Champions League Round of 16 (18th Feb - 8th Aug)

fps

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I'm really starting to think the hype for him was just due to the price tag Napoli put on him 2-3 years back. Based on about 10 games I've seen of him last two seasons, he's been nothing but bang average.
I agree, put a high price on someone and suddenly they must be special! Like Andy Carroll.... Joking aside he is a good player but some posters don’t seem to appreciate that players make mistakes, even the best ones, and some are better in particular kinds of systems, matchups, etc.
 

AC1689

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I was thinking that it might be like a World Cup too but apparently it’s to do with the heat in Lisbon.
I see. But yesterday’s UCL games were in Manchester and Turin. So I remain confused haha.

Also, Lisbon is not hotter than here at the moment. Certainly cooler than Seville where they Kicked off at 17:55 on Thursday.
 

prateik

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Aren't Napoli looking to finally cash in on Koulibaly ?

Anyone seriously interested?
 

Lay

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Football nowadays is all about penalties.
 

RashyForPM

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Bayern vs Chelsea: Bayern are a class apart, and are naturally getting complacent now. Will probably improve after getting a rocket at half-time by Flick. Chelsea are unlucky to have so many injuries but were hammered even harder in London when they were all there. Nowhere near Bayern.

Barca vs Napoli: If we want a spectacle, let’s hope Messi has a little niggle. He is theatre himself but let’s be honest, we’re all supporting Napoli. Hopefully Barca bottle another 3-goal lead in the second leg. Koulibaly is a con artist btw. Never been impressed by him.
 

HerrLeinad

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I've felt like that for like the last 8 years :lol:
I can't even remember the last time when Neuer had a mistake in an important(!) game. He really reserves his very rare mistakes for nothing games.
 

Bastian

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At least the next round is a one-off game. Can't say it's been too exciting really.
 

Daysleeper

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How many subs are allowed in these games? I didn't notice yesterday.
5.

I'm so anxious about the second half, and pray that Messi is okay. We've looked good for the most part, but Napoli will definitely score another one.
 

kouroux

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Bayern vs Chelsea: Bayern are a class apart, and are naturally getting complacent now. Will probably improve after getting a rocket at half-time by Flick. Chelsea are unlucky to have so many injuries but were hammered even harder in London when they were all there. Nowhere near Bayern.

Barca vs Napoli: If we want a spectacle, let’s hope Messi has a little niggle. He is theatre himself but let’s be honest, we’re all supporting Napoli. Hopefully Barca bottle another 3-goal lead in the second leg. Koulibaly is a con artist btw. Never been impressed by him.
How did he exactly con you ?
 

Inigo Montoya

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Bayern vs Chelsea: Bayern are a class apart, and are naturally getting complacent now. Will probably improve after getting a rocket at half-time by Flick. Chelsea are unlucky to have so many injuries but were hammered even harder in London when they were all there. Nowhere near Bayern.

Barca vs Napoli: If we want a spectacle, let’s hope Messi has a little niggle. He is theatre himself but let’s be honest, we’re all supporting Napoli. Hopefully Barca bottle another 3-goal lead in the second leg. Koulibaly is a con artist btw. Never been impressed by him.
We are?

I want City stopped by whichever team...
 

Rojofiam

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This is what Chelsea fans expected to happen to us in 2014 against Bayern :lol:
 

KC91

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Lots of people watching Koulibaly for the first time tonight.

How easily people forget him putting Mbappe & Liverpools front 3 in his pocket in the CL. Let alone his years of consistency and excellence in all competitions.
 

hasanejaz88

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Is this due to him 1) playing in his home country, and 2) being German?

Per say he was in England or Spain he'd be slaughtered more often?
No it might be due to the fact that you don't watch him week in week out.

He had a poor season in 18/19 when he was rightly criticized by most for his performances. It was the season after he was injured for all of 17/18 and you could say there was rustiness but this season he has been back to being one of the best in the world.

This was an error obviously but he hasn't been making the same amount of errors that De Gea has.
 

bond19821982

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Bayern vs Chelsea: Bayern are a class apart, and are naturally getting complacent now. Will probably improve after getting a rocket at half-time by Flick. Chelsea are unlucky to have so many injuries but were hammered even harder in London when they were all there. Nowhere near Bayern.

Barca vs Napoli: If we want a spectacle, let’s hope Messi has a little niggle. He is theatre himself but let’s be honest, we’re all supporting Napoli. Hopefully Barca bottle another 3-goal lead in the second leg. Koulibaly is a con artist btw. Never been impressed by him.
Feck it. not sure about others but I am not.
 

SinNombre

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Is this due to him 1) playing in his home country, and 2) being German?

Per say he was in England or Spain he'd be slaughtered more often?
It certainly plays a role. If he was playing for a RM, his reputation would have been in tatters by now.
 

Pyroblazer

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Is this due to him 1) playing in his home country, and 2) being German?

Per say he was in England or Spain he'd be slaughtered more often?
He received a lot of criticism in Germany too. Most people wanted him dropped in favor of ter Stegen for Germany, which is fair I guess because he is the better goalkeeper these days. Bayern also signed Nübel, who looked like the next big thing earlier in the season and some thought even he could give him competition. Things have changed a bit in the last few months though, Neuer bounced back and played pretty well and Nübel had a bit of a nightmare second half like the whole Schalke team. Neuer is still a good keeper, just not at his best anymore imo. And De Gea made more than a mistake to be fair, the last few weeks he looked more like a liability than a goalkeeper who dropped from world class to still a pretty good level.

But of course it's always more difficult to drop a big name with a reputation and legacy and Bayern might face that with Neuer too in the next years. We all remember it with Rooney too and it seems like Ole can't really drop Dave too.
 

Paxi

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Why do Napoli players have little pencil moustaches, is it the rage these days?