Clrnc wrote:

Some of their combination play is breathtaking. Every player fits into their gameplan to a tee.

Klaus wrote:

Isn't it amazing how Jardim has completely transformed a scrub like Fabinho, who by all accounts looked like a dime a dozen talent at right back, into one of Europe's best midfielders? He needs to bring that bloke with him when he comes to Arsenal this summer to replace Arséne.

He was pretty highly rated at RB actually, plenty of teams wanted him 2 seasons ago before Jardim converted him into a brilliant CM. In him and Bakoyoko, they have 2 of the most balanced B2B combination. If Jardim were to come, he better bring Mendy along. He's probably the best LB in europe this season, the consistency of his attacking runs and crosses is top notch.

I like how Jardim's team don't fuck around when they attack. Every move is done with purpose. If he can make Bernardo Silva plays like this, I wonder what he can do with Ozil.

Its annoying that we used to play like this 15 years ago. 

Gazza M wrote:

Clrnc wrote:

Some of their combination play is breathtaking. Every player fits into their gameplan to a tee.

He was pretty highly rated at RB actually, plenty of teams wanted him 2 seasons ago before Jardim converted him into a brilliant CM. In him and Bakoyoko, they have 2 of the most balanced B2B combination. If Jardim were to come, he better bring Mendy along. He's probably the best LB in europe this season, the consistency of his attacking runs and crosses is top notch.

I like how Jardim's team don't fuck around when they attack. Every move is done with purpose. If he can make Bernardo Silva plays like this, I wonder what he can do with Ozil.

Its annoying that we used to play like this 15 years ago. 

My word it's been 15 years since the double winning side. That's nuts.

aguero

Monaco is tiring badly again and it looks like Bakayoko is struggling with his thigh injury. Needs a sub to prevent a goal I reckon.

Raggi is injured as well.

Sane scores. I think Monaco stuck with 4-4-2 too late, it wasn't working this half. too much space out wide (Sane/Sterling runs are killer) and space in between the midfield and defence.

It's been coming. They can hardly run in the 2nd half and they have no depth on the bench to replace the injured players with Falcao and Glik suspended.

EDIT: Bakayoko scores. 3-1

That's why you don't play Kolarov at CB.

Monaco is such an English club killer. Chelsea, us and now City.

Humbling experience for Pep

Clrnc wrote:

It's been coming. They can hardly run in the 2nd half and they have no depth on the bench to replace the injured players with Falcao and Glik suspended.

EDIT: Bakayoko scores. 3-1

Would you take Bakayoko here Clrnc? 

Lol. Wenger grins over his evening hot chocolate. Champions League respects no reputation

Well done monaco. They were missing key players and still pulled it off

Leicester flying the flag for the English clubs

Nice work Monaco. Hope things stay this interesting and the Semis have some unlikely participants.

Is Sampaoli still a candidate for Barca? Does Jardim slip ahead of him? Does it matter who the manager is when you have four of the world's 10 best players?

Bryant wrote:

Clrnc wrote:

It's been coming. They can hardly run in the 2nd half and they have no depth on the bench to replace the injured players with Falcao and Glik suspended.

EDIT: Bakayoko scores. 3-1

Would you take Bakayoko here Clrnc? 

Definitely. We are missing a strong and powerful ball winner like him in the middle of the park. It's so crucial in big games to win the midfield battle like they did.

Pep will be kicking himself. Monaco is missing 2 of their best players are still manage to make City look like mugs. Should have killed them in the first leg alone mind you.

QF will be interesting with Monaco and Leicester in it.

English football has gone to complete and utter shite. So far off the pace it's unreal.

Moncao vs Leicester would be great, like the idea of one of them advancing.

Claudius wrote:

Is Sampaoli still a candidate for Barca? Does Jardim slip ahead of him? Does it matter who the manager is when you have four of the world's 10 best players?

I would say Barca are more likely to hire someone that has a history of playing or coaching for them. Ernesto Valverde and Unzue are names that are popping up. 

Take a bow.

Clrnc wrote:

Take a bow.

Making up for his statuesque performance in the shootout against Real last year!

Thought Monaco had blown it in the second half, but City were so bad even Monaco with their obvious lack of experience managed to come back and then hold out.

Mbappe was good in the first half, but Fabinho, for me, was hands down the best player on the pitch. Gilberto Silva Mk II.

We are such a bullshit club. While we waited around for Wenger the pretender all the other clubs snapped up the good managers. We should be actively pursuing Jardim and tell Wenger this is his last season. The time for sentiment has long passed. We will never be taken seriously on or off the pitch because we look so unprofessional.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Thought Monaco had blown it in the second half, but City were so bad even Monaco with their obvious lack of experience managed to come back and then hold out.

Mbappe was good in the first half, but Fabinho, for me, was hands down the best player on the pitch. Gilberto Silva Mk II.

Hi Ricky. Get them both. 60m pounds and solve two headaches we have. Tired of watching wonderful players at lesser clubs while I look at Walcott, Giroud and whoever's in midfield on that day. 

Irish gunner wrote:

English football has gone to complete and utter shite. So far off the pace it's unreal.

You are right, something need to change in England. Think winter break is one key point to help the players. The league has to help our clubs too by shifting fixtures so that we have maximum rest time before european matches. Every league does that except here. It's ridiculous.

4 Quarter Finalists in the last 5 years and that include Leicester and Moyes' utterly pointless United. Horrible for a league who is by far the highest spending in europe.

I think it's a mixture of things, but ultimately comes down to the fact that the standard of players at the top clubs in England has gone down dramatically.

Which makes little sense considering the amount of money clubs in England spend relative to the rest of Europe

Considering the big clubs are going out and the smaller clubs with less quality are making it through in England, don't think the argument hold much water, especially when you consider the fact that France and Germany are doing better than England collectively.

It may seem counter intuitive but the money in the PL has made it harder. The top teams are richer but they're still competing with the super rich. Meanwhile the middle and bottom of the PL have gotten much stronger meaning its just a harder season overall in England.

The PL need to do something about the fixture scheduling though. Give the CL teams more room either side of the European games. Especially in the knock outs.

I don't want a winter break in England.

QF draw out - Juve vs Barca, Real vs Bayern ,Atletico vs Leicester and Dortmund vs Monaco.

Dortmund vs. Monaco should be very interesting.

As could Atletico - Leicester. Both sides allergic to having possession. Maybe if Leicester have one great night, they could make something of it (huge ask, I know). If Allegri can beat Barca, that will be some statement.

Wow! Just wow. Couldn't have asked for a better draw. Claude is calling

• Barca
• Bayern
• Atletico
• Monaco

Nice draw.

Excellent draw, all the matches look good

Don't they also draw the SF pairs at the same time (i.e. winners of QF x vs winners of QF y)? Have they changed that?

Would love to see Real, Juve, Monaco and Leicester go through. Expecting Barca and Atletico to win though.

EL QF draw out - MU v Anderlecht. They look favs to win the whole thing this year - no other half decent team in the QFs (maybe Lyon at a stretch).