2016-17 UEFA Champions League

ERG89

Turtwig wrote: »

Rte saying Barca are struggling. They played excellently against Atletico and their domestic game losses came with a heavily rotated squad. Can't really suggest they're struggling.

At least they aren't dying, Italian football has been for a decade so I wonder how it's still clinging onto life

LiamoSail

Skylinehead wrote: »

Did you expect otherwise? It's a far bigger game.

I kind of did on the basis of it perhaps having a greater deal of Irish interest, despite not being as big a game.

Still, not a bad game to be stuck watching!

GreNoLi

That's a horrible away kit, like a depressed rainbow.

LuckyGent88

Classy goal from Sanchez

SantryRed

LiamoSail wrote: »

I kind of did on the basis of it perhaps having a greater deal of Irish interest, despite not being as big a game.

Still, not a bad game to be stuck watching!

Not sure why it would have a greater deal of Irish interest?

I'm sure most would rather watch a game for top spot, with Pep going back to the Camp Nou, rather than a game for the Europa League...

Bret Hart

Awful defending by City.

GreNoLi

The gaucho does it again.

Mr.Nice Guy

Messi!

BorneTobyWilde

Comical defending
This could be embareassing

LiamoSail

SantryRed wrote: »

Not sure why it would have a greater deal of Irish interest?

I'm sure most would rather watch a game for top spot, with Pep going back to the Camp Nou, rather than a game for the Europa League...

Just on the basis of Celtic having a decent following in Ireland, irrespective of City and Barca being the favourites to qualify.

Personally cgaf about the Guadiola narrative, not sure why many would. Definitely a game I'm excited to see though, should be a cracker

MisterAnarchy

The Rte feed looks like upscaled SD, it's dreadful

The Talking Bread

LiamoSail wrote: »

I kind of did on the basis of it perhaps having a greater deal of Irish interest, despite not being as big a game.

Still, not a bad game to be stuck watching!

I would assume most soccer fans in Ireland are far more interested in two of the best teams in Europe these days than Celtic, regardless of the Green and White Stripes . Would be bizare not to show this game

GreNoLi

Mathieu coming on to shore up the city attack.

Mr.Nice Guy

No flow to this game. Too many fouls interrupting play.

LiamoSail

Didn't realise Gary Doherty was on the bench for Barca!

Mr.Nice Guy

You don't have to be French to be a Barcelona defender, but it helps.

LiamoSail

The Talking Bread wrote: »

I would assume most soccer fans in Ireland are far more interested in two of the best teams in Europe these days than Celtic, regardless of the Green and White Stripes . Would be bizare not to show this game

I just mean on the basis of Celtic having a decent sized Irish following that would be interested. Obviously there's huge interest in Barca/City on account of their quality

GreNoLi

Meh, I'll tune back in when the knockout games start.

Johner

There's something in this game for City.

Harry Palmr

City should have had a pelanty there I reckon.

StringerBell

Barca not having much of a defence will be the undoing in the second half, two defensive injuries to the likes of Pique and Alba is not easy to deal with.

The Talking Bread

LiamoSail wrote: »

I just mean on the basis of Celtic having a decent sized Irish following that would be interested. Obviously there's huge interest in Barca/City on account of their quality

tbh, I don't think there is much Celtic following anymore compared to yester year.
The Scottish league has depreciated to nothing, the Old Firm took a back burner for almost half a decade or so, they haven't exactly lit up Europe in a long time (bar that 3-3 draw 3 weeks ago) and they don't attract the quality of players like the Laarsons.

Since the PL started attracting the best players in the world last 7 years or so, there is diminishing interest in Celtic.

Celtic jerseys were all the rage up to a decade ago but you rarely see them anymore.

RoryMac

The Talking Bread wrote: »

tbh, I don't think there is much Celtic following anymore compared to yester year.
The Scottish league has depreciated to nothing, the Old Firm took a back burner for almost half a decade or so, they haven't exactly lit up Europe in a long time (bar that 3-3 draw 3 weeks ago) and they don't attract the quality of players like the Laarsons.

Since the PL started attracting the best players in the world last 7 years or so, there is diminishing interest in Celtic.

Celtic jerseys were all the rage up to a decade ago but you rarely see them anymore.

Really?? While I agree with everything else in your post surely the standard in the prem has dropped over the last few years too

Harry Palmr

RoryMac wrote: »

Really?? While I agree with everything else in your post surely the standard in the prem has dropped over the last few years too

Ibra!

The Talking Bread

RoryMac wrote: »

Really?? While I agree with everything else in your post surely the standard in the prem has dropped over the last few years too

Quality, marketing and "notoriety" of players they attract far greater since the Abramovich era kicked off. Teams are down a level though but that doesn't mean the league is far more attractive to viewers.

Bret Hart

lol Bravo.

The Talking Bread

I love seeing Bravo fail!!

What an 1diot!

Dirty Dingus McGee

Joe Hart must have a big smile on his face right now.

tanko

Was Joe Hart worse than this clown?

Mr.Nice Guy

Joe Hart is smiling somewhere.

Mars Bar

That's feckin' hilarious! Just put your boot through it you gombeen

Dirty Dingus McGee

Mars Bar wrote: »

That's feckin' hilarious! Just put your boot through it you gombeen

Nah, that's far too simple to be doing, you must make goalkeeping more complicated than it needs to be.

Armchair Andy

He headed it ref!!

Haha that's brilliant

jamescd

Bravo has been nothing short of a disaster since joining

AllGunsBlazing

You kinda knew that the goalie situation would come back and bite him in the arse. The football gods have a cruel sense of humour.

The Talking Bread

Could still be a "Suarez Ghana" moment that! City still not out of this and have to go for it.

Bret Hart

2-0 Messi.

jamescd

The Talking Bread wrote: »

Could still be a "Suarez Ghana" moment that! City still not out of this and have to go for it.

Nah game over now

Bret Hart

This is brilliant. 3-0. Messi hat trick.

LuckyGent88

That's just shocking from city

Armchair Andy

Getting embarrassing now. Hat trick Messi

murpho999

Nice to see City being torn apart. They have had a difficult few weeks.

We will learn a lot about Guardiola this season.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Messi hasn't even been that good tonight and he's still ended up with a hat trick.

murpho999

Armchair Andy wrote: »

Getting embarrassing now. Hat trick Messi

I don't think any team can really be embarrassed by Messi scoring a hat-trick against them in fairness.

LiamoSail

Pretty sure Dunphy's last words before Ko were to the effect of "Messi's in decline, so probably a hatrick for him tonight"

Mr.Nice Guy

Sterling's one of the few involved with City that comes out of this game with credit.

murpho999

LiamoSail wrote: »

Pretty sure Dunphy's last words before Ko were to the effect of "Messi's in decline, so probably a hatrick for him tonight"

I think he said Barcelona and their system of producing players.

AllGunsBlazing

I wouldn't have Stones anywhere near a backfour. Stick him in midfield if you're that enamoured by his composure on the ball.

pjmn

Dunphy's view at half time was that Messi is in decline!!!

Burial.

Pity Bravo's lunacy ruined what could have been a good contest. Chapeau to Messi.