Champions League: Round of 16

[AB13]

This goes to show that we would probably get slaughtered by the top CL clubs which makes me feel better about not being there

 

[Savi]

Lool he actually played well today and already no Busi. So more ivan the terrible.

No, Arthur and Puig with Frenkie behind them, it's really not rocket science

Well except to the coaches but hey

 

[bluesfan94]

Davies>Pulisic.

Also David>Pulisic.

I can buy the former but the latter doesn't track for me.

David is having a helluva season in Belgium, but at the same age, Pulisic was starting on a Champions League side in Germany.

 

[YNWA14]

I can't comment on that subject as I am delusional.

 

[Cassano]

I can buy the former but the latter doesn't track for me.

David is having a helluva season in Belgium, but at the same age, Pulisic was starting on a Champions League side in Germany.

Leading a decent Euro league in scoring is more impressive than being a vanilla player for a good team who occasionally started.

 

[bluesfan94]

Leading a decent Euro league in scoring is more impressive than being a vanilla player for a good team who occasionally started.

He started in 27 of 34 league games, playing in 32, having been injured for the 2 he did not play in.
He started in 4 of 6 Champions League games, playing in 5, having been injured for the 1 he did not play in.
He started in 2 of 4 Europa League games, playing in 3, having been injured for the 1 he did not play in.
He started in 1 of 3 Pokal games, having been injured for the 2 he did not play in.

All in all, he started in 34 of 47 games, playing in 40, and missed the others due to injury.

But fine, he never led the Belgian Jupiler League in goals. For those keeping track at home, the guy who won last year and the year before is now playing in Qatar. Meanwhile, the year before that you have Onyekuru (now in Turkey) and Teodorczyk, who has barely played for Udinese. Aleksandar Mitrovic is the last guy who led the Belgian First League in goals and did much of anything at a top 5 league side after Belgium.

I'm not saying that David is bad or that he doesn't have potential. But leading Belgium in goals isn't as impressive to me as being a locked in starter for Dortmund

 

[YNWA14]

I don't know why opportunity is the qualifying factor here as to who is better. Look no further than someone like Dries Mertens to see why where they were playing at 19/20 really doesn't mean much.

 

[Savi]

But fine, he never led the Belgian Jupiler League in goals. For those keeping track at home, the guy who won last year and the year before is now playing in Qatar. Meanwhile, the year before that you have Onyekuru (now in Turkey) and Teodorczyk, who has barely played for Udinese. Aleksandar Mitrovic is the last guy who led the Belgian First League in goals and did much of anything at a top 5 league side after Belgium.

I'm not saying that David is bad or that he doesn't have potential. But leading Belgium in goals isn't as impressive to me as being a locked in starter for Dortmund

It is when you're 19 years old, while not even playing as a striker, and while you're only in your 2nd professional season as a footballer

The other guys you mentioned (except Mitrovic) were all older journeymen who never even had half of David's potential

 

[Live in the Now]

Reyna is likely to be better than Pulisic IMO. Size matters and he's a pretty big boy.

 

[Peen]

Watched the Chelsea game in and out during class.

Extremely disappointing and predictable result, although I had it pegged as 2-0 to Bayern rather than a 3-0.

Reality is that we need a new left back, a new central defender, a new goalie, and two new wingers.

Quality of the squad is very weak right now. Pedro and Willian look past it and need to be replaced. Kepa and Caballero look equally incapable. We don't have a #1 centerback, but have a bunch of number twos and number threes who would look capable with a good partner. We need an improvement on the left and there's no need to justify it.

Oh well. As long as we keep our champions league spot, this season will be a success. I would like to see us back competing at the top. Really miss those 2015-2017 teams with Costa and Fabregas.

 

[Peen]

Also, Pulisic has been our best offensive winger when healthy. It's not really a debate either. The chance creation and intricate plays are much more noticeable with him in.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Reyna is likely to be better than Pulisic IMO. Size matters and he's a pretty big boy.

Yup the great Giroud, Crouch and Koller all in the hall of fame.

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Yup the great Giroud, Crouch and Koller all in the hall of fame.

Giroud's a World Cup winning #9 so I might pick a different striker for this joke lmao

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Giroud's a World Cup winning #9 so I might pick a different striker for this joke lmao

None of them are bad players but far from elite. Hell I think Koller is the best of the bunch.

 

[YNWA14]

Davies is one of the fastest players I've ever seen. He was once again fantastic. Only 19 too...

Giroud's a World Cup winning #9 so I might pick a different striker for this joke lmao

Did he take a shot though?

 

[Luigi Habs]

Imagine if Davies was English and playing for an EPL club

 

[bluesfan94]

It is when you're 19 years old, while not even playing as a striker, and while you're only in your 2nd professional season as a footballer

The other guys you mentioned (except Mitrovic) were all older journeymen who never even had half of David's potential

Onyekuru was old?

 

[les Habs]

Didn't see the match today, but some negatives and positives I'm taking away. The only positive is really the away goal, but I'll reserve further judgement until after I see the match. I'll add that Mertens is a player I said we should have gone after in the January window.

I've not seen them play much this year, but I will say that I think I underestimated Bayern. This has nothing to do with the Chelsea result really, but I'd put them in a group of teams that I think can challenge for the CL that I didn't previously include them with.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Revealed: Champions League plan that would hurt teams like...

 

[maclean]

Hell I think Koller is the best of the bunch.

Also a former Belgian First Division top scorer btw

 

[Savi]

but I'll reserve further judgement until after I see the match

protip: skip the first half

 

[Power Man]

Me : Hala Madrid
Also me : Go Mahrez

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

I hope Mahrez scores a hattrick

 

[bleedblue1223]

Watched the Chelsea game in and out during class.

Extremely disappointing and predictable result, although I had it pegged as 2-0 to Bayern rather than a 3-0.

Reality is that we need a new left back, a new central defender, a new goalie, and two new wingers.

Quality of the squad is very weak right now. Pedro and Willian look past it and need to be replaced. Kepa and Caballero look equally incapable. We don't have a #1 centerback, but have a bunch of number twos and number threes who would look capable with a good partner. We need an improvement on the left and there's no need to justify it.

Oh well. As long as we keep our champions league spot, this season will be a success. I would like to see us back competing at the top. Really miss those 2015-2017 teams with Costa and Fabregas.

It would've been a tough match, even if we were healthy with Abraham, Pulisic, RLC, Hudson-Odoi, and Kante. At least some of our issues can be solved with health, but LB, CB, and GK will remain big issues, even with a healthy squad. Get new starters in those positions, and depth elsewhere, and throw our name in for Sancho because why not.

 

[gary69]

Didn't see the match today, but some negatives and positives I'm taking away. The only positive is really the away goal, but I'll reserve further judgement until after I see the match. I'll add that Mertens is a player I said we should have gone after in the January window.

I've not seen them play much this year, but I will say that I think I underestimated Bayern. This has nothing to do with the Chelsea result really, but I'd put them in a group of teams that I think can challenge for the CL that I didn't previously include them with.

Of course it depends on the draws, but Bayern isn't top quality defensively, and Neuer isn't what he was at his best anymore. They'll leak goals against top opponents. And now that Lewandowski is apparently injured for a while, it's a further blow gor them. I'd be very surprised if they go beyond semis, even if a lot of top teams (outside of Liverpool) aren't playing consistently well this season, either.