Champions League thread [Archive] - Page 7

shakermaker1982

10/04/2008, 9:53 AM

Does Dunphy even rate the PL or has he changed his mind (yet again)?

I thought Man Utd played well last night considering they made so many key changes. I'm pretty sure Wes Brown won the ball cleanly......if Roma had scored who knows what would have happened.

OwlsFan

10/04/2008, 10:04 AM

cheifo

10/04/2008, 10:08 AM

Hard to see Barca beating Man U given the problems they have at the moment.
Anybody know when Messi is due back from injury?

Pike B

10/04/2008, 10:24 AM

Quote from Dunphy last night
"Barcelona won't be winning no Champions League thats for sure"
also using Bojans lack of strength as a reason as to why he won't be a top player is stupid , theres very few 17 year olds that would have strength at that age
Dunphy is entertaining, but I stopped actually listening to his opinions about 18 years ago..... A clown, entertaining, slighty scarey, not to be taken seriously.. Our Eamon...

Roadend

10/04/2008, 10:43 AM

Hard to see Barca beating Man U given the problems they have at the moment.
Anybody know when Messi is due back from injury?

He's back in training apparently. They'll need Deco back too if they've to have any chance which at the moment looks exceedingly doubtful.

shakermaker1982

10/04/2008, 10:44 AM

Enjoyable game. Yes, would have made for an exciting game if Roma scored. Would have enjoyed the egg on Ferguson's face if they got it back to 2-2 but it wasn't to be.

O'Shea needs a move. Coming on for 10 minutes every second game is not going to improve his game.

O'Shea will never move on. He's content enough to fill in where required and seems to enjoy the banter and lifestyle that goes with being a Manchester United player. Fergie has realised he isn't a centre back (hope the Trap realises this asap) and he cannot play in MF but is content enough to bring him into the team at full back when Evra/Neville/Brown/Silvestre are under the weather.

Pike B

10/04/2008, 10:46 AM

O'Shea will never move on. He's content enough to fill in where required and seems to enjoy the banter and lifestyle that goes with being a Manchester United player. Fergie has realised he isn't a centre back (hope the Trap realises this asap) and he cannot play in MF but is content enough to bring him into the team at full back when Evra/Neville/Brown/Silvestre are under the weather.
Of course he's happy. 40 grand a week to sit on the bench... Where do I sign... :D

jmurphyc

10/04/2008, 11:22 AM

Quote from Dunphy last night
"Barcelona won't be winning no Champions League thats for sure"
also using Bojans lack of strength as a reason as to why he won't be a top player is stupid , theres very few 17 year olds that would have strength at that age

That was hilarious. He could easily be left eating his words after the tournament, but then again he does the same thing every year and it never changes him. It's all part of the fun of the RTE panel I suppose.

As for the comment about Bojan, he followed it up by comparing him to Messi. At the age of 17 Messi was obviously outstanding, but from what I recall he was hardly very strong himself. The fact that Bojan is being talked about being included in Spain's Euro squad (I think) should show how highly valued he is.

OwlsFan

10/04/2008, 11:25 AM

Dodge

10/04/2008, 11:27 AM

He's back in training apparently. They'll need Deco back too if they've to have any chance which at the moment looks exceedingly doubtful.

Deco hasn't played well in a year. He shouldn't be (and won't be) in ahead of Xavi or Iniesta, with Toure talking up the anchor role.

Messi is the key.

Pike B

10/04/2008, 11:36 AM

Deco hasn't played well in a year. He shouldn't be (and won't be) in ahead of Xavi or Iniesta, with Toure talking up the anchor role.

Messi is the key.
Deco, is past his best alright, but still a good player.

shanman2

10/04/2008, 11:42 AM

Deco hasn't played well in a year. He shouldn't be (and won't be) in ahead of Xavi or Iniesta, with Toure talking up the anchor role.

Messi is the key.

We must have a fit Lio ready for action if we are to beat Manure.
At the moment we have alot of players off form. Thuram is a bit old for me but I expect Diego Milito to partner the spiritual leader Puyol who is not at his best at the moment.

I hope to god Scholes gets injured, he is the brain behind Uniteds midfield and is the best midfielder in England.

jmurphyc

10/04/2008, 12:03 PM

Deco hasn't played well in a year. He shouldn't be (and won't be) in ahead of Xavi or Iniesta, with Toure talking up the anchor role.

Messi is the key.

For me Toure could be the key to the tie. So far from what I've seen of him, he doesn't seem to be a natural holding player. He seems too attacking and I'm not convinced by him defensively. I think at times their midfield three will have to sit deep to cover his deficiencies. I'd much prefer to see Marquez as the midfield anchor, but he'll be playing at the back in the first leg due to Puyol's suspension.

jebus

10/04/2008, 12:12 PM

Messi is the key.

That's the problem though, he'll struggle to get fit, and even at that with the amount of games he has played this year he won't be anywhere near as sharp as he can be. I can already see the tabloids screaming about how Ronaldo doing nothing for 85mins and then scoring a tap in proves beyond all doubt that he is the better player than half fit Messi

Roadend

10/04/2008, 12:30 PM

Deco hasn't played well in a year. He shouldn't be (and won't be) in ahead of Xavi or Iniesta, with Toure talking up the anchor role.

Messi is the key.

Iniesta has gone completely off the boil lately.

jmurphyc

10/04/2008, 12:32 PM

Iniesta has gone completely off the boil lately.

From the little that I have seen he still seems to be playing quite well.

Roadend

10/04/2008, 12:37 PM

I saw the two legs and regularly watch them on Sky Saturday/Sunday. He was playing a lot better in the first half of the season.

cheifo

10/04/2008, 1:56 PM

I think Puyol is out of the first match.Henry seems to be in pipe and slippers mode.If Messi can get his fitness to gether it will still be facinating stuff.

Block G Raptor

10/04/2008, 1:57 PM

I think Barca have lost some of the hunger they've shown over the last couple of seasons, I reckon they'll step it up a few gears against Man U

Pike B

10/04/2008, 3:51 PM

I think Barca have lost some of the hunger they've shown over the last couple of seasons, I reckon they'll step it up a few gears against Man U
Will they beat United??

lionelhutz

10/04/2008, 3:57 PM

Will they beat United??

Yes, yes they will :)

Pike B

10/04/2008, 4:00 PM

Yes, yes they will :)
Hey Man. You got any of those smoking Monkeys left? 'Look, he's taking another puff' :D

Block G Raptor

10/04/2008, 4:05 PM

Will they beat United??

Hang on till I get my crystal Ball. ......I Don't Feckin' know but I sure as hell hope so. I could take losing a CL final to Barca but if liverpool were to lose to the Mancs no liverpool fan would ever live it down. I know the same is through in Vice-Versa but I think 90 mins of Liverpool -v-Man U would be pure and utter torture for both set's of fans if it was anyway close. obviously the Joy of Beating them would surpass anything ever experienced but i'd rather Barca in the Final. -and before anyone points out that Chelsea might have something to say- I Think not they'll bottle it against Liverpool again

so in short I'd Love Liverpool to Beat Man U in Moscow but the prospect of Man U winning it at Liverpool's expense is too much to contemplate so I'd rather Barca

Pike B

10/04/2008, 4:06 PM

Hang on till I get my crystal Ball. ......I Don't Feckin' know but I sure as hell hope so. I could take losing a CL final to Barca but if liverpool were to lose to the Mancs no liverpool fan would ever live it down. I know the same is through in Vice-Versa but I think 90 mins of Liverpool -v-Man U would be pure and utter torture for both set's of fans if it was anyway close. obviously the Joy of Beating them would surpass anything ever experienced but i'd rather Barca in the Final. -and before anyone points out that Chelsea might have something to say- I Think not they'll bottle it against Liverpool again

so in short I'd Love Liverpool to Beat Man U in Moscow but the prospect of Man U winning it at Liverpool's expense is too much to contemplate so I'd rather Barca
Jeez, I didn't want your life story.. Yes will do :D

Block G Raptor

10/04/2008, 4:15 PM

My Head hurts after all that

lionelhutz

10/04/2008, 4:16 PM

Hey Man. You got any of those smoking Monkeys left? 'Look, he's taking another puff' :D

Sorry dude, i already passed the duchie to the left hand side.

Honestly though, Barca will no doubt be irked by the majority of the media tipping Ronaldo et al to be too much for them. They'll be fired up for this one and ferguson will be his own worst enemy with his ego deciding he'll have to change tactics for the game. For some reason he believes the unquestionably successful tactics he uses in the premiership won't work in Europe.....

This will be their downfall. Playing the limited Park and Rooney on the left is plain crazy. Even if Messi doesn't recover in time, the likes of Eto, Xavi, Iniesta and Henry will be too much for United. As usual, Ronaldo will bottle it on the biggest of stages.

Pike B

10/04/2008, 4:21 PM

Sorry dude, i already passed the duchie to the left hand side.

Honestly though, Barca will no doubt be irked by the majority of the media tipping Ronaldo et al to be too much for them. They'll be fired up for this one and ferguson will be his own worst enemy with his ego deciding he'll have to change tactics for the game. For some reason he believes the unquestionably successful tactics he uses in the premiership won't work in Europe.....

This will be their downfall. Playing the limited Park and Rooney on the left is plain crazy. Even if Messi doesn't recover in time, the likes of Eto, Xavi, Iniesta and Henry will be too much for United. As usual, Ronaldo will bottle it on the biggest of stages.
I hope your right. My prediction
Barcelona 1-0 Man Utd
Man Utd 1-1 Barcelona (1-2) agg

jmurphyc

10/04/2008, 4:23 PM

Honestly though, Barca will no doubt be irked by the majority of the media tipping Ronaldo et al to be too much for them. They'll be fired up for this one and ferguson will be his own worst enemy with his ego deciding he'll have to change the tactics of the team for the game. For some reason he believes the unquestionably successful tactics he uses in the premiership won't work in Europe.

This will be their downfall. Playing the limited Park and Rooney on the left is plain crazy. Even if Messi doesn't recover in time, the likes of Eto, Xavi, Iniesta and Henry will be too much for United. As usual, Ronaldo will bottle it on the biggest of stages.

For Utd I think Rooney will be the key to the tie unless Ronaldo plays a more central role. Barcelona's lack of a real defensive midfield enforcer could prove to be their undoing. I don't know how they'll cope if Rooney is dropping deep to collect the ball because they don't really seem to have someone who can protect the space in front of the defence. A lot of pundits seem to be talking about Barca's poor defence but I think it's quite good and IMO it's the midfield fails to protect it. If it's a tight two games I expect Utd to go through but if it's an open two games then I think Utd will have difficulty in stopping Barca's immense attacking talents.

cheifo

10/04/2008, 11:17 PM

If Messi doesn't get fit then unfortunatley I can't see Man U getting beat.No offence to Liverpool and Chelsea but I hope their SF produces some football thats a bit easier on the eye than their previous encounters.

shanman2

11/04/2008, 7:54 AM

Although there is alot of football still to be played this year I'm looking forward to next years champions league already.
With Juventus and Bayern on course for a return to this lucrative competition, maybe the overall standard will raise still further.
I think these two bring something extra to the competition.
It's quite possible that Milan could still charge into contention in Italy.
Club names that just role off the tongue Juve, Barcelona, Real, Liverpool, Man. Utd, Inter, Bayern, Porto, Lyon, Arsenal, Chelski, Fiorentina, Athletico and Milan.
A possible mouth watering last eight of Barca, Juve, Real, Liverpool, Bayern, Man. Utd, Milan and Arsenal.
As oppossed to what we have had this year with clubs like Shalke, Fenerbahce and Roma. I just cant wait for it. Back to the Creme de la Creme and how we have missed it.

jmurphyc

11/04/2008, 8:02 AM

I'd much rather have a team with passionate fans and who play entertaining football (Fenerbahce) than a boring team with a sterile atmosphere (Chelsea) in the CL.

Pike B

11/04/2008, 8:57 AM

Hey bud, Old Trafford aint exactly Anfield when it comes to atmosphere either. Prawn sandwich eating b...ards..

cheifo

11/04/2008, 9:18 AM

I'm not a Liverpool fan but I have to agree none of the other Premiership clubs can boast an atmosphere on European night like Anfield.The Chelsea fans booing their own team at half time in a Euro QF(which they are winning!) encapsulates the downside of modern football-spoiled brats.

reder

11/04/2008, 9:20 AM

For me Man U v Liverpool is the final from hell.

Barcelona have looked extremely poor as of late, very disorganised and lacked any real punch up front. United look very solid all over and look certs to go through. However, I would love it, if Barca pulled it all together and knocked them out.

I dread the thought of an all English final, whethers its Mancs V Chavs or Mancs v Mighty Reds. 2 sets of English fans in a city full of "joyous" (as we all know from our visit there) locals with a loveable police force is a recipe for a massive disaster. There will be killings, to put it mildly.

Chelsea against us will be as tight usual. We have the upper hand in these affairs as of late but Chelsea have to win sometime and the pain of the last 2 CL semi loses may give them that extra little bit. Also, playing at Anfield first is a big plus for them in my opinion.

Dream Final : Barca v Liverpool.

shanman2

11/04/2008, 9:36 AM

Lets just hope that both Manure and Barca can produce the same two games as they did in their epic encounters in '99. 12 goals over two legs wouldn't be too bad. With Barca scoring 10 of them of course:D:D
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8nJoW8NTP3g&feature=related

lionelhutz

11/04/2008, 10:17 AM

NeilMcD

12/04/2008, 7:07 PM

Man Utd have been the best team in the competition so far, and if they keep it up they will win it. Chelsea have been very very poor so far. I think it will be a Man Utd Liverpool final with Man Utd winning.

DmanDmythDledge

12/04/2008, 7:18 PM

[quote=shakermaker1982;917581]Fergie has realised he isn't a centre back (hope the Trap realises this asap) and he cannot play in MF but is content enough to bring him into the team at full back when Evra/Neville/Brown/Silvestre are under the weather.[/quote
Are you mad? He's a centre back, it's the only position he looks solid in. Ireland's last few games have also shown that.

dfx-

13/04/2008, 1:09 AM

With Barca scoring 10 of them of course:D:D
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8nJoW8NTP3g&feature=related

Let's not go too far - 6 will do:)

NeilMcD

13/04/2008, 1:21 PM

Just watching Liverpool here and they are rubbish today. What is it about Liverpool in the daylight. They seem to reserve their best performances for night time football. Are they the opposite of solar panels. Maybe its Benitez and thats why he did well in Spain were they play a huge amount of games at night there.

osarusan

13/04/2008, 2:25 PM

Just watching Liverpool here and they are rubbish today.
Much better in the second half though, although Blackburn's defending was woeful. Very nicely taken goal from Torres.

NeilMcD

13/04/2008, 2:32 PM

Yeah what were Blackburn at playing Vogel, and playing Reid on the right and Bentley in the middle. Seems like they were just experimenting cause they could.

papa-j

14/04/2008, 10:14 PM

Guys can anybody help with sourcing 2 tickets for next Tuesday?

reder

15/04/2008, 9:00 AM

Guys can anybody help with sourcing 2 tickets for next Tuesday?

Yep. Ring the club. They will sell you 2 if you have 2 season tickets with all 5 CL games this season on them or you can ring tomorrow with fancards. If you dont meet the criteria, then you dont deserve to go.

papa-j

15/04/2008, 10:16 AM

Yep. Ring the club. They will sell you 2 if you have 2 season tickets with all 5 CL games this season on them or you can ring tomorrow with fancards. If you dont meet the criteria, then you dont deserve to go.

You must be Rick Parry in disguise. Thanks for your positive response.

If there is anybody with 2 season tickets who attended all 5 CL games( not including qualifers, you forgot to mention that Rick) who cant make it on Tues, this undeserving lifelong supporter would gladly buy your tickets. Failing that I will try with my fancard tomorrow but since that is a lottery then the gods of luck will decide who is more deserving.

Thanks again Rick, we will miss you:)

reder

15/04/2008, 11:36 AM

Failing that I will try with my fancard tomorrow but since that is a lottery then the gods of luck will decide who is more deserving.

Its fancard holders with 5 home CL credits tomorrow and it will sell out on that.

If I was Parry, I would hand you over 2 tickets for free cos I know you'd probably go into the club shop before the game and spend �200 or €300 on **** merchandise.

Hope this helps you, bandwagon jumping life-long diehard red.

papa-j

15/04/2008, 11:52 AM

Its fancard holders with 5 home CL credits tomorrow and it will sell out on that.

If I was Parry, I would hand you over 2 tickets for free cos I know you'd probably go into the club shop before the game and spend �200 or �300 on **** merchandise.

Hope this helps you, bandwagon jumping life-long diehard red.

you really have no idea - first game attended was 1988. Anyway see you at Anfield Tuesday

osarusan

16/04/2008, 11:34 AM

Hope this helps you, bandwagon jumping life-long diehard red.
Why all the insults? Your natural Merseyside charm?

And he's hardly jumping on the bandwagon, given Liverpool haven't been all that successful (by their own standards) over the last few years.

reder

17/04/2008, 8:27 AM

Why all the insults? Your natural Merseyside charm?

And he's hardly jumping on the bandwagon, given Liverpool haven't been all that successful (by their own standards) over the last few years.

Its just that all these beggars come along when the big games come around. Tickets were available right up to matchday for all the group games this year.

Once a semi or final comes around, they are all die hard reds. Bet ya he wasnt at Havant or Barnsley in the cup or midweek league games (Wigan etc).

People who attended those fixtures deserve the tickets.

** This person also posted this just as I recieved my 25th (yes 25th) request for tickets for this game. I have offered tickets around to most of the same 25 for the group games etc but most told me "that they were not bothered going cos the team wasnt going to get to the final". **

I had a call last night from someone I actually never knew as a red. This guy hates everything to do with England but has developed a strange liking for LFC. Anyway he told me that he would take tickets off anyone I knew who qualified but wasnt bothered going. Made it sound like he was doing them a favour! The same guy has walked out of the last 3 Ireland matches at half time.

papa-j

18/04/2008, 8:08 PM

Its just that all these beggars come along when the big games come around. Tickets were available right up to matchday for all the group games this year.

Once a semi or final comes around, they are all die hard reds. Bet ya he wasnt at Havant or Barnsley in the cup or midweek league games (Wigan etc).

People who attended those fixtures deserve the tickets.

** This person also posted this just as I recieved my 25th (yes 25th) request for tickets for this game. I have offered tickets around to most of the same 25 for the group games etc but most told me "that they were not bothered going cos the team wasnt going to get to the final". **

I had a call last night from someone I actually never knew as a red. This guy hates everything to do with England but has developed a strange liking for LFC. Anyway he told me that he would take tickets off anyone I knew who qualified but wasnt bothered going. Made it sound like he was doing them a favour! The same guy has walked out of the last 3 Ireland matches at half time.

Listen you dont know the first thing about me so dont assume any of the above. You are an arrogant w**anker with a major chip on your shoulder. But I am willing to forget all that cause you seem to have tickets:) So if you have any spare a genuine fan would appreciate if you would sell. :o