Champions League Round of 16 (13th Feb - 14th Mar)
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
I really was expecting so much more from them. I was hoping we’d get a score draw to take to Anfield but didn’t realise how bad Porto were going to be.
Not because you called them favorites. I called it ridiculous to call them the best side. Real are one of the favorites indeed especially if they go past PSG. The individual quality of the team and experience they have make them impossible to write off obviously. But to call a side that was schooled by Barcelona and Spurs and that are sitting a gazillion points behind in their league the best? Nah, not even if they win the bloody thing.
Not exactly this squad, the one that won the last two had depth with players like Morata, James or Pepe.
It's tougher this year because 1) Getting consecutive wins always makes it harder, 2) They're older than in the past years, that could show on players like Modric and Cristiano, and 3) Their backups don't have the level of those I mentioned before.
They're still candidates, but they are weaker, there's team above them, City didn't have the insane roster they do now, Barcelona were worst, Liverpool weren't as dangerous, there wasn't any Manchester United coached by Mourinho (always a factor).
We'll see, but they got weaker and other teams stronger, past merits don't do much on their claim as #1 favourites.
Surely he must get bored of doing that time and time again?
Maybe in his next job, he'll just choose a ready made team .... or maybe a one-team league .... or maybe unlimited funds?
They might get Pep but I doubt KDB to PSG would happen.
He's too much of a football romantic and a bohemian for that.
Don't let the Top Reds get you down
I said in the other thread that I wouldn't be surprised to see Madrid reach the final. People better hope it's Barca who they face though otherwise it's an easy win for Real. Barca are the only team I back to have the "cojones" as everyone puts it to beat them more than lose in a high stakes game.
Last year Madrid beat Atleti 3-0 at home and 10 minutes into the second leg they were losing 2-0. This is far from over.
Yeah but there is a reason why they only lost one game padres. Portuguese League is a Mickey Mouse league. I think the budget of Man Utd. is bigger then the combined budget of all Portuguese clubs.
And Football is all about taking you're opportunities when they happen. I didn't watch the Porto game but I know what Liverpool can produce in a good day and I think that the circumstances - a lot of space - after the early lead were in their favour.
with a better midfield you lot could go far; ok, today you seemed to outperform yourselves but in my book, you have one of the weakest midfields in the remaining CL teams
Again, the biggest problem with this team is complacency, serious lack of motivation from the first game of the season. When we lost that game to Barca the league season was done so from that moment it's just playing it out, waiting for the WC and trying not to get injured.
CL is a different story and if you can't see it for yourself just by looking at Ronaldo's commitment tonight then I can't make you understand what I'm trying to say.
Last year we were second in the group just like this year, but the real tournament started tonight.
Realistically, against Barca it's always 50-50 chances. Against any other team in CL I see us as favorites.
Why on earth would they want him now?
Is big Virgil starting to play well yet or still looking like a shoddy overpriced reject?
That was some performance that tonight. Nice to see and I heard a few of the arl songs being sung tonight. It was the 22nd anniversary of Sir Bob Paisley passing to today so it was a fitting performance for the great man.
There was one hilarious bit of 'defending' from van Dijk in the second half where the Porto forward was in possession in the Liverpool box and put van Dijk on his arse without doing anything in particular. It was the weirdest piece of defending I've seen in many a month.
Oh I didn't realise that. If only he'd managed us for another 10 years ...
Do United play their 2nd leg before or after that game?
And really nice to hear Rio and Lampard praising his performance afterwardsThere was one hilarious bit of 'defending' from van Dijk in the second half where the Porto forward was in possession in the Liverpool box and put van Dijk on his arse without doing anything in particular. It was the weirdest piece of defending I've seen in many a month.
Yep. Was always going to be like this. People hugely underrated Madrid because they are struggling in the league, but that's almost entirely down to motivation which is always an issue for successful teams. They won 2 champions leagues in a row, how could they not be complacent? For the actual champions league, it almost helps them that they're struggling in the league so much. Now they're out to prove everyone wrong in the biggest competition, against the best teams, and show that they are still the best team.
Until they get knocked out of the Champions league, they should be seen as favorites alongside Barcelona. You don't win 2 champions league titles in a row and turn to a bad team. It's just a motivation issue.
Ha ha keep it coming big man ... your frustration is oozing out of my screen
Not many comments on our game in here tonight. One or two have commented and respect to them.
And really nice to hear Rio and Lampard praising his performance afterwards
It's funny how Liverpool fans seem keen to convince themselves of these 'facts' after every match ("Oh, he was excellent") yet he drops a bollock in almost every match he plays. The phase of play I alluded to above was not the defending of a world class centre-back, or anything like it. It was the same against Spurs: what good is it being "excellent" for 95% of the match if you have a penchant of cocking-up with poor positional play and rash decision-making which culminates in the concession of goals?
We were amazing tonight. Van Dijk adds so much to the back line. Immensely talented player. Very happy with that, beforehand I would’ been happy enough nicking an away goal in a score draw. Oppo’ fans will always find fault, that’s the way of things. I’m just chuffed with the progress we’re making.And really nice to hear Rio and Lampard praising his performance afterwards
Not sure that many people watched the Liverpool game?
He was pretty damn good again tonight but cling to your straws otherwise your heart might give out you sound so desperate for your version to be true !
At least 3 on here
He was getting on a bit . We didnt do too bad from 83 onwards you know.
I'm gonna say I think Liverpool have a real chance at winning this. They don't play in the same way as the majority of the rest of the teams and when their front 3 are on fire I can't see any team handling them.
I did. It was funny watching Porto get crushed.
I am not sure if it's a semantic issue but again what I am objecting to is calling them the best. It is an insult to teams that have been playing with the consistency and quality of Barcelona for example to call a team that is lagging 17 pts behind them "ah well if they bothered they would be actually the best". I've no idea if it is motivation or whatever but you can't be the best if you are not actually showing it. Barcelona dominated world football for 10 years now with a list of honors far superior to Real's when you take into account the league and Cup and there was no year where they had as horrendous of a run as Real this year so the idea that they are so good they can't be bothered anymore is absurd.
As I said before, this doesn't mean anything when it comes to winning the CL this year. AC Milan were not as good as this Real side and still managed to always be there or thereabouts in the latter rounds. The level of individual quality, experience and giving up on the league helped immensely and the same could be said of Real this year coming up against anyone. Being the best however is another matter.
Fairy nuff.
Sporting fan ?
PSG are bottlers. Real didn't even play that well IMO, and they still won comfortably.
I see no way they lose by 2+ goals at the Parc Des Princes. They'll get a result there too IMO.
I see no way they lose by 2+ goals at the Parc Des Princes. They'll get a result there too IMO.
Iam happy to be in the QF to be honest. If we perform to our very best in the QF against most teams that are left then we have a chance for the SF. It totally depends on who we get and howcwe perform. I'd love Sevilla to be honest as we owe them one.
Certainly is and major respect to Madrid agreeing to play two 1/4 final matches on the same night !
Madrid Vs PSG
or
Porto Vs Madrid
what a tough choice to make