Champions League 2023/24

Zagreb aye, Brugges no. On a different day maybe we could have played better and beat them, but on that night, they'd have been equally as disappointed as us not to have got a win.

Draw was definitely fair

 

They missed a few sitters in the first half tbf. Olson definitely should've scored at least one, but he blazed over.

I think they were winnable games on paper but Brugge definitely were worthy of a point, unfortunately. We should've done more in that game though.

Zagreb was awful. Zagreb turned up not to get beat and it looked like we weren't going to push for the win.

As for form - undoubtedly we were in a better shape than Zagreb with their injuries and honking results but Brugge played us in the middle of a 20 game unbeaten run in all competitions, beating Anderlecht twice, Villa, Sporting Lisbon, Genk twice, Union and drawing with Juventus.

I agree they were four points dropped but the Brugge game doesn't leave a bitter taste in the mouth. Certainly not when you have that Zagreb game after it.

 

I think the way we’re set up now with Maeda through the middle, Engels a lot more settled and taking a bit more responsibility, the option of Taylor or Schlupp, and Jota back, I think we’re the better team compared to Brugge, who I was impressed with at the time.

On the night we played them, it took a Maeda wonder goal to get a good point. I wasn’t overly impressed with them on the ball that night, but they were unbelievably organised, and at the highest level. I can’t think of many other chances we had.

The fella Onyedika in the middle of the park just seemed to nullify any midfield runners, and they were class on the break.

As much as I love McGregor for the role he plays, and the responsibility he takes, you could just tell the difference in physicality with that guy, and he was comfortable on the ball as well.

I think the game we let go was the Zagreb game. They had a few good individuals in attack including the boy Butarina that’s linked with all sorts of teams, but it was an odd game to watch. Thought they were there for the taking and I actually thought the players were surprised that we had the majority of possession away from home.

Then again, if we went for it and they beat us on the break then they’d have qualified for the play offs and we wouldn’t have. They drew with Monaco and beat AC Milan at home so a point in hindsight is a good result for us.

Massive progress for us in Europe this year. The Dortmund game can happen to any team. The difference between 3-1 and 7-1 doesn’t mean a lot in the table but for the mentality of the team it means plenty.

Teams with a weak mindset fold after that, we got a 0-0 draw away to one of the best teams in Italy for 6 years and the Europa League winners the game right after it.

I think we should be looking at Brugge, Feyenoord, PSV etc and taking a bit of interest in what they’re doing but continuing what we’ve been doing. I’d fancy our chances against those three teams but they still buy and sell players for an amount just a slight level above us just now.

The way we matched up to Bayern is tangible progress that I’ve never really seen up until now, in terms of going up against a top class team in the way we’d play domestically.

I’ve probably typed a lot of rabble, mainly because I think Brugge are a bit better than you’re giving them credit for, and should be an example for us, but the overall point is I’m * buzzing that we’ve got a manager and a squad that can match up to the European teams at our level, and have the capabilities to give the elite teams a game, and the more time we give him, the better it’ll get.

 

For me part of the issue was, we the crowd expected to win this one..

I know I underestimated them they were very a good side.. press was excellent and had the players to play through ours..

We definitely didn't dominate them.

 

PSG v Liverpool my viewing of choice tonight. Hopefully be a cracker.

 

Why the * does that fat jakey orange * McCoist have to commentate on the games I want to watch.

 

Bayern 1-0 up on Leverkusen already

 

Wooft. What a goal

 

Offside

 

Baw hair. What a finish though.

 

I've just turned that game off for that reason...he talks some * and that * I'll tell ye what I'll tell you what patter

 

Clear foul

 

I wonder who's the * in the relationship between McCoist and Fletcher as there's no doubt they're * each other

 

I’m sorry, but how can that not be a foul?

 

Wow, they're at it.

 

gotta be red for Liverpool that's a shocker from VAR not sending ref to monitor.

 

Why is that not a foul?

 

VAR seems to be controlled by Liverpool fans

 

I think they don’t want to ruin the game as a “spectacle”.

UEFA are a joke.