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Premier League Thread 2016/17 v144: Pink Edition
- Thread starter Chules
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Edwin
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Edwin
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Athletic star Williams says Valverde would succeed at Barcelona
Ernesto Valverde is a favourite for the Barcelona job and Athletic Bilbao's Inaki Williams says the reported interest is not surprising.
Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams says Ernesto Valverde would be a shrewd choice as the new Barcelona coach, but hopes he will stay at San Mames.
The 53-year-old is one of the favourites to replace Luis Enrique when he leaves Camp Nou at the end of the season, with Barca even mentioning him as a possible successor on their official website, along with current assistant coach Juan Carlos Unzue.
Valverde has achieved European qualification three times in a row during his second spell at Athletic, while he led them to their first major trophy in 31 years when they beat Barca 5-1 on aggregate in the 2015 Supercopa de Espana.
Williams believes there are few candidates better suited to LaLiga's champions but remains hopeful that he will reject any approach.
"He would be a good coach but we want him to stay at Athletic," he told Cadena SER when asked about Barca's interest. "He's a great boss, one of the best.
"He wouldn't be a bad coach for Barca. It's true that we're very happy with him and hopefully he stays with us.
"He's done great work, he's made history, he's the coach with the most games at the club. He's got us into Europe in every season.
"He has the last word and, whatever it is, I'll be happy for him."
Ernesto Valverde is a favourite for the Barcelona job and Athletic Bilbao's Inaki Williams says the reported interest is not surprising.
Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams says Ernesto Valverde would be a shrewd choice as the new Barcelona coach, but hopes he will stay at San Mames.
The 53-year-old is one of the favourites to replace Luis Enrique when he leaves Camp Nou at the end of the season, with Barca even mentioning him as a possible successor on their official website, along with current assistant coach Juan Carlos Unzue.
Valverde has achieved European qualification three times in a row during his second spell at Athletic, while he led them to their first major trophy in 31 years when they beat Barca 5-1 on aggregate in the 2015 Supercopa de Espana.
Williams believes there are few candidates better suited to LaLiga's champions but remains hopeful that he will reject any approach.
"He would be a good coach but we want him to stay at Athletic," he told Cadena SER when asked about Barca's interest. "He's a great boss, one of the best.
"He wouldn't be a bad coach for Barca. It's true that we're very happy with him and hopefully he stays with us.
"He's done great work, he's made history, he's the coach with the most games at the club. He's got us into Europe in every season.
"He has the last word and, whatever it is, I'll be happy for him."
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LOL
Wenger dismisses PSG talk as 'fake news'
Paris Saint-Germain were reported to have made an approach for Arsene Wenger but the Arsenal boss has rubbished the rumours.
Arsene Wenger has branded speculation that he has been made an offer by Paris Saint-Germain as "fake news".
It was reported in England that the Ligue 1 champions have made an approach to bring Wenger to Parc des Princes on a two-year deal at the end of the season.
But Wenger, who stated on Saturday that he has made up his mind over whether he will sign a new contract at Arsenal, has rubbished the speculation.
"It is a false rumour," he told BeIN Sports. "That is what you call fake news.
"I formally deny it. It is not true."
Wenger said following the 3-1 Premier League defeat to West Brom that he would announce his decision on his future "very soon", while he has always maintained that he will not retire should he leave the Gunners.
Fans protested in the stands during the loss to West Brom, while two planes carrying banners were flown over The Hawthorns, one calling for Wenger not to be given a new contract and the other demanding he be shown "respect".
Wenger dismisses PSG talk as 'fake news'
Paris Saint-Germain were reported to have made an approach for Arsene Wenger but the Arsenal boss has rubbished the rumours.
Arsene Wenger has branded speculation that he has been made an offer by Paris Saint-Germain as "fake news".
It was reported in England that the Ligue 1 champions have made an approach to bring Wenger to Parc des Princes on a two-year deal at the end of the season.
But Wenger, who stated on Saturday that he has made up his mind over whether he will sign a new contract at Arsenal, has rubbished the speculation.
"It is a false rumour," he told BeIN Sports. "That is what you call fake news.
"I formally deny it. It is not true."
Wenger said following the 3-1 Premier League defeat to West Brom that he would announce his decision on his future "very soon", while he has always maintained that he will not retire should he leave the Gunners.
Fans protested in the stands during the loss to West Brom, while two planes carrying banners were flown over The Hawthorns, one calling for Wenger not to be given a new contract and the other demanding he be shown "respect".
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What a dumb cunt but oh hey, bae
Does your dick care?
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@Rawex
Mourinho: Manchester United slower than my Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho has revealed the differences between his title-winning Real Madrid side and the current Manchester United team.
Jose Mourinho says he has had to adapt to the qualities of his Manchester United players, claiming the team is slower than his Real Madrid side.
The 54-year-old won LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana during a three-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu before he returned to England to take charge of Chelsea for the second time.
Madrid scored a league-best 121 goals in their title-winning campaign of 2011-12, while they also won a record 16 away matches and 32 in total - a figure that was matched by Barcelona a year later.
United have shown progress since Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal as manager but have often been found wanting in front of goal this season, failing to score in home games against Burnley and Bournemouth and only finding the net more than three times in a single match on one occasion.
Mourinho claims he would be "in s***" if he used a counter-attacking style at Old Trafford but admits that United are limited given their lack of pace.
Asked if he does not like possession-based play, he told France Football: "That is not true. This season, we have an enormous percentage of ball possession in almost all our matches. But again, everything depends on the technical characteristics of the players that you have at your disposal. On what will enable the team to win.
"People sometimes confuse ball possession with the number of goals you score. They forget that the aim is to always score and win. At Real, I had a team that broke the record for the number of goals scored in the history of the Spanish league: 121 goals in one season. It was the best in the world in terms of transition play, in terms of being effective in recovery, and then in terms of projecting the ball towards the goal.
"Cristiano Ronaldo was 27, [Angel] Di Maria was 23, [Karim] Benzema and [Gonzalo] Higuain were 23 or 24. It was the team that killed everyone. Why would I change that? Because the Manchester United team is different. It is slower. They do not have quick players and have a desire to have the ball, in order to be dominant with play.
"Zlatan Ibrahimovic needs touches of the ball in order to play. [Ander] Herrera, [Michael] Carrick and [Paul] Pogba, too. Sometimes, in the last 20 minutes, I explore other options, and I put Marcus Rashford on to go in another direction. But, generally, I try to make do with the qualities that my players have.
"My team plays in this way or that way because that corresponds to the players that I have. It is as simple as that. If I tried to play on the counter with Manchester United, I am in s**t. If you want to play possession with a team where the players dribble a lot, take the maximum risks, push forward quickly, I would kill the potential of the players.
"I could have said to Di Maria, who was faster than an arrow: 'You do not dribble, you play with one touch, you pass the ball, because I do not want to lose'. But I prefer to play with the qualities that my players have."
Mourinho was appointed to replace Van Gaal, whose cautious approach had caused huge frustration among United fans despite delivering the FA Cup for the first time since 2004.
However, the former Inter boss says he learned a valuable lesson from his predecessor during their time at Barcelona that he still utilises to this day.
"I do not need 'yes men'," he said. "I want people who have their own opinions. And even people who contest my decisions, questioning them.
"I always say to my assistants: 'During the match, I want to think alone'. I do not want to have someone who is going to talk next to me, to tell me things. In those moments, I want to put together my expertise, with my instinct, with my feeling.
"I want to manage the team by myself. During the week, however, before or after matches, I am counting on them to behave like managers, who think for themselves, who think about what I say, who criticise me, who ask me questions for me to explain what I am doing with the team. I learnt that at Barcelona with Mr Van Gaal. That is what he demanded from his assistants."
Mourinho: Manchester United slower than my Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho has revealed the differences between his title-winning Real Madrid side and the current Manchester United team.
Jose Mourinho says he has had to adapt to the qualities of his Manchester United players, claiming the team is slower than his Real Madrid side.
The 54-year-old won LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana during a three-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu before he returned to England to take charge of Chelsea for the second time.
Madrid scored a league-best 121 goals in their title-winning campaign of 2011-12, while they also won a record 16 away matches and 32 in total - a figure that was matched by Barcelona a year later.
United have shown progress since Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal as manager but have often been found wanting in front of goal this season, failing to score in home games against Burnley and Bournemouth and only finding the net more than three times in a single match on one occasion.
Mourinho claims he would be "in s***" if he used a counter-attacking style at Old Trafford but admits that United are limited given their lack of pace.
Asked if he does not like possession-based play, he told France Football: "That is not true. This season, we have an enormous percentage of ball possession in almost all our matches. But again, everything depends on the technical characteristics of the players that you have at your disposal. On what will enable the team to win.
"People sometimes confuse ball possession with the number of goals you score. They forget that the aim is to always score and win. At Real, I had a team that broke the record for the number of goals scored in the history of the Spanish league: 121 goals in one season. It was the best in the world in terms of transition play, in terms of being effective in recovery, and then in terms of projecting the ball towards the goal.
"Cristiano Ronaldo was 27, [Angel] Di Maria was 23, [Karim] Benzema and [Gonzalo] Higuain were 23 or 24. It was the team that killed everyone. Why would I change that? Because the Manchester United team is different. It is slower. They do not have quick players and have a desire to have the ball, in order to be dominant with play.
"Zlatan Ibrahimovic needs touches of the ball in order to play. [Ander] Herrera, [Michael] Carrick and [Paul] Pogba, too. Sometimes, in the last 20 minutes, I explore other options, and I put Marcus Rashford on to go in another direction. But, generally, I try to make do with the qualities that my players have.
"My team plays in this way or that way because that corresponds to the players that I have. It is as simple as that. If I tried to play on the counter with Manchester United, I am in s**t. If you want to play possession with a team where the players dribble a lot, take the maximum risks, push forward quickly, I would kill the potential of the players.
"I could have said to Di Maria, who was faster than an arrow: 'You do not dribble, you play with one touch, you pass the ball, because I do not want to lose'. But I prefer to play with the qualities that my players have."
Mourinho was appointed to replace Van Gaal, whose cautious approach had caused huge frustration among United fans despite delivering the FA Cup for the first time since 2004.
However, the former Inter boss says he learned a valuable lesson from his predecessor during their time at Barcelona that he still utilises to this day.
"I do not need 'yes men'," he said. "I want people who have their own opinions. And even people who contest my decisions, questioning them.
"I always say to my assistants: 'During the match, I want to think alone'. I do not want to have someone who is going to talk next to me, to tell me things. In those moments, I want to put together my expertise, with my instinct, with my feeling.
"I want to manage the team by myself. During the week, however, before or after matches, I am counting on them to behave like managers, who think for themselves, who think about what I say, who criticise me, who ask me questions for me to explain what I am doing with the team. I learnt that at Barcelona with Mr Van Gaal. That is what he demanded from his assistants."
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does my dick care lmao hell no dude, her ignorance would be my bliss.
- Joined
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lmao struggled against Malaga 3 seasons straight until they bought Isco and Santi and Monreal fucked off
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Suspicious you didnt @ me.
But yes, it is common knowledge. Amazing coach.
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Edwin
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Ufff Valverde was awesome. He got to play under Cruyff.
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