[Locke Lamora]

Indeed.

PS to Locke -- Chickens rule, donkeys drool. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/96.gif)

The Donkeys did quite a job pegging back the Hunchback Zebra earlier today, I seem to recall... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif)

[Fishdoll]

They did and I awarded a cookie for their efforts! The chickens didn't exactly do badly, playing 10 men for most of the game and drawing against the men in pink.

[kurtsimonw]

(quoted here as to not go OT in the Leo thread)

Talking bout coaches,check this interview with mourinho.

http://www.football-italia.net/dec23c.html

I think Jose is right and this is why individual awards are both stupid and full of bias, always have been.

VDB getting Spain to win 7 games is better than Jose getting Inter to win 3 trophies spanning over 60 games? Yeah, okay. This isn't me being bias towards Jose, any coach that wins the treble has to get the award and this goes for any team in any league.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Dec 23 2010, 10:45 AM

[dst]

I agree and besides any current Spain NT coach has the best midfield in the world ready for him as a gift from Barcelona (the irony) while JM created his own team at Inter to win what he did.

[Brian Birkin]

I believe there is an importance in the world cup, not the least for being crowned world champions, it also presents the time to play against teams and in locations that is rare. I believe the purpose has always been the same with the cup, to crown a world champion, even back when only 2 continental teams participated.

about Mourinho, did he ever become allenatore dell'anno in Serie A? i know Allegri got the award two seasons. Mourinho is often mentioned, but he has not yet won the world cup (for club and national team) and he has yet to win the european super cup.


it is now official, the new manager of inter. is he "cazzo" now? on bright side, Real Madrid report that Kaká door to inter is closed.

http://www.milannews.it/?action=read&idnotizia=41607

http://www.milannews.it/?action=read&idnotizia=41581

This post has been edited by Brian Birkin: Dec 25 2010, 01:21 AM

[kurtsimonw]

Jose has never even managed in a WC or CWC, the latter and the ESC are glorified friendlies anyway. I'd rather win the domestic league cup or EUFA Cup.

[Brian Birkin]

Yeah you are right, he has not, but he has had the chance to do it twice, with Porto and with Inter, but he chose to leave. My point is that he has not won everything. Will he ever be manager of a country? I do not know, but he has never won that world cup yet either.

I heard that when Boca Juniors lose against us 2007, the players cry, why would do that if it is bad cup?

[kurtsimonw]

It certainly means more to South American clubs. In the same way that the UEFA Super Cup means more to the UEFA Cup winner than the European Cup winner. The lesser team wants to prove something.

[Locke Lamora]

I don't think it's as black and white as people here make it out to be. The Club World Cup is certainly not a trophy you plan your whole season around, but after traveling all the way to Japan/Dubai, you'll want to win the thing. I think it was Pirlo who said that before the 2003 CWC, the Milan squad were talking about how it was all for a Mickey Mouse cup that no-one cared about, but when they lost the final on penalties it hurt like hell.

When you're there, facing off against another world-famous team for a trophy you may only get one chance to compete for, I think every player will do his best.

[kurtsimonw]

Messi wins Ballon d'Or. Mourinho wins coach of the year. Altintop wins goal of the year.

[Jack Bauer]

Too bad, I wanted Xavi to win. Always liked him.

[Fillipo Simone]

Too bad, I wanted Xavi to win. Always liked him.

Who doesn't? Hell of a player.

[X-Offender]

I guess nobody saw Messi winning it. Twice in a row, quite an achievement for a 23 year old.

[kurtsimonw]

Platini again trying to push through the 'no debt' thing. While his intentions are good, it'll hurt football more than help it in the long run.

At the moment, teams that have rich owners have an unfair advantage over other clubs, which is fair enough, I agree with it. But the 'no debt' thing gives an unfair advantage to CL teams and big City teams. I've heard clubs earn around £20m for making the CL, so how the hell are teams meant to compete with that? It'll just mean the same teams qualify for the CL every year, especially if those clubs are big City teams and are likely to get more fans/sell more merchandise.

I think what the higher ups need to understand is that football is a losing business, teams rarely ever make a profit, so what's he going to do? Ban everyone from Europe?

I think football somewhat needs wreckless spenders to break the status quo. Look at City and Spurs in England, due to them spending a combined total of around £800m in the last half decade or so, they've broken the regular top 4 and it at least means there's changes near the top.

Look at leagues like Scotland and Spain now, do they honestly think it'll help? Rangers/Celtic/Madrid/Barca are easily the most supported clubs with the biggest income, plus CL money to boot. It'll just ensure nobody can compete with them if nobody else in the league is allowed to spend.

[kurtsimonw]

Not good

Broadcasters cannot stop customers using cheaper foreign satellite TV services to watch Premier League football, an EU legal adviser has said.

Not good. Easier to watch games - smaller tv deals - less money clubs - even lower attendances for clubs - very, very bad for football. Isn't the EU great? It's done nothing but destroy our country from day 1 and now it threatens to ruin our football! Yay!