UEFA Champions League/Europa League 29/30 April 01 May *** Spoilers ***

No huge surprise Bayern got the stuffing knocked out of them, losing 4-0 on the night and 5-0 on aggregate. Thats a painful defeat for them but fully deserved as they didnt look like scoring at any moment.

Too slow going forward, side to side passing which was frankly quite boring. Says a lot when Pep admitted the tactics he used against Arsenal and Utd didnt work over the 2 legs.

Defensively they looked lost as well, Real tore them apart with power and pace simply put.

I expect Bayern to come back stronger next yr, i dont think this tiki taka football really suits them...in the league yes as its not a very strong league but on the european stage they didnt really look all that good compared to last yr when they were relentless going to the final.

Hoping for a good game tonight and for Atletico to go through altho Real vs Mourinho in the final wouldnt be a bad thing either...only for Ronaldo to score a hattrick and celebrate in front of Mou:p
 
https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10320412_690871437639248_933247973362277103_n.jpg[IMG] :D

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dacads said:
What's football come to eh. No longer a form of entertainment but about winning the trophies whether it is ugly or not. I don't think any team is worthy of a trophy playing the way Chelsea does. Just isn't right compared to a proper game of football where you feel the team deserves it.
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Football is a game of strategies. If Chelsea park the bus and win, it's sheer madness to say they don't deserve it.
 
Ah I see the chelsea bashing is out in full force. Don't get me wrong I much prefer us defending well and attacking (like at the etihad a few months back) and I'll concede last week against atletico was a snore fest of a game and largely due to us sitting back. However, the liverpool game this weekend? No I'm not willing to accept criticism for that, we were without Hazard, Oscar, Willian (until late in the 2nd half), Ramires, Terry, Cech, Cahill and Eto'o. Now that's not to say our 2nd string is completely inept but mourinho is obviously a lot less confident at going after a rampant liverpool team with our second string first 11.

Again I'll admit we were gifted the first goal and the second came at a point when Liverpool were chasing desperately. I'm not saying the tactics were in any way set up to win the game as they were more about protecting ourselves and hoping for some luck. However, the same armchair pundits in here would happily slate teams for naively going out and getting hammered even if they play the 'beautiful game' (Arsenal come under criticism for this regularly).

Ultimately in an ideal world I'd like us to be playing more progressive football similar to real on a regular basis but our team is pretty disjointed at the moment and lacking a true focal point in attack (Demba ba is a handful but technically not good enough, torres is woeful and eto'o well I wish he was 5 years younger as he is class). We show glimpses of being able to do it but otherwise our team hasn't clicked consistently this season.

Obviously I want us to go through and if we do, anything can happen in a final. However, Real look imperious and I imagine they will beat whoever is put in front of them.
 
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With Hazard back again, I'm expecting a performance similar to the game against City. Still reactive but more willing to commit on the counter than against Atletico last week.

Might be cagey though, because Atletico will be more reticent away from home. 1 goal will likely decide it.
 
SS-89 said:
Ah I see the chelsea bashing is out in full force. Don't get me wrong I much prefer us defending well and attacking (like at the etihad a few months back) and I'll concede last week against atletico was a snore fest of a game and largely due to us sitting back. However, the liverpool game this weekend? No I'm not willing to accept criticism for that, we were without Hazard, Oscar, Willian (until late in the 2nd half), Ramires, Terry, Cech, Cahill and Eto'o. Now that's not to say our 2nd string is completely inept but mourinho is obviously a lot less confident at going after a rampant liverpool team with our second string first 11.

Again I'll admit we were gifted the first goal and the second came at a point when Liverpool were chasing desperately. I'm not saying the tactics were in any way set up to win the game as they were more about protecting ourselves and hoping for some luck. However, the same armchair pundits in here would happily slate teams for naively going out and getting hammered even if they play the 'beautiful game' (Arsenal come under criticism for this regularly).

Ultimately in an ideal world I'd like us to be playing more progressive football similar to real on a regular basis but our team is pretty disjointed at the moment and lacking a true focal point in attack (Demba ba is a handful but technically not good enough, torres is woeful and eto'o well I wish he was 5 years younger as he is class). We show glimpses of being able to do it but otherwise our team hasn't clicked consistently this season.

Obviously I want us to go through and if we do, anything can happen in a final. However, Real look imperious and I imagine they will beat whoever is put in front of them.
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Good post although I'd disagree you could've done slightly more at the weekend in terms of attacking on the break and still have been just as solid at the back, but as you said clearly went there not to lose and got a nice chunk of luck :)
 
I don't like to see teams "parking the bus" but I understand why it happens.

One that particularly sticks for me was Man U vs Leeds, FA Cup 3rd Round. But I can see why Leeds set up to play like that.
 
I don't like to see teams depriving the opposition of the ball and doing very little with it themselves apart from 10yrd passes in the middle of the pitch. :p

IMO if every team played the same way in which that viewers find the most entertaining as a spectacle football would be far less interesting, tactics are what it is all about no matter how ugly they may be.

If 'parking the bus' was easy to execute every underdog would be getting at least a draw every week.
 
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SS-89 said:
Ah I see the chelsea bashing is out in full force. Don't get me wrong I much prefer us defending well and attacking (like at the etihad a few months back) and I'll concede last week against atletico was a snore fest of a game and largely due to us sitting back. However, the liverpool game this weekend? No I'm not willing to accept criticism for that, we were without Hazard, Oscar, Willian (until late in the 2nd half), Ramires, Terry, Cech, Cahill and Eto'o. Now that's not to say our 2nd string is completely inept but mourinho is obviously a lot less confident at going after a rampant liverpool team with our second string first 11.

Again I'll admit we were gifted the first goal and the second came at a point when Liverpool were chasing desperately. I'm not saying the tactics were in any way set up to win the game as they were more about protecting ourselves and hoping for some luck. However, the same armchair pundits in here would happily slate teams for naively going out and getting hammered even if they play the 'beautiful game' (Arsenal come under criticism for this regularly).

Ultimately in an ideal world I'd like us to be playing more progressive football similar to real on a regular basis but our team is pretty disjointed at the moment and lacking a true focal point in attack (Demba ba is a handful but technically not good enough, torres is woeful and eto'o well I wish he was 5 years younger as he is class). We show glimpses of being able to do it but otherwise our team hasn't clicked consistently this season.

Obviously I want us to go through and if we do, anything can happen in a final. However, Real look imperious and I imagine they will beat whoever is put in front of them.
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Good post, which is a rarity from a Chelsea fan :p.

I would never knock a team for trying to play 'football' by the way, I'd only have a go at a team that are playing unambitious football, which is how I've viewed the last few Chelsea games, going out to essentially not lose and to not attack stinks to me, especially given how good the squad that Chelsea have is.

I totally agree with the Real Madrid comment though, anything can happen in a final, but Real look magnificent.

Also; re the Bayern match last night, which was a beautiful example of counter attacking football, I felt very sorry for Pep. He's had a really tough few days, losing one of his closest friends, how do you motivate a team and prepare a team while you're dealing with something like that. Everyone saw last season how Barcelona declined while Tito was away from the club due to his illness. Terrible.

Anyway; not particularly excited about tonight as I've regretted watching the last few Chelsea matches, but excited to see Madrid and Costa :).

Also! haha, I don't think the goal less draw suited Chelsea at all, I mean I could be wrong, but I thought that Chelsea will have to try and attack as the emphasis is on them as the home team which will suit Madrid very well, as they have counter attacked fantastically well all season. It all comes down to attitude, vision and ambition tonight.
 
Tummy said:
Also! haha, I don't think the goal less draw suited Chelsea at all, I mean I could be wrong, but I thought that Chelsea will have to try and attack as the emphasis is on them as the home team which will suit Madrid very well, as they have counter attacked fantastically well all season. It all comes down to attitude, vision and ambition tonight.
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Unless they want to try and get through 120 minutes of not conceeding (while at the same time barely crossing the 1/2 way line) and taking their chance with pens.....
 
Purdy said:
Good post although I'd disagree you could've done slightly more at the weekend in terms of attacking on the break and still have been just as solid at the back, but as you said clearly went there not to lose and got a nice chunk of luck :)
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I agree but in part there were a few opportunities that broke down due to poor passing or losing the ball. The demba ba to schurrle and salah running into his man twice spring to mind.
 
Not a Chelsea fan but who can blame a team for "negative" tactics? Look where we are at in the season, 3 games left, you just want to get as many points as you can to win trophies. They didn't get to the semi of the CL playing his way or all this way in the season.

You look at the situation, you look at your players, you play to win. You play to WIN. 3 games and you get a trophy. Going punch for for punch when you know full well you'll get KO?

No wonder we are not football managers and JM has 2 CL winners medals.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Not a Chelsea fan but who can blame a team for "negative" tactics? Look where we are at in the season, 3 games left, you just want to get as many points as you can to win trophies. They didn't get to the semi of the CL playing his way or all this way in the season.

You look at the situation, you look at your players, you play to win. You play to WIN. 3 games and you get a trophy. Going punch for for punch when you know full well you'll get KO?

No wonder we are not football managers and JM has 2 CL winners medals.
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My problem is that Chelsea have not played to win, they have played to not lose and have showed no ambition of attacking teams.

I had no idea you even posted in the football stadium.
 
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