La Liga 12/13

[Liverpool]

has there been much talk about what a catalan break away would do for laliga/the national side?

[Chazza]

Balague..

Mourinho and his future

There is plenty of evidence that Mourinho is not happy. His body language has been mentioned by a close friend of his as a clear suggestion he is not as sparky as he normally is. His battle with the B team coach seems a diversion of other problems (on the pitch mostly, where this season the team is unable to raise their game when they are tired or unmotivated as the coach himself admitted some players were earlier in the season, or when they attack organized deep defences).

That confrontation with the B team coach, unresolved yet, was a Mourinho test to the club –and the answer of the board and president was to back the B team coach. Nobody wants to move anything now, as nobody at the club is certain what José is going to do next.

Mourinho, as reported by Diego Torres in El País, has asked Real Madrid to bring him a former player to attack referees and defend the institution, he wants to change the squad but some decisions are unpopular and the club is not sure if they should help him on that matter. Courtois is the goalkeeper Mourinho wants to sign to put pressure to Casillas.

Also, the club thinks fans are starting to doubt Mourinho. And many decisions taken by Florentino Pérez in the past have depended on the opinion of fans.

And the division in the squad (Spanish and friends vs. Portuguese and friends) is widening.

The conclusion: it seems the relationship club-manager is reaching a breaking point and it will require a lot of LTC from both parts to restore it to what it was.

Mourinho wants to renew the squad after 3 years of his demanding regime and Madrid feels the price of that will be too high.

PSG is looking at the situation with a lot of interest. Can you imagine how powerful a PSG with Mourinho and Ronaldo or Falcao be?

[Shaggy]

Mourinho has asked Real Madrid to bring him a former player to attack referees

[JohnDoe]

Ferguson invented that position. "Referee attacker". He employs at least three of those in his formation.

[Alex]

I like that. Made me chuckle.

[Fivex]

Ferguson invented that position. "Referee attacker". He employs at least three of those in his formation.

[magicalbarnes]

After Man City went out of the CL last week Jose taunted Mancini saying that 'Mancinis got it easy, i would have been sacked for such a poor CL campaign'.

Id love to see Mancini get his own back saying something along the lines of 'Joses got it easy, i would have been sacked for being 11 points off top-spot in November'.

[The_weatherman]

Kind of feel for Atletico this season, they have made a fantastic start to the season only to be bettered by this best ever start by Barcelona, who have ammassed 37 out 39 points possible

Atletico will probably never start this well again.

[dww]

Kind of feel for Atletico this season, they have made a fantastic start to the season only to be bettered by this best ever start by Barcelona, who have ammassed 37 out 39 points possible

Atletico will probably never start this well again.

Does that not suggest that the general level has just got worse?

[Darkon]

Btw. re: the Barca match. They started with 11 home grown players yesterday How many clubs at that level can say that, or at any level of pro footy??

When Thiago came on 12 players from the youth setup played in the game. It's just unheard of, and then still be winning by huge margins!

[Phoenix07]

Btw. re: the Barca match. They started with 11 home grown players yesterday How many clubs at that level can say that, or at any level of pro footy??

When Thiago came on 12 players from the youth setup played in the game. It's just unheard of, and then still be winning by huge margins!

Not quite. Dani Alves had to come off with an injury and was replaced by Montoya. Then they had 11 'homegrown' players on the pitch for a period of time until Adriano came on for Alba.

[The_weatherman]

Does that not suggest that the general level has just got worse?

do you think so? I think its a bit unfair on Simeone though, poor league or not they have had a great start.

[Darkon]

Not quite. Dani Alves had to come off with an injury and was replaced by Montoya. Then they had 11 'homegrown' players on the pitch for a period of time until Adriano came on for Alba.

Ah okay, reported wrongly where I read it then (didn't see the match). Still un-freaking-believable that you are able to do that and still be one of the best teams in the world (if not the best)!

[The_weatherman]

Apparently 12 of Gerd Muller goals came in a scheduled practice tournament so Messi has scored, by far, the most competitive goals in a calendar year.

[Nick77]

Apparently 12 of Gerd Muller goals came in a scheduled practice tournament so Messi has scored, by far, the most competitive goals in a calendar year.

Also football was an amateur sport in Muller's time - I very much doubt he would be anywhere near the record if he were playing today...