₦airaland Forum

Eruditor:
You still don't get it. Did AC Milan that had gotten to 2 other consecutive finals before 95 not possess more experience? Why did Ajax win? That's what I am saying, Monaco FC with "less experience" can beat City (6-6) and it would be excused especially when one considers how the actual game went.

If City are not yet an elite team it has nothing to do with Pep yet. A manager trying to build an edifice will not be expected to complete his at the same time it will take a manager trying to build a hut. So like Pep said, Judge his team by next season. He is trying to reposition a counter-attacking team to play more imperially and dominant. It cannot happen in a flash.

The Arsenal team of 08 had lost a core of the winners. Lehmann was aged and did not even start games. Sagna, Senderos, Adebayor- are those the winners that you are excusing for beating AC Milan with Kaka, Seedorf etc who were the reigning champs?

Did Ribery and Robben not play when you thrashed Dortmund 4-1? Is that not what convinced your coach they could bring it against RM? Did he not use them against AFC or ATM? I don't understand. I still don't see how it excuses them. Iniesta is being used wrongly by Enrique and we have not posited Iniesta as a reason for the loss. But you want to claim Ancelotti is doing better yet he is not.

Yes Milan had more experience. No one excused Milan either. It was an upset and upsets are allowed to happen in sports but claiming Ajax had no experience is laughable. Not with Rijkaard in the squad and 3 players who had won the UEFA Cup a full 3 years ago as well as Litmanen and Finidi.

Haha City is about the same level as PSG. They are borderline elite and would be regular CL quarterfinalists if not for getting drawn with Barca. However thanks to a fraud like Pep that theory is now in doubt. Edifice ko Edmilson ni. City have always been one of the most attacking and easiest teams on the eye unless where faced with a Madrid, Barca or Bayern. Tell your Pep to carry his dodo ikire elsewhere. Carlo came to England and beat the top 4 home and away in his debut season. Fraudiola's debut season. 4 losses, 2 draws. Isu no be cocoyam

I mentioned 5 proven players yet you skipped them and jumped to Senderos and Adebayor. An arugbo Milan team who finished 20 something points behind their league winner. Don't paint that 08 team as some all conquering side we know better.

I am not making excuses I am stating facts! Robben and Ribery at 30 is different from Robben and Ribery at 34. As for Iniesta didn't he go a full year without a goal or assist? You mean you are blaming Iniesta's poor form on Enrique's tactics? Jesu oh! You would soon blame Enrique for the War in Syria

Eruditor:
Did Javi Martinez not play Dortmund over the weekend? Why did he not get 2 dumb fouls then? If the tactics worked against Dortmund and you won, then it failed against RM that is why you lost the middle is excluded.

At even strength Madrid had hit your bar and scored a goal at least so what tactics was working? If the penalty was more deserving than what Barca got against PSG that is debatable but let me for the sake of this discourse accept it, what does it have to do with Carlo losing and you making excuses for him?

If the scoreline flattered you same way 4-0 flattered you against Pep then my argument is made - Carlo is not doing any better. Lewa has scored 60% of Bayern's goals this year? Fine. Was he there when Pep lost to Madrid? Why did you not argue then too that he needed a better striker than Mandzukic? See I told you. Any argument you make for Carlo will work for Pep.

Pellegrini beat PSG with Zlatan? Did that PSG beat Barca 4-0? Did that PSG beat Monaco 4-1? Gundogan and Jesus are as important as they were to City before they got injured just like Lewa. After all, would Pep have beaten Barca without Gundogan? No.

Lol, I don't have to show it to prove anything. All Carlo needs to do is get to the semis to equal Pep. After all, Jupp beat RM and then lost to CFC. Going by what you are saying, Carlo would be excused for beating RM and losing to Monaco even if his journey ends in the semis.

O ga ju. You would soon ask me why the vulture is bald. Even the worst Enrique critic can tell the difference between a player letting his team down and Enrique's tactics not working else you lot would not be questioning his quality

We actually scored a goal. And put enough pressure on Madrid to win a penalty. All in 45 mins. You can tell me what was the outcome of the corresponding fixture vs Madrid back in 2014. I'll wait

Your argument is not made. More like premature but in the event of a loss then Carlo cannot be said to have done worse than Pep. Afterall most Bayern fans have not said going out to Madrid here means Carlo has done better. No point also talking about Lewandowski who wasn't a Bayern player. I can as well say we needed Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi

PSG under Zlatan romped to the Ligue 1 title. Chelsea would tell you about the untold hardship they have endured in the hands of PSG. Beating PSG no be moin moin. The Fraudiola that cannot beat Monaco shey na PSG him wan beat?

Perma crock Gündogan and some random boy from Brazil with no CL experience na him you dey use compare Lewandodo. Lewl! Wake me up when any of them put 4 goals past Madrid.

If you beat Atletico, Madrid or Barca you might win the CL if you don't beat either 3 you are NOT winning the CL. The objective is to beat them first and take it from there. If Carlo does that he has topped Pep already whether he gets past the semis or not

Eruditor:
They finished 3rd in the year they used close to 3 managers. They were always the next best team in England (as long as CR7 was in United). I am not even trying to disparage him but his story is why some coaches like to engrain their team with their philosophy because short term successes don't make for dynasties. Did Jupp win it all his first season?

LOL. Before the season began Pep picked Conte to win the league. He said Conte's tactics are easier to learn and that lack of UCL will give them time to imbibe it. He already said his team would need more time and that by next season they would have grasped all he is trying to teach them. But I digress.

A team does not necessarily need experience to do well. Mourinho's Porto didn't. LVGs Ajax didn't. It was their performance in those years that made bigger teams seek their players. In the same fashion, we are experiencing the birth of a solid Monaco team. As formidable as they are (or have been this year), Pep's city were on the verge of ousting them had Aguero not fluffed 2 easy chances when the tie was 6-5 in City's favor. This is all moral talk and I am not here for that.

Every team will have an excuse; Arsenal lost their best defender, RM lost Pepe etc. So Dortmund can't be excused if City won't be.

In the same vein, even CR7 has declined. Bale is not the same explosive player. Nacho is inexperienced. Who is Asensio? We cannot make excuses for a Bayern that beat younger teams in AFC and Dortmund. They had more than enough to beat RM but they did not. If their declining age is the issue he had younger stars who should have been deployed.

Carlo beat United in 07, got beat by AFC in 08. He beat Bayern with Madrid? Lol Pep did same with Barca even beating Bayern 4-0 himself. He also beat RM being managed by Mou 2-0 at Santiago. If this was a CV competition Pep will win. But we are shifting from the main issue - do you now agree that these things could go either way regardless of the manager or how well a team plays?

Isn't that more reason to give Carlo credit? Coming to a new team and a new league. Chelsea had gone almost 4years without a league title. He improved on his predecessor. Can you remotely claim Pep did the same? Yeah like Chelsea would give you time to build a dynasty. I wonder what dynasty Carlo would build with the likes of Drogba, Lampard at 32.

Jupp got to the Finals of the CL with a team that barely made CL that year. Don't compare his scenario to Fraudiola's

I am eager to see what Fraudiola would do next season. His competitors would not kuku stand pat

Stop repeating that LVG team lacked experience line. I have since shown otherwise. Porto won the Europa League the previous year. Vitor Baia, Jorge Costa, Benni McCarthy are not players lacking experience.

What was Monaco's achievement as a collective? You are still not answering my question. Even the players individually

Aguero is why the tie was 6-5. Falcao missed a penalty.

Sorry I am not comparing Fraudiola's failure to that of a team 22 hours removed from an actual bomb attack. Can't do it

Pep had a complete Bayern team and failed. Carlo faced Madrid without Lewa and missed the first leg. And lost. Fair play. We are not out yet

Hahahahaha Jurgen Klinsmann's Bayern with the likes of Lell, Ottl, Podolski. Beat Madrid with a dubious red card. I'm crying fam

Pep literally owes his career to Ovrebo. The EPL is opening his yansh. O ti mo meme

Eruditor:
You are listing names please list the ages as well. Let us see how experienced that Ajax squad was in the UCL.

Monaco of this season is an elite team and City is not. Monaco are in how many finals? They top their league, they have scored more than 130 goals. If you don't agree that they are this season, that's also fine. What is absolute tommyrot is the argument that City is mandated to make another Semi even when the last season was a fluke. It is like CFC expecting to win the UCL again in 2013 after winning it in 2012.

The AFC vs Milan squad just falls flat because Milan had way more experience and should have won. Or else what argument are you making about City vs Monaco again?

Okay, so now your argument is that Bayern's players are aged (I agree) and that is the excuse for why they lost. But when I mentioned City's players being aged (Silva, Zabaleta, Kolarov) you objected and mentioned their experience. Is that not right back at you?

Uncle. When I asked you to list Monaco you answer?

Van Der Sar, Blind, De Boer were all part of the team that won the UEFA Cup in 1991/92. I don't need to tell you about Rijkaard or Finidi George. Litmanen was 25. That is 6 players out of 11 so try again.

Of course City cannot be an elite team with Fraudiola at the helm. After blowing through almost £100m I wonder when they would be elite. City is not mandated to get to the semis. But at least beat Monaco and don't buttress what the anti Pep crowd has been saying.

My argument stand gidigba like Sequoia tree. Arsenal were 2 years removed from a CL Final with multiple League winners in the squad. Gallas, Lehmann, Toure who in Monaco aside Falcao can boast of experience or winning any kind of titles. Compare like for like edakun

I didn't say Age is why we lost Bros. Don't put words in my mouth. I'm telling you that team is significantly older. And age matters

Silva and Kolarov are 31. 3 years younger than Ribery. Go and ask Iniesta what 2 years can do to you after 30 never mind 3

Eruditor:
Going by absolutes you LOST. That is all that matters. There is no we scored in 45mins or else AFC would argue that they almost knocked Jupp's team out by drawing 3-3 yet all they did was go out in the 2nd round same way they did with 10-2 against Carlo. There is no moral victory.

Pep did better. Nobody will say that RM got to last year's finals by beating Roma, Wolfsburg and City even if those teams are minnows.

Even if Carlo beats RM but still loses the tie, it means nothing. Pep beat Barca and ATM in one of the legs but it still does not matter.

If you beat Madrid it will be 1-up for you? You are totally allowed that. Along with the fact that if Carlo crashes out in a quarters- it is good for your club. At least, it proves the chagrin towards Pep has been purely sentimental which has been my point all along.

Isn't it premature to even say that. We aren't out yet. Losing via away goals is not remotely comparable to losing 10-2 considering Arsenal were clear underdogs. Underdog no talk say make you lose 10-2 Compare like for like.

Pep did not do better. He failed to beat any of these teams. And of course Carlo has to advance to top Pep. However the stage he does it is immaterial since Pep never ever did that.

Carlo would have to fail at 3 attempts or lose to an inferior team to be adjudged to be worse than Pep. Should he do that I won't need any help to critique Carlo. Bayern uber alles. I don't put anybody above the club

Eruditor:
Who would have boldly asserted that Pep's Bayern will lose 4-0? Who would have done same to Carlo's Bayern? What experience did LVGs Ajax have in 95 when they won it? What experience compared to Milan did AFC have in 08 when they KOed Carlo's title winning team at San Siro? Who could have predicted it?

A good team is a good team even without experience.

I already told you that Lahm and co at their respective ages are better than 98% of what other teams have. So if they are older than RM now they were still older by the same margin 3 years ago.

Besides, why won't Carlo use his younger players like Costa, Coman, Renato and Kimmich so that age will not be an excuse? He is a better manager, he ought to know this.

As you can see, you are only trying to absolve Carlo for personal and perhaps sentimental reasons- nothing more. Any argument that worked against Pep would fit Carlo perfectly.

Team with Rijkaard, Finidi, Blind, Litmanen, De Boer, Van Der Sar? Wehdone Sir.

Assertion is one thing claiming Monaco was at the same level of City is fa fa fa foul.

Nesta, Kaka, Seedorf, Gattuso, Ambrosini. Lmao they had a Maldini who played U.S.A 94 FFS

Vs

Lehmann, Hleb, Toure, Fabregas, Eboue, Gallas. CL Finalists and semi-finalists. Those are players wey their experience you dey question? Erin keke l'agbole Baba Suwe

Whether they are better than 98% is even debatable. However what is not debatable is that a Xavi at 31 is not the same as Xavi at 34. Your fellow Barca fans are already wailing about Iniesta who is 32/33 yet you are expecting magic from players even older than Iniesta.

No one is giving excuses. Merely stating facts. I'm sure if the younger players showed ability to get the job done they would play more often.

Even the players you listed who bar Costa is experienced? Can you see you are back to square one

Eruditor:
Small small. Did Tottenham, LFC, City and AFC stand a chance in 2010 when Carlo was in CFC. Haba na.

Pep felt the squad needed more work to get them to playing his way. In City he already had a foundation with the former Barca executives working there.

You are not mentioning Bernardo Silva, Falcao, Joa Moutinho etc. don't they have UCL experience? On the other hand, what if they did not have any? Did CR7 not lack experience at some point? What about Messi? Will a savvy coach brush off teams possessing such players because of their experience? So why is a more experienced Dortmund team getting drubbed by Monaco?

Ok Monaco lost because of bomb blast but City did not lose because Aguero missed some key chances? You see what I mean? The standard is different with Pep.

Yes far better squad. How many RBs are better than Lahm or Daniel Alves even at their age? How many wingers are better than Ribery and Robben at 30+? Is your squad not better than AFCs? So why would you not have qualified?

You are yet to tell me the squad Carlo had that was less than his opposition when he was getting to the semis or quarters.

You said it was a 2-man league so why are you so shy to tell us where Chelsea finished prior to Carlo's arrival or the last time Chelsea won the title.

Conte is winning the league at a canter. Which foundation did he meet or set. He even bought fewer players than Pep.

Lol Bernardo Silva is 22 mate, Falcao missed the 2nd leg. That is why I said let us list City players and Monaco's players to compare. Mbappe that was still playing UEFA Youth League as at last season. Lewl

Ronaldo and Messi are once in generation players and were surrounded by experienced players.

Is there a match where striker no dey miss chance? The same striker that still netted two goals in the same tie? Didn't Falcao miss a penalty and didn't play the 2nd leg at all. Are you comparing that to a team that nearly got wiped out by a bomb? Has your love for Pep robbed you of your humanity?

Lahm at 33 has declined, Ribery and Robben at 34 and 33. Declined! 3 years is a big deal for players the wrong side of 30

Carlo in 07 beat Man United with arugbos, He led Madrid past Bayern.

Pep cannot beat Glik, Mbappe and Bakayoko with Agüero and KDB

Eruditor:
But Bayern looked like scoring because Navas did not make a save but Casillas did?

I did not say you are out. I said what will be your excuse for him if he crashes out? I am only here first to remind you that he has lost a home game to Madrid and has not done anything fraudiola did not do yet?

Besides, even if he makes it to the semis, He will still need to get to the finals to now have 1-up on Pep.

The point is we scored. You have been towing the line of absolutes so why stop now? We did within 45 minutes under Carlo what we didn't do in 180 mins under Pep. Shebi is when a team scores that you would talk about advancing

I have no excuse. My own point is Pro Pep crowd cannot come here to tell us Fraudiola did better because he got to the semifinal by the luck of the draw beating farmers like Porto, Benfica and Man United

Should Carlo beat Madrid at least that pride that we can still beat elite European teams would return to the average Bayern fan. Its a given now that you can't win the CL without beating any of the 3 beasts from Spain. No team has done that since 2007

Beating Madrid is a 1-up for me already. Fraudiola fans are at liberty to argue otherwise. I wouldn't expect any different

Eruditor:
If Ramos' headers were a culmination of tactics gone wrong then Javi Martinez' red card falls in the same category. You can't have it one way and another. In the same way Bayern had only 2 clear scoring chances - and both were Vidal headers, but Madrid had how many? More than 8. So Carlo's tactics were botched as well.

Bayern playing better than you had ever seen them play against RM and Barca under Pep? Yea, with Rose coloured glasses. Goal up, frivolous penalty up, better manager up, ahome - and you still lost in a game everyone says 1-2 loss severely flatters Bayern.

As per Pep in City, it is funny you keep mentioning Lewa and Hummels being absent but when it comes to Pep the standard immediately changes. Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus did they not both miss significant portions of the season? What about their best defender, Company?

Why is the standard being used to judge Pep different? That's my question. Ancelotti is the better manager - according to you. Yet he is doing worse and all you are doing in return is straining out moral reasons and excuses for why he is underperforming.

I am actually sympathetic to his plight because I hate RM, but I was not impressed with what I saw yesterday. I am only perplexed as to why you are willing to give him a pass.

What tactics made Javi Martinez commit two dumb and unnecessary fouls in the space of five minutes. On each occasion the player he fouled was 10km away from goal at the least. In the absence of Hummels is it coach that has to tell Javi not to pick those cards?

I will ask you how many chances did Madrid have at even strength?

That penalty was more legit than any of the penalties you were given against PSG.

I agree the 1-2 scoreline playing with 10men flattered us. Also the 0-4 loss to Madrid severely flattered us as well as the 0-3 loss under Pep with 11 MEN

Lmao. Gabriel Jesus and Gündogan vs Lewandowski who has scored almost 60% of Bayern's goal this year? Kompany was absent for most parts of City's run to the semis last year. Pellegrini got there without him, Jesus or Gündogan and beat a PSG with Zlatan on the way. Try another story!

At worst Carlo has matched Pep. Because you have to show where Pep knocked out a Madrid or Barca to have an argument

Eruditor:
So because Celtics have a ton of UCL experience I should have expected them to be 2nd behind Barca during the group stage? I don't understand. Are Monaco also punching above their weight by being first in France and 3-2 up against Dortmund?

Yes I agree, Pep was a significant part of costing Bayern a UCL title in 14, 15 and 16. Carlo has arrived and he is better. What will be his excuse if he gets ousted during the quarters? Pep's squad was younger but Carlo's RM possessing- a younger Marcelo/Coentrao, CR7, Benz, Di Maria, Sergio Ramos was not younger?

Are you Eddie Murphy in disguise? We are talking Sergio Agüero, KDB, David Silva, Fernandinho, Caballero, Kolarov, Navas e.t.c and you are mentioning Celtic.

Did you foresee Monaco getting to the quarter finals in Europe? When the draws were made who expected them to knock City out? Even before this bomb parole who would boldly put their mortgage on Monaco going through

Ramos - 28 Ronaldo - 29 Benzema - 26 Marcelo - 26

Lahm - 30 Robben - 30 Mandzukic - 28 Müller - 25 Kroos - 24 Schweini - 29 Ribery - 31

Now compare

Ramos - 31 Ronaldo - 32 Benzema - 29 Marcelo - 28 Kroos - 27 Bale - 28

Lahm - 33 Robben - 33 Müller - 27 Ribery - 34 Alonso - 35 Thiago - 26

Isu no be cocoyam

Eruditor:
If Madrid are capable of beating Barca even when they were undermanned then why did you ask for Pep's head when he lost to the same 10-UCL Madrid through silly goals?

It is true that Pep getting to the semi finals has been due to meeting inferior teams with a superior team. What about Carlo Ancelloti? Can the same argument not be made?

That Madrid had 9 CLs. Had not made a Final in 12 years. Bayern did not score or look like scoring even with 11 men

Nope. We are not out of the CL. Yet. We could bounce back and you are left with egg on your face. Pep failed 3 years in a row

Eruditor:
Yes praise be to Carlo. He won a double his first year in a then 2-team EPL (United and CFC) with CFC and got sacked the following year. He also did not get passed the 2nd round losing home and away to Inter. Pep crashed out to Monaco that beat Totteham twice, top the league, scored on average 3 goals a game, and put 3 away goals past Dortmund, 6-6 on aggregate after having dominated both ties in chances. He is a fraud I agree. But Carlo is better with a far better squad, what will be his own excuse if he does not make it?

Lmao. E say na 2 team EPL. When was the last year Chelsea won the league prior to Carlo's arrival? What was Chelsea's position the season before Carlo's arrival.

Getting sacked at Chelsea? Lewl! Pep that didn't go there you think he is dumb? If they could sack JM, Carlo and Di Matteo who won the CL just how long do you think Pep would survive?

Losing to small boys Mbappe, Mendy and Bakayoko, with a squad that got to the semis last year? Smh. Monaco scoring 3 goals against Dortmund is no mean feat considering the team just survived a bomb attack less than 24 hours ago. Shame on UEFA for making them go on with that game.

Far better squad? Alonso - 35, Lahm - 33/34, Ribery - 34, Robben - 33

Paro lo

Eruditor:
I had beat them 4-0 in their own home. The 2-1 loss meant nothing as I also won the league.

I thought the argument was that a win is a win and a loss is a loss. Why is the standard changing with Carlo?

You hadn't won the league at the time plus the point being made is if Madrid are capable of beating Barca with a man down it is reasonable that Bayern would struggle as well. Plus Benitez was coach at the time. You are yet to beat Zidane in your own building.

My own argument is Pep getting to the semifinals has been due to meeting inferior teams with a vastly superior team.

Eruditor:
The penalty? Totally undeserved. And that was the end of the first half.

Second half? You lost whether 1 man down or complete. The better manager should not have lost to Zidane or RM at home. That was what Pep was being slain for. Whether 1-2 or 4-0 that is simply you searching for a moral victory were none exists. There is no difference especially when RM missed like a gazillion chances and dominated the game.

When did the dominance begin? Before or after the red card? Pep was destroyed at Bayern. He is at City and getting destroyed both at home and in Europe in a league Carlo won the double at his first attempt

Eruditor:
No, City are not a lot more experienced both in history or pedigree. Monaco also beat a higher placed Tottenham this season home and away which validates their league standing in France. To add to that, their manager is in his 3rd season with them so his pattern of playing has been fully engrained in them compared to Pep. Even at that, City were unlucky to be ousted.

Now one would have thought that since Pep was Bayern's problem Ancelotti would have done far better than Pep but that is not the case. So whether Bayern lost 1-2 or 4-0 the fact remains that they still lost. Also, if RM knocks you guys out it does not matter whether you played RM or Woking. The fact will remain that you got KOed in a quarters, something Pep never did with Bayern.

I have asked your friend byke. I would ask you. Can you list Monaco's starting XI without the aid of google? Do we roll out the CL appearances of City players and compare them to Monaco's? Monaco are clearly punching above their weight. Neither you or any pundit foresaw them competing at such a high level whether Jardim spent 2 years or 20 years.

Pep was a significant part of the problem taking a treble winning team to 3 years of European futility. If you agree that Ancelotti failed for losing out to an 11 time defending Champ that Pep never actually beat with a younger and complete squad. Then Pep is a Mega Super Duper failure for taking City from losing to Madrid in the semis to losing to small boys like Mbappe, Bakayoko, Mendy in the 2nd round. Deal?

Eruditor:
I really don't remember last ditch tackles that day. I remember the 16th and 20th min goals that came against the run of play. You and I know at 3-0 aggregate and 2 away goals the tie was over.

But that is an aside from the fact that the better and conservative Carlo should not have lost a home game to RM. Even with a man down, it was just too easy for Madrid to create chances. If anything, it made Bayern's 5-1 away win at Arsenal a fluke because Carlo was getting outplayed before the red card to Kos.

You gotta be kidding me man. You lost at home with a man advantage vs this same Real. Can't believe you even brought it up

Eruditor:
Was it his fault that Sergio Ramos out jumped your defenders twice in 4 mins? Was it his fault that the wall jumped over CR7s free kick and left Neuer helpless? Was it his fault that Muller had a valid cry for a penalty first leg and the refs disagreed? Was it his fault that Messi scored 2 brilliant goals by taking players on and Bayern wer left with no option but to push to reduce the deficit and it created a counter attack through which Neymar scored?

He set us up for failure both in the first and 2nd leg. At no point were we ever in control of that tie. Home or away. FACTS

You can roll up possession stats that were meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Ramos headers were just a culmination of his tactics that turned every Madrid chance to a potential goal

Even sef when you can only create two clear chances in 180mins of soccer then sorry there is a problem.

To the Barca game another tactical blunder in the first 20mins and but for Neuer we would have been 3 goals down. Individual brilliance can unlock teams however up till the Javi red. Bayern played better than I had ever seen them play Madrid and Barca under Pep despite missing Lewandowski and Hummels.

Anyway we are seeing the magic your Pep is doing at City losing to Balon D'or candidates Falcao, Bakayoko and Germain and still maintaining 4th even after spending almost £100m last summer

Roland17:
Haha!!!!!, Bring the Pegs on (If they even make it out)!!!

They looked good on the ice last night against the blue jackets, and Malkin showed why he is one of the best Centerman in the league with 2 assists. That being said, they are not defeating the dynamic duo of T.J Oshie and A. Ovechkin in the eastern conference finals. The caps have been perennial disappointments during the post season, however, this season looks entirely different, kind of reminiscent of last season for the Penguins. The Caps have speed in offense, force in defense and brute power when needed.

As for the west, i watched the Blues v Wilds last night also, and i don't see how any of both can stop the Blackhawks. The Blues with Taresenko were lucky at Minnesota because Jake Allen was magnificent in the post. The Blackhawks have an easier ride to the finals in comparison to the Pegs. We have a blend of youth and experience. P. Kane, J. Toews, M. Hossa and B. Seabrook are super stars with play off experience. The only teething problem for the Blackhawks, especially in the playoff's has been goal tending with C. Crawford. He can be very inconsistent in the post season. Last season, he said he was trying too hard and lost focus, but he can also be great when he does not lose focus.

The Ducks are the only team i worry about in the western conference because they are quite scrappy.

Capitals? Mschewww. Na today? Those ones na regular season merchants. Facing the same team in 2 weeks has a way of exposing the Capitals. Sidney Crosby will always son Ovechkin the Good Lord has made it so. My Pens have not 1 but two competent goalies who can suit up any given night. The teams that worry me a bit are the Bruins with Marchand, Bergeron, Nash and the Rangers because of the playoff experience plus the past battles. I'm very confident with Malkin back and knowing goals can come from Kessel, Rust, Sheary, Hornqvist and just about anybody

As for the Blues being lucky its almost a law that you can't win a Cup without a good/great goalie especially on the road. You guys might struggle with their bruising style like last year. Toews game has also dipped this year. Whether he can come to life in the playoffs we would see but LA Kings in the years past showed the way to beat the Hawks and the Blues and Sharks are two teams I feel can do the job

East
Celtics vs Bulls: Wade is back but these Bulls just seem a bit too dysfunctional to cause an upset. However dysfunctional outfits have done so in the past. Still think Celts prevail. 4-2

Cavs vs Pacers: Picking up Stephenson is looking like a master stroke. Though Paul George is balling out of his mind it must be said. The Cavs are slumping with Kyrie's health suspect and Bron Bron's minutes through the roof. This matchup has the ingredients for an upset. Two defensively indisciplined sides but I go with the guy who has never been eliminated in the 1st round. Cavs 4-1

Raptors vs Bucks: Getting Lowry back is a huge deal for the Raptors. The Bucks merely getting to this point is a miracle after losing Jabari Parker. Still feel their lack of outside shooting is a big problem. And who do they have that can slow down DeRozan? Raptors 4-1

Wizards vs Hawks: Most evenly matched teams. The Hawks matchup well with the Wizards too and these Wizards with their whining and lack of defense have me sniffing an upset. I'm torn between 4-2 for the Wizards or 4-2 for the Hawks

bykebyke:
Ancellotti has a poor league record.

Madrid's counter attacking game was the best that season.

The blame is on him for that.

I hear though...keep up with the excuses.

We go deh here next week.

Madrid in 2014 had not conquered Europe in 12 years. Were blown away by Barca in the league so I'm not understanding the abracadabra you were expecting. No excuses from me. It was an avoidable loss but all hope is not lost

Your Pep Fraudiola took us from defending Champions to disgrace. Which we haven't fully recovered from.

He will end up in China in a few years. O ti sure ju

Roland17:
The NHL post season kicked off today.. I am so loving the month of April.

#GoBlackhawks

You guys aren't coming out that West.

Malkin is back. The Penguins going for that repeat

bykebyke:
This Bayern is far better and the current Real Madrid is far weaker.

The 2014 Real Madrid was the strongest...difference.

They were so strong they finished 3rd in the league.

We are far better indeed. With wingers in their mid 30's. Alonso almost 36 and Lahm almost 34. Even 2008 Milan no gather so many arugbo for starting lineup

Eruditor:
You mean the way Bayern finished below ATM and RM finished below Dortmund?

Monaco are first in their league, scored 2nd most goals in Europe behind Barca and Pep lost 6-6 on aggregate (in a tie his star striker missed like a dozen chances) and he is not excused (even when his City side at week 27 was 10 points better than Pellegrini's just the season before) but Bayern should be excused for losing ahome to RM because it is not Pep that lost it?

That's the thing, guys like Madrid and Bayern can afford to finish where they like. Teams actively hope to avoid them either way. City and Arsenal don't enjoy that luxury.

How did City leak 6 goals? As good as Monaco might be in the league City are a lot more experienced, both in terms of players and coaches. The star striker you claimed missed 'dozens' of chances scored 2 out of the 6. You also forgot Monaco even missed a penalty

Whether Pep picked up 100pts more in the league is irrelevant. He is still 4th.

airmark:
When he played few minutes against arsenal and scored, he was not played out of position. Fact is, Muller's struggling in that team, because he is not the same Muller of 3/4 years ago again. See this one, talking for mbape . It's like you don't know what a desperate club can do to ensure they get a player. They may assure him of selling all their strikers including martial and include strange terms in his contract to convince him. How many people believed pogba would opt for man utd when the rumour first came out ?.

You sef talk am. Arsenal. Wetin dey do Müller na him do your Ikedia last season. Müller never recover from him poor Euros form.

Sell all their strikers? Mbappe can't be that daft. He is seeing what is happening with Martial. He is not blind. Pogba na Man U alumni different scenario

raumdeuter:
Please which game are you talking about here? If its the Madrid 1 Bayern 0 game in 2014. I think you are wrong because Gotze came in as a 72nd min substitute. So how can a 72nd min sub score in the 6th min unless it was on the bench

Me sef been wan talk say that story no dey add up. I recall cursing Pep for not starting Götze and Müller. Na there my quarrel with Pep from start. That semi na the orisun

Eruditor:
Then why is Wenger mocked for constantly getting KOed to Bayern and Barca when they are both teams who go on to beat everybody else? You see, it does not work that way. You beat what is infront of you.

So which City team was going to get to the UCL semi finals regularly? A team that had been doing it before? In that case, what will be the excuse for Bayern this year if y'all don't make it? If Pep must be judged by losing to Monaco, then Bayern has no excuse agree?

Wenger also lost to a geriatric Milan side and neophytes at Monaco plus his track record of European futility is well known. Some of those big team matchups were avoidable. He came 2nd once in a group with Schalke 04

The first manageable opponent City got in the K.O stage City were able to beat. They got another formidable PSG side who had been beaten Chelsea back to back and knocked them out. In came Fraudiola, they got another manageable opponent but Pep shat the bed.

Monaco vs Madrid. The difference is very clear

Eruditor:
And Juventus. He beat Juventus managed by Allegri. Infact his team fumbled a 2-0 first leg lead to draw 2-2 and then win 4-2 2nd leg.

Don't worry, the next Leicester coach would be called a failure for not getting to a champions league quarter final. Meanwhile, Monaco just beat Dortmund that Madrid could not beat this season.

The team we lost the first leg today also beat Pep. So the Quarter and semi argument flies out the window. Pep was merely fortunate to meet them at a later stage. Kpokwem

Leicester with Wilfred Ndidi, Danny Drinkwater, Okazaki and Marc Albrighton. Bros compare like for like nau.

The Dortmund still shook from Tuesday's bomb attack? Are you even hearing yourself? That they went on with that game so quickly was courageous to begin with

Debroslink:
Only a fool will bet against Messi not beating Ronaldo as the all time highest goal scorer in European games when both guys hang their boots.

However, it is on record that Ronaldo achieved this milestone @ your backyard with your "upgraded coach" in charge.

Don't compare City players with players from the mighty trinity {Bayern, Barca, Madrid} of European football. After all, Ancelloti couldn't lead Chelsea past round of 16 as manager.

You must be having a laugh. You cannot even predict for certain if Ronaldo would fall off before Messi does. Beat ko Beatles ni

The greatest scorer in the history of the CL broke record against us we are not complaining. Kindly tell us which team suffered the heaviest defeat in semi-final history?

Lmao abeg I no wan hear your tales by moonlight. Pep Fraudiola with a semi-final reaching team went to City and got knocked out by small small boys like Mbappe, Bernardo Silva and other unknowns from Monaco. Na who you dey compare to Inter Milan eventual treble winners. Haha can you list Monaco's starting XI without Google

airmark:
Only God knows what happened to muller. I dont even know the position he can play on the field again.

Stop disturbing us with your empty threats. Man utd tabled 110m.

If you must troll shebi wa ti e fi opolo si. Who no know say Müller was played out of position?

Mbappe would not be dumb enough to go to Man yoo if he wants a career. His friend Martial would not advice him to take such a stoopid decision.

Debroslink:
Why e pain you naa...

Ronaldo didn't use Barcelona set record in UCL, it was at Bayern's backyard he did so.

@ least Juventus didn't rape Barca @ home, PSG didn't either.

Pep didn't crash with Bayern @ Q/F stage in his career. Your upgraded coach did in his 1st attempt.

So much for upgrade...

Pain? No shame in losing to an 11 time defending champion. You have lost 4-0 and 3-0 in this year's CL already to non defending champs. That is 7-0 combined! Which was the beating we handed you a few moons ago.

Ronaldo can set record anywhere wey he like. He don achieve wetin your La Midget no kuku fit do

Pep only advanced because he faced sankwa teams like Porto, Man United and Benfica. No upgrades

Your yeye Fraudiola left Bayern went to Man City who made the semis last year and couldn't get past goddamn AS Monaco. Upgrade indeed

Nihilist:
Mbappe dey worry o

If we no buy that boy this summer I would know we are not serious. I have been shouting since last year. Wey we for don get am for under €60m

Debroslink:
Ronaldo used Bayern to reach the 100th European goal. Bayern is worst than before.

Pathetic team!

How many goals Ronaldo don score against una.
Lmaooo una wey Dybala and Juve use wipe yansh dey follow them talk. Uefalona. God no go gree make una use ojoro ref comot Juve this time