Champions League Thread (the dawn of time - 2014)

[blake]

Would love to see Bayern go on and win the whole thing, what a result that would be. Don't have much sympathy at all for United being a City supporter...

Also, has anybody noticed that Arjen Robben looks like he's about 45 when he is actually only 26 or so?

 

[mattfb]

Same with Pepe Reina tbh. Maybe not 45, but he defo looks 30+

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Very Disappointed at the game. United were outstanding in the first half, but I think the Olic (IF I spelled It right) goal was the moment Bayern actually started believing in themselves. We never really got going in the 2nd Half, and even though Bayern didnt really outplay us or anything, they still went through unfortunately.

People are talking about Milan-Barcelona Final, but arent they meeting in the semis?
If they are I am hoping for a Milan Win. :upray

That sending off killed us - as Sir Alex said, if we'd had eleven men, no way would Bayern have went through. We were under constant siege and when we did get the ball, we lost it too easily and it came straight back to us. And what a shame someone else wasn't busting a gut to keep up with Nani when he broke away - it would've been a formality of sliding the ball across the box to score, instead he had to go from a tight angle. Similar angle to Olic, in fact - shame his went in and ours didn't. The better team over the two legs went out. I also think this will have a knock on effect in the league, handing Chelski the title, after their two screw jobs on us at both Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford.

Now, I want to see someone take us over and a huge cash splurge in the summer. Oh and England winning the World Cup would be nice as well - it would be such a joyous occasion to march into a sports store and buy and England shirt with two stars on it!

 

[War]

Who said Messi will be playing on the wings, the same thing happen last year before the final. Evra will keep Messi quiet but Guardiola surprised by playing in center.

Messi did play on the wings in the final last year. See here

What costed United the final last year, was that they lost the mid-field battle. Anderson/Carrick/Giggs gave Xavi & Iniesta wayyyy to much space. Fletcher & Hargreaves where seriously missed.

In the 2007/08 CL semi-final ovet two legs. United shut down Barca's passing game at the centre of the park & where excellent on the counter attack. Inter have the mid-field & the defense to replicate what United did to Barca in 07/08. It won't be easy since as we saw last season when Chelsea followed that blueprint, Iniesta last minute goal @ the Stamford Bridge won Barca the game. But at least i know for sure Inter has the tools to beat Barca over two legs.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Messi did play on the wings in the final last year. See here

What costed United the final last year, was that they lost the mid-field battle. Anderson/Carrick/Giggs gave Xavi & Iniesta wayyyy to much space. Fletcher & Hargreaves where seriously missed.

In the 2007/08 CL semi-final ovet two legs. United shut down Barca's passing game at the centre of the park & where excellent on the counter attack. Inter have the mid-field & the defense to replicate what United did to Barca in 07/08. It won't be easy since as we say last season when Chelsea followed that blueprint, Iniesta last minute goal @ the Stamford Bridge won Barca the game. But at least i know for sure Inter has the tools to beat Barca over two legs.

Yes, and remember why Fletcher wasn't playing against Barca - another nonsensical refereeing decision at Arsenal. Fletcher would've made a huge difference, no doubt about that.

 

[m_vaughan]

In the 2007/08 CL semi-final ovet two legs. United shut down Barca's passing game at the centre of the park & where excellent on the counter attack. Inter have the mid-field & the defense to replicate what United did to Barca in 07/08. It won't be easy since as we saw last season when Chelsea followed that blueprint, Iniesta last minute goal @ the Stamford Bridge won Barca the game. But at least i know for sure Inter has the tools to beat Barca over two legs.

I dont think studying that game is going to be a good idea for Inter because Barca despite making the semis that season were having a poor season. There were divisions in the squad which were having adverse effects on their performances. We beat them 1-0 and 4-1 despite having pretty much the same players that lost 0-2 and 2-6 the next season.

Having said that I agree that Inter have the right kind of players and strategy to counter Barca's passing game. Arsenal wanted to beat Barca by trying to beat them in their own game.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

We didn't altogether shut down Barca - they had their chances, especially an Henry header that was straight at Van der Sar.

 

[JBlues08]

The Champions League is back! And I for one certainly cannot wait for the match at the San Siro provided the match goes according to plan.

 

[m_vaughan]

I think it is going ahead as the Barca squad is travelling by road to Milan.

 

[Auwais]

I can see Barca getting ***** at this rate.

Small, stretched squad trying to battle on two fronts and having that travelling issue which may have some negative consequences on the player's performance.

And then having to go up against an energetic, well-oiled machine in Inter.

 

[JBlues08]

Inter beating Barca was just what I expected but not the 3-1 scoreline though. I'm not too sure whether Barca can overturn the deficit because Mourinho will probably go there and park the bus. Maybe his team can just sit inside the coach and drive it to the front of the goal provided if they have to travel by land to Spain next week. :laugh

 

[BKB1991]

I just love Jose Mourinho!
What a man!!

 

[m_vaughan]

Despite the poor refereeing and Barca's "not that long" bus travel, Inter fully deserved that result. It comes down to Messi not having his best game, and Xavi being limited to making extremely short passes. You keep these two out of the game, and the catalans are handicapped. Also Maicon proved why is a better RB than Alves, who has been really bad in the last two games now.

And Zlatan just looks like another version of Dmitar Berbatov. Tall, talented, skillful, but does nothing.

 

[Auwais]

Tbf to Zlatan, he has just come back from an injury.

Was probably a mistake by Guardiola to risk him when he wasn't fully match fit.

Zlatan and Messi tended to exploit the same area of the pitch and get in each others way quite often as well, so it was no surprise to see Guardiola take him off and push Maxwell further up the pitch.

 

[Cricketdude]

Inter beating Barca was just what I expected but not the 3-1 scoreline though. I'm not too sure whether Barca can overturn the deficit because Mourinho will probably go there and park the bus. Maybe his team can just sit inside the coach and drive it to the front of the goal provided if they have to travel by land to Spain next week. :laugh

Its at Camp Nou. There will be goals. No way you can park the bus for a whole 90 minutes.

Unless your the 'special one'...