• IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here.

    The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.

Chitchat The Official TCSS Thread

THE_CHANSTER

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Manchester City needed a huge slice of good fortune to beat Leicester 2-1. Pep Guardiola's side went third, but were lucky to escape with a win as Riyad Mahrez's equalising penalty was disallowed after he touched it twice.

I have to say this is a rather stupid rule but honestly speaking, Mahrez needs to learn to take spot kicks properly. :biggrin:
 

jw5

Moderator
Moderator
Loyal
It's not stupid, otherwise the player can trick the keeper by passing the ball from his left foot to right foot and slot the ball into the net. However, he is allowed to pass the ball to a team-mate to slot the ball into the net. :biggrin:

I have to say this is a rather stupid rule but honestly speaking, Mahrez needs to learn to take spot kicks properly. :biggrin:
 

THE_CHANSTER

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
It's not stupid, otherwise the player can trick the keeper by passing the ball from his left foot to right foot and slot the ball into the net. However, he is allowed to pass the ball to a team-mate to slot the ball into the net. :biggrin:

In this particular case Mahrez clearly slipped as he was taking the kick. Not deliberate or intentional but I think Refs needs to have some discretion here.
The Rule needs to be refined.
 

jw5

Moderator
Moderator
Loyal
Your point about what Mahrez did not being intentional is valid. The ref should have considered letting him retake. But his ruling was also consistent with what has happened in the past when players slip and ballooned the ball over the bar, e,g, Beckham. There have also been other cases of players kicking the ball from one foot to another and missing and the miss was allowed to stand. But this is the first case I have seen where the goal was scored and disallowed.

In this particular case Mahrez clearly slipped as he was taking the kick. Not deliberate or intentional but I think Refs needs to have some discretion here.
The Rule needs to be refined.
 

jw5

Moderator
Moderator
Loyal
Liverpool clinch Champions League place

from espnfc.com

i


Three goals in 11 minutes saw Liverpool claim fourth place and a UCL spot. Elsewhere, Arsenal won 3-1 vs. Everton, Man United beat Palace 2-0, while Spurs hit seven and Chelsea and Man City hit five each.
 

jw5

Moderator
Moderator
Loyal
Europa League final the biggest game of Jose Mourinho's career

By Mark Ogden, Senior Football Writer
espnfc.com

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Jose Mourinho can complain all he likes about the "negativity" surrounding his first season as Manchester United manager. Only a victory against Ajax in Wednesday's Europa League final in Stockholm will ensure it is considered a success -- otherwise it will be as miserable as the image he has projected of himself since the day he walked into Old Trafford.

The good news for Mourinho is that he has one shot at redemption in Sweden. If everything goes according to plan, a second major trophy (after the EFL Cup) and a place in next season's Champions League group stages will make everything look much better than it currently is. But if it goes wrong, there will be no hiding place for a manager who has previously mocked those who fail to meet his own silver-plated standards.

It is a harsh reality for Mourinho that his first season will be judged entirely on what happens in Stockholm.

Without the opportunity to save United's season against Ajax, his first year at the helm would be no better than 5/10 -- with EFL Cup success failing to make up for a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, 24 points behind champions Chelsea.

But if they win the Europa League, it suddenly becomes an 8/10 campaign -- with United winning two or more major trophies in a season for only the sixth time in the club's history.

May 23 marks the first anniversary of Louis van Gaal's dismissal as United manager after the club dispensed with the Dutchman because his brand of football had not only alienated many members of the squad but also a majority of the supporters too.

Mourinho's appointment, with Pep Guardiola having already been announced as manager across town at Manchester City, immediately restored the feelgood factor at United.

His charisma and star quality lifted the mood and banished the grey clouds, which had hovered over van Gaal's team, yet it proved to be a brief respite. One year on and United have finished one position below van Gaal's squad, with Mourinho's constantly downbeat demeanour reflecting that of his team.

Behind the scenes, sources have told ESPN FC that the players enjoy Mourinho's training sessions and his demands for excellence, but there is also a view within the dressing room that his public condemnations of the likes of Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Anthony Martial have been self-defeating.

Club staff have also spoken privately of being unable to read Mourinho's mood from one day to the next. He can be abrasive and sullen, but also engaged, organised and in a hurry to get things done.

Indeed, Mourinho has not earned the affection that van Gaal was afforded by club staff -- the former Ajax coach embraced life in Manchester, socialised in the city and placed huge importance on his role as United's figurehead, such as insisting on laying a wreath during the Munich memorial service.

Mourinho is playing catchup in that regard, but he has restored a sense of structure and ambition. So far, though, with the exception of the Premier League victory against Chelsea at Old Trafford last month, there has been little sign of that ambition being reflected on the pitch.

Mourinho inherited an average and imbalanced squad from van Gaal, but he spent in excess of £150 million on reinforcements last summer, which extended to lavishing a world-record fee of £89.3m on Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

Yes, he has seen key players struck down by injury, but so have Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino and Arsene Wenger, and their gripes have been far less audible than Mourinho's.

He has constantly cited United's heavy fixture list as a factor in the team's failure to compete for a top-four finish, but if his players arrive in Stockholm fatigued ahead of their 64th competitive fixture this season -- Chelsea played 69 on their way to Europa League success in 2013 -- Mourinho should ask himself why the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Shaw spent so long in the wilderness when fit, and also ponder why he allowed Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger to leave without replacements being signed to the squad.

If it boils down to cause and effect, Mourinho has a case to answer when it comes to his use of the squad. Similarly, by going into the season with Wayne Rooney deployed as a striker, when the 31-year-old made it clear, through his performances and comments, that he no longer regarded himself as a forward, Mourinho's decisions left United short of goals and manpower up front.

And how that has cost United. So many draws (15 in the league) and so few goals (54) -- the season could be summed up in those seven words

There have, however, been positives and signs that next season might finally see United challenge for the title for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement four years ago.

Marcus Rashford continues to grow into a star talent, despite suggestions that Mourinho's appointment would stifle his development given his preference for older, wiser heads, and the Portuguese has undoubtedly made several players better, notably Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia, Ander Herrera, Matteo Darmian and Marouane Fellaini.

And even if their elevation to the first team was due to a late-season requirement to rest senior players ahead of Stockholm, the likes of Axel Tuanzebe, Josh Harrop and Demetri Mitchell offer hope that homegrown youngsters can flourish under the former Chelsea manager too.

But United need more than that. The club hired Mourinho because he offered the best prospect of a swift return to the glory days of the past.

Victory in Stockholm would ensure that the appointment hit the jackpot, with a return to the Champions League combining nicely with the only major trophy that United have so far failed to win. It would paper over the cracks of an underwhelming season and, at the same time, offer a shortcut back to the top.

But defeat and failure against Ajax would send United unceremoniously back to square one.

The importance of the Europa League final cannot be overstated: It has become the biggest game of Mourinho's career.
 

jw5

Moderator
Moderator
Loyal
Man United's Jose Mourinho: 'Probably my most difficult season as manager'

By Rob Dawson, Man United correspondent
espnfc.com

STOCKHOLM -- Jose Mourinho has labelled Manchester United's Europa League triumph as "the most important trophy" of his career, while adding he was happy to call time on a season that was perhaps his most difficult as a manager.

United's victory over Ajax in Stockholm meant Mourinho finished his first season at Old Trafford with three trophies and a place in next season's Champions League. It also handed the club the one piece of silverware missing from their collection.

Mourinho has won league titles in four countries and the Champions League twice. But after lifting the Europa League -- a competition he has said in the past he did not want to win -- he branded the achievement the most important of his 17-year managerial career.

"To me it is the most important trophy of my career because it is the last that is how I look at things," he told a news conference at the Friends Arena.

"Of course, Champions League is bigger than Europa League but that is the last trophy and that is when the feelings are under the skin and obviously it is a fantastic feeling for the team.

"It means everything. It means the third trophy and going back to the Champions League and winning a European trophy and playing Super League in Macedonia in August, and means for the club the last piece of the puzzle.

"But three trophies in the season, Champions League, Europa League. I'm really happy with the players in probably my most difficult season as a manager."

United's victory came against a backdrop of grief and sadness following the terrorist attack that killed 22 people at the Manchester Arena on Monday night.

But Mourinho was hopeful bringing the Europa League back to the city could, in some small way, make Manchester a happier place after a devastating 48 hours.

He added: "You know, it is really hard that is why we didn't want to have the press conference on Tuesday because we had to prepare ourselves to do our job and to try to organise events that are much more important than our job but the world goes on and does not stop and we have to do our work.

"I agree with UEFA's decision to play the match but if we have questions like your questions that make us return to the tragedy it obviously takes happiness from our achievement.

"If we could we would change people's life for this cup -- we would not think twice. Does this cup make the city of Manchester a bit happier? Maybe.

"But we came to do our job and we can't avoid the happiness because when you win you go away happy and proud. The boys were fantastic. They put on a block and stayed way from everything and concentrated on a football match, which we did very well."

Mourinho also paid tribute to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was denied a reunion with his former club in his home country by the knee injury that ended his season.

The striker, though, did play his part. Mourinho said: "It is so unfair what happened to him. Sometimes football and life is unfair.

"This night would be an amazing night if he was on the pitch, in his home town where his statue will be.

"I am really sorry he was not able to play this final but he played outside with the other guys behind the bench.

"He also told the ball boys to take it easy in the second half so I am glad he finally gets a European trophy in his amazing career."

i


And Mourinho said that the team preferred to qualify for Europe's top competition this way rather than finishing second, third or fourth in the Premier League,

"It's the end of a very difficult season, but I think a very, very good season," Mourinho told BT Sport following the match. "We prefer it this way than finish fourth, than finish third, than finish second. We prefer it this way. We got the objective of the Champions League, but winning a title, an important title, a title that closes the lot. The club is now a club with every title in world football.

"We are very happy because we fought hard for this. Since the beginning we had this in our minds. We always thought that we could win the Europa League and we are obviously very happy, especially because the way we played the final."

Mourinho said that he felt his side were superior to Peter Bosz's Eredivisie squad and that their quality showed throughout the match, while also crediting Ajax for their performance.

"A very intelligent team, we knew exactly how to win and we did it quite in a comfortable way against a good team. But we were much stronger than them.

"If you want to press the ball all the time, you don't play short. If you are dominant in the area, you build long. There are lots of poets in football, but poets don't win many titles. We knew where they were better than us, we knew where we were better than them. We tried to kill their good qualities, we tried to explore their weaknesses.

"We did this very, very well since the first minute and we totally deserved the trophy."
 

THE_CHANSTER

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Kudos to Mourinho for winning the Europa League and qualifiying for Champions League next season.

But to say it's the most important trophy of his career? What about his past victories in CL? :confused:
 

jw5

Moderator
Moderator
Loyal
It's the most important trophy because not winning it might have gotten him the sack. :biggrin:

Kudos to Mourinho for winning the Europa League and qualifiying for Champions League next season.

But to say it's the most important trophy of his career? What about his past victories in CL? :confused:
 

jw5

Moderator
Moderator
Loyal
FA Cup success won't help Arsenal, Chelsea prove change is the only way

By Mark Ogden, Senior Football Writer
espnfc.com

LONDON -- There was a time when Arsene Wenger played the role of the slick, vibrant, bold, fresh-thinking foreign coach in the Premier League, winning a league and FA Cup double in his first full season as Arsenal manager and leaving his rivals trailing in his wake.

Wenger was 48 at the time, so hardly a coaching novice, but by guiding Arsenal to the Double in 1998, he injected English football with something new and set the club on course for almost a decade at the top, jostling with Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in a two-way battle for supremacy.

But as the "Wenger Out" banners and chants at the Emirates show, those days are long gone and Wenger is now a man clinging on to his job as younger, more confident rivals, breeze past him, almost failing to notice the 67-year-old on their way.

Little will highlight the shifting sands under Wenger more than the presence of Antonio Conte prowling the Wembley touchline on Saturday, with the Italian attempting to drive Chelsea on to the league and cup double in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge.

At 47, Conte is the ambitious, driven, but experienced, coach that Wenger was when he arrived at Arsenal from Japanese club Grampus Eight in 1996. He has energised and renewed Chelsea, just as Wenger did at Arsenal 21 years ago, and it is he who is now attempting to create his own dynasty in London.

Conte has not yet been the transformative force at Chelsea that Wenger was at Arsenal or within English football, though. Whatever becomes of Wenger after the Cup final -- and few expect him to leave the Emirates this summer -- he was broke the mould when he arrived in England; he was a force for change and altered the game beyond recognition.

But Wenger is now the man under threat of being blown away by the winds of change - and the likes of Conte, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino -- because he has stayed on for too long and failed to evolve.

That is why Saturday's trip to Wembley may become an ordeal rather than a cause for celebration for Wenger, even if Arsenal win. When Louis van Gaal walked up the Wembley steps as Manchester United manager last May to collect the FA Cup after his team had defeated Crystal Palace, the Dutchman, who was sacked within 48 hours, was booed by his own club's supporters.

Perhaps that is an indictment of the modern game and the insatiable, unrealistic demands for success from supporters of the biggest clubs. But after failing to guide Arsenal into the Champions League, an FA Cup win will not appease those fans who want Wenger to go and he might find himself subjected the same treatment as Van Gaal, simply because so many Arsenal supporters have had enough.

They look at Chelsea's ability to renew themselves and win major honours, regardless of the countless managerial changes at Stamford Bridge; they see Tottenham emerging as a potential force for the next decade; they see United go through a painful post-Alex Ferguson transition, yet still manage to win three major trophies in 12 months -- as many as Wenger has brought to Arsenal in the last 12 years.

Under Wenger, Arsenal have had stability, but it has only brought malaise and stagnation. The view is now that managers and coaches work best in cycles of three to four years; that players and squads become stale without some change during that timescale. And there are few exceptions to this theory among the game's biggest clubs.

Over the past three years all of Arsenal's domestic rivals, plus Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, have changed their manager at least once and they are all in a better position than Arsenal right now.

The situation that Arsenal and Chelsea now find themselves in sums up the argument quite nicely.

Chelsea, a year after finishing in mid-table after their woeful title defence cost Jose Mourinho his job, are now on the brink of the club's second league and cup double under Conte. The former Juventus and Italy coach has given the whole club a jolt, brought a positive energy, new ideas and demands, and the players have responded.

But Arsenal? Once again, it has been the same old story. Their annual failure to get past the round of 16 of the Champions League and mount a serious Premier League title challenge has become so predictable. Year-on-year there are the same flaws, the same excuses, the same ups and downs, but nobody at the club seems prepared to do anything about it.

Wenger must see it, but he doesn't act. The same applies to the board and majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, also. It has become a comfortable club, one too ready to accept the bare minimum as success.

But Arsenal and Wenger have failed to deliver the bare minimum this season, and not even winning the FA Cup will make up for that. As Wenger stands on the Wembley touchline, many fans will be looking over to the opposite dugout where a hungry club led by an ambitious and driven manager will highlight what a difference a change can make.
 

jw5

Moderator
Moderator
Loyal
Arsenal Wenger: Disrespect shown toward me has been 'a disgrace'

By Mattias Karen, Arsenal correspondent
espnfc.com

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told BBC Sport that the disrespect he has been shown this season has been "a disgrace" and that he will never forget it.

Wenger came out fighting ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea -- which could still be his final game as Arsenal boss -- with his strongest words yet toward the pundits and supporters who have called for him to step down in recent months.

Wenger has faced unprecedented criticism this season, with some supporters staging protest marches before home games and flying banners over the stadium at two away games.

In an interview broadcast before the FA Cup final, Wenger said: "You don't mind criticism, because we are in a public job. The lack of respect in some stages has been, for me, a disgrace. And I will never accept that.

"I believe there is a difference between being criticised and being treated in a way that a human being don't deserve to be treated. And I will never forget that."

Wenger is trying to become the first manager to win seven FA Cup titles, but has yet to announce whether he will stay in charge of Arsenal next season.

i


He has refused to discuss his future plans, but admitted after the final day of the Premier League campaign that the uncertainty had contributed to the team's disappointing fifth-place finish, but he also seemed to blame fans for behaving in a way Wenger said has tarnished the image of the club.

"The behaviour of some people during the season, that hurts me most," he said. "Because behind the work and the respect for this club are the values of this club. And the image that the club has [been] given in recent weeks is absolutely unacceptable because it tarnishes the impeccable image that the club has all over the world.

"It's not my person that is hurt. I don't believe that kind of behaviour reflects what Arsenal is and the values that Arsenal carries through."

Wenger's future is expected to be finalised at a club board meeting next week, and he told the board members that they shouldn't be too concerned with the popular opinion.

"A strong club is people who make the right decisions," he said. "That's why I think the board is important and the manager is important in a football club. And what has gone wrong in modern society? It's not anymore: Is this the right decision? But: is this popular or not popular?

"Is to buy this player popular, or not popular? Is to sack this manager or to employ this manager popular, or not popular. That has nothing to do with competence. People with responsibility have to make the right decision. And today, maybe more than ever, make decisions that are not popular."
 

jw5

Moderator
Moderator
Loyal
Arsenal name Per Mertesacker, Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal in back three

espnfc.com

LONDON -- Per Mertesacker will make his first start of the season for Arsenal in Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea.

Mertesacker was named in the starting lineup in a makeshift back three that also includes Nacho Monreal and Rob Holding.

Arsenal had been hoping Shkodran Mustafi would recover from concussion-like symptoms in time for the game but he did not make the squad for the Gunners.

Mertesacker has only made one appearance since returning from a long-term knee injury, coming on as a substitute in Sunday's win over Everton, and has said he has never before played in a back three.

Despite the defensive vulnerabilities, Arsene Wenger still opted to start cup goalkeeper David Ospina in favour of Petr Cech, who is on the bench.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is deployed as the left wing-back rather than his normal spot on the right, which is occupied by Hector Bellerin. Danny Welbeck is preferred to Olivier Giroud up front.

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte makes three changes to the starting XI that beat Sunderland 5-1 on the final day of the Premier League season, with Pedro Rodriguez replacing Willian in the front three.

Nemanja Matic also starts in central midfield ahead of Cesc Fabregas, who scored against his former club when the two teams met in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge in February.

John Terry, who started against Sunderland, is on the bench for his final match as Chelsea captain.

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Holding, Mertesacker, Monreal, Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez, Ozil, Welbeck.

Arsenal substitutes: Cech, Elneny, Coquelin, Iwobi, Lucas, Walcott, Giroud.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso, Pedro, Diego Costa, Hazard.

Chelsea substitutes: Begovic, Zouma, Ake, Terry, Fabregas, Willian, Batshuayi.
 

THE_CHANSTER

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Well done to the Gooners. They proved all the bookies and pundits wrong.
If Wenger had them playing like this all season, they might have won the League instead of coming 5th.:biggrin:
 

jw5

Moderator
Moderator
Loyal
Arsenal played better than Chelsea in the cup final, but Wenger should still go if Arsenal wants to be better than Chelsea in the league. :biggrin:

Well done to the Gooners. They proved all the bookies and pundits wrong.
If Wenger had them playing like this all season, they might have won the League instead of coming 5th.:biggrin:
 

jw5

Moderator
Moderator
Loyal
Arsene Wenger adamant he's still the man for Arsenal after FA Cup win

By Mattias Karen, Arsenal correspondent
espnfc.com

LONDON -- Arsene Wenger has made it clear he still considers himself the right man for the Arsenal job, but hinted that he's unsure whether the club board feels the same way.

Wenger celebrated his seventh FA Cup title on Saturday -- the most of any manager in the competition's history -- after Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley, but once again refused to deliver a definitive answer about his future, which is set to be finalised at a board meeting next week.

However, he rejected the notion that this would be a perfect way to bow out of the club after 21 years in charge.

Wenger said: "There's no perfect way. I believe that I just want to do well for this club. After it's down to the board members, am I the right man to lead this club further? And for me to decide that I am the right man to lead this club further.

"And that's it. It's not about popularity, its about competence."

Wenger has faced unprecedented criticism from fans this season after the team's Premier League challenge disintegrated in March and April, with the Gunners finishing outside the top four for the first time under the Frenchman.

Asked if he does believe he's the right man, Wenger responded: "Look, I believe it because you cannot be 35 years at the top level if you do not believe you're the right man for the job."

So far, though, Arsenal's board have stayed silent on whether they share that view. Majority owner Stan Kroenke and chairman Ivan Gazidis were at Wembley but didn't speak to reporters after.

Wenger, who said this week he has never kept a winner's medal or trophy, hinted that he doesn't know whether the board will offer him a new deal at their meeting next week.

"I don't think I can answer that question at the moment. For once I have kept my medal, so that means it's a special night for me," he said, holding up the box containing the medal. "And for the rest, we'll see what happens in the future. We're adults, we have to accept [decisions]. If I'm still here next season, I will have the same attitude in the press conferences."

i


Despite his uncertain future, Wenger called the win against Chelsea one of the "proudest moments" of his illustrious career with the Gunners.

"It is [one of my proudest moments]. Because nobody gave us a chance and we responded with attitude and class," Wenger said. "That's why maybe today I'm more proud than usual. Because the team and myself we have refused to give up at some stage."

Wenger had shared the record of six FA Cup wins with George Ramsay, who won his first in 1887 and last in 1920, but is now the most-successful manager in the world's oldest cup competition.

"I'm very proud because if nobody has done it since 18-god-knows-when, it means it's not easy," he said. "And I'm especially proud of the way we won it this season. Because in the semifinal we had to play against Man City here. In the final against Chelsea. It cannot get tougher. And we had two outstanding performances. So this cup was won with a special spirit and a special attitude."

Wenger also singled out Per Mertesacker for praise after the captain made his first start of the season and was one of Arsenal's best players at the heart of their back three. Mertesacker was sidelined with a knee injury until January and had not played a minute until last Sunday. He only started at Wembley because Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel Paulista and Shkodran Mustafi were all unavailable.

"Per Mertesacker for me is a fantastic example for any young professional football player," Wenger said. "What he did today is just the consequence of an unbelievable attitude every day. Even when he was not selected, he worked even harder. And that's why I will pay special tribute to him tonight."

The victory made sure Arsenal's players could celebrate in front of their fans after a season in which some supporters turned against both the manager and team at times.

Wenger was the main target for fans, some of which staged protest marches calling for him to step down, but they also turned on the team after a dismal 3-0 loss at Crystal Palace in April. And Wenger made it clear he found that behaviour unacceptable.

He said: "I accept to be criticised and I accept that people don't agree with me. But once the game starts, and you're a fan, you stand behind the team. And that's what I did not accept during the season and I will never accept it. Because I feel this club has special values, and we have shown it again today.

"We played in some games in a very hostile environment, and I will never accept that."
 

THE_CHANSTER

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
It will be interesting what will be the outcome after the Arsenal Board meeting next week. As a neutral, I will be surprised and disappointed if he doesn't quit.
His legacy at Arsenal is already assured, time to quit on a high...
 
Top