Ancelotti to Brazil

[Duncan’s Pigeon Loft]

The narrative of the classy coach is nothing more than propaganda if he cannot control his own players or acknowledge how much him, his players & the club have brought the game into disrepute - he has a contract & likely many internal terms/directives that prohibit him from speaking against the club, yet it does not justify what has transpired under his leadership

You can’t bask in the spoils of ‘wins’ that in light of what the world witnessed this season in La Liga & CL (Atletico & Alvarez say hola) and sweep under the rug anything negative - and in particular this season, there have been some absolutely unsportsmanlike & egregious conduct. The images of him calmly chewing his gum and chomping on his antacids while his bench were trying to rush the pitch & referee like hooligans encapsulates the ‘managerial’ acumen of a classy winner

 

[Billy Dean]

It's career management perfection, isn't it? Win everything as a club manager, and then take over Brazil a year out from a World Cup in the the Americas.

Brazil may not look in great shakes right now, but Ancelotti will make them contenders. Other than Spain and Argentina, I don't think there's too much to be frightened of next year. Given the format, the challenge won't be so much the oppostion as surviving long enough in the tournament when others fall away by attrition. Three group games, last 32 and last 16 knockout games before the last eight. Five matches. The climate will suit them.

Definitely. Brazil have a strong squad on paper. Having him as manager has to make them strong contenders for the title. Even Argentina and Spain are nothing to be scared of IMO. There are probably 6 squads capable of winning the title IMO, including those you mentioned, but none of them are overwhelmingly good.

 

[Drico]

Definitely. Brazil have a strong squad on paper. Having him as manager has to make them strong contenders for the title. Even Argentina and Spain are nothing to be scared of IMO. There are probably 6 squads capable of winning the title IMO, including those you mentioned, but none of them are overwhelmingly good.

I think Spain are outstanding. They play brilliant football and win with it. Their great side of 2008-12 played only winning football. There was little aesthetically pleasing about them. But the current Spain side are exciting and successful - and will only get better given their age profile. Argentina are unspectacular on paper, but they are a proper team. They'll go close again.

After that? Much and muchness, where the faults of sides overwhelm their attributes. Brazil fall into that category, but a good manager can elevate them. That's what Germany and England will hope for, too - but Germany cannot defend and England have missed the boat, in my opinion. Big time.

France? Who knows. Deschamps is a liability at this stage. Portugal? Martinez and Ronaldo, 73. Italy? Not enough quality.

I expect a smaller, or more unheralded nation or two will have a big impact. I agree with you, in general. Not much to be scared of at all.

 

[The binman chronicles]

Bit of a comedown going from the mighty Everton to Madrid and then Brazil.

 

[Yarrgh]

Bit of a comedown going from the mighty Everton to Madrid and then Brazil.

He's just enjoying the slide to obscurity and retirement.

 

[FCBarça]

I'll be blunt. Your ability to interpret data, in my opinion, is utter rubbish.

Let's suppose I have reviewed a largish number of Fortune 500 contracts for employees and contractors. Let's also suppose I am not bound by attorney-client privilege due to vagaries of circumstance. Let's also suppose most of the saner terms of said contracts result from the ingenuity of people who probably would have made far more money working in tandem with their employer, rather than cheating them.

Let's suppose it turns out once in a while even a jaded soul like mine bows down at the audacity and genius. It's like the time I read a sign at a wildlife refuge on a hike saying not to release animals into said refuge. Who lets their unwanted dog into an environment without knowing the consequences, much less an alligator? Seriously.

Were it the case I knew all this, I would never judge Carlo's words by narrow moral standards. I would understand his problem. I would judge him by how he pushed the bounds of what he could say without consequence. I would instead conclude he is a pro's pro.

I'll be clear, proof is in the proverbial pudding - you want to pretend what has happened under his leadership this season is normal by any standards? Then to play the referee manipulation ploy, repeatedly while transparently benefiting from the whistle & his players immune from legitimate suspensions?

Maybe you believe in unicorns, I believe in what I can see