Champions League 2012/2013

[Treva, the Renewer]

He appears to thrive in the face of rejection.

[torongill]

So funny how Mourinho said "I achieved 3 semifinals, in the 20y before me they only reached 5".

Yeah, but of those 5, they won 3 times. I dont even remember who my favourite team beat in the semifinal when they last won it. I barely remember the semifinals from last year.

His major achievement at Real was winning the copa del rey after 18y, or as Real themself call it, the mickey mouse copa. :p

And Ramos was quick to throw the trophy under the bus.

I think he's done okay personally, considering the fact he's took over during a time where their greatest rivals are being named 'the greatest team ever', he's still managed to win a league title and a copa del rey. And, this year at least, he's managed to beat Barca many times when they come face to face in the clasico. 3 semi finals in a row isn't an easy feat you know

So what about six semi finals in a row?
Let's also not forget how Madrid won La Liga last year, with a double-digit disallowed legit goals and penalties not given to Barca and an all-time La Liga record for penalties in favor of Real.

[Treva, the Renewer]

But, Mr. T, that always happens with Mou's teams, as well as the making utterly expensive teams play below their potential and having them fight each other when his reign is about to end…

[torongill]

I'm sorry, I hadn't followed Mou's career before he came to Real Nor do I think I will follow his career after Real. I might actually start watching Bundesliga because of Pep and Klopp, but that's another thing entirely.

[Ishoss]

But, Mr. T, that always happens with Mou's teams, as well as the making utterly expensive teams play below their potential and having them fight each other when his reign is about to end…

Did Porto do this? Every other empirical evidence suggests you are right...

[Ishoss]

But, Mr. T, that always happens with Mou's teams, as well as the making utterly expensive teams play below their potential and having them fight each other when his reign is about to end…

Did Porto do this? Every other empirical evidence suggests you are right...

[Cold_Mac]

It's all because there was a conspiracy and they took Guti away from him, Gutiérrez had won three already and would've liked to get closer to Distéfano.

Di Stéfano & Guti? El contrario artistas....

[Treva, the Renewer]

I don't understand whatever that's supposed to mean, Cold_Mac.

Did Porto do this? Every other empirical evidence suggests you are right...

Porto got dodgy refereeing, yes indeed.

[Cold_Mac]

I don't understand whatever that's supposed to mean, Cold_Mac.

Di Stéfano and his playing style had nothing in common with Guti's laid-back, deepsitting playmaking.

[Treva, the Renewer]

I meant closer to Distéfano's tally of European trophies.

Of course, both Distéfano and Guti's teams had far more flair and panache than Mou's counterattacking team of ovepaid babies.

[Cold_Mac]

I meant closer to Distéfano's tally of European trophies.

Of course, both Distéfano and Guti's teams had far more flair and panache than Mou's counterattacking team of ovepaid babies.

Di Stéfano's Eintracht final is still my favourite game I've watched - that forward line would have won EC cups in any era - and the 2:1 volley against Leverkusen from Zidanés still has to find his equal. Marvellous, legendary effort.

Real has certainly been a stain on the supposed muck-proof vita of Mourinho that he was so keen to keep. It takes time to make the infighting after each station as obvious as it is now, along with the continuous quality decline of each team he managed. Interesting that his tactics got dirtier by the same rate.

Not that the EPL fanboys will let that tarnish their objection of their Chosen, their Special One.

Expect to an end in tears and despair. As always with Mourinho with a hideous afterbirth.

[Treva, the Renewer]

As one of our Greek posters -or, indeed, anyone from the Mediterranean cultures- would say, football dies with Mou.

[Cold_Mac]

As one of our Greek posters -or, indeed, anyone from the Mediterranean cultures- would say, football dies with Mou.

Don't agree with your observation of mediterranean football cultures - he emerged from one, the portoguese football is not, and was never, swashbuckling attractive, despite numerous highly talented players emerging since the 60's. The catenaccio is of mediterranean origin, too.

It wasn't a latin club that stopped Helenio Herrera's catenaccio.

[Treva, the Renewer]

???????

I… do not object to Mediterranean football cultures.

[Erebus Pasha]

Don't agree with your objection of mediterranean football cultures - he emerged from one, the portoguese football is not, and was never, swashbuckling attractive, despite numerous highly talented players emerging since the 60's. The catenaccio is of mediterranean origin, too.

It wasn't a latin club that stopped Helenio Herrera's catenaccio.

Yes it was.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1965%E2...6_European_Cup

[Cold_Mac]

???????

I… do not object to Mediterranean football cultures.

Your observation, honey.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Yes it was.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1965%E2...6_European_Cup

Forgot that, you`re correct.
Even more significant as Herrera had considerable success with Barcelona with two successive league titles and one cup win.

You got a PN.

[Erebus Pasha]

It's ok - I know Celtic propaganda can be all consuming.

However, Inter were the finest side in Europe during the mid-60's - winners in 64 and 65, semi-finalists in 66 and finalists in 67 - not a bad record at all. Whilst catenaccio is always thought of as a negative tactic (and at times it was), Inter were capable of exciting football and had some fine players including the real Luis Suarez*.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Su...rez_Miramontes

Helenio Herrera - great coach but a real ruthless bastard by all accounts.

[Cold_Mac]

It's ok - I know Celtic propaganda can be all consuming.

It is, although our paranoid corner is currently too busy to survive that NewCo Rangers are in Div 3. Poor bastards.

However, Inter were the finest side in Europe during the mid-60's - winners in 64 and 65, semi-finalists in 66 and finalists in 67 - not a bad record at all. Whilst catenaccio is always thought of as a negative tactic (and at times it was), Inter were capable of exciting football and had some fine players including the real Luis Suarez*.

Definitly.
One of his credos was vertical football at great speed, with no more than three passes to get to the opponent's box. If you lose the ball playing vertically, it's not a problem—but lose it laterally and you pay with a goal.

It was a bit tongue-in-cheek to call him the innovator of the catenaccio as he adapted it from Rappan and even later declared it dead after the 1970 world cup.
His legacy is more accredited to being the gravedigger of entertaining football, yet he was among the first to introduce a ban for alcohol, nicotin and a strict nutrition-code. 50 years on, that still hasn't been established in some corners.
Sloagans like Class + Preparation + Intelligence + Athleticism = Championships are of timeless beauty.
While we are speaking - just read about Loic Remy....

Mazzola wasn't too shabby either

Helenio Herrera - great coach but a real ruthless bastard by all accounts.

Its debatable if any manager, which constant success at theit height, was soft-hearted.
Certainly not in british football, with the possible exception of Matt Busby, and fear was among the top instruments right up to the freedom of contract-evolution.

Perhabs Guardiola? Not too sure on that issue.

[Treva, the Renewer]

Your observation, honey.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Well, at least now your post makes sense, semantically and gramatically.
Yet… I was just quoting a saying that is heard often in Mediterranean football cultures. Do I have to do it a third time?

Yes it was.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1965%E2...6_European_Cup

Forgot that, you`re correct.

I'll reply in your own style to that.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

It is, although our paranoid corner is currently too busy to survive that NewCo Rangers are in Div 3. Poor bastards.

Whatcha mean, poor? There be nae debts any more.