CL Last 16

First topic message reminder :

Some cracking games this week, Barca/City and Bayern/Arsenal. Can't see past Bayern and Barca wins. Pellegrini has said he'll attack Barca and I say do so at your peril. This may not be the Barca side from 2010-2012 but its still a very very good side with players in form currently, namely Fabregas, Sanchez and with a returning Messi back in the goals. There's a chance that if they go in with two strikers that they could get torn to pieces. I think against Barca you have to play a 5 man midfield. They keep the ball too well and will just pass their way through you.

I'd take PSG or Dortmund, preferably the latter. They're still very dangerous but look somewhat less of a threat overall than they were last season.

So Moyes who I predicted to fail badly in Europe has managed to get Utd into the last 8

I predicted him to do extremely well domestically and he has flopped

Well I was wrong

I would back you against Dortmund . PSG 40/60. The rest a bit to much.

The Special Juan wrote:I'd take PSG or Dortmund, preferably the latter.  They're still very dangerous but look somewhat less of a threat overall than they were last season.

Dortmund have been decimated by injuries this season, and I think Lewandowski is banned for the first leg as well!

PSG, Dortmund or Athletico will do.

Olly wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:I'd take PSG or Dortmund, preferably the latter.  They're still very dangerous but look somewhat less of a threat overall than they were last season.

Dortmund have been decimated by injuries this season, and I think Lewandowski is banned for the first leg as well!

Well that would be good news for Utd (if they draw them)!!

Well done United.

Took until the second half for them to settle down, but they were well worth the win. Rooney the conductor. Carrick bossing the midfield. Jones at the heart of the defensive efforts. De Gea magnificent; that double save in the first half probably turned the tie. Giggs, supremely fit for a 40-year-old (no not like that), with a supreme pass for the second goal. Welbeck running his lungs out.

Still the weaknesses persist, however. Rafael and Evra, very poor. Rio is an absolute clown who was past his best five years ago - I'd rather take a punt on Smalling, in truth. And Moyes bringing on Young was a bad substitution.

The Greek side were an absolute rabble. No control or much good behaviour. One of their players should have been off in the first half for a professional foul with a rugby tackle on Valencia (fair play to him for playing that long with just one eye). Not much in the way of attacking threat, while the defence were all over the place.

And as for that referee, dear me. Give me a trusty British ref anyday. This Dutch one was horrifically inconsistent, divvied out the cards seemingly by way of lucky dip, and slowed the flow of a high-tempo game. Poor show.

Will take a stretch of the imagination for United to progress any further, but if RVP hits form as a result of this game (and isn't too badly injured), and Rooney remains at his best...who knows?

I watched most of the Dortmund game tonight and they were terrible, might have had something to do with basically already being through but they just kept giving the ball away, couldn't look after the ball, they have been poor in the Bundesliga and its catching up with them, Gundogan and Reus were out. The former has missed all season, likewise Subotic, they are nothing like the team of last year, plus Lewandowski will miss the first leg, the only team they could beat at the moment would be United. Just woeful at the back, that Sokratis wouldn't be out of place playing pub league.

"I'd rather take a punt on Smalling"

no.

great selection tonight from moyes- picked the experienced lads that have been there and i thought rio was decent and jones was very good tonight.

So using Monty logic that now means we are among the top eight teams in Europe.

You already were going by coefficient and winning your group   

Hammersmith harrier wrote:So using Monty logic that now means we are among the top eight teams in Europe.

exactly and not one Man U fan will agree with that!

but then lets be honest if you hadn't beaten them it would have been the greek side in the top 8- which shows it up even more.

anyway- It shows the importance of winning the group. All 8 teams got through

arsernal really feicked themselves over last game v napoli!

mystiroakey wrote:"I'd rather take a punt on Smalling"

no.

great selection tonight from moyes- picked the experienced lads that have been there and i thought rio was decent and jones was very good tonight.

The only thing I saw Rio do tonight was get himself booked needlessly.

Utter clown.

His name is Rio,
And he's five years past his prime.

clean sheet duty

clean sheet!

De gea is top 3 keepers ion the prem. and he may have saved there blushes but they only really had a couple of decent chances. Smalling has been useless recently

I thought United will turn that round. Olympiakos, bit like Galatasary only perform well at home. I think they've lost 12 out of 12 in England now or something like that.  

Keeps Moyes in the job a little longer.

van persie injured.

mystiroakey wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:So using Monty logic that now means we are among the top eight teams in Europe.

exactly and not one Man U fan will agree with that!

but then lets be honest if you hadn't beaten them it would have been the greek side in the top 8- which shows it up even more.

anyway- It shows the importance of winning the group. All 8 teams got through

arsernal really feicked themselves over last game v napoli!

Among the top two best sides in England now Mysti, the last eight spot proves that beyond any doubt.

#sarcasm

Aye . united to rule the world.

If you do win this I hope to god as much as I love arsenal .Liverpool get 3rd spot.

mystiroakey wrote:clean sheet duty

clean sheet!

De gea is top 3 keepers ion the prem. and he may have saved there blushes but they only really had a couple of decent chances. Smalling has been useless recently

Could have scored two though! One excellent chance completely scuppered, and another denied, twice, by a magnificent De Gea.

Rio's a man with two left feet...

Looks like Van Persie is out for the rest of the season

Also the best central defender England has had since Tony Adams, what a partnership that would have been.

Duty281 wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:clean sheet duty

clean sheet!

De gea is top 3 keepers ion the prem. and he may have saved there blushes but they only really had a couple of decent chances. Smalling has been useless recently

Could have scored two though! One excellent chance completely scuppered, and another denied, twice, by a magnificent De Gea.

Rio's a man with two left feet...

And smallings a man with two duck feet

Champagne_Socialist wrote:Looks like Van Persie is out for the rest of the season

Link/source??

Fantastic from United tonight, im happy for Moyes.

It seemed to me as if i was watching the old Manchester United, just the team that always looked like what get the job done and win a football match. RVP was brilliant. That's what happens when you give him the service. Valencia what a gent for staying on, even though he couldn't see out of one eye. Legend. Thought Giggs bossed it in the middle! Keep going for another 10 years!!!

I don't think United will beat any team left in the competition though, they could give it a go against Chelsea, PSG or Athleticooooooooooooooooo. But i doubt they would finish the job.

Good night of football though.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:So using Monty logic that now means we are among the top eight teams in Europe.

and using arsenal fan logic, rvp is having a world class season, after all 23 goals in 29 apperances   

Champagne_Socialist wrote:Looks like Van Persie is out for the rest of the season

Even though Moyes just said it doesn't look to serious?

Olly wrote:

Champagne_Socialist wrote:Looks like Van Persie is out for the rest of the season

Link/source??

Last I heard Moyes was saying it wasn't serious.   

Well happy with that! much better performance although Olympiakos could have scored 2 themselves if it weren't for a poor finish and De Gea proving what a brilliant keeper he is.

We'll get destroyed in the next round, have to hope we get Dortmund or Athletico, but even those two are far better sides. Just shows if we can get a decent play making midfielder in the summer we can open sides up. Giggs outstanding tonight.

mystiroakey wrote:Aye . united to rule the world.

If you do win this I hope to god as much as I love arsenal .Liverpool get 3rd spot.

If United win 5 teams will go, they changed the rule so that the defending champion doesn't take away a CL spot from another domestic team. I was pretty confident that United would overturn this result stated it two weeks ago when everyone was talking up Olympiacos. They beat Arsenal at home three times and United as well but in Europe they are not a good travelling side. Frankly United were lucky Olympiacos had three or 4 golden chances and De Gea really saved them. Still a great performance by a United team that has had a lot of problems this year. Still a lot of pride in those players but they could of very easily been out with a 3-1 scoreline.

That rule doesn't come into effect until next season, so the fourth placed team will miss out this year.

compelling and rich wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:So using Monty logic that now means we are among the top eight teams in Europe.

and using arsenal fan logic,  rvp is having a world class season, after all 23 goals in 29 apperances   

I thought it was 17 in 21 but either way, a goal almost every game is world class, we don't need to consider his actual performances.

That ruleing also comes into effect with the winners of the uefa cup as well.

So 4th spot could still potentially mean the team is out.

compelling and rich wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:So using Monty logic that now means we are among the top eight teams in Europe.

and using arsenal fan logic,  rvp is having a world class season, after all 23 goals in 29 apperances   

RVP had a great match and when he has been healthy he has always scored goals throughout his career, the big IF being that he hasn't been healthy for long stretches of his career. Why must you guys always take a silly run at Arsenal. Your 7th, whoever plays you next round will mostly likely put you out and certainly you are nowhere near the quality of Chelsea, Bayern, Barca, and Real and will stand little chance of getting past them. If I was as dismissive as a United fan I might make a comment like, "where is the quarterfinals trophy for the Champions League?". Is that the David Moyes' trophy? Your team played great but this was a predictable result Arsenal have had the same experience with Olympi, they look like world beaters at home and then spread their legs on the road in Europe. Enjoy the win you guys deserved it and kudos on making it to the quarterfinals.

Well we're in the quarter finals and you're not Socal therefore we are better, irrefutable fact.

I just wish arsenal went for that win in Napoli. It winds me up that they put themselves in this position and have done the past 4 seasons.
Its like they give up as long as they get through the group and finish top 4.

I want no more excuses from arsenal next season in the CL.

Wouldn't have made much difference if Arsenal beat Napoli. Yeah, they would have gone through to the QF's most certainly, but that's probably as far as they would have gone.
United can only beat teams that are average or below average. They need to ditch Moyes in the summer.

Doesn't matter. Arsenal need to be making quarters with ease. Top teams qualify and have a shot going forward.

I don't buy that it doesn't matter. It matters big time

mystiroakey wrote:Doesn't matter. Arsenal need to be making quarters with ease. Top teams qualify and have a shot going forward.

I don't buy that it doesn't matter. It matters big time

to be fair we did have the hardest group in the cl and we got 12 points which would in nearly every year get you top spot but we came 2nd on goal difference to the cl runners up. we then got bayern munich the best team in the world and lost 3-1.

J.Benson II wrote:Wouldn't have made much difference if Arsenal beat Napoli. Yeah, they would have gone through to the QF's most certainly, but that's probably as far as they would have gone.
United can only beat teams that are average or below average. They need to ditch Moyes in the summer.

Exactly, they had a soft group, and the softest possible round of 16 opponent. They won a tie by the skin of their teeth that everyone and their grandmother expected them to win.

So...if United somehow win the CL this season, I think that will top their comeback in '99, Liverpool's run in 2005 and Chelsea's mission impossible in 2012.

Yes - Come on United! Five games to salvage Moyes' tenure!

mystiroakey wrote:Doesn't matter. Arsenal need to be making quarters with ease. Top teams qualify and have a shot going forward.

I don't buy that it doesn't matter. It matters big time

Yeah, it matters to an extent. But it probably would have just distracted Arsenal further from something like the FA Cup which is a far more realistic chance for a trophy.

Chelsea are England's best bet for the CL trophy. Hard to beat with a top manager.

Champagne_Socialist wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:Doesn't matter. Arsenal need to be making quarters with ease. Top teams qualify and have a shot going forward.

I don't buy that it doesn't matter. It matters big time

to be fair we did have the hardest group in the cl and we got 12 points which would in nearly every year get you top spot but we came 2nd on goal difference to the cl runners up. we then got bayern munich the best team in the world and lost 3-1.

Hardest by a longshot as Duty, Olly and others were in here laughing about how Arsenal where all but eliminated before the first match was played. We should have played better at Napoli, were the better side in the first half. Still losing to Munich in a competitive tie is hardly a shame. In fact, I think the players realized that they aren't that far off from the best club team in the world.

Champagne_Socialist wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:Doesn't matter. Arsenal need to be making quarters with ease. Top teams qualify and have a shot going forward.

I don't buy that it doesn't matter. It matters big time

to be fair we did have the hardest group in the cl and we got 12 points which would in nearly every year get you top spot but we came 2nd on goal difference to the cl runners up. we then got bayern munich the best team in the world and lost 3-1.

You wouldn't have got Bayern if you topped it. You were in pole position final game . you didn't turn up and fight out a win, draw or 1-0 loss to top the group.

socal1976 wrote:

Champagne_Socialist wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:Doesn't matter. Arsenal need to be making quarters with ease. Top teams qualify and have a shot going forward.

I don't buy that it doesn't matter. It matters big time

to be fair we did have the hardest group in the cl and we got 12 points which would in nearly every year get you top spot but we came 2nd on goal difference to the cl runners up. we then got bayern munich the best team in the world and lost 3-1.

Hardest by a longshot as Duty, Olly and others were in here laughing about how Arsenal where all but eliminated before the first match was played. We should have played better at Napoli, were the better side in the first half. Still losing to Munich in a competitive tie is hardly a shame. In fact, I think the players realized that they aren't that far off from the best club team in the world.

Don't think I was laughing about it - that's a bit of a stretch.

Duty281 wrote:So...if United somehow win the CL this season, I think that will top their comeback in '99, Liverpool's run in 2005 and Chelsea's mission impossible in 2012.

Yes - Come on United! Five games to salvage Moyes' tenure!

I think if United wins you should have your mum snap another black and white photo of you striking a pose and looking all intellectual to commemorate the event. This United team despite being in the quarters has little or no chance of winning the European cup. They barely knocked out Olympiacos and where 3 magnificent De Gea saves away from going out.

mystiroakey wrote:

Champagne_Socialist wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:Doesn't matter. Arsenal need to be making quarters with ease. Top teams qualify and have a shot going forward.

I don't buy that it doesn't matter. It matters big time

to be fair we did have the hardest group in the cl and we got 12 points which would in nearly every year get you top spot but we came 2nd on goal difference to the cl runners up. we then got bayern munich the best team in the world and lost 3-1.

You wouldn't have got Bayern if you topped it. You were in pole position final game . you didn't turn up and fight out a win, draw or 1-0 loss to top the group.

you're boring

Make all the excuses you want Socal but an elite european side should be looking to top any group and make the quarter finals. Obviously injuries and referees conspired against you but the hard facts are you weren't good enough.

mystiroakey wrote:

Champagne_Socialist wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:Doesn't matter. Arsenal need to be making quarters with ease. Top teams qualify and have a shot going forward.

I don't buy that it doesn't matter. It matters big time

to be fair we did have the hardest group in the cl and we got 12 points which would in nearly every year get you top spot but we came 2nd on goal difference to the cl runners up. we then got bayern munich the best team in the world and lost 3-1.

You wouldn't have got Bayern if you topped it. You were in pole position final game . you didn't turn up and fight out a win, draw or 1-0 loss to top the group.

Would have got Zenit if they topped the group!

Champagne_Socialist wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:

Champagne_Socialist wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:Doesn't matter. Arsenal need to be making quarters with ease. Top teams qualify and have a shot going forward.

I don't buy that it doesn't matter. It matters big time

to be fair we did have the hardest group in the cl and we got 12 points which would in nearly every year get you top spot but we came 2nd on goal difference to the cl runners up. we then got bayern munich the best team in the world and lost 3-1.

You wouldn't have got Bayern if you topped it. You were in pole position final game . you didn't turn up and fight out a win, draw or 1-0 loss to top the group.

you're boring

Maybe. But sometimes boring is fact

socal1976 wrote:

Duty281 wrote:So...if United somehow win the CL this season, I think that will top their comeback in '99, Liverpool's run in 2005 and Chelsea's mission impossible in 2012.

Yes - Come on United! Five games to salvage Moyes' tenure!

I think if United wins you should have your mum snap another black and white photo of you striking a pose and looking all intellectual to commemorate the event. This United team despite being in the quarters has little or no chance of winning the European cup. They barely knocked out Olympiacos and where 3 magnificent De Gea saves away from going out.  

a) My Mum didn't take that pic.
b) Turning your head slightly is not a pose.
c) I know they have little or no chance, I would favour the latter there, which is why it would top all three of the above wins listed.