CL Semifinal - Schalke vs. Manchester Utd

Former England boss Steve McClaren at Old Trafford on BBC Radio 5 live: "Schalke have played this game as well as they could have done. They were never going to win - it was always going to be a case of damage limitation."


How bad does he think Schalke are, if 4-1 against a weakened man utd side is damage limitation.

German teams

Josef Fritzl must be spinning in his grave.

McClaren should better shut it. He managed to get one of the league's most expensive sides and former champions into the relegation zone (which they still have not fully left). Better stick to managing Twente, Schtewe.

The seething silent bitterness of the Liverpool fans says it all.

I'm no fan, but 3 finals in 4 years, and this semi despatched with some nice, clever football both home and away- you got to doth your cap to this team.

Good Arrows

blutgraetsche wrote:McClaren should better shut it. He managed to get one of the league's most expensive sides and former champions into the relegation zone (which they still have not fully left). Better stick to managing Twente, Schtewe.

Was always a poison chalice though. How many managers have successfully taken over a side managed by Magath? He's certainly not alone in that respect

Noah und der Bale wrote:The seething silent bitterness of the Liverpool fans says it all.

I'm no fan, but 3 finals in 4 years, and this semi despatched with some nice, clever football both home and away- you got to doth your cap to this team.

Good Arrows

Who are you? Impostor!

Noah the dick normally talks dick!

Noah und der Bale wrote:The seething silent bitterness of the Liverpool fans says it all.

I'm no fan, but 3 finals in 4 years, and this semi despatched with some nice, clever football both home and away- you got to doth your cap to this team.

Good Arrows

There will always be bitterness when it is Man U involved

But

4-1

With a reserve team

In a Champions League semi final



It is unheard of

Worst CL in years.

Dull, Dull, Dull.

Bring back Chelsea vs Liverpool at they were close

Majestic!

Imperious!

*(dick!)

COTR wrote:

Noah und der Bale wrote:The seething silent bitterness of the Liverpool fans says it all.

I'm no fan, but 3 finals in 4 years, and this semi despatched with some nice, clever football both home and away- you got to doth your cap to this team.

Good Arrows

There will always be bitterness when it is Man U involved

But

4-1

With a reserve team

In a Champions League semi final



It is unheard of

Now its heard of!

*(dick!)

Noah und der Bale wrote:
Was always a poison chalice though. How many managers have successfully taken over a side managed by Magath? He's certainly not alone in that respect

Let's see. Thomas Schaaf? Magath almost had gotten us relegated, and Schaaf made us win the cup the same year and the league a few years later.

And it's not like Schtewe didn't have any say on the transfers, far from it. Wolfsburg are bankrolled by VW, so they outspent most clubs last summer even. There really are no excuses to get such an expensive side almost relegated.

Rosicky wrote:Worst CL in years.

Dull, Dull, Dull.

Bring back Chelsea vs Liverpool at they were close

Blame the draw. I think it's fair to say there were a number of teams in the Madrid/Barcelona half of the draw who would have given United a tougher game. Yes I do mean Arsenal. And Spurs

COTR wrote:Leonardo's achievement really was the worst managerial feat of all time

how many of today's side will start the final?

At least then United will be playing a team we've all heard of

blutgraetsche wrote:

Noah und der Bale wrote:
Was always a poison chalice though. How many managers have successfully taken over a side managed by Magath? He's certainly not alone in that respect

Let's see. Thomas Schaaf? Magath almost had gotten us relegated, and Schaaf made us win the cup the same year and the league a few years later.

And it's not like Schtewe didn't have any say on the transfers, far from it. Wolfsburg are bankrolled by VW, so they outspent most clubs last summer even. There really are no excuses to get such an expensive side almost relegated.

But then Bayern were CL finalists last season and struggling this. Schalke are what, 10th? Bremen are well out of the CL spots as well. Clearly Scteve ain't the only one managing a team at the top last season who was unable to meet expectations. Seems none of the top clubs in the Bundesliga are run well enough currently ....

It's not about competing at the top, although with the second highest budget of the league, you'd kinda expect that. It's about getting such a side almost relegated. And Wolfsburg aren't even safe yet.

C'mon Noah, let us not pretend Shteve is a good manager.

I'm kinda scared Villa will get him in the summer

Shame he has no pace, but



Is just awesome!

Magath must have been watching this

laughing his white socks off

as for Tönnies

Rangnick is NO MAGATH

end of story

the Schalke board gave this tie to ManU WITHOUT any reason and frankly got what they deserve

as for Neuer

I have been saying this ever since people in Germany started insisting Neuer was the BEST in the WORLD

he is NOT

Wiese and Weidenfeller are better in Germany ALONE

Neuer is a world class TALENT

who has MANY games where he produces at least one reckless moment, that sometimes gets punished and sometimes does not

at the TOP level you need more consistency though

--------

PS

am I the only one who cannot stand KERNER ?

debaser wrote:C'mon Noah, let us not pretend Shteve is a good manager.

I'm kinda scared Villa will get him in the summer

But it's fun!

To be fair, he isn't a bad club manager. Look what happened to Boro when he left. Taking over Wolfsburg was always gonna be a mistake, first time in the Bundesliga and he takes over a club who've just won the title under one of the most respected and experienced managers in the league - buys Diego who has been shite since leaving Bremen, and even since steve left. Has to deal with the inevitable and continual speculation regarding his top striker whose heart clearly was on a move.

He should have cut his teeth first at St Pauli.

Plus his Dutch accent is awesome

Steve is a top class man! Though Twente are doing even better now, but fair play to Steve.

I cant hear his so called Dutch accent though. Perhaps its cause im not Ingerlish.

Only a Dutchman could call Shteve 'top class'...

Ä wrote:Magath must have been watching this

laughing his white socks off

as for Tönnies

Rangnick is NO MAGATH

end of story

the Schalke board gave this tie to ManU WITHOUT any reason and frankly got what they deserve

as for Neuer

I have been saying this ever since people in Germany started insisting Neuer was the BEST in the WORLD

he is NOT

Wiese and Weidenfeller are better in Germany ALONE

Neuer is a world class TALENT

who has MANY games where he produces at least one reckless moment, that sometimes gets punished and sometimes does not

at the TOP level you need more consistency though

--------

PS

am I the only one who cannot stand KERNER ?

Neuer is a more complete goal keeper than Wiese, Mr. kneejerk. Both and half a dozen other keepers in the league are more complete than Weidenfeller.

P.S.: Sissies, eh?

blut, it's not about being COMPLETE

it's about CONSISTENCY at THIS level

and Neuer does NOT have it

YET

moments of genius are interspersed with the ODD but important lapse here and there

Wiese is indeed more limited than Neuer

he is a worse footballer , he is also worse at throwing with precision

but overall, I get the impression that he is more consistent

Weidenfeller is also remarkably consistent

as far as I remember he can still break Kahn's ALL TIME Bundesliga record in terms of lowest number of goals conceded per Bundesliga season

now, obviously, this depends also on the defense, playing style, hell, even the midfield and attack

STILL

considering Weidenfeller is playing behind a bunch of KIDS ( Schmelzer, Hummels, Subotic, Sahin, ... )

it's a MASSIVE achievement

Weidenfeller is HUGELY responsible for LEADING his defensive line-up

Neuer A LOT LESS SO

something Lehmann has pointed out not so long ago as well by the way (with respect to Neuer)

I would pick Weidenfeller/Wiese for Germany ANYTIME until Neuer starts to show CONSISTENCY

as for the sissies: well, the interviews prior to the match indicated that the players thought of this game as mission impossible

they had given up

the inexperienced ones like Kluge

but also the "leaders" like Metze and Raul

it's the JOB of the manager to prevent these destructive thoughts from setting in

the gaffer has to build them up and instill CONFIDENCE

Rangnick clearly could not do it

CONFIDENCE is arguably the single most important factor for winning at this level though



I think Rangnick will do a decent job at Bundesliga level

but he does not get into players HEADS like Rehagel , Hrubesch, Sammer... do

Tönnies should RESIGN IMMEDIATELY

Neuer a "talent"

Even Blut admits he's better than Wiese. It's like the World Cup never happened.

No one can fucking stand Kerner, he is a knobber sans pareil.