35 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

I am confused why that squad is scary. I am pretty sure even RM fans does not think their team is scary. 

Rm used to have BBC + the same midfield + similar backline. 

It is scary because they have 3 world class players that didnt play in the first leg returning for the second and also a fitter Hazard. They also have a lot of  experience which we lack at the moment. Valverde and Mendy are my main concernes because they have the legs and physicality to match us. Ramos is just a switch for Varane and i beleive they are equal

17 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

It's sad really that I think you are correct there

Really is but we know from Obrevo that if UEFA want something they make it happen.

Bob stark was talking about luck being a big part in cup competitions. It is, but that side being denied was nothing to do with luck.

9 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

It's not scary, defensively strong, experienced midfield but doesnt create alot from open play. If theres not an early goal to open the game up then I could see the match being decided by the odd goal, the thing that scares me most is that football has a way of writing stories, I was thinking it would be Tuchel vs his old team final but we shall see.

That was my thought before too. Tuchel and Silva against their old side.

Otherwise is Pep against his most hated rival imo.

32 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

It is scary because they have 3 world class players that didnt play in the first leg returning for the second and also a fitter Hazard. They also have a lot of  experience which we lack at the moment. Valverde and Mendy are my main concernes because they have the legs and physicality to match us. Ramos is just a switch for Varane and i beleive they are equal

I would rather play against a not match fit Ramos than Varane, I wouldn't call that just a switch tbh. Varane has been the main man for Real in defence all season while Ramos has missed alot of football but Militao has been brilliant in his absence. I agree with Mendy as his top draw but they have lost the attacking ability of Carvajal on the other side. Valverde is not world class, that gets thrown around too much IMO.

31 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

It is scary because they have 3 world class players that didnt play in the first leg returning for the second and also a fitter Hazard. They also have a lot of  experience which we lack at the moment. Valverde and Mendy are my main concernes because they have the legs and physicality to match us. Ramos is just a switch for Varane and i beleive they are equal

I would say Mendy coming in for Marcelo may be an upgrade but a supposedly semi fit Ramos for Varane is most likely to be a downgrade and I don't see Valverde playing in his favored position if he were to play. Considering Kroos & Modric were rested on the weekend the likelihood is that they start alongside Casemiro as the third CM which would mean either Valverde plays further forward in place of Hazard or does not start, in my view I don't think he starts the game.

In addition I think Carvajal is going to be a major miss for them on the right hand side and if I were TT I would play Pulisic on the left and look to expose that side. 

27 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

I would rather play against a not match fit Ramos than Varane, I wouldn't call that just a switch tbh. Varane has been the main man for Real in defence all season while Ramos has missed alot of football but Militao has been brilliant in his absence. I agree with Mendy as his top draw but they have lost the attacking ability of Carvajal on the other side. Valverde is not world class, that gets thrown around too much IMO.

I agree about a not match fit Ramos being worse than Varane but we have no idea if Ramos isnt fit. Either way the emotional and psychological effect of the Captain being on the pitch cant be neglected.

No one said Valverde was WORLD CLASS but he gives them athleticism and physicality which was lacking from Real in the first leg. He usually makes up for the lack of pace from Kroos and Modric.

Madrids midfield really, really struggled at Anfield. They were completely ran over by Liverpool's energy and press and I hope we can replicate that tomorrow.

If the game happens to go to extra-time I believe we could have the advantage then as well as Kroos and Modric's legs will go and they don't have that many midfield options with their injuries.

 

 

@Valerie I’ve just got a cookie dough Ben & Jerry’s incase of emergency. What precautions are you taking?

9 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

I agree about a not match fit Ramos being worse than Varane but we have no idea if Ramos isnt fit. Either way the emotional and psychological effect of the Captain being on the pitch cant be neglected.

No one said Valverde was WORLD CLASS but he gives them athleticism and physicality which was lacking from Real in the first leg. He usually makes up for the lack of pace from Kroos and Modric.

I just presumed you meant Valverde, Mendy and Ramos as you said Real have 3 world class players returning who didnt play in the first leg, not sure what I got wrong there?

 

19 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

I just presumed you meant Valverde, Mendy and Ramos as you said Real have 3 world class players returning who didnt play in the first leg, not sure what I got wrong there?

 

Looking back you said nothing wrong. The error was on my part. But I do feel like Valverde will give them somethings they were lacking in the first leg like Speed , aggression and physicality and we cant forget his height

Edited May 4, 20215 yr by The Don Antonio

48 minutes ago, Imran_CFC said:

I would say Mendy coming in for Marcelo may be an upgrade but a supposedly semi fit Ramos for Varane is most likely to be a downgrade and I don't see Valverde playing in his favored position if he were to play. Considering Kroos & Modric were rested on the weekend the likelihood is that they start alongside Casemiro as the third CM which would mean either Valverde plays further forward in place of Hazard or does not start, in my view I don't think he starts the game.

In addition I think Carvajal is going to be a major miss for them on the right hand side and if I were TT I would play Pulisic on the left and look to expose that side. 

I like your tactical thinking. I think Valverde will start on the right  but kind of tucked into the midfield freeing up Hazard to be the more attacking one with less defensive duties. i see them lining up like this

                             Courtois

       Nacho    Ramos         Militao    Mendy

                           Casamerio

         Valverde       Modric      Kroos

                Benzema          Hazard      

22 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

I agree about a not match fit Ramos being worse than Varane but we have no idea if Ramos isnt fit. Either way the emotional and psychological effect of the Captain being on the pitch cant be neglected.

No one said Valverde was WORLD CLASS but he gives them athleticism and physicality which was lacking from Real in the first leg. He usually makes up for the lack of pace from Kroos and Modric.

Julien Laurens (I think) mentioned that the plan was to only have Ramos in the match day squad and maybe give him minutes if absolutely necessary however with Varane's injury he has to start which clearly indicates he is not match fit for the full 90.

We really need to exploit that & cannot let him have an easy game without being challenged, against Fulham we went a little longer and opted to play the ball in behind regularly (The 2 goals we scored were actually from long balls forward) which I think may be an indicator of us playing in behind on Wednesday.

3 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

I like your tactical thinking. I think Valverde will start on the right  but kind of tucked into the midfield freeing up Hazard to be the more attacking one with less defensive duties. i see them lining up like this

                             Courtois

       Nacho    Ramos         Militao    Mendy

                           Casamerio

         Valverde       Modric      Kroos

                Benzema          Hazard      

I can see Zidane going with a similar setup to that however I don't see Vinicius being dropped for Hazard, I would expect him to start. Zidane has gone for 4-1-4-1 formation in the past which is similar to what you have suggested above, the following was the team Zidane went with against Barca:

I would expect something similar with the question being Hazard or Valverde.

Most of our team were not even at the club last season, nobody expected us to get this far, so they've nothing to fear and neither have we.

 

12 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

I like your tactical thinking. I think Valverde will start on the right  but kind of tucked into the midfield freeing up Hazard to be the more attacking one with less defensive duties. i see them lining up like this

                             Courtois

       Nacho    Ramos         Militao    Mendy

                           Casamerio

         Valverde       Modric      Kroos

                Benzema          Hazard      

You were spot on last time.

 

11 minutes ago, Imran_CFC said:

Julien Laurens (I think) mentioned that the plan was to only have Ramos in the match day squad and maybe give him minutes if absolutely necessary however with Varane's injury he has to start which clearly indicates he is not match fit for the full 90.

We really need to exploit that & cannot let him have an easy game without being challenged, against Fulham we went a little longer and opted to play the ball in behind regularly (The 2 goals we scored were actually from long balls forward) which I think may be an indicator of us playing in behind on Wednesday.

He does not have to start. They could simply play a back 4 and have Nacho and Milato as the CBs. They have options that can play right and left back in that system. Is up to Zizu if he starts or not, is not desperate need to.

 

Anyone figure the cousin will either score on us or provide an assist or two? Mendy vs Mendy.

1 minute ago, coco said:

Most of our team were not even at the club last season, nobody expected us to get this far, so they've nothing to fear and neither have we.

 

Not sure how you got most of the team Coco, mendy, Silva, Chilwell and Timl were not. Rest of the likely starters were and have been for a couple or more years.

 

I do agree though all the pressure is on Real as their history and expierence dictates they should win this game with ease, especially with  no fans there. 

Worst comes to worst they do send us packing we have still have a really good campaign in Europe.

9 minutes ago, Imran_CFC said:

I can see Zidane going with a similar setup to that however I don't see Vinicius being dropped for Hazard, I would expect him to start. Zidane has gone for 4-1-4-1 formation in the past which is similar to what you have suggested above, the following was the team Zidane went with against Barca:

I would expect something similar with the question being Hazard or Valverde.

Waow!!! And i also recall Barca playing a back 3 in that match so i think he will stick with the same system. Valverde will definitely start  because of his athleticism and also to prevent their midfield from being over run. I think the question will be HAZAD or VINICIUS

33 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

You were spot on last time.

 

He does not have to start. They could simply play a back 4 and have Nacho and Milato as the CBs. They have options that can play right and left back in that system. Is up to Zizu if he starts or not, is not desperate need to.

 

Anyone figure the cousin will either score on us or provide an assist or two? Mendy vs Mendy.

I reckon if Carvajal was fit they could've played Nacho and Militao as the CB pairing but with Carvajal out injured Nacho will shift to RB, I dont think Zidane will risk playing Odriozola at RB against Pulisic and Werner.

Edited May 4, 20215 yr by Imran_CFC

14 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Not sure how you got most of the team Coco, mendy, Silva, Chilwell and Timl were not. Rest of the likely starters were and have been for a couple or more years.

Mendy Chilwell Silva Timo Havertz Ziyech, Tuchel, = 7

Azpili Rudiger James Kante Jorginho Mount = 6

41 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

Looking back you said nothing wrong. The error was on my part. But I do feel like Valverde will give them somethings they were lacking in the first leg like Speed , aggression and physicality and we cant forget his height

Yeah I fully agree with you there. I also think the lineup you put up will be the one we see tomorrow

2 minutes ago, Imran_CFC said:

I reckon if Carvajal was fit they could've played Nacho and Militao as the CB pairing but with Carvajal out injured Nacho will shift to RB, I dont think Zidane will risk playing Vazquez at RB against Pulisic and Werner.

Did you mean Valverde? Lucas is out for the season. I dont think Zidane will risk Odriozola either unless it's a back 3, the guy is a liability while Nacho is Reals version of Dave, can play across the back 4 and all at a good standard.

 

2 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

Did you mean Valverde? Lucas is out for the season. I dont think Zidane will risk Odriozola either unless it's a back 3, the guy is a liability while Nacho is Reals version of Dave, can play across the back 4 and all at a good standard.

Sorry I meant Odriozola for RB not Lucas

1 hour ago, Munkworth said:

@Valerie I’ve just got a cookie dough Ben & Jerry’s incase of emergency. What precautions are you taking?

I have the day off tomorrow for our Liberation Day, so ample time to decide. Needs must. One pint certainly won't suffice. I'm frankly a bit disappointed you're so casual about it with one measly tub. Unless in the Imperial system tubs are buckets of course.

14 minutes ago, coco said:

Mendy Chilwell Silva Timo Havertz Ziyech, Tuchel, = 7

Azpili Rudiger James Kante Jorginho Mount = 6

Ah you are including the subs and manager. Thought you just meant the starting 11.

2 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Ah you are including the subs and manager. Thought you just meant the starting 11.

I think you get the gist of my point you pedantic bugger