Euro 2008 (Official Man City LOL Thread)

[RandyfromPennywise]

Okay, about Gigg's goal: fair enough. It's still cheap in my opinion and I wouldn't do it.

In local Aussie news, Adelaide United is falling apart. Aloisi stripped of captaincy, Kosmina given a red card, Owens has left the team.

In fantasy premier league news, I'm still leading the MX league. Captained Arteta for 30 points!

Where did you hear about Owens? I can't find that news anywhere. Aloisi losing the captaincy is actually a positive. Costanzo has been close to the best defender in the league these past two months. And I am massively pumped that we have signed former Socceroo Paul Agostino on a two-year deal from 1860 Munich. He's still only 31, and I reckon it could be a great signing.

[badtaste]

Where did you hear about Owens? I can't find that news anywhere. Aloisi losing the captaincy is actually a positive. Costanzo has been close to the best defender in the league these past two months. And I am massively pumped that we have signed former Socceroo Paul Agostino on a two-year deal from 1860 Munich. He's still only 31, and I reckon it could be a great signing.

Heard that somewhere on the news. If you can't find it anywhere, perhaps it was wrong then...? Actually, '

http://www.footballnews.com.au/article.php?id=735

Perhaps Newcastle?

[RandyfromPennywise]

Owens is from Newcastle. From the sounds of that article he isn't planning on signing with the Jets. In my opinion he is a really class player, one of our best. Big loss.

Two Aussies heading the international MX Fantasy League hey, nor baad!

[badtaste]

Owens is from Newcastle. From the sounds of that article he isn't planning on signing with the Jets. In my opinion he is a really class player, one of our best. Big loss.

Two Aussies heading the international MX Fantasy League hey, nor baad!

Yeh, Fantasy League ownage.

http://www.wldcup.com/news/2007/02/20070223_41142_soccer_news.html

Whenever I read stuff like that, I always think: "You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley. " Charley probably being my parents.

Oh well, still hope, making a debut at 18.

[rik]

Woah, West Ham got slaughtered today at Charlton.

I watched the Man Utd - Fulham match. Fulham deserved something from the game to be honest, though i'm glad Man U got the 3 points. Don't want to see Chelski closing the gap on them.

[poorquality]

Fulham deserved all 3 points I felt......well no...I say United deserved the win because they actually got the win. But I felt Fulham did extraordinarily well against us and deserved something for it, but that's what happens when you don't take your chances.

Van der Sar did so well today

Wes Brown was terrible

lovely finish by Giggs, lovely run by ronaldo

[Britney Diva]

Yeah, great result for Charlton. It looks like it's gonna be an exciting race to stay up down there, Charlton still have to play the other three teams in the bottom five.

[munky_magik]

Only managed to catch the Everton match today but it was surprisingly good. Watford were unlucky not to score a few but overall I think Everton just edged it.

Tomorrow should hopefully provide some good games what with Celtic Vs ITC and Aresnal Vs Chelsea.

[badtaste]

WEST HAM ARE OUT OF HERE!!! Wonder where Lucas Neill (and all the other big names, Reo Coker, Ferdinand)) will go to afterwards. Thrashed by Charlton.

Um, everyone aware of this doco coming out called 'Zidane: a 21st century portrait'? I believe some film makers put up 20 cameras or so at a Real Madrid game, taped his performance, and then edited into a nice sexy clip. I'm going to look out for that one.

[Britney Diva]

I'd be surprised if West Ham's "stars" get decent clubs on the basis of this year's performance. The defence is particular is one of the worst the Premiership's ever seen, if not the worst.

[badtaste]

Well, maybe as a team they suck, but I'm pretty sure they're not bad individually. Just need to find a good team to work with.

Anyone know who's on top of the CocaCola championship?

[Frankie]

The likes of Harewood and Ashton shouldn't find it difficult to find new clubs. I'd like to see boro buy Benayoun too, I like him as a player.

Another good win for boro and the partnership this season from Viduka and Yak stands at 27 goals.

[ChodaBoy]

What was John Terry thinking there? All those feet swinging around in the 6-yard box, and he sticks his head in. Hope hes ok though

[angry armadillo]

john terry couldnt have predicted a boot to the face to be fair

and i hope the players get punished for that fighting

[Britney Diva]

Well, maybe as a team they suck, but I'm pretty sure they're not bad individually. Just need to find a good team to work with.

Anyone know who's on top of the CocaCola championship?
West Brom on goal difference, but Derby have a game in hand and Birmingham are two points behind with another game in hand. Sunderland messed up against Birmingham :(

[rik]

It was a pretty good final, Chelsea probably deserved the win in the end, though Drogba's first goal was offside. Nice finish by Walcott aswell.

[badtaste]

West Brom on goal difference, but Derby have a game in hand and Birmingham are two points behind with another game in hand. Sunderland messed up against Birmingham :(

Mmmkay then. Poor Leeds, aren't they in the relegation zone?

$5 that Wenger is pissed off about Mourinho winning another piece of silverware.

Can't believe Blackburn beat Pompey.

[TakeWarning]

Mmmkay then. Poor Leeds, aren't they in the relegation zone?

$5 that Wenger is pissed off about Mourinho winning another piece of silverware.

Can't believe Blackburn beat Pompey.

Shocking performance by Pompey though.

[badtaste]

Shocking performance by Pompey though.

Yah. Looks like Pompey might miss that UEFA berth the way they are going.

[rik]

Yer, that was a shocking performance by Pompey. James had a pretty awful game in goal. Funny how he over-celebrated his penalty save though. I also noticed primus making a bunch of mistakes, i've always thought he was a crap defender.

[angry armadillo]

It was a pretty good final, Chelsea probably deserved the win in the end, though Drogba's first goal was offside. Nice finish by Walcott aswell.if football matches were decided by judges and not by score akin to diving or dancing i would have given it to arsenal, they had more of the play i think, id say chelsea won coz they have the experience to put away the chances they got when they had the play

which i suppose the arsenal youngsters will gain as time goes on... i said it a while ago and i think im still right arsenal will be the team to watch out for in 3-5 years.

[rik]

I think Arsenal were better in the first half, and the very beginning of the second, though after that Chelsea pretty much had all the chances. The only real chance I can think of Arsenal having in the second half was when (I think it was) Traore was through on goal, Cech saved it pretty comfortably though.

In the second half the experience of the Chelsea players really shined through over the Arsenal youngsters, they also hit the bar twice, so I did think they just deserved the win. Though Arsenal were slightly unlucky, Drogba's first goal was offside, who knows what would've happened if it hadn't been given. And for a bunch of youngsters they did great, I would've loved to see them beat Chelsea.

which i suppose the arsenal youngsters will gain as time goes on... i said it a while ago and i think im still right arsenal will be the team to watch out for in 3-5 years.

I completely agree, Arsenal's future looks very bright.

[Britney Diva]

Arsenal will be the biggest team in England again within two years unless Chelsea get their **** together and Ferguson finds top class replacements for Neville, Scholes and Giggs.

[angry armadillo]

the only thing i can comment on is that arsenal didnt have any english players as far as i can recall, chelsea had bridge, terry, lampard and that was it lol

I hope that the leauges introduce a minimum of so many english players. the clubs can whine that they restrict the right to employment or whatever, but the clubs can still employ the players if they wish, its a totally different consideration with the leauge... its their leauge you adhere to their rules or you dont play, thats how it would work anywhere else!


anyways, also seeing offside mentioned... the final was a prime example of why we need clarity

so many examples of when a defender and a attacker would have their feet in the same place along the line of the pitch, but both players would be leaning forwards so it made a 'V' shape (if you can imagine)

and sometimes this would be considered offside, sometimes it wouldnt.... i couldnt say if players were on or offside anymore!

[Britney Diva]

The standard of football would decrease if there was a minimum number of English players in each team.

[angry armadillo]

hopefully it would increase the standard of english football too :(

[Britney Diva]

I think having the best quality league in the world is the best training English can possibly get.

[poorquality]

In terms of playing english players or not, I have to agree with what Wenger said, when picking the team you do not look at passports, you look at the player themselves and how good they are. You field a team to win a match, no matter where they are from.

It's not the top sides fault that there aren't many players that are english and good enough to play for a top of the league side.

Spat out Plath has it right, you would see a decrease in quality football if you were forced to field players who are not top standard just because they are english.

[RandyfromPennywise]

I think having the best quality league in the world is the best training English can possibly get.

If you chose a different word from 'quality', chances are I'd've agreed, but 'quality' to me means skill level and technical ability. In this respect, Spain is ahead of England. But if you said 'competitive', 'exciting', 'difficult' or something like that then yes, England is the best. Totally right that more English players would decrease the quality of the league too. No disrespect to the English players but the money the EPL generates facilitates the purchases of a lot of very good talent from overseas (the middle-range clubs in the EPL are much richer than the middle-range clubs in any other league).

Drogba really is the man this season. He will probably get to 40 golazos before season end.

Another bit of silverware, good stuff. And it's just great to beat Arsenal in finals. Adebayor's a twat. The fight was a joke from all concerned.

Terry is the best defender in the world. He's different class.

[poorquality]

I thought Adebayor was extremely unlucky to be sent, he didn't do anything, of course he was going to complain and be upset about it.

Bridge even said himself that it wasn't Adebayor who hit him :S

I thought Fabregas should of been sent instead of booked, after all when Lampard tried seperating Toure and Mikel, Fabregas went in at Lampard.

EDIT: Oh sorry, and yeah you're totally right about the EPL and the overseas quality it brings in

[Britney Diva]

In this respect, Spain is ahead of England. But if you said 'competitive', 'exciting', 'difficult' or something like that then yes, England is the best.
That's what I mean by quality, if you take quality as a term for the entire package. La Liga has some amazing players in terms of ball skills and that, but I don't find it particularly interesting to watch, even the big matches.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Yeah I didn't see Adebayor actually hit anyone, but I mean the way he reacted was totally ridiculous. He was like a 13-year-old wonderkid who's been denied their hat-trick and has cracked the shits at his coach, dad and fellow players. And Fabregas was also ridiculous. If Terry was there they'd all have had a proper glassing and a chair or two over the head and it would've all been sorted.

EDIT: To Plath - yeah kind of the same here, although I do have an interest in it. For example Levante v Zaragoza was on before and I couldn't really care less about watching that for two hours. But Valencia v Barcelona or equivalent, then yes I'm well up for watching that.

[poorquality]

I'd be pretty annoyed if I got sent off in a Final knowing full well I did nothing to warrent it, especially when it was the Lino who told the ref to send him off because the Lino saw something that everyone in the world managed to miss.

I guess different people react differently to it

[Frankie]

I think clubs should nutuing home gown talent through the academy. It's a disgrace that an English team can't field a team which contains 3/4 british players. And people wonder why have only won the WC once. But still my team managed to field a team of 15 Academy players last year on the final day of the season against a full strength fulham. And they were unlucky to get beat having out-played them.

[poorquality]

Don't Man Utd currently have about 7/8 players in the England Squad? We've always been a team who still use english talent.

[Britney Diva]

I don't mean this in a disrespectful way, but why would a team field 3/4 English players when they can buy foreigners who are better?

[poorquality]

I don't mean this in a disrespectful way, but why would a team field 3/4 English players when they can buy foreigners who are better?

That's what I always say :) Look at it this way, how many foreign players play in the EPL...and how many English players play in non-English leagues.

There's high demand for foreigners because the english players just aren't cutting it.

[badtaste]

Yah, EPL teams definitely should have some responsibility for harvesting England's future players. Then again, if those English youngsters head off overseas, wouldn't that be alright as well?

Is Platini the one who wants to have teams with at least half the team from the local country? I wouldn't mind that, but perhaps quality would go down, due to having to play a person for their heritage rather than their skillzors.

[JumpTheF**kUp]

I don't mean this in a disrespectful way, but why would a team field 3/4 English players when they can buy foreigners who are better?


It's for the good of the nation!

But seriously, the only team who would be troubled by a limit on foreign players would probably be Arsenal, who only has 2 or 3 English players. And it's obvious why, the English lads just aren't as good. It's not the premier league teams' responsibilities to breed future England internationals, it's their training camps'. If they've gone through all the academies and shi and still aren't top notch, then they won't be chosen. Which is what's happening.

I don't even know what the point of that was, seeing as I'm sure you knew all of this already.

[RandyfromPennywise]

There shouldn't be a limit.
Clubs should generally want a
good solid core of players from
that country though. Look at Chelsea,
Man Utd, Liverpool - Lampard, the Coles,
Terry; Neville, Scholes, Rio, Rooney, Carrick;
Gerrard, Crouch, Bellamy (British) and Carragher. Arsenal are the exception,
not the rule. Bringing in a rule to regulate the
number of players from certain nationalities would
be terrible. The clubs should want a few of their
stars from the home country - and almost all of the
big clubs (around the world) do.

Barcelona: Xavi, Puyol, Valdes, Iniesta, Oleguer.
Lyon: Coupet, Wiltord, Malouda, Abidal.
Milan: Maldini, Gattuso, Inzaghi, Gilardino, Pirlo, Nesta.
Inter: Toldo, Grosso, Materazzi.
Real: Casillas, Ramos, Raúl, Guti, Reyes, Helguera.
Liverpool: Gerrard, Crouch, Carragher, Pennant, Bellamy (British).
Man United: Neville, Ferdinand, Rooney, Carrick, Scholes.
Chelsea: Bridge, Cole, Cole, Terry, Lampard, Wright-Phillips.
Arsenal: Hoyte and Walcott, so there's the exception.

[Britney Diva]

Arsehole are the exception in this case, but that's more due to Arsene Wenger's personal preferences rather than lack of merit. Plus Ashley Cole is a ****ing twit.

I have to re-state the point: if England can field a team of players from the top 8 in their own league, you're one of the best teams in the world. If you can't do that, it's because your players don't deserve to be there, and being easystreaked isn't going to improve matters.

Levante v Zaragoza
haha Levante featuring Irish wonderkid Ian "I'm supposed to block crosses?" Harte

[rik]

Just watched the Reading - Man U match, and what a match it was. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, Man U up 3-0 after six minutes. Great Finishes by Saha and Solskjaer, keeper probably should've done better for Heinze's goal.

Reading did great to get back into it, got the goal before the break. And then were much the better team in the second half. Got it back up to 3-2 with a great header by Lita and then were so unlucky not to bring it into extra time when they hit the bar in the dieing seconds.

[Britney Diva]

It was a "whose defence is more shambolic" contest from the get-go really.

[poorquality]

I thought we'd get a record high scoring game after going 3-0 up after 6 mins :( It's good we can still score a few without all our big names to be fair though

[Frankie]

Boro sneaked it at WBA and needed penaltys. I think it could go either way in quarter finals tho'

[poorquality]

If United play how they played in the second half of the reading game, I say boro will get through.

Otherwise I say United

I say United anyway just because i'm a fan

Gonna be a good game though.

Saturday will be immense though, away to liverpool, G.Neville is the only united player not to have scored so far this season (Heinze got one last night), worth putting a tenner of neville to score the winner infront of the kop? :P

[Surtr]

If United play how they played in the second half of the reading game, I say boro will get through.

Otherwise I say United

I say United anyway just because i'm a fan

Gonna be a good game though.

Saturday will be immense though, away to liverpool, G.Neville is the only united player not to have scored so far this season (Heinze got one last night), worth putting a tenner of neville to score the winner infront of the kop? :P

Neville's due for a goal any game now.

Let's goooo United!

Though our last few games have been a little bit shaky, which has got me worried.

[rik]

Blackburn beat Arsenal 1-0 to go through to the next round. Good goal by Mcarthy, Arsenal once again denied a clear penalty.

[badtaste]

Boro sneaked it at WBA and needed penaltys. I think it could go either way in quarter finals tho'

Man, Viduka has been killing it recently, absolutely killing it.

[Frankie]

Prediction time ladies and gents :

Champions League: Think Chelsea might sneak it
FA Cup: Le Middlesbrough (but it'll probably be Man Utd)
Relegation: Watford, West Ham and Charlton
Premiership: Man Utd

[Britney Diva]

I think Sheffield Utd will surprise us all and go down. With Charlton back to full strength up front, the gap is going to decrease pretty quickly, I reckon.

[badtaste]

Prediction time ladies and gents :

Champions League: Think Chelsea might sneak it
FA Cup: Le Middlesbrough (but it'll probably be Man Utd)
Relegation: Watford, West Ham and Charlton
Premiership: Man Utd

Champions League: I'm wanting Lyon to win it, but their game against Roma wasn't too impressive.
FA cup: same as Frankies.(Yeh, Middlesborough would be awesome.)
Relegation: " " "
Premiership: " " "

[poorquality]

I'm gonna be a typical Man Utd fan here and claim a 2nd Treble season :P to be fair it's not out of reach, Prem favourites (I'm gonna say definate winners if we beat liverpool tomorrow), FA Cup difficult game but should pull through (and we're in form).

And Champs League almost guarenteed to beat Lille at old trafford, then if L'pool can knock Barca out, we have to be one of the favourites.

Of course I know in my heart the likelyhood of another treble (FA, Champs League n Prem) happening is very slim, but it can't hurt to dream right?

[badtaste]

- Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba was on Thursday named African Footballer of the Year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on its website.

- France midfielder Lassana Diarra has sought to end speculation that he could join Paris St Germain from Chelsea by insisting he is happy in London. (Whatever, he's a fool for joining Chelsea).

- Michael Owen has admitted he knew his career at Real Madrid would be short-lived after just two months in Spain. (Believe this is from his column in the Times)

Not much news.

[poorquality]

Liverpool 0-1 United

Liverpool applied alot of pressure which is a granted as it's at Anfield against Man U...but when it counted, it was united who did the business, i think that was our only shot on target. But does it matter? No! Because 3 points is all that matters :D

Van Der Sar pulled off a great save to deny Crouch.

Liverpool and United were the only premiership teams to not have a man sent off this season, well done Scholes you fixed that, just wish he'd of hit him instead of a swing an a miss.

First defeat at Anfield this season for Liverpool in the Prem :D Woop

[rik]

Heh, well I think it's safe to say Man U didn't deserve the three points.

[Britney Diva]

Heh, well I think it's safe to say Man U didn't deserve the three points.
Definitely. Neither would Liverpool have if they'd won, mind.

The Scholes sending off was a bad decision. Hopefully it's overturned on appeal but I doubt it.

[poorquality]

I thought it was a justified decision, i mean Scholes DID take a swing at alonso(i think it was him) with a fist...and intent warrents a sending off aswell.

I dont know about man utd not deserving 3 points, I mean they did what was needed and scored a goal, so surely they deserved it.

It doesn't matter in a match, if one team dominates 89 minutes solidly, if they don't score, and then the other team scores the winner, then the winning team deserves it, the other team doesnt simply because they couldnt do it themselves.

[Britney Diva]

He was lashing his arm out at the referee's decision. If you watch the replay you can clearly see him adjust his swing so he misses Alonso.

[poorquality]

hmm I haven't seen the replay since i was in the pub at the time and too busy playing pool n the like lol

[angry armadillo]

Definitely. Neither would Liverpool have if they'd won, mind.
LMFAO were you watching the game?

man u had about 10 minutes of pressure in the first half and other than the goal that was IT

liverpool came out FLYING after half time and were unlucky to have the goal denied... which appeared to piss them off and they dropped off... but liverpool pressured man u badly

the mancs were soooo lucky to have won

[rik]

It doesn't matter in a match, if one team dominates 89 minutes solidly, if they don't score, and then the other team scores the winner, then the winning team deserves it, the other team doesnt simply because they couldnt do it themselves.
Well you can look at it either way.

I suppose Man U should've had a penalty as well.

[Britney Diva]

LMFAO were you watching the game?

man u had about 10 minutes of pressure in the first half and other than the goal that was IT

liverpool came out FLYING after half time and were unlucky to have the goal denied... which appeared to piss them off and they dropped off... but liverpool pressured man u badly

the mancs were soooo lucky to have won
They were on top but they didn't create any chances, barring the offside goal (not unlucky, just offside) and Crouch's chance. If you don't create opportunities, you don't deserve to win, and neither team created a whole lot.

[poorquality]

Luck?

I don't recall a team ever winning the title without having to scrape through some games, or have a bit of luck on their side. Can't expect us to win 4-0 every week B)

[badtaste]

Nice to see some Brazilian action in the EPL with guys like Baptista and Denilson at Arsenal.

Can't wait for Champions League games this week. I'm hoping Barcelona can put up a match against Liverpool at Anfield. PSV v Arsenal? Mmm... toughie. I think the home factor may be too much for PSV.

Oh and Cahill has broken something in his left foot and is out for the rest of the season. Dang.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Man United are doing what we have done for the past two seasons. Unless we beat win all of our last games, United will win the title. They may even win it even if we do win all of our remaining Prem games. Ten games left - Chelsea need 30 points. Even if we beat Man United, they can afford to lose one more game, as their goal difference is far superior to ours (16 goals better). It will take something special, but it's not done and dusted just yet.

I think we might win the FA Cup this year actually.

Champions League is another matter - the draw is crucial, so we'll wait and see what happens in the next round, hopefully Chelsea will be in the draw for it.

[Britney Diva]

Yeah, the league's definitely not over at the top or the bottom. There's still 10 teams competing for European spots and the other 10 are all capable of going down.

Also, Cahill is out for the rest of the season. That'll teach me to stick with him in FF through his first injury :(

[RandyfromPennywise]

I hope he'll be fit for the Asian Cup. And the friendlies against Argentina and Uruguay and the rest.

Speaking of Asian Football, we (Adelaide United) have got our first match in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday night. I'm going to miss training to go to it - I'll be interested to see what the crowd is like. Vamos United!

[badtaste]

I hope he'll be fit for the Asian Cup. And the friendlies against Argentina and Uruguay and the rest.

Speaking of Asian Football, we (Adelaide United) have got our first match in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday night. I'm going to miss training to go to it - I'll be interested to see what the crowd is like. Vamos United!

I thought Adelaide United has disintegrated due to their various dramas...

Blacburn beat Bolton. Tottenham beat the Hammers (nice to see West Ham scoring) 4-3 in a good match.

[angry armadillo]

omg i just found out i have got tickets to go to anfield tommorow to watch Liverpool vs Barca

:D:D:D:D

[Caen]

Man United are doing what we have done for the past two seasons. Unless we beat win all of our last games, United will win the title. They may even win it even if we do win all of our remaining Prem games. Ten games left - Chelsea need 30 points. Even if we beat Man United, they can afford to lose one more game, as their goal difference is far superior to ours (16 goals better). It will take something special, but it's not done and dusted just yet.

I think we might win the FA Cup this year actually.

Champions League is another matter - the draw is crucial, so we'll wait and see what happens in the next round, hopefully Chelsea will be in the draw for it.

You're a Chelsea fan? I've got news for you then. You're going to lose.

Dream on mate, dream on, Chelsea's days are well over.

http://i11.tinypic.com/33omemv.jpg

[badtaste]

omg i just found out i have got tickets to go to anfield tommorow to watch Liverpool vs Barca

:D:D:D:D

Awesome

[rik]

omg i just found out i have got tickets to go to anfield tommorow to watch Liverpool vs Barca

:D:D:D:D

Ah man, i'm jealous. How much were they?


I felt sorry for West Ham, it was a great match, they were very unlucky not to get anything from the game.

[angry armadillo]

£34

not sure where i am sitting though!

[RandyfromPennywise]

You're a Chelsea fan? I've got news for you then. You're going to lose.

Dream on mate, dream on, Chelsea's days are well over.

http://i11.tinypic.com/33omemv.jpg

Welcome to the thread.

I thought Adelaide United has disintegrated due to their various dramas...No chance mate, we are going to come back stronger than ever! Victory won't stand a chance next season. :cool:

West Ham, West Ham, West Ham... *looks at ground and shakes head*

*then starts to grin*

[Frankie]

tevez scored a good 'un yesterday. The boro newcastle match was quite boring as I was told.

[TakeWarning]

tevez scored a good 'un yesterday.

Personally I thought Berbatov's was better. He had less space to get it over the wall and under the bar.

West Ham v Tottenham was a very good game, one of the best I've seen all season.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Yeah, I'm a bit surprised that more people haven't said anything about it. It really was one of the games of the season, a top, top second half. West Ham are going down. So are Watford. And I say Charlton as well. I just can't see them doing better than Man City or Wigan, or whoever else is just above them. Certainly the Hammers and the Hornets would need to get 20 points, to get up to 40. That would mean they have to double what they've done thus far in the season. And you'd have to fancy City and Wigan getting above 40 points. Charlton, Hammers and Hornets going down.

I actually hope Derby come up so we can smash them next season. One of my mates is from Derby and is always crapping on about how good they are and all this. I'd love to smash 'em 4-0 at Pride Park.

[badtaste]

Yeh, Tevez had a nice one. Do the refs give yellow cards for players taking off their tops, or is that in some other league?

Can't wait til tomorrow morning!

[RandyfromPennywise]

No, that's in every league as far as I know. Even if he didn't take his shirt off he'd've been carded, for 'excessive celebraions'. The commentators said that FIFA plan to get tougher on goal celebraions next season. Ridiculous really. It's possible that Tévez could be sent off for that celebration: first yellow for taking his shirt off, and the second for running in to the crowd. How stupid.

Champo League tips:

Barça, but I won't be surprised if red scum get up.
Chelsea
Lyon
Milan
United
Arsenal
Not sure about Real - Bayern, really evenly balanced and relatively even teams.
Inter.

Most of the ties are really evenly poised. Champions League is the best ****.

[badtaste]

No, that's in every league as far as I know. Even if he didn't take his shirt off he'd've been carded, for 'excessive celebraions'. The commentators said that FIFA plan to get tougher on goal celebraions next season. Ridiculous really. It's possible that Tévez could be sent off for that celebration: first yellow for taking his shirt off, and the second for running in to the crowd. How stupid.


He doesn't score very often, so give the kid a break. Very ecstatic though. I would have done the same thing hahaha.

My tips:
Liverpool: Barcelona looked shaky at home, will find it tough at Anfield (even with Eto'o... I'm wishing for a Barca win though deep inside)

Chelsea: Too strong at home.

Lyon: Too strong at home.

Inter: Toughie, but I'm going for experience.

Milan: Too strong.

Manchested United: Too strong at home.

PSV: Heart over head for this one.

Real Madrid: They're a funny team. No Becks or Reyes though.

[JumpTheF**kUp]

Bayern will get through methinks. They have 2 valuable away goals and Real aren't that good, although Raul is quite astounding.

[rik]

The boro newcastle match was quite boring as I was told.
Yer it was pretty boring. We had much better chances than Boro, Woodgate had a great game.

[cpmsmiley]

football is the shizit

[RandyfromPennywise]

He doesn't score very often, so give the kid a break. Very ecstatic though. I would have done the same thing hahaha.

My tips:
Liverpool: Barcelona looked shaky at home, will find it tough at Anfield (even with Eto'o... I'm wishing for a Barca win though deep inside)

Chelsea: Too strong at home.

Lyon: Too strong at home.

Inter: Toughie, but I'm going for experience.

Manchested United: Too strong at home.

PSV: Heart over head for this one.

Real Madrid: They're a funny team. No Becks or Reyes though.

And Milan v Celtic? Milan I'd say for sure.

I completely agree with you about young Carlitos, I'd have celebrated like that if I'd just done what he'd done. It's a bloddy stupid rule, carding players for celebrations. Unless they cause a riot or a crowd surge where people die or hold up the game for 20 minutes, celebrating should go unpunished.

Woke up at 4.30am, not sure what I'm going to do for two hours. Might watch some Socceroos games.

[Dead Star]

Milan will completely serve Celtic.

Which is a shame, i wouldnt mind a Scottish club going through.

[Britney Diva]

Celtic played the wrong game at home, they really needed a win and Milan didn't seem too bothered about scoring.

[RandyfromPennywise]

It would be nice to see a Scottish club do well in the Champo. Any club except Celtic. Being half Scottish, I like to see Scottish footie doing well, but Celtic are one of my most hated teams. It comes from being a Rangers fan, but there are a number of other things about them that I hate. Like that they are best bum buddies with Liverscum. Forza Milan.

[Britney Diva]

Chelsea 0 - 1 Porto

That'll teach you to support Rangers.

[REINER]

Just turning on the Liverpool/Barca game. I've been hearing its crazy.

[REINER]

That game was nasty. Liverpool wins on away goals. Chelsea's game is up next. Going to miss Man U tomorrow because I have class.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

i hate liverpool scum so much.

[badtaste]

And Milan v Celtic? Milan I'd say for sure.

I completely agree with you about young Carlitos, I'd have celebrated like that if I'd just done what he'd done. It's a bloddy stupid rule, carding players for celebrations. Unless they cause a riot or a crowd surge where people die or hold up the game for 20 minutes, celebrating should go unpunished.

Woke up at 4.30am, not sure what I'm going to do for two hours. Might watch some Socceroos games.

Yeh, forgot about them. Have edited it.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Liverpool 0-1 Barcelona
(2-2 Aggregate, Liverpool ahead on away goals)
Liverpool played their counter attacking strategy in the first half and were unlucky to miss some goals. Riise had a stunner whack the top cross bar, and a poor Valdes clearance should have Momo chip it into the empty goal (which also hit the crossbar). Second half, Barcelona came out gunning and Ronnie had a close call (hitting the sidebar this time). Later on, Gudjohnsen came in, beat the offside trap and slotted one in to give a tense time for Liverpool fans. That was the final result.

Chelsea 2-1 Porto (3-2 agg.)
Quaresma opened up early through a terrible Chelski defence. Later on, Robben kicked a skidding drive from outside the box, to which Helton got owned when it deflected off him and into the goal. Then Ballack received a header into the box and slotted it through with his left foot.

Inter 0-0 Valencia (2-2 agg. Valencia win through away goals)
Yeh.

Lyon 0-2 Roma
Lyon beaten at home for the first since 2002. Totti headed in a cross, and then Mancini used zee multiple crossover steps to bamboozle Reveillere and whacked a hardie into the top left. Definitely look for that one on youtube.

[Britney Diva]

Stevie Finnan had an excellent game tonight. I was hoping for a Barca win just because it's Liverpool, but it's no disaster to have two English teams qualify for the next round.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

actually yea finnan was a star.

i would want all english teams to go through in europe apart from liverpool. i think its in my blood that i hate them with a passion.

newcastle had better win the UEFA cup this year. i think we will.

[angry armadillo]

just got back from anfield, omg that was the most amazing experience ever.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Stevie Finnan had an excellent game tonight. I was hoping for a Barca win just because it's Liverpool, but it's no disaster to have two English teams qualify for the next round.
I actually thought it was more from Eto'o and Messi both being absolutely hopeless, but yeah Finnan did make some nice tackles and was pretty solid. Don't know the Lyon score, have avoided it so far, going to watch that match later.

And Mr Plath, that will teach me to support Ranger eh!

EDIT: Armadillo - good stuff. Even though I hate Liverpool and Anfield, the atmosphere was pretty good tonight it seemed, and going to matches is just good, regardless.

[angry armadillo]

my cousin works for mastercard, and she is (so lucky) and getsto take her clients to loads of matches... she has been to all the major Champions leauge stadiums, but she said that was the first time in anfield

After the game she said its the best atmosphere out of any stadium...


the Kop was BOUNCING all night long


eto'o was rubbish, messi was not strong enough, deco was anonymous and ronaldinho wasnt really very threataning.... after he dived EVERY time he got the ball we all chanted 'who are ya who are ya'

referee was a moron too.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Just heard a classic quote. Wayne Bridge after the League Cup Final:

"I'm glad we got the three points today" HA!!!

Am I the only one who thinks that Wayne Bridge is a better left-back than Ashley Cole?

I was so glad dickhead Robben got booked for that horrendous dive this morning. He is suck a fukwit, I wish to god we'd sell him, I honestly hate him. Who are your hated players? I hate a few, but Robben is certainly up there. If I wasn't a Chelsea fan, I reckon I'd hunt him down and cut off some of his toes so he never played again.

[Britney Diva]

Bridge has always been better than Ashley Cole. He has this habit of defending competently that Cole's never seemed interested in taking up.

[angry armadillo]

i hate zenden and kewell at liverpool, kewell is injured thankfully but i dont know how zenden gets even on the bench when you have aurellio, riise, gonzalez...

[JumpTheF**kUp]

Lyon = :(

[Cecillianne]

i had goosebumps watching the game. amazing atmosphere in anfield, i had the volume up to max and it was just incredible. lucky you aa.

great game, liverpool made barca look like boys for the better part of the game. last 15 minutes just shot my nerves to hell. our finishing is HORRIBLE, if we had any decent striker we would've been a goal or 2 up by halftime. watching them miss practically a dozen chances shattered me, so so poor. we def need those yanks' money for a good striker for the summer.

[Minus The Flair]

Just seen this on skysports and I was pretty disgusted. Not just with the punch but the fact he runs off. ****ing coward Navarro. Broke the guys nose aswell.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PihVDWTFRHs

[rik]

The Barca - Liverpool was a great game. Liverpool unlucky not to win the game, though getting through is what is important.

Some of that ruckus at the end of the Valencia - Inter game was pretty nasty. Im sure both clubs are gonna find themselves with a pretty hefty fine.

newcastle had better win the UEFA cup this year. i think we will.

I'm pretty nervous about our game on thursday against AZ ALkmaar, I don't know much about the team, but heard they're very well organised and good at home.

[RandyfromPennywise]

First I've seen or heard of the Inter - Valencia stuff, just watched the whole thing on YouTube. What a disgrace. Navarro was it, who then ran off, what a f*cking tosser. That's when you see who is a f*cking girl and who has any balls. If he actually had balls, he'd have stood there after he punched the guy and taken the rest of them on. Two bunch of absolute f*ckwits. Sore, sore losers the Italians.

Watched the Roma game before, amazing result for them. I've said it before and I'm saying it now, Roma have some of the most under-rated players in the world. Christian Chivu is one of the best attacking defenders, up there with Lúcio and Carvalho, and he is all class. Mexès is quality as well. I'd like to sign him for Chelsea - he's better than Boulahrouz, and he's still young. And Mancini, what a goal. He is a gun, should definitely be in the Brazil squad. He can play basically anywhere on the pitch except centre-back. He is awesome. But I'm disappointed Lyon went out, I like them quite a bit. The 'mos at Gerland looked quite good but died after the second goal, and OL weren't at the races. Surprise result.

Angry - why do you 'hate' them? When Kewell's uninjured and on form he's amazing. Pity he hasn't been this way for a while, but he's sufferring from a pretty bad injury right now. And Zenden, well you only signed him as cover. He's got some good quality but he's past his best now. Still, I like him, ex-Chelsea lad.

So Barcelona, Lyon and Inter are out - three of the favourites.

[Britney Diva]

I wouldn't have thought Inter were favourites, and Lyon were only an outside tip for the title, but they were three shocks results. If only Porto had won :angry:

[RandyfromPennywise]

I wouldn't have thought Inter were favourites, and Lyon were only an outside tip for the title, but they were three shocks results. If only Porto had won :angry:

The way Inter have been playing in Italy (what is it now, 17 wins on the trot or something? They are 16 points ahead of Roma in 2nd) they would've been up there with the Barças and Chelseas of the world.

Porto sans Carvalho, Deco and Mourinho... no chance.

[Britney Diva]

Domestic form is one thing, but I think they've been mostly average in the CL, whether it's a big game phobia or something I dunno, but it affects Barca and recently Man Utd as well.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Domestic form is one thing, but I think they've been mostly average in the CL, whether it's a big game phobia or something I dunno, but it affects Barca and recently Man Utd as well.

Inter have always panicked uner pressure. That's why they never win anything, despite having some of the best players over the last 10 years, they are chokers. But this year they'll win the Serie A.

Adelaide United lost its first match in the Asian Champo tonight, 0-1 at home. Not a good result. However Sydney FC did do Australia proud with a hard-fought 2-1 against Shanghai Shenhua, in Shanghai. Good result. And two great goals. (Even though I don't like Sydney, I want the Aussie teams to do well in the Champions League.)

Time for a World XI debate.

Čech
Terry Puyol + 1
Essien Fàbregas + 1
Rooney
Ronaldo Drogba Ronaldinho



Hard with no full-backs. Neville and Alves are probably the best right-backs (that I can think of right now). And Cannavaro and Zambrotta would be close but I don't know what Zambrotta's been doing and Cannavaro's form's been rubbish. Kaká, Gerrard, Lampard, Henry.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

randy, i hate them i dunno. my best mate supports them and it kills me when they win coz he's so smug about it and i honeslty don't know i just have never liked them.

[Frankie]

World XI time :

Cech
G. Neville Terry Woodgate Bridge
Ronaldo Fabregas Essien + 1 (can't think of any LW)
Drogba David Villa (been on fire)

[RandyfromPennywise]

randy, i hate them i dunno. my best mate supports them and it kills me when they win coz he's so smug about it and i honeslty don't know i just have never liked them.

Haha, sorry I didn't make it very clear, I was actually referring to angry_armadillo saying he hates Kewell and Zenden. I would never question anyone on hating Liverpool.

Frankie (should call you Lamps from now on) - Agree with the full-backs, and El Woody has been superb this season. But maybe your team is a little England-biased though :p

[Frankie]

True true. In all fairness I used to be right up to date with Serie A and La Liga but we had Sky Sports taken out which means I can't watch the games as I'd like. But I've seen a few games Villa has played and hes been immense. I'd probs include Ronaldinho or Messi as the LW position.

Mancini played well the other night and as for the goal it was superb. x 39432587348734 step overs totally fooling the defender and beating the keeper to his near post it was all good.

Hoping for 5 british teams in the draw for the Quarter Finals

[RandyfromPennywise]

Not me, I want PSV to beat Arsenal. Hopefully Jason Culina can score the winning goal in the 93rd minute to break Gooner hearts. :) I wouldn't mind if United go through, will give them more fixtures to hopefully upset a Prem game or two. And of course I want Celtic to lose. I think it's started, better go watch it in bed. It's fekking 6.30am here, lucky Euro bastards with your times zones in'it.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Bayern take the early lead against Real, goal from Makaay, 1st minute. I'm actually watching the Arsenal game because Fox is downstairs and I'm upstairs, the Arsènehole are dominating, a goal looks like a matter of time. PSV don't look bad, but Arsenal are having a lot more of the ball outside their area than the Dutch.

[Dead Star]

Looks like Celtic are hanging on well.

:D

[angry armadillo]

looks like man u are playing better but not making those chances

im sure they will get a lucky goal later to secure their win :rolleyes:

[poorquality]

United 1-0 Lille...it's that man again..Ronaldo good run, great cross, nice header by Larsson, good way to mark his last game at old trafford.

Arsenal out...Celtic Out...Madrid out...

[Britney Diva]

That was hard on Celtic. They battled against a superior side for 90 minutes and went and gave away a silly goal that could easily have been prevented. Oh well, they'll be back next season :D

[Caen]

United 1-0 Lille...it's that man again..Ronaldo good run, great cross, nice header by Larsson, good way to mark his last game at old trafford.

Arsenal out...Celtic Out...Madrid out...

Yup.

Glory Glory United!!

Final 8 it is!

[badtaste]

Arsenal 1-1 PSV
(1-2 Psv through)
Watched this morning. Arsenal went guns firing, and PSV went in their turtle shells. So after constant barraging by the Gunners, Arsenal finally went ahead through an own goal by Alex (very unlucky though). At that point, Alex was the main man in defence. Later on, Alex redeems himself by scoring the equalising header. Very niiice!

Oh, and good on Walcott for England represent. Yeh, bad luck to Arsenal, they did not have their best team out there. Oh, and Culina came SSOOOOOOOOOOO close to scoring a nice one.

Bayern Munich 2-1 Real Madrid
(4-4 agg. Munich through on away goals)
Makaay scored the fastest ever Champions League goal in this game straight Madrid's kick off. Bad touch by Roberto Carlos, lead to a steal by Salihamodzickywatishisname, who ran down the right wing, low crossed to Makaay who put it past zee goalie. Then Lucio scored a header, and Nistelrooy scored through a penalty.

I believe Ramos had a goal disallowed. Also, Van Bommel and Diarra were sent off for dissent.

AC Milan 1-0 Celtic
Kaka got the winner in extra time. Nice. Lots of controversy: Maldini had a handball in the box, Nakamura was pushed in the box, urgh, that about it. Lots of crossbar action, and nice saves by Boruc.

Manchester United 1-0 Lille
Great play by Cronaldo down the left wing, taking two defenders with him, and managing to find an unmarked Larsson (in his final game in the red), for him to head it in.

I'm no good at judging for World XI's so skip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N19h4N7o4Q0

Mancini's Goal. DAMN, that is HAWT!!!! HAWT!!!! Reveilleire totally bamboozled out of his French head.

[RandyfromPennywise]

That was hard on Celtic. They battled against a superior side for 90 minutes and went and gave away a silly goal that could easily have been prevented. Oh well, they'll be back next season :D

Is Celtic your favourite team?

Mancini is all class.

Is it just me, or is there something very strange about Benítez's hair? He has a full head of hair from the middle back, and basically nothing from the middle to the front.

I hope Chelsea get Liverpool in the quarters and we smash the ****ing cunts. So three English teams left, two Italian, and one each from Germany, Holland and Spain.

[Frankie]

Celtic are my 2nd team (grandad's supported him since he was young so he passed the proverbial torch onto me). Maldini should of been punished for the handball. Ultimately unlucky for the Celtic.

[Dead Star]

Celtic were pretty unlucky.

I hate them normally but I dont mind seeing Scottish teams doing well. Come on Rangers tonight.

[Frankie]

Mags 4 - 2 AZ Alkmaar

Geordies win 4-2 but AZ get 2 valuable away goals which by the looks of it I'd say AZ will go through. Top scoring team in the compo, and unbeaten at home in 28 (?) european games.

[Britney Diva]

Spurs 3 - 2 Braga

2-0 up, back to 2-2 with a silly penalty and then a goal in the 93rd minute.

[badtaste]

Why is Martins such a gun? 2 goals against Alkmaar.

Borussia Dortmund's German international defender Christoph Metzelder will join Real Madrid on a four-year contract at the end of the season, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

The 26-year-old Metzelder went to Madrid on Tuesday to have a medical and finalise contract details, Bild newspaper continued, adding he would be on an annual salary of four million euros. No transfer fee was given.


Excellent, another career for Real Madrid to ruin.

[poorquality]

Quarter-final draw
AC Milan v Bayern Munich
PSV Eindhoven v LIVERPOOL
Roma v MANCHESTER UNITED
CHELSEA v Valencia


Semi-final draw
CHELSEA or Valencia v PSV Eindhoven or LIVERPOOL
Roma or MANCHESTER UNITED v AC Milan or Bayern Munich

Draws out, Man U managed to avoid the english teams all the way to the final, I see them beating Roma, but don't know about AC or Bayern (Either of those could go through)

[badtaste]

Quarter-final draw
AC Milan v Bayern Munich
PSV Eindhoven v LIVERPOOL
Roma v MANCHESTER UNITED
CHELSEA v Valencia


Semi-final draw
CHELSEA or Valencia v PSV Eindhoven or LIVERPOOL
Roma or MANCHESTER UNITED v AC Milan or Bayern Munich

Draws out, Man U managed to avoid the english teams all the way to the final, I see them beating Roma, but don't know about AC or Bayern (Either of those could go through)

Tips, tips, tips, tips:
AC Milan v Bayern Munich (Kaka can't save Milan all the time)
PSV Eindhoven v Liverpool (I love PSV, and don't love Liverpool)
Roma v Manchester United (Go Cronaldo)
Chelsea v Valencia (The Russian JUGGERNAUT rolls on!)

[angry armadillo]

I am saying Munich, Liverpool, Roma, Chelsea.

Roma Liverpool Final.

Liverpool win :cool:


roma will cheat past Man U's Luck
Munich are dark horses and i think can get past milan
dont really think much of valencia
liverpool already beat PSV and their main focus is this cup so they will go for it

[poorquality]

I hope united lose 1-0 in the first leg.

It'll force us to have to play like we play in the premiership, attacking. I'm sick of how we play in Europe, a team like Lille should of been beaten 3-0 at Old Trafford, with a comfortable display. But we play with the fear of conceding in Europe and it bothers me.

[Cecillianne]

man u's gonna run out luck eventually, i don't see them winning this round. how does their injury situation look atm?

i'm glad liverpool didn't draw another english team, would've been a disaster. eindhoven's a really fantastic draw.

[Frankie]

Tips:
AC Milan v Bayern Munich
PSV Eindhoven v LIVERPOOL
Roma v MANCHESTER UNITED
CHELSEA v Valencia

[poorquality]

I'm gonna go with:

Munich
PSV
Man Utd
Valencia

Just to be different, I can't see all 3 english teams making it to be honest.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Chelsea v Liverpool in the semis, again. Man Utd v Milan. I think it'll be Chelsea v one of those two in Athens. But who knows. Not too fussed by the draw. Although I hate to admit it, I'm glad we missed Manure actually, and Milan.

[badtaste]

Sorry to break Champions League talk but Aussie news:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/us-club-claims-fred-has-joined-it/2007/03/09/1173166986368.html

Hmmm... wouldn't blame him. MLS is probably similar to A-League level, and the money is bigger.

New stolen in bad taste
China forward Dong Fangzhuo could make his Manchester United
debut in Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough.
Yeh, injuries to Saha, Solskjaer, Silvestre, and Fletcher should see him come in. Also, Saha's loan has finished.

Brazil's Roberto Carlos, one of the world's greatest footballers over the past decade, has announced he will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, Marca newspaper reported Friday.
Not sure as to whether he will stay in Europe or head back to Brazil.

Arsenal captain Thierry Henry will miss the rest of the season after suffering groin and stomach injuries during his side's Champions League exit against PSV Eindhoven.
Out for minimum of three months according to Wenger on their website

Other tidbits
- Bobby Charlton praises Cronaldo. "He does things I have never seen anybody else do. And the one thing he does do is he is as tough as hell. If you clatter him, it doesn't bother him too much, he'll carry on. His goal at Fulham was just marvelous and I think he has been a better player than even people here realize."

- Wenger believes an English team will win the Champions League. "I feel all the teams who play against the English sides - Roma, Eindhoven and Valencia - are defensive. I am sure these teams will be happy with a 0-0 in the first leg.

[Lord Abortion]

Hmm...none of the injuries are to real First-teamers though, I would love to see Alan Smith start against Bolton next week, it would be great to see him back again.

The Champions league draw is the best we could have hoped for apart from PSV, obviously. The potential semi-final is much better than facing either Chelsea or Liverpool, to be quite honest.

My throat hurts from saturday lunchtime :D

[poorquality]

I hope Larsson and Smith start upfront today, Larssons last game at United, and Smith just to show everyone what he can do. I've never seen a player with so much dedication and effort for 90 minutes...I just hope he can provide some goals etc. Anyone see his chip goal from near halfway for the utd reserves? :D

[badtaste]

I hope Larsson and Smith start upfront today, Larssons last game at United, and Smith just to show everyone what he can do. I've never seen a player with so much dedication and effort for 90 minutes...I just hope he can provide some goals etc. Anyone see his chip goal from near halfway for the utd reserves? :D

I think Larsson's last game was against Lille 2nd leg. Thus, me old Chinaman might get gametime.

[Lord Abortion]

Nah, Today is Larsson's last game, he goes home on Monday.
I'd like to see what "I have a huge" Dong can do...

[badtaste]

Okay then, my mistake. Must have misread it. Probably was 'last game at old trafford'. GO VIDUKA!

[JumpTheF**kUp]

AC Milan v Bayern Munich
PSV Eindhoven v LIVERPOOL
Roma v MANCHESTER UNITED
CHELSEA v Valencia

My tips.

It's mostly just wishful thinking.

[Lord Abortion]

Hmm...I think we'll beat Roma, fairly strong feeling about that, unfortunately, nothing's a given at this stage, Liverpool must be feeling relieved with their draw, beat Arsenal though they did, PSV are by far the weakest team left in the competition, then a toss-up between Roma, Liverpool and Valencia.

[badtaste]

Hmm...I think we'll beat Roma, fairly strong feeling about that, unfortunately, nothing's a given at this stage, Liverpool must be feeling relieved with their draw, beat Arsenal though they did, PSV are by far the weakest team left in the competition, then a toss-up between Roma, Liverpool and Valencia.

Cool Ghostrider avatar.

Hmmm, it'll be interesting to see PSV and Liverpool play. Both adopted similar strategies in their approaches to their previous games, except that Liverpool were much stronger on the counter. I'm hoping for a PSV win. They have the Aussie touch with Culina there (Kewell's not playing, it doesn't count).

[poorquality]

That was a quality game of football, either side could of won it really, and still can in next weeks replay. Hope the replay is as fun to watch, shame we didn't sneak the winner.

[Minus The Flair]

So Boro 2 - 2 Utd. Good game, good goals. What did people think of the penalty? At first I thought it was harsh, and I'm a United fan, but I suppose technically it is a handball, its two hands, and he really doesnt need to protect his face from that. Thought we deserved to win aswell tbh.

[Britney Diva]

Terrible defending from both sides, but probably a fair result in the end.

[badtaste]

So does the away goals thing count here? Or will it go to penalties if there is another draw? Go the 'Brough! Go Dukes and Schwarzer.

[Frankie]

It'll go to Penaltys

Good game for the neutral, a nail biter for a boro fan.

[poorquality]

Chelsea 1-3 Spurs at half time...i'm saying it now because I fear it'll somehow go in Chelseas favour by fulltime, so i'm enjoying it while it lasts.

They really can't cope defensively without Terry can they

[Dead Star]

Chelsea game is awesome imo.

[poorquality]

3-3 FT See I knew it :(

But what a game it was for the neutral fan

[talk show host]

Chelsea's knack of saving themselves in the last 5 minutes of games is quite remarkable I suppose, if somewhat infuriating. Good game though.

Come on Plymouth, do the west country proud.

[Britney Diva]

It's a mark of their persistence which seems to have come back after deserting them earlier in the season.

[Frankie]

And playing **** for 85 minutes of the game. Dnt forget that

[RandyfromPennywise]

So does the away goals thing count here? Or will it go to penalties if there is another draw? Go the 'Brough! Go Dukes and Schwarzer.

Nah the FA Cup is different. The original match and the replay aren't connected. The replay stands alone, whoever wins on the night goes through. Great game v Spurs. I think we'll win at Three Point Lane too.

[rik]

Spurs - Chelsea was a great game today. At 3-1 I thought Spurs were going to win it, but Chelsea will still not be beaten at Stamford Bridge. I can only wonder how long it will be until they are.

I also watched part of the Plymouth - Watford match. Foster had another great game in goal. He's in amazing form at the moment.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Chelsea have only lost once in a competitive match at the Bridge under Mourinho. That's what the commentators said last night. From memory, the league cup loss to Charlton was at the Bridge, 1-1 after extra time, then we lost 4-5 on penalties, Huth missed the last one. But obviously they weren't counting that. That is a fecking amazing record. Not really talked about that much, but it is arguably the biggest fortress in world football right now.

(And to think, the only Prem match I've been to was the only home draw of last season... :upset:)

[RandyfromPennywise]

I still can't help but absolutely piss myself everytime I see this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWIUp19bBoA

[Lord Abortion]

Superb cup tension all round, the United and Chelsea games were an absolutely perfect advertisement for English football, unless you happen to be an advocate of quality defending, which there was a spectacular lack of, especially from our defence for Boateng's goal.
Penalty was a little harsh but correct, it's instinctive, however, if you have both hands up there, it's a penalty, I'm afraid.

[talk show host]

So the semi-final draw:

Blackburn v Chelsea or Tottenham
Watford v Boro or Man Utd

Looks like a Chelsea - Utd final then. Although I reckon Tottenham can beat Chelsea at WHL.

[angry armadillo]

so long as spurs dont sit back and give chelsea time like they did in the 2nd half, they have plenty of hope of getting through to the final still. especially with home advantage, which boro have aswell.

hopefully the magic of the cup will produce some interesting results but its very easy to say chelski man u final.

[RandyfromPennywise]

HUGE!

I think with Terry back we'll get past the Spurs. They've already beaten us once this year, so, by rights, we have to wait another 30 games before they beat us again :)

Chelsea v Man Utd in the Premiership.
Chelsea v Man Utd in the FA Cup.
Chelsea v Man Utd in the Champions League!?!

Absolutely massive.

[Frankie]

Possibly Randy possibly.

I however am in the inclined to say that it would be good for once to have a final and at a push a winner of the FA cup that wasn't any of the big 4.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Possibly Randy possibly.

I however am in the inclined to say that it would be good for once to have a final and at a push a winner of the FA cup that wasn't any of the big 4.

Yes is true, is true. Boro or Watford winning it would be good for everyone. Actually, Boro moreso. Watford would do stuff all in UEFA Cup, Boro would do something. I'm going for Boro against Man Utd, of course, but I do have quite a soft spot for the Boro. Viduka's been in some of his best form of recent years. And I reckon Schwarz is one of the best penalty-savers in the world.

A Blackburn v Boro final would be pretty cool. I like a lot of players from both teams, and am partial to both.

[talk show host]

Anyone going to watch the Man Utd - European XI match tonight? I'll probably tune in though I doubt it'll be a great game.

Bit of a strange time to hold it really, you'd think they could wait until the end of the season for this. If I was a Utd fan, i'd probably be a bit annoyed to be honest particularly as they're looking quite thin at the moment. Though i'm not sure what team Fergie's planning on fielding.

Still, it'll kill 2 hours.

[Frankie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om_AXb8LCsg

That has gotta be one of the best montage's for a player ever.

[poorquality]

im going to watch it (Man U vs Euro XI) later, i hope ronaldo plays, just to see what mental stuff he tries in an exhibition match.

[rik]

It's a real shame Beckham's not going to take part in that match due to an injury. I bet he's gutted.

[Surtr]

Oh, what time's that game on tonight? And what channel could I catch it on?

[rik]

Great first half, what a free kick that was from Ronaldo. Great goal from Malouda as well.

Second half was boring.

[RandyfromPennywise]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om_AXb8LCsg

That has gotta be one of the best montage's for a player ever.

That was brilliant.

[Lord Abortion]

Oh my, Alan Hansen was right...The look on Canizares' face...

[Frankie]

That was brilliant.

Such a great talent it's a shame about the drinking tho' :(

[badtaste]

Just some news from the reclusive badtaste

UEFA president Michel Platini confirmed he will try and reform the organisation of the Champions League here on Wednesday.

Platini intends mainly to tackle the number of clubs that participate in the tournament coming from the powerhouse leagues of European football which currently leaves little room for the smaller leagues from the continent.


Cristiano Ronaldo, who is in talks to extend his contract at Manchester United, will quit Old Trafford for Real Madrid at the end of the season, Spanish sports daily Marca predicted on Thursday.

"Cristiano Ronaldo will sign for Real Madrid once the season is over," the paper claimed on its front page, a report that will hardly be welcomed by Sir Alex Ferguson.


hehe, good ol speculation...

AZ Alkmaar turned round a 4-2 first leg deficit to sneak through to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals on the away goals rule here on Thursday.

Alkmaar won 2-0 on the night for a 4-4 aggregate score to complete a remarkable turn around having been down 3-0 after just 23 minutes of the away leg.


Dang, Martins' adventures in the UEFA cup finish.

[rik]

I am so dissapointed to have gone out of the UEFA cup, I saw mastodon last night but couldn't enjoy myself after finding out we had been knocked out. Apparently we scored a perfectly good goal but it was disallowed.

[poorquality]

Man Utd 3-0 Bolton at half time, beautiful. Shame Gary Neville is injured :(

[badtaste]

Damn, should have captained Cronaldo (3 assists crazy) for my fantasy team.

GOOD ON PARK FOR SCORING!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! SOUTH KOREA REPRESENT!!!!!!!!!

[Surtr]

Glory Glory UNITED!

:)

Haha

[poorquality]

4-1 Full time

Ronaldo had another blinding game, best player in the world at the moment by far, has to win player of the season surely.

[talk show host]

Sounds like it's horrific injury day today or something. Both Neville and Richards off (lol England), and Hulse has done his leg in by the sounds of it.

Good to see United beat Bolton, now hopefully Reading can get past Portsmouth and close the gap on them.


hahaha Robinson scores against Foster from a freekick.

[Britney Diva]

Ronaldo had another blinding game, best player in the world at the moment
lol no

[poorquality]

lol no

Name one who's currently playing better football than him, and please god don't try and say Ronaldinho as he's been no where near his best. Only player that comes close is Drogba

[Minus The Flair]

Best player in the Premiership for me. And I don't think he's that far off the world, but he's still lacking in areas. There are others better.

And what happened with this Robinson / Foster thing?

[poorquality]

Apparently it was a 70 yard kick, bounced 4 yards infront of Foster, had an extremely awkward bounce which took it past Foster...apparently not his fault. Haven't seen it though

EDIT: and i'm not saying he's the worlds best player ever, I'm just saying as of this moment in time he is the worlds best performer in terms of form

[Minus The Flair]

Hahahaha, I like Foster, and would usually hate something like that to happen, but that sounds too funny. All I saw on skysportsonline commentsry thing was that Robinson scored from a freekick over 35 yards out and I was like woah.

[Dead Star]

Paul Robinson lmao

[Britney Diva]

Name one who's currently playing better football than him, and please god don't try and say Ronaldinho as he's been no where near his best. Only player that comes close is Drogba
Paul Scholes.

EDIT: and i'm not saying he's the worlds best player ever, I'm just saying as of this moment in time he is the worlds best performer in terms of form
But he's not. Scholes has been on fire all season, Ronaldo's had great games and atrocious games.

[poorquality]

I still stick by Ronaldo, simply because without Scholes in the team we're still playing really well, and that is down to Ronaldo, 3 assists today alone. I think we'd suffer more if we lost him than Scholes right now

[JumpTheF**kUp]

Hulse's broken ankle looks really bad.


I had Paul Robinson on my dream team :D


Got to feel sorry for Foster though.

[badtaste]

Cronaldo kicks ***. He kicks goals, he makes goals. What more DO YOU WANT?!

[RandyfromPennywise]

Paul Scholes.


But he's not. Scholes has been on fire all season, Ronaldo's had great games and atrocious games.

Don't agree. While Scholes is having one of the best seasons he's had for a few years, Ronaldo has dominated a number of games this year. For mine, he's been your best player this season. Without him (his goals and assists in particular) I doubt that you'd be six points clear. In fact, I'd go as far to say that if Richardson or whoever had played the same amount as Ronaldo, and Ronaldo as much as Richardson, you wouldn't be top of the league, by a long shot. He's earnt you a sh*tload of points, off his own back. You can't that to the same extent with Scholesy.

I'd say that the three best players this season in the Premiership have been Ronaldo, Drogba and Essien, but I'm probably biased towards Chelsea. Rooney, Scholes, Fabregas, and some others have all had very good seasons to date.

Nice goal from Sheva last night. I was actually more impressed with that first touch on the knee - it couldn't have been more perfect, it was exactly what he wanted. Great touch. Oh and f*ck me, I grow to hate Arjen Robben more everytime I watch him.

No one successfully named a better defender than John Terry by the way (Gareth Barry; for one, isn't really a defender, and, two, is certainly not better than John Terry). So JT is the best then, eh?

Looks like Parma are going down this year. Very, very sad. Such a great club with so many former great players. Many of my favourite players have played for this great club. Forza Parma. Vinnie Grella's going to have to find a new club. That'll be interesting. Hope he moves to a big club like he deserves, and shows everyone just how good of a defensive mid he really is (i.e. in the top bracket of defensive mids in the world).

My brother went to the Man United game yesterday, then got straight on a train to Blackburn and went to the Rovers - Hammers game.

[badtaste]

Don't agree. While Scholes is having one of the best seasons he's had for a few years, Ronaldo has dominated a number of games this year. For mine, he's been your best player this season. Without him (his goals and assists in particular) I doubt that you'd be six points clear. In fact, I'd go as far to say that if Richardson or whoever had played the same amount as Ronaldo, and Ronaldo as much as Richardson, you wouldn't be top of the league, by a long shot. He's earnt you a sh*tload of points, off his own back. You can't that to the same extent with Scholesy.

I'd say that the three best players this season in the Premiership have been Ronaldo, Drogba and Essien, but I'm probably biased towards Chelsea. Rooney, Scholes, Fabregas, and some others have all had very good seasons to date.

Nice goal from Sheva last night. I was actually more impressed with that first touch on the knee - it couldn't have been more perfect, it was exactly what he wanted. Great touch. Oh and f*ck me, I grow to hate Arjen Robben more everytime I watch him.

No one successfully named a better defender than John Terry by the way (Gareth Barry; for one, isn't really a defender, and, two, is certainly not better than John Terry). So JT is the best then, eh?

Looks like Parma are going down this year. Very, very sad. Such a great club with so many former great players. Many of my favourite players have played for this great club. Forza Parma. Vinnie Grella's going to have to find a new club. That'll be interesting. Hope he moves to a big club like he deserves, and shows everyone just how good of a defensive mid he really is (i.e. in the top bracket of defensive mids in the world).


Plus Cronaldo is way cooooler than Ginger scholes. haha.

Let's look at fantasy football stats (yeh, not too great for judgement, but just a clinical viewpoint):
Defenders »
Carragher 128
Taylor 128
Finnan 128
Campbell 124
Lescott 123
Carvalho 123
Dunne 119

Midfielders
Cronaldo 211
Lampard 182
Gerrard 150
Arteta 136
Fabregas 128
Speed 125
Sidwell 123
Essien 122

Forwards
Rooney 149
Drogba 146
Yakubu 125
Berbatov 122

Interpret how you will.

Yeh, hope Grella joins a decent team. Bresciano's Palermo also haven't won a game in a while.

[Britney Diva]

I still stick by Ronaldo, simply because without Scholes in the team we're still playing really well, and that is down to Ronaldo, 3 assists today alone. I think we'd suffer more if we lost him than Scholes right now
It's partly down to Ronaldo, yeah.

Without him (his goals and assists in particular) I doubt that you'd be six points clear. In fact, I'd go as far to say that if Richardson or whoever had played the same amount as Ronaldo, and Ronaldo as much as Richardson, you wouldn't be top of the league, by a long shot. He's earnt you a sh*tload of points, off his own back.
I agree, but the same is true for Scholes. And Scholes is better because he does it every week while carrying that deadweight Carrick on his shoulders.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Ha, you are correct - Carrick is a passenger. He rarely makes anything happen and just isn't involved enough. And even when he is, it's not generally quality involvement. He's ok, but I wouldn't have thought he's a) quality enough to be starting centre-mid for one of the biggest and best clubs in the world, and b) worth £18m. Spurs was his level.

[Britney Diva]

I think Martin Jol is still laughing about that one, to be honest. He had a good partnership with Jenas at Spurs but without each other (or rather, without Davids) they've stunk royally.

[badtaste]

Ha, you are correct - Carrick is a passenger. He rarely makes anything happen and just isn't involved enough. And even when he is, it's not generally quality involvement. He's ok, but I wouldn't have thought he's a) quality enough to be starting centre-mid for one of the biggest and best clubs in the world, and b) worth £18m. Spurs was his level.

Yes indeed. When MU buy Hargreaves, it will make Carrick's life (Park's as well) more interesting.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Yes indeed. When MU buy Hargreaves, it will make Carrick's life (Park's as well) more interesting.

But I don't think Hargreaves is the answer either. What you need is the midfield you had 8 years ago. Beckham-Keane-Scholes-Giggs, with Butty floating around as well, and some nice subs. You should buy someone like Essien, he would be immense at Man Utd (as he is immense at Chelsea, the best centre-mid in the league this year for mine (yes Scholesy has been good too :p )). Obviously he's not an option, but you need someone like Lampard, Gerrard, Essien, one of those top guys. Gattuso, I think you might've missed your opportunity there, he was the one. If you had that in your centre-midfield with Ronnie, Roonie, Giggie and whoever else roaming ahead of them, you'd be pretty good. Meh, I guess you're not doing too badly at the moment.

[badtaste]

But I don't think Hargreaves is the answer either. What you need is the midfield you had 8 years ago. Beckham-Keane-Scholes-Giggs, with Butty floating around as well, and some nice subs. You should buy someone like Essien, he would be immense at Man Utd (as he is immense at Chelsea, the best centre-mid in the league this year for mine (yes Scholesy has been good too :p )). Obviously he's not an option, but you need someone like Lampard, Gerrard, Essien, one of those top guys. Gattuso, I think you might've missed your opportunity there, he was the one. If you had that in your centre-midfield with Ronnie, Roonie, Giggie and whoever else roaming ahead of them, you'd be pretty good. Meh, I guess you're not doing too badly at the moment.

Yeh, it's not like MU are getting flogged. Hmm, c'mon, Hargreaves is a good player, not the best, but perhaps he would or could fit in the MU lineup. Scholesy and Giggs are on the way out methinks (both are in their 30s yes?). Yeh, the players you listed probably aren't going to be moving, so best to look for youngsters methinks. Maybe nab someone from the Barcelona or Ajax junior academies.

[angry armadillo]

you could do with someone like fernando gago who unfortunatley has just signed for real madrid, he is an upcoming argentine (defensive) centre mid, who will fill that position for the next 10 years!


liverpool did their usual, and couldnt put the ball in the net.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Gago, man that guy's had some wraps on him. Yeah a signing like that would be the best for Manure. But, it's always hard to find someone who's young, but ready for first-team football. Arsenal found the best one, the Fab Fabregas. He is unbelievable. He kind of goes unnoticed, we forget that he is ridiculously young. He could be at the top for another 15 years. And he's getting better all the time.

EDIT: Massively pumped for tonight/tomorrow morning. Lamps and Drog to score. 3-2 or something good like that.

[angry armadillo]

i hope spurs dont make the same mistake as last time and give chelsea time to play, they had it otherwise, bit flukey to get 3-1 but should be a close game seeing as its at white hart lane this time.

robinson to score! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PFmFnSPqGI

[rik]

Chelsea win 2-1. What a goal by Shevchenko, Wright-Phillips' goal wasn't bad either.

[Minus The Flair]

United win 1 - 0 through a Ronaldo penalty. Which I think was a penalty, but I'm biased. Hmmm. Rooney looked really off today, and I got so pissed off when he reacted to Morrison when he already go a red card and Rooney was on a yellow.

[poorquality]

That lunge at the end was shocking...no such thing as graceful in defeat anymore.

Definate penalty from the angle I caught on the replay, caught his right ankle.

[Britney Diva]

They had an angle from behind Schwarzer on Sky News and it quite clearly shows there was more than a little bit of contact.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Yeah but you say every penalty Manure get is a penalty...

Seriously, if I was Mourinho, I would be so angry at Carvalho. It is not acceptable for a fully-fledged international, professional Football player to give away a penalty because he didn't use the proper leg to slide tackle. It is a joke. It is basic stuff. If you know how to slide tackle with your right leg, you learn how to do it with your let leg too. For Carvalho to slide in with his right leg when the ball was in front of him and to the right was ridiculous. Completely a penalty in my book. If he used his left leg, he'd've won the ball. Poor defending.

Basically my take on the game is that the pace was pretty high, and the passing was poor. There were basically no prolonged periods of possession. Lennon, although he didn't play well, is probably one of the best players in the world at beating the first defender. He does it with such ease. He skipped past Diarra about five times. But the young Frenchman did play well. Lamps got through a lot of work.

My satelite dropped out in the 90th minute so I didn't see any of the afters. I heard some fan came on to the pitch to have a go at Lamps...???

[poorquality]

Yeah but you say every penalty Manure get is a penalty...


Only the ones I know are penalties ;) I never said the one against Boro in the prem was one. If there's clearly no contact I won't try and defend the player who's gone down regardless of who I support and who did it.

To say this one wasn't you would have to be blind or just arrogant.

[badtaste]

http://images.sportinglife.com/07/03/330/FrankLampardpitchinvader_208535.jpg

Fan tried to attack Lamps while he was celebrating. Lampard pulled out the gungfu duck.

Oh, bad luck to Middlesbrough. Really wanted them to go through.

[Frankie]

That fan having a lunge at lamps made me lol.

With the morrison incident I feel sorry for him. It was a rash challenge no malice in it at all, from my point of view I thought he was just trying to win the ball back to mount another attack but it was a red card.

And aparently Neil Warnock has branded Soughgate a disgrace for the simple fact he dropped 2 players for the Man City game :lol:

[coventrydrummer]

Changing the subject slightly.

The Sky Blues are on the up!!! Adeola and Mifsud up front, with Tabb and Birchall on the wings, with Hawkins and Ward at the back.

What a team. Expect Man Utd at the Ricoh in a few seasons! :D

SKY BLUE ARMY!!!

[rik]

That fan having a lunge at lamps made me lol.

Haha same, a part of me would've like to see him not move out the way in time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cHXHWf0qEQ

You can see it quite well there, it gets put in slow motion. Though Mourinho is in the way a bit.

[Minus The Flair]

"Now the league date has been confirmed for 9th May - meaning there is a possibility that they (United and Chelsea) will meet three times in just two weeks, if they make the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League also."

That will be an interesting fortnight.

[badtaste]

"Now the league date has been confirmed for 9th May - meaning there is a possibility that they (United and Chelsea) will meet three times in just two weeks, if they make the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League also."

That will be an interesting fortnight.

Interesting indeed. Two powerhouse clubs to slug it out in potentially three rounds.

About that fan attacking Lamps, it was funny when they eventually gang tackled him. Must have been scary to have a naked Didier Drogba standing over you, knowing that he has a powerful kick.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Only the ones I know are penalties ;) I never said the one against Boro in the prem was one. If there's clearly no contact I won't try and defend the player who's gone down regardless of who I support and who did it.

To say this one wasn't you would have to be blind or just arrogant.

Yeah, haven't actually seen it, was just ribbin' ya.

Like I said before, I didn't actually get to see any of the shi after the Chelsea - Spurs game, my satelite dropped out in the 90th minute. Those were ugly scenes. Fan v Fan violence I don't really have a problem with, but attacking the players, that's a bit rich. Lampard's just doing what he gets paid to do, and this clown comes on and tries to king-hit him. If he was wearing a shirt with three lions on it he'd be cheering for him, but here he tries to punch him. Just on that, seriously all the top-line footballers are so buff and strong, taking them on is really going to be a tough ask. Although I reckon I could flatten Robben without using any limbs, but that's not for here. This clip actually shows the Lampard duck quite well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1J8C2T9MHI&mode=related&search=

He left it right to the last seconds did old Lampo, good foot speed though. Maybe he could be a good middle-weight?

The best bit - which you can see in the other link that rik posted - is when JT goes over to the other fan who ran on. It looks as though he would've kicked-off with the twat if there wasn't other people around (and the prospect of jeopardising his captaincies etc.). JT is such a legend, I wouldn't want anyone else to captain the club I support. What do fans of other teams think of him? And I'm still yet to hear anyone put forth a substantiated argument for anyone other than him being the best defender in the world.

Adelaide United, good victory in Vietnam just now, 2-0 over Long Bok Dam Tan Nim Van Lin Ba or something. We are a real chance of going through to the next stage now if we can beat the South Korean team in two weeks' time at Hindmarsh. Sydney drew 2-2 with Urawa Red Diamonds, which is a pretty good result, seeing as Urawa are considered one of the strongest teams in all of Asia.

Looking forward to Australia v China on Saturday night. It's so good to have football on at a reasonable hour, 6.30pm kick-off for me. Great way to start a saturday night, watching the boys beat China.

EDIT: MASSIVE FAIR-PLAY to Rui Faria, our fitness coach. What a good tackle on the clown w