The Official 2010/2011 Champions League Thread

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Locke

Alright, 'great defensive performance.'

Really? While AC are not Barca, is England the 'best' league in the world because they know where to park the bus?

Obviously Spurs knew that they could not compete with AC even at home and so didnt even try, they parked the bus, held marginal possession and managed at least 1 shot on target forcing Abbiati into actually making a save. Kind of.

Okay, that was a tongue-in-cheek paragraph obviously, but you see the point, two of England's top teams mustered a single shot on goal between them and put together ?

Not exactly a banner couple of matches for English football. No disrespect to either team, it just sucks when you see a country's top teams basically show up with no intent to play and no intent to win, but just content not to lose.

In elimination Cup competition you do what gives you the best chance of making it to the next round, entertaining your fans and putting on a good show is not a priority.

Both teams worked hard to get a lead after the first leg and it was because of that they had the opportunity to park the bus and try to make it to the next stage.

It worked for Spurs as they were able to hold off Milan and I am sure the fans are happier with that result then they would have been with an entertaining 2-1 loss.

It didn't work for Arsenal but after 65 minutes it looked like it was gonna work and if not for a horrible call by an incompetent ref it probably would have seen them make to extra time at least, if not the next round.

I am sick of all the talk of "beautiful football", you play the style that gives your team the best chance of winning the game. If that means you park the bus and hope for the best so be it.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

In elimination Cup competition you do what gives you the best chance of making it to the next round, entertaining your fans and putting on a good show is not a priority.

Both teams worked hard to get a lead after the first leg and it was because of that they had the opportunity to park the bus and try to make it to the next stage.

It worked for Spurs as they were able to hold off Milan and I am sure the fans are happier with that result then they would have been with an entertaining 2-1 loss.

It didn't work for Arsenal but after 65 minutes it looked like it was gonna work and if not for a horrible call by an incompetent ref it probably would have seen them make to extra time at least, if not the next round.

I am sick of all the talk of "beautiful football", you play the style that gives your team the best chance of winning the game. If that means you park the bus and hope for the best so be it.

I understand that, and I'm not even talking about 'beautiful' football, I'm talking about actually playing the game.

These teams did not want to play, they wanted to waste time for 90 minutes. Yeah, it got Spurs into the next round, but I wouldnt waste my time or money watching them waste theirs.

Of course the supporters are happy with the results, who wouldnt be? What I am saying is that its no wonder that the final is a one match round.

And for those that say the Champions League is better than the World Cup, just watch these two matches, how was that for entertainment value?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Locke

And for those that say the Champions League is better than the World Cup, just watch these two matches, how was that for entertainment value?

The majority of the games in the last World Cup against Spain looked quite similar to the ones against Barca in C.L. Park the bus in front of your own net and hope to god that somehow you can score with your one or two chances on the counter attack.

I will agree that the World Cup is a more exciting tournament though.

[d_phaneuf]

that game, and Arsenal/Barca as well, were better than 95% of the games at the WC

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

that game, and Arsenal/Barca as well, were better than 95% of the games at the WC

That because you were following England, you should try following a good team, that always helps spice things up.

England never fail to disappoint though.

[NBC]

Locke I have to ask how can someone support one of the historic English football clubs and have so much dislike for English football? I don't get it. It isn't like Liverpool has had their fair share of krauts. Outside of Didi Hamann and Karl-Heinz Riedle, I struggle to think of any more.

What gives?

[Winsor_Pilates]

I don't have a problem with how Spurs won, just the hypocrisy of them pointing fingers at Arsenals "defensive football" the day before.
Ultimately, playing the game that way won't get them through the whole tournament but you can't blame them for getting the win.

[d_phaneuf]

must have missed the hypocrisy

didnt see anyone complain about the way Arsenal played the game, if they had tried to out pass Barca they would have lost 5-1 like they did last year

[Locke]

Originally Posted by NBC

Locke I have to ask how can someone support one of the historic English football clubs and have so much dislike for English football? I don't get it. It isn't like Liverpool has had their fair share of krauts. Outside of Didi Hamann and Karl-Heinz Riedle, I struggle to think of any more.

What gives?

Totally different sets of circumstances.

The club one cheers for and the Country are defined by totally different things.

A very good old friend of mine and I used to be huge sports fans together, we would cheer for Liverpool and Calgary together but as soon as its National Team time he supported England while I supported Germany. Now those were some good times. I'm still a little sad he wasnt around for this World Cup, he'd have been apoplectic about that match.

My dad is of German descent and I'm not English, and Canada doesnt compete so I support the national team of my heritage.

You have to admit, the England National team has been a comedy of errors for well over a decade now.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Locke

I understand that, and I'm not even talking about 'beautiful' football, I'm talking about actually playing the game.

These teams did not want to play, they wanted to waste time for 90 minutes.

If you analysed things in a bit more detail, unlike most of the media, you might conclude that Arsenal's inability to muster even a single shot could actually be a testament of their commitment to playing the game. Why? Due to the fact that they were like a fisherman in a forest, they had no idea how to play the type of game that they tried to play.

Furthermore, do you think clubs from other countries would try to play any differently? Last year, did Inter approach their tie with Barca the same way Arsenal did? No, they didn't even park the bus because they brought a friggen' airbus.

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

didnt see anyone complain about the way Arsenal played the game, if they had tried to out pass Barca they would have lost 5-1 like they did last year

I've seen if from both fans and commentators, and it's absolute BS. When we try to attack and get slaughtered, Wegner is a tactical idiot. When we come as close to parking the bus as we can, Wegner is a sellout. Damned if we do, damned if we don't.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by Locke

Totally different sets of circumstances.

The club one cheers for and the Country are defined by totally different things.

A very good old friend of mine and I used to be huge sports fans together, we would cheer for Liverpool and Calgary together but as soon as its National Team time he supported England while I supported Germany. Now those were some good times. I'm still a little sad he wasnt around for this World Cup, he'd have been apoplectic about that match.

My dad is of German descent and I'm not English, and Canada doesnt compete so I support the national team of my heritage.

You have to admit, the England National team has been a comedy of errors for well over a decade now.

Yep. Reds fan, then I support Poland nationally (I'm the first generation Canadian born in my family) Definitely not rocket science. Also, there is a contingent of Liverpool fans in Liverpool who couldn't care about the national team. "I'm not English, I'm Scouse" is a phrase I've heard a ton of times.

[NBC]

^ I get that - to a point. The question has more to do with a heightened level of hatred as opposed to general ambivalence. For example, I despise everything about Italian football; the players, the tactics, strategy, the fans, the inherent racism - everything. How could anyone who feels that way support, I dunno, AC Milan or Juventus?

Everyone is entitled to choose whichever club they want to support. I guess I find it odd that people would choose to support a club in a domestic league, one that contains a preponderance of local (English) players and yet despise the national side. Like I said, I could never imagine supporting any domestic side in Italy, Germany (yuk!), Spain, France, Russia or Portugal, because I dislike the national side players - and I mean a Lockian-style of dislike.

But that's just me.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

that game, and Arsenal/Barca as well, were better than 95% of the games at the WC

Totally agree - I watch less and less of the WC every time. It seems that the more that is at stake, the bigger the dross served up. I barely watch International football of any description these days.

[united]

Just back from vacation so catching all the highlites now, so not trying to bring up bad memories.

I just have to say that the Van Persie sending off was one of the worst I've ever seen. Shocking decision considering the circumstances. You can argue that by the book it's a yellow (questionable IMO), but tie game with over 1/2 hour to play? Give me a break! Maybe if Arsenal were up 1 with under 10 minutes to go, I could see it, but not in that situation. Terrible sending off.

[vennegoor of hesselink]

Bayern 1 Inter 1 25 min

Inter scored in the 5th - Etoo may have been a fraction offiside
Bayern equalizes in the 20 Mario Gomez off a Rebound from a strike from Robben which Julio Cesar should have held but Gomez had a nice finish to flick it in

[vennegoor of hesselink]

Robben plays provider again and sets up Muller to make it 2-1 Munchen

[d_phaneuf]

that first Bayern goal was a horrid mistake by Cesar, and Bayern have taken over ever since it went in

[vennegoor of hesselink]

Can either of these teams defend?

[d_phaneuf]

bayern should have 4 or 5

[vennegoor of hesselink]

I dont suppose there's any chance Marseille could nick a goal in the last half hour?