THE REAL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STARTS
As the champions League goes into the 1st knock-out phase tomorrow, one can’t help but notice the buzz being created at the prospect of the mouth watering ties UEFA have put on display.
Who will win the big ears in June?
CHELSEA – PSG
Would PSG or Bayern Munich rue the costs of playing weaker opposition in their respective leagues weekly? Would injuries and perhaps complacency deny Ancelotti and Madrid the honours of the 1st back to back Champions League triumph?
Chelsea face PSG and for both teams an opportunity to stake a claim among the giants of European football, whichever one of them sail through to the quarter finals. Chelsea have so many winners in their camp who know about the big European nights and it’s a massive opportunity to show Europe what they have been doing in the Premiership since August. If Jose deploys the right tactics, I think the tie could even be settled in Parc Des Prince.
BAYERN – SHAKTAR
In Shaktar Donesk, Bayern have opponents who would almost unlikely be able to trouble them, so they probably would sail through on superior goal difference over the two legs. I really don’t see anything for Shaktar other than just showing up for the two legs, but then again, football is a funny game. I fancy Bayen though.
SHALKE – REAL MADRID
With Ronaldo, Bale, Benzeema, Isco, Kroos, I can’t see any European upset in this one. Only Madrid can beat themselves, and even that, they have Carlo Ancelotti at the helm of affairs to ensure that there are no silly let ups or complacent Galacticos showing up in Madrid kits. I think this one would be decided in the 1st leg unless injuries and suspensions put a twist to this, delaying the final outcome until the second leg.
BARCELONA – MANCHESTER CITY
Poor defending, exceptional attack, almost balanced midfield and a genius at play is what Manchester City against Barcelona promises us over two games. Man city may yet rue the implications of FFP punishment which made them register less number of players than the other teams (Bony for Jovetic means Pellegrini does not have the flexibility of a striker who can play almost as an attacking midfielder yet cause problems away from home in Europe)
Manuel Pellegrini and Luis Enrique? I don’t know who to pick. But while Barcelona’s wobbly feet at the back might just let in too many goals, both home and away, I still believe that the goalkeepers and a certain Lionel Messi hold the keys to this tie.
ARSENAL – MONACO
Arsene Wenger’s biggest chance to date of advancing into the next round of the European Cup.
If Arsenal play the way they played at the Etihad stadium: disciplined, determined, organised, deadly on the break and composed, they can outrun a Monaco team – that have 3 pensioners, each in defence, midfield and attack – with pace. I fancy Arsenal with their present form, their pace may just be too deadly for the princes from Monaco.
ATLETICO – LEVERKUSEN
Atletico have been given the ‘freedom of the second round’. I don’t see this one going anyway except the way of Simone and his men, but Godin and the troops must remember that German teams come back strong after the winter pause.
JUVENTUS – DORTMUND
Dortmund’s case is a classic lesson in modern football: No team can survive by flogging one or two of their best players, season after season, and still hope to be a force to be reckoned with.
This Dortmund team is not even a shadow of its former self. Juventus is sitting comfortably at the top of Seria A and are in pole for this one- especially considering the poor run of Dortmund in the Bundesliga- but the Germans have almost won as many games in their last three fixtures after the winter break than the entire season pre- winter break. They’re peaking at right time and Juergen Klopp understands a lot about the European nights. They say it’s whoever finds form on the night in Europe, and two good games could get Juergen Klopp back to winning ways and set the team up for next season
PORTO – BASLE
Basel and Porto is the tie of the round, as the result could go either way. Both teams are very unpredictable when playing like, or average opposition, as both are set out to defy the giants of Europe. Both compact, organised with hard working players all over the park, but Porto have a bit of flair upfront with Brahimi and Martinez. Streller’s goals for Basle may yet prove vital.
A few hours to go, and let the show begin……………….
TONY PULL-I-S IT OFF AT THE HAWTHORNS as ALAN PARDEWS THE BOAT TO SAFETY?
It’s only in the English Premiership, that managers manage to keep their jobs, even after losing several games at the beginning of the football season. In Europe, the panic button is hit after two or three games and the managerial casualties begin to pile up after five games.
In England however, patience is the keyword for it was not until Alan Irvine’s fifth league match, at WBA that they won a league match. The heirachy kept faith with him for seven months, wining only 5 of 22 games and deep in relegation waters until they decided enough was enough and appointed Tony Pulis in his place. Did the decision come too late? Timely?
Neil Warnock feared worse at Crystal Palace, winning only 3 of 17 until he was replaced by Alan Pardew. Pardew has won 3 out of 5 in the premiership, while Pulis has won 5 out of 9 in all competitions, both managers steering their teams away from the relegation zone.
No wonder Aston Villa quickly sacked Lambert! They figured out that it works!
With the ‘new money’ being thrown at the premiership, and with panic buttons showing up at various grounds, is this the advent of the Premiership sack-race?
Whatever happens, one thing is for sure; that Tony Pulis seems to be pulling off a major upset at the bottom of the table is not in doubt, but the manner with which he has dispatched various oppositions since he took over is what has been baffling.
I watched WBA play towards the end of last year and they looked disorganised from back to front. The team lacked leadership on the pitch, they looked a disjointed ensemble playing to different conductors and ‘Relegated’ was written all over the team.
As I watched them demolish West Ham on Saturday however, I saw A TEAM; organised, compact, rejuvenated and definitely not even looking like a team that had been swimming inside the relegation waters.
I saw a team with a plan, with Field Marshalls in 3 departments; Goal Foster, defence Lescott and midfield Fletcher. Even Ideye has started scoring goals!
Who says managers don’t make a difference? Congratulations to Tony Pulis and WBA for turning the corner and also big up to Palace for appointing Pardew.