UEFA Champions and Europa League 2015/16 Thread

[Dolphin Ziggler]

First topic message reminder :

It begins for the English today as West Ham face FC Lusitans in front of a sold out Upton Park this evening. The team will be a bit mixed. Randolph, O'Brien, Tomkins, Burke, Page. Jarvis, Oxford, Poyet, Amalfitano. Zarate, Sakho.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Neither of them are vile racists so i'll let them off Dave.

[Hero]

I have no problem whatsoever if Suarez gets it despite past misdemeanours. I personally though still have Ronaldo ahead (just).

[GSC]

Id lean Suarez, but it'll be Ronaldo because Real won the CL

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Higuain over Suarez? Nah thanks

[kingraf]

Suarez only had HALF the CL goals Ronnie had though. He'll probably get runner-up to be fair and he basically sorta deserves it. Against Atletico, I suspect Barca not having a focal point hurt them, for all the criticism Ronnie gets for being the funnel.

Also, I'm not being a biased Madrid fan backing a former player, but Higuain > Suarez

[theslosty]

Has to be Suarez over Ronaldo for me who generally produced in the big ties including against Real and Atletico. Barca may have lost out in the UCL but most would probably concur they're still the team to beat in Europe.
I'd have Griezmann up there too, haven't watched Higuain so can't really comment.

[Ent]

Ronaldo did get the winner in the nou camp...

[theslosty]

Yes. Was a typical Ronaldo goal, decent finish but created for him by his team-mates. He wasn't particularly prominent in that game nor was he in the 4-0 loss to Barca or any of the matches vs Atletico.

[Ent]

Do you remember his winner? Chest inside the fullback and nutmegged the keeper, whilst they were down to 10 men...

Hard to believe one of the greatest players ever (him and messi 1 and 2 for me, other people can argue the order) struggles to get a bit of credit.

https://youtu.be/sOfVylvfaBA

Actually scored a lot more "individual" goals this season compared to last, doesn't fit the narrative though.

La liga was extremely competitive this season, league title decided by a point, 2 teams in cl final decided on penalties, Europa league winners. Even copa del rey went to extra time and Sevilla played Europa league final 4 days before it.

Wouldn't demean anyone who has performed well this season for any of those sides.

On wpoty there are summer tournaments to come and I feel they may help show the winner off.

[theslosty]

I felt La Liga was more competitive last season, Sevilla and Valencia really regressed this year. And really Barca were the dominant team throughout the season apart from a bizarre blip for 4 or 5 consecutive games.
I'm not giving Ronaldo no credit, in fairness this season less of his goals were tap ins or penalties compared to the year before. Just because I don't think he's the current best player in the world and not quite the player he was 2 or 3 years ago doesn't mean I don't rate him.
Can you name any recent games that Ronaldo (being the world's best in your view) made a big difference against a top side? The last I can really recall was the 4-0 away win at Bayern 2 years ago.

[Ent]

Apart from the top sides la liga has been on the slide for some time, ronaldo scored 48 in a league you think was stronger, should he have won wpoty last year? Of course not. Seville are still a good side, won Europa league and got to copa del rey final. The point is the trophies for the la liga sides were all very closely fought and decided by slim margins.

Define a top side?

Winner away to barca.
Home leg vs wolfsberg.
Home and away against Roma.

I think he is likely to win wpoty, summer tournaments depending, as this is how it normally goes. He was the top scorer for the team that won the cl and I don't think there are many outstanding candidates.

As for tap ins all the top players score a good few of them, it's how they score so many goals a season. It's not all long range shots and dribbles. Penalties are a skill, can't demean that.

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