Can we just null out the transfer, leave coutinho in pool, and call it good? But more seriously, your squad terrifies me. Pique looks 5 years younger this year, but now Umtiti is always injured and now in the dog house as a result. I’d feel more confident with current form Pique mixed with Umtiti of last year. Alba’s really going to need to shine in this tie. If there’s anyone that can assure that Messi is performing at his optimal level offensively, he’s the man for the job. Busquets has been surprisingly hit and miss in big games this year. If he isn’t firing on all cylinders, our midfield play is toast. Arthur still can’t play a full 90, which is mind blowing. Rakitic is Rakitic. He seems invisible at times but it’s mostly because he doesn’t fuck up. I’d prefer Dembele or Malcom getting the start over coutinho, but that’s not going to happen. Coutinho just doesn’t seem to fit in, but we’ll continue trying to ram that square peg into a round hole instead of admitting we made a colossal fuckup. Really wish the second leg were in Barcelona. Camp Nou Messi is best Messi, and I fear the return leg disappearance of him away from home. If things are held tight in the first leg I don’t think Barça will come out on top. God speed, gents. Just my two cents on the matter. If any of you want to weigh in, feel free.
I don't follow nearly as closely as most. I played at what I thought was decent youth level and because of that I thought I knew more than I do. Classic not knowing enough to know I know nothing syndrome. Have followed club game far more closely over the last decadeish. Having said that, I've never understood busquets. He's always been underwhelming to me yet always part of successful teams. Obviously that makes me an ignorant ass. Regardless, Barcelona terrifies me. Would much rather anyone else. p.s. I'm a bit drunk.
There’s a reason Busquets is as overrated as I’m guessing you think he is. He’s still an opportunistic diver, for sure, but the Inter-level shenanigans are gone (I think?) Barça lost Xavi and Iniesta in fairly quick succession. They also offloaded Yaya like it was no big thing. If you ever find yourself bored and without a ‘pool or major implications EPL game to watch, tune in to a Barça game and focus on Busquets. I realize that’s incredibly hard to do, because duh, Messi. Busquets is the real deal. If he’s lost, the team is sunk.
Tie will be on a knifes edge. So much attacking quality on display. If we press well I like our chances. If you break our press I don’t. We’ll be pressing coutinho every chance we get because we know he gives the ball away cheaply.
FWIW I like these, just wish the pinstripe went up to the top. When we go Nike, our kits will have much less of a classic feel, which I like about the NB design even if sometimes they walk on the border of classic and dated.
My thoughts on Barca are that the matchup of fullbacks will decide the tie. When Alba and Messi have the telepathy going and Alba is playing as a LW, they are unstoppable. Busquets made several bad errors getting pressed by MU and I expect Klopp will try and exploit that but Busquets is who he is for a reason and if he has a great game and we can’t get to him despite trying, we will be opened up. I can’t decide how I think the opening match will go. My gut says Barça actually show deference to our counter and attack and play conservatively and hope God tier Messi shows up and does it by himself.
As others have said, Liverpool has to go 100% heavy metal football against Barca and win the game by pressing them high up the pitch. Barcelona's midfield isn't what it used to be and Coutinho isn't going to defend. I'm pretty much terrified of Messi though. I expect Mane to be invisible in these games because Klopp is going to have him tracking back a ton and we'll attack down the right side instead. If the tie heads to Liverpool even or Liverpool down a goal but having scored away, Anfield is going to be rocking.
Seeing the players in the kits I don’t mind them as much as I thought. The goalie kit should be the away kit or the 3rd kit tho
We could lose 4-0 if Messi has a day, anybody can, but I think it’s likely we get 1 or 2 in the Camp Nou, just can’t give up 4.
FuboTV is awesome. I haven’t had cable for years, so it’s served me well. And having bein sports is quite swell.
ND STH got an email about a Tuesday announcement of "a major sporting event taking place on campus this July". I know a few of you guys are in the Midwest and might be interested.
Im honest, I deserve shit for switching clubs. But I think my reasoning was pretty legit, at least at the time. Not sure I ever posted on here why, but I'm a relatively new soccer fan. My brother in law got me into it. He was from Ireland and a huge liverpool supporter. His life basically revolved around liverpool. Anyway he really fucked over my sister and they got divorced. Real nasty and it's my little sister so I got involved on her behalf. I just had trouble cheering for liverpool knowing it would make him happy. Picked city because of his hatred for sterling. A few years later it sounds kind of petty, but that's why it happened. Fuck that guy. But I know I deserve shit for it
I’m really just so glad we’re away for the first leg I think there will be a bit of feeling each other out at the start, but I think we I like how there isn’t a “good” or “bad” in front of the fortune...leaving it open to intepretation
Almiron and schar down for Newcastle today. Almiron looked pretty bad so certainly he won’t be there to play against us
Interesting seeing Gini, Naby, and Hendo all start today Hope we aren’t putting Hendo back into a 6 role
Hate when we play long balls against teams that sit back like this. Push them back and they try to break them down
Were making chances and playing good football against the bunker D, just hope today is our day and we don’t lament that Bobby miss.