Champions League Round of 16 (15th Feb - 16th Mar)

Dr. StrangeHate

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Didn't Madrid buy a Brazilian couple of years back who was supposed to be the best in his age group. What happened to him?
 

Zen

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It was not a tremdous flop. Disapointing of course because of the injuries but PSG had a glass ceiling in the CL and it broke after Neymar and Mbappé arrived with a final and a semi final. And Neymar played a huge role in that.

Lost of Neymar haters in here, quite funny.
I'm happy to be called a 'hater' if that keeps you happy. He was astonishing in MSN - as well all 3 and well almost anything about that team. And of course he's lit up the Brazil side on a more regular basis than he has PSG(occasional moments).... but nah, getting to a CL Final in lockdown isn't convincing me of his time at PSG - especially when it was Dortmund, Leipzig and Atalanta they beat to get there. I'd say he's played his role in it, but again, I don't think they do much worse, if worse at all, without him, in the years he's been there.

Obviously £212m means nothing to PSG, so it's not a flop to them... but I still see that as relevant regardless, so he's a flop for me.

I also think PSG - as a whole - had generally terrible luck with their draws in the so called 'glass ceiling' years. Atalanta and Leipzig are arguably their easiest draws in their CL years.. then maybe their loss to Utd.
 

Hansi Fick

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Didn't Madrid buy a Brazilian couple of years back who was supposed to be the best in his age group. What happened to him?
Both Vinicius and Rodrygo played today. Real bought both as teenagers and both were massively expensive.
 

Pintu

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No shit, it's amazing he continues to get mega plaudits as an "elite" player despite his continued declining numbers... you know, in his peak 25 to 30 years too.. his time - as a player at least - at PSG has been a tremendous flop.
With Mbappé he is the main element behind getting PSG to reach its first semifinal in 25 years, they did it 2 years running. In the first one of them, they got to the final.
 

Ish

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So I am guessing we're all looking to Bayern to stop either City or Pool from winning this thing? Not sure about PSG or Madrid. Chelsea will be tough for either of them over a 2 leg tie as well.
 

Oly Francis

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I'm happy to be called a 'hater' if that keeps you happy. He was astonishing in MSN - as well all 3 and well almost anything about that team. And of course he's lit up the Brazil side on a more regular basis than he has PSG(occasional moments).... but nah, getting to a CL Final in lockdown isn't convincing me of his time at PSG - especially when it was Dortmund, Leipzig and Atalanta they beat to get there. I'd say he's played his role in it, but again, I don't think they do much worse, if worse at all, without him, in the years he's been there.
I guess you missed both games against Bayern last year then.
 

Mb194dc

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21 shots to PSG, Real had 3, zero on target.

Time for the Travellers Yard for most of the Real side. They're paying £1m a week in wages to Hazard and Bale... Huge rebuild needed.

PSG so wasteful, Messi offers little, retirement at end of the season, MLS or back to Newells for swansong? Mbappe didn't have a great game but nice bit of quality for the goal.

Really poor game from entertainment perspective considering the attacking talent on show.
 

Zen

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I guess you missed both games against Bayern last year then.
Naming a few games out of a potential - 200ish half of which he's missed anyway - isn't very convincing is it?

Even in what you quoted I admit "PSG(occasional moments)" - which essentially, is what his time there has been.
 

cyberman

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Mbappe needs to improve the quality of his finishing. He had inside of his foot finish down to a T but he’s lacking literally everywhere else. Kind of reminds me of Martial in that way. He can’t seem to confidently strike through with his laces without some cutting in motion
 

croadyman

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So I am guessing we're all looking to Bayern to stop either City or Pool from winning this thing? Not sure about PSG or Madrid. Chelsea will be tough for either of them over a 2 leg tie as well.
Yeah we definitely haven't got the consistency to really trouble them over two legs
 

Oly Francis

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Mbappe needs to improve the quality of his finishing. He had inside of his foot finish down to a T but he’s lacking literally everywhere else. Kind of reminds me of Martial in that way. He can’t seem to confidently strike through with his laces without some cutting in motion
His left foot is decent but it's mostly true yeah. Kinda amazing to see what he can do without being better at other finishing styles.
 

BayernFan87

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So I am guessing we're all looking to Bayern to stop either City or Pool from winning this thing? Not sure about PSG or Madrid. Chelsea will be tough for either of them over a 2 leg tie as well.
I feel our squad depth isn't good enough to compete for the title.

With 1 or 2 injuries of attacking players we almost have no options left on the bench.
 

croadyman

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Yeah, I'd love for us to cause a few upsets but at the moment it seems unrealistic. Bayern seems to be the only other team at their level in Europe, IMO. PSG seems a little unbalanced.
Yeah I worry about how our players would cope in that cauldron Anfield atmosphere on a Champions League night IF we could find a way to beat Atletico somehow
 

Wolf1992

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Yeah, I'd love for us to cause a few upsets but at the moment it seems unrealistic. Bayern seems to be the only other team at their level in Europe, IMO. PSG seems a little unbalanced.
Is it?

Didn't City get knocked out by Monaco,Lyon, and Tottenham before?

I mean Dortmund gave City a good run the last year, they had a poor finishing and the refeere helped City a bit.

People talks as if City have won the CL already.

I think people is just trying to jinx them with so many praises hoping for a flop.
 

cyberman

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His left foot is decent but it's mostly true yeah. Kinda amazing to see what he can do without being better at other finishing styles.
His pace and the way he feints just takes him into the same positions time and time again so variation doesn’t apply to Mbappe the same way it does to other strikers. Even his off the ball runs are just the same runs in behind time and time again, it seems to be why he doesn’t take to CF as well as he should.
I was a critic of Mbappe until recently but it’s ridiculous how teams in big CL games neutralised him iand he just found a way to get that one plan to work. It’s more impressive than improving other areas of his game!
I remember watching Tuanzebe body him last year in Paris simply by being quick and he can’t get on for Villa or Napoli
 

Ish

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I feel our squad depth isn't good enough to compete for the title.

With 1 or 2 injuries of attacking players we almost have no options left on the bench.
Well hopefully someone does the business against City/Pool :lol:

Yeah I worry about how our players would cope in that cauldron Anfield atmosphere on a Champions League night IF we could find a way to beat Atletico somehow
Yeah, hoping we get our act together. Performances haven't been too bad, but results haven't followed.

Is it?

Didn't City get knocked out by Monaco,Lyon, and Tottenham before?

I mean Dortmund gave City a good run the last year, they had a poor finishing and the refeere helped City a bit.

People talks as if City have won the CL already.

I think people is just trying to jinx them with so many praises hoping for a flop.
Yep, anything to stop them from winning it in fairness :lol:. You're obviously spot on - we've been so worried over the years about City and then they usually go and get knocked out by unexpected teams. Let's hope the trend continues. I'll be at peace once both Pool and City are eliminated.
 

croadyman

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Well hopefully someone does the business against City/Pool :lol:


Yeah, hoping we get our act together. Performances haven't been too bad, but results haven't followed.


Yep, anything to stop them from winning it in fairness :lol:. You're obviously spot on - we've been so worried over the years about City and then they usually go and get knocked out by unexpected teams. Let's hope the trend continues. I'll be at peace once both Pool and City are eliminated.
Need the Champions League version of Ronny to make the rest aware of what they are facing IF we ever face that scenario
 

croadyman

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Add in the French NT version of Pogba, the English NT version of Maguire....and the list goes on :lol:
Agree about Pogba but fear we may not see the England version of Maguire in a Utd shirt again
 

Ish

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Agree about Pogba but fear we may not see the England version of Maguire in a Utd shirt again
Suppose it is a little helpful for Maguire that England plays with 3 CB's a lot of the time, plus having Rice and Phillips in front of them. He won't get that sort of protection at United - firstly because we don't have a DM/functioning midfield infront of them.
 

croadyman

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Suppose it is a little helpful for Maguire that England plays with 3 CB's a lot of the time, plus having Rice and Phillips in front of them. He won't get that sort of protection at United - firstly because we don't have a DM/functioning midfield infront of them.
Yeah I dream of the day we have a top class starting DM in front of our defence again along with someone else able to deputise when required
 

Ish

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Yeah I dream of the day we have a top class starting DM in front of our defence again along with someone else able to deputise when required
Yeah, not having a midfield will hurt us against the best sides - hell, even against the "not so very good" sides.

Can't believe how long we've spent literally ignoring the gaping hole and lack of quality in midfield. It doesn't make any sense.

We're cursed.
 

croadyman

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Yeah, not having a midfield will hurt us against the best sides - hell, even against the "not so very good" sides.

Can't believe how long we've spent literally ignoring the gaping hole and lack of quality in midfield. It doesn't make any sense.

We're cursed.
Yeah we have only signed 3 in the last 7 years and two of them sadly just weren't up to it
 

marktan

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When did they get rid of the away goals rule?

Have to say I think that sucks balls. The away goals aspect to ties generally makes it a lot more exciting with a lot more permutations. Why did they get rid of it?
 

Bepi

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Every leg of any knockout round and we have the winners elect already, right? :p I am afraid these games are made of two legs and past round performances mean little for the rounds to come. Then we have a final game, which usually melts fragile and unlucky teams. That’s why I won’t believe City or PSG win this cup until they are actually presented the trophy by that gleaming snake named Ceferin.