UEFA Champions League 16/17

[yuppie]

How will City set up for the away leg.

Judging on Monaco's defending, aim to win the tie 15-12 on aggregate

Ill make sure i am watching the away leg.

[sussexpob]

Aguero who has warned the bench a lot under Guardiola saves his managers blushes.

The first goal was the poorest keeping you could hope to witness, but he took the second well

[mikesiva]

Just reading the wenger comments.

Apart from 2003-04 when they signed nothing, I think Arsenal had been spending a lot of money on players when wenger was successful. The only real year that united blew arsenals spending out the water was around 2001-02 when Veron went. Before that it's touch and go who was spending most, with wenger also inheriting the basis of a George Graham title squad. Wenger inherited a team in his first year with I believe the two most expensive paid footballers in English history (Bergkamp joined just before he got there, overmars was his first signing).

After wenger couldn't produce squads with money, he never again over achieved. Despite the violins for arsenal, they have spend as a top 4 achiever and got what they paid for.

Wenger is increasingly tactically unaware, increasingly allows his faith in poor players like coqulain last forever (who else would play almuniea for like three seasons before realising he was a league one player), and in recent years he's had the money, but never bought in the areas of most need.

He's a has been clinging to an unbelievably unjustified wage

I think Arsenal fans need to be realistic...teams like Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd and Liverpool don't have the money to match Man City and Chelsea. Those two teams can get the players they need to have a good squad.

Let's forget the lucky season Leicester had last season...right now, only two teams can realistically win the Premiership on a year-by-year basis - Chelsea and Man City. This is Chelsea's year...when Chelsea has a bad year, it will be Man City's year, and vice versa.

The best Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd and Liverpool can hope for right now is a Champions League place, and winning the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Those fans who are calling for Wenger to step down should take note of what happened to Man Utd once Ferguson retired....

[dan08]

Just reading the wenger comments.

Apart from 2003-04 when they signed nothing, I think Arsenal had been spending a lot of money on players when wenger was successful. The only real year that united blew arsenals spending out the water was around 2001-02 when Veron went. Before that it's touch and go who was spending most, with wenger also inheriting the basis of a George Graham title squad. Wenger inherited a team in his first year with I believe the two most expensive paid footballers in English history (Bergkamp joined just before he got there, overmars was his first signing).

After wenger couldn't produce squads with money, he never again over achieved. Despite the violins for arsenal, they have spend as a top 4 achiever and got what they paid for.

Wenger is increasingly tactically unaware, increasingly allows his faith in poor players like coqulain last forever (who else would play almuniea for like three seasons before realising he was a league one player), and in recent years he's had the money, but never bought in the areas of most need.

He's a has been clinging to an unbelievably unjustified wage

I think Arsenal fans need to be realistic...teams like Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd and Liverpool don't have the money to match Man City and Chelsea. Those two teams can get the players they need to have a good squad.

Let's forget the lucky season Leicester had last season...right now, only two teams can realistically win the Premiership on a year-by-year basis - Chelsea and Man City. This is Chelsea's year...when Chelsea has a bad year, it will be Man City's year, and vice versa.

The best Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd and Liverpool can hope for right now is a Champions League place, and winning the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Those fans who are calling for Wenger to step down should take note of what happened to Man Utd once Ferguson retired....

Man Utd don't have the money to match Man City/Chelsea?! Where have you been the last few years...

[sussexpob]

The rather bizarre point about United not spending aside, I don't necessarily agree, Mike.

Wenger has been able to bring in a world class player every year to his squad, but rather than spend money on certain areas, he has skimped and ends up needing to replace those he buys because they don't cut it.

Take the hole Henry left. Giroud/welbeck/Perez/podolski.... what's that, on a quick estimate 70 mill in transfers? Aguero was 40. Costa 35. Suarez cost Liverpool 25..... he wants to spend under 20 mill on a bargain, but has bought 4 inferior players searching for the one. It's not efficient.

When Chelsea spent money under Mourinho he never bought duds. He lined the squad for 4-5 years. Arsenal could of had hazard but balked at the 30 mill fee...instead he spent the same on walcott and oxlade, both inferior players.

Wenger has the money to make a team. In fact, had he spent the xhaka money on a world class dm arsenal would be instantly a better side.

It's not lack of resources, it's lack of a good plan to use them

[rich1uk]

not sure if it would be a good thing or a bad thing for leicester to do well against seville

they could do with a confidence boost but at same time probably dont need the distration from what is a real threat of being relegated

[rich1uk]

leicester conceded a cast iron penalty but schmeichel saves a pretty poor attempt from the spot by correa

[mikesiva]

Schmeichel saves a penalty!

You could see it coming. Sarabia puts Saville up 1-0.

[yuppie]

After tonight Leicester just have survival to worry about.

Porto down to 10 men. 2 deserved yellow cards in a minute. Porto players surround the ref and might well face further sanctions.

[mikesiva]

After tonight Leicester just have survival to worry about.

Porto down to 10 men. 2 deserved yellow cards in a minute. Porto players surround the ref and might well face further sanctions.

Yes. Correa makes it 2-0.

[yuppie]

Juve get a deserved away goal.

Porto possibly the dirtiest team in the last 16.

[yuppie]

2 up now, and Juve as good as through.

And Leicester with an away goal

[st_brendy]

The rather bizarre point about United not spending aside, I don't necessarily agree, Mike.

Wenger has been able to bring in a world class player every year to his squad, but rather than spend money on certain areas, he has skimped and ends up needing to replace those he buys because they don't cut it.

Take the hole Henry left. Giroud/welbeck/Perez/podolski.... what's that, on a quick estimate 70 mill in transfers? Aguero was 40. Costa 35. Suarez cost Liverpool 25..... he wants to spend under 20 mill on a bargain, but has bought 4 inferior players searching for the one. It's not efficient.

When Chelsea spent money under Mourinho he never bought duds. He lined the squad for 4-5 years. Arsenal could of had hazard but balked at the 30 mill fee...instead he spent the same on walcott and oxlade, both inferior players.

Wenger has the money to make a team. In fact, had he spent the xhaka money on a world class dm arsenal would be instantly a better side.

It's not lack of resources, it's lack of a good plan to use them

To be fair, a player of Henry's ability was always going to leave a hole. And it's not like him leaving left them with no-one - RVP duly scored 68 goals in 122 PL games for Arsenal after Henry left.

A much, much bigger fault of Wenger's in my view was failing to replace the defenders and CMs in his teams. They've just become weaker and weaker; more and more brittle by the season.

[dan08]

How did Sevilla only win that 2-1?

Good result for Leicester.

[Aidan11]

Yup still alive.