CL Matchday 4 - Tuesday/Wednesday

"Liverpool on chances and play shouldn't have got beaten"
I'm sorry, but that's a pathetic excuse...Barça fans always get blasted when we try to use that...if Liverpool's players couldn't finish, then it's not bad luck, but bad finishing. Simple. Same thing with Van Persie...maybe Arsenal should have bought Huntelaar instead then. And ok, maybe Chelsea didn't get outplayed, but 3-1 is a pretty comprehensive scoreline.


I know the Spanish teams did poorly too, I'm just pointing out that all the English teams, relative to their strength (I think most people would put 3 of the 4 in the top 5 favourites for the CL this year, if not top 3) had a poor matchday this time, so Fey's point of "tonight proves it", proves nothing

kas wrote:

Fey wrote:La Liga is a joke, cant believe its even a contest on here if its better then the EPL or not....its not! Tonight proves it!!! The best team in Spain is so Cr@p these days its insane!

Not the best matchday to make this point is it...

Chelsea got outplayed by a Roma who are currently awful in their own league.

Liverpool should have lost to Atletico.

Man. Utd. drew against the mighty Celtic.

Arsenal drew at home against a Fenerbahce who are also struggling big time in their domestic league...though at least Arsenal have the caveat of a crazy injury list.

Well as most teams are pretty much qualified already the matches were essentially meaningless

Jaime said it for me, and now I'm sayin it myself


Barca are the only spanish team who will be favourites to stick it out to the end of the comp, but of course you never know in the CL

No, I agree with you, but I think we'll also come unstuck in the knockout stages if we are up against an English team at full-strength. The team is in good form now, but tactically and defensively there is quite a bit of learning left before they reach the level of solidity required to win a CL.

Real Madrid, Atletico, and Villarreal will definitely not win it. Maybe with a good draw Atleti or Villarreal go deep, but not winners for sure

So what you guys are saying is Serie A is king right now . After all they have the highest points total this year.

I just want to say Alex Del Piero is incredible. He has been my favorite player for so many years (even a bit more than Maldini). I was very shocked when I saw the scoreline. 2-0 in Spain against Real Madrid!!! The first game, I thought, maybe Juve got lucky because they were ruthlessly efficient. But to beat Real twice in the space of a few weeks, you have to say that they are just better.

I still think Real will qualify--they are too good not to. Chelsea weren't outplayed by Roma, but Roma were the better team. Let's see how Italian teams do in the UEFA cup today. But it seems, surprisingly, England and Spain had bad rounds. Less surprisingly, so did Germany.

It did proof a lot yesterday! Madrid has been the best Spanish for the last few years now...but they were getting outplayed by Sissoko and Mellberg! That can not be healthy!

If the biggest threat for the English team has to come from Spain..then I think we just skip the play-offs! And let the English teams battle it out again.

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:So what you guys are saying is Serie A is king right now . After all they have the highest points total this year.

I just want to say Alex Del Piero is incredible. He has been my favorite player for so many years (even a bit more than Maldini). I was very shocked when I saw the scoreline. 2-0 in Spain against Real Madrid!!! The first game, I thought, maybe Juve got lucky because they were ruthlessly efficient. But to beat Real twice in the space of a few weeks, you have to say that they are just better.

I still think Real will qualify--they are too good not to. Chelsea weren't outplayed by Roma, but Roma were the better team. Let's see how Italian teams do in the UEFA cup today. But it seems, surprisingly, England and Spain had bad rounds. Less surprisingly, so did Germany.

All hail Del Piero BUT....
the fact is he did two things last night and that is about it. it wasnt some super performance like i have seen from oponents in Bernabeu. impressive nonetheless that he can still decide games at top level.

regarding the game im guesing you didnt watch actually i know you didnt. Juve had 2-3 chances last night all from Del Piero of course and with the great efficiency that italians seem to have they won.we were terrible and just like against Roma last year we made them look good when they werent. our problem is not in our players but in our coach.

zizoued wrote:Chelsea looked awful, liverpool need a dive to steal a draw, Manure scrapped a victory, and Arse look spineless.

It's Real Madrid's to win this year

the ECL dont come alive now until the knock out stages these groups are a bit dull til a biggy may go out

DS wrote:

zizoued wrote:Chelsea looked awful, liverpool need a dive to steal a draw, Manure scrapped a victory, and Arse look spineless.

Did you even watch the game.It was a draw a Barcelona vs ManU kind of game , attacking side vs the defending.

shazlx wrote:

DS wrote:

zizoued wrote:Chelsea looked awful, liverpool need a dive to steal a draw, Manure scrapped a victory, and Arse look spineless.

Did you even watch the game.It was a draw a Barcelona vs ManU kind of game , attacking side vs the defending.

We won the tie firstly , 2ndly we were unambitious away from home not at home , thirdly yeah same as Arsenal Villarreal.
74% possesion 30 shots , I dont have a clue how much possesion Barca had that day.

kas wrote:No, I agree with you, but I think we'll also come unstuck in the knockout stages if we are up against an English team at full-strength. The team is in good form now, but tactically and defensively there is quite a bit of learning left before they reach the level of solidity required to win a CL.

Real Madrid, Atletico, and Villarreal will definitely not win it. Maybe with a good draw Atleti or Villarreal go deep, but not winners for sure

Again, the circumstances with the EPL clubs are entirely different to those of clubs from the other leagues.

Villarreal are new to European football, and Atleti haven't been involved in the CL for some years. I think I remember Cerezo stating that their hope is to qualify for the CL (which they did by beating Stuttgart, or was it Schalke?), and with a bit of luck to make it out of the group stages. Atleti have done very well.

Barca and Madrid are obviously the two Spanish clubs who always qualify, and Madrid have no doubt underperformed in recent years. Barca have been fine.

Italy, Fiorentina similar to Atleti haven't been involved in the competition for a while and given their group they probably weren't expecting a great deal.

Juve have surprised me, but they've not been involved for a couple of years and weren't expected to pull down any trees.

Roma are broke and have a thin squad, they weren't expected to compete. Only Inter came into the comp strong Italian candidates.

Once again, the it is the same EPL four who have all the money, and all the experience. It is no surprise that they are strong, but get a City, Villa etc in the CL, and they'd struggle too. I think this has been evident with English sides in the UEFA Cup in recent years.

Yeah Leeds struggled in their first season.

And I think neither City( the City with backing) nor Villa will fail this time.

L.r.d wrote:Yeah Leeds struggled in their first season.

So did Villarreal.

Super Madrid wrote:

L.r.d wrote:Yeah Leeds struggled in their first season.

So did Villarreal.

What?

L.r.d wrote:

Super Madrid wrote:

L.r.d wrote:Yeah Leeds struggled in their first season.

So did Villarreal.

What?

Im sorry werent you being ironic?

L.r.d wrote:Yeah Leeds struggled in their first season.

Smarmy little c**t.

Super Madrid wrote:

L.r.d wrote:

Super Madrid wrote:

L.r.d wrote:Yeah Leeds struggled in their first season.

So did Villarreal.

What?

Im sorry werent you being ironic?

No i was showing his examples are not actually factually correct, since when another team did break the top 4 they did very well.

Villarreal doing well or not so well is irrelevant.

Real Madrid have been in it every year, and they haven't made the quarters in 3 or more seasons and god knows how much they spend.

So this assertion that the top 4 in England only do well because of consistently being involved year in and year out... or money imo is just a way of twisting reality to suit in Callidads case a preference or a dislike of a certain league.

True story.

L.r.d wrote:

Super Madrid wrote:

L.r.d wrote:

Super Madrid wrote:

L.r.d wrote:Yeah Leeds struggled in their first season.

So did Villarreal.

What?

Im sorry werent you being ironic?

No i was showing his examples are not actually factually correct, since when another team did break the top 4 they did very well.

Villarreal doing well or not so well is irrelevant.

Real Madrid have been in it every year, and they haven't made the quarters in 3 or more seasons and god knows how much they spend.

So this assertion that the top 4 in England only do well because of consistently being involved year in and year out... or money imo is just a way of twisting reality to suit in Callidads case a preference or a dislike of a certain league.

True story.

The reason is that Real Madrid is run in an entirely different way then any english clubs.if you have inconsistency in management you will have inconsistency in the sports department. so his case is very much true.
also Leeds didnt break the top 4 because it didnt exist in the same form if im not mistaken.

L.r.d wrote:

Super Madrid wrote:

L.r.d wrote:

Super Madrid wrote:

L.r.d wrote:Yeah Leeds struggled in their first season.

So did Villarreal.

What?

Im sorry werent you being ironic?

No i was showing his examples are not actually factually correct, since when another team did break the top 4 they did very well.

Villarreal doing well or not so well is irrelevant.

Real Madrid have been in it every year, and they haven't made the quarters in 3 or more seasons and god knows how much they spend.

So this assertion that the top 4 in England only do well because of consistently being involved year in and year out... or money imo is just a way of twisting reality to suit in Callidads case a preference or a dislike of a certain league.

True story.

And thank God it is just your opinion, because it stinks. As usual you get over excitable at the thought of proving someone wrong, adding 2 + 2 and getting 5.

Nowhere in my post did I say that 'the only reason' the EPL top four do well because of money and experience; I did, however, say it play's a large part, and only an idiot would contest that.

Super Madrid wrote:

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:So what you guys are saying is Serie A is king right now . After all they have the highest points total this year.

I just want to say Alex Del Piero is incredible. He has been my favorite player for so many years (even a bit more than Maldini). I was very shocked when I saw the scoreline. 2-0 in Spain against Real Madrid!!! The first game, I thought, maybe Juve got lucky because they were ruthlessly efficient. But to beat Real twice in the space of a few weeks, you have to say that they are just better.

I still think Real will qualify--they are too good not to. Chelsea weren't outplayed by Roma, but Roma were the better team. Let's see how Italian teams do in the UEFA cup today. But it seems, surprisingly, England and Spain had bad rounds. Less surprisingly, so did Germany.

All hail Del Piero BUT....
the fact is he did two things last night and that is about it. it wasnt some super performance like i have seen from oponents in Bernabeu. impressive nonetheless that he can still decide games at top level.

regarding the game im guesing you didnt watch actually i know you didnt. Juve had 2-3 chances last night all from Del Piero of course and with the great efficiency that italians seem to have they won.we were terrible and just like against Roma last year we made them look good when they werent. our problem is not in our players but in our coach.

I didn't see the game. I admitted that in my post.

Juve beat Real twice in quick succession. So their gameplan seems to have worked, and proved better. On that evidence, we can say Juve is better than Real currently (for whatever reason...Diarra, Schuster). Trust me, I don't like saying that too much.

To go to one of the biggest stadiums in the world and beat the biggest football club in history (yes, bigger than Milan) is a big deal. Juve seemed to be tactically organized and a fantastic technical player, Del Piero, scored twice. I hate to break this to you, but that's what football is about. So Real did not lose to Juve; Juve beat them. You guys definitely have more talent on paper, but Juve used their qualities appropriately. So, that's my take.

Fiorentina are surely out now... we are not ready for this level yet, too naive. Perhaps UEFA Cup would be a welcome change. Hopefully we will be back next year, and better prepared.

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:

Super Madrid wrote:

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:So what you guys are saying is Serie A is king right now . After all they have the highest points total this year.

I just want to say Alex Del Piero is incredible. He has been my favorite player for so many years (even a bit more than Maldini). I was very shocked when I saw the scoreline. 2-0 in Spain against Real Madrid!!! The first game, I thought, maybe Juve got lucky because they were ruthlessly efficient. But to beat Real twice in the space of a few weeks, you have to say that they are just better.

I still think Real will qualify--they are too good not to. Chelsea weren't outplayed by Roma, but Roma were the better team. Let's see how Italian teams do in the UEFA cup today. But it seems, surprisingly, England and Spain had bad rounds. Less surprisingly, so did Germany.

All hail Del Piero BUT....
the fact is he did two things last night and that is about it. it wasnt some super performance like i have seen from oponents in Bernabeu. impressive nonetheless that he can still decide games at top level.

regarding the game im guesing you didnt watch actually i know you didnt. Juve had 2-3 chances last night all from Del Piero of course and with the great efficiency that italians seem to have they won.we were terrible and just like against Roma last year we made them look good when they werent. our problem is not in our players but in our coach.

I didn't see the game. I admitted that in my post.

Juve beat Real twice in quick succession. So their gameplan seems to have worked, and proved better. On that evidence, we can say Juve is better than Real currently (for whatever reason...Diarra, Schuster). Trust me, I don't like saying that too much.

To go to one of the biggest stadiums in the world and beat the biggest football club in history (yes, bigger than Milan) is a big deal. Juve seemed to be tactically organized and a fantastic technical player, Del Piero, scored twice. I hate to break this to you, but that's what football is about. So Real did not lose to Juve; Juve beat them. You guys definitely have more talent on paper, but Juve used their qualities appropriately. So, that's my take.

My point is that Juve werent that great but we made them look much better then they were. it is not that i dont want to give praise to Juve because i dont really have to much against juve like and pretty much any italian fans on here. we can agree that Juve used the qualities to the fullest.

Gigliati wrote:Fiorentina are surely out now... we are not ready for this level yet, too naive. Perhaps UEFA Cup would be a welcome change. Hopefully we will be back next year, and better prepared.

Fiorentina done well to qualify, I'm sure that's all Prandelli was hoping for. If you qualify for the CL again this year, I'm sure you'd do better. You have a talented squad.

With regards to the Madrid - Juve game, Eurosprt was showing extended highlights last night, and in all honesty Madrid didn't play badly. They had good possession, passed the ball out well and Juve fasioned few chances (3 to be precise). Of course Madrid fashioned probably even fewer chances on the night, but they were by no means outclassed.

Higuain should be starting ahead of Raul - he played well when he came on IMO. I do like the look of Marcelo as well, and Schuster should keep faith with him.

For Juve, really impressed by Amauri, he's like Drogba but without the diving antics. He works his socks off. Chiellini and obviously Del Piero were excellent as well. Alex still oozes class, and Chiellini looks like he could become one of the very best in the world in his position for a long time given his age.

I personally think that Aston Villa would do wuite well in Europe. O'Neill is a pretty experienced manager and its not as though Villa lack the quality to succeed. IMO they could make the last 16 with the current squad.

City I'm less sure about. With their team next year, they may well be, but their current team lacks experience. They seem incapable of shutting the game out, and IMO, they still lack defensive experience.

Gigliati wrote:Fiorentina are surely out now... we are not ready for this level yet, too naive. Perhaps UEFA Cup would be a welcome change. Hopefully we will be back next year, and better prepared.

you have to beat Lyon in the next game (at home) and then hope Lyon don't win against Bayern in the final match whilst you of course have to beat Steau. Looks like a long shot.

I agree about being too naive. You should've closed out the games against Lyon and Bayern when you were leading. If you had done that, you'd be level with both teams.

Still, you lot can go far in the UEFA cup considering how far you went last year.

Tweedle wrote:I personally think that Aston Villa would do wuite well in Europe. O'Neill is a pretty experienced manager and its not as though Villa lack the quality to succeed. IMO they could make the last 16 with the current squad.

City I'm less sure about. With their team next year, they may well be, but their current team lacks experience. They seem incapable of shutting the game out, and IMO, they still lack defensive experience.

I said a few weeks ago that Villa are the strongest English side in the UEFA Cup, but I think they'll be knocked out by the first 'big' team they meet. Just my opinion of course.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Gigliati wrote:Fiorentina are surely out now... we are not ready for this level yet, too naive. Perhaps UEFA Cup would be a welcome change. Hopefully we will be back next year, and better prepared.

you have to beat Lyon in the next game (at home) and then hope Lyon don't win against Bayern in the final match whilst you of course have to beat Steau. Looks like a long shot.

I agree about being too naive. You should've closed out the games against Lyon and Bayern when you were leading. If you had done that, you'd be level with both teams.

Still, you lot can go far in the UEFA cup considering how far you went last year.

Yeah, if only Fiorentina had held on top their leads against Lyon and Bayern, they would have been in drivers seat in this group. It is down to naivity, and the fact that Prandelli insists on playing without a DM even in Europe... you have to be more prudent when playin top teams in Europe, specially when you are leading. Fiorentina have issues when playing top sides, even in Serie A, and this is one aspect they will have to address if they want to make an impact in Europe.

Hope you guys make it to UEFA Cup, you can definately give that a decent shot.