LEN Teh Footy God's Footballodium

[johnhughthom]

Darn foreign refs...

[Strike For The South]

BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE

[Rhyfelwyr]

Disagreceful decision in sending Nani off. Yes, Roy Keane (of all people, lol), I get that the rule book says that any play endangering safety means a red regardless of intention. But IMO, when something so significant is left that vague, that in itself implies an allowance for discretion.

If you want to be really dogmatic about it, that rule means you could get sent off for a whole range of basic maneuvres from jumping to header it, to basic tackles.

The way they were talking you would think Nani was flying around like the Karate Kid. His foot was at a natural level for controlling the ball, can you not even raise your foot to waist height anymore?!

[Rhyfelwyr]

This guy maybe made a slight overreaction in response to the sending off.

"He felt the red card shown to the United winger was a crime so called police."

[gaelic cowboy]

have to laugh Man U's in town today saying fair play to Mourinho for his "best team lost" comments, the fella is only rising them sure it's pure spoof.

Plus Man U have been on the recieving end of many a handy decision over the years, swings and roundabouts thats football and they will be back dont worry.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Barca are just too good. They can even make mistakes in the Champions League knockout phase and still go through comfortably.

Although it could have been a different game if Milan had equalised instead of hitting the post with that one-on-one.

[edyzmedieval]

Barca are just too good. They can even make mistakes in the Champions League knockout phase and still go through comfortably.

[The Stranger]

they will win 6-0 at home, np

tho tbh =_= putting messi in was a big mistake, i already knew from the start... he just wasnt fit, pretty much 10 vs 11. but not to take anything from bayern, they wouldve won nonetheless i think, but not 4-0.

btw does anyone have a picture or a still of the moment when robben got slightly touched by alexis sanchez and then went down on his knees with 2 hands in the air as if he had been shot?

[drone]

Ze Germans.

[edyzmedieval]

Incredible. Pure, utter class from Dortmund.

[Sarmatian]

I didn't expect to be so pleased by the utter trouncing of Barca and Real. There was this inexplicable warm feeling after tuesday night and after yesterday evening it turned to butterflies almost.

Here's to German final.

[Rhyfelwyr]

First the economy and now this. I think we should just accept things and bow down to our new German overlords.

[Sarmatian]

And nobody took Lineker seriously...

[johnhughthom]

No, most real football fans have realised Dortmund are the real deal for a few years now, people laughed at Lineker because it took him this long to realise. For me, the only surprise about Dortmund this year is they were so far off the Bundesliga pace. Though that Bayern lot are a decent enough side.....

[LittleGrizzly]

Dortmund were hugely impressive in the group stages as well, good victories over City and Real Madrid, a good few people on a football forum I go on have been calling them the dark horses for the CL (this was a while back, obviously they have a good chance now)

[edyzmedieval]

Reminds me of Ajax's impressive feat of escaping fairly unscathed from the Group of Death withReal Madrid, Man City and Dortmund. I expected Ajax to lose heavily with all of the sides, instead they managed to get out to the EL.

[johnhughthom]

The heavier influence of money on the game over the last 10-15 years has really hit the Dutch clubs hard. The likes of Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord should really be strong challengers for European honours, not dark horses. Ajax will probably never be able to grow a team like they did in the mid 90s. they'd all be hoovered up before they even make their first team debut.

[edyzmedieval]

That is the case, true. Ajax always had top quality players that were very quickly snapped up by the big teams.

Will happen again this season, the next, and the next, and so on, unless Ajax switches it's policy and becomes a big player again.

[LittleGrizzly]

I don't think it is something Ajax can do by themselves...

You would need a few Dutch clubs to become very good clubs all at the same time, they would all need to perform well in Europe and then over time if the clubs kept their players you would move into top 4 spots as CL spots and would slowly become one of the elite leagues in Europe.

The problem is though even if the Dutch clubs manage all that they have a pretty small domestic population to get their domestic TV deals from...

[edyzmedieval]

Ajax is pretty popular in Asia, alongside the big names, hence why it gains a healthy revenue stream from all kinds of commercial opportunities. It doesn't have any debt, and improving their revenue could definitely help them retain their players.

Still, as mentioned, the whole of the Eredivisie needs to have stronger teams.

Even if it's the most exciting championship in Europe, title wise (4 teams battle it out up until the last 2 match days).

[The Stranger]

That is the case, true. Ajax always had top quality players that were very quickly snapped up by the big teams.

Will happen again this season, the next, and the next, and so on, unless Ajax switches it's policy and becomes a big player again.

its not really their policy, its just that all the youngsters are drawn to the bigger leagues with more money. everyone wants to play premier division, primeira division, bundesliga or serie A. they simply cannot keep these talented youngsters for a long time, which is sad, but its not a club policy, you can see it in all clubs in the smaller leagues.

[drone]

Ze Germans.

Who had Barca losing 7-0 on aggregate, and which island are you buying with your winnings?

[edyzmedieval]

AJAX champions once again!

[The Stranger]

AJAX champions once again!

hahah i knew u would make a post about it in here :D

[johnhughthom]

Lot's of rumours flying around that Fergie is set to retire. Football would be so weird without him.

[LittleGrizzly]

He has been managing United since before I was born it will be damn strange without him.

[LittleGrizzly]

Wow, it is official...

I just feel so strange right now, a strong element of sadness but just really strange/unexplainable how I feel...

[Rhyfelwyr]

His last game against West Brom will be his 1,500th in charge of the club.

Phenomenal manager, I can't imagine the football world without him.

[edyzmedieval]

Thank you Sir Alex!

Very sad, and so weird to not see him on the pitch any longer.

[Sarmatian]

Wow.

I wouldn't want to be the guy who's gonna replace him.

EDIT: And naturally, who could replace him?

Mourinho is out of the question, Guardiola likewise...

I'm thinking Klopp...