Champions League dilemma

I get the arguments for City but I'd take issue on a couple of points.
I'd love to have seen him tackle the job of keeping Huddersfield up last season.. Or somebody like that. We'll never know though because he's never touched a job where the odds aren't stacked in his favour. That doesn't make him less than a good manager. But the best in history. That's a huge stretch.
And, yes, City spent decades as underdogs in Manchester and remained really well supported throughout. But that doesn't make turning the tables a fairytale. Money did that. Nothing more or less.
I'll stick in the couldn't care less camp. Love Barnsley, hate football. Well top level football anyway.

 

I enjoy the 'he couldn't keep Hudds up' debate. Why would he? He's - granted - worked with unbelievable players. But he's made every single one better. He's introduced new concepts to the game that has transformed the way it's played a across the world. He's an unbelievable football coach & manager and he should get lots more admiration imho.

Understand the money bit - but they're 10x the club Chelsea are & that's because they've spent the cash within a structure & strategy. It's in my opinion to be applauded.

 

City, it’s Stones innit?

 

Best is open to so much interpretation isn't it so I agree it's very subjective. The influence he has had one how the game is played has been amazing though and I feel that legacy is bigger than any trophies he wins. Moreover almost to a man every player who has played for him describes him as the best coach they have ever worked with. So he's obviously got something about him.

 

Penistone Church..

 

This money argument is to be fair laughable. It is nothing new.

The most successful clubs have always spent the most money and taken players from the other clubs around them.

United in the 90’s were lucky enough to get a nucleus of a world class team form the youth setup - the number of appearances, trophies, international caps that came from one youth team is amazing. But they bought players for big money every window and in fact asset stripped other clubs in the domestic league as well.

Liverpool did the same in the eighties.

Arsenal’s success under Wenger in the late nineties onwards was achieved after spending big money initially on people like Bergkamp, Overmars, Vieira and Petit - he just kept the keeper and defence he inherited.

Blackburn bought themselves from the second division to the champions league.

There are exceptions, but successful football teams tend to be the ones who’ve spent a lot.

There’s arguments against the city regime of course - but their investment not just on the field but on the whole Man City setup and even what they’ve done for the local area is actually really good. I will also point out that they made a profit this season - and their net spend over the last five years is only the tenth highest in ENGLAND - below the usual competitions but also villa, West Ham, wolves and Newcastle. The net spend is £225million over five years. Chelsea have spent nearly three times that and weren’t that far from being relegated this season.

 

DJing tonight, so will miss it.

 

Be interesting to see what comes of these charges brought for more than 100 breaches of the premier league financial rules. Suppose then we will know if they've spent within a structure & strategy.

 

I hope City do treble.
City 5 2 Stones to score header and the viking to grab a hatrick
Be good to see a Penistone /Thurlstone lad do well.

 

He doesn't get chastised for his success. He gets chastised because he was a drugs cheat as a player and is a massive hypocrite. He wore a yellow ribbon for Catalan political prisoners and when asked how he reconciled that with his employers' record he absolutely bottled answering.

He's a great manager (albeit with a blank chequebook), but he's a *****.

 

Agreed. However be nice for John to get the treble. Not really bothered either way

 

I'd much rather be DJing than watching the CL final. Wanna swap?

 

I like watching good footie so can’t wait !!

 

Unless you’re a die hard City fan from back in the day, it’s basically franchise FC - in other words they represent the UAE who just so happen to be using an English based team for their project. Who are Facing over 100 charges for financial chicanery,.
Also the manager is a f@nny, displays Catalan flags then when asked about the human rights records of his bosses cries like a baby.

 

Have to make most of this weather. So it's an evening sat in garden, raiding the wine rack and tunes in mi earphones. Bliss...

 

Insomnia

 

Yeah, may play a bit of Faithless....

 

Is that somewhere in China?

 

No, Moortown Golf Club!