Champions League, Europa League & Europa Conference League 24/25

[Sutekh]

Rio Ferdinand seemed very quiet on TNT’s commentary at times last night

Not quiet enough though.

Indeed. Which TNT bright spark thought it a good idea to have him on co-comms when we've already got to endure him pre, post and at half time? Ally McCoist is more than capable on his own.

Especially when he is a ManU hero and you can tell he doesn’t seem to appreciate Liverpool doing well. You’d think they’d use totally neutral pundits on all games but no we always seem to get Ferdinand on TNT and then there’s SKY’s “blue eyed do no wrong heroes” Carragher and Neville. Rather listen to Tim and Mick.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Bodo/Glimt with one foot in the quarters after destroying Olympiakos 3-0 at Aspmyra Stadion. Going all the way.

[Sanguine]

Not quiet enough though.

Indeed. Which TNT bright spark thought it a good idea to have him on co-comms when we've already got to endure him pre, post and at half time? Ally McCoist is more than capable on his own.

Especially when he is a ManU hero and you can tell he doesn’t seem to appreciate Liverpool doing well. You’d think they’d use totally neutral pundits on all games but no we always seem to get Ferdinand on TNT and then there’s SKY’s “blue eyed do no wrong heroes” Carragher and Neville. Rather listen to Tim and Mick.

There's no such thing as a neutral pundit, really. Plenty of people here, for example, dislike Liverpool, but not because they support a particular other team.

I disagree anyway - I actually quite enjoy it when an analyst has some investment in what they are watching. I think Carragher and Neville are excellent. Henry too.

[Winston Biscuit]

I much prefer when a pundit is clearly aligned to 1 club, but is able to analyse and speak fairly about any other club. which I think Neville and Carragher do pretty well at, I just find JC a bit cringey and annoying.

Its why I think fans, rather than former players, are so hard to listen to on football matters as their bias kicks in and its really clear. One of the podcasts that Neville oversees (overlap?) is where they get fans on to talk about their clubs but also whatever big topics are going on. I gave it a few listens and I reckon 18 of the 20 seem like fairly sensible grown up people who can give a bit of insight into their own club, while also discussing things at other clubs. Then there is the Man Utd fan and Chelsea fan, who simply can't pass comment on any football matter without trying to take a swipe at a perceived rival or talking up their players way beyond where they are. They talk about football in a way that you see teenagers argue on the internet about it. Its genuinely odd to hear grown adults behaving like it.

[BRO_BOT]

Man Utd the only undefeated team in Europe!

[Sutekh]

Man Utd the only undefeated team in Europe!

Apart from the 12 league defeats of course

[Sanguine]

It bears repeating that Lamine Yamal is 17 years old.

https://x.com/RioStaysTrue/status/1899525197507539059

Will have the world at his feet in a couple of years - if he doesn't already. He's got three more seasons in which to become the youngest winner of the Ballon D'Or (fat Ronaldo, 21 years old). Wouldn't bet against him.

[Sanguine]

Liverpool played pretty well last night. Hard to disagree with Slot's view that PSG were better in the first leg, Liverpool the second, but PSG the better side overall. A couple of crucial blocks by an excellent PSG defence, not least on the bounce from Salah's volley.

Penalties were poor. Was surprised to see both Szobozslai and Mac Allister withdrawn, with penalties imminent. The Argentine in particular excellent from the spot.

I'd said to Mrs S that there was no way Liverpool win on penalties. Donnarumma is always like a flying salmon with arms, but as much as ever last night. Great reach for Nunez's penalty, and was on the end of so many Liverpool crosses.

[BRO_BOT]

[Winston Biscuit]

The moment Darwin Nunez started walking up for his penalty I cringed and thought 'of course he won't score it'. Though tbf I expected him to blast it miles over the bar

Dembele really is looking back to his ludicrously good pre-Barcelona best. and he is only 27, and PSG got him for around £40M quid too.

[Sanguine]

Over the last five seasons, Donnarumma has a penalty save rate of 28.3% in regular matches (not shootouts), which is materially above the rate in any of the top 5 leagues (lowest 16.3% in the Premier League, highest 21.4% in Serie A). Wojciech Szczęsny the other current keeper in those top 5 leagues with a save rate over 25%.

Slovenia's Samir Handanovic the only keeper this century to approach Donnarumma's save rate - he saved 32 of 115 penalties faced in his career (27.8%), including stopping 6 out of 8 in Serie A in 2010/11.

[Whore Jackie]

Alisson is the best keeper in the world, but I can't recall him saving too many pens. Do wonder if it crossed Slot's mind to sub on Kelleher, who is remarkably proficient at penalties. Had Liverpool already used up all their substitutions?

[Sanguine]

Alisson is the best keeper in the world, but I can't recall him saving too many pens. Do wonder if it crossed Slot's mind to sub on Kelleher, who is remarkably proficient at penalties. Had Liverpool already used up all their substitutions?

They had, Konate was their sixth, his injury saw them use the additional sub granted in extra time.

[Sanguine]

I'd totally missed this transfer but Guinea's Serhou Guiarassy has continued his remarkable mid-career 'breakout'. He got 30 goals in 30 games for Stuttgart last season before injury curtailed his season. Earned a move to Dortmund, where he has 24 in 34 this season, including ten in the Champions League.

[Winston Biscuit]

Connor Gallagher puts Ateltico ahead after 27 seconds

[Winston Biscuit]

Penalty being VARred, and then disallowed, when the next penalty taker is ready to take theirs. Seemed odd.

Also couldn't see his standing leg touch it on the brief replay on TNT Sport.

[genome]

Load of nonsense. VAR has sucked all the joy out of the game

[Royal Rother]

Penalty being VARred, and then disallowed, when the next penalty taker is ready to take theirs. Seemed odd.

Also couldn't see his standing leg touch it on the brief replay on TNT Sport.

I don't think it did before he struck it.

His standing foot slipped so I suppose he may have hit it onto his standing foot. Wasn't looking for it at the time.

[Winston Biscuit]

games gone

[BRO_BOT]

Just watched the pen in slow mo...can't see that he touched it twice

If they had a sensor on the ball that said this was the case, then I could believe it, but not by visual inspection.