Didn't we only scrap past these lot last time we played. And what was the name of that CB they had who I thought stopped literally everything for them. Think he was Tunisian or Egyptian or what ever.
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Champions League 2016/2017 (22 Viewers)
- Thread starter GordoDeCentral
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Why? It would be a massive failure to lose. Stating otherwise is just silly.
It doesn't mean I think we can't lose. Having a striker like Higuain who seemingly cannot perform in the CL knockouts makes it a good chance. But this season, at this stage, becomes a massive failure for me if we go out here.
Seriously. How can you suggest we shouldn't be massive favourites. 17 goals-2 conceded. People are overrating a Monaco side that has barely scraped their way into the CL semifinals.
It doesn't mean I think we can't lose. Having a striker like Higuain who seemingly cannot perform in the CL knockouts makes it a good chance. But this season, at this stage, becomes a massive failure for me if we go out here.
Seriously. How can you suggest we shouldn't be massive favourites. 17 goals-2 conceded. People are overrating a Monaco side that has barely scraped their way into the CL semifinals.
The feeling is strong that we will finally win again this year! :strong:Sure we're favorites. Are they not strong enough to cause us any problems though? Obviously not. Football is not math and many things can change the course of the match, I respect them as much as I would Real or Atletico.
Fred didnt say at any moment that we're not favorites, he said that they're a top side this season playing good footie and I trust him that them topping the league and being in CL semi's is no fluke.
Fred didnt say at any moment that we're not favorites, he said that they're a top side this season playing good footie and I trust him that them topping the league and being in CL semi's is no fluke.
Monaco are like last season's Manchester City. They made it so far by facing weak ass teams with bad defences and struggling with near tragedy. They have some good players in Mbappe and Silva. But their overall quality isn't as high as some of the teams that have exited like Bayern and Barca.
I fully expect to go past them just like Madrid did last season against City. We are our own worst enemy in this one.
I fully expect to go past them just like Madrid did last season against City. We are our own worst enemy in this one.
Two years ago it was damn close in the quarters.
The most impressive thing for me, regarding both teams, is how in 2 years Allegri and Jardim changed the entire team and still made the semis. Two years ago, when we met in the quarters, only Buffon, Chiellini and Bonucci from the starting XI against Barca, started the matches against Monaco. Similar story on the other side - only Subasic, Fabinho, Bernardo Silva and Raggi were starters in 2015 and 2017.
Juve lost Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Marchisio (as a starter), Tevez, Evra, Licht (as a starter) and Morata. Monaco lost Martial, Kurzawa, Carrasco, Toulalan, Kondogbia, Abdennour, Berbatov, Moutinho (as a starter). Both teams transformed to perhaps even better units, despite all the newcomers.
Compliments for the managers. By qualifying to the semis, but especially having the above in mind, they proved how great they are. That's why it should be impossible for one of the teams to underestimate the other.
The most impressive thing for me, regarding both teams, is how in 2 years Allegri and Jardim changed the entire team and still made the semis. Two years ago, when we met in the quarters, only Buffon, Chiellini and Bonucci from the starting XI against Barca, started the matches against Monaco. Similar story on the other side - only Subasic, Fabinho, Bernardo Silva and Raggi were starters in 2015 and 2017.
Juve lost Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Marchisio (as a starter), Tevez, Evra, Licht (as a starter) and Morata. Monaco lost Martial, Kurzawa, Carrasco, Toulalan, Kondogbia, Abdennour, Berbatov, Moutinho (as a starter). Both teams transformed to perhaps even better units, despite all the newcomers.
Compliments for the managers. By qualifying to the semis, but especially having the above in mind, they proved how great they are. That's why it should be impossible for one of the teams to underestimate the other.
They didn't squeak out of their group; they won 3 and drew 2 of the first 5 games, and guaranteed first spot; at that point they had a +5 goal difference too. Then they played a second fiddle team against Leverkusen and lost 3-0. So some context here is important.
Also I don't subscribe to this black and white view you have of teams; if you consider City, Tottenham and Dortmund to be piss poor teams, then I don't know who isn't piss poor in your view; 4-5 teams?
Beating Tottenham, Dortmund, and Villareal away is no easy feat. In France, they got 4 points of PSG, scoring three past them in one game, they beat Nice 3-0 at home, they scored three goals in each game against Dortmund and City.
I'm not saying that Juve aren't favorites, or that you shouldn't be disappointed if you don't beat them, and yes you could still consider it a collosal failure not to beat them, but then again I also think it was a colossal failure on the part of City to not beat them, and taking into account the gap in individual players and resources, its also a colossal failure on the part of PSG to be trailing them in the league. Monaco are definitely punching above their weight, but regardless, their results put them up there with the best in Europe this season. If they win the Ligue 1, and hopefully the Coupe De France*, and give Juve a good game in the semi's. I think one could then make a case for them being among the top 5 in Europe this season.
*Jardim unfortunately does not have a big squad, and he'll probably rest some players for the midweek semis against PSG; if he does, I can't see them getting past PSG.
PS: I understand the low expectations jibe against Arsenal, but not France. France is one of the favorites for the next WC, I will be disappointed if they don't win it. That's how high my expectations are of them.
Do you believe I didn't realize how much the starting lineup has changed at Juve in just two years time. But yes, both coaches have done an amazing job. I won't lie, I didn't think that highly of Allegri when he first took over Juve. But boy has he done an amazing job. Those two legs against Barcelona were a masterpiece; for me especially in the Camp Nou, because a few teams have shut down Barca away, but at the Camp Nou, barely allowing them a couple of shots on target is really commendable.
Jardim has done a fantastic job in Monaco, I think he is definitely a top coach, and will soon be managing a top team. If you think Klopp is good at drilling his teams to press their opponents, Jardim's Monaco do it very well.
Also I don't subscribe to this black and white view you have of teams; if you consider City, Tottenham and Dortmund to be piss poor teams, then I don't know who isn't piss poor in your view; 4-5 teams?
Beating Tottenham, Dortmund, and Villareal away is no easy feat. In France, they got 4 points of PSG, scoring three past them in one game, they beat Nice 3-0 at home, they scored three goals in each game against Dortmund and City.
I'm not saying that Juve aren't favorites, or that you shouldn't be disappointed if you don't beat them, and yes you could still consider it a collosal failure not to beat them, but then again I also think it was a colossal failure on the part of City to not beat them, and taking into account the gap in individual players and resources, its also a colossal failure on the part of PSG to be trailing them in the league. Monaco are definitely punching above their weight, but regardless, their results put them up there with the best in Europe this season. If they win the Ligue 1, and hopefully the Coupe De France*, and give Juve a good game in the semi's. I think one could then make a case for them being among the top 5 in Europe this season.
*Jardim unfortunately does not have a big squad, and he'll probably rest some players for the midweek semis against PSG; if he does, I can't see them getting past PSG.
PS: I understand the low expectations jibe against Arsenal, but not France. France is one of the favorites for the next WC, I will be disappointed if they don't win it. That's how high my expectations are of them.
Do you believe I didn't realize how much the starting lineup has changed at Juve in just two years time. But yes, both coaches have done an amazing job. I won't lie, I didn't think that highly of Allegri when he first took over Juve. But boy has he done an amazing job. Those two legs against Barcelona were a masterpiece; for me especially in the Camp Nou, because a few teams have shut down Barca away, but at the Camp Nou, barely allowing them a couple of shots on target is really commendable.
Jardim has done a fantastic job in Monaco, I think he is definitely a top coach, and will soon be managing a top team. If you think Klopp is good at drilling his teams to press their opponents, Jardim's Monaco do it very well.
Their first half record in CL is: 6-2-2 (13:4)
While in the second half they have: 2-5-3 (8:12)
Juve have:
First half: 4-6-0 (7:1)
Second half: 6-3-1 (10:1)
These numbers don't tell too much, because the 2nd half results and performances are directly influenced by the result from the first half. Still, some tendency is indeed showed by these stats. Monaco are a team that does push and press hard in the first half, and their performance and the results in the 2nd halves do show that they tend, or are forced to, take the foot off the gas in the second half, where they look much more tired than they should.
While in the second half they have: 2-5-3 (8:12)
Juve have:
First half: 4-6-0 (7:1)
Second half: 6-3-1 (10:1)
These numbers don't tell too much, because the 2nd half results and performances are directly influenced by the result from the first half. Still, some tendency is indeed showed by these stats. Monaco are a team that does push and press hard in the first half, and their performance and the results in the 2nd halves do show that they tend, or are forced to, take the foot off the gas in the second half, where they look much more tired than they should.
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