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Milan's backline was awful in the 2nd leg against Arsenal. Hard to imagine them containing Barca. But will be an interesting test of Thiago Silva's much-hyped credentials. I don't think there strikforce is likely to hold up for back-to-back games either. Though if they get it together it should be a great couple of games. Anyway, I'd like to see Bayern get to the final. It's enough that Madrid and Barca have a monopoly on La Liga and they play each other on a very regular basis.
their*
Drogba just scores to put Chelsea one up. If ever there's an argument for atheism, it's Drogba. No God would ever reward his first half performance with that, and the adulation that comes with it. Apart from Jose Antonio Reyes I don't think I've ever seen a player play the game in such a profoundly dishonest manner.
looking at tonight's match whoever thought of a Chelsea Bayern final ? I really expected an all Spanish final
Missed the game, was he up to his old tricks again?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
(ok read on bbc - he was, funny that Puyol was angry with him, as he is one heck of a cheat himself, only playing barca at their own game)
I was watching the Chelsea - Barcelona game tonight and the picture went a bit fuzzy. I tapped the side of the TV and Drogba fell over
Yeah you just never know it might well be Chelsea's year. Finally winning it when least expected.Quote:
Originally Posted by thejollyrodger
The Lord works in mysterious ways :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
http://www.footballtransfertavern.co...1/busquets.jpg
I have to say it was cyincal or clever or whatever you want to call it, but against Barca it was a taste of their own medicine. I was also really suprised at how the much vaunted "invincible" Barca seemed to really struggle with direct balls played over the midfield.
And Valdes has another poor game in London, beaten at the near post by Van Persie last year, let on in under his body (from Walcott?) the year before and chocolate wrists last night...
Was it really a taste of their own medicine? I've never thought of Barcelona as among the worst offenders by any means.* In fact I'm amazed by how much Messi is able to stay on his feet. They ham it up a bit against Real Madrid, but Real do the same against them.
* Despite Gerry Armstrong's duff protestations, the penno against Levante last weekend was nailed on in my opinion. A two handed shove to the ground, not unlike Cahill's foul just outsuide the box last night, on Iniesta I think.
Valdes went for it with his foot last night I thought.
are you kidding me!:rolleyes:
one of about a million vids...............
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhYU_znLSRk
That tie was just a car crash in slow motion right from the moment Barcelona hit the bar in Stamford Bridge. Barcelona were inept for the second half, out-Arsenaling Arsenal in pointless passing and awful defending. James McClean would have made a difference out wide. Valdes had a shocker over both games.
God I hate Chelsea and that dispicable creep Drogba!
I want Madrid to win now, I don't see Chelsea beating them.
Real and Bayern will be delighted. I'd say Real will get through tomorrow night but possibly AET.
Who won?
Yeah hopefully Madrid make it through. They'll really have to defend well tonight though. At least there's the safety net of JT not lifting the trophy.
Likewise, but surely one can ADMIT that Chelsea's performance last night was brilliant, one of the best in along time,and so deserve to be in the finalQuote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
No, I won't. I refuse! They parked the bus but Barcelona beat themselves. They have ventured too far into the realm of football fundamentalism, a la Wenger.
Chelsea dug deep obviously but they got a mental amount of luck over the two legs. They could and should have been three down by the time they scored at Stamford Bridge. The post saved them in the last minute there. Messi missed a sitter, a penalty and hit the post last night. Goal disallowed for offside (by a fraction if it was offside). That said, Barcelona can only blame themselves really, Sanchez and, in particular, Fabregas tried to be too clever with their chances at the Bridge. Also, leaving half of the pitch open for Ramieres to run through when they were in a winning position and a man up last night was criminal.
Martin Keown saying is this the end of an era for Barce. Good god you have to wonder about these pundits sometimes! Fair play to Chelsea they rode their luck but they are through and i have a feeling their name is on it!
TV3's pundits are horrible to listen to, every time Lawrenson opens his mouth I want to smash my head against the TV!:mad:Quote:
Originally Posted by KK77
I'm with you there cf, and the guy is cleaning up. Yeah KK, it has the look of Liverpool in 2005 about it alright, especially when you look back to the Napoli tie and it's similarities to Liverpool's final group match against Olympiakos. They are missing a lot of important players though.
When Messi missed that penalty I knew it was game over.
Highly frustrating watch. Any other team up against that Chelsea side would have made use of the overlaps that were on offer. Madrid should have too much for em if they make it through tonight. Bayern? Not so confident.
I feel the same I think. Even though Bayern would have home advantage, that comes with it's own pressures and I'd find it hard to imagine Ronaldo not getting a few chances against a make-shift Chelsea defence of Bosingwa - Cahill - Luiz - Cole, and that's assuming they have no injuries between now and then. I'm not at all confident that Real will do the business tonight though.
A George Hamilton expression. Did it make a flying save? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Alas I missed the game but with Terry being sent off "early doors", it is a huge tribute that they scored two goals. They were fortunate though catching them on the end of a morale sapping defeat by Real. Queue screams for the manager (who was God a few months ago) to be sacked. It's a funny old game. Glad for DiMatteo though. Been through depression and seems a decent sort.
Funny as I didnt notice it at first despite listening to it on the headphones.................(was shouting myself like mad when that goal went in!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6RG6yxgeFE&feature=related
Whooda thunk it? Munich v Chelsea.
How serious will Munich's suspended absentees be?
probally balances out a bit of chelsea's four suspensions...Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
did you see that clown dunphy on rte tonight ronaldo a bottler for missing penalty in shoot-out and they then show highlights of barcelona - chelsea and after messi hits crossbar from penalty spot the bold eamon has no comment to make..
Of course, home advantage didn't favour the Germans on this occasion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur5fGSBsfq8
Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by old git
I thought it was a super save from the bayern keeper (Neuer , sp?)
It was a fantastic save. Missed the game because I was at a gig but caught the highlights.
COME ON BAYERN!!
It was a decent enough save as he had to get down low, but it wasn't anywhere near the corner either. Although they definitely over-analysed it on RTÉ, I would agree that there was no comparision between the way Ronaldo stepped up to his penalty in normal time and in the shoot-out.
I like Sergio Ramos as a player, his loose canon style makes him entertaining to watch. However, not in a million years would I allow him to take an important penalty in a shoot-out. I don't think I was ever as sure that a guy would miss, well actually Kenny Miller in the Carling Cup against Liverpool but he's half blind I think. That said, I was pretty certain Lahm would stick his but he hit a really poor penalty.
Bayern were deserving winners both last night, and over the two legs, no doubt at all about that. They did lose their way a bit in extra time which surprised me, as they would have been the fresher team going into it after resting players at the weekend while Madrid had the Nou Camp.
I just wonder will they suit Chelsea to a certain extent. Robben is by far their biggest attacking threat, and he does all his best work down the right. If I could pick one player in the world to try to do a job on him it would probably be Ashley Cole, although Marcelo had a great game last night. You'd also think that Cahill would be suitable enough for Gomes and Ribery, in my opinion, is one of the most overrated players on the planet.
Alaba and Badstuber, on the evidence of last night, will be serious enough absentees for Bayern. Alaba was excellent on both Di Maria and Ozil, from whom you'd expect a lot more, and was also great in an attacking sense. Badstuber also had a fine game. Not sure how big a loss Gustavo will be, he should have been booked long before he eventually was.
Apparently Real Madrid are "not a team" because they have one self centred star player. It's not everyday "not a team" can beat Barca (who up to then were the greatest thing since slice bread according to the Panel) and lead La Liga which is probably the strongest in the world at the moment. The Panel and Ronaldo is like a dog with a bone.Quote:
Originally Posted by old git
I was amused to see Schweinsteiger (a player in the Roy Keane mould) wave to the Bayern fans in the crowd with a straight arm but with the wrist slightly cocked so it wouldn't be reminiscent of a certain former German greeting :)
How I love the unpredictability of football.
Chelsea win on penos. It's a funny old game. Not sure about this fated thing. The contrary argument is that Bayern were fated to win it because they had made it to the Final on their own ground. I love the way (well I don't really) the RTE Panel immediately focus on something (will Matteo not be offered the job and attack the owner who has but perhaps half a billion or more in to the club) to hide the fact that they all predicted a Bayern win. At the end it was all about the fates - no mention of that when they were predicting the win. They also seemed to think that Bayern's goal was with 3 minutes to go.
I enjoyed the game and the atmosphere. Something like 20 corners for Bayern = no goal. Chelsea 1 corner = goal. It gives us (Ireland) some hope that IF we defend properly and can keep the ball for more than 5 seconds, we could get something out of the games against the bigger nations.
My own belief was it was Chelsea's time to win it. All the money Roman spent on big managers and a fella sacked by West Brom comes in and wipes all their eyes. He surely deserves at least a season at it now but the way Chelsea are talking i would not be confident they will appoint him.
So Spurs miss out. Hard to have any sympathy for them considering they had 3rd place more or less sown up when 10 points clear of Arsenal and leading two zip at Arsenal as well. Didn’t realise they only won 4 out of their last 13 games. I see Arry was on SSN Saturday morning live from some hotel grounds in Munich. Suppose it makes a change from his head hanging out of his 4 x 4.
Roberto will probably be offered a 12 month contract from everything I've read on the chelsea site/forum etc.
He deserves his shot.