re: Champions League 10/23

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ETA:Aren't you a Chelsea fan?

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It is hard to break a team down when the opposition is bunkering 8-9 in the box, no matter who they are. If they can stay disciplined and organized as a defensive unit (like Celtic did today), even Barcelona will struggle to score goals, as recent matches have shown.

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Oh no doubt. I see your point. I guess I just respect the organization I saw with Chelsea and Celtic more than most. Its damned hard to do that and keep a team like Barca from scoring. Really hard. Playing fullback my whole life, I see a beauty in the organization of a bunker, when done correctly. The efficiency, work rate, and positioning can be a joy to watch if you're a defensive nerd like me (which, lets face it, no one is and everyone thinks its awful). I never have hated Stoke for the way they play. Yeah it annoys the shite out of me when Liverpool is playing, but other than that I sort of respect them for it, because they know who they are and they're good at it.

I guess its just my way of lashing back at those who disrespect the need and use of the bunker when its called for. I don't like when people claim its the "anti-football." Its just as effective as a prevent defense is in throwball when carried out effectively, even though no one wants to see either.

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Yes, Chelsea won, but Barcelona was still the better team. I applauded Chelsea for beating one of the greatest teams in history, but I will never say they deserved the points.

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I guess what I'm getting at is that I see a difference between deserving to win and being the better team. Although honestly I don't think Celtic deserved to win, but I would say Chelsea did. Defense is just as big a part of the game as scoring is. If you bunker better than the other team breaks you down, I think you deserve the win. That doesn't mean you're the better team though.

And I know there's probably a very interesting shite talking convo in Pro Club Season right now with everyone saying how I'm insane. I can hear Snaggle right now....

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If you can hear him saying that he'd rather lose than win like Chelsea did, then yes, you can hear him.

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Pretty much exactly what I was getting at.

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It's the one thing that we can't discuss peacefully, because although I agree with it not being pretty, if my team wins, I'm happy.

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I'll be sure to bring it up next time you two are on then.

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NOOOOOOOOO

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Please don't.

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Please don't.

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Better start offering in form rare FUT cards then.




Blackmail.

FUT flat out goes over my head

I'll try to get into it.

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So, either they were wrong then or Celtic belongs at the European table

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they were wrong

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But I don't think there is a Chelsea fan out there that will tell you they deserved to win those matches

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Well you'd be wrong. "Deserved" is the dumbest word associated with soccer. I ask again why in every other sport great defending is celebrated but in soccer if you play great defense to win you were somehow "lucky" or you didn't "deserve" to win. Unless there is some sort of officiating injustice like clear pens turned away, bogus red cards, or balls that crossed the line that weren't given etc... the team that scored the most goals is the team that deserves to win.

If a team posseses the ball for 90% of the match and takes 50 shots but can't put enough in to win how can they possibly "deserve" anything, other than condemnation for being pathetically wasteful?