Champions League Thread (the dawn of time - 2014)

[Skater]

Don't ever, ever believe anything written in the media.

90% of what is written in the media is true, if it wasn't to be believed, there would be no point in it. Although it is exaggeration - the maximum penalty that Chelsea could get is a ban, so naturally the media say "Chelsea could face a European ban".

 

[Will_NA]

For what, exactly?

 

[Skater]

For what, exactly?

For failing to control their players.

 

[Will_NA]

YouTube - valencia inter fight

 

[vaibhav mehta]

I don't think that, it is worth to trust this link. Anyway have a read!

 

[gudduthemaster]

UEFA is not a fair play::

 

[PhilD123]

People who think this was a conspiracy really can't have thought it through. For a start that test on the uefa website had both goals being scored in extra time, also, where would that have been if Chelsea had scored two.

Think about it logically for a minute too, if there was a fix then why would the ref send off Abidal with a very dubious decision.

UEFA and Platini are anti-English, no doubt about that and they will prefer this final, but to say they fixed it? Way off the mark for me.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I'm watching the Spanish football highlights and I can't believe how cock-sure of themselves the Spanish are! This prat was going on about the Iniesta situation and was saying 'Barcelona can get result in 30 minutes: they can easy score two goals in 30 minutes; then they can rest Iniesta'.

Yep. And what if we get two goals in 30 minutes? Also, does this twit seriously reckon that we will lie down and die if we go one or even two goals down? That their defence is anywhere near good enough to sit on a two goal lead for 60 minutes? Incidentally, Iniesta has a muscle tear and is likely to be out for two weeks. The CL Final is in two weeks, so it could be touch and go. Huge boost for us if he doesn't make it.

If this is how the actual team are thinking, then that's a good thing for us. If these guys are really underestimating us that much, then they'll be the ones that find themselves two goals down!

Seems that Real are still holding a candle for Ronaldo as well. Why the hell would he want to leave a club that loves him and treats him well and go to that shambles of a club! He's a fool if he does go to Real in the state they are right now. Real are really getting annoying now: Ronaldo has a strop about being substituted, so Real reckon they're in with a chance. Incidentally, Real are after Kaka and Ronaldo! Again, why would Kaka want to leave AC Milan?

Oh and Barca are sniffing around Vidic as well. Not a chance, ladies! There are probably three or four players in Utd that Sir Alex would not allow to be sold and Vidic is one of them!

 

[Will_NA]

Lol at MB of all people accusing someone of being 'cocksure'

 

[King Pietersen]

Barcelona have struggled to score goals against English teams. It's all well and good scoring 6 goals against a Real Madrid team that were defending half way up the pitch, but United will not be doing that. United have a rock solid defence, and one that's far stronger than the Chelsea defence that held Barcelona for 182 minutes. Barcelona will go in as favourites, but I cannot see them winning the game. Messi completely disappeared against Chelsea, he did not look a world class player in either leg and was perfectly marked and worked out by Chelsea, whereas Ronaldo didn't flop in Uniteds semi-final and was simply brilliant against Arsenal.

It could very well be a repeat of the 1993-94 final, where Barcelona went in as the big favourites, playing the same attacking brand of football they're playing now but up against a team in Milan that share some of the same traits as this current United side. A strong defence, and an attack capable of banging the goals in. That 93-94 final finished 4-0 to Milan. Barcelona were destroyed. They couldn't play their typical free flowing football, and their weak defence were highlighted by a rampant Milan side. I don't think this final will finish 4-0 to United, but I can see them pulling off a win. Ronaldo will outplay Messi as well, I think Ronaldo's a better player. Messi dominating weak defences in a very attacking league is all well and good, but when has he really shone against a good defence?

 

[Will_NA]

Ronaldo faced the worst Arsenal defence this decade. At most he faced 3 defenders. Messi was trying to break through 8 defenders at all times. They were two completely different scenarios.

 

[King Pietersen]

Ronaldo has performed excellently in the past 2/3 seasons in the best league in the world, scoring bagfuls of goals in the Premier League last year. Messi is an incredibly talented footballer, and I rate him as the 2nd best in the world, but you can't dismiss the fact that he's all but disappeared whenever he's come up against a top class defence. Chelsea worked him out perfectly in both legs, and neutralised the threat he poses, and I expect United to do the same. Barcelona will not be 2-0 up inside 30 minutes, United's defence is stronger than the Chelsea one that Barca couldn't break down.

 

[Will_NA]

Chelsea put 10 men behind the ball. I'd like to see anyone beat 10 players in such a confined space. United's defence may be stronger but there midfield certainly isn't especially now Fletcher's out. Chelsea had Ballack, Essien and Lampard to break up the play. Iniesta, Xavi and Toure against Park, Anderson and Scholes? I know who I'd back to win.

United have what it takes to defend and score but there's no way they can do both at the same time.

As for Ronaldo vs Messi, if Messi scores and Ronaldo doesn't then we'll all know who's better since Spanish defences are apparently much weaker.

 

[King Pietersen]

Carrick, Anderson and Scholes is a very capable midfield, and with back-up from a back 4 including guys like Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra, I expect them to be far too strong for Barcelona. Also, Chelsea were not as defensive as you're making out, they had far more oppurtunities to win that game. They should have had 3 penalties at least, and Drogba missed a sitter in both legs of the tie. Barcelona only had 1 shot on target in the whole game, yet Chelsea managed 4 to add to those penalty shouts. Chelsea managed to mix the defensive strength with a good counter attacking game that should have led them to a victory over Barcelona. Manchester United will be able to do the exact same. Their counter attack game is better than Chelsea's also, as proven by the 8 pass move from an Arsenal attack that led to the 3rd goal in the Arsenal-United game. I'm going to stick my neck out and predict a 2-0 Manchester United victory in the final.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Lol at MB of all people accusing someone of being 'cocksure'

I suppose I asked for that, but the fact is, your defence is looking very shaky and we have already beaten you twice in succession, whereas Barcelona (or whoever that Spanish pundit was) are going on like we're some second rate team that they can just roll over in 30 minutes! 'Barcelona can easily get a result in 30 minutes'. Who does he think we are? Real Madrid??

I'm not saying that we will definitely win on Saturday either, but if our attack can get its finishing together again and your defence doesn't improve, it could be a long afternoon for Arsenal. My prediction for the game is 2-1 to Utd for what it's worth. Arsenal's pride will be hurt and they'll want to ruin our Old Trafford party. Should be fun either way, but it would be good to go without another last day feeding our nerves through a shredder.

MasterBlaster76 added 3 Minutes and 4 Seconds later...

Carrick, Anderson and Scholes is a very capable midfield, and with back-up from a back 4 including guys like Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra, I expect them to be far too strong for Barcelona. Also, Chelsea were not as defensive as you're making out, they had far more oppurtunities to win that game. They should have had 3 penalties at least, and Drogba missed a sitter in both legs of the tie. Barcelona only had 1 shot on target in the whole game, yet Chelsea managed 4 to add to those penalty shouts. Chelsea managed to mix the defensive strength with a good counter attacking game that should have led them to a victory over Barcelona. Manchester United will be able to do the exact same. Their counter attack game is better than Chelsea's also, as proven by the 8 pass move from an Arsenal attack that led to the 3rd goal in the Arsenal-United game. I'm going to stick my neck out and predict a 2-0 Manchester United victory in the final.

That comfy eh?

I reckon that it'll be 1-1 going into injury time, Ronaldo will shoot from outside the box and it'll go in via a deflection off...Messi!!!!!

Either way, it's going to be a typical Man Utd European night and we will not be able to rest easy until the final whistle, win or lose. I cannot see either team running away with it and would be amazed if either team are two nil up in thirty minutes.