Champions League 14/15

[Nath]

Bayern/Barca final this year then..

 

[allouso]

Very Mourinho-esque from Simeone, and he paid the price. Atleti were over defensive and it's a shame, the reason why they dismantled Real last time around was because they properly attacked. Shame.

Difficult to pick a winner from that semi final lineup. I'm gonna go for Bayern.

 

[mistermagic]

A penalty that wasn't one dumps Monaco out of the champions league.
Showed they could put up and contest with Juventus over the 2 legs and are unlucky to be out.
Juventus aren't that good of a side but are a solide unit.
Don't care about CL now, The good teams are out..........

It has not been that great a season for French clubs. A quarter-final was the least PSG should have done while Monaco did alright to get in the QFs. Just goes to show that all the media hype about French football becoming good isn't all that. We've also been dogshit in the EL Guingamp aside.

 

[Skinner]

 

[Ligue 1 fan]

It has not been that great a season for French clubs. A quarter-final was the least PSG should have done while Monaco did alright to get in the QFs. Just goes to show that all the media hype about French football becoming good isn't all that. We've also been dogshit in the EL Guingamp aside.

It's going to take time for French teams to establish themselves in the Champions League. You look at the 4 teams left, all the CL Giants.
Hopefully next season, Lyon and Marseille are in the competition to make the 3 teams strong.
But you're right, quarters is the furthest PSG and Monaco can go.

 

[Nath]

Is the quarters acceptable for a club like PSG though? Silly money has been thrown about the past few seasons and they haven't progressed much. Barca could have scored 4/5 on Tuesday if they really wanted. The gap in quality seems bigger than ever.

 

[mistermagic]

I disagree with L1F on that. We should be aiming for the semis minimum and looking back, our European campaign has been a step back compared to last season. We finished 2nd in our group where we basically rolled over at the Nou Camp on the final day, we scored two goals from corners against a very negative Chelsea side and were beaten 1-5 by the same Barca team. All in all, last season was better.
Again, this summer is massive. The board has big decisions to make. Do we keep Blanc? Do we get a director of football to get decent signings in (David Luiz has proven that he's just not good enough for the CL big boys)? Who do we sign? Who do we let off?

 

[Nath]

I do fear if PSG keep Blanc on it'll be the same story in the Champions League next season. A lot of players aren't really at the standard required. Players like Maxwell, Luiz and van der Wiel aren't going to get you anywhere in the competition. I really think they should consider Klopp.

 

[Libertadores FC]

While I said I'm not gonna bother with the UCL anymore final aside (or if Barcelona draw Real Madrid) people are largely underestimating Juventus' quality. Yes, they aren't at the level of the other 3 but still have some World Class talent like Carlos Tevez, Giorgio Chiellini, Paul Pogba, and of course, Buffon. What Juventus DON'T have is a good manager. People are praising Allegri, but since Juve's players are in high demand, I reckon he'll ruin the team like he did with Milan. Tevez is going back to Boca either this summer or next summer.

While I love Napoli, I want Juventus to win this. They do have the quality for it. Atletico almost did it for those who forget.

 

[mistermagic]

I do fear if PSG keep Blanc on it'll be the same story in the Champions League next season. A lot of players aren't really at the standard required. Players like Maxwell, Luiz and van der Wiel aren't going to get you anywhere in the competition. I really think they should consider Klopp.

Worst players have won the competition. The 3 you mentioned aren't our biggest problem. Our problem is that we have unhappy players upfront and we need a complete rehaul of wingers, AMs and CFs. Like I said on numerous occasions, we have the conversion rate of a mid-table Ligue 1 side and we want to win the CL. Something's not right.
Appointing a competent director of football is more important to me than who the manager will be. Since Leonardo left, our signings have been predictable and haven't delivered all that much. Uninspiring.

 

[SALTIRE]

While I said I'm not gonna bother with the UCL anymore final aside (or if Barcelona draw Real Madrid) people are largely underestimating Juventus' quality. Yes, they aren't at the level of the other 3 but still have some World Class talent like Carlos Tevez, Giorgio Chiellini, Paul Pogba, and of course, Buffon. What Juventus DON'T have is a good manager. People are praising Allegri, but since Juve's players are in high demand, I reckon he'll ruin the team like he did with Milan. Tevez is going back to Boca either this summer or next summer.

While I love Napoli, I want Juventus to win this. They do have the quality for it. Atletico almost did it for those who forget.

Juventus have surprised me this year and do look a very good side indeed. It would be apt for them to win it too as its 30 years since Heysel as well.

Hope they don't though as they cost me a fiver last night and my brother-in-law supports Juve and I'd never hear the end of it if they were to triumph.

 

[Ligue 1 fan]

Actually yes I was wrong. PSG should be getting to atleast the semi finals but feel it will take time for them to be an established CL side.
Agree regarding the sporting directer. This needs to happen quickly for Paris.

 

[Nath]

Worst players have won the competition. The 3 you mentioned aren't our biggest problem. Our problem is that we have unhappy players upfront and we need a complete rehaul of wingers, AMs and CFs. Like I said on numerous occasions, we have the conversion rate of a mid-table Ligue 1 side and we want to win the CL. Something's not right.
Appointing a competent director of football is more important to me than who the manager will be. Since Leonardo left, our signings have been predictable and haven't delivered all that much. Uninspiring.

Worse players have won it playing in better teams. A defence with those players will never be enough with things not working at the other end. I agree with you that going forward there needs to be much more from the players. A director of fooball would be a great idea, providing it's the correct appointment.

 

[JimJams]

I don't really see why PSG should be getting beyond the quarters. Yes it's reasonable to aim for semis and beyond but with Real, Barca and Bayern as everyone's pick of the top 3 teams in Europe why would PSG be the other team to fill that position over several others?
Are PSG the 4th best side in Europe? Should they be?

 

[JimJams]

And of course this is assuming that even if they were, they'd have to avoid the 3 better sides in Europe on the way to take their place in the semis anyway.

 

[Ligue 1 fan]

With the money spent and 4 years into the Qatari ownership the champions league success is top priority for the club and have stumbled at QFs 3 times in a row.
And then you look if they've signed value for money players;
Cavani 60 million - No
Cabaye 20 million - No
Luiz 50 million - No
Pastore 45 million - No
If I spent that much money on players, I'd atleast want a return in the champions league. But it's just not happened.
Semi finals is realistic providing your team has the right players.

 

[mistermagic]

I don't really see why PSG should be getting beyond the quarters. Yes it's reasonable to aim for semis and beyond but with Real, Barca and Bayern as everyone's pick of the top 3 teams in Europe why would PSG be the other team to fill that position over several others?
Are PSG the 4th best side in Europe? Should they be?

I think it's a tie between ourselves and Juventus. Then again, I reckon our eclosion has come at a good time as the English clubs aren't doing that well. We just knocked out the futue champions so that's a strong case in our favour. I don't many other sides capable of knocking us out tbh. Can you?

 

[Libertadores FC]

May think about watching the Juventus - Real Madrid match. Will only watch it for Juve though as its their first real test this season.

Won't even bother with the other match.

 

[Dziga Vertov]

 

[yellow]

Think that's two fascinating ties. Barca-Bayern will be like a chess match I feel, though interesting to see if Guardiola will be able to stop the Messi-Neymar-Suarez combination.

Juve-Madrid will be fascinating too, genuinely reckon Juve can do it over the two legs which would make a nice change.

 

[Renegade]

Nice outcome for UEFA, Guardiola's Bayern vs Barcelona in semi-final grudge match with the possibility for an El Clasico final. Almost too nice one might think...

I'm really looking forward to Guardiola vs Barcelona to be honest, this Barcelona side are much more entertaining and likeable than the previous iteration (this may be entirely down to how Suarez plays). It will be interesting how they get on against their former Sensei.

On the whole though, horrible to see these four clubs as the final four, they are all pretty wretched as footballing entities. For underdog reasons alone, I hope Juventus can cause an upset.

 

[Dziga Vertov]

It's just Barca, Bayern and Real every year with the odd Atletico, Dortmund etc appearance. They are the three best sides in Europe to be fair but what's frustrating is how they conveniently avoid each other in the draw until the latter stages.

The EL is where it's at anyway.

 

[G-Dragon]

Two great ties, no way I am missing them. I am hoping for a Juve win, both in the semifinals and in the final.
Personally, I find Europa League boring. It has some credibility now that the winner gets CL but still.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

Bah. Wanted Bayern-Barca to be the final. Going to be weird match - they can't both have the ball for the entire game.

Can't imagine that shitcunts vs also-rans is going to be much fun, but hey, ya never know...

 

[SALTIRE]

I don't think this Bayern are as deadly as they were a few seasons back, but I'd preferred the away leg for Barca to be at the Camp Nou. Playing at the Allianz in the return could very well swing the tie in Bayern's favour.

This could be Juve's year tbh, 30 years after Heysel, that could be extra motivation for them there.

 

[mistermagic]

I don't think they give a shit.

 

[SALTIRE]

I don't think they give a shit.

The players probably don't, but those behind the scenes and the fans probably do, and maybe they've let that known to the playing staff.

 

[S2_Blade]

Glad Real Madrid beat Atletico ! Hate watching Atletico Madrid, dirty set of cheats who then cry soon as other team have a dig back and are so negative to watch so i am glad Read got through in end who dominated throughout.

Roll on the semi finals !

 

[mistermagic]

Makes no difference to me, they're all whining c*** the 3 of them.

 

[Nath]

Barcelona v Bayern has to be the most anticipated game of the year. One can expect a high scoring tie with some magnificent attacking and questionable defending. Whilst Enrique has changed things, I still see a bit of Guardiola in this Barca team. Only natural when the model was so successful. Barca will be fine without most of the possession as they don't need it to hurt teams. How do you stop Messi, Neymar and Suarez? you can't, which is why I can an El Classico final.