matt-e-matticle
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Posts posted by matt-e-matticle
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Just to add a bit more detail about Roma as a home team. They have been good in the UCL, unbeaten to this point and not conceded a goal. However in Serie A at home they are frankly gash. As far as I can see they've lost to every top 8 side they've played at home...Napoli, Fiorentina, AC Milan, Inter, Atalanta, Sampdoria and yet to play Juve. Looking at these game highlights they are getting burnt regularly by pacey forwards on the counter which is exactly what Liverpool have. I mean it's stating the obvious after the 1st leg but it does beg the question how good are Roma really? Despite the Barca game, their poor home form for me says they don't enjoy having to force the issue and break teams down and much prefer hitting at pace. No chance they can do that in this game.
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18 hours ago, StevieDay1983 said:
Roma vs Liverpool
It's Roma taking on Liverpool at the Stadio Olimpico in a 7:45pm kick-off tomorrow night and it's the Reds' to lose if we are all being brutally truthful. A three goal advantage from the first leg seems like a situation that Jurgen Klopp would have taken before the first leg.
Eusebio Di Francesco's side are mean opposition on home turf this season in Europe. In fact, they haven't lost a single European game at their home ground and haven't even conceded a goal. When you think that they've welcomed the likes of Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, and Barcelona in previous rounds, that's impressive.
Klopp's side are no mugs away from Anfield in the Champions League this season. They are unbeaten on the road and have scored 18 goals in their 5 away games in the competition. That includes sticking 7 against Maribor in Slovenia and 5 against Porto in Portugal.
This is an unpredictable one. Liverpool will want to tread carefully after Roma turned around their tie against Barcelona in the previous round. However, it can be argued that the Italian side hit their peak in that tie and doing it again could well be beyond their capabilities.
It's not all plain sailing for Liverpool though. The media have been focusing on an alleged bust-up between Klopp and his assistant manager Zeljko Buvac with the Bosnian rumoured to be leaving the club permanently. Some speculation has even linked him with a role at Arsenal. Throw into the mix the uncertainty over coach Steve Gerrard's future with him being linked to the vacant Rangers job. It's an unsettling time for Klopp so how will that impact their preparations? Especially because Buvac is a renowned master tactician.
I think Roma need to be back to win this game here. They have been immense at home in Europe and I think they'll do enough to beat Liverpool on the night. However, this is a Liverpool side that has goals aplenty in their armoury. Backing both teams to score with Roma winning on the night but not doing enough to qualify is probably the most likely outcome for me.
Roma to win @ 2.60 with BetVictor
BTTS @ 1.40 with Paddy Power
@vasilli07, @Icongene, @KikoCy, @DrBetter, @Duuc, @DrO, @immortal--, @Notorious, @betcatalog, @KingSoccertips, @discipline, @Pep004, @HastGill1, @ElPrincipito007, @salmonman, @DW_United, @allthethings, @MightyWell, @liamcorrigan86, @mijOsim, @dorleywilliams, @soccerprediction123, @jamiedavies02, @TOTTI3, @LePapo, @seifer365, @MPLouis, @Jack A, @JJG, @Pipoca, @neilovan, @wcz, @newjack, @matt-e-matticle, @EBTA, @cluelessG, and @WinningAdvice, what are your thoughts on this match tonight?
Steven Gerrard is a youth coach so unlikely to have any impact whatsoever. Also Buvac loss shouldn’t be felt much if at all given the position Liverpool find themselves in up 3 goals on agg. I’m sure Klopp can tell his players to defend with everyone behind the ball and when you get the chance kick it long to Salah. Haha...but seriously that is how easy EDF made it for Liverpool in the 1st leg. He should check his Italian birth certificate.
Roma have a very good record at home, however I’ve rarely been that impressed by them in home games this season across Serie A and UCL. Okay beating Barca 3-0 is impressive but I think that was a freak result which I lay largely at the inept feet of Valverde. Prior home leg against Shakhtar was so dull they were unconvincing and squeezed by 1-0. Against At Madrid in the group stage they should have lost 1/2-0 if not for Alisson miracles.
I do not see lightning striking twice here and with EDF being forced this time to leave space in behind chasing the tie I expect Salah and co to hurt Roma often.
Liverpool on the AH 0 for me.
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1 hour ago, sajtion said:
my personal feeling is that ac roma could win this maybe 1-2. liverpool are not as good defensively as ac roma showed against barcelona. they will imo concede at least one goal tonight
This doesn’t make sense, respectfully.
Roma conceded 4 goals away to Barcelona while Liverpool conceded 1 to Man City away and zero at home including zero shots on target. Also before the Barca tie Roma conceded 2 goals to a Shakhtar team that is well below this standard of competition.
6 months ago I’d be banging on about Liverpool’s poor defence, but more experience for their young defenders and the addition of VVD has changed that for me.
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15 hours ago, StevieDay1983 said:
Arsenal vs West Ham
Well, the big news was revealed this week that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would be leaving the club after 22 years at the helm. It's a stroke of genius from whoever decided to announce this because for the final month of the season the club will finally be fully united. I'm expecting to see a spirited Gunners side finish both their Premier League and Europa League campaigns strongly.
The 2-1 defeat to Newcastle last weekend was a typical Arsenal performance. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in a game they were expected to win. However, I fully expect Wenger to see his side bounce back at home. It's 13 wins, 2 draws, and just 2 defeats for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium this season. The atmosphere should be superb (for an Arsenal game!) so I am anticipating a lively home team display.
West Ham are only on 35 points but that should be enough to see them stay up. One win and two draws from their last three league games has seen their form stabilise after three straight league defeats with 11 goals conceded in the three games prior. David Moyes saw his team hold Arsenal to a 0-0 draw earlier in the season but I'd be amazed if it was a similar score-line here.
Backing Arsenal to win in a classic vibrant attacking display seems to be the best option here. Some of the West Ham players won't admit it but might be in holiday mood now. Relegation looks very unlikely. Unless every Hammers player is on their game then this could be a tough game for the away side.
Arsenal HT/FT @ 2.30 with Ladbrokes
Arsenal -1 @ 2.30 with BetStars
I agree with your thoughts on the announcement of Wenger’s final exit from the club, however that shouldn’t change the 1 focus that the club has had for some time now which is winning the Europa League and qualifying for the champions league. For that reason I will wait to see if key players like Ozil and Ramsey start as Aresenal will need to be at their best to beat this -1 for me.
Further, the matchup between Wenger and Moyes has always been a tight one going back to Moyes years at Everton with Arsenal rarely beating -1 handicap and Moyes tactics.
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Liverpool's main focus will be on their midweek 1st leg semi against Roma with the chance to reach the UEFA CL final for the first time in over 10 years. Klopp's team selection reflects the importance of this match with a number of key starters being left on the bench, however importantly Salah is in the starting lineup.
The Hawthorne's have been a very unhappy hunting ground for a number of years for Liverpool with an inability to win consistently at this ground over the last 5 years. No doubt they will be happy to see WBA relegated to the championship which seems very likely. However Darren Moore has managed to achieve what seemed impossible which was another win this season and achieved that feat at Man Utd no less. He is unbeaten in his 2 games in charge and based on this turn of form for the home team, their record against Liverpool and the away team's focus being on the crucial midweek game and not wanting to risk themselves too much I will be taking WBA +1.00 AH here @ odds of 2.00. Also feel that WBA at 7's represents very attractive value for an unlikely double over 2 top 4 sides.
Note.. Moreno starts at LB so we'll probably see a few goals in this one.
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I like the under 2.5 pick above in Nor v Aus, with my only concern being Norway seem to be the sort of team that like playing open games with goals.
Aus lack goal scoring power and haven't been that defensively resolute, however under the new guidance of Maarwick I expect the whole team setup will change from the more expansive possession style under Ange Postecoglu to a more defensive style 4-5-1 which looks to hit teams on the brake. Unless Norway are in the mood for gifting goals, then u2.5 seems likely.
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Iceland at 200 look stand out long shots to me.
Ordinarily I'd agree England are over hyped and of little value, but I have a feeling they'll surprise a little this time around. Not saying they will win it, but reckon they could reach a QF with some luck. With a number of England's players playing under the genius of Pep I reckon that could have a flow effect both in terms of football IQ and confidence. Doesn't hurt that possibly Europe's number 1 goalscorer also leads the line.
Champions League Predictions > May 1st & 2nd
in Champions League Predictions
Posted
How are Roma gonna play then if they need to force the issue? There is no tactic in the world that involves going for 3 goals while limiting space in behind. Look at their game against Barca they sat on the half way line and squeezed Barca for 90. Very effective tactic because Barca refused to use long balls or pace up top. Liverpool will only hit long balls and run at pace. In fact Roma were so incensed by the effectiveness of this tactic they complained after the 1st leg about how Liverpool were just a long ball team hahaha...hahaha. What so they shouldn’t use a tactic that you have no answer to. Oh dear.
Anyway maybe my perspective is wrong and Roma win. GL to all.