Mkhitaryan was on Arsenal's radar two years ago, before going to United. If there were talks held, I don't know.
  • Posts: 12,526
    This transfer window gets odder and odder! Lol!
  • Posts: 4,045
    The Sanchez transfer is drawing to a close. Medical today.
  • edited January 2018 Posts: 17,821
    Monreal scores for Arsenal after six minutes! He is such an important player!

    …and then he assists an Iwobi goal!


    No Sánchez or Mkhitaryan in the squads today, and Dortmund confirm Arsenal’s transfer bid for Aubameyang. Stuff is happening.

    3-0 Arsenal! Monreal with another assist! This time for Koscielny!
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,171
    Good win for Chelsea today. The set up for Willian's goal was a thing of beauty.
  • edited January 2018 Posts: 17,821
    Aaaaaand it's 4-0! This time Lacazette, with an assist by Özil!
    Benny wrote: »
    Good win for Chelsea today. The set up for Willian's goal was a thing of beauty.

    That was very impressive. Hazard had some game, too!

    ___
    Monreal off with injury after all that good playing. Maitland-Niles on.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    Arsenal taking the piss! All is well and another 2 year contract for Arsene.

    Until they get done by Huddersfield or West Brom in the next match.
  • Posts: 17,821
    Arsenal taking the piss! All is well and another 2 year contract for Arsene.

    Until they get done by Huddersfield or West Brom in the next match.

    We've seen this before, yes…
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