Champions League Thread (the dawn of time - 2014)

[Epic]

So... Bayern in decline now?

 

[Auwais]

Arse' were on the receiving end of some poor refereeing as well. That Martinez challenge was almost a carbon-copy of the Nani incident.

WTF was Neuer playing at as well?

 

[War]

It's a waste of Alba's attacking ability though. If they phase out Alves and bring in a more solid right-back, or even use Montoya in the starting XI, they'll have a more balanced backline.

They could play Alba @ left-wingback in that 3-4-3 formation.

All they would need is two competent defenders to partner Pique in a back three, because Mascherano is not a center back & uncle Carlos is passed his best.

Brazil's Dede, Dante & Thiago Silva or has Bevab said Vertongen would suit that formation perfectly i would think.

 

[puddleduck]

Hands off Jan please.

 

[Auwais]

They could play Alba @ left-wingback in that 3-4-3 formation.

All they would need is two competent defenders to partner Pique in a back three, because Mascherano is not a center back & uncle Carlos is passed his best.

Brazil's Dede, Dante & Thiago Silva or has Bevab said Vertongen would suit that formation perfectly i would think.

It's not an amazingly different setup from their 4-3-3 when Busquets drops in to make a temporary back three and Alves and whoever the leftback is bombs on.

I think they can keep the back four but they need a more balanced pair of full-backs. Alves and Abidal were perfect since Alves would bomb forward and Abidal was perfectly happy to tuck inside since he's capable of playing CB as well.

With the signing of Alba, they've just shifted the attacking slant onto the other flank. Their defensive setup just looks a bit six and one, half dozen of the other at the moment. I thought the logical thing would've been to convert Busquets to a permanent sweeper and push Alves and Alba forward but who knows.

 

[War]

Hands off Jan please.

Ha no worries, just throwing a name out.

----------

It's not an amazingly different setup from their 4-3-3 when Busquets drops in to make a temporary back three and Alves and whoever the leftback is bombs on.

I think they can keep the back four but they need a more balanced pair of full-backs. Alves and Abidal were perfect since Alves would bomb forward and Abidal was perfectly happy to tuck inside since he's capable of playing CB as well.

With the signing of Alba, they've just shifted the attacking slant onto the other flank. Their defensive setup just looks a bit six and one, half dozen of the other at the moment. I thought the logical thing would've been to convert Busquets to a permanent sweeper and push Alves and Alba forward but who knows.

Ye that's a key tactical point you make. Indeed when Abidal played he did that. Plus even with Spain, it was either Ramos or Alba bombing forward & Arbeloa or Capedevilla stay back.

But whichever formation they use going forward, they need some new central defenders.

 

[War]

BBC Sport - Arsene Wenger warns Premier League after European failures

Surprised to hear Wenger give this spurious reasoning. The premier league clubs are fine, this season lack of quarter-finalist is very likely just a aberration.

----------

I've only ever seen you post twice in these football threads (the other one during Man Utd v Liverpool), and on both occasions, you've just shamelessly copy-pasted stuff from zonalmarking.net!

Barcelona 4-0 Milan: Villa plays centrally and allows Messi space between the lines | Zonal Marking

Check out the 'Villa as a blocker' para.

Ha damn Haarithan, this looks bad indeed.

 

[Bevab]

WTF was Neuer playing at as well?

Neuer has been a bit error prone this season. Maybe the quality of the defence is a reason that could breed complacency.

 

[Haarithan]

First look at Isco yesterday, and I feel he's definitely among the next big things in Europe. Wondrous talent, and that goal was just simply out of the hat - just minutes after Malaga had ridiculously been robbed a goal - Saviola tapped into an empty net, only for the stupid Italian referee, Rizzolli, to disallow it for a non-existent foul on Helton by Julio Baptista, when in truth, it should have been Danilo sent off for actually pushing Baptista in Helton's way and denying Julio a clear scoring chance.

Porto's second half substitute, James Rodriguez, is also one for the future. Flawless technique.

 

[Bevab]

Isco won't be at Malaga next season, could be a good player in Man City's system. He is Iniesta's successor for Spain I feel.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

BBC Sport - Arsene Wenger warns Premier League after European failures

Surprised to hear Wenger give this spurious reasoning. The premier league clubs are fine, this season lack of quarter-finalist is very likely just a aberration.

----------

Yep, especially as one club almost made it through despite no one giving them a chance, and one club was royally shafted by a refereeing decision.

 

[Bevab]

Feel that Schweinsteiger and Ribery are massively under-rated at Bayern. Bayern could have won if they had Schweinsteiger, he makes an incredible difference to their team.

 

[Epic]

The draw for the quarterfinals:

Real Madrid v Galatasaray
Malaga v Borussia Dortmund
PSG v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Juventus

 

[Gurjot95]

Lost interest in this Champions League after early exist of Premier League teams. I'll supporting Barcelona, if they don't reach finals then Bayern Munich.

 

[Haarithan]

The draw for the quarterfinals:

Real Madrid v Galatasaray
Malaga v Borussia Dortmund
PSG v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Juventus

Germany v Italy. I like Juve's chances here...