UCL 17/18 : The European Elite Football Clubs

[Fooblack]

  On 4/4/2018 at 11:45 PM, Spring said:

Pool whacked City 3-0 to take a firm step into the last 4 of the UCL n the battle of EPL clubs was nvr close as Pool took the 3 goal lead within the first half hour of the game n though City has more possession overall like most Pep teams, it counted for nothing as Pool defence stood resolute.

 

Barca beat Roma 4-1 in the other q-final n seems like the second legs for all the q-finals are done n dusted even though Bayern only hold a 2-1 lead but with 2 away goals n the return leg In Munich, I think that game too is over.

 

This weekend the 2 EPL clubs left in the UCL will be facing tough local derbies.

 

I await the semi final draws next Friday as some really mouth watering clashes in store with do or die end scenarios! The beauty of k/o competitions.

 

credit be told, guess not many people will believe City will lose the game by this margin and left anfield without an away goal.  the fact was that City didnt even had a shot on target all night.  it's almost unbelievable to note that such an attacking team which has stream-rolled almost every side the EPL couldn't penetrate Pool which doesnt have a decent defensive record.  

 

Pep's tactics was probably much to be blamed. He played a CB as a LB to mark Salah. He played 2 DMs instead of the usual 1. He left Sterling on the bench which was probably due to fact he couldn't trust Sterling to handle the hostile reception.  Every of this decision came back to haunt him as Klopp's players tore City to pieces from the 10 - 30th min mark, registering 3 goals.  This is exactly what CIty did to Everton last weekend.. now it is just a role reversal.  

 

By the time City came back alive in the 2nd half, Pool was content to sit deeper and play on counters. City ran of gas and ideas by the time too, left Anfield with a mountain to climb in the 2nd leg.   The fact is Pool just need to score 1 goal at the Etihad and City has to score 5 to progress.  this is the measure of the result that Pool obtained.

 

It's only half time for this tie.  If any team is capable to overturn this sort of scoreline, you would place your bet on city. Pool will be w/o Henderson and currently sweating on the fitness of Salah who came off with a slight injury.  So, the tie is definitely still not over.  

[Beregond]

  On 4/5/2018 at 12:50 AM, Fooblack said:

credit be told, guess not many people will believe City will lose the game by this margin and left anfield without an away goal.  the fact was that City didnt even had a shot on target all night.  it's almost unbelievable to note that such an attacking team which has stream-rolled almost every side the EPL couldn't penetrate Pool which doesnt have a decent defensive record.  

 

Pep's tactics was probably much to be blamed. He played a CB as a LB to mark Salah. He played 2 DMs instead of the usual 1. He left Sterling on the bench which was probably due to fact he couldn't trust Sterling to handle the hostile reception.  Every of this decision came back to haunt him as Klopp's players tore City to pieces from the 10 - 30th min mark, registering 3 goals.  This is exactly what CIty did to Everton last weekend.. now it is just a role reversal.  

 

By the time City came back alive in the 2nd half, Pool was content to sit deeper and play on counters. City ran of gas and ideas by the time too, left Anfield with a mountain to climb in the 2nd leg.   The fact is Pool just need to score 1 goal at the Etihad and City has to score 5 to progress.  this is the measure of the result that Pool obtained.

 

It's only half time for this tie.  If any team is capable to overturn this sort of scoreline, you would place your bet on city. Pool will be w/o Henderson and currently sweating on the fitness of Salah who came off with a slight injury.  So, the tie is definitely still not over.  

i think gg liao la,

 

i just dun see pools losing 4 goals away. if pools just manage to grap 1 away, city must score 5.

 

it seem 3 out of 4 games are more or less decided. 

 

abit of anticlimax

 

[Atrecord]

  On 4/4/2018 at 11:45 PM, Spring said:

Pool whacked City 3-0 to take a firm step into the last 4 of the UCL n the battle of EPL clubs was nvr close as Pool took the 3 goal lead within the first half hour of the game n though City has more possession overall like most Pep teams, it counted for nothing as Pool defence stood resolute.

 

Barca beat Roma 4-1 in the other q-final n seems like the second legs for all the q-finals are done n dusted even though Bayern only hold a 2-1 lead but with 2 away goals n the return leg In Munich, I think that game too is over.

 

This weekend the 2 EPL clubs left in the UCL will be facing tough local derbies.

 

I await the semi final draws next Friday as some really mouth watering clashes in store with do or die end scenarios! The beauty of k/o competitions.

 

Yes, a great result for Pool.

 

It's not yet over, but they have one foot through the door. Next week they need to ensure that City stays far from the door, and then they will be through.

 

 

If there are no shocks for the 2nd leg, then this quarters showed that history and pedigree in Europe counts. A lot.

 

Hopefully Pool can then do premier league proud by going all the way.

[Hondacub777]

I find that city was not really tested in their defence.

Because they were so strong up front where most opponents are being kept busy in their own havlves most of the time.

[Beregond]

  On 4/5/2018 at 12:56 AM, Hondacub777 said:

I find that city was not really tested in their defence.

Because they were so strong up front where most opponents are being kept busy in their own havlves most of the time.

their first goal was a gift from walker,

i think he is trying to control the ball. should have clear in that situation.

 

before that was quite open.

city got some good moves from sane side.

[Fooblack]

  On 4/5/2018 at 1:09 AM, Beregond said:

their first goal was a gift from walker,

i think he is trying to control the ball. should have clear in that situation.

 

before that was quite open.

city got some good moves from sane side.

 

Kyle walker was too naive to try to be clever in that instance. Firmino is always going to press him with no invitation. It was a interception cum assist in an instance. He nicked the ball off Walker inside the 6 yard box and Salah got the ball. The rest is history. 

 

Once Pool had the goal, its momentum just sky-rocketed and the City's defense looks like crumbling with every Pool attack.  Vincent Company usually so assured in his defending,once again looked so uncomfortable playing at anfield, a record he surely doesn't want to continue on..  

 

Sane look lively all game.. but lacked the cutting edge in his final ball. Pool defended admirably well at times when City tried to open up the defence.  

[Spurman]

Pool show they truely belong in europe.

Kudos..

[Spring]

  On 4/5/2018 at 12:50 AM, Fooblack said:

credit be told, guess not many people will believe City will lose the game by this margin and left anfield without an away goal.  the fact was that City didnt even had a shot on target all night.  it's almost unbelievable to note that such an attacking team which has stream-rolled almost every side the EPL couldn't penetrate Pool which doesnt have a decent defensive record.  

 

Pep's tactics was probably much to be blamed. He played a CB as a LB to mark Salah. He played 2 DMs instead of the usual 1. He left Sterling on the bench which was probably due to fact he couldn't trust Sterling to handle the hostile reception.  Every of this decision came back to haunt him as Klopp's players tore City to pieces from the 10 - 30th min mark, registering 3 goals.  This is exactly what CIty did to Everton last weekend.. now it is just a role reversal.  

 

By the time City came back alive in the 2nd half, Pool was content to sit deeper and play on counters. City ran of gas and ideas by the time too, left Anfield with a mountain to climb in the 2nd leg.   The fact is Pool just need to score 1 goal at the Etihad and City has to score 5 to progress.  this is the measure of the result that Pool obtained.

 

It's only half time for this tie.  If any team is capable to overturn this sort of scoreline, you would place your bet on city. Pool will be w/o Henderson and currently sweating on the fitness of Salah who came off with a slight injury.  So, the tie is definitely still not over.  

 

You got it spot-on on Pep's tactics being wrong and the below Espn article feels Pep's vanity caused City's downfall.

Abit harsh I feel as all coaches will get it wrong one time or another and hindsight is always 50/50. 

 

That said, fact is Pep got it wrong and in the high stakes UCL k/o competition, you don't get a second chance although there is a second leg but I feel it's a bridge too far.

 

 

http://global.espn.com/football/blog/the-match/60/post/3443216/guardiolas-vanity-costs-him-again-as-liverpool-exploit-city-tactical-risks

[Jamesc]

Criticism of Pep's tactics is all BS.

 

Pool won not only because of tactic but also better players.

 

Second half with Salah injured Pool did not look like world beaters.

 

Why did Madrid pay so much for Ronaldo? Why is Barca paying Messi so much

 

and paying 140m for Couti or PSG paying 200m for Neymar?

 

Great players change games.

 

Suarez made Rodgers look like a genius but same tactics without Suarez he gets

 

the sack.

 

For 30 minutes against Crystal Palace Matip was marking Benteke and Big Ben won

 

everything in the air setting up their goal. After 30 mins VVD marked Big Ben and

 

VVD won everything until Benteke was so frustrated he kept fouling VVD.

 

Pool kept a clean sheet because VVD made 4 or 5 great interception and brought

 

a solidity and calmness to our backline.

 

Its not only tactics but also buying great players. Pep spent 450 million because he

 

know this precisely. Pool rejected buying all the other available defenders and only

 

wanted VVD and paid a record 75m because only he has the quality.

 

If only tactics win the game, Pep should quit City and take the job at West Brom

 

get the players to play his style and win everything.

 

Everybody loves a winner but journos should not be too hard on Pep and stick the

 

boot in when he is down. 

 

  

Edited April 5, 2018 by Jamesc

[Jamesc]

If Pep parked the bus and let in 3 goals

 

the cowardly journos would be criticising

 

Pep for parking the bus and not staying

 

true to his philosophy.

 

 

 

[Beregond]

  On 4/5/2018 at 4:51 AM, Jamesc said:

Criticism of Pep's tactics is all BS.

 

Pool won not only because of tactic but also better players.

 

Second half with Salah injured Pool did not look like world beaters.

 

Why did Madrid pay so much for Ronaldo? Why is Barca paying Messi so much

 

and paying 140m for Couti or PSG paying 200m for Neymar?

 

Great players change games.

 

Suarez made Rodgers look like a genius but same tactics without Suarez he gets

 

the sack.

 

For 30 minutes against Crystal Palace Matip was marking Benteke and Big Ben won

 

everything in the air setting up their goal. After 30 mins VVD marked Big Ben and

 

VVD won everything until Benteke was so frustrated he kept fouling VVD.

 

Pool kept a clean sheet because VVD made 4 or 5 great interception and brought

 

a solidity and calmness to our backline.

 

Its not only tactics but also buying great players. Pep spent 450 million because he

 

know this precisely. Pool rejected buying all the other available defenders and only

 

wanted VVD and paid a record 75m because only he has the quality.

 

If only tactics win the game, Pep should quit City and take the job at West Brom

 

get the players to play his style and win everything.

 

Everybody loves a winner but journos should not be too hard on Pep and stick the

 

boot in when he is down.

 

Very true also

Great tatic dun work without great players.

[Maxus-MIFA9]

  On 4/5/2018 at 4:56 AM, Jamesc said:

If Pep parked the bus and let in 3 goals

 

the cowardly journos would be criticising

 

Pep for parking the bus and not staying

 

true to his philosophy.

 

 

Pep could not park the bus in front of their post b'cos Pool fans block the driveway and throw bottles & flares  .....   

[Fooblack]

  On 4/5/2018 at 4:51 AM, Jamesc said:

Criticism of Pep's tactics is all BS.

 

Pool won not only because of tactic but also better players.

 

Second half with Salah injured Pool did not look like world beaters.

 

Why did Madrid pay so much for Ronaldo? Why is Barca paying Messi so much

 

and paying 140m for Couti or PSG paying 200m for Neymar?

 

Great players change games.

 

Suarez made Rodgers look like a genius but same tactics without Suarez he gets

 

the sack.

 

For 30 minutes against Crystal Palace Matip was marking Benteke and Big Ben won

 

everything in the air setting up their goal. After 30 mins VVD marked Big Ben and

 

VVD won everything until Benteke was so frustrated he kept fouling VVD.

 

Pool kept a clean sheet because VVD made 4 or 5 great interception and brought

 

a solidity and calmness to our backline.

 

Its not only tactics but also buying great players. Pep spent 450 million because he

 

know this precisely. Pool rejected buying all the other available defenders and only

 

wanted VVD and paid a record 75m because only he has the quality.

 

If only tactics win the game, Pep should quit City and take the job at West Brom

 

get the players to play his style and win everything.

 

Everybody loves a winner but journos should not be too hard on Pep and stick the

 

boot in when he is down. 

 

  

 

One key reasons why journos are particularly hard on Pep is basically due to fact that this type of defeat was not the first time it had happened to Pep's teams.  When his team plays well, they will blow teams away.  but then they flop, they usually also look quite bad just like the game last evening.  

[Beregond]

  On 4/5/2018 at 6:32 AM, Fooblack said:

One key reasons why journos are particularly hard on Pep is basically due to fact that this type of defeat was not the first time it had happened to Pep's teams.  When his team plays well, they will blow teams away.  but then they flop, they usually also look quite bad just like the game last evening.  

important thing is other manager in epl must learn from this,

 

at least next season dun let man c repeat this season again.

[Jamesc]

Man City defence is their weak point.

 

Kompany is world class but getting older and slower.

 

Otamendi is not world class.

 

The problem is Pep knows this and will be buying world class defenders for next season.

 

[Maxus-MIFA9]

  On 4/5/2018 at 6:38 AM, Jamesc said:

Man City defence is their weak point.

 

Kompany is world class but getting older and slower.

 

Otamendi is not world class.

 

The problem is Pep knows this and will be buying world class defenders for next season.

 

 

VVD for $250 million pound ....

[Jamesc]

  On 4/5/2018 at 7:08 AM, Picnic06-Biante15 said:

VVD for $250 million pound ....

Cannot we need him.

 

We should have sold them Skrtel a few years ago though.

 

[Freeder]

The return leg is gonna be an epic....

Edited April 5, 2018 by Freeder