Post Match Reaction - Round 14

[Nick@ManCity]

Missing Sheets
Napoli - 442N ran

Errors
Rma - Line 3 missing IF
Laz - Gabriel not in roster

Error Points
rma - 2
laz - 2

[Derek]

Roma 5 2 Sociedad

A slightly reckless formation and a shocker from Martinez made this a close match until the last 25 minutes.

With the realisation that PSG is exactly the same proposition it looks like it's going to be the usual Roma/Madrid face off.

gg Freddie

[Steve@ManUtd]

MARSEILLE 2-1 Barcelona

We actually deserved this one and with a no thrills route one approach for the most part we made their defenders work racking up 17 tackles. It's a big 3 points which after 3 straight defeats we needed a bounce back. We even had do it with McAllister playing at the back due to an unwanted injury late on but we saw it which is all that matters. We still have a lot of work to do but beating one of FFO's greatest ever is a great achievement with this squad.

[JasonH@Wolfsburg]

Leipzig 3-2 Leverkusen

what the hell is my keeper doing, he might as well stay in the change room looking a porn or whatever he’s doing, not exactly trying to save any shots, gave away a penalty as well.

meanwhile the 20 rated keeper up the other end is doing his best peak Buffon impression.

Seriously though, what can you do when your keeper is doing his best Simple Jack impression. Hard enough in this game when you are battling against the big teams and the budgets they have, but in games like this, in must win matches, to have a keeper thinking the footballs a fucking hand grenade how are you supposed to progress up the league.

good game Mike, well played

[Westhammer]

RB Leipzig 3 - 2 Bayer Leverkusen

Yes I know it's a game we shouldn't have won but after a miserable run we deserved some luck and help (Leverkusens keeper) so will happily take the 3 points and run. Milik,Martial and Nakamba were Leipzig's scorers and with Inter Milan next no injuries or suspensions to further weaken the squad can only be a plus.

[Ed@PSG]

PSG 0 Juventus 2
Another lacklustre performance. Tried something more defensive to try and protect the useless goalkeeper, but still managed to concede whilst having TA. Simply too inconsistent, and the worst performing of the 23 rated GKs. Cant really see me competing with Roma and RM with these performances. My interest has gone.
Well played AB

[Livi@Liverpool]

Marseille 2 Barcelona 1

Another game with our back up GK and other absentees and again we haven't coped with that well enough. The GK has been a disaster for the almost 4 games he's played conceding 12 goals from the 28 shots on our goal. Frighteningly bad.

In terms of this match Marseille were bold playing L given we generally always play P but lo and behold we changed to C today to try and protect the GK a bit more so that backfired on us. Can't really begrudge the home side the win.

Been a tough week but I thought ah well at least we'll finally be back to full strength - before realising a 90th min yellow card sees our best defender miss our next game. I swear it's like the programme knows these things.

Napoli next and they are actually above us in the table, aided by being rewarded with a 3-0 win today when their manager failed to sheet. So who knows what to expect from them.

[Guest]

Sporting Lisbon 2 - 1 Inter Milan

mixed feelings to this, Sporting are a top team but struggling, we have beaten many a top team not struggling this season so expectactions were to win, not only did we not win we lost a 92nd minute goal to lose the game in a match we equalled Sporting away from home in a good performance, i think a draw would have been fair but we lose and they win and that annoys me as i feel its dropped points, but we dust ourselfs down and go again. gg mate

[ChrisS]

Napoli 3 - 0 Schalke

Post match conference, Naples Italy.

"We've got no answer for Sadio Mane. He torched us in the cup and now again in the league. Our best bet might be for JB to launch FFO Saudi Arabia, until then I'm not sure how we are going to deal with him." - Manager Spero

Considering our recent form, I thought we would put up a better showing, but Napoli completely dominated us. There really is not much positive to pull out of this one. It's another forget and move on to the next. We are still within striking distance of safety.

Good game Chris.

[Johnboy]

Real Madrid 1 - Monaco 0

We approached this match confident that Madrid were going to play with their regular 4 up front and so put another player into our defensive line to try and combat them, at the same time we restored Jovetic and Haidara to the starting line-up with Pastore retaking his seat on the bench and Cataldi dropping out altogether.

While clearly we are disappointed to lose the match a 1-0 defeat, away from home against the defending champions, and a team that should be right up there again at the end of this season, is far from demoralising. Statistics will show that Madrid deserved the victory but 1-0 is always a dangerous scoreline as it only needs 1 slip in concentration for the opposition to get back into the match so to play for an hour chasing that result shows that we aren't as bad as our performances this season so far would suggest. When you then include that we played the last 10 minutes with a man disadvantage following an injury to Chris Smalling I am pleased that we get this test out of the way with minimal long-term damage.

Outside of the league we have guaranteed qualification from our DPT group with 2 games to go, for the second season in a row - now we need to push on in the league to get our DPT spot for next season!

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

[AB@Juventus]

PSG 0 - 2 Juventus

Technically back to my old stomping ground here against PSG and we didn't expect much going into the lion's den but when the game started I was surprised to see the hosts playing C like us.

I knew Ed would likely switch things around as he does and when they changed to E on 15 minutes, I was praying that we held on until the next change but on 28 minutes, we actually took the lead!
Y_Adli enjoying another start with another goal, edging closer to 14 shooting (Next Sessegnon only better?)

At this point, PSG came at us with their full force A and we fully expected them to turn this game around, but we headed into the break a goal up.

The second half started and within 10 minutes, we were in dreamland...The travelling Juventus faithful were falling over themselves in the stands as A_Isak scored his 12th of the season to double our lead.

Both teams created chances in the rest of the game and we had a penalty appeal late on but ultimately ran out with a famous away day victory.

I expected the stats to show a smash and grab kind of story, however we were the better team, with the home team only beating us in key tackles due to all of our attacking play as shown in the abs his defenders gained.

Some frustrating abs for us, 90 sh for Adli a DM, 90_++ ps for Isak a FW, but overall some decent abs and a very good win. Good game Ed.

The league table is starting to shape up and we look to be on a decent run (Loss next game for sure) but we're yet to pull away from the teams below the CL places (Apart from Leverkusen) so we need to keep on pushing. Recently we've seen a few players rate up so it will be nice to see the next batch potentially push us on further.

[Steve@Chelsea]

Real Madrid 1 - 0 Monaco

Kept with the passing approach in this one verses Johnboy, therefore including Guimares in defence to boost the overall passing stats. It seemed to work out well as we pretty much controlled the game but only scored the one goal through Elliot. Like Johnboy rightly says when there's only one goal in a game, it aint over, and it was nervy business right until the end due to that. Monaco did their boss proud with that performance. We played well, but too many of our shots went off target again. We need to correct that in training for the next match. GG Johnboy.

[Marshy@Atletico]

Lazio 1 Atletico Madrid 3

GG Drum

Lazio have been measly this season with a strong back line performance so this would be a tough game. £32k a shit Mbappe opened the scoring and Atletico were struggling. However quick-fire goals from Romagnoli, Paqueta and Vinicius grabbed the ascendency. A 60th minute red card to Paqueta would provide a nervy ending as Lazio bossed the stats but Atletico managed to keep the scores the same for a fine win. With PSG, Inter, Barca and Munich all losing it was a big game to win.

Manager Simon Marsh commented "We were not at our best today but good teams find a way so maybe we are getting there. The top11 have broken away a little and we must carry on winning games to stay high in that pack".

Diaby increased his passing to become a 3-20-17 player.

Next up in the league are Real and Roma. The rest of the league could do with us taking something from these games"

[Drum@Villa]

Lazio 1 Atletico Madrid 3

GG Drum

Lazio have been measly this season with a strong back line performance so this would be a tough game. £32k a shit Mbappe opened the scoring and Atletico were struggling. However quick-fire goals from Romagnoli, Paqueta and Vinicius grabbed the ascendency. A 60th minute red card to Paqueta would provide a nervy ending as Lazio bossed the stats but Atletico managed to keep the scores the same for a fine win. With PSG, Inter, Barca and Munich all losing it was a big game to win.

Manager Simon Marsh commented "We were not at our best today but good teams find a way so maybe we are getting there. The top11 have broken away a little and we must carry on winning games to stay high in that pack".

Diaby increased his passing to become a 3-20-17 player.

Next up in the league are Real and Roma. The rest of the league could do with us taking something from these games"

can’t really add too much more. Came out of the traps and mbappe gave us the lead.

after that we would suffer chasing the game too much. And like a well drilled unit, atleti stuck to their gameplan and waited to strike, and when they did, game over.

we have stuttered of late. Hoping to find a rhythm but in a league of top managers and teams it’s not easy.

gg marshy

[Freddie]

AS Roma 5-2 Sociedad

Was very happy with how things were going and then we got to the 67th minute mark and the floodgates opened with Derek’s side netting three quick goals. I don’t really know what we could have done differently to stop the Italian giants but we gave it a good shot. The quality they possess is something we can only aspire to! They deserved the three points thoroughly it must be said.
Played Derek.