Group Winners II - Lyon, Manchester United, Arsenal, Milan
Strengths and weaknesses of the Champions' League clubs in the round of 16.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Champions' League clubs in the round of 16.
LYON
Weaknesses
Lack solid defensive midfielders who can lock a game down:
With Essien and Mahamadou Diarra gone in successive seasons, and Alou Diarra and Toulalan a bit green in that regard, the Lyonnais seem a little threadbare in the defensive-hachetman category.
Lack of depth up front:
Outside Wiltord, Fred is injured, Carew is injured, Govou is a converted right winger and Benzema is a young whipper snapper.
Strengths
Balance:
Like Valencia, they have quality all over the pitch, and haven't spent a fortune acquiring them.
Wingers:
Malouda, Govou, heck even Eric Abidal can all tear down the sideline and cross the ball or turn on the burners and cut into the box. Ominous and deadly.
Juninho:
Best dead ball specialist in Europe. One of the best passers, can dribble and shoot from distance. Give him the ball and expect magic.
Experience of Houllier:
Monsieur Gerard took Liverpool to the UEFA Cup and dreamt of the Champions' League. He may very well realize that dream with Lyon. Very experienced when it comes to knockout ties.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Weaknesses
Lack of depth:
Performance wise, one of the best starting XIs this year. But outside the first XI the likes of Kieran Richardson are poor substitutes - pun totally intended.
Weakness in midfield:
A bit like Liverpool - their midfield is weak; when Scholes is injured or out of form, it's decidedly wretched - a gaping hole.
Strengths
Saha's balanced attack play:
More than just the gunslinger he was initially purchased to be, Saha's muscular, selfless approach brings other players into the game and spreads the ball like Ruud never did. United's attack is reborn this year with the Frenchman playing as a forward playmaker.
Speedy wingers:
Ronaldo is on fire this year, replacing his profligacy with some deadly shooting while still being one of the fastest players on the right side of the park. On the other flank, Giggs is still around, mesmerising defenders with his pace and dribbling skills.
Vidic:
Quiet, unspoken and unperturbed, Vidic, more than Rio, Neville, Brown or Heinze is the reason for United's defensive solidity this year. The young Serb is immense at the back while knowing in some corners as well. Arguably, Man U's shrewdest buy in the last 18 months.
ARSENAL
Weaknesses
Cannot defend setpieces, rarely score off them:
No one is worse off defending setpieces than Arsenal. The marking is abysmal, the movement chaotic. Ironically, setpieces are often the only time opposing teams can get a shot at them. It doesn't get a lot better at the other end as Arsenal waste more set pieces than others.
Not direct enough when attacking:
Passing pretty patterns is fine while in the middle of the park to get around the logjam of bodies, but in the final third a more clinical, direct method of getting the ball into the box and to the foremost attacker is required.
Lack of tacklers:
Lots of artists, passing wizards and plenty of pace. Flamini and Toure aside, not enough players who can slide across the deck to dislodge the ball from an opponents grasp. In tight matches away from home, this is often crucial.
Strengths
Speed on the counterattack:
Less then 5 touches and the ball is often in the opposing net. As seemingly uncommited Arsenal's defending can be on occasion, it is a setup for the speed with which they will sting you on the return. Opposing defences who venture upfield, you have been warned.
Excellent passing game:
No one passes the ball as well as they do. Balletic in movement yet deadly in it's delivery, Arsenal's passing will convert a harmless situation into a goalscoring chance in a heartbeat - while involving half their team.
Fabregas:
The best emerging midfielder in the game. Arguably, the best passer of his generation. Look to him to unlock any team.
MILAN
Weaknesses
Defence is slow, old and prone to mistakes:
Nesta, while healthy, is a shadow of his imperious past, Maldini too feeble and prone to mistakes, Cafu is slow and sloppy, Janukolovski repeatedly flatters to deceive and Costacurta is - wait for it - 40 years old.
Attack is inconsistent:
Inzaghi has died a natural death as a goalscorer, his ugly tap-ins notoriously absent, Gilardino is too mercurial and unlucky when on song, Sheva is missed while Ricardo Oliveira is yet to settle.
Over reliance on Kaka and Pirlo:
Give them the ball and hope for the best. If they are closed off - so is Milan. Gattuso can win only so many balls - he needs someone to create with it.
Strengths
2 of the best attacking midfielders and dead ball specialists in the game:
Ironically, one of their greatest weaknesses is also their main strength. If you had Pirlo and Kaka in your side, you would also be totally reliant on them.
Deep Squad:
Lots of players, lots of experience, plenty of bodies to throw at fixtures.
Experience:
They won in 2003 with virtually the same core while other players have gotten close to the summit with other clubs. Gattuso and Ambrosini have notched up over 50 games in Europe. Old timers like Maldini and Costacurta have been around since the glory days in the late 80s and early 90s. That's a mother'load' of experience.
Weaknesses
Lack solid defensive midfielders who can lock a game down:
With Essien and Mahamadou Diarra gone in successive seasons, and Alou Diarra and Toulalan a bit green in that regard, the Lyonnais seem a little threadbare in the defensive-hachetman category.
Lack of depth up front:
Outside Wiltord, Fred is injured, Carew is injured, Govou is a converted right winger and Benzema is a young whipper snapper.
Strengths
Balance:
Like Valencia, they have quality all over the pitch, and haven't spent a fortune acquiring them.
Wingers:
Malouda, Govou, heck even Eric Abidal can all tear down the sideline and cross the ball or turn on the burners and cut into the box. Ominous and deadly.
Juninho:
Best dead ball specialist in Europe. One of the best passers, can dribble and shoot from distance. Give him the ball and expect magic.
Experience of Houllier:
Monsieur Gerard took Liverpool to the UEFA Cup and dreamt of the Champions' League. He may very well realize that dream with Lyon. Very experienced when it comes to knockout ties.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Weaknesses
Lack of depth:
Performance wise, one of the best starting XIs this year. But outside the first XI the likes of Kieran Richardson are poor substitutes - pun totally intended.
Weakness in midfield:
A bit like Liverpool - their midfield is weak; when Scholes is injured or out of form, it's decidedly wretched - a gaping hole.
Strengths
Saha's balanced attack play:
More than just the gunslinger he was initially purchased to be, Saha's muscular, selfless approach brings other players into the game and spreads the ball like Ruud never did. United's attack is reborn this year with the Frenchman playing as a forward playmaker.
Speedy wingers:
Ronaldo is on fire this year, replacing his profligacy with some deadly shooting while still being one of the fastest players on the right side of the park. On the other flank, Giggs is still around, mesmerising defenders with his pace and dribbling skills.
Vidic:
Quiet, unspoken and unperturbed, Vidic, more than Rio, Neville, Brown or Heinze is the reason for United's defensive solidity this year. The young Serb is immense at the back while knowing in some corners as well. Arguably, Man U's shrewdest buy in the last 18 months.
ARSENAL
Weaknesses
Cannot defend setpieces, rarely score off them:
No one is worse off defending setpieces than Arsenal. The marking is abysmal, the movement chaotic. Ironically, setpieces are often the only time opposing teams can get a shot at them. It doesn't get a lot better at the other end as Arsenal waste more set pieces than others.
Not direct enough when attacking:
Passing pretty patterns is fine while in the middle of the park to get around the logjam of bodies, but in the final third a more clinical, direct method of getting the ball into the box and to the foremost attacker is required.
Lack of tacklers:
Lots of artists, passing wizards and plenty of pace. Flamini and Toure aside, not enough players who can slide across the deck to dislodge the ball from an opponents grasp. In tight matches away from home, this is often crucial.
Strengths
Speed on the counterattack:
Less then 5 touches and the ball is often in the opposing net. As seemingly uncommited Arsenal's defending can be on occasion, it is a setup for the speed with which they will sting you on the return. Opposing defences who venture upfield, you have been warned.
Excellent passing game:
No one passes the ball as well as they do. Balletic in movement yet deadly in it's delivery, Arsenal's passing will convert a harmless situation into a goalscoring chance in a heartbeat - while involving half their team.
Fabregas:
The best emerging midfielder in the game. Arguably, the best passer of his generation. Look to him to unlock any team.
MILAN
Weaknesses
Defence is slow, old and prone to mistakes:
Nesta, while healthy, is a shadow of his imperious past, Maldini too feeble and prone to mistakes, Cafu is slow and sloppy, Janukolovski repeatedly flatters to deceive and Costacurta is - wait for it - 40 years old.
Attack is inconsistent:
Inzaghi has died a natural death as a goalscorer, his ugly tap-ins notoriously absent, Gilardino is too mercurial and unlucky when on song, Sheva is missed while Ricardo Oliveira is yet to settle.
Over reliance on Kaka and Pirlo:
Give them the ball and hope for the best. If they are closed off - so is Milan. Gattuso can win only so many balls - he needs someone to create with it.
Strengths
2 of the best attacking midfielders and dead ball specialists in the game:
Ironically, one of their greatest weaknesses is also their main strength. If you had Pirlo and Kaka in your side, you would also be totally reliant on them.
Deep Squad:
Lots of players, lots of experience, plenty of bodies to throw at fixtures.
Experience:
They won in 2003 with virtually the same core while other players have gotten close to the summit with other clubs. Gattuso and Ambrosini have notched up over 50 games in Europe. Old timers like Maldini and Costacurta have been around since the glory days in the late 80s and early 90s. That's a mother'load' of experience.
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