CL Round of 16: Madrid vs The Lions

I knew we would do it this year. Thought we did we alright in defence although we had some scares after our initial pressure in the first 10-15 mins. After that we played well and Ramos was surprisingly solid and he delivered. Pepe was once again an absolute moron in a big game. I hoped he would get sent off in the end because he is a liability and I would prefer Ramos in there with Arbeloa on the right.

Lyon was, not surprisingly, wise to pressing Alonso right away so he couldn't control the game and add the tempo but we did that fine as a team which was great to see because Lyon were torn out of their defensive structure when we managed to raise the tempo with quick passing. I didn't notice Khedira too much when it was still a game but he did his job defensively.

Ronaldo was a big dissapointment and I feel validated in believing he should have been on the bench. He did alright in the first pressure we layed on Lyon but otherwise he was rather ineffective. Ozil came into it and became more important and Di Maria was consistent.

Benzema and Marcelo delivered today and deserve high praise. Marcelo has really done a 180 on us. He is such an important player in our attacking game which was obvious in the first match at Lyon. He doesn't screw up now and plays with great confidence going forward. Benzema is really growing in confidence and I would be very surprised if he relapses now because he really has momentum and he can build on this. If he continues in this form he will be a starting striker for us and there will be no more talk of Llorente in the summer.

Lyon did well in the 60 mins or so when it was still a tight match. Gourcuff was poor and as was the wingers. But they kept their shape except when we raised the tempo which made it difficult for them. They did commit players but they weren't really able to create that much even if there was always the feeling that Lyon could suddenly break in speed and get the goal they need. After an hour they simply seemed to break down defence and they lost all confidence with the ball. After that it was done and it was a question of time before one of their mistakes would cost them. A solid partner for Cris and a Gourcuff that delivers and you have a pretty good team with Cl experience that should be able to trouble anybody.

Kroos wrote:

The Professor wrote:Ozil just oozes class, and he wasn´t even brilliant tonight. European top clubs must be kicking themselves for not doing much to sign him when he was available for peanuts.

.

they should have listen to me

but he is only the 3rd most talented player in germany, think about it

Read this in twitter..

Ozil - The Rembrandt of Football.

not anybody, against barca you will run for the ball like a dog again, when barca plays on there limit (and they always do against REAL) you have no chance, i also believe REAL players are scared of BARCA

the only hope for REAL against barca is if one of xavi or iniesta injured or suspended, that was the key for the INTER games last season, this and ibra ^^

Gourcuff proved once again that he's the most overrated French player. (Nasri is catching up these days. I rate him but he's a bit overrated too)

Kroos wrote:not anybody, against barca you will run for the ball like a dog again, when barca plays on there limit (and they always do against REAL) you have no chance, i also believe REAL players are scared of BARCA

Barca will park their bus inside our half & press, harry & close down like hungry predators. So we have no choice but to boot it out, or mix it up. Plan B, hoof ball, pace merchants or whatever. We need to be clever and try to mix our game. Not wanting to match 'em, because we aren't set up like that. They're way too fascist to let others express their natural game.

Fenomeno wrote:Gourcuff proved once again that he's the most overrated French player. (Nasri is catching up these days. I rate him but he's a bit overrated too)

Pleonasm

Anyway, well done to Madrid..7 years of drought are hopefully over now.

I see what you did there

Kroos wrote:
the only hope for REAL against barca is if one of xavi or iniesta injured or suspended, that was the key for the INTER games last season, this and ibra ^^

and Eyjafjallajökull

Gourcuff can be good but this season he has been transparent. I think all the articles about him during the world cup killed him.... probably a bi the same with Ribery, his affair + all the other negative things. Well done to Madrid, who fully deserve to go through. Oezil is a great player in the making. He's been so regularly good, which shows how good he is. Marcelo played great and his goal was well taken. Benzema did not celebrate his goal too much, respecting his old club. I hope he can continue scoring like he does now. Madrid-Barcelona would be great in the quarters.

Also how big of a d!ck is Platini and UEFA not allowing the players to were shirts with Abidals name on it before the match????? Why is showing solidarity with a human being against the rules? I'm glad that the players wore them after the game anyway.

Congrat to the Madristas

Just watched replay of the game. How good was Madrid's first goal?!

They looked scarily fluid last night. Perhaps the only side with a real chance of beating Barca? That 5-0 humiliation will rankle. As a Spurs supporter, I'm hoping Madrid draw them in the next round, clearly the 2 best sides in Europe so getting rid of one suddenly increases the distant dream of a Wembley final that little bit more tangible

christmasborocooper wrote:

Jaime wrote:

christmasborocooper wrote:

Deluded F*ck wrote:Karim Benzema. Another one right.

Joker.

I've been as critical as anyone of Benzema and it was deserved. But also deserved is praise for his performance not just tonight but in the past two months or so. I don't know who or what is the catalyst but he has looked a completely different player. Talent is one thing but attitude is another altogether.

Not saying he hasnt had a few good games. I just find TS laughable. Discounting months and months of shite in which he didnt even dare comment on him or if he did he'd come out with nonsense like "its what he does when he's not scoring"..which was always nothing. Only to jump back on the bandwagon when he puts in a few good performances, against mostly shit teams, and goals in Europe. The very thing he uses to slag off players at his very own club. Sickening to be honest.

I've stuck with Benzema even when he was getting slated from all angles, I even said to Jaime - Many times - that I'd exchange him for Crouch during his period of "months and months of shite". He was clearly lacking confidence, he has it now.

And if Crouch had more goals in the league instead of just TWO IN TWENTY-FUCKING-SEVEN appearances then he wouldn't get slagged off. At Newcastle Andy Carroll was producing far more from a long ball attack based around him, if we're going to centre our attack based around Crouch he better deliver, and in the League he has sucked.

When have Madrid ever said to Benzema, "Yeah, you're the man?" Never.

Oh, and finally,

Jaime wrote:. Obviously I want the '9' to score but the way he is working he contributes so much even without actually scoring.

You're just upset because you backed the wrong horse. Just when I thought Huntelaar couldn't get any worse... scoring 1 in 3 in the Bundesliga

Fenomeno wrote:

Kroos wrote:not anybody, against barca you will run for the ball like a dog again, when barca plays on there limit (and they always do against REAL) you have no chance, i also believe REAL players are scared of BARCA

Barca will park their bus inside our half & press, harry & close down like hungry predators. So we have no choice but to boot it out, or mix it up. Plan B, hoof ball, pace merchants or whatever. We need to be clever and try to mix our game. Not wanting to match 'em, because we aren't set up like that. They're way too fascist to let others express their natural game.

This is your best strategy. The worst u can do is try to play through your midfield. You should be bypassing their mdifield with long balls into channels for the likes of Ronaldo, Di Maria, Benzema, Adebayor etc to run into. With Abidal out, they´ll have severe lack of pace at the back.

Deluded F*ck wrote:
When have Madrid ever said to Benzema, "Yeah, you're the man?" Never.

Well you have this wrong because they said that to him from day 1. If you remember it was Higuain who made his way back in the bench when Pellegrini first arrived even though he was our leading scorer the season before. Benzema started off as first choice from the minute he arrived in Valdebebas. He lost it because Higuain worked his ass off and won the job.

Oh, and finally,

Jaime wrote:. Obviously I want the '9' to score but the way he is working he contributes so much even without actually scoring.

You're just upset because you backed the wrong horse. Just when I thought Huntelaar couldn't get any worse... scoring 1 in 3 in the Bundesliga

As for this....I'm not quite sure what you mean.

I'm also happy that Benzema has proven me wrong, but then I also don't regret for one second all the criticism I've given him in the past.

This is a player who has been making 4.5 million Euros net for the last 2 years (1 million more than Higuain's recent salary rise), and the guy looked like a complete zombie out there and couldn't score to save his life.

It's great that he's finally showing effort and desire, but ffs, he's making 4.5 MILLION EUROS PER YEAR. If he can't get motivated out of playing for Real Madrid then that fucking salary should be enough.

We'll see if Benzema keeps it up as having him and Higuain as strikers in form for the next decade could be mouthwatering

Jaime wrote:

Deluded F*ck wrote:
When have Madrid ever said to Benzema, "Yeah, you're the man?" Never.

Well you have this wrong because they said that to him from day 1. If you remember it was Higuain who made his way back in the bench when Pellegrini first arrived even though he was our leading scorer the season before. Benzema started off as first choice from the minute he arrived in Valdebebas. He lost it because Higuain worked his ass off and won the job.

Oh, and finally,

Jaime wrote:. Obviously I want the '9' to score but the way he is working he contributes so much even without actually scoring.

You're just upset because you backed the wrong horse. Just when I thought Huntelaar couldn't get any worse... scoring 1 in 3 in the Bundesliga

As for this....I'm not quite sure what you mean.

Reckon you've read this wrong big Jim - TS using your quote to back up his argument that Benzema is better than Crouch / Huntelaar

Noah and the Bale wrote:

Jaime wrote:

Deluded F*ck wrote:
When have Madrid ever said to Benzema, "Yeah, you're the man?" Never.

Well you have this wrong because they said that to him from day 1. If you remember it was Higuain who made his way back in the bench when Pellegrini first arrived even though he was our leading scorer the season before. Benzema started off as first choice from the minute he arrived in Valdebebas. He lost it because Higuain worked his ass off and won the job.

Oh, and finally,

Jaime wrote:. Obviously I want the '9' to score but the way he is working he contributes so much even without actually scoring.

You're just upset because you backed the wrong horse. Just when I thought Huntelaar couldn't get any worse... scoring 1 in 3 in the Bundesliga

As for this....I'm not quite sure what you mean.

Reckon you've read this wrong big Jim - TS using your quote to back up his argument that Benzema is better than Crouch / Huntelaar

Ahhhhhhhhhh.

Well, in theory I was always in agreement with TS on Benzema > Huntelaar. However in practice, for the better part of 18 months, Portillo > Benzema let alone Crouch or Huntelaar.

You know how it is Jaime,

When it comes to the subject of The Crouch Agenda (TM) TS and Boro like to dance around each other, sizing each other up like a pair of peacocks about to mate on an Attenborough documentary. It's not always clear what is being said when there is so much hormonal tension being sprayed around the place.

To be honest, we couldn't be any more desperate for a half decent la liga striker if the papers are to be believed - we tried to sign literally every forward in Spain in January to no avail. Whoever's left at the end of the season as surplus to Madrid's requirements - Higuain / Benzema / Abedodbeofbyarororhjtnaror : we'll take them off your hands

Jaime wrote:

Deluded F*ck™ wrote:
When have Madrid ever said to Benzema, "Yeah, you're the man?" Never.

Well you have this wrong because they said that to him from day 1. If you remember it was Higuain who made his way back in the bench when Pellegrini first arrived even though he was our leading scorer the season before. Benzema started off as first choice from the minute he arrived in Valdebebas. He lost it because Higuain worked his ass off and won the job.

They played him as 1st choice no.9, which is true when he 1st arrived, but Ronaldo was definitely the dominant attacking figure, if you get what I mean.

Deluded F*ck wrote:

christmasborocooper wrote:

Jaime wrote:

christmasborocooper wrote:

Deluded F*ck wrote:Karim Benzema. Another one right.

Joker.

I've been as critical as anyone of Benzema and it was deserved. But also deserved is praise for his performance not just tonight but in the past two months or so. I don't know who or what is the catalyst but he has looked a completely different player. Talent is one thing but attitude is another altogether.

Not saying he hasnt had a few good games. I just find TS laughable. Discounting months and months of shite in which he didnt even dare comment on him or if he did he'd come out with nonsense like "its what he does when he's not scoring"..which was always nothing. Only to jump back on the bandwagon when he puts in a few good performances, against mostly shit teams, and goals in Europe. The very thing he uses to slag off players at his very own club. Sickening to be honest.

I've stuck with Benzema even when he was getting slated from all angles, I even said to Jaime - Many times - that I'd exchange him for Crouch during his period of "months and months of shite". He was clearly lacking confidence, he has it now.

And if Crouch had more goals in the league instead of just TWO IN TWENTY-FUCKING-SEVEN appearances then he wouldn't get slagged off. At Newcastle Andy Carroll was producing far more from a long ball attack based around him, if we're going to centre our attack based around Crouch he better deliver, and in the League he has sucked.

Dont centre a long ball attack based around him then Idiots.

Its apparent Crouch is past it these days, but even when he was good, scoring goals and making goals, you'd slag him. You're a terrible human being.

And Benzema was being a faggot. He probably didnt have any confidence because the fans werent behind him, and they werent behind him because he'd been shite for months, and was lazy as fuck.

Noah and the Bale wrote:You know how it is Jaime,

When it comes to the subject of The Crouch Agenda (TM) TS and Boro like to dance around each other, sizing each other up like a pair of peacocks about to mate on an Attenborough documentary. It's not always clear what is being said when there is so much hormonal tension being sprayed around the place.

To be honest, we couldn't be any more desperate for a half decent la liga striker if the papers are to be believed - we tried to sign literally every forward in Spain in January to no avail. Whoever's left at the end of the season as surplus to Madrid's requirements - Higuain / Benzema / Abedodbeofbyarororhjtnaror : we'll take them off your hands

P.S. You can have Adebayor in June.