Euro 2008 (Official LOL Vidic Thread)

[sgrevs]

A defender who was close by could have said something.

[sadtaste]

The striker was carefully hiding behind the goalkeeper.

[poorquality]

THe treble dream is over...Rio in goal for a pen :|

[sgrevs]

Watched the first half and it was great, very entertaining - did Van der Sar get subbed at half time? Why was Kuzczczack in goal? It's been all United, it'll be undeserving but not altogether surprising in Pompey win it.

[talk show host]

It's Ferdinand in goal now lol. Dodgy red card though I hear.

[sgrevs]

It looked a bit dodgy to me, contact was absolutely minimal and the fall was a bit late too.

[dei]

It's noisy on a football pitch dei.

We have hands.

[poorquality]

Yeah Der Sar was injured, Kuzsack or however you spell it came on, got sent off, rio in goal, portsmouth scored the pen and for some reason settled for a 1-0 :/ when surely any team would of had 30 yard shots against a 10 man team with a defender in goal?

Either way we dominated the **** out of them...should of had one pen, and well...if you don't take your chances this is what happens.

[Spiney_Norman]

Pompey were very lucky then, Man U supposedly should have had a pen earlier in the game...

[talk show host]

So who plays in goal in Utd's next game if VDS is injured? Foster's not back yet is he?

[sgrevs]

Yeah agreed, def should have been a pen. The commentators on ESPN disagreed though, and said it was a good decision by the ref which I couldn't understand. Yes, I know, ESPN commentators are always retarded, one of them was Shaka Hislop.

[The_Passenger]

Yeah Der Sar was injured, Kuzsack or however you spell it came on, got sent off, rio in goal, portsmouth scored the pen and for some reason settled for a 1-0 :/ when surely any team would of had 30 yard shots against a 10 man team with a defender in goal?


if the shots were saved/had missed it would've given Man Utd more counter-attack oppurtunities.

at any rate most teams would be delighted with a 0-1 against Man Utd, I wasn't surprised that Pompey were running towards the corner every chance they got.

[2muchket!]

Good win for pompey and certainly throws the compo wide open. I thought boro would ccertainly lose if we played Utd, but chelsea is a different story :D

Bring on Cardiff, shame I couldnt get tickets for the game :\

Going to the Derby home so thats alreeet a suppose.

[poorquality]

if the shots were saved/had missed it would've given Man Utd more counter-attack oppurtunities.

at any rate most teams would be delighted with a 0-1 against Man Utd, I wasn't surprised that Pompey were running towards the corner every chance they got.

Yeah true I guess, but I kept thinking all the opportunities they had where they decided to run it into the corner, they would of been better off having a shot, a couple freekicks would of troubled Rio no doubt..would of been worth getting a second goal, as it was there was always danger of us equalising every time we broke.

[talk show host]

Really glad with the 3 points today. Out of the relegation zone and hopefully the start of some better form. Bolton have some horrible fixtures left this season so I reckon (and hope) that they'll get the 18th spot.

p.s go barnsley!

[rik]

'This is what the FA cup is all about!'

Woner how many times i'm gonna hear that in the next couple of days.

[Spiney_Norman]

^Many, many times. Great results though (if you're supporting the underdogs) - the cup is wide open now; anyone could win it really.

[sgrevs]

Nice win for Liverpool, more terrible form for the Toon.

Glad to see Barnsley destroying more Premier League giants. I want Boro to win it though I think.

[Ganondorf]

I support West Brom, we SHOULD beat Bristol today

[sadtaste]

How was Ferdinand as a keeper?

[talk show host]

Not sure he had a save to make other than the penalty. He dived the right way for that though!

[sadtaste]

Not sure he had a save to make other than the penalty. He dived the right way for that though!

Haha yeah, I saw a photo of that moment and I thought: "Hey, not bad if he dived the right way" :p

[Spiney_Norman]

Nice to see Ferguson's still a bitter old man - blaming everyone and everything but his team (even though there were some pretty bad decisions). He should really grow up.

[poorquality]

Nice to see Ferguson's still a bitter old man - blaming everyone and everything but his team (even though there were some pretty bad decisions). He should really grow up.

To be fair he did say we didn't take our chances, he couldn't exactly blame the performance as we were above and beyond Portsmouth for the whole game (We still looked more like scoring than they did when we were down to 10 with a makeshift goalie (who as said before, wasn't even tested while he was in goal other than the pen) )

Even though, as a Utd fan I wish Fergie wouldn't come out and say these things, granted I agree with him for the most part (Refs should get assessed as they can make horrid decisions too, not just against united), and also the protecting Ronaldo bit, I agree in the sense it should apply to all the flair players, I thought it was pretty clear Portsmouth had been told to keep check on Ronnie for the match, before the pen incident someone ran into him exactly the same as the pen, just this time a freekick was given (consistancy of the ref?).

But meh, all players do need more protection, I'm not saying make this a non contact sport obviously, but some challenges are just wreckless (I would have sent Rooney off for his jump lunge when he lost the ball, don't care if he connected or not, that sort of challenge is a leg breaker and deliberate).

I like crunching tackles, win the ball and let the opposition player know what you're about. But come on, running into someone to throw them off the ball without making an attempt to the get ball? That's not exactly a good tackle. Double footed studs up lunges? Make me cringe.

There's a difference between a brilliant physical tackle, and plain out maliciousness. I want the maliciousness out, and I believe Blatter when he said we have no respect for refs we see week in week out, while in Europe they are better and more respected.

Hope someone atleast agrees with me here.

EDIT: I forgot to say my reasoning why I didn't like Fergie coming out with it even though I tend to agree...ahem went off on one there...well simply put, nothing will get done about it, he'll get a slap on the wrist and a fine for saying what he said, but nothing will be done to assess what is a problem admitted even by the head of the FA and that's refereeing standards, all over the english leagues, not just in this one game.

[2muchket!]

losing 2-0 and playing ****in bad

[Echleon]

Hahaha get in Cardiff!

Going Uni there next year hopefully, so if they get into UEFA it will be epic!

[rik]

****. Wigan get a draw against Arsenal and go above Newcastle.

We really need to win our next two games. Birmingham away and Fulham at home.

[dei]

So Arsenal played like **** today. I don't understand how a team can do well against Milan and then draw Wigan. Why are they doing so poorly now in the Premiership? They're going to lose their position to Man Utd., I can feel it.

It was good to see VP back on the pitch even if he did have two very poor shots.

[Ganondorf]

boing boing

[poorquality]

Interesting little tidbit I heard on another forum, apparently if Cardiff win the FA Cup, they won't be allowed into Europe.

Because they are registered with the Welsh FA, they are not allowed to represent England in any European competitions, and since winning the English FA Cup puts you into an English spot, they won't be allowed to compete.

Not sure how much of it's truth, but funny if it's true.

[Iai]

Serves the bastards right.

[2muchket!]

Interesting little tidbit I heard on another forum, apparently if Cardiff win the FA Cup, they won't be allowed into Europe.

Because they are registered with the Welsh FA, they are not allowed to represent England in any European competitions, and since winning the English FA Cup puts you into an English spot, they won't be allowed to compete.

Not sure how much of it's truth, but funny if it's true.

lmao

if thats true cardiff are so pwnt

[Ganondorf]

I don't think it is, they play in an English Legaue so are presuambly signed up with the FA.

WBA got Pompey, suppsoe if we were gonna win we'd have to beat them eventually.

[poorquality]

I don't think it is, they play in an English Legaue so are presuambly signed up with the FA.

WBA got Pompey, suppsoe if we were gonna win we'd have to beat them eventually.

Hm I don't know, they've won the FA Cup before and didn't get into Europe.

Though they have got into the UEFA Cup winners Cup after winning the Welsh Cup for a few years, got to the Semi's aswell...but now they can't get into Europe that way.

[sgrevs]

Inter vs. Liverpool prediction:
1-0

[talk show host]

I can't see Liverpool having too much of a problem tonight. Especially if they can grab a goal, Inter will have no chance.

Maybe a 1-1 or 2-1 Inter I dunno. I reckon Liverpool can score with Materazzi out though.

[Dave de Sylvia]

I dunno, with the exception of Torres Liverpool are still rotten in front of goal. They only created two chances against 10 men defending on their line the last time out. If Inter take the game to them, it could be interesting. It'll probably just be 0-0 though.

[rik]

Italian fans piss me off so much with their ****ing whistling. So annoying.

[sgrevs]

Torreeeesss!!!

What a screamer!

[Dave de Sylvia]

(We still looked more like scoring than they did when we were down to 10 with a makeshift goalie (who as said before, wasn't even tested while he was in goal other than the pen) )
Not the first time he hasn't been tested, amirite?

Switched on the stream of the Liverpool just in time to see Torres score.

[sgrevs]

Erm, I'm pretty sure it was poorquality who said that and not me. But I like the joke anyway.

Torres is god. 4 English teams in the quarter finals, pretty outrageous stuff.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Oops, damn all-lower case names! :mad:

[Ganondorf]

Well done to Liverpool, anyone think the English teams can all avoid each other in the draw?

[Dave de Sylvia]

I bet Chelsea will draw Liverpool.

[Pastorius]

I want to find highlights of the Liverpool game, haven't got Sky Sports and couldn't be bothered going down pub.

[sgrevs]

I bet Chelsea will draw Liverpool.

This.

I want to find highlights of the Liverpool game, haven't got Sky Sports and couldn't be bothered going down pub.

You should see Torres' goal, it was a cracker.

[Iai]

Man U vs. Fenerbache
Chelsea vs. Liverpool
Arsenal vs. Schalke
Roma vs. Barcelona

Dunno, just have a feeling. The draw's on Friday, isn't it?

[Pastorius]

This.



You should see Torres' goal, it was a cracker.

Just saw the highlights on dailymotion, lovely goal, well taken, he's really shaping up to be one of the best in the world for a long time.

[Iai]

That Martin O'Neill quote about Zlatan Ibrahimovic is doing the rounds a lot today, I see.

[Pastorius]

What quote is this?

[Iai]

At the last world cup, Martin O'Neil basically took every opportunity he possibly could to say that Ibrahimovic is the most over-rated player in the world. It got a little tiresome, actually, but pretty much every time I've seen him play he's been mediocre.

[Dave de Sylvia]

I think he only scores when nobody's watching. Which is pretty much the state of Serie A right now.

[2muchket!]

Yeah. Roma are trying to do there best to make the title race less monotonous but its still dull. I've never been a fan of the style of play in Serie A tho'

[Iai]

The football is so bad in Serie A that there are now two Middlesbrough fans posting in a row complaining about it!

[Pastorius]

Ha, burrrrrrrn.

If it's worse than Southgate's nose, it's pretty bad!

[poorquality]

Sweet that information I gave ye was accurate

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/7292287.stm

Hope they win it and UEFA step in to allow them in. I mean if Liverpool got into Europe for winning it when they didn't qualify, surely the winner of a cup has to be allowed to defend their trophy (or in this case, reap the benefits that come with winning it. )(I agree with the stand on L'pool by the way).

[rik]

Sweet, get in Pompey. Don't really like Portsmouth, but as long as Birmingham don't get the points...

[2muchket!]

Wow bad week for boro fans. From what my dad said as well it deffo wasnt a penalty.

[rik]

Haha, Chimbonda with a shocking penalty. I knew he'd miss, Spurs out the UEFA.

[talk show host]

Everton too.

Haha, I hate penalty shootouts. Even listening on the radio I was getting tense and I don't even particularly like either team.

[Pastorius]

Poor Chimbonda, bad penalty, I wanted Spurs to go through, they play exciting football on their day.

[Kif]

Everton should have got a third goal. They missed so many chances. Still sucks that they went out on penalties though.

[Dead Star]

Wait what Kif watches football?

Motherwell got beat tonight, I don't think we'll go to Europe next season now.

Shame Spurs and Everton are out of Europe too.

[Happy]

Man Spurs deserved to win. Stupid Jenas.

[The_Passenger]

Ibrahimovic seems a "big-game bottler" more than just a plain mediocre player to me. However his main fault is not scoring enough goals, I think he's got 11 from open play. He sets up a lot but that still probably isn't enough to justify the way Internazionale fans drool over him and that he's apparently the 2nd highest paid player in Serie A now.

Sucks that Everton and Tottenham and Everton went out on penalties but given it was Everton's fault for giving themselves such a mountain to climb from the first leg. Sounds liek it was a similar situation for Tottenham but I didn't see that game.

Does anyone know what's happening with this Gretna situation? If they do have to shut down what happens? Do no SPL teams get relgated? Or do two get First Division teams get promoted?

[Dave de Sylvia]

Wow bad week for boro fans. From what my dad said as well it deffo wasnt a penalty.
It could have gone either way, I think. It wasn't intentional, but it definitely hit his arm and denied Villa a scoring opportunity.

Man Spurs deserved to win. Stupid Jenas.
As soon as he missed, I knew Spurs were going out. I was stunned when Zakora scored, but Chimbonda was a certain miss.

[Kif]

Wait what Kif watches football?

Motherwell got beat tonight, I don't think we'll go to Europe next season now.

Shame Spurs and Everton are out of Europe too.
Lol always been into football, just casually really though.

[Dead Star]

Does anyone know what's happening with this Gretna situation? If they do have to shut down what happens? Do no SPL teams get relgated? Or do two get First Division teams get promoted?

As far as I know, all of the matches involving Gretna. will become void, and the points gained from these matches deducted. Which would put Motherwell 6 points behind 3rd, stupid Dundee Utd losing to them twice.

There wouldn't be any relegation from the SPL, and the First Division team would be promoted as normal.

Absolute nightmare end to the fairytale club. No chance of supporting SPL football in a town with just over 2,000 inhabitants.

[sgrevs]

As far as I know, all of the matches involving Gretna will become void, and the points gained from these matches deducted. Which would put Motherwell 6 points behind 3rd, stupid Dundee Utd losing to them twice.


What exactly is the Gretna situation?

[munky_magik]

As far as I know, all of the matches involving Gretna. will become void, and the points gained from these matches deducted. Which would put Motherwell 6 points behind 3rd, stupid Dundee Utd losing to them twice.

There wouldn't be any relegation from the SPL, and the First Division team would be promoted as normal.

Absolute nightmare end to the fairytale club. No chance of supporting SPL football in a town with just over 2,000 inhabitants.

I think this is pretty much it as it stands, unless they can raise an awful lot of money to face Aberdeen away. Well, I assume Gretna aren't playing in the SPL next year so they count as relegated?
If this stands it puts Celtic level on points with Rangers but Rangers will have two games in hand.

Anyway, cracking result for the Gers in europe. What a way to take a pounding :)

[angry armadillo]

anyone know where i can stream video footage of the euro draws?

[sgrevs]

Champs League draw:

Liverpool v Arsenal thrice in one week. Crazy ****. Liverpool will go through to the semis but Arsenal will win in the league.

Man Utd v Roma - just like last season they will win 7-1.

Chelsea v Fenerbahce, easy choice there, 2nd leg at Stamford Bridge as well.

Barcelona v Schalke, easy choice again I think.

[poorquality]

Woop Champs League draw is out.

Champions League quarter-final draw:
1 Arsenal v Liverpool
2 AS Roma v Man Utd
3 Schalke 04 v FC Barcelona
4 Fenerbahce v Chelsea

Champions League semi-final draw:
1 Arsenal/Liverpool v Fenerbahce/Chelsea
2 Schalke/Barcelona v AS Roma/Man Utd

I can see United making it to the final. But we would have to take Barca out...which on our day I think we're fully capable of.

[sgrevs]

It's gonna be Liverpool v Chelsea semi again.

[Iai]

Kinda gay.

The way it sits there it looks like whoever wins the second semi will probably win the whole thing. Man U vs. Barca could be an epic.

Also, I wouldn't be too certain about Chelsea beating Fenerbache. Just saying.

[rik]

I'm already looking forward to Man Utd - Barca.

Kind of disrespectful to Roma/Schalke but whatever.

[Iai]

Schalke have some really good players (I like Kuranyi, Rafinha, and Pander particularly) but they're lacking in key areas, methinks. They're the kind of team that's a little too good for the UEFA Cup and not quite good enough for the latter stages of the Champions League.

[Dave de Sylvia]

i.e. an Italian club

[Iai]

I wish it could be like the 1940s when the Italians players just transferred to whatever team looked most like winning.

[sgrevs]

i.e. an Italian club

Or Sevilla.

[The_Passenger]

Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and Man Utd through to the semis for me. I'll probably be horribly wrong like I was last time though. Arsenal - Liverpool wil be tight, but I fancy Arsenal to do it over two legs, Barcelona should have enough to beat Schalke even if the Catalans aren't playing that well at the moment, Chelsea will probably scrape through a tie they should win more comfortably and Man Utd should get past Roma without too many problems but I'm not expecting another 7-1.

[poorquality]

Hm apparently there's a rumour going about that the Draw was rigged.

http://forums.icnorthwest.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=33755&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

The rumoured draw is the same as the actual draw, I dunno, if it's true then there's no reason to think any previous draw was legitimate. But it's probably false, hopefully.

[Timm]

the weird thing is: the bookies refused to accept bets on the draw when the rumour got public =|

[talk show host]

It's kind of interesting but if it was a fix I'm having trouble seeing what the intention is or what uefa have actually achieved with this draw?

I think the most interesting tie is Arsenal-Liverpool anyway. I could see it going either way really. Chelsea could stumble too I suppose depending which side shows up.

I'd love to see a Utd - Liverpool final though, have to admit.

[Timm]

I'd love to see a Utd - Liverpool final though, have to admit.
:yawn:

that's at least twice a year anyway...

FC Barcelona - Man U all the way!

[Dave de Sylvia]

It's a shame we won't have a Utd - Barcelona final.

[Timm]

why not?

:(

[Dave de Sylvia]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League_2007-08#Semi-finals

Winner of Barca-Schalke will play winner of Utd-Roma

[talk show host]

****ing hell, Matejovsky's goal was great.

[poorquality]

Well that game was more difficult than it should of been, Derby really made a solid effort, but that boy again, 31 goals now, incredible.

Foster had a good debut too, few quality saves to keep Derby from scoring.

EDIT:

It's kind of interesting but if it was a fix I'm having trouble seeing what the intention is or what uefa have actually achieved with this draw?

Well I don't know why they would of, but I think this draw pretty much guarentee's an English team in the final, as long as Chelsea win it's a guarentee, and Chelsea got one of the easier opponents out of the lot.

[2muchket!]

Come on boro, ali comes back and scores. He really has been excellent for us this season.

[rustysurf84]

Clichy's bleeding on Mido's tackle looked pretty nasty

[Dave de Sylvia]

All blood injuries look nasty. I think he'll be OK as even Wenger had to admit that he'll live, which is surely a good sign.

That Reading goal was an absolute monster. Coppell's obviously been doing his homework, and Benitez has yet to learn from Tevez's goal at Anfield (which was at the second attempt, I might add.)

Chelsea lucky to escape with all 3 points. Arsenal unlucky not to take all 3 I thought. Southgate completely bottled it, demonstrating once again what a bad manager he is.

Mido shouldn't have been sent off. Mark Halsey once again shows off his ability to become the centre of attention in any game. Red card should be revoked, but it won't and he'll probably serve 4 games, unless Southgate gets scared and decides not to appeal, which is probably what will happen.

[VomitStainedCretin]

Defoe on the board again and we leapfrog Villa; sweet.

[sgrevs]

Torres is unstoppable.

I didn't actually realise until just now, but Chelsea are right up there with United and Arsenal. This could be a super close race at the end, and I hope it will be. Also will be the same situation at the bottom in the relegation battle.

[talk show host]

United and Arsenal still have to go to Stamford Bridge too (I think?) so it's going to be a good end to the season.

[Iai]

Chelsea lucky to escape with all 3 points. Arsenal unlucky not to take all 3 I thought. Southgate completely bottled it, demonstrating once again what a bad manager he is.
Southgate's record against Wenger is two wins and two draws.

Yeah, totally a sign of a bad manager.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Well he's a bad manager taking into account matches not against Arsenal.

[The_Passenger]

How did Southgate bottle it? I thought that Middlesbrough defended well throughout, although I will agree Arsenal were slightly unfortunate.

[2muchket!]

We were very good yesterday I thought, was bloody clear we missed ali.

But yeah it was a sending off, no doubt if we appeal again the FA will go nuts again stupid pricks.

[poorquality]

hm I didn't think it was a sending off, you see high feet all the time and they're called as non bookable fouls (most of the time), this one accidentally connected, i'd say a yellow at most.

It was funny for the last half hour or so, everytime they showed Southgate all you could see him doing was telling people to go deeper and deeper, now while 1-0 away to the Arse is a great result, to try and hold on so much and play so deep was bound to go wrong.

I mean everytime they got the ball they hoofed it clear, to Arsenal players as they had no one up field, they needed to get and keep possession, pass it around to waste time, hell they might of even got a second before the sending off by playing a counter attacking style.

That's how I interpret people saying Southgate bottled it anyway, the amount of pressure Arsenal were allowed to apply, it was inevitable they would get a goal.

[The_Passenger]

I can't see how there can be debate about the Mido incident, he kicked Clichy in the head, whether he meant to do it or not, it's dangerous play (and thus a red card) even if he didn't connect.

I spose Boro did themselves no favours by dropping deeper and and depper but I think they were doing the right thing (for them to get a result anyway) by defending. They just needed to do it higher up the pitch.

[rik]

I dunno, when playing Arsenal, it seems the higher up you play the more easily they will play the ball around you and penetrate the defence.

You could see they were having trouble getting through the defence when Boro' packed out their own box.

[Dave de Sylvia]

How did Southgate bottle it? I thought that Middlesbrough defended well throughout, although I will agree Arsenal were slightly unfortunate.
They defended very well, but they had 11 men behind the ball for an hour. At no point did Southgate tell his frontmen (lol there were no frontmen) to hold up the ball for a while and take the pressure of the defence- they just invited Arsenal to attack for the entire rest of the game, and in the end Arsenal's persistence and endeavour paid off. The brutal tactics probably reached their most ridiculous point when, straight from the kick off, Mido booted the ball into touch like a rugby player.

[Iai]

I can't believe that a tactic that gets a draw at the Emirates for a side in the bottom half of the table could ever be considered bad.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Because Middlesbrough were winning before he changed the tactics and then after he did they weren't winning anymore.

[sadtaste]

Yah, let's not forget that Boro were leading, the game was in their hands. So Boro didn't get the draw, it was more that they had the win taken from them.

[sgrevs]

Yes! Fulham 1-0 Everton!

Liverpool will take Champs League spot easy.

[Pastorius]

It was a great weekend for Liverpool, I can only see us pulling away from here.

Just the easy task of United this weekend now!

[Iai]

If Boro had tried to kill that game off Arsenal would have annihilated them on the counter-attack. We didn't deserve to be winning anyway.

Anybody else looking forward to a Newcastle loss tonight? Should be an interesting game at any rate, but I honestly think McLeish has got his team set up too well to lose.

[bleep_bloop]

man im so mad i missed the last Hamburg game

[sgrevs]

I'm thinking Toon v Birmingham will be a draw. 1-1.

[talk show host]

You've got to think that Newcastle will start getting results soon but then you watch them play and it's hard to see how. Running out of games this season too :/

I think Birmingham will win, they seem to be in pretty good form at the moment.

[Iai]

Newcastle will get results, just not here. I had them down to beat Fulham, but with McBride and Bullard back they look a different team.

Edit: Actually.....

Birmingham A
Fulham H
Tottenham A
Reading H
Portsmouth A
Sunderland H
West Ham A
Chelsea H
Everton A

Ouch. I could see them taking points in the Sunderland and West Ham games, and maybe Reading and Fulham if they're lucky, but that's a tough run-in. By my reckoning that means they'd only have about 34 points when the season finished. Bolton or Fulham would need 9/11 points to claw themselves out. With Jaaskelainen out I don't think Bolton will manage that, but Fulham's next four games are Newcastle, Derby, Sunderland, and Reading, and they've got Birmingham at home to come too. Plus a Portsmouth side that might have one eye on the cup final on the final day. Hmm.

[poorquality]

How do you guys see the league panning out?

Fill in the results you think'll happen here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/predictor/default.stm


and post a screenshot of your final table :)

EDIT: Ok did a new one from todays standings
Mine:

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1884/tabledl0.png

[Happy]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/RaisedonVodka/winn.jpg

;)
I wish.

[poorquality]

Wow how many goals did the top 4 have to concede for those GD :| Also, West Ham and Portsmouth have a game to play lol :P

[ChodaBoy]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/ChodaBoy1/leaguetable.jpg

Quite a sexy finish there, championship and relegation decided by goal difference

[Pastorius]

Whew, too much effort for now.

[Iai]

Wow, my table looks insane going into the last day of the season.

http://i28.tinypic.com/6gzloj.jpg

I really hope I'm not right. Sunderland going down and Chelsea winning the league = gay.

[talk show host]

http://i32.tinypic.com/2192icm.jpg

Bolton are doomed with their run-in and now Jussi being out for the rest of the season.

[Happy]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/RaisedonVodka/win2.jpg

There we go, more realistic.

[Dave de Sylvia]

I can't see Arsenal managing an 8 point swing over Man Utd.

[rik]

Such a big game for us at St. Andrews tonight. I'm pretty nervous.

[Happy]

I can't see Arsenal managing an 8 point swing over Man Utd.

Its only 5, plus a very unlucky Man U.

:-/

[Dave de Sylvia]

8 assuming Utd win their game in hand. I think Utd have a marginally easier run-in than either Chelsea or Arsenal. I can't really pick between any of them at the moment, but I don't see such a big change happening.

[Pastorius]

Come on man Everton aren't going to finish above Liverpool

[Happy]

I don't like Liverpool

[Dave de Sylvia]

It's a big couple of weeks for Liverpool. United, Everton and Arsenal 3 times in a very short period of time. Everton could easily capitalise.

[Pastorius]

I can see them getting a draw against United or the gunners, and easily see them beating Everton.

[poorquality]

I've noticed something bout those BBC predictions, everyone has West Ham + Portsmouth playing one less than everyone else, myself included, but I filled in all the results...what's up with that?

[Iai]

They obviously forgot to put that game in.

[Dave de Sylvia]

I can see them getting a draw against United or the gunners, and easily see them beating Everton.
Optimistic :p

Yesterday's result aside, Everton have been fantastic over the past few months, and their loss earlier in the season came courtesy of an awful penalty non-call.

[Minus The Flair]

I'm thinking Toon v Birmingham will be a draw. 1-1.

Well played. Fair result I think, before Keegan I would of expected them to pick up the three points, but I actually saw Newcastle losing this time around.

[sgrevs]

I'm thinking Toon v Birmingham will be a draw. 1-1.

A stroke of genius on my part.

Yesterday's result aside, Everton have been fantastic over the past few months, and their loss earlier in the season came courtesy of an awful penalty non-call.

I know where you're coming from Spat, but Liverpool have been in excellent form lately (apart from the Barnsley drubbing) and I can even see us beating United, Everton, and Arsenal (at least in Champs if not in the league).

[sadtaste]

Fantasy Premier League says Viduka got 2 bonus points, yeah, what a champ, haha.

[Iai]

What happened, did he eat another player and ingest their points?

[Dave de Sylvia]

Mustn't have been a great player if he only ingested 2 points. It wasn't Nicky Butt, was it?

[Iai]

Joey Barton? That'd be a home movie worth watching.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Filmed by his axe-wielding brother?

[Pastorius]

Optimistic :p

Yesterday's result aside, Everton have been fantastic over the past few months, and their loss earlier in the season came courtesy of an awful penalty non-call.

But Liverpool are really coming into form at the moment, finally starting to play as a team, they've got much more strength in depth than Everton and I think are just overall a better team.

Just can't see Everton finishing above Liverpool!

[sgrevs]

Just can't see Everton finishing above Liverpool!

123

[Minus The Flair]

God, I hate skysports. Well, I hate them if this means that there'll be less CL games, or less big CL games on terrestial TV.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3318652,00.html

Southgate's choosing not to appeal against Mido's red, still feels its harsh. No surprises. And Luis Figo's been linked with a move to QPR. That is a surprise.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Apparently it means only one CL game per week on terrestrial TV. Hopefully this doesn't extend to Ireland, we have a good range of stuff right now between two terrestrial channels and Setanta and Sky's PPV coverage.

[Iai]

As I understand it ITV will get to choose which game they want to screen, and then Sky will be left with the rest. So it's not all that bad really - in fact it's not all that different to the set-up we have now.

Don't forget QPR have lots and lots of money now. For the next couple of seasons I think we'll see a few old legends head there.

[Paper Aeroplane]

Everton are on quite a stride mate. As much of a shocker it'd be to watch Liverpool fall below 'em don't be surprised to watch it happen.

[Pastorius]

Everton are doing well, but so are Liverpool, and I just think Liverpool playing on form are that much better than Everton playing on form.

[Dave de Sylvia]

I think Everton have more goals in them. Torres seems to be flourishing right now, but you're really counting on him continuing his immense form. Everton have goalscoring options all across the front line and midfield.

[Pastorius]

That's why I say that Liverpool on form are better than Everton, because people like Torres on form are better than people like Johnson on form. Babel can also score, Gerrard can score, Mascherano can score (although he doesn't much). Both teams have goalscoring options to be fair.

And on the weekend when Johnson had to go off, Everton really looked lacklustre and struggled.

The whole thing may come down to who loses form first.

[Iai]

Mascherano has got one goal in four years. And yet still he springs to mind before Kuyt!

[Dave de Sylvia]

haha

Well honestly, I think Everton still have more options, though perhaps those are limited a bit with Vaughan out for the rest of the season. Added to that, Liverpool have been very poor in their clashes against the top 3 this season, while Everton have been very impressive. But yeah, form will be key.

[Pastorius]

I'm a Liverpool fan so you'll have to excuse my unbiased optimism :p

I'm not too big a fan of Kuyt myself, I think a different striker being brought in before next season to compliment Torres is the right way to go. Maybe....Rooney...

[Iai]

David Villa.

[Echleon]

Haha, if Liverpool got David Villa, i'm pretty sure nearly half of their first 11 would be Spanish.

[2muchket!]

Thats the way Benitez wants it tho :')

[Dave de Sylvia]

Anyone noticed how Liverpool's run of form has coincided with Rafa abandoning squad rotation?

[Iai]

Somebody put up some stats about that. Basically Rafa is rotating almost exactly as much now as he has been all season, and for every season before that. It's just he hasn't been rotating Gerrard and Torres.

[Pastorius]

And surprisingly, leaving your 2 best players on the field works!

[Iai]

Reina and Carragher makes 4. But it's still not as if he's picking the same 11 every game, the way the media are making out.

[sadtaste]

Isn't Mascherano getting a lot of game time as well? The guy's a tough and rough nut.

[sgrevs]

He is getting a lot of game time, and it's awesome cos he's now on a 4 year contract I think. Skrtel (sp?) has also been playing every game because Agger is out, and Agger will probably play every game when he comes back next season.

[Pastorius]

Yup, Agger is a really good defender I think, old head on young shoulders. Always been a fan of his.

[sgrevs]

If I lived in Bristol we would totally hang out.

[Pastorius]

Ha, you'd love the pub down my road, the landlord is a Liverpool fan so Liverpool games always get priority when there are multiple games on, and there's a bunch of hilarious Liverpool fans who just get wasted and shout at the screen, great fun.

[Iai]

Sounds just like the pub where I work.

The landlady is West Ham :-/

[Dave de Sylvia]

Reina and Carragher makes 4. But it's still not as if he's picking the same 11 every game, the way the media are making out.
I dunno, I have better things to do than read the English papers :cool:

But "team rotation" or something would have been a better word. He's using a set formation now (more or less 4-4-2 iirc) and maintaining the same core of players, and no longer leaving Alonso out to accomodate Gerrard in the centre. At least from what I've seen >_>

[Iai]

Keep forgetting that you're a potato. You're probably right, but all I remember is somebody on Football365 presenting exact statistics about how many players Rafa changes for each game, and it's been basically steady all season if you ignore the FA Cup. It's just that now he's swapping Riise and Aurelio, or Alonso and Lucas, or Pennant/Benayoun/Babel, or Finnan and Arbeola. Basically people nobody cares about. The best way to describe it, I guess, is that he's still rotating but he's just being more intelligent with it now, which is basically what you said.

[talk show host]

I read that Benitez doesn't really rotate any more than United it's just that they can afford to leave out say, Rooney and Ronaldo and replace them with Tevez (or Saha hmm) and Nani whereas Rafa leaving out Gerrard and Torres and playing Lucas and Kuyt is quite a drop-off in quality and something that he obviously can't afford to do.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Keep forgetting that you're a potato.
pot8o

Yeah, statistically Ferguson rotates just as much as Rafa, but that's kind of deceiving in itself. First of all, Fergie historically has much stronger squads than Rafa does, and the seasons United haven't achieved tend to coincide with periods where he has poor strength-in-depth.

Second, Fergie tends to make wholesale changes in useless fixtures (e.g. League Cup, final group matches in CL, games against Fulham) rather than tinkering with the side every match.

Add to that the fact he can switch Carrick for Hargreaves, Scholes for Anderson etc. in order to reward good/punish bad performances, while Rafa's policy is to change the team whether it's done well or not. And Ferguson's changes are usually straight positional swaps within a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. Does anybody know what formation Liverpool play?

[talk show host]

I think he's playing some kind of 4-2-3-1 at the moment with Mascherano and Alonso holding and Babel-Gerrard-Kuyt just behind Torres. Which is actually a really good team if not for Kuyt in their inexplicably.

[Echleon]

What a thriller at the Lane!

[Iai]

I know! I just cheered at the computer when Spurs got the fourth because I'm a sad wanker. :(

[poorquality]

I know! I just cheered at the computer when Spurs got the fourth because I'm a sad wanker. :(

So did i when I saw Spurs had equalised ._.

:D But who cares we won wooo..

Another screaming freekick from Ronaldo, 2 goals tonight, beaten Best's record and is well ahead in the Golden Boot..I don't think anyone comes close for Prem player of the year.

[RandyfromPennywise]

****ing bollocks to that result then.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Haven't been that pumped for a Chelsea match when Joe Cole scored our fourth for a long time. Then homosexual Keane goes and ruins everything, 'kin twat.

[Pastorius]

Looks like I missed a cracker.

If anyone knows anywhere to catch the highlights, I'd be glad to know.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Then homosexual Keane goes and ruins everything, 'kin twat.
Hey! :mad:

Cracking game. Joe Cole was outstanding, and his brother Ashley should have been sent off. I always wonder why players like Cole and Keane put in immense performances for their clubs but never their country. Maybe it's the difference in quality :(

[sadtaste]

Ronaldo's free kicks defy the laws of physics again. Bah.

[Happy]

Spurs result sounds like something I predicted on my stupid league table.

[Echleon]

So did i when I saw Spurs had equalised ._.

:D But who cares we won wooo..

Another screaming freekick from Ronaldo, 2 goals tonight, beaten Best's record and is well ahead in the Golden Boot..I don't think anyone comes close for Prem player of the year.

Another win against a side who beat us early on in the season, so i'm also happy! I have to admit though, I was abit worried when I saw the squad and massive rotation that Ferguson had implemented, but it was all good in the end - we're going to need everyone fit for Sunday if we are to beat Liverpool who are in fantastic form atm.

I am abit worried about two things though.

1) Rio is looking like a doubt for Sunday. I thought the partnership between him and Vidic would be key in keeping Torres quiet so I am a little worried as I don't quite trust Brown and especially Pique at CB for such a big game. I'd rather Brown play CB than Pique, but then I think that would leave either O'Shea or Neville (if he is fit) at RB, which is also abit of a worry. I really think that we'd need a full strength squad to beat Liverpool at the moment.

2) Ronaldo is doing fantastically, but we seem very reliant on him at the moment. It has been 4 games since any other player has scored for us, and I think that is a big worry. I miss the earlier games of the season when Tevez and Rooney were linking up brilliantly together and really troubling defenses. Rooney has also been abit of a worry for me atm, he's had chance after chance in recent weeks and has failed to convert a goal in one-on-one situations. However, I can't really complain, I guess if Ronaldo was not on the pitch other plays may have the freedom to go it alone more and shoot.

Either way, I am still fairly confident that we can win the league, but I think we are going to face a really tough job on Sunday unless we are in top-top form.

[sgrevs]

Liverpool for Premiers 07-08

[TakeWarning]

I took my shirt off in a fit of passion when Robbie Keane scored the fourth goal. True story.

Being a Spurs fan is always entertaining.

[Iai]

This is only a funny story if you were in a pub at the time.

[2muchket!]

My uncle nearly ploughed his HGV into the side of a wall when boro equalised against Basel in the UEFA cup.

Bless 'im

[The_Passenger]

Liverpool for Premiers 07-08

Spurs to finish top 4 07/08

[Happy]

Not sure about that, Ramos seems to concentrate more on cups.

[sgrevs]

I don't think Spurs care too much about anything anymore as they have nothing left to play for.

[TakeWarning]

It's true. With the squad Spurs have got, they could probably challenging for the top four next season, baring in mind Ramos will be doing some upgrading while the transfer window is open.

[8ight8all]

God I so badly wanted to see Berbatov knock in that last second shot to put Chelsea away. He really should have finished there...

[8ight8all]

Speaking of which, is Berbatov leaving the Spurs?

[Echleon]

All speculation really.

Anyway, Chelsea used to be renound for their tight defense, but that's the second time this season they have conceeded 4 goals in a match.

[poorquality]

All speculation really.

Anyway, Chelsea used to be renound for their tight defense, but that's the second time this season they have conceeded 4 goals in a match.

Makes me think this is the perfect time to be playing them, wish we had 'em this weekend rather than letting Arsenal have a go.

Though still I can see us beating Liverpool tomorrow anyway, sure Torres and Gerrard are on form, but so is our attack...I think the battle will be won in defence, and we have a better defence. We'll score more.

Fingers crossed.

[talk show host]

Isn't Rio out injured? Or is that just Fergie mind-games

[Echleon]

He didn't play in the Derby or Bolton game, and Fergie said he was doubtfull, but apparently he did train today, so fingers crossed he will be alright.

I agree with poorquality, the battle will be won in defense. Rio seemed to have Torres in his pocket last time around, so lets hope Van Der Sar doesn't keep falling over like last time - we we very lucky indeed.

[poorquality]

Isn't Rio out injured? Or is that just Fergie mind-games

I never can tell anymore, I personally believe that Rio will start, and Rafa will be planning his tactics based on a Rio & Vidic partnership.

But you never know, I'd hate to see Torres go up against Pique...sure he's a quality defender, he's had experience in la liga, but he hasn't played much for United.

Rio and Vidic know each others game, they know what the other will do. Pique doesn't.

Though if he plays it's his chance to stand up and be counted, he man marks Torres out of the game and suddenly missing Rio for a few games doesn't matter.

[mph4ever]

manu will beat liverpool, arsenal will beat chelsea, liverpool and arsenal will knock stuffing out of each other in the three bigs games for pl and cl. manu to win the double

*i'm glad i found this thread

[2muchket!]

I fancy United to beat the scousers and Arsenal over Chelsea.

[Pastorius]

To be fair, most people will pick Man U in pretty much every game.

In my mind it could go either way.

[talk show host]

I reckon both games will be draws.

[2muchket!]

It'll be a close game. I fancy Torres to grab atleast one as well.

[rik]

I'm going for a Man utd win, and a draw at the Bridge.


Edit: VIDUUKKAAAA!!


Edit: Half time and still 1-0. By the sounds of it we should be ahead by a couple more, some missed chances and great saves by Keller. I just really hope that doesn't cost us like it did when Blackburn came to St. James' a couple of weeks back.

[2muchket!]

wheyyy

good day for all north east teams, all win and and all keep clean sheets. And wigan lost so the boro go 12th.

[Happy]

I feel insulted that Chelsea v Arsenal has been described as the battle for the pride of London when its obviously the Spurs.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Sunderland win away! Newcastle win!

What has happened to this world?

[talk show host]

It's really quite annoying that Sunderland won to be honest.

[mph4ever]

i think niall quinn is a git and i think keane sold out to go work with one of the fai's gobsheens

and lets not even start with wolves and mick mccarthy

[Dave de Sylvia]

Yes, let's not.

[2muchket!]

Even I like quinn and I'm a smoggie and hate mackems.

Ya just gotta love the man.

[sadtaste]

So Viduka is better than you all.

[sgrevs]

To be fair, most people will pick Man U in pretty much every game.

In my mind it could go either way.

I'm so pumped for the game, I'm having about 10 dudes over to watch tonight.


Can't believe Newcastle won, it's about time though.

[Echleon]

I'm really nervous about the game, going to watch it with my mate who is a Liverpool fan, and he won't shut up if they beat up.

Though i'll always remember his face - CARLOS TEVEZ 43rd MINUTE!

[Echleon]

3-0!

Fantastic win for us over Liverpool, our defense were outstanding and we passed the ball round very well. Torres was anonymous for alot of the game.

Rooney missed a few chances which he defiently should have scored, but he got a couple of assists which is great!

[sgrevs]

Ok that sucked. Really bad. Almost everything about the game was crap except for Reina's keeping in open play. Mascherano send off seemed like bs, then again so was Ferdinand's yellow and in fact most of the bookings. Ridiculous score, I hate Nani and Ronaldo, I'm an angry man.

Edit: and Wes Brown sucks really bad.

[Echleon]

Haha, Mascherno's sending off did seem a little harsh, but he was harassing Bennett at every desicion that went against them, and apparently he did use foul language towards Bennett, so that was a yellow in itself.

[sgrevs]

Players use foul language towards the referees all the time. Bookings for it are exceptionally rare though.

[talk show host]

It's in the spotlight now though after the Chelsea/A Cole stuff earlier in the week. Mascherano was pretty dumb.

[sgrevs]

Fair enough, and it was dumb, especially after Torres tried to hold him back, but it still seemed a bit harsh.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Players use foul language towards the referees all the time. Bookings for it are exceptionally rare though.
Which is why his getting booked was the right decision. There's been a growing opposition to players being allowed to berate referees, and Mascherano's attitude typifies the fact. Players seem to think they can get away with it, and Mascherano is particularly stupid since he'd just seen his teammate booked for it.

Notice how United, usually the worst offenders for crowding around the referee every time a decision doesn't go their way, were on their best behaviour today. Ferguson saw a crackdown coming and Benitez fell right into the trap.

I'd have serious doubts about Liverpool's ability to beat Everton now. Mascherano's partnership with Alonso has been the basis of Liverpool's success in recent weeks, now they have to return to the dodgy Gerrard-Alonso partnership. And Reina's just reminded everybody of how to score easy goals against Liverpool, so there'll be plenty of balls lumped in for Anichebe and the Yak.

[sgrevs]

I'd have serious doubts about Liverpool's ability to beat Everton now. Mascherano's partnership with Alonso has been the basis of Liverpool's success in recent weeks, now they have to return to the dodgy Gerrard-Alonso partnership. And Reina's just reminded everybody of how to score easy goals against Liverpool, so there'll be plenty of balls lumped in for Anichebe and the Yak.

Definitely the part I'm most worried about, though other than some crosses and set pieces he's super-solid.

[Dave de Sylvia]

He made some outstanding close-range stops today. He's like Robinson I guess, he's a world-class shot-stopper, and he'll always keep clean sheets against Middlesbroughs and Fulhams, but you can never be confident with him against top-quality opposition.

[Echleon]

Yeah, remember that chance Bolton had where the header just stuck to him.

[poorquality]

I was so nervous before the game, then after I saw us completely out play Liverpool more and more, it was so much easier to watch, at 1-0 I always had fears, even after the (correctly given) red card, then Ronnie steps up and scores. (He's overrated, not a big game player, never scores against the big teams >_>) and Nanis first touch to take two defenders out of the game, and his finish, superb.

Lovely performance, so happy

[The_Passenger]

I still think that the criticisms of Ronaldo regarding 'big' games are valid, apart from his goal I can't remember him doing very much at all yesterday, same with the game at the Emirates earlier in the season. Similar case in most of the other 'big' games he's been involved in, certainly over the past two seasons anyway, except he doesn't normally score. Doesn't mean he's over-rated or anything like that though.

Not sure why so mnay people thought Liverpool would win this game, their seven game winning run came against 5 teams threatened by releagtion, West Ham (who'd just been on the end of a demoralising 0-4 defeat) and an Inter team who are in their worst run of form for, well, it must be since the 05-06 season.

A lot of people seemed to think Arsenal would win as well, I don't see what about Arsena;'s current form suggested they would be Chelsea at a ground where they haven't lost for over two years.

[Echleon]

Apart from his goal? Goals are the things that win matches!

At 1-0 it was still possible for Liverpool to nick it, and Ronaldo's goal gave us that confidence and security to be able to relax a little. If it wasn't for his goal at the Emirates we would be 2 points worse off, and he also grabbed that crucial goal against Lyon at OT

I do agree though to some extent, he doesn't perform as well against big teams but that is because he relies on pace and tricks to get past defenders, and the big teams have more experienced and adept defenders who are able to cope with this. Still, he can always draw defenders out of position with his movement and creates space for other players.

[talk show host]

I'm not really sure the criticisms of Ronaldo against the big teams are that valid really. I mean he's a winger, and the main aspect of his game is always going to be less effective against teams with a good defence. And as good as he is, he's not a particularly influential player and he doesn't pull the strings for United so he's just going to have less of a noticeable impact in those sort of games.

[The_Passenger]

I know goals win games etc but I'm talking about his general play. He normally causes defences a lot more problems than he has done against title rivals (if Liverpool can really be called that) or strong European teams.

I know that Ronaldo is going to have a harder time against stronger defences, but that isn't an excuse for him to play below his usual standard. Like Drogba yesterday, it didn't matter that he was comign up against better defenders than you get lower down in the league, he still gave them a torrid time.

At any rate, Liverpool's defence yesterday was hardly awe inspiring so I'm not even sure that applies here.

[poorquality]

I know goals win games etc but I'm talking about his general play. He normally causes defences a lot more problems than he has done against title rivals (if Liverpool can really be called that) or strong European teams.

I know that Ronaldo is going to have a harder time against stronger defences, but that isn't an excuse for him to play below his usual standard. Like Drogba yesterday, it didn't matter that he was comign up against better defenders than you get lower down in the league, he still gave them a torrid time.

At any rate, Liverpool's defence yesterday was hardly awe inspiring so I'm not even sure that applies here.

I thought Ronaldo played quite well yesterday tbh, few key passes, got one on one with the keeper once or twice, always a danger at corners, and capped it off with a goal.

Sure he didn't turn 3 defenders inside out and casually backflick it past a helpless keeper, but it's to be expected against bigger sides, he doesn't have the room to do what he normally does, yet he still manages to make the same runs and space to be a danger, and still scores which is ultimately what matters.

[Interstate]

Man, can't believe Arsenal lost to Chelsea. Looked set on a 1-0 win. Watched the game with my grandad who is an avid Chelsea supporter so it went down a bundle when Chelsea took the game. :(

[sgrevs]

Not sure why so mnay people thought Liverpool would win this game, their seven game winning run came against 5 teams threatened by releagtion, West Ham (who'd just been on the end of a demoralising 0-4 defeat) and an Inter team who are in their worst run of form for, well, it must be since the 05-06 season.



While this is mostly true, our demolition of Inter at Anfield was really the start of their run of bad form, as it was only the first or second match that they'd lost all season.

[Pastorius]

Mascherano you bell end.

[2muchket!]

Inter are still runaway leaders of Serie A.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Probably more a reflection of Serie A's dip in quality than anything else.

The fact that Liverpool- albeit a great performance on the day- could smash them apart probably says a lot about them.

[Pastorius]

:(

Stop using Liverpool as a benchmark for bad football :(

[Iai]

Ronaldo will never be a great player until he starts scoring against the big teams. Scoring against the Derbys and Liverpools of the world is all well and good, but he needs to do better against big clubs.

[Pastorius]

you guys blow

derby are not in the same league as liverpool (technically they are, but you know what i mean)

[DonMancini]

Probably more a reflection of Serie A's dip in quality than anything else.

The fact that Liverpool- albeit a great performance on the day- could smash them apart probably says a lot about them.

I disagree. I'm not an inter fan at all, but they were down to 10 players and missing both their starting center backs. They have a lot of injuries right now and it's affecting them in every tournament (they even lost to Napoli! 0_0 as well as to Juve this weekend, their first home loss of the season).

I'm not saying Liverpool is a bad team, they're a very good one. But I think a full strength inter is a different team.

That being said, they do have historically had trouble in international tournaments. I think inter's problem in the champions league is a tactical one, and I would like to see them under a different coach than Mancini (even though he is my namesake, haha). Mourinho immediately comes to mind.

[DonMancini]

But just to be clear: I still think the premiership is way ahead of serie a right now, and it might take another 2 or 3 years for serie a to fully recover from the scandal and be at a higher level again. However, that doesn't mean that it will be at the level of the premiership, as the premiership really has a huge economic edge.

[iliketoplaydrums10111]

marco you pimp

[Echleon]

Inter are still runaway leaders of Serie A.

They are only actually 4 points clear of Roma now.

I remember when they were like 11 points clear! Ever since they lost to Liverpool they have dropped many points.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Ronaldo will never be a great player until he starts scoring against the big teams. Scoring against the Derbys and Liverpools of the world is all well and good, but he needs to do better against big clubs.
hahaha

I disagree. I'm not an inter fan at all, but they were down to 10 players and missing both their starting center backs. They have a lot of injuries right now and it's affecting them in every tournament (they even lost to Napoli! 0_0 as well as to Juve this weekend, their first home loss of the season).
Well the defenders were the one area of Inter's team that really excelled, but it barely disguises the fact that Liverpool had outclassed them from the first minute in both matches. Mancini was delighted to be able to blame his "misfortune" for the defeat and not the fact that he's got a very average team for this level of football.

Even Materazzi's sending-off- has anybody asked why he was forced to make 3 or 4 desperate defensive measures in the first 15 minutes? Like Liverpool on Sunday, Inter just couldn't cope with an opposition that outworked and outclassed them in every area of the pitch.

However, that doesn't mean that it will be at the level of the premiership, as the premiership really has a huge economic edge.
I don't know, the dip in Serie A's quality has been constant for a good five years now. Milan have kind of flown against the wind with their European performances, partly because they have so many players experienced in winning, but I don't see Serie A becoming the major financial power like it was a decade or so ago anytime soon.

Timeline of Mascherano's dismissal. I can't believe he continues to protest his innocence, while Benitez refuses to acknowledge any responsibility.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2008/03/24/ufnferg224.xml

[sgrevs]

While I don't disagree with you too much, that timeline seems very exaggerated from what I saw in the match.

[Pastorius]

I agree with the red card, but I don't see it being consistent.

If players start regularly getting yellow cards for backchat, then I'll be happy. But everyone knows that plainly isn't going to happen.

[dei]

Ronaldo will never be the best player until he stops being a douchebag.

[sgrevs]

China 0-0 Australia, good result considering we had 2 days preparation and China had around 2 months, and we were missing many key players.

[E sharp]

You gotta admit it was a tedious game.

Got better at the 85th min yeh

[mph4ever]

ronaldo=greatness in the making

manu score goals coz he and rooney and tevez continually distract defensive players. presently it is ronaldo getting the goals but i can tevez and rooney chipping in before the end of the season.

liverpool=crap presently and that is really sad since i really feel that of all the fans in the world then they deserve more, for no other reason than the parents of todays fans were treated to so much greatness. they must be the most failed team. from such massive heights 20 years ago to nothings now. i know they win the odd tophy but sunday was an embarrassment, and at the hands of my beloved manu

chelsea are like inter, they rely on superstar signings that inevitably are there for the money and show little loyalty. their day has come and gone, you can't buy the heritage of arsenal, liverpool, manu, madrid, barca, milan, bayern, celtic and others that i could mention. the russian only bought them as a bullet proof vest for his oligarchic actions in russia and the poor old chelsea fans bought into it. sad

arsenal are excellent, hurts to say it. but until they buy a man, a real man, a petit, a viera or the likes of their midfeld legends then they will never have someone who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and drag them forward

[Dave de Sylvia]

I agree with the red card, but I don't see it being consistent.

If players start regularly getting yellow cards for backchat, then I'll be happy. But everyone knows that plainly isn't going to happen.
I don't see it as inconsistent. Players are booked almost every match for some form of dissent, and it almost exclusively occurs when one player has been the offender on several occasions. If anything, feel sorry for Torres who happened to bear the weight of Mascherano's earlier stupidity.

Bennett put up with a lot of abuse from Mascherano- far more than he should have, to be honest- and like the vast majority of referees he ran out of patience and decided to issue a card. It just so happened that Mascherano happened to be on a yellow card at the time and was seemingly on a mission to get himself sent off.

[8ight8all]

Seriously, he should have just STFU after the first booking.

[rustysurf84]

Poland got worked by the US today, 3-0.

That's not a good precursor to Euro.

[sgrevs]

liverpool=crap presently and that is really sad since i really feel that of all the fans in the world then they deserve more, for no other reason than the parents of todays fans were treated to so much greatness. they must be the most failed team. from such massive heights 20 years ago to nothings now. i know they win the odd tophy but sunday was an embarrassment, and at the hands of my beloved manu


If by the "odd trophy" you mean a Carling Cup, Champions League, and FA Cup in the last 3 seasons, then yeah, I guess so. And the fact that you describe Liverpool as nothings when in actual fact they are one of the most feared teams in Europe (not counting Prem, lol) is a pretty massive understatement.


chelsea are like inter, they rely on superstar signings that inevitably are there for the money and show little loyalty. their day has come and gone, you can't buy the heritage of arsenal, liverpool, manu, madrid, barca, milan, bayern, celtic and others that i could mention. the russian only bought them as a bullet proof vest for his oligarchic actions in russia and the poor old chelsea fans bought into it. sad

arsenal are excellent, hurts to say it. but until they buy a man, a real man, a petit, a viera or the likes of their midfeld legends then they will never have someone who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and drag them forward

Again I disagree. Players like Adebayor and a midfield trio of Fabregas, Flamini and Hleb can destroy any other team in the world, period.