2010-2011 Football Thread

[Jaffa Cake]

Maybe safer to just get him to accuse the Ref of being on Barca's payroll.

Cesc would never do such a thing. You're a liar too.

Liar.

Anyway, on a serious note – predictions for tonight's big match? I know it's obvious to go for an away win given that the home team aren't favoured compared to their multiple European Cup-winning opponents, and I'm going to go with popular opinion by saying that Nottingham Forest will get a comfortable win at Scunthorpe tonight. 2-0.

Oh, and Arsenal-Barcelona – 3-1 to the Catalans, I predict.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Considering that Barca and Arsenal are considered forces for good in the footballing world, can we really expect them to resort to such underhanded behavior? Surely the match will be an exercise in the utmost politeness, with ne'er a wayward tackle, harsh word, or finger lifted against anyone?

I expect the match to end with both teams sitting together in a circle on the pitch, arm in arm, while Pep and Arsene lead both squads in a rendition of "Kumbayah".

Predictions: I'll go for a closer match, Barca 2-1 Arsenal. But don't forget the big FA Cup match tonight! Wigan v Bolton!

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Stop it. I'm filling up here.

 

[awmazz]

I'm of the belief Bendtner would have more effect on this match than Nasri.

How about that Shakhtar, down 1-0 and then up 1-3 ten minutes later.

 

[daneoni]

Or Arshavin. He plays very well on the left. Walcott has been our best forward player. Nasri not quite there yet...for now.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Still anybody's match, though if any team can be expected to grind out a 1-0 win it's Barca.

 

[daneoni]

Is it just me or is the ref giving barca every decision?

 

[Jaffa Cake]

David Villa reminds me and Mrs Cake of Rumplestiltskin out of Shrek...

 

[daneoni]

What a match!

 

[Peterkro]

Well done the Arse,in spite of supporting "another" club I think they had the best chance to defeat Barca,different story second leg I fear.

 

[awmazz]

That was a bit of alright. Arsenal just need an away goal in the return leg and it's anyone's game. Unless Messi decides to score four again.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Hey, I'm the first to hold my hands up and admit I was wrong when it comes to incorrect match predictions.

So well done to the unfancied Iron on their 1-0 victory over Forest.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I got the scoreline right, but backwards.

Well done to the Arse. I fully expect them to be knocked out in the second leg, but they've really stepped it up.

It's such a shame these two have to play each other now. Both probably deserve to advance.

 

[awmazz]

This was quite a result. If you discount the dead-rubber return leg of the Spanish Cup against Real Betis, the last time Barca conceded two goals in one match was the only other time they have lost all season in all competitions in that shock defeat to Hercules right at the beginning.

That was a home defeat too. Hope?

 

[daneoni]

I don't even care about the second leg, i'm just ecstatic we BEAT an in-form Barca side with their best players on the pitch.

*runs away dancing and screaming*

 

[awmazz]

I think the difference is last time Arsenal went to Spain buoyed by the Walcott comeback in the first leg and so a bit overconfident that Walcott would tear them apart again, especially with Puyol and Pique suspended.

This time it's exactly the same, a two goal Arsenal comeback and Pique and Puyol are both out again - but this time everyone still expects Barcelona to win by 4 or 5 goals at home even after this loss so they won't have that same advantage of Arsenal going into the game overconfident and not focussed enough.

 

[daneoni]

True, Arsenal will be expecting revenge and will also be doing their best to avoid/counter it.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Whatever happens, I expect it to be a good game, more worthy of a semifinal or final than an early knockout stage match. Both teams are certainly serious contenders for the CL. It's easy to forget all the injury problems Arsenal have had in the recent past, and now that they are nearly full-strength they are playing very well.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Europe, Liverpool continue their Europa League quest against Shaktar Donetsk (edit: make that Sparta Prague) tomorrow...I'm not expecting a classic. With Gerrard and Suarez unavailable, it falls to David N'Gog and Dirk Kuyt to create space and time for Miereles to continue his goalscoring form.

EDIT: Some of you have undoubtedly already seen this, but USA and Sochaux striker Charlie Davies has gone on loan to MLS side DC United. The move will give him plenty of playing time, and we can begin to truly evaluate whether he can return to top-level football after that terrible crash.

DC United are coming off a terrible season in 2010 and desperately need a goalscorer, so Davies will get as much first team action as he could hope for.

 

[awmazz]

Shakhtar just beat Roma, so that's probably why their name comes to mind. Liverpool are playing Sparta Prague.

I hear tell Dalglish is taking the kid which Benitez bought from QPR for half a million near the end of last season. He scored 5 goals on Monday in the FA Youth Cup. Ha, he's only allowed to travel to Prague because he's on school holidays.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

He scored 5 goals on Monday in the FA Youth Cup. Ha, he's only allowed to travel to Prague because he's on school holidays.

That may be the case, but he's still going to have a task getting back to Liverpool in time to do his paper round the following morning...

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Sheesh, that's what happens when you have 5 tabs open discussing 5 different matches.

Speaking of comebacks, Shaktar's would be the big result of the day had it not been for the exiting action in London. Roma's season has not been a very good one.

You're right about Raheem Sterling, 16 years young. In all I think we're taking 6-7 reserve/youth team players, though I'm not sure how many will make the bench. Andy Carroll is also present, though he'll be a spectator tomorrow. I look forward impatiently to seeing the big man on the pitch though, it's like buying something and waiting for it to arrive in the mail...

That may be the case, but he's still going to have a task getting back to Liverpool in time to do his paper round the following morning...

Perhaps he can hand it off to Stevie G while he shakes off that groin strain. Of course, he might end up with a brain-strain and that just wouldn't do...

 

[Jaffa Cake]

You mentioned the MLS a post or two back your Lordship – I noted the other day that Caleb Folan is trialing for some teams over there. He's apparently impressing the Colorado Rapids, and featured in their pre-season win over the Crew the other day.

Bad Folan.

 

[XIII]

Unbelievable, can't remember a game like that for passion and atmosphere in a while.. living the dream

 

[Lord Blackadder]

You mentioned the MLS a post or two back your Lordship – I noted the other day that Caleb Folan is trialing for some teams over there. He's apparently impressing the Colorado Rapids, and featured in their pre-season win over the Crew the other day.

Bad Folan.

Bad indeed, the nerve of that man!

Interesting he'd be with Colorado, since their frontman, Conor Casey, is similarly big-boned.

Unbelievable, can't remember a game like that for passion and atmosphere in a while.. living the dream

This must be one of those legendary "European nights in the Champions League" that sportscasters are always droning on about.

 

[XIII]

This must be one of those legendary "European nights in the Champions League" that sportscasters are always droning on about.

Indeed it is! And for fear of missing another one, I think I might be bullied into going to Camp Nou again...