On these quarter finals some final thoughts
by SCOANGERS (2024-04-17 18:17:06)
Edited on 2024-04-17 18:23:26
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1) No British club qualified and with Liverpool likely gone in c3 its a massive failure . But for Arsenal and City it's a slap in the face especially as the Champions League final is at Wembley.

2) This maybe the weakest Real and FC Bayern in a decade, but they both won and will play for the final. Ancelotti and Tuchel did it by annihilating the strength of the opponents.

3) the mental aspect of the game is so important - Luis Enrique brought this to PSG this year- Carlo Ancelotti did it with his calm behavior

4( I think it maybe PSG time and if the soccer gods wants it Kevin Mbappe will score the winning goal in final against Real and announced the following day he signs at Real

5) Its real fun to see soccer at this level

Wilted like an unwatered flower in 2H.
by Wooderson  (2024-04-18 12:35:46)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

It was there for the taking, but experience won out.

Last two games have exposed some glaring weaknesses, Incl at the managerial level.

Still, better season than we've been used to lately. Growth has been impressive. Wonder what Saka is worth on the market at this point.
German (co)efficiency wins out
by wcnitz  (2024-04-17 21:09:58)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Appears that Germany will be getting 5 slots next year thanks to Dortmund/Bayern/Leverkusen European performances.
So Kane's new club may well block Kane's old club from
by G.K.Chesterton  (2024-04-18 00:39:00)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

getting to the Champions League next year (because of Arsenal's loss) because of the co-efficiency business and at one point, it was England battling Italy for that spot.

Man City and Arsenal crashing out hurts Liverpool even more because those two teams now have fewer games to worry about for load management. Liverpool's injuries have hurt them over the season. I think they really miss Jota as the X factor.

As someone on Twitter noted, Bayern's worst team in many years just eliminated Arsenal's best team in many years. Meanwhile, a missing person's report has been filed for Bukayo Saka. If you're an Arsenal fan (like B23), you just saw your team crap the bed twice in four days when they could have taken the lead in the EPL and moved to the UCL semi-finals, respectively.
Bayern are 4 pts better thank last year in BuLi…
by iudomer  (2024-04-18 14:39:26)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Leverkeusen are just that good. A down two years for Bayern, but those responsible are gone now.

Maybe the worst Bayern in years, but that isn't saying much
by wcnitz  (2024-04-18 07:14:40)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Their standard is pretty high.

Experience really matters in these matches, the margins are fine. Bayern is loaded with CL experience and has two two-time winners still on the roster from 2013 (Neuer and Thomas). This match was 100% in control once that goal went in, they knew exactly how to handle it.

And I have to give a lot of credit to Tuchel re: Saka - from the point where Davies got his yellow card early in the first leg, he essentially double covered that wing. Gnabry started tracking all the way back in that game, and in this game he used Guerrero as a LW instead of LB, and had Guerrero come back and provide extra coverage for Maz on that side. Guerrero has stepped in at LB for Bayern a few times this year with Davies in and out.
Qualifications in the semis over last 10 years is telling
by SCOANGERS  (2024-04-18 06:15:23)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

1. Real Madrid, 9 times
2. Bayern Munich, 6
3. Manchester City, 4
4. PSG, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, 3
7. Barcelona, Chelsea, Juventus, 2
10. Lyon, AS Rome, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Leipzig, Dortmund, Villarreal, Tottenham, Ajax Amsterdam

On Arsenal Liverpool and City I heard (from British friends ) the argument that the competition in EPL is so intense and high level it’s preventing team to play at highest level in both leagues



Losing Timber on the first match to an ACL really
by Wooderson  (2024-04-18 12:39:36)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

didn't help the team.

Partey and Tomi were out for spells as well.

Bound to catch up to us at some point.

Better luck next year.

Maybe someone can elbow Kane in the throat like he did to Gabriel last week.