Champions League: Manchester United, Real Madrid and Gus Johnson
Manchester United vs. Real Madrid
This will be the Game of Gus, though we’ll hit the mute button for a moment, as there are some tremendous, concurrent storylines. This is “Manchester United” and “Real Madrid.” These are soccer’s two biggest clubs and professional sports’ two most valuable teams. Cristiano Ronaldo is returning to the club where he won the Champions League and the Ballon D’Or. “The Special One” Jose Mourinho has what may be his last opportunity to fulfill his “special mission” at Real Madrid, winning their 10th Champions League title. He could also become the first manager in history to lift the trophy at three different clubs.
The last time Man U and Real Madrid met was in the 2003 Champions League quarterfinals. They produced perhaps the tournament’s best all-time match. Down 3-1 after the first leg, Man U had to open up and go for it at home. Brazilian legend Ronaldo scored a hat-trick. David Beckham, controversially left on the bench, came on to score twice in the second half. Man U won 4-3, but were eliminated 6-5 on aggregate.
Manchester United bought Robin Van Persie from Arsenal last summer, instead of a young dynamic midfielder. It has worked out well for them. RVP is the Premier League’s top scorer. United are rolling at the top of the EPL, 12 points ahead of second-place Manchester City through 26 matches.
Real Madrid have not had a real good time in La Liga this season. They have won just 14/23 matches and sit 16 points back of Barcelona, in third-place. Second is cross-town rival Atletico Madrid. Internal discord has dominated the headlines. The club are hoping the common goal of winning the Champions League will unite them. Real has not had the better season, but, on paper, they are the better team. A European title would wash the rest away.
Much may depend on Manchester United’s approach. Sir Alex Ferguson claims he wants to attack Real Madrid, but that may be foolish. Real are the most fearsome counterattacking side in the world. With Ronaldo, Ozil and others, they are as armed as anyone for a shootout. Even for Manchester United, the best strategy may be to sit back and not give them space to run.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Borussia Dortmund
This is the definite undercard, though still a compelling match. Dortmund are suffering a down year domestically, after winning the past two Bundesliga titles. That said, they were awesome in Europe, going undefeated in a group that featured English champions Manchester City and Spanish champions Real Madrid.
Shakhtar were also impressive, edging defending European Champions Chelsea on goal difference. The Ukranians could be at a disadvantage, though. They sold their Brazilian playmaker Willian to Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala for $47 million in January. Because of their winter break, they also have not played a competitive match since the group stage ended in December.
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February 13th, 2013 at 2:20 PM
Vidic isn’t even on the bench as a possible substitute today?
February 13th, 2013 at 2:22 PM
Is he gone after this year?
February 13th, 2013 at 2:24 PM
Best team to be in Fifa 2012. They have a crappy rating, so your opponent will try and find a team with similar skill sets only to be dominated by Eto’o and some other solid attackers.
/nerd comment
February 13th, 2013 at 2:28 PM
Sorry…meant to put “may” there not “will.”
I don’t see a situation where he stays. By most accounts the players have had it with him. If he loses the Champions League he’s going to get fired. If he wins the Champions League, he has proved his point and he will probably leave.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:28 PM
OT
Schools should think before instituting no-visit policies for commits
February 13th, 2013 at 2:32 PM
Makes sense. Any thoughts on where he’ll end up? Man City maybe?
February 13th, 2013 at 2:33 PM
Greatest.Article.Ever.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:33 PM
Don’t worry, Wilshere will get fed up soon enough.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:35 PM
Wait, so Mich has the policy that you can’t visit other schools, but they’ll go after already committed kids? Hilarious.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:39 PM
If a big time Michigan recruit visits another school, Brady forgets about the policy. And if said recruit flips, Michigan fan says Brady didn’t want him or followed the policy.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:39 PM
Jesus Christ one of my bosses just called to ask me how to save a PDF file while reading it online.
“Click the save icon”
“And this won’t just save one page at a time?”
“No. No it won’t.”
Needless to say I will be watching this game from my desk.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:40 PM
Is soused alive?
February 13th, 2013 at 2:41 PM
I don’t really have a problem with this. It’s a general policy with exceptions. They want kids to be 100 percent in when they commit. Doesn’t hurt the kids. Led to two strong recruiting classes with zero signing day drama.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:41 PM
The no-visit policy is one of the dumber things CFB coaches pull. If I were a player I’d tell them to fuck off unless I was hell bent on going there. In that case I simply wouldn’t commit until after my 5 visits. I’ll never have this problem, but if my child were being recruited I would tell them to take all 5 visits and then pick a school.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:42 PM
Anyone got a Gus link? I’ve got Martin Tyler, but for once I don’t want to listen to him.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:42 PM
Coming from Mr. Ethics this surprises me. This is a case of the big, bad college university trying to bully the poor, helpless football player, is it not?
February 13th, 2013 at 2:43 PM
So don’t commit. Where is the problem?
February 13th, 2013 at 2:43 PM
Nevermind, got some help.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:44 PM
Gotta agree with Duffy here. Forces the kids to actually think about the decision they’re making. how is this a negative?
February 13th, 2013 at 2:44 PM
Both teams going with their own variations of the 4-2-3-1. Should make for lots of chances.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:44 PM
No one is forcing kids to commit and then leaving them stuck there. They don’t want kids “committing” and then taking four visits in January.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:44 PM
It’s a problem because it’s a dick move. Also, the kids from the South would never play that game, either. No school worth a shit does this down here because they know they’d be laughed out of the house. Maybe kids down South understand leverage more than those in Michigan.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:45 PM
Unless I’m misreading this, how is this impacted by the no visit policy? You can still visit all five schools, just don’t commit to school one then visit two through five.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:45 PM
Do you think they pressure kids to commit while visiting in October?
February 13th, 2013 at 2:47 PM
Coaches pressure players to commit all of the time (unless you’re Bo Pelini and you’re a moron). I assume Michigan does this as well (could be mistaken). So if they pressure you to commit, then the next day say they’re going to pull a schollie if you shop around that’s bullshit. They may not pressure kids into committing though.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:48 PM
Also, getting back to this post. Has there ever been a better example of #TeamMeteor than this game? Both teams make me nauseous.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:49 PM
Streams are struggling to keep up with the traffic today, damnit.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:50 PM
Money quote on UM. You’re a 3-star looking around? see ya. 5 star? OK, go look, schollies waiting.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:51 PM
Ha! Such a fucking douche.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:51 PM
Fox Soccer is offering it for “free,” but you have to remember to cancel it after the trial period ends in a week.
/OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO off the post.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:51 PM
+1 Texas Junior Day
February 13th, 2013 at 2:53 PM
If the team has a “commit when you’re ready to commit” mentality than that’s fine, but if they’re constantly asking the kid to commit on the visit or when they talk, this is the height of douchebaggery.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:54 PM
Oh man how awesome is it going to be if Van Persie gets sent off in another CL game against a Spanish side.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:54 PM
This reminds me of UGAs Jr. day and how fans never learn. So some stud running back may commit to UGA for next year’s class soon and all UGA fans are SO EXCITED!! They’ve already forgotten about Derrick Henry doing the exact same thing only to end up signing with Bama.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:54 PM
Fair.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:55 PM
late, but this doesn’t work as well against the cheesers who pick Barcelona or Man City no matter what. probably the same kids who always play as the Patriots/Niners/whatever top-rated team in Madden.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:56 PM
I don’t really understand why a kid would commit a year or so early anyways, unless they are a hometown kid or something where they are never really interested in going anywhere else.
I would be curious to see the % of kids that commit say, 10 months before signing day, that actually sign with the school they originally committed to.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:56 PM
Is “we’re only taking two at your position and we’ve already got Jimmy over there, so you gotta act quick” pressure? Of course.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:56 PM
Wow if Rafael thinks he can pull that shit marking Ronaldo he’s in for a long tie.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:57 PM
Well obviously you match it up when they do that, but it works when you play people who like even teams. It also works when you’re better than the person you’re playing so you allow them to play with Barca and then whip them with a funky-named Russian team.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:58 PM
Soccernet knocking it out of the park as always, has Varane as a midfielder and Alonso as a defender.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:58 PM
If Kagawa were more talented people might notice how easily he goes down.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:59 PM
Texas’ recruitng problem was a bit different than Oregon and UM. Texas would by-and-large stay committed to their commits even if they sucked their senior year. Part of the reason they stink now.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:59 PM
If I had an ounce of follow through I would track this for 2014. I saw where 50 players had committed to schools from the 2014 Rivals 250 that was released the other day. I would love to know how many of them stay committed to that school.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:00 PM
I don’t blame the schools for trying to obtain leverage throughout the process. People get away with what others allow to get away with. But i suspect educated parents are a joy for recruiters because they see through the bullshit they spew.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:00 PM
Nice work. I’ve noticed they sometimes have odd position mixups.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Kagawa sucks. I would like to see Ferguson try playing Hernandez with Welbeck/Rooney/RVP.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:01 PM
AKA the Mark Richt syndrome.
Re recruiting pitches: I would love to be a fly on the wall for the recruiting pitch to Thug U with one parent who works three jobs and the recruiting pitch the the upper middle class family with a stay at home mom and a successful dad. The difference between those two would be staggering I presume.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:03 PM
and by a moment I mean the entire game
February 13th, 2013 at 3:05 PM
GGMU
February 13th, 2013 at 3:05 PM
WELBECK completely against the run of play.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:06 PM
La Liga quality central defense strikes again!
February 13th, 2013 at 3:06 PM
Ramos left the post. Love seeing him screw up.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:06 PM
Manchester United vs Real Madrid.
Where are some drones when you need them?
February 13th, 2013 at 3:07 PM
years ago when I was playing a ton of FIFA I would do this with Blackburn Rovers…McCarthy and Santa Cruz were way better in that game than they had any right to be.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:08 PM
I like your style. Also don’t forget Gus Johnson is in the house.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:08 PM
so is the new guy who is going to lead England to international glory? I feel like they’ve gone through so many of those guys.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:09 PM
drones comment also applies to Liverpool/Luis Suarez
February 13th, 2013 at 3:11 PM
Gus Johnson…woof.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:11 PM
He’s already 22, ancient by those standards.
Though between Rooney, Welbeck, Sturridge, and Walcott they should have quite the attacking options to get completely let down by their awful group of young defenders come 2014.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:12 PM
pretty sure Gus just pronounced Karim Benzema’s first name as “CARE-um.” shut it down.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:14 PM
Rafael is … struggling.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:14 PM
well shit. I guess his not being on their WC squad in 2010 made me think he was younger than that.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:14 PM
YESSSSSSSSSS
February 13th, 2013 at 3:15 PM
This game sounds like it has 4-3 or 3-2 written all over it.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:15 PM
Well fuck
February 13th, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Hope so.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:16 PM
dont forget sterling on your overrated english hope list
February 13th, 2013 at 3:18 PM
Dortmund down 1-0. Somewhere in a techno club Jersey weeps.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:18 PM
He just turned eighteen.
Your soccer commentary is fucking awful dude.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Shakhtar takes the lead!
February 13th, 2013 at 3:21 PM
DMX arrested again for driving without a license. Most unshocking thing since yesterday
February 13th, 2013 at 3:22 PM
i dont care the he is 18. the hope bullshit is coming and he isn’t going to be that good imo
February 13th, 2013 at 3:23 PM
De Gea playing well so far. Will he have one of his usual gaffes?
February 13th, 2013 at 3:25 PM
This is the worst I have ever seen Rafael play.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:25 PM
United settling into the game a little bit. Encouraging.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:26 PM
Watching an online skysports feed. How is Gus doing?
February 13th, 2013 at 3:28 PM
DMX arrested again for driving without a license. Most unshocking thing since yesterday
+1 impersonating an FBI officer in NYC while stealing a car
February 13th, 2013 at 3:38 PM
Well your opinion is likely wrong. He’s not new and it’s not “coming” he’s been the most highly regarded young English forward since he was 14 and has has success at every level thusfar. He is a very very special talent.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:39 PM
A lot of meh. He seems a little uncertain at times but at least he hasn’t misidentified any players and seems to not be trying to overcompensate, which is shocking.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:41 PM
Now Zaha, there’s an overrated young English player.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:42 PM
And Tom Ince.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:52 PM
I don’t think Gus gets the finer points of the o-umlaut in German.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:54 PM
Sterling had better be good. Doesn’t he already have a couple of kids to provide for?
February 13th, 2013 at 3:57 PM
Just one. His new contract is around £30k a week though so he should be alright.
February 13th, 2013 at 4:10 PM
So you agree he fits the hope profile, but you think he actually pans out as a world class player, while I don’t. I’m glad we came to this conclusion after your semantic bickering
February 13th, 2013 at 4:16 PM
God DAMNIT Xabi is amazing.
February 13th, 2013 at 4:17 PM
On comes the Wicked Witch of Madrid
February 13th, 2013 at 4:17 PM
Luka Modric, didn’t he die in a grease fire?
February 13th, 2013 at 4:18 PM
Men in Blazers always talked about how he looked like a witch with Tottenham.
February 13th, 2013 at 4:21 PM
I thought I had heard on either Men in Blazers or the Guardian podcast that he had two and maybe 3 kids. They may have just been exagerating. Either way, where do I get one of those $30k/week contracts? They sound nice.
February 13th, 2013 at 4:21 PM
12 year old boy impersonating a Cape Cod lesbian comes to mind
February 13th, 2013 at 4:22 PM
*exaggerating.
Do you have to spell to get one of those contracts?
February 13th, 2013 at 4:22 PM
De Gea is coming up de huge for Man U.
Sorry.
February 13th, 2013 at 4:22 PM
I liked it.
February 13th, 2013 at 4:24 PM
No. 30% of English professionals are functionally illiterate
/a made up stat that seems realistic
February 13th, 2013 at 4:37 PM
Great result
February 13th, 2013 at 4:42 PM
Seems low to me honestly.
Missed the last fifteen of each game because I had to teach someone how to use casemap. Fuck me running.