Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
You'd have to ask yourself then, is there such a thing as an embarrassing result?Quote:
BBC Sport: Barcelona 7-0 Celtic: No embarrassment in result, says Brendan Rodgers
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
You'd have to ask yourself then, is there such a thing as an embarrassing result?Quote:
BBC Sport: Barcelona 7-0 Celtic: No embarrassment in result, says Brendan Rodgers
What always interests me is how Barca are able to press much better than any other club. Even the likes of Arsenal can't keep the ball against them. Why is that ?
Looking at the stats, Barca had only 10 shots and scored 7. Not a bad conversion rate.
I think it's a natural result of them retaining possession for so long themselves. If you're without the ball for long periods of time there's much more pressure to retain it when you do eventually win it back, particularly when Barca press as well as they do. Arsenal are used to playing against teams that allow them to have the ball as well, even most of the better sides in England play counter attacking football against them.
There aren't many (any?) teams that try to retain possession against Barcelona now either, they all try to soak it up and hit them on the break, even Real Madrid. They're a difficult team to press because they're so comfortable getting out of tight spots and then expose the inevitable gaps that would open further up the pitch. In short, they're just a lot better at keeping the ball, and a lot better at pressing, than Arsenal are.
In fairness, they were walking the ball into the net at times. Messi's second was a futsal goal.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Iniesta's goal and Suarez' first were superb finishes of course.
Celtic could wlel be on course for the worst CL group record ever; a poor team in a nasty group. Currently it's Dinamo Zagreb's record - no points, three scored and 22 conceded. Only two sides have failed to score in the group stages - Maccabi (who only conceded 8 in losing all their games) and Depor (the year they knocked out Shels), though I think Celtic will at least score one.
Will the money be worth the embarrassment?
Well it's not as if Rangers can slag them - so yeah, I guess so.
Makes you wonder what would have happened if Dundalk had beaten Legia and were facing Dortmund tonight, with a trip to the Camp Nou to come...
I think Dundalk would have been pretty much exempt from embarrassment, given the scale of such an achievement in the first place. Different story for Celtic, given their history, both recent and distant.
They're still better off being there than not though, it keeps them (and Scottish football) on the map a bit. Even with hindsight, I wouldn't have wanted Ireland to have not qualified for Euro 2012 just because they were hammered in the tournament itself. It's still better than not being there at all and there's always the hope you'll give it a better go the next time, which proved to be the case.
Dundalk's victims BATE would be a decent example of how a small team can progress from year to year. I don't think anybody was really laughing at them but they were conceding some wreckless scorelines in the 2014/15 competition, albeit accompanied by one really brilliant result. The experience overall seemed to serve them well and they were much more competitive a year later. I suppose to progress you need to take that first step, it's a shame Dundalk didn't quite manage it.
'Leicester stun Brugge to win their first Champions League game' is the headline on the BBC website. Hardly that stunning considering the Premier League's 4th placed side hammered Brugge 7-1 on aggregate in the qualifying round last season.
Then again, their two headlines yesterday were... 'Rooney left out of Man Utd squad' and 'Aguero returns for Man City', ignoring the likeliness that being left out of the Europa League was probably a show of faith more than a punishment and Aguero was obviously going to play in a game he's not actually suspended for.
They would have replaced Rostov as the lowest ranked team (and in this fantasy would have been drawn out like them) and therefore would have been in the group with Bayern, Atletico and PSV. Rostov lost 5-0 last night to the Evil Empire. Dundalk would have been massacred.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
I would never have been mad about Bayern either for some reason but I'm a big Ancelotti fan so I'd be okay with them winning it this season. It would have the added bonus of showing up Guardiola a little too I think. A good little piece on Ancelotti's reign so far here.Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
Tough night for geysir's Basel.
Fair play to Celtic, I couldn't really see them hanging on once they were pegged back the third time but Manchester City seemed to lack real intent, despite being pretty dangerous at the same time. They could end up in a tricky situation yet if they don't take something from the back-to-back games with Barcelona and, say, Monchengladbach managed to win both games against Celtic (or vice versa but can't really see that happening or Celtic getting anything in their final two games anyway). Both Celtic and City will be a bit relieved that Barca came back to win last night.
A slight bit more composure on the ball and that was Celtic's for the taking. They gave the ball away carelessly on a number of occasions and were punished. Some pride restored. Sky pundits seem to think Rodgers would be pleased. I would say before the game he would have taken a draw but having lead three times, he must be disappointed.
I'd agree if they weren't pretty much hanging on for the final half hour. Obviously he'll have been disappointed to have conceded three times so soon after they scored themselves, but equally Guardiola will be annoyed that City kept conceding after getting themselves back in the game. I felt watching it that there was only going to be one winner the longer it went on, so in that context I think Rodgers will be delighted and as you say, some pride restored. With the other result it gives them a fighting chance of competing for that Europa League spot, which I think would be a big achievement in this group.
Some impressive performances from Celtic players... Tierney, Forrest and obviously Dembele with his two goals. Toure and Brown were excellent in the second half having been chasing shadows as the first half wore on. Has Griffiths fallen out of their best XI with the emergence of Dembele? Must be tough to take for a guy that seems to have been carrying them for the last year or so.
I think Griffiths is just on the way back from an injury.
I too have a soft spot for Ancelloti. But Bayern are absolute filth so they can suck it as far as I'm concerned.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
If Dortmund or Atletico don't win the Champions League then I'll be unhappy. So prepare for me to be unhappy come May.
What's your major gripe with them? Other than the obvious financial muscle they have in Germany.Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
I wouldn't give Dortmund much hope but you couldn't rule Atletico out. I'll be reasonably okay with anybody outside of Barca winning it this time. Ancelotti moving clear on four wins as a manager would soften the blow of Bayern winning it. Surprising that Bob Paisley's record has survived so long really, and he rattled his three off in four years!
It's the obvious financial muscle and the impunity with which they wield it. Constantly tapping up of players.
The ballix with Götze before their Champions League Final with Dortmund shouldn't have happened and the rest.
Plus the transgressions of Ruminegge and Beckenbauer just makes you know that there's a rotten core there that will explode forth soon enough. Hopefully. (I know it won't)
But yeah, I'd have them winning it over City, Barca or Real it has to be said.
Admittedly the CL has completely slipped off my radar re interest these days. Hard to get in anyway excited about the same teams constantly playing each other inevitably in the latter stages of a competition.
Leicester City aside and Crusaders up north, is that not pretty much the way of it in most leagues/cups around the world? Same old, same old...Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
True enough I suppose in the grand scheme but it's the manner of these dominations'. There's precious little hope. Even if there was a clear favourite every year most teams think "this could be our year". These days the hope and joy is fraining from the game.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Barca v City on tonight now... Who cares? Can both lose?
They can but it means Bayern Munich will get six points by default.Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
Oooooh... I'll have to think so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
EDIT:
Joe Hart must be laughing at this.
Haha Bravo
City are brutal.
Guardiola... all fart and no sh!t?
EDIT:
What a goal from Neymar.
Saw some of the game and City seemed to do ok in patches but were masters of their own downfall and missed a few good chances when it was 1-0. I wonder how long before Guardiola's stock begins to fall and he ends up managing at Rotherham United.
Who says the Germans don't have a sense of humour?
A German Team
Entertaining night in the CL. Good effort from Celtic, pity McGregor didn't score the winner at the end, would have been a lovely goal. Have their supporters only added 'Grace' to their songbook this year by the way? Never noticed it before but it sounds class in full flow, especially considering it's such a depressing song under normal circumstances. Depressing in a heartbreaking sense that is.
Manchester City looked good value for their win from what I saw. Barcelona look a bit of a shambles at the back without Pique.
Yes, Celtic game was good viewing. I think the Germans went in with the attitude that they would roll over them and hence the muted celebration for their opening goal but Celtic played some nice stuff and even had more of the possession. Armstrong looks useful, if prone to the odd lapse. Certainly at the moment appear to be a much better side under Rogers than last season's outfit.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Only saw the highlights of the City/Barca game but Messi needs to lose that beard. Is he in disguise hiding from the taxman?
Have to mention Ozil's goal against Ludogorets. One of the better ones:
Fairly entertaining night in the CL. Dundalk's conquerors knocking seven goals past the mighty Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in two matches, okay so they conceded a few as well!
Real Madrid rode their luck but have set up an interesting final night at home to Dortmund now, when they'll have to win to top the group. Bale went off injured yet again, he'll surely miss a Wales game one of these days. Not wishing that on him or anything. :)
Sevilla Juventus looked like a proper match. Mark Clattenburg made some big calls against the home side and looked to get them correct to be fair to him. Lyon v Sevilla should be interesting now on the final match day, basically Sevilla are up 1-0 from the first leg. They'll hardly manage to end up continuing their love affair with the Europa League again? Some 16 year old came on for Juventus, think he's the youngest ever to play in the CL.
Leicester have impressively topped their group and Tottenham are out of contention, both with a match to spare.
He's not the youngest - that's Babayaro apparently - but he is the first player born in the 2000s to feature.
Dundalk definitely dodged a bullet I think. Obviously would have been great playing Real, Dortmund, etc (assuming the draw was the same), but I don't think shipping ten goals would have got quite the same kudos as the current EL run.
Oh right, not sure what I heard last night so, maybe just the youngest to play for Juventus in it or something. Actually, does anybody know who the French fella was on the BT Sport CL goals programme? Former player I presume.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Yeah although maybe they would have been a bit more organised defensively than Legia, who seem a bit gung-ho. I'm sure they would have shipped some fairy heavy defeats but I don't think that would have been a big deal, they might have had a really famous night or two as well. It kind of depends on if they actually get through the Europa group or not I think. If they're eliminated then I think I'd have preferred to have seen them make the CL group stage.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Can anybody else hear Celtic fans singing a song to the tune of Amhran na Bhfiann? Maybe it is just that, or else some word put to the tune.
A traditional Celtic song. They know more of the National Anthem in English than I do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTmPANoMPtg
Thanks. Obviously been around quite a long time too.
Julien Laurens, he's a journalist.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Good man, thanks. I like the way he doesn't even pretend to be neutral.
Knockout stages. Decent draw for Leicester.
Manchester City v Monaco
Real Madrid v Napoli
Benfica v Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich v Arsenal
FC Porto v Juventus
Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid
Paris St-Germain v Barcelona
Sevilla v Leicester
I'd be more inclined to think it's a great draw for Sevilla but it was going to be difficult for Leicester regardless. Arsenal draw the short straw as usual but maybe they're better equipped to take on Bayern than they have been previously, and Bayern certainly don't look like the force they were.
Sure, Sevilla will definitely be happy, but if Leicester had come up with a list of teams they wanted, Sevilla would have been near the top.