₦airaland Forum

hopefulLandlord:
SIGNING SPANISH PLAYERS =/= FAVOURING SPANISH PLAYERS!!!

SIGNING THREE TIMES AS MANY SPANISH PLAYERS AS PORTUGUESE PLAYERS AS A SPANISH COACH IN AN OS TRES GRANDES TEAM IN ONE SUMMER = SPANISH BIAS!!!

Clearly you haven't been reading (or have troubles comprehending) what I've been writing.

-Lord

hopefulLandlord:
It amazes me how you bring irrelevant things into this eg how he was fired like that somehow buttresses the point you're trying to make even though it has nothing to do with it

BTW, who's sounding elitist? does asking for good evidence mean sounding elitist? How many Porto fan's said he was favouring Spanish players?

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/400n7l/porto_have_sacked_manager_julen_lopetegui/ that's a reddit thread of when he was sacked and no Porto fan there talked about him favouring Spanish players, neither did they do that in any post match thread of theirs that I checked
But real Madrid fans apparently know more than Porto fans themselves even though they probably never watched any single Porto game during Lope's stint

Anyways, suit yourself

Good evidence?

That evidence is good enough to the average person. If it isn't to you that you had to ask this:

You mean those saying he favours Spanish players are making things up?

Then it's amazing how you don't pinch yourself and realize how that fits the textbook definition of "sounding elitist."

You're simply saying reasonable evidence is not "good" enough for you. To which I said, that's your opinion, but it's good enough for others.

Then you bring a Reddit link that suggests that Lope had so many issues that his Spanish bias was the last of Porto's fan base concerns. A Porto fan even said it was a sad day for "other than Porto's fans".

Seriously, the genesis of this all is that you think a very clear evidence is not good enough as admittance of Lope's Spanish bias/favoritism. Fair enough, there are still those who think the earth is flat; and want to actually see it themselves from space that it is indeed round. But please that is your opinion and just that. Those who think the evidence is good enough are not illogical.

Instead, it is illogical to think that a Spanish coach who buys mostly Spanish players does not have Spanish bias.

-Lord

hopefulLandlord:
My question was prompted by people saying he'll bench Modrić for Thiago or play Ceballos/Llorente over Casimiro

How do you mean "Spanish Heavy"? That he signed 7 Spanish players doesn't automatically make the team "Spanish Heavy". a simple Wikipedia check of their team showed he had 7 Spanish players, 7 Brazilian players (He signed 3 of them), 6 Portuguese players (signed 2) in the 25 man squad

It seems most people just made the conclusion about his favouring Spanish players did so based on incomplete information

Like I said, a more sensible approach would be asking Porto fans who watched their team week in week out if he was playing underperforming Spanish players over players from other countries or kept falling out with non Spanish players. without this, conclusions such as yours are simply not logical and well informed

Are you kidding me?

What was the Porto team like before he came in, and what was it like after he was appointed?

Porto is one of the Os Três Grandes, yet he signed 7 Spanish players (in one summer) and 2 Portuguese players (over two summers). That's the equivalent of a Portuguese coach of Madrid or Barca signing 7 Portuguese players and 2 Spanish players. Do you think Marca, AS, et al and the Spanish media would take kindly to that?

Oh I'm not getting into this with you. I've said you can interpret it however you want. What about that is hard to understand.

The precedence is there if you want to look. If you want to bury your head in the sand and pretend he was booted out of Porto for being such a great performer; that's your prerogative.

Someone gets a chance to boost a squad with the largest budget in the clubs history and he buys mostly Spanish players, then fails to win any silverware and in your "logical and well-informed" mind; there is no Spanish favoritism there? Why on God's Green Earth did he buy mostly Spanish players to build his squad if he had no intention of using them to win trophies? Or is it when he buys only Spanish players that your "logical and well informed" mind will see the connection that everyone and their grandma is talking about?

Thankfully, Perez is in charge of transfers (never thought I'd see the day when I have to type that) and the media will tear him a new one if he displays flagrant favoritism that doesn't get results.

People have every reason to believe that a coach who when given a blank check made 7 Spanish signings in one season and 2 Portuguese signings over two seasons at a top 3 Portuguese club has nepotist tendencies. Zidane had it with Benzema. We saw it, complained, begrudgingly accepted it; as long as it worked to a certain extent.

If you want to find Porto fans to ask; go to their forums and run a poll or travel to Portugal. Those who are skeptic of J Lo have their reasons. Not agreeing with them does not mean you should sound so elitist. The irony is that you are more illogical than they are.

-Lord

hopefulLandlord:
That he was fired or seen as a virus doesn't mean one should conclude he favours Spanish players unless Porto fans said he kept playing underperforming Spanish players over players from other countries

You asked for "source of this talk about Lopetegui favouring Spanish players"; I gave it to you.

How you want to interpret it is your prerogative.

You don't sign 7 Spanish players in one summer, and then talk about playing underperforming Spanish players over players from other countries. He made the team Spanish heavy, which essentially means there wasn't as many non-Spanish performing alternatives, since they either left or simply weren't in his plans.

The point is that the fear that he'd favor Spanish players is real. Whether he'd have the guts to be adamant about it in Madrid is anyone's guess. He was given the largest budget in Porto's history and he bought seven Spanish players. He didn't buy them to keep them on the bench perpetually.

-Lord

hopefulLandlord:
Seen but concluding he favours Spanish players from his signing them is really stretching it, don't you think? he coached most of these Spanish players from U19 to U20 to U21 so signing players he knows well and has just worked with that would understand his tactic well doesn't mean he's favouring them just like Jose Mourinho signed some Porto players when he came to Chelski and it took the board not allowing him sign even more

A more sensible approach would've been checking from Porto fans if he kept using underperforming Spanish players instead of better players from other countries

You want to check?

Dude was chased away from Porto. The boardroom and fanbase viewed him as a virus that had to be ejected.

It wasn't some buys, majority of his buys were Spanish. He signed seven Spanish players within the first summer of his appointment.

Reason I'm giving him the benefit of doubt is that he is a new Madrid coach and that counts for something. He deserves some time to settle in and get to work without all the bickering. Even if he sticks to his Porto ways, I'd cut him some slack if it proves successful. If it doesn't, I'd give him flak.

Every coach does what he thinks is best and all are held accountable for their decisions. Lope will be no different.

-Lord

hopefulLandlord:
You mean those saying he favours Spanish players are making things up?

Go read about Lope's transfers at Porto.

-Lord

MoR2:
I believe the point of him wanting to leave Bayern in the first place is to be a starter

As I said, I'd be patient and see what happens.

-Lord

As for me, I've said it once and I'd say it again; I'd give Lope the support he needs between now and the first 3 months of the season. After that, his performance and actions will determine how much support he receives.

So if he wants to chase non-Spanish players by getting and fielding a Spanish-heavy side; they better get results and perform great; else his head will be on the chopping block.

IMHO, if Thiago is coming, then it shouldn't be as a starter but as a squad player. Often partnering Kovacic and Ceballos in our CdR and not very important league games so as to give Modric and Kroos much rest for the tough League games and UCL.

I'd be patient and see what happens.

-Lord

Miremoses1:
If only senegal won Japan today. Now how on earth will they beat this colombians lead by falcoa and james

Guy I tire. That Senegal match jor weak me. And to think Japan could have won it if they were more clinical.

PS: We really need to start a #BringBackOurJames campaign. Only problem is the Lope and Isco bromance.

PPS: As for Lewandowski: Phew, bullet dodged. My apologies for recommending him on this thread.

-Lord

Yes ooo Senegal!

We die here...

-Lord

Patrinus:
I don't hate on any one's success but can someone please remind the English peeps that Panama is not exactly a power house in football and this is still group stage.

The comments I'm reading on BBC is simply churning my stomach! Those guys actually think they've won the world cup.......

Eeya!

Seems you're new to the WC circle of the English.

Don't worry. Very soon, they'd crash out and the fans would tear their team a new one. Ever wonder why everyone dislikes the English team in every World Cup? This is why!

That said, I think Southgate is doing a good job with the side. I don't think they're contenders just yet, but if they retain him regardless of their WC performance, he could model them in time to contend for the 2020 Euros.

A40:
Mueller, Hames, Kroos

Everyone knows that Golden Ball handed to Messi was a fraudulent one

Don't mind him!

I mean it was clear as day that Messi didn't deserve the Golden Ball over Muller. Part of the many st*pid decisions made by the Messi-obsessed Blatter's FIFA.

-Lord

Edubbs:
[s]lol.

well you just fuccked yourself with that video.

at probably messi's worst spell ever and ronaldo's best spell ever,

just how many people

some random woody allen-looking fuckers!

LOL.

that poll was conducted in london by fans.

when I say he doesn't get into the debate i'm talking pundits and football luminaries you 'wet cunt'

and BTW take that question and shove it up your "you know what"

you don't tell me what to say.

besides only am imbeciile would ask such, in a team with figo, deco and maniche. etc.[/s]

A. You can't read.
B. Is CR7 in the ESPN GOAT conversation? Yes or No? Is CR7 in the Mirror Poll GOAT conversation? Yes or No?

The ESPN poll had football pundits and fans. Go watch the video. Mirror Poll had football fans and pundits as well.

Illiterate!

Explain to us how a poll result like this (the one you provided)...

1. Lionel Messi - 513 votes
2. Cristiano Ronaldo - 359 votes
3. Diego Maradona - 278 votes
4. Ronaldo - 269 votes
5. Pele - 248 votes
6. Zinedine Zidane - 247 votes
7. Ronaldinho - 223 votes
8. Johan Cruyff - 200 votes
9. George Best - 55 votes
10. Alfredo Di Stefano - 43 votes

...proves that CR7 is not in the GOAT conversation? Answer!

M*r*n!

-Lord

Edubbs:
[s]Yes I have heard "Ronaldo singlehandedly won the euros for portugal"
Yes i have heard "Ronaldo singlehandedly beat spain"
Yes I have heard "Ronaldo is playing with 10 dead woods in portugal"


Yes Ronaldo has scored 4 goals.
Like you said we are now waiting for him to do nothing and find himself in the final.
But until then, he is still miles below Messi in terms of fifa world cup achievement.

As for the continental competitions,
Messi got to 3 finals and failed,
Ronaldo got to 2 finals, failed in 1 and missed 1.

I do not see how that makes Ronaldo conclusively better than Messi in the continentals.
Except of course you wish to remind us again that Ronaldo was a cheerleader/choir master in that final.

Until Ronaldo makes that final this world cup, he is only your personal GOAT.
The consensus GOAT candidates remain Messi, Maradona and Pele.[/s]

Can you read?

This was my question:

Have you ever heard any CR7 fan boast that Ronaldo singlehandedly took Portugal to the 2006 WC semi-final?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqQ9ZZWvEVo

ESPN did a video on settling the GOAT debate: And look at the names, you dumb f*ck!

@Sommyroy10; this is an example of a Messi fanatic? Look how st*pid he sounds?

One minute he says that CR7 gets more votes than Maradona in a poll organized by a Messi-apologetic sports site, then proceeds to state that CR7 isn't a consensus GOAT candidate.

-Lord

Miremoses1:
The way it curled in. Not even iniedo can do that.

Seems that Zidane "shoot from anywhere" proposition is still paying dividends.

-Lord

Sommyroy10:
First off, I was talking about messi in 2014 WC. I didnt say anything about Ronaldo. In as much messi is my favourite player, I am not delusional.
Messi has been shit this WC. Against iceland, lost a penalty, against croatia, wasnt interested, wasnt getting involved. He has been crap.

Ronaldo on the other hand I respect. To me he is the best player off the ball. People shout tapins and all. Lets say tapins were easy, getting there for the tapin aint easy. Now messi to me is more talented and to me more complete hence my preference.

Ronaldo is having a good WC. There were no fuss in ronaldos performance 2014; reason being that its portugal. Accepted. How do you expect him to perform with average players and injury(even tho he was passed fit) accepted
Euro16 aside hungary, ronaldo was average, this is not a lie. Remove that game and he had 1goal and 1 assist. All praise Ronaldo forgetting pepe, whom to me was Portugal's best player. But its Ronaldo in portugal. Portugal won their most important game without him, so Portugal might no even be that average.

When it comes to messi. The whole world on his neck, whether its his fault/not. People don even create meme and bc down already, when him never player Nigeria.
I dont even compare the two again, Domestically messi has tge upperhand and internationally Ronaldo has it here (afterall he is the greatest european goalscorer of alltime) Both are marked differently. None is above criticism.

Now 2014 WC, truthfully, who was the best player at that tournament?

I've been saying it since day 1 here, my major issue is with Messi's delusional fanatics. To me CR7 is the GOAT, to some people, Pele is the GOAT, to others Maradona is, and to others, Messi is. I remember posting here that everyone's GOAT list is different, but most on here were saying CR7 doesn't even enter the list because [insert reasons here]. To Messi delusional fanatics, the favorite way to make any argument is to sh*t on CR7.

Ronaldo's Euro 2016 was anything but average. He did the most he could in light of his team's capabilities. And Pepe get's praise. Everyone knows it was Portugal's defense that won them that cup. Only that Ronaldo had the most contribution to Portugal's goals; and since goals win you games and he's the talisman, he got mentioned a lot.

And how was Portugal not "so average" because they won the cup without Ronaldo? Their entire plan after Ronaldo left was to sit deep, let the game go to penalties, and hope to win there. That's not how amazing teams play? Spain or Germany wouldn't have played like that. Heck Croatia wouldn't have played like that.

That said, why does the story change when it gets to Argentina's 2014 WC campaign? How many people talk about Argentina's defense that held two 1:0 knockout stage wins, got to penalties in the SF, and only conceded one goal to an exceptional German team? Why do Messi fanatics make it seem like he dragged a sh*t team?

The whole world is on Messi's neck because he plays for Argentina with a decent squad list that should contend for the title. It's as simple as that. If Ronaldo played for Spain, Germany, or France; there'd be pressure on him to win the title. If you are a legend of the game in a favorite team like he is, you get that expectation automatically. Pele had it, Maradona had it, R9 had it, Zidane had it; no one owes him an apology if he can't handle it. Heck, even Neymar has it, and he isn't even an all-time great.

My best player of the tournament for 2014 is Muller.

I don't even see why we are debating, you're clearly not a Messi fanatic. It's okay to like Messi, same reason it's okay to like CR7, or any of the other all-time greats. But Messi fanatics shouldn't act like all of these has not been coming for a long time. Na now their cup full!

-Lord

Sommyroy10:
In that particular tournament, only stats could not define his overall performance.

Here we go again. Are you guys never tired of this old, haggy line. And you think only stats defined Ronaldo's 2006 or 2014 world cup performance?

Next thing you'd say only stats could not define Messi overall performance in 2010 when he played 5 matches (got to the QF) and had only one assist without scoring a goal. Maybe teams qualify by the number of passes made in a match.

Messi is a 10. An AMF! There is no justification for him having 1 assist in a whole tournament that you guys claim he dragged Argentina through to the finals. I'm just profiling the emptiness of the aspersions of Messi fanatics.

-Lord

Miremoses1:
he did same for missi to. Acting like a b##ch.

I think his a missi fan boy.

That guy's allegiance moves with the wind.

He's smart tho' and a decent player, I'd give him that.

-Lord

Sommyroy10:
Messi had an assist in R16.

Pardon me. His only assist in 7 world cup games (all through the tournament).

-Lord

Miremoses1:
Marcus Rashford on Cristiano Ronaldo: "I go to the training ground and try to replicate the free kick against Spain. The confidence in his face, he's certain he's going to score."

That brat should STFU!

He hobnobs everyone.

-Lord

Edubbs:
if portugal gets to the quarter final now, like you wouldn't boastfully proclaim;

"ronaldo singlehandedly took his team to the quarter final"

Have you ever heard any CR7 fan boast that Ronaldo singlehandedly took Portugal to the 2006 WC semi-final?

And what if someone makes that statement? Messi scored 4 goals in 2014 group stages against the mighty Bosnia, Nigeria, and Iran; then did not score (and made only one assist-his only assist of the tournament) in the Ro16, QF, SF, or Final. He was a passenger in the knockout stages. Yet, you guys can't go a minute without shoving 2014 in our collective faces. Ronaldo has scored 4 goals already in 2 matches. Even if he doesn't score or assist again and Portugal somehow find themselves in the final, he has done as much as Messi did in 2014.

When people say Messi is facing undue criticism, I laff, because the blame should 100% go to his fanatics. You guys have made it your favorite pasttime to sh*t on CR7--an all-time great--on so many occasions, it isn't even funny. Then one time, one time he gets to walk in CR7's shoes, and he falls apart like a pack of cards. You guys practically brought the gasoline, wood, and matchbox to start this fire that's consuming Messi.

Messi could do all things. He could play anywhere with anyone. He is the ultimate team player. He could play all positions. He is alien.

CR7 on the other hand was the exact opposite.

Now, Messi is only human. Messi can have bad tournaments. Messi needs good teammates to succeed. The pressure on him is too much.

No sh*t!

Like everyone who regarded either of CR7, Pele, or Maradona as their personal G.O.A.T knew this except the delusional Messi wanksters.

The chicken has finally come home to roost and your folly has been found out.

-Lord

Miremoses1:
they fought hard, but truth be told, they are no match against the red-devils.

Also, their no1 didn't play because of injury., coupled with other injury setbacks they have.

Both sides were wasteful tho'.

Scoreline could have been heavier.

Who else thinks all of the tournament favorites are very beatable? Like none of them have that conviction or air of inevitability that accompanied Brazil in 2002, Italy in 2006 (France also had it, the red card did them in), and Spain in 2010.

A dark horse could practically take this tournament by the scruff of the neck and run away with the cup.

-Lord

Warrizzit Tunisia!

Someone cannot support you guys again?

-Lord

Yonce:
He did what Messi and Ronaldo couldn't do against Iceland.

Even has more goals than Argentina.

True GOAT.

Word!

-Lord

Lana1:
Lifeline for Messi and Argentina tho.

But if they keep their heads down then there's no way Argentina can win...

All we have to do is keep 9 players at the back and leave Musa upfront.

Argentina will press for the win, and whenever they press they're exposed at the back. With Caballero in goal and those hippos in the back, Musa could yet provide another spectacular performance.

-Lord

Nice one SE.

Argentina next. Classic Rohr setup in that match. Defend and play on the counter. All we need is 1 point.

-Lord

Miremoses1:
That thunder-clap from iceland fans is f##king amazing.

Love it like m$d. The one thing I anticipate when watching their matches.

-Lord

Yonce:
I just keep wondering if it was Ronaldo that posed with that goat. We'd hear things like;
Proud
Arrogant
Self centered.

But Messi gets a pass.
Ah Ronaldo sha, that guy has been through alot. From Sepp Blatter to FIFA to the media and he hasn't cracked under all the pressure.

He's the Micheal Jordan of Football.

When he declared himself the best in history after winning his 5th Ballon D'Or; that's exactly what the media and Messi asslickers were saying.

Then Messi does it and they all forget how to react.

-Lord

Yonce:
It's not barkabots I'm even particular about, it's the media.
When Ronaldo scored a hattrick against Spain, ESPN didn't fail to remind us that De Gea should have positioned himself rightly before the freekick or how it was his 45th freekick attempt or how the penalty was a little harsh. . . You won't see them blame Messi for his disappearing act.
Coach? Yes
Teammates? Yes

But when Messi performs, he is the one true GOAT. Coach and teammates don't matter.


Where is Monerozi5590 sef

Everyone knows ESPN is apologetic to Messi.

Heck their pre-tournament World Cup Starting 11 did not have Ronaldo in it. Check out other news sources. The difference between Barkabots and ESPN pundits is that ESPN pundits are paid to ass-lick Messi and make excuses for him.

-Lord

SIRcumalot:
Make we no forget say na this same CR7 and him Portugal no qualify Comot group stage 2014 for Brazil.
Argentina qualified solely because na him drag them to Reach this tournament.
Maybe his out of gas.

Make them spread the bad form to reach naija side na my own.

Make we no forget say na this same CR7 play with knee injury in 2014, and went out on goal difference having got the same 4 points Argentina is hoping to qualify with. With knee injury, he assisted the equalizer against USA and scored the winner against Ghana. Messi is yet to score or assist in two matches.

Messi is not playing with injury. In fact, he just scored 3 goals and made one assist against Haiti in a WC preparatory friendly.

And let's not forget it was Ronaldo that qualified Portugal solely to the 2014 world cup, scoring a hattrick against Sweden with in-form Ibrahimovich (who scored two goals by the way).

You Messi junkies are cancer to football!

-Lord

MrEgghead:
Same way people were castigating Ronaldo in 2014..These are two different players with different destinies..I don't think messi gives any damn about what people think, maybe Ronaldo does... The funny thing is that tables might even turn by the end of next week..

Except that Ronaldo was injured in 2014, while Messi is in form in 2018. And Ronaldo has never had players of the same quality as Messi is fortunate to have.

How will the tables turn by the end of next week? Messi scoring a hattrick against the third worse team in the World Cup? Or Ronaldo failing to score against an Iranian team that held Spain to a slim 1:0 win?

Messi has had two consecutive disasterclasses, Ronaldo has had two consecutive MOTM awards. Nothing is going to change that.

-Lord

Sicilyjoe:
Where were u guys when Messi single handedly qualified Argentina for World Cup with his hatrick ?

CR7 single handedly qualified Portugal for the 2014 World Cup with a hattrick. Against a much better side (Sweden with Ibrahimovich).

Talk another thing!

-Lord