Champions League — Semi-Finals: 1st Leg

Surely offside.

It's bloody obvious.

Nevertheless what an exhilarating game of football, only one goal but it was breathless entertainment for me, enjoyed it immensely.

PSG, are very fluent especially when they’re allowed to play the game at their own pace, and this is something I thought Arsenal allowed them to do all night.

“Breathless entertainment”?

I fell asleep!

His credits include the signings of Ndiaye, Onana, Garner and Alcaraz.

For me, one of the best sights in football is seeing an adventurous full-back on the overlap. It always puts the opposition defence on the back foot.

Paddy Boyland reports that we will again have a DoF, or rather a Director of Football Operations. Recruitment for that position is being handled by Nolan Partners, the executive search firm that pulled in our new CEO Angus Kinnear.

I'm still startled by Dan Purdy's reported departure, which I guess in the blind that the club will announce in the morning. The Friedkins showed Thelwell the door, but the report says they kept Purdy on to work as Head of Player Identification under Kinnear, Moyes and the rumored new trading chief Nick Hammond.

I mean, how often does a young scouting director of 31 get the opportunity to help rebuild a Premier League squad almost from the ground up?

And he's walking away. Didn't want to work with Moyesie? Or Hammond? WTF?

Interesting times.

Five minutes in, I realised it was Piers Morgan. Enough said.

I like the DoF, or Director of Sport as it is sometimes called on the continent, Mike. I have no idea what structure our owners will settle on, but one thing is for sure: change is happening and the manager, whoever that is, won't hold all of the keys to the kingdom.

I called it when PSG taught our neighbours a lesson in football. I'll go and watch tonight, but it's a PSG v Barcelona final for me.

Fair enough. I watched a game that was end-to-end, full of attacking football, with both ‘keepers making great saves, midfielders tackling well and making good runs, wingers up and down their flanks, and full-backs doing the same.

Possibly the game showed me what I've been missing for a good few years.

I mean, who brings on Ben White with 10 minutes to go when you're looking for a goal? Why not give the other younger lad, Ethan, 15-20 minutes to see if he can make an impact in the final third? Mind-boggling decision-making.

Arsenal should go big in the summer for a proven manager, but they won't; they'll stick with Arteta — which is why won't win the Premier League or the Champions League again next season.

Arteta has already won the FA Cup as Arsenal manager.

Potential to be a sensational game.

Arsenal weren't at their best and PSG were excellent, but there were 22 players of the highest standard, all knowing their roles, working to a plan and trying to win.

Yes, there could have been more goalmouth action, but it was fascinating for me to watch the way these 2 teams tried to out think each other. Those 2 small midfielders for PSG, Vitinha (25) and Joao Neves (20) are amazing young footballers.

When you look at what he's spent though, which is well over £750 million, it's not a great return in five seasons for consecutive second place finishes.

On Arteta's antics, he's trying to be Pep. He needs to calm down.

Take a leaf out of serial winner Ancelotti's cup. Stay calm and sip coffee.

Moyes does have a glass ceiling. He might have had the unenvious task of following Sir Alex, but when given the platform many suggested if only he was given a big club (Everton are), he failed miserably. He lasted 8 or 9 months and took the reigning champions to 8th place.

He may have his attributes, but success isn't one of them.

Here's one to set the cat amongst the pigeons. Arsenal start next season as the nearly men again. Everton get off to a horrendous start (I genuinely hope not).

Moyes, now aged 62 takes early retirement and Mikel comes back to Everton. There's a scenario for you.

I'd like us to move towards somone like Oli Werner at Werder Bremen or Toppmoller at Frankfurt once Moyes decides to leave.

Danny #22, I can see a possible rough start next season -- bedding in a bunch of new players, maybe a front-loaded schedule to launch the new stadium -- but it's hard to imagine Moyes departing so soon.

And I definitely can't see Arteta here. Ever. His ego would never tolerate a move down the table. And by the time we're above them, we won't want him.

They once gave us Sam Allardyce.

I thought Braca were the favourites?

This is already a cracker after 25 minutes!

Astounding skill.

So simple.

Not enjoying it though as defensively suspect all round.

We were once ever so slightly linked to him back in the day.

Never in a million years!

Mkhitaryan. I had forgotten about him. He played for Man Utd didn't he, not Chelsea?

Dumfries fluffed a hat-trick. Inter giving a class in playing away. That Barca line is stupidly ridiculously high

These small margins, where's the simultaneous graphic of the ball leaving the crosser's foot? Shown on a split screen to avoid doubt.

It needs to be that forensic.

He must be getting on a bit.

Instead of some nob from Slough who has never played football drawing lines.

Better two teams in semis, Barca crap defensively.

It's just that Inter are also a top side who can pick off on the counter and break the press.

A truly brilliant game of contrasting styles, superb players and tactical innovation.

Take the Inter starting XI tonight. Lots of these players were very "gettable" at different stages in their careers - especially:

Sommer
Bisseck
Dumfries
Calhanoglou
Thuram

It takes time to assemble a squad – but we should be able to pick up good players this summer as long as we can spend some money.

All the coaches are sophisticated enough to put in place tactics and counter-tactics to expose and nullify the opposition.

Both games could be completely different from the first legs.

I liked the way we played at Anfield in the first half, and believe that finding players who can play football on the counter might just really help complement a squad that isn't that far away defensively.

I just saw a picture of that semi-automated offside decision – it's that tight, people are always going to argue and disagree whatever way it's given.

While I'm not up to their standards on tactics, I think we will see entirely different methods used — more defensive in the second legs?

Whatever, they use, I'll be glued to my iPad watching them.

I love football when it's played this way. No fear and a desire to win. How the game should be played.

Denzil Dumfries. Although it may have been him not wanting to come to Everton when we were rumoured to be linked, we missed a trick in not pursuing the Dutch right back when he was still playing in the Eredivisie. Inter got him for a snip at about £10M.

Barcelona, much like PSG, play delightful football and have a dazzling youngster in Yamal. In contrast, Inter looked like they would score everytime they attacked. 3-3... not sure who I would put my money on but I think it would have to be Inter… but I will certainly tune in to the second leg!

ps: The only downer was looking at the quality of players on display and thinking how far we have fallen. (That hurts!) At this rate, Wrexham might give us a game in a couple of years!

I love football when it's played this way. No fear and a desire to win. How the game should be played.

The movement, generally accurate passing, and sheer audacious rampant skill on display were breathtaking.

But there's clearly a few who saw this as a display of defensive inadequacy. Even I became aware that there was little to no pressing from either side… no low block that would have stopped this goal-scoring markely dead in its tracks???

No, I don't believe it either.

Be better off without it.

Hope we can get that atmosphere at our place. It has a similar feel tbh, having been to it. Great support though. Wonderful place Bilbao.

Hope they give Man U a spanking

Liverpool,
Arsenal,
Man City,
Newcastle Utd,
Aston Villa.