Champions League 2009/2010

[kylan05]

I will only say 1 thing: Do not underestimate CSKA.

This is CL. Nuff said.

I am also glad to see that Jose is flying to Moscow tonight.

In Jose I trust.

 

[rsz85]

Barca-Arsenal 60-40

MU-Bayern 65-35

Lyon-Bordeaux 50-50

Inter-CSKA 80-20

 

[Alex de Large]

Mine:

Barca-Arsenal 70-30

MU-Bayern 85-15

Lyon-Bordeaux 30-70

Inter-CSKA 80-20

 

[Xoonky]

Barca-Arsenal 70-30

MU-Bayern 65-35

Lyon-Bordeaux 60-40

Inter-CSKA 80-20

 

[Kraits]

Barca-Arsenal 70-30

MU-Bayern 60-40

Lyon-Bordeaux 40-60

Inter-CSKA 80-20

 

[BlackAndBlueSoul]

That sounds like what inter wanted to do in the group stage... doesn't it?

In the first game at the San Siro this was our gameplan and I think we managed to contain them, especially due to a superb performance of all our defenders, Chivu was outstanding for example but in the return game at the Camp Nou they gave us a proper battering also 'cause we were shambolic in defense, non existent in midfield and on the flanks and Sneijder wasn't playing, I don't remember our team stringing four passes together, at the point that I couldn't say what our tactics were

 

[BlackAndBlueSoul]

A lot of variables, of course, but all things being equal not sure how Arsenal bests Barca at what they do best...But that's football, all things aren't always equal.

I agree on the strategy you suggest for the Gunners...I think if they go all out to attack and try to outpass them going forward - they will pay

Alot, for me, of course depends on whether Barca are indeed now hitting their stride...Their play is definitely getting better but it can wax & wane still...There's a tough schedule ahead for Barca too, so who knows whether that will translate to them playing consistently.

Gallas' loss for the first leg will be a tough loss, IMHO...I love this, also, for the whole 'Masters vs Pupil' in the battle for midfield between Cesc & Iniesta/Xavi...Eboue & Arshavin are the x-factors for Arsenal, for me...They both can be difference makers in different ways...Love the Russian

Should be some exciting football...I love this time of year

Yes football is not maths, on paper you're clear favourites against them but anything can happen and as you said the tough schedule ahead for Barça could be influential, if I'm not mistaken the clasico vs Real Madrid will be just after the 2nd leg? It is possible that the Barça players might be distracted by this massive game unless anything is decided after the 1st leg in London but the Blaugrana are truly a great team so they're used to this kind of situation, otherwise they wouldn't have won 6 trophies in one year.

Gallas' loss is a huge blow for them indeed, as they'll be forced to play Sol Campbell, a physically strong defender but past his prime obviously, I can't imagine him dealing with your fast and skillfull attackers. The strategy I suggested is the only one that could pay off vs Barça especially away but at the same time it should be said that a team who isn't defensive can't turn into one all of a sudden so Arsenal won't probably abandon their sexy football and hope to exploit your very few weaknesses, which in my opinion are on the two defensive flanks, Dani Alves is excellent but he leaves spaces that quick counterattacks can exploit and same for Maxwell (Abidal shouldn't recover on time right?) whom I didn't like too much when he was at Inter for his inability to defend. Anyway, there will be goals galore for sure and this tie is surely the most interesting of all.

 

[BlackAndBlueSoul]

Haven't commented the draw much since I was a bit busy yesterday.

Great draw at first for Inter. Not perfect because of the semi opponents, but let's be realistic. Before the season everything after quarter-finals is a big, big plus. Even quarter-finals is a good progress compared to Inter's recent CL-runs, and now it looks we will reach semis.

So, first match home and second away. Too bad we didn't get the home advantage, but this shouldn't be too decisive. Comfortable beating at home and then just get the needed result in Moscow. The most important thing is to get the team in right mental condition. Somehow Mourinho needs to inject the same spirit to the team he did before the second Chelsea match. Also preparations before the match need to be at the same level so that we don't give anything to CSKA for free. After all, it was Mourinho vs Ancelotti battle in Stamford Bridge which Mou won like 6-0. edit Dedication like this:
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]
It is reported that Inter boss Jose Mourinho will fly out after tonight’s game with Palermo to watch the Moscow derby against Dynamo in person.[/FONT] -football italia/channel4

Generally the draw was a bit disappointing in the sense that most probable final will be the same as last year. I've never liked it that same teams are there year after year. Now the match chart goes other side is ManU and other side Barca, Inter, Arsenal. So three out of top4 teams of the draw got into the same side of the chart. Well you can't always get everything (we already got the rather easy opponent )

However, all the ties are interesting at least. Frenches against each other, Manu-Bayern, teams in pretty good form, and then of course Barcelona-Arsenal. There will be lots of interesting games indeed.

I'm also impressed by Mourinho's dedication, it's not the first time he goes abroad to watch a team we have to play in Europe, I remember him doing the same when we faced Panathinaikos. He will surely prepare the game in all details and motivate the players in the right way, I feel they might underestimate CSKA and this should be absolutely avoided.

We're supposed to get past the Russians but then it seems unlikely we will go further, especially if Barça beat Arsenal as expected.

 

[Bes]

Lyon - Bordeaux 50 - 50
Bayern - Man Utd 25 - 75
Arsenal - Barcelona 15 - 85
Inter - CSKA 95 - 5

The only unknown winner of qf are Lyon or Bordeaux, the others will definitly be:
Manchester, Barca, and us. For sure.

@ Luka
It's nice to see you giving yourself so much hopes that Arsenal beat Barça, but c'mon Luka, Arsenal are just a little piece of cake for Barça. Matter of fact.

 

[Dylan]

Just read some interesting facts.
Players nationality in last 8.
20 - France
9 - Brazil
8 - Russia
7 - Argentina, Spain
6 - Germany
5 - England
4 - Holland
3 - Cameroon
2 - Belgium, Czech, Serbia
1 - Austria, Bosnia,Chile,Denmark,Ecuador,Ivory Coast,Japan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Morocco,Portugal,Scotland,South Korea.

Not 1 Italian.

 

[Suneet]

We need more Russian players.

 

[Alex de Large]

And in the last 8?

 

[Dylan]

And in the last 8?

Oh balls sorry I meant that. Never was great at Maths.
Edited it now.

 

[Handoyo]

Irish, that totals up to 77 players, can't even have a full team in the 4 matches involving 8 teams.

 

[Dylan]

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/

Go complain to them I'm just typing what I see.

 

[rsz85]

Irish, that totals up to 77 players, can't even have a full team in the 4 matches involving 8 teams.

That is EXACTLY 88 players.

 

[Inter Siamo Noi]

Inter - CSKA 90-10
Barca - Arsenal 65-35
Man United - Bayern 60-40
Lyon - Bordeaux 55-45

Semi-finals:
What my brain say: Inter-Barca, United-Lyon.
My feelings say: Inter-Arsenal, United-Lyon.

 

[Besnik]

Lyon - Bordeaux (50 - 50)
Bayern - Man Utd (40 - 60)
Arsenal - Barcelona (45 - 55)
Inter - CSKA (75 - 25)

For me, these are the real and the possibility chances..

 

[CafeCordoba]

Betfair odds (with formula 100/decimal odd, that's why odds doesn't add up to 100 always):

Lyon - Bordeaux (52 - 52)
Bayern - Man Utd (36 - 69)
Arsenal - Barcelona (30 - 75)
Inter - CSKA (78 - 25)

Unibet odds:

Lyon - Bordeaux (54 - 51)
Bayern - Man Utd (34 - 67)
Arsenal - Barcelona (30 - 71)
Inter - CSKA (77 - 29)

They trust Barcelona and Inter pretty much, and well, why wouldn't they?

------------------------------------------------------

Some interesting stuff coming from France btw. Because you love my UEFA Coefficiency points shit so much, I continue with them. Lyon is getting out of the championship race in France and at the moment they are sixth in the league. It's very unlikely they can win it anymore, but it's pretty tough for them to reach even CL spots. There is Bordeaux leading the pack, 5p ahead with a match in hand. Then there is Montpellier 5p ahead, Auxerre 4p ahead and Marseille 2p ahead with a match in hand.

What this means to Inter? Inter is 11th in Team ranking and for example teams like Liverpool, Sevilla, Lyon and Werder Bremen ahead of it. If three of those four teams fail to qualify to the CL, we can get back to the first pot. Werder looks pretty certain they won't make it, so we need 2/3 of the remaining teams I mentioned. With 'Pool it looks pretty tough too, they would have to play like motherfuckers for the rest of their season to beat both Spurs and ManC.

Sevilla is not fourth at the moment but they are so close I think they will eventually qualify, they will beat Mallorca in that competition. So Lyon comes as the third required team to fuck up their CL qualification.

It would be huge for Inter to get back to that pot. We would get some credibility again (though RM is also in 2nd pot, but they are a joke), and foremost, we wouldn't have to face some tough opponents in the group. Thus having better chance to get lesser opponents in Round of 16. And that way getting our Euro confidence high on a constant basis. And more coeff-points in group stage to cement our place in the first pot again.

 

[Alex de Large]

Hopefully Pool will suck from now to May, i don't like them very much also.