The only year Chelsea has had Man Utd's number is last year. Every team goes through injuries. How many times did Man utd change their back four last year? The defense is back and solid!
all things soccer 2010/2011
- Thread starter scouser1
- Start date
There has to be a first for everything; SAF has always lost against Carlo Ancelotti's teams.
Yeah yeah....
On to some important business. The draw for the CL!!
AS Roma vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
AC Milan vs. Tottenham
Valencia vs. Schalke
Inter Milan vs. Bayern Munich
Lyon vs. Real Madrid
Arsenal vs. Barcelona
Marseille vs. Manchester United
Chelsea vs. FC Copenhagen
Arsenal deserve to get Barcelona with their lack luster performance. Spurs get AC Milan and some replays from last year. Inter & Bayern
My boys can take the Gunners although I wish Cesc was wearing blaugrana. Soon enough, soon enough.
The Inter/Bayern match up of last years final is tantalizing but some of those key factors from last year are missing on both sides.
Lyon took out 'Los Blancos' last year and looking for them to do the same.
Now we get futbol!
Barcelona are always the favourite but February is a long time from now and anything can happen in the Champions League
I like the matchup. The CL winner will have to beat Barca so we might as well get it over with. I guess Barca can now afford Cesc with the Qatar shirt sponsorship money because we know they are otherwise broke. I guess Barca use to be "more than a team", or however that saying goes, but to finally succumb after what, 111 years.
To tell the truth, I'm of the opinion that once we put the Nike logo on the jersey, we crossed that bridge. Some don't want to see it that way and I have discussions over it with my Old Guard Colleagues but the fact is just that: fact.
El Blaugrana will always be "Mes Que Un Club" due to our contributions to UNICEF, unprecedented support of Catalan Identity and - to the best of my knowledge - the only team that lets fans in for free. (If you personally support a UNICEF child and there are still empty seats 30 minutes before kick-off, if you show your UNICEF Child Supporter Card, you get a free seat.)
The Qatar issue works both ways: Qatar's confirmation of WC 2022 now allows a huge influx of $ into the futbol/tourism infrastructure of the country. They also have to convince the international futbol fans to fly halfway across the world to cities and a culture they are not familiar with to watch the games. What better way to promote themselves than via FCB who hold so many high profile players and a gorgeous style of futbol?
UNICEF will still remain on the shirt with the 'Qatar' logo above it in smaller letters. It will still remain predominantly a 'charitable' jersey. Rosell is more of a pragmatic politician than Laporta was so if we have to compromise a bit to reduce debt but manage to maintain the Mission Statement of the Club, so be it.
This is the year that Wenger actually watches tape and comes with a plan to play Barca. I am looking forward to this challenge for the Gunners. We were humiliated last year, so there is no other team I would rather see.
Enzo Bearzot (1927 - 2010)
Enzo Bearzot, Italy,s World Cup winning manager from Spain82 has passed away, he was 83. Appointed manager after the failure of West Germany74, he rebuilt the Azzurri into a powerhouse that nearly won two World Cups - there are those that claim the Argentina78 squadra was actually better than the championship side the won in Spain. He set the standard for future managers to emulate.
R.I.P Monsignore.
Enzo Bearzot, Italy,s World Cup winning manager from Spain82 has passed away, he was 83. Appointed manager after the failure of West Germany74, he rebuilt the Azzurri into a powerhouse that nearly won two World Cups - there are those that claim the Argentina78 squadra was actually better than the championship side the won in Spain. He set the standard for future managers to emulate.
R.I.P Monsignore.
Balotelli proves his ego is bigger than his game.
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/premierleague/story/Balotelli-Only-Messi-better-than-me
"There is only one player who is a little stronger than me - Messi. All the others are behind me."
He's not even the best striker on his team, in Manchester, or the EPL.
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/premierleague/story/Balotelli-Only-Messi-better-than-me
"There is only one player who is a little stronger than me - Messi. All the others are behind me."
He's not even the best striker on his team, in Manchester, or the EPL.
Agree with the Nike part. Lots of clubs provide support to charities, just not as just not as publicly as Barca. Also agree that the Qatar deal is great for both sides. But here is my problem with Barca supporters. They act like they are part of some superior (morally/culturally etc.) club, but in fact the club often behaves in an undignified fashion especially when they want a player from another team. They always unsettle the player to the point where he is not focussed on their current team and then try to buy them on the cheap.
Any ways, can't wait till the game.
Wenger doesn't do tactics, I have a feeling our humiliation will be more severe this year. We were lucky with the 2-2 scoreline in the game at the Emirates last year. That game could have easily been 6-2 Barca.
This month we will find out if money does indeed continue to talk.
Manchester City has tabled a 35 million Euro bid for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko. On paper is looks like a done deal for the German club, the striker is over priced. However by doing so the club risks rupturing its affiliation to Serie A. Last summer Wolfsburg signed Simon Kjaer and Diego at less than market value. At the time Juventus backed off on a bid for the former and sold the later to the Germans in return for right of first refusal on Dzeko. That consent has not been given.
If Dzeko does move to the Eastlands than it must be assumed that Balotelli will be returning to Italy in the summer. I'm not sure if that is Mancini's intention or even if he will be with the come in 2011-12. Also, like Kaka before him, Dzeko is ambivalent about joining City. Do they really need another player that doesn't want to be there?
Manchester City has tabled a 35 million Euro bid for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko. On paper is looks like a done deal for the German club, the striker is over priced. However by doing so the club risks rupturing its affiliation to Serie A. Last summer Wolfsburg signed Simon Kjaer and Diego at less than market value. At the time Juventus backed off on a bid for the former and sold the later to the Germans in return for right of first refusal on Dzeko. That consent has not been given.
If Dzeko does move to the Eastlands than it must be assumed that Balotelli will be returning to Italy in the summer. I'm not sure if that is Mancini's intention or even if he will be with the come in 2011-12. Also, like Kaka before him, Dzeko is ambivalent about joining City. Do they really need another player that doesn't want to be there?
Not sure what Man City are doing. Not sure why they would go after Dzeko, yes he is a good player but if you believe the reports and he is holding out for more money well then surely he is not going to endear himself to his new teammates. Also, considering Mancini loves the 4-5-1 and Tevez is the go to guy, he isn't going to be playing week in, week out...just ask Jo, Santa Cruz, Adebayor, etc.
Arsenal have a chance against Barcelona, but it is a very small chance. If Vermaelen isn't back, well than Messi and co. will feast on the other 3 centre halves.
Arsenal have a chance against Barcelona, but it is a very small chance. If Vermaelen isn't back, well than Messi and co. will feast on the other 3 centre halves.
Interesting analysis.
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/88/s...on-dor-analysis-how-lionel-messi-got-ahead-of
BTW, Viva Messi!
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/88/s...on-dor-analysis-how-lionel-messi-got-ahead-of
BTW, Viva Messi!
Fifa 11
Lionel Messi , Cristiano Ronaldo , Andres Iniesta , Xavi , IKER CASILLAS , LUCIO , David Villa , Carles Puyol , Maicon Douglas Sisenando , Gerard Piqué and Wesley Sneijder.
Just goes to show how much Barcalona dick sucking Fifa does.
Lionel Messi , Cristiano Ronaldo , Andres Iniesta , Xavi , IKER CASILLAS , LUCIO , David Villa , Carles Puyol , Maicon Douglas Sisenando , Gerard Piqué and Wesley Sneijder.
Just goes to show how much Barcalona dick sucking Fifa does.
How Sneijder wasn't in the final 3 is beyond me. We all know Messi is a very good player, but winning the treble and leading your team to the World Cup Finals doesn't even get you that!
