09/10 Football Thread

[pennywisealfie]

Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup 5-1 on aggregate over Bilbao! That's 1 trophy down 5 to go.

this is how we do! Its gonna be a long season for everyone else.

 

[Ari Gold]

Sol Campbell has just signed a contract with Notts County, believed to be around £90k a week. Kasper Schmeichel has joined too. As someone that got Notts County @ 26s for the title, I'd just like to say woo [icon_lol1. icon_thumbs_u

 

[ningnangnong]

Champions League Groups

Group A Bayern Munchen, Juventus, Bordeaux, Maccabi Haifa

Group B Manchester United, CSKA Moscow, Besiktas, Wolfsburg

Group C AC Milan, Real Madrid, Marseille, FC Zurich

Group D Chelsea, Porto, Atletico, APOEL FC

Group E Liverpool, Lyon, Fiorentina, Debreceni

Group F Barcelona, Internazionale, Dynamo Kyiv, FC Rubin Kazan

Group G Sevilla, Rangers, Stuttgart, AFC Urinea Urziceni

Group H Arsenal, AZ Alkmaar, Olympiakos, Standard Liege

 

[ningnangnong]

Some cracking ties in there.

AC Milan Vs. Real Madrid
Inter Vs. Barca

I'm quite happy with our group although Fiorentina does worry me a bit.

Chelsea and Arsenal have it fairly easy whilst the Mancs have a bit of travelling to do and those teams won't exactly be pushovers.

I think all the Spanish teams will make it through as will all the Italians.

 

[Scumbag]

I've been impressed with Maccabi Haifa lately. They've been ruthless in attack. Really know how to find the back of the net.

Group A will be extremely tough for them though obviously. I've got Bayern going through, but who takes the second spot?

I'm going to go Bordeaux actually despite what you think Nong. Sorry Penny, Juve will fail. icon_thumbs_u

Arseholes have drawn a pretty easy group I would have thought.

I hope Wolfsburg do well, I don't mind them.

 

[ningnangnong]

Bordeaux have been playing some brilliant football and do have some awesome players but Juve just have far too much talent IMO.

Keep an eye on Sebastian Giovinco, he is ace.

 

[The Brizz]

I will back Barcelona to take at least 16 points from that group.

 

[pennywisealfie]

Tournament Prediction: ( before i go on, nice avatar ning, go creed)

Group A:
1. Juventus
2. Bayern

Group B:
1. Man Utd
2. Wolfsburg

Group C:
1. Real
2. Milan

Group D:
1. Chelsea
2. Atletico

Group E:
1. Liverpool
2. Fiorentina

Group F:
1. Barca
2. Inter

Group G:
1. Sevilla
2. Stuttgart

Group H:
1. Arsenal
2. Olympiakos

2nd Round: (yes i know the draw for this is done after the groupstage, this is hypothetical)
Juventus vs Wolfsburg
Real Madrid vs Fiorentina
Chelsea vs Inter
Sevilla vs Milan
Man Utd vs Bayern
Liverpool vs Olympiakos
Arsenal vs Atletico
Barcelona vs Stuttgart

Quarter Finals:
Juventus vs Real Madrid
Inter vs Atletico
Liverpool vs Barcelona
Man Utd vs Milan

Semi Finals:
Real Madrid vs Inter
Barcelona vs Man Utd

Final:
Real Madrid vs Barcelona

 

[The Brizz]

UEFA's Awards got handed out and Barcelona were robbed of a clean sweep. Messi got best player and best forward and Xavi got Midfielder but Terry beat Pique which I will admit was a 50/50 call as far as I can see but Van Der Sar beat Valdes which is crazy, VDS is very average these days and the fact he has Ferdinand and Vidic in front of him helps 10 fold. Valdes had inexperienced pairs in front of him all year and almost single handedly got the team past Chelsea in the Semi Finals. Add to that VDS was at least partially at fault for both of Barca's goals in the final 1.Near post and 2. Off his line and no attempt.

 

[The Brizz]

Barcelona won the Super Cup this morning 1-0 after extra time. Never really looked like losing against a side looking for penalties for the whole 120 minutes even though Barca never really pressed or upped the tempo. Ibrahimovic hasn't adjusted as yet and with his technique I think he will fit in it may just take a month or two but Pedro and Bojan are both absolute quality and were so dangerous when injected this morning coupling them with the presence of Henry and Messi already established means they have the luxury of time for Ibra to get settled. The production line is working over drive right now with Muniesa and Jeffren also more than ready to play bigger roles this season, which is crucial when you look at the 70 odd games they will have to play to win the 6 competitions they are penciled in for.

 

[pennywisealfie]

Messi looked so good in spurts. Zlatan is no Eto'o :P

i actually didnt get to see the goal. I IQ'd the game and because the game went into extra time, and past the alloted time, i didnt get to see it :( who scored?

 

[Ari Gold]

Barcelona won the Super Cup this morning 1-0 after extra time. Never really looked like losing against a side looking for penalties for the whole 120 minutes even though Barca never really pressed or upped the tempo. Ibrahimovic hasn't adjusted as yet and with his technique I think he will fit in it may just take a month or two but Pedro and Bojan are both absolute quality and were so dangerous when injected this morning coupling them with the presence of Henry and Messi already established means they have the luxury of time for Ibra to get settled. The production line is working over drive right now with Muniesa and Jeffren also more than ready to play bigger roles this season, which is crucial when you look at the 70 odd games they will have to play to win the 6 competitions they are penciled in for.

I saw from 20mins onwards. The only thing I could think throughout was:

My god, if an NRL club signed Michaels, it'd still be a better signing than what Zlatan was.

That's not to say Zlatan is a bad player, but he's not Eto'o, and he's certainly not Eto'o plus cash. He totally screwed the Barca style of play last night. Even if he comes good, you already had Eto'o doing good to begin with. Plus, it's not like Zlatan is younger or anything. Extraordinarily bad decision IMO.

PS - Why is Hleb in Germany. They looked like they could use him.

 

[The Brizz]

Hleb was horrible when he played and was not fitting in so is off on loan for the season, the young options like Jeffren and Bojan are far better than he is although when Yaya and Keita go to the African Nations the side will be very thin for midfielders. Zlatan was pretty awful but when you know what he can do and how good he is technically I think it will work, he isn't nearly as wasteful as Eto'o and if and when he fits in I think he can give Barca a target from crosses which they need because Alves hit them over in dangerous areas to no one last year. I also see Messi running off Ibra well as he holds it up brilliantly and it was a feature of Eto'o was his ability to play Messi in and I think Ibra can do that even better as he has better vision and passing than Eto'o does. I guess though we will wait and see I certainly think he has the ability to improve the side in the long term.

 

[Scumbag]

PS - Why is Hleb in Germany. They looked like they could use him.

Because he's smart. [icon_wink

 

[ningnangnong]

Modric has a broken leg apparently.

Bad news for Spurs.

 

[Russo]

Modric has a broken leg apparently.

Bad news for Spurs.

Yes pretty shattering news, will be interesting to see what we do. JJ is due back soon, Bentley may have to step up and earn his money, O'Hara was loaned to Pompey so will probably be called back, Keane went okay in Luka's role, or we quickly sign someone before the window closes.

Still 4 from 4, with a week off, before playing Manure and Chelski

 

[Scumbag]

Modric has a broken leg apparently.

Bad news for Spurs.

Yes pretty shattering news, will be interesting to see what we do. JJ is due back soon, Bentley may have to step up and earn his money, O'Hara was loaned to Pompey so will probably be called back, Keane went okay in Luka's role, or we quickly sign someone before the window closes.

Still 4 from 4, with a week off, before playing Manure and Chelski

Boom tish!

 

[Ari Gold]

From a Belgian game this weekend. Not one for the squeamish.