Champions League Last 16 games - Feb/Mar 2015

[united_99]

Ppl need to calm down a bit. Things change quickly in football, only last year against Atletico Barca looked like they had hardly played football before, even 2 months ago they looked a bit lost.
We will get at or around Barca's level too, it might take a bit of time, and it might or might not be with our current manager, but with the incomparable financial position we have managed to put ourselves in over all those years, we have to and finally will get to the top again.

And to ppl thinking what Barca might do to us. When was the last time we lost so convincingly at home in the CL? Even with far inferior squad we were the better team at OT against RM only 2 years ago. Our home record in the CL under SAF even at our worst was extremely impressive. And although we are kind of a joke now, even LvG hasn't actually done badly against top opposition so far.

Back to the game: So Suarez can hardly score in La Liga but scores easily against the EPL champions. Yep best league in the world indeed.

Good that City are out of the CL once again very quickly.

 

[luckyspurs]

When are Dortmund going to ditch Weidenfeller and get someone like Karius or Fahrmann?

 

[rpitchfo]

Tough to watch? Who do you supoport? That was glorious!

I've never gotten much joy from watching Barcelona play when they are at their best. They strangle games and dominate to the point of it being unfair. Brings back bad memories, I don't wish it on anybody.

 

[justboy68]

The telling difference between Barcelona and us (well one of them anyway) is that on top of their dominant possession they constantly have runners in the channels, it makes a huge difference in terms of attacking threat. We could and should emulate a shittier version of that with Rooney in Suarez' place and Di Maria and Januzaj for Messi and Neymar. Obviosuly it wouldn't be the same quality but good enough to rip up the majority of the PL if we can implement it properly.

Currently we will have possession out of the wazoo, but move the ball slowly to the edge of the area and leave ourselves with no options.

P.S I'll also never tire of City being shite in the Champions League. Even though it does make the PL look piss poor.

 

[Amar__]

It must be really shit for City looking at their bench and seeing their only option is Bony, who might not even improve them because Dzeko is one of their better players tonight. Their second best option is Navas.

 

[kouroux]

How shocking is the defending for Barca's second ?? How many players around Suarez ?

The telling difference between Barcelona and us (well one of them anyway) is that on top of their dominant possession they constantly have runners in the channels, it makes a huge difference in terms of attacking threat. We could and should emulate a shittier version of that with Rooney in Suarez' place and Di Maria and Januzaj for Messi and Neymar. Obviosuly it wouldn't be the same quality but good enough to rip up the majority of the PL if we can implement it properly.

Currently we will have possession out of the wazoo, but move the ball slowly to the edge of the area and leave ourselves with no options.

 

[Browniee]

City with only the league left to play for, could be good for them for the race for the title.

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Can we laugh at City? With our current situation.

feck it.

Reminds me of something

 

[Randall Flagg]

The game at the weekend says otherwise, they lost 0-1 at home to Malaga. I thought they were poor and have been just OK recently despite dismantling a few no marks.

Last weekend was a big blip, but up to then they had a pretty damn amazing spell

 

[Brown Toothpick]

As good as we're playing, I still smell a 2-2 draw in the air. Just like Arsenal in 2010.

Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Sly]

Tippping Barcerlona to go all the way. Fantastic team with Messi on BPIW form. Can´t hate on the miget

 

[Eckers99]

We were miles away from them under fergie too

They outclassed us in those 2 finals but we beat them over 2 legs on the way to winning it in '08. And they had arguably the greatest club side of all time back then so just competing with them was an achievement. This Barca side is nowhere near as good as Pep's side - they're not even the best team in Spain - but are still miles away from us. We've got a long, long way to go.

 

[ItsEssexRob]

Ppl need to calm down a bit. Things change quickly in football, only last year against Atletico Barca looked like they had hardly played football before, even 2 months ago they looked a bit lost.
We will get at or around Barca's level too, it might take a bit of time, and it might or might not be with our current manager, but with the incomparable financial position we have managed to put ourselves in over all those years, we have to and finally will get to the top again.

And to ppl thinking what Barca might do to us. When was the last time we lost so convincingly at home in the CL? Even with far inferior squad we were the better team at OT against RM only 2 years ago. Our home record in the CL under SAF even at our worst was extremely impressive. And although we are kind of a joke now, even LvG hasn't actually done badly against top opposition so far.

Back to the game: So Suarez can hardly score in La Liga but scores easily against the EPL champions. Yep best league in the world indeed.

Good that City are out of the CL once again very quickly.

Its about experience. Even if the players havent always got it theres still something about a club with European history and pedigree that makes a difference. United and Chelsea and to some extent Liverpool between 04 and 09 before their massive decline all have a strong European pedigree and come with lots of experience. Even with inferior teams( sometimes) United Chelsea and Liverpool have mixed it with the big boys continuously, City.

Even whilst having the best team in England havent, they barely scrape out of the group each time and when they do they get destroyed. It doesnt seem to ever change its like rinse and repeat for them in Europe but to some extent its a viscous circle.

 

[antihenry]

 

[gofelx]

When are Dortmund going to ditch Weidenfeller and get someone like Karius or Fahrmann?

Next season for sure. Incredible how he's completely lost it this season, was good in the last few years.

 

[sizzling sausages]

They outclassed us in those 2 finals but we beat them over 2 legs on the way to winning it in '08. And they had arguably the greatest club side of all time back then so just competing with them was an achievement. This Barca side is nowhere near as good as Pep's side - they're not even the best team in Spain - but are still miles away from us. We've got a long, long way to go.

Barca in 08 were completely different to Barca in 09. They came third in the league that season, leading to Rijkaard getting sacked.

 

[Raul Madrid]

You took away Yaya from shitty's midfield, and they look like a mid table team.

For the last four years in the CL they have looked like a mid-table team, with or without Toure.

 

[LARulz]

Did Dixon just say City have had the ball for 5/6 mins this half already?

 

[ha_rooney]

Great block.

 

[do.ob]

SOkratis injured too, what the feck. Kirch at RB now, he's like their 5th choice on that position..

 

[Skorenzy]

The game at the weekend says otherwise, they lost 0-1 at home to Malaga. I thought they were poor and have been just OK recently despite dismantling a few no marks.

Eh? They beat Atlético (who they failed to beat in six meetings last season) three times in a row, plus thrashed Athletic, who are a traditionally tough opponent for them at San Mamés, 5-2... They also beat an in-form Villarreal side who hadn't lost a game in 18, twice in a row.

 

[RonaldoVII]

What a chance for Dzeko

 

[Shane88]

What a miss.

 

[LARulz]

What a miss

 

[Flying_Heckfish]

Sitter.

 

[Scrumpet]

Oh dear, can't miss those

 

[luckyspurs]

Dzeko with the least aesthetically pleasing swivel and through ball of the season. Fantastic outcome though.

For those saying it could have been 4-0 at half time, could have been 4-3 by now.

 

[holyland red]

My god. What a sitter.

 

[matherto]

Diving Messi

 

[ThaReaper01]

Dzeko is unbelievably shit.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Dzeko...oh dear.

 

[Balu]

Vidal really wants to be sent off.

 

[thegregster]

Imagine United against Barca right now. Would be humiliating.

Even under Moyes we gave bayern a run for their money.

City were beating before HT.

 

[Earthquake]

To be fair, City are being put off game pretty badly.


This playing in front of a crowd is clearly confusing them.

 

[Dante]

"We won a goal kick!"

 

[Señor]

Fergie!!!

 

[Randall Flagg]

They outclassed us in those 2 finals but we beat them over 2 legs on the way to winning it in '08. And they had arguably the greatest club side of all time back then so just competing with them was an achievement. This Barca side is nowhere near as good as Pep's side - they're not even the best team in Spain - but are still miles away from us. We've got a long, long way to go.

Pep wasn't their manager when we beat them

Anyway I don't want to take anything away from our result in those games. Because we were outstanding

 

[Scrumpet]

What exactly was absolutely sublime about that run?

 

[Gio]

Was genuinely shocked to see Pellegrini learn absolutely nothing from his previous games and go with 2 strikers. City getting completely dismantled in midfield. Managed to get £200 on Barca at evens after I saw the team news, could be 5-0.

City have set up the same as if they were up against some cannon fodder from the Premier League. Their whole set-up has been founded on the wonky premise that they'll get their fair share of possession.

 

[Randall Flagg]

Eh? They beat Atlético (who they failed to beat in six meetings last season) three times in a row, plus thrashed Athletic, who are a traditionally tough opponent for them at San Mamés, 5-2... They also beat an in-form Villarreal side who hadn't lost a game in 18, twice in a row.

All no marks according to @ItsEssexRob