The European Leagues & Competitions Thread V2

[DYC. 7,542]

I'm probably the only Juve fan in the world that rates him higher than Bonnuci. Although Leonardo has stepped up with some important goals in the past couple of seasons.

I'm not a Bonucci fan. Fantastic long passer though.

[Kezza 1,965]

Fully expect one of the Spanish sides to win the CL again.

Can see a Barca vs Real final. If they don't get drawn together next round

Barca, and more importantly Messi, are in top form in Europe.

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

EMBARASSING for the english football.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I'm not a Bonucci fan. Fantastic long passer though.

Technically incredible for a CB, but he has his brain fart moments and has an incredible annoying knack for an own goal!

[Reddish-Blue 2,347]

Fully expect one of the Spanish sides to win the CL again.

I think it's between Barca, Bayern and Juve for the title.

I just don't see Real or Atletico winning it because neither of them were convincing against average opposition in the Round of 16

[DYC. 7,542]

Fully expect one of the Spanish sides to win the CL again.

Real won't win. Back to back win is not happening.

Atletico... I don't think so.

Barca is a real possiblity.

I hope Porto draw Monaco. A new team in the semis.

[edetarod 2,155]

4 games 4 losses now for city against barca

puts our record against them into perspective

we didn't even lose to that sensational 2009 side

[Reddish-Blue 2,347]

Can see a Barca vs Real final. If they don't get drawn together next round

Barca, and more importantly Messi, are in top form in Europe.

Real almost knocked out by Di Matteo's average Schalke

The only way they make the final is if they avoid Bayern/Juve in the QF/SF

[DYC. 7,542]

Technically incredible for a CB, but he has his brain fart moments and has an incredible annoying knack for an own goal!

Agree. He reminds me of Pique, though not as good.

You know who I really like? Marchisio. Fantastic player.

[Azpinator 2,325]

owned!!! that was embarassing. pl champions vs runners up in la liga. EMBARASSING...

La Liga champs were almost beaten by Bayer Leverkusen.

Cup competitions in general don't follow that logic considering the few number of games and the circumstances of each match. Biggest example is us in 2012 and Liverpool in 2005.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Well, I have to disagree with you. To dribble past players is one thing. To keep your composure, find the open man in a split second and deliver inch-perfect passes is a completely different thing. Hazard is great but he's no Messi. Not even close.

No one is ever going to be as good as Messi is there?

[communicate 2,703]

I think he can. Hazard makes a lot of mazing dribbles like messi but if you also put costa through on goal like how messi does with Neymar, people will be afraid of crowding you knowing you can just pass dangerously

Completely agree. I really hope hazard can develop like Messi. I remembering the beginning Messi was known only as dribbler. Then he developed into a fantastic Passer,and goal scorer.

I don't think hazard will ever be goal getter but I think if he can be a world class Passer + dribbler I will be more than happy.

[Reddish-Blue 2,347]

4 games 4 losses now for city against barca

puts our record against them into perspective

we didn't even lose to that sensational 2009 side

The difference between us and City is team chemistry. At our peak, we played like a cohesive unit and teams couldn't break us down

City have never played like a team in europe and until they do, they'll never make a UCL final

[DYC. 7,542]

No one is ever going to be as good as Messi is there?

There will come a day when the mighty Abou will rise again, and rule the world of football. Abou will crush every opponent. Abou will guide Arsenal Football Club to global dominance.

One day. You just wait.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Completely agree. I really hope hazard can develop like Messi. I remembering the beginning Messi was known only as dribbler. Then he developed into a fantastic Passer,and goal scorer.

I don't think hazard will ever be goal getter but I think if he can be a world class Passer + dribbler I will be more than happy.

Exactly. I know hazard can't score 40+ goals but with his level of ball control he should be pulling off more vertical passes.

If anyone watches hazard a lot, you'll see many times he makes that diagonal dribble from the left side and Costa and azpi makes a run but he totally doesn't see them because he's looking at the floor instead of taking a peep at your teammates runs like messi.

He needs to add that type of pass during dribbles to his game so that he can be more unpredictable. If I know he isn't going to put costa through like messi puts Neymar through then I have it easier to mark him than someone who can put a good pass behind me.

There will come a day when the mighty Abou will rise again, and rule the world of football. Abou will crush every opponent. Abou will guide Arsenal Football Club to global dominance.

One day. You just wait.

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

4 games 4 losses now for city against barca

puts our record against them into perspective

we didn't even lose to that sensational 2009 side

We have not lost a game to Barca for 9 years.

In fact, The 8 times we played them we only lost against them twice, winning 3. IN 2004/5 we got them in the quarterfinal, lost the game at Camp Nou 2-1 but then came that magic night at Stamford bridge. Despite a brilliant Ronaldinho double cutting our 3-0 lead achieved by goals from Gudjohnsen, Duff, Lamps, we advanced through a late JT header. WE also spanked Bayern at SB that season. A shame we could not win it there already, losing to that fucking Liverpool ghost goal. Our power would have made light work of Milan in the final.

In 2005/2006 we were rather poor. Losing 1-0 at camp nou, 2-1 at SB with a late penalty making things look more close than they were

In 2006/7 we had them in the group stages. 2-2 at Camp Nou, Lampard scoring that impossible spinned lob from a 5° angle, drogba with a late equalizer. at SB a drogba double beat them 2-1 or 2-0 idk

2008/9 i guess i don't have to tell anyone. Our performance in the 2nd leg was one of our greatest CL games bar drogba's finishing.

2011/12 was maybe my favourite against all odds against the greatest sides in the world football.

The most amazing thing about all our successful matches vs Barca is that there always were players like Cech, Drogba and esp Lampard who simply grew to the challenge. The game, the tactics were never set for them which is the excuse that as always used for FAbregas and Mata not performing in those. No offensive player like to defend all the game. Still some made the game their ow and won it for us. We are yet to see that from our current side.

[didierforever 7,349]

La Liga champs were almost beaten by Bayer Leverkusen.

Cup competitions in general don't follow that logic considering the few number of games and the circumstances of each match. Biggest example is us in 2012 and Liverpool in 2005.

getting beaten and getting owned are 2 very different things.

[nyikolajevics 2,576]

What a performance by Hart.. Could've been easily 5-0,

Barcelona were amazing yesterday. What would we do against them?