UEFA Champions League

[David Beckham 23]

Real Madrid fired Capello, assuming that they would be better off without him.

You could say the same thing about Inter and Roberto Mancini.

 

[Big Michael]

What pool is this?

Juventus ruined alot of perdictions? Essien returns; Sissoko joins Camoranesi and De Ceglie on the injury list - advantage Chelsea. Chiellini had Drogba under control, had he not been red carded for toilet talking the ref, the Ivorian would not have scored. In the end there was no Drogba or Hiddink factor, injuries did Juve in.

Real Madrid fired Capello, assuming that they would be better off without him.

Reread the original post in this thread

Every team has/gets injuries. Big Clubs have big squads. Arsenal are missing two of their most influential players, Fabregas and Adebayor, but I all I heard were excuses about Roma's injuries.

 

[Big Michael]

DB23 nailed all four games last night, well done.

Standings after first round;

Big Michael 6
Bridgeman 6
DB23 5
Scouser 5
Formula1, abear and Spino 4

There should be some tasty games after next weeks draw, I am sure all the teams are hoping to get Porto. I am calling for Platini to fix the draws and have all the English teams play each other. Platini would have a cow if the semis were an all English affair.

 

[Insidious Von]

Reread the original post in this thread.
Every team has/gets injuries. Big Clubs have big squads. Arsenal are missing two of their most influential players, Fabregas and Adebayor, but I all I heard were excuses about Roma's injuries.

With your knowledge I'm surprised that you would broach this topic Michaelone; Serie A has never recovered from it's financial crisis and the global recession has hit Italy hard. Italian clubs cannot afford the reserves available to EPL clubs. More players will be leaving Serie A, this summer, than arriving.

EPL teams will dominate the CL in the immediate future.

Go Bayern!

 

[Insidious Von]

There is a silver lining in every dark cloud; Marcello Lippi has himself a brand new defense.

Motta (22) Chiellini (23) Santacroce (22) Santon (18)

 

[Big Michael]

With your knowledge I'm surprised that you would broach this topic Michaelone; Serie A has never recovered from it's financial crisis and the global recession has hit Italy hard. Italian clubs cannot afford the reserves available to EPL clubs. More players will be leaving Serie A, this summer, than arriving.

EPL teams will dominate the CL in the immediate future.

Go Bayern!

I guess we can agree to disagree on whether Juve would have won if there were fewer injuries and whether injuries should be used as an excuse at all. Funny enough though, Arsenal's best CL campaign was in 2006 when they reached the finals with minimal, if any, contribution, due to injuries, from Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Freddy Llunjberg, Lauren and Dennis Bergkamp. It's interesting that teams don't talk about injuries when they win.

 

[scouser1]

can you imagine that meeting the day after its an all English semi finals in the CL

Platini might actually entertain the idea of tossing England out of UEFA hehe

 

[Big Michael]

can you imagine that meeting the day after its an all English semi finals in the CL

Platini might actually entertain the idea of tossing England out of UEFA hehe

At a minimum the 6+5 rule would come into immediate effect.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...ment/blatter-buoyed-by-65-report-1633015.html

 

[Sorega]

I congratulate all the english teams on their dominance in the champions league. Man U took Inter to school, Chelsea and Juve could have gone either way but Chelsea is deserving of going through, Liverpool is a champions league team and Roma is the only Italian team that should have gone through but they couldnt score a goal after getting that early one and penalties can go either way after that. One thing I do have to say about the english is how come they dont show anywhere near this type of dominance when it comes to the National team level?

 

[scouser1]

wise words from a wise man

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=627484&sec=england&cc=5901

as for the English national team well they finally have a great manager and this time around if they dont make the quarter finals at least in the next WC, we know its the players that are crap and not past managing.

 

[Big Michael]

wise words from a wise man

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=627484&sec=england&cc=5901

as for the English national team well they finally have a great manager and this time around if they dont make the quarter finals at least in the next WC, we know its the players that are crap and not past managing.

As long as England doesn't get stuck in a group of death and avoid Spain, Brazil and Argentina in the Round of 16, the quarter finals are doable, granted that's a few IFS.

Also, this weekend's ManU-Liverpool game should be interesting. Both teams are coming down from a mid-week high. 'Pool needs the game to stay in the race and ManU could pretty well clinch. I hear Torres may not be fit for the game. My money will be on ManU.

 

[Insidious Von]

There is speculation that Italy could lose a place, in the next UEFA five year review, in the CL if they do poorly in 2010. I've cut and pasted this opinion since its the best solution to the problem:

I have another solution: inter hand back the stolen titles plus the financial damages for the falsopoli to juventus, milan and fiorentina. Then they issue a public apology to all of italy for ruining the italian league (i want moratti to do this one personally), then they fail to register for the CL thanks to the 6+5 rule. Meanwhile juve, viola and milan rebuild their squads and take over europe once again. How does that sound?

For the record I'm against the 6+5 rule, let market forces run their course.

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2009/03/13/1153425/marcello-lippi-lets-play-italy-v-england

 

[Big Michael]

There is speculation that Italy could lose a place, in the next UEFA five year review, in the CL if they do poorly in 2010. I've cut and pasted this opinion since its the best solution to the problem:

I have another solution: inter hand back the stolen titles plus the financial damages for the falsopoli to juventus, milan and fiorentina. Then they issue a public apology to all of italy for ruining the italian league (i want moratti to do this one personally), then they fail to register for the CL thanks to the 6+5 rule. Meanwhile juve, viola and milan rebuild their squads and take over europe once again. How does that sound?

For the record I'm against the 6+5 rule, let market forces run their course.

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2009/03/13/1153425/marcello-lippi-lets-play-italy-v-england

Bro, that is too funny, especially the "falsipoli" LMAO.

 

[scouser1]

Italian football has for a few years become a running joke in the rest of Europe, scandals, corruption, with the exception of Italian players few of the greats go there, smaller crowds all have been a recipe for a disaster.

The 6+5 rule is a complete lunacy, sports are the ultimate meritocracy in the world, where what shade of the rainbow you are or what you worship doesnt truly matter. The only thing that matters is skill now Blatter is trying to ensure little Johnny from Toxteth and Giuseppe from Savelli start for Liverpool and AC Milan, forget the fact that a Croat, Brazilian or Ghanian player is superior in skill smacks right in the face of anything that sports is about.

 

[the_big_E]

Is it possible to even field a starting 11 of all Englishmen amongst the big 4?

Goalie - Foster?
LB - Cashley
CB - Terry
CB - Carragher
RB - G. Neville
MF - Gerrard
MF - Lampard
MF - Scholes
MF - Carrick
F - Rooney
F - Walcott

6+5 rule would not be kind to any big team. Christ, Liverpool had more Spaniards in their starting 11 than Real Madrid did!

 

[David Beckham 23]

I think the 6+5 is an interesting concept. I'm not for it but I would like to see more nationalized citizens in all the leagues. Especially with the top teams.

Man U possible 6+5 English line

Forster (Eventually) -1
Neville (for now) or Wes Brown - 2
Ferdinand -3
Vidic
Evra

Scholes (for now) Hargreaves if healthy -4
Carrick - 5
Ronaldo
Park

Rooney - 6
Berbatov


The problem is long seasons, injuries and subs. It's not practical.

 

[Barca]

AH! A Champions League thread...thanks for pointing me in this direction Bridgeman! Good to meet you IRL.

 

[Barca]

With your knowledge I'm surprised that you would broach this topic Michaelone; Serie A has never recovered from it's financial crisis and the global recession has hit Italy hard. Italian clubs cannot afford the reserves available to EPL clubs. More players will be leaving Serie A, this summer, than arriving.

EPL teams will dominate the CL in the immediate future.

Go Bayern!

Perhaps, but you yourself said it correctly, they WILL be leaving. They haven't left yet, at least not many. Hence, the excuses from Roma fans are really weak. Both team were grinding it out and as we all know, when it comes down to PKs, it's 50/50.

It is incredible that all the Italian clubs are out though.

 

[ROGER O. THORNHILL]

Nice!

Welcome here Barca! I told you you'd enjoy it. A lot of these boys have some good insight and thoughts on "The Beautiful Game".

Damm Good conversation.

Just hope they realize our beloved Barca is gonna take the whole thing anyway! ;-)

BTW, it was cool meeting you last night as well. That won't be our last beer or "Babe Commentary" Session.

 

[Barca]

An in-form Barca is the only thing that can stop the runaway train that is Manchester United.

We should ALL be rooting for Barca!!! What are you doing up so late? Didn't get enough last night?