Champions League Draw for Last 16

First topic message reminder :

Galatasaray v Schalke

Celtic v Juventus

Arsenal v Bayern Munich

Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund

AC Milan v Barcelona

Real Madrid v Manchester United

Valencia v Paris St Germain

Porto v Malaga

How are Liverpool doing in the champions league SOF?

Oh that's right they've not even been in it for a few years but do carry on taking pleasure in the misfortune of a team head and shoulders above the crock of Poopie that is Liverpool.

Imperial Ghosty wrote:How are Liverpool doing in the champions league SOF?

Oh that's right they've not even been in it for a few years but do carry on taking pleasure in the misfortune of a team head and shoulders above the crock of Poopie th at is Liverpool.

Hahahahahahahahaha get a grip Ghosty. Best team won won over the two legs as the 3-2 score reflects.

Imperial Ghosty wrote:How are Liverpool doing in the champions league SOF?

Oh that's right they've not even been in it for a few years but do carry on taking pleasure in the misfortune of a team head and shoulders above the crock of Poopie that is Liverpool.

Just what I was about to say. It's pathetic.

I think Madrid would have scored eventually, but they didnt look awfully dangerous. Just an accumulation of pressure.

Nani's tackle? Not a red, like those in that West Ham game. Be lucky to get it rescinded, but then again he probably wont be at United so I doubt they'll care.

The standard of English football in comparison to Europe is rather subjective. Based on the context of the Champions League its ridiculously hard to measure. Theres teams both could have been drawn against that they would have beaten with ease, whilst others would then get knocked out against harder sides. I prefer to see the Italians and Germans getting strong again, makes it the unpredictable tournament it used to be.

Madrid will not win it as there are better teams in the tournament than them. Still, as Chelsea showed miracles do happen.

Dortmund

madrid are the best team left

John wrote:Obviously the future of Rooney is going to be in question from now on but all I keep hearing from united fan i know is, 'sell rooney, we've got welbeck'.

I can't understand these people, I'm actually in hysterics listening to them. Yes, Welbeck is a good player and is good at hold up play and running with the ball but whenever he gets near the box he suddenly becomes woeful, his finishing is of league one standard and if you talk to united fans with knowledge, they will all accept the reason united went out is because madrid took their chances, higher chance conversion rate, whereas welbeck & rvp to an extent continually fluffed everything.

Welbeck is not a replacement for Rooney. Welbeck will never be world class or have the ability rooney possesses. I'm sick and tired of listening to andy townsend brown nose welbeck on itv every game. The same thing happens with jamie redknapp when talking about welbeck. If those two and united fans think the future is welbeck and that his finishing ability for a striker, cos that's what he is paid for, is going to lead them to a haul of trophies then they need to think again.

not seen too many saying sell rooney because wellbeck will replace him, most are saying sell him because we would get a stupid amount of money for a player who is on a slippery slope and is now a much worse player than he was when we signed him. he's a typical little englander smoking fags eating rubbish and wasting what talent he had. watch the rooney of 2004 and tell me this tap in merchant is a better player than then. say what you want about wellbeck but which one was the stand out player over two legs and looked hungry and wanted it.

Got to laugh at the handful of experts who are saying we should have defended better with 10 men, obviously didnt notice the plan to keep alonso off the ball and funnel the attacks to our left - a plan which required 11 men.

Madrid won't win it, not good enough at the back- they missed their chance last year.

bayern missed there chance last year.

Have people been missing some of madrids play in there league or something??

yes i admit they didnt look any better than united and bayern look pretty set up..

but real madrid have to much threat to discount from this tourny

Have to say im inclined to agree with Ent about Madrid.

I cant see them getting past Bayern and Dortmund outplayed them in both group stage games.

Depends how the draw pans out of course

Well at least it's still interesting even though our teams are out..

mystiroakey wrote:

Have people been missing some of madrids play in there league or something??

The same Madrid that are 3rd and miles behind a managerless Barca?! #headsgone

OIlly so you haven't watched them recently then. You admit that?

There's always a bright side. Apparently Howard Webb is in charge on Sunday

They beat barca well but they've also lost to Granada recebtly

They give up too many chances to be viewed as a serious threat for the tournament unless they tighten up dramatically.

The Special Juan wrote:There's always a bright side. Apparently Howard Webb is in charge on Sunday

So where's the bright side?

A couple of Copa Del Rey wins over a Barca side without there manager and suddenly they are gonna win the Champions League?!

Come off it mysti. They've been pants in the league behind Athletico as well by a fair bit, there is no way they get past Dortmund/Bayern/Juve maybe Barca if they get through for me.

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:There's always a bright side. Apparently Howard Webb is in charge on Sunday

So where's the bright side?

Ah it's a joke.

I'm with TSJ in thinking Dortmund might surprise a few people.

My prediction for the final (obviously hoping they avoid each other) is Bayern vs Dortmund

The Special Juan wrote:

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:There's always a bright side. Apparently Howard Webb is in charge on Sunday

So where's the bright side?

Ah it's a joke.

Is he supposed to favour us? Not really funny is it!

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:There's always a bright side. Apparently Howard Webb is in charge on Sunday

So where's the bright side?

Ah it's a joke.

Is he supposed to favour us? Not really funny is it!

No but everyone thinks he does.

i haven't been too impressed with madrid we were comfortable over both legs bar the 15 minutes after the red card. cant understand any one saying madrid were the better team. city and dortmund also showed for the most part that there not to be feared. but they do have fire power so you really cant rule them out especially with mourinho in charge and nothing to play for domestically

dortmund look good but were still yet to see how there young team deal with the big games, don't think there defence is up to much either and could cost them

I thought Madrid were quite poor last night, and for all the talk of Ronaldo, Ozil etc. I felt the key to United muting Madrid was keeping Alonso quiet. Khedira offers very little in the middle of the park in terms of creating chances and Ozil doesn't play deep enough to start attacks. Real Madrid rely on Alonso spreading the ball to the wingers, and I thought United were very good at countering that.

The Special Juan wrote:

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:There's always a bright side. Apparently Howard Webb is in charge on Sunday

So where's the bright side?

Ah it's a joke.

Is he supposed to favour us? Not really funny is it!

No but everyone thinks he does.

Why? I've never felt this, I dread him being in charge of our games...

webb is a ref who wants to make decisions even when theres nothing to give, the old adage about not knowing the ref is on the pitch certainly doesn't apply to webb. i dont see the whole webb's a red thing

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:There's always a bright side. Apparently Howard Webb is in charge on Sunday

So where's the bright side?

Ah it's a joke.

Is he supposed to favour us? Not really funny is it!

No but everyone thinks he does.

Why? I've never felt this, I dread him being in charge of our games...

I'm indifferent. I can't say I've ever noticed him being biased either way, not that he should be of course.

Valencia take the lead 1-0 in PSG, meaning it is now 2-2 on aggregate.

They need another goal

Olly wrote:Valencia take the lead 1-0 in PSG, meaning it is now 2-2 on aggregate.

They need another goal

psg have equalised but doesn't change too much Valencia still need to get 1 at least, not been overly impressed with psg here

Valencia are awful. 1-1 now, PSG will do it but this is probably as far as they will go, not good enough. Unless there's a shocking draw, which i'm fearing, where PSG get a Schalke or Porto and one of them gets to the Semi's.

Valencia still only need a goal to take to extra time tho

The Special Juan wrote:

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:

Ent wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:There's always a bright side. Apparently Howard Webb is in charge on Sunday

So where's the bright side?

Ah it's a joke.

Is he supposed to favour us? Not really funny is it!

No but everyone thinks he does.

Why? I've never felt this, I dread him being in charge of our games...

I'm indifferent. I can't say I've ever noticed him being biased either way, not that he should be of course.

Whilst he has improved I think he is a shocking referee.

PSG vs Barcelona/Milan
Real Madrid vs Schalke/Galatasaray
Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich vs Porto/Malaga

That's the QF's we want to see, big teams avoiding each other. With the semi's like this.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich

Mouthwatering (if only I could fix the draws)

Boring.

There have been 5 clasicos a season for 3 years, bayern and dorind shave played 5 times in 18 months or so.

Far better off having them face each other in the semis an all Spanish/German final as that ads interest to familiar games.

I'd rather see Juventus in the semis to be honest, even if it is just for Pirlo who is such a good player.

Real Madrid vs. Juventus (Xabi Alonso vs. Pirlo)
Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich

If we had got through I was hoping wed draw psg as we've never played them in Europe in my memory and potentially David Beckham At old Trafford.

Alas not to be and I don't really care about the draw and just hope it throws up 4 good ties.

Real Madrid vs Galatasaray would be interesting (if they make it). Drogba playing against Mourinho and Sneijder back at Madrid.

mystiroakey wrote:madrid are the best team left

Dortmund are still in who finished comfortably ahead of Madrid in the group stages. Bayern are better than Madrid, Barca are having a rough patch but i'd still take them over Madrid who have been hapless all season bar the last week or so. They could win but i think they are as likely to win it as Juventus or PSG.

Crimey wrote:I thought Madrid were quite poor last night, and for all the talk of Ronaldo, Ozil etc. I felt the key to United muting Madrid was keeping Alonso quiet. Khedira offers very little in the middle of the park in terms of creating chances and Ozil doesn't play deep enough to start attacks. Real Madrid rely on Alonso spreading the ball to the wingers, and I thought United were very good at countering that.

I agree.

If you stop Alonso from spraying the passes around, the other midfielders struggle to get into the game.

I still cannot look past Barcelona to at least make the final.

I cant see Barca getting past AC. I think that AC will score at the Nou Camp and that would mean Barca would need to score 4. Tough ask

Juventus got lucky...

Top class team, their defence is water tight, so so organised, they are also extremely clinical, I'd like to see them make the final if possible, Bayern Munich's year for me though

Juventus are a good team, but Bayern have probably impressed me the most so far (though Milan's performance vs Barca was the single most impressive performance to date). Don't know why a lot of people are assuming Barca will make the latter stages, a two-goal deficit is tough to overcome at the best of times, and Barca are a long way off the best of times recently. Dortmund also look good, while Madrid did respond impressively to Nani's sending-off (you have to give Mourinho some credit too, his substitution was spot on introducing Modric). It's really a very open competition this year, which makes it all the more enjoyable to me

Haven't seen that much of the CL this year, but was very impressed with Bayern against Arsenal - good players going forward and as close to a rock solid defence as you'll see anywhere.

Real didn't look all that great against Man U until the sending off - good for the first 10 minutes or so then Fergie's game plan started to really work (i.e. keep the central midfield solid and use Nani and Welbeck stretch the real defenders by running with the ball). If either the sending off hadn't happened or the Real keeper hadn't been having one of those games where everything seemed to hit him, I don't think Real would have gone through. At the moment they look like a lot of good players not adding up to a good team (and just how many attacking midfielders do you need in one squad?). They were though very clinical for the 10 mins between the red card and taking the lead.

Football fans may be the most quick to judge of all sports. In the group stages, following a defeat to Malaga, all I heard was how this group of Milan players did not deserve to wear the the Rossinieri. About 3 European matches later, they may just beat 'The greatest club team of all time' in a tie.
Rooney has been on the bench for a few matches this season, I dont understand how this one suddenly means he is on his way out. Personally, I have never really rated Rooney as what American sports call "elite", although he did have a 2010 which seemed to signal the jump was looming. Othwerise I have merely seen Rooney as a great trier, who will run himself to the ground for a team, all while being in possession of a decent right boot. I always felt Englands success was more dependent on Lampard & Gerrard finally learning to co-exist than anything Rooney could offer. Indeed, In the last decade Lamps and Stevie G have been Englands most valued commodities.

That said, Rooney is not going anywhere, No other club better than Utd (Madrid, Barca, Bayern & Dortmund) can afford £250 000-a-week and maybe £40-45m in transfer. Especially if R.Mad are really going after Bale (I sincerely hope we aren't, he is truly no better than di Maria... and if he is, not to the tune of £50m)

kingraf wrote:...Rooney has been on the bench for a few matches this season, I dont understand how this one suddenly means he is on his way out. Personally, I have never really rated Rooney as what American sports call "elite", although he did have a 2010 which seemed to signal the jump was looming. Othwerise I have merely seen Rooney as a great trier, who will run himself to the ground for a team, all while being in possession of a decent right boot. I always felt Englands success was more dependent on Lampard & Gerrard finally learning to co-exist than anything Rooney could offer. Indeed, In the last decade Lamps and Stevie G have been Englands most valued commodities.

That said, Rooney is not going anywhere, No other club better than Utd (Madrid, Barca, Bayern & Dortmund) can afford £250 000-a-week and maybe £40-45m in transfer. Especially if R.Mad are really going after Bale (I sincerely hope we aren't, he is truly no better than di Maria... and if he is, not to the tune of £50m)

I think you are slightly underselling Rooney there - for me he's got a bit more quality than your description of a 'trier with decent right foot'. Agree that he's a little behind the very best (Ronaldo, Messi), primarily for me because he lacks that extra half yard of pace that would take him clear of defenders, and also because he can sometimes be a bit sloppy with possession (although he usually follows up a bad moment with something sublime).

As for England, I think there has always been an issue in getting the best out of all of Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard simultaneously, a conundrum that no manager has ever really solved because they all like to operate in similar parts of the pitch.

Not sure what the talk of a transfer is about - as you say, there are very few clubs that he could move to that are superior and that can afford him. I'm also unconvinced that he is the sort of character that would settle well overseas. Can't see a spot for him at City or Chelski, who are the two EPL sides that could afford him and offer the chance to win stuff.

Rooney's a good player.

But he does seem abit overshadowed at the moment.

Personally I would love to see him move on to a slighty lesser club like liverpool Arsenal or totenham!!

Dummy, about 17 goals 12+ assists in 80+ CL games is more than only 'just' behind CR7 and Leo. for comparison, in the last two seasons, CRR7 has scored 18 in 18. While Leo netted 15 or so last year.

Welback, though is not Rooney. He is just a fast guy with funky haircut. He may eventually surpass Rooney as a player. But a transfer doesnt make sense. RvP has been relatively injury-free for the last two years, but before that, a mini cheer went up at Highbury/Emirates any time he was announced for two straight games. As a man entering 30, can he stay injury-free?

I've never seen Rooney on the bench when Utd have been playing a massive game, like the Madrid one. Probably was just tactics.

oh to have such problems ( i wish )

I could though see Chelski putting up an offer. I have always felt that Roman creates his teams on the Fifa playstation game, and then decides to buy the player

kingraf wrote:
That said, Rooney is not going anywhere, No other club better than Utd (Madrid, Barca, Bayern & Dortmund) can afford £250 000-a-week and maybe £40-45m in transfer. Especially if R.Mad are really going after Bale (I sincerely hope we aren't, he is truly no better than di Maria... and if he is, not to the tune of £50m)

Bayern although having the money would never ever pay a player 250 grand a week, especially one who imo is certainly not world class. Dortmund wont ,their highest paid player is about 80 grand a week and again wouldn't pay anything near that amount. The only teams that could afford him are Chelsea,Man City Barca, Real, (neither would buy him) PSG, Zenit and Anzhi, though i seriously doubt he would move to Russia. Leaving PSG as the only reasonable alternative.