UEFA Champions and Europa League 2015/16 Thread

[Dolphin Ziggler]

First topic message reminder :

It begins for the English today as West Ham face FC Lusitans in front of a sold out Upton Park this evening. The team will be a bit mixed. Randolph, O'Brien, Tomkins, Burke, Page. Jarvis, Oxford, Poyet, Amalfitano. Zarate, Sakho.

[Guest]

Sakho to me has always been hampered in popular opinion by the fact he looks weird when he plays. Terrifying eyes, weird running action and bent back. It looks completely graceless

I agree, but his stats are insane though. You'll watch him apparently struggle every game then discover he's made more tackles than anyone else and has an 84% pass conversion rate!!!

He's grown on me though and Lovren seems to have finally realized that three years is long enough to get one's act together. Thought Lallana under-rated last night, he kept breaking up attacks and disrupting Utd at some vital times without really getting any credit as he decided not to go forward as much as usual. A very composed and mature performance I thought

[monty junior]

nothing exciting there apart from city/PSG. Pep has an easy ride into the semi's

Think they got the hardest possible second round draw so it could have been easier.

[Crimey]

Looking forward to it! Imagine there was hope that it'd be the final, but after the Champions League draw was a bit disappointing imagine that will be the tie of the rounds in Europe.

Are you trying to tell me Liverpool v Dortmund is a better tie than Man City v PSG and Barca v Atletico?

Not in terms of quality or importance, but in terms of story? Of course it is. Barca/Atletico happens at least twice a year and I'm not sure if Manchester City/PSG has a lot of story behind it. 

I think Klopp returning to Dortmund so soon is a more interesting story. Especially when you consider the Champions League could have had Bayern with Pep visiting Manchester City early, or a Madrid derby, or Bayern/Real. I just think the ties thrown up by the Champions League are a bit boring story wise.

[Marky]

Looking forward to it! Imagine there was hope that it'd be the final, but after the Champions League draw was a bit disappointing imagine that will be the tie of the rounds in Europe.

Are you trying to tell me Liverpool v Dortmund is a better tie than Man City v PSG and Barca v Atletico?

Not in terms of quality or importance, but in terms of story? Of course it is. Barca/Atletico happens at least twice a year and I'm not sure if Manchester City/PSG has a lot of story behind it. 

I think Klopp returning to Dortmund so soon is a more interesting story. Especially when you consider the Champions League could have had Bayern with Pep visiting Manchester City early, or a Madrid derby, or Bayern/Real. I just think the ties thrown up by the Champions League are a bit boring story wise.

Lucky it's judged on Football then

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

Looking forward to it! Imagine there was hope that it'd be the final, but after the Champions League draw was a bit disappointing imagine that will be the tie of the rounds in Europe.

Are you trying to tell me Liverpool v Dortmund is a better tie than Man City v PSG and Barca v Atletico?

It looks like it.....

Well Barca v Atletico wasn't exactly fireworks last time they were paired together.

[Crimey]

Looking forward to it! Imagine there was hope that it'd be the final, but after the Champions League draw was a bit disappointing imagine that will be the tie of the rounds in Europe.

Are you trying to tell me Liverpool v Dortmund is a better tie than Man City v PSG and Barca v Atletico?

Not in terms of quality or importance, but in terms of story? Of course it is. Barca/Atletico happens at least twice a year and I'm not sure if Manchester City/PSG has a lot of story behind it. 

I think Klopp returning to Dortmund so soon is a more interesting story. Especially when you consider the Champions League could have had Bayern with Pep visiting Manchester City early, or a Madrid derby, or Bayern/Real. I just think the ties thrown up by the Champions League are a bit boring story wise.

Lucky it's judged on Football then

Each to their own. One of the things I enjoy about football is the stories within, good and high quality football is a bonus.

[GSC]

Crimey being Crimey aside, PSG - City looks intriguing. Not much else there though. Wolfsburg could be primed for an upset.

[Ent]

All about the football, watch eastenders for stories.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I'm entirely with Crimey on this. Tie of the round for story and football will be Liverpool Dortmund, well above anything in the champs league

[GSC]

Can I be honest? A manager returning to his former club after taking a 3 month sabbatical in UEFAs B grade competition really isn't that big a story

[Hero]

I'm with Dolph and Crimey, far more intrigue to the clash than the ones in the CL.

[kingraf]

More intrigued by Barcelona Atletico tbh. Proper humdinger that is. The game in January coulda gone either way until it became 10v11 and then 11v11. They haven't beaten Barca that much recently but I think match up wise they present the greatest threat to them

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Can I be honest? A manager returning to his former club after taking a 3 month sabbatical in UEFAs B grade competition really isn't that big a story

A manager who was almost a cult returning to his old club with a team he is looking to build in the same way he built that previous club. And the current side showing glimpses of getting it right versus a side that has returned to somewhat of a side that it resembled under said manager in the semis of a European trophy. Big to me, bigger than PSG and City stumbling to see which mega rich club can buy its way to the later rounds of the CL first

[Ent]

Watching 2 worse teams play vs watching 2 better teams play.

Are you selling by sport subscriptions or football fans ffs.

[hampo17]

Watching 2 worse teams play vs watching 2 better teams play.

Are you selling by sport subscriptions or football fans ffs.

Because nobody can enjoy sport for other reasons can they?

[Ent]

Watch eastenders if you want stories.

[hampo17]

Sport has a habit of throwing up some stories that the writers of Eastenders couldn't come up with in their wildest dreams.

You may not enjoy but others do, doesn't mean you have to act like a kumquat telling them to go watch soaps does it.

Can't deny the back story involved with a Liverpool/Dortmund tie, and it is also more likely to throw up and end to end game than City/PSG of Barca/Atletico.

[Ent]

So does Hackney marshes.

Professional sport is about elite performance at the highest level.

If you enjoy player x scoring against club y etc etc you don't like the sport, you like dramas and should watch tv shows instead.

By all means enjoy 7th in Germany vs 6th in England. Just don't spout absolute Poopie about it being a better tie than all the cl quarter finals.

Klopp returning to his old club is a non story also - this is all the Love sacks people hate about modern football epitomised.

[lfc91]

People on this forum really seem to struggle with opinions... Some people clearly think the Dortmund/klopp/Liverpool thing makes for an intriguing match up that adds some spice. That's fine, doesn't make them any more or less of a fan. And whilst I do understand your logic in the 6th vs 7th thing, we all know Dortmund are, and after another month or so will officially be, 1st or 2nd best, in Germany. (7th will probably still be about right for Liverpool).

[Guest]

Klopp returning to his old club is a non story also - this is all the Love sacks people hate about modern football epitomised.

Okay, pal

I must have dreamt reading and hearing those headlines yesterday.

[hampo17]

Careful Freak, if you even remotely enjoy the side stories to sport you're not a sports fan and should stick to watching Downton Abbey

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Klopp returning to his old club is a non story also - this is all the Love sacks people hate about modern football epitomised.

Absolute nonsense. People have long loved the stories of football, its why the sport has endured.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

Is Ent a Man U supporter per chance?

[Crimey]

Why support a particular club if you're not bothered about stories? Just watch whatever game has the best quality footballers. 

Football is successful because of its tendency to throw up crazy stories, that is what has been its main success beyond a lot of other sports which struggle to create the same kind of drama. 

If the football fans that enjoy football for the story went and watched dramas instead there'd barely be anybody left.

[Duty281]

Football's main success is down to its simplicity. It is easy-to-follow, easy-to-play and easy-to-watch. Most other sports don't have that luxury.

I much prefer non-league football to the higher-level stuff, and I couldn't give a toss about 'stories' and 'drama', which is the pursuit of journalists and pundits who increasingly try to attach relevance and importance to an ever-increasing amount of pointless games which, in turn, has diluted the very enjoyment of the game.

Klopp returning to Dortmund? Who actually cares? It's a job, not some event of ceremonial importance.

Football lost its meaning and relevance quite some time ago. But the endless hype machine will pretend otherwise. And the gullible and the deluded will continue to lap it up.

[hampo17]

So you're gullible if you like the back stories that some games have?

[Guest]

You take the drama out of any sport and what do you have?

[Crimey]

What utter rubbish. 

Football's ability to organically create stories is it's main attraction for millions of people. The lack of compelling stories is exactly what makes non-league football much harder to follow. It's completely and utterly human to enjoy stories, it's how we comprehend and rationalise everything. Football is much more entertaining when you enjoy the stories within it.

I also don't believe for a second that either of you ignore those stories. They're not media-created at all, there's a big difference between the obviously forced stories and those ones that are naturally intriguing. Klopp returning to Dortmund is one of those. It's not a normal manager returning to an ex-club. Klopp is adored by Dortmund fans, there are many with his face tattooed on them. The fact that he is returning so soon with his new club is definitely an interesting story and it is not being gullible or deluded to enjoy that story.

[Duty281]

So you're gullible if you like the back stories that some games have?

As with anything in life, that depends.

You take the drama out of any sport and what do you have?

Fun. Enjoyment. Inclusion. Something that anyone can identify with. Possibly something of cultural significance.

[Stella]

You take the drama out of any sport and what do you have?

F1?

[Guest]

You take the drama out of any sport and what do you have?

F1?

Right answer!

[Duty281]

What utter rubbish. 

Football's ability to organically create stories is it's main attraction for millions of people. The lack of compelling stories is exactly what makes non-league football much harder to follow. It's completely and utterly human to enjoy stories, it's how we comprehend and rationalise everything. Football is much more entertaining when you enjoy the stories within it.

I also don't believe for a second that either of you ignore those stories. They're not media-created at all, there's a big difference between the obviously forced stories and those ones that are naturally intriguing. Klopp returning to Dortmund is one of those. It's not a normal manager returning to an ex-club. Klopp is adored by Dortmund fans, there are many with his face tattooed on them. The fact that he is returning so soon with his new club is definitely an interesting story and it is not being gullible or deluded to enjoy that story.

Non-league football is football*. Working-class. Roots tied down. Not much money around. Relevance. Tribalism.

Higher-tier football is positively pornographic in comparison. Fake. No relevance. No roots. Soulless (hence the need to create 'stories').  Far too much money.

*By-and-large. You may have to delve a bit further than the old Conference divisions.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Duty, you weren't alive for this mythical time you seem to be harking back to.

Non-League football is so removed from that old fashioned game it's untrue.

[Duty281]

True, I wasn't alive during the nineteenth century.

But non-league football is closer to the actual iteration of football, than what the higher-tier stuff is, presently.

[Stella]

An old manager going back to play his old team, and one which me made almost great. What's not to like?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

That red card for Torres is just ridiculous - he's been doing it all game - what an idiot

[Hero]

How many times do Barca get to play against 10 men in a vital game though?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

How many times do Barca get to play against 10 men in a vital game though?

There can be no complaints about this one - For the 35 odd minutes he was on I counted at least 4 late yellow card worthy tackles from Torres. Stupid beyond belief

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

This is fantastic fun

[Hero]

How many times do Barca get to play against 10 men in a vital game though?

There can be no complaints about this one - For the 35 odd minutes he was on I counted at least 4 late yellow card worthy tackles from Torres. Stupid beyond belief

Oh no complaints at all, Torres had to go, it just always seems to be their lifeline when they're struggling.

[compelling and rich]

barcelona have perfected the art of turning football into a non contact sport. any slight touch they throw themselves to the floor like they've been pole axed.

torres was a yellow but no more than busqets only a few minutes later which wasnt punished. as much as they are good to watch i do hate the cheating/ref harassing side. you cant even press them properly

heard people criticizing atheltico for being rough, but in reality there was only one bad challenge in that game

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

David Luiz is such a joke of a football player

[Guest]

Luiz

1-1 embarrassing from city

[Fernando]

Why is he even passing it to him. Just launch it up the pitch that close to HT.

[Guest]

2-2 Fernandinho.

[Hero]

Being as Utd were in a pish poor group, one of the teams from it have just thumped Real Madrid.

[lfc91]

True Hero.. And If i remember correctly they beat united 3-2 at home and have just beaten Madrid 2-0. Which obviously means united are better than Madrid.....

[Hero]

....and Madrid best Barca at the weekend, therefore Utd > Barca FAKT!

[lfc91]

In all seriousness though, IMO there are rarely bad groups in the champions league. Think the united group was more related to the fact that the 3/4 years before this would have been seen as an easy group, all of a sudden it's more of a 4 way shoot out sort of group with teams quite similar in quality.

[Guest]

Hardly surprising Real 2-0 Wolfsburg after 17 mins

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