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| Champions League 09/10 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 23 2009, 05:46 AM (4,893 Views) | |
| Simon | Mar 17 2010, 12:21 PM Post #256 |
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I made a special effort to watch the Chelsea game last night as I thought the first leg was a really good game, but it wasn't that good a match IMO. Credit to Inter, and really I've got nothing to add to what's already been said except to agree that Chelsea looked totally flat, lacked ideas and penetration and played an alarming number of long balls to Drogba as a result. I wasn't too fussed either way about who went through, though I do kind of regret that of United's two title rivals, Arsenal have a nice looking run-in while Chelsea do not now have the distraction of the European Cup. That will help with their injuries / fitness etc. Lampard looked very leggy last night, he's only just come back from injury and still doesn't look fit. That ends a heck of a run for Chelsea, I forget how many consecutive years they've at least made the semi-finals, but it's 5 or 6 or something like that? Robdog? Tonight's matches don't look too enticing for me. The Bordeaux-Olympiakos one could be tight, I suppose, but I'd expect Barcelona-Stuttgart to be a cakewalk. I'd love UEFA to change the Last 16 back to how it used to be, but I suppose there's no chance of that. |
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| ursus arctos | Mar 17 2010, 12:39 PM Post #257 |
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How far back do you want to go, Simon? Four matches on Tuesday and another four on Wednesday? A second set of groups? (please, no) Or all the way back to "only champions and last year's winners"? |
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| Winslow | Mar 17 2010, 01:51 PM Post #258 |
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Wednesday's second legs... . . . . . . Barcelona 4, Stuttgart 0 (5-1 aggregate). Bordeaux 2, Olympiakos 1 (3-1 aggregate). As Simon suspected, it was no contest at the Camp Nou as Barca wiped the turf with the Germans. Messi scored the first goal after 12 minutes, taking advantage of some slack defending to dribble from midfield to the top of the box; as four defenders belatedly closed on him, he smashed the ball into the top left corner. Less than ten minutes later Messi had the ball in about the same spot, but this time he passed smartly to Yaya Toure sneaking behind the Stuttgart back line; his low, first-time cross found Pedro for a tap-in. Messi got his second at the hour mark, taking a backheel pass from Dani Alves at the top of the arc, spinning to his left and shooting across his body past Lehmann. The fourth came in garbage time from late sub Krkic. Still waiting for the facts and figures from Bordeaux. |
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| raconteur | Mar 17 2010, 03:36 PM Post #259 |
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Impressive work from Lionel Messi and Barcelona. Is it me or does Barcelona look better without Ibrahimovic and with the more mobile Pedro in their starting team? They certainly looked good today but also remember this was against a midtable team from the Bundesliga, hardly one of Europe's elite teams this season. I did not see Bordeaux's win but the wire service story on the game praised Yoan Gourcuff who scored Bordeaux's 1st with a free kick then late in the game set up Chamakh for their 2nd goal. Gourcuff also ahd another free kick go off the bar. Olympiakos' Matt Derbyshire was sent off after 60 minutes but they surprisingly tied the game up 5 minutes later and looked to have a chance when Bordeaux's Diarra picked up his 2nd yellow and was sent off. But the French league leaders held on and Gourcuff set up Chamakh for the game winner and a 3-1 aggregate triumph. So there are 2 clubs each from France and England in the quarterfinals and one each from Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia. An interesting combination and personally I find it refreshing there are not three clubs from any one league. |
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| enganche | Mar 17 2010, 04:02 PM Post #260 |
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What can you say about Lio Messi with Barcelona? i just hope one month training together in late May/early June will get Messi playing like that for Argentina! raconteur, you are not alone, right now Ibrahimovic is looking too ponderous, Barca does play better with Pedro and his speed and ovement than they do right now with Ibra. There will still be ocasions to use the big swdde but right now I think he has to earn starting minutes and he is not doing that. What I would like UEFA to do is what is done in the Copa Libertadores where the 8 group winners are seeded 1-8 based on total points won in the group stage with goal differential, total goals, etc being used to break ties on points. Then the 2nd place teams are seeded 9-16 using the same formula. 1 plays 16, 2 vs 15, 3 vs 14 etc. irrespective of country of origin or which group the clubs originally were in. This way you know the entire seeding system through the final. |
| Prefiero morir de pie que vivir arrodillado | |
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| robdog | Mar 17 2010, 05:48 PM Post #261 |
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No comment <_< Let me sulk in peace, but in reality, I am a bit happy. I rather stop your boyz from winning their 4th consecutive EPL Crown. I know, I know, le gooners have an excellent chance too, but if Chelsea doesn't win the EPL, then the season is a failure, even with retaining the FA Cup. |
| Supporter for FCK, San Lorenzo, Chelsea, Pachuca, Corinthians & Real Betis | |
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| libero | Mar 17 2010, 11:45 PM Post #262 |
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Gourcuff with a lovely free kick goal, from an angle he hit his shot to the top far corner. Leo Messi has had a very good season but seems like he is saving his best for the latter stages of the year. He was simply incredible on Wednesday. Ibra was doing pretty well for Barcelona in the first half of the season but since 2010 started, his play has dropped and nobody could blame Guardiola for favoring Pedro to start over him now. |
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| ursus arctos | Mar 18 2010, 06:18 AM Post #263 |
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Ibrahimovic was bought to give Guardiola a different option than he had before, a tall, physically-imposing striker who can hold the ball up and create a host of options for the other forwards and players coming though from midfield. Pep understands that that particular option is more valuable against certain types of defenses and in certain types of matches (the classic example being last season's semi-finals against Chelsea), whereas in other cases the more dynamic approach that Pedro provides is what is needed. |
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| Simon | Mar 18 2010, 09:45 AM Post #264 |
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Yes, to clarify, it's just this silly new idea of staggering the First Knockout Round over the course of a month. I didn't think much of the choice of games last night, Barcelona running in 3 or 4 goals against a mid-level German tean, or a tussle between Bordeaux and Olympiakos, with all due respect to those teams. For what it's worth, I don't actually care much for the Libertadores system, as it raises the chance that you could play someone that you've only just been in a group with. Besides, I enjoy watching the draw and finding out who you've got! Don't know who I'd like in the draw tomorrow, I think a trip to Munich would be something to look forward to! |
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| ursus arctos | Mar 18 2010, 09:58 AM Post #265 |
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I haven't heard a single person express a positive opinion of the "dragged out" schedule. But then I don't generally speak to television rights executives. I'm also not a big fan of the Libertadores system, as I think it places undue emphasis on results in the group stages, and leads better teams to run up the score on lesser opponents. I wouldn't like to see European teams adopt the model of some South American clubs and field reserve sides in league matches so as to preserve their best players for the Libertadores. |
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| Yogi | Mar 18 2010, 11:51 AM Post #266 |
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ursus, that is a good point about the Libertadores system encouraging the running up of scores and possibly sacrificing players in league games so as to ensure their availability in the continental club championship, although to be fair that already happens to an extent now. As for tomorrow's draw, I imagine most clubs are hoping they get CSKA Moscow but then again Sevilla thought that last round too! Teams to avoid-Barcelona, Manchester United, Inter Milan. Simon, do not underrate Bordeaux, the only unbeaten club this season in the Champions League. If there is a 2004 Porto or Monaco in this year's tournament I think it is Bordeaux. |
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| Sammy Maudlin | Mar 18 2010, 11:21 PM Post #267 |
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I like the sound of the Libertadores system, particularly that a club knows who they must get past once the elimination rounds start. I do not like that the Champions League has a draw for the round of 16 then a subsequent draw for the quarterfinals through the final. I think you should know your route to the final before the knockout stage begins. That is how t is done in the World Cup, in international tennis tournaments and other sports. As it stands now, Barcelona could be drawn in the quarterfinals against Inter Milan or Manchester United, two of the other clubs considered as Barcelona's biggest competitors remaining in the Champions League. Meanwhile unfancied CSKA Moscow could be dawn with Bordeaux. I like how the Libertadores bases the seeding on how you did in the group stage. I understand ursus point about that possibly leading to running up the score but I do not think that is as much of a problem than it is of having an unbalanced draw. Now that I have had my say, I am curious to see what this draw will bring us the rest of the tournament. |
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| Winslow | Mar 19 2010, 03:21 AM Post #268 |
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This morning's quarterfinal draw: Lyon vs. Bordeaux Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United Arsenal vs. Barcelona Inter Milan vs. CSKA Moscow Looks like each tie has a definite favorite, except for the all-French affair. This draw is kind to Man U, who would play the French winner in the semis while Barca (or Arsenal) would face probably Inter. |
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| Yogi | Mar 19 2010, 06:20 AM Post #269 |
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Not a kind draw for either Arsenal or Bayern, they both should challenge Manchester United and Barcelona but I do not think they have enough to pull off the upset. Aesthetically Arsenal-Barcelona could be enjoyable to watch. To me though the draw looks like it can provide us with another Manchester United-Barcelona final. But if Inter can reproduce their form against Chelsea, they will not be easy opponents for anyone. My semifinal predictions: Bordeaux, Manchester United, Barcelona, Inter. |
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| Merengue | Mar 19 2010, 10:12 AM Post #270 |
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A repeat of the epic 1999 Final between Bayern Munich and Manchester United. I imagine there is some sort of rivalry that has developed between the two clubs following that. Simon, you get the chance to drink some good beer if you go for a road trip! A matchup of Robben and Ribery aka Robbery vs Rooney. I think for neutrals Bayern-Manchester United and Arsenal-Barcelona are the games to watch. Look for a series of stories to run in the press about Barcelona's interest in signing Cesc Fabregas just before the Arsenal-Barca matches. That is an old Spanish trick which Real Madrid have also run with in the past to try and unsettle their opponents' star player. It is thawing out in Moscow so Inter's trip to Russia likely won't be too bad weather wise. Inter are the heavy favorites in that series and I get the feeling Mourinho will not let them get complacent about facing CSKA. The all French quarterfinal, could be like what I described in the Europa League about the all Spanish matchup there, either an exciting game between two dynamic attacking teams or a stalemenate brought about based on their familiarity with one another. A good chance for Bordeaux to make a statement that they really are the new top dog in France. |
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