Criggers Posted 7 March 2012 Posted 7 March 2012 Opta Sports @OptaJoe 49 - Of the 49 teams to have played in the CL since 2010-11, Lionel Messi (24) has scored more goals than 40 of them in that period. Icon. Absolutely incredible. That's an amazing stat. Just been watching CL extra on itv. Seeing RVP miss that chance for 4-0 again makes me think we shouldn't have been so hard on poor old Kermo.
Collymore Posted 8 March 2012 Posted 8 March 2012 Just watched the game this morning and it has left me speechless. I remember watching that Andy King goal v cov away over and over again thinking I'll never see a LCFC goal like that for a while again, but Messi does his chip at every angle on any foot when he chooses! The way he holds the line to stay onside as well is an art in it's own right!
Thracian Posted 8 March 2012 Posted 8 March 2012 I sat there just hoping Pearson was watching because that's how football should be played and, forgetting the individual ability of the players - and the mesmerising genius of Messi - there was so much they did which we don't. First they were utterly ruthless and focused. No falling back and defending deep when they scored. When they lost posssession they fought like terriers to get the ball back and as early as possible. They gave no peace to anyone. Even when they were four and five goals ahead their only aim was to score a sixth.Even with defensive free-kicks they conceded no ground whatsoever that they didn't have to. [ There were no purposeless hoof balls. Whether under relatively close pressure at the back or anywhere else they passed the ball to feet. The only time they hoisted the ball into the air was when there was a specific pass on. Not a hopeful ball that might int some vague space that might be picked up. But a ball that was specifically lifted to a man in space because there was someone in the way. Next was the flawless way they moved forwards and backwards as a unit. Even with defensive free-kicks they conceded no ground whatsoever that they didn't have to. When they attacked there were six and seven players in and around the box making themselves available either in space or for a slick give-and-go. When they defended everyone worked with urgency with sometimes five players up front closing down every defender and making it extremely difficult for them to pick any sort of forward pass with confidence. Finally there was the control and movement. Almost every time a player received the ball they turned either inside, outside or even in a really tight circle to wrong foot defenders and to disturb their zonal marking. In so doing there was nearly always a waiting colleague to be found or some small space to exploit and their vision in seeing the runners or movers for their one-twos was to behold. We see City players practising intricate close give-and-go's in the pre-match warm up but when the game comes they just don't have the nerve or belief in themselves to sustain it. That's simply down to management...and the players turning good habits into second nature. Pearson should play the video of that game time and again while eating his breakfast so it becomes engrained in his mind because it was a perfect example of what he should be aiming at.
Haydos Posted 8 March 2012 Posted 8 March 2012 I sat there just hoping Pearson was watching because that's how football should be played and, forgetting the individual ability of the players - and the mesmerising genius of Messi - there was so much they did which we don't. First they were utterly ruthless and focused. No falling back and defending deep when they scored. When they lost posssession they fought like terriers to get the ball back and as early as possible. They gave no peace to anyone. Even when they were four and five goals ahead their only aim was to score a sixth.Even with defensive free-kicks they conceded no ground whatsoever that they didn't have to. [ There were no purposeless hoof balls. Whether under relatively close pressure at the back or anywhere else they passed the ball to feet. The only time they hoisted the ball into the air was when there was a specific pass on. Not a hopeful ball that might int some vague space that might be picked up. But a ball that was specifically lifted to a man in space because there was someone in the way. Next was the flawless way they moved forwards and backwards as a unit. Even with defensive free-kicks they conceded no ground whatsoever that they didn't have to. When they attacked there were six and seven players in and around the box making themselves available either in space or for a slick give-and-go. When they defended everyone worked with urgency with sometimes five players up front closing down every defender and making it extremely difficult for them to pick any sort of forward pass with confidence. Finally there was the control and movement. Almost every time a player received the ball they turned either inside, outside or even in a really tight circle to wrong foot defenders and to disturb their zonal marking. In so doing there was nearly always a waiting colleague to be found or some small space to exploit and their vision in seeing the runners or movers for their one-twos was to behold. We see City players practising intricate close give-and-go's in the pre-match warm up but when the game comes they just don't have the nerve or belief in themselves to sustain it. That's simply down to management...and the players turning good habits into second nature. Pearson should play the video of that game time and again while eating his breakfast so it becomes engrained in his mind because it was a perfect example of what he should be aiming at. Seriously? Is this completely genuine? Fair enough something basic like closing down is something that they're experts at and should be replicable but anything else? You MUST be joking. They are Barcelona. You know who plays for them, right? They are immeasurably better players, most of whom have had this style of play drilled into them since they were 8/9 years old. They are better passers, better finishes, more intelligent movers, on-the-same-wavelength, superior technically, gifted with control, better and more honed vision. There is no way you can compare a team like this. No way.
NeilyBoy Posted 8 March 2012 Posted 8 March 2012 That's an amazing stat. Just been watching CL extra on itv. Seeing RVP miss that chance for 4-0 again makes me think we shouldn't have been so hard on poor old Kermo. I for one thought he was decent.
MC Prussian Posted 13 March 2012 Author Posted 13 March 2012 We're all Basel fans tonight. No objections.
Salieri Posted 13 March 2012 Posted 13 March 2012 We're all Basel fans tonight. No objections. Not going well.
MC Prussian Posted 13 March 2012 Author Posted 13 March 2012 4-0 down after 50 minutes. Nightmare for Basel. Darn.
Lovejoy Posted 14 March 2012 Posted 14 March 2012 14 goals in 4 days, not bad for a team who were being written off last week.
purpleronnie Posted 14 March 2012 Posted 14 March 2012 14 goals in 4 days, not bad for a team who were being written off last week. Maybe, by idiots.
Wycombe Fox Posted 14 March 2012 Posted 14 March 2012 Good goal by Drogba. He'll be in Bamba's pocket on Sunday though
Guest shearfox Posted 14 March 2012 Posted 14 March 2012 Who else Terry... Chelsea are the ones going into the QF at the moment...
Wycombe Fox Posted 14 March 2012 Posted 14 March 2012 Chelsea look a different team since AVB was sacked.
Gold Coast Fox Posted 14 March 2012 Posted 14 March 2012 GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! Come on Napoli!
Guest shearfox Posted 14 March 2012 Posted 14 March 2012 A stunner, still think Chelsea can snatch another goal...
Wycombe Fox Posted 14 March 2012 Posted 14 March 2012 What a strike by Inler. Extra time would be knackering for Chelsea - good.
purpleronnie Posted 14 March 2012 Posted 14 March 2012 Chelsea look a different team since AVB was sacked. Yeah they looked great against 10 man stoke.
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