"Pep, please don't renew!" - The Other Teams thread

Brazil are not "the obvious #1 favorite". They are the home team, which probably helps (and adds extra pressure), but in all likelihood they won't have the best keeper, the best defence, the best midfield, the best attack or the best squad.

As for celito's theory on Mourinho's tactics, I agree.

i think these are fair comments. brazil and argentina have the individual talent to match spain, holland and germany, but at an organizational level they have both been a bit of a mess lately. long-term thinking going back at least a decade, is really what has set spain/holland/germany at another level. but the talent is still there for argentina/brasil to mould.

but don't forget that s.america is much more than just brasil/argentina and the likes of chile and uruguay especially deserve a lot of respect for their recent accomplishments. it's also worth pointing out that this isn't really a fair time to be comparing the european and s.american teams, with the EUROs coming up this summer the european teams are obviously going to be at a more advanced stage, whereas the s.americans are focused on preparing for 2014.

They are the favorite in any betting site I've looked at.

1 - Brazil
2tie - Germany, Argentina, Spain
5tie - Uruguay, Netherlands
7- England
8 - Chile
9 - Paraguay

(bwin)

Everyone else is worse than 25/1.

yes, i think he also does this to take the attention (and pressure) away from his players and create a kind of backs-to-the-wall-us-against-the-world atmosphere within the squad, which has made him a lot of enemies in SerieA, EPL, and laliga, but has ultimately proven a successful tactic with all his teams.

one of Ramos' yellows has been rescinded, and he'll play this weekend?

I could swear that was a straight red challenge, certainly warranted one.... oh well...

MM La Liga lives up to its name again. Oh well, he's not that good anyway.

Wait ... how did this happen

You have Chile and Paraguay above Colombia? Don't know, with Pekerman they could be a much better team.

It's not me. It's from BWIN.

Yeah but Pepe is suspended for 2 games They will only get 1 red card now (ramos) instead of 2.

Man city basically handing the title to Man U ...

Looks like Sociedad are on a mission to lift Madrid's morale today.

5 x 1 and it probably isn't over.

Crazy goalazo from Yaya, even though it took a slight deflection ...

Beast of a player, ManCitys best no doubt. Silva has been quite bad lately and his inconsistency really doesn't help, especially when the team really needs him now. Kompany is up there with Toure in terms of importance and performances. (when Kompany was injured and Toure was at the African Cup of Nations, that is when Citys season fell apart pretty much)

They have the players, don't know why they cant beat stoke. Though that goal from Crouch was truly great.

On Madrid: Did anyone actually expect Sociedad to even get a draw? I was expecting a 5-0, can't believe they actually conceded.

edit:
Oh how did I forget to mention, we paid the ref again to get a red card? right guys? RIGHT?? lol

Oh my... Liverpool! If you just listened to the criticism directed at Wenger versus the praise to Kenny Daglish, you'd think Liverpool were 15 points up on Le Arse, not the other way around. Wenger just keeps getting it done!

Okay, I just went through all of LPB's match reports on the RFEF website and logged all of LPB's bookings.
And indeed, I have C.Ronaldo currently sitting on four yellows. Same with Coentrao.
And with Sergio Ramos having his first booking against Villarreal rescinded, he should also now be one booking away from suspension (it would be his second suspension through yellow card accumulation).
All this is assuming that no other bookings have been rescinded from the past.
El Clasico is five matchdays ahead (Jornada 35).
Somewhat incredibly, Özil's sending off against Villarreal was the first direct expulsion for LPB this season in La Liga.
Di María, Khedira and Pepe have been expelled in games via double bookings.

I have a massive migraine headache right about now.

Mutante make the rivalry thread so I can freely talk my shit.

Helmond Cup update...

Olympique Lyon defeated Sochaux 2-1 on Sunday in their first title defense.
4th place Lyon will travel to play 7th place Rennes (who are five points behind Lyon) next Sunday.

hmmm... stonewall penalty not called against Man United in the 90th minute in Old Trafford! I'm shocked. Shocked I tell ya!