Champions League Thread (the dawn of time - 2014)

[MasterBlaster76]

Five lessons that Manchester United failed to learn against Barcelona | Guardian

Manchester City could face Barcelona in Champions League group stage | Guardian

A top midfielder has not been signed since Rome

It is accepted that this is not a vintage United side and nowhere is the relative lack of quality more apparent than in midfield. The 1999 treble winners were imperious in that area but, more than a decade on, Barcelona's own central powers exposed those charged with filling the void left by Roy Keane, David Beckham and, in their peak years, Paul Scholes and Giggs. After Rome, and following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Real Madrid, Ferguson needed to invest, but instead he stuck by the likes of Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and the ageing Scholes and Giggs. Wembley showed the folly of that decision as Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta yet again reigned supreme.

That needs to change in the summer. Time to rebuild the Utd midfield.

 

[JBlues08]

A look-a-like Mourinho?

 

[JBlues08]

Champions League back at Wembley - ESPN Soccernet

Niceeee.

By the way, the Champions League final for this coming season will be held at the Allianz Arena in Germany, in case anyone is wondering.

 

[Auwais]

What a joke. We should be made to wait for our turn like everyone else.

I don't care if it's the 150th anniversary. If that was the case, why didn't they give this year's final to someone else? Incompetence by UEFA.

 

[Haarithan]

Yea rather annoying to see Wembley getting the nod again.

 

[P Squared]

I thought Platini hated everything English....?

 

[JBlues08]

Yea rather annoying to see Wembley getting the nod again.

Doubt the English clubs will bother much about that.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Our record at the New Wembley has been pretty crap so far.

 

[shravi]

I'm disappointed that we won't see a Dortmund with Sahin and a Porto with Villas-Boas in this year's Champions League. I was really looking forward to seeing how they would compete in the competition with those two still there.

 

[m_vaughan]

I'm disappointed that we won't see a Dortmund with Sahin and a Porto with Villas-Boas in this year's Champions League. I was really looking forward to seeing how they would compete in the competition with those two still there.

Porto were in the CL i think with Villas Boas this season as well? Dortmund will certainly miss Sahin though.

 

[Haarithan]

Porto were in the CL i think with Villas Boas this season as well? Dortmund will certainly miss Sahin though.

Erm sorry, but I don't get your first point.

 

[Ollie_H]

He's trying to say Porto were in the Champions League and they then didn't qualify from the group stage placing themselves in the Europe League. But I cannot confirm or deny that.

 

[Haarithan]

No no , I'm absolutely sure they didn't play Champions League football last season (including the qualifiers). In fact, they were one of the 5 teams to have won all their Group stage matches in the Europa League. Last season's Champions League representatives from Portugal were only Benfica and Braga.


Yea, there it is (check out Section 3)

2009

 

[JBlues08]

Porto were in the CL i think with Villas Boas this season as well? Dortmund will certainly miss Sahin though.

Nope, they weren't. They started straight off in the Europa League as Porto finished in 3rd(qualification for Europa League) in the season before Villas-Boas managed them.

2009/10 Portuguese Liga Table / Standings - ESPN Soccernet


EDIT: Damn! Late by a minute.

 

[JBlues08]

The Arsenal vs Udinese and Lyon vs Rubin Kazan games later tonight should be interesting. Would be fun to see and hear the atmosphere at the Emirates.