Many are expecting a thrashing for United pretty much from the opening minute. It might not get that ugly but doom is definitely on the agenda. If things get out of hand the other matchup seems infinitely more palatable, what with Barcelona and Atletico giving us a preview of their potential title-deciding clash on the last day of the Liga season.
Tomorrow's lineup contains more uncertainty, although Borussia are not coming into Bernabeu in the best of forms. PSG will want to show last year's good showing against Barca at the same stage of the competition wasn't a fluke. This could go a long way toward cementing L. Blanc's reputation, as he'll be taking on one of the master tacticians/talkers of the game.

today (return leg 04/09)
Barcelona - Atletico
Man United - Bayern

tomorrow (return 04/08)
PSG - Chelsea
Real Madrid - Borussia

NO ONE GETS FOX SPORTS 2 YOU FUCKING FUCKS.

goddamit.

-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious.

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2ih01ky.gif

CALL YOUR LOCAL CABLE PROVIDER AND TELL THEM YOU WANT FOX SPORTS 2!


Edit: Just checked to see if Comcast is at least streaming FS2 in my area and no, they aren't, BUT I DO HAVE 7 DIFFERENT FEEDS OF THE PAC12 NETWORK AVAILABLE.

for the atletico/barca game in spanish. so...that's...something.

-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious.

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2ih01ky.gif

>BUT I DO HAVE 7 DIFFERENT
>FEEDS OF THE PAC12 NETWORK AVAILABLE.


/Larry Scott'd

SMH.

fucking only decent chance and they score and it wasn't even a decent chance, it was a crazy good terrible angle shot.

bartra was rock solid after getting forced into the game cold. hope pique's alright, but feel good about bartra. neymar had a really rough start but a great goal and great energy (even if dani alves was mad as fuck because neymar didn't make the right cut on a great chance). alexis put in great effort but man, clutz in front of goal again.

messi was a little underwhelming but never really got a chance. iniesta was dangerous and i can't believe how much atletico fouled as part of their plan. really mourinho-esque as a tactic. that was the one ugly part.

-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious.

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2ih01ky.gif

> i can't believe how much
>atletico fouled as part of their plan. really mourinho-esque
>as a tactic. that was the one ugly part.

at least, with simeone, he's an underdog, so it makes sense. but it's an ugly plan and it's bullshit when they complain when it's OBVIOUS they fouled as part of a strategy.

at least fucking own it (and i know, that's dumb. you have to pretend like it was unintentional, blah blah blah. that's part of the ugliness of the plan)

-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious.

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2ih01ky.gif

*yeshrug*

Style of play doesn't mean anything if it's not getting results....just ask any Arsenal supporter (me) for the past 8 years.

that said, giving the away goal to Bayern hurt and i'd expect them to be daunting at home.

:/

14 months, they got.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26852466

Just. Wtf. Especially ironic considering how hamstrung baca gets by its inability to sign u18s to pro contracts and thus get poached by england.

-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious.

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2ih01ky.gif

They are, more or less, stuck with Pinto for a full season unless they can plead for Valdes to come back for one more year (not like he left on great terms, as is) or get a dispensation on the ban to allow for deals currently agreed (Gladbach surely have plans for the Stegen money). Replacing Puyol full-time was also going to be crucial this period, but they have a few players in the B team that could be ready for occasional first team duty (particularly Sergi Gomez). The Halilovic signing is less problematic and will only hurt Dinamo Zagreb as he can leave on a free in the summer and the transfer ban does not apply to signing free agents.

What I don't fully understand is why Barcelona are the ones being signaled out for this when, in truth, tons of clubs are guilty of fudging the under 18 rule (Madrid historically break this rule regularly and Chelsea and City have recently really broken the rule by dipping into South America and Ghana ((City have a defacto youth club in Ghana in the Right to Dream Academy)). If FIFA are serious about this, they should hit all the clubs that have infringed at the same time so there is a normalization period.

Being made an example of, or some sort of retribution.

the need for a CB is huge. Pinto/Oier/Masip can cover for a season, though not ideal. along with Valdes' injury, i wonder if he might be convinced to stay for one extra year.

what about loans? are loans allowed?

edit: with the ability to appeal, i suspect barca will at least get to act this summer. so hopefully that can go through and they can take the penalty in the winter and summer of 2015 if needed. but fuuuuuuck, this sucks.

-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious.

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2ih01ky.gif

Where they waited long enough to appeal to the Court for Arbitration of Sport that they still had time in the July window to do business before finally excepting the ban. That ban, though, also froze Roma from selling any players.

Like B9 said, there are obvious cases of other teams doing it as well. If FIFA is serious, there need to be consistent penalties to all teams doing this.

and the ban will go into effect next winter.
That's how the Chelsea ban was set up (even though there ban was eventually overturned).

Not the same as Chelsea's.

But IIRC Chelsea got their ban in the fall, but were still allowed to make January transfers while they were in they were going through appeals.

Barca says they have 90 days to file an appeal (and they definitely will), which would put them right around July 1st. So either the appeal process allows them to delay the ban... or maybe FIFA just gives them a little grace period... but either way, I think they get to make some summer signings.

I hope.

If not. We're fuct.

Or similar.

that is not a good look for us

But Jallet...you have every right to be as fearful as you are lol. PSG is gonna have to tilt a midfielder to comsistently help and contain that wing...but that's going to open up some space in front of the cb's. Should be interesting (for a neutral at least lol).

it is indeed scary

we all owe Jallet some excuses. He played a very solid game defensively (Hazard wasn't dangerous at any point) and he still found the energy to provide some much needed offense as well. Probably the 3rd best Parisian tonight behind Lavezzi and Matuidi.

and that's a lot of things

it's even sweeter to get a goal on a mistake by a douchebag like him

if he keeps up w/this tomfoolery, I'm gonna need Cabaye

that yellow card on Alex is on him

if the two star players shit the bed like that (not to mention Verratti's dumb ass), it's going to be difficult to get out of this

jesus, that was entirely unnecessary

Blanc stated before the game PSG would play their style and hold on to the ball...yet they haven't been doing that at all ever since Lavezzi scored. You could feel the equalizer coming, and now they look listless.

Ibra better step it up, or else that 'he folds in big games' talk is going to re-surface.

Ever since the goal, they are staying on the ball and not releasing quickly, exactly what Chelsea wants with their high pressure...and it has led to turnover after turnover. Cavani has given the ball away far too many times under no pressure as well.

Unless the midfield actually starts maintaining possession, Ibra will continue to play near midfield rather than putting forward pressure.

he's going to have to be on a very short leash in this second half

as for Ibra, he's going to track back regardless, that's his game, and usually he's good at setting people up, but today he's been shit (he turned the ball over more often than Cavani...who needs to step up as well, though, you're right)

He hasn't been able to apply any of that pressure because PSG simply haven't had any of the ball in the attacking half.

Matuidi had 3 mistakes, after the equalizer,where he either gave the ball away or didn't release the ball...but I was def wrong to put him in the same class as Verrati lol.

Anyways, much better from PSG to start the half. Moving the ball quickly and releasing into forward positions.

force a save at least...that was a picture perfect cross from Blaise. they're not gonna get many more golden opportunities like that.

Another poor one, this time on his chest on that through lob.

all the articles pre-game kept bringing up how he's been lackluster in CL direct elimination games, and I thought they were over playing it, but he's making them right today

Just everything about the decision was absolutely terrible. A player of his caliber, the captain of the team, with a bone-headed and unnecessary lunge in a game you are leading and in which Chelsea (although starting to gain more possession) hadn't produced one real chance, and PSG was ready to really ramp up the counter-attacking game (had already seen one chance with Lavezzi breaking). Silva just donated to Chelsea exactly what they needed.

it's not like there was any immediate danger. so fucking dumb.

It wasn't even close. Dude needs to worry less about that and more about not continuing to give the ball away needlessly.

but yeah, Ezequiel gets the game ball today. Him and Matuidi, imo.

nm

Gives away a cheap foul to setup a dangerous free-kick, and then to cap it off, own goal.

I would have pulled the trigger at the third Verratti turn over / highly questionable dribbling in his own 30 (ie about 20 mns in in the first half)

Such a touchy touchy muscle too, the timetable is essentially just a guess.

this is poor coaching, imo, reminiscent of the way France played Spain at the 2012 euro

also, Cavani sucks just about as much as Ibra today. disgusting.

So it's not like this is an aberration lol. That last touch after the Lucas pass might have to take the cake though.

Dude strolling around in public, hand in hand, and going to dinners with someone who isn't his wife...at least try to be discreet dummy.

that's what Cavani is right now

but nah

he didn't look tired to me

FLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

What a show of strength and skill. Obviously the 2 goal lead is HUGE for PSG, but even more important now that Ibra's status for next week is in serious doubt.

I knew we should not give up on him

no way did I think he was gonna go for it after that dribbling, quite an amazing sequence

>no way did I think he was gonna go for it

Cech: No way he's gonna shoot that from that angle. O shit.

I thought he had lost all confidence, and that game at Lorient didn't particularly help his case...but this goal will.

Glad to see him have a moment like that, maybe it propels him to more consistent playing time and form.

What I'm saying is that sometimes, especially for a younger player, things can just tend to spiral negatively...and by the time they finally look up, there is so much talent ahead of them that they never get the time to get their confidence back. Hopefully this moment does that for Pastore.

it's not like Lucas or Lavezzi have been setting the world on fire (at least not until these past 2 months when it comes to Lavezzi), but they have not received anywhere near the same amount of flak than Pastore did...probably because they look like they play harder.

but in my opinion, that's the nature of their respective games. Both Lucas and Lavezzi are a tad sloppy, while Pastore is the type of player that makes it look easy when he succeeds, but looks way too nonchalant when he doesn't.

I think Pastore is going to look to go somewhere else this summer, especially if Paris keeps on breaking the bank on offense...as they most likely will (rumors about Hazard already circulating)

>it's not like Lucas or Lavezzi have been setting the world on
>fire (at least not until these past 2 months when it comes to
>Lavezzi), but they have not received anywhere near the same
>amount of flak than Pastore did...probably because they look
>like they play harder.

Yeh, that's the unfair side of sports that we see all too often...if a player isn't emotional or haggardly, the fans have a go because perception becomes reality. (shit, it's not just sports that is relegated to. On a personal level, I've been told that I'm somehow less of a fan because I'm able to keep myself calm and rational lol...it's so silly).
>
>but in my opinion, that's the nature of their respective
>games. Both Lucas and Lavezzi are a tad sloppy, while Pastore
>is the type of player that makes it look easy when he
>succeeds, but looks way too nonchalant when he doesn't.

Yeh, I totally see that.

>I think Pastore is going to look to go somewhere else this
>summer, especially if Paris keeps on breaking the bank on
>offense...as they most likely will (rumors about Hazard
>already circulating)

At this point, I think Pastore has to look elsewhere. At 24, he's entering the prime of his career so it makes sense that he would leave considering his current role at PSG.

As far as Hazard, I'm torn because as an Arsenal supporter I want him out of the BPL lol but as a football fan, I don't think there is another coach other than Mourinho who can make him reach his potential. In their first year together, he's already made huge strides in becoming a complete player...not only referencing his defensive work-rate and commitment but his strength and hold-up play have become so much better. Mourinho's commitment to belief and discipline is such a boon for Hazard. I have a unique sentimentality for Eden because I began watching him when he was first called up for Belgium and would even stream Lille games to see him play, there was something incredible about him....I was literally praying that somehow Arsenal would come up with a huge bid for him but Drogba's last minute CL goal and ensuing CL shoot-out victory essentially ensured Chelsea of getting him because he wanted to go to a team of that caliber and it reinforced Chelsea's coffers where they could essentially outbid anyone. In sum, I want to see him maximize his potential.

In terms of that move actually happening, do you have any info on that? I'm sure they will have to pry Hazard from Mourinho's dead body but does Eden have a certain affinity for France or the French league? Or do you think PSG will simply make an earth-shattering transfer bid and wage commitment.

>Or do you think PSG will simply make an
>earth-shattering transfer bid and wage commitment.
>

unless they can get their hands on Di Maria, I'm expecting them to throw around 80 millions at a Hazard transfer (that's just the transfer fee)

they don't give a fuck

he clowned the shit out of your vaunted defense, CRY ABOUT IT.

I was expecting more quality from PSG to be honest. Chelsea can't compete with them for another season or two.

they're lucky to get out of it with a 2 goals lead...but it doesn't mean I gotta be humble for one. for two, be serious...yes, Cech should have covered the near post, but that 3rd goal is not just the result of a defensive blunder; Pastore showed some serious dribbling skill to leave 4 defenders in the dust (that double contact was a thing of beauty) and he put a lot of mustard on that shot. Recognize.

same thing for the first goal btw. Huge fuck up from your asshole captain (much more egregious than Cech on the 3rd goal), but not everybody can do what Lavezzi pulled.

The game often comes down to who takes advantage...and PSG did that. The Pastore comment is even dumber because he still had so much to do to score like that.

Pastore used to do that for me in FM like 3 times a game.




nah that shit was pretty fly tho.

?

There were chances to be had for Dortmund to get back into the game and give themselves a chance at home, but they lacked the cutting edge in the final 1/3 (Lewendowski was sorely missed, no surprise).

ah well.

Obvious he misses next week's return leg at Stamford Bridge....but if they advance, he also is set to miss both of those legs.

Hate to see injuries at this time of the year.

how are you going to leave a forward totally unmarked on essentially a corner kick?

I couldn't tell on the replay

Ima need HT to get here pronto

edit: f me that was close on Schuurle's shot

Verratti being cute and getting his pocket picked again, and that was almost 2-0

*edit*
and the bar again? jeezus.

Both these matches are on the brink

don't mind me, I'm just salty because I don't get that other Fox Sports

Reus set it up perfectly for Mkhitaryan....who rounds the keeper and proceeds to hit the outside of the post. That has to be a goal.

man...i might get really excited in they get that third goal.

-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious.

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2ih01ky.gif

they've had some hard outs the last 4 or 5 years.

I'm shocked they haven't put one away...Klopp is just shaking his head laughing in disbelief.

If he can settle that ball on the ground rather than go for that half volley...much higher chance of tucking that near-side.

we're going to play 5 in the back now? the fuck is that about?

Blanc is a coward as a coach.

we played like bitches, plain and simple. Last year's exit was sorta cool, this one was absurdly the opposite. Mostly on the players, but surely Blanc's role will get a massive review by the owners asap

shame i missed the first half. damn.
-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious.

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2ih01ky.gif

Yes please

that would make much more sense

a Laurent Blanc led team plays totally scared and below its potential on the big stage, w/France in 2012 now this. this is much worse too, because he had the superior talent on his side this time.

btw, it's not just tonight that they fucked up, they were extremely lucky to get out of the first leg with a 2 goals lead. They shitted the bed the minute they faced a worthy opponent.

I cringed when I saw that Marquinhos change (to play as a 6? really?), but the players were way too frazzled considering the accumulated experience they have at this level. You almost wonder if they'd have played tighter football if Pastore hadn't scored in Paris. And for all the talk about the team not missing Zlatan, you'd think his vocal presence might've had an impact on the team psyche.

But anyways, we lost, congrats to Chelsea who showed what a European contender needs to do at this level. No doubt QSI were watching intently

https://twitter.com/saintmtex/status/453632532005654528/photo/1

Carlo cannot box with Jose.

You know Pep don't want it.

Those other managers need not be mentioned.

It's looking like a team of destiny again.

So... the fuck is you talking?

http://bignews.biz/primages/19/Mourinho.jpg

Playing for time from the first whistle? Being drawn into those fouls and cards? Horrible. If Blanc told them to do that crap from the start, he needs to get the ax.

and like I said above, it's not just last night, they played scared for a good portion of the first leg too, and just got lucky

Blanc insisted they would "play their style" and they "weren't there to be passive" in all his interviews before the game...yet, that's exactly what they ended up doing. That's gotta be on him. Even if you discard the mental preparation aspect, Mourinho had proved in the first leg he could disrupt his 4-3-3 and prevent them from holding the ball like they do against L1 opposition, but he didn't do anything about it (I personally think a 4-3-1-2 with Pastore as a traditional 10 would have fared better). The other thing is, it seems they didn't track Schurrle at all...he was just roaming free all day. The fuck was that, really?

and subbing in Marquinhos for Lucas for the past 10-15 minutes may be anecdotal, but it sure felt like he was shitting his pants...

If you want to suffocate a team that likes to play on the break as much as Chelsea do, why play an out and out creative central mid with little defensive discipline like Veratti over a calmer, steady presence like Cabaye? Also, Maxwell was always going to have fits with the speed and interchange of William and Oscar, which was only compounded when the much faster Scheurle came on for Hazard.

So Blanc is likely gone and I think Wenger will only be too happy to listen to their offer if they still want him.

it's almost like Blanc went into default "big L1 game" mode when he needed to change his outlook massively. Of course hindsight is 20/20 but that was a Moyesian performance from which I'm afraid he won't recover (and now I'm hoping Moyes won't pull a Blanc today against Bayern because things could get interesting if United go for it)

http://imgur.com/2Oit1S6

they just had him on the pregame show, I thought he was kidding when he started kicking the ball but dude knows what he's doing

Bad angles, missing challenges, can't win the ball in the air, not tracking....Atleti already up 1 and pressing hard for another.

Both sides have picked it up now. This should be good.

Welbeck is doing a great job of picking out pockets to make himself available in...and he's stretching with pace too.

Rooney just had a couple possessions where he didn't look his normal self....no explosion down the sideline and then a very tame shot after being setup perfectly by Welbeck. His toe injury is clearly more than being let on IMO.

Evra gave way too much space to Robben's right foot (at only 8 yards out, you can't simply sit on his left foot because he can still square the ball with his right w some pace) and Mueller just got in front of Vidic to deflect it home.

Last defender, clear foul on a player who is through...and only a couple yards outside the box. That's red.

but it didn't matter in the end.

Unrelated:

I thought Eric Wynalda was terrible.

Dude is horrid, atrocious, appalling, etc

in spite of everyone trying to keep him off the left foot.

had two beautiful centering passes with his right, one on the Muller goal

They are really really good defensively, so composed and organized. Simeone has done an incredible job this season...they should be up 2 or 3 to nil. Barca has probed and probed but been closed down so quickly in every even marginally dangerous area.

sigh...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AeYa0FvwLI

probably the best camera work I've ever seen in a football match.

And Ney was the only motherfucker out there to win tonight.

this dude stays inventing new moves

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/2510345

looked completely disengaged as a team and strange tactically change (why were we crossing so much?!?). assuming there isn't a transfer ban this summer, this team really needs a true CB (Mascherano hung Bartra up to dry a number of times and Bartra was pretty shaky), and cesc as a false 9 is just fucking stupid. incomprehensible. took messi completely out of the game (not that messi was playing well regardless--i think Courtois is in his head or some shit) and provided nothing. i just don't get that tactic.

also, webb was an ATROCIOUS ref. both squads had at least 5 no calls that were blatant. terrible job from him and obnoxious--it was like he wanted to prove spanish football isn't physical enough. he was practically mocking people for falling when they got elbowed in the face.

i can't decide if i'm pulling for atletico or not in the champions league. i hated their style in game 1. game 2 they just handled barca and you gotta love the supposed minnow. what a fucking awful final four for a barca fan--2 madrid teams, chelsea and pep's bayern. i have no interest in seeing ANY of them raise the cup. i guess atletico by default?
-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious.

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2ih01ky.gif

Atletico had already blanked you twice and two 1 goal games allowed right? It's evident that Atleti's defensive discipline and work-rate has been extremely effective in shutting down Barca's narrow play (and Atleti straight up swarms in any slightly dangerous area + great tackling), I don't know if I've ever seen a defense so easily anticipate passes and close down space vs Barcelona. Due to that, Martino was at least trying to show some danger on the flanks which would force Atleti to stretch their compactness and open up some of the pockets inside.

That much defensive discipline for 160 minutes against a team as great as Bayern is actually a promising sign. That the team seemed to play better without Fellaini and with cement-footed Darren Fletcher says it all about Moyes midfield tactics and the one thing that is possibly missing from this team to get it together next year: a true box-to-box midfielder that likes to play the ball or an even better defensive midfielder to free Carrick from playing the more reserved role of the two. It still becomes too much of this four-man game in attack with a huge hole in center mid everytime we go forward.