UEFA Champions League

[Bigpapa42]

Champions League just feels fucked up right now. In a good way, but who would have expected both Chelsea and Man City to lose, needing results in the final round to advance? Arsenal are the only English side to have qualified so far and no one saw that happening - even Wenger (who missed it, as usual).

Loved it today when Hoeness of Munich came out today and said that Bayern would be playing to win against City. No "half-effort", reduced-squad that would give City the easy win.

I'll be honest - I would have to say that that Apoel is probably the least likely side of the 32 to advance. They didn't really have the nastiest group but they had 3 quality sides in it.

 

[Rudi]

Can't believe City lost to Napoli. :smh: Mancini shoulda had the troops more prepared, knowing it was must win and advance game.

 

[calgaryballer]

Can't believe City lost to Napoli. :smh: Mancini shoulda had the troops more prepared, knowing it was must win and advance game.

Thanks Captain Obvious

Mancini in the pregame - 'so, uhhhhhh, guys, you know, just go out, you know, kinda do whatever!'

 

[Bigpapa42]

Can't believe City lost to Napoli. :smh: Mancini shoulda had the troops more prepared, knowing it was must win and advance game.

Welcome to football. Talent and depth doesn't always win the day. Team-work, tactics, and determination go a long way as well. Even the very best sides don't necessarily win every match. And City are not yet at the very top in that regard. Not far away but still not yet at the top.

 

[1ke]

What option for emotion do you think he went with? Assertive, passionate, calm, reluctant....?

Mancini? Champions League? It was reluctant. :laugh:

He'll be gone before you know based on his CL record.

 

[Rudi]

In all honestly I didn't expect City to come out with 3 points playing at Napoli...But I still was hoping they would keep up the good form. More disappointed than anything. It's important they don't let the Napoli hangover linger as we got Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday then Arsenal away two days later in the Carling Cup

 

[Bigpapa42]

Found the time to watch the Milan-Barcelona match from Wednesday. Fun one. Nice to see Milan go for it and try to play an open match against Barca. It failed, obviously, but not by that much. Team rarely manage to do well when going toe-to-toe with Barcelona. The new Milan side definitely have some quality.

 

[1ke]

I loved Kevin Boatengs goal. Just absolutely loved it. Must be a Italian thing, Milan seemed willing and able to handle Barca as much as anyone can.

 

[Bigpapa42]

I loved Kevin Boatengs goal. Just absolutely loved it. Must be a Italian thing, Milan seemed willing and able to handle Barca as much as anyone can.

That actually makes sense. The overall commitment to defensive solidtarity combined with good defensive organization seems to be tougher for Barcelona to break down. They still scored 3 but it took some real brilliance to get there, and Milan were not focused on that aspect. They got forward plenty and came close a couple of times. The miss by robinho in the early going was mind-boggling.

As good as Barcelona can be, I think we are seeing other sides catch up. That was impressive from Milan, Bayern look really good, and I think Real Madrid might actually be playing better than Barca so far this season. Its kinda disappointing that the best side in England - Man City - looks like its not as potent in Europe.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Crucial games today. :fap:

Go Porto.

 

[wr50l]

Petr Cech's headgear gets more and more ridiculous.

 

[Bigpapa42]

Sebastian Kehl of Dortmund just got booted in the face by Mbia as hard as I've ever seen. Fuck that looked like it hurt.

 

[BigHouseUSA]

Valencia did their best to make this as uninteresting as possible. I was really hoping to see Chelsea knocked out, still have a bad taste in my mouth from Saturday.

 

[kyhadley]

Fantastic match, by far our best of the season. Played it completely differently then any other this season, credit to AVB. Luiz was actually great when he doesn't spend half the game flying up the pitch. Drogba was fantastic, I would be sad to see him go come January. Mata was his usual self, everyone played great.

A bit telling that this comes with Lampard sitting on the bench, no?

And now we've won our group.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

WOW late heroics by Marsielle are going to get them thru. It was crazy to hear the Olympiakos crowd get pretty much silent as word grew thru the crowd of the 2 goals in the late stages to go ahead of Dortmund. Crazy stuff.

Also epically disappointed in Porto today.. :smh:

 

[Bigpapa42]

Logic tells me that two of the four English sides going out at this stage (even they get to go on in the Europa Cup) is a bad thing... the kind of thing that cost Italy their fourth spot. Yet its still delicious to see.

Lyon overcoming a 7 goal difference with a 7-1 win is insane.

 

[BigHouseUSA]

Would have been better if Ajax hadn't had two legal goals disallowed.

Fantastic day all around, really.

 

[NAHSTE]

But the funny news of the day. Has to be that the noisy neighbors who spent all the money on the planet, will more than likely be playing on Thursday nights.

Yeah it is funny, isn't it?

:lol:

 

[kyhadley]

Faaaaaaantastic.

 

[Champ]

napoli