LEN Teh Footy God's Footballodium

[naut]

Easier? You probably don't remember a few years ago when Benfica defeated Liverpool. That Benfica looks like an amateur team compared to today's Benfica.

Porto won against Atletico in the Champions and Porto was totally dominated by Benfica this season in their games. Benfica has the strongest attack of Europe this season. If anything Liverpool drew exactly the worst team of the lot.

Stonger than Barca? Stronger than a David Villa led Valencia?

I haven't watched Benfica ever really, I was just going on how rubbish Porto were.

[Secura]

Stevie GBH has been out of sorts all season, and despite what Rafa has been saying to the tabloids, I don't think Torres has found form again... I think Benfica will give them a good game in both legs.

[Craterus]

Benfica is by no means an easy draw. Don't want to say how far I think Fulham can go in this but I'd like to see them in the final.

Nice to see United getting the easy route to the Champions League final...again.

[Secura]

The easy route how?

Bayern might have scraped through on the away goals rule, but they're by no means a poor team; people say Rooney carries United, well the same is certainly applicable to Ribery and Munich if that is the case.

Both Lyon and Bordeaux have been pretty convincing, particularly the latter, so if United do progress the semi-final is going to be a tough call too. I wouldn't call it an easy route at all.

[Craterus]

I'll refer you to Bayern's defending throughout their tie with Fiorentina.
Back later to discuss how the 4 strongest teams (not including United) in the competition are on one side of the draw.
EDIT: Not exactly. For some reason I thought Inter had drawn against stronger opposition. If I were to seed the teams, I'd go for this:

Lyon (5/6) v Bordeaux (7)

Bayern Munich (5/6) v Manchester United (2/3)

Arsenal (4) v Barcelona (1)

Inter Milan (2/3) v CSKA Moscow (8)

I doubt many people would argue with that ranking. Having said that, I think the Bordeaux - Lyon tie is too close to call. And I wouldn't be too surprised if CSKA caused an upset.

[naut]

The easy route how?

Van Gaal maybe experienced as a manager. But the team at his disposal is average at best. Yes they've got good wide men in Robben and Ribery, but their defence and central mids aren't the best, and up front they have 4 centre-forwards and 1 smaller bloke. They can't switch up their style if things start going wrong. They can only play 1 way.

And no offence to the French teams, but they are no Barca, Inter or Arsenal.

[Sarmatian]

Well, Bordeaux-Lyon is definitely the tie of the draw. United should win fairly easy against Bayern and also Barca shouldn't have too much trouble with Arsenal. I'll echo Craterus that CSKA may cause an upset, they've been great in Europe this year and have some fantastic players... Too bad that two French teams have been drawn against each other but at least France will have a representative in the semis. One of the more balanced quarter-finals in recent years with two English, two French and one Italian, Spanish, German and Russian side.

Semi-finals:
Bordeaux - Manchester
Barcelona - Inter

[naut]

Well, Bordeaux-Lyon is definitely the tie of the draw. United should win fairly easy against Bayern and also Barca shouldn't have too much trouble with Arsenal. I'll echo Craterus that CSKA may cause an upset, they've been great in Europe this year and have some fantastic players... Too bad that two French teams have been drawn against each other but at least France will have a representative in the semis. One of the more balanced quarter-finals in recent years with two English, two French and one Italian, Spanish, German and Russian side.

1) I love that everyone is underestimating Arsenal and overestimating the defensive abilities of Barcalona. Which is fine by me, it suits this Gunners side that they are underdogs. I'd disagree that Bordeaux-Lyon game is the tie of the draw, that one will be chippy, two rivals who won't want to lose, so it has all the ingredients to be a very defensive game. Whereas Barca vs Arsenal, the two prettiest teams in Europe. Spectacle comes to mind.

2) Yes, more balanced indeed, good for the game.

3) Yes on CSKA, both unattractive sides who love to defend. Sjneider for Inter and the plastic pitch/climate for CSKA will decide that match-up.

[johnhughthom]

Sjneider for Inter and the plastic pitch/climate for CSKA will decide that match-up.

I haven't seen much of Inter this year, but from what I saw against Chelsea they look like they would be a very ordinary side without Sneijder.

[naut]

I haven't seen much of Inter this year, but from what I saw against Chelsea they look like they would be a very ordinary side without Sneijder.

Inter are best summed up by the fact that every member of their back four against Chelsea were 1 yellow card away from a suspension.

I hate that ref, whatever his name is. 1) Any contact started outside the box. 2) A red card is for clear goal-scoring opportunities, and he would have had to bring that down, then beat two defenders and the keeper != clear goal-scoring opportunity

[johnhughthom]

I hate that ref, whatever his name is. 1) Any contact started outside the box. 2) A red card is for clear goal-scoring opportunities, and he would have had to bring that down, then beat two defenders and the keeper != clear goal-scoring opportunity

I have some sympathy with Vermaelen, it was one of those that is a definite penalty when it's for your team, and never in a million years when against. Probably not in my book though.

[naut]

I have some sympathy with Vermaelen, it was one of those that is a definite penalty when it's for your team, and never in a million years when against. Probably not in my book though.

What get's me is the red card though. Franco didn't have control of the ball, it was a 50-50 with minimal contact. Top of the table but at the cost of losing TV5 for 3 games? I'm starting to believe in conspiracy theories.

[johnhughthom]

Top of the table but at the cost of losing TV5 for 3 games? I'm starting to believe in conspiracy theories.

There's a good chance it will only be one. I was about to say nobody in their right mind would see that as being worthy of an extra two games, but this is the FA disciplinary panel we are talking about...

[naut]

Silvestre and Campbell. Can anyone say... clean sheet?

[johnhughthom]

Where's that other Swiss guy (not Senderos) Arsenal have? Haven't seen him play for ages.

[naut]

Where's that other Swiss guy (not Senderos) Arsenal have? Haven't seen him play for ages.

Djourou? Had knee surgery at the beginning of the season and is recovering. Won't be back until next season.

Thanks Blackburn. Thanks for trying Liverpool, but 1 shot on target the whole game is not going to let you beat Man U. Although Valencia did dive.

[InsaneApache]

Aye, the scousers are trying. Very trying.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Is Messi the Greatest Player of All Time?


What a show this weekend, again. Messi's a better Maradona than El Diego himself.

[Jolt]

Stonger than Barca? Stronger than a David Villa led Valencia?

I haven't watched Benfica ever really, I was just going on how rubbish Porto were.

Benfica just beat Porto 3-0 in the Portuguese League Cup final, yesterday.

Porto made two attacks. Two. The entire game.

Most of the work is thanks to the manager, who I've been lauding him as a new Mourinho since he was at Belenenses, some 3/4 years ago. Now that he has the means and the team to actually achieve something, he's pretty much dominating every competition he's in.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Benfica playes Europe's most exhilirating attacking football.

Only Barça and Arsenal rival it for attractiveness.

[Secura]

Thanks for trying Liverpool, but 1 shot on target the whole game is not going to let you beat Man U. Although Valencia did dive.

Did you watch the same game as me? o_o'

Micheal Owen stated to Hoddle, Redknapp and that other guy that all players know that if they're tackled on the edge of the box, they should attempt to get past the tackle and then go down when the defender commits again in the box. He said that it wasn't something biased, he'd have done the very same whether it was at Liverpool, Madrid, Newcastle or United.

Mascherano tackled Valencia, he managed to stay on his feet and move into the box whereby Mascherano tugged on his left arm pretty hard, caught him off-balance and Valencia fell. The referee and linesman had not waved for advantage whatsoever, so there was no 'acknowledged foul' outside the box, so to speak.

The only extent I'd agree with the pundits is that it wasn't a red card; Carragher was still in a position to intercept the shot on goal. Aside of that, it was a justly awarded penalty and a yellow card.

Let's not forget that Nando shouldn't have been on the pitch at all after the Evra foul; it should have been his second yellow, he was lucky not to get one after kicking up the penalty spot and hassling Wayne.

Without Torres and with ten men, we'd have won anyway, penalty or not.

[naut]

Micheal Owen stated to Hoddle, Redknapp and that other guy that all players know that if they're tackled on the edge of the box, they should attempt to get past the tackle and then go down when the defender commits again in the box. He said that it wasn't something biased, he'd have done the very same whether it was at Liverpool, Madrid, Newcastle or United.

Mascherano tackled Valencia, he managed to stay on his feet and move into the box whereby Mascherano tugged on his left arm pretty hard, caught him off-balance and Valencia fell. The referee and linesman had not waved for advantage whatsoever, so there was no 'acknowledged foul' outside the box, so to speak.

Going down easy = looking for it = dive soft penalty.

[Craterus]

Mascherano also let go of Valencia's arm as soon as they were in the area, it was delightfully cynical. If it was Vidic, we'd all be admiring his 'no-nonsense', pragmatic cheat defending.

[naut]

Benfica just beat Porto 3-0 in the Portuguese League Cup final, yesterday.

Porto made two attacks. Two. The entire game.

Most of the work is thanks to the manager, who I've been lauding him as a new Mourinho since he was at Belenenses, some 3/4 years ago. Now that he has the means and the team to actually achieve something, he's pretty much dominating every competition he's in.

At least I was right on something then. Porto are rubbish. So Benfica should progress then, as this Liverpool side are completely unpredictable.

A band of 180 Rochdale fans walked the 14 miles to see their side face Accrington Stanley on Saturday, to be rewarded with six goals and two sendings-off in a 4-2 victory.

Dedication.

[Secura]

Going down easy = looking for it = soft penalty.

I don't think you'd say the same if it was Cesc or Eduardo who'd been brought down in a similarly 'soft' fashion.

Mascherano also let go of Valencia's arm as soon as they were in the area, it was delightfully cynical. If it was Vidic, we'd all be admiring his 'no-nonsense', pragmatic cheat defending.

Replay footage showed Mascherano tugging at Valencia's arm within the area.

[naut]

I don't think you'd say the same if it was Cesc or Eduardo who'd been brought down in a similarly 'soft' fashion.

Ad hominem circumstantial, appeal to motive.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://rutube.ru/tracks/3056175.html...73d88931c8398c

If it was a splitting image of that one, then no. Not at all. The more I watch it, the more of a dive it looks. In other cases then yes, I won't deny it, everyone has that bias. But, you can look at this and say it isn't soft.

If/when I score this season I'm doing that!

[Strike For The South]

[naut]

How is Howard Webb officiating at the World Cup? He couldn't "officiate" a Sunday league game correctly. Contemptible . Is he seriously the best England has to offer? Or is the FA pulling some sick joke. Well then again they are equally as contemptible, so it is a perfect marriage.

The winner of the league is going to be whoever wins the Untied - Chelsea game at Old Trafford next week. Unless of course Bolton can play out of their skin tonight.

[Strike For The South]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-c...cc=5901&ver=us

[naut]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-c...cc=5901&ver=us

I noticed the US doesn't have an official/referee representing them, they've instead picked two Mexicans.