do we know if Merino is fit?
I'd take a 0-0 with Partey and maybe Merino out :nod:
Printable View
do we know if Merino is fit?
I'd take a 0-0 with Partey and maybe Merino out :nod:
2-0 I'll be far more nervous about the 2nd legQuote:
Originally Posted by WES
A tad nervous - but I am going to the Biergarten at 12.30 so that should help.Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
All reports I've read said Merino trained yesterday and would be fit to start
I watched the Copa del Rey in Ibiza and was shocked at how close Barca are to the team that we beat easily over two legs and how open defensively both of them were.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
We really might be the best defensive team in Europe, and we know how that usually turns out.
We're getting gubbed 0-5 :-(
I believe Merino is fit.Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
I am going for a 4-1 win this evening :-)
Been sharing your password around, Pedro?Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
If we're winning 4-1 I'm definitely going to the Irish bar :-)
If ever there was a time that we needed Mickey Pearce to update us on team news...
Raya (his best position)
Timber
Saliba
Kiwior
Lewiskelly
Odegaard
Merino
Rice
Saka
Trossard
Martinelli
Can't believe we missed out Henry etc etc.
I think you can get at PSG, if you time it right. :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
Fine time for me to start getting all optimistic :-)
If we can keep the same sort of energy the Emirates had against Madrid I think it's intimidating for any team to come to us.
We’re gonna get gubbed :-(Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
You should be ashamed of yourselfQuote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Thank god someone remembers standardsQuote:
Originally Posted by Sir C
At Liverpool, and at Villa, they were seriously rocking in the second half. Totally lost control of the game and were all over the place. We can do that to them tonight.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
I might be going a bit mad :-)
I have a question AWIMB
I know we beat PSG comfortably back in October and I have seen it said that PSG are a completely different proposition now compared to then.
But why? What has changed for them so dramatically in 6 months? I looked back at the BBC match report from October and they described PSG as in a transitional phase. Has that transition finished already?
Quote:
Paris St-Germain are in a new phase of development after moving away from an era when the club?s Qatari owners collected some of football's most high-profile players in an attempt to win the Champions League.
Elite names such as Mbappe, Messi, Neymar, Angel di Maria, Sergio Ramos, Marco Verratti and Mauro Icardi have been moved on, and this was a performance which reflected that PSG are very much in a transitional rebuilding period.
Donnarumma, Marquinhos and Vitinha remain, but more responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the young brigade such as 18-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery under the guidance of experienced coach Luis Enrique.
There were moments of promise in the second half but patience will be required for this work in progress. On this evidence PSG do not look like they will become serious Champions League challengers this season.
Dembele did not play and he has since started playing and has been converted to an - apparently - very effective no. 9Quote:
Originally Posted by Maravilloso Marvo
Having seen him play I'm not convinced. He's someone I would expect Saliba to own.
Kman is a different issue. They bought him after we played them and is a very, very good player. Be gutted if we were in the running and missed out. i expect we weren't
Where are PSG's specific weak points? I keep hearing that their full backs are the best two in the world?Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
Got battered 1-3 by Nice at the weekend so I guess we should ask themQuote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Best going forward - Timber is far better defensively than either of them (MLS still learning that side of the game as well)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Donnarumma is unbeatable on some evenings but not consistent. I do think they susceptible to pace
A fair few of their stars were rested though, I understand.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7sisters
How about their centre backs and defensive midfielders? One strength we do have (which is somewhat negated by the absence of Messers Partey & Gabriel) is physicality.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
But with Rice, Merino, Saliba and Kiwior (he's really bulked out recently) we still make life tough in the box.
They control.games through possession. They do not know how to do it without possession. That is how Liverpool and villa got to them. They chased after them, pinned them back abd wouldn't let them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
Their midfield is outstanding
Let?s hope Odin rediscovers his cojones for tonight?s game then. He?s been a bit drifty too often this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
I have become afflicted with Sir C's miserableist defeatism. We are going to get a "what on Earth made us believe we belong at this level" gubbing :-(Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
We need more than a few big performances tonight. Tough gig...Quote:
Originally Posted by 7sisters
This is going to be like the semi against Yanited :-(Quote:
Originally Posted by Herbert Augustus Chapman
Well there?s their 1 Peter :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir C
Just our 4 to go then :-(
So far it has been embarrassing. Absolutely all over us in every department.Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
Timber looks a bit terrified. Usually a cool customer
I like Merino up front better he?s been terrible, and he?s not alone - we need HT badlyQuote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Agreed. 1-0 at half time would be a big achievement....Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
Bit better the last few mins.
Ref also looks nervous
They are vulnerable defensively, if you can get at them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Vegas
Unfortunately this ref doesn't seem to want us to tackle them at all.
How many tactical fouls did those cheating pricks commit before they finally got a card???Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Vegas
The foul given against Saka. Linesman is right ****ing there. Right on top.of it. Ffs.....Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
Bit embarrassing now. At least Villa had a decent go at them. This has been horribly flat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Yeah, we just haven't been able to unsettle them. Press doesn't work so well without Partey.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir C
Odegaard needs to go in the summer.
How embarrassing that all we will have achieved this season is beating Real Madrid. How many more seasons of winning F all are we gonna tolerate?
In the second leg they did, once they were 5-1 down on aggregate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir C
First leg they were humiliated.
We?ll be much better there with Partey back. All to play for. We were one dodgy, scuffed Dembele finish from a good result imo.
So Bunnell has capitulated already. Now there?s a surprise :hehe:Quote:
Originally Posted by John Bunnell
I suppose the alternative would be to support Arsenal.