I'm going to suggest it'll be a draw tonight for Arsenal they tend not to travel too well to Spain. I expect it's probably the paella that's to blame.
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2008-09 Football Thread - The Second Half
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Last week I scheduled myself to work from home today, and, lo and behold, the Man U / Porto game is on ESPN2 today. Oh happy day! 
Way to gift wrap an easy goal to Porto, Johnny Evans! Their defense is crap.
Uh, wow. Alves' gaffe was about ten times as bad as Evans'!
Hoo boy, what a letdown at the end. Man U is going to get eliminated in the second leg unless Ferdinand is ready and the defense really tightens up.
Way to gift wrap an easy goal to Porto, Johnny Evans! Their defense is crap.
Uh, wow. Alves' gaffe was about ten times as bad as Evans'!
Hoo boy, what a letdown at the end. Man U is going to get eliminated in the second leg unless Ferdinand is ready and the defense really tightens up.
Given the way Villareal started off tonight I'm perfectly content with a draw (and away goal). A thing of beauty from Adebayor, as well.
Porto must fancy their chances in the second leg. United may have beaten Villa, but they did ship two goals in that match, and have done so again against Porto. Two priceless away goals. They are still in a strong position, but are looking beatable.
Many people seem convinced that tomorrow's match between Liverpool and Chelsea will be dull, but I'm hoping for a thriller (with Liverpool winning, of course.).
Newcastle and Middlesbrough seem to be in free fall at the moment, I really can't see them avoiding the drop - though Sunderland and Portsmouth are hardly safe.
Many people seem convinced that tomorrow's match between Liverpool and Chelsea will be dull, but I'm hoping for a thriller (with Liverpool winning, of course.
).Newcastle and Middlesbrough seem to be in free fall at the moment, I really can't see them avoiding the drop - though Sunderland and Portsmouth are hardly safe.
Well, I was right about Arsenal getting a draw. Jaffradamus strikes again.
This is going to be a huge game for us. Win it, and we could potentially be eight points clear of the drop which would almost certainly make us safe - but if we lose, we're only going to be a couple of points clear of the bottom three.
I'm still waiting on for our tickets to arrive, though. I called the ticket office yesterday to chase them up and apparently they've had a lot of calls from folk who haven't received theirs yet either. Hmm.
Hopefully Middlesbrough's woes will be added to this weekend.
This is going to be a huge game for us. Win it, and we could potentially be eight points clear of the drop which would almost certainly make us safe - but if we lose, we're only going to be a couple of points clear of the bottom three.
I'm still waiting on for our tickets to arrive, though. I called the ticket office yesterday to chase them up and apparently they've had a lot of calls from folk who haven't received theirs yet either. Hmm.
Apart from Lucas starting for Mascherano (suspension), Liverpool is fielding their best 11, so Benitez is clearly not messing around here.
On paper and on current form Liverpool is the better team, but this is a CL match, so anything can happen...and Chelsea have a good record under Guus. I've got my shirt on, my snacks and beverages next to me and I'm not moving till it's over.
It's probably even bigger for Middlesbrough, so you'd have to anticipate them getting up for this game. Hull City very nearly can't afford to drop points here, but Middlesbrough absolutely can't afford it...I still think Newcastle and Middlesbrough will be joining West Brom in the Championship, but there are several teams that could take their place if they aren't careful.
On paper and on current form Liverpool is the better team, but this is a CL match, so anything can happen...and Chelsea have a good record under Guus. I've got my shirt on, my snacks and beverages next to me and I'm not moving till it's over.
Jaffa Cake said:
It's probably even bigger for Middlesbrough, so you'd have to anticipate them getting up for this game. Hull City very nearly can't afford to drop points here, but Middlesbrough absolutely can't afford it...I still think Newcastle and Middlesbrough will be joining West Brom in the Championship, but there are several teams that could take their place if they aren't careful.
The way we are though, I can see us losing to Boro and Sunderland but getting the points we need to stay up from Liverpool, Villa and Manchester United. We don't do things simply or easily here in the East Riding.
Good news our tickets finally arrived today. Other folk we know got theirs on Saturday, so I was starting to get a bit worried they'd got lost in the post. I'm looking forward to this and feeling quite nervous in equal measures...
Shocking. Absolutely shocking.
I thought both teams played very sloppily, giving the ball away far too much. But Liverpool made so many unforgivable mistakes. They look nothing like the team that smashed Real Madrid and put Man Utd to the sword (not to mention the team that has already done Chelsea twice in the league). It could very easily have been 6-1. Benitez, the much-hyped master of the European two-legged tie, may have met his match in Hiddink, who is no stranger to knockout competitions himself.
Torres' goal was excellent, perhaps a bit fortunate, and after that Liverpool simply laid down and died. What a horrible, horrible performance. really not much of a point in having a second leg....Hiddink will park the bus at Stamford Bridge, crushing the life out of the match and killing Liverpool's European challenge by slow strangulation.
If I sound bitter it's because I am - not only did we have this debacle but the Crew are off to a terrible start in MLS, going 0-1-2 in the first three games. <sigh>. At least team USA is doing well in CONCACAF qualifying.
I don't think the Barca-Bayern result will surprise anyone. Despite all the drama in England, Barca have to be the best team in Europe, and I suspect they will solidify that claim with a couple pieces of silverware.
I thought both teams played very sloppily, giving the ball away far too much. But Liverpool made so many unforgivable mistakes. They look nothing like the team that smashed Real Madrid and put Man Utd to the sword (not to mention the team that has already done Chelsea twice in the league). It could very easily have been 6-1. Benitez, the much-hyped master of the European two-legged tie, may have met his match in Hiddink, who is no stranger to knockout competitions himself.
Torres' goal was excellent, perhaps a bit fortunate, and after that Liverpool simply laid down and died. What a horrible, horrible performance. really not much of a point in having a second leg....Hiddink will park the bus at Stamford Bridge, crushing the life out of the match and killing Liverpool's European challenge by slow strangulation.
If I sound bitter it's because I am - not only did we have this debacle but the Crew are off to a terrible start in MLS, going 0-1-2 in the first three games. <sigh>. At least team USA is doing well in CONCACAF qualifying.
I don't think the Barca-Bayern result will surprise anyone. Despite all the drama in England, Barca have to be the best team in Europe, and I suspect they will solidify that claim with a couple pieces of silverware.
Torres' goal was great, not so much the shot itself (which wasn't half bad) but the play that led to the opportunity. Great stuff to watch.
From a neutral's perspective, the second leg is going to be interesting. Liverpool are really going to have to go for it to have any chance of overturning those away goals. Terry is ruled out though, his booking means he has a suspension to serve...
From a neutral's perspective, the second leg is going to be interesting. Liverpool are really going to have to go for it to have any chance of overturning those away goals. Terry is ruled out though, his booking means he has a suspension to serve...
...but Carvalho is healthy. Chelsea with a healthy Essien and a Drogba who isn't sulking are still a class act. The buildup to the Torres goal was great.
Drogba had about four chances to score, like I said it could have been much worse. Liverpool's marking on the set pieces was pure comedy, and that, more than anything else, was the difference - although I thought Chelsea improved as the match went on while Liverpool sank after the first half hour or so.
I suppose it's perfectly conceivable for Liverpool to go to the bridge and smash Chelsea 3-0, after what we've done to Real and United this season. But that was a different Chelsea from the side we faced today. Liverpool will need to attack relentlessly in the second leg for us to have any hope.
I'm watching Sky Sports News at the moment... John Terry has just been on, saying how disappointed he is with the attitude of some of the Liverpool players. He said – without a hint of irony – that he didn't approve of the way the Scousers surrounded the referee demanding that he received a booking.
Honestly, you couldn't make it up.
Honestly, you couldn't make it up.
"England's Brave John Terry" is a massive hypocrite, among other unmentionable descriptors I'd like to use.
At least we won't have to see his ugly mug in the second leg.
Worthy of replay is the incident in the first half when Reina blocked a Drogba shot with a part of his body best kept far away from flying footballs. A brave play that.
On the contrary, I'm sure we'll see more than a few shots of him grimacing in the stands.
Yeah, I commented to Miss Jaffa Cake that he seemed to be moving a little gingerly after that save and when they showed the replay I saw why...
I've got them in! 3 points thus far!!
I've got Celtic over hearts 2-1 with Samaras as first scorer!
........
The earliest I've ever had a beer (apart from staying up all night) is 7.30am waiting on a bus for a golf outing outside my old work. Bit of a struggle but the second can went down OK
Are football buses still like that or have they calmed down a little?Hearts 1-1 Celtic at half time, but 1st scorer was Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink so we're both wrong (I had Aiden McGeady.) I've got 1-2 as my prediction too, but would prefer if I was wrong!
Bugger. That wasn't supposed to happen...
In any case, Miss Jaffa Cake drove us up there in our little car.
The Tiger Travel coaches don't allow alcohol, I think it's a general legal thing rather than just the operator's policy. Mind, the law might be different north of the border.
In any case, Miss Jaffa Cake drove us up there in our little car.
The earliest I've ever had a beer (apart from staying up all night) is 7.30am waiting on a bus for a golf outing outside my old work. Bit of a struggle but the second can went down OK
Hearts 1-1 Celtic at half time, but 1st scorer was Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink so we're both wrong (I had Aiden McGeady.) I've got 1-2 as my prediction too, but would prefer if I was wrong!
yeah i saw that. i like this game. we need more mac guys...
fuzzy set up our own little league. join up!
plus these little guys are all over the place there...
EDIT: Just saw Torres' stunner against Blackburn. What a goal. What a striker. I have a pic of him as my cell phone background and ignorant people keep asking me who the "girl" on my phone is. "Only the best striker on earth", I retort. "What's a striker?", is the usual reply. When I explain Torres is a man and a soccer player, I am accused of having a man-crush on some Euro-dandy....Well, what about it?
Looks like things are going according to plan, then.
Back in the MLS, the Crew drew at home again, making for a torrid start to the season. 0-2-3, with 3 points out of a possible 15 for the defending champs. At this point I'm just looking for a win somewhere, somehow.
The way we are though, I can see us losing to Boro and Sunderland but getting the points we need to stay up from Liverpool, Villa and Manchester United. We don't do things simply or easily here in the East Riding.
Looks like things are going according to plan, then.
Back in the MLS, the Crew drew at home again, making for a torrid start to the season. 0-2-3, with 3 points out of a possible 15 for the defending champs. At this point I'm just looking for a win somewhere, somehow.
Just tell them about Accrington Stanley, your Lordship. That'll sway even the sternest doubter of pinko-commie Euro soccerball.Lord Blackadder[/quote said:
Either that or put a pic of Deano on there. Let me know the dimensions and I'll sort you out with one.
Indeed!
I just wear my shirt(s) with pride and enjoy the sort of exclusivity that football fandom has in the US.
EDIT: Clint Dempsey with a brace! Well done Fulham! 40 goals in todays prem matches, an impressive number. Bad day for defenses across England.
I just wear my shirt(s) with pride and enjoy the sort of exclusivity that football fandom has in the US.
EDIT: Clint Dempsey with a brace! Well done Fulham! 40 goals in todays prem matches, an impressive number. Bad day for defenses across England.
I'm getting a bit concerned about how the League One play-off situation. Prior to this weekend the four places were occupied by Millwall, MK Dons, Leeds and Sc*nthorpe it's like an Axis of Awfulness. Luckily Tranmere Rovers have snuck into the final place but I fear Scunny will get back in there, resulting in the most unappealing set of play-off fixtures we may have ever seen.
We need a late rally by Stockport to save us from this. Sort it out, Queso.
We need a late rally by Stockport to save us from this. Sort it out, Queso.
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