Champions League Thread (the dawn of time - 2014)

[barmyarmy]

@m_vaughan - I thought you were also a Chelsea fan...

Don't agree with the AVB hate. Chelsea have definitely been unlucky and it's not his fault he has an ageing squad. Abramovich is a tool so he's more than likely to hire Hiddink instead but it would be a shocking call for me.

 

[Lee1981]

Should of got Hiddink in the first place..

 

[shravi]

Don't understand all the AVB hate. This isn't his team. He hasn't had the time to put his stamp on this team. He only has players who are older and worse than they were last year.

 

[m_vaughan]

@m_vaughan - I thought you were also a Chelsea fan...

Don't agree with the AVB hate. Chelsea have definitely been unlucky and it's not his fault he has an ageing squad. Abramovich is a tool so he's more than likely to hire Hiddink instead but it would be a shocking call for me.

My statement was based on the fact that Valencia are in very good form and Chelsea are not. Do not know how they'll stop Soldado.

Regarding AVB, yes it isn't his fault, but his team seems even more lacklustre than Carlo Ancelotti's at times.

 

[Haarithan]

A score draw at Stamford Bridge, and a draw for Bayer away to Genk is enough to relegate Chelsea to the Europa League.

City - need to beat Bayern at home and hope Napoli don't win away at Villarreal.

United - need to draw in Basel.

As it stands, City (by odds) and Chelsea (present form) are slight favourites to make the Europa League's Round of 32 lol.

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The game between Milan and Barca was certainly a great match to watch.

It certainly was. Though I'm absolutely clueless as to how Aquaman wasn't sent off after conceding the penalty?! Had already been booked. Portrayed his worst game IMO. Also, that miss by Robinho from 2 yards!

 

[Auwais]

That goal by Boateng...what a player he's become since joining Milan.

 

[JBlues08]

A score draw at Stamford Bridge, and a draw for Bayer away to Genk is enough to relegate Chelsea to the Europa League.

Actually, a score draw would be enough for Valencia to go through regardless of what happened elsewhere.

We either need to win or get a 0-0 draw. Judging at the way we're defending at the moment, there is no way we're gonna get 0-0 draw or keep a clean sheet for that matter. So, we have to win!

It certainly was. Though I'm absolutely clueless as to how Aquaman wasn't sent off after conceding the penalty?! Had already been booked. Portrayed his worst game IMO. Also, that miss by Robinho from 2 yards!

Think the referee thought it was someone else who committed that foul. Then again, I don't think it was penalty anyway. Need to see replays on that one.

 

[Haarithan]

Not particularly been a fan of AVB's squad selection policy. How do you guys rate Meireles? Is he really that bad to play second fiddle to Obi Mikel, whom I've always seen as a clown - the guy totally lacks creativity. Strike 1. Also what about Alex? Your only 2 clean sheets of the season arrived in his only appearances for the club. Strike 2.

@Auwais: Yeah he's been absolutely brilliant. All he needs now is stop acting like a douche in the field.

 

[barmyarmy]

The commentators made the point about Alex last night and then he came on for Luis and Chelsea conceded two goals...

 

[JBlues08]

Not particularly been a fan of AVB's squad selection policy. How do you guys rate Meireles? Is he really that bad to play second fiddle to Obi Mikel, whom I've always seen as a clown - the guy totally lacks creativity. Strike 1. Also what about Alex? Your only 2 clean sheets of the season arrived in his only appearances for the club. Strike 2.

Many of the Chelsea fans have been calling for AVB to play a settle starting XI especially the back four. At the moment, he's constantly chopping and changing every game and it looks to me that he's rotating for the sake of it.

As for Meireles, I have no idea why AVB doesn't start him more often. While Mikel is rubbish, even Lampard sometimes is but AVB still persists with him just because of him ability to score goals for us right now.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

A score draw at Stamford Bridge, and a draw for Bayer away to Genk is enough to relegate Chelsea to the Europa League.

City - need to beat Bayern at home and hope Napoli don't win away at Villarreal.

United - need to draw in Basel.

As it stands, City (by odds) and Chelsea (present form) are slight favourites to make the Europa League's Round of 32 lol.

Ha ha! Even in the Europa League, City will be punching above their weight. Money, or no money, they'll forever be a small club for me.

In any case, remember Chelsea when they were first taken over? They won the league twice in a row and everyone thought that they'd be the new force in English football. They haven't exactly dominated since - and the force that was supposed to be on the way out won it three times on the spin and were only denied a fourth by one point (and some other things that we've already discussed at length ). Whoever challenges Utd, we'll see 'em off - maybe they'll have it their own way for a couple of years, but then they'll fade, like Chelsea did. You might say City look unstoppable now. So did Chelsea when they were winning everything in sight.

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Regarding Villa-Boas, I'm not surprised one bit that he's struggling. He's too young for a big job like Chelsea - and several of the players are older than him! I flagged this up when he was first announced as Chelsea's boss, looks like I was right.

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Should of got Hiddink in the first place..

Agreed. Glad you didn't though.

 

[m_vaughan]

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[/COLOR]Regarding Villa-Boas, I'm not surprised one bit that he's struggling. He's too young for a big job like Chelsea - and several of the players are older than him! I flagged this up when he was first announced as Chelsea's boss, looks like I was right.

Don't think age is that big a factor. Look at Pep Guardiola. He was 37 when he took up the Barcelona job and has already overseen the most successful period in the club's history. He had no previous experience in top flight football as well.

 

[Auwais]

Difference is Pep was a very successful player for Bar?a and spent a season as the B team boss, so his age was irrelevant. He already had the backing and respect of the players, some of whom he'd played with previously and some he'd managed in the B team.

 

[m_vaughan]

Difference is Pep was a very successful player for Bar?a and spent a season as the B team boss, so his age was irrelevant. He already had the backing and respect of the players, some of whom he'd played with previously and some he'd managed in the B team.

My point was, age is not always a factor. Ofcourse experience is vital, but not essential.

 

[JBlues08]

Agreed. Glad you didn't though.

You sure fear us under Hiddink a lot, don't you?