Champions League Thread (the dawn of time - 2014)
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War
Chairman of Selectors
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Haa i love (no homo) Cavani's screaming celebrations everytime he scores, possibly my favourite player in the world at the moment.
Although i always Chelsea to lose, ABV tactics in the starting XI was strange.
No way should Malouda have started and unless he is injured Romeu should have been on the bench instead of Mikel.
Although i always Chelsea to lose, ABV tactics in the starting XI was strange.
No way should Malouda have started and unless he is injured Romeu should have been on the bench instead of Mikel.
Dr. Pepper
Chairman of Selectors
I thought AVB's tactics were fine. Malouda playing meant Mata was afforded freedom in the middle, where he's more effective and where he was for the goal itself.
Napoli were superb though. Allowed the Chelsea defence to push up but closed off the passing angles meaning they lost the ball and were caught too high up constantly.
Napoli were superb though. Allowed the Chelsea defence to push up but closed off the passing angles meaning they lost the ball and were caught too high up constantly.
War
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I dont think Mata started in the middle though. I'm pretty sure he was playing on as a right-wing forward in a 4-3-3 formation, while Malouda was playing as one of the three mid-fielders.
Dr. Pepper
Chairman of Selectors
Eh? Malouda tucked in a lot and played deep in the defensive phase whilst Sturridge played high up and wide on the right. Mata was definitely playing centrally and drifting around at the front.
War
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The guys on the uefa website displayed chelsea's formation as 4-3-3 though:
UEFA Champions League - Matches ? UEFA.com
Plus during the skysports coverage of the game i remember them displaying a similar formation to the viewers before the start of the game.
When they get the team sheet, they can't exactly tell what formation it's gonna be even if it's gonna be different from usual. So, they'll just put out the formation of what the team usually use.
If you look here:
http://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/ucl/2012/2007666_tl.pdf
It's obvious that we went with a 4-2-3-1 before eventually switching to the usual 4-3-3 when Essien and Lampard came on.
puddleduck
Chairman of Selectors
Oh my word. Will this be the 2nd biggest Champions League Bottle ever. Snuggly sat inbetween the other two Milan bottles haha
thedon5
Panel of Selectors
Glad we didn't go through. We weren't going to win it anyway, now time to secure 4th and look at 3rd possibly.
AOC was great, such a huge threat. As soon as he went off/faded due to tiredness all the attacks stopped. For now he should remain a winger I think, as he seems better down there (he even one the penalty in more of a winger's position), but in the future, maybe in a few years or so he will be playing infield.
Rosicky is also back, he was controlling the midfield really. Also great finish for the goal. Koscielny solid as usual and Vermaelen redeemed himself for his slightly shaky recent performances.
I thought Gibbs was poor as usual, don't rate him at all. I'd say Santos defends better, and that is certainly saying something considering how poor Santos is defensively. Also does very little in attack.
Walcott for once had someone who looked less braindead than him - Gervinho. Hugely disappointing display, his wastefulness is terrible, really should've finished that chance in the second half instead of waiting for a deflection/RVP. RVP also could have done better in the same chance. Other than that, just did the odd backwards and sideways pass. Completely out of the game, 10-men Arsenal really. Hopefully it's just bad form and lack of confidence after his AFCON penalty miss. The Forehead can do better, hopefully when he settles next season he'll improve, otherwise it'll be the subs bench for him. I do see him as a decent sub though.
Gervinho and Gibbs basically killed our left side. Easy night for Abate really. Maybe Gervinho should've gone to the left and tried to dribble against the shaky Mesbah, instead of Walcott doing his usual cut-ins against such a weak LB. Someone that weak needs to be dribbled against, not away from.
We bossed the game, and very happy with the performance. Hopefully coming so close dosen't dent morale (Rosicky looked pretty crushed after the game). Everyone's in need of a rest as well!
AOC was great, such a huge threat. As soon as he went off/faded due to tiredness all the attacks stopped. For now he should remain a winger I think, as he seems better down there (he even one the penalty in more of a winger's position), but in the future, maybe in a few years or so he will be playing infield.
Rosicky is also back, he was controlling the midfield really. Also great finish for the goal. Koscielny solid as usual and Vermaelen redeemed himself for his slightly shaky recent performances.
I thought Gibbs was poor as usual, don't rate him at all. I'd say Santos defends better, and that is certainly saying something considering how poor Santos is defensively. Also does very little in attack.
Walcott for once had someone who looked less braindead than him - Gervinho. Hugely disappointing display, his wastefulness is terrible, really should've finished that chance in the second half instead of waiting for a deflection/RVP. RVP also could have done better in the same chance. Other than that, just did the odd backwards and sideways pass. Completely out of the game, 10-men Arsenal really. Hopefully it's just bad form and lack of confidence after his AFCON penalty miss. The Forehead can do better, hopefully when he settles next season he'll improve, otherwise it'll be the subs bench for him. I do see him as a decent sub though.
Gervinho and Gibbs basically killed our left side. Easy night for Abate really. Maybe Gervinho should've gone to the left and tried to dribble against the shaky Mesbah, instead of Walcott doing his usual cut-ins against such a weak LB. Someone that weak needs to be dribbled against, not away from.
We bossed the game, and very happy with the performance. Hopefully coming so close dosen't dent morale (Rosicky looked pretty crushed after the game). Everyone's in need of a rest as well!
puddleduck
Chairman of Selectors
The real worry is that yet another spanish midfielder under 21 comes off the bench and scores twice haha
They're like a bleedin' conveyor belt. What do they feed them at La Masia?
They're like a bleedin' conveyor belt. What do they feed them at La Masia?
Just in case you're not sure who's in charge at Chelsea watch a video of the full time teamtalk before extra time started. Terry and Drogba doing the talking; Di Matteo looking like a spare part.
Then watch Terry on the bench after coming off. Hand gestures, shouting, giving directions...
Great win though to be fair although Barca or Real would make mincemeat of them.
Then watch Terry on the bench after coming off. Hand gestures, shouting, giving directions...
Great win though to be fair although Barca or Real would make mincemeat of them.
Well played Chelsea, thoroughly deserved the win. Thought the turning point of the match was the injury to Maggio with his replacement being none other than the legendary Andrea Dossena! Literally gifted them the match. Also feel Hamsik is highly overrated.
Just one survivor in the mix now. :/
Gotta love the resurgence of Italy in the CL this season.
Just one survivor in the mix now. :/
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