Champions League - Last Sixteen - 2007/2008

[Zakov]

Yeah, you just forgot one major flaw.

what flaw? In Barca? People have been saying how $hite Barca have been playing unaware that they are yet to reach their full potential, remember Titi has a knack of turning it on against Utd not to mention with Messi probably returning as well, if I were u Mancs I wouldn't be so overconfident, as well as Liverpool fans, we've got the 2nd leg as our home leg, a draw at Anfield and I can see us going through.

But it is similiar to last season(the SF ties), except Barca replacing Milan, but we can't use that as reference, since the teams have changed a lot since then.
I personally can't wait to see the semifinals.

@Steaua
hehe, good ol Danny Petrescu, he was probably one of the best attacking rightback that we ever had. He always reminded me of Mulder from X-Files until he bleached his hair(as did the whole Romanian team) in France '98.

 

[$teauA]

@Steaua
hehe, good ol Danny Petrescu, he was probably one of the best attacking rightback that we ever had. He always reminded me of Mulder from X-Files until he bleached his hair(as did the whole Romanian team) in France '98.

Oh god you just had to remind me of that disaster didn't you . That was our curse at WC 98 and I still believe it to this day. They beat England, qualified for the knock-out rounds and they all decided to bleach their hair and wear the never before worn red unis and a horrible 1-1 result against Tunisia and then a crappy loss to Croatia followed. Just piss poor

 

[newbie original]

lol, didn't you have enough luck already as it is?

We can;t win without luck. So "No" we haven't had enough.

 

[Zakov]

We can;t win without luck. So "No" we haven't had enough.

You should learn to believe in your team more, mate.

@Steaua

I'm not superstitious, m8. Besides, losing to a Croatian team that finished 3rd as well as having the likes of Boban, Stanic and Suker isn't too poor.:amika:

 

[Vedran-10]

If there was ever a time when Barca would win a trophy thanks to luck, I'd like that to be now.

Historically, we always have to be the best team in a competition to win it. It would be nice to see a fluke win for a change.

I don't know how we're going to eliminate United. I'm praying for it, I'm hoping for it, but somehow I can't see it. Yet.

We will need Thierry Henry, Eto'odinho, Messi, Marquez and Abidal all in form, not to mention Xavi and Iniesta. It would also be nice to have Deco back for this tie, because otherwise I don't think we can pull it off.
The only other hope is that somehow Ronaldo plays two bad games, which is highly unlikely.
There is still twelve days left and we'll see what happens.

---------------

As far as the other tie is concerned, will be rooting for Chelsea for a change. They don't have the special one anymore and I'm quite fed up with Pool fluking it every season. Third's the charm.

 

[newbie original]

You should learn to believe in your team more, mate....

It's the manager that I have ZERO belief in.

 

[Gunnersgoal22]

It will be a Man U vs. 'Pool final. They are the two best teams left.

Looking ahead to this IF it is the final, if we could somehow keep the fans from fighting, this would be a great final.
Why is it though that most people are thinking that Utd would win this by 3 or 4 goals. Yes Utd own Liverpool in the Prem, but people keep forgetting that not only are Liverpool are a much better team in Europe, but Utd are also worse.

United have beaten Lyon, and Roma without Totti, WOW. I'm not going to say that Utd won't win it because you always have a chance of winning with Ronaldo, but I hope people stop judging these teams in Europe based on when they play each other in the Prem.

 

[KingPaulV]

how else can you judge them thought, Europe in comparison is only a small portion of a team's fixture list. Yes, the tactics are different somewhat, but regardless the way a team is playing domestically has a lot to do with the trend of their performances, football specifically is a sport that is very much based on confidence, and the reason why people are rating both Man U and Liverpool so high is because of their recent form and the fact they are both looking confident, wether in Europe or in the domestic league.

ps. Totti is not what he used to be, not by a long shot, still a powerful lockeroom figure, sure, but, not as determinant as he was, so him playing or not playing didnt make that much difference IMO.

 

[newbie original]

...the reason why people are rating both Man U and Liverpool so high is because of their recent form and the fact they are both looking confident, wether in Europe or in the domestic league....

I don't see any reasoning in ruling Chelsea out of it, straight away. From what I've seen of them in the EPL, in recent weeks, they're just hitting their stride. Hard to simply dismiss 3 semi-finals in 4 years. They've got the experience and frankly, they look poised.

 

[$teauA]

It's the manager that I have ZERO belief in.

What ?

He took you to two CL finals in 3 years (won one of them) and now to yet another semi final appearance. His tactics have been absolutely brilliant in every single CL game that I've watched 'Pool play this season. What the hell is not to trust? Sure he's not the best manager when it comes to league play but in Europe he is one of the best if not the best.

 

[Filipower]

well to be truthful, Benitez annoys the hell out of me...I don't like Liverpool anyway, but the fact that the guy has one of the best player-by-player teams in Europe, and he uses it to play defensively is just stupid...I mean, just look at the games against Arsenal ffs
they started defensively:shyte;
they got behind,had to chase the result, the started playing in a more offensive style:got through to the semis..(even though they didn't deserve it, blablablapenaltyblabla whatever)

 

[Johnny_Big]

Agreed. I just hate Benitez style of play, but the truth is that it works.
And I don't think Chelsea will counter Liverpool this time.

For me it's a Man Utd - Liverpool CL final.

 

[KingPaulV]

I'll be surprised if the ball crossed the midfield line twice in that 'pool -Chelsea game...hehe, very defensive minded teams, althought I gather that Liverpool is going after the result at Anfield knowing how hard it is to get anything out of Stamford Bridge

 

[newbie original]

....He took you to two CL finals in 3 years (won one of them) and now to yet another semi final appearance. His tactics have been absolutely brilliant in every single CL game that I've watched 'Pool play this season. What the hell is not to trust?....

With the nice little squad that we've put together for this season, his tactics should have changed from aggravating/frustrating to something in the "positive" direction. It HASN'T! I'll always have my doubts.

 

[$teauA]

With the nice little squad that we've put together for this season, his tactics should have changed from aggravating/frustrating to something in the "positive" direction. It HASN'T! I'll always have my doubts.

So what are you basing his excellent results win 'Pool in the CL on? Luck?

 

[newbie original]

I have to admit....yes, luck:

Goal that never was in '05...
controversial penalty in '07...
controversial penalty in '08...
Red card in away game in '08...
Red card in home game in '08....

He's had good results, tactically, against Juve('05), Milan('05) and Barca('07) and full credit to him, but that's an awful lot of fortuitous bounces/breaks. I'd like to see him do more with the squad he has.

 

[Zakov]

I have to admit....yes, luck:

Goal that never was in '05...
controversial penalty in '07...
controversial penalty in '08...

Nice to see a Liverpool fan admitting that 05 phantom goal.....but don't worry, karma works both ways!!

 

[Vedran-10]

What ?

He took you to two CL finals in 3 years (won one of them) and now to yet another semi final appearance. His tactics have been absolutely brilliant in every single CL game that I've watched 'Pool play this season. What the hell is not to trust? Sure he's not the best manager when it comes to league play but in Europe he is one of the best if not the best.

Agreed completely. Was going to post something similar but you covered it.

Benitez is a Madridista who plays defensively, which is pretty much the worst combination for me, but I have to applaud the man. Absolutely brilliant manager. Born to play the KO system.

 

[KingPaulV]

Vedran are you a Barca fan or an antimadridista? Barca fans I respect, antimadridistas are silly....I hope you are not the later....

 

[$teauA]

I have to admit....yes, luck:

Goal that never was in '05...
controversial penalty in '07...
controversial penalty in '08...
Red card in away game in '08...
Red card in home game in '08....

He's had good results, tactically, against Juve('05), Milan('05) and Barca('07) and full credit to him, but that's an awful lot of fortuitous bounces/breaks. I'd like to see him do more with the squad he has.

Just one thing, and I'll leave it at this. Liverpool didn't even matter in Europe anymore until Benitez arrived (unless you scousers were ecstatic about that UEFA Cup final against Alaves woohoo)