Champions League Thread 2014/2015

[TBM]

All English clubs out at the last 16 stage of the Champions League FFS

Gr8 isn't it?

Best LOLeague in the world

The Premiership is just better than the Champions League. Teams try harder.

LOL at ITV mainly. Do they still have to fill up 5 prime-time slots with what is left or can they shove some onto ITV3 and forget about them?

They will jump on the Real Madrid band waggon now

[No Fixed Abode]

Much as I enjoyed and agreed with much of the Souness rant, I thought singling Chelsea out as the true villains of the piece and PSG as the virtuous victors was a bit much.

PSG certainly deserved to go through over the two legs but both teams were an utter embarrassment when it came to gamesmanship.

People have forgotten the 1st leg in Paris where PSG tried to kick us off the pitch. No qualms really over the result over the 2 legs, but certainly on another day, with another ref, PSG should have been down to 9 men, with Ibramhimovich and Veratti being sent off. Veratti for persistent fouling and Ibra for a cynical foul on Hazard (Similar to the Nasri one last night where people saying it should have been a red). Then, let's not forget the penalty that Chelsea should have had in the 2nd leg when Costa was brought down in the box.

As much as we played sh1te, those decision which should have gone for us, would have seen us through. Small margins.

City were well and truly beaten. Arsenal suffered from a terrible 1st leg but were decent in Monaco.

I don't think the Prem is as bad as everyone is making out, it's just the physicality week in, week out, which is harder than the likes of Italy, Spain etc.....plus our FA doesn't 'play ball' with helping our clubs in Europe.

[TBM]

Makes you wonder if a winter break would do "us" good in Europe?!

[AthleticoSpizz]

And there goes the last of England's' interests in the Europa too (DK 5 Everton 2).

Our pay tv companies must be well nauseus

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Makes you wonder if a winter break would do "us" good in Europe?!

No, it wouldnt

[TBM]

Makes you wonder if a winter break would do "us" good in Europe?!

No, it wouldnt

You say that but it always seems to be after Xmas that English teams struggle

[Winston Smith]

Makes you wonder if a winter break would do "us" good in Europe?!

No, it wouldnt

You say that but it always seems to be after Xmas that English teams struggle

8 finalists (3 winners) in the last 10 seasons suggests we dont struggle at all.

[Vision]

Much as I enjoyed and agreed with much of the Souness rant, I thought singling Chelsea out as the true villains of the piece and PSG as the virtuous victors was a bit much.

PSG certainly deserved to go through over the two legs but both teams were an utter embarrassment when it came to gamesmanship.

People have forgotten the 1st leg in Paris where PSG tried to kick us off the pitch. No qualms really over the result over the 2 legs, but certainly on another day, with another ref, PSG should have been down to 9 men, with Ibramhimovich and Veratti being sent off. Veratti for persistent fouling and Ibra for a cynical foul on Hazard (Similar to the Nasri one last night where people saying it should have been a red). Then, let's not forget the penalty that Chelsea should have had in the 2nd leg when Costa was brought down in the box.

As much as we played sh1te, those decision which should have gone for us, would have seen us through. Small margins.

City were well and truly beaten. Arsenal suffered from a terrible 1st leg but were decent in Monaco.

I don't think the Prem is as bad as everyone is making out, it's just the physicality week in, week out, which is harder than the likes of Italy, Spain etc.....plus our FA doesn't 'play ball' with helping our clubs in Europe.

Agree it was a definite penalty but penalties aren't always scored (ask Aguero) and even if they did score it's no guarantee that the end result would have been any different. PSG seemed to have an answer for whatever Chelsea threw at them over the two legs. They played the bulk of the 2nd leg with a man less and still didn't buckle so I just got the feeling that they would have overcome most obstacles.

'greed about Veratti. There's clearly ability there but he's a horrible little pcunt. Genuinely reminded me of Dennis Wise.

[TBM]

You say that but it always seems to be after Xmas that English teams struggle

8 finalists (3 winners) in the last 10 seasons suggests we dont struggle at all.

Why 10 years? - do 5 years and you'll see that Germany and Spain dominate it...

[Sanguine]

Was lucky enough to be at the Nou Camp for the game on Wednesday. City were absolutely dire - there is no way they will challenge in Europe with an apparently immobile Toure in a two-man central midfield. City fans were tearing into him. No passion from the team, which bar Milner, who neverthless played poorly, was absolutely static. Needing to score two and they came out as if defending a 1-0 lead.

Messi was sublime. So pleased I got to see him play live, his ball control and flicked passes really are something else, he glides along the ground. Barcelona cantered to victory without really going through the gears.

The Nou Camp is a stunning ground - you can see right across the city from the 5th tier - not much by way of atmosphere bar a section behind each goal - or at least you couldn't hear it from up in the Gods, but then with a view like this, who needs one?

http://i58.tinypic.com/vzkk1f.jpg

[6ft Kerplunk]

You say that but it always seems to be after Xmas that English teams struggle

No co-incidence that after xmas is when the rubbish teams are out?

[LUX]

You say that but it always seems to be after Xmas that English teams struggle

No co-incidence that after xmas is when the rubbish teams like Liverpool are out?

[Zammo]

Full draw:
Paris St-Germain v Barcelona
Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid
Porto v Bayern Munich
Juventus v Monaco

*shrugs shoulders*

[genome]

Full draw:
Paris St-Germain v Barcelona
Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid
Porto v Bayern Munich
Juventus v Monaco

*shrugs shoulders*

Barca, Real, Bayern, Juventus in the semis.

Barca vs Real final please!

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Makes you wonder if a winter break would do "us" good in Europe?!

No, it wouldnt

You say that but it always seems to be after Xmas that English teams struggle

You mean that's when we come up against the good teams?

[Royal Rother]

You say that but it always seems to be after Xmas that English teams struggle

No co-incidence that after xmas is when the rubbish teams are out?

[Royalclapper]

Might just be my imagination but FC Porto seem to do extremely well considering their League isn't anywhere near as good as the bigger hitters and are overlooked somewhat.

Benfica, Sporting etc from Portugal do appear in these Euro competitions regularly yet Porto achieve more (haven't looked it up properly so might not be exactly true). Mourinho of course won two European pots with them though I'm sure they've won the European Cup before that in the 80s IIRC.

Good going for a team that a lot of football followers wouldn't consider as being a top club in Europe, they are though IMO.

[Sanguine]

Might just be my imagination but FC Porto seem to do extremely well considering their League isn't anywhere near as good as the bigger hitters and are overlooked somewhat.

Benfica, Sporting etc from Portugal do appear in these Euro competitions regularly yet Porto achieve more (haven't looked it up properly so might not be exactly true). Mourinho of course won two European pots with them though I'm sure they've won the European Cup before that in the 80s IIRC.

Good going for a team that a lot of football followers wouldn't consider as being a top club in Europe, they are though IMO.

Agreed to an extent - they are punching above their weight to be in the QFs (this is only their second QF since Mourinho's win in 2003. But domestically, they have won more Portugese titles than anyone, 7 of the last 9, and only lost one league game for three season between 10-11 and 12-13. They are in it every year.

[Whatevs]

You say that but it always seems to be after Xmas that English teams struggle

8 finalists (3 winners) in the last 10 seasons suggests we dont struggle at all.

Why 10 years? - do 5 years and you'll see that Germany and Spain dominate it...

In last 5 years

2 finalists 1 winner for UK
2 finalists 2 winners for Spain
3 finalists 1 winner for Germany

[Silver Fox]

Well, you can prove anything with facts