Flip

Shouldn't have sent the guy I played with to their USL affiliate. Stuff like this wouldn't be happening with him in the side

Not even you froggy can agree with what Sir Alex said.

Not biased at all from Sir Alex. Still smarting from when Messi raped his team in 2 CL finals :thup:

Not biased at all from Sir Alex.

1. Dortmund has had trouble all season, while they seemed to be turning it around their team isn't much better than Juventus and they still got away with a chance from Turin. Good win for Juve no doubt, not debating that. For the 2nd leg they lost a bit in form in the league. They were playing okish football but were unable to produce anything of note going forward. Obviously they had the same problem against Juve, but it was also a great goal from Tevez and then defensive errors which made the score 3-0. 2. Obviously you are right you don't win on papers, but at the same time expectations are different when you're team is stronger. 3. It's obviously here where we differ in ideas, if I only looked at results and not performances I would probably think Allegri is some kind of genius, unfortunately his team is less convincing than Conte despite the players they have. Obviously I haven't followed Juventus intensely this season but they haven't impressed when I have. He has relied heavily on Tevez offensively, just like he did with Zlatan at Milan. Let's not forget that my main point is that this Juventus side is worse than the one under Conte. 4. What Mole posted above. As for the league being weaker, it's not true, the league is weaker now. They went unbeaten in a season under Allegri's Milan side which included Zlatan and Thiago Silva as their star player. Clearly the two best players in the Serie A at the time. I respect your opinion, I don't agree with it. I think Allegri has done what is expected from his squad. I'm not the only one who has this ''simple'' opinion though. I'm basing my opinion of Allegri on the one league win and another pending one. Also a respectable semifinal, minimum, finish. You're basing it on the fact that Dortmund have been "s***" and on the fact that he has world class players at his disposal. Get away, I'm not going to waste any further time on you. Funny you still hold a grudge, why don't you answer Mole next time then

Think we're going to be safe, but yea it's really really close.

Something so funny yet so sad about grown men doing the wanker sign/wave to players.

With his hands?

It was.

Looked a free-kick that. Nope. He kinda slipped. Horrible defending all around.

Main reason for watching other teams. I just get depressed watching us and usually give up after 20minutes. Other teams playing decent football at least brings some enjoyment.

I've never cared more for European football than now since I packed it in regarding Newcastle over 18 months ago. Watch less and less PL football nowadays and more Bundesliga and La Liga than ever.

And those have been criticized as well. Pep was being killed just a week or so ago despite his team dominating German football and only had one bad game. Expectations are higher when your team is better. My biggest criticism is that I clearly don't find him a very good manager (Allegri) and that I find his Juve side despite going further than they did under Conte worse. Pep's bayern and this Juve side are not comparable at all. In terms of players definitely not, but in terms of expectations they're a bit the same. If Bayern doesn't win the CL he'll be criticized, the same way I believe Allegri would had he not taken his Juve side to the semi considering the draw he got.

And those have been criticized as well. Pep was being killed just a week or so ago despite his team dominating German football and only had one bad game. Expectations are higher when your team is better. My biggest criticism is that I clearly don't find him a very good manager (Allegri) and that I find his Juve side despite going further than they did under Conte worse.

1. Dortmund has had trouble all season, while they seemed to be turning it around their team isn't much better than Juventus and they still got away with a chance from Turin. Good win for Juve no doubt, not debating that. For the 2nd leg they lost a bit in form in the league. They were playing okish football but were unable to produce anything of note going forward. Obviously they had the same problem against Juve, but it was also a great goal from Tevez and then defensive errors which made the score 3-0. 2. Obviously you are right you don't win on papers, but at the same time expectations are different when you're team is stronger. 3. It's obviously here where we differ in ideas, if I only looked at results and not performances I would probably think Allegri is some kind of genius, unfortunately his team is less convincing than Conte despite the players they have. Obviously I haven't followed Juventus intensely this season but they haven't impressed when I have. He has relied heavily on Tevez offensively, just like he did with Zlatan at Milan. Let's not forget that my main point is that this Juventus side is worse than the one under Conte. 4. What Mole posted above. As for the league being weaker, it's not true, the league is weaker now. They went unbeaten in a season under Allegri's Milan side which included Zlatan and Thiago Silva as their star player. Clearly the two best players in the Serie A at the time. I respect your opinion, I don't agree with it. I think Allegri has done what is expected from his squad. I'm not the only one who has this ''simple'' opinion though.

Clearly old debate where Dinho thinks this proves him right. I don't agree whatsoever with him being the reason they're there. Contrs Juve was more convincing in the league than Allegris team. Besting Conte's domestic record would be near-impossible for any manager, let alone Allegri. Even then, he's 15 points clear, in the cup final and in the CL semis, and he's put his own stamp on an already-successful side by changing formation. Considering his relative unpopularity at the start of the season, he deserves a fair bit of credit for turning things around. It's all very well harping on about expectation and how Juve should've walked through to the semis but surely a bit of context is needed here; Conte's great domestic side never made it past the quarters and went out of the group stage last season. At the end of the day, you can only beat what's in front of you - the fact that Allegri's done that in the CL while continuing to dominate domestically is worthy of praise. They're very capable of beating Real imo. Of course, but at the same time they played Bayern in the quarters of the CL which ended up being the best team in Europe that season. Had Allegri played Bayern again in the quarters I'd doubt they'd gone through. I don't see them as an improved team over Conte's Juventus, which for me says a lot since Conte himself isn't the best manager around. Also think their squad is extremely underrated. Their midfield is one of the best in Europe with players like Pogba, Pirlo and Vidal. Add Marchisio and their defense which is basically the Italian defense over the past few years and they're a much better team than the rest in the Serie A with some serious investments such as Morata for a pretty hefty fee. Allegri has done the job expected of a manager managing this Juve side considering the teams they've had to play in the CL. Anything short of going to the semi based on the draws would probably be a bit of a disappointment IMO.

Clearly old debate where Dinho thinks this proves him right. I don't agree whatsoever with him being the reason they're there. Contrs Juve was more convincing in the league than Allegris team.

be nice with all italian final.

Seen every Barcelona game this season and agree with Mole tbh. Real 1st half and Sevilla 2nd half are examples of that. Even Valencia where possession was dominated it was Valencia's midfield that were creating things. Playing against a PSG without Motta and Verratti and that in the second leg were trying to play a more direct style as they were having to score three doesn't mean that much either tbf. Suarez won that tie with individual brilliance and not the midfield. It's definitely not as bad as last year under Tata, but it's nowhere near the Tiki Taka side. I love Busquets though and I think it's mostly down to him to why you can keep possession as he keeps things tidy, but it's nowhere near and I mean nowhere near what Bayern does with the ball in midfield. They win everything in the middle of the pitch, their battle is won there whereas Barcelonas isn't.

Share the same opinion as you. Their midfield is great at limiting opponents creativity though, Iniesta has put in some fantastic defensive efforts this season while offensively he's been average at best for big parts.

Aye, great draw. Also possibly brings el undecimo just an inch closer. I wouldn't be surprised if Juve beat Real but Real have to be favourites in that tie. That Bayern/Barca should be brilliant. I think Xavi might be crucial. If Barca can sneak ahead, Xavi could kill the tie even if it's off the bench. I fancy Alonso to pick up a red in that tie. Possibly missing another final. Just like he did against Sevilla? No, Xavis best days are gone, on odd occasions he can do it off the bench like against PSG, but you can't depend on him to kill ties off. It's all about Messi, Neymar or Suarez having a great day against Bayern on the counter because I just can't see Bayern not controlling the midfield no matter who plays. I only saw highlights of the Sevilla game. But Xavi killed the Real & PSG ties. Suarez killed both ties IMO. But I understand what you mean, unfortunately he doesn't do that often enough though so it's a problem to have to rely on him to kill ties. It's all about that front-three creating magic in my opinion.

Such a s*** manager, that Allegri guy. I still don't think he's anything special. They've had a relatively easy way to the semi's playing teams that on paper are weaker than them and also playing Dortmund which was out of form. Vidal, Pogba, Tevez are absolutely top class and that's not down to Allegri. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...... Nothing to add I see, glad we agree then.

Aye, great draw. Also possibly brings el undecimo just an inch closer. I wouldn't be surprised if Juve beat Real but Real have to be favourites in that tie. That Bayern/Barca should be brilliant. I think Xavi might be crucial. If Barca can sneak ahead, Xavi could kill the tie even if it's off the bench. I fancy Alonso to pick up a red in that tie. Possibly missing another final. Just like he did against Sevilla? No, Xavis best days are gone, on odd occasions he can do it off the bench like against PSG, but you can't depend on him to kill ties off. It's all about Messi, Neymar or Suarez having a great day against Bayern on the counter because I just can't see Bayern not controlling the midfield no matter who plays. You can't see Bayern not controlling the midfield? Against Busquets, Iniesta and Raketic/Xavi, with Messi dropping in as well? It could go either way which is what makes it so interesting. It's Bayern's forward line vs Barca's defence that seems like the big thing with me. I can see Barca being caught out at the back more than I can Bayern (despite how bad it was against Porto in the 1st Leg) They've had trouble controlling midfield against far lesser technical teams this season, so yeah I can't see them controlling it against Alonso/Schwein/Lahm/Thiago. Barcelona gameplan will have to depend on using the counter just like against Atl Madrid. Messi dropping deep and playing Suarez and Neymar up top. Their midfield is good enough to prevent too many Bayern chances though and good enough to win ball deep in the back to start counters, but I'll be surprised if they dominate possession against them especially considering they're not that kind of team anymore. Exactly, but the points that you mention re Barca's midfield are why I don't see Bayern necessarily dominating. They might edge it, but I don't think it'll be the reason why they win or lose. Fair enough. I think Barcelona could end up not seeing much of the ball which rarely happens. Will be a great tie nonetheless. Hopefully Neymar can keep getting better like he has lately, Suarez keep dominating and Messi find energy somewhere to be able to play 180 minutes at his best.