News: Nah, I think I'll stay on - The Other Teams Thread [R]

Lukaku may start in the first game at OT, but for the return leg at the Camp Nou, in a game where we will be expected to hit them on the counter, it's close to certain that Rashford (along with Lingard and Martial) will get the start.
Our press will need to be on point as well in the first leg, so I have a hard time seeing Rashford being left out of it, provided he's fit. Either Lukaku or possibly Martial might start on the bench, and come on later if needed. Lingard and Rashford both will be among our most important players offensively along with Pogs (who I think could have a field day in this tie).

 

Surprised that people want mobility in midfield to press. Barca tear teams that press to pieces. I like the idea of a 4-2-2-2 for this match.

Matic and Herrera - Herrera will show if he's capable of the discipline required for a six in this assignment. He'll need to sit deeper more in line with Matic to block passing lanes.

Pogba and Lingard, slightly staggered with Lingard deeper than Pogba.

Rashford and Lukaku up top.

Young and Shaw as the wingbacks with Lindelof and Smalling central. I'd switch their normal sides and put Smalling on the left as help to Shaw. That leaves Lindelof to deal with Suarez, and I think that'll be a better match up.

 

We'll probably see Matic in midfield, but this is a tie, where I really would love to see and think we should go with Herrera and Fred in 2 men midfield. Fred was superb last season vs City in the CL and gave them all sorts of problem with his energy, his passing and willingness to drive the team forward was on point as well.
That's why Pep wanted him at City, until we stole him from under their noses. The way Barca play, I think they'll run circles around Matic to be frank. Have no major issue with Matic now since we are limited at his position, but Barca is one team I don't want to see him against.

 

It wont happen but I’d be fine with Pogba, Fred, and Herrera in midfield. Matic is Matic and will be bad no matter who we play. He’s too slow for Barca and get killed. McT, while better at covering ground, is pretty bad positionally and fails to track a lot of the time. Against a team like Barca that’s always moving, he’ll get destroyed as well.

 

France Football's top 50 Greatest Managers.

Thoughts? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/N1pAZs92Ip

— EPL Bible (@EPLBible) March 18, 2019

 

The guy at #13 is gonna be pi$$ed

Bobby Robson should be a lot higher than #39.

 

SAF is easily the 1, but I may be a little biased.

 

Pep way too high!

 

Ancelotti in the top 10??

 

Rinus Michels changed football and the way it was played. That counts for something. Not to mention his students are in the top 10.

 

Wenger at 32nd is way too low. And Klopp actually ranking higher than Wenger is a joke.

 

I honestly would put Wenger ahead of Pep. There is something to be said for a coach building a team up and using what he's got to get results. Pep never had that so I have always doubted his ability to coach if he wasn't at one of the richest clubs in the world constantly!

 

That was confusing for me too. Isn't jose better than him?

 

What makes Mourinho better than Ancelotti now (or in recent years really)? A few years back, there was a valid argument to have Mourinho ahead of him, but it's certainly not the case anymore, hasn't been for 5yrs easily (since Ancelotti won La Decima for Real in CL/European Cup wins).
He also managed to maintain a certain level, which can't be said about Mourinho, as he's nowhere near as good or the hot commodity he used to be because of his failure to adapt. Mourinho's story is not necessarily done yet, but he has work to do if he wants to restore his reputation.​

 

Didn't Jose get a PL and EL in last 5 years?

 

That does not supersede what Ancelotti has done in the same timespan. As mentioned, Mourinho had a very fast start and successful period, during which he was undoubtedly ahead of Ancelotti.
But as we've seen, Mourinho has cooled off a lot and therefore his stock has gone down in recent years.

 

Breaking | Court of Arbitration for Sport upholds PSG appeal against the Adjudicatory Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body for acting unlawfully in re-opening an investigation into the club's compliance with FFP. A big victory for PSG. pic.twitter.com/aH1w5Ax3ek

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) March 19, 2019

Disgusting news tbh...

 

So City will replicate it in England I think.

 

UEFA are a joke and not a single club takes them seriously. They deserve what they get for allowing it to get this far by their inability to act when it first became an issue.

 

@Ashur it was expected from day one... FFP is a joke ..

@Ruud v.Nistelrooy 10 Fifa aint serious about this, unless they start docking points or closing majority of stands for half/quarter seasons depending of the reoccurrance nothing will ever change.m

 

Saul reportedly being lined up by City for the summer, as Fernandinho's long term replacement is huge for them. Pep clearly favors the 6/8 hybrid type and he's arguably getting perhaps the best one there is currently in the market, if those rumors are true.
That signature alone would give the pursuing pack even more work to do to catch up with City...

 

Might want to look at who's reporting it. ESPN were the first ones and they know dick all about transfers. Also, he just signed a 9 year deal in 2017 recently so why would Atleti let him go?

 

It's a rumor and that's all I see it as, at this time, like most of what is reported when it comes to transfers. From City and Pep's point of view, it would make sense as Fernandinho does need to replaced/phased out and this type of player (with someone like Ndombele also being mentioned) is what Pep wants.
After all, City's very aggressive transfer policy does make it a possibility: Atleti are not on the same level as Europe's big boys financially and they are for all intents and purposes a selling club for the really big teams on the continent. So we'll see what happens there.

 

Tielemans opens the score for Belgium in their qualifier vs Russia. Textbook counter with Hazard at the heart of it.

Russia with the equalizer following a terrible mixup from Courtois, whose nightmare season extends beyond to Real...