The European Leagues & Competitions Thread V2

[DYC. 7,542]

Its simple really, no other players have the close control dribbling ability like hazard, ribery and robben so they just pass and pass with players who preferred counterattacks under jupp heynckes.

We need to find another hazard control dribbler out there, those guys are the one of the most important part of teams imo.

Players of that kind are incredibly valuable, but it's not just that. You also need movement, intensity and incisiveness.

Porto really outworked Bayern today. They were running like crazy. No team can perform like that in every game though, so it will be interesting to see if they can manage it again. Can't wait for the game at Allianz.

[The Chels 2,502]

Unless you're being sarcastic...

I don't think Porto, Inter, and RM passively defended their way to titles, trebles, etc.

We won those two BPL titles through passive defending?

Against big sides of course they did (with the exception of Real but when it ultimately mattered, i.e. CL SFs, their approach was disappointing).

Passive, deep defending can definitely be effective as has been proved but it is so boring to watch and is being outdone by proactive, high-intensity play nowadays.

[cosmicway 1,323]

I don't believe Barca were going to have a stroll at the Bridge, like against MC, PSG.

[The Mak 4,459]

Against big sides of course he did. Passive, deep defending can definitely be effective as has been proved but it is so boring to watch and is being outdone by proactive, high-intensity play these days.

We saw it last season against City away, which I still believe was our best performances under Mourinho. Pressed and harried for most of the match as soon as they entered our half, it was brilliant.

Now this season it seems we have such a lazier attitude, relying on our new acquisitions to just scrape a win/hold for a draw, when in all honesty it's worse; we play as if it's 2011/12 all over again but without the belief. We were afraid a lot of the time in the two matches against City this season. The team has improved a lot since last season, so how does that work?! Strange.

[samzilla 517]

Tbf, he should not be playing. He suffered a hamstring injury just 10 days ago. He's heavily restricted in his movements. Suarez's 2nd goal was absolutely brilliant though. Top class.

Barca have embarrassed another team. That front three is too good. Three players that can hit you with individual brilliance. Strong defensive display as well. Can't say I envy PSG for having to face them. That game is over.

How is it possible for 3 players to make major individual errors in the same game? Dante, Boateng and Alonso have really cost their side today. Huge win for Porto. They were fantastic overall. The intensity, the pace.. Amazing. Combined with quality play on the ball. They played without fear and went at Bayern. Attacking and defending collectively, that's what it's all about.

Bayern were poor. They lose too much quality, invention and individual brilliance with both Robben and Ribery out. It's like Chelsea without Hazard and Matic/Costa. They're capable of destroying Porto at home (if Robben and/or Ribery is back), but Porto are no pushovers. I think Porto will manage to go through.

lol, at least bayern spread it out across 3 players. all it took was 1 player to make major individual errors in the same game to ruin our league cup chances a couple years ago. remember that ivanovic howler? two turnovers in our defensive third that led directly to swansea goals.

[iseah100 5,612]

Too bad Porto will likely be torn apart after this season.

[DYC. 7,542]

lol, at least bayern spread it out across 3 players. all it took was 1 player to make major individual errors in the same game to ruin our league cup chances a couple years ago. remember that ivanovic howler? two turnovers in our defensive third that led directly to swansea goals.

I don't remember that tbh, but at least that's one player. I would go insane if Terry, Cahill and Cesc did what those three did in a CL 1/4. 10 min into the game and you're already 2-0 behind...

[The Chels 2,502]

We saw it last season against City away, which I still believe was our best performances under Mourinho. Pressed and harried for most of the match as soon as they entered our half, it was brilliant.

Now this season it seems we have such a lazier attitude, relying on our new acquisitions to just scrape a win/hold for a draw, when in all honesty it's worse; we play as if it's 2011/12 all over again but without the belief. We were afraid a lot of the time in the two matches against City this season. The team has improved a lot since last season, so how does that work?! Strange.

Oh how I long for us to play the big games with the intensity and pressing we used at City away last season.

[Reddish-Blue 2,347]

Too bad Porto will likely be torn apart after this season.

They'll get a ton of profit and rebuild through their extensive scouting network

I love the way Porto is run, sign talented players (18-23 age) that fit your system, develop them, play a good style of football, get the attention of other clubs and then sell the players for a nice profit in 2-3 seasons

[iseah100 5,612]

They'll get a ton of profit and rebuild through their extensive scouting network

I love the way Porto is run, sign talented players (18-23 age) that fit your system, develop them, play a good style of football, get the attention of other clubs and then sell the players for a nice profit in 2-3 seasons

They have American talents on lock.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Porto is a wonderful team, they always are a joy to watch, playing the same way season after season, and this season they have a really great team. Bayern just cant do too much in the final third without Ribery-Robben, but that would have been the case in Barcelona too if Messi and Neymar were not playing... so its just bad luck. Porto took advantage of that, they waited for them and in the right moment pressed, and if they couldnt get the ball they just set back and Bayern couldnt figure out how to open their defense. And they were there to take advantage for the huge mistakes by Bayern.

I dont know what people talk about "Mourinho not playing this way, shame", it was a classic Mourinho what Porto did today. In the first half of the season, with Oscar-Matic-Cesc we pressed very well in some games, but like i said already in some occasions, the problem is that Mourinho cant trust this group in the big games, and thats because of Oscar and our slow central defense. Oscar not good enough in keeping the ball and its making us too easy to handle, just press Cesc and thats it, you killed our possesion. And if we press, we have Cahill and Terry who cant play a high line against the big teams, you cant press with a low line, it will leave hugh spaces. So Jose play Ramires so at least he'll have better defending... so we seat back, wait for counters more passively. I dont like it like you, and i think that now after we secured the title more or less, i want to see the same approach he wanted and started with in the beginined of the season (with Zouma in the XI and hopefully Luis and not Ivanovic). Hope to see something like that in 3 days.

[iseah100 5,612]

Porto is a wonderful team, they always are a joy to watch, playing the same way season after season, and this season they have a really great team. Bayern just cant do too much in the final third without Ribery-Robben, but that would have been the case in Barcelona too if Messi and Neymar were not playing... so its just bad luck. Porto took advantage of that, they waited for them and in the right moment pressed, and if they couldnt get the ball they just set back and Bayern couldnt figure out how to open their defense. And they were there to take advantage for the huge mistakes by Bayern.

I dont know what people talk about "Mourinho not playing this way, shame", it was a classic Mourinho what Porto did today. In the first half of the season, with Oscar-Matic-Cesc we pressed very well in some games, but like i said already in some occasions, the problem is that Mourinho cant trust this group in the big games, and thats because of Oscar and our slow central defense. Oscar not good enough in keeping the ball and its making us too easy to handle, just press Cesc and thats it, you killed our possesion. And if we press, we have Cahill and Terry who cant play a high line against the big teams, you cant press with a low line, it will leave hugh spaces. So Jose play Ramires so at least he'll have better defending... so we seat back, wait for counters more passively. I dont like it like you, and i think that now after we secured the title more or less, i want to see the same approach he wanted and started with in the beginined of the season (with Zouma in the XI and hopefully Luis and not Ivanovic). Hope to see something like that in 3 days.

[emoji122] [emoji122] [emoji122]

[OhForAGreavsie 5,892]

Porto is a wonderful team, they always are a joy to watch, playing the same way season after season, and this season they have a really great team. Bayern just cant do too much in the final third without Ribery-Robben, but that would have been the case in Barcelona too if Messi and Neymar were not playing... so its just bad luck. Porto took advantage of that, they waited for them and in the right moment pressed, and if they couldnt get the ball they just set back and Bayern couldnt figure out how to open their defense. And they were there to take advantage for the huge mistakes by Bayern.

I dont know what people talk about "Mourinho not playing this way, shame", it was a classic Mourinho what Porto did today. In the first half of the season, with Oscar-Matic-Cesc we pressed very well in some games, but like i said already in some occasions, the problem is that Mourinho cant trust this group in the big games, and thats because of Oscar and our slow central defense. Oscar not good enough in keeping the ball and its making us too easy to handle, just press Cesc and thats it, you killed our possesion. And if we press, we have Cahill and Terry who cant play a high line against the big teams, you cant press with a low line, it will leave hugh spaces. So Jose play Ramires so at least he'll have better defending... so we seat back, wait for counters more passively. I dont like it like you, and i think that now after we secured the title more or less, i want to see the same approach he wanted and started with in the beginning of the season (with Zouma in the XI and hopefully Luis and not Ivanovic). Hope to see something like that in 3 days.

The great example is Manchester City.

Somewhere in this site I read at least one post contrasting the way we played at City this season with our league performance there in 13/14. That post was from a Jose critic and talked about how TSO had set up brilliantly last season but how he had gone away from that this term. Not so. Well not in my opinion anyway. The set up was exactly the same but, whereas last season the players executed well, this time around, with the exception of the absolutely magnificent goal we scored, they played like park footballers. As a result barely a pass completed. Even so the genius of the tactical lay out still garnered a point and very nearly three.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Come on Juventus!! They need to win it this year.

Yeah they do!

http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/adult-actresses-promise-strip-juventus-win-champions-league-pictures/

[Oscar 441]

Munich were without

Benatia

Bastian

Javi

Robben

Ribery

Alaba

Not just robbery. Next game porto are going to have both Brazilians suspended.

All they need is a 2 0

[hamad138 190]

Munich were without

Benatia

Bastian

Javi

Robben

Ribery

Alaba

Not just robbery. Next game porto are going to have both Brazilians suspended.

All they need is a 2 0

Wow what an injury list ahahahhaha

[iseah100 5,612]

Munich were without

Benatia

Bastian

Javi

Robben

Ribery

Alaba

Not just robbery. Next game porto are going to have both Brazilians suspended.

All they need is a 2 0

They're always missing a lot of players, it seems.

[didierforever 7,349]

Wow what an injury list ahahahhaha

yup. except for ribery, every player walks into our starting 11.