Champions League 2008-09 Thread

[Galiza Ceive]

If Liverpool had of gotten through, they would beat Barcelona in the next round. Their defense, and discipline, is too much for Barcelona.

Unfortunately, It's hard to predict what type of defensive performance Chelsea will give.

Agreed.  You never know what Chelsea team is going to show up.  Also, anyone else think Petr Cech is extremely over-rated?

Of course, I dont agree :-) I´m having so much fun this year with Barça that I cannot see a team which is "too much for them". As for Cech, he is still a good keeper but it is true that after the injury has not been a top player anymore

[Edgar]

I will have to root for Barca till the end of this....


Sorry my Manu friends * u know ure there in my heart but this days
Its Barca against england
so
Go Barca

[Who]

Even after the terrible performance against Bolton, Chelsea still lead the Premiership for the fewest goals conceded. Petr Cech has played a major role in that happening.

Cech is still a top three keeper in the world. He's just going through a bad run of form right now, and his confidence is shaky as a result.

[ederson]

I agree with you to some extent. Barça assume big risks because of the way they play, and I am sure Valdés, not being a bad keeper from time to time really scares me. But in general terms I think Barça defends quite well, specially at midfield.

I think we are saying the pretty much the same. I`d say it better in Greek but i guess it would make things worse

Barcelona has the unique (this season at least) ability to press the moment they lose the ball. Even in the opponent`s box. The problem is that their strikers and midflieders are doing better defensive job that the "real" defenders and once the opponent manages to keep the ball and move it near Valdez the job is somewhat easy.

Cech is not at his best since the Euro this summer. Comparing to his extremely high standards that we are used to. Even this way if he is not a top 3 as Edgar says he no lower than a top5 keeper.

[celticmaestro]

Tonight is the biggest game of the season. No question about it.

[MattG12]

I only saw the first half of the Barca, Chelsea game yesterday. I chose to watch There Will be Blood instead of the second half because that game was so awful. I'm guessing Barca won because they had excellent possessions but nobody was finishing. On the other side of the ball, Cech would get the ball and boot it down the field ever time right back to Barca. Cech was single handedly giving the match away. My question is, did this continue on into the second half? You would think his teammates would tell him to stop. It just wasn't going to work.

Extremely excited for todays match. I may miss the first half due to a macroeconomics exam.

Go Manchester United!

[ederson]

The game was far from pleasure to watch. Chelsea did the smart thing (hold the draw that is) but don`t underestimate it. It`s not easy thing to do. The pitch is huge (120x60) and the open spaces a more than in anywhere else.

But Matt is right on this

but nobody was finishing.

In many occassions it seemed like they wanted to walk in the net with the ball.

but wrong on this

Cech was single handedly giving the match away

Cech had a solid game. Chelsea didn`t have a true offensive plan but long balls to Didier in order to take advantage of his strength and speed.  What was he supposed to do? Keep the ball till the end of the game? 


"Traditionaly" every year one of the semis is bad and the other is good. So i guess today will be the good game (if not and yesterday was the better one then our eyes will suffer tonight)

[MattG12]

Cech had a solid game. Chelsea didn`t have a true offensive plan but long balls to Didier in order to take advantage of his strength and speed.  What was he supposed to do? Keep the ball till the end of the game?

You may have misunderstood me, but that's exactly what I'm saying. Maybe it wasn't Cech who had an awful game. Chelsea's game plan overall was just terrible. The fact that Drogba has outstanding strength and speed validates my argument. Cech would have been better off just throwing the ball to his defense and midfielders for them to get the ball up to Drogba rather than booting it all the way up the field. Chelsea had two men up front trying to win these long passes from Cech while Barca had four or five men back every time. I don't care how good Drogba is. He's not going to win a ball when there are five Barca defenders standing around him. The ball should have been worked up the field the same way Barca was doing. They have players talented enough to make that work. The game plan was terrible, not Cech.

Every time Cech sent a long ball down the field I knew Barca was going to get it, bring it down field and have a scoring opportunity on the other end. Cech was practically creating offense for Barca. Still, I can't blame Cech, I'm sure he was just following the game plan, or lack thereof.

[ederson]

It`s faster this way. Not very efficient i agree but the plan was to try to counterattack. Passing the ball through midfield would have allowed barca to get back in time. I don`t think that chelsea would have any better chances trying to build up offense. Barca`s pressing is very difficult to overcome. Awful game offensive plan but the other option would have lead to many errors close to Cech

MU was impressive and deserved more goals. They seem very confident. Rooney is excellent. He plays like a left full back and he is everywhere! The score is not fair. MU should have won at least 2-0.

[celticmaestro]

The score is not fair. MU should have won at least 2-0.

I hope we don't live to regret that. I don't think we will, but you never know in football.

[MBz]

Arsenal played flat out terrible.  It was like they didn't want to win, they hardly took any shots.  Fabregas really needs to take over the next game.  He really needs to step up if he wants to be considered one of the best in the world.

[celticmaestro]

Arsenal played flat out terrible.  It was like they didn't want to win, they hardly took any shots.  Fabregas really needs to take over the next game.  He really needs to step up if he wants to be considered one of the best in the world.

Agreed on Fabranoutofgas.

Yet again he was completely outplayed by Anderson.

[celticmaestro]

Marvellous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqpbMHc5XVU&feature=related

[ederson]

To me arsenal looked like lacking fresness. They couldn`t even counter attack.

The three in MAN U`s midfield completely outplayed the opposition. Fletcher - Anderson - Carrick stopped arsenal`s passing game and at the same time 2 of them where in almunia`s box in every attack acting like cf.

Van Persie`s absence was huge i think.

After the 1st games i`s rate MU as the biggest favourite for the trophy (but i`m a little biased )


BTW Big respect to the GREAT Ryan Giggs. 800 games and still goes.

[MattG12]

BTW Big respect to the GREAT Ryan Giggs. 800 games and still goes.

I wish he wasn't called offside on that goal. I was so happy for him scoring in his 800th appearance.

On the other hand Sir Alex Ferguson said before the game it would only take one goal to win the game, and he was right. I have a feeling we'll see a lot more offense next game.