Champions League Picks

[Squatting Tiger]

10-2. . I took Bremen also.

For shizzle, Werder Bremen got their asses handed to them. They couldn't even score more goals than Wiltord alone!

 

[the_big_E]

As it stands I'm 5 for 7.

I wont mention any scores in case people are going to watch and unless you go click on the first link from this thread then you'll know who I chose, therefore, no spoiler there.

The Madrid/Juve game was alright, soon as Zidane went off though Juve scored and the coach must have been thinking 'damn'. Nice winner though, they deserved to go through.

And I hope Milan/Juve arent paired in the quarter-finals because will be ugly stuff much like the final from 2 seasons ago!

 

[new_baller]

no more spanish teams....

HA HA HA.....no more Spanish clubs are left thanks to Juve's gritty victory over Real Madrid. That, coupled with Inter's probable victory next week, will mean that Italy and Serie A will be the most represented league left in the final 8 of the Champions league with 3 squads.

Who's yapping now about how Serie A has dropped off as the "premier" league in ALL the world??? 3 Italian teams left, 2 English, 1 French, 1 Dutch, 1 German. But besides Chelsea, who is going to give AC Milan any trouble? NOBODY!!!!

Just for the record, so far i'm 5 for 7 with my predictions, but soon to be 6 for 8 when Inter wins. Damn Barca and Monoco, ruining my perfect record.

Cheers calcio fans,

NB

 

[n_v]

I'm 4 4 7 and could go 5 4 8 if Inter wins. Was looking good heading into today to go 5 4 7 but Juve had to ruin that today.

 

[Darren]

OK, OK....I admit the goal was great....but come on....Shevchenko deserved the player of the year award not Ronaldinho. How can Shevy win the Euro Player of the year and not the f-ing World player of the year???? He plays in a far superior league (Serie A) and much tougher defensively than La Liga. If Shevchenko played in Spain he would easily score double the goals, ditto for the Premiership too.

I'm 2 for 3 so far too, although Barca should have won in my opinion.

Go Juve and Inter tomorrow!!!

Keep it real,

NB

Dude, think about it. WORLD player of the year. Ronaldinho has played outstandingly for Brazil not only Barca. In addition to that they look at the player as a total package and now on this planet is a silky and skillful as 'Bugs Bunny' aka Ronaldinho. The man is a beast. Wow! He creates and he scores ala Pele, Diego and ZZ.

He deserved the world player of the year as he has been better on the world stage.

 

[new_baller]

Dude, think about it. WORLD player of the year. Ronaldinho has played outstandingly for Brazil not only Barca. In addition to that they look at the player as a total package and now on this planet is a silky and skillful as 'Bugs Bunny' aka Ronaldinho. The man is a beast. Wow! He creates and he scores ala Pele, Diego and ZZ.

He deserved the world player of the year as he has been better on the world stage.

You seem to mistake me for someone who doesn't know the game of football. Listen up here bro, I can understand your point of view regarding the selfish "ball-hog" aka. Ronaldinho and his flashy goals and play winning the award.

BUT, and this is a big BUT....he didn't outplay Shevchenko. If you look at last year as a whole, Shevchenko was far superior and more important to his national team, Ukraine, than Ronaldinho was for Brazil. Shevy single-handedly has led Ukraine to the top of their qualifying pool for the World Cup. On top of that, he helped AC Milan win the Scudetto, which is the most prestigious league title in the world, and he was deemed the best player in all of Europe.

Ronaldinho wouldn't score more than 8 max (and probably 5 would be PK's) if he played in the most strategic, defensive, and tactical league in the world, Serie A. But he would fit in with all the diving and theatric's that Brazilians are known for.

Bottom line....he's a great player....but he's no Shevchenko. Wait till he plays in the next round for Milan, everyone else will be in trouble. Crespo is no substitute for him.

Plus Ronaldinho can watch him on TV win the Champions League cause he'll be sitting his ass at home.

Peace out,

NB

 

[the_big_E]

Ronaldinho is a midfielder.

Shevchenko is a striker.

Ronaldinho will never outscore Shevchenko...if you ask me its tough to say who's better because they play different positions. They're both the best at what they do, how's that?

 

[n_v]

They're both the best at what they do, how's that?

Not good enough.

 

[new_baller]

Ronaldinho is a midfielder.

Shevchenko is a striker.QUOTE]

Thanks the_big_e for clarifying that....

I'm not a moron, I watch and follow enough European football to know what positions that they both play, and I know that Ronaldinho's main job is not goalscoring, it's play making. He would not and could not outscore Shevchenko.

I'm not being an ass here or trying to pick fights, I just don't see how anyone who watches both Italian football and Spanish football, and who've seen both players play regularly, and who've seen the style and quality of football in both leagues, could make the assumption that Ronaldinho is more deserving.
But I guess I'm the idiot because apparently those who voted for the World Footballer of the year thought so. So there goes my argument ultimately.

It's just my opinion, both are great players at what they do, but I just personally dislike Ronaldinho and his anticks, and obviously I'm an avid Serie A calcio fan.

But just like a few years back....Michael Owen won Euro Player of the year and Zidane won the World Footballer award. To each his own.

As long as it's quality football and an Italian team or player is somehow involved....then I'm chilling.

Keep it real,

NB

 

[The_Ladies_Man]

Today's Matches ...

The Juventus vs Madrid match was a close one ... both were pretty even throughout, but Juve successfully converted the chances they got, while Madrid squandered them. I found Raul to be useless during the entire match .... and I have no idea why their coach didn't sub Owen sooner .... this guy's always on the bench even though he's a scoring machine. Oh yeah, Del Piero was totally useless also. That Roberto Carlos free kick was a scorcher .... would have been a great goal if it went in.

Man, was I totally off by not picking Liverpool. They played great and deserved to win. They still have a chance to lift some silverware this season .... it's a long shot, but anything is possible.

After the FC Porto vs Inter match is over, let's start putting in our votes for the quarter-final matchups.

 

[Esco!]

Not good enough.

I'd say he put that right, N_V

 

[Esco!]

No Inter game tomorrow.

Inter game will be played on March 15
I'm not sure if its on TV

 

[The_Ladies_Man]

Inter vs FC Porto

Inter game will be played on March 15
I'm not sure if its on TV

The game will be on TSN at 2:30 pm and there will be a repeat at 8:00 pm.

Here's the schedule of TSN for March 15th:

http://www.tsn.ca/broadcast/Schedule.asp?ShowDate=Mar 15 2005&TZ=0&Channel=TSN

 

[Esco!]

Ronaldinho is a midfielder.

Shevchenko is a striker.QUOTE]

Thanks the_big_e for clarifying that....

I'm not a moron, I watch and follow enough European football to know what positions that they both play, and I know that Ronaldinho's main job is not goalscoring, it's play making. He would not and could not outscore Shevchenko.

NB

Ronaldinho is actually both a goalscorer and a playmaker. It's just that he's not a natural striker like Shevchenko. But then again shevy isnt a natural playmaker either so he doesnt set up goals a whole lot.
I'd say when you add up all their qualities Ronaldinho is a slight hair better but not by much.

 

[new_baller]

I respect your call Escohort, I'm not trying to start a beef or anything with any fellow european football fans out there on this board. Both players are equally gifted in their own right and are both extremely important to their respected teams. Although the depth and power of Milan prove that they can still be effective even without Shevy.

But my HUGE point is that Ronaldinho would not or could not be as effective playing in Italy. He has the skill and imagination, but he lacks the mental toughness and disapline to make a dramatic impact on the league. Whereas Shevchenko could totally dominate if he played in Spain or England and score twice as many goals.

I will finally shut up on this matter now once and for all. I can't wait till next season when Shevy will actually have a striking partner almost as good as he is when Alberto Gilardino joins from Parma. He's the "next one" for Italy.

Keep it real,

NB

 

[cex]

juve and chelsea are my teams, juve will need nedved back though if they are going to win it

 

[n_v]

I can't wait till next season when Shevy will actually have a striking partner almost as good as he is when Alberto Gilardino joins from Parma. He's the "next one" for Italy.

You mean the 20th next one?

 

[new_baller]

You mean the 20th next one?

Ouch!!! It's OK to poke fun. Nobody in the world is laughing at the abundance of young talent that Italy has available. Every European nation is envious....and oh yeah....did you forget who won the Euro Under-21's??? Italy of course! Lead by Gilardino. How about Di Rossi, Di Natale, Toni, Lucarelli, Ferrari, Miccoli.....just to name a few of the young studs.

Lippi has already capped 48 different players since he joined the Azzurri, other nations are lucky to have 15 to 20 decent ones to call upon.

I'll be in Germany next year watching my boys hoist the Cup finally.

NB

 

[n_v]

Ouch!!! It's OK to poke fun. Nobody in the world is laughing at the abundance of young talent that Italy has available. Every European nation is envious....and oh yeah....did you forget who won the Euro Under-21's??? Italy of course! Lead by Gilardino. How about Di Rossi, Di Natale, Toni, Lucarelli, Ferrari, Miccoli.....just to name a few of the young studs.

Yada yada yada. There has been ample talk of Italy every year that it makes me nausious. They said Del Piero was the next one, Vieri, Inzaghi, and others. Italy had a wealth of strikers the past few years and hasn't done much on the offensive side. Talk to me when they (strikers) actually do something.

Lippi has already capped 48 different players since he joined the Azzurri, other nations are lucky to have 15 to 20 decent ones to call upon.

And they still can't win anything.

I'll be in Germany next year watching my boys hoist the Cup finally.

You're Croatian?

 

[the_big_E]

Italy will definitely not win. n_v is 100% correct. Also, if Lippi still brings bums like Del Piero, then that says it all...

and Croatia might not even make it!