Champions League 2011/12

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Originally Posted by geysir

I guess we won't see Man U beating Barca this season.

I picked the wrong match to watch last night - Porto waddle their way against Zenit.
Benfica look the better team from Portugal, just that bit more clinical up front.
Basel had a good night in the mud. Shaqiri looks like he can make the step up from the star u21 player at the Euros to a class senior footballer. It's a good sign for the Swiss league that one of their clubs could hold onto him this long.

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unless they meet in super cup .. winners champ league v europa league winners :D::D

That would still be next season :) United got what they deserved, not so much for the performance last night but for their complacency throughout the group. Good to see a few less obvious teams in the knockout rounds anyway, European football needed a season like this. If somebody could topple Barca, the tournament would be wide open.

Tommy Martin and 3e will be happy that Man Utd will be playing Thursday night football in the Europa League. I would imagine Fergie will give the young guns a chance in the Europa League and if fit Michael Owen so good news for them and Michael. I read an interview with Rio this morning and he is all out to win the Europa League so Fergie will have a decision to make there. I suppose it will all depend on what games they have on the Sunday/Monday and how the Europa League group is going. I saw another article with quotes from the great pro Evra saying he is embarrassed to be playing Thursday night football in the Europa League. I think he should be embarrassed by his form first of all. One player rapidly on the way downhill.

I think Lindegaard looks a lot less shakey than De Gea. I see that in his two games (Benfica away and Otelul away) he only let in 1 goal, whereas De Gea shipped 7 in his 4 games. He just doesnt seem to command the box as well and the Man Utd defenders seem to hit every panic button with De Gea in nets.

It's all very well that De Gea might come on and become a very good keeper for them, but in the short term it looks like its cost them getting out of the group.

Evra and co are right to feel embarrassed about failing to qualify, I don't see the problem with him saying that. I think Ferguson may want to win it all the same. It's the only European competition that United haven't won and it's a fairly elite group that have one all three...Juventus, Bayern Munich and Ajax. Ferguson would join our own Trap as the only manager to have won all three with the same club, in addition to his Cup Winners Cup with Aberdeen. Interestingly enough Marco Tardelli has won all three as a player.

Teams to have won all three major UEFA competitions

Embarrassed to be playing in the Europa League he said!

Good spin on it there have to say! PMSL!

Yeah I read the quotes...no spin, just agree with him. He also said "maybe one or two of us have to look at ourselves in the mirror and say we can do better than we have done". That, to me, sounds like he was including himself.

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Originally Posted by KK77

Tommy Martin and 3e will be happy that Man Utd will be playing Thursday night football in the Europa League. I would imagine Fergie will give the young guns a chance in the Europa League and if fit Michael Owen so good news for them and Michael. I read an interview with Rio this morning and he is all out to win the Europa League so Fergie will have a decision to make there. I suppose it will all depend on what games they have on the Sunday/Monday and how the Europa League group is going. I saw another article with quotes from the great pro Evra saying he is embarrassed to be playing Thursday night football in the Europa League.

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Embarrassed or not, it's tough sht. They weren't good enough after 6 games to make the CL groups, and they only beat one team, so they'll play something more suited to their capabilities in the new year.

Did RTE describe them going out as a "sad night" that "doesn't bear thinking about" again? Eamonn Holmes bragged to his news viewers last year, that he didn't know what Thursday Night European football feels like, as his team doesn't play on Thursdays. He'll find out soon enough. ;)

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

Yeah I read the quotes...no spin, just agree with him. He also said "maybe one or two of us have to look at ourselves in the mirror and say we can do better than we have done". That, to me, sounds like he was including himself.

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I meant you're spin!

Mark Lawrenson was saying on the last word last night that the result on Wednesday had been coming yet on Monday on the same show he said and i quote him "Man U will sail through". The man is a c*ck.

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Originally Posted by KK77

I meant you're spin!

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I know...that's why I said "no spin, just agree with him"... explanation of which would translate into..."I am not spinning anything, I just happen to agree with what Patrice said", and it's "your" not "you're" ;)

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Originally Posted by mypost

Embarrassed or not, it's tough sht. They weren't good enough after 6 games to make the CL groups, and they only beat one team

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I don't think many would argue with that.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

I know...that's why I said "no spin, just agree with him"... explanation of which would translate into..."I am not spinning anything, I just happen to agree with what Patrice said", and it's "your" not "you're" ;)

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SAD;)

Sure look on the bright you can join an elite group who have won the 3 competitions as you said!

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Originally Posted by KK77

Sad:(

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I know, you'd think at your age you'd know the difference :)

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Originally Posted by KK77

Sure look on the bright you can join an elite group who have won the 3 competitions as you said!

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I supported United growing up alright but began to care less and less every year of my adult life. I'm really not pushed. I'd prefer them to win than City, Chelsea or Liverpool but it really doesn't upset me when they lose. I'd be happy out to see Spurs win the league with the way they play football. I've just a general interest these days to be honest. As for the three competitions thing, I do think it would be a nice thing for any club to have, and an incredible achievement by Ferguson, but I can't even see them winning that without Vidic to be honest. Not sure how seriously they'll take it in any case. Maybe if they lose to City in the FA Cup they'll try to give it a good go.

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Originally Posted by KK77

Mark Lawrenson was saying on the last word last night that the result on Wednesday had been coming yet on Monday on the same show he said and i quote him "Man U will sail through". The man is a c*ck.

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Most annoying pundit of all time, he doesn't even have a close rival.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

I know, you'd think at your age you'd know the difference :)

You'd think at your age you'd know when you have been fished;)

I supported United growing up alright but began to care less and less every year of my adult life. I'm really not pushed. I'd prefer them to win than City, Chelsea or Liverpool but it really doesn't upset me when they lose. I'd be happy out to see Spurs win the league with the way they play football. I've just a general interest these days to be honest. As for the three competitions thing, I do think it would be a nice thing for any club to have, and an incredible achievement by Ferguson, but I can't even see them winning that without Vidic to be honest. Not sure how seriously they'll take it in any case. Maybe if they lose to City in the FA Cup they'll try to give it a good go.

Fair enough.

Most annoying pundit of all time, he doesn't even have a close rival.

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Ronnie Whelan goes close! LOL

Lawro came up with a decent pun on Tuesday, I suspect by accident rather than design, when Costa of Valencia received a booking, as they showed the replay, Lawro made the comment that he did something silly that cost a yellow.

What a draw!! The dream final of El Classico is on for sure now. Both Barca and Real away in their 1st legs of quarters and semis!!
Predictions on Agg:
Apoel 0-5 Real Madrid
Marseille 2-4 Bayern Munich

Benfica 2-3 Chelsea
Ac Milan 1-4 Barca

Semi
Bayern 2-3 Real
Chelsea 3-4 Barca

Final
Real 1-2 Barca

Barca have the tie they didn't want. Milan are a very difficult team to break down (under normal circumstances :)) and can play when they have to.
Madrid and Bayern are bankers to get through, Barca to sweat it out and Benfica to provide an upset of sorts.

Barca broke them down 5 times in the group stages, although they also conceded 4. It should be a decent tie, the game at the San Siro in the group was a cracker. The draw really sets it up for a Barca v Real/Bayern final, both of which would be intriguing in their own way. Bayern with home advantage in a one off game would be a serious threat to Barca and I think Mourinho would prefer to have them in a final than semi also. Bayern v Barca would be very open I'd imagine, whereas Real v Barca would be cagey and riddled with cheating. They bring the worst out of each other in that regard.

True enough that Barca scored 5 on aggregate, I forgot about that important stat:)

I suppose I was mainly thinking of the effort Barca had to put in at home after going behind to an early goal and where Milan looked like they enjoying themselves, defending effortlessly on the ropes.