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[BodiesInFlight]

I thought the CL this year was really good (final aside) and PSG being the top dogs with that style of play should have decent repercussions.

I don't respect Pep or his style of play, never have, and the consequences it has had for football. Dire death by a thousand cuts that has made 90% of pl games look the same.

It's the worst way to play football imo. Chelsea are the last of the pale imitations of them I think. Although the conference league final was far superior in quality to the Europa ab.ortion of a game.

Pep is the worst thing to happen to football. He needs to leave already.

You want the dominant team being about fast transitions, speed, risk taking, individuals trusting their talent.

PSG and Flick's Barca are hardly worth romanticising but you'd rather they are the teams that get photocopied throughout the game.

Football is about risk, skill, passion, athleticism, speed. It is not about inverted fullbacks, passing lanes, false 9's, short corners, keepers touching the ball 70 times a game. It just isn't. Absolutely nobody likes that.

Didn't you used to defend Mourinhos terrorball style? Lol

I didn't like Tiki taka either but i don't think pep has played that way for years now. Teams passing out from the back isn't the same as playing with the ball deep in your half for long periods or constantly passing sideways or backwards instead of taking on a risky forward through ball.

Like I always hear how Ange is ****** or copying pep, unable to change his style of high line and passing out from the back when we haven't played a crazy high line since the 10th game of last season when Chelsea beat us when we was down to 9 men. We were just schit and couldnt defend high or low.

[Sparked_26]

Didn't you used to defend Mourinhos terrorball style? Lol

I didn't like Tiki taka either but i don't think pep has played that way for years now. Teams passing out from the back isn't the same as playing with the ball deep in your half for long periods or constantly passing sideways or backwards instead of taking on a risky forward through ball.

Like I always hear how Ange is ****** or copying pep, unable to change his style of high line and passing out from the back when we haven't played a crazy high line since the 10th game of last season when Chelsea beat us when we was down to 9 men. We were just schit and couldnt defend high or low.

I think if you win most games most fans would be happy with that. Chelsea fans like me would scoff at Spurs and West Ham for having 'a way' because what was their way if only being largely uncompetitive and treading water?:

But now Chelsea arent really competitive at the top end we need to watch something expansive. We could be dull and finish 4th or entertaining and finish 6th or 7th. Only bean counters are gonna really care that much about the former.

Also Mourinho's Chelsea were dominant in the sense he got 3 titles. In the biggest games they could be defensive but by and large they were just better than everyone else and quite direct and aggressive in attack. It sort of became more satisfying to win terrible games because it became a cultural thing and if felt good to know it boiled everyone's piss.

I would still probably rather beat say Liverpool in a major final having had no shots at all. Had Liverpool rattle the woodwork 6 times and then score with a last minute o.g. by Van Dijk. That would make me heart sing.

The issue I find really is most games look the same. That Europa League final was an extreme example of it. It's a final so winning is everything but that was the worst kind of pl game.

One team hunkers down in a low block and the other tentatively attacks being wary of turning the ball over and getting caught on the break. Neither team risking the ball really.

Nobody will remember that game in a month or so but the trophy is on the shelf. But we've all seen that type of match a hundred times over in the last 3 seasons and we will continue to do so most likely. I think we need rule changes genuinely.

[Sparked_26]

Quite enjoyed watching Boca Juniors in this Club World Cup nonsense.

You get sh.ithousey teams but with them I would say they are genuinely sleazy.

Like 11 villains on the pitch being absolutely disgusting cheered on by a rabid fan base who look like they're all on gear. Every challenge they leave a foot in. Every time you go near them they are down like they've stepped on a mine. Their keeper is doing kick ups in open play presumably so someone just punches him in the face. All the while looking at the ref like a lamb looks at the slaughterman. Their bench jumps up and screams blue murder at the flutter of a butterflies wing.

What a mad club.

They're disgusting.

Not even a dig. Footy is so sterile now it was fun to see a team of total total c.unts.




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[F l i c k e r]

Hopefully the Chelsea game is cracking. A second opportunity to watch them in person and not in a friendly is going to be stuff of dreams.

[F l i c k e r]

Chelsea getting clapped 3-1 by Flamengo was not on my bingo card.

I have to say, after watching them in person.

Sanchez is absolutely not good. He's worse than Kepa. Kepa will at least make himself big. Sanchez plays like he's caught between two minds.
Levi Colwill is not up to scratch. He is the weak link in the back line. All of Gusto, Chalobah, and Cucurella play like they are at the level. Colwill plays like he is off beat. Doesn't hold his line, doesn't have instinct for spacing, and for a left footed player, has absolutely no mind to play the ball to the left.

Everyone else seemed okay. Nicholas Jackson is an idiot. Straight red for acting like this was rugby union after being subbed on.

Delap will be interesting. My gut tells me he's not going to be any good. He's a big guy but are Chelsea ready for a traditional 9? I don't think so.


Oh and the Flamengo fans were amazing. This was like a Flamengo home game. They were shouting, b.anging drums the whole time. Chelsea presence was lacking compared to the Brighton friendly I went to a ways back.

The Brazilian women were all beautiful as well. Even the middle aged. Just something about them. Gorgeous. lol

[Sparked_26]

Chelsea getting clapped 3-1 by Flamengo was not on my bingo card.

I have to say, after watching them in person.

Sanchez is absolutely not good. He's worse than Kepa. Kepa will at least make himself big. Sanchez plays like he's caught between two minds.
Levi Colwill is not up to scratch. He is the weak link in the back line. All of Gusto, Chalobah, and Cucurella play like they are at the level. Colwill plays like he is off beat. Doesn't hold his line, doesn't have instinct for spacing, and for a left footed player, has absolutely no mind to play the ball to the left.

Everyone else seemed okay. Nicholas Jackson is an idiot. Straight red for acting like this was rugby union after being subbed on.

Delap will be interesting. My gut tells me he's not going to be any good. He's a big guy but are Chelsea ready for a traditional 9? I don't think so.


Oh and the Flamengo fans were amazing. This was like a Flamengo home game. They were shouting, b.anging drums the whole time. Chelsea presence was lacking compared to the Brighton friendly I went to a ways back.

The Brazilian women were all beautiful as well. Even the middle aged. Just something about them. Gorgeous. lol

Glad you got to a game and a game that meant something too! It was an interesting game.

My main gripe is Santos not playing. I've been looking forward to him all year and him not playing indicates we are just gonna sell him...probably to a team that are better than us. And therein lies the new era, low wages, young players, flipping them. That puts a real ceiling on improvement.

I thought Delap was good but the standout was Wesley from Flamenco. Delap may be a little basic but he has that Costa thing where he makes himself a factor in the game. Jackson unfortunately is a simpleton. He can't play aggressively or compete properly in tough games due to his temperament and lack of physicality. Hopefully gets sold. He hasn't the mental strength to play for a team that people are bothered about. He would do well at Brentford.

I don't think Maresca is good enough and I'm looking forward to him being sacked which he will be imo around Christmas.

I don't know if results can necessarily improve anyway with that team but you'd hope his football philosophy is eradicated from football. Slow, walking pace footie, aimed purely at taking risk out of the game other than when he's expecting his least talented footballer (Sanchez) risk the ball more than he's most talented player (Palmer). Nonsense footie. Nobody has ever played football and thought this is fun. You definitely can't charge people big money to watch that. The ownership will only take action once they realise their assets (the players) are losing value due to the coach strangling creativity and talent.

[siablo14]

Yankees ML
Panama to score
Mexico to qualify

at 1.95 is a go.