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End of the Season Football thread.

Andalublue said:
For whom? There are no Real Madrid supporters here. Everyone hates Real Madrid. Are you talking to your ghosts?
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Do they not teach basic English where you live?
 
Real Madrid deserved to loose. Their defense was all over the place and Dortmund played brilliantly. It is almost as if Murinho wanted to throw the game.. playing Ramos as right back and a green 18 year old in central defence.. rather have the experience in the middle and the inexperience on the right back position... It might have been the last punishment for Ramos before Murinho leaves for Chealski...

The ref did a hell of a lot better than the one in the Barca game, but he was not perfect. There was a massive foul leading up to the Real goal for one. There was also a slight offside on goal nr 2, but else the penalty was correct.. ironically it was exactly the same thing that happened in the Barca game where Bayern scored, but that was no free kick... go figure!

As I stated it will be a German final, both based on bad refereeing and actual skill. Dortmund should not have been in the semi-finals but because of a very poor referee in the quarter-finals and possible UEFA corruption, they were given the semi final birth. Real Madrid should also not have been there.. but that is another matter. And then there was the Bayern - Barca match with 3 illegal goals.

But despite this Dortmund is my favorite team to win, but never count out Bayern and the games they play. I just love the way Dortmund play, reminds me some what of Barca at its prime... free flowing gungho football.

The big question is what impact Bayern's signing of Dortmunds 2 biggest players has on the final.. will these 2 players "not play as they should" to please their new masters or will they remain professional... that is the question. Those players are Lewendoski and Götze btw.

One could suspect that Dortmund might throw the game as part of the payback to Bayern for helping out Dortmund 7 years ago when Dortmund was near bankruptcy... but we shall see.

One thing is for sure.. next season the favorite for the CL title will be Bayern, because it looks like Dortmund will be selling most of their players.
 
Andalublue said:
We've never really had much use for that, but we like his brandy, and he was great in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
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Excuse me, you've never heard of el Código Civil de España? Oh, that's right, you're an Englishman in Spain! :mrgreen:
 
PeteEU said:
Real Madrid deserved to loose. Their defense was all over the place and Dortmund played brilliantly. It is almost as if Murinho wanted to throw the game.. playing Ramos as right back and a green 18 year old in central defence.. rather have the experience in the middle and the inexperience on the right back position... It might have been the last punishment for Ramos before Murinho leaves for Chealski...

The ref did a hell of a lot better than the one in the Barca game, but he was not perfect. There was a massive foul leading up to the Real goal for one. There was also a slight offside on goal nr 2, but else the penalty was correct.. ironically it was exactly the same thing that happened in the Barca game where Bayern scored, but that was no free kick... go figure!

As I stated it will be a German final, both based on bad refereeing and actual skill. Dortmund should not have been in the semi-finals but because of a very poor referee in the quarter-finals and possible UEFA corruption, they were given the semi final birth. Real Madrid should also not have been there.. but that is another matter. And then there was the Bayern - Barca match with 3 illegal goals.

But despite this Dortmund is my favorite team to win, but never count out Bayern and the games they play. I just love the way Dortmund play, reminds me some what of Barca at its prime... free flowing gungho football.

The big question is what impact Bayern's signing of Dortmunds 2 biggest players has on the final.. will these 2 players "not play as they should" to please their new masters or will they remain professional... that is the question. Those players are Lewendoski and Götze btw.

One could suspect that Dortmund might throw the game as part of the payback to Bayern for helping out Dortmund 7 years ago when Dortmund was near bankruptcy... but we shall see.

One thing is for sure.. next season the favorite for the CL title will be Bayern, because it looks like Dortmund will be selling most of their players.
Click to expand...

Lewandowski hasn't signed for Bayern, btw. The rumours that an agreement has been reached may be true, but no one is saying it is a done deal, even if his agent hints at that. It will be an interesting and enviable position for Guardiola to take over, but not without its problems. I suspect that superb Bayern team could actually take a bit of a down-turn in fortunes in the short-term while Pep tries to discover his best system.

There would also be an increased likelihood of some major names leaving. Ironically, the FFP could hit Platini's blue-eyed boys harder than anyone else. How will Gómez, Mandzukic and Müller all take to slipping down the pecking order below Lewandowski? How will Ribéry, Kroos and Robben react to the arrival of Götze?

Now, changing the subject slightly, who would you like to see replace Tito Vilanova at Barca? I can't see a dismal end to a less-than-spectacular CL campaign, and a runaway Liga campaign fizzling out in mediocrity playing too well with the power-brokers at Camp Nou. Can you? If I were Rossell I'd be having some serious thought about talking to Jupp Heynkes about taking the reins for 2-3 years to steer the club through this transitionary period.
 
paris said:
Excuse me, you've never heard of el Código Civil de España? Oh, that's right, you're an Englishman in Spain! :mrgreen:
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¡Eso, Tío! I am a pied-blanc, but frankly, had I been a Spanish natural, my thoughts on Napoleon would probably be coloured more by the paintings of Goya than the Código Civil. The views on the French, which I hope you recognise I don't share, are some of the few attitudes that the Spanish and English have in common. I'm sure you won't lose sleep over that. ;)
 
Is there any truth to the rumor that Angel Di Maria has hired a new acting coach?

Figured you blokes on the other side of the pond would know the inside scoop.
 
Andalublue said:
¡Eso, Tío! I am a pied-blanc, but frankly, had I been a Spanish natural, my thoughts on Napoleon would probably be coloured more by the paintings of Goya than the Código Civil. The views on the French, which I hope you recognise I don't share, are some of the few attitudes that the Spanish and English have in common. I'm sure you won't lose sleep over that. ;)
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Had you been a Spaniard I doubt we would be arguing about Napoleon to be honest. I actually don't think we would be arguing at all.:2wave:
 
Gardener said:
Is there any truth to the rumor that Angel Di Maria has hired a new acting coach?

Figured you blokes on the other side of the pond would know the inside scoop.
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Yeah, I believe he came recommended by Sergio Busquets. :peace
 
paris said:
Had you been a Spaniard I doubt we would be arguing about Napoleon to be honest. I actually don't think we would be arguing at all.:2wave:
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Then you haven't been here for a while. Arguing has taken over from tauromaquia as the Fiesta Nacional; and you don't have to wait till Sunday to do it.
 
Andalublue said:
Yeah, I believe he came recommended by Sergio Busquets. :peace
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The drama can be so intense for me at times, I swear I am overcome.

I can almost FEEL their outrage as they faceplant without an opposing player within arms length.
 
Gardener said:
The drama can be so intense for me at times, I swear I am overcome.

I can almost FEEL their outrage as they faceplant without an opposing player within arms length.
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It all adds to the fun of the game, Gardener. It is especially entertaining when divers get shown a yellow card. You've got to think of feigned injury mostly as time-wasting. The majority of incidents happen late in a game with one side trying to run-down the clock. It's like the football equivalent of a time-out. The average pro footballer runs around 8 miles per game, some a lot more. The average gridiron player runs less than 2 miles, and they have endless breaks. A footballer's going to get tired.
 
Andalublue said:
Then you haven't been here for a while. Arguing has taken over from tauromaquia as the Fiesta Nacional; and you don't have to wait till Sunday to do it.
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That's a cruel but respectable sport. I'd love to see the Bowling Green Bull in the arena, it would surely please a few indignados. ;)
 
Andalublue said:
What is? Arguing or bullfighting?


Bowling Green Bull?
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Both, I guess.

Yes, the symbol of Wall Street;)

IMG_2467a-wall-street-bull.jpg
 
Andalublue said:
It all adds to the fun of the game, Gardener. It is especially entertaining when divers get shown a yellow card. You've got to think of feigned injury mostly as time-wasting. The majority of incidents happen late in a game with one side trying to run-down the clock. It's like the football equivalent of a time-out. The average pro footballer runs around 8 miles per game, some a lot more. The average gridiron player runs less than 2 miles, and they have endless breaks. A footballer's going to get tired.
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sergiosbusquetdive.webp

I do enjoy a little peekaboo from time to time

di-maria-argentina.webp

Angel-Di-Maria-001.webp


but I'm still going with my main man for sheer emotive brilliance.

If that is not a man who has been seriously wronged, I don't know what it.
 
paris said:
Ain't the lack of helmets a treat? :)
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I'm not so sure. Sometimes I wish I had not had my little helmet snipped off when I was a baby.
 
Gardener said:
I'm not so sure. Sometimes I wish I had not had my little helmet snipped off when I was a baby.
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So tell me lackers, do you carry your balls or do you kick them to penetrate? ;)
 
paris said:
So tell me lackers, do you carry your balls or do you kick them to penetrate? ;)
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I usually prefer the dribbling.
 
Andalublue said:
Lewandowski hasn't signed for Bayern, btw. The rumours that an agreement has been reached may be true, but no one is saying it is a done deal, even if his agent hints at that. It will be an interesting and enviable position for Guardiola to take over, but not without its problems. I suspect that superb Bayern team could actually take a bit of a down-turn in fortunes in the short-term while Pep tries to discover his best system.
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It is either Bayern or Man U for Lewendoski. And yes the influx of new players will cause problems.. it is after Bayern Muchen... the "Dallas" soap opera team of world football. As long as the Kaiser is around that team, then drama and scandals will follow.

There would also be an increased likelihood of some major names leaving. Ironically, the FFP could hit Platini's blue-eyed boys harder than anyone else. How will Gómez, Mandzukic and Müller all take to slipping down the pecking order below Lewandowski? How will Ribéry, Kroos and Robben react to the arrival of Götze?
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Muller will stay, as will Kroos.. they are in club made I believe.. far far too valuable to let go. As for Ribery and Robben.. I could easily see one of them leave if not both. Ribery still has that underage prostitute case hanging around his neck, plus he does not play well with others... and neither does Robben. Gomez well he is still their main man even with Lewandoski, but Manduzuic who? :)

Now, changing the subject slightly, who would you like to see replace Tito Vilanova at Barca? I can't see a dismal end to a less-than-spectacular CL campaign, and a runaway Liga campaign fizzling out in mediocrity playing too well with the power-brokers at Camp Nou. Can you? If I were Rossell I'd be having some serious thought about talking to Jupp Heynkes about taking the reins for 2-3 years to steer the club through this transitionary period.
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Good question. Problem is that Rossell is up for reelection soon, and that aint gonna be easy for him, because the man that gave them Guardiola and Rijkaard is gonna run against him. They will want a manager that knows the club and the traditions, so the short list is very small. To be honest, the Barcelona leadership is in a bit of a pickle because PR wise getting rid of a cancer stricken manager aint exactly great, so it will have to be Tito who says stop, and at the same time they need to "fix" parts of the team with limited funds. Neymar has been rumored to the club for donkey years so he has to come now.. would be a disaster if he did not.. especially for Rosell.

And then they have to get rid of the under performers. Villa most likely.. maybe to Arsenal, Alexis to Italy again and maybe Song back to the UK. In comes Neymar, 1 central defender minimum .. Mats Hummels is rumored from Dortmund, and possibly a replacement/back up for Xavi.. but have no clue on who. Maybe Benat from Betis. They could also maybe sell Alves to get some cash flow, since they have his back up player in the local boy Martin Montoya who is not half bad.. he aint no speedy gonzales like Alves, but he is cheaper in wages and a real good defender. Jonathan Dos Santos is also going out like his brother.. a pity they showed a lot of promise. Abidal hopefully will get his contract renewed for one more year, but I suspect he wont. And then there is Tello... they might sell him to cash in on his popularity.. they have plenty of wingers in the pipeline. Also they will try to get rid of Afellay (at Schalke 04 atm) and maybe Issaac Cuenca (at Ajax atm). Fontás is also coming back from loan and might be a solution in the defense.. he has done a good job at Mallorca, but he is getting a bit older so dunno.

And then there is the youth.. Sergi Roberto a midfielder and key man on the B team.. might be time for him, if not he will be sold/leave. Rafinha, an attacker/midfielder/winger, and little brother of Thiago has always been seen as the better brother of the two.. might be his time. Marc Muniesa a central defender.. if he can keep injury free and then there is of course the 2 key youngsters.. Gerard Deulofeu.. fast as hell, can dribble almost as well as Messi and has a fierce shot. There is Jean Marie Dongou... very young still but lots of potential with this young attacker. There is other potential on the youth team.. but it requires that they get to play and get experience against the big boys.. the second division is fine but it aint the big boys.

Now do they take a few years of lean results and build up from with in, or go the Real Madrid way and buy to success... that is the question. And if Tito leaves, then the incoming manager will have to have a say on who to sign. And the problem is that with the uber rich English clubs and PSG.. then the prices will be massively inflated.

As for possible candidates.. well Frank Rijkaard could come back I guess. There is Marcelo Bielsa of Bilbao, a very highly respected manager in Spain and then there is of course Michael Laudrup of Swansea a former player and key person in the Cryuff years.

As for Jupp Heynkes.. no I do not see that at all, for the simple reason he use to manage Real Madrid and has no ties to Barcelona what so ever.

The one thing that Barcelona does not want to do again is hire a moron like Luis Van Gaal, who almost ruined the team and club with his insistence of buying dutch...He actually stated that Xavi Hernandez was not good enough and too small for the team but was forced to play him because Guardiola became injured .. and well Xavi has not looked back since.

Personally I would want a manager who uses the youth talent more than present.. and even at the cost of a championship... in the long run it will be good for the club.

But we shall see.
 
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