Don't want to go ot, but I think the heat will play a big part in the rest of the comp, August in Portugal. City keep the ball as well as any team, so in theory should suit us if we can get past RM.
The rags struggles might not be completely due to our rise, but it certainly has contributed to their current situation more than a little.The reason United are struggling has nothing to do with you or us. It’s because the club is a mess from top to bottom. They’ve not recruited well in senior positions for some time. That’s it’s coincided with your rise is irrelevant, you could apply the same logic to us over the last few years or so. And we had to fight our way back into the top four and ultimately top spots like everybody else.
As for the last paragraph, it’s impossible to say that. Who knows what would have happened? As I’ve said on this thread, building a great team isn’t all about money. It helps a lot, but it’s not enough on its own. That’s a fact.
The rags struggles might not be completely due to our rise, but it certainly has contributed to their current situation more than a little.
For a start, Carlos Tévez wouldn’t have left the swamp for city, and we wouldn’t have been able to recruit players of the calibre of Merlin, KdB Sterling, etc. There is therefore the distinct possibility that they would have ended up at the Trafford shithole.
They panicked when we came along, especially when Pep was appointed.
The ref at Madrid was the first fair ref we've had in any big CL game, that's no bullshit.
Sorry I couldn't resist.Have people on this thread never heard of paragraphs, FFS Mahrez
Of course you spent a vast amount on that team.I’m not sure what you’re getting at here? If you’re suggesting that we won it off the back of spending massive amounts all over the squad, you’re way off. Plus we lived largely within our means. If Coutinho doesn’t get sold, there would have been no Van Dijk or Allison. That FSG sanctioned that money to be spent on two players which went against all their previous strategy was a game changer for us in every sense of the word. Big numbers but bigger players ultimately. However, with the exception of Keita, none of those other players came in for ridiculous prices of the time. It’s an important distinction to make because a £40m player these days is nowhere near one of ten years ago. It’s just transpired that the players we’ve bought have worked out well and been coached into even better players whether they’ve come from Hull or Newcastle or Roma. And our academy seems to be doing its job well. That’s not to say that you’re not doing similar, but it’s certainly with a different financial strategy. Again, that’s fine, it’s horses for courses. Your next manager might not think the same as Pep does, he may want to do things differently. Whatever he’s doing now though, it’s obviously reaping rewards. Like ours is.
Of course you spent a vast amount on that team.
Leaving aside keeper and virgil you have Matip, Mane, wijnaldum, salah, Firmino and Fabinho to name but a few.
Over £300m, that's the only way they've come close to us. The Coutinho money is irrelevant because the money spent is on the pitch. You sell a house for £130k and buy one for £300k, you still have a £300k house.Of course you spent a vast amount on that team.
Leaving aside keeper and virgil you have Matip, Mane, wijnaldum, salah, Firmino and Fabinho to name but a few.