[ENG] Premier League 2014/2015 (10 Viewers)

[acmilan]

Sometimes it comes together at the right time, which is exactly what it did with Ajax. You simply couldn't replicate that now.

Age is obviously mentioned because of achievements, Conte has had two CL campaigns in this modern era. I only see Mourinho doing more, and he is a better coach. No idea how you last comment is relevant here, I didn't even make a comparison.

What he did with Ajax - all those no-name players ripping the big boys of Europe a new one for a stretch of several years - was indeed something special, something for the ages. However LvG has had consistent success thruout his career - for whatever reason, he is hardly ever mentioned in the same sentence with coaches like Capello, Lippi, Ancelotti, Mou, Pep, etc but he more than belongs there. Even more, as Hist mentioned above, he is one of the very few great coaches, who's managed to remain at the top of his game over a very long period of time and has outlasted in that sense even Capello, Lippi, and maybe even Mou and Pep, who are showing signs of starting to slow down, imo (next 4-5 years will show for sure). Ancelotti is still going strong, for now.

How is it not relevant? Indirectly, you did make a comparison but my reply was aimed at several earlier posts too.
LvG was Conte's age, and younger, when he made Ajax again a dominant team not only in Holland but especially in Europe. He was even younger than Conte when they won the UEFA cup in his very 1st season with the team. That was just a taste of things to come when Ajax became a force in the CL over the next several years.

 

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[Bianconero81]

yeah, only way to make it any worse would be to go on a lady-boy hunt on them thai dating sites

In fact, that's the only way to make things better

 

[JuveJay]

What he did with Ajax - all those no-name players ripping the big boys of Europe a new one for a stretch of several years - was indeed something special, something for the ages. However LvG has had consistent success thruout his career - for whatever reason, he is hardly ever mentioned in the same sentence with coaches like Capello, Lippi, Ancelotti, Mou, Pep, etc but he more than belongs there. Even more, as Hist mentioned above, he is one of the very few great coaches, who's managed to remain at the top of his game over a very long period of time and has outlasted in that sense even Capello, Lippi, and maybe even Mou and Pep, who are showing signs of starting to slow down, imo (next 4-5 years will show for sure). Ancelotti is still going strong, for now.

How is it not relevant? Indirectly, you did make a comparison but my reply was aimed at several earlier posts too.
LvG was Conte's age, and younger, when he made Ajax again a dominant team not only in Holland but especially in Europe. He was even younger than Conte when they won the UEFA cup in his very 1st season with the team. That was just a taste of things to come when Ajax became a force in the CL over the next several years.

You keep saying no name players but they were young players so they obviously weren't famous, it was a golden generation of players for Ajax and they all went on to be top players elsewhere, who he had the chance to work with for years (as assistant and coach) before success came. In this sense it is similar to Ferguson with United in the 90s, just that van Gaal had the presence to challenge himself more (the restrictive Dutch league I suppose being the main reason).

I agree that LvG is a top coach, however he hasn't always had success, he went 10 years without a trophy from Barcelona to AZ and then Bayern, which is almost a guaranteed trophy, and his CL record outside of those Ajax days is not really impressive.

I said to stop making comparisons, which to me seems quite the opposite. The De Boer comment shouldn't need explaining.

 

[Osman]

What he did with Ajax - all those no-name players ripping the big boys of Europe a new one for a stretch of several years

http://timhi.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/ajax-1995/

Only one who didnt sign for a top team afterwards was Finidi George (but he was an awesome winger anyways), and Blind Sr who was long servant of Ajax til the end.


Van Gaal is a top top coach either way, especially tactically, only flaw he has is his stubborn jackass personality It has hindered his reputation and acheivement as a coach alot, proven several times he is an irrational guy to work with, burns his bridges wherever he goes more or less.

 

[GordoDeCentral]

playing riquelme as a winger? insert troll face

 

[acmilan]

Only established players at Ajax at the time LvG took over, iirc, were Rijkaard and Blind. All the others above were 20-21 or younger, some still in the youth system. Yes, quite a few went on to become top players but can't just deny LvG credit for putting that team together and developing those youngsters into future WC players in their own right. There were also the Reizigers and Bogardes of that generation, who performed well above their level in the system created by LvG. All that is a big part of a coach's job, I'd even say fundamental, and not just drawing Xs and Os on the board. So, I don't see how one can leave it out and/or treat it like a serendipitous occurrence. On top of it all, what he achieved, he did with little help from investment in already "developed" players, let alone any "star' transfers.

And yes, I agree that LvG's personality has been the one major flaw of his and possibly the reason why his legacy will likely never reach the level deserving of his achievements.

 

[Hist]

If you want a coach who over achieved the most, it must be Simeone last season. Not only did he do what Benitez did with Valencia, but he also barely missed out on the CL trophy in the same season. Now THAT is unbelievable.

 

[Zacheryah]

If you want a coach who over achieved the most, it must be Simeone last season. Not only did he do what Benitez did with Valencia, but he also barely missed out on the CL trophy in the same season. Now THAT is unbelievable.

Is it ?

Half the team is sold. Its not like he had bad players

 

[Hist]

With respect to what he achieved he definitely has bad players. No one in their right mind can predict more than a last 16 exit (if not group stage) and a 3rd by a distance finish in la liga with this squad. He won la liga and lost the CL in a second with an incredibly thin squad of mediocres and has beens.

 

[Juventino[RUS]]

If you want a coach who over achieved the most, it must be Simeone last season. Not only did he do what Benitez did with Valencia, but he also barely missed out on the CL trophy in the same season. Now THAT is unbelievable.

Cuper left great squad for Benitez

 

[Hist]

good like Atleti but not great like Madrid or Barca. What Simeone did is more impressive than Benitez's CL win as well. Lets see if he can continue to be this good over time especially when he leaves athletico.

 

[Juventino[RUS]]

good like Atleti but not great like Madrid or Barca. What Simeone did is more impressive than Benitez's CL win as well. Lets see if he can continue to be this good over time especially when he leaves athletico.

Barca was shit squad in 2000-2004, while Madrid and their galacticos strategy failed badly they won only once la liga

 

[Hist]

Barca's squad wasn't shit at all. Part of their failure and madrid's bigger failure (by virtue of having whats possibly the most star studded team in history during those years) has a lot to do with being out-performed by their relatively poor competitor Valencia. Kluivert, Saviola, Overmars, De Boer, Rivaldo, Luis Enrique, Coco, Xavi and Reizeger are big names. Certainly bigger than merely Ayala and Aimar.

What Benitez did was brilliant.. his coaching performances went downhill right after the season he finished second in the EPL when his team collapsed post-alonso and he oversaw inter's collapse later on before doing an okay job at chelsea and an okay job at napoli. He used to be an amazing coach.. now he is an okay coach but give him credit for his early days.

 

[Juventino[RUS]]

Barca's squad wasn't shit at all. Part of their failure and madrid's bigger failure (by virtue of having whats possibly the most star studded team in history during those years) has a lot to do with being out-performed by their relatively poor competitor Valencia. Kluivert, Saviola, Overmars, De Boer, Rivaldo, Luis Enrique, Coco, Xavi and Reizeger are big names. Certainly bigger than merely Ayala and Aimar.

What Benitez did was brilliant.. his coaching performances went downhill right after the season he finished second in the EPL when his team collapsed post-alonso and he oversaw inter's collapse later on before doing an okay job at chelsea and an okay job at napoli. He used to be an amazing coach.. now he is an okay coach but give him credit for his early days.

in which season l'pool was leading +6 or so under Benitez and managed to lose 1st spot to man utd?

 

[JCK]

Barca's squad wasn't shit at all. Part of their failure and madrid's bigger failure (by virtue of having whats possibly the most star studded team in history during those years) has a lot to do with being out-performed by their relatively poor competitor Valencia. Kluivert, Saviola, Overmars, De Boer, Rivaldo, Luis Enrique, Coco, Xavi and Reizeger are big names. Certainly bigger than merely Ayala and Aimar.

What Benitez did was brilliant.. his coaching performances went downhill right after the season he finished second in the EPL when his team collapsed post-alonso and he oversaw inter's collapse later on before doing an okay job at chelsea and an okay job at napoli. He used to be an amazing coach.. now he is an okay coach but give him credit for his early days.

Big names at barca and major choking. I fucking miss the pre 2006 barca.

 

[icemaη]

Liverpool put two past Dortmund in 10 mins.

 

[chester]

Liverpool put two past Dortmund in 10 mins.

Great assist from Coutinho for the first goal

 

[Hist]

in which season l'pool was leading +6 or so under Benitez and managed to lose 1st spot to man utd?

his one before last

 

[Salvo]

Dortmund are getting raped.

 

[Ocelot]

No one watching Community Shield?