I take it our fans will be watching this on saturday night, it should be a good game, and hopefully plenty of goals, its an 8:30 pm kick off if anyone is asking, also 2 former United players will go against each other.
I shall be watching it for the football rather than the fact any ex-players are playing... I'm also going to watching it to see if Mourinho outwits Pepe! The Special One is probably the greatest manager in the game today... even above Fergie IMHO. Hope we get him when Fergie decides to retire...
Not sure on the special one. He has the ability to win, to inspire players as well as deflect attention away from them onto himself thus taking pressure from them. However his ego is huge and he usually does well when he has loads of cash to spend. Not sure if the Yanks will agreed to an open cheque book.
I am. Comparing Mourinho's record against Fergie's between 2002 and now... the Special One gets the nod for me. Mind you, I also rate Jock Stein and Clough over Fergie
I find it fascinating that Mourinho has found exceptionally difficult to beat Barcelona. He has tried so many times and yet Barca (in particular messsi and Guardiola) has outwitted him most times. I am also looking forward to see whether Ronaldo will play well this time. Each time, he has been below par whenever he plays Messi and co. PS: Interesting thread, Daffy_Matth!
Agreed. SAF record in building 4-5 different winning teams in different football eras is just exceptional. Mourinho is good as were Stein and Clough but nowhere as good as Fergie.
And THAT is why the game will be great to watch The best club team in the world against the sharpest tactician and coach. I think Mourinho has spent a season or so trying to beat Barca - mostly he has not got it right, but he *has* beaten them. Good point about Ronaldo - I think he would like Real to go out and attack Barca, play to his strengths, but I bet Mourinho try and stop them playing, catch them on the counter. The one thing that Mourinho can't cater for is Messi...
Oh, I wasn't comparing Mourinho's career in total against Fergie. Just the last 10 years. I think Mourinho's been the better manager over the last 10 years. I think what Stein and Clough achieved at their clubs was exceptional, considering the players and resources at their disposal. Fergie has had a fantastic youth policy and the riches of the biggest club in England at his.
Looking forward to the El Classico this weekend. The games between Madrid and Barca are normally captivating, exciting and always have drama involved. But i do wish they would cut out the theatrics and focus on the Football rather than the card waving, hounding the ref, etc.
It's usually Alves and Busquets that outwit Real, especially Pepe, with their playacting while the rest of the team pressure the ref into pulling out his cards. To be fair, the last few times these two have met Real should of been out of sight in the first half an hour but Benzema couldn't hit a barn door with a machine gun!
Will be a billion times more concerned with our weekend fixture if I am honest. Real who and Farcealona?