[CL] Champions League 2015/2016 (12 Viewers)

Post Ironic · Dec 16, 2015

Good pair of forwards is more important than people think. The difference between Barca and Juve in June was their incredible forward line. In every other area we were on par, at least.

Compared to Conte's 2013 Juve when Quag and Matri started the away game vs Bayern, we now have players like Dybala, Morata and Mandžukić battling it out for two spots in attack.

I forget about Vucinic missing that match.

Red · Dec 16, 2015

PhRoZeN said:

Not necessarily.

You just mustn't lose it in dangerous positions the way Juve repeatedly did against Bayern.

duranfj · Dec 17, 2015

Osman said:

In attacking sense (even if Vidal was more deadly) yes, but in defense sense? HUGE HUGE gulf of difference, and the impact it had. Lead by example and set the tempo (as is the way Pirlo lead and made everyone take a breather by taking reigns at any given situation), bullied anything in sight. Pretty much Conte style, made sure everyone just gunho pressed the opposition machine like, dont let them breath.

Dont see that as much now, we drop deeper and are organised, move smart as a unit, Allegri prefers that, more guarded approach with slower tempo over frenzied hounding (but also not his fault Vidal is sold and you get no one that can offer same type of work in midfield, ala Allan or Naingolan etc), cant escape that, we simply lack the aggression and ability to hound and scare ball holders. I mean the best at it for us right now is our box striker Mandzukic, thats not a good sign. Vidal did the work of two players in such a style. Never underestimate that. The ability to be first on lose balls and give minimum amount of seconds on the ball unharassed for your average opposition player.

I will stop rambling and offer a visual aid for this very very important aspect we miss dearly, this a clip of Hernanes facing us from that season:

What do you notice?

look at $#@!ing Vidal, ANIMAL, but also look at all of the players, they were INSTILLED to be terriers in a way we lack now sadly defensively. This aspect is needed much more for CL big games too, and level of quality difference someone like Vidal brings, even he was limping he did more then Khedira is doing in this aspect right now.

Nice post... I was talking more about level than style... But again, Nice post

napoleonic · Dec 17, 2015

I think one of the best way for us to win is by making mandzukic and dybala press lahm/alaba, we can limit their move forward and at the same time use it for counter, basically itly-spain in that euro 2012 group stage

ADP1897 · Dec 17, 2015

chelsea beaten by courtois, dortmund by gotze, lastyr madrid by morata. this could it be coman/vidal who haunted ua back?

zizinho · Dec 17, 2015

Bianconero_Aus said:

yes, but also Pogba came on and played LWB for ~20 minutes in that game :touched:

then Asamoah (who was terrible that 2nd half of the season after the African Cup) and Padoin started the return leg as our wingbacks. Giacch and Isla were also subbed in later. now we have trouble to decide between Evra, Sandro, Cuadrado and Licht.

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Post Ironic said:

Gio was also a starter that season and he also didnt start. both came in (not 100% fit though) after we were down 2-0 already in the 2nd half and Vucinic instantly created a great chance which Vidal missed and later Gio dribbled past Van Buyten but screwed up somehow (forgot how)...

that game was really annoying though. Bayern outplayed us like no one before but only scored after a deflected shot in the opening seconds and with an offside goal. we also were the better team up until Kroos got injured around 15th minute when they put in Robben. he and Ribery were always teaming up on that right side to go against Peluso and created so much chances that way. could have ended 2-1 if Vidal scored from that late chance but could also be 3/4-0 if Gigi didnt have some great saves and Bayern missing some great chances