Its also arguable that football these days, especially in the PL is of a much higher standard that previously - the influx of foreign players, whatever their faults and effect on the national side - surely providing higher standards of football generally.
Very arguable. Barca apart, who would you suggest is providing a higher standard of football now than say 10-15 years ago? Arsenal, Utd, Chelsea, Boro, Newcastle, Madrid, Ajax, Blackburn, Monaco, Kiev, Milan, Barca, Atletico, Juventus, Bayern. Out of those teams can you really suggest that their current teams are more entertaining or playing at a higher level now than they were were 10-15 years ago? Football is actually going backwards, as we have seen in the quality of the EPL this year.
I guess its horses for courses and all a matter of opinion, but I personally feel that the PL is one of the most entertaining leagues in the world and is much better than it was in the early to mid nineties.
Entertaining in terms of results not really in quality of performances, the pressures put on managers is ever increasing and their time is getting shorter and shorter. That is not a recipe for increasing the quality, it is a recipe for sacrificing entertainment for results.
As regards Jose Mourinho I don't agree that his teams play with "no style" simply because he's been negative in a few games against the best side in the world. Again, I'd suggest if Fergie wins the CL by frustrating Barca and getting one on the break no United fans will be moaning that its "not the United way".
He hasn't been negative in a few games, he has been negative for a few years. His teams are based upon organisation, discipline and belief. The style you refer to is because at his last 3 clubs he has enjoyed the luxury of having the best players in that league at his disposal.
If you watched Real Madrid regularly they play with style and score a lot of goals - they may not be Barcelona, but who else are? His team at Porto played some good stuff, as did Chelsea at times.
Nobody is disputing his teams play good football on occasion. But when you have some of the best players in the world in his teams that should be the case. What i argue is that such style is a by product of the quality of the players he has, not as a result of the managers philosophy. He has been well known for stifling flair. Robben should have been the star of the show at Chelsea, but instead he was an impact player which is why he left. Duff too was sold and i predict now that Kaka will suffer a similar fate at Madrid.
Mourinho prefers tactical discipline, that is his philosphy for success. Flair or players who take risks are too unpredictable for him, and so he uses them only to try and win games in the last 15 mins of games.
I don't hold with this idea that united have always played glorious free flowing football. We may have done at times, when we had a team much better than others in the PL but in my experience its not always been the case. For me the United way is great football at times, but grit and determination when required, grinding our results with players who win games with class but also with steel and effort when required - in short, being real winners. Again - a matter opinion.
I really don't know what you have been watching for the last 20yrs. Grit and determination is essential for the success of any team. The difference being our manager has been successful in combining the 2 attributes to achieve success, as has Barca.
As regards disrespectful behavior you need to take of your red tinted glasses - Fergie is hated by a lot of non United fans because of the way he goes on - moaning about referees in general, shouting and bawling on the touchline, always something controversial to say about someone in the game.
The fact is, he engages in these antics to take pressure away from the players - a tactic utilised often by Jose Mourinho.
When has SAF ever suggested a collusion between the governing bodies and rival clubs? When has he ever brought the integrity of his rival managers into question? When has a ref ever received death threats after criticism from Fergie?
There is a huge difference between gamesmanship and blatantly lying. Why is SAF respected throughout football as both a manager and a man? Yet Mourinho is widely disliked because although he is successful, he concocts ridiculous lies about others in the game to mask his own failings and continually shows disrespect for almost everybody within it.
Winning is vital to the club, from a financial aspect at least. The great strides made in "establishing a global fanbase" are surely dependant on success? How many fans worldwide would buy shirts and pay for TV games to watch a side finishing third each year?
Again what you have failed to note is that fanbase was established by being successful, while still playing entertaining football. I've said to you before the mentality of the modern fan is to think we have to sacrifice one for the other, history tells us that is simply not true.
You may not care about success and thats your perogative. Easy to say when your team is doing well and is involved in the big games at the end of each season. Much harder I suspect if you were watching City of Liverpool walking away with the prizes year after year.
Red, you are making missing the point into an artform. When have i implied that i do not care about success?
I have implied i want success as much as anybody, but without sacrificing our principles and infrastructure in the process.
For me, replacing Alex ferguson will be impossible and we need someone with the personality and ability to continue his traditions in bringing success to the club. Finding such a manager isn't easy - as a lot of clubs have tried time and again.
I see a lot of people dismissing Mourinho on here but very few who can suggest anyone else with a suitable pedigree.
It is not our place to find new managers, but as lovers of Utd imo, it is our duty to stand up for the principles and philosophies that have made us what we are today.
The bolded part is exactly what i am suggesting, and i do not believe Mourinho will do that. He will do it his way which is a scenario i would prefer to avoid.
Mourinho's way is not the only way to win and people should not forget that.
