Champions League — quarter-finals and semi-finals draw

Acheron

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At this level you get 20 minutes of Modric close to still being his best self, or you play him longer and get either a much diluted version, or a player you need to sub out after 20 minutes

He's turning 39 this year unfortunately

City are crushing us at home. Ancelotti's tactical failings were there for all to see yesterday, and right now we can't overwhelm them with talent. We had everything going for us yesterday and sure, they scored 2 worldies and one was a feck up by Lunin, but the issue is how little we actually managed to go at them, and how we just allowed them to the edge of our box with little resistance. This was a game that called for us to run over them, and we didn't even try because Ancelotti can't coach a good high press scheme...

Kinda wish we'd just gone for Xabi this summer
I think we can beat them although we should had donde better this game to give us a better chance at the returning leg. I also think they can play a lot better than what they did, at the very least the returning leg should be a close game if we don't feck it up like we did in the 2nd half.
 

giorno

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The standard of refereeing across Europe has never been this horrific honestly

There's genuinely not not one ref around who is even decent - it goes from "bad" to "wait, they can't touch the ball with their hands?!?!?"
 

LilienFan

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The standard of refereeing across Europe has never been this horrific honestly

There's genuinely not not one ref around who is even decent - it goes from "bad" to "wait, they can't touch the ball with their hands?!?!?"
Any way you slice it there are only four bad refs in these quarters, but 11 Dortmund players.
 

surf

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I understand both views, but for me it's a penalty.

My caveat is that I'd hate to see a pen given in that way as its utterly ridiculous and potentially game changing.

However, the rules are the rules and if the ref knows that he's blown to restart play, then he should have given it. I believe he didn't as he probably though it'd cause big problems.

However, the big problem now is that he's opened a can of worms that allows refs to arbitrarily pick and choose when to enforce rules based on their own interpretation.
Irony?
If not, isn't that exactly what refs are there for? After all, arbitre (French) means referee. So refs do officiate arbitrarily, literally.
 

Withnail

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Commentators are using a terrible example to complain about the length of time decisions take in the PL. It was never a red in a million years on the replay so obviously the decision was quick. Clearly it was a talking point for them before the game and they've jumped at the first opportunity.
 

awop

Odds winner of 'Odds or Evens 2022/2023'
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Donnaruma playing like an emergency fourth choice. So nervous on every ball.
 

Camy89

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Can’t work out if I’m going mental but is the PSG v Barca TNT broadcast a bit blurry? Compared to the ATM v Dortmund, it’s grim quality?

Am I going blind?
 

V.O.

Last Man Standing finalist 2019/20
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Donnarumma looking very ropey.

Dunno how a 6'6" keeper can be so unsure on corners.
 

The-Mezzala

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PSG are such a meh team.
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I just think no matter how much money they throw at it they will never win the Champions league. Be interesting if the Qatar owners get frustrated and give up. Can see them really declining when Mbappe leaves