The College Dropout

I wonder if Klopp will line up like this against Real with TAA ahead of Clyne. Marcelo is so often critical in big games for Real.

Why? We usually beat Cardiff and we nearly always lose to Fulham. Also think Cardiff won't be as prepared for the PL. Warnock, like Holloway can put together top Championship sides but never seem capable of making the step up. Fulham play it around a bit more.

Why? A team from outside the major leagues winning a European trophy (even if they're sponsored by Red Bull) would make me feel there's still some hope for "lesser" teams in Europe. Is France a major league? Yes. Haven't won a European trophy for 25 years. There's not a French side with the history of Benfica.

Why? A team from outside the major leagues winning a European trophy (even if they're sponsored by Red Bull) would make me feel there's still some hope for "lesser" teams in Europe. Is France a major league? PL La Liga Italy Germany Struggling to remember the last Euorpean Cup winners outside of those nations. CL - Porto surely. Europa - might be Porto as well. Never seen (or don't recall) a French side winning a European trophy. Monaco and Marseille going to finals aye. I feel like Spanish sides have won the majority of European Cups over the last decade in both competitions. 6 or so in the CL (Barca and Real), 6 or so in Europa League (Atleti and Sevilla). A number of all Spanish lockouts too. Not sure how much longer it can last.

His half-time team talk v Juventus in last year's final, which was recorded, probably indicates otherwise. I think it's the players that are winning it for Madrid, not a manager with a magic touch. Eh? You mean the team talk he had at 1-1 and they won it... 4-1? IIRC everything he said contributed to the win. High pressing and aggression. Juve weren't good enough in midfield to cope and that was that. He's such a calm, classy dude. Reminds me of Carlo Ancelotti. I've been critical of him and the style Real play. But in big moments he hardly ever puts a foot wrong. The decisions he makes tend to work. He's somehow attacking and pragmatic. Played a passer and a dribbler instead of Casemiro at DM, and a winger at RB yet happy to concede possession. Did this for close to 80 minutes.... somehow it worked.

Would start Bale in the final. On the left up against the young FB and Lovren. Zizou seems to have the magic touch in any case.

If Gini has to play in the final they will lose.

And it looks like they would have got to the final comfortably. Never been behind from the KO rounds. Gone through by a number of goals each time. If they win it, it will be deserved.

Think it would be a classy final no matter the outcome of tonight. Glad there’s no City, Chelsea or PSG in the latter stages. the Barca / Real / Bayern triumvant is boring though.

Think Liverpool have a great chance of beating Real. But Liverpool will have to be at close to their best to win. Anything less and Real will win it somehow, some way. Which is why they’ll be deserved favourites. Most capable of winning it when not playing well. Somehow beat Bayern with a winter at fullback and essentially a 32 year old CM as his support.

Nah, I think they could win 4-1. But Real would beat Roma in the final. Liverpool has a better chance if they were to make it.

Agreed. I thought over 2 legs Liverpool would beat them. I think with Kovacic in midfield, they are well equipped to handle play through a high-press. Think Kovacic-Modric-Kroos are brilliant in tight spaces but.. you never know. I believe in little football hoodoo's and tropes. Real have won something like 6 CL finals in a row... but their last defeat was to Liverpool. Although Klopp has lost something like 6 finals in a row.

Can't beat Bayern over 2 legs by being shit. They defended pretty. Didn't make the 2 Kamikaze mistakes Bayern did. And took 2/3 of the goals tremendously well.

Even for a clasico? Winning the CL trumps everything for them I reckon.

Bale would come back and boss it for a couple years when fit imo. Think City would be the best move for him but won't happen. Somewhere he can be rotated a lot.

That's also Barca getting a result on the weekend. The Real lads will be relaxing until the final.

Slyly Heynckes lost it when he took off James. James was causing all sorts of trouble with his movement in the hole, so difficult to pick up as well. Bayern out due to individual mistakes. Real for the 3 Peat? wow.

The 3 peat is on. Fucking hell that was a proper CL semi final game.

This James guy is going to sink Real for their sins,.

Feel like Real need a double pivot in defence AND Bale on. Or maybe move Vasquez to midfield for some pace.

I genuinely think both ties are alive. Roma have shown they can come from a 3 goal deficit. And Real have shown they can throw a lead even at home.

The more I think about it. The less I want it used. Handballs sure. Offsides maybe. Fouls? Nah. A foul is too subjective. Offsides happen very frequently. Unless there whole body is offside I would rather not use it for that.

Has to be a real question mark against his temperament. Aye. No confidence at all

Calvert-Lewin with a blatant foul, fucking Madeley letting it go again

Keane's a liability