CL knock out stage

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01/05/2009, 12:20 PM
lionelhutz

I'm sticking with an Arsenal Barcelona final.

2nd leg predictions;

Arsenal 3 - 1 Man U (can't see Arsenal keeping a clean sheet)

Chelsea 1 - 1 Barcelona
01/05/2009, 1:07 PM
DeLorean

It could be a tense night at The Emirates alright but I can't see United conceding 3 goals. Arsenal might score the first one alright but I'd fancy United to score at some stage.

Think Chelsea will have too much muscle for Barca, they'll be chaos for every Chelsea set piece and they'll win on the night.
02/05/2009, 12:45 AM
Closed Account 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by old git

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

The thing is Wenger can only go with the squad he has available to play. Arshavin, a world class player who can tear any team apart, is cup tied in Europe. Rosicky, who was a great player a few years ago in Dortmund, is almost always injured. Fabreagas is only begining to come back to 100% since the Liverpool injury at the start of the year, Wallcott is also a bit rusty. His only operational strikers (Adebayor and Bendtner) are too similar to play together in a system for any significant stretch of time, and to be honest Bendtner is barely premiership class. I would imagine had Eduardo*, Van Persie, Arshavin and/or Rosicky been available he would have played a more positive system.

* - although he was listed it's clear he was not fully fit.
03/05/2009, 9:31 AM
old git

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

The thing is Wenger can only go with the squad he has available to play. Arshavin, a world class player who can tear any team apart, is cup tied in Europe. Rosicky, who was a great player a few years ago in Dortmund, is almost always injured. Fabreagas is only begining to come back to 100% since the Liverpool injury at the start of the year, Wallcott is also a bit rusty. His only operational strikers (Adebayor and Bendtner) are too similar to play together in a system for any significant stretch of time, and to be honest Bendtner is barely premiership class. I would imagine had Eduardo*, Van Persie, Arshavin and/or Rosicky been available he would have played a more positive system.

* - although he was listed it's clear he was not fully fit.

wenger is the manager bought arshavin knowing he was cup tied !! adebayor/ bendtner both brought through by wenger why if both to simalar players he had plenty of chances to strenthen team in last year or so but did not do it :confused:
04/05/2009, 11:48 AM
Rovers fan

It's nothing to do with having to strenghten his team. Not many teams could fully cope with the amount of players arsenal were missing - Van Persie, Clichy, Arshavin, Gallas, Rosicky with Eduardo, Fabregas and Walcott coming back from injury.
04/05/2009, 1:03 PM
irishultra

Its going to be very tough for Barca but I really believe they can go through. Chelsea are favourites now it has to be said but when they have to come out and score that is when Messi, Iniesta and Eto'o will come to the fore. I have a sneak feeling it will finish 2-2 putting Barca into the final. Heres hoping.
04/05/2009, 1:58 PM
Umberside

Man Utd - Barcelona final would be the most exciting. No offence to Arsenal, but I rather Barca's attacking style.
04/05/2009, 2:49 PM
old git

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rovers fan

It's nothing to do with having to strenghten his team. Not many teams could fully cope with the amount of players arsenal were missing - Van Persie, Clichy, Arshavin, Gallas, Rosicky with Eduardo, Fabregas and Walcott coming back from injury.

manager sets out his squad at start of season... then in january u have option to strenghten squad if long term injuries or get fresh players in wenger only brought in 1 player who is cup tied in champions league :confused:
04/05/2009, 10:44 PM
Denis The Red

Man, I'm looking forward to the next two nights, should be great. Man U to go through with a hard fought 1-1. Can't call the Chelsea-Barca one.
05/05/2009, 8:53 AM
osarusan

I'm going to miss tonight's game due to work. Sickening.
05/05/2009, 10:36 AM
DeLorean

Rooney, Tevez and Evra are all one yellow away from missing the (potential) Final.

Not sure what the Arsenal situation is.
05/05/2009, 11:06 AM
old git

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Rooney, Tevez and Evra are all one yellow away from missing the (potential) Final.

Not sure what the Arsenal situation is.

have to get result tonight before worrying about missing final... hard to see rooney & tevez holding back worried about getting booked :D either way heres hoping its another cracking game tonight 2 good footballing sides and utd may just have enough firepower to see them through :ball:
05/05/2009, 11:20 AM
shakermaker1982

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Rooney, Tevez and Evra are all one yellow away from missing the (potential) Final.

Not sure what the Arsenal situation is.

Diaby
Van Persie
Song
Nasri

are all a yellow card away from missing the Final.
05/05/2009, 11:43 AM
rambler14

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Rooney, Tevez and Evra are all one yellow away from missing the (potential) Final.

Not sure what the Arsenal situation is.

Evra and Rooney are your bankers for yellows there!
05/05/2009, 12:15 PM
Lionel Ritchie

Hope Arsenal and Chelski can do it. Head says Barca and Man U though.
05/05/2009, 12:23 PM
shakermaker1982

I'm hoping for a Man Utd-Barca Final. I think Man Utd can grab a goal tonight so Arsenal will need to score three. I wouldn't totally write the gooners off but Man Utd should progress if they can boss Arsenal from the start like last week. Fletcher, Tevez and Rooney are the key men for United tonight - Arsenal struggled with the pressure and pressing last week and couldn't get going.

Chelsea will look to bully Barca which means they will venture out of their own half tomorrow night which is awfully good of them. Expect to see plenty of long balls to Drogba.
05/05/2009, 7:43 PM
NeilMcD

Once again Arsenal flatter to deceive in a season. Utd tonight got the goals they deserved in the first leg. Its the funny the way footall works. How anyody thought that Arsenal could keep Utd Scoreless tonight was beyond me.
05/05/2009, 7:43 PM
NeilMcD

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler14

Evra and Rooney are your bankers for yellows there!

I reckon Rooney may be taken off now. In addition I think the myth that Ronaldo does not score in the big games and well and truly been blown out of the water
05/05/2009, 8:15 PM
NeilMcD

Disgraceful decision by the ref. Fletcher is going to miss the final now. That card should be cancelled out. Now way should he have been sent off.
05/05/2009, 8:50 PM
NeilMcD

Cracking stuff in the RTE studio tonight. Fair play to Souness sticking up and standing up to Dunphy and Giles.

Best retort back to Dunphy in ages, when he said to Souness you do not know what you are talking about.

"who exactly did you mange Eamonn"

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