Champions League Group Game 4 Post Match Reaction

[Johnboy]

No Missing

No Errors

[AB@Juventus]

Leeds United 1 - 2 Juventus


Well well well, life comes at you fast doesn’t it Tim.


Only a few months ago, Mr Davey was boasting about a double over us in the DPT group stage and now we’ve gone and returned the favour and it tastes delicious.


We knew a positive result in this game was key and decided to play exactly the same way as we did against Barcelona to start with, a solid and thick back line and play on the counter.


Leeds, to their credit, came to play a passing game which gave us TA.


A pretty even first half was coming to a close when we took the lead on 41 minutes, looking to hold onto this we dropped the D tactic for the first time in a long long time. This played into the hands of Leeds as they switched to A.

Something that I had considered might happen as that’s what happened in the reverse fixture when we won that game as well.


We headed into the break a goal to the good and looking strong but less than 10 minutes into the second half, after a dominating start to the half, Leeds were level.


We switched back to C while Leeds stuck with A (Mistake? This might have happened in the reverse fixture, which we won as well) giving us TA again.


Just 4 minutes after pegging us back, Leeds were reduced to 10 men as M_Caicedo was sent off for a second yellow (Leeds seem to have had players out inj/sus a lot this season so you have to feel sorry for them for that)


Both teams went on to have spells in the half in which they dominated but couldn’t find a way through, until the 95th minute where we stole all 3 points through Joao_Felix to record home & away victories against Leeds and see us go clear at the top of the group.


Statistically it was almost dead even, so a draw would have been fair but the extra man must have made the difference. Good game Tim.


We sit on 9 points from 4 games with Burnley & Bayern on 6 points with those two being our next games and Leeds bringing up the rear on 3 points. Are we through? Definitely not. We need two more positive results in rounds 5 & 6 to ensure that but we’ve put ourselves into a good position.

[Livi@Liverpool]

Barcelona 0 Arsenal 4

Ouch! That's a shocker of a score line there's no question about that and it's been an utterly dismal attempt by us to retain the trophy. I've said before we either seem to crash out pathetically at the group stage or go all the way and win it, there's no in between. This has definitely been the former.

In terms of this one we set up 42112C and Arsenal were 51013C. It felt like a pretty even 1st half when on the stroke of HT Arsenal grabbed the lead after a cock up from our GK. We switched to the ever unreliable E and of course the tactical boost that gave us saw us concede again almost immediately. Thereafter we went all out attack but a red card for one of our defenders saw Arsenal pick us off a couple more times in the last few minutes.

Good to see the C tactic works for some teams - it certainly doesn't for us! Really bad day at the office and in truth a diabolical spell for us recently. We're facing C tactics every game and clearly can't cope with it.

The only consolation is it's a defeat to Darren who's an absolute gem of a bloke and I'm pleased for him. Would love to see him start winning the trophies his ability and long term efforts deserve.

I've been summoned to the owner's suite which is never a good sign. This is a big club who are underperforming and the pressure is on to get things back on track pronto.

Well played Darren

[Marshy@Atletico]

Southampton 2 Atletico Madrid 3

It seems the only way Atletico can gain a victory is by having an avalanche of shots on the opposition goal. Boosted by the weakness in Southamptons team due to a suspension, Atletico took control of the games chances but managed to find themselves 2-0 down. Atletico pushed and pushed to try and get back in the game. 31 attempts at goal finally found the winner in the 79th minute. The result means Atletico are proudly the first side into the quarter finals.

Manager Simon Marsh commented "The Champions League is at least giving us confidence that we are a decent side and the quarter-finals gives us some more cash and importantly 2 more games. We have never been beyond the quarters so hopefully we can this time. We now have two dead rubber games against Roma and Manchester United. A good opportunity to play the fringe players as it is proving difficult to get players their minutes this season".

Marsh may well get the opportunity of continuing his role following todays betting odds having him second favorite for the sack this season.

S_Chukwueze 25 nig 1 3 20 20 27 1 906 506 32 progress to a 3-20-20 player today. More goals please!

B_Bronico 28 usa 1 14 12 10 22 1 663 535 147 completed his 200 minutes this evening and is unlikely to see any more game time this season.

Good game Jamie

[Ian]

PSG 1-0 Aston VillaVilla

This has to be the most forgettable CL game we have ever played, maybe a bit over negative with the formation and in all honesty the end result could have been much worse for us. At least we are still in the mix because after our nightmare start to this season I see that as a plus. The group is a very tough one but at this point also very tight with all four teams still with a chance of getting through it.

[Steve@ManUtd]

Roma 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED

We got what we came for, 3 points!

Roma did create a whole host of chances but couldn't find a way past Oblak with the efforts they did have on target. We kept a tight cagey game deliberately. We had a good shot on target ratio but ultimately on another day we lose this one so there was an element of luck of our side. But Sometimes you just need the finesse and quality rather than hoping a quantity will come through.

We have 2 games left, one team is through, one is out so it'll be interesting to see how both line up in their remaining games whether they both utilise the free game(s) for minutes, ABS or do they play with eyes of impacting the group?

[Derek]

Roma 0 1 Man Utd

Robbed for the 2nd game in a row by the sneaky Mr Outten.

Game 1
At Old Trafford we got our tactics right. 9 shots to 2 but couldn't score.

Result 0 0

Game 2
At home - dominated a struggling Man Utd defense who again offered little in attack. 20 shots to 6.

Result 0 1

You can be a transfer god and sign the best players

You can be shrewd with your tactics and dominate games

But ultimately we need to surrender at the altar of the FFO gods. As they delight in reminding us who really is running the show.

gg Steve - good luck in the quarters

[Andy@Berlin]

Chelsea 1 - 2 Real Madrid

Disappointed to have lost this one, but its goals that count and they scored more than us, its that simple. The stats were in our favour but we lost ,so that puts a dent in our Champions League aspirations. Good game mate.

[Ed@PSG]

PSG 1 - 0 Aston Villa
We couldnt afford to lose this game, and that was probably a major factor in the lacklustre outcome. Both teams set up with the intention of playing an open game, and we managed to get out nose in front on 18 minutes. At this point we decided the wise option would be to sit back and try and hit our opponents on the break, as they stepped up the pace in an attempt to equalise. Unfortunately, our visitors had other ideas, and also opted to sit back and play on the counter. This resulted in a rather dour game from that point. We certainly had the lions share of play, forcing their goalkeeper to make 7 saves, whilst, in contrast, the Villa only managed 1 shot on target throughout the whole game, with another solitary shot wide of the mark. We came out comfortable winners, but any game is nervy when you only have a single goal cushion. We did, however, have cause for concern with one minute to go, when our keeper got hurt, and had to limp off. Fortunately, Villa didnt get the ball back before the final whistle. I was dreading asking the physio for his synopsis of the injury, but he reassured me that Costa will be back for tomorrows visit of Sporting.

We go back to the summit of the group, but the standings are so tight, with all four teams being able to still qualify. We have 2 tough away games at in Madrid and Chelsea, and we probably need at least 2 points to progress.

[Steve@Chelsea]

Chelsea 1 - 2 Real Madrid

Another even game, Chelsea edged this one slightly on the stats although it didn't read that way. Was visa versa in the game we had prior at home when Chelsea won. So a win apiece for both of us. This was a crucial win for us, it was pretty much an inflection point for the group. The win still gives us a chance with both Madrid and Villa on the same amount of points, Chelsea are not far behind if they beat Villa they are right back in it and it's not home and dry for PSG - but with the GD and the remaining fixtures you'd have to put us as odd's against qualifying at this point with a game against PSG and away to Villa to come. That said, we will be giving it a red hot crack.

[Guest]

Manchester City 2 - 1 Inter Milan

An even game on paper, again, we took the lead and held it up to the 60th minute and from there we went all put attack against the giants of City and tbh we matched them again for the second game in a row but fell to a late goal just like the first game when City got an equaliser against us, hard pill to swallow but thats the Champions League, perhaps if we did not attack and stuck to counter football we would have got a result but its not our style and on another day we could have won, we are in a good position in the group, perhaps not where we though we should be but we have played 3 away games in 4 games and now have 2 home games to decide our own destiny in must win games, we win we go through its that simple and if we play like we did today im confident. gg mate

[Darren]

Barcelona 0 - 4 Arsenal

" The draw certainly wasn't kind to us and we found ourselves in one of the toughest groups that included the current holders of the trophy that we are all fighting for and getting hammered by Inter in the opening game gave us an insight just how tough the group was but to be sitting here on the back of a double win against one of the best Managers in the game gives us a lot of confidence of making it out of the group stage.

Not many sides will face Barca in their own back yard and walk away with the win we did but we also know we had a bit of luck with them being down to ten men when we were leading two nil but none the less, a top side and Manager in Livi was always going to be a tough ask to get anything from but we did it in a fixture that very few look forward to because as we have seen, they get the results but today it was a day to remember for us.

Two games left and we sit top of the table, far from over with a home and away game left with a win needed to make it through so for us to be in this position is an achievement in itself when you look at the quality of teams and Managers in the group ".

Played Livi mate .