(05-18-2018, 09:20 PM)DarloJAG84 Wrote:

(05-18-2018, 09:07 PM)JagsorDie Wrote: I agree with this. But what defines UCL challengers? I mean the year Chelsea won they had no business being there, they should have lost to napoli or Barca and even disregarding those, they never should have beaten Bayern in their home stadium. You would think that one of these years Paris would make a deep run but they just have not. It's a long year, it seems like the underdog who normally makes a deep run is generally not top of their league because they focus mainly on UCL or something. Unless you are real and have a bench worthy of being starting 11 on any other roster. Sort of like liverpool, no one would say Liverpool is better than manc but one is top of league the other is competing for ucl cup.

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I agree with this. But what defines UCL challengers? I mean the year Chelsea won they had no business being there, they should have lost to napoli or Barca and even disregarding those, they never should have beaten Bayern in their home stadium. You would think that one of these years Paris would make a deep run but they just have not. It's a long year, it seems like the underdog who normally makes a deep run is generally not top of their league because they focus mainly on UCL or something. Unless you are real and have a bench worthy of being starting 11 on any other roster. Sort of like liverpool, no one would say Liverpool is better than manc but one is top of league the other is competing for ucl cup.

For me, a team who are legitimately thought of as a team who should be winning. Like I said before, sometimes the underdog will win. Of course.

Personally speaking, with the squad that PSG have, if they were in the UCL final.. or, indeed, won the thing, I would see that as a massive shock. I would not expect that at all.

I think style of football comes into the equation here. Bear with me on this one.. Liverpool can be devastating on the counter attack, or whilst attacking in general. However, with the Premier League being so competitive across the board, this leaves them open to concede goals. This is why I can't imagine the UCL final being a low scoring game. To reply to your point about Man City/Liverpool, I think Liverpool's squad and style of play is more suited to UCL success. I think Liverpool did their homework on Man City and punished their weaknesses. I also think it helped that Man City were going full speed for the Premier League title and wanted to break records there, personally. I think Man United have a better squad than Liverpool overall, but they came second in the Premier League and were knocked out of the UCL by Sevilla. Why? Because historically, Jose Mourinho's teams are set up to 'not lose' rather than to win, if that makes sense. Manchester United have a squad talented enough to go out and win games by scoring lots of goals, but that's not JM's approach, which is sad.

I think Liverpool v Real Madrid is a really well matched UCL final. Both teams have explosive attacks and can really be devastating on their day. Being British, I want Liverpool to win, but my head says Real will edge it.

I that makes a lot of since and I agree with you about JM. He has had a lot of success but like you said he is predicated more to stoping damage than attacking. The current manure roster is young and fast and I agree that if they had an attack minded coach, they could have more success, not to mention be more entertaining. Tomorrow will be a fun game to watch.

As far as Liverpool, I would say they are a squad who has gelled and found their form at the right time. Chelsea showed they are vulnerable but I think that was only because of there lack of rest at this time in the year with competeing in both ucl and epl.

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I will say man city is probably one of the best rosters coupled with one of the better managers I have seen in a long time. They play peps tiki taka possession and strike form almost better than his Barca squad. With KDB, silva, sane, sterling, Jesus, and aguero then that back of walker, otamendi, and kompany... they are a hell of a squad.

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