[Football] Champions League Ro16 2nd Legs; Europa League Ro16 1st Legs (6-8 March)

[Reg]

Televised Europa only, full list here: http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2018/matches/index.html#/rd/2000892/1
More live: http://www.live-footballontv.com

All on various BT channels except the Leeds-Wolves game.

Tuesday 19:45
PSG (1) v (3) Real Madrid
Liverpool (5) v (0) Porto

Wednesday 19:45
Tomorrow (2) v (2) Juventus
Man City (4) v (0) Basel

Leeds v Wolves - Sky

Thursday
Atletico Madrid v Lokomotiv Moscow - 18:00 BT Sport Showcase
Dortmund v RB Salzburg - 18:00
Milan v Arsenal - 18:00
Marseille v Athletic Bilbao - 20:05
RB Leipzig v Zenit St Petersburg - 20:05

[Magic]

We're going to get DESTROYED by Wolves.

Also can't wait for the CL games. :drool:

[Ian]

That Juventus held their own in the first leg against the very progression of time is impressive enough, whatever happens in the away leg.

[Byron]

They've sent a few brown envelopes to Father Time.

[Magic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=138&v=CZojBPRTwaM

Anyone that has 4:28 of their lives to waste watch how many howlers our cunt keeper has committed this season.

[Byron]

No-one cares about some shithouse club living on glories acquired nearly 30 years ago. Except if you're a Liverpool fan that is.

[Magic]

It's interesting from a footballing point of view that a club can stick by a keeper despite such woeful goal conceding mistakes (not to mention the little ones).

[SincereTheRebel]

I think its safe to say now. They argument on what is more important, between playing champions league football and winning trophies. Playing champions league is more important than winning trophies. Arsenal being evident of this.

[Reg]

It's a unique case with fans who still see their club as perennial title challengers. I think the vast majority of fans of other clubs would take winning a cup and finishing 7th over not winning anything and finishing 4th.

[Kikó]

It's interesting from a footballing point of view that a club can stick by a keeper despite such woeful goal conceding mistakes (not to mention the little ones).

How bad is your second choice keeper if he's getting in?

[Magic]

How bad is your second choice keeper if he's getting in?

Not that bad, he did get in though and also made a howler and hasn't seen the gloves since.

[niko_cee]

Liverpool XI: Karius, Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Milner, Can, Lallana, Mane, Firmino.

Substitutes: Mignolet, Van Dijk, Salah, Klavan, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ings, Alexander-Arnold.

[Mike]

Moreno means we’ll let at least one in tonight. Hope Lallana does well.

[niko_cee]

Hope he's had a hair cut.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I have a feeling that PSG will batter Madrid here.

Dire Maria will add nothing ofc.

[Reg]

I liked Areola star jumping in excitement at making the save. :D

Good start to the game.

[Baz]

Hope he's had a hair cut.He has! :joy:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

PSG are shit.

[Magic]

That was glorious.

Ascensio (lol?) Is a cracking player.

Can anyone explain to me why M'Bap is worth a million trillion dollars? He reminds me of Ashley Dung.

[-james-]

Nothing warms the cockles of the heart like PSG being hopeless.

[Magic]

Incredible you can win the domestic treble and still get sacked for not being good enough.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Veratti :harold:

[Magic]

Has M'Bappe not heard of the offside rule? Useless cunt.

[Magic]

Hoping for a Cavani sending off. What a dislikeable set of cunts.

[Shindig]

Mitrovic isn't coming back, is he?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm stunned that Ronaldo hasn't murdered Benzema yet.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hoping for a Cavani sending off. What a dislikeable set of cunts.

If not to at least try in this comp, why do they exist and why do the Qataris bother?

[Reg]

Oops. Wondered why Magic wasn't watching Leeds and it's because I listed their game on the wrong day.

PSG's front three haven't linked up at all. Like the first leg except with less YouTube skills from Neymar.

[Magic]

Benzema trolling Modric there. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

If the Ruskies pop in a few more nice Europa results, they could yet sneak above the French into 5th place in the coefficients this year. No doubt this will not earn them the 'status' of being one of EUROPE'S BIG FIVE LEAGUES, though, a fucking weird denomination that seems to have developed in the last couple of years.

[niko_cee]

Just really don't want to draw another English side in the quarters, but there's bound to be at least 1 all English tie (hopefully a Manchester Derby).

[phonics]

971328592763334656

Everyones a winner.

[Disco]

Keep the seat warm for Jose and get paid a ton. Nice work if you can get it.

[John Arne]

971328592763334656

Everyones a winner.

Everyone except PSG.

[SincereTheRebel]

It's a unique case with fans who still see their club as perennial title challengers. I think the vast majority of fans of other clubs would take winning a cup and finishing 7th over not winning anything and finishing 4th.

They pay the same prices as the title winners though, so they cant be blamed.

[Lewis]

Unai Emery would be a good fit for [The] Arsenal. They need an organised tactics nerd more than they need some Good Football wanker at this moment in time (and for the foreseeable future), and he was recognised as one of the best ones around before he started having his teamsheets faxed in from Qatar.

[SincereTheRebel]

Cant speak english diego someone or die.

[phonics]

Unai Emery would be a good fit for [The] Arsenal. They need an organised tactics nerd more than they need some Good Football wanker at this moment in time (and for the foreseeable future), and he was recognised as one of the best ones around before he started having his teamsheets faxed in from Qatar.

It's going to be Joachim Low.

[Kikó]

I wonder whether he'd get the same sniffing opportunities in the colder UK climate.

[Lewis]

Their entire search criteria should be who is least likely to lose ten games in a row to Jose Mourinho.

[John]

They should get Jupp Heynckes in for a couple of years.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think Phonics is right which is lol.

The sniffer will be shit.

[Magic]

It's interesting from a footballing point of view that a club can stick by a keeper despite such woeful goal conceding mistakes (not to mention the little ones).

:D

He's been dropped for a kids who's only played for us once before and had a pretty shaky loan spell at York City.

Against Wolves.

:face:

[John]

In the middle of all the tributes to Astori being held aloft there someone was holding up a little poster advertising their supporter's club. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

There's no one really bothering to cover the right side of the defence for Juventus.

[John]

You'll do well to find a more obvious penalty not given than that one.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's amazing how useless Eric Dier is.

Especially as he's rated so highly.

[Magic]

:D

He's been dropped for a kids who's only played for us once before and had a pretty shaky loan spell at York City.

Against Wolves.

:face:

Playing great so far. Shame everyone else is utter shite.

[Magic]

It's amazing how useless Eric Dier is.

Especially as he's rated so highly.

Can we have more stories about him being trained as a youth abroad?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Barzagli is lucky.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was coming for the loveable Korean :)

[John]

Dele Alli is such a diving tramp and he never gets called on it.

[Giggles]

Dele Alli is such a diving tramp and he never gets called on it.

The tinfoil hat brigade tried their best to push it after their 2-2 draw a while back but not even their obsessive victim complex could penetrate the fact that he's English. And English never dives.

[John]

I'm usually with Floyd that such cynicism should mean a straight red at least, but when it's on Alli I can get behind it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Shaping up nicely now.

[Raoul Duke]

Good finish from the fat lad.

Still can see Spurs' speedy Hobbits getting beyond Juve's defence though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking hell.

[Mike]

It’s like it’s a different side since the formation change.

[Magic]

:D

So gutted I'm not watching those bottling cunts.

[Raoul Duke]

Bit Spursy that.

Harry Kane has done fuck all.

[Gray Fox]

I went upstairs for 5 minutes. What's gone on here then?

[Giggles]

:D they're always nailed on for a bottle job. You can change the manager, players, and even stadium, but Spurs will always be Spursy.

[Waffdon]

Same old Tottenham.

Ben Davies :D

[Magic]

Bit Spursy that.

Harry Kane has done fuck all.

But £220 million! But Neymar!

[John]

But £220 million! But Neymar!

What?

[Shindig]

Italian sides always rally after a suspicious death.

[Raoul Duke]

City losing to Basil Fawlty too

[Magic]

Playing great so far. Shame everyone else is utter shite.

Aaaaaand there's the massive clanger. 3-0.

[Giggles]

City losing to Basil Fawlty too

Well, 5-2.

[phonics]

Buffon is pumped as :D

That takedown from Sanchez off the massive clearance was really quite good.

[phonics]

Harry Kane is offside and heads into the ground and doesn't go in off the post after a heroic clearance, Glenn Hoddle, "He's got lucky there Buffon."

[Mike]

Harry Kane is offside and heads into the ground and doesn't go in off the post after a heroic clearance, Glenn Hoddle, "He's got lucky there Buffon."
“He headed it too well”

[phonics]

I understand what he means there but he doesn't half talk a load of shit.

[Luke Emia]

Spurs are just such a bunch of massive bottlers. It's fucking hilarious, Arsenal get chewed out all the time but the second there is a tiny bit of pressure Spurs crack.

[phonics]

Spurs are just such a bunch of massive bottlers. It's fucking hilarious, Arsenal get chewed out all the time but the second there is a tiny bit of pressure Spurs crack.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXt28kcX4AAjCcU.jpg

[Lewis]

Szczesny looked to be getting right into that. Good for him. He always was a bit lol.

[Magic]

Arsenal aren't bottlers.

[phonics]

Szczesny looked to be getting right into that. Good for him. He always was a bit lol.

I wasn't that bothered to see him go because he seemed to be so awful at saving we conceded every other first shot of the match. Then that tradition carried on 2 goalkeepers later and I thought we'd take him back in once the loans ended. Then we sell him to 6 in a row Serie A winners and 2 Champions League finals in 3 years for 12 million euros. Then he starts crying in his first press conference at Juve when asked about leaving Arsenal and I'm here throwing my chair at the wall.

It's been a ride.

[SincereTheRebel]

Aaaaaand there's the massive clanger. 3-0.

Embarassing

[phonics]

Alright lads. Give them Neymar money. You're coming home.

https://i.imgur.com/DooGar8.png

[Reg]

Fun game again. Champions League nights are even better when you don't have to listen to Robbie Savage.


Arsenal aren't bottlers.
Just mentally weak in every other respect.

[phonics]

Can I ask why Arsenal are considered mentally weak?

A team that's had more of it's own fans against it before getting to the general public beating expectations every year (They were told they would fall out of the top four every year for about eight years before they finally did). I'd definitely call them bottlers before mentally weak. There's been 3 chances to win the league since the last one and every time they've been in the advantageous position they've lost the game(s) that would have made them pretty much nailed on.

2008 - The Birmingham match followed by a 0-0 to Wigan. Two years ago when we beat Leicester in the last minute and followed it with a 3-2 loss to United, a 0-0 v Palace(?) and a 2-1 loss to Swansea. And then the year before Fergie retired when Wenger sold Van Persie which is where the manager bottled it rather than the players.

[Luke Emia]

Can I ask why Arsenal are considered mentally weak?

A team that's had more of it's own fans against it before getting to the general public beating expectations every year (They were told they would fall out of the top four every year for about eight years before they finally did). I'd definitely call them bottlers before mentally weak. There's been 3 chances to win the league since the last one and every time they've been in the advantageous position they've lost the game(s) that would have made them pretty much nailed on.

2008 - The Birmingham match followed by a 0-0 to Wigan. Two years ago when we beat Leicester in the last minute and followed it with a 3-2 loss to United, a 0-0 v Palace(?) and a 2-1 loss to Swansea. And then the year before Fergie retired when Wenger sold Van Persie which is where the manager bottled it rather than the players.

2014 when you were top of the league and rocked up to Anfield was another.

[phonics]

2014 when you were top of the league and rocked up to Anfield was another.

Was that the Aaron Ramsey scoring a million goals year? I can't even remember how that one fell apart.

[Giggles]

Can I ask why Arsenal are considered mentally weak?

A team that's had more of it's own fans against it before getting to the general public beating expectations every year (They were told they would fall out of the top four every year for about eight years before they finally did). I'd definitely call them bottlers before mentally weak. There's been 3 chances to win the league since the last one and every time they've been in the advantageous position they've lost the game(s) that would have made them pretty much nailed on.

2008 - The Birmingham match followed by a 0-0 to Wigan. Two years ago when we beat Leicester in the last minute and followed it with a 3-2 loss to United, a 0-0 v Palace(?) and a 2-1 loss to Swansea. And then the year before Fergie retired when Wenger sold Van Persie which is where the manager bottled it rather than the players.

I think he meant now. At the moment they're pathetic.

[SincereTheRebel]

Was that the Aaron Ramsey scoring a million goals year? I can't even remember how that one fell apart.

He was top five in the world during these times


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRHeXQyCPiI

[phonics]

I remember that match. Podolski scored a cracker from the near post as well.

[Magic]

Embarassing

Indeed. You're light years ahead but cheating cunts.

[SincereTheRebel]

Indeed. You're light years ahead but cheating cunts.

Jimmy Savile. He's one of your own.

[Reg]

Can I ask why Arsenal are considered mentally weak?

A team that's had more of it's own fans against it before getting to the general public beating expectations every year (They were told they would fall out of the top four every year for about eight years before they finally did). I'd definitely call them bottlers before mentally weak. There's been 3 chances to win the league since the last one and every time they've been in the advantageous position they've lost the game(s) that would have made them pretty much nailed on.

2008 - The Birmingham match followed by a 0-0 to Wigan. Two years ago when we beat Leicester in the last minute and followed it with a 3-2 loss to United, a 0-0 v Palace(?) and a 2-1 loss to Swansea. And then the year before Fergie retired when Wenger sold Van Persie which is where the manager bottled it rather than the players.

I think he meant now. At the moment they're pathetic.
They're devoid of confidence at the moment, but I'd say mental weakness is a theme going back a few years if you consider: their record against the best teams; their inability to play well throughout a season and their habit of producing good performances when their season's already decided and the pressure's off; and the lack of leadership that is evident on the pitch when games go against them.

This image is half a season out of date but pretty illustrative:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DITabsFXcAApOMX.jpg

That said, they've been winning cups, so maybe I've bought into the narrative too much. I don't think their top four record is an argument against mental weakness though - isn't that the least their squad should have achieved most seasons? Having players like Ozil and Sanchez, the kind mid-table teams would practically never have, should push you up the table.

[Magic]

That's not bottling it though.

[phonics]

Having players like Ozil and Sanchez, the kind mid-table teams would practically never have, should push you up the table.

There's larger points to be made but I'd just like to quickly address this before I do. The fact that Sanchez had his best year for us when we finished in our lowest position for 20 years should be telling about both him and this iteration of Arsenal.

[Reg]

That's not bottling it though.
I never said it was.

[Magic]

True sorry.

[Waffdon]

Did Steven Gerrard really say Salah is the greatest African to play in the Premier League?

Hahahahaha hahahahaha hahahahaha

[Magic]

Egypt isn't in Africa lol!

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Drogba fucking disgrace gif called for there.

[Pleb]

Pep seething in that post match conference :baz:

[mugbull]

Good fucking game. Bottled it but who cares, we played so well. Team can be proud.

[Spoonsky]

:*)

[Spoonsky]

Where do you live these days Mokbull?

[mugbull]

Palo Alto, lol. It's a nice place and i have a lot of friends here but man I wanna go back and live in London

[Kikó]

Can teams not just lose rather than bottle it? Juventus are probably the 5-6th best team in Europe and serial winners.

City Liverpool still in it is worrying.

[mugbull]

I think Juventus are 3rd in Europe in these knockout games. Barcelona and Bayern probably the only ones who are "better". The Madrid, City group could beat them but I don't think they will.

[-james-]

City are the best team in Europe by a country mile and they've fucked it if they don't win. Real Madrid and Juve are frauds. Bayern and maybe Liverpool are the threat.

[-james-]

I watched the Arsenal game tonight and Jack Wilshere is horrific. If he starts for England then all is lost.

I watched the Leipzig game too and Naby Keita is the son of God.

[Kikó]

Our Jack will win it for the lions.

[Magic]

I had no idea Reno was managing AC. Lol at that.

[Mazuuurk]

Saw this on those Beebs Reactions feeds this morning:


Jack: As a devoted Arsenal fan I think it's disgraceful how our fans are demanding Wenger to leave. I was Wenger out as well until last night but that result changed my mind completely. Shows Wenger still is a class act who can take Arsenal forward.


:D

[phonics]

It was nice to see a largely competent Arsenal team for the first time in about 4 months. I have to ignore Mustafi and Koscielny passing it to Milan forwards several times a match to say that but I'll take it.

[Giggles]

Aren't Milan like a league one team these days?

[phonics]

They were unbeaten since before Christmas so no not really.

[Magic]

They're nowhere near Napoli or Juve.

[phonics]

They're nowhere near Napoli or Juve.

Nor are Arsenal. Hence why both teams are playing in the Europa League.

[Mazuuurk]

Saw this somewhere on twitter and it haunts me:

https://snag.gy/Jqyfvj.jpg

[Lewis]

If we only see the stats from the two games, I think Tottenham was the much better team... And I think Juventus are specialists because they have the habit to win, the habit to put pressure on the referee. The owner stayed in the corridor in the tunnel before or during the game. It’s a club with a culture to do everything to try to help the team. Before the game it was Agnelli, after the game it was Agnelli, Marotta. I saw at half-time how they put pressure on the referee. I believe those details can help the club.

lol what a dickhead.

[Magic]

Saw this somewhere on twitter and it haunts me:

https://snag.gy/Jqyfvj.jpg

Ahaha class.