Champions League Thread (the dawn of time - 2014)

[JBlues08]

I reckon you and your fellow Sugar club Man City might be getting a bit nervous about how good Utd will be once we're cash rich again, when we can cope with the both of you now!

First of all, there aren't any official news about your club being taken over. And besides, like we're gonna bother much about it. It's better for you guys to continue taming your rich noisy neighbour first before worrying about anything related to us.

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Ha im trying to remember since the United vs Chelsea rivalry heated up from the Mourinho era. When last was their was a game between the two teams were either of the sides felt aggrieved by some decision.

Huh?

 

[War]

Huh?

Poor grammar by me, i edited.

 

[m_vaughan]

Two more Clasicos then. Shakhtar played much better than how Tottenham did against us but still lost 1-5.

Its gonna be epic, those two games, and I honestly believe the winner will lift the title.

 

[JBlues08]

Two more Clasicos then. Shakhtar played much better than how Tottenham did against us but still lost 1-5.

Its gonna be epic, those two games, and I honestly believe the winner will lift the title.

4 Classicos in the space of two weeks is just madness!

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Ha im trying to remember looking back down the years, since the United vs Chelsea rivalry heated up during the Mourinho era. Almost every game premiership, cup or European game between the two teams since 2005/06, some one of the sides always seem to be on wrong end of poor decision.

I think that was more of the case in the last few meetings. I can't really remember any controversies in the early stages of the Mourinho era in those matches.

 

[Haarithan]

Anybody caught a glimpse of how that ████ dived twice let alone missing a sitter before halftime ??

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Carrick

Him, Rio, Rooney and Giggs were all outstanding. Utd played well but the 4-4-2 was open. Having said that, Chelsea very rarely made the most of it. Absolutely no creativity. Why wasn't Benayoun brought on? Signing Torres instead of a playmaker is one of the most ridiculous transfers I've seen.

 

[JBlues08]

Why wasn't Benayoun brought on?

I guess he wasn't exactly match fit?

Signing Torres instead of a playmaker is one of the most ridiculous transfers I've seen.

Tell that to Roman Abramovich.

 

[Haarithan]

I predict Shakhtar to knock out Barca.

Say what ??

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I predict Shakhtar to knock out Barca.

Hmmm... I'd give up on the predictions in that case.

 

[War]

Carrick

Him, Rio, Rooney and Giggs were all outstanding. Utd played well but the 4-4-2 was open. Having said that, Chelsea very rarely made the most of it. Absolutely no creativity. Why wasn't Benayoun brought on? Signing Torres instead of a playmaker is one of the most ridiculous transfers I've seen.

Na i would't say that. Id say Chelsea are lacking some goal-scoring wingers like a Ribery, Bale, Robben, Ashley Young since Anelka & Malouda aren't giving them those goals to help the lone forward in Torres or Drogba of late.

 

[JBlues08]

Na i would't say that. Id say Chelsea are lacking some goal-scoring wingers like a Ribery, Bale, Robben, Ashley Young since Anelka & Malouda aren't giving them those goals to help the lone forward in Torres or Drogba of late.

Part of it is like you said there, we don't have a proper winger in our team at the moment. Malouda is the closest that we have but his form this season has been mainly erratic!

Gone were the days we had players like Duff, Robben, Cole and even SWP in the team.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Na i would't say that. Id say Chelsea are lacking some goal-scoring wingers like a Ribery, Bale, Robben, Ashley Young since Anelka & Malouda aren't giving them those goals to help the lone forward in Torres or Drogba of late.

They aren't scoring goals because Chelsea aren't creating chances. Just static and stale. If Drogba and Anelka get chances they'll take them, they don't need to be replaced just yet (and definitely not for 50m). And now that they've signed Torres, they can't play him alongside another forward, they have to play a genuine lone forward. And that means they need a playmaker in midfield, which they don't have.

 

[War]

They aren't scoring goals because Chelsea aren't creating chances. Just static and stale. If Drogba and Anelka get chances they'll take them, they don't need to be replaced just yet (and definitely not for 50m). And now that they've signed Torres, they can't play him alongside another forward, they have to play a genuine lone forward. And that means they need a playmaker in midfield, which they don't have.

Well their was no genuine playmaking mid-fielder that was available in the January transfer window TBF, who i reckon could have/would have wanted to go to Chelsea. Plus in another season or so with Drogba's age, they would have been looking for another 25+ goal a season forward, so i see Torres as a long-term investment.

Chelsea normally play 4-3-3/4-1-2-3/4-5-1 since they became a force in the premiership circa 05/06. They never had a playmaking mid-fielder, Drogba's main support for goals came from wingers (Robben, Duff, Cole, Malouda, Anelka - when the latter two where in form) & Lampard's goals from mid-field. This season the wing option goals have disappeared.

 

[Akash00]

Say what ??

Okay, they still have a slim chance though. A win with a clean sheet in Ukraine would take them through.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Well their was no genuine playmaking mid-fielder that was available in the January transfer window TBF, who i reckon could have/would have wanted to go to Chelsea. Plus in another season or so with Drogba's age, they would have been looking for another 25+ goal a season forward, so i see Torres as a long-term investment.

Chelsea normally play 4-3-3/4-1-2-3/4-5-1 since they became a force in the premiership circa 05/06. They never had a playmaking mid-fielder, Drogba's main support for goals came from wingers (Robben, Duff, Cole, Malouda, Anelka - when the latter two where in form) & Lampard's goals from mid-field. This season the wing option goals have disappeared.

Drogba would need replacing yet, but it wasn't exactly urgent. There was no value in signing Torres for ?50m, as if they had to sign him.

As for playmakers they could've signed Alexis Sanchez. They could've gone for Modric. Hell they could've just paid that little bit extra and signed Steven Pienaar. There's just no creativity in the side at the moment.

It's true that they've been playing 4-3-3 for years now but they have to adapt. The 4-3-3 isn't working so they need to change it. But they can't really play a diamond because they have no playmaker, and they have to play this very open 4-4-2 that most sides will exploit.

Even a creative wide player would've done tbh. Just someone who would bring a burst of excitement and creativity. That's why I think Sanchez is the perfect signing for Chelsea - he's fast, he's eccentric and has that spark of brilliance about him.