CHOULO19

Madrid's system is our kryptonite. Of course they are beatable, but I'd rather they get knocked out by Athletico. Athletico are practically us but more physical (and a lot more diving ). I really don't want them over two legs and I'd much rather face them in one game in the final where maybe we can exploit their lack of experience. Bayren have the best squad in the world but their style of play is perfect for our game so I really want them in the semis. If all this happens, I reckon we have a decent chance of winning it!

Really? I'd put them as the favorites to win it.

I'll take Bayern, please. Thank you. Do they know we're not united?!

I love Mario! He was one of my favorite Chelsea player when he used to play for us! Didn't know he was commentating now. Good for him.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1n1jpk_deco-at-stamford-bredge_sport http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1n1lbs_joe-cole-great-night-at-the-bridge_sport

Just like the name, BARcelona suggest, the bar has been half the team tonight!

Sharmootah? That is so immature just like a teen!

Well props to you for your composure and optimism but some of our posters here, who are mostly teenagers, get carried away at times with the emotions involved in the game. Personally it bothers me so I tend to stay away from post match threads when we lose. But it's only normal with the passion in the game. Fortunately though, when it matters, everyone gets behind the team like what happened before yesterday's match. I just can't understand why you feel the need to try and change that. But if that makes you feel good or feel like a better fan than everyone else then suite yourself buddy.

That can't be real. The trajectory of the ball is not physically possible!

Of course the comments right after the first leg and the Palace were pessimistic, that's just that passion in football. But once people calmed down, there were much more positive vibes than negative especially after the win against Stoke. If you just have a look in the prediction league thread, you'll see that only 2 out of 23 posters predicted a score line that would see us knocked out of the competition. But if you insist on seeing the empty half of the glass then that's all you'll see. Couldn't agree more. In fact, I've made this same point a couple of times before. Even if you go pre-Roman you'll still find players that just adore the club despite playing for other teams in their career like Guilet, Desailly, (though I'd exactly like those two too much ) Petrescue...etc.

I think last year's RVP is completely different to the one five-six years ago even in style. I remember when he was young he relied on his pace and incredibly powerful left foot. But he was wasteful. Of course he had a pretty good goal to min ratio because he was always Arsenal's second striker and would often come on against smaller teams when the game is already done just like Ba has by far the best min per goal ratio in our team now. But the RVP from 3 seasons ago till now is one who's had to change his approach because he lost a lot of his pace and even some of the power of his shots. Now he relies on smart movement in and around the box and the fact that he's been the best finisher in the league. Bamford is much more like this kind of RVP than the earlier one, imo.

Yeah all goalkeepers nowadays are encouraged to punch instead of catch which I personally despise but understand with the balls we have nowadays. It's just that your keeper actually catching can be an important weapon for the counter especially from corners and set-pieces. Reina used to do this to perfection at Liverpool.

Not sure which minute, but it was towards the end of the game. As for the second question, I think his performances at CB in the second half of last season eclipse yesterday's performance completely; but it was probably his second most important performance after Munich.

I hope he's not like RVP in his development. He didn't "hit the jackpot" until he was 28!

Said so since last season when everyone was hyping him up. Imo, he doesn't have the discipline to be a top player, not on the ball, not off it, not in his general conduct on the pitch.

That's not really fair. Yeah there was a few pessimistic posters, but those are practically the ones that were pessimistic even before the first leg. The vast majority were very positive and half the posts in the prematch thread were "Believe" and "We can do this" and "Napoli 2012".

Alright, can we get back on topic please? Take it to the JT thread.

Dibs on this one!

Nice. Remind me to get drunk before the semifinal then

@1:10

Cazorla saying that Arsenal lack a winning mentality: http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/santi-cazorla-could-leave-arsenal-unless-he-gets-claws-on-a-trophy-9248323.html

Reached his 8th semifinal as a manager becoming the most in history to reach that stage as a manager after surpassing Ferguson (7).

Never mind, I just did (yes, I realize I wrote knock instead of knocked but I'm too lazy to change it )

That is true but only for domestic competitions. In European matches the capacity is decreased a bit as far as I know.

I think that is the most we can have because the capacity for the CL is less than that for the EPL and other games if I'm not mistaken. Something about UEFA regulations.