Champions League 23/24

[Horatio]

Ngl but thinking back about game seems haaland scoring wasnt even part of pep tactics. Barely looked to play on break or play him with a cross from sides.

Seems grealish and foden were given a lot of freedom and looking for players to cutback to in good positions or dribble into box themselves.

 

[Andresito]

If City wins UCL again, could one argue Haaland is serving his purpose, despite not scoring?

Yes, he still gets a lot of attention from opponents. If his teammates manage to exploit the spaces that creates then sure.

 

[DonAK]

He's not weak but he loses the duels because he needs to fully focus on keeping the ball cause of his lack of technique.

He's not weak per se, but I have seen him lose challenges to literal midgets this season. Aerially too.

 

[KingLeo10]

All the 'macho', ripped players are shit in duels and physicality. CR7, Lewa, Haaland etc.

Meanwhile, guys like Suarez and Benzema and Edin Dzeko (Umtiti's father) are just naturally strong. Prime Messi was also underrated. This dude withstood some insane tackles/physical contact.

 

[Birdy]

Remarks:

1) Pep went for passing-game, control-tempo style YET AGAIN, as he always does in CL first leg when it's away, to go all out in 4th gear at home. Can't agree to this strategy, but at home they will go to maul Madrid

2) Only Bernardo played well for City. Even Rodri who is a staple was bad for his level tonight.
Haaland was more of scarecrow tonight. His only use were fighting (unsuccessfully) with Rudiger on long balls. Haaland was also a tourist last season in SFs and F. I still think the doesn't fit City's play many many times, but Pep knows better

3) Madrid are used to be playing week in week out teams that are 2 tiers below, and the spoiled cunts think they will also be having the same refereeing Madrid in the 1st gear can manage at best a draw vs City in the 3rd gear. That's about the difference
Deserve to be LL champions against the competition of Xavi as a coach, Pathetico, and a team like Girona, but they aren't anywhere close the elite teams in Europe

4) The refereeing tonight (I don't know the ref) was one of the best I remember the last many years.
Didn't slow down the tempo of the game, didn't call unnecessary things, didn't not call soft challenges, nor fakes and dives, withstood the pressure from fans and spoiled Madrid cunts that are used to get away with robberies. That's how one is supposed to referee

5) City of last season loses this 3-1 with exactly the same plays/ number of chances. The confidence they have now compared to the past is evident in how they try out shots from outside the box

6) Bayern Arsenal will be really close next week.

 

[DonAK]

All the 'macho', ripped players are shit in duels and physicality. CR7, Lewa, Haaland etc.

Meanwhile, guys like Suarez and Benzema and Edin Dzeko (Umtiti's father) are just naturally strong. Prime Messi was also underrated. This dude withstood some insane tackles/physical contact.

CR7 wasn't too bad at it before all that botox made him stiffer than a 60 year old.

 

[Andresito]

All the 'macho', ripped players are shit in duels and physicality. CR7, Lewa, Haaland etc.

Meanwhile, guys like Suarez and Benzema and Edin Dzeko (Umtiti's father) are just naturally strong. Prime Messi was also underrated. This dude withstood some insane tackles/physical contact.

All about balance, which is quite an underrated skill. Seems like it's easier to twerk for visual abs tho.

 

[Horatio]

Who will play in stead of tchouameni?

 

[Porque]

Anyways, two good adverts for the game and even high scoring games. Can't ask for more In an evenings entertainment.

Bayern still got that European mentality and Arsenal the nativity, which made a closer game than the leagues evidence would have suggested. Bayern to take it if they can show up again next week.

I don't think Arsenal would care too much about going out either if an exit provides the platform to win the league.

 

[Morten]

CR was great in aerial duels, at least, Haaland not so much.

 

[KingLeo10]

Anyways, two good adverts for the game and even high scoring games. Can't ask for more In an evenings entertainment.

Bayern still got that European mentality and Arsenal the nativity, which made a closer game than the leagues evidence would have suggested. Bayern to take it if they can show up again next week.

It's at the Allianz. They only lose to RM at the Allianz.

 

[serghei]

Remarks:

1) Pep went for passing-game, control-tempo style YET AGAIN, as he always does in CL first leg when it's away, to go all out in 4th gear at home. Can't agree to this strategy, but at home they will go to maul Madrid

2) Only Bernardo played well for City. Even Rodri who is a staple was bad for his level tonight.
Haaland was more of scarecrow tonight. His only use were fighting (unsuccessfully) with Rudiger on long balls. Haaland was also a tourist last season in SFs and F. I still think the doesn't fit City's play many many times, but Pep knows better

3) Madrid are used to be playing week in week out teams that are 2 tiers below, and the spoiled cunts think they will also be having the same refereeing Madrid in the 1st gear can manage at best a draw vs City in the 3rd gear. That's about the difference
Deserve to be LL champions against the competition of Xavi as a coach, Pathetico, and a team like Girona, but they aren't anywhere close the elite teams in Europe

4) The refereeing tonight (I don't know the ref) was one of the best I remember the last many years.
Didn't slow down the tempo of the game, didn't call unnecessary things, didn't not call soft challenges, nor fakes and dives, withstood the pressure from fans and spoiled Madrid cunts that are used to get away with robberies. That's how one is supposed to referee

5) City of last season loses this 3-1 with exactly the same plays/ number of chances. The confidence they have now compared to the past is evident in how they try out shots from outside the box

6) Bayern Arsenal will be really close next week.

F-

Sit down.

 

[Birdy]

Ham hasn't been very good recently. At least the Balon d' Or shouts should have died now

Told you since September that the tap-in merchant will be found out in the spring...

Ball d' Or shouts were as wise as the Ballon D Or shouts for Valverde one year before that

 

[KingLeo10]

Birdy's hate rage boner for LL is shocking.

No one is saying this is prime LL, but this man is on a mission to make it seem like the league is Portuguese Liga

 

[Horatio]

La liga adjusted to bellingham same way they did to lewandowski. Undoubtedly class player. Needs to be marked properly otherwise will hurt you. Today was a disasterclass and some of worst theater we have had to witness