Originally posted by sasquatch672Taking nothing away from last night's riveting 90 minutes I'm not sure I'd go as far as saying that the current Chelsea deserve consideration as one of the best teams ever assembled. One day maybe, but not now.
Didn't see the game, but 4-1 against Barca, even on your home ground is an accomplishment of some note. The Blues this season, and I'm an Arsenal fan and therefore their archrival, but they really must be considered as one of the best teams ever assembled, in any country, at any time.
There have been many outstanding teams in any one season in the last 100+ years but, for me, performing above the rest in the biggest arena (European Cup) for multiple years in a row would probably be my number one determinant for 'best'. The Milan side of the early 90s with back to back European Cup wins, Real Madrid's five European Cups in a row from '56-'60, the Liverpool side of the late '70s /early '80s are probably more deserving of the 'best' tag IMO.
Not disputing that Chelsea can potentially go on and achieve a level of dominance. That said not convinced about Kezman (notwithstanding the helluva pass for the first goal last night!), nor about the backup for Ferreira and Bridge.
Either way, going off on a bit of a tangent - what I find most fascinating about 'teams assembled' is when they come from virtually nowhere and surprise people. The team then breaks up as the players go to 'bigger' clubs and only later do you realise just how outstanding it was that those players once played in the same team. For instance the Ajax team of 1995 contained Van der Sar, the de Boer twins, Litmanen, Seedorf, Kanu, Kluivert, Overmars and Davids - almost all 'up and coming' young players - with Van Gaal as manager. All of whom moved on very quickly to 'bigger' clubs. What a side that was in hindsight. To a lesser extent, the Monaco side of 1998 that knocked Manchester United out of the European Cup the year before Manchester United won it. They surprised nearly everyone at the time but looking back, in that side there was: Barthez, Sagnol, Giuly, Trezeguet, Henry; top top players. I concede that it could be argued that these players only became the players they were/are *after* they left and joined 'big' clubs but even so...
Originally posted by sasquatch672Nothing to say about the team, but Mourinho is really an arrogant a$$hole.
Didn't see the game, but 4-1 against Barca, even on your home ground is an accomplishment of some note. The Blues this season, and I'm an Arsenal fan and therefore their archrival, but they really must be considered as one of the best teams ever assembled, in any country, at any time.
Or, depending on one's view, a manager who employs every diversionary tactic in the book to stop the media and the opposition from talking about the weaknesses in his side (absence of Robben and Drogba, outplayed in the Nou Camp in the second half, stuttering momentum after Newcastle FA Cup loss). Has the effect of alleviating the external pressure on the players and fosters an 'us against them' mentality and immense team spirit.
It's not well-mannered, it isn't polite, and it borders on a lack of respect but it doesn't half help produce a football team that scores 3 goals in 19 minutes against one of the strongest sides in Europe. Perhaps it's giving Mourinho too much credit, but I'd say he was just very very canny at manipulating a situation, rather than outright absolutely sincere arrogance.
Not so much of the hindsight. That Ajax team was appreciated as one of the best ever at the time. It was Bosman that destroyed that team. Lord knows what they could've achieved otherwise.
Ah well, such is life. And love it or hate it, Bosman has delivered us the "assembled" teams of today. Personally, I'm old enough to remember when top football clubs had mostly local players. They played with a different sort of passion. Like anyone, I love watching extremely talented players in full flow. But I also get irritated at how they often disappear when the going gets tough.
Another interesting phenomenon to come from all this is the "assembled" fans one. How many guys do I see walking the streets in Chelsea shirts these days? I guess their Man Utd ones are lining the cat's basket. They haven't quite relinquished their Arsenal shirts yet though, lol.
Originally posted by VandalizerAgreed that the Ajax team was mighty special. Fair point but I think there's a large-ish degree of hindsight nonetheless - for me at least, not saying it's a blanket rule. At the time I didn't rate them any more highly than, say, the 1991 European Cup winners or the 1997 European Cup winners at the time of those respective wins. I appreciated that they were a good team that beat perhaps a 'better' (certainly more recognised broadly speaking) team in Milan in the final, but I didn't hold 'em in the esteem that I do now. Looking back on the three winners mentioned above, that Ajax team, now, in hindsight, rates far more highly than Red Star Belgrade or Borussia Dortmund do.
Not so much of the hindsight. That Ajax team was appreciated as one of the best ever at the time. It was Bosman that destroyed that team. Lord knows what they could've achieved otherwise.
Ah well, such is life. And love it or hate it ...[text shortened]... haven't quite relinquished their Arsenal shirts yet though, lol.
[Quite prepared to accept that it's my ignorance though and that most people did realise *at the time* just how good a set of players that Ajax side contained!]