Once I would have been worried by that. I don’t think I am anymore. This Juve isnt as good as their previous sides.
2 Likes
Let’s be honest that Milan side that showed up for 5 minutes is several levels above this Juve side.
Juve really only have 12 points because of what else is in that group.
2 Likes
Not afraid of Juve or Paris but there are far weaker sides going to finish second in their groups and that’s why I wanted City and Chelsea finish second in their groups so that we at least could avoid Juve and Paris.
1 Like
TBH i would prefer Atletico to reach next stage. At least they will give the likes of Chelsea, City, Bayern and ManU two difficult games and Porto on the other hand would be a free pass to the QF.
2 Likes
Jota hadn’t been playing very much recently around that game. He WAS the replacement.
Their only other striker is a shitter Dutch player
I know I made the point elsewhere I couldn’t give a toss about 2.5m if it leads to missing out on trophies and qualifying for the CL next season.
For those aiming to go to the later stages of two or three competitions but had to field benches like they did on Saturday it is vital the squad is managed I doubt JWH is going turn around and go “Well Jürgen I know you won us the CL, but we really should be playing Salah in CL games because you know that 2.5m is now vital”.
Jota is probably a very poor choice of example but people wanting to risk players because of 2.5m meh.
1 Like
Surely Klopp (or any other manager) earns extra money for every win and even more for wins in the CL, right? Why should he not go for that.
Not saying he shouldn’t but you can’t complain about fixture congestion when you don’t take advantage of situations like this.
1 Like
Do they? I wouldn’t be surprised if bonuses for managers are for finishing positions rather than win %.
I think we slightly overrate the money factor and slightly underrate the pure sporting factor of a football club (football side, to be more correct) of the highest calibre; rhythm, consistency, form, etc. We just don’t throw a bunch of kids together without any sense or thought, unless it’s a really rare one in a hundred years situation like at Villa Park the other year.
5 Likes
It is also not particularly conducive to the development of those kids.
5 Likes
I think people are using that as a retrospective justification for why Klopp picked him that game, not appreciating that with the lack of appearances he’d made in the period prior to that game had he not played it would have been going on 3 weeks without having got meaningful minutes in his legs. All this in a time when we were not putting in the hard yards in training because of the fixture list.
What needs to be understood is that at a certain point the actual games are viewed as part of the physical preparation of players and keeping them out of any one game to avoid injury may be thought of the bigger picture, but is actually too small a perspective.
5 Likes
Interesting from Pep tonight, is this Cancelo as the LCM in Messi’s zone or Zinchenko? Because both start.
1 Like
I read it as 5 at the back with Cancelo RB and Zinchenko LB
1 Like
Possible, but I doubt it. We’ll see, I’ll watch highlights after our game.
1 Like
What would the CL be without Pep tinkering with his formation,
1 Like
If Dortmund get beaten by Sporting by 2 goals tonight they are basically out of the competition.
2-0 at the moment.
2 Likes
Mignolet has conceded 4 goals already tonight.
Goncalves with two goals again in this game, the second was a beauty.
City have absolutely battered PSG. Could easily be 5-0.
Lovely goal from Madrid, with the added satisfaction of the ball hitting the underside of the bar, crossing the line and coming back out.
1 Like
Can’t see Bellingham wanting to play in the Europa for the second half of the season…
1 Like