El Clásico. Barcelona vs Real Madrid (21 Apr). KO 7pm BST.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Mourinho does pick his clubs well - he won't manage at a club he has no chance if winning a trophy at.
And he's an absolute dick. But I think it's a massive achievement to best Barcelona. Maybe I'm overrating them. If Mourinho's messiah complex grows, he will hopefully take on a team on Evertons level and we'll see. He seems to be a real man-manager and will make the most of te players he has.

I figured out early on that this was a match Barca were going to lose. They remind me of Arsenal at our zenith. When things are easy for them and/or going well, they look incredible. But all too often, when faced with adversity, they completely lose their composure. This happened tonight and on Wednesday. It was also the case last season when we we played them in the second leg. The longer that game went on, the more they snatched shots and blew opportunities and the more they dived. On that occasion, they had a ref that was happy to accommodate them.

[Cripps_orig]

I don't disagree with any of that. Just saying he hardly took a mid-table side and made them champions. I don't even think that's possible. He's a great manager but I'd be interested to see how he'd do at a 'normal' club.

Thats a cop out

Big clubs go for him cos hes the best around so why would he want to join a mid level club?

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

I don't disagree with any of that. Just saying he hardly took a mid-table side and made them champions. I don't even think that's possible. He's a great manager but I'd be interested to see how he'd do at a 'normal' club.

yeah but who has? it's impossible to take a midtable team to champions in just 1 season or even 3. it takes longer.

it's taken man city 3 years to challenge, not win, but challenge, for the league... and it looks like they've got to wait another season to maybe win it.

you can't use that as your argument to say mourinho's overrated or isn't as good as people make out because no manager in the world can suddenly turn a midtable team into domestic winners in a short space of time or without serious investment.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I don't think anyone would expect even the bestest manager of all time to take a mid-level club to Champions in one season and I doubt anyone here even suggested that.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

I don't think anyone would expect even the bestest manager of all time to take a mid-level club to Champions in one season and I doubt anyone here even suggested that.

if there was no suggestion then why use it as an argument? to me it seems like he said the only way jose can prove himself is by taking a 'normal' club i.e. average/midtable club, to a domestic title.

[Xhaka Can’t]

if there was no suggestion then why use it as an argument? to me it seems like he said the only way jose can prove himself is by taking a 'normal' club i.e. average/midtable club, to a domestic title.

I'm saying nobody suggested it!

Your post was saying people WERE suggesting that.

[Xhaka Can’t]

if there was no suggestion then why use it as an argument? to me it seems like he said the only way jose can prove himself is by taking a 'normal' club i.e. average/midtable club, to a domestic title.

Also, no one said he had to prove himself.

[Dennis Bendtner]

yeah but who has? it's impossible to take a midtable team to champions in just 1 season or even 3. it takes longer.

it's taken man city 3 years to challenge, not win, but challenge, for the league... and it looks like they've got to wait another season to maybe win it.

you can't use that as your argument to say mourinho's overrated or isn't as good as people make out because no manager in the world can suddenly turn a midtable team into domestic winners in a short space of time or without serious investment.

Agree largely with this. It's not a fair argument to make. I'd say the best gauge right now is how long he remains at Real Madrid, and how long he can continue to win titles for. Plus obviously the Champions League. That is the gap on his record - for one reason or another he does not stick around for long. His transfer purchases (shitloads of young Germans, basically) would suggest that there's a plan to stay there. Have to see what happens for the next few seasons - that being four or five rather than one or two.

[Marc Overmars]

Just seen the result.

Barca.

[Master Splinter]

Frankcesc Lampregas Loser .

Even Hleb was a better signing.