Champions League Final

[-james-]

MORE FREDS


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9U6yU2-DWY

[Waffdon]

Can’t imagine it will be much of a spectacle. Chelsea’s only change is if Kante plays

[Pleb]

What's wrong with Ian's thread?

[Ian]

I'm sure there's a prospect less exciting than two English teams in a Champions League final but I'm not sure what it is.

[niko_cee]

It's hard to conceive of a positive outcome from this.

I suppose Chelsea robbing City would be quite funny, but really, there are no winners here. Apart from, I guess, fossil fuels. Take that THE ENVIRONMENT.

[Spikey M]

Has John Terry gone over and has he taken his shinpads?

[Waffdon]

He’s flown over for it. Which is a bit weird considering he’s a first team coach for Aston Villa and nearly done them out of top four

[Yevrah]

+1 for same country finals being an abomination.

[Manc]

TACTICS will be the only winner tonight.

[Baz]

Whoever wins should smash Villarreal for six in the Super Cup, especially if Pau Torres leaves.

[Shindig]

My money's on City but only because them winning might prove a better game.

[Lewis]

I would rather Chelsea won if only to annoy Noel Gallagher, but I think City will hammer them.

[Don]

We all need a Chelsea win as the lesser evil.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's still a pretty fucking big evil.

[Shindig]

They're both oil clubs.

[Lewis]

Russian organised crime oil money is better than Middle Eastern oil money. Plus the Chinese government has a piece of City, and we've had a shit year because of those bastards.

[Kikó]

Come on Chelsea.

[7om]

2-1 City.

[Ian]

1-0 Ronaldo.

[Gray Fox]

Chelsea is the greater good.

In reality I think whoever scores first wins as it lures the other team into playing into their hands.

[Waffdon]

That City midfield 3 is either going to absolutely don it or be completely run over. Not a defensive player in sight

[Shindig]

Let's not kid ourselves. It'll be a tepid draw that ends on penalties. 11-10. Chelsea lose with a kick Mendy definitely would've scored. The commentators try desperately to call it a great day for English football.

[niko_cee]

Thinking back to Chelsea's last heroic victory in this made me realise that the Saturday night finals have been with us for quite a while now.

[Waffdon]

Cabellero on Chelsea’s bench in case they go to penalties. Tim Krul vibes

[Don]

Why on Earth has the mong gone Raheem in for Rodri. Even Fernandinho could have been acceptable but that seems like the classic overthinking bollocks. Shame they're up against that banter front 3.

[Baz]

Bets:

KDB and Mount to have 3+ shots on target between them. 6/1

And a bet builder of Aguero goal :moop:, Foden assist, Kante card, no reds and city to win in 90 mins. 28/1

[Shindig]

BT really pushing that football existed before 1992 if the narrative demands it.

[Waffdon]

What’s Reece James playing at with that haircut.

You’d hope he’s at wing back today after he destroyed City down their left in the league game

[Shindig]

No recognised strikers on that pitch. I'm not counting Werner.

[Lewis]

What is wrong with him?

[Waffdon]

Werner :D

He has the best positioning in world football. Just can’t hit a ball

[SincereTheRebel]

The Operation [MENTION=2061]Jimmy Floyd

[Waffdon]

This game has started in the least way expected. Definitely suits Man City

[SincereTheRebel]

I think it is Jimmy who donned that term. I can't stop laughing.

[Shindig]

It really puts Joelinton in perspective.

[Waffdon]

Ederson gets sent off there if it doesn’t turn into a goal

[Lewis]

Has the 'keeper handballed that there?

[Gray Fox]

What a bloody pass that is from Mount.

[Manc]

Superb. Kaka-esque.

[Shindig]

It's been coming. Chelsea look dangerous when they steal it in midfield.

[phonics]

Hoddle saying 'Theyre lucky they didn't catch that it hit Edersons arm or they could be in even more trouble'

Does he know how the rules work?

[phonics]

This game is straight late mid 2010s Arsenal. City should be about 3 up after wasting chances and now theyre fucked.

Why are pundits talking about changing shape. City have cut them open like multiple times.

[Manc]

What is wrong with him?

Special needs imo. He can't even speak properly.

[Lewis]

'Pep' has got a defeatist shine on his head.

[7om]

Werner has looked like complete shit so far. He has zero composure.

[Waffdon]

This game is straight late mid 2010s Arsenal. City should be about 3 up after wasting chances and now theyre fucked.

Why are pundits talking about changing shape. City have cut them open like multiple times.

Eh? Chelsea have had the better chances

[SincereTheRebel]

Shocking defending from the Ukrainian left-back. He didn't attempt to get goalside of Havertz. Havertz was in front of him before Mendy kicked the ball.

[Gray Fox]

Mount and James incredible so far. If Werner didn't have The Operation, Chelsea would have this in the bag already.

[Shindig]

He actually looks alright out wide. At least in the early stages. It's kind of annoying to see Giroud and Aguero as bench fodder in this.

[Waffdon]

Werner has looked like complete shit so far. He has zero composure.

Issue is, Chelsea look shit without him. He’s took the piss getting behind Dias every game they’ve played. He makes the goal with his run out wide, drags the centre halves all over the place. He’s went from being semi decent to abysmal in front of goal though, always creates goals but when it’s his turn to have a shot he can’t even hit it correctly.

[phonics]

That Hope United thing is awful.

[Lewis]

Special needs imo. He can't even speak properly.

lol what the fuck (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEVxDqp2j0Y). His grandad would have gassed him.

[Mike]

Glenn Hoddle is also awful.

[Shindig]

lol what the fuck (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEVxDqp2j0Y). His grandad would have gassed him.

Tismo Werner.

[phonics]

Eh? Chelsea have had the better chances

Literally a couple of last ditch Rudiger and Reece James tackles from being multiple goals down.

[Lewis]

Waffelz is the most bias fan still posting here, and for a team he doesn't even support. :happycry:

[niko_cee]

He just loves the union that much.

[Spikey M]

Waff doesn't support Chelsea? Fuck off. He's more dedicated to them than Jimmy is these days.

[Shindig]

If someone could injure Walker ahead of the Euros, that'd be grand.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

"Werner could have had a couple of goals, it's not been his night tonight"

:D

[Waffdon]

Havertz is going to be so good. Has everything

[7om]

Havertz is going to be so good. Has everything

It’s been a good turnaround. He looked like a donkey under Lampard.

[SincereTheRebel]

Superb. Kaka-esque.

Not even close...


https://youtu.be/uUksQSAicrc

[Gray Fox]

Absolutely outstanding display from Chelsea here tbf.

[Waffdon]

‘Pep’ :lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ha, fuck off City.

[Shindig]

Really enjoyed that. Chelsea set themselves up right and City had no answer for it. I love last-ditch defending and this game had plenty of that.

[niko_cee]

Aye, well done Chelsea.

Saves us from a Chinny visit at the very least.

[Gray Fox]

Get fucked City.

Enjoy the night Jimmy Floyd.

[Ian]

I rather enjoyed that.

And not just because it's nice to see Guardiola fail.

[Waffdon]

Kante has dominated the last 3 CL games. He’ll have won Europa League, FA Cup, Champions League, World Cup and Euros when they win next month

[Shindig]

James, Chilwell and Kante were magnificent.

[7om]

Why do people hate Pep? Seems like a decent bloke and top (top) manager.

Fair play to Chelsea, though. That was a defensive masterclass.

[Waffdon]

I don’t care if he didn’t played, seeing Billy Gilmour in the celebrations :wub:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Get John Terry on the pitch in his kit.

[Mike]

1398747167234400259

[Gray Fox]

I once saw a team cheat and spend £1bn, but didn't win the Champions League.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Yfawvs5PouA/maxresdefault.jpg

[Waffdon]

Thiago Silva going off injured was a blessing for Chelsea. They’ve played much better every time Christensen plays

[Lewis]

Who was that trying to credit Frank Lampard, one of the Glazers?

[Waffdon]

Linekar, tries to mention him every chance he can. Think Joe Cole mentioned it too

[Baz]

Lampard should never get a top managing job ever again.

[phonics]

The three biggest mistakes of the Arsene Wenger era were not signing Anelka in January when Eduardo got his leg amputated, not resigning Fabregas and letting him go to Chelsea but the biggest one that set the club on the downward spiral it’s on has to be not signing Kante because his agent wanted too much money.

[Ian]

Why do people hate Pep?.

I just like to see any "but there's a correct way to play football :( " fanny lose.

I also just can't root for a guy who's only ever worked for the best or richest teams

[Ian]

Also I think Phonics is single-handedly trying to make somehowaboutarsenal a thing.

[Kikó]

Great final really. Enjoyed Chelsea fucking pep over.

[Waffdon]

Kovacic has won four Champions League’s having played 30 mins in the final in total lol. Won a Europa League in between as well

[Browning]

Less than that. I don't think he played at all in the 3 Madrid finals.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He didn't.

He's only played in the 10 minutes or so tonight.

[igor_balis]

Chelsea were really good but city were hopeless.

[7om]

Mmm.

[phonics]

Also I think Phonics is single-handedly trying to make somehowaboutarsenal a thing.

This fan-less year has doubled down on my 'dont give a shit about watching anyone but Arsenal' thing.

[Lewis]

Wasn't Arsenal's biggest mistake spending every penny they had on a stadium at literally the worst possible time?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Watched it in a pub, and unlike the 2012 final (which was an arse clenching madness) absolutely loved every minute of it. We were in total control and the light blue passy shit strumming Oasis tossers never had sniff really after the first 20 minutes. My mate and I, amid the celebrations for the goal, didn't catch who had made the pass; we agreed it was probably Jorginho and moved on. Turned out to be good old Mason Mount, obvs. What a player.

Kanté the man of the match/century/sport, but I'm really happy for some of the others. Chilwell, who had a great game; Mendy, who has come from fuck all and ended up with a clean sheet in a winning Champions League final; Rudiger who was immense at times. Azpi as well, hero.

City can get fucked.

[phonics]

Wasn't Arsenal's biggest mistake spending every penny they had on a stadium at literally the worst possible time?

Yes but I can't blame someone for not being able to predict the economic future of the game.

[Yevrah]

As a neutral it was dull, but as a longstanding advocate for managers needing 'time', it was a thing of beauty.

Abramovic has done it again.

[Ian]

How do the other neutrals feel? My dad and brother in law both thought it was a bit boring but I genuinely enjoyed it. And my only investment was anti-Pep more than pro-Chelsea.

[niko_cee]

Only watched the last 30 minutes of so.

Loved every rolling on the floor moment of it. Would have been better had Pulisic not meffed the chance to seal the deal. Was there ever a definitive replay of that James penalty incident? The only one I saw didn't seem to bear out the ref's idea it had hit his body first. Maybe slagging the ref before the match is a bad idea. :drool:

[SincereTheRebel]

It was over once I saw KDB on the floor, physios holding his neck very concerned and Walker not giving a fuck, and dragging KDB to his feet :lol:

[Andy]

How do the other neutrals feel? My dad and brother in law both thought it was a bit boring but I genuinely enjoyed it. And my only investment was anti-Pep more than pro-Chelsea.

Wasn't really enjoyable but that's to be expected from these sort of games. Couldn't get my head around the City tactics. Seemed desperate to cram in another attacker, would have been far better off with Rodri and Cancelo involved and giving Gundogan the license the get forward.

Chelsea defended quite well but they didn't have to do anything special.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Only watched the last 30 minutes of so.

Loved every rolling on the floor moment of it. Would have been better had Pulisic not meffed the chance to seal the deal. Was there ever a definitive replay of that James penalty incident? The only one I saw didn't seem to bear out the ref's idea it had hit his body first. Maybe slagging the ref before the match is a bad idea. :drool:

I loved the ref, he seemed to be giving it to them with both barrels for half the game.

[Spikey M]

I enjoyed the freekick awarded against Stones at the end. He just blew his whistle and legged it back to the halfway line.

[Don]

Truly fantastic outcome, nothing memorable beside City choking :cool:

Kilburn was buzzing. I chased 2 Chelsea cretins who had stole a few crates of beer from an Offie, got some cash from their mate and returned to a hero's welcome. My karma for the stolen bike has been restored.

[Spikey M]

Of course you did.

[Shindig]

In a week where that Europa League final took place, this was anything but boring. Both sides had chances and, if not for some proper tackling (and if Werner took one of his chances) this could've wound up 3-2. The threat of more goals was always there. And I don't see De Bruyne going off as especially crucial. He didn't really do much. They could've changed things out wide but James and Chilwell had that sewn up. So you're left with plodding sideways passes in the middle that's always in front of Chelsea. Tuchel played it bang on and still had to ride his luck.

[Lewis]

Of course you did.

https://i.imgur.com/uhKabEu.jpg

[Reg]

How do the other neutrals feel? My dad and brother in law both thought it was a bit boring but I genuinely enjoyed it. And my only investment was anti-Pep more than pro-Chelsea.
Yeah, it was an entertaining game. Although I'm pro-Pep so would've preferred a City win.

Lots of 'classic tinkering/overcomplicating Pep' talk but I thought more influential than the lack of Rodri/Fernandinho was the tendency to rush forward, and the lack of patience and structure. It was like they committed to attacking having left Rodri and Fernandinho out, but forgot the way they'd attacked so well for the last 5 months.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They kept leaving space behind them (both on the flanks and centrally), which we were completely set up to exploit. If Werner didn't have bricks for boots, we could have absolutely demolished them, maybe by four or five goals.

Over a season Pep's teams are the best in the business, but in one-off games like this (which are less about strategy and more about tactics) he so often gets it wrong.

[Waffdon]

Not sure about one off games, it’s the first final he’s lost with City and only the second he’s ever lost. Don Mourinho beat him in the Spanish Cup in 2011

[Jimmy Floyd]

Normally doesn't get to them (except the league cup) having lost preceding one off games/ties.

[Lewis]

His biggest achievement at City was holding that Liverpool team off in his third season. The rest of it could have been managed on holiday mode.

[Ian]

They kept leaving space behind them (both on the flanks and centrally)

Guardiola teams do this so often, it's just a risk he's prepared to take because he thinks (usually rightly) that they'll have enough of the ball and do enough with it to beat you anyway, but obviously it's a risk that can kill you in a final. As you said, Chelsea could have added to the tally as the game went on.

[Mellberg]

They kept leaving space behind them (both on the flanks and centrally), which we were completely set up to exploit. If Werner didn't have bricks for boots, we could have absolutely demolished them, maybe by four or five goals.

Over a season Pep's teams are the best in the business, but in one-off games like this (which are less about strategy and more about tactics) he so often gets it wrong.

Yep. Really obvious own goals tactically a recurring theme.

Get Rafa in (not a joke).

[phonics]

Logged into Facebook and the first thing shown was a Memories post from 2015 of me absolutely slagging Pochetino off and making fun of Spurs. I’m never logging in again.

[Lofty]

Wasn't Arsenal's biggest mistake spending every penny they had on a stadium at literally the worst possible time?

It was more touting a black bank balance and lording it over the rest of the league, not realising player values would go up indefinitely so the only depreciating asset in football is cash in the bank.

[Shindig]

I'd argue Arsenal's biggest mistake is their scouting team's inability to find the kind of players they used to. Did they all go when Wenger left or is it really competitive now to get the latest Ligue 2 superstars?

[Spikey M]

But they have repeatedly found the right players? They just haven't signed them. A trap that Spurs have followed them right into. Which is why Spurs currently have Gedson Fernandez / Lo Celso instead of Bruno Fernandes and Steven Bergwijn instead of Dybala.

[Lewis]

No value in the market.

[Spoonsky]

Hasn't been mentioned but how good a coach is Thomas Tuchel? He's pulled Pep's pants down there.

It's a shame, if that Pulisic chance hits the back of the net it's ecstatic celebrations across the entire country. We're like Korea when Park-Ji Sung was at United :cool:

[niko_cee]

Pep pulled his own pants down. Perhaps it's just the curse of not having an established 1st XI, which is otherwise such a blessing over a long season.

Chelsea set up and played exactly as you'd have expected them to. They did it well but it wasn't some savant-led miracle. He'll probably be sacked within 18 months.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Even Frank Lampard (who according to orthodoxy is the worst manager who ever lived, running onto the pitch and smashing in own goals in his nice shoes) did Pep over several times.

Tuchel is a decent coach but people are over-egging the pudding because they needed Lampard to fail.

[Shindig]

I've still got some misgivings about Tuchel. He prioritises possession without much end product. I know that's exactly how it went for City but Chelsea had Werner as a point of focus. It's a job you can only really do against City or Barca. Having a top scorer with 7 penalties highlights a big problem, especially when someone like Tammy Abraham is on the bench. He's not amazing but he's worth at least 10.

Plus I quite liked Lampard's squad before the transfer ban was lifted. You don't see James and Mount coming through as prominently without that set of circumstances.

[Reg]

@Shin He's had limited training time, and time in general, with them. Presumably the plan is to become more fluid/practiced with the ball, but his priority seems to have been to make them really solid. And the safe possession is probably part of that. Worked out pretty well!

Talk of Lukaku. He'd be interesting. I think he's best when counterattacking, so if they're to become more proactive I'm not sure he's the right kind of player.

@Niko, I think Jimbo on Totally Football had it right with his question: (along the lines of) "Is Pep the best league manager in the world, but not the best cup manager?"

[Waffdon]

I've still got some misgivings about Tuchel. He prioritises possession without much end product. I know that's exactly how it went for City but Chelsea had Werner as a point of focus. It's a job you can only really do against City or Barca. Having a top scorer with 7 penalties highlights a big problem, especially when someone like Tammy Abraham is on the bench. He's not amazing but he's worth at least 10.

Plus I quite liked Lampard's squad before the transfer ban was lifted. You don't see James and Mount coming through as prominently without that set of circumstances.

Chelsea create more chances than anyone in the PL since Tuchel came in. They just, along with Brighton, massively underperform their ‘XG’ and can’t finish chances for the life of them. If they manage to sign Declan Rice and Romelu Lukaku they shouldn’t be too far from winning the league next year. Their squad is massive as it is

[Lewis]

Even Frank Lampard (who according to orthodoxy is the worst manager who ever lived, running onto the pitch and smashing in own goals in his nice shoes) did Pep over several times.

Tuchel is a decent coach but people are over-egging the pudding because they needed Lampard to fail.

If you under-[h]egg the Tuchel pudding, which you can only do by saying how good their squad is, then Lampard looks even worse.

[niko_cee]

Not really.

He probably wouldn't have organised them to crab their way to glory, but then, I'm not sure Tuchel particularly did either. They just implemented crab strategy well in the important games, and saved most of their wank performances for (what turned out to be less important) domestic games.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We weren't much worse under Lampard. 4th last year, 4th this year. The difference is Tuchel has more ideas to go to in-game and doesn't balls up team selection as often.

Lampard had a large part to play in getting half the current team where they are. What he couldn't do was get the best from people like Havertz.

[Reg]

"Gareth Bale declines to deny reports he could retire after Euro 2020" https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/may/31/gareth-bale-declines-to-deny-reports-he-could-retire-after-euro-2020


Asked to clear up whether he is considering retirement, Bale chuckled and replied: “Yeah, well. It’s one of those. As I said, I’ll sit down after the Euros and decide what I want to do. I want to give everything into this Euros and put in everything I can like we do in every single game. If I say something then it’s just going to cause even more chaos so there’s no point.”

What a bizarre career.

Start as a left-back; appear to be a curse for your team and wait 25 games before you finally win; tear Maicon to pieces in the Champions League; become a world class rampaging number 10; get to the Euro semi-finals with Wales; win four Champions Leagues with Real Madrid and score arguably one of football's greatest ever goals, and do that without gaining fan approval; retire the month you turn 32-years-old.

[Raoul Duke]

He's paid eleventy billion a week. He must have enough to just retire and play golf for the rest of his life

[Lewis]

He's got a year left on that whopping contract so surely he won't be doing anything until 2022.