The Official 17/18 UEFA Champion's League and International Club News Thread

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

It's funny because the media are going out of their way to be kind to Spurs and not label this a choke. Even though it's pretty much the textbook definition of a choke. What else do you call being the clear better team for 165 of 180 minutes (aka 92%) of the tie, and still losing? If it were Arsenal it'd be a choke. If it were Liverpool it'd be a choke. If it were United it'd be a choke. When you were clearly better and yet still found a way to lose...yeah sorry, it's a choke.

Of course the rival fans are going to eat that up, and have fun while you can. Did you put money on Spurs? It was hardly a formality, and just because a team has the upper hand it doesn't mean they win. That happens quite often, and yeah it's disappointing to be on the losing side of that because you feel as though they should've been able to score another goal or two and take their chances. But every time a team loses doesn't mean that they've bottled it.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Of course it's not a choke job every time someone loses. When the clearly better team loses from a position of basically being in total control (away goals advantage, at home, leading the current match), I don't know what else you say other than they blew it. No one likes hearing that, but that doesn't make it untrue. Especially not when you're dealing with a team with a historic propensity for these kinds of things.

[rubecube]

I don't know how you can't call this a choke.

[cam_wmh]

New vs tenured Spurs fan.

[cam_wmh]

Although in fairness, any top club that has been dominating a h/a leg, that loses like that -- always a choke.

United, Liverpool, Tottenham, .. etc;

Conversely, looking at United vs Sevilla -- that wouldn't be a choke if United were to lose (at this point), as United has looked frail vs their Spanish opponents.

[Slava]

Well it is what it is. I don't see how you can have some massive choke when you weren't really favoured to win in the first place? I think that plenty of people thought that despite the two away goals that Juve could still win a 1-0 match or something similar. Obviously, given the outcome, we were far from out of the woods against the two time runners up.

I think that this is more evident of growing pains and experience. I do think it's interesting that people all talk about experience and how important it is, but what they don't want to acknowledge is that what this really means is losing and that includes these times when things are going your way and then very suddenly they aren't. Teams need to face that kind of adversity and find a way to deal with it, which is why most teams don't just roll through these competitions on their first crack.

[GirlySports]

A cool article about the fallen giants of European football.

https://www.ft.com/content/19455408-...d-41ca06376bf2

Marseille, Leeds United, Aston Villa, Ajax etc....

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I don't know how you can't call this a choke.

Yeah.

They held a road goal advantage coming into the tie.

They had a 1-0 lead at home at halftime.

Really all they had to do with 45 minutes left was not let Juventus score 2 or more goals.

Instead they gave them 2 in a 3 minute window while dominating for the most part.

The level of competition makes it a little more understandable (Juventus has a lot of experience) but still anytime you hold that big of an advantage with 30 minutes or less left in a game and then fail to even get it to extra time it's a bit of a choke.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Conversely, looking at United vs Sevilla -- that wouldn't be a choke if United were to lose (at this point), as United has looked frail vs their Spanish opponents.

Depends.

If they go up 2-0 at half time say (pretty close to equivalent of the advantage that Spurs had at that point), then allow two goals in the second half to go out on road goals with an aggregate of 2-2 that would be a pretty big Choke.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Depends.

If they go up 2-0 at half time say (pretty close to equivalent of the advantage that Spurs had at that point), then allow two goals in the second half to go out on road goals with an aggregate of 2-2 that would be a pretty big Choke.

exactly. It really depends on the course of the game ... yesterday was a textbook definition of a choke.

[devo22]

RB Salzburg dismantling Dortmund with absolute ease. Amazing to see ... I was sure Salzburg would have a decent chance, but this is unbelievable.

[devo22]

not pretty so far. Sevilla are pressing early and it's creating problems for United. Matic effectively has to do it all in midfield because Fellaini goes missing all the time (why is he even playing? McTominay has been great lately) and they have a hard time keeping possession.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Extremely poor from United so far, but not shocking given the lineup selection. Mourinho treating this Sevilla team like 2011 Barcelona is a bit much.

[devo22]

not good enough again. If Fellaini isn't subbed for Pogba or McTominay, I'll lose my ####.

[devo22]

totally deserved. Mourinho and United have no one to blame but themselves.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Would truly be tragic if United pulled this out of the fire. They've been so poor and so negative and we know if they somehow advance it's only gonna get worse with stronger teams left.

[devo22]

congrats Sevilla. Were the better team over 180 minutes, and that's completely on Mourinho. Poor selection, poor set-up, poor execution. No excuses (and I hope Mourinho doesn't come with any, he should only look into the mirror), they were simply poor. Period.

[Senator Clay Davis]

And so David Moyes remains the only post-Ferguson manager to reach the last eight of the Champions League. Bring him back maybe?

[devo22]

lol well played, AS. Well ####ing played.

https://twitter.com/user/status/973678480251654144

[nik-]

ROFL, what a dick.

https://twitter.com/user/status/973681809916661760