all things soccer 2010/2011
- Thread starter scouser1
- Start date
Its totally ridiculous FIFA wouldnt allow him to take medication for it: http://thyroid.about.com/b/2011/02/16/ronaldo-brazilian-soccer-football-hypothyroidism.htm
I guess they figure its a steroid, but thats IMO a stupid reason to withhold medicine from a sick patient
I guess they figure its a steroid, but thats IMO a stupid reason to withhold medicine from a sick patient
It will be difficult to keep a clean sheet at the Nou Camp, but for the time being it's a result to savour. Just hoping it isn't a Messi show like last year. Pique misses out, hopefully Vermaelen will be back though...should be a great spectacle though, that was easy on the eyes yesterday.
Indeed, Shakira's Boy Toy (Pique) misses out but Puyol should be back by then. This is what makes CL such a fun tournament to watch.
What a captivating game. March 8 at the Nou Camp will be a spectacle, perhaps it will be the game of the year. Arsenal is up a goal, but as Wenger says, Barca are still the favourites. Combine that with the fact that Arsenal are incapable of parking the bus...therefore there will be goals. From a tactical perspective and as a big Arsenal fan, I might leave Alex Song on the bench next game. I still can't believe he didn't, deservedly, get a Red Card before half time. Perhaps the ref was watching too much of Gattuso and Flamini from the night before. As Big E says, we get to savour the win for a few weeks. If Arsenal happen to win, I can't see anyone else, maybe Real Madrid, that could stop us. Back to Milan, they disgraced themselves against Spurs, athletic and behaviourally. I can hardly imagine what the outcome would have been if they added van Bommel to that game. Hard to believe that Milan is the class of Italy at the moment.
Milan are still too dependent on Andrea Pirlo; since he's been injured they've looked ordinary. I don't understand why Rino would have an issue with Joe Jordan; he was a member of Milan's last scudetto winner prior to the Berlusconi era. And he's still widely respected in the city.
It's official; the Di Benedetto Group has bought Roma....or should I start calling them Romapool? Their first order of business is to bring in Carlo Ancelotti for next season. I disagree; Claudio Ranieri has made the most of a shoestring budget he should be given a chance to work with a bigger payroll.
It's official; the Di Benedetto Group has bought Roma....or should I start calling them Romapool? Their first order of business is to bring in Carlo Ancelotti for next season. I disagree; Claudio Ranieri has made the most of a shoestring budget he should be given a chance to work with a bigger payroll.
So, in the chapter for this week: Barca, Tottenham, Shakhtar Donetsk and Schalke live to tell the tale of another day while AC Milan go back to Gattuso's Trattoria and Wenger has a date with a disciplinary committee.
White Hart Lane and Raul are the talk of the town this evening.
I can't wait to see what Lyon does to Mourinho. Hope he brings lubricant.
White Hart Lane and Raul are the talk of the town this evening.
I can't wait to see what Lyon does to Mourinho. Hope he brings lubricant.
I can't figure out why Wenger was charged by UEFA, ridiculous. It was a ludicrous red card, but that wouldn't have changed anything. Barcelona are too good, Arsenal couldn't string 4 passes together to save their life. If Bendtner had nicked at the end, would have been an injustice to Barcelona. I hope it's Tottenham/Barcelona next round!
Quarter Finals Draw
So, this is how it worked out:
Quarter-final draw (5/6 and 12/13 April)
Real Madrid CF (ESP) v Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG)
Chelsea FC (ENG) v Manchester United FC (ENG)
FC Barcelona (ESP) v FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) v FC Schalke 04 (GER)
Semi-final draw (26/27 April and 3/4 May)
1: Inter/Schalke v Chelsea /Manchester United
2: Madrid/Tottenham v Barcelona/Shakhtar
Final (28 May, Wembley)
Winner semi-final 2 v Winner semi-final 1
The only thing I wish for is that two EPL teams wouldn't go up against each other this early. I was hoping for RM vs. Schalke as I wanted to see how Raul would turn it on at the Bernabeu. Mourinho would be squirming in his milan cut trousers.
I do like seeing a couple of dark horses in the mix as it brings attention to up and coming powerhouses, both team and individuals.
So, this is how it worked out:
Quarter-final draw (5/6 and 12/13 April)
Real Madrid CF (ESP) v Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG)
Chelsea FC (ENG) v Manchester United FC (ENG)
FC Barcelona (ESP) v FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) v FC Schalke 04 (GER)
Semi-final draw (26/27 April and 3/4 May)
1: Inter/Schalke v Chelsea /Manchester United
2: Madrid/Tottenham v Barcelona/Shakhtar
Final (28 May, Wembley)
Winner semi-final 2 v Winner semi-final 1
The only thing I wish for is that two EPL teams wouldn't go up against each other this early. I was hoping for RM vs. Schalke as I wanted to see how Raul would turn it on at the Bernabeu. Mourinho would be squirming in his milan cut trousers.
I do like seeing a couple of dark horses in the mix as it brings attention to up and coming powerhouses, both team and individuals.
Agree that the charge was ludicrous. Although Arsenal was up overall at the time of the red, Wenger could have been more diplomatic and accept that Barca was better.
I would like to see some darkhorses as well but of the eight teams left, I would only consider Schalke and Shaktar as outsiders to win it. As much as I dislike Spurs, on their day they can beat any of the eight. As of right now it looks like the winner of Chelsea/ManU to take on Barca in the final. However I have been impressed by Real Madid's play of late. If David Luiz was not cup-tied I would pick Chelsea to beat ManU. Luiz is a beast, I would have to say that he is the best CB in EPL at the moment and a bigger signing than Torres, any other opinions?
Luiz has made quite the impression, cannot deny that, but he isn't the best in EPL at the moment. He should have been sent off vs. ManU, and he still rash in some of his decision making. No doubt he can be one of the best, but too quick to bestow that upon him, plus he's had a really small sample size. Vidic and Kompany have been top of the list this year. Somewhat biased, but Djourou has been very good for Arsenal this year in light of Vermaelen being frickin' AWOL. Arsenal's defence is considerably better when he plays. Case in point, when he hobbled off injured vs. Newcastle, well the rest is history!
Again, small sample size but Torres is looking a waste of money. $50mil was a lot to fulfill to begin with, but nothing to show for it yet. Carroll as well, he will never be a $35 mil dollar player, the ultimate panic buy!
Again, small sample size but Torres is looking a waste of money. $50mil was a lot to fulfill to begin with, but nothing to show for it yet. Carroll as well, he will never be a $35 mil dollar player, the ultimate panic buy!
Something to ponder
Barcelona is favored to win the CL this campaign, but think about how much more freightening they would be had they kept Samuel Eto'o and Thiago Motta.
If I had to chose between Messi and Eto'o I would take the Ghanaian. He was a significant factor in all three of the CL finals he's taken part in and had he not been available against Bayern, Inter does not reach the quarterfinals.
When he broke his leg in 06, it appeared that Motta's career was almost done; Barca let him go for a song to Inter. His recovery was slow, however since he's returned to health he has been a midfield rock. He may not be as quick as he was pre-injury but his ability to break up opposition attacks remains undimmed. He scored a vital goal against Slovenia in the Euro qualifier insuring Italy's ticket to Poland-Ukraine. Three points come at an extreme premium for the Azzurri in former Yukoslavia.
Finally lets reflect on the incompetency of the Hicks-Gillett regime. For 3 million Euros more they could have bought Christian Maggio instead of Dossena. He has solidified his place at right back for the Azzurri; Napoli will play in the CL next year, Liverpool wont.
Barcelona is favored to win the CL this campaign, but think about how much more freightening they would be had they kept Samuel Eto'o and Thiago Motta.
If I had to chose between Messi and Eto'o I would take the Ghanaian. He was a significant factor in all three of the CL finals he's taken part in and had he not been available against Bayern, Inter does not reach the quarterfinals.
When he broke his leg in 06, it appeared that Motta's career was almost done; Barca let him go for a song to Inter. His recovery was slow, however since he's returned to health he has been a midfield rock. He may not be as quick as he was pre-injury but his ability to break up opposition attacks remains undimmed. He scored a vital goal against Slovenia in the Euro qualifier insuring Italy's ticket to Poland-Ukraine. Three points come at an extreme premium for the Azzurri in former Yukoslavia.
Finally lets reflect on the incompetency of the Hicks-Gillett regime. For 3 million Euros more they could have bought Christian Maggio instead of Dossena. He has solidified his place at right back for the Azzurri; Napoli will play in the CL next year, Liverpool wont.
Many say that my Blaugrana are the favorites to win the CL. I've seen too many heartbreaks just as the final whistle blows so I'll celebrate that if and when it happens. Not to say that I'm not a Cul'e until my death but I'm a realist and won't count my chickens until they're hatched. Shaktar Donetsk is the first bridge we have to cross which I'm confident we'll do even if we lose a leg. Let' win Copa on April 20th and the second Clasico in the 17th (both April) and Mourinho will keep talking rhetoric about how much he 'misses' the EPL and start paving his way out of Bernabeu since he realizes the job wasn't as easy as he thought it was going to be. He knows Guardiola is leaps and bounds ahead of him as a coach and but he can't come out and say it. His ego won't let him. A perfect model of The Slimy Politician.
Eto'o is a great player and any team he no longer plays for would miss him. BTW, he's from Cameroon, not Ghana.
Eto'o is a great player and any team he no longer plays for would miss him. BTW, he's from Cameroon, not Ghana.
Eto'o is a great player especially in the big games, but to take him over Messi? Not sure I or most people would. Overall Messi offers more to team play, IMO.
I know what you mean. For example, against Arsenal, If Bendtner converted his late chance, Barca would have been out after dominating Arsenal for 180 minutes. Football isn't fair and any team can win in a cup competition. But that said, Barca is the best of the eight teams left.
Conflict of interest?
Life is getting interesting for the co-owners of the Boston Red Sox. Thomas Di Benedetto's firm did the groundwork that allowed his business associate John Henry to buy Liverpool. With the takeover of Roma imminent is there a conflict of interest?
Life is getting interesting for the co-owners of the Boston Red Sox. Thomas Di Benedetto's firm did the groundwork that allowed his business associate John Henry to buy Liverpool. With the takeover of Roma imminent is there a conflict of interest?
?As a question of fact? Probably not as he is one of 18 partners of NESV and does not have controlling interest or executive powers. However, if De Rossi, Totti and Perotta are lining up for Liverpool next year, we should be concerned.
