Champions League 25/26

[Maradona37]

I've been critical of Haaland in the past as when he's not scoring, which admittedly isn’t all that often, he can be completely out of a game. But he is still young, and even Kane at the same age wasn't the all round player he is now, so time is definitely on his side to improve his hold up and link up play. But give him space to run into and behind defenders and he's a freak.

Foden is a strange one because his ability is obvious. But even when performing amazing for City, he's always been ordinary for England. I can only put it down to Guardiola moulding him into a system player. And the system at City and England are completely different. But someone with his talent should be doing much better regardless ao does need to share some of the blame. I know he had some off field issues last season so still think people writing him off was a bit daft and premature.

True, Haaland game truly revolves around pace and athleticism, and he's a cheat code with them. I know he's only 25, but I just don't believe he has Kane's natural ability in link up and passing - he's much more cumbersome than Kane and normally by age 25 you are mostly developed technically (you're right; Kane seemed to develop world-class passing out of nowhere). His all-round game and hold up did look better though (allowing for the fact it's against a joke like United) and I hope he can keep that up, because I have been criticising his all-round game since long before Keane did. I grow bored of doing so and want to see him do well. Let's hope he becomes more rounded in the coming seasons.

That happens with certain players though - they play better for club. It's not unique to Foden or Pep. But I know what you mean - he's much more at home for City than the National Team. I think he and Bellingham take each other's space too when they play together. They don't gel that well.

Bit unrelated, but seeing as I like you a lot as a poster, I'd like your thoughts. I am born in 1982, and I recently got talking to a member of staff at the cinema I attend frequently. He was born 1973. He said Ronaldo is a great player but boring to watch (he said it without me prompting, so he doesn't know I hate Ronaldo). I agree with that post 2012. He also said Pep has ruined football, implying it's too much of a system game now (he didn't explicitly say this, but he said what happened to players like Gazza and Henrik Larsson running through teams, so he obviously means there's less off the cuff magic). I half-agree with that, half don't. I am undecided really.

He also totally agreed with me that Messi is much much better than Ronaldo when I mentioned all the vastly superior attributes Messi has that I and others have outlined before on here and elsewhere.

I am mostly interested in what you think of his comments on Pep and the game being more of a system game and more robotic now?

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

LOL that it's Llorente again who scores in Anfield, already kicked Pool out of the stadium in 2020 with 2 amazing goals.

VIrgil doing Virgil things again, absolute stunning defender and one of the coolest players ive ever seen.

 

[draconifire]

Simeone's time as a ATM manager should come to an end.

Think another manager should have seen this game as a win for ATM. Except for the first 20min, when ATM was quite rattled by the Anfield crowd, ATM were neck on neck with Liverpool.
A different manager, with more fluidity, would have been the difference, and would have never let his team rattled during the start of the game.

 

[draconifire]

Yeah the reason I prefer Kane is because Lewa doesn't have Kane's all-round game, and he spent most of his career stat-padding at Bayern. I truly and fully believe that Kane is the better footballer - or maybe more accurately Kane possesses a lot more of the qualities I personally like in a footballer. Which to be fair isn't necessarily the same as being objectively better.

I also think Kane is a better footballer. And at this moment, want him to replace Lewa next season. Because he shouldn't cost much.

But that being said, I don't think Kane is a better goal scorer. It's a tradeoff.
If you saw the last match we played, Kane won't have scored that 1st goal of Lewa. He simply doesn't have that elite scoring instinct.
But I will take maybe 10-15% of less goal output from Kane, because he gives so much more in the third half of the park, which Lewa simply doesn't.

 

[Maradona37]

I also think Kane is a better footballer. And at this moment, want him to replace Lewa next season. Because he shouldn't cost much.

But that being said, I don't think Kane is a better goal scorer. It's a tradeoff.
If you saw the last match we played, Kane won't have scored that 1st goal of Lewa. He simply doesn't have that elite scoring instinct.
But I will take maybe 10-15% of less goal output from Kane, because he gives so much more in the third half of the park, which Lewa simply doesn't.

I didn't see the goal but I do agree with your post (though I would say Kane has more scoring instinct than you say, but yeah, not as hungry as Robert).

 

[Maradona37]

LOL that it's Llorente again who scores in Anfield, already kicked Pool out of the stadium in 2020 with 2 amazing goals.

VIrgil doing Virgil things again, absolute stunning defender and one of the coolest players ive ever seen.

Yeah that game should never have been played as it was just before lockdown here in the UK. Bad times.

Van Dijk is so good that his detractors get excited on the rare time he gets dribbled past, lol.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Yeah that game should never have been played as it was just before lockdown here in the UK. Bad times.

Van Dijk is so good that his detractors get excited on the rare time he gets dribbled past, lol.

Loved that game though, was super super exciting, i remember watching it in a sports bar. Liverpool should have won already after 90 min, they had too many chances. But llorente killed their hopes after a big mistake from Alisson. What a match it was.

I remember him in 2019 he was exceptional, nobody could beat him.....except Cristiano Ronaldo in NL final!

 

[Maradona37]

Loved that game though, was super super exciting, i remember watching it in a sports bar. Liverpool should have won already after 90 min, they had too many chances. But llorente killed their hopes after a big mistake from Alisson. What a match it was.

I remember him in 2019 he was exceptional, nobody could beat him.....except Cristiano Ronaldo in NL final!

It was a good game. But I knew how ominous it was at the time. It was right as lockdown was about to start, and probably spread COVID in the UK a fair amount. There were plenty of deaths from the disease in Liverpool after that.

Also, you say Alisson - was that not the infamous Adrian game? Or am I misremembering and that was another game?

Yeah he was great. Except of course in the Nations League. Which is bigger than the World Cup for you

 

[Maradona37]

Thats the first time ever you referred to Ronaldo by his full name.

I notice details easily,its part of who I am.

That's not his full name - that's his first and middle name. His full name is Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro. Where Dos Santos is the paternal name and Aveiro the maternal.

 

[Maradona37]

Brings up an interesting question, Fati. Would he still be rated as highly if he went by 'Dos Santos' or 'Aveiro' rather than piggybacking on R9's iconic nickname 'Ronaldo'?

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

It was a good game. But I knew how ominous it was at the time. It was right as lockdown was about to start, and probably spread COVID in the UK a fair amount. There were plenty of deaths from the disease in Liverpool after that.

Also, you say Alisson - was that not the infamous Adrian game? Or am I misremembering and that was another game?

Yeah he was great. Except of course in the Nations League. Which is bigger than the World Cup for you

Yeah youre right it was Adrian, with Alisson they would have won that tie

I dont say its bigger but if you look at the teams in semi final in 2025 we can surely say it was tougher to win than the WC22....but dont want to go off topic now 😬

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Brings up an interesting question, Fati. Would he still be rated as highly if he went by 'Dos Santos' or 'Aveiro' rather than piggybacking on R9's iconic nickname 'Ronaldo'?

Bro name has nothing to do with his rating lol

Is there another player who scored nearly 1000 goals, won 3 cls in a row, 4 in 5 years while scoring more goals than 99% of the teams itw, dominated in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi? R9 is unlucky to have the same name like the greatest Ronaldo of all time

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Mara, Tempt, Rebels, KL - the world ain't ready fot this

 

[Maradona37]

Bro name has nothing to do with his rating lol

Is there another player who scored nearly 1000 goals, won 3 cls in a row, 4 in 5 years while scoring more goals than 99% of the teams itw, dominated in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi? R9 is unlucky to have the same name like the greatest Ronaldo of all time

I don't agree with all that but you know I am having a laugh with that post.

Still, sharing a name with R9 can't have hurt either.

 

[Maradona37]

Beckenbauer is still the best ever defender/sweeper/sometimes midfielder. He was supreme.

Baresi and Maldini are amazing pure defenders. There's others too.

But as far as marrying defensive ability, speed, athleticism, height, confidence and ability on the ball (both passing and dribbling), I haven't seen anyone better than Virgil in the last 20 years.

I know a lot don't like him, but I do. I think he is easily better than the likes of Vidic, Carvalho, Campbell, Terry and Ferdinand.