Champions League Thread | Page 282 | Vital Football

Champions League Thread

Props to the Brugge fans who started singing 'is this a library?' and 'your support is f***ing s***!' at some point yesterday the atmosphere was a bit flat, so they have a valid point!

Other than that the first half wasn't great, but despite all of the possession, they didn't do much with it. Rogers also looked knackered and at a couple of points I was questioning if he could run anymore, was a bit lax. Rashford got better in the second as well, but to be fair they all did.

Asensio is quality though, sign him up!

Finally, quarter finals of the CL, drink it all in!
 
Well, the first half wasn't how Unai planned it but he had the balls to make the changes and win the game at a canter.

In the first half, they looked like they had 12 men, not 10. SJM is playing in advance of Rogers. What was that about?

Subs changed the game, although I think Rogers with his leg straps should have been rested long before.
Asensio was another level of footballing brain, I think he even made Bailey's "pass" look like a worldie, I thought it was a shite ball for Matty Cash until Marco lashed it in.
The fluid front 3 looked pretty good the second half and the right result was never in doubt but bloody hell that first half was some dire shite.
No, it wasn't the plan according to the man himself so no need to make excuses for him.
 
Having watched the Liverpool PSG game Tuesday night, the main thing I took away from it was, how much PSG's number 14 Doue looks like a very young Ollie. They are a very good team with some very good young players. I think we're going to have to be on our toes defensively against them in both games, thank the football gods that Marco can play against his home club. If we don't sign him, I'll stop eating chips.
 
The ‘plan’ wasn’t to go gung ho from minute one which wasn’t acceptable to quite a few round me who were bed wetting after 5 mins that we hadn’t scored.

Never been so relaxed from before and during such a big game. Can’t get my head around the fuss from some in that first half. We didn’t need to do a thing , the owness was on them completely. And they were completely tepid at best in the final third. Some are talking like they battered us first half, lol.

Unai set it perfectly to see the game as possible goalless and then introduce the subs when he wanted to turn the screw. Just so happens that the red card hastened that move.
 
Melon Donkey said:
The ‘plan’ wasn’t to go gung ho from minute one which wasn’t acceptable to quite a few round me who were bed wetting after 5 mins that we hadn’t scored.

Never been so relaxed from before and during such a big game. Can’t get my head around the fuss from some in that first half. We didn’t need to do a thing , the owness was on them completely. And they were completely tepid at best in the final third. Some are talking like they battered us first half, lol.

Unai set it perfectly to see the game as possible goalless and then introduce the subs when he wanted to turn the screw. Just so happens that the red card hastened that move.
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My issue is with the bed wetting comment, hand wringing would be a much nicer term to use about about fellow Villans.

We all deal with things differently, some stressed some not so, I haven't been relaxed all week if im honest, and hindsight is a great thing isn't it, but when you're commenting in the moment, in game, on this site, it's easy to then come back and look through comments and pick up on things that were said, which if I'm honest is a little unfair, if you're at the game, which you were, we don't know what your thought patterns are/were! What you said, how you handled the pressure.

We can all say 'I told you so' after the event, some just choose not too.
 
Melon Donkey said:
The ‘plan’ wasn’t to go gung ho from minute one which wasn’t acceptable to quite a few round me who were bed wetting after 5 mins that we hadn’t scored.

Never been so relaxed from before and during such a big game. Can’t get my head around the fuss from some in that first half. We didn’t need to do a thing , the owness was on them completely. And they were completely tepid at best in the final third. Some are talking like they battered us first half, lol.

Unai set it perfectly to see the game as possible goalless and then introduce the subs when he wanted to turn the screw. Just so happens that the red card hastened that move.
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Not sure what Brugges tactics were , but even with eleven they weren't committing men forward , they seemed happy to knock the ball around and we were waiting for them to committ which they never did.

We killed the game really and Unai let us of the leash in the second half. The first half may not have totally gone to plan , but there was no way we were going to go gung ho however we played.
 
The first half was a bit ordinary but, then again, with a two goal advantage it didn’t need to be any more than that.
Then Emery got fed up, went the full bollocks in the second half and we played like we meant it. An Unai masterclass.
One of the big factors for me was Asensio’s movement. This bloke could find space in a telephone box.
I’m looking at that quarter final lineup and thinking that we really are back in the big time. A list of European royalty and we’re in it.
And great to see the depth we’ve got with the return of the wounded.
 
villan1874 said:
My issue is with the bed wetting comment, hand wringing would be a much nicer term to use about about fellow Villans.

We all deal with things differently, some stressed some not so, I haven't been relaxed all week if im honest, and hindsight is a great thing isn't it, but when you're commenting in the moment, in game, on this site, it's easy to then come back and look through comments and pick up on things that were said, which if I'm honest is a little unfair, if you're at the game, which you were, we don't know what your thought patterns are/were! What you said, how you handled the pressure.

We can all say 'I told you so' after the event, some just choose not too.
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Oh. I could use worse than bed wetting about certain individuals near me verbally abusing the players after 5 mins. So I’m being kind actually.
Haven’t read the match thread back so no idea what was said beyond the final whistle so your inference that I’m having a pop at anyone on here is totally wrong.

Not once said ‘I told you so’. Read back . I’ve been super confident since the final whistle in Brugge so no hindsight from me just my feelings on the match before and during and they’ve been consistent since last week.
 
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Melon Donkey said:
Oh. I could use worse than bed wetting about certain individuals near me verbally abusing the players after 5 mins. So I’m being kind actually.
Haven’t read the match thread back so no idea what was said beyond the final whistle so your inference that I’m having a pop at anyone on here is wrong.

Not once said ‘I told you so’ so give that a rest please. Read back . I’ve been super confident since the final whistle in Brugge so no hindsight from me just my feelings on the match before and during.
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Verbally abusing anyone is definitely not on, so we're agreed on that. But your 1st comment didn't mention those around you, so I wrongly assumed you were talking about some on here, so I apologise for that.

Anyhow a watch of this might show that the 1st half was definitely not the plan, and not as smooth sailing as some would have you think


 
sirdennis said:
Not sure what Brugges tactics were , but even with eleven they weren't committing men forward , they seemed happy to knock the ball around and we were waiting for them to committ which they never did.

We killed the game really and Unai let us of the leash in the second half. The first half may not have totally gone to plan , but there was no way we were going to go gung ho however we played.
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They were trying to stick to what they'd done in the previous 2 games which in fairness had caused us problems going forwards but not especially defensively. Which considering they were 2 down was odd to say the least.

The red card truly killed the tie and the subs plus us moving up a gear buried it. They looked pretty dispirited by the end.
 
Without meaning to show off (I am definitely showing off), my company got to run the transportion of the Club Brugge players and staff over the last few days. Everyone associated with the club were fantastic and an absolute pleasure and were very complimentary of the mighty Villa. Hoping we get to meet in European competition again soon.
 
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