Looking Forward To 2016/17 Season

[SantiSuk]

Guardiola, Klopp. Pocettino, Koeman and possibly Mourinho as Prem managers next year.

Are these not the 5 most exciting managers in football worldwide at the moment. Not quite - Simeone would make my top 5, but nonetheless pretty lip-smacking for the neutral as is the prospect of at least 6 teams having a real shot at the title subject to Summer signings.

[Yes yes Carmine and Stevie - Mourinho is $hite and over-rated in your opinions, so I gather]

[Ranieri? Nah - one season wonder - I'd rather have Wenger]

[Chicog]

So what team are you "supporting" next year Santi?

[Bantex]

[SantiSuk]

So what team are you "supporting" next year Santi?

So many to choose from. Think I'll go for Spurs

[StevieH]

you might be the first person ever to describe mourinho as "exciting" santi.

simeone would make your top 5 would he? what about luis enrique? allegri? tuchel?

and it's certainly a novel approach, judging a league based on its managers. meanwhile la liga prepares to watch messi, neymar, suarez, ronaldo, bale, iniesta, griezmann et al again.

[BangrakBob]

Indeed looking forward to it, let you know just how much on Thursday morning Santi

[SantiSuk]

you might be the first person ever to describe mourinho as "exciting" santi.

simeone would make your top 5 would he? what about luis enrique? allegri? tuchel?

and it's certainly a novel approach, judging a league based on its managers. meanwhile la liga prepares to watch messi, neymar, suarez, ronaldo, bale, iniesta, griezmann et al again.

No quibbles about which league has the best/most world class players.

Don't know much about Enrique and Allegri though you are right about Tuchel - still early days for him but the same can be said for Koeman and even Poch perhaps. I wouldn't argue with a Pep, Klopp, Poch, Simeone Tuchel line-up

Didn't expect to get past you with Mo - exciting yes in terms of drama/soap. Football is all about entertainment now as much as it is technical and people skills - and has been since Shanks took charge at Anfield.

Back to the players point. You can take yer Messis, Suarez and Ronaldos (still rate Ronaldo as the most exciting to watch - something to do with grace and style, what I think you would disparagingly call the 'look at me pretty boy stuff'!). I would still rather watch my selection of 4 or 5 games weekly from the Prem than from any other league - by a country mile. Actually even though things are getting better in Spain with the likes of ATM coming through, I think I would take a selection of 5 from the Bundesliga over 5 from La Liga

[StevieH]

what was it you thought was exciting or dramatic about mourinho this season? his disgusting treatment of his female physio? his total loss of the dressing room and star players like hazard and costa and his slagging them off in the media? his classless touting for the united job through the press even though there's a bloke - supposedly one of his mentors - still in the position? his general behaving like a kid with a face like a slapped arse? it's neither exciting nor dramatic, it's pathetic and tedious.

ronaldo remains a vain tart of course who plays for himself and not the team. grace and style? that would be messi you're confusing him with. while the best player in the world this season has been luis suarez. explosive and unstoppable.

as bob says, give you a proper answer thursday morning. not to mention there's a euros tournament this summer, lots of transfer market activity and a few almost certainly enraging injuries to get out of the way first.

[Bredbury Blue]

Never understand the Mourinho criticism (apart from the medical one in September). The man is a winner. I'd have been more than happy if he rolled up at City, and I hope he doesn't end up at ManU. He sets his teams up correctly. Time will tell but I reckon this season was a blip on an amazing record to date.

[StevieH]

Never understand the Mourinho criticism (apart from the medical one in September). The man is a winner. I'd have been more than happy if he rolled up at City, and I hope he doesn't end up at ManU. He sets his teams up correctly. Time will tell but I reckon this season was a blip on an amazing record to date.

and i'll never understand people who fall hook, line and sinker for his blatant bullsh*t.

[Bredbury Blue]

That's pretty impressive bullshit, eh!

Managerial

In ten seasons of club management, Mourinho has led his club to win its domestic league eight times, the UEFA Champions League twice and the UEFA Cup once. Between 2003 and 2012, Mourinho did not go a single calendar year without winning at least one trophy.

Porto Primeira Liga: 2002–03, 2003–04
Taça de Portugal: 2002–03
Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2003
UEFA Champions League: 2003–04
UEFA Cup: 2002–03

Chelsea Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2014–15
FA Cup: 2006–07
Football League Cup: 2004–05, 2006–07, 2014–15
FA Community Shield: 2005

Inter Milan Serie A: 2008–09, 2009–10
Coppa Italia: 2009–10
Supercoppa Italiana: 2008
UEFA Champions League: 2009–10

Real Madrid La Liga: 2011–12
Copa del Rey: 2010–11
Supercopa de España: 2012

Individual
Onze d'Or Coach of the Year: 2005
FIFA World Coach of the Year: 2010
IFFHS World's Best Club Coach: 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012
Premier League Manager of the Year: 2004–05,2005–06, 2014–15
Premier League Manager of the Month: November 2004,January 2005, March 2007
Serie A Manager of the Year: 2008–09, 2009–10
Albo Panchina d'Oro: 2009–10
Miguel Muñoz Trophy: 2010–11,2011–12
UEFA Manager of the Year: 2002–03, 2003–04
UEFA Team of the Year: 2003, 2004,2005, 2010
World Soccer Magazine World Manager of the Year: 2004,2005,2010
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award: 2005
La Gazzetta dello Sport Man of the Year: 2010
International Sports Press Association Best Manager in the World: 2010
Prémio Prestígio Fernando Soromenho: 2012
Football Extravaganza's League of Legends (2011)
Globe Soccer Awards Best Coach of the Year: 2012
Globe Soccer Awards Best Media Attraction in Football: 2012
Portuguese Coach of the Century: 2015

[StevieH]

can we not turn this into another poxy mourinho thread eh?

and the comment was about his bullsh*t, his PR, his supposed charm, his winning personality that dim sycophants lap up unthinkingly, not his trophy record with the richest club in every country he's managed in.

[carmine]

So what team are you "supporting" next year Santi?

So many to choose from. Think I'll go for Spurs

As managers go you forgot Carlo Ancelotti who i believe to be the best all round manager at the current time. And Luis Enrique of course.

Whilst i believe Wenger has to carry the can for last seasons missing out he's also still a very fine manager.

As far as Mourinho's concerned, may i remind you, you can't polish a turd. The rest Stevie's said!

[Bredbury Blue]

So what team are you "supporting" next year Santi?

So many to choose from. Think I'll go for Spurs

As managers go you forgot Carlo Ancelotti who i believe to be the best all round manager at the current time. And Luis Enrique of course.

Whilst i believe Wenger has to carry the can for last seasons missing out he's also still a very fine manager.

As far as Mourinho's concerned, may i remind you, you can't polish a turd. The rest Stevie's said!

Why did you have to go ahead and reopen the Mourinho discussion again? But as YOU opened it, if you lot would rather employ managers who win nothing that's fine, but I'd rather employ a manager who is serial winner...and Mourinho certainly fits that bill. As your man said earlier, let it lie [or open a Mourinho topic if you want ;-) ].

[Chicog]

Why did you have to go ahead and reopen the Mourinho discussion again? But as YOU opened it, if you lot would rather employ managers who win nothing that's fine, but I'd rather employ a manager who is serial winner...and Mourinho certainly fits that bill. As your man said earlier, let it lie [or open a Mourinho topic if you want ;-) ].

Did you follow Chelsea's fortunes this season?

[Bredbury Blue]

^I did, very closely. Based on his managerial record, i think we can ALL agree an unusual not usual season for Mourinho. I feel the Mourinho detractors see only his obnoxious controversial personality and not his brilliant ability as a manager - he's definitely up there with Fergie as the best managers in the Premier to date - maybe he's better than Fergie as Mourinho has proven his ability in many countries (maybe not).

Just to change the subject, everybody seems to be fawning over Klopp since his arrival for the scousers, but how good is Klopp? He won the Bundesliga twice which was quite an achievement and also a couple of cups, he's lost 5 cup finals, and his managerial win record is only 48% (compare with Mourinho 66% & Fergie 58%). Don't get me wrong, I rated him in germany and since his arrival in England, but is he as good as he's portrayed or do we all fall for his personality - I reckon if he had the personality of a Curbishley or Pellegrini he wouldn't be given so much rope.

[BangrakBob]

^I did, very closely. Based on his managerial record, i think we can ALL agree an unusual not usual season for Mourinho. I feel the Mourinho detractors see only his obnoxious controversial personality and not his brilliant ability as a manager - he's definitely up there with Fergie as the best managers in the Premier to date - maybe he's better than Fergie as Mourinho has proven his ability in many countries (maybe not).

Just to change the subject, everybody seems to be fawning over Klopp since his arrival for the scousers, but how good is Klopp? He won the Bundesliga twice which was quite an achievement and also a couple of cups, he's lost 5 cup finals, and his managerial win record is only 48% (compare with Mourinho 66% & Fergie 58%). Don't get me wrong, I rated him in germany and since his arrival in England, but is he as good as he's portrayed or do we all fall for his personality - I reckon if he had the personality of a Curbishley or Pellegrini he wouldn't be given so much rope.

You must be trolling with the Mourinho better than Fergie suggestion.

What Klopp has done since his arrival at LFC is not altogether quantifiable. He did however get us in to 2 cup finals, with a team that 9 months ago looked more likely to be battling in the bottom half of the league.

The fact that he has lost 5 finals is no stain on his career, finals are a finals. Taking Mainz from a battling 2 Bundesliga side in to the Bundesliga and into Europe is the form of proper football manager. I'd love to see Mourinho do that.

You can't compare stats when Mourinho walks in to star studded squads with a ton of cash, obviously his likelihood of winning is much greater, that is a fact.

Can you really say Klopp not as good as he is portrayed when he won the league in Germany back to back, not just twice. He has the highest points tally in a season. 25 league wins, 28 unbeaten runs best in German top flight history. First domestic double ever for Dortmund.

Lastly, how can you actually say, "given so much rope", he's was brought in to the EPL to save a team on a downward spiral, 28 games ago.

Personality or no personality, we will expect results in the end.

[Bredbury Blue]

^I did, very closely. Based on his managerial record, i think we can ALL agree an unusual not usual season for Mourinho. I feel the Mourinho detractors see only his obnoxious controversial personality and not his brilliant ability as a manager - he's definitely up there with Fergie as the best managers in the Premier to date - maybe he's better than Fergie as Mourinho has proven his ability in many countries (maybe not).

Just to change the subject, everybody seems to be fawning over Klopp since his arrival for the scousers, but how good is Klopp? He won the Bundesliga twice which was quite an achievement and also a couple of cups, he's lost 5 cup finals, and his managerial win record is only 48% (compare with Mourinho 66% & Fergie 58%). Don't get me wrong, I rated him in germany and since his arrival in England, but is he as good as he's portrayed or do we all fall for his personality - I reckon if he had the personality of a Curbishley or Pellegrini he wouldn't be given so much rope.

You must be trolling with the Mourinho better than Fergie suggestion.

What Klopp has done since his arrival at LFC is not altogether quantifiable. He did however get us in to 2 cup finals, with a team that 9 months ago looked more likely to be battling in the bottom half of the league.

The fact that he has lost 5 finals is no stain on his career, finals are a finals. Taking Mainz from a battling 2 Bundesliga side in to the Bundesliga and into Europe is the form of proper football manager. I'd love to see Mourinho do that.

You can't compare stats when Mourinho walks in to star studded squads with a ton of cash, obviously his likelihood of winning is much greater, that is a fact.

Can you really say Klopp not as good as he is portrayed when he won the league in Germany back to back, not just twice. He has the highest points tally in a season. 25 league wins, 28 unbeaten runs best in German top flight history. First domestic double ever for Dortmund.

Lastly, how can you actually say, "given so much rope", he's was brought in to the EPL to save a team on a downward spiral, 28 games ago.

Personality or no personality, we will expect results in the end.

After my 10 years on the football forums I would have liked to think you'd take my comments seriously - trolling indeed.

Reread my comments on Mourinho and Fergie, in which i included several 'maybes' - comparing managers is after all purely subjective. My point was they are both serial winners, one has done it over a longer period in Scotland and England, one has done it over a shorter period in Portugal, England, Italy, Spain and England again. Both are impressive managers - this record alone impresses me "Between 23 February 2002 and 2 April 2011, Mourinho went 150 home league matches unbeaten".

With regards "Mourinho walks in to star studded squads with a ton of cash", that hasn't always been the case, he needed to learn the ropes somewhere. Mourinho apparently took little União de Leiria to their highest position ever up that time (i don't know if they've bettered it since) and "the team was in third place, one point ahead of both Porto and Benfica and three points behind the top of the league table".

I agree that "What Klopp has done since his arrival at LFC is not altogether quantifiable" yet, and to your comment i would add that Liverpool's final league position 2014/15 was 6th with 62 points. Klopp took over after round 8 when Liverpool were 10th. Liverpool's final league position 2015/16 was 8th on 60 points, with Klopp taking Liverpool to 2 cup finals.

My point on Klopp was he comes with a big reputation, but is he a really TOP level manager (like Mourinho, Fergie, Pep to name only 3), or is he a level down? I also made the point that because of his personality, the media is fawning over him and maybe permitting him a longer 'honeymoon' period ("given so much rope") that others might not be permitted.

I don't agree with your comment "The fact that he has lost 5 finals is no stain on his career". If he'd won a few and lost a few then i might agree, but hasn't he lost 5 CONSECUTIVE finals - do the very best managers lose 5 consecutive finals?

I look forward to finding out more about both Mourinho and Klopp next season.

[Chicog]

Based on his managerial record, i think we can ALL agree an unusual not usual season for Mourinho.

Most of his success has been based on being able to splash enormous amounts of cash, or inheriting teams on which enormous amounts of cash have already been splashed. (Try saying that quickly).

And yet remarkably he turns them into crushing bores and then gets fired.

So if he goes to the Theatre of Dweebs I won't be unhappy.

[uptheos]

Euro 2016: A guide to the new laws in football

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36256441

[smokie36]

We're going to win the league next season.

[SantiSuk]

Y'all trust Levy now?

[thaiduncankk]

We're going to win the league next season.

Accrington Stanley ?

[Chicog]

We're going to win the league next season.

That's the way carmine. Get it out there for the 56th time.

[smokie36]

We're going to win the league next season.

That's the way carmine. Get it out there for the 56th time.

I'm not bald!

[oldgit]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to next season, if only that we won't have to listen to John Dykes and his babbling schoolgirls wittering on every single bloody night about Leicester......."What a turn up, did you see it coming?, Anybody who said they did are liars. Didn't we ALL think they were going to trip up (safety in numbers for our experts)? I had them down for relegation at the start of the season, just like EVERYBODY else. Bloody hell, what a season. Who do you think was the key Vardy, Mahrez? Nope, it was Kante for me, he's someone who's flown 'under the radar'. No, the key was Ranieri, he came in and didn't try to 'tinker'............cliché after poxy cliché.

[Chicog]

We're going to win the league next season.

That's the way carmine. Get it out there for the 56th time.

I'm not bald!

A few gallons of Grecian 2,000,000 did the trick eh?