Baring some comebacks, we could well be the last English team in Europe (again). Either way nice to be back where we belong amongst the Madrids, Bayerns and Barcas. Doesn't really matter who we get now as they will all be very hard games (perhaps save Olympiacos if they make it). Some observations from last night: - - Very professional display. Should have perhaps put them to the sword and we were a little sloppy in the final third. However we had gears to go to if need be and the result was never in doubt. - Galatasaray were awful. One of the worst performances I've ever seen at this stage of the competition. They never really had a go and as I predicated, are limp away from home. - Drogba and Sneijder don't look half the players they did 2-3 years ago. Could have been the occasion or a one off but neither did much at all and people calling for them to be signed maybe need to re-evaluate. All Sneijder brings nowadays is a passing ability and even that was pretty woeful last night. He'd get completely by passed in the P.L. - Dave is quickly turning into one of the best full backs around, and on his wrong side!! His rise this year has been phenomenal. Never seems to get beat in a duel and great defending and going forward. What a player we have here. - Hazard, another top class performance but now and then is a little slow to deliver that killer last tough. Good game though. - Terry and Cahill, by a country mile the best centre back pairing in England right now. Should be going to the World Cup together, thankfully for us they are not. - Oscar good performance but the boy looks tired.
Very good overall performance last night, we carved them to pieces. They have to have one of the worst defences I've seen at the Bridge since.... Spurs last week Either way for me this is when the competition gets exciting, both legs played consecutively and it's usually the best teams left in the compeition and this year looks no different. Looking forward to the next round and it's nice that we're AGAIN (probably) going to be the only English team left in Europe. Heard a stat yesterday that we could be the first side since Liverpool in the 70s to win 3 consecutive European trophies!
was very comfortable last night but we need to be more ruthless from now on Dave has got to be one of the best LB in the world at the mom
There were times when he looked cornered and then suddenly a trick and burst of pace and he was away. He's been the revelation of our season for me.
Agreed. From this stage, last 8 it really is when it gets serious. All the seeded teams would really expect to make the quarters as the competition is designed to aid that process. Doesn't always work out bu this is one of the best quarter final line ups I can remember. Don't see us winning it but nice to be involved and the pressure is off since 2012.
Comfortable display and could've had one or two more. Hazard outstanding again and thought Eto'o looked really good. Personally I want Man Utd to get through tonight as i'd absolutely love to get them in the last 8.
Would love to see one of either Dortmund or Atletico Madrid reach the final this year simply because neither team has a massive following outside their own country, or even city in Atletico's case, and would avoid the world's media crowing about the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, the glaticos of PSG and the respective merits of United and Chelsea. Living here in Mallorca, and Atletico don't even get a look in -it's either Barca or Real, so would love both of them to miss out on the final and La Liga, and Bayern too to lose before the final.
Special mention for Lampard too, thought he looked fresh and very tidy with his passing, Jose is using him well, wish I could say the same about Ramires though he was awful again. Had we played a more motivated/better side he could have cost us dearly.
Even being at home first at this stage can make a big difference. With 3 Spanish teams you'd fancy that 2 will face each other.
Would rather we got United then Barca - always fancy us over two legs vs Barca. I'd actually be looking to avoid Atletico or PSG, they'd be the sort of sides we'd get beat by, big games are our forte! I'm no conspiracist, but Barca and Real will never be drawn this early...
Pity Galatasary were so bad, hard to really see how we are going. Never really had to go flat out but looked a cut above last game. Now it really does get interesting, you couldn't put enough on us getting Barca or Bayern. Think we could struggle against either this time round, purely because of our lack of a good finisher. We do most of the other stuff well now, and create chances but boy we miss some golden opportunities. We will get punished for that at this next level. Mind you, City away was good enough to worry anyone, we just don't produce it often enough. Next year we will be right up there, this year we are going better than many thought, including me.
Barca, PSG, Dortmund, all very beatable, despite Messi coming back to his best. Real and Bayern look tricky. Ronaldo seems unstoppable in big games. Atletico like Bayern: spikey, how quickly will Rambo and others get booked??? We'd have no players left for a semi And really can't face the media hype of Pep v Jose
Whilst United are the easiest tie on paper, I'd rather have a European team, that's what the comp is all about really. I'd be happy with Dortmund myself.
