Not really an issue now is it?
An "easy" or "memorable" run to a final?
- Thread starter JSArsenal
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
To be fair, fecking up an "easy" run is memorable.
Memorable, always. You can't beat our '99 run, where we had Bayern and Barca in the group stages, Inter and Juve in the knockouts and Bayern again in the final.
'08 was great, Kiev, Sporting and Roma was a decent group, Lyon were a good side and caused us many problems, Roma again, Barca and then a strong Chelsea in the final.
Conversely '11 was pretty mediocre. Valencia were a good side in the group stage but Marseille and Schalke in the knockouts, along with an inconsistent Chelsea side were not particularly memorable. In fact, the most memorable part was probably Neuer's outstanding performance in that first leg.
'08 was great, Kiev, Sporting and Roma was a decent group, Lyon were a good side and caused us many problems, Roma again, Barca and then a strong Chelsea in the final.
Conversely '11 was pretty mediocre. Valencia were a good side in the group stage but Marseille and Schalke in the knockouts, along with an inconsistent Chelsea side were not particularly memorable. In fact, the most memorable part was probably Neuer's outstanding performance in that first leg.
I have absolutely no preference as long as we lift the trophy.
It's a very logical choice for picking an easy run when it comes to your team.
When it's all said and done, the history books will only remember the winners.
Nobody gives a fecking shite about if your team wins cup tournament thanks to easy draws or unfair decisions.
For example: Southampton scored a goal that was wrongly disallowed during League Cup final last year, but Manchester United won that game.
https://streamja.com/ERb
When it's all said and done, the history books will only remember the winners.
Nobody gives a fecking shite about if your team wins cup tournament thanks to easy draws or unfair decisions.
For example: Southampton scored a goal that was wrongly disallowed during League Cup final last year, but Manchester United won that game.
Also, we should also not forget that Real Madrid had very lucky moments on their side during these matches.
https://streamja.com/ERb
It matters, one of the reasons why 99 is so legendary, the whole campaign was memorable. Partly goes back to point of greater parity in European football, a number of teams were live threats. Conversely I can barely remember many of the teams we played last year in the Europa League run, it was an uninspiring grind.
I am one of those Journey as important as Destination types though.
I am one of those Journey as important as Destination types though.
The '99 Champions League win was so enjoyable not just because it completed the treble but because it felt like we'd conquered some of the best to win the thing. The draw threw us up against Bayern x 2, Barcelona x 2 , ahem Brondby x 2, Inter, a great Juventus side and then Bayern again.
Quite aside from that I think that coming up against top European opponents is something that a team gets better at with experience. Seems like City have had some tough draws in Europe in the last few years but I think that they have become a better CL team because of it. Whereas I suspect that our run to the Europa League final - Saint-Étienne, Rostov, Anderlecht, Celta Vigo and Ajax - taught us comparatively little.
Quite aside from that I think that coming up against top European opponents is something that a team gets better at with experience. Seems like City have had some tough draws in Europe in the last few years but I think that they have become a better CL team because of it. Whereas I suspect that our run to the Europa League final - Saint-Étienne, Rostov, Anderlecht, Celta Vigo and Ajax - taught us comparatively little.
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That Inter team had a very talented squad as well, Pagliuca, Bergomi, Colonnese, Taribo West, Dario Simic, Zanetti, Djorkaeff, Aron Winter, Diego Simeone, Pirlo, Paulo Sousa, Ronaldo, Baggio, Zamorano, and a few others like Recoba, Kanu, didn't he have a heart issue at the time?, Silvestre, Ze Elias, Cauet as backs ups.
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A memorable one obviously. But if the choice is between no final and an easy run to it, then its going to be the easy run.