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The 2017-2018 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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So it looks to be mostly EPL discussion here, but I am a big Real Madrid fan. Pretty excited about the first leg today, but a little nervous as well. Overall I enjoy the EPL as a whole from top to bottom, but Real has always been my team.
Are you guys expecting Liverpool to be in the final?
Are you guys expecting Liverpool to be in the final?
One of Real, Bayern, and Barca have won two thirds of the Champions League finals since the turn of the century, so I'm not holding my breath that either Liverpool or Roma could do it. It's becoming a closed club. In fact, the last time we had a CL final that did not feature any of those three clubs was 11 years ago (a match I do not care to remember, as Liverpool were beaten by Milan).
As for Liverpool making it to the final - they have an advantage going into the second leg, and Roma are undoubtedly the weaker team, but I am pessimistic by nature so I'll believe it when I see it actually happen. Liverpool rarely fail to score, so if they can bag a goal or two in Rome that will probably be enough, even if they concede a few.
If Roma do make it to the final it will be a crap match because they will be absolutely flattened by either Bayern or Real, just like Juve were last year. Liverpool have a better chance in the final than Roma.
That's what I thought too.
Agree with you both - it seems a bad injury.
My post earlier was posted when Liverpool were 5-0 ahead.
However, they have a very good pedigree i& record n Europe, and their attack is a joy to watch.
If they score a few goals - and I don't see any reason why they wouldn't - they stand a good chance of progressing to the final.
Actually, I don't necessarily think that they are 'screwed' - as things stand, Roma still have to put three past them, - and if Liverpool put a few away, as I fully expect them to - it will make things a lot more challenging for Roma. Moreover, while their defence is leaky, their midfield and forwards are excellent.
On paper, Liverpool have a big advantage. And while leaking two late goals is bad, one was a fairly unlucky penalty call. Liverpool can defend, but they rely on forward pressure to make that defense fully effective. That means they need to be able to press Roma late in the match so that even if Roma score three, Liverpool will also score and negate their effort. The final 15 mins could be critical.
Liverpool's defense was legitimately poor for the first half of the season, but since Van Dijk arrived they have been quite good. Any team that can win a match 5-2 in the semifinals of the Champions league against an Italian team containing Edin Dzeko (with a debatable penalty as one of the goals), is good at defending. All the more impressive considering how young Liverpool's wingbacks are.
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Yeah it seems Bayern, Real, and Barca have been the ones taking the CL for a while now. Although, Barca has kind of found themselves in a bad way lately in the Quarters. Not sure what the issue is, but that second leg just keeps killing them. Not that it makes me sad in anyway.
I agree that Liverpool are the better team, and I think they will go through. Like you said, they can bag a goal or 2 in Rome. That attack has been something else, and Salah. He is incredible. Do you think you guys can keep him?
I think you guys stand a good shot at the final, but who ever it is you face will be a big challenge. I have been very disappointed in Real over the domestic run, but there is just something about the CL that they put it in another gear. Anyways no need to get me started on all the problems I think we have. One being not playing Bale enough.
My understanding is that most Spanish Real fans are not particulalry big Bale supporters. He is a world-class player but he was brought to Madrid as an exotic toy, a rare English-speaking bauble, like Beckham. Also, Zidane has yet to convince me that he is the real deal - being manager of Real Madrid is less about football and more about politics and psychology. He is one of the few people with enough star power to awe fans, the president and the players. He would have already been fired for poor results if he wasn't Zinedine Zidane though, so how much of their success is down to him making meaningful decisions, and how much of it is simply the team ticking over and doing its thing?
It will be interesting to see what happens to his managerial career going forward.
Yeah from what I understand that is the thoughts of the Spanish. They are in awe of Isco, which he is good, but he is not the greatest player on the planet. He isn’t even the best Spaniard in my book. I think your right about the exotic toy. They don’t understand his greatness. I am not a fan of any of that.
As for Zidane, I am beginning to think he’s not a great coach. This season he has made poor lineup decides over and Over. He is more of a product of the greatness of his team. Although he cost us Keppa this season, so this might come to an end soon. I am beginning to be ok with him being sacked at the end of the season.
You must be a happy chappie with an away win. Still anyones tie in the return leg.
Personally, I would have preferred to have seen a Bayern victory, but, as you say, the tie is not yet over.
I am very happy with the result. Best I could expect with a lack luster preference, and no Bale to speak of. I am really tired of this Zidane play to get players to leave. We lost James last year, and now we will lose Bale. I think Zidane’s time is coming to an end. I defended him most of this year, but these last couple of months have done it for me.
Your not a Madrid fan, or tired of seeing Madrid? And totally agree the tie is not over. After last rounds hold leg preference, got to be real careful.
Yeah I am part of an American fan club, and the talk is mostly. Win the CL, he stays, no big moves in the summer, and the same old same old. I want to win it, but I want some changes. We need new keeper, and Ronaldo needs some attacking support.
I think Liverpool will make it to the final, as well Real. Between the two of them, I think it's a tough choice as Real might have an off day and Liverpool can potentially win the whole thing.
Yeah Liverpool’s attack really scares me. The way we looked against Bayern yesterday, Liverpool would have scored 5.
Good luck Arsenal tonight. It would be a fitting end to Mr Wenger's tenure at the club.
But I'm sure the other three remaining clubs have a different opinion!
But I'm sure the other three remaining clubs have a different opinion!
Haha yeah I bet they do. It will be a mighty difficult game again Atlético.
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