Champions League Group Stages

First topic message reminder :

The draw is tonight and we could have some potentially crazy strong groups, Manchester City have a 50% chance of being in the same group as Bayern Munich or Barcelona.

What is the tie everybody wants to see in the group stages?

For me Rio has gone and I think this is his last season, as it should be Giggs as well. Jones needs to be at CB now with our best defender in Evans. They could make a fantastic partnership.

Frightening how much we miss Carrick, wonderful player and extremely underrated. Would have preferred Anderson in cm tonight with Giggs and then Jones at the back, or even Anderson and Cleverly. That worked for a couple of games somehow in 2010/11 believe then both got injured. Worrying state for us when I'm suggesting that to be our cm pairing hahaha

Also I'm sick of the Utd crowd moaning and complaining. Support our side ffs, no point in doing that because its not going to make them feel anymore comfortable. Need to be allowed to play without fear and that is eased when the crowd are on side. Beginning to sound like bloody chelsea and spurs fans now.

Much better from citeh..

2-1

Maybe not. City have pulled one back.

Rooney unlucky not to put United ahead. Good freekick, just wide.

United look terrible. Giggs too slow. Jones is a CB. Rio like an OAP. Shakhtar playing with United but no cutting edge for goal. Amazing how bad United are.

What was rio doing..

Skinned

Young
Giggs
Rio

All should be gone come next season. And plenty more.

My god Young has missed two sitters now. Much better though, just stop this faffing around in midfield with the slow sideways 5 yard passes and fire it into rooney and kagawa, they'll do the rest. Have to be more direct.

Everything good for bayern has gone through ribbery.

Man citeh started flaky. Then realised they could actually play.. 

Not a bad half of football.

United will be saved by Rooney second half.

Moyes needs to be sacked.

Why? what else can he do? The squad is average and the players aren't taking responsibility. Not Moyes' fault Rio is crap and we haven't got any decent cm's. Who could come in and do a better job in all honesty?

Sir Alex? I jest.

Actually Moyes' managerial career is going down the spitter at the moment. Not only is he struggling with the PL champions, but his successor at Everton is doing better than him.

Liam wrote:Why? what else can he do? The squad is average and the players aren't taking responsibility. Not Moyes' fault Rio is crap and we haven't got any decent cm's. Who could come in and do a better job in all honesty?

If the players wont take responsibility in game its the managers fault.

Martinez is one !

Galatasaray vs Juventus - Abandoned

Moyes wasn't backed in the transfer market in the summer and as a result has inherited an average side with two world class players in, with Evans/De Gea the only other two players who for me, get into most PL top sides.

Jan is always a poor window so we need to make some astute signings then. Moyes' Utd tenure starts next summer when he can hopefully put his stamp on the club and bring in the players he wants, whilst also clearing out deadwood and players over the hill. This season we need to rely on a hell of a lot of luck and Rooney and RVP to fire on all cylinders. If those two can stay fit and score 15-20 goals each we won't be far off the top 4. Title no chance.

Ice Hockey to settle it?

I don't agree with sacking managers early. And if I am going to be honest rather than a bit obtuse. In an ideal world no manager should be sacked for at least 2 seasons..

Sir Alex took his time to settle in.

But my major concern with moyes is identity. 

A big club needs a manager with his own ideas. Not a lite version of the one before.

mystiroakey wrote:

Liam wrote:Why? what else can he do? The squad is average and the players aren't taking responsibility. Not Moyes' fault Rio is crap and we haven't got any decent cm's. Who could come in and do a better job in all honesty?

If the players wont take responsibility in game its the managers fault.

Martinez is one !

Disagree, players responsibility to chase down and show intensity once they cross that white line. I'm sure Moyes is not telling them to take it easy and back off.

Martinez has got a decent Everton side, Moyes never had the signing of a Lukaku to help him out, someone who makes one hell of a difference. Everton are playing fantastic but I could not see Martinez doing much better with Utd, Everton have yet to hit a bad patch yet, i'm sure then everyone will slate martinez for being one dimensional as usual. Rodgers and Laudrop get the same treatment.

I like Rodgers and laudrap.. Good managers , have a real vision about where they want there teams be be. Moyes for me has none of that stubborn identity.

But I agree to give him a chance , he may work out. I very much doubt he will be given the time though.

Penalty to citeh

Not impressed with Dante.

Looks like Fellani

Plays like Fellani

2-2

4-2 to top the group. Come on citeh

He'll be given time as long as Fergie is there. I agree but how many can really walk into utd and stamp an identity on a club where its identity has been epitomized by SAF.

Also, we're not even at xmas yet. People need to relax. Utd will go through a massive transition period now and utd fans need to accept that for the next coupld of seasons, realistically, title ambitions have to be on hold while we rebuild and Moyes can bring in his own players which will represent his identity and where he wants to take the club. Which is why for me, his job starts next summer.

Milner bossing this game.

2-3

Goal jones..

Get in there. Excellent finish from Jones, so much better this second half. Need a solid win now to get the confidence back up again.

English football dominates once more.

Bundesliga > PL.

Bayern 2-3 City, the goal scorer James Milner   

United 1-0 up. Well taken goal by Phil Jones. He has  had a good game tonight.

Milner assisted the first, won the pen for.the second and scored the third.

I wouldn't have guessed he would get MOTM . But fair play he has it for me.

Bull wrote:Bundesliga > PL.

On what evidence?

Oh hang on, you're on a wind-up aren't you.

Milner is fairly underrated. Solid player

4 home games for bundesloga v pl teams.

Current score

2-12 

 

The PL always will be the best league in the world.

Jonny Evans is a fantastic defender, very underrated imo.

I told you about that Dante player.

He makes rio look switched on.

Which is saying something, he's been awful tonight. Should only play capital one cup matches with a youth team player and maybe when in an injury crisis because he is well and truly done.

Man citeh have done so well.

Ribbery on fire , then citeh deal with his threat and that was it.. 

Amazing game really considering there away form domestically.

A pl club kills another German run.

Utd miles better the second half. More intensity and faster passing. Goal did wonders for our confidence and Jone MOTM for me. Dare I say Cleverly did well when he came on, more purpose to his passing as well, looking to give it into RVP and Rooney more which is what our whole game should be based on.

Agree Liam, liked the way Cleverley played today, had some intensity and some intent too.

Januzaj plays with such lovely youthful confidence, the crowd need him, it seems to keep them alive

Peligrini thought he needed to win 5-2 to top the group.

Oh my days.

Maybe he read my and compellings comments on here and not espn!!!

mystiroakey wrote:Peligrini thought he needed to win 5-2 to top the group.

Oh my days.

Maybe he read my and compellings comments on here and not espn!!!

ha ha ive just been winding my city fan mates up that i know about city permutations more than there own manager!!

Very frustrating for Pellegrini really, but to be fair, the rules when it comes down to it can be so confusing it's no surprise he was given wrong information, you'd think there'd be at least one person in the coaching staff on a phone who could see what they needed. If they get a really hard draw he'll be kicking himself, I'm sure he'll be hoping for Atletico Madrid who are the easiest draw from the top teams, although that is still a very difficult game compared to the likes of Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiakos, Basel or even AC Milan.

its not that hard crimey, they just had to better bayerns 3-1 win at city, so 3-0 or above or two goal advantage with more away goals than bayern scored so 4-2 onwards. i didnt think it would ever come to that, wonder if pellegrini had thought similar and not even thought of it with his team selection.

hoping for olympiakos for united next round and barcelona for citys stupidity, sometimes the way the club is run you'd think they were still a division two club, at least garry cook has gone now!!

Interestingly Munich's last two champion's league losses are to English teams in virtual dead rubbers. For me they are the heavy favorite still the heavy favorite. Really enjoyed the Benfica v. PSG match, PSG for me are a talented squad but they are not good enough to lift this trophy. Man City are the deepest and most talented team in the world, but they are not the best; if Robben was in this match and Munich was fully focused I think the result would be different. But credit to city for restoring their honor after being badly beaten at home.

United was very fortunate as Shaktar was the better team in the first half and wasted half a dozen good chances. Jones is a really good player, I think his pace and comfort on the ball is wasted at center half. He could become one of the best deep holding midfielders in the world and then when he loses a step he should become a center half. Kind of like what happened in Mattheus and Hierro's careers.

It's the last 3 loses socal.

And one was the complete reverse of a dead rubber.. A final .

Embarrassing really from Manuel, someone of his experience. How the manager, staff or players failed to understand the permutations is quite worrying. Great result but you feel, once again, Bayern were not in top gear & became complacent. As long as they topped the group, not sure they are too bothered about the result. They lost to Arsenal & we know what followed. Just a confidence builder for City.

As for United, first half was a true horror show. In my eyes, once again, they've got away with it in the Champions League group against poor teams. If that was an EPL game, they would of been punished & everyone knows it. I even got the impression watching Shakhtar, they didn't even want to qualify, it was astonishing. No intensity, no rushing around & a manager who just stood there. Embarrassing group but at least United won it. Not sure you can praise much about individuals. Cleverley produced one good through ball, can he do it in the EPL.....we know the answer.

Upto the draw now to decide teams fate. Can see United just squeaking into the QF's but from there it will be over rather abruptly playing like they do. Agree with most of Roy Keane's comments last night, Rio & Young are just shocking.

Galatasaray through in difficult conditions. Kind of felt this result was on the cards.

Juventus should go far into the Europa, even win it.