Congratulations Chelsea!

[Reaver180]

Congrats to you guys for progressing one stage further against Juve. We didn't too bad ourselves, beating Sporting 12:1 on aggregate

I must say I would fancy meeting you in the next round, it would surely be a good pair of matches and we still have unfinished business with your lot -_-

P.S. Great to see Essien back.

[Oblivion]

Wouldn't mind that at all R180.

Btw, what do Bayern fans think of Rensing? Is he a good long-term replacement for Kahn? Why was he dropped for the Sporting game on Tuesday?

[blizeH]

12-1... crazy scoreline! Nice one And yeah, it'd be a good quarter final match I think...

[Maksimov]

Did Sporting play their strongest possible lineup yesterday? I mean, they possibly couldn't dream of going through after the thrashing they got in the first leg.

[Reaver180]

No, they fielded a side without for example Liedson and Rochemback, but our team did not feature Toni or Ribery either, so it was comparable. They certainly did not play with full desire and their defense was comical at times, but still a 7:1 (after a 0:5 in the previous game) is a spectacular result for us in a CL tie.

We are very inconsistant in the league this season, but on CL nights we have been doing very well. Anything could happen if you drew us, from a clear victory for you to a clear victory for us, seeing as you haven't been that solid in the CL.

It would be a great tie and honestly I think we are the only side left that has the potential to physically go toe to toe with the English teams.

[Maksimov]

No, they fielded a side without for example Liedson and Rochemback, but our team did not feature Toni or Ribery either, so it was comparable. They certainly did not play with full desire and their defense was comical at times, but still a 7:1 (after a 0:5 in the previous game) is a spectacular result for us in a CL tie.

Oh yes, it's definitely a spectacular result, that's for sure. I mean it's a new UCL record, isn't it(12-1 on aggregate)?

By the way...what's up with Ribery? I've heard there's been some problems with some of his comments concerning his team-mates and on the weekend I had the television on during the Bayern vs Hannover match while I was working on the computer and I heard the commentator say something about Ribery arguing/fighting over something when he was shown.

Edited March 11, 2009 by Maksimov

[Virosh]

Congratulations to Bayern, a team who was somewhere in my list of favourite teams some time ago.

I would beware such big results, though. I know its all roses now, but teams who usually stuff their opponents like that tend to get worse their next few games.

[Reaver180]

With regards to Rensing:

He is a young keeper who has very big shoes to fill. He certainly made a number of mistakes this season, but the defense and the whole team did not help him very much. Defensively we are very bad this season. To many mistakes that world class players like Lahm, Lucio and Demichelis should not commit. I am of the opinion that his loyalty has earned him at least a full season between the sticks. After that we can still talk about getting another keeper.

With regards to Ribery:

There has been some bad blood because a player of his quality is attracting rumours left and right. The papers sometimes are out of control when dealing with the issue. Recent negative results and some criticism of our playing style from him has done the rest. Fact is that Ribery is a genious, but no player should be bigger than the club. I would hate to lose him to anyone, but if it must be, then we should cash in and certainly get 50+ million Euros for him. With that kind of money you could buy 2-3 top class players in the continental (non-inflated) transfer market.

[sergeyMS]

With regards to Rensing:

He is a young keeper who has very big shoes to fill. He certainly made a number of mistakes this season, but the defense and the whole team did not help him very much. Defensively we are very bad this season. To many mistakes that world class players like Lahm, Lucio and Demichelis should not commit. I am of the opinion that his loyalty has earned him at least a full season between the sticks. After that we can still talk about getting another keeper.

With regards to Ribery:

There has been some bad blood because a player of his quality is attracting rumours left and right. The papers sometimes are out of control when dealing with the issue. Recent negative results and some criticism of our playing style from him has done the rest. Fact is that Ribery is a genious, but no player should be bigger than the club. I would hate to lose him to anyone, but if it must be, then we should cash in and certainly get 50+ million Euros for him. With that kind of money you could buy 2-3 top class players in the continental (non-inflated) transfer market.

i`m pretty sure nobody should pay 50+ mlns for Ribery. Kind of you money you should attract selling Ribery will be enough to buy 2-3 WC class players, like Lucio and Demichelis only...... Timoschuk, for example, who is going to join you in summer.

Playing against you in 1/4 will be easier for Chelsea than against Juve. Juve is more balanced team then Bayern.

You have a strong attack, Ribery is genious, but you defensive build-ups are sh*t. As soon as Chelsea will start using pressure things will become very difficult for you, your strikers will have nothing to do with their quality.

I`m much more worried to get Barca or Liverpool in quarters, especially last one. Yesterday I was assured once again, that cheating and diving arrogant bunch, leaded by their supporters and by every media in the world is really dangerous...

Bayern? A walk in the park........

Edited March 11, 2009 by sergeyMS

[Reaver180]

i`m pretty sure nobody should pay 50+ mlns for Ribery. Kind of you money you should attract selling Ribery will be enough to buy 2-3 WC class players, like Lucio and Demichelis only...... Timoschuk, for example, who is going to join you in summer.

Playing against you in 1/4 will be easier for Chelsea than against Juve. Juve is more balanced team then Bayern.

You have a strong attack, Ribery is genious, but you defensive build-ups are sh*t. As soon as Chelsea will start using pressure things will become very difficult for you, your strikers will have nothing to do with their quality.

I`m much more worried to get Barca or Liverpool in quarters, especially last one. Yesterday I was assured once again, that cheating and diving arrogant bunch, leaded by their supporters and by every media in the world is really dangerous...

Bayern? A walk in the park........

Hm, Ribery is (with C. Ronaldo not in peak form) currently the best LW on the planet. The interested parties are English and Spanish top clubs, or loaded like City. Realistically only you, United, City, Barca or Real could afford him. All of those clubs pay over the odds. We got 24 million for Hargreaves, we could easily get 50 million for Ribery IMO.

While our defense is error prone this season, Chelsea is not a goal scoring machine. Often Anelka and Drogba are rendered anonymous, so Lampard has to supply the goals. Pressuring works both ways and we are physical enough to match you there (a thing that was blatantly obvious yesterday is just how badly Real was beaten by Liverpool in the man on man battles and midfield scraps, we are not going to get brushed aside by a little pressing IMO).

As of now I would say you would be the slight favourites, 55:45, 60:40 at best.

[Money]

I wouldnt give 50million for Ribery, though he is a damn good player.

Chelsea isnt a goal scoring machine like you said but they are solid. Under Scolari we looked weak at points in defense but then when we did score, could never work out how many goals we would get. Under Hiddink, i think we are looking more like the "old" chelsea who are solid but will go for a couple of goals.

Have to admit when I saw the teamsheet in the beginning I was worried. We seriously lacked width. Even though we went through last night, the first half I didnt think we were great. Looked a bit baffled!

Second half the boys obviously got a bit of a kick up the ar*e and were better.

Next round, only people I dont want is Man Utd or Liverpool. Man Utd are on fire, Liverpool always know how to play us. I would take on anyone else though - Barcelona looked very dangerous start of their season but recently in La Liga they have slipped stupid points so confidence in some players could be down!

Anyway, least we are through :lol: