CL knock out stage

I enjoyed it. Chelsea were excellent without the ball I thought but Barca probably still did just about enough to maybe have scraped a 1-0. Still though it sets it up nicely for the Bridge.

Dunphy was talking some rubbish about United being far more ambitious in possession last year at the Nou Camp. United made no attempt to play at all, just like Chelsea and I'm sure the studio slated them at the time. It's gas the way he pretends to be a student of Spanish soccer yet he only passed judgement on Alves on last nights performance, surely he would have had an opinion already if he really was watching them every wkd.

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Originally Posted by BarelyLegal

I enjoyed it. Chelsea were excellent without the ball I thought but Barca probably still did just about enough to maybe have scraped a 1-0. Still though it sets it up nicely for the Bridge.

Dunphy was talking some rubbish about United being far more ambitious in possession last year at the Nou Camp. United made no attempt to play at all, just like Chelsea and I'm sure the studio slated them at the time. It's gas the way he pretends to be a student of Spanish soccer yet he only passed judgement on Alves on last nights performance, surely he would have had an opinion already if he really was watching them every wkd.

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Must have been watching the same game as me so as i agree with everything you said in your post. Barce played the football and tried to win the game. They had chances just didn't take them. Overall i think Chelsea will get through. Might be their year.

Backed Ronaldo first goalscorer at 5/1 with a small stake.
Hopefully:cool:

It'll be interesting to see if Adebayor delivers, and Van Persie if he recovers for the second leg. These guys are always going on about the club not being able to fulfill their ambitions yet neither seems to realise that if they were less erratic in front of goal and not missing for 20 games a season (Van P) then maybe Arsenal would be more successful. Talk about abdicating responsibility.

Nasri is a good player and may make a contribution.

I think overall Arsenal's defence will let them down. There's no way they'll keep United out over the 2 legs. I the tie will be like the QF against Liverpool last year, Arsenal will play very well for long periods and I expect they'll score but they'll concede dumb goals & United will go through in the end.

Utd are playing at an unreal high tempo tonight. Arsenal are really struggling to keep a hold of the ball as Fletcher and Tevez and Rooney are right on them every time. Fair Play John O Shea.

Money back if Adebayor scores last.

I think its funny that Arsenal get so much credit for playing great football, they do at times, but I would much rather watch Man Utd anytime. They play at such speed and power and pace and skill. Tonight they should have the game over already but the key thing is they don't.

Lost interest when my bet went

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Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I think its funny that Arsenal get so much credit for playing great football, they do at times, but I would much rather watch Man Utd anytime. They play at such speed and power and pace and skill. Tonight they should have the game over already but the key thing is they don't.

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Well, let's see who plays with the "speed, power, pace (different from speed?) and skill" in the return leg? Man U had all of those 4(3?) for the first half hour but they couldn't maintain it but I expect the same from Arsenal in the return leg. Man U rely on the skill of certain individuals but the passing ability isn't spread throughout the team. Arsenal rely totally on the passing game from back to front with fewer star names.

Well I said it on this thread that when Man Utd were going to Porto needing to win or to have a very high scoring draw that I thought they would win the Champions League and I am even more confident of that now. I can't see Arsenal holding out Man Utd at the Emirates but even if they do I think their best chance is to win on penalties.

Has RVP any chance of making the second leg? Adebayor is lost without him. I thought United would be more comfortable going into the 2nd leg, and probably should be but still think they'll scrape through. It will be a nervy game though and I can see da goons scoring first. It was the double substitution from hell last night and far too early. For such an experienced player Giggs hasn't a clue how to keep the ball. He's too weak to hold it up and he tries way too risky passes. Anderson was playing quite well anyway. Berbs for Tevez speaks for itself.

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Originally Posted by BarelyLegal

Has RVP any chance of making the second leg? Adebayor is lost without him.

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Yeah, I think van Persie is expected to be back for the second leg.

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Originally Posted by BarelyLegal

It was the double substitution from hell last night and far too early. For such an experienced player Giggs hasn't a clue how to keep the ball. He's too weak to hold it up and he tries way too risky passes. Anderson was playing quite well anyway. Berbs for Tevez speaks for itself.

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United (Tevez included) has run out of gas at that stage and some time before to be honest. Giggs was introduced to bring a bit of energy back but it didn't quite work out while Berbatov was supposed to sneak a goal but it didn't etc etc

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

United (Tevez included) has run out of gas at that stage and some time before to be honest. Giggs was introduced to bring a bit of energy back but it didn't quite work out while Berbatov was supposed to sneak a goal but it didn't etc etc

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They had hit a bit of a lull alright but wouldn't say they had ran out of steam. They looked far more clueless once the substitutions were made I thought. I could see what he was trying to do alright but I thought it was stupid, Tevez is the king of important late goals as well.

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Originally Posted by BarelyLegal

They had hit a bit of a lull alright but wouldn't say they had ran out of steam. They looked far more clueless once the substitutions were made I thought. I could see what he was trying to do alright but I thought it was stupid, Tevez is the king of important late goals as well.

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ran out of steam & clueless am i missing something here
united played fantastic football in first half maybe should have been 3-0 at half time.. looked like they had started second half a bit more cautious maybe wary of 1-0 lead and let arsenal back in to game ... even though arsenal never really created any clear cut chances . substitutions were a bit strange alright should maybe have brought on giggs first and then took off tevez later .. watched setanta after game and pat dolan was on talking s**t kept going on about how well arsenal had done to only concede 1 goal and how well players had done etc..and that it was a great result to take back to the emirates .. hardly even mentioned utd in his summary just to say they may rue miss chances and tevez was totally wrong to be shakin his head coming of for a world class player .. tevez he said not worth 30 million loads of effort & running but no real class :confused:

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Originally Posted by old git

ran out of steam & clueless am i missing something here

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Clueless was a bad choice of words. They were just a bit ragged midway through the 2nd half. Passing wasn't as crisp, lots of wrong options, etc.

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Originally Posted by old git

ran out of steam & clueless am i missing something here
united played fantastic football in first half maybe should have been 3-0 at half time.. looked like they had started second half a bit more cautious maybe wary of 1-0 lead and let arsenal back in to game ... even though arsenal never really created any clear cut chances . substitutions were a bit strange alright should maybe have brought on giggs first and then took off tevez later .. watched setanta after game and pat dolan was on talking s**t kept going on about how well arsenal had done to only concede 1 goal and how well players had done etc..and that it was a great result to take back to the emirates .. hardly even mentioned utd in his summary just to say they may rue miss chances and tevez was totally wrong to be shakin his head coming of for a world class player .. tevez he said not worth 30 million loads of effort & running but no real class :confused:

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In all fairness after the battering they took 1-0 was a great result so don't see anything wrong with what Pat Dolan said there. Also Tevez shouldn't be shaking his head coming off no matter how well he played. Also don't see a whole lot wrong with his comments on Tevez really. He's a great player yes for working hard and unsettling defenders but he's hardly a Drogba or Torres now.

I think the point old git is making is that Utd Batter Arsenal for most of the match last night and Arsenal are the emphasis of the analysis and the credit that is going around. I found RTE very anit Utd last night to be honest. They were looking at Utds bad points and picking out Arsenal's high points. It was as if Man Utd were a big club and Arsenal were some small team.

I thought Utd produced one of the best 45 mins in a long time and the second 45 was not bad either and Arsenal did not have one clear cut chance and were reduced to a half chance from a free kick.

But at the end of the day you weather a storm...

The thing is Arsenal have a good chance of going through, and you have to credit their keeper and, to a degree, the manager for setting out a system that was in essence damage limitation away from home. They have left themselves a fair bit to do but they are in a pretty similar situation to Chelsea, essentially they need to keep it tight and hope to score a goal. Not letting another one is vital.

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Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

But at the end of the day you weather a storm...

The thing is Arsenal have a good chance of going through, and you have to credit their keeper and, to a degree, the manager for setting out a system that was in essence damage limitation away from home. They have left themselves a fair bit to do but they are in a pretty similar situation to Chelsea, essentially they need to keep it tight and hope to score a goal. Not letting another one is vital.

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credit manager for setting out a system that was in essence damage limitation away from home :confused: nearly backfired big time as diaby on left side of midfield non existance left a 19 year old rookie defender to try and stop ronaldo & o shea numerous times raiding down the wing in first 45 mins at least 2 goals should have been scored from these chances ... wegner made no attempt in 45 mins to correct this problem and got of lucky as tie should have been over at half time ... would give utd plenty of credit if they had scored more but in fairness ferguson picked team based on work / skill / passion to harry arsenal all over the pitch a big improvement on last few utd games :ball: has the makings off another great game next tuesday at the emirates advantage slightly in utd's favor with 1-0 lead and would still fancy them to score again but would be very intresting game if arsenal score first