Comments on: Barcelona – Celtic: Champions League Second Leg!

By: riad

riad — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:59:45 +0000

Hooray …Real Madrid are out, what a match! I think they played like shit and Roma is definetly one of the candidates for the Champion’s league title winners.
Let’s just hope that we meet an average team such as Shalke, but not Man or Roma or Arsenal. This way I feel we will have a real shot in winning the CL. Passing the 8th round succesfully and then having messi back…I just can’t going to anyone else when messi is back.
Regarding the league I got faith that we will catch up to real even without messi cause we will have merely tough games except for villareal. On the other hand, real are having 3 tough games and I c them losing points especially after their confidence is down after the CL match

By: JC

JC — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:06:16 +0000

Next season, Madrid are surely going to entice either Ronaldo, Kaka or Fabregas…
I feel it will be Kaka…

By: jake

jake — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:33:44 +0000

I’m with you JC. I wouldn’t be looking forward to playing them, especially on their current run of form.

A 4-4-2 would be a good option, and I think Eto-o and Henry up front. Henry plays so much better as a striker than a winger, and he has said in the past that he prefers to play with another striker by his side. The only problem with that is that Ronnie has changed so much from when he used to be a midfielder, and now he is more of a winger. We could always try to get him back to his roots, but as you said, Rijkaard won’t be that bold.

I think that Madrid will have some sort of a drastic game. I’m really not sure if they will play good or bad, but it will definately be an extreme (if you know what I’m trying to say.) They will either be so emotionally drained that they will play horrendously, or they will realise that the league is their only chance of silverware, and will destroy the opposition.

Did anyone else see Manuel Neuer in the Schalke match? He’s definately one to watch. Made some amazing saves, including two of the penalties.

By: JC

JC — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 05:58:32 +0000

Arsenal are looking very strong…it wud be nice if we don’t face them till the final, and then there we beat the shit out of them!!!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 05:48:44 +0000

Well,at least one of my prayers was answered today. The Evil ones are out of the CL, now let’s hope this messes with their psyche. It probably won’t, but we can hope!

Ciaran, I assume all your scenarios are based on a 4-3-3, is that correct? Given the circumstances, I think I’d like to see a 4-4-2, with Abidal(Sylvinho), Milito, Puyol, and Zambrotta in the back. In the midfield play Yaya, Ronnie, Iniesta(Deco), and Xavi. Then in the two striking positions rotate Eto’o, Henry, Bojan, and possibly Dos Santos. I really don’t see Rijkaard being this bold and I know it’s still a little weak on the right, but I think Xavi and Zambrotta are the best bet. Especially if Eto’o or Bojan play the right, leaving the left for Henry or Dos Santos.

By: ballbeav

ballbeav — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 05:41:44 +0000

Ciaran brought up a good point of playing Iniesta in a more attacking role. Put him over in Messi’s normal spot, but maybe a tiny bit farther back. If Deco stops sucking and can start being more solid in the midfield, i think this is a brilliant idea. Iniesta can create real problems, and i liked when he played there before.

At this point in the season we should not be putting the responsibility of winning cups on the shoulders of 17 and 18 year olds.

By: Ciaran

Ciaran — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:16:03 +0000

What to do? What to do? What to Do?
With the Messiah out injured who should take his place and more importantly when?
Examining the different options we all will have our favourites but certainly Yaya Toure will not get rested again for a while and Xavi will be guaranteed a starting place in midfield, which isn’t a bad thing considering he is our best striker at the moment.
The easy choice is to play Ronnie/Henry/Eto’o. On paper it wins hands-down, however their interplay is iffy and Eto’o is much better through the centre and neither of the others like the right. I would probably rotate Ronnie and Henry in to the side and maybe play some second halves with them together.
Of the two younsters Bojan usually get the nod at home and this trend will probably continue if they are starting. He is not where I would like him to be physically but he is certainly on his way to being one of the best strikers in the world (even if I think he would be best suited to a two man striker force).
I wouldn’t mind having Giovani in the team if it were on the left we were short but he is more like to drift in and out of the game from the right. He also shoots like he gets points for shooting more.
Iniesta is probably the best starter of the four. If he starts he can break down more resolute defenses from further up the pitch. He hasn’t been in the best form of late but seems to have moved 10yards further back as Xavi bombs into the box.
The one downside to this would be that we have more cover up front than we do in midfield. We would just have Xavi Deco and Eidur for the two slots, and Deco isn’t ever far from suspensions.
Choices, choices, choices

By: ballbeav

ballbeav — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:32:39 +0000

schalke wins on PKs, so our potential opponents in the March 14 draw are Roma, Schalke, Fenerbache, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool/Inter.

By: ballbeav

ballbeav — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:01:12 +0000

@ joe. true, that is the downside to real madrid’s loss. they have only the liga to focus on. but, sometimes teams slump domestically after going out of the CL. it can go either way. they really exerted themselves today, ending with only 10 men and running a ton. i can see them losing at the weekend, emotionally drained.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:44:50 +0000

Now they have no excuse for losing La Liga, really.. We’re in 3 competitions, they’re in 1.