Champions League Thread (the dawn of time - 2014)

[Epic]

Francisco Javier Garc?a Fern?ndez?

I wouldn't be all that surprised if Anish is still clueless.

 

[Anish.]

Got it.

 

[Auwais]

Real did produce a decent list of players, just that they sold them off instead of developing them.

The amount of talent Real have let slip through their fingers over the past decade and more is staggering.

 

[Epic]

Payback for 2009 I see... 2 goals that shouldn't have been, but all that matters is, Bayern to Wembley!

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Were the Bayern fans just now chanting something to the tune of 'Roll Out the Barrel' - a well known British WW2 era song?

I'm watching it on ITV+1 by the way.

 

[War]

In a lot of ways such a hammering was on the wall for Barca, they having been getting away with their very porous defense all season, especially in the C-League.

Bayern in current form even without Mandzukic (spell check), were always likely to really expose them in that area more clinically that any team in Europe right now.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

So, the almighty Barca get their arses spanked! Perhaps their 'turn' is over.

At least now it looks as though we won't get two Spanish teams stamping all over Wembley, just to rub in the fact that we've dropped off badly in Europe (all English teams, not just Utd). We could get two German teams stamping all over Wembley instead - not too much of an improvement considering they thoroughly whacked our national side in the last World Cup.

 

[Epic]

Were the Bayern fans just now chanting something to the tune of 'Roll Out the Barrel' - a well known British WW2 era song?

I'm watching it on ITV+1 by the way.

I don't know what's more surprising, them supposedly chanting to the tune of "Roll Out the Barrel" or you recognizing it...

So, the almighty Barca get their arses spanked! Perhaps their 'turn' is over.

At least now it looks as though we won't get two Spanish teams stamping all over Wembley, just to rub in the fact that we've dropped off badly in Europe (all English teams, not just Utd). We could get two German teams stamping all over Wembley instead - not too much of an improvement considering they thoroughly whacked our national side in the last World Cup.

Don't think so, there's just far too much quality (and money) at their disposal for them to just fizzle out, they'll only comeback stronger I feel.

 

[barmyarmy]

Could yet win the treble and still replacing the coach!

 

[Auwais]

In a lot of ways such a hammering was on the wall for Barca, they having been getting away with their very porous defense all season, especially in the C-League.

Bayern in current form even without Mandzukic (spell check), were always likely to really expose them in that area more clinically that any team in Europe right now.

Aye, very impressive nonetheless, especially without Mand?uki? and Kroos, two of their most important players but it was inevitable at some point.

Barca have had Messi drag them out of trouble plenty of times this season but they need to have another goal-threat in their side if Messi doesn't score, as they had in 2008/09 with Henry and Eto'o.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I don't know what's more surprising, them supposedly chanting to the tune of "Roll Out the Barrel" or you recognizing it...

I'm heavily interested in British history, especially wartime periods, with WW2 at the top of the list.

 

[War]

Aye, very impressive nonetheless, especially without Mand?uki? and Kroos, two of their most important players but it was inevitable at some point.

Barca have had Messi drag them out of trouble plenty of times this season but they need to have another goal-threat in their side if Messi doesn't score, as they had in 2008/09 with Henry and Eto'o.

Yea they should probably go after Falcao cause Villa hasn't being himself since he broke his leg.

Need a strong central defender or two because Puyol is finished & the mascherano experiment as a defender isn't working anymore also.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

Don't think so, there's just far too much quality (and money) at their disposal for them to just fizzle out, they'll only comeback stronger I feel.

probably, plus it's clear messi wasn't at full fitness. still, they're not great in the market, the team is very much built around their superb youth products, if they splash millions on neymar it might come back and bite them as I'm beginning to agree with the people that said he might not really set europe alight.

 

[Epic]

Barca have had Messi drag them out of trouble plenty of times this season but they need to have another goal-threat in their side if Messi doesn't score, as they had in 2008/09 with Henry and Eto'o.

This.

Yea they should probably go after Falcao cause Villa hasn't being himself since he broke his leg.

Need a strong central defender or two because Puyol is finished & the mascherano experiment as a defender isn't working anymore also.

Barca go after goal scorers who can play out wide(as inside forwards) and unless you know something that I don't, Falcao isn't one of them.

And as far as central defenders go, they missed out on the perfect one in Thiago Silva, simple as.

probably, plus it's clear messi wasn't at full fitness. still, they're not great in the market, the team is very much built around their superb youth products, if they splash millions on neymar it might come back and bite them as I'm beginning to agree with the people that said he might not really set europe alight.

I haven't seen enough of Neymar to come to any sort of conclusion, but those same people said the same thing about a certain Lucas Moura(especially, and I mean especially after he snubbed United for PSG) and look how that's turning out, so imo, you never know unless it happens.

 

[War]

Barca go after goal scorers who can play out wide(as inside forwards) and unless you know something that I don't, Falcao isn't one of them.

And as far as central defenders go, they missed out on the perfect one in Thiago Silva, simple as.

Yes that has been their tradition for a while, but i was more impressed with how the balance of their squad looked when they played 3-5-1-1 formation vs Milan in the 4-0 win - Barcelona in Champions League 2012/2013 matchday 8

As you might recall you had Alves supplying the width & i felt Messi was even more difficult to mark when the Milan had Villa up from to occupy him.

Falcao would be the perfect replacement for Villa to do that role & score goals. Alba who always looks better going forward than defending would supply the width out left.

So then they would need to competent defenders to support Pique. Thiago Silva, Dede from Brazil & Vertongen would work perfect in a back three.

------------------------Valdes-----------------

----------Silva/Dede----Pique----Vertongen------------

-----------------------Busquets---------------------

Alves--------Xavi------------------Iniesta---------Alba

-------------------------Messi-------------------------

---------------------------Falcao-----------------------