Premiership 2015/2016

[Gingerfinch]

I can see where Mike's coming from, but David Moyes.

[sussexpob]

Guardiola took over a Barcelona team built by Rijkaard

Messi exploded under Guardiola and before that was a squad rotation player. Iniesta was played on the wing by Rijkaard and only become the world beater when played in the playmaker slot in Guardiola's system. Puyol and Xavi had been at the club years as regulars before Rijkaard turned up. I think these apart from Valdes, who was the most expendable and poorest of the regular Barcelona players under Guardiola, were the only ones who came to play under Pep.

In fact, Guardiola cleared out tonnes of players... Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Thiago Motta.... they all were flogged off to other teams quickly.

[sussexpob]

I mean its probably key to note that Guardiola I believe got rid of some pretty elite talent.

Zambrotta (arguably one of the best full backs in history), Thuram (best RB in his generation), Deco/Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Dimitri Albertini.... they cleared out a load of dead wood and basically started again.

[Gingerfinch]

Tottenham are second........for now. I'd actually be quite happy to see them win the league, not that I think they will.

[sussexpob]

Tottenham are second........for now. I'd actually be quite happy to see them win the league, not that I think they will.

I think Id like them to win. Be a change, they arent leicester and have some young exciting English players in the mix....

But Id take anyone but Leicester

[sussexpob]

Benik Afobe scores again!

[budgetmeansbudget]

Benik Afobe scores again!

3 in 3!

And thankfully we managed to hold on for the win, important considering all the other results around the bottom went our way tonight, and the fact we've got Arsenal on Sunday.

[ddb]

United in that first half...I don't know how we played like that. Was actually half decent.

[ddb]

Benik Afobe scores again!

3 in 3!

And thankfully we managed to hold on for the win, important considering all the other results around the bottom went our way tonight, and the fact we've got Arsenal on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger's last season?

Can't believe they've choked again. This was their league for the taking.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Be funny if Spurs sneak in and win it out of nowhere!

[sussexpob]

You feel with Aguero now fully fit and smashing goals back in, it has to be Man City. He will drag this team back into contention.

[budgetmeansbudget]

You feel with Aguero now fully fit and smashing goals back in, it has to be Man City. He will drag this team back into contention.

Man C have to be favourites but Aguero is prone to getting injured. Got raked down the back of the calf when he scored last night but think he is okay.

[budgetmeansbudget]

What chance Messi coming to Man C in the summer?

[sussexpob]

What chance Messi coming to Man C in the summer?

Very slim. It has emerged in the last week that Real Madrid apparently tried to sign him three times in the last 4-5 years, each time essentially giving Barcelona a blank cheque and saying "fill it in with whatever you want", and Barcelona rejected to even name a price. There are rumours that prices of £250 million were the mark that Real Madrid were suggesting.

If 250mill doesnt even get you a seat at the negotiating table, then this is a deal that will simply never happen.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Barcelona would never sell him to Madrid at any price, but to Man City?

If Messi intimated he wanted to go and try and make his mark outside of La Liga, then the Premier League with the manager that first took him to prominence may be a goer.