Champions' League 2013/4

All the best players play in the Premier League.

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Ah, you're being very naive here geysir. If Basel's players were any good they'd be playing in the Premier League.

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Then possibly you agree with the already mentioned qualitative difference between Rafa and Mourinho, as being the main reason why Basel came away with the points, this time around :)

Myself, I just say these things happen,
out of 4 games, Basel are good enough to win twice and Chelsea good enough to win the other 2 times. Only the top teams manage consistency in the CL, when it's required.

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Originally Posted by Junior

I thought Matthews did okay, there was space on the wide right and he could have made more of it though thats for sure. I was calling for Boerrighter to be brought in much earlier as he is more naturally an attacker and going to make better use of that space (Matthews is a fullback afterall). I can understand why the change wasnt made earlier though, it was still 0-0, Celtic were comfortable, Milan were not looking particularly dangerous. However we were not making the most of our possession and that always comes back to bite you on the ar$e. It did, unfortunately.

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Matthew played well except for his passing and deliveries.
Sometimes that can be said about a player without embarrassment.

Such a shame Celtic had to sell their best players. AC were there for the taking.

Was Basel beating Chelsea such a huge shock ? The Swiss, including their national side, have been putting in some excellent performances over the past few years.

Basel beating Chelsea wasn't a shock, hardly even a small surprise,
but definitely welcome.

Jurgen Klopp's sideline antics makes neil Lennon look like an alter boy.

'when Napoli scored against his club in the first half, Jurgen disappeared and his mentally unstable doppelganger turned up. After his face returned to something resembling human, he applauded the ref and was summarily sent off.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWoU16D4f4w

Very strange goings on at the St Jacob's Park last night. I keenly tuned in at 7:45, bag of Lindt chocolate in one hand, mug of Rivella in another, enticed at the prospect of this exuberant Basel/Basle vanquishing yet another European team with ease. Imagine my shock at seeing some kind of Milk Tray advert redux, commandos abseiled from the rafters and unfurled a huge banner paying homage to company that sponsors the competition and (possibly) heats the stadium :)

In all seriousness, they could be in a spot of bother over that - it shows a fairly major security lapse. It's one thing for fans to sneak in with small banners or flairs hidden in socks or down the sleeve of a jacket, but it's quite another when half a dozen get onto the roof with a huge banner and full climbing gear... They may end up having to play in an empty stadium.

Good result for Atletico Madrid, nice free kick to win it, although the scorer might have been offside - it looked 50:50.

If you expect that Basel should win every game in the CL group phase against bigger richer clubs, to prove that they're a very good club, playing very good football, then you are bigger fool than I had taken you for :)

I don't see the logic of Basel being punished by playing in an empty stadium and I'd deem it a very unlikely punishment. Possibly a fine for lax security, even if they had regulation approved security in place but were just outwitted by a bunch of determined crafty spiderpeople.

Nobody got hurt except for a sponsor's reputation so Basel will probably be thrown out of the competition.

http://www.footballfans.eu/img?f=3799074&w=1410&h=603

Was at the game - bit weird alright. Otherwise the game was as dull as dishwater. Schalke scored a decent goal, and thats all that really happened in the game. Will be tough for Basel to get out of this group, will be close.

Interesting that RTE have gone with City-Bayern over United-Shakhtar today - they've chosen the better game of football over the more popular team.

I wouldn't give up on Basel just yet, there's an easy 3 pointer against Chelsea to come :)

Joe Hart is and has been a liability. How come this hasn't sunk in yet?

Because England. He'd have been replaced a couple of years ago otherwise. Wouldn't be surprised if Pellegrini tried to pick up a new number one in the winter, but I expect him to give Hart until the summer.

Italian club football is sinking even lower than last year.
Galatasaray ahead tonight at half time against juve. Milan struggling, depending on blatant cynicism to get a draw against Ajax and Napoli going belly up in London last night.

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Because England. He'd have been replaced a couple of years ago otherwise. Wouldn't be surprised if Pellegrini tried to pick up a new number one in the winter, but I expect him to give Hart until the summer.

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Apparently Mancini and Platt had already decided to replace him with Begovic, but they got replaced first.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...ster-City.html

Comedy goals in the CSKA v Plzen match tonight.

Here is the best one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfZ8tmuW-dU

I'd say Real Madrid and Juve has the makings of the game of tonight. some scintillating football so far, mainly from Juve.

Was coming here to post exactly that. Juventus have swarmed all over them but Real appear able to score goals at will.