beast

beauty vs the beast and im glad beauty prevailed because chelsea can just be dull to watch most of the time. hopefully henry's knee isnt anything serious and will be able to make it for rome so iniesta can drop back into his middle. it just sux barca's back four is pretty much gonna be a makeshift line with alves, abidal, and marquez out. so obviously man u have the advantage going in but im not gonna count barca out, just wish they were at full strength. anyways, ronaldo vs. messi for supremacy is good enough for me...

*a little side note, i cant believe drogba missed all of those chances(wish there was an icon of a face choking)

1. I doubt Fergie would allow Barca to play their game. Juande must be mad to allow Iniesta and Messi doing 1 2 passes down the middle of the pitch raping Real. I was surprised Juande didn’t get the sack immediately for such a humiliating defeat in god knows how many decades in the Bernabeau.

I bet Vidic and Rio and Anderson and Carrick would take turns outmuscling and kicking Messi and Iniesta all the time, Man U would have 6 to 7 men defending always and launching quick counter attacks, Ronnie diving within 30 metres of Valdez goal so he can take his free kicks. When that fails, watch for those Route 1 kicks by Van der Sar down the center and the other tactics Big Sam made famous.

I don’t think Alves is a good enough defender to take all the high balls given his size. Henry is dangerous given how many years he played against BPL teams but I think Eto’o has already mentally checked out and I suspect the Barca players don’t really like him to pass the ball to him. He was anonymous during the last 3 matches.

2. When drogba missed those chances, you would think its one of those nights where he makes up for those misses with one killer of a goal to sink Barca. I was therefore surprised to see Guus subbing him. He was not injured and the weekend’s BPL match can be put at the backburner since I think they are unlikely to pip Pool for 2nd. This should be all out or nothing and at 70th minute with Barca dominating possession and shooting at Cech’s goal at will (although headed away by JT and gang), you need all hands on deck Guus should have got rid of Anelka. Drogba is better in defending than Anelka and causes more problems for Pique and Toure.

Anyway, talking about missed chances, you must take into account his miss last week when Marquez did a wrong back pass and he was one on one with Valdez and Valdez made 2 saves to force a corner.

I hope someone makes a gif of drogba shouting into the camera and guardiola celebrating

By celebrating, you mean when Pep scratches his balls?

nah but he said that if he wins champions league three years in a row he's gone at the end of next season. it's either at end of next season or the one afterwards. either way it's got me worried, those are big shoes to fill.

Hey, he is in his 60s. He got to called it quits someday. He already did it once. But then again, he said he got nothing to do once he retires.

Anyway, names like Moyes and Jose were brandied.

But his team has now stabilized and that can only win him more silverwear. The core of Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Ronnie, Rooney, Carrick, Berba are good. Plus Chelsea’s squad is ageing and many of their potential buys would end up in Man City and Roman may run out of interest or money soon, Arsenal would have problems retaining their young stars and Liverpool will be in deep financial straits soon.

Barca just cant keep up with the teams the english teams that play very tactical games. Well, not many teams in europe can keep up with the tactical english game played at its best

Which is why Barca after the first leg gripping about how Chelsea and the ref don’t allow them to play their attacking footie is hysterical. Anyway, Arsenal also tries to play their attacking one touch football too but you don’t see them raping their BPL colleagues. But they do rape the Europeans some time except Barca in the Champs League Finals when they man mark Henry to death.

If you are talking about tactical, the Italians do it better but they are not as fast paced as the English.

Anyway it should be an interesting final. Man U should win and Fergie would be the first manager to win back to back Champs League and he can finally reture.

The English teams have been appearing in so many consecutive finals so far, UEFA may try to make it tougher on them to do so.

IF barca play like they have over these two legs, I think man u are going to hammer them

That’s actually an interesting point. Barca for all their possession, do not play well against English teams. Messi can’t score against them.

Last season, Barca can’t score against Man U at all.

Before that, Liverpool beat them even at Nou Camp.

Before that, Chelsea beat them with Hilario at home in goal and drew 2-2 at Nou Camp.

Before that, Barca beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with 1 goal and Chelsea down to 10 men.

Before that, Chelsea beat them by scoring 3 goals early in first half.

But of course this version of Barca is supposedly better than the rest.

Ballack’s tirade was uncalled for.

The ball hit the Barca player on the torso below his arm.

I thought Ballack did tugged the ref’s shirt when chasing him and he should get red carded for that.

Anyway, given his form, I think he will be shipped out and he can kiss his Champ League’s medal goodbye.

very happy about this draw. some interesting matchups and the special one coming back to england.

Who do you think will go through to the next round?

1. Chelsea v Juve - Think Chelsea will scrape through. Scolari is becoming predictable and Chelsea seems to have lost their fighting spirit and Chelsea cant score away in Europe. But Ranieri aint that good a manager anyway.

2. Villareal v Panathinaikos - who cares.

3. Sporting v Bayern - Bayern. They seem to be getting better.

4. Athletico v Porto - who cares. Both will be cannon fodder when they advance.

5. Lyon v Barca - Barca seems unstoppable and Lyon certainly cant stop them.

6. Real v Liverpool - Pool for sure. Real will still be shaky with Juande who was exposed during his Spurs stint.

7. Arsenal v Roma - Roma was hammered mercilessly by United and even Spurs within a year. Arsenal to continue with the fine tradition. Pity AC couldnt make it instead of Roma.

8. Inter v Man U - Man U. Jose still finding his feet with Inter. All his mind games wont work since Inter is not the team in his Mourinho mould yet.

i watched yesterday's match with nyspurs fam, in the celebration two people lost their phones, i lost my hat and my eyeglass frames got bent. chelsea did the same thing to us in one of the cups a couple years ago so glad to give a bit of that to the scum.

Spurs and Chelsea drew 4-4 in BPL just last season.

league cup, he came in as a sub. he'll probably be rested for most domestic cup matches but rafa will ride him until he's broken as long as they're in the title race, i am not following things too closely but assume he would get the sack this summer if he can't at least close the gap on 2nd place?

Rafa already said he is not here to win the League or even FA Cup. Most of the first team are rested for League Cup anyway and even FA Cup. Torres wont be ridden till he's broken. He is much too important for Pool and he will be rested for minor BPL matches as long as they are cruising.

As for Rafa, if not for the vitroil and hatred against the Yanks, he would have gotten the sack long time ago. As it is, he aint rotating like he used to and now Pool is looking damn good in the BPL so he wont get the sack unless he wants to join Barca or Real, Anyway Chelsea is looking good too. If Man U doesnt catch up, I bet those 2 will be top 2 and Man U and Arsenal will be third and fourth.

Chelsea missing quite a few of their 1st team players and still raping the shit out of Boro. the fuck?

You expect Man U, Arsenal and Pool to win comfortably at home. And the latter 2 looked bad at half time but you never expect Chelsea reserves to hammer Boro senseless. Boro capitulated after the 2nd or 3rd goal.

I remember not too long ago, McClaren scalped all the big 4 at the Riverside and was the only club to do so at Riverside. If this doesnt' send chills down the other big 3, I dont know what will.

Anyway, next Sunday will be interesting: Scolari v Rafa at the Bridge. I predict a draw or even Pool to win against a Chelsea probably still missing at least 3 to 5 of their first team. Rafa and Pool knows too well how Chelsea plays and Pool are now the comeback kings in BPL big time.

Torres and babels' injuries right now are proving just that.

How can you say that when they just got injured and Pool havent played a single game with them missing? Anyway Babel is an impact sub.

The key to Pool in terms of goals is Stevie G and Torres. But Marscherano is damn important to them in his defensive midfielder role.

As for Keano, probably playing out of position compared to his Spurs days.

so who do you'll think is gonna take the ucl this year? predictions anyone even though matchday three is next week. im super bumin about Torres' injury, he's prolly gonna miss his homecomin game in madrid. and even worse, might not be fit for when they head over to stamford bridge. as much as i want them to do well this year since they got shafted by Risse last time around, i still feel like they didn't do enough in the off season and Keane isn't going to cut it. so ucl winners when all is said and done, Inter.

therealcas: please don't bother putting chelsea because all that money ain't gonna by them a fluke own goal this year

Inter? Even Jose knows there is a problem with his squad. It will take some time to mould it into what he wants. Remember he made an immediate impact in Chelsea but not in Inter.

After the Wenger boyz put a hurtin' on Sheffield Utd, I wonder if the ol' professor will learn his lesson if he draws a top team latter in the competition. :confused:

No. FA and Carling is low on his priorities.

United better start winning soon or they'll be too far behind in the league. The same in CL, they'll have to come up to the same level as they where last season damnit

Well, they were worse last season and last season was their best other than 1999.

Of course last season Arsenal couldnt win after Christmas, Chelsea was under Grant and Pool was well, just Pool.

it was pretty funny today when ronaldo dove when he was fighting for the ball with fat frank. frank just looked at him and smiled, then the ref smiled, everyone else laughed.

Was about to comment on that as well.

Lamps missed him by a mile, and Ronnie flopped flat on his chest.

At least he didnt grab his leg like he was bitten by a dog.

42 goals last season, 30 plus goals the season before and he still has to resort to these.

Anyway if Riley didnt bought it, why did he give Man U a free kick?

Everton resurrected themselves ... cahill's an ozzie genius; all aggresion and power.

I wouldn't say he has aggression and power but with him there, you know he is the spark to some thing better. Him and Arteta. Hope they can be top form for next week's liverpool derby. I predict a draw again. Dont think Pool can beat Everton at Goodison. Last season's victory was an utter joke.

maybe they were specifically instructed to not track back?

I've seen both of 'em track back to defend (last season). And they just got back from their respective injuries....Not everyone is Dirk Kuyt

Or Wayne Rooney for that matter.

There just needs to be more movement, Tevez can play out wide as well throughout the game. Rooney is just useless out there. Also Ronnie may make an appearance in Champions League play. I wouldnt be surprised if he plays against Chelsea as well. This is the problem when you have too many great players. Where the fuck do you put them.

I thought the prognosis for Ronnie is for him to be out till next month? Just like Drogba even if you rush him back, his impact will be minimal.

As for too many players, I have already said they got too many players and cant even fit Berba into it but nnnooo, the braintrusts here think Man U should get even more players. Hell, Fergie should get 3 international players for every position and they will be damn happy being rotated and playing for the Carling Cup against Crewe Alexander. Happy happy.

Rooney doesnt belong out wide. He needs to sit right behind Berba. Two defensive mistakes gave Liverpool the win.

Where will Tevez sit then? At the bench next to Fergie?

I'm sure it's at Stamford Bridge...we also have to go to the Emirates first half of the season.

Damn you are right. Its at the Bridge. Cant remember the last time Fergie won at the Bridge against Jose and Grant. The answer is never. But Fergie can still eke out a draw.

chelsea next week for united ... and they actually look a team in form as opposed to liverpool.

zero points in two games against two of the other top four would have fergie bricking it.

if fergie ever bricked it.

well his face would be that bit redder for the rest of the season at least.

Man U: Definitely no Vidic and Ronnie. Plus they will be playing VIllareal on Wed.

Dont know what happened to Neville since he played against Zenith. If he is fit, Fergie should play him. Hargo and Carrick look to be on the way back. Fergie would have given his players hell since they played like a Conference Team at Anfield and he got another chance to tweak Wazza, Tevez and Berbs. If not, Tevez will be on the bench and sub for Berbs in second half.

Chelsea: No Terry but that might be a good thing. Chelsea should be able to overturn the red card if they want to.

They should play that Serb defender Ivanovic who never even get to be on the bench. Drogba will play as a sub because he didnt looked good against City. Ballack will be back and they can get rid of Malouda who is still crap.

Chelsea have Bordeaux on Tues who should be easy to beat.

But this is at Old Trafford and Chelsea will be on the back foot all the way but Chelsea cant afford to even draw because Pool got Stoke at the KOP so its an easy 3 points.

And Sir Alex is known to deliver the goods when the chips are down.

So Man U to win by 1 or 2 goals.

Bolton 0-4 Arsenal.

This match truthfully showed Arsenal's potential. Great match! Arsenal for the win!

Blackburn 0-4 Arsenal.

At least get the team name right.

He also grouped us (Man Utd) with Chelsea saying we "bought" our titles.:rolleyes:/quote]

Absolutely. Its a known fact Torres and Keano came on free transfers and everyone in Pool plays on minimum wages.

Heard Benitez playing down Liverpool's league challenge this season, siting other clubs spending power as what I can only describe as an excuse. I think he's been given a decent amount of money & had he spent it better, he'd be much closer. Certain mediocre players transfer fees coulda helped buy 2 more world class players than they already have.

Well, beginning of the season, Rafas' new assistant, Sammy Lee (yup, that Sammy Lee) played up winning BPL but I doubt it.

Man U if they are in the World Club Championship, losing Queroz, losing Ronnie, may slip. But I think Man U or Chelsea will be BPL champs this year.

Gerrard should be available but I don't think we'll see Torres (but I still hope).

Both are talismanic for Rafa last season. He would need both to get his first win over Sir Alex in BPL. They would be rushed back unless they are on their deathbeds.

This would be as hot blooded a match as ever. Rafa is lucky to get Sir Alex so early in the season at the KOP when they still got their rough patch. But Ronnie is coming back and Berba will play. Hargo and Carrick may recover by then. Keano still havent score yet. Kuyt scores in Europe but not in BPL.

Unless there are significant injuries during internationals, I bet it will be a draw or Man U to win again. And Rafa have to wait another year unless he finally gets the sack for not delivering the BPL provided of course the KOP still hates Hicks and Gillete.