: Tue May 12, 2009 3:01 pm  

keithcun wrote:

What you trying to say? Matalan is where it's at.

Matalan? You posh tw'at....get to Primarni.

: Tue May 12, 2009 3:13 pm  

keithcun wrote:

I'm not sure what Rosicky or Park have over and above Benayoun for example.

Of course anyone can pick out and compare a managers decent buys against another managers poor buys.

What about Insua or Aurelio, both cost nothing. Arbeloa, less than £3m. It seems people ignore what's in front of their eyes.

It's pretty much what Mark said. Benayoun is actually one of the half-dozen I was thinking of.

Also, perhaps the reason it's easy in this case is the differing strike rates some of us are talking about.

As for the last 3, I don't particularly rate any, especially Arbeloa. Insua I've seen less of though, TBF. But if I was to draw up a list of decent fullbacks at the top 4 clubs, they'd be a decent way down it, which is the bottom line of the matter isn't it?

: Tue May 12, 2009 3:16 pm  

keithcun wrote:

Has it never occured tor you that the reason he talks about it maybe because reporters/media ask him about him? They have press conferences virtually every other day, they have to say something and answer the questions they receive.

Why do they? Why not a simple; 'I've spoken about this before and the situation is pretty much the same. Next.' He doesn't even need to throw his toys out of the pram about it or anything either, just make the point that the press continually re-tread the same ground and he's said his piece.

: Tue May 12, 2009 3:37 pm  

carl_spackler wrote:

It's pretty much what Mark said. Benayoun is actually one of the half-dozen I was thinking of.

Also, perhaps the reason it's easy in this case is the differing strike rates some of us are talking about.

As for the last 3, I don't particularly rate any, especially Arbeloa. Insua I've seen less of though, TBF. But if I was to draw up a list of decent fullbacks at the top 4 clubs, they'd be a decent way down it, which is the bottom line of the matter isn't it?

Which begs the question, where are the other 2 teams of the "big four" suffering, because last time I looked, Liverpool were above them in the League.

The reason you don't rate any is because you probably don't watch enough of them. The thing is with Arbeloa, he isn't an Alves or a Cole, he's a defender who goes forward when he can, his game isn't based on going forward. It seems these days if you're not bombing forward, then you don't get noticed at full back.

Alves is allegedly the best full back in the world according to many fans and pundits. From what I saw against Chelsea, he was average at best. He's obviously doing something right to get all the plaudits he has, but the ironic thing is, Rafa wanted to sign him, but guess what, the powers that be thought he was valued to highly. Go figure.

: Tue May 12, 2009 3:38 pm  

carl_spackler wrote:

Why do they? Why not a simple; 'I've spoken about this before and the situation is pretty much the same. Next.' He doesn't even need to throw his toys out of the pram about it or anything either, just make the point that the press continually re-tread the same ground and he's said his piece.

So, if he's saying something against the grain he's throwing the toys out of the pram? I suggest you don't listen to any manager, as you will get very frustrated very soon.

: Tue May 12, 2009 3:53 pm  

keithcun wrote:

Which begs the question, where are the other 2 teams of the "big four" suffering, because last time I looked, Liverpool were above them in the League.

The reason you don't rate any is because you probably don't watch enough of them. The thing is with Arbeloa, he isn't an Alves or a Cole, he's a defender who goes forward when he can, his game isn't based on going forward. It seems these days if you're not bombing forward, then you don't get noticed at full back.

Alves is allegedly the best full back in the world according to many fans and pundits. From what I saw against Chelsea, he was average at best. He's obviously doing something right to get all the plaudits he has, but the ironic thing is, Rafa wanted to sign him, but guess what, the powers that be thought he was valued to highly. Go figure.

It's actually Arbeloa's defensive qualities that I don't rate, not him going forward. When the ball is put in the air towards him it's almost a guaranteed corner, regardless of any danger posed.

: Tue May 12, 2009 3:54 pm  

Sthelens RLFC wrote:

Yes I do. If you're claiming what might have been's with your reference to the ref in the CL semi final, what if Gerrard and Torres had started 36 PL games apiece this season? Would we have won the league? Where would Benitez rank then? Still out of the top 5? Cos Hiddink managed to win matches against......well other than the Liverpool away in the Champions league, no-one of note.

Warped.

If Benitez had won the league then he'd have obviously been above Hiddink in my rankings.

In reference to what might have been in the CL semi it's a simple case of seeing what the talk was in the build up to the matches and seeing how Chelsea dictated the outcome of the games. Barca were supposedly the best side in Europe, an unstoppable attacking force. They had one shot on target in the second leg, in the 93rd minute.

Under Scolari, Chelsea hadn't won a single game against any of the other big clubs, nor had they won a London derby. They were beaten twice by Liverpool, they lost at home to Arsenal. Under Hiddink they knocked Liverpool out of the CL, they beat Arsenal in the FA Cup semi and they've just hammered Arsenal 4-1 at the Emirates. Even a scouser as thick as you can surely see the contrast?

: Tue May 12, 2009 3:55 pm  

keithcun wrote:

So, if he's saying something against the grain he's throwing the toys out of the pram? I suggest you don't listen to any manager, as you will get very frustrated very soon.

No, I meant he is more than capable of dealing with the press without appearing to do so. As in, choosing not to answer inane questions. He could make his point in a fair and reasoned way, he wouldn't have to resort to petulance and make a big issue out of it.

But you go ahead and interpret posts however suits you best.

: Tue May 12, 2009 3:58 pm  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

If Benitez had won the league then he'd have obviously been above Hiddink in my rankings.

In reference to what might have been in the CL semi it's a simple case of seeing what the talk was in the build up to the matches and seeing how Chelsea dictated the outcome of the games. Barca were supposedly the best side in Europe, an unstoppable attacking force. They had one shot on target in the second leg, in the 93rd minute.

Under Scolari, Chelsea hadn't won a single game against any of the other big clubs, nor had they won a London derby. They were beaten twice by Liverpool, they lost at home to Arsenal. Under Hiddink they knocked Liverpool out of the CL, they beat Arsenal in the FA Cup semi and they've just hammered Arsenal 4-1 at the Emirates. Even a scouser as thick as you can surely see the contrast?

Neither have Bolton. Think Megson's done a worse job than Phil Brown this year?

Results against specific clubs mean nothing.

: Tue May 12, 2009 4:05 pm  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

If Benitez had won the league then he'd have obviously been above Hiddink in my rankings.

In reference to what might have been in the CL semi it's a simple case of seeing what the talk was in the build up to the matches and seeing how Chelsea dictated the outcome of the games. Barca were supposedly the best side in Europe, an unstoppable attacking force. They had one shot on target in the second leg, in the 93rd minute.

Under Scolari, Chelsea hadn't won a single game against any of the other big clubs, nor had they won a London derby. They were beaten twice by Liverpool, they lost at home to Arsenal. Under Hiddink they knocked Liverpool out of the CL, they beat Arsenal in the FA Cup semi and they've just hammered Arsenal 4-1 at the Emirates. Even a scouser as thick as you can surely see the contrast?

You know what I hope Everton win the Fa cup just to pi$$ you and rest of plastic FC off

COYB