The Premier League Thread!

[Fuzzy14]

Uefa cup draw:
Leverkusen v Zenit
Rangers v Sporting Lisbon
Bayern v Getafe
Fiorentina v PSV

Don't know enough to comment on who'll go through, but the guys in my work think Sporting is an easy tie.

 

[Markleshark]

Where were you on May 25th 2005

On the day we can beat any team.

But the converse is how badly we played in the final last year but we beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp with Craig Bellamy.

I'm sorry you can't deny that Liverpool have taken on the best teams and won. Just like I can't deny that Man U have.

Maybe, but theres worlds of difference between 'World Beaters' and 'Beating any team on the day'

World beaters suggests consistency.

 

[xUKHCx]

Don't know enough to comment on who'll go through, but the guys in my work think Sporting is an easy tie.

The way I see those draws going are highlighted in bold, I feel the best game will be Bayern v Getafe.

Leverkusen v Zenit
Rangers v Sporting Lisbon
Bayern v Getafe
Fiorentina v PSV

Maybe, but theres worlds of difference between 'World Beaters' and 'Beating any team on the day'

World beaters suggests consistency.

Does it suggest consistency? I don't think it does and if you want to take that into account then I suppose the 5 Champions league trophies show that we are, or the 2 finals in 3 years.

I don't see the distinction as such or indeed the difference. You would class Italy as world beaters for winning the world cup which is the same format as the Champions League.

Liverpool are world beaters, Man United are consistently great (while being world beaters).

 

[pachyderm]

i'm hearing that something may be done so that cardiff,if they win the cup, will be allowed to play in europe...

 

[Jaffa Cake]

i'm hearing that something may be done so that cardiff,if they win the cup, will be allowed to play in europe...

Yeah, apparently a bit of a rethink might be happening.

I've been having a bit of a think myself, and reading up on it over the past couple of days my position has shifted a bit. I agree that the Cup holders should win the right to enter the UEFA Cup, but on the other hand Cardiff (along with Swansea and Wrexham) did agree that they wouldn't be able to qualify for Europe as part of the conditions of them being allowed to play in the English league and cups. It's one thing agreeing to this clause when you're no where near realistically qualifying, but if you do manage to qualify then really you can't go asking for it to be changed simply because your circumstances have.

Now, here's the thing – Cardiff have hinted that they may challenge the current rule. But let's say they do go on to win it and are successful in gaining admission to the UEFA Cup – could not their defeated opponents then counter-challenge? After all, under the rules as they stood at the start of the competition (which Cardiff were perfectly happy with at the time) the runners-up would have qualified instead and as such will miss out on Europe (and a huge financial windfall and positive media attention) through no fault of their own.

It's going to be interesting to see how this unfolds – even if Cardiff don't get past Barnsley then I suspect the rules may be reviewed anyway.

 

[Loge]

i'm hearing that something may be done so that cardiff,if they win the cup, will be allowed to play in europe...

Don't get that, why wouldn't they in any case?

EDIT: OK above post explains it.

 

[Fuzzy14]

i'm hearing that something may be done so that cardiff,if they win the cup, will be allowed to play in europe...

Could somebody explain if poss? How many places does the Welsh FA, and are they talking about 'borrowing' one of England's UEFA spots?

BBC ticker running the following headline, no more news at present:

FOOTBALL: Fifa's executive committee unanimously opposes Premier League plan for overseas matches.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Don't get that, why wouldn't they in any case?

When the FAW set up the Welsh Premier League in the early 1990s, Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham elected not to join the fledging league, and instead continue to play in England – for one thing, it's far more lucrative and the team names are easier to pronounce.

As part of the conditions for them – as FAW members – to continue to play in English competitions, they agreed to forfeit the opportunity to play in Europe should they happen to qualify. I think I'm right in saying that at this point in time the possibility of one of the three teams qualifying was more than a little unrealistic.

This decision was apparently backed by UEFA at the time, and it was supported by the FAW as well (so it's not just the English being nasty or owt ). Mind, there are instances of other clubs qualifying for Europe who don't play in their 'domestic' league, so this clause is perhaps due a rethink – UEFA have said in the past few days that this might happen.

If a rules change does occur, then Cardiff will be classed as 'English' for all extents and purposes in Europe – only fair, as they qualified through a competition run by the English FA, and they won't be taking a place earned legitimately by another Welsh team playing in a FAW competition.

 

[Brianstorm91]

I fancy Chelsea-Liverpool

Had I read this before the draw, I'd have said that this tie would be the next round; now that I have seen the draw, this tie will be the next round

Come on you blues.

 

[pachyderm]

yeah it is a mess. simple solution is if cardiff lose.

but i hope they win. love to see them play in europe. but a deal is a deal...
glad it isn't my job to sort it all..

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Liverpool draw Arsenal in the CL...I'd rather face the Gunners than United right now, but it should be a hot contest.

Agger out for the rest of the season.

The United-Roma match should be interesting...I'll bet it will not be a repeat of last year's drubbing, though I'm tipping the Red Devils to win somewhat comfortably.

 

[Markleshark]

Thing with Cardiff is, if Liverpool can get the rules changed to suit them, why not Cardiff?

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Thing with Cardiff is, if Liverpool can get the rules changed to suit them, why not Cardiff?

Because Liverpool are one of the 'Big Four', silly.

 

[Markleshark]

Because Liverpool are one of the 'Big Four', silly.

Yeah, good point well made I suppose.

 

[XIII]

Got my tickets for Liverpool..

**** draw really. But we definitely can beat them if we play like we did against AC.

van Persie starting today vs. Middlesborough hopefully, it's basically our full strength team, - Rosicky.

Almunia

Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy

Hleb Flamini Fabregas Walcott

van Persie Adebayor

 

[pachyderm]

Coventry 0 - 0 Sheff Wed
pfft.

 

[tefleming]

2-1 Amazing goal by Javi and more of the same from El Nino.

'Boro up 1-0 on Arsenal nearing halftime.

My hopes for miracles have otherwise panned out, but Boro and Fulham can help me out.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

There's nothing quite like spending your afternoon watching a load of southern softies getting mauled 5-0.

This result puts us into fifth, sat happily in the play-off places with a game in hand over all but one of our nearest rivals.

Bloody hell. We could do this. We could actually bloody do this.

 

[xUKHCx]

There's nothing quite like spending your afternoon watching a load of southern softies getting mauled 5-0.

This result puts us into fifth, sat happily in the play-off places with a game in hand over all but one of our nearest rivals.

Bloody hell. We could do this. We could actually bloody do this.

Is that 7 straight wins, it has actually been so long since I last heard about Hull losing. You have worked yourselves into a good position.

Arsenal 1 - 1 Middlesborough

edit: Mido sent off for high foot on Clichy

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Is that 7 straight wins, it has actually been so long since I last heard about Hull losing. You have worked yourselves into a good position.

We're not quite that good! We lost our last match away against Cardiff – actually the first time in 17-odd matches we'd failed to score – and another game at Bristol City at the start of the month, but defeat is something of a rarity for us at the moment. I've been to every home match this season and I've only seen us lose once since the start of October – that being against West Brom in January – and even then we played magnificently.

Thing is, when people talk about play-off contenders most folk seem to overlook us which is great – it keeps the pressure off us and all that. We might just have blown our cover this afternoon, though.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Bloody hell. We could do this. We could actually bloody do this.

Careful, son. Getting a bit giddy there. Most unYorkshire-like.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Careful, son. Getting a bit giddy there. Most unYorkshire-like.

Nah, I'm not talking about automatic promotion unlike some people in these parts have started doing.

We'll all be brought back down to earth with a bump on Tuesday night, when we travel to play Colchester United in our game in hand. We're flying high in the play-off places, scoring for fun plus Jay-Jay will be back from suspension to pull the strings for us in midfield. Our opponents on the other hand are floundering in the relegation zone some eleven points away from safety, playing poorly with no clue where their next points will come from.

It's got a Colchester victory written all over it, that one. Such is the Hull City way.

 

[WannaBMW3]

No, no you don't. Top temps here today are -1. It's collllllldddddd.

I'm a cold weather person...even though when the temps are consistently 65-75 degrees with clear skies...can't complain too much,just wanna be close to the red devils!

 

[scotthayes]

Sat here with everything crossed hoping that today is not the day Newcastle win under keegan.

 

[xUKHCx]

Sat here with everything crossed hoping that today is not the day Newcastle win under keegan.

I had that feeling the other week when they came to Anfield.

If he loses do you think he will walk? I think he will stay on but I imagine he is close to leaving.