UEFA Champions League 2018/19

[Blue ROI]

14 minutes ago, martyn said:

No fan of Liverpool but that was great to watch. Hopefully Ajax join them, it would be a great final to watch and the thought of Spurs having a chance to lift the trophy is sickening. 

 

Barca need a refresh badly, the genius of Messi has done a good job of hiding their deficiencies but they had absolutely no answer for Liverpool's intensity. They would have been better off starting Dembele instead of Coutinho, stretch the game a bit and give a threat in behind. 

If Barca had made the final with that team it would have been a serious indictment of the standard of this seasons Champions League.

 

It reflects very badly on La Liga that they are so far ahead.

[yorkie1999]

26 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

People never cease to amaze me. How on earth is Messi getting the blame for that?

Swings and roundabouts, takes the plaudits of barcalona success, kicked in th gonads when they get battered 

[iamafox]

Full credit to Liverpool for the comeback but how in the hell can an elite club like Barca blow a three goal lead (for the second year running) and get done by a quick set-piece? They should be embarrassed.

 

You just wonder how much they would struggle without Messi, much like Real Madrid without Ronaldo.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Barcelona very over rated to be fair

 

well done to Liverpool none the less

[yorkie1999]

Just now, iamafox said:

Full credit to Liverpool for the comeback but how in the hell can an elite club like Barca blow a three goal lead (at the same stage for the second year running) and get done by a quick set-piece? They should be embarrassed.

 

You just wonder how much they would struggle without Messi, much like Real Madrid without Ronaldo.

Bit like us us without Wes 

[sm1]

Messi just papered up the cracks in the first leg,  when Liverpool actually dominated the game and could've scored 3-4 games. It's OK in La Liga but in the CL Messi can't keep carrying the team whilst surrounded by donkeys like Busquets, Coutinho & Jordi Alba. I didn't realise how shit Alba actually is until today. Trent ripped him a new arsehole. 

[fazzyfox]

James Milner really deserves credit once again, holding his own at this level, no hype, no razzamataz, just work ethic, intelligence and good all round ability. I can see Albrighton becoming our Milner in the coming years, filling in different positions, doing a good steady job into his mid 30's. I trust him to make the right decisions every time, I'd have much rather have had Milner coming on in the World Cup v Croatia than Dier (I know it was his choice to retire from Internationals), it's one of those where international retirement will probably add 18-24 months onto his league career.

[Dan]

20 minutes ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

That's not my fight, I rate Messi as the better footballer and Ronaldo the better goalscorer. My point is, should the greatest of all time and captain of his side be overseeing an absolutely humiliating display? This was his to win, his to draw level with Ronaldo, be the team to end Real Madrid's dominance of the champions league, he had all the motivation to do so and he didn't have the impact a player who is considered the greatest of all time should have imo, no leadership, no touch of class. 

 

What was he meant to do? Specifically, what did he have to do?

 

Score? He did that in the first leg, twice, one of them an absolutely outrageous goal.

 

Create for others? Again, he did that numerous times.

 

Defend because Barca's centre halves can't beat Wijnaldum in the air?

 

I honestly think he's been extraordinarily unlucky in recent years. Frequently let down by team mates.

[Dan]

13 minutes ago, yorkie1999 said:

Swings and roundabouts, takes the plaudits of barcalona success, kicked in th gonads when they get battered 

Slightly different when he's actually scored the goals though. It's justified.

[StanSP]

1 hour ago, cambridgefox said:

Bitter to the end!

That was unbelievable.

I went last night and the Man City fans went down in my estimations.Never seen such a cocky bunch.Giving it the big one as if we were the Liverpool fans.

Liverpool are ridiculously cocky too considering they haven't really won much recently (before this season). 

[The Horse's Mouth]

6 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

What was he meant to do? Specifically, what did he have to do?

 

Score? He did that in the first leg, twice, one of them an absolutely outrageous goal.

 

Create for others? Again, he did that numerous times.

 

Defend because Barca's centre halves can't beat Wijnaldum in the air?

 

I honestly think he's been extraordinarily unlucky in recent years. Frequently let down by team mates.

Unlucky? he plays for one of the best teams in the world, gets to frequently bully farmer teams every week to statpad and have everyone claim he's the greatest. This is two years in a row now, that his side have completely capitulated. Last year should've been warning enough, he should've took this  by the horns and didnt. Complete passenger. 

[Dan]

5 minutes ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

Unlucky? he plays for one of the best teams in the world, gets to frequently bully farmer teams every week to statpad and have everyone claim he's the greatest. This is two years in a row now, that his side have completely capitulated. Last year should've been warning enough, he should've took this  by the horns and didnt. Complete passenger. 

So just to confirm it's Messi's fault that Alba gifts Liverpool a lead, that the centre halves can't get near Wijnaldum in the air, that Dembele can't score sitters.

 

That isn't all on Messi. He did more in this tie than any of their players. The others ****ed it up. It's like the World Cup where he was getting blamed for Argentina not winning it despite them being an absolute shambles.

 

It can't be put on one player. Yes he's been unlucky. Let down by his team-mates on numerous occasions in recent years.

[The Horse's Mouth]

Just now, Dan LCFC said:

So just to confirm it's Messi's fault that Alba gifts Liverpool a lead, that the centre halves can't get near Wijnaldum in the air, that Dembele can't score sitters.

 

That isn't all on Messi. He did more in this tie than any of their players. The others ****ed it up. It's like the World Cup where he was getting blamed for Argentina not winning it despite them being an absolute shambles.

 

It can't be put on one player. Yes he's been unlucky. Let down by his team-mates on numerous occasions in recent years.

Where did I said it was Messi's fault? I didn't say I blamed him, I'm saying if he's the GOAT he'd have shown up tonight which he didnt. Two years in a row they've bottled it, this team is built around him and has been for years yet the last time they won this competition was 2011. It comes a point where you can keep passing the buck, the world cup was another thing (not this one 2014) where he failed to show up on the occasion. It's perfectly fine bagging hatricks against bin man farmer fc every week, but this is the games you need to show up in and it's yet another he hasnt.

[StanSP]

9 minutes ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

Unlucky? he plays for one of the best teams in the world, gets to frequently bully farmer teams every week to statpad and have everyone claim he's the greatest. This is two years in a row now, that his side have completely capitulated. Last year should've been warning enough, he should've took this  by the horns and didnt. Complete passenger. 

You realise this is Valverde's problem, not just Messi? 

 

Valverde sets up too defensively sometimes in cup competitions. It happened last season and happened again this season. Messi can't be accountable for everything especially things he has no control over. 

 

Alba's header he cannot do a thing about. Vidal not sticking with Wijnaldum for his first goal he can't do anything. Defensively Messi can't be blamed but the manager can, tactically. 

 

You could say Messi could be blamed for not finishing some chances or perhaps not creating enough for others (tonight). 

 

I also think it's deeply disrespectful to say La Liga is full of farmer teams. This isn't PSG and Ligue 1. There's a lot more quality in Spain than you think if so. 

[fuchsntf]

Liverpool vs Spurs....

Ajax will be bleached by Spurs...the Greek God taken down by a cockerill..

 

2  PL teams in the CL...That is going to be just great....

The next 20yrs..the footballing corridors filled and echoing,with the 2 biggest wafflers in history...One from the North & one from the south,will be

Nobodying all clubs who care cross their paths..

Bottling-plants will be running on empty ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The Horse's Mouth]

1 minute ago, StanSP said:

You realise this is Valverde's problem, not just Messi? 

 

Valverde sets up too defensively sometimes in cup competitions. It happened last season and happened again this season. Messi can't be accountable for everything especially things he has no control over. 

 

Alba's header he cannot do a thing about. Vidal not sticking with Wijnaldum for his first goal he can't do anything. Defensively Messi can't be blamed but the manager can, tactically. 

 

You could say Messi could be blamed for not finishing some chances or perhaps not creating enough for others (tonight). 

 

I also think it's deeply disrespectful to say La Liga is full of farmer teams. This isn't PSG and Ligue 1. There's a lot more quality in Spain than you think if so. 

Oh don't get me wrong, Valverde should be sacked now. But the reason he's still there is because of Messi and the power he has within the club. Again I'm not blaming him, but if we're dubbing him as the GOAT I expect him to have rised to the occasion and not let it slip but he did. 

[Dan]

5 minutes ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

Where did I said it was Messi's fault? I didn't say I blamed him, I'm saying if he's the GOAT he'd have shown up tonight which he didnt. Two years in a row they've bottled it, this team is built around him and has been for years yet the last time they won this competition was 2011. It comes a point where you can keep passing the buck, the world cup was another thing (not this one 2014) where he failed to show up on the occasion. It's perfectly fine bagging hatricks against bin man farmer fc every week, but this is the games you need to show up in and it's yet another he hasnt.

I don't agree he hasn't shown up. What did he have to do to 'show up' because he created a couple of good chances tonight. Does it only count as showing up if you score? Lets not forget they were 3-0 up from the first leg, 2 of those from Messi.

[TheSomersetFox]

‘Farmer League’ - the league that has dominated European competition for the last decade

 

Meanwhile we’ve been utter bollocks for 3/4th of this season and almost qualified for Europe. The bottom 3 haven’t taken a single point off the top 6 and the league is stacked with dross.

 

Barca also last won it in 2015 ^^

 

 

[StanSP]

Good on Lineker! Hate when they're made to apologise for bad language (like when fan swearing gets heard on mics during the game) as if no one watching football has ever sworn or never going to learn it. 

 

[Gamble92]

37 minutes ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

Where did I said it was Messi's fault? I didn't say I blamed him, I'm saying if he's the GOAT he'd have shown up tonight which he didnt. Two years in a row they've bottled it, this team is built around him and has been for years yet the last time they won this competition was 2011. It comes a point where you can keep passing the buck, the world cup was another thing (not this one 2014) where he failed to show up on the occasion. It's perfectly fine bagging hatricks against bin man farmer fc every week, but this is the games you need to show up in and it's yet another he hasnt.

Bin Farmer FC made me  

[Gamble92]

20 minutes ago, Goober said:

‘Farmer League’ - the league that has dominated European competition for the last decade

 

Meanwhile we’ve been utter bollocks for 3/4th of this season and almost qualified for Europe. The bottom 3 haven’t taken a single point off the top 6 and the league is stacked with dross.

 

Barca also last won it in 2015 ^^

 

 

The top 2 are and always will be in the elite of European football. Atheltico have recently had a quality side. The majority of La Liga is nowhere near the standard of the Premier League.

 

Messi knows what hes doing by staying in that league. I think that's the main difference between Ronaldo and Messi. You could put Ronaldo in any team and still have the same return in goals and performances. You cant say that about Messi, not least because he's never gone and proved it. 

[Dan]

Messi's scored something like 25 in 30 against the top six in the Premier League. People think he's struggling against Bournemouth and Burnley? Come on. I can't believe what I'm reading here.

 

Hard on La Liga too. Definitely think this year the Premier League's been stronger but for all the other 'farmer teams' you've got Sevilla who've won the Europa League a few times (which Spurs have frequently not got close to winning despite being in it), and are we really writing home about some of the others in this league? Weirdly this Premier League's been a bit like what everyone accuses La Liga of being - two teams roll over basically everyone else.

 

La Liga's not an atmospheric league so I get people not being hugely interested in it but the quality of football gets far too big a bashing in England in general.

[TheSomersetFox]

3 minutes ago, Gamble92 said:

The top 2 are and always will be in the elite of European football. Atheltico have recently had a quality side. The majority of La Liga is nowhere near the standard of the Premier League.

 

Messi knows what hes doing by staying in that league. I think that's the main difference between Ronaldo and Messi. You could put Ronaldo in any team and still have the same return in goals and performances. You cant say that about Messi, not least because he's never gone and proved it. 

Can’t be arsed with blind/deluded arguments like this.

 

Messi should leave the best/biggest club in the world, the club where he’s been all his life, to go and score 50 a season in Germany cos Barry from Lincoln isn’t impressed enough by his 600 goals for Barcelona

 

 

[Dan]

 

If that isn't 'turning up' (in a game they were already 3-0 up in largely courtesy of him) but scoring a penalty is then I'll respectfully just agree to disagree.

[The Horse's Mouth]

57 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

I don't agree he hasn't shown up. What did he have to do to 'show up' because he created a couple of good chances tonight. Does it only count as showing up if you score? Lets not forget they were 3-0 up from the first leg, 2 of those from Messi.

Clearly didn't create enough though did he, else Barcelona would be getting the train down the madrid in june and not watching it on the tele after winning another farmer title.