UEFA Champion's League 2013/14

[dan08]

Game over. Thought Utd might sneak it on away goals, but not now.

indeed

18 years and out - we may be gone some time

We'll be back within the next couple of years (as long as we get a new manager, unlikely though).

[Aidan11]

Barcelona out too. Was watching some of that game and what I saw, Barcelona just looked flat.

[sussexpob]

Barcelona out too. Was watching some of that game and what I saw, Barcelona just looked flat.

They need an option two up front. Teams that close the space against them are now succeeding, as Xavi and Iniesta don't seem to be the players they once were. Xavi especially is finished now.

[dan08]

Barcelona out too. Was watching some of that game and what I saw, Barcelona just looked flat.

They need an option two up front. Teams that close the space against them are now succeeding, as Xavi and Iniesta don't seem to be the players they once were. Xavi especially is finished now.

I think Iniesta is still a great player - fantastic through ball in the 1st leg to set up Neymar's goal. Maybe not having the impact like he did in the past though. Xavi has his moments but at 34, his best days are behind him.

I feel Barca need a tall striker (even if he's just on the bench). If they can't play their way through then they're forced to cross it in and that's pointless when you've got Messi up against the huge tank Godin.

[sussexpob]

Barcelona out too. Was watching some of that game and what I saw, Barcelona just looked flat.

They need an option two up front. Teams that close the space against them are now succeeding, as Xavi and Iniesta don't seem to be the players they once were. Xavi especially is finished now.

I think Iniesta is still a great player - fantastic through ball in the 1st leg to set up Neymar's goal. Maybe not having the impact like he did in the past though. Xavi has his moments but at 34, his best days are behind him.

I feel Barca need a tall striker (even if he's just on the bench). If they can't play their way through then they're forced to cross it in and that's pointless when you've got Messi up against the huge tank Godin.

Indeed. I said to a friend recently that at times you would think Barcelona would be a better team with a classic lump up front. Against teams that stay organised they aren't quick enough with the ball to catch teams out. While Messi or Iniesta can still kill you with pieces of play that are truly world class, and break through, they would be much better if they played more direct against top teams.

If I was Barcelona, I would have signed Negredo or Llorente a long time ago. Both are huge players who can be physical, but also have ball skills. In fact the strange thing is, for all Spain's concentration on small players with control and passing ability, Spain still produces endless strikers who are classic English type number 9's. Yet the top teams ignore them mostly in domestic football

[SaintPowelly]

Xavi and Iniesta don't seem to be the players they once were. Xavi especially is finished now.

Hope they don't try and sign Schneiderlin, he'd fit perfectly into their system.

I feel Barca need a tall striker (even if he's just on the bench). If they can't play their way through then they're forced to cross it in and that's pointless when you've got Messi up against the huge tank Godin.

If I was Barcelona, I would have signed Negredo or Llorente a long time ago. Both are huge players who can be physical, but also have ball skills.

Remember they did have Ibrahimovic, if he doesn't work for them, no-one will. ( although his goalscoring record was decent, 16 in 23 I think )

[sussexpob]

Ibrahimovic and Barcelona just didn't mix well. Ibra is an insulting and controversial character with a massive ego, placed in a team ethic where there was no ego's, even from guys like Lionel Messi. Ibra is also tremendously lazy, and from a tactical point of view Guardiola wanted him to track back more and play their high pressing game up the pitch, something he literally couldn't be arsed to involve himself with.

Ibrahimovic once responded to criticism from his manager by throwing a few heavy boxes at him and attempting to physically assault him, and after that incident towards the end of the season Guardiola dropped him, and Ibra gave the club a ultimatum that they either agreed to loan him out or face him refusing to train. As a very highly priced recently acquired asset they had no choice.

Ibrahimovic has been on record to say that Guardiola was a coward and that he lacks "balls" or words to that effect. It was clear that his ego got in the way at Barcelona and that Guardiola and him never seen eye to eye, wrecking what could have given Barcelona exactly what they needed. But Zlatan is a guy that needs to be top dog, not the guy 6th in line in terms of popularity. He threw his toys out the pram like an idiot.

Tbf Zlatan isn't that good anyway. He scored as many goals for Barcelona as Soldado did that year, and Soldado was playing for an unflavoured Getafe, not with arguably the best midfield ever created feeding him chances. That was the only year he played in a top league and he flattered to live up to the billing, ending in disaster.

Soloman Kalou scores goals in France, and so did Diouf..... and Italy is a poor league since he was involved in it.

Never did it in Germany, Spain or UK

[dan08]

Real Madrid v Bayern
Atletico v Chelsea

Bayern (Ronaldo injured, would still back them even if he was fit though) and Atletico (presuming Courtois plays) for me.

[sussexpob]

Real Madrid v Bayern
Atletico v Chelsea

Bayern (Ronaldo injured, would still back them even if he was fit though) and Atletico (presuming Courtois plays) for me.

Bayern v Real is a game I wouldn't want to call, and Athletico don't have the overall quality to beat Chelsea

[dan08]

Real Madrid v Bayern
Atletico v Chelsea

Bayern (Ronaldo injured, would still back them even if he was fit though) and Atletico (presuming Courtois plays) for me.

Bayern v Real is a game I wouldn't want to call, and Athletico don't have the overall quality to beat Chelsea

You say that they don't have the overall quality to beat Chelsea but Atletico beat Chelsea 4-1 in the 2012 Super Cup with 10 of their current squad members. They beat Real twice at the Bernabeu in 2013 and are unbeaten in 5 games v Barca this season so they definitely can compete with the best. Both sides will fancy their chances though and it's obviously going to be difficult with the 2nd leg in London.

[SaintPowelly]

Courtois wont play, they don't have the 4.95mil required to pay Chelsea.

[Gingerfinch]

Both ties are tough to call. We don't know too much about Atletico, but you can bet Jose does. I hope Ronaldo is fit and raring to go. If he is, then Real's pace could give them the edge.

[dan08]

Courtois wont play, they don't have the 4.95mil required to pay Chelsea.

I'm not sure if that's still true as UEFA made a statement this morning saying Chelsea can't prevent him from playing. http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/administ ... 88774.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26966141
Don't know if that means they still have to pay or not?

Anyway, if Courtois doesn't play then Atletico are stuffed as their sub goalie Aranzubia is one of the worst i've ever seen although with Chelsea's attack they may not have enough shots to trouble him.

[sussexpob]

Courtois wont play, they don't have the 4.95mil required to pay Chelsea.

I'm not sure if that's still true as UEFA made a statement this morning saying Chelsea can't prevent him from playing. http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/administ ... 88774.html http://www1.skysports.com/football/news ... ico-madrid
Don't know if that means they still have to pay or not?

Anyway, if Courtois doesn't play then Atletico are stuffed as their sub goalie Aranzubia is one of the worst i've ever seen although with Chelsea's attack they may not have enough shots to trouble him.

All that says is that Courtois can play if Athletico asked, which is not up to debate. If they do play him, the clause would mean they have to pay that money. And I am sure that Athletico have already said he wont play

[budgetmeansbudget]

Difficult final to call. Maybe Bayern slight favourites against Real with the Ronaldo injury and Pepe and Ramos starting to look disastrous at the back again.

Athletico slight favourites against Chelsea, the goalkeeping situation is massive as their number two is diabolical even with Chelseas issues in attack.