CL knock out stage

[OwlsFan]

isn't sport great? We have had some epic encounters of late. The rugby, the Italian game, the golf last weekend and now that game. Benitez must have felt a bit foolish as he took Torres off as they needed 3 and then Liverpool score 2 in quick succession. Don't blame him but I had to laugh. Sure the game wasn't full of flowing football but it was compulsive viewing.

Much underrated player in my opinion is Benayoun (not sure of spelling). Very creative and gets in to very dangerous positions.

Who said the CL was boring ;) ?

[Roadend]

Let's save the "total embarassment" tag for the coach who took off the best striker in the world with 12 minutes left. The man is a joker and the fact he gets a free pass from Liverpool fans, generally, is galling.

Let's call a spade a digging implement - he was happy last night when Liverpool went close so he would, once again, get a pass for the pluckiness and spirit and all that stauff - he should be berating those players and they should be berating him. If we had posted yesterday that Liverpool would score 4 times last night and were still 10/1 to go through, we could all have bankrupted Paddy's.

It took him 6 years to figure out Stevie Me is not a midfielder and he takes Torress off when the game was still alive - and that is even before we get into the zonal mindgames - clown.

What a load of tosh, nobody in the world thought that game was alive at 3-2 down. Its easy to waffle on with the benefit of hindsight, but its also embarrassing to do it.:rolleyes:

[reder]

What a load of tosh, nobody in the world thought that game was alive at 3-2 down. Its easy to waffle on with the benefit of hindsight, but its also embarrassing to do it.:rolleyes:

I did. Chelsea were uneasy at the back all night. What had Rafa to lose by leaving Torres on for the rest of the game? Liverpool dont have a game for another week, so it wasnt down to tiredness.

Chelsea were a defensive mess last night and there for the taking. Taking all things into account, I still think they will beat Barca, that will be a completely different game.

[OwlsFan]

I did. Chelsea were uneasy at the back all night. What had Rafa to lose by leaving Torres on for the rest of the game? Liverpool dont have a game for another week, so it wasnt down to tiredness.

3 down with 20 minutes to go:confused:. The pictures of the downcast Liverpool supporters at this stage behind the goal showed those fans weren't sharing your optimism. Imagine if Torres had been injured in those last 20 minutes. People would have been castigating Benitez: "Why was he left on when there was nothing to play for?" Anyway, if he had stayed on, Liverpool might not have scored those goals.

Hindsight is a great thing.

[Angus]

3 down with 20 minutes to go:confused:. The pictures of the downcast Liverpool supporters at this stage behind the goal showed those fans weren't sharing your optimism. Imagine if Torres had been injured in those last 20 minutes. People would have been castigating Benitez: "Why was he left on when there was nothing to play for?" Anyway, if he had stayed on, Liverpool might not have scored those goals.

Hindsight is a great thing.

With respect, nobody would have said that - the whole point of having world class players is that they can turn games. Since when is there a strategy of keeping your world class players off the pitch just because a game is won or lost ?

If Torres had got injured, he would have got injured - things happen, injuries happen - now if Liverpool were 8-0 up or down from the first leg, yes, no need to trouble your best players but this game was close - neither side was defending and this was a truly bizarre decision

[DeLorean]

With respect, nobody would have said that - the whole point of having world class players is that they can turn games. Since when is there a strategy of keeping your world class players off the pitch just because a game is won or lost ?

If Torres had got injured, he would have got injured - things happen, injuries happen - now if Liverpool were 8-0 up or down from the first leg, yes, no need to trouble your best players but this game was close - neither side was defending and this was a truly bizarre decision

Obviously history has proven me wrong but I did not think it was close at 6-3 agg. and I suspect I am in good company.

That said I didn't see the sense in bringing off Torres but I presume it was down to the fact that Benitez, in his paranoid wisdom and feeling the game was up, wanted to eliminate the possibility of Torres gettin a knock. He did the same late on last year and Babel scored to keep the tie alive briefly and back then they didn't even have the PL to save him for.

[gaiscíoch]

I can't understand how Liverpool keep getting away with persistant fouling. Mascherano had committed 4 fouls within half an hour no card? These fouls aren't dirty but it's something I've noticed in Liverpools play the last while. Persistantly body checking Arbeloa fouling for the goal was a yellow card he shortly seen one later with a knee high tackle on Essien.

On Benitez I think he got very lucky with Chelsea in my opinion falling asleep and believing the game was over. They kept going and made some game of it.

I can't wait to see what happens with Ivanovic at right back vs Barcelona. He will be run ragged he was a centre back playing out of position and it looked it. Cech is a lost cause at this stage. It's sad to see he was a great keeper but now he more worried about his health and when that happens I think it's time to step aside he should have been taken off imo

[Weatherman]

I can't understand how Liverpool keep getting away with persistant fouling. Mascherano had committed 4 fouls within half an hour no card? These fouls aren't dirty but it's something I've noticed in Liverpools play the last while. Persistantly body checking Arbeloa fouling for the goal was a yellow card he shortly seen one later with a knee high tackle on Essien.

On Benitez I think he got very lucky with Chelsea in my opinion falling asleep and believing the game was over. They kept going and made some game of it.

I can't wait to see what happens with Ivanovic at right back vs Barcelona. He will be run ragged he was a centre back playing out of position and it looked it. Cech is a lost cause at this stage. It's sad to see he was a great keeper but now he more worried about his health and when that happens I think it's time to step aside he should have been taken off imo

I think ivanovic will shift to the left with essien playing right back v barca coz of the the lack of a left back

[gaiscíoch]

I think ivanovic will shift to the left with essien playing right back v barca coz of the the lack of a left back


If he is played at left back that's even worse considering who he will be trying to stop. The two players on the right for Barca are top quality.

Bosingwa may be back but taking Essien out of the middle would be disastrous. He will be the player they need the most in front of the back four where Iniesta and Xavi love operating.

[eamo1]

How does Cheating and diving all night make Drogba a top player??????IT WAS PATHETIC!!
Cant wait for Messi,Xavi,Henry,Iniesta,E'to to take them apart!!!I mean if that Lucas guy can score against them then ANYONE can.

[rambler14]

How does Cheating and diving all night make Drogba a top player??????IT WAS PATHETIC!!


I'm a Man Utd fan but even I must admit that when he was on the ball he was outstanding in fact he ran the show when he was on the ball but still, even though he was having a stormer of a game he insisted on throwing himself on the ground.

[OwlsFan]

With respect, nobody would have said that - the whole point of having world class players is that they can turn games. Since when is there a strategy of keeping your world class players off the pitch just because a game is won or lost ? This was a truly bizarre decision

The manager did. Benitez decided to set his sights on the league as Liverpool were 3 down with 20 minutes to go. I have been watching football for more years than I care to remember and the number of times I have seen a team score 3 in the last 20 minutes against another top side to win a game are few and far between. In any event Torres wasn't having one of his better games. The first two Liverpool goals were abberations (goal keeping error and stupid penalty) while Chelsea had dominated the second half - there was nothing in it as far as Benitez was concerned. Hindsight makes him look foolish but I repeat the game would have been different if he had stayed on and those goals may not have been scored.

Ifs and buts etc etc. Very enjoyable game though.

[SkStu]

How does Cheating and diving all night make Drogba a top player??????IT WAS PATHETIC!!
Cant wait for Messi,Xavi,Henry,Iniesta,E'to to take them apart!!!I mean if that Lucas guy can score against them then ANYONE can.

The "cheating and diving" as you call it doesnt make him a top player, more the way he terrorised the Liverpool backline, tore each of the defenders a new arsehole and caused, i think, 3 of them to pick up yellows. Carragher was shown up as the useless mug he is yesterday. Living off one decent season a few years back. :rolleyes:

Still think Barcelona will destroy them.

[stojkovic]

Bit harsh there Stu.

He bullied Liverpool defenders, fine. They bullied him and he falls over, dives and rolls around on the ground. What are they supposed to do. The man is a cheat.

[SkStu]

maybe a tad harsh but my hate for Chelsea is only superceded (slightly) by my hate for Liverpool so i reckon ive been pretty fair all round... :D

[NeilMcD]

Ha ha, join the club SKStu ha ha !!! I still Man Utd will win the European Cup. I could be wrong but I think they will. Only team left in it with an Irish player.

[NeilMcD]

Some guy is posing as Ronaldo tonight. Harrying tracking back and getting tackles in. Who is this imposter.

[shakermaker1982]

what a goal that was. O'Shea and Rooney worked well down the right. Berbatov was a disappointment again. Two tasty looking semi finals.

[OwlsFan]

Nice to see O'Shea now as a regular in the Man U starting line up and did well ok. Comfortable win for them as well. Once again the "vital away goal" rule played no part in any team going through.

[KK77]

The "cheating and diving" as you call it doesnt make him a top player, more the way he terrorised the Liverpool backline, tore each of the defenders a new arsehole and caused, i think, 3 of them to pick up yellows. Carragher was shown up as the useless mug he is yesterday. Living off one decent season a few years back. :rolleyes:

Still think Barcelona will destroy them.

One decent season emm 2005,2006 & 2007 works out at three to me.

[NeilMcD]

Nice to see O'Shea now as a regular in the Man U starting line up and did well ok. Comfortable win for them as well. Once again the "vital away goal" rule played no part in any team going through.

That is not true because Liverpool were 2 nil up at one point on Tuesday night and were level on aggregate but still needed a goal. As a result they were not as defensive as they would have been if they did not need that goal. Although it was not the decisive factor in any of the games, the concept of the away goal had a significant effect on the Chelsea V Liverpool game and to a lesser degree the Porto V Man Utd game, as Man Utd were nervous for the last 15 mins and were dropping deeper due to the fact that 1 more goal and they were out on away goals.

[OwlsFan]

The point is that it's a goal primarily. The commentators almost treat it as some sort of divine goal. It is only significant when the teams are tied - then it becomes an "away goal". Of the 12 games in the last two rounds, two were decided on the "away goals" rule. As for the Porto match, Man U were defending a one goal lead and would have been defending deep, even if the first leg had been 0-0 or 1-1. It wouldn't have been as nervy ok but they still would have played the same. In the Liverpool game, the away goal rule did have an influence ok but it didn't affect the result, that was really the point I was making.

[NeilMcD]

You used the phrase no part. I don't think this is correct. It was not a decisive part but to say no part is incorrect.

[DeLorean]

I absolutely hate the away goals rule. Scoring the same amount of goals as a team and getting knocked out is mental imo. It's on a par if not worse than the coin toss to decide the winner from the early days. It was introduced to encourage the away team to play more offensive football but this doesn't happen. In fact all it does is makes the home team more cagey and the away team is still pretty well pleased with 0-0. Give me penalties any day of the week or at least play extra time before they come into play, like the Carling Cup semies.

Another pet hate of mine would be the harsh suspensions. Is it still only two bookings to miss the next match? if it is I think it's awful. For example if someone got booked for Barca in the first leg of the last 16 and picked up another one in the semi final 2nd leg (6 games later!!) would he miss the final yeah?

[NeilMcD]

Its 3 yellow cards now.

[OwlsFan]

You used the phrase no part. I don't think this is correct. It was not a decisive part but to say no part is incorrect.

I'll have to choose my words more carefully in future :p

[Stuttgart88]

I always think that if your team draws 1-1 away first then rather than "having a crucial advantage" it should be thought more as insurance against concession of an away goal at home, which can happen against any opposition. You'd be foolish to play for 0-0 at home.

[DeLorean]

Its 3 yellow cards now.

And is that for the whole competition or are they wiped clean after the group stages? does anybody know where one could check the state of play in regard to yellows/suspensions? I tried uefa.com but couldn't find anything.

[old git]

3 down with 20 minutes to go:confused:. The pictures of the downcast Liverpool supporters at this stage behind the goal showed those fans weren't sharing your optimism. Imagine if Torres had been injured in those last 20 minutes. People would have been castigating Benitez: "Why was he left on when there was nothing to play for?" Anyway, if he had stayed on, Liverpool might not have scored those goals.

Hindsight is a great thing.

imagine if torres had stayed on and scored the winning goal ....:D

can understand taking him off if you have another excellent forward on bench to replace him to try and get back into game .. but unfortunatly liverpool dont.... 20 mins is a long time in football to try and rescue a game ... why did hiddink not take of drogba then with 20 mins to go when chelsea had game sown up & nothing to play for :confused:

[old git]

How does Cheating and diving all night make Drogba a top player??????IT WAS PATHETIC!!
Cant wait for Messi,Xavi,Henry,Iniesta,E'to to take them apart!!!I mean if that Lucas guy can score against them then ANYONE can.

cheating and diving all night make drogba a top player ...
he is a top player when he cuts out all that s**T.. even with all his falling over he fairly gave carragher & skertel the run around...
ronaldo / gerrard / torres to name a few are also very fond of cheating & diving for their clubs... :ball:

[OwlsFan]

imagine if torres had stayed on and scored the winning goal ....:D
I can understand taking him off if you have another excellent forward on bench to replace him to try and get back into game .. but unfortunatly liverpool dont.... 20 mins is a long time in football to try and rescue a game ... why did hiddink not take of drogba then with 20 mins to go when chelsea had game sown up & nothing to play for :confused:

Tell me the last time a team scored 3 in the last 20 minutes to win a game? You might find a couple but they are few and far between, especially when that team, having been leading 2-0 at half time, conceded 3 in the 2nd half to find themselves 3-2 down! Of course it could happen but odds were greatly against it. If Liverpool win the league and a fit Torres leads the charge, I am sure Benitez will be forgiven.

As for taken off Drogba, I wish he did as I just can't stand his feigning injury. Pathetic.

Kissing the badge for the fans is another one (I saw Drogba do it), when we know that 99% of players, including Drogba, wouldn't think twice about leaving a club if more money is offered.

[DeLorean]

Since when does cheating make someone a bad player? I'd prefer if nobody dived or cheated as well but it is the way it is. Until the players are punished severely it will continue. Drogba/Ronaldo do it more than most but they are still top players. Torres is no stranger to taking a tumble here and there for the cause and Gerrard has had a couple of high profile incidents. Rooney usually gets praised for his work rate and professionalism but he's dived plenty of times too, most notably to end Arsenal's unbeaten run at 49. Drogba and Ronaldo are possibly the worst but they are in good company.

By the way Torres was taken off for Ngog in the 80th minute and not with 20mins to go, just saying!!

[old git]

Since when does cheating make someone a bad player? I'd prefer if nobody dived or cheated as well but it is the way it is. Until the players are punished severely it will continue. Drogba/Ronaldo do it more than most but they are still top players. Torres is no stranger to taking a tumble here and there for the cause and Gerrard has had a couple of high profile incidents. Rooney usually gets praised for his work rate and professionalism but he's dived plenty of times too, most notably to end Arsenal's unbeaten run at 49. Drogba and Ronaldo are possibly the worst but they are in good company.

By the way Torres was taken off for Ngog in the 80th minute and not with 20mins to go, just saying!!

ronaldo & drogba probally the worse i would agree .. but must give ronaldo some praise cracking goal he scored last night .. quite a surprise it has not been mentioned before now ... we are all quick to have a go when he plays crap or falls over .:D

[De Town]

aswell as the great goal, he actually worked hard for the team last night aswell, which hasnt been seen too much in the past. good performance from him all round i thought.

[OwlsFan]

You used the phrase no part. I don't think this is correct. It was not a decisive part but to say no part is incorrect.

The away goal rule yet again didn't result in any team going through in the UEFA Cup quarter finals either. Won't stop George Hamilton almost having a canary if a team scores away from home.

I wonder is Europe outside of the UK and Spain losing interest in the CL with the dominance of the English clubs, albeit awash with non-English nationals?

[Roadend]

imagine if torres had stayed on and scored the winning goal ....:D

can understand taking him off if you have another excellent forward on bench to replace him to try and get back into game .. but unfortunatly liverpool dont.... 20 mins is a long time in football to try and rescue a game ... why did hiddink not take of drogba then with 20 mins to go when chelsea had game sown up & nothing to play for :confused:

N'gog almost scored but for Essien heading off the line (now not saying he's brilliant or anything obviously)

[lionelhutz]

Two mouth watering semi finals tonight and tomorrow night.

I'd love to see Barca once again produce their best and out class Chelsea and I think it will happen. The other semi is harder to call IMO, heart over head I'm going with Arsenal.

Predictions for the 1st legs;

Barca 3 - 1 Chelsea

Man Utd 2 - 2 Arsenal

[DeLorean]

Two mouth watering semi finals tonight and tomorrow night.

I'd love to see Barca once again produce their best and out class Chelsea and I think it will happen. The other semi is harder to call IMO, heart over head I'm going with Arsenal.

Predictions for the 1st legs;

Barca 3 - 1 Chelsea

Man Utd 2 - 2 Arsenal

Chelsea United Final for me. Reckon United will win handy enough tomorrow night. Will be in a very strong position going to the Emirates. Chelsea to scrape draw tonight.

[lionelhutz]

Chelsea United Final for me. Reckon United will win handy enough tomorrow night. Will be in a very strong position going to the Emirates. Chelsea to scrape draw tonight.

Just wondering what do you base this on?

Arsenal have already beaten Utd this season - albeit at the Emirates. I think Arsenals midfield will pass their way through United. Man U's midfield is fairly average whoever they play and Arsenal style of play will cut them open as they did at the Emirates.

Vidic and Ferdinand will have to be at their very best to stop them conceding at home.

[DeLorean]

Just wondering what do you base this on?

Arsenal have already beaten Utd this season - albeit at the Emirates. I think Arsenals midfield will pass their way through United. Man U's midfield is fairly average whoever they play and Arsenal style of play will cut them open as they did at the Emirates.

Vidic and Ferdinand will have to be at their very best to stop them conceding at home.

A couple of weeks back I actually felt the same as you. After they drew 2-2 with Porto I remember thinking that United would be better off not playing Arsenal in that kind of form. Things have picked up significantly since though I think. I'd say United will try to keep it tight not allowing Arsenal any space to play their nice one touch football. Also with RVP out and Arshavin not available I think Adebayor will be much easier to manage. I don't think Fabregas is being used properly either, although I didn't see the Boro match at the weekend. Against Liverpool though (which would be a match more similar to tomorrow night) I thought he was too far forward to control the game. Denilson was playing the role which I think Fabregas excels in. Also I would think they will be extremely vulnerable anytime United get at them, especially from set pieces. It's a while back now but I didn't think there was an awful lot in that match at the Emirates earlier in the season, plus I really don't think it's relevant to tomorrow night.

[DeLorean]

Bosingwa likely to start left back on Messi. Kind of funny quote from The Examiner:-

"Normally a right-back, Bosingwa switched to the other flank in the win over West Ham on Saturday but Argentina international Messi, scorer of 21 goals so far this season, is certain to provide him with more problems than Luis Boa Morte"

[lionelhutz]

Bosingwa likely to start left back on Messi. Kind of funny quote from The Examiner:-

"Normally a right-back, Bosingwa switched to the other flank in the win over West Ham on Saturday but Argentina international Messi, scorer of 21 goals so far this season, is certain to provide him with more problems than Luis Boa Morte"

He's actually scored 34 goals this season - 21 in the league, 8 in the CL and 5 in their domestic cup. Hope he shines tonight and brings joy to the true followers of football

[reder]

He's actually scored 34 goals this season - 21 in the league, 8 in the CL and 5 in their domestic cup. Hope he shines tonight and brings joy to the true followers of football

I would love to see that but I can see Chelsea smothering them over 2 legs and sneaking through.

[gustavo]

I'd fancy Barcelona to win by 2 tonight

[old git]

He's actually scored 34 goals this season - 21 in the league, 8 in the CL and 5 in their domestic cup. Hope he shines tonight and brings joy to the true followers of football

may be wrong here but read somewhere messi has never scored against english teams :confused:... fancy chelsea to score tonight but barcelona to just shade it think chelsea's best hope is that drogba deceides to turn it on tonight instead of rolling around .

[smasher]

Wonder how many times this guy will cheat tonight. Will he,unlike the Liverpool game, ensure he feigns injury on the field rather than off it and roll back on. More importantly will the referee book him for the inevitable dive?

[old git]

[QUOTE=OwlsFan;1144567]Tell me the last time a team scored 3 in the last 20 minutes to win a game? You might find a couple but they are few and far between, especially when that team, having been leading 2-0 at half time, conceded 3 in the 2nd half to find themselves 3-2 down! Of course it could happen but odds were greatly against it. If Liverpool win the league and a fit Torres leads the charge, I am sure Benitez will be forgiven.


owlsfan
last time a team scored 3 in last 20 min to win game ... last saturday evening 25-4-09 utd scored 5 in 22 mins to win game :D:D

[Sicuani]

Was Platini listening to music on his phone at the start of the 2nd half..seemed to be enjoying it until if discovered he was on TV.

[old git]

Wonder how many times this guy will cheat tonight. Will he,unlike the Liverpool game, ensure he feigns injury on the field rather than off it and roll back on. More importantly will the referee book him for the inevitable dive?

drogba had a few rolls tonights :D but totally outdone on feigning injurys by the one and only daniel alves ... poor match with chelsea doing enough to grind out result barcelona's mafnificent forward line were a major disapointment .. henry completly vanished once he got knock on head by alex in second half :ball:

[smasher]

drogba had a few rolls tonights :D but totally outdone on feigning injurys by the one and only daniel alves ... poor match with chelsea doing enough to grind out result barcelona's mafnificent forward line were a major disapointment .. henry completly vanished once he got knock on head by alex in second half :ball:

Awful game, I thought. Yeah, 'Diveba' wasnt too bad last night but he did'nt really get a chance to perform his vast range of diving skills. But, rest assured we will not have to wait too long!