Champions League, Europa League & Europa Conference League 22/23

[Winston Biscuit]

I repeat, this game is mental

[Stranded]

Watching Frankfurt v Napoli.

Napoli are a seriously very good team. Eintracht had a great first 15 but since then Napoli are just bossing them. Should be 3-0.

Gegenpress is so so good, like they have 15 men out there at times. Will take a very good team to stop them winning the whole thing.

[NathStPaul]

Benzema is so so good. Pure class.

[Stranded]

Frankfurt down to 10and 2-0 to a frankly stunningly good Napoli.

Could be 7 to be fair and this is a decent Eintracht side.

[Royal Rother]

Real Madrid are ridiculously good.

[Royal Rother]

Now I am self aware enough that it may be because I’d love to see Arsenal win the PL, but after years of loving watching Man City play, they are starting to piss me off.

They had that game there for the taking but once again didn’t capitalise on their domination in the 1st half. They’ll still hammer some teams of course but there’s a recurring fragility there when they don’t make the most of their superiority early on.

[Franchise FC]

Now I am self aware enough that it may be because I’d love to see Arsenal win the PL, but after years of loving watching Man City play, they are starting to piss me off.

They had that game there for the taking but once again didn’t capitalise on their domination in the 1st half. They’ll still hammer some teams of course but there’s a recurring fragility there when they don’t make the most of their superiority early on.

And with the two players missing that are keen on supplying Haaland (Foden and KDB) the others don’t seem to want to give him the ball

[Mr Angry]

Didn't we also play a largely reserve side at home to Stoke?

Yes.

Reading team v Stoke (h) in 2005/06

Stack, Shorey (Golbourne 64), Makin, Sonko, Halls, Ingimarsson, Sidwell (Dobson 54), Gunnarsson, Hunt, Doyle (Cox 71), Long.

Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Kitson

The only match that Hahnemann and Convey didn't start, and one of only two that Harper didn't. Significant that Sonks and Ingi weren't rested - they both started all 46, which is a phenomenal achievement for centre-backs in the Championship.

And iirc, neither got booked all season.

[Dirk Gently]

Yes.

Reading team v Stoke (h) in 2005/06

Stack, Shorey (Golbourne 64), Makin, Sonko, Halls, Ingimarsson, Sidwell (Dobson 54), Gunnarsson, Hunt, Doyle (Cox 71), Long.

Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Kitson

The only match that Hahnemann and Convey didn't start, and one of only two that Harper didn't. Significant that Sonks and Ingi weren't rested - they both started all 46, which is a phenomenal achievement for centre-backs in the Championship.

And iirc, neither got booked all season.

they both had just the one booking each - curiously, both against Leicester City. Sonks at home in December, Ingi on *that* day in March.

[Royal Rother]

Now I am self aware enough that it may be because I’d love to see Arsenal win the PL, but after years of loving watching Man City play, they are starting to piss me off.

They had that game there for the taking but once again didn’t capitalise on their domination in the 1st half. They’ll still hammer some teams of course but there’s a recurring fragility there when they don’t make the most of their superiority early on.

And with the two players missing that are keen on supplying Haaland (Foden and KDB) the others don’t seem to want to give him the ball

Agreed, I said the same thing a month or 2 back. They will likely win trophies regardless but I can see him getting very disgruntled quite quickly. Virtually all his goals are tap ins - sure, he has to be there to get the tap in, and the numbers will be good, but a striker with his prodigious pace and power should be used far more effectively.

This is a conundrum Pep needs to solve pretty damn quickly.

[URZZZZ]

Spurs were absolutely appalling. Spent 60 minutes of the game strolling around like it was a pre-season friendly. Haven’t seen a team play so languid in a game of that magnitude

There was 10 minutes of relative promise before the red card although Sanchez for Kulukevski may be the single worst sub I’ve seen in a long time chasing a game! How Son keeps his place each week is a mystery too, offered absolutely nothing to the side all season

Conte has the looks of a man who knows he won’t be there next season

[Winston Biscuit]

at least not all the Spurs fans had to watch it
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1633561836254552066

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Poor from Spurs. I didn't think much of Milan over 2 legs but Spurs didn't look like they were ever going to win and when you're taking arguably your most creative influence off in Kulusevski for a CB, who isn't even that good himself, is a poor move.

I'm not sure what Spurs' next move is now. Conte's future has been in doubt for a while now, but they've had both him and Mourinho who are proven winners and still haven't won anything. Maybe time to tear up the blueprint somewhat and start again with a more progressive manager, but they've had that before with Poch and still not won anything.

[NathStPaul]

Spurs were absolutely appalling. Spent 60 minutes of the game strolling around like it was a pre-season friendly. Haven’t seen a team play so languid in a game of that magnitude

There was 10 minutes of relative promise before the red card although Sanchez for Kulukevski may be the single worst sub I’ve seen in a long time chasing a game! How Son keeps his place each week is a mystery too, offered absolutely nothing to the side all season

Conte has the looks of a man who knows he won’t be there next season

TBF he hasn't been recently, has been dropped a fair bit.

Agree with the rest of the assessment though. The Sanchez substitution was ridiculous and arguably a sackable offence.

[South Coast Royal]

Spurs were absolutely appalling. Spent 60 minutes of the game strolling around like it was a pre-season friendly. Haven’t seen a team play so languid in a game of that magnitude

There was 10 minutes of relative promise before the red card although Sanchez for Kulukevski may be the single worst sub I’ve seen in a long time chasing a game! How Son keeps his place each week is a mystery too, offered absolutely nothing to the side all season

Conte has the looks of a man who knows he won’t be there next season

TBF he hasn't been recently, has been dropped a fair bit.

Agree with the rest of the assessment though. The Sanchez substitution was ridiculous and arguably a sackable offence.

The Sanchez substitution had to be for a reason.
Did they change shape at the back, releasing somebody to play further forward (Dier into midfield?) or was it just for an extra body in the box to try and get on the end of crosses from corners (they had quite a few near the end).

There had to be a reason but that useless Jenas couldn't come up with anything-one of the worst pundits around (of the many) who does nothing much more than moan when supposedly paid to give "expert " opinion.

[leon]

Poor from Spurs. I didn't think much of Milan over 2 legs but Spurs didn't look like they were ever going to win and when you're taking arguably your most creative influence off in Kulusevski for a CB, who isn't even that good himself, is a poor move.

I'm not sure what Spurs' next move is now. Conte's future has been in doubt for a while now, but they've had both him and Mourinho who are proven winners and still haven't won anything. Maybe time to tear up the blueprint somewhat and start again with a more progressive manager, but they've had that before with Poch and still not won anything.

Great isn't it?

[Winston Biscuit]

Spurs going Spursy. love it.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Poor from Spurs. I didn't think much of Milan over 2 legs but Spurs didn't look like they were ever going to win and when you're taking arguably your most creative influence off in Kulusevski for a CB, who isn't even that good himself, is a poor move.

I'm not sure what Spurs' next move is now. Conte's future has been in doubt for a while now, but they've had both him and Mourinho who are proven winners and still haven't won anything. Maybe time to tear up the blueprint somewhat and start again with a more progressive manager, but they've had that before with Poch and still not won anything.

Great isn't it?

Tbf I've got no personal issue with Spurs or anything, although I do think there some of their fans are absolutely daft for thinking they are "entitled" to winning things because they are a big club.

[NathStPaul]

Are they entitled? Think they are just a group of supporters who haven't had a team fighting to win major trophies for a long while and they are pissed off. For a club of that size to seemingly not be that interested in winning at least the FA Cup or League Cup is a bit of a slap in the face to fans.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Are they entitled? Think they are just a group of supporters who haven't had a team fighting to win major trophies for a long while and they are pissed off. For a club of that size to seemingly not be that interested in winning at least the FA Cup or League Cup is a bit of a slap in the face to fans.

No definitely not, nobody has a right to win a trophy just because of the size of their club, their history etc. It depends who you speak/listen to I suppose, I've heard a few fans on TalkSport (I know) who moan about a lack of trophies that they "should" be winning trophies, but obviously it's not a given for anyone.

Agree though, although they did reach the LC final a season or two ago and then sacked Mourinho the game before what he's famous for doing.