The Champions League Final, Paris

[Queso]

Hull, on the other hand, has a direct rail-link to the capital... 😉

So does Stockport, and Edgeley Park is so close to the station, you'll never even feel the constant rain 😀

Come on, don't listen to that Grimsby wannabe. Join the Hatters 🙂

 

[wingsky]

As much as I admire Stockport as one of the more flamboyant football clubs in the league, I will continue to support Arsenal & Brighton 😀

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Come on, don't listen to that Grimsby wannabe. Join the Hatters 🙂

Grimsby? Grimsby?! 😡

And anyway, why would he want to follow Luton? It is much closer to London, I suppose... 😉

 

[Queso]

Grimsby? Grimsby?! 😡

And anyway, why would he want to join Luton? It is much closer to London, I suppose 😉

Spoken like a true Mariner 😀

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Spoken like a true Mariner 😀

Best thing about Grimsby is it gives us a place to send all the clapped out old players we don't need anymore... 😀

Anyway, in an attempt to heroically steer things back on topic, here's a brief run down on Henry's thoughts on tonight's match official.

 

[Queso]

As much as I admire Stockport as one of the more flamboyant football clubs in the league, I will continue to support Arsenal & Brighton 😀

Hmmm....thanks I think.

 

[BakedBeans]

For my thoughts on the final, click Here

 

[nw43]

Don't think they can really complain about the referee: Firstly, it was a definite sending off then Arsenal's goal came from a free-kick that shouldn't have been given - a blatant dive. And if Eto'o was offside (pretty tough to call) then that would be down to the linesman (er, I mean assistant referee..😉)

Anyone know if the linesman who allowed the goal was the one who came in at the last minute? - would be somewhat ironic if so.

Oh, and you lot should all be thankful you don't have to support Oxford.........😉

 

[Queso]

Oh, and you lot should all be thankful you don't have to support Oxford.........😉

That was so nearly us going down in your place. I agree with your analysis of tonight's events too. I think Henry was just caught up in the disappointment of it all.

I was rooting for Barcelona though, so I'm pleased with the result.

 

[nw43]

That was so nearly us going down in your place.

Yeah, if we'd have won on the last day you'd have filled that lovely relegation spot. 🙁

Anyway, I'm sure we'll enjoy our season on loan to the conference - see you again in a year or so (hope I don't live to regret saying that......)

 

[Blue Velvet]

Watched the game tonight in the pub in King's Cross... many 'gutted' blokes out tonight in N. London including the poor sod who was sitting outside McDs with his Gunners shirt pulled over his head to protect him from the rain.

Got a burger and caught a cab home. As a Londoner, I wanted Arsenal to win. As a Chelsea supporter, I can sleep easy tonight. Such is the luxury of being a neutral but the neutral always wants to see 11 v. 11.

Football = the great circle. There will be other times.

1st half: good game.

 

[bemylover]

I'll also ad my two cents to this discussion:

1. Barca deserved to win, they did great job during whole year as well as in this particular game. I admit, I am a big Barca fan, but I think I'm still being objective here 🙂.

2. Even though it would have been better for Barca if the goal was counted and noone was sent off, I think the ref did right thing.

3. After that dissapointing episode, Arsenal players started diving one after another and one of such dives ended with the first goal. Shame.

4. Arsenal played very well, I was surprised.

5. Finally Barca has a good keeper. I think the main reason why brilliant Barca team with Rivaldo, Figo, Kluivert et al. could not win the CL was that they did not have a decent keeper.

Congrats to all Barca fans 🙂

 

[shadowmoses]

It was a great final, shame about Lehmann being sent off as I would have liked to see a 11 vs 11 match.
In the end Barcelona deserved it and I am happy for them, the match defiantly wetted my appetite for the World Cup!

ShadoW

 

[mouchoir]

was there any doubt as to the outcome? not in my mind

For those first 20 mins up until the sending off, Arsenal were clearly outplaying Barcelona.

Could and should have been very different... gutted.

 

[BakedBeans]

For those first 20 mins up until the sending off, Arsenal were clearly outplaying Barcelona.

It wasn't clear to me.

Arsenal started well within ten minutes (although Henry couldn't finnish) but after that Barca were playing the ball around really well and deserved a goal.

I think the game was poor and slightly boring to watch Arsene whinger moaning again. Last years final and this years FA Cup were "real" finals with proper excitement.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Last years final and this years FA Cup were "real" finals with proper excitement.

Is that anything to do with Liverpool featuring in both of them? 😉

 

[Brize]

It wasn't clear to me.

Me neither.

Arsenal started brightly, but the clearest goalscoring opportunity of the first 20 minutes was the one that led to the sending off.

 

[BakedBeans]

Is that anything to do with Liverpool featuring in both of them? 😉

😀

Nah it more to do with them

1) having brilliant goals in them
2) having a fast and competitive tempo
3) having 6 goals (yes six!) in hte normal 90 minutes
4) All going to penalties
5) looking like they are going one way then the other
6) featured spirited comebacks
7) played without controversy and in a good spirited manner
8) Liverpool won them both
9) Featured spaghetti legs
10) the fans actually made a noise and treated it like it was the massive occasion it was


whoops. forget no. 8 😀

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Nah it more to do with...

I'll tell you what I love to see, and after the sending off last night there was a chance we might get to witness it – an outfield player in goal. 😀

We whooped Tranmere 6-1 the season before last, after both their keepers got injured in the first half. Happy days...

 

[XIII]

Well that was meh.

The referee could have perfectly well made the decision to allow the goal, and leave Lehmann on, making for a better final. Unfortunately, just as legal is to stop the play, and send him off.

What really makes that worse is that honestly, Lehmann could've saved those two goals they scored. First one Almunia left his near post open, and second, it went through his legs.. *cringe*.

Henry should've finished the game off when he had his one on one, and it must have been nerves that got to him.. he finishes those 95% of the time.

Finally.. the Stade de France is an amazing venue.

 

[evoluzione]

i feel sorry for Arsenal, they did play very well. i'd have preferred to see the goal stand and Lehmann stay on, but i don't think it was a terrible decision for the ref to give the red.

Eboue's dive disgusted me, and it led to a goal. i honestly was not impressed with him. Ashley Cole on the other hand, i thought played rather well, as did the two center backs, for the most part. it was vs Barca after all.

Bucky was pretty much absent for Barca most of the game, and the gooner's did a good job of keeping that way. Eto'o was great...

Henry is just awesome though, the guy is pure class. Eboue can learn a lot from him.


not a bad game for a neutral, although nothing like the CL final last year or the FA Cup final this year 😉 🙂

 

[XIII]

Thierry Henry On The Uefa Champions League Final:

- I think we can be proud of ourselves and I don't want to start any arguments, but I don't know whether the referee had a Barcelona shirt on or something - in the first half they kicked me all over the place.

- I told the ref, 'If you don't want us to win it, just tell us from the start.'

- Next time I might learn how to dive maybe, they tried to kick me in my knee, from behind on my ankle but I am not a woman so I try and stay on my feet - but I always expect the ref to do his job, but today he didn't.

- I am sure if you look at the game again Puyol should have got a yellow card, so many times Marquez came from behind to take my ankle and he didn't get a yellow card and I am sure if you are playing against me with a yellow card it is not the same game anymore.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

For what it's worth, the referee has said he now regrets the sending off, and admits he may have been a little hasty with his cards...

 

[XIII]

For what it's worth, the referee has said he now regrets the sending off, and admits he may have been a little hasty with his cards...

Yeah, I was going to post that.

Great, thanks ref.. just a bit late.

 

[BakedBeans]

I'll tell you what I love to see, and after the sending off last night there was a chance we might get to witness it – an outfield player in goal. 😀

That has happened to liverpool - i can't fetch what game it was in but i remember it was stevie nichol in goal.

ill find out.