Re: UCL Last 16: Real Madrid vs Napoli

by Arquitecto Mon Feb 13, 2017 2:54 pm

There is little to no chance Napoli will take this. The shortcoming comes through their mentality and not what they can incur. Within the Serie A they have the room for error and have used it openly as a loss from the opening of their highly attacking style is met with a subsequent devastating performance in the next round but also because their stakes are low comparatively to the top Serie A teams. Versus Madrid you will see a deer in the headlights gaze that will have them revert into the limbo that some inexperienced Italian attacking teams take that ranges between very defensive and suicidally offensive. Sarri as great as he is along with his squad have very little experience and as highly uninspiring, drab, dour and unmemorable Zidane's Madrid are; the latter do not wilt under pressure whilst Napoli have been known to do so in moments of pressure.

by breva Mon Feb 13, 2017 3:34 pm

S wrote:Even if Napoli somehow win here, they'll definitely find a way to choke at San Paolo.
They bottled a 2 goal advantage against a shit Chelsea side with a stronger side 5 years back. (Inb4 somebody disagrees)
If Napoli win, it'll only be because Madrid were awful and were making mistakes all round.

This Napoli side is a better side than last year's and twice the side of 5 years ago and is better managed.

by Hapless_Hans Mon Feb 13, 2017 3:35 pm

I believe that Arq is right.
I cannot see a version of the future where Real don't progress here, it's just not going to happen.

As I argued before, it doesn't matter what the current form, or perceived current quality, of the teams is. This is the kind of tie Real is always going to win and Napoli are always going to lose.

by Lucifer Mon Feb 13, 2017 3:48 pm

I can understand majority of people want Madrid to lose, who doesn't? but am pretty sure unfortunately that ain't gonna happen. Only way Napoli can pull one through here is if they take a fight to Madrid. Dont give a breather to those feckers. Real Madrid is Luis Suarez of football clubs these days, they look like shit majority of time but can pull one right out of the hat when you are least expecting them to.

by Curtinho Mon Feb 13, 2017 4:42 pm

I like both teams but I'm feeling Napoli for this one. Mertens is in special form and I think he's going to terrorize their defence.

by Firenze Mon Feb 13, 2017 5:22 pm

not sure if Mertens is a big game player? most of the time I've seen him scoring it's been against scrubs, although that's probably down to the league quality, like 15 teams are jobbers

have a feeling he could flop against Madrid tbh

hope he delivers though

by S Mon Feb 13, 2017 5:48 pm

4-2

Madrid

by breva Mon Feb 13, 2017 5:49 pm

Firenze wrote:not sure if Mertens is a big game player? most of the time I've seen him scoring it's been against scrubs, although that's probably down to the league quality, like 15 teams are jobbers

have a feeling he could flop against Madrid tbh

hope he delivers though

by Arquitecto Mon Feb 13, 2017 9:35 pm

Expanding on Han's point, too many a times it has been seen a team with awful form overcomes a team with scintillating form in their own respective league as Real's experience and mental fortitude will be too much for a Napoli who have too much on their plate- league and Champions League to formulate a plan to overcome Real. That is unless we see a smash and grab win.

by Robespierre Mon Feb 13, 2017 10:16 pm

breva wrote:
Firenze wrote:not sure if Mertens is a big game player? most of the time I've seen him scoring it's been against scrubs, although that's probably down to the league quality, like 15 teams are jobbers

have a feeling he could flop against Madrid tbh

hope he delivers though

It wasn't really a big match TBH
Juve had the Scudetto in their pocket (they were thinkin' to CL, not care of that match) and Napoli was neutralized by Benitez
Mertens was always inconsistent in his career, it's the only reason because he wasn't a top player.. Sarri developed him definitely

by jibers Tue Feb 14, 2017 12:01 am

Arquitescu wrote:There is little to no chance Napoli will take this. The shortcoming comes through their mentality and not what they can incur. Within the Serie A they have the room for error and have used it openly as a loss from the opening of their highly attacking style is met with a subsequent devastating performance in the next round but also because their stakes are low comparatively to the top Serie A teams. Versus Madrid you will see a deer in the headlights gaze that will have them revert into the limbo that some inexperienced Italian attacking teams take that ranges between very defensive and suicidally offensive. Sarri as great as he is along with his squad have very little experience and as highly uninspiring, drab, dour and unmemorable Zidane's Madrid are; the latter do not wilt under pressure whilst Napoli have been known to do so in moments of pressure.

by breva Wed Feb 15, 2017 2:25 pm

Robespierre wrote:
breva wrote:
Firenze wrote:not sure if Mertens is a big game player? most of the time I've seen him scoring it's been against scrubs, although that's probably down to the league quality, like 15 teams are jobbers

have a feeling he could flop against Madrid tbh

hope he delivers though

It wasn't really a big match TBH
Juve had the Scudetto in their pocket (they were thinkin' to CL, not care of that match) and Napoli was neutralized by Benitez
Mertens was always inconsistent in his career, it's the only reason because he wasn't a top player.. Sarri developed him definitely

LOL, you can't win with people like you. You make claims like Mertens can't score against big teams. You are shown Mertens scoring against a big team, two goals at that, and then you move the goal post. Your kind are entertaining though. Cognizant dissonance at its best.

by rincon Wed Feb 15, 2017 2:29 pm

Mad hyped for this game. Just hope Napoli come out alive for the return leg.

by S Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:04 pm

Tonight it all goes down. #RealMadridNapoli

Quote this tweet with you score predictions pic.twitter.com/vUbkE6vMky
— ItalianFootballTV (@IFTVofficial) 15 February 2017

by S Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:06 pm

4-1 Madrid

Cristiano x2, Benzema, Ramos, Callejon

by breva Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:58 pm

I was leaning towards a 1-1 draw in Madrid and a narrow win for Napoli at the San Paolo. However, with so many professional pundits now picking Napoli to eliminate Madrid, I am thinking that reverse karma will prevail and Napoli will lose.

by Tomwin Lannister Wed Feb 15, 2017 5:26 pm

breva wrote:
Robespierre wrote:
breva wrote:

It wasn't really a big match TBH
Juve had the Scudetto in their pocket (they were thinkin' to CL, not care of that match) and Napoli was neutralized by Benitez
Mertens was always inconsistent in his career, it's the only reason because he wasn't a top player.. Sarri developed him definitely

LOL, you can't win with people like you. You make claims like Mertens can't score against big teams. You are shown Mertens scoring against a big team, two goals at that, and then you move the goal post. Your kind are entertaining though. Cognizant dissonance at its best.

You know Robes and Firenze are 2 different posters... right?

by breva Wed Feb 15, 2017 5:43 pm

Tomwin Lannister wrote:
breva wrote:
Robespierre wrote:

It wasn't really a big match TBH
Juve had the Scudetto in their pocket (they were thinkin' to CL, not care of that match) and Napoli was neutralized by Benitez
Mertens was always inconsistent in his career, it's the only reason because he wasn't a top player.. Sarri developed him definitely

LOL, you can't win with people like you. You make claims like Mertens can't score against big teams. You are shown Mertens scoring against a big team, two goals at that, and then you move the goal post. Your kind are entertaining though. Cognizant dissonance at its best.

You know Robes and Firenze are 2 different posters... right?

Probably not, I get confused with the multiple quotes. Apologies to whomever I offended.

by Doc Wed Feb 15, 2017 5:54 pm

Yeah, I'm quite hyped for this tie. You can't really tell which version of either side would show up but I do know it won't be boring. Can't be, not possible. Would Napoli pull a PSG or a scared lil Serie A side? Would Madrid show their real might or do what they did against Osasuna?

This match can't start soon enough.

by Mr Nick09 Wed Feb 15, 2017 5:58 pm

They will play scared like Roma last time we played them in CL. Zidane bif game teams are usually super focused

by RealGunner Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:00 pm

Sarri is a better manager but Ronaldo is the greatest of all time.

I like both teams so won't mind either winning. Maybe Madrid a bit more.

by rincon Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:15 pm

Roma's mental weakness is second only to Leverkusen. Napoli might be intimidated, but nothing like Roma. They pretty much always bring it in the big games

by Arquitecto Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:16 pm

Napoli being tremendously overhyped by pundits who have failed to understand despite their tour de force style and situational play, they have proven very little and as mentioned by me earlier Real Madrid, the most uninspiring Champions League winners of all time, are quite simply better even if less audacious, tenacious and pleasing to the eye. Already reports of nerves within the Neapolitan locker room.

Napoli will have to either grab their balls and go all out eyes closed or risk being out of their depth due to Real's experience and tranquility.