Champions League Thread

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

So the is the EPL arguably.

.......You must be talking about another EPL, otherwise you're living on another planet.

You didn't say you would win but you said that we wouldn't win.

Yes but not due to the label of 'Champions of Europe'. How many times must I say that?

[SempreJuve 62]

.......You must be talking about another EPL, otherwise you're living on another planet.

Yes but not due to the label of 'Champions of Europe'. How many times must I say that?

Well due to what then?

Yes the EPL is not on the level it was a few years back.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

Well due to what then?

Yes the EPL is not on the level it was a few years back.

Yes that explains why an English team won the Champions League. It also explains why there are are 6/7 top/very competitive teams in the league, probably more than any other top league in the world. It also explains why we're attracting world class players and potential world class young players.

Hopefully you realise what a ridiculous statement you have just made. The EPL is on the way back up again. In a big way too. While Serie A is going down the drain.

[SempreJuve 62]

Yes that explains why an English team won the Champions League. It also explains why there are are 6 top teams in the league, probably more than any other top league in the world. It also explains why we're attracting world class players and potential world class young players.

Hopefully you realise what a ridiculous statement you have just made. The EPL is on the way back up again. In a big way too. While Serie A is going down the drain.

Inter won the CL in 2009/10, Serie A still was in Decline. 6 top teams? The only teams I would consider some of the best in Europe are Chelsea, City, Man U to an extent (the latter who aren't as strong as they have been). Of course you attracting some of the best players, there is a lot of money in the premier league, it on the way up. It doesn't mean it is at the same levels it was a few years back. I said this because you used Serie A on decline as a way of making our unbeaten season look a smaller feat than it was.

But why don't you answer the other question first.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

Inter won the CL in 2009/10, Serie A still was in Decline. 6 top teams? The only teams I would consider some of the best in Europe are Chelsea, City, Man U to an extent (the latter who aren't as strong as they have been). Of course you attracting some of the best players, there is a lot of money in the premier league. It doesn't mean it is at the same levels it was a few years back. But why don't you answer the other question first.

1. Due to us being a better team

2. The EPL is on the way up and is actually already the best league in the world. Fact. Serie A is on the way down. Fact. Milan and Inter have become weak.

[SempreJuve 62]

1. Due to us being a better team

2. The EPL is on the way up and is actually already the best league in the world. Fact. Serie A is on the way down. Fact. Milan and Inter have become weak.

So we cant win because you are the better team?

Serie A has declined, I never denied that lol. I never said it wasn't I just said it isn't at the same levels it has been.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

So we cant win because you are the better team?

Its unlikely. Not impossible.

[capriccioso 2,545]

2. The EPL is on the way up and is actually already the best league in the world. Fact. Serie A is on the way down. Fact. Milan and Inter have become weak.

Hardly, if anything Serie A is getting closer. The last 2 league titles in England have been decided by who was the least shit. Italy meanwhile is improving in leaps and bounds and should the PL continue at current rate, will probably surpass England in 5 or so seasons.

Let's have a cursory glance at the major teams in the Premier League:

Man United- worst team in 20 years.

Man City- should be much better than they are but Mancini is clueless.

Chelsea- worst team since Roman took over.

Liverpool- worst team since, what, the 60s?

Arsenal- worst team since Wenger took over.

Spurs- only there because everyone else is shit.

Newcastle- ditto.

Everton- ditto.

Compared with Serie A:

Juventus- best team since pre-Calciopoli.

AC Milan- declining massively, probably around Newcastle's level now.

Inter- slowly improving, but still a pretty average team.

Napoli- best team in 2 decades.

Udinese- fantastic youth talent coming through, they are at the best they have been for a long time.

Lazio- best team since they were the original sugar daddy club in the late 90s.

Roma- in Liverpool's boat. Down and staying down.

Most of the major teams are improving at various rates, while most of the PL's major teams are declining.

Fact: No team in England would have won Serie A 2011/12.

Fact: Juventus and AC Milan from last season would have lol'd their way to the PL title.

[SempreJuve 62]

Its unlikely. Not impossible.

Based on? You still haven't really explained why

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

Based on? You still haven't really explained why

Its not my fault if you can't read. It really isn't.

[SempreJuve 62]

Its not my fault if you can't read. It really isn't.

Ad hominem

Well at first you said confidence because you are the CL champs, which means we cannot win. A draw is the best result. Then you said because we are better, which doesn't really mean anything as there isn't a real gulf in class.

[Steve 10,227]

Its unlikely. Not impossible.

Why is it unlikely?

If Juve are playing to there best they can take us to the cleaners. Let's hope that doesn't happen but there is no reason why they cannot do that. They have some amazing talent and will push anyone on there day. I read a lot of comments from Madrid fans about Juve a few years back how they had no chance of beating them but every game they played they pushed them to the limit.

We might be European Champions but there is still so much gelling for the squad to do before we are again that unstoppable force. We are trying so many different things and we do not have a set formation in which we like playing. But at the same time that could work to our advantage in terms of formation. If we have all guns firing we could beat Juve or any other team by 2 or 3 goals but if we don't any team can beat us just as we saw last season.

[SempreJuve 62]

Exactly, the class difference in the team isn't huge. You have a far better attack and are a great team, I am not saying we will win, Far from it. I think it should be close but it could go either way.

[Shulz 23]

In Seria A. A league on the decline.

I believe your entire speech about Chelsea being ahead of Juve(which is true, but not as much as you think) is based on this.

It is true that Serie A is on the decline, but we still had(last season) some good teams: Milan passed against arsenal, which finished third in the last PL. Napoli managed to go through the round stage against ManC, which won your league. they were eliminated from Chelsea, but you lost the first match.

against these teams we lost only once in the national cup(4 games against Milan, 3 against Napoli) and finished the Serie A undefeated, playing also against Inter, Roma, Lazio, Udinese and other good teams.

You are, of course, in advantage, but I think you are being a little bit too confident, especially because I really don't think you saw a lot Juve games last year. maybe you don't know we had the third ball possession in europe(behind barca and bayern) and the best defense.

And btw, Barzagli last year was our best centre back(better than thiago silva), so if you think Chiellini is our best defender you are in for a surprise! =)

we will see who is right, I think there will be 2 balanced games, with you slightly ahead! =)

[magic weeds 446]

Apart from Bendtner, who else can play in the Juve attack?

[Jype 6,398]

Apart from Bendtner, who else can play in the Juve attack?

I think Bendtner isn't going to play because I read somewhere that he has gained too much weight over the summer and now needs more time to get his match fitness back. That leaves them with Giovinco, Vucinic, Matri and Quaqliarella in attack and from those guys I would say we need to be most concerned about Giovinco, he's class.

[magic weeds 446]

I think Bendtner isn't going to play because I read somewhere that he has gained too much weight over the summer and now needs more time to get his match fitness back. That leaves them with Giovinco, Vucinic, Matri and Quaqliarella in attack and from those guys I would say we need to be most concerned about Giovinco, he's class.

Doesnt Giovinco play on the wing? If they are playing 352, who do you think will be the 2 upfront?

[Jype 6,398]

Doesnt Giovinco play on the wing? If they are playing 352, who do you think will be the 2 upfront?

Maybe he can play on the wings too but in Juve's formation Giovinco definitely occupies one of the two attacker positions because their wide players are more of wing-backs rather wingers and there's no way they are playing Seba there. In their first two league games Juve have played Giovinco and Vucinic up front in their 3-5-2 so I see no reason for them to play any differently against us if they don't have any injuries before the game.

[The Skipper 20,609]

I can't see any other result than a Draw at your stadium. At the Bridge we should win. Arrogance? No, a rightful sense of confidence, from being 'Champions of Europe'.

Deluded!

[Leif 6,006]

Juventus do not player with wingers.

When they play a 4-3-3, they play with the usual defence, a deep-lying playmaker in Pirlo, and 2 box-to-box midfielders in Vidal and Marchisio/Asamoah. The "3" in attack is more like.. well, it's hard to explain.

It's usually Matri through the middle, Giovinco as a SUPPORTING striker (not a winger), and then Vucinic who drifts wide to become a winger when he wants, or plays like a 2nd-striker.

When they play a 3-5-2, they play with 3 central defenders, 2 wings-backs (De Ceglie/Asamoah on the left; Lich/Isla on the right), the usual MVP midfield combo like in the 4-3-3, and then 2 up-top (usually Vucinic and Matri/Giovinco) who can do as they please.