All things soccer 2014 - 15

[rld]

Even the best players pull a boner, look at Boateng.

It was Mother Russia's winter that did them in. By the 50th minuted the club was completely numbed out, Gervinho suffered most of all. At worst Rome gets 6 sub zero days a year. On a positive note Strootman will work off the pitch rust and Astori is back. We could have used that airhead against Bayern. Now if we can get Maicon and Torosidis back, I like our chances.

One of the great things about soccer is that so often it gives us beautiful ironies and almost poetic outcomes.

Boatang gets the winner at the death against Man city first time out and then gives up the winner at the death the next time out against the same squad.

I take great comfort from the fact Bayern dominated the game against Man City for about 70 minutes while playing a man down.

 

[bver_hunter]

Overall the English teams did remarkably well. Chelski really beat the hell out of Schalke. Now for some big EPL games this weekend including Man City and The Saints.

 

[Insidious Von]

So now that I have BEIN Sports it has been suggested that I should drop RAI International, that's never going to happen. With RAI I also get Mediaset (Berlusconi's network) which gives me coverage of the Italian clubs in CL. The announcer is the Italian Joe Bowen. Never has the Italian word for goal -rete- sounded so exciting. He going hooked on his broadcast of the Juve - Olympiakos match, he's just as entertaining as that Englishman who screams during La Liga goals. And RAI has Katia Serra, who's infinately better looking than Danny Dichio!

Girl on the right:

 

[Don Draper]

he's just as entertaining as that Englishman who screams during La Liga goals

That would be the inimitable Ray Hudson from the Highlands, my esteemed colleague.

Some great Hudson quotes:

[SIZE=+2]~ "He's flying higher than a hippy at Woodstock"

~ "It's beyond Shakespeare, what that boy has done with the ball"

~ "Real Madrid's defence stretched out like spandex at Miami beach and Casillas is left naked!"[/SIZE]

http://youtu.be/WYEbATNhAjc​

How can you not love this?

 

[AK-47]

93rd minute and Juve steal another 3 points

 

[Insidious Von]

Pirlo doesn't shoot enough. His goal tally would be considerably higher if he weren't so selfless. There is such as drink as a Pirlo Manhattan, it's made with dry vermouth and iceberg vodka.

Unlike my esteemed colleague DD, there isn't an Italian club I have a strong distaste for - even Inter. I used to be a Lazio fan but the racial abuse directed at former Toronto FC coach Aron Winter compelled me to switch allegiance. I want them all to do well on the European stage. However I have no respect for Lois Enrique for walking out on his contract with Roma. My respect for Barca in general dropped significantly with the signing of Luis Suarez. He has teeth like an ape and will bite again. I'm getting satisfaction in knowing that Enrique is the puppet of The Dark Master - DD wishes Mou was back at Real.

I'm predicting that Ronald Koeman will eventually replace Enrique.

 

[bver_hunter]

With Chelsea losing this morning, the premier league seems to be a two horse race once again. The negative for Man City is the injury to Aguero at the very start of the Everton game. Season is panning out to be an exciting one for the Premier League and football in general. Good to see the English teams doing well in the Champions Cup as well.

 

[bver_hunter]

So now that I have BEIN Sports it has been suggested that I should drop RAI International, that's never going to happen. With RAI I also get Mediaset (Berlusconi's network) which gives me coverage of the Italian clubs in CL. The announcer is the Italian Joe Bowen. Never has the Italian word for goal -rete- sounded so exciting. He going hooked on his broadcast of the Juve - Olympiakos match, he's just as entertaining as that Englishman who screams during La Liga goals. And RAI has Katia Serra, who's infinately better looking than Danny Dichio!

Girl on the right:

The Spanish version of Bein Sports is free on Rogers. I do speak and understand a bit of Spanish so I am really enjoying this channel. They showed a few Africa Cup games during the International break. That tournament finals will be exciting so hope BEIN continues to be a free channel.

 

[Insidious Von]

Liverpool should have done their due diligence. Had they bought Zaza instead of Balo they might not be in the ruts right now.

Did anyone see the first goal he scored against Roma, only a true predator can do that. And why is Balo in trouble again?

 

[Insidious Von]

Today is a dark day for Serie A, it is now officially and also ran league.

By failing to qualify for the knockout stages of the CL, Roma has to buffer for the impeding UEFA Financial Fair Play fine that they'll have to pay. With a new stadium being 75% financed by private investors coughing up 60 million Euros will be daunting. ManCity paid the fine last summer. But with the blood money at their disposal, they didn't lose any sleep over it. Roma will have to sell some of their stars to make ends meet leading to a watering down of competition within the league. Napoli faced the same prospect but Di Laurentis sold some of his players to avoid the fine. Palotta, God bless him for his efforts, rolled the dice and it didn't work.

Regardless I'll still support my league, that will never change. But Roma will not be a factor in Europe until they move into their new digs. I hope the archeological team are burning the midnight oil.

 

[rld]

Today is a dark day for Serie A, it is now officially and also ran league.

By failing to qualify for the knockout stages of the CL, Roma has to buffer for the impeding UEFA Financial Fair Play fine that they'll have to pay. With a new stadium being 75% financed by private investors coughing up 60 million Euros will be daunting. ManCity paid the fine last summer. But with the blood money at their disposal, they didn't lose any sleep over it. Roma will have to sell some of their stars to make ends meet leading to a watering down of competition within the league. Napoli faced the same prospect but Di Laurentis sold some of his players to avoid the fine. Palotta, God bless him for his efforts, rolled the dice and it didn't work.

Regardless I'll still support my league, that will never change. But Roma will not be a factor in Europe until they move into their new digs. I hope the archeological team are burning the midnight oil.

Roma should be back in the CL next year and the experience will do them good. They are on the right road.

And as a total aside, very pleased to see Austria moving up the world standings and FC Salzburg doing so well in the Europa league.

 

[Don Draper]

The Spanish version of Bein Sports is free on Rogers. I do speak and understand a bit of Spanish so I am really enjoying this channel. They showed a few Africa Cup games during the International break. That tournament finals will be exciting so hope BEIN continues to be a free channel.

For how long will this free preview continue?

 

[Insidious Von]

Juventus 1 Sampdoria 1

Roma go within a point of Juve. Again loan out Romagnioli comes to the aid of his former club. He and the rock steady Gastaldello won their battles with Morata and Tevez. Had he stayed in Rome we would be in the CL knockout stage right now. And it doesn't look like they'll be able to bring him back in January, Sampdoria are in a battle for the CL third spot. He turns 20 on Jan 12.

On a lighter note, wouldn't it be wonderful if Gustavo Irritati was Italy's ref at the Euro. My buddy Tony Testa would approve.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxRMwc28BeU

 

[rld]

Quite pleased with the CL league draw for Bayern, for once they avoided a tough opponent.

Also quite pleased all of the German teams in the CL and EL advanced out of the group stages. Germany is creeping up on England.

 

[Insidious Von]

Strootman and El Sharaaway are proving how difficult it is to return from a cruciate injury. Which leads me to conclude that Ronaldo, who sustained the same injury, was juiced to the eyeballs going into the 2002 World Cup.

UCL Round of 16 Preview.

PSG vs Chelsea

Can ********** Verratti take the next step and prove that he is the best young playmaker in Europe? Chelsea has more options, and Ibra and Cavani have never proved their mettle in the big game.

Win: Chelsea

ManCity vs Barca

No contest. Win: Barca

Leverkusen vs Atletico

Atletico has the best defense in Europe, Beyer will struggle to score.

Win: Atletico

Juve vs Dortmund

Dortmund is a wounded animal this could be close. Juve has greater options.

Win: Juve

Schalke vs Real

No contest

Shakhtar vs Bayern

No contest

Arsenal vs Monaco

Monaco need to win since it has run afoul of Fair Play rules. Arsenault is erratic.

Win: Monaco

Porto vs Basel

Porto are highly disciplined and strong in the air, Basel look like the affluent city they come from. Close call.

Win: Porto

 

[AK-47]

Strootman and El Sharaaway are proving how difficult it is to return from a cruciate injury

I'm thinking Stroot might be saved so he can be sold in January transfer window

 

[rld]

Strootman and El Sharaaway are proving how difficult it is to return from a cruciate injury. Which leads me to conclude that Ronaldo, who sustained the same injury, was juiced to the eyeballs going into the 2002 World Cup.

UCL Round of 16 Preview.

PSG vs Chelsea

Can ********** Verratti take the next step and prove that he is the best young playmaker in Europe? Chelsea has more options, and Ibra and Cavani have never proved their mettle in the big game.

Win: Chelsea

ManCity vs Barca

No contest. Win: Barca

Leverkusen vs Atletico

Atletico has the best defense in Europe, Beyer will struggle to score.

Win: Atletico

Juve vs Dortmund

Dortmund is a wounded animal this could be close. Juve has greater options.

Win: Juve

Schalke vs Real

No contest

Shakhtar vs Bayern

No contest

Arsenal vs Monaco

Monaco need to win since it has run afoul of Fair Play rules. Arsenault is erratic.

Win: Monaco

Porto vs Basel

Porto are highly disciplined and strong in the air, Basel look like the affluent city they come from. Close call.

Win: Porto

Not even one real upset pick.

Kind of hoping for PSG and Dortmund. Otherwise I would have to agree with you.

 

[Insidious Von]

Dortmund would be much better off if they had signed both Immobile and Cerci. Together they propelled Torino into the Europa League. It made me happy since the Bulls have never recovered from Superga and haven't been a factor in Serie A since the late 70's. Why did Atletico sign Cerci? As a dedicated winger he doesn't fit into Simeone's system. Look for a swap of players in January: Torres has had his contract bought by Milan, I expect them to make a bid for Cerci in January.

I would prefer that he play for his hometown club Roma, let's see what happens.

 

[Insidious Von]

Ac Milan 4 Real Madrid 2

The Dubai Friendly and the two clubs that the Arab city sponsors. Milan needed this match more than Real, and they have a plethora of young talent on display. Milano will host the Expo this year, Berlusconi is hoping to get a stadium deal out of it. I suspect that eventually the **********s of Dubai will buy the club. With two starlets of Arab descent (El Shaaraway and Mastour) on the club they are looking very attractive.

The sale of Cerci to AC is imminent, not sure why he went to Atletico in the first place? With his crossing ability he'll give them an extra dimension. They will take the CL qualifying spot and they may be the club no one wants to face.

 

[Insidious Von]

Grant Skinner and the Saints go marching in, love it!

If Manuel Neuer doesn't win the Ballon D'Or then FIFA can go suck an egg.

Milan's stadium plans have been approved by city council. San Siro will be retrofitted for Inter. This will divide Milano into north (Inter) and south (Milan).