923 replies to this topic

[BSLRoseKatz]

I'm kinda fascinated by how this'll be happening after the domestic seasons end, you'll have much greater focus on these matches going forward knowing you don't have a match on Saturday/Sunday the week before and the week after

[BSLSteveBirrer]

I'm kinda fascinated by how this'll be happening after the domestic seasons end, you'll have much greater focus on these matches going forward knowing you don't have a match on Saturday/Sunday the week before and the week after

Yes it will be very interesting and you will see teams at their best as far as who is on the field.

 

During a "normal" season the managers have to juggle their lineups according to the schedule at hand and the desires of ownership.

1. No team can play all their league matches and UCL with the starting 11. Players can't keep fit and in top form playing those many matches.

2. Some teams ownership puts more of a premium on winning their domestic league title. Some put more emphasis on winning UCL. Most take a middle of the road approach and want to win it all. So the teams taking the last approach have to really manage their rosters and playing time. Look at upcoming matches to determine the optimal lineups based upon the competition. 

 

As an example lets look at Liverpool and a three game stretch they had last fall.

Sunday October 20th Man U - EPL match

Wednesday October 23 Genk - UCL match

Sunday October 27 Tottenham - EPL match

Wednesday October 30 Arsenal - League Cup match

Saturday November 2 Aston Villa - EPL match

Tuesday November 5 Genk - UCL match

Sunday November 10 Man City - EPL match

 

That was 7 matches in 3 weeks with 4 of those being against top clubs. Liverpool has three main attackers. Salah, Mane, and Furmino. Not one of them played in all 7 of these matches. NONE of them played in the League Cup match. And they got a huge luck of the draw here in that they got Genk as both of their UCL matches in this stretch. Genk was by far the weakest team in their UCL group. Now take that same schedule but give them a different UCL draw with Napoli. Holy crap that would have turned a tough stretch into a brutal one.

 

But that isn't how UCL is going to work the rest of the way. Now that's not to see its easy because the only games they have are UCL matches. Its the good news bad news thing. The good news is they only have to worry about UCL matches. The bad news is that at this stage there ain't no easy UCL matches!

 

Man I am so stoked to watch the rest of this. Then we have the transfer window with some key players likely to get move around. Then right back into next season domestic leagues, UCL, and Europa. Oh yeah, and hopefully the rest of the MLS season. 

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Starts back up today and Man C and Real Madrid should be a classicl

[BSLChrisStoner]

CBS Sports: UEFA Champions League Power Rankings: PSG have a lot on the line; Bayern keep top spot ahead of Barca clash
https://www.cbssport...of-barca-clash/

[BSLChrisStoner]

The Ringer: It’s Win or Go Home at the Champions League

[BSLSteveBirrer]

An almost stunner did a 180 stunner.

 

Atalanta was leading PSG 1-0 in the 90th minute. Then PSG scored to make in 1-1. Then in the 3rd minute of extra time PSG scored again and pulled off the W.

 

WOW!

[BSLRoseKatz]

Pretty clutch moment for the American Tyler Adams

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Pretty clutch moment for the American Tyler Adams

He's going to be the USMNT dmid for a long tme. Kid is really good. Can't wait to have him, McKennie, Pulisic, and Reyna controlling the midfield for us.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

One for the ages today. Bayern Munich v Barcelona.  Too bad its not on general TV in the US. Its on Univision for those who get that channel. Its where I'll be watching.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

OMG if anybody is not watching this match and sees this post. Turn this on. INSANE.

 

2nd minute Barca has a nice buildup and has a dangerous ball into the box defended at the last second

 

Bayern turned it around and immediately went on the attack and scored a wonderful goal with classic work betwen Mueller and Lewandowski with Mueller a great finish in the 3rd mintue.

 

7th minute Barca attacks and another dangerous ball from the left to a running on Saurez. Defender reaches to cut it off and hits it in is own next.

 

9th minute thru ball from Messi to Suarez but Neuer came out to cut the angle off and Suarez hit it into Neuer. Great save

 

On the resulting corner, Barca plays a short corner. Drop it back wide right and winger hits a cross to the far post. Off the post.

 

Non stop chances at both ends.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

22nd  mintued and Perisic from the left and a very tight angle inside the area. Left footed to the far post. Ter Stegen got his toe on it but it went high and hit the underside of the crossbar and in.

 

2-1 Bayern

[BSLSteveBirrer]

25th minute Perisic with another shot inside the area but a great save by Ter Stegen.

 

27th minute some more incredible work with a flick into the box to Nabry's chest. He brings it down to his foot and calmly slots it past an on coming Ter Stegen 3-1 Bayern.

 

Nobody can stop this kind of work. 

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Well I was hoping to be able to say it was a tale of two halves. But in fact both halves were identical

 

4-1 Bayern at the half

 

8-2 Bayern at full time

 

Maybe the most dominating performance I have seen at this level of soccer. Much like the 2014 WC where Germany trashed the hosts Brazil 7-1 which was their worst home defeat ever. But truth be told that Brazil team was not that good. This Barca team just took second in La Liga.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Another off the wall result.

 

Lyon goes up 1-0 over heavily favored Man City.

Man City ties it up 1-1.

Then Lyon has a very controversial goal allowed and goes up 2-1. IMO the player in the offside position took huge advantage from his position. Even though he didn't play the ball and let it go between his legs the defenders had to be looking at him. 

Then in the 85th minute one of the most talented goal scorers around misses a gimme from 5 yards out. All he has to do is tap it into the open goal. Miss of Century as my son put it.

That killed Man C and they gave up and Lyon went right down and scored to nail it 3-1.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

All but over for this season. Here's a look at the last week.

 

https://www.baltimor...ue-finish-line/

[BSLRoseKatz]

It's really fascinating Ligue 1 got two semifinalists when their league didn't even resume after corona

[BSLSteveBirrer]

It's really fascinating Ligue 1 got two semifinalists when their league didn't even resume after corona

It quite stunning actually. There was clearly a flip side in that those two teams could focus 100% on getting fit and training for just the teams they were set to face in UCL.

 

But when you haven't played a competitive match in 5 months its just hard to fathom that you could be so in synch  and playing at such a high level. Crazy.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Well PSG has made their first ever UCL final. And they earned it. Just controlled the match from start to finish. Leipzig is clearly missing Timo Werner up front. They need to do something in the transfer window.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

As expected Bayern leads Lyon 2-0 at the half. What was not expected is that Lyon actually had two clear cut chances and missed them both. One wide and one off the post. When you are playing well against a clearly better team you must finish any chances you do get. This could be 2-2. But now Bayern has the comfortable half time lead.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

And Bayern are the champs for 2019-2020. Hint: If you are a gambler don't bet against them next season.