[Andy Christ]

Not talking about ManU or Arsenal of course.

But Pool and Chelsea, the most consistent English clubs in CL playoffs during recent seasons. They try to take off the room and movement from opposing teams by their relentless pressing while trying to snatch the odd goal themselves. They usually have all the luck on their side too, like yesterday when Pool got awarded a controversial penalty and Chelsea scored a lucky rebound 1 yard tap in and later Chiellini was sent off for nothing. This is why all neutral fans want to see them crashing out. They want to see quality football.

what you think please discuss

 

[Andy Christ]

and before somebody accuses me of trolling, I'm not the only one who thinks that way. Respected forums poster El Fen/Madridista4 summarized the situation very well yesterday:

I think this whole EPL dominance concept is overrated. They're not genuinely outclassing the opposition like the best Spanish teams used to do earlier this millenium. Real Madrid, Barca, Valencia... when those teams were on top they showed world-class performances and blew away the competition. The EPL is doing good in the CL but in terms of performances it is not dominating. Arsenal disappoint quite often, United revert to shit-on-a-stick tactics when the going gets tough, Liverpool are quite simply showered with ridiculous luck and Chelsea always scrape through. For all the money and hype, they are still not capable of technically playing a team off the park - except for Arsenal, who lack steel.

If you look at the best performances from continental teams (AC Milan 3-0 Man Utd, or Real Madrid's performance against Man Utd in 2003) - you will see that when those teams are on top they dish out a comprehensive drubbing. This is why those kind of teams live long in the memory. Who is going to remember the 07-08 edition except for Man Utd fans?

 

[mali]

well, i think the prestation of liverpool yesturday has been perfect. they were stronger, how could you think otherwise?

 

[Andy Christ]

Real Madrid had better and more creative players. But Liverpool didn't even allow them to show their skills by pressing them all the time. That's antifootball in my book. :yuck:

 

[Maturin]

You know full well that Liverpool wiped the floor with them Andy. Nice try

Was it shit on a stick football? Was it anti football? No.

It was just a team holding dominance over another.

 

[mali]

Real Madrid had better and more creative players. But Liverpool didn't even allow them to show their skills by pressing them all the time. That's antifootball in my book. :yuck:

they let them play in the second half. and watch what happened. they caught them in counter attack.

 

[Alec_Cobas]

Chiellini sent off for nothing? What kind of joke is this? And, yes, Essien scored from a rebound, but did you see Drogba's free kick? I suppose you are sure the ball didn't pass the line...

 

[mali]

be serious andy. liverpool did what they want with madrilen defense. fortunately casillas made an incredible prestation. imagine if they got the goalie of sporting in the net...

 

[ToniSamp]

well, i think the prestation of liverpool yesturday has been perfect. they were stronger, how could you think otherwise?

:notlist:

 

[A10]

But Liverpool didn't even allow them to show their skills by pressing them all the time. That's antifootball in my book.

You mean pool players should encourage RM to play and allow them to score to be proFootball? some book you have..

btw Chelsea did not hold back play.

 

[mali]

:notlist: Beware of the different meaning of the same word from French to English

what is the good word then?

 

[ToniSamp]

what is the good word then?

Performance :smileani:

 

[mali]

Performance :smileani:

seems that french vocabulary is richer than english one.

 

[Mohamed]

The EPL teams are fitter, stronger, faster. The pace of the Premiership is a huge advantage for EPL teams in European competition. In an era where athleticism is a vital commodity in modern football - Spanish teams continue to depend on their technical abilities and Italian teams continue to rely on their tactical capabilities.

Man Utd play J.S Park in CL matches even though he does not play in the league. Against Inter neither Tevez or Rooney started. Last season Rooney at times operated as a full-back against Barca. There is no hiding from this fact. Barcelona came to Old Trafford and had plenty of the ball. United were quite happy to sit back and hurt them on the counter. The less said about the way Liverpool and Chelsea are set up to play in CL matches, the better. I never want to hear another word of how Italian teams are anti-football.

The harsh reality is that English teams do not play an open game in Europe. The only team that does it is Arsenal - who are the least successful English team in the CL over the last few years.

 

[Maturin]

An open game? does that mean you want the midfield to be wide open and it's a case of after you sir. You show us what you can do and then we'll have a bit of time with the ball after. You want the defences to lay down the red carpet. This isn't a knockabout on a sunday in the park. This is highly competitive football in the later stages of the CL.

Liverpool attacked Madrid incessantly from the first whistle in the early part of the game. This set the tone of the match. That had nothing to do with teams being open, defensive, or whatever, it was about a team taking the game to the other and coming out winners.

 

[Cruyff14]

There is no doubt that Liverpool played Real off the park and were entertaining in doing so.

 

[Mohamed]

Come off it Maturin, are you going to conveniently forget how Liverpool played at the Bernabeu? Hoofing the ball up constantly and showing no interest of playing football AT ALL? They knew they had a physical advantage at Anfield and credit to them for exploiting it - but Madrid made it all too easy for them. There is a reason it was the first time during Rafa's reign that you can say Liverpool thoroughly outclassed the opposition in the Champions League latter stages. The reason is Madrid putting in an atrocious performance. I guarantee you that Liverpool will not put in that kind of performance in the QFs or SFs.

 

[Maturin]

They probably won't put in that kind of performance again because the chances are they will play another EPL side or a side that will not succumb as easily as Madrid and let them have such dominance.

You can't criticise Liverpool for keeping it tight in the first leg. It's just getting ridiculous now. It's called classic CL play and the game is over two legs. The fact of the matter is Liverpool played good attacking football in the second leg and blew away this myth that they can't play, are anti-football and only put ten men behind the ball.

 

[Mohamed]

It's called classic CL play and the game is over two legs. The fact of the matter is Liverpool played good attacking football in the second leg and blew away this myth that they can't play, are anti-football and only put ten men behind the ball.

This is utter nonsense. So one game, against a very poor Madrid team, and suddenly Liverpool are not anti-football? What about the other ton of games they've played against the best teams in Europe? Just because Madrid made them look like Brasil does not mean they've turned the corner. They're anti-football of the worst kind and you will see it in the QFs and SFs. Guaranteed.

 

[Maturin]

It was a poor Madrid side but if you give Liverpool the chance to play they can and will as they proved last night.

You keep saying that we will see anti-football in the QFs AND SFs but this proves nothing. The games get naturally tighter when the better teams meet.

Give Liverpool some credit Mo for what they did not only last night but over the two legs.The general overall play was superior from Liverpool and that was over the two games. This all brings us back to the strength of La Liga.