Pep talking about balls and organisation (on the pitch) in English football reminded

[redgunamo]

me of Flashman, I think, describing British cavalry; essentially other countries' horse soldiers may be more studied, organised and disciplined but in a melee, the British are the best in the world.

[Ash]

me of Flashman, I think, describing British cavalry; essentially other countries' horse soldiers may be more studied, organised and disciplined but in a melee, the British are the best in the world.

What's this about him telling his team not to tackle? Don't they like it up 'em etc?

[Sir C]

me of Flashman, I think, describing British cavalry; essentially other countries' horse soldiers may be more studied, organised and disciplined but in a melee, the British are the best in the world.

Pluck, you see. Guts. British spunk, if you will.

Spúnk, in case it's censored.

[redgunamo]

What's this about him telling his team not to tackle? Don't they like it up 'em etc?

He said they don't train it, which was probably a wise thing to say, under the circumstances. Anyway, it's probably not necessary if you're in charge at Barcelona; the officials do most of the ball-winning for you there, I think.

Remember Ronaldo saying that he preferred Spanish football because even the smaller teams tried to get the ball down and actually play football. Which I suppose is terrific if you happen to play for Real Madrid :homer:

[redgunamo]

Pluck, you see. Guts. British spunk, if you will.

Spúnk, in case it's censored.

I think that's practically word for word how Wenger also described the phenomenon.

[SWv2]

If we don't beat City this weekend we may as well just pack the whole thing in and accept our lot.

[Ash]

If we don't beat City this weekend we may as well just pack the whole thing in and accept our lot.

:nod: We'll have to try and win the European Cup instead.

[redgunamo]

If we don't beat City this weekend we may as well just pack the whole thing in and accept our lot.

Two teams of fanny-dancers and fairies, top players out; difficult to call, imo. Though I think our lot is what it is whether we beat them or not (top four).

I do want Guardiola to fail though.

[SWv2]

Two teams of fanny-dancers and fairies, top players out; difficult to call, imo. Though I think our lot is what it is whether we beat them or not (top four).

I do want Guardiola to fail though.

I like Pep. There, I have said it.

[redgunamo]

I like Pep. There, I have said it.

Oh, I like him too. Even moreso now he's in the Premier League. I just want him to fail. Specifically to fail to win the league playing "his" way.

[redgunamo]

:nod: We'll have to try and win the European Cup instead.

I do wonder how wise it is for British teams to try to play Europeans at "their" game.

More from Pep: “Here you have to control the second balls,” he said. “Without that you cannot survive. At Leicester they took a throw-in and the second ball was a goal. In many other countries, when one guy has the ball at his feet, the people know what is going to happen. The football is more unpredictable here because the ball is in the air more than on the floor.”

English football is rubbish, of course, but it's full of foreigners. So does that mean foreign football is rubbish too? Can we really have it both ways or is it all, in fact, your (the supporters') fault for demanding we ape the Euros' more measured and thoughtful style of play, while at the same time urging our teams to show more passion and get stuck in.

I suppose that will all be answered in May when Leicester City are dancing in the streets of Cardiff :-|

[Ash]

I suppose that will all be answered in May when Leicester City are dancing in the streets of Cardiff :-|

We'll knock 'em out in the quarter-final.