World Football Thread VII

[reds4ever]

Well strictly speaking I've won. At the very least we've lasted one day longer than Chelsea in the competition.

[Maquiladora]

Typical scouser.

I got some tax back this morning so i dont know if my lucks in or out.

[MikeH]

Difference being: Benfica are crap and Barcelona are great.

[CerberusIV]

Originally posted by Maquiladora
The last thing we need is more managers like Arsene Wenger mumbling their way through another post match interview. For all Fergusons faults at least he says what he thinks and gets involved.

I wonder why they bother to interview the managers since they rarely seem to have watched the same match as the rest of us.



I really wanted Barca to get through last night as I watched the game - not because I dislike Chelsea but because if Chelsea had gone on to reach the final that would have been another 5 matches of Mourinho whining.

Let's see how Benfica like a proper Anfield welcome tonight!

[reds4ever]

We didn't make the first 25mins of pressure tell and it cost us, we never looked like turning the tie around after they scored.

Good luck to Arsenal from here on in.

[MikeH]

Only one English team in the 1/4 finals and it had to be bloody Arsenal.

I think I'd have preferred a smug reds and Liverpool to be through. I like getting behind the English teams in Europe and everything but Arsenal? It really is a stretch for them...

[C0ckney]

best 0-0 i've seen in ages

now we've got this warm up out of the way, lets hope for a big team in friday's draw

[MikeH]

Barca!

(so Henry can get used to his new home ground...)

[CerberusIV]

Originally posted by C0ckney
now we've got this warm up out of the way, lets hope for a big team in friday's draw

Better to hope for Benfica and an easy passage into the last four.

(I really can't see Arsenal playing as badly against them as Liverpool and ManU did).

[C0ckney]

i'd love us to get barca actually, although saving them until the final wouldn't be half bad either

[Cort Haus]

Last night was a victory for football as it should be played - two attacking teams working the ball forward along the ground in search of goals. Compared with the Special One's tactics of stopping football being played, even when he's got two goals to find, it was a joy to watch.

While Arsenal's progress sticks in the craw of Chelsea fans, lovers of football world-wide will be pleased that the attacking spirit of Barca, Lyon & Arsenal will be present in the QFs.

As for the Premiership, Chelsea have clearly set the tone with their defend-and-hoof tactics, and while they are entitled to full credit for winning back-to-back titles, the league is rapidly resembling a cross between the physicality of the Championship and the Cattenacio of Italy. No wonder the fans are staying away. Not that they'll be staying away from the 'Grove next year.

Arsenal's problem is that they have to find a way of dealing with the EPL so they can book a ticket to the continent where they can play their own game. If the youngsters can build a bit more strength and resiliance, next years EPL should see Arsenal challenging again.

That's SIX clean sheets in a row now in the ECL, and with only one first-choice defender last night. Only one more to equal AC Milan's record.

Mad Jens = Goalie of the year.

[Cort Haus]

Ronaldo McDonaldo - what a porker

[MikeH]

Not that they'll be staying away from the 'Grove next year.

Although they won't be able to watch champions league football at the Grove.

I like watching Arsenal, as one dimensional as they are, but just really don't like the team.

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by MikeH

I think I'd have preferred a smug reds .

eh?

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by MikeH
Although they won't be able to watch champions league football at the Grove.

Maybe not, but it ain't over till it's over, as they say, and Tottenham's run-in is a little tougher than Arsenal's. For starters your boys can do us a favour by taking 3 points off the Spuds on Saturday. Add to that the Arsenal v Spurs game in late April, a major confidence boost from the Real Madrid win, and the prospect of A. Cole and R. van Persie coming back from injury - it could be tight for that fourth spot.

On the other front, few expected Porto or Liverpool to win the CL in the previous two years, and few even expected Arsenal to make the QF's, so that route to next year's CL isn't yet closed either.