Champions League Thread (the dawn of time - 2014)

[treva]

Fabianski is a tool. Arsenal were pretty awful from what I saw, which was the last half an hour. I'm sick of hearing the ITV commentator say Arsenal will rip them to shreds at the Emirates. I don't think they will. I'm backing Porto to hang on for the draw in the 2nd leg and make it through.

 

[m_vaughan]

I thought Porto were unlucky last season against United. Its amazing how they always have a competative squad despite losing key players every summer.

Really disappointed with Madrid's performance the other night. Overconfidence creeping in after our recent league performances. We should consider ourselves fortunate to be just a goal down. I think we'll win 3-1 or 4-2 at home.

 

[vaibhav mehta]

Fabianski is a tool. Arsenal were pretty awful from what I saw, which was the last half an hour. I'm sick of hearing the ITV commentator say Arsenal will rip them to shreds at the Emirates. I don't think they will. I'm backing Porto to hang on for the draw in the 2nd leg and make it through.

You can not ask for more when you have more than 7 injuries including your key players. But I agree that you do not win premier league title or major European league with goal keepers like Fabianski or Almunia. It has nothing to do with players, it just weak link of Wenger which was exposed lately. He did not buy any player in January and it was just indication that he would be happy to stay within top 4 in premier league. He never aimed to win it or he never tried so hard to win it.
The match against Man U was just example that Sir Alex is far more superior when it comes to making plans on pitch and their execution. Rooney ran through mid field to score that second goal. That was how he desire to score that goal. He by passed 2 mid fielder and 3 defender including his marker. I understand and respect financial crisis. I do not expect Wenger to buy high profile player in every transfer window but with all these injuries, he must have bought couple of players including decent goal keeper.
Man U won again AC milan was example how your goal keeper can win matches for you. Had there been Almunia, Man U would have been 2 or 3 down in first 30 minutes. Gallas and Vermalin did excellent job through out the season really. But whenever they make run to score the goal through mid field majority of time they concede the goal in counter attack.
Seriously what the hell is Goal Keeper coach doing? How in the world would you try to catch the ball by standing on right side of the ball to expose your goal? That was all about Basic. I hope Arshavin will be fit when they play home against Porto.

 

[m_vaughan]

I think Fabianski had one bad day at the office. Could happen to the best of players.

 

[vaibhav mehta]

No it was not about one bad game. All Goal Keepers do concede goals so that is not the issue here. Lets analyze both goals. On first occasions he exposed his goal post by standing right to the ball which was basic. On second incidence he knew that it was back pass and still he gathered the ball. He could have kicked it anywhere. Ok, considering all the pressure, playing away, and lack of match practice, he still should have throw the ball away after conceding free kick rather he gave straight it to referee before taking his position. Both mistakes were unacceptable.
Arsenal already out of Carling cup and FA cup. With current injuries they are not going to win champions league. It has been four years without a trophy. You can not tell fans every time to wait for next season.

 

[Ayub 95]

Liverpool in danger of missing the next CL?

I really hope we don't :\

I would LOVE to see that happen Aston Villa FTW!

 

[mattfb]

Liverpool in danger of missing the next CL?

I really hope we don't :\

We aren't doing as bad as made out. If we beat Arsenal the other day, we would of only been a few points behind them and third would of been a realistic target for us within the next few weeks.

In Rafa we trust, mate.

 

[Ayub 95]

We aren't doing as bad as made out. If we beat Arsenal the other day we would of only been a few points behind them and third would of been a realistic target in the coming weeks.

In Rafa we trust, mate.

As much as I would hate it to happen, Liverpool will probably clinch 4th due to experience :crying

 

[mattfb]

Manchester City have a better squad then us. Rafa is just a great manager. Our budget is no bigger then a majority of EPL clubs, and our squad isn't even the clear best within the top 4 contenders, yet Rafa has done amazing to have us where we are. If he left, it would be hard to find someone that would do better then him with the tranfser budget we have.

 

[Ayub 95]

Manchester City have a better squad then us. Rafa is just a great manager. Our budget is no bigger then a majority of EPL clubs, and our squad isn't even the clear best within the top 4 contenders, yet Rafa has done amazing to have us where we are. If he left, it would be hard to find someone that would do better then him with the tranfser budget we have.

Rafa is a great manager, no doubt about it but I lost respect as soon as he made that stupid outburst at Sir Alex. That lost you guys the title last year

 

[treva]

Unirea are a good team and not conceding just about puts Liverpool through in my eyes. There will be at least one away goal in the next leg and I don't see Unirea scoring three goals to go through. May as well book Liverpool's place in the last 16. There will be some tougher tests to come though.

 

[Auwais]

Barca nearly made a mess of that. But cometh the hour, cometh the man!

Ibra's first goal in the Champions League knock-out stage. Guess we can officially call him world class now. :sarcasm

First match I've seen in ages where I was almost worried when Xavi had the ball (from a Barca perspective), as he seemed to be so wasteful by his high standards.

 

[War]

Ha Malouda playing left-back tonight

 

[m_vaughan]

Barca nearly made a mess of that. But cometh the hour, cometh the man!

Ibra's first goal in the Champions League knock-out stage. Guess we can officially call him world class now. :sarcasm

First match I've seen in ages where I was almost worried when Xavi had the ball (from a Barca perspective), as he seemed to be so wasteful by his high standards.

To be fair Xavi was returning from injury and earlier than expected. Still I thought Stuttgart outran them in the first half and the catalans could not keep up.

Stuttgart are more than capable of cancelling that away goal so the second leg is certainly going to be close.

 

[themuel1]

We all moan about English refs and yet whenever I watch Champions League football I think at least there better than most of the clowns from other countries. No physical challenges. No high feet even within reason. No spotting of blatent tripping, pushing, pulling (Walter Samuel - a.k.a skinhead thug). AND no spotting of a BLATENT penalty and trip which would have resulted in skinhead thug being sent off.

At least OUR refs let the games flow.