Post Match Reaction - Round 14

[Nick@ManCity]

Missing Sheets
N/A

Errors
Error Points
Rangers = 2
AC Milan = 1
Leverkusen = 1
Monaco = 1

[Derek]

Roma 2 2 Real Madrid

A game full of tactical drama from the two EFL heavyweights - Madrid played exactly as we expected so pretty disappointed our tactics didn't get the win we deserved.

Madrid started with 5 minutes of D, then switched to P and scored 1 minute later and so went back to D lol

Some clever conditionals by Talbot meant they kept their back 5 even after an injured defender.

We kept our all out assault on the Madrid goal and eventually got the equaliser in 48th minute.

And finally Madrid decided to play some football and switched to P but then just 8 minutes later they got the lead again and switched back to D!!!!

As the game went on we kept our all out attack approach and Talbot gradually brought off his FWs to replace them for subs who had any sort of tackling skills in a massive attempt to part the triple decker bus.

But nothing can hinder the Roma Way and in the 83rd minute we got the equaliser and a share of the spoils after an epic tactical encounter.

The top three all win and pull away a little.

gg Steve.

[Drum@Villa]

Lazio 1 - 3 Napoli

Pretty standard result in all honesty.

boss the game, more shots, better team, 1-0 down early,,,,, fight back and continue to knock on the door.

napoli hit 3 goals with only 3 shots on target….. what can I say,,, that’s perfectly played….

DDG must have been bored and had major lapse or he’s just pony…

these are the results that irritate any manager…. But we move on…

gg, for Napoli.

[JasonH@Wolfsburg]

Leverkusen 1-1 Atletico Madrid

Very disappointed with the last minute goal conceded in what was a very cagey affair. Marshy probably expected me to continue my run of only using P or A. But no, I chose to throw out a dirty C with a pretty nasty formation.

We went into the lead via rodri and it was always going to be a case of Madrid trying to break us down after that, I felt we have survived but a 91st minute goal sunk our chances of first back to back wins of the season.

Still, I’ll take a point against a very good team. Well played Marshy

[Ray@Wolves]

Eintracht Frankfurt 1
F_Dimarco (11)

Monaco 1
Arthur (78)

MotM: S_Reguilon (Eintracht Frankfurt)
HT: 1-0

This was a hugely frustrating game and a massive opportunity missed by us to climb the table. We dominated this match from start to finish, but we fell for a late sucker punch that gifted the visitors a point. We had the better of the possession and 13 shots on target to their meagre 4. But it just wasn't enough as we really rued being so wasteful with our multiple chances in front of goal. A point, no injuries and no suspensions so we should be reasonably pleased especially as we are slowly edging away from the dreaded drop zone.

Well played John.

Next game we are up against Bayer Leverkusen.

[Ed@PSG]

PSG 3 Juventus 0
Comprehensive victory against the team that ran us close last season. Odd game where almost two thirds of all the shots were wayward. We ditched the starting A and went back to what has worked in the past, with combos of E P and A. Another MoM performance and goal #24 for our talisman. Our plan to get all 5 MFs to 20 rated before changing gear midseason is still on track, as we pull to 3-4 points behind Roma/RM.
Unlucky AB

[Marshy@Atletico]

Bayer Leverkusen 1 Atletico Madrid 1

The game was a disappointing one for neutrals with few chances at either end. Bayer set up an unusually conservative 5-1-2-2-0 with no strikers selected at home, Atletico less conservative but also counter attacking. Rodri scored a rare goal to put the home side in front but Atletico fought to the end and Cairney grabbed a late point.

Manager Simon Marsh admitted "We were surprised with Bayer but maybe that was the plan, to come up with something different. Bayer have been in decent form recently and have playing open against a lot better sides than us, including winning at Real Madrid. We would never criticise anyone for playing a formation or tactic because thats all part of the game. Bayer did the unexpected and it almost paid off on the day. Cairney popping up shows how important it is to have a squad and thats perhaps where Bayer have fallen down last season and to an extent this. They should be pushing for top-10 but any injury or suspension hits them harder than most clubs".

[AB@Juventus]

PSG 3 - 0 Juventus

Ed read me like a book on this one, either that or one of those mucky mags his wife doesn't know about.

11 minutes in and the hosts took the lead and kept TA with come bold tactic changes.

PSG doubled their lead on 27 minutes before sealing the points just past the hour mark in the second half to claim all 3 points.

Statistically it was an even game but when you have the players that PSG have, they are clinical.

2 identical weeks for us the last 2 weeks, big win at the start and then 2 poor results to follow. Story of our season which looks like it's going to end with us in the DPT at best, perhaps that's our level right now.

Good game Ed

[Livi@Liverpool]

Barcelona 3 Bayern Munich 0

Bayern came to the Camp Nou to have a go but despite the absence of Jesus we managed to get a couple of early goals and after Bayern missed a penalty we added a 3rd in the 2nd half to secure a pretty comfortable win. JB has had a difficult start to the campaign but his side are in a false position and I'm sure by the end of the season they'll be much higher up the table.

We face Banks jnr in our next match with a visit to Turin to face Juve. AB will be disappointed with their start to the season but we are well aware of the quality that he and his team possess and it's going to be a big test for us.

Unlucky JB, my recent record against you is pretty dire so it's about time we bucked the trend.

[Steve@Chelsea]

Roma 2 - 2 Real Madrid

Away to Roma is one of the rare occassions when we are the underdogs with the home advantage giving the Roman's the edge. We came to Rome with a solid tactical plan and at the end of the day are a little unlucky not to win having led twice in the game. A late 83rd minute Roma goal thwarted all the spoils going back to Madrid but I'm happy with an away point. The game was a bit of a six pointer. So a draw in Roma's own backyard is a solid result and could be vital come the end of the season.

With our best defender Mendy already missing from the starting line up - losing fellow defender Rudiger during the game to injury did make us a little weaker. We did as much as we could with the conditionals to cover for this but I am left thinking if Rudiger stays on the pitch, then we win the game.

Enjoyable game though, a nice battle. Good game Derek.

[Guest]

Sevilla 1 - 1 AC Milan

Sevilla's journey continues as we dominate a better side in AC and had we been more clincal should have won it

Just 1 defeat in 5 now in the league - last season we were losing games that we are drawing this season ..

Partey was our MOM with a thunderbolt just after the break, though special mention for Bender who has been a great signing for us at the back ...

Well played Matias

[Johnboy]

Eintracht Frankfurt 1 - Monaco 1

Another disappointing result for Monaco, there's no doubt that Frankfurt are the stronger team but at least this time we have our goalkeeper to thank for getting us the point rather than an underwhelming display that cost us the match.

Frankfurt took an early lead through Dimarco as he grabbed his 5th of the season to become joint second top scorer for Frankfurt so far this season.

We changed things around slightly, and made a couple of substitutions and were rewarded with 12 minutes to go as Arthur scored his second of the season and we held on to get a point that we didn't necessarily deserve.

At the one third point of the season we are averaging a point a game - I think we're going to need better than that to survive in the league, especially if we are serious about remaining in European competition next season.

Good game Josh, good luck for the rest of the season.

[Gary@Millwall]

Sporting Lisbon PMR will be completed tomorrow - sorry for delay stuck in Kent at the moment

Sporting Lisbon 4 Celtic 1

Sporting Lisbon put in a dominant performance to secure three valuable points. Goals from Luke Shaw in the 15th minute and Casemiro in the 21st minute put the Portuguese side 2-0 up.

Celtic's Antonio half the deficit just before half time in the 42nd minute.

Sporting Lisbon scored via Matteo Politano in the 65th minute and a penalty from Robert Lewandowski in the 78th minute made it a convincing win.

Windebank Post Match Comments

The result and performance really goes out the window today following news that we have lost one of the greats of FFO family in Mr Darren Bradwell.

I did not personally know Darren but he will be missed and will rest in peace. I know Sam quite well and he is a top man which will be a reflection of the input his father Darren had on his life.

I would like to send by best wishes and condolences to the Bradwell family at such a tragic time.