The European Leagues & Competitions Thread V2

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Regardless, watch the replay and you'll see Kompany was sitting way too deep behind his other defenders. He eventually kept Messi, who was coming back from offside position, onside.

City hardly did much wrong TBF. They kept Barcelona out well and Barca hardly had any chances of note. They didn't play well and only started doing something because the other side went down to 10 men.

They played well, defended far better than I thought. Kompany was a monster.

But they only stayed in the game that long because they were conserved for long periods, they were always going to tire sooner or later, give away fouls and collect cards because they are chasing the ball, when they came out they were opened up.

And infact a lot of nice barca plays leading to close offside calls went mancitys way (rightfully of course). I was more impressed with them with 10men actually. But that 2nd barca goal was just evidence of how tired city had gotten by then.

[Mohammed Seif 1,451]

Bayern. I would say Bayern punished them last season. Those two games, Bayern dominated them in every part of game.

100% agree with you, but can any team keep dominating them all the time? If Bayern plays against Barca again the way they played City, I don't think they will have a chance. But again, Barca are less threatening in their final third than they used to be

[Jase 43,479]

They played well, defended far better than I thought. Kompany was a monster.

But they only stayed in the game that long because they were conserved for long periods, they were always going to tire sooner or later, give away fouls and collect cards because they are chasing the ball, when they came out they were opened up.

Agreed that they probably a tad conservative in the first half but what you said subsequently is pretty much logical stuff and it's not like it doesn't happen with other teams. Even we, for instance, had those situations against Barcelona or even Guardiola's Bayern in the Super Cup.

And infact a lot of nice barca plays leading to close offside calls went mancitys way (rightfully of course). I was more impressed with them with 10men actually. But that 2nd barca goal was just evidence of how tired city had gotten by then.

Get your point about tiredness but using that scenario as an example to illustrate the point is poor when they played with 10 men for nearly 40 minutes. Bound to happen if anything. But on the other hand, rather than looking at tiredness, perhaps one could argue it's just poor defending...

[Mohammed Seif 1,451]

They played well, defended far better than I thought. Kompany was a monster.

But they only stayed in the game that long because they were conserved for long periods, they were always going to tire sooner or later, give away fouls and collect cards because they are chasing the ball, when they came out they were opened up.

And infact a lot of nice barca plays leading to close offside calls went mancitys way (rightfully of course). I was more impressed with them with 10men actually. But that 2nd barca goal was just evidence of how tired city had gotten by then.

In addition to what you have said, I don't think they executed their counter attack that well or utilized Silva or Yaya efficiently. Well said mate.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Agreed that they probably a tad conservative in the first half but what you said subsequently is pretty much logical stuff and it's not like it doesn't happen with other teams. Even we, for instance, had those situations against Barcelona or even Guardiola's Bayern in the Super Cup.

We had those situations before, but we were a team that was used to that. So our stamina will be much better than a team that did that for the first time in their life.

Infact our tactics is purely counter attacking so it was something we are used to.

0202

Get your point about tiredness but using that scenario as an example to illustrate the point is poor when they played with 10 men for nearly 40 minutes. Bound to happen if anything. But on the other hand, rather than looking at tiredness, perhaps one could argue it's just poor defending...

I know that the 10men situation helped to get them tired but barca style will always get any opponent tired in the 2nd half, as long as u have to chase the ball. That's why they score a lot of goals in the 2nd half, check their stats. The constant possession makes opponents mentally tired bcos of so much concentration needed to defend.

And another thing is that their style makes opponents get carded a lot. I saw a stat that in europe, barca hve gotten their opponents red carded 26 times which is the highest out of any team. These things: physical and mental tiredness, cards always happen. Curse you guardiola, the only way to beat this system is to press perfectly like bayern, keep the ball more than barca, or stay in the 18box like RDM.

Any other way is mostly hoping on pure luck.

[bababoom 4,478]

It was pretty even before the penalty tbh... Barcelona had the majority of the possession but never even put City under pressure.

Pellegrini went too defensive, Kolarov on the wing? they play their best when they have two strikers, they beat Bayern with two not one. It may suit them going to the camp nou needing a win, it'll force them to attack. Aguero and Negredo need to play together, if they have any hope winning.

Apart from that one slip up from Kompany, he was a beast, had the better of Messi today. When we had Mata i was sure he was better than Silva, last year he was pretty poor, but this season Silva is amazing, today he was City's best player.

[robsblubot 3,595]

Pathetic performance by City any way you look at it - they've managed to lose the tie already and playing at home...

One day people will understand that scoring or conceding isn't about mistakes, at least not always. Talent forces situations to take place, which some call "mistakes."

[The_Flash 1,144]

imagine if we got Barca in next round, and Eto'o scored the winner

Lol shall I hold my breath for that?

... No wait I may die. He can't score against West Brom forget Barca

People are being to flippant about Galatasaray, it's going to be Very hard, they have Didier we have Etoo so unfair

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

2:0 down against Barcelona and playing with ten men?

Meh..

[Amblève. 4,995]

Of course Barcelona get a penalty gift. Anything else would have been a surprise.

[sdrcfc 461]

Could have easily been 4-0.

'Offside goal' should have stood, Barcelona could have had another penalty too.

[communicate 2,703]

On that (ghost) penalty incident, from another angle just before Messi went down...

I don't think it was a penalty but we are talking about photo n replay. In real time it was 50:50

[1chelsea 864]

Game over city. The shot have been called

[communicate 2,703]

100% agree with you, but can any team keep dominating them all the time? If Bayern plays against Barca again the way they played City, I don't think they will have a chance. But again, Barca are less threatening in their final third than they used to be

Bayern will absolutely kill barca. Bayern is very similar to barca but with much2 better defence, much more physical, much taller and very flexible.

[Thomas Williams 166]

Bayern will absolutely kill barca. Bayern is very similar to barca but with much2 better defence, much more physical, much taller and very flexible.

Bayern is simply the best team I can ever think of, they have no weakness. They have world class players at every position , and a bench so strong I'm pretty sure a Bayern B team could make it semis of the UCL. It's fun to watch the decimate the Spanish giants, but I hate how they have a monopoly on all german talent. I really like Dortmund for whatever reason.

[TrippingStep 336]

DAMN, we should not underestimate La Liga or Barca as we so gladly do. Nor the bundesliga.

Pure Hubrys if we do tbh.

The Bundesliga is not great.

You have Bayern, Dortmund but the rest of the teams are conceding so many goals in european competition.

The defensive players of many bundesliga teams are awful.

[Stingray 9,441]

The Bundesliga is not great.

You have Bayern, Dortmund but the rest of the teams are conceding so many goals in european competition.

The defensive players of many bundesliga teams are awful.

I did not say they were great. I said we should not underestimate. Huge difference.

[Stingray 9,441]

Regardless, watch the replay and you'll see Kompany was sitting way too deep behind his other defenders. He eventually kept Messi, who was coming back from offside position, onside.

I know, he still played like a boss though. So putting that pic up and then the reaction 'post it in the Luiz thread' is kinda off imo.

Anyway, carefree

[Jase 43,479]

We had those situations before, but we were a team that was used to that. So our stamina will be much better than a team that did that for the first time in their life.

Infact our tactics is purely counter attacking so it was something we are used to.

I know that the 10men situation helped to get them tired but barca style will always get any opponent tired in the 2nd half, as long as u have to chase the ball. That's why they score a lot of goals in the 2nd half, check their stats. The constant possession makes opponents mentally tired bcos of so much concentration needed to defend.

And another thing is that their style makes opponents get carded a lot. I saw a stat that in europe, barca hve gotten their opponents red carded 26 times which is the highest out of any team. These things: physical and mental tiredness, cards always happen. Curse you guardiola, the only way to beat this system is to press perfectly like bayern, keep the ball more than barca, or stay in the 18box like RDM.

Any other way is mostly hoping on pure luck.

Until City went down to 10 men, I don't even think they exerted lots of energy to begin with. They only started pressing Barcelona once they got about 25-30 yards of their goal. About their style always make their opponents get carded a lot especially the red ones, let's not even make as if all the red cards were warranted and not helped by the referee or players.

Pellegrini went too defensive, Kolarov on the wing? they play their best when they have two strikers, they beat Bayern with two not one. It may suit them going to the camp nou needing a win, it'll force them to attack. Aguero and Negredo need to play together, if they have any hope winning.

Not sure playing Kolarov on the wings equated to Pellegrini being defensive. He was used on the LW to track Alves while provide the width when going forward especially his final ball in the attacking third is usually pretty good though with Barca's FBs didn't bomb forward a lot, it meant he didn't get much space to wreak havoc. As for playing 2 STs, that is true what you said but they also got outplayed and lost when Pellegrini used 2 STs against us and Bayern.

[Jase 43,479]

I know, he still played like a boss though. So putting that pic up and then the reaction 'post it in the Luiz thread' is kinda off imo.

Anyway, carefree

A serious Tom? Me. Don't. Like.