QUOTE (Danny @ Sep 27 2023, 02:53 PM)

I wasn't? I was relating that to you pointing out how hard they pushed Inter (who this forum seems to think are a top side), while England's version gets lamped 8-0 by Newcastle who you personally think aren't a good team.
Ahh, okay, thought you were using that as a sign of how good NUFC are. I don't think you can equivocate one game to another. Roma beat Empoli by 7 and they are dire.
I think NUFC are a decent enough team, but not CL level. Fact is, we should have clearly beat them and I'm sure the team are disappointed in themselves because they were there for the taking and we alone f@cked up 3 home points. Sure the betting odds are close because EPL sides are always over-estimated but we're 2 steps above them imo
Hopefully PSG finish them off in the next game
QUOTE (Danny @ Sep 27 2023, 02:53 PM)

You know no one on the pitch had more defensive contributions than Kjaer? He made 10 tackles/blocks/interceptions, won every single one bar one of his duels (both ground and aerial, 6 of 7) and wasn't dribbled past or beaten even once.
I even remember him flat out lying on the floor intercepting because no one else could do it.
His lack of pace hurts us a lot. He is not starting level anymore. Against Inter imo a lot of the confusion on who should be marking who came because he was playing instead of Tomori. Thiaw and Tomori are a great mix of power, pace, height, etc.
QUOTE (Danny @ Sep 27 2023, 02:53 PM)

Thiaw won 2 of his 6 duels, was beaten/dribbled past at least once, and had 3 less defensive contributions than Kjaer.
He's weak and mediocre, and Tomori is a tonne better, he and Kjaer worked great before, to suggest the latter is finished ignores the facts.
I stand by what I said.
Tomori is our best defender. The question is who should play next to him, and for me that is Thiaw. Not Kjaer
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Sep 27 2023, 04:34 PM)

Thiaw is miles better than Kjaer. The only good thing Kajer has going is his experience, but other than that the guy is finished. He can barely run.
Thiaw unfortunately had the bad luck of facing a fast player like Thuram, who should have been marked by Tomori/Kalulu, but both of them were not available.
But make no mistake, for a 22 year old Thiaw is impressive. He's the future of our and Germany's defence.
Agreed. Tomori missing that Derby cost us the first 2 goals imo. And that was game-set-match.
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Sep 27 2023, 04:39 PM)

If Newcastle are so impressive then how come they did absolutely nothing against us?
Shots on target 8-1
Shots off target 11-3
Blocked shots 7-2
Corner kicks 6-1
I mean, come on. Those are rookie numbers. And we're not exactly a dominant team in the very sense of it.
They're a decent side, but far inferior to us and PSG. And their inexperience in Europe was evident.
Can't say speak for Dortmund cos I don't watch the Bundesliga.
10000%
Let's see with Dortmund, I'm with you, I don't watch any Bundesliga so they will be a surprise package for me. But their results so far speak for themselves imo
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Sep 27 2023, 06:05 PM)

My god, if Krunic is considered slow, then Adli is Krunic in slow motion. Maybe Pioli was always right about him.
Our players are too static. There is zero danger in our attacking manoeuvre.
He is slow, but his ball distribution is very good. The movement ahead of him has been sub-par. If the other make the right runs, he will find them. He's got beautiful feet imo.
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Sep 27 2023, 06:08 PM)

I restate my opinion, Pulisic is absolute trash.
Best plays came through him and Chuck imo.
He's been a bit too quiet, but when he wants, he switches it on and is dangerous. I'd actually try to switch him and Okafor. Try him as a false 9. Plus I think Okafor will be more comfortable coming from the left.