Champions League Thread 2013/14

[fakeyank]

A classic example of how we have been conditioned to excuse our team, Ollie. When the draw was made - OK it looked like we had the hardest job. But having done the hard work, as always we underperformed. In hindsight, Failing to match a Napoli team that we had destroyed at home got us what we deserved in terms of last 16 elimination.

This is a near perfect example of how Gooners have been conditioned to deflect searching questions as to where this team really is.

Its always someone else's fault

[Munchies]

so how do we want the draw then?

I'd like to see:

Chelsea/Madrid
Atleti/Bayern

Chelsea need to go up a good attacking side, otherwise they can just nick a goal and park the bus. As bad as Madrid's defence can be, Chelsea's attack isn't that great either.

[GP]

Ollie - at the end of the day what matters is the last game. I don't think that we can be regarded as having done better than a crisis hit Manure in this years CL.

Not really. They got a piss easy group while many thought we wouldn't even qualify.

[Özim]

Porto knocked Napoli out of the Europa league and they are 3rd in Serie A (20 points behind Juve in 1st and 12 behind Roma in 2nd), hardly that good a team to be honest, Dortmund have been awful for much of the season (and are 20 points behind Bayern who as we've seen haven't been hugely impressive), appeared to be a hard group on paper but as it turned out neither of those two teams were world beaters.

[AFC Leveller]

I havent seen anybody stifle Brcelona and beat them like Atletico did. They were so organised and disciplined and rarely gave them a sniff while also creating some good chances at the other end.

What id give for us to have a commited and organised team like that, esp in the big games.

[Marc Overmars]

I havent seen anybody stifle Brcelona and beat them like Atletico did. They were so organised and disciplined and rarely gave them a sniff while also creating some good chances at the other end.

What id give for us to have a commited and organised team like that, esp in the big games.

Another example of what a tactically aware manager can bring, and the disparity between them and Real/Barca is greater than the one with us and City/Chelsea.

[Özim]

I havent seen anybody stifle Brcelona and beat them like Atletico did. They were so organised and disciplined and rarely gave them a sniff while also creating some good chances at the other end.

What id give for us to have a commited and organised team like that, esp in the big games.

There's a lot of desire in that team and as yopu said the organisation is top notch, they play as a unit and can score goals from lots of areas as well, they also have one of the best goalkeepers in the world and sadly probably the best young keeper who happens to be owned by Chelsea.

[AFC Leveller]

Another example of what a tactically aware manager can bring, and the disparity between them and Real/Barca is greater than the one with us and City/Chelsea.

Yep. The difference between a young and hungry manager and Wenger is huge. The players are the face of the manager on the pitch and the way A Madrid fought against Barcelona in both legs was a testament to their manager. Us on the other hand, as recently as last Sunday, we were battered and thouroughly outplayed by a team with about a third of our budget.

[AFC Leveller]

There's a lot of desire in that team and as yopu said the organisation is top notch, they play as a unit and can score goals from lots of areas as well, they also have one of the best goalkeepers in the world and sadly probably the best young keeper who happens to be owned by Chelsea.

He wont play against Chelsea if they are drawn together so the Chavs already have an upper hand.

[Globalgunner]

so how do we want the draw then?

I'd like to see:

Chelsea/Madrid
Atleti/Bayern

Chelsea need to go up a good attacking side, otherwise they can just nick a goal and park the bus. As bad as Madrid's defence can be, Chelsea's attack isn't that great either.

Agreed this would be the best outcome. A Madrid derby now would be rather deflating as you know somehow over 2 legs Madrid will find a way to nick it. But on a 1 one Athleti can take them
Chelsea Bayern would be a borefest. with Mourinho telling the whole world how they are massive underdogs. But against Madrid it would be drama all over. Mourinho v Ancelotti

Hope it turns out this way. Pity Cortuois cant play against Chelsea. Hope they have a decent backup

Hope they don't wheel Luis Figo out to do the draw again. Bad karma all over that chap.

As an aside...what a feeling to get this far in the CL: the sheer feeling of being one of the 4 best teams in Europe...ergo the world.......Will we ever have that again?