comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 12 minutes ago
I thought Guardiola's Barcelona were pretty stunning when they first emerged, partly because of the distinctiveness of the style. Above all it was the mesmerising pass-move patterns in midfield. Familiarity breeds contempt, and as teams figured out the blueprint that created the best chance of neutralising them, some Barcelona games turned into an attritional battle between a team parking the bus and a team sucking the life out of the bus. But we're missing something if we can't appreciate the beauty of those Xavi-Iniesta-Messi triangles.

Still got more pleasure from Rijkaard-era Barcelona, characterised by the spontaneous genius of Ronaldinho, and featuring the emerging Messi, devastating Eto'o, Deco and Xavi in midfield.
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I enjoyed the 70’s Ajax over Peps Barcelona. Possibly biased because of the similarity attacking wise to us in the late 60’s.

Cruyff knew how to entertain just like George.

Giuly was better than both. He also scored one of my favourite goals ever. Mainly for Ronaldinho playing a through ball with his back. Fred couldn’t do this with his feet.

https://twitter.com/fcbarcelona_es/status/932544160728473601

comment by The Post Nearly Man. 20times, 20legend (U1270)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 7 seconds ago
Still love Stoichkov and Romario. Not their best ever side, but those two were phenomenal (Guardiola played as well)

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I have much less memory of that side, not because I was too young (sadly) but because I never saw La Liga matches in those days, so it was just the odd exotic glimpse in the CL.
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They absolutely battered us in our first CL campaign
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or was it the second one... I dunno

comment by The Post Nearly Man. 20times, 20legend (U1270)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 7 seconds ago
Still love Stoichkov and Romario. Not their best ever side, but those two were phenomenal (Guardiola played as well)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I have much less memory of that side, not because I was too young (sadly) but because I never saw La Liga matches in those days, so it was just the odd exotic glimpse in the CL.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They absolutely battered us in our first CL campaign
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Yeah, that 4-0 game I do remember. Surely your fondness for that side isn't based on that painful memory?!

Yeah, that 4-0 game I do remember.

.....

I was on a date with a stunner that night. One of the very few times I have missed a United game because of a woman.

comment by Donny The King van de Beek (U10026)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by N2 (U22280)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Donny The King van de Beek (U10026)
posted 14 minutes ago
rosso, yes definitely. I’d be really interested to see Pep coach a team without the quality of players he’s had. Just because coaching will only get you so far if you don’t have the ability.
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His first season at city is probably the closest you'll get to this.
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Or if he goes to Juve after City.
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Or he could go to Brighton and continue the work of the great Graham Potter.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by The Post Nearly Man. 20times, 20legend (U1270)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 7 seconds ago
Still love Stoichkov and Romario. Not their best ever side, but those two were phenomenal (Guardiola played as well)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I have much less memory of that side, not because I was too young (sadly) but because I never saw La Liga matches in those days, so it was just the odd exotic glimpse in the CL.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They absolutely battered us in our first CL campaign
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, that 4-0 game I do remember. Surely your fondness for that side isn't based on that painful memory?!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think fondness may be stretching it a bit... just remember being in awe of Stoichkov and Romario (from watching them in the World Cup as well). Never really liked Barcelona as a club. Their history as a counter to Franco's Madrid is fantastic but they don't half bleeding go on about being more than a club. Fantastic players though.

comment by N2 (U22280)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by Donny The King van de Beek (U10026)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by N2 (U22280)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Donny The King van de Beek (U10026)
posted 14 minutes ago
rosso, yes definitely. I’d be really interested to see Pep coach a team without the quality of players he’s had. Just because coaching will only get you so far if you don’t have the ability.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
His first season at city is probably the closest you'll get to this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Or if he goes to Juve after City.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Or he could go to Brighton and continue the work of the great Graham Potter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Because he’s come to United bring us a cultural reset?

comment by Donny The King van de Beek (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by N2 (U22280)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by Donny The King van de Beek (U10026)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by N2 (U22280)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Donny The King van de Beek (U10026)
posted 14 minutes ago
rosso, yes definitely. I’d be really interested to see Pep coach a team without the quality of players he’s had. Just because coaching will only get you so far if you don’t have the ability.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
His first season at city is probably the closest you'll get to this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Or if he goes to Juve after City.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Or he could go to Brighton and continue the work of the great Graham Potter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Because he’s come to United bring us a cultural reset?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What's the new boss's character like? I don't really know much about him.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 24 minutes ago
Yeah, that 4-0 game I do remember.

.....

I was on a date with a stunner that night. One of the very few times I have missed a United game because of a woman.
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Hope your evening was more successful than United's !

(Decided against deploying laboured football/sh@gging metaphors; nearly always take the high road, me.)

comment by The Post Nearly Man. 20times, 20legend (U1270)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Donny The King van de Beek (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by N2 (U22280)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by Donny The King van de Beek (U10026)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by N2 (U22280)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Donny The King van de Beek (U10026)
posted 14 minutes ago
rosso, yes definitely. I’d be really interested to see Pep coach a team without the quality of players he’s had. Just because coaching will only get you so far if you don’t have the ability.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
His first season at city is probably the closest you'll get to this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Or if he goes to Juve after City.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Or he could go to Brighton and continue the work of the great Graham Potter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Because he’s come to United bring us a cultural reset?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What's the new boss's character like? I don't really know much about him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
One thing I like is how he handles big personalities and players of high standing in the game, Dan Burn, Davey Propper and Aaron Connely to name a few

comment by The Post Nearly Man. 20times, 20legend (U1270)
posted 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
comment by Wahl _ (U22545)
posted 1 minute ago
Who is in this Ole in faction. Culer isnt a United fan so he does not count.
————————
Not so cleverson?
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One man a faction doth not make, Wahl, you clot.
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Dunc and 52 as well.

Seems a top bloke. Players seem to love him. Apparently he’s big on team bonding exercises.

It’s a lesson I think we probably will have learnt from LVG and Mourinho - don’t employ a cuuuuunt to manage the team.

I read on wiki that he encourages players to take part in theatre and stuff like that to get them out of their comfort zone. We can look forward to seeing Phil Jones in the Phantom of the opera.

comment by N2 (U22280)
posted 2 minutes ago
I read on wiki that he encourages players to take part in theatre and stuff like that to get them out of their comfort zone. We can look forward to seeing Phil Jones in the Phantom of the opera.
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If he's cast in the lead role of The Cripple of Inishmaan, I can see him winning a few Tony awards.

comment by Donny The King van de Beek (U10026)
posted 17 minutes ago

It’s a lesson I think we probably will have learnt from LVG and Mourinho - don’t employ a cuuuuunt to manage the team.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They'll appoint another one

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by N2 (U22280)
posted 2 minutes ago
I read on wiki that he encourages players to take part in theatre and stuff like that to get them out of their comfort zone. We can look forward to seeing Phil Jones in the Phantom of the opera.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If he's cast in the lead role of The Cripple of Inishmaan, I can see him winning a few Tony awards.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Their Christmas production of Equus was breathtaking

Yeah I’ve heard he has some unconventional team bonding exercises. He could probably do with bringing Lingard back, and getting Pogba to stay, so he can explore the urban dance market. Ed would be loving all the instagram posts about United.

Speaking of Lingard, did you see his celebration when he scored against Tottenham. Dear God. Potter must be freelancing for them.

You mean the Backstreet Moyes?

https://twitter.com/Michailantonio/status/1363572620982181890

ugh

Think Potter would do better in most jobs than Ole, but a job like Man Utd is a different animal so would be a huge risk

"do you rate Graham potter?" has become a really good litmus test for determining whether or not someone knows what they're talking about when it comes to football

He's great

He's no Brian Potter

comment by Christo-pherk off mourinho (U20930)
posted 4 minutes ago
"do you rate Graham potter?" has become a really good litmus test for determining whether or not someone knows what they're talking about when it comes to football

He's great
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What are your views on Mourinho is usually a good one as well.