Premier League Champions 2017-18

[ShiftyPowers]

That's not my understanding - I thought we refused to meet Roma asking price. Conte not only didn't get one of his chosen players but had players he clearly doesn't want like David Luiz thrust upon him. And we know he won't just sit there and take it for too long - he laid into Italian fa whilst still Italy manager for perceived lack of backing

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...t-roma-after-antonio-conte-snub-a7125591.html

Regarding the Belgian, he's a fantastic player and reminds me so much of Vidal. Would've been an useful signing no matter what.

I can see that in terms of talent and playing style as midfielders, BUT I don't think he's as tactically good. Vidal has played all over the pitch for Chile and performed amazing, including often as a Libero.

E: And I LOVE Iwobi. I said today that I thought England would actually win something with Iwobi and Rashford. Then realized he declared for stupid Nigeria.

 

[chygry]

I can see that in terms of talent and playing style as midfielders, BUT I don't think he's as tactically good. Vidal has played all over the pitch for Chile and performed amazing, including often as a Libero.

E: And I LOVE Iwobi. I said today that I thought England would actually win something with Iwobi and Rashford. Then realized he declared for stupid Nigeria.

Agreed completely. He's really similar when it comes to playstyle, and can also pretty much play effectively all over the field (DM, CM, AM), but yes when compared to Vidal he's tactically a bit *inept*.

Vidal can play pretty much everywhere starting from CB ending with a forward role when necessary.

I said today that I thought England would actually win something with Iwobi and Rashford. Then realized he declared for stupid Nigeria.

Fucking England should get a proper manager instead of the likes of Woy and Big Sam and put some more faith in youth. There have been quite a few decent articles over the web comparing England NT and their whole system to Germany for example. Bringing out everything what's wrong with it.

Germany I believe made some huge changes after EURO 2000 or was it WC 2002? Regarding their youth system etc and like you see, it has taken some time but it has brought success.

England still seems to be stubborn sticking with the likes of Rooney (desperately trying to fit him into the starting XI during the Euros), when there are better players available etc. The same will most likely happen under Big Sam, but they can only blame themselves.

Nigeria? They've actually got two really good and promising players as in Iwobi and Iheanacho (I'm a fan of his).

 

[poet11]

Nigeria actually have a serious generation coming. They have another we signed this summer who won the Golden Ball in some youth tournament named Nwakali. Great prospect.

 

[chygry]

That's good to hear.

I bet they'd have even more talented players, but there's this thing that many of them have moved or grown up in the UK and chosen to represent England for example instead of their real nation.

That happens all around in football nowadays though. I just recently read an article about some player which headline was basically "the guy is still choosing whether to represent his homeland or X nation", like it was club football. Anyway that's globalization for ya guys.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Nigeria actually have a serious generation coming. They have another we signed this summer who won the Golden Ball in some youth tournament named Nwakali. Great prospect.

Nigeria always has a golden generation coming through and nothing ever happens.

 

[chygry]

Watch them reaching the semi-finals in Russia 2018 with Iheanacho being the top scorer of the tournament, Iwobi the main architect and Obi Mikel just doing his thing.

I wanted to bring Freddy Adu out as an example for some reason, as to Shifty saying nothing happens. For some reason I thought he was originally from Nigeria (because of the name I think), googled it just in case and found nothing except that his birthplace was Ghana. It's just that nothing happens despite huge hype instantly made a connection with Adu for me.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

If Adu was from any other country than the USA, he would have been a star. He DOMINATED national youth levels several age groups up.

 

[chygry]

Yeah of course you dominate youth levels completely if you're 10 years older than others and have a massive advantage.

Dominating youth levels doesn't automatically make one a star. Look how many players have played so well in La Masia for example, "next Messis and whatnot", also setting the world alight in Barca B, but when given a proper chance they haven't lived up to expectations. Bojan? Beat all Messi's records I believe and was a success at the first team for a short while then fell of the map.

Adama Traore did what he wanted over there as well, but haven't heard of him since he moved away. There are plenty of other examples.

Why I'm even explaining this to you is something I'll never know. You know it all anyway. Just for the sake of discussion I suppose.

 

[poet11]

Nigeria always has a golden generation coming through and nothing ever happens.

This time its a little different in that the players are getting moves to top clubs and together. Like those two at Arsenal, Man City, Roma etc etc.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Yeah of course you dominate youth levels completely if you're 10 years older than others and have a massive advantage.

Fucking read what I wrote. He was a good 2 or 3 years younger than his competition, and this was in the national system.

 

[chygry]

Fucking read what I wrote. He was a good 2 or 3 years younger than his competition, and this was in the national system.

I read what you wrote and understood perfectly. It was just a joke.

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

We are beating the small teams and look so pathetic against the big teams, still a win is a win and we needed it after the last couple of results

 

[chygry]

Look, truth be told, in the end of the season should you lift the title no one is going to remember those smaller margin of victories over a shitty opponent. In the end all that matters is 3 points.

While saying so I sound like some stupid footballer put in front of cameras for the first time giving his man of the match interview with a little bit of more detail. ala "Yeah we got those three points that's all it matters" - which is true, but at least try to be original with your answers, or maybe it just reflects on some players personalities.

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

I really wish I'd been able to watch the game yesterday - seems like for the first time conte feels the team are ready to start implementing his tactical plans. Now I understand the easing in of Moses - i wondered how he would ever expect to get in long term on the wing, but it seems conte has identified him as a potential wing back - he has the strength and work rate. I heard Alonso had a good game - it helps to explain why so much was spent on this player if he was identified for this system. Luiz still obviously the wrong man (I heard he hit the post - but our post) but his deficiencies should be easier to cover with two other CBs - which should also help to cover terry slowness. Beating Leicester at home isn't much this season - but reassuringly other than the draw at Swansea we have won all of our 'easy' games this season, even if we came up short in our two 'difficult' games. Hopefully with a proper system and identity we can change that, though one or two January additions may still be necessary. Interesting.

 

[Arnau]

I have seen tons of Adus in la masía. From Babangida and Mario Rosas to Gio Dos Santos or Cristian Ceballos...

 

[poet11]

Babangida

That guy needs to be in the first team because his name.

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

What a douche, but still funny.

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

It actually makes quite a good point - our players are such, such shits. Nine of the starting players on the pitch yesterday were at the club during the Mourinho nosedive and all but Moses who didn't get much of a chance were very clearly underplaying and not giving a fuck - yet today they play the best football ever just because they want to underline a point. We have the best most talented players in the league but they literally decide on a weekly basis whether they want to play well or not and this decision is always dependent on circumstances other than the fans or their salary or their obligations etc - it's like having a whole team of Daniel Sturridges. It's the only question mark over conte success potential - obviously the man is a football genius and if the players play to their ability within his philosophy and tactics his reign will be a huge success, but there are already signals emerging that certain players find his methods 'boring' and that they feel he is too strict compared to sleepy grandad babysitter hiddinck and if they choose to down tools and stop trying there will be very little he can do.

 

[Arnau]

Guddy

 

[Arnau]

It seems Conte find his team

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

That's a huge win today - firstly, it's the first time that formation and team has produced a win away from home, secondly, in beating a largely unchanged Southampton team at st Mary's we did something man city couldn't do, thirdly, after a man Utd game our team had other reasons for being super up for, that mid week loss to West Ham was in a pointless competition but could have damaged confidence, but now it should be right back. Really superb.