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Champions League 09/10
Topic Started: Jul 23 2009, 05:46 AM (4,894 Views)
rosarino
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raconteur,Mar 11 2010
01:43 PM
Marca may be pushing for pellehrini's exit inw ake of Madrid's elimination but the fans apparently are not,

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Meanwhile, a poll of about 10,000 participants by El Mundo newspaper laid the blame on the players. Forty-six percent of those asked said the Champions League failure was the fault of those on the field, with only 16 percent blaming Pellegrini. Another 22 percent saw Perez as the culprit.


Note even Perez gets more blame than Pellegrini in this poll.

That is refreshing to read. So not everybody is buying the garbage coming out on Marca's pages! I agree with those saying Madrid became too individualistic, especially Ronaldo and Higuain. Lyon have always given Madrid trouble in the past decade and despite new names on both teams, this game was no different. And remember Madrid's goal was pretty soft, going through the usually reliable Lloris' legs. Lyon did a good job in shutting Madrid's acclaimed attack down and forced them into desperation which led to excessive individualism.
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Merengue
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I should be accustomed to this now, with Madrid not advancing past this round for the past 6 seasons. A combination of overconfidence after the weekend comeback vs Sevilla, a good 2nd half from Lyon and too much individualism led to this Madrid elimination. As others have already noted, to place the blame on this solely, or even primarily, on Pellegrini is ridiculous and this elimination does not preclude Madrid from winning the league, and actually may increase their chances as there will be no "distractions" now. But it is of course a massive disappointment especially after the big expenditures this past offseason, and frankly based on how well Madrid had been playing recently. But as we have often said in the La Liga discussion this is a down year in Spain, which I think tonight's Europa League results only further confirmed, and Real Madrid's domination in the league is not necessarily transferable to European play.
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Sammy Maudlin
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While I agree that Pellegrini is being made the scapegoat by some for this elimination, you do have to wonder why the coach took Kaka off. Lyon's 2nd half adjustments paid off, Real Madrid's did not.
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Lalo
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Sammy Maudlin,Mar 12 2010
01:35 AM
While I agree that Pellegrini is being made the scapegoat by some for this elimination, you do have to wonder why the coach took Kaka off. Lyon's 2nd half adjustments paid off, Real Madrid's did not.

I did not see anything wrong in taking Kaka off, he was not playing that well and Rafael van der Vaart, the club's hero in their weekend come from behind win over Sevilla came on shortly after even if it was Raul who directly subbed in for Kaka.

Pellegrini is an excellent coach, he has an almost impossible task though at Real Madrid for the reasons stated, if the club win it is because of their great players and the "wonderful" club president who signed them. But if they lose it is the deficient coach's fault.
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SuperEagle
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Simon,Mar 9 2010
01:55 PM
Looks like they did that well enough, as Arsenal just went one better than last season's result, winning 5-0 at home to Porto.

Nicklas Bendtner registered various contenders for 'miss of the season' at the weekend as Arsenal beat Burnley, but he bounced back with a hat-trick tonight. When Arsenal play like that they will score multiple goals against anyone, though there were sporadic occasions when Porto had sniffs of goal themselves. But no doubting the result, in fact it could be argued that the man of the match was Porto keeper Helton, without whom it really could have been nine or ten-nil to Arsenal.

Arsenal really are hitting top form at just the right time of the season. Who knows what they can do between now and May?

Sounds like an exciting game in Florence as well, as Fiorentina beat Bayern Munich 3-2 on the night, but exited on the away goals rule after the 4-4 aggregate draw. I didn't see that one so I'll leave others to fill in the details.

I was beyond pleased with Arsenal's play against Porto. Nasri had a magnificient game, he was a playmaker in France before coming to Arsenal but with Fabregas around, Wenger switched him out wide where I think he is less effective but where he has become known as an Arsenal player. A good alternative to Cesc in the centre of the park.

Some of Porto's marking was atrocious and Bendtner benefited from that but like Simon wrote, this was Arsenal at its best. I was fairly optimistic coming into this game as Porto only scored on Arsenal in Portugal after some basic mistakes by Arsenal, especially Fabianski who was not anywhere near the pitch on Tuesday.

Arsenal and manchester United won with ease but nobody can deny there was plenty of drama in Florence and Madrid this week. You have to feel sorry for how Fiorentina went out though.
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valenciano
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Tuesday's games
Chelsea-Inter
Sevilla-CSKA Moscow

Wednesday's games
Bordeaux-Olimpiacos
Barcelona-Stuttgart

And the disciplinary situation for these clubs:

Playing on Tuesday
Chelsea v Inter Milan Misses next match if booked: Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou (both Chelsea); Walter Samuel, Maicon, Javier Zanetti, Lucio, Thiago Motta (all Inter Milan). - -

Sevilla v CSKA Moscow Misses next match if booked: Fernando Navarro (Sevilla); Chidi Odiah, Milos Krasic, Yevgeny Aldonin (all CSKA Moscow).

- - -

Playing on Wednesday
Barcelona v VfB Stuttgart Misses next match if booked: Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique (both Barcelona); Timo Gebhart (VfB Stuttgart). - -

Girondins Bordeaux v Olympiakos Piraeus Misses next match if booked: Marc Planus, Michael Ciani (both Girondins Bordeaux); Raul Bravo, Dudu (both Olympiakos Piraeus).


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Winslow
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Tuesday's scores...
.
.
.
.
.
.
Chelsea 0, Inter Milan 1 (1-2 aggregate).
Sevilla 1, CSKA Moscow 2 (2-3 aggregate).

The road teams advance! Inter played better at the beginning and the end at Stamford Bridge, scoring the only goal with 12 minutes left as Eto'o (who had missed a couple of easy ones earlier) latched onto a brilliant Sneijder long ball behind the Blues defense and easily beat Marshall. (Who? I tell you, no club gives its third-string keeper as much action as Chelsea does.) Inter's defense held all game, thanks to a combination of well-timed ball tackles (legal) and gridiron-style tackles (illegal, and could've given Chelsea two first-half PKs). The last of the latter tackles cost Drogba a red card in the dying minutes; he stomped on Thiago Motta's ankle after the Brazilian wrestled him to the turf.

At the Pizjuan, it was 1-1 at halftime; CSKA's Necid opened the scoring late in the half after a short corner and a couple of neat passes left him open in the box, but Perotti tied it after a long ball and a nice touch found him alone. Then in the second half, CSKA won a free kick, which Honda put on frame; Palop should've easily handled it, but instead deflected it into his own net. Robdog will be pleased.
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raconteur
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A good night for the visiting teams,

Chelsea 0-1 Inter
Sevilla 1-2 CSKA Moscow

Inter played a very intelligent game and thoroughly deserved their 1-0 win. Sneijder was superb spraying passes all over the field, Samuel and Lucio controlled the back, with help from the fullbacks and Cambiasso and Thiago Motta in front of them as Chelsea never really seriously threatened Julio Cesar while Inter were getting close but not converting. In fact you were beginning to wonder if they would regret missing so many chances, especially Eto'o who was not having a good game. Then Mourinho sent Stankovic on for the tiring Pandev and moved Eto'o to the opposite side of the field and a bit farther up and he got on the end of a great through ball from Sneijder and beat Turnbull the Chelsea goalie.

Good all around play from Inter, I think their coach knew a bit about their opponents ;) , and Chelsea for all their efforts looked short of ideas.

I did not see the match but CSKA Moscow went to Sevilla and won 2-1, the game winning goal by Japan's Honda in the 55th minute. Necid for CSKA and Perotti for Sevilla with the 1st half goals.
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ursus arctos
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Horrible mistake by the usually reliable Palop for Honda's goal.

It's up to Barca to maintain the honour of Spanish football.
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Yogi
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Quote:
 
Inter played a very intelligent game and thoroughly deserved their 1-0 win. Sneijder was superb spraying passes all over the field, Samuel and Lucio controlled the back, with help from the fullbacks and Cambiasso and Thiago Motta in front of them as Chelsea never really seriously threatened Julio Cesar while Inter were getting close but not converting. In fact you were beginning to wonder if they would regret missing so many chances, especially Eto'o who was not having a good game. Then Mourinho sent Stankovic on for the tiring Pandev and moved Eto'o to the opposite side of the field and a bit farther up and he got on the end of a great through ball from Sneijder and beat Turnbull the Chelsea goalie.


I would say Mr. Mourinho knew a bit about tonight's opponents! He had a fine game plan, uisng Eto'o and Pandev to keep Chelsea's flank play from becoming a threat while the players raconteur named all played very well, most of all Sneijder. Drogba may have found out what to expect this summer at the World Cup when Ivory Coast plays Brazil because Lucio had him in his pocket for the 2nd match in a row. And if it was not Lucio it was Samuel or even Thiago Motta dropping abck who just snuffed out any of Chelsea's attacks.

That usual drive which Chelsea has just was not present in this game but maybe Inter deserves credit for taking the life out of Chelsea. It was as ineffective as I have ever seen Chelsea, even last year in the semiifnal vs barcelona when they most sat bck and defended they still created more on the counter then than they did in these two games vs Inter.

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Manzanares
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ursus arctos,Mar 16 2010
02:17 PM
Horrible mistake by the usually reliable Palop for Honda's goal.

It's up to Barca to maintain the honour of Spanish football.

Palop is a big reason Sevilla made it where they did but he really did blow that free kick by Honda. Looked like he tried to punch the ball away but misjudged its trajectory and was not behind the ball so instead it went off the sides of his fists and into the net!

In the Spain forum there has been some discussion on Sevilla's recent poor form and the consensus has been injuries have robebd the team of consistency. Luis Fabiano has since returning from injury looked just a shadow of his normal self, Kanoute has not been his normal force either and Negredo runs hot and cold. Then you add Sevilla's coach Jimenez decision to only start Luis Fabiano as a lone forward and it should not be a real shock Sevilla had trouble creating goal scoring opportuntiies even when they threw more attackers on late in the match. Right now this is an inconsistent Sevilla team and they deservedly went out against CSKA.

So with 6 of 8 quarterfinalists known we now have these teams advancing:

Arsenal
Bayern
Lyon
Manchester United
Inter
CSKA Moscow

With these 4 looking to join them,
Barcelona/Stuttgart
Bordeuax/Olimpiacos
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Dr. Z
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Palop usually is a mistake free goalie too. Even the best make mistakes, but Manzanares is right to point out Sevilla's scoring problems recently. And each Luis Fabiano and Kanoute had good scoring opportunties which they missed against CSKA. Sevilla are still in 4th place in Spain but this does seem like the weakest team they have had in the past 4-5 years at least and they blew a golden opportunity to advance to the quarterfinals. Instead it is CSKA Moscow making their first ever quarterfinal appearance.

Ok Barcelona, as ursus noted, you are Spain's last remaining hope in the competition. Lio Messi was inspired over the weekend vs Valencia, a similar performance on Wednesday and Barca will be in the quarters. I think Real Madrid's elimination last week made Barcelona stand up and take notice. I expect they will be ready for Stuttgart.
Poniendo el pecho a las balas!
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Merengue
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Palop's mistake was out of character for him, it did look like he was fooled by the shot's trajectory and did not get behind it. But as others have written Sevilla's offense just is not producing enough now. The club's forwards are getting service from the wings, but they simply are not finishng. Hard to win at this level when that happens.

Full credit to Inter for their win. They did take Chelsea out of their rhythm and forced them to hit long balls which Lucio and Samuel dealt with effectively. Maicon may not have attacked like he normally does but he was excellent defensively, I do not recall any Chelsea player beating him all game long. I do think Chelsea missed the speed and energy of players like the injured Essien, Ashley Cole and Bosingwa but they have each been long term absentees. This current Chelsea team seems to be lacking ideas if, as Inter did, you control Drogba and Anelka.

Xavi injured his calf and will not only miss tonight's game vs Stuttgart but also will be out for two weeks.
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Martin
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I do think Chelsea missed the speed and energy of players like the injured Essien, Ashley Cole and Bosingwa but they have each been long term absentees. This current Chelsea team seems to be lacking ideas if, as Inter did, you control Drogba and Anelka.


This was my impression over both legs too. That typical Chelsea drive and energy has been missing, and maybe a lot of that is attributable to Essien's absence in particular but mostly I think Chelsea are an aging team without their previous energy. They are still good but Inter's tactics and personnel were ideally suited to nullifying them and then Chelsea ran out of ideas other than hitting long balls forward. Lucio, who was great in both games v Chelsea will miss the first game of the quarterfinals, as will Thiago Motta, through suspension.

I pretty much agree with the consensus here about Sevilla's problems this season, too many injuries and poor form to their attackers, combined might add with Manolo Jimenez' less than adventurous tactics. I kind of get the feeling that unless Sevilla end the season well in Spain, Jimenez may be out of a job this summer.
Club Sportivo Desamparados
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robdog
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Now Jose can officially put his thumbs up to Roman AbramovichPosted Image. We saw who was the best Chelsea Coach in this two leg affair. Too bad the Best ever Chelsea Coach is in Italy, w/ a chance to goto Real Madrid or L'Pool <_<
Supporter for FCK, San Lorenzo, Chelsea, Pachuca, Corinthians & Real Betis
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