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BIG GAME ROBBEN

352K views 9K replies 237 participants last post by  steamed hams 
#1 ·
Since Liverpool are starting their Europa League campaign tonight, may as well start this thread now.

This will be rodgers first season in Europe, so I expect he'll look to have a solid competition. I reckon AVB will take this competition more seriously than Redknapp and Newcastle will want to do well for sure. Hopefully these three teams will do well and help England's co-efficient points.

As for the CL, we're retaining it :jordan2

 
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#3,341 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

Always thought Man Utd stand a strong chance of eliminating Madrid. Don't know where the gulf in class came from as people seem to think. Madrid are slightly superior, but that's about it really although they are yet to hit their stride this season.

Madrid dominated the first half, but their end product was lacking. United, on the other hand looked much more revived in the second half and posed problems for the somewhat 'shaky' Madrid defence especially at set pieces which they've had problems defending all season. They're probably missing both Pepe and Casillas. Not sure why the ref called the game without letting Utd take their corner. Fishy.

Can't wait for the secong leg now.
 
#3,346 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

I hope the english media finally relaxes a bit on De Gea. He's been playing great the last few months IMO, and was easily MOTM today.

Pretty happy with united performance, although the first half was hard to watch. Honestly think we had more 'good' chances in the second half then Madrid who seemed to lose steam.

Also Jones has to be first team from now on. Gave us something we've been lacking in the middle of the pitch for so long. Wouldn't mind seeing a partnership of him, cleverly and anderson in the middle of the pitch, although Carrick has been solid this year.
 
#3,349 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

Arsenal would have to play a Bayern reserves side and hope to not have them get that away goal. Bayern will punish them at the Allianz, so Arsenal's best hope is to boss the Emirates leg, win by 3 goals, and park dat bus in Munich.
 
#3,350 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

Great performance. Could have killed it with some chances at the end. Some superb individual displays. De Gea, Evans, Jones, Welbeck were just absolutely phenomenal.

Rafael was so poor in the first half. Abysmal. Cue everyone labeling him our weakness, liability, not good enough etc. and throwing his fantastic season out the window. He improved in the second half, but just looked nervous all night. Not like him.

Rooney was fucking shocking. Was carried by the other 10 players. Just fucking amazing how bad he can be. Kagawa was poor enough too, had some lively moments but faded as he has in so many games.

Very winnable tie now. We should fancy ourselves against anyone in Old Trafford.
 
#3,353 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

I'd much rather have seen Cleverley out there based off his recent form, than Kagawa. Cleverley is a very CLEVER footballer (hehe) and whilst I don't think he'll be world class or anything like that, he's starting to show he belongs at a high level.

He still doesn't excel at any skill though haha. Like I said though, he's a smart footballer and works very hard, so that'll do.
 
#3,354 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

Yeah he moves the ball quickly and shows a sign of confidence in making himself available for every ball. Just refreshing to see a bit of bite and graft in the midfield off the ball which we've been sorely lacking for a while. I appreciate Carrick's game is more suited to reading and intercepting instead of putting a foot in, but it can be a tad irritating sometimes to see him be light in the tackle and almost letting people glide past him for fear of putting a tackle in. Cleverley and Jones give us some bite and tenacity in fighting for every ball which can be so crucial in winning the midfield battle.

He may not become one of the great midfielders to have ever worn the shirt, but he looks to be likely to securing a regular position and who should amount to a very dependable, reliable and handy player.
 
#3,357 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

I have always said he'll be the equivalent of Nicky Butt, in terms of capability to step in when needed whilst never quite being a Scholes/Keane.
That seems like a fair assessment based on what we've seen so far. Good potential, handy player, brings a lot to the team, appears to link up well with Carrick and Anderson which presents versatility and always there to do a job for the team.
 
#3,362 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

Yeah i'd much rather see a 3 man midfield of Carrick, Jones and Cleverley in the 2nd leg, i was surprised he didnt start yesterday
I suspect that's how we'll line up. With RVP, Rooney and Welbeck as the front 3. Could also see Smalling coming in for Rafael unfortunately.

Cleverley has came on very well this season but I still he's very weak when we're not in possession, whereas Jones is an animal.
 
#3,359 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

Any predictions for tonights Europa League games? Maybe the racists get beaten by Zenit? Will probably watch Newcastle vs Metalist Kharkiv. Watched a fair few Newcastle games over the past few weeks and have found them enjoyable.

Tottenham 1-0 Lyon. Lyon aren't in great form from what I've seen.
Zenit 2-1 Liverpool.
Sparta Prague 1-3 Chelsea.
 
#3,365 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

Fully agreed on Vader and WOOLCOCK's points about Cleverly. I'm a big fan. Don't get the criticism of him defensively either. Puts some great challenges in and will always put a shift in getting back as well as going forward. End product is lacking a bit too often right now but that should come with games under his belt. There was this guy at one of the Utd matches this season sat in front of me on his own that fucking HATED Cleverly with a passion. Got more excited if Cleverly gave the ball away than when we scored.

Kagawa's worth sticking with but god he needs to bulk up if he wants to make it at Utd. Can see him bringing Cleverly in for the 2nd leg, maybe in place of Jones if we really go for it and playing a winger instead of Kagawa and keep Rooney in the middle. Welbeck on the right and Young or Giggs would fit. Of course Cleverly would also fit in there and keep Jones/Carrick behind.
 
#3,369 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

for such a big fan you spelt his name wrong 5 times.

in fact it's amusing to see how many times cleverley gets misspelt. it's not even that bad. blaszczykowski i can understand.
:downing

I've been spelling it that way for like a year now and I never realise I keep getting it wrong. Wrong it shall stay!
 
#3,370 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

Seabs is just doing a Merse tribute. Needs more Eeewubanks Blake though.

Yeah Seabs there are numerous nutters at games. I had one guy to the side of me in the 3-1 victory over Spurs at OT in the 09/10 season. Guy slandered every misplaced pass whilst bemoaning any simple possession football as being unadventurous. If we hadn't of won I could have seen him getting a slap at some point because there were a few psycho looking K Standers getting progressively pissed off with his whining.

Cleverley is still coming along but he has the off ball game of hardwork and making a bid to win every loose ball to compensate for his inconsistent final ball. He moves the ball well in a Flamini esque way and is constantly making good runs into an attacking third and spreading the play well. Feel like he has the defensive and pressing game to makeup for not being Scholes esque in his passing or vision.

Kagawa is just a bit limited in our play. A 4-2-3-1 with him in the middle of the 3 behind Van Persie feels like the only way he could be played regularly in a more central position, but that means we'd have to play Rooney on the left of the 3 and play with one winger which would mean Valencia/Welbeck/Young fighting for a place and Hernandez out of favour. He's skillful and had some good link up play last night in spells, but it is worrying that he seems to be relying on turning a defender first time with his touch as he seems to lose any 50/50 tussle over the ball. Doesn't help that he prefers playing through the centre and United with the current wingers and philosophy will always try and play it out wide and use Rafael and Evra as extra width to stretch a defence.
 
#3,373 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

I actually think Kagawa’s best performances, outside of the Everton game, have came when he’s been on the left, which is also where I’ve always seen him developing here. The rotation probably isn’t helping him, but at times there have been no excuses. The West Ham FA Cup game comes to mind, I swear the ball just bounced off him every time. He’s better than what he’s shown us this season. I think he’ll come good though.

A lot of fans can embarrass themselves, particularly in the middle of games with emotions running high. I was in the Stretford End for the first leg of the Arsenal semi final in 2009 and I swear the abuse Ronaldo was getting was shocking. “Lazy cunt”, “Fuck off to Madrid”, “overrated wanker”, the lot. All the while the guy getting all the love was Tevez.

Funny how things change.
 
#3,375 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

I actually think Kagawa’s best performances, outside of the Everton game, have came when he’s been on the left, which is also where I’ve always seen him developing here. The rotation probably isn’t helping him, but at times there have been no excuses. The West Ham FA Cup game comes to mind, I swear the ball just bounced off him every time. He’s better than what he’s shown us this season. I think he’ll come good though.

A lot of fans can embarrass themselves, particularly in the middle of games with emotions running high. I was in the Stretford End for the first leg of the Arsenal semi final in 2009 and I swear the abuse Ronaldo was getting was shocking. “Lazy cunt”, “Fuck off to Madrid”, “overrated wanker”, the lot.
All the while the guy getting all the love was Tevez.

Funny how things change.
Dread to think what abuse valencia and nani have been getting recently especially nani over the last 12 months or so.
 
#3,377 ·
Re: UEFA Champions/Europa League 2012-13 Thread

All this talk about United and spelling names and yet nobody is getting hyped up for the Europa League? :blatter

Liverpool FC ‏@LFC
LFC team v Zenit: Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Carragher, Skrtel, Allen, Henderson, Gerrard, Sterling,
Downing, Suarez.

Liverpool FC ‏@LFC
LFC subs v Zenit: Jones, Coates, Lucas, Borini, Shelvey, Suso, Wisdom.
Strong team :brodgers
 
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