December 8, 201113 yr Also, I think it might be likely UEFA will look at match fixing in the Real Madrid group. Lyon had to win an Ajax lose with a 7 goal swing to go through, they won by 6 Ajax lost by 3.
December 8, 201113 yr Man U should have won last night but squandered their chances - including what would have been a spectacular own goal. However, given the general weakness of the group they should have qualified with a game or two to spare so they've only got themselves to blame. Without the presence of City in the same tournament, Man U might have decided not to take the Europa League too seriously. However, with City in there as well they won't like the idea of going out before them.
December 8, 201113 yr Author Man U should have won last night but squandered their chances - including what would have been a spectacular own goal. However, given the general weakness of the group they should have qualified with a game or two to spare so they've only got themselves to blame. Without the presence of City in the same tournament, Man U might have decided not to take the Europa League too seriously. However, with City in there as well they won't like the idea of going out before them. I imagine Fergie will throw the competition because it is "beneath" them.
December 8, 201113 yr Whether it's beneath them or not, it could be the only chance of silverware they could have this season Out of the Carling Cup and Champions League already. FA Cup they've been drawn against City and you'd have to say City are the clear favourites for the PL too Also, I think it might be likely UEFA will look at match fixing in the Real Madrid group. Lyon had to win an Ajax lose with a 7 goal swing to go through, they won by 6 Ajax lost by 3. Yeh something didn't seem right there. Zagreb apparently only lost 1-0 to Real Madrid at home too, so to go and lose 7-1 to Lyon was a little odd even with 10 men Ajax also had two perfectly fine goals ruled out
December 8, 201113 yr Also, I think it might be likely UEFA will look at match fixing in the Real Madrid group. Lyon had to win an Ajax lose with a 7 goal swing to go through, they won by 6 Ajax lost by 3. You'd think, but then no English clubs are involved so it'll be dusted aside...
March 6, 201213 yr Completely bottled it. I only started watching once the Birmingham - Chelsea match was effectively over. In that time Arsenal didn't look like a team that had gone in at half-time with a real chance of pulling off a great escape.
March 6, 201213 yr Author I only started watching once the Birmingham - Chelsea match was effectively over. In that time Arsenal didn't look like a team that had gone in at half-time with a real chance of pulling off a great escape. AC Milan turned up thinking they had won the game already. If there's one thing English teams are better than the rest of the elite leagues, then it's mentality. Arsenal just didn't look bothered though after half-time. I think Wenger was over-cautious knowing that they only needed one goal, but one goal for Milan meant game over. By then it was too late, the momentum had gone.
March 7, 201213 yr AC Milan turned up thinking they had won the game already. If there's one thing English teams are better than the rest of the elite leagues, then it's mentality. Arsenal just didn't look bothered though after half-time. I think Wenger was over-cautious knowing that they only needed one goal, but one goal for Milan meant game over. By then it was too late, the momentum had gone. It just seemed rather odd. Arsenal should have come out after half time thinking "We can do this" but that's not how it looked in what I saw. If they'd been 1-0 up after half time, their attitude would have been at least slightly understandable. However, in the event, they blew a chance to pull off a great recovery. It's not like they had loads of goal-scoring opportunities only to be thwarted by the woodwork or great goalkeeping. They just didn't make that many good chances.
March 7, 201213 yr Barcelona winning 7-1 tonight and now up 10-2 on aggregate. Meanwhile, in Scottish football news. Rangers will not be competing in Europe next season, as they will not be able to file accounts ahead of the deadline of the 31st of March. The SPL has TWO Champions League spots up for grab next season, so it looks like Motherwell will be playing in the Champions League should they be unable to overtake Rangers and so stay in third place. This will make the split very interesting as one point separates the current teams in 4th, 5th and 6th. As two of those will be playing Europa League football. This is of course assuming they are all illegible to play in Europe. For once the SPL could get interesting.
March 7, 201213 yr Author Barcelona were brutal. Messi ...wow! That chip with his right foot, he had no right!
March 7, 201213 yr Apoel Nicosia go through on penalties :o Cyprus will have at least as many teams in the Champions League QF as England :lol:
March 7, 201213 yr Apoel Nicosia go through on penalties :o Cyprus will have at least as many teams in the Champions League QF as England :lol: I am FUMING that my beloved Lyon have been knocked out by a team from bloody Cyprus! I nearly died when I heard.
March 8, 201213 yr Agreed. Great game Bilbao were a pleasure to watch. Iker Muniain in particular La Liga > Premier League
March 8, 201213 yr I missed the first 20 minutes or so of the second half but, for the rest of the game, Bilbao were clearly the better side. The Premier League's claim to be "the best league in the world" has always been debatable but now looks ridiculous.
March 9, 201213 yr Author I missed the first 20 minutes or so of the second half but, for the rest of the game, Bilbao were clearly the better side. The Premier League's claim to be "the best league in the world" has always been debatable but now looks ridiculous. 2005-2010 it definitely was. Now, not so much. Barcelona, Real Madrid and one or two other teams aside have realised they can't compete with the big clubs so have concentrated on their youth teams. Bilbao, Athletico Madrid, Napoli, Sporting Lisborn, Porto, Valencia, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, you can go on and on. These things generally work in cycles, but the poor showning in Europe this year proves a point. Tactically, and technically we're a way behind some of the other leagues. Still think the Premier League is the best entertainment though.
March 9, 201213 yr I missed the first 20 minutes or so of the second half but, for the rest of the game, Bilbao were clearly the better side. The Premier League's claim to be "the best league in the world" has always been debatable but now looks ridiculous. Like Rooney said a few years ago it was the best but not anymore. However its still the most entertaining by a longshot.
March 9, 201213 yr 2005-2010 it definitely was. Now, not so much. Barcelona, Real Madrid and one or two other teams aside have realised they can't compete with the big clubs so have concentrated on their youth teams. Bilbao, Athletico Madrid, Napoli, Sporting Lisborn, Porto, Valencia, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, you can go on and on. These things generally work in cycles, but the poor showning in Europe this year proves a point. Tactically, and technically we're a way behind some of the other leagues. Still think the Premier League is the best entertainment though. It's strange that, whenever a country has looked liked dominating the Champions League, they have fallen behind. It has happened to Spain and Italy and now it seems to be happening to England. Once a country gets three Champions League semi-finalists that seems to be bad news.
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