Dortmund are the dark horses.

[Crayo]

As I said I never seen the semi final, however, if you're wanting to give credit to the person who first played that kind of system against Barca then look at Mourinho in 2010, with Inter at the Nou Camp. Beautiful stuff.

Yeah fair point with regards to the young guy, but I honestly think in Lennon's case he doesn't care what the media thinks. All he cares about is Celtic and him persistently behaving like a neanderthal proves that. And I never seen the first game (seriously, fuck training) but only one of the goals on Wednesday came from a set piece, the other was that goal which came as a result of Xavi royally fucking up.

Yeah I actually got orgasmic over Villa when he was at Valencia. He suited their style so well as they played to him, rather than Barca where he plays to their style. And yeah, Messi and Villa are great strikers but they need to add some more variety to their team, and adding a bigger striker would do wonders for them IMO. Besides, this is the team that gave Eto'o + 40mil for Imbrahimovic, like they give a fuck about money lol.

Completely forgot about Inter with Mourinho, definitely agree. Tactical genius from Mourinho as always.

That's why I love Lennon, he care cups the media all the time. Guy has gone through a LOT as Celtic manager as well, and he's a very young manager, he has a lot of respect now and rightfully so. And Celtic scored 1 at the Nou Camp, they nearly won that match but two late goals from Barca won it for them. Set piece goal, then one set piece goal on Wednesday.

I do think a big guy would work at Barca, but I would go for someone like Llorente. He's Spanish so has played with many of the Barca teams and speaks the lingo, and he's big but technically gifted and has a lot of La Liga experience. But would he be okay with being a bench warmer? Because no big man is going to start for Barca.

 

[Rysenberg]

Completely forgot about Inter with Mourinho, definitely agree. Tactical genius from Mourinho as always.

That's why I love Lennon, he care cups the media all the time. Guy has gone through a LOT as Celtic manager as well, and he's a very young manager, he has a lot of respect now and rightfully so. And Celtic scored 1 at the Nou Camp, they nearly won that match but two late goals from Barca won it for them. Set piece goal, then one set piece goal on Wednesday.

I do think a big guy would work at Barca, but I would go for someone like Llorente. He's Spanish so has played with many of the Barca teams and speaks the lingo, and he's big but technically gifted and has a lot of La Liga experience. But would he be okay with being a bench warmer? Because no big man is going to start for Barca.

In all honesty I really didn't like Lennon. Thought he was a right annoying prick and just your typical Old Firm kind of player. However, I've actually really grown to like the guy, his antics are irritating but he's a really good coach and I respect his passion for Celtic. I actually love his attitude towards the media, wish all managers did that tbh.

Llorente is really good shout. He'd fit in instantly and as you say, would be pretty content with being out the team for long periods and wouldn't cause any disruption.

Holy shit, just realised that I agree with everything you say in a football related post :O :O

 

[Crayo]

In all honesty I really didn't like Lennon. Thought he was a right annoying prick and just your typical Old Firm kind of player. However, I've actually really grown to like the guy, his antics are irritating but he's a really good coach and I respect his passion for Celtic. I actually love his attitude towards the media, wish all managers did that tbh.

Llorente is really good shout. He'd fit in instantly and as you say, would be pretty content with being out the team for long periods and wouldn't cause any disruption.

Holy shit, just realised that I agree with everything you say in a football related post :O :O

I'm different, but I love famous guys who don't asslick for fame. Lennon also went through horrific shit, he had bomb threats, bullet threads, everything. He had to have bodyguards with him to train the team lol. He was like "lol who cares? noobs", something to admire, especially with how passionate and -- to put it lightly -- rough Scotland football fans can be. Hell, he was actually attacked and punched by some fan and he tried to hit him back didn't he? lmfao.

And pfft, you always agree with me deep down :maybe:.

 

[Rysenberg]

I'm different, but I love famous guys who don't asslick for fame. Lennon also went through horrific shit, he had bomb threats, bullet threads, everything. He had to have bodyguards with him to train the team lol. He was like "lol who cares? noobs", something to admire, especially with how passionate and -- to put it lightly -- rough Scotland football fans can be. Hell, he was actually attacked and punched by some fan and he tried to hit him back didn't he? lmfao.

And pfft, you always agree with me deep down :maybe:.

Totally agree. The guy has gone through so much and yet doesn't give up, doesn't let the goons win. It's an amazing attitude to have. And yeah, that was some idiotic Hearts fan. Thank god they'll be dead soon

Sure I do ity1:

 

[Crayo]

Lmao dead? Hearts ftw bro (JOKES DW).. Used to love Hearts because of a kit they had years ago, but grown to love Hibs and mainly Celtic for years after. Never liked Rangers, not sure why I was attracted to Hibs, and then slowly despised Hearts...

 

[Rysenberg]

Lmao dead? Hearts ftw bro (JOKES DW).. Used to love Hearts because of a kit they had years ago, but grown to love Hibs and mainly Celtic for years after. Never liked Rangers, not sure why I was attracted to Hibs, and then slowly despised Hearts...

I know I'm bias but I've heard so many folks say that. The majority of derbies folks want us to win, not because they like us but because they hate Hearts (sadly they don't get their wish -_-)

But still, awesome :yay:

 

[The Wolf Said Poofy]

I see some interesting discussion going on here, well balanced post by Crayo.

I agree with the main point, that Dortmund are the dark horses, because of the fact that they embody what a dark horse "is".

Someone or something which has the greatest potential to pull an important upset(s).

They are a great team and are well balanced everywhere in the pitch, but i disagree with the 5 favorite picks.

Real Madrid and Barcelona have to be there,i agree, RM have started the season poorly, and if they win the cl in the type of form they have been in overall up to this point, then i'd take it as a slap to the face to the tag of "the most difficult cl to win ever", i've heard some people tag it as.

RM have to improve, they have what it takes and have lost out in the semi's due to small things, specially last season, modric will be important, he was brought in to bring a balance and connection that ozil might not always be able to bring. (Zonal Marking, which is a very popular tactics website, made good point as to how the 10 role and the lack of full fluidity in the semi's vs bayern really affected them, ozil didnt work so well dropping deep, hence modric is here to bring a bit of a stronger connections in the midfield.)

RM has showed an intense amount of under achieving and they can do better, i'd go deeper in the subject but the basis of it all is that if RM wants to win they better be at top form, and they are far from it, maybe they can reach it as the season goes by. They also have to finish they chances too, they'd arguably had not lost a point in the league if it wasnt for missing chances.

Barca has a crap defense, and messi is dragging them too much since last season, sanchez and fabregas have semi flopped if not completely considering some expectations. if they meet full forced RM, Or Bayern, they are out.

Bayern are 3rd favorites for me, they are in tremendous form and have a tremendous first team which imo looks better than barca's in many ways, the problem is that they have a passing game similar to barca's, not tiki taka, but its a passing game, so they cant naturally press and counter like madrid can, but bayern could win because of lack of potency from barca.

Manchester doesnt impress me, chelsea can take them and beat them if they improve ( Mata-Oscar-Hazard) has still to reach its best.

For me i'll say..

RM
Barca
Bayern
Dortmund
Chelsea
Manchester United

 

[acailler]

This years winner will be an "outsider".

One of 3:

Dortmund
Juventus
Celtic (Yes...I'm serious)

 

[Rysenberg]

Celtic (Yes...I'm serious)

There's absolutely no hope in hell of this happening.

 

[Y2J Enigma]

Bump.

So we defeated Ajax 4-1. We are proving the German haters wrong who thought we would suck in the CL like last year, and also pulling off a surprise. Now with City out of the CL, Real Madrid and us will fight for first place in the group, which would be very important.

Also, our atmosphere has been tremendous in the CL thus far, and I expect to continue throughout the latter stages of this tournament.

 

[Crayo]

I said it before, but Dortmund are putting more effort into the CL this year which effects their league form. I honestly think Dortmund will win it at this point.

 

[Gav back in the championship]

i think dortmudd juventus or madrid will win it this year