Liverpool made it difficult for them to pass between the lines as well. James was woeful. I thought Thiago was pretty poor as well. He played a few nice balls and had some good touches but rarely did he break the lines and get Liverpool on the back foot. That was the big thing missing from Bayern’s midfield today, and when they aren’t getting the full backs forward is massively important and they failed miserably in this regard. Hopefully the second leg will be a much more entertaining, open game.

Yeah James was hopeless.

Speaking of Thiago though, Rafa Honigstein seems to think there could be a mass departure of midfielders at Bayern come the summer and Thiago could be one of them. I'd have him in a heartbeat if that's true.

Two years left on his contract so he might not cost an awful lot.

i like Garay's woman

sexy lady

https://twitter.com/laotraliga_net/status/1097993984696295424

Yeah I’d love Thiago as well. But you know Pep would as well. He’d line up with him, De Bruyne and Silva in cm and just completely take the piiiiss out of teams.

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That's true.

We could have Rodri then.

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Yeah possibly, Sideshow. Liverpool kind of forced their hand because when they did try going through the middle they didn’t do much, especially James who looked like Sanchez tonight.

Haven’t seen much of Rodri, TRS. I’ve read good things. I know Herrera has been getting a lot of love recently, and rightly so, but if we are talking Atleti midfielders then Saul could be a revelation in that role Herrera is playing. He’s got all his defensive attributes but is technically a far superior player. I reckon in a midfield three in an attacking team he could really flourish. I love that I can say that about other players coming to us now. Been too long.

Seen more of him at Villarreal but I'm glad to see he's been doing well for Atleti. You do worry sometimes about young players under Simeone but it doesn't seem like he's had any trouble settling and he seems to have formed a decent partnership with Thomas.

Saul's a good shout.

Herrera as much as I love him and as well as he's been doing, I don't think it would be that difficult to upgrade, same with Matic.

The other thing as well is what could having a couple of midfielders of that quality also do for Pogba?

The Lyon defence were superb tonight, Denayer especially. He was MOTM probably.

Ndombele had a good game and so did Semedo. I know he hasn't set the world alight at Barca but there's a real player there. He's a monster 1v1. I still wish we'd signed him.

Yep that’s the thing, he could get even better. There’s obviously a familiarity with Matic and Herrera that is working right now, but I do think both players can be quite awkward with the ball, especially under pressure, so having players that can play through the lines better would help Pogba get the ball more often in dangerous positions, especially on the counter when we are being put under pressure. Wouldn’t mind seeing Herrera playing the holding role if it meant a more gifted midfieder was brought in to play his current position on the right hand side of midfield. I don’t know how much value Ole places on having those type of midfielders we long for, though. I’m hopeful it’s a lot.

Yeah Lyon’s defence was great. Ndombele looked good from what I saw. Not seen that much of them but from what I’ve seen of Lyon I prefer Aouar, like his style, even if he’s probably not as good.

I don’t know how much value Ole places on having those type of midfielders we long for, though. I’m hopeful it’s a lot.

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Well this is it, we're completely blind in terms of knowing what Ole's preferences are.

Ndombele I think is similar to what Fred was at Shakhtar. I know it doesn't look good for Fred but I don't like giving up on a player after one season.

I couldn't agree more about style. I'd prefer somebody with more finesse, poise and craft than what we have already or to somebody like Ndombele.

We should be putting our names forward for the director of football role at United.

Job-share?

Sounds good to me.

I’ll be Woody

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..until you find out that my real life initials are ABU 🙃

Or that you are actually Mourinho.

Or that you are actually Mourinho.

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Sevilla game has kicked off really early this evening.

Sevilla leading in the Sevilla Cup.

Need to see it again but Lazio may have had a case for a penalty a few minutes ago.

The Sevilla Cup.

The hype around Milinkovic-Savic seems to have died down a fair bit this season. I've not heard his name mentioned at all really compared to last.

He was at fault for Sevilla's goal.

I've not seen him much but haven't been impressed on the odd Lazio game I've seen. Probably caught the wrong games as I know he has been great at times for them.