The Football Thread - Page 1955

**buttsie** · February 14th, 2017, 08:05 AM

Leicester under Pearson somehow won 7 out of the last 9 games to survive
Anything is possible and i would never say they cant because the bottom half of the EPL
are very inconsistent teams - full of misfiring talent.

Shame their not on performance based contracts

The curveball is Leicester are still in Europe - round of 16 against Sevilla
- should be curtains agaisnt a team thats won Europa multiple times

City got Spanish side Sevilla, the Group H runners-up. The first leg will be played in England and is scheduled for 22 February 2017, while the second is to be played on 14 March 2017.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leices...ampions_League

**footstep** · February 14th, 2017, 03:56 PM

Paris Barca. Thiago Silva injured.

**Devius** · February 14th, 2017, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footstep

Paris Barca. Thiago Silva injured.

Whoa!!!

Paris St G 4
Barcelona 0

Angel di Maria scored twice as Paris St-Germain stunned Barcelona to leave the Spanish side in danger of failing to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in a decade.

PSG dominated this last-16 first-leg tie throughout and took the lead through Di Maria's curled free-kick.

Julian Draxler added a second with an angled drive before Di Maria curled an effort into the top corner.

Edinson Cavani then sealed a famous win with a powerful fourth.

Details:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38962318

**victor meldrew** · February 14th, 2017, 11:10 PM

Apart from Neymar Barcelona failed to turn up the fourth goal was just poor defending at this level. Barca finally got into the game once PSG took the foot of the gas and even hitting the post would not have made much difference, had it gone in, as PSG were by far the better side. Perhaps this Barca side has finally run its course, take nothing away from PSG they did what they set out to do and there is no way back for the Spanish outfit.

PSG will face tougher games, but on this form should fear no one. They are probably now favourites to win the competition, although I have not looked at the odds yet.

**Meini Again** · February 15th, 2017, 01:53 AM

Leicester have apparently lost every domestic game
~ prior to their Champions League match

This time around they are in the FA Cup
~ AWAY to Millwall, a club 2 divisions below them, and chasing the play-offs.

I fear for the Foxes in this match, but still have a glimmer of hope that Ranieri's masterplan is all about Europe.

I think....

**Roger Allott** · February 15th, 2017, 03:45 AM

Before kick-off, Barcelona had a 22.5% probability of winning this season's CL, making them clear favourites. Now they're sitting on about 2%.

Despite the victory last night, and with their main competitors still to enter the fray, PSG are only third favourites. Their probability of winning the CL increased substantially of course, but only from 2.5% to 12.5%.

Bayern Munich are favourites at this moment, with a probability of about 21%, having been around the 19% mark before Barca's thrashing.

Real Madrid are 2nd favourites, having gone from 15.5% to 17.5% as a result of Barca seeming to be doomed.

.

**snowy25** · February 15th, 2017, 05:02 AM

I suspect a large number of people had losing betting slips last night. I imagine many had two away wins on their slips and both expected Barcelona and Dortmund to win. However surprisingly they both failed. Barcelona of course miserably. Whatever problems Unai Emery may have had at PSG and any pressure he was under was immediately removed by that result. That was probably one, if not the best, result in recent history for the French club. Not very often a team scores 4 against Barca in the CL and even less teams stop them scoring at the same time. They are now likely to be the team that stops Barcelona from reaching the quarter finals for the first time in a decade.

**footstep** · February 15th, 2017, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footstep

Paris 0 3 at Bordeaux . Ready for Barca?
I say yes.
Take care barca, take care........

I wrote it on 12 / 02 .
I should have bet

Fantastic Bayern Arsenal tonight.
A few euros on Arsene' guys!

ginny76 · February 15th, 2017, 06:02 PM

I hope Arsenal win a throw in or a corner or a goal kick tonight, so they can return home with their pride intact and keep Wenger in his job for 20 more years.

**snowy25** · February 16th, 2017, 08:48 AM

Well Arsenal can at least say, in all likelihood, that they went as far as Barcelona in the CL this time around. That is about all they can say as they were poor last night. Ozil should have put them 2-1 up right before half time but poor finishing meant they went in 1-1. Losing Koscielny was bad but they simply fell apart under pressure. It could have been an even wider winning margin except for Ospina making some great saves. Bayern looked very good last night but even more so because arsenal were so bad. It was basically a repeat of 15 months ago when Bayern took them apart.

I think the cries for Wenger out increased massively last night, even among the pundits which is unusual. Can he come back or is it time for him to finally admit he has done all he can and the club needs to move on?

February 14th, 2017, 08:05 AM	#19541
buttsie Porn Archeologist Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: earth Posts: 12,714 Thanks: 92,252 Thanked 241,301 Times in 12,746 Posts	Leicester under Pearson somehow won 7 out of the last 9 games to survive Anything is possible and i would never say they cant because the bottom half of the EPL are very inconsistent teams - full of misfiring talent. Shame their not on performance based contracts The curveball is Leicester are still in Europe - round of 16 against Sevilla - should be curtains agaisnt a team thats won Europa multiple times City got Spanish side Sevilla, the Group H runners-up. The first leg will be played in England and is scheduled for 22 February 2017, while the second is to be played on 14 March 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leices...ampions_League Last edited by buttsie; February 14th, 2017 at 11:05 AM.. Reason: wording

February 15th, 2017, 03:45 AM	#19546
Roger Allott Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7,937 Thanks: 10,958 Thanked 155,895 Times in 8,000 Posts	Before kick-off, Barcelona had a 22.5% probability of winning this season's CL, making them clear favourites. Now they're sitting on about 2%. Despite the victory last night, and with their main competitors still to enter the fray, PSG are only third favourites. Their probability of winning the CL increased substantially of course, but only from 2.5% to 12.5%. Bayern Munich are favourites at this moment, with a probability of about 21%, having been around the 19% mark before Barca's thrashing. Real Madrid are 2nd favourites, having gone from 15.5% to 17.5% as a result of Barca seeming to be doomed. . __________________ *If you don't want your beliefs ridiculed, don't have ridiculous beliefs.*

February 14th, 2017, 03:56 PM	#19542
footstep Lost luggages? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: France Posts: 7,268 Thanks: 92,097 Thanked 86,765 Times in 7,170 Posts	Paris Barca. Thiago Silva injured.

February 14th, 2017, 11:10 PM	#19544
victor meldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: At the bottom of an empty glass Posts: 15,778 Thanks: 531,920 Thanked 180,037 Times in 15,766 Posts	Apart from Neymar Barcelona failed to turn up the fourth goal was just poor defending at this level. Barca finally got into the game once PSG took the foot of the gas and even hitting the post would not have made much difference, had it gone in, as PSG were by far the better side. Perhaps this Barca side has finally run its course, take nothing away from PSG they did what they set out to do and there is no way back for the Spanish outfit. PSG will face tougher games, but on this form should fear no one. They are probably now favourites to win the competition, although I have not looked at the odds yet.

February 15th, 2017, 01:53 AM	#19545
Meini Again Vintage Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: North Wales Posts: 3,637 Thanks: 32,358 Thanked 31,827 Times in 3,566 Posts	Leicester have apparently lost every domestic game ~ prior to their Champions League match This time around they are in the FA Cup ~ AWAY to Millwall, a club 2 divisions below them, and chasing the play-offs. I fear for the Foxes in this match, but still have a glimmer of hope that Ranieri's masterplan is all about Europe. I think....

February 15th, 2017, 05:02 AM	#19547
snowy25 Vintage Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,274 Thanks: 6,664 Thanked 23,144 Times in 2,260 Posts	I suspect a large number of people had losing betting slips last night. I imagine many had two away wins on their slips and both expected Barcelona and Dortmund to win. However surprisingly they both failed. Barcelona of course miserably. Whatever problems Unai Emery may have had at PSG and any pressure he was under was immediately removed by that result. That was probably one, if not the best, result in recent history for the French club. Not very often a team scores 4 against Barca in the CL and even less teams stop them scoring at the same time. They are now likely to be the team that stops Barcelona from reaching the quarter finals for the first time in a decade.

February 15th, 2017, 06:02 PM	#19549
ginny76 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 481 Thanks: 429 Thanked 4,565 Times in 477 Posts	I hope Arsenal win a throw in or a corner or a goal kick tonight, so they can return home with their pride intact and keep Wenger in his job for 20 more years.

February 16th, 2017, 08:48 AM	#19550
snowy25 Vintage Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,274 Thanks: 6,664 Thanked 23,144 Times in 2,260 Posts	Well Arsenal can at least say, in all likelihood, that they went as far as Barcelona in the CL this time around. That is about all they can say as they were poor last night. Ozil should have put them 2-1 up right before half time but poor finishing meant they went in 1-1. Losing Koscielny was bad but they simply fell apart under pressure. It could have been an even wider winning margin except for Ospina making some great saves. Bayern looked very good last night but even more so because arsenal were so bad. It was basically a repeat of 15 months ago when Bayern took them apart. I think the cries for Wenger out increased massively last night, even among the pundits which is unusual. Can he come back or is it time for him to finally admit he has done all he can and the club needs to move on?