Send 'em to the Lyons (Wednesday Football Thread)
United and Chelsea both qualify for the knock-out stages. United "flukily" coming down from 1-3 to 3-3, great game. Chelsea concede late equaliser in Madrid, Aguero getting both goals.
Porto and Bordeaux also go through. Maccabi Haifa, Besiktas, Apoel Nicosia and Atletico Madrid are all out.
Real and AC share the spoils at the San Siro, Ronaldinho firing an unstoppable penalty after Benzema had given Real the lead.
Bayern look in real trouble after losing 0-2 to Bordeaux.
QPR and Palace finished 1-1.
City & United after Rodwell.
Dossena to Napoli.
Adam Johnson to Real Madrid or Everton.
John Barnes to manage Rwanda.
Tonight: Liverpool and Arsenal in action.
Shoot.
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Also.
Liverpool 16/1 to qualify, can see them doing it too. Might stick a couple of quid on that.
I'd have a bit of that too...
Need to remember to do that tonight.
Well done
Hornchurch, Wealdstone and Billericay for bringing home the bacon.
South Kilburn shock Dulwich Hamlet in the 1st Round of the London Senior Cup meaning Hendon have to travel across the Vale Farm Car Park for our 2nd round tie.
That is WELL worth a fiver.
WELL worth it. Either way you're a winner.
I'd MUCH rather lost my money though.
I haven't placed a bet in ages but those odds are amazing
as JoeDiddly says you're a winner either way.
what, where did you find those odds?
it's like 3/1 on betfair...
Oh, I must have mis-read. It was outside a betfred shop in Manchester.
Must've been something else, sorry.
Must be to win the group
qualify is pretty cack:
http://www.easyodds.com/compareodds/Football/european-cup-competitions/m/254044-246-10.html
Atletico-Chelsea was a bit rubbish
A draw was a fair result, if only because a win would have flattered either side. I expected to see Atletico come out of the traps and leave a fair bit of space behind them but they were actually pretty reserved. Couple that with the fact that Chelsea's game plan seemed to be to sit back and let Atletico tire themselves out, not much happened til each side clocked on to the fact their respective plans weren't going to work.
Great goals from Aguero, even if his equaliser should never have been a free kick. Great goals, if less dazzling, from Didier Drogba. Disappointed by Ateltico though as I used to have a soft spot for them as a kid and over the two games all they did was chop people down or act as if they were sexually attracted to the turf.
Only saw that half volley/volley from aguero
but bloody hell, what a strike - don't think he'd hit a cleaner ball if he tried that a hundred times.
Also re: the OP - is Barnes really going to be rwanda manager? REALLY? Amazing.
It's on the BBC gossip column, so probably not.
Actually, the 'english manager to random international team' stories usually have a bit of truth behind them. Unlikely to make them up as most couldn't give a shit who John Barnes is set to manage.
Ref was a bit of a joke I thought
Dubious free kick for the equaliser, followed by giving a free kick for that ludicrous Drogba 'fall'. Then to compound it the Atletico wall was about 3 yards away when the kick was taken.
Cracking last 20 minutes or so though.
I thought he was pretty rubbish
I was amazed that late Chelsea free kick wasn't retaken. Perhaps the ref realised he shouldn't have given it in the first place.
Also tonight - West Ham v Aston Villa
I find myself caring less and less about the 'Champions' League each season, especially the bloody group stages that are incredibly dull.
Usually I agree about the group stages, despite my team being involved
but this year has been a lot better I think.
Barca have lost at home to Rubin Kazan, Real lost to Milan at the Bernebau, Milan lost to Zurich at the San Siro, last miute Lyon winner at Anfield, 2-2 and 3-3 last night from England's biggest clubs...
Obviously there'll probably be the same line up as ever in the knockouts and maybe the last round of games will be largely pointless as per, but I think this year's been a bit of a belter so far
wouldn't be surprised to see one or two of the big clubs fall
If I didn't support a team in the CL
I doubt I'd care about it, no matter how good it was
^this, to a certain extent...
although there's always the interest in the opposition teams during the latter stages, as the prospect of an english team winning it increases...(just amongst us bitter non-qualifiers, obvs)
I love the Champions League
always have done, even when my team wasn't involved. There's something special about big European nights and the group stages are the like the starter before the main course, you get a taste of what's to come but you know it can only get better from here.
I'm probably just old, bitter and cynical
I used to love it in the days of Van Basten scoring a hat trick against Gothenburg but the modern format is utter utter shite
There used to be something about
big European nights but now that special feeling has gone because they happen too regularly. I haven't watched a Champions League game properly in 2 years because quite frankly, I don't want to watch Arsenal v PSV or Chelsea v Barcelona for the umpteenth time in the last 6 years. I'd much rather watch sides that aren't in Europe that often taking on European giants - like Fulham taking on Roma, or Pompey taking on Milan last season. Those nights are much more of an occasion as European games should be.
exactly
plus the modern format has created the big four twaddle that blights the top league in this country.
How would you propose to change the current format?
It's been suggested many times
64 or 128 team two legged straight knockout, staggered so that you can still show the same amount of matches on tv
At the risk of sounding like a luddite,
I'd revert it to being a straight knockout with just the Champions of each country. Stop it from being a cash cow and restore the prestige of the competition. It's too bloated in its current format.
well preferably this ^ actually but it'll never happen.
No...
unfortunately. What you propose is probably not a bad middle ground. I'd like to see the whole seeding thing disappear as well.
I agree with the seeding, it's ridiculous.
Would you have teams from the same country be protected from playing each other until a later stage?
no way
seeding is excellent.
who wants to watch maccabee haifa v barcelona in the final?
seeding is a good thing i think. imagine a federer v nadal 3rd round match at wimbledon? sure, seeding does favour the bigger teams, but for the neutral it has to be the best system no?
i'd like to see it introduced in the FA cup, but "real" football fans would go mental.
PROGRESS guys.
You do effectively
have it in the FA Cup with clubs getting exemptions to various stages.
hmm.
in a way. but then they are thousands of teams to narrow down.
*there are
plus..
'magic of the cup' and all that jazz.
yeah but the "magic of the cup" would still exist.
i.e. bournemouth could still beat chelsea
good point that.
I'd confused myself there.
it would just make it harder for teams like millwall to jam their way to the final.
That did piss me off a little to be honest...
At least Cardiff knocked a couple of Premiership sides out on their way to the final.
Seeding serves a purpose
I think the way seeding is sorted out is stupid though, especially in the CL. If you finish 4th, even 3rd (as Chelsea did last year)in your own league, you shouldn't be seeded as the top 8 on the continent, IMO. I'd prefer to see teams seeded depending on where they finish domestically rather than on the coefficient, although that can't work for obvious reasons, and for the seeding to be minimal.
^if they must have group stages
there should be 1 seeded team per group, say the champions of the top 8 leagues (england spain italy germany france holland portugal, errrr turkey?)
everyone else is lumped in together with the possibility of, maybe, a man u, real madrid, bayern, juventus group.
I like this
1 set of 8 seeds and the rest go into a completely random draw.
I think the current format is fine (qualifiers... group stage... knockout stage)
the problem lies in the amount of teams that qualify from each country.
Reduce the top leagues to a maximum of 2 with both automatically qualifying (England, spain etc.)
The slightly lesser leagues to 1 plus 1 (France, Holland etc.)
The next tier to 1 automatic qualifier (scotland, Ukraine etc.)
Then the smaller nations would get one side straight into the latter stages of qualifiying, no 1st, 2nd, 3rd round rubbish.
Maybe a select few nations would require more than one round of qualifiers but I'm talking about the likes of Andorra, san Marino etc.
I've not thought out the logistics at all and my examples may be inaccurate but this would be my general plan for the CL.
None of the qualifiers would be seeded but the group stages would, there would be no country protection at any stage of the competition.
I think this is a good middle ground.
definitely this
Rangers to avenge their 4-1 humiliation against Unirea tonight......
well hopefully. We are still playing mince but i suppose it can only get better, it can can't it?
A draw is the most likely result for me tonight, don't think we'll get beat but then again i thought we'd win 2 weeks ago.
And as i didn't comment on monday i'd like to say that i fucking jumped out my seat at Drogbas goal at the weekend, a thing of beauty.
I'm still not convinced Lampard's flick was deliberate
benefit of the doubt?
it was deliberate
but hit in hope rather than trying to lay it on a plate
This is more what I meant
Well done
Hornchurch, Wealdstone and Billericay for bringing home the bacon last night.
South Kilburn shock Dulwich Hamlet in the 1st Round of the London Senior Cup meaning Hendon have to travel across the Vale Farm Car Park for our 2nd round tie.
Well done on avoiding that bacon being ruined by meat substitute.
FOOTBALL LEAGUE GROUND CHALLENGE!!!!
This shit is amazing. Tests your Geography AND football knowledge.
My best score thus far is 81402
http://www.football-league.co.uk/gameswide/football-league-ground-location-challenge-20091021_2270768_1832558?3722=6030
91652
I get completely lost when it comes to sponsored stadia
Turns out Reading isn't anywhere near where I thought it was
Bloody Reading...
I just got 103,554.
Mmm, delicious.
Points off for not knowing Bradford's ground is now sponsored by some shithouse paint company or something, and isn't Valley Parade anymore.
Great stuff
124,251.
My hero <3
It would have been nearer 130,000
if I'd only had any idea where the Banks' Stadium was.
60871
a game that couples my complete lack of geographical knowledge with my contempt and ignorance of football league stadiums. Hurrah.
61274
I'm with you on that one. Well, actually my geographical knowledge is pretty good it's just that I had no idea who half those stadiums belonged to.
I got 68000
But only by randomly sticking the pins in all around Birmingham and hoping the speed of the delivery gained me some ground.
I even got Southend's ground out by about 50 miles. I'm sure that map is wrong...
my second attempt got me 73115
They tricked me bad with st.James Park, aiming to hit Newcastle when the answer is Exeter doesn't work out too well. It's a trick question though, surely? How are you supposed to know which one they mean?
I got that as well.
Plumped for Newcastle and got lucky. That's how it goes sunshine. That's how it goes.
St James Park is Exeter
St James' Park is Newcastle.
Shouldn't it be "Sports Direct.com@St James' Park"?
Super catchy name, hard to believe that anyone will continue on referring it to the old name.
69082
that St James / St Jame's Sid James Park thing got me a good un.
110776
98969
Either I'm almost spot on, or about 400 miles away.
I put bloomfield road as being somewhere in essex
fail
124,805.
Some of the grounds were well of where I thought though.
Southend statement regarding debt and HRMC court case this morning:
"Southend United have this morning appeared in the High Court in London regarding an administration order from HMRC.
Agreement has been reached to pay the outstanding debt by Friday. Matters have been adjourned by the court until Monday pending the debt being settled.
A full statement will follow shortly".
Our debt is at £2.1 million supposedly. I have no idea if this is bullshit spin or legit. We don't have that kind of cash, so either Sainsbury's (who are buying our land when we supposedly move) are feeling awful generous or else we're being bought out. I guess time will tell.
Well done to Accrington Stanley for surviving their hearing today too.
58000ish.
st james park?! cunts.
Kevin Nolan named Championship Player of the Month
no one is surprised.
he's clearly far too good for the Championship
also too good for the Championship are Ryan Taylor, Guthrie and a couple of others. The majority of your starting XI could comfortably play in the Premiership when you inevitable win promotion.
Most of them looked
distinctly uncomfortable in the Premier League last season though.
of course
the club was a mess though, most of them have the ability IMO.
None of the players you mentioned managed it last season
They went down instead of Hull. HULL.
i think we're a better unit than we were last season
players who performed well beneath their ability have finally turned it on, but we need to make some real changes to stay up next season - we still start Geremi occasionally, and our attack will look really lacklustre up there.
Newcastle will still need to invest heavily when they get promoted
The current squad/team is not good enough for the Prem.
Players like Nolan, the Taylors, Coloccini etc should eat the Championship and are good enough to be in the Prem, but as useful members of the squad/team, not as the best players.
Ready for Posh this weekend?
I'll be there.
Come on Boro!
Indeed
Except I won't be there, sadly. Now I can make it, it's long sold out.
I'm going up on Friday
I'm thinking the football is going to be the lowlight of the weekend!
I wonder if the ref in the Man Utd game last night
has watched the Fletcher yellow card incident on video yet?
To those who dislike the current format of the European Cup
I agree completely, though one small comfort, at least we don't have TWO group stages anymore.
yeah that was shit
so dull, one is enough but not too much IMO.
I'm actually going to work out my entire plan for the new CL and try and find some backing when I get time. Obviously no one important will listen but it'll be fun trying (maybe).
well your Barcelona fan mate can represent the current champions
Platini will have to sit up and take notice
I remember when they abolished the 2nd group stages
all of a sudden managers were complaining about lost revenue despite the fact that they'd cut the number of games by 4 (I think), thus relieving the pressure on the fixture list.
Ha ha! Me and my housemate were talking about that the other day
What a fucking nonsense that was, it worked out that you'd have to play something like 18 games to win it. Nice one Blatter...
I'd completely forgotten about that
until I started playing the updated Champ Man 01/02. Horrendous scenes.
this is probably just me but
does anyone else get really irritated when reading quotes from players in the news?
From 365: "When the referee blew his whistle I just thought "great, it is a penalty and we are back in the game". When I saw he was walking towards me with the yellow card I could not believe it.
"I am not having much luck with these cards. Hopefully it will change in the later stages."
Every word is said. No words are shortened or missed and it makes them sound like ABSOLUTE MORONS.
In other news, Rafa quotes YNWA. Brilliant. I love him. Walk on Rafa. Hope all the United fans are watching tonight. Everyone's expecting a win and him to get the boot. Just like they were when we played Scumchester. We're gonna hammer them.
3-0 Liverpool
expecting a defeat rather.
A BIG DEFEAT at that.
You've changed your tune!
I abhor player interviews.
It's completely soul sapping.
Unless it's a player like Jody Craddock.
This is laughably embarrassing:
http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=249440.0
Ever so slightly embarrassing isn't it...
I tried to dive into my lunchtime pint to escape the horror when it appeared on SSN.
Especially this bit...
"Feel like making a 'You're not walking alone Rafa' banner.."
That was my favourite bit
made better by other people encouraging him to do just that and offering suggestions on design! Completely free of irony!
That's exactly it...
The complete lack of self-awareness.
I've only just got to the bottom of page 1 and can barely see for tears of laughter/despair.
The complete lack of self-awareness?
"Let's hope no other forum users see our conversation. It would be hugely embarrassing and they might laugh at us!!!"
Haha. If anything, you people's jealousy at how passionate our fans are is embarrassing.
Rafa - keep that head up high.
voronin on free kicks?
voronin on in itself is upsetting. But please.
No matter how much he fucks up, as long as he quotes 'You'll Never Walk Alone', they'll be fine.
Liverpool will definitely win tonight
i'm willing to stake my reputation on it
That's the worst part of all this mockery, you're probably right.
Yeah, I think they will too..
But then they'll lose on Monday night against Jizzstain Town.
No one likes Palace
Into the play off places, but 1 from 6 at home in 5 days is a bit disappointing.
Been interesting to see how Jim picks the lads up. This is a key challenge.
Be good to see us develop a plan B that isn't taking two of our best players off and replacing them with Rowan Vine and Patrick Ageymang
Maik Taylor or Joe Hart, who would you pick?
Taylor for me, he'd have been no.1 all along, Hart looks ok no real problem just don't see why Taylor who was really good last season was ousted.
"Birmingham City: Maik Taylor hopes to retain keeper’s jersey
Maik Taylor believes that he has done all he can to give Alex McLeish a selection headache in the goalkeeping department.
Having had the decision made for him against Manchester City, the Birmingham City manager must now opt to recall Joe Hart or stick with Taylor in goal for next Monday’s trip to Liverpool.
Veteran Taylor, a key member of the club’s promotion-winning side last season, pressed his claims to continue between the sticks by keeping a clean sheet at St Andrew’s on Sunday."
Liverpool 0 - 7 Birmigham ?
I always feel sorry for keepers
who are ousted by loan signings despite doing well for their clubs. Like Dean Kiely at West Brom when they brought Scott Carson in. I haven't really seen enough of Hart this season to make a judgement but expect he'll probably get the nod.
ok Taylor is 38 but Joe Hart is on loan what do we care about his progression as a player.
I don't see him being Englands no.1 unless the standard of English keepers continues its current trend. Taylor really was solid last year, and with a set back 4 i think would do just as well this year. Though nothing against Hart he just makes some odd decisions. I wish he was in goal for Man City this week we'd have won for sure.
I think decision making comes with experience...
That's partly why goalkeepers can keep playing at the top level until their late 30s. I certainly don't think Hart is a massive improvement on Taylor and won't be the difference between Brum staying up or going down.
unlike shay given for instance the difference between top6 and mid table, city are rubbish at the back how they have
a good defensive record has to be entirely down to him. Cech a year or two back must have been worth so many points to those Chelsea 1 nil merchants. Taylor was massive in getting us promotion, we scored very few last year.
Relegation with either in goal.
You are doing your best to ruin Hart. Sticking him behind a tinpot Championship defence doesn't help. He was almost always excellent for us, even with Richard Dunne in the side.
Someone's posted this thing, right?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/8342406.stm
Mwahahahaha
dear oh dear
dear oh dear@ St. James Park
Yours for just a few million I suspect?
the renaming of St.James Park gets sillier
in a bid to placate the fans whoever gets the naming rights will have it as
company @ St.James Park
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_5672368,00.html
*weep*
Why didn't they just name it after Jackie Milburn
or some other famous name associated with the club?
Saying that, we don't know what we'll end up with yet should the proposed move to Gamston actually take place.
In the UK
It's usually more common to name stands after famous players/people associated with the club rather than a whole stadium. That tends to be more of an Italy/Spain thing when it does happen (well, the Bernabeu and San Siro/Guiseppe Meazza anyway)
True
But its got to be better than naming it after a clothing chain that deals in sportswear, regardless of who the owner is.
COME ON YOU LIVERPOOLSS
Christ
Insinua is all over the shop, looks like he's never played a big game before. Panic stations everytime he's touched it in the 1st 5.
arsenal look scary good
They always do.
But then what happens. Oh, nothing. As you were.
Yeah
I mean we havn't won anything in decades!
Recently, though.
It's been said for the last three seasons, and it's true, there's no better side in the Premier League to watch, but the sides of years gone past have no relevance to the current one.
Yeah
Doesn't mean we might not win something this year, and I think we have every chance. Besides it's not like a whole host of teams have been winning decent trophies (hell one of them is Portsmouth, who are now in a state) whilst we've been empty-handed.
No, fair enough.
it's a fookin disgrace that Torres is playing tonight
he looks ready to die. Babel as the only replacement? Voronin already on the pitch? Rafa really is the worst squad builder in the world
That
was a fairly good hit.
That
was a fairly hilarious freekick.
Yup
Babel in a nutshell there. For some reason I thought it was going top bin. Clearly getting a little carried away...
fucksake
great goal, but the commentators dick-suck of Babel is sickening.
hahaha babel's free kick was the worst i've ever seen
oh dear oh dear oh dear oh dear
lol
West Ham <3
Odds on Liverpool winning the Europa League?
Be honest Liverpool fans, you'd take that, wouldn't you?
Yep
I'd actually like to put that bet on
And soonish, while there's still a chance (mathematically that is) that Liverpool won't actually be competing in it.
lpool will still qualify for the cl
mark my words.
MARK THEM!
Nah
Fiorentina will beat Lyon
Lyon will beat Debrecen
Won't matter who Liverpool do or don't beat
Not that Lyon beating Debrecen counts...
they'll still qualify
all that has to happen is for Lyon to beat Fiorentina which is very possible when they'll still be playing for top spot and then for Liverpool to beat Fiorentina at Anfield. In fact if Lyon draw in Florence Liverpool can still qualify with a 2-0/3-0 win at Anfield depending on goal difference.
I'm assuming Liverpool will beat Debrecen, surely even they'll manage that.
the 2-0 would be depending on goal difference
because the head-to-head record would be even.
BarcelWHOna?
Having got a mighty 1 point from Rubin Kazan. BEST TEAM IN THE FARKIN WORLD MATE.
Still bitter about the raping in May?
They're a hundred times the side United are. These sort of sides can be tricky to play against, we've seen it with sides like Shakhtar, CSKA & Zenit.
i'd just like to say SIDES one final time.
Can you do it again?
Not at all bitter. Just having a laugh.
It's a tricky business, this football game.
Seeing as Rubin Kazan are Russian champions
and holding their own in a group with the Spanish and Italian champions in, don't they deserve a little credit?
no of course not
becuz i've never heard of them
Yeah, maybe. But where's the fun in that?
Also
Rangers conceding a last minute equaliser and their fans making fools of themselves- perfect.
I want Mulder/Petrescu and his team to make the Last 16
here's the official response
Martin Bain, the club’s chief executive, was not condoning their behaviour, but he issued a statement complaining that there had not been enough turnstiles open
The president of the Rangers Supporters Assembly, Andy Kerr, said the trouble at the match was a “minor incident”. “There was a bit of pressure at the front. Spray was used, which was used before the start of the match, and I think people reacted to that. I wouldn’t say the Rangers fans did anything wrong. The organisation was very poor.”
no doubt we'll be hearing how it wasn't Rangers fans but Chelsea fans, the usual excuse, truly Scotlands shame
WEST FACKIN HAM!!! GOD BLESS YOU ZOLA!
ahem, they're back.
Liverpool are a laugh a week at the minute.
Really enjoying watching them. Those seven weeks last season aside, when they played moderately well, i don't remember them being as entertaining in twenty years.
bastos is my new favourite player
what were tydelsley & co on about tonight "oh this is a fantastic performance all that's missing is a goal".
When Mascherano is your best player by miles you obviously haven't created too much.
that's the worst i've ever seen Bastos play.
honestly.
Liverpool were the better side, in my opinion, which makes the late goal even funnier!
oh yeah they were the better of two poor teams
but to make out like they were hard done by after playing lyon off the pitch is just odd, really.
Liverpool cut from 10/1 to 7/1 to win the europa league
they're actually favourites to win it :D
Music from the Playstation add
Fairly good match - Liverpool were very unlucky but it adds to the drama of it all!
On another note for those that are interested the music in the Playstation Champions League adverts (http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/10/23/uefa-champions-league-adverts/) is 'No Time' by The Heavy, www.myspace.com/theheavy73