The Ongoing Serie A, La Liga, All English Football, Champions League Thread part 2!!

[chapin]

HALA MADRID!
The starting line up for today's match agaisnt Lyon:
Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Arbeloa; Xabi Alonso, Khedira; Di María, Özil, Cristiano; Adebayor.

Arbeloa instead of Marcelo?

 

[Brian Braddock]

Love it given that we play you in just over a week and Andy Carroll's started training again - Carroll and Suarez are going to be on fire at Anfield in that game.



We owe you lot for the game at OT - I think you'll find that you'll be playing a different team this time around.

 

[Hunter Rider]

This would be my one concern, I fear a move now could hinder his progress as he could find chances at Old Trafford quite limited.. even if Scholes were to retire this season he'd still have to compete with the likes of Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson.. possibly Hargreaves & possibly, but hopefully not, Gibson.

If we buy one of the two English midfield prospects I think they will be taking Gibson's place rather than competing with him for it. Either way way we need to add a top class proven midfielder to the list.

It's the price Everton supposedly were looking for Rodwell.. I mean you would think for £25-£30m you'd be getting either the hottest footballing prospect going or an established international at a young age at a low club.. but in truth I don't think hes anything special. The English media have badly overhyped him in my view. Hes alright, hes quite versatile young player but he has progressed very little in the past few seasons.. certainly doesn't warrent such a high fee.. particularly because hes quite injury prone as well.

I have always felt that the potential to be a clossus in midfield was there with Rodwell and he is still only 19, lots of young players have injuries at that age due to growing into their frame, Fergie has said as much about the spate of injuries Welbeck has had.

Either will do, Gibson just isn't good enough in his current state. He needs to up his game & start getting better at distributing the ball & not always look for that 30 yard smash.

Gibson can shoot and has a decent passing eye but he drifts out of games too easily, he lacks workrate and he's ponderous, I don't see him making it at United.

Palermo are decent enough looking at them from afar, but Benfica looked decent enough as well from the outside looking in.

Di Maria has looked pretty average since moving, Ramires has looked out of his depth & Chelsea.. David Luiz could be a decent buy though, looks very relaxed on the ball.. which is something I like in a centre back which is why I like Pique & Ferdinand so much.

The thing is Di Maria was doing it in a much easier league than Pastore is doing it in, and Di Maria has had soem good games for Madrid, the problem with that side is it is consumed by Ronaldo.

Agreed on Luiz, I think Smalling also looks good on the ball so I am not worried about that one. With Ramires he has struggled but so have many in their first season who move from a slower league to the prem, next season will be the better one to judge from.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Gutted

He was looking like he was finally making some progress as a player since his last return, but this is another bad setback..

They seem to be out, Fergie has said it will be closer to 2 weeks for Anderson.

 

[Darthphere]

Can someone explain to me the point behind the Champions League anthem?

 

[Iceman]

I like it!

Also it creates an identity, keeps it elite, & most importantly differentiates it from the ****** UEFA Cup t:

 

[Darthphere]

Yeah but why do the players have to stand there and listen to it like it's the Earth's National Anthem.

 

[Van Petrol]

Yeah but why do the players have to stand there and listen to it like it's the Earth's National Anthem.

Because they all want to win and get their hands on it. Therefore they have to show it the respect it deserves. Otherwise the trophy has the right to bonk them over the head.

 

[Darthphere]

Because they all want to win and get their hands on it. Therefore they have to show it the respect it deserves. Otherwise the trophy has the right to bonk them over the head.

It's just pissed because it has big ears.

 

[Van Petrol]

It's just pissed because it has big ears.

I have big ears, what you trying to say?!...

 

[Two-Face]

I like CL anthem, it def. feels like a European match

 

[Van Petrol]

The CL anthem gives me a *****!

 

[chapin]

damn.. fial score: Real Madrid 1 - Lyon 1

 

[The Englishman]

Yeah but why do the players have to stand there and listen to it like it's the Earth's National Anthem.

Why is everyone singing and talking about how great America is at the Superbowl final?

 

[Darthphere]

Why is everyone singing and talking about how great America is at the Superbowl final?

Because it's the championship game of the National Football League.

It's not even comparable. I mean, I just think it's ridiculous.

 

[B]

If we buy one of the two English midfield prospects I think they will be taking Gibson's place rather than competing with him for it. Either way way we need to add a top class proven midfielder to the list.

We need someone who is not only talented enough to improve the team, but will also blend in well with the system we play.

I have always felt that the potential to be a clossus in midfield was there with Rodwell and he is still only 19, lots of young players have injuries at that age due to growing into their frame, Fergie has said as much about the spate of injuries Welbeck has had.

Personally, I've not been overly convinced with Rodwell's ability to warrent investing such a high fee that Everton would want for him. Hes obviously young as you said & can improve, but isn't that true of alot of 19 year old players?

If you're paying £25m+ he should pretty much already be on his way to being a player.. in my opinion anyway.

Rooney was an exception to this rule, for me anyway, because he simply looked lightyears ahead of any other 18 year old striker at our club or in the Premiership.. I'm not so sure if Rodwell looks lightyears ahead of any other 20/21 year old in the Premiership..

Gibson can shoot and has a decent passing eye but he drifts out of games too easily, he lacks workrate and he's ponderous, I don't see him making it at United.

His passing ability is what annoys me, he doesn't get into games enough & isn't accurate enough with his passes.. even worse than Anderson.. who to be fair has looked a good bit better, distribution wise since his return.

The thing is Di Maria was doing it in a much easier league than Pastore is doing it in, and Di Maria has had soem good games for Madrid, the problem with that side is it is consumed by Ronaldo.

True, Pastore does look like he could well be a star of someones midfield.. hes not exactly a Scholes like central midfielder though is he.. as you said before I'm kinda finding a hard time thinking of how/where we could use him & really take full advantage of his ability.

Di Maria is odd to watch in a Real Madrid shirt, if Ronaldo cuts inside & scalps one goalwards from 30 yards, you can bet your house that inside the next 15 minutes Di Maria will try the same thing. It's like hes trying to outdo Ronaldo..

Agreed on Luiz, I think Smalling also looks good on the ball so I am not worried about that one. With Ramires he has struggled but so have many in their first season who move from a slower league to the prem, next season will be the better one to judge from.

Smalling looks like hes gonna be not only the future of Manchester United, but also England. Him & Wilshere if recent performances are to go on.

 

[B]

They seem to be out, Fergie has said it will be closer to 2 weeks for Anderson.

 

[Darthphere]

Smalling looks like hes gonna be not only the future of Manchester United, but also England. Him & Wilshere if recent performances are to go on.

Indeed, Smalling just looks so cool back there, like nothing phases him.

 

[Brian Braddock]

Can someone explain to me the point behind the Champions League anthem?

To be honest - I've forgotten what it goes like.

I like CL anthem, it def. feels like a European match

The Europa League anthem doesnt exactly have the same gravitas. Saying that, not much about the Europa has the same gravitas as the CL.

 

[ttotheusher]

[YT]BgomX3qD-iA[/YT]

Here's the theme, in its extended version. If I'm honest, anytime I think of international football in a league based setting, this is what comes into my mind straight off.

 

[Van Petrol]

[YT]BgomX3qD-iA[/YT]

Here's the theme, in its extended version. If I'm honest, anytime I think of international football in a league based setting, this is what comes into my mind straight off.

The latest revamped version sound 10x more epic, IMO.

 

[Dr Lee]

so.... wonder if anything will be done about the fact Nani just got hit with a laser pen?

 

[B]

It's definatly the Marseille fans, I've seen it on Rooney, Nani & O'Shea thus far.

Very intense atmosphere at Marseille from the sounds of things, we've showed good composure tonight to retain possession as well as we have thus far, even if it has been by the clubs standard quite sloppy at times.. particularly the first 20 minutes.

Not easy to play when you've got whistles & whatnot everytime you've got the ball.

10 minutes left, I'd like an away goal to feel comfortable about the Old Trafford return leg..

 

[Dr Lee]

not sure we're going to get the away goal TBH....

but i don't think it's because we've played badly thought

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

that was absolute ****e. seriously once again no finishing product. the ref had no balls what so ever and carrick can go to hell.

i wonder if he knows that you can go forward WITHOUT going to the keeper first