How come "Total Football" didn't include winning the World Cup?
Well, the Nazis probably coined the expression "Total War" and that didn't work out too well either.
The Dutch football team also had the added difficulty of playing the final against the host nation two finals running (and the '78 final w/out Cruyff).
Perhaps the focus--in English football anyway--should shift to the promotion battle. Watford look to break into the top flight again after falling short in the playoff vs. Crystal Palace two years ago (already?) and finishing 13th last season, maybe they get back into the top flight and we see Sir Reginald Dwight at matches in the Premiership next season! Who knows, maybe Norwich get back in, too.
And Liverpool blow it again!! Everton (of all people) do us a mighty favour by thrashing the mancs but all we could manage was a point at West Brom! A win and we would have been 5 points behind them with a game in hand. This season just putters out!
In other news...Chelsea win the league.
How did you get on Bill? I looked out for you on the news
First time in 8 attempts Royal Madrid have managed to beat Atleti this season. They probably did deserve the win, though the sending off of Arda Turan had a big impact on the game. That Chicarito/Hernandez/Little Pea chap, well I just don't like him. Goal or not (which CR7 laid on a plate so even he couldn't miss), he ain't anywhere near that level.
Hernandez works best as an off-the-bench substitute (like Eden Dzeko does most times), and while I have defended Hernandez in the past, I don't believe he's a world-class player or anything near it.
The self proclaimed 'Special One' is full of hyperbole...
Not really. Having seen both games, West Ham were just hoofing the ball as far upfield as possible for 90 minutes. I don't think that was what Chelsea were doing at the weekend.
As for "parking the bus"... it won't be parked next month because it will be driving Mourinho and his team in an open-top victory parade around West London, to celebrate the Premier League title. . It's also worth noting that Mourinho is the only manager in the last ten years to win the league without being a penny down in the transfer market. Indeed, he and Chelsea made a profit on transfers. Arsenal and Wenger on the other hand are 60m out-of-pocket on this seasons transfers. And let's not forget that the superb defence that is about to win the league is built on one of the very cheapest back fours in top flight football. Even many lower division teams have spent more on their back fours than Chelsea. Cahill was only 7m. Axpilicueta also 7m. Terry 0m. And Ivanovich a mere 9m. That's a paltry 23m for a title-winning back four. Incredible. All the stuff we hear about Chelsea "buying" the title is rubbish. Arsenal also have a higher wage bill than Chelsea this season. Liverpool, Tottenham, Man Utd, Man City... all are more out-of-pocket on this season's transfers (and last season's in most cases) than Chelsea.
Well done Basil, for replying to a post I made on 30 Jan 2014, which you've taken out of context as I was referring to comments made by him LAST season...
Jose Mourinho after Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0 on December 23: "Boring is the team who plays at home and can't score a goal."
Jose Mourinho after Chelsea 0 West Ham 0 on January 29: "This is not the best league in the world, this is football from the 19th century. The only [other] thing I could bring was a Black and Decker [tool] to destroy the wall. It's very difficult to play a football match where only one team wants to play. It's very difficult."
The self proclaimed 'Special One' is full of hyperbole...
As for "parking the bus"... it won't be parked next month because it will be driving Mourinho and his team in an open-top victory parade around West London, to celebrate the Premier League title. . It's also worth noting that Mourinho is the only manager in the last ten years to win the league without being a penny down in the transfer market. Indeed, he and Chelsea made a profit on transfers. Arsenal and Wenger on the other hand are 60m out-of-pocket on this seasons transfers. And let's not forget that the superb defence that is about to win the league is built on one of the very cheapest back fours in top flight football. Even many lower division teams have spent more on their back fours than Chelsea. Cahill was only 7m. Axpilicueta also 7m. Terry 0m. And Ivanovich a mere 9m. That's a paltry 23m for a title-winning back four. Incredible. All the stuff we hear about Chelsea "buying" the title is rubbish. Arsenal also have a higher wage bill than Chelsea this season. Liverpool, Tottenham, Man Utd, Man City... all are more out-of-pocket on this season's transfers (and last season's in most cases) than Chelsea.
I'd say Mourinho's done pretty well.
Now if he could only fix the problem of losing at home after being up 2-0 to a League Two side (Goddamned Bradford City for Chrissakes) in the FA Cup and in the last 16 of the CL--also at home to a ten-man PSG side playing without their best player.
Congratulations to Bournemouth, who are in the Premier League all but mathematically after a win over Oblicno's Trotters last night. It'd take a 19 goal difference reversal in the last game, so to all intents and purposes they'll be playing the big boys next season.
At the other end: tonight, for one night only, I'm a Rotherham fan! Come on, you... (hang on, I know this...) Millers!
Now if he could only fix the problem of losing at home after being up 2-0 to a League Two side (Goddamned Bradford City for Chrissakes) in the FA Cup and in the last 16 of the CL--also at home to a ten-man PSG side playing without their best player.
The Average One still has a lot of work to do.
Chelsea were unbeaten in the Champions League.
If a game goes to penalty kicks, the result is stated "Real Madrid WINS on penalty kicks" However, where away goals is the decider, it is stated "Real Madrid PROGRESSES on away goals".
The official result of the PSG game was a draw. Neither team won. PSG progressed.
Then who are they playing in the semi finals next week?
There is no argument. Chelsea were unbeaten in this season's Champions League. No different to if a team wins or draws all its Premier league games but fails to qualify for the Champions League on goal difference. The record shows it remains unbeaten even if it doesn't play in a Champions League game the next season.
It's nothing to do with semantics. Anyone placing a bet on Chelsea losing a home game in the Champions League this season would have lost their money. Anyone placing a bet on Chelsea being unbeaten at home in the Champions League would have WON the bet. Fact.
Who knows, maybe Norwich get back in, too. 
