Champions' League group stages

[sligo23]

Saw Arsene Wenger moaning at the referee at the end of the game last night. Does he never give up whinging Decisions balance themselves out over the season. Pathetic. Goal in the last couple of minutes saved a point for them as well.

Mostly watched the Celtic game. Boy (bhoy), is that Samaras infuriating with his poor first touch. Gives the ball away so often. Surprised he stayed on. McGeady only came off the subs' bench and put in a few decent crosses. Never really dominated the game even though the commentators expected a cake walk. Saw bits and bobs of Man U who seemed unlucky not to get at least one peno. All to play for in that group.

So the groups may not be as straight forward as the original poster thought.

am i the only one that thinks that was offside??

[OwlsFan]

I thought Celtic were unlucky not to come away with a point last night but they have an away record that's even worse than Ireland's. The crucial miss was by Samaras just before half time when he was one on one with the keeper. McGeady had one of his better games.

[Schumi]

I thought Celtic were unlucky not to come away with a point last night

I didn't see the whole game but it looked to me that Villareal were well on top.

[OwlsFan]

Villareal had much of the game ok but Celtic were looking good for a point until they gave away one free kick too many outside the box.

[Football MaD]

There will be some sort of a change in the qualifying rounds. It will be divided between league champions and teams that finished 2nd/3rd/4th in their domestic leagues. Something like that anyway.

But whats the point,the lower teams wont even get out of the group stages. Champions league is for the best teams in europe. The lower teams would have a better chance at the uefa cup.

[Football MaD]

Liverpool 3-1 PSV. Was all one way traffic really, didnt make it a very enjoyable match. Keane finally got his 1st goal.

[holidaysong]

Anorthosis Famagusta win against a Greek side again tonight!

[OwlsFan]

Anorthosis Famagusta win against a Greek side again tonight!

..and Chelsea get held by a team whose name I can't pronounce. Watching Chelsea is like watching paint dry. Sooooooo boring.

[brianw82]

Liverpool 3-1 PSV. Was all one way traffic really, didnt make it a very enjoyable match. Keane finally got his 1st goal.

Predictable, boring games like this are what I'm referring to.

Occasionally you have a team like Cluj that comes along and makes it interesting, but not often enough.

[OwlsFan]

Predictable, boring games like this are what I'm referring to.

Occasionally you have a team like Cluj that comes along and makes it interesting, but not often enough.

But it's true of most qualifying stages, including the World Cup where by and large the top two seeds go through. Doesn't mean the "minnows" shouldn't be given their chance since occasionally they will succeed.

[gustavo]

I'd say Dunphy and co will be salivating over Aguero next week as if he's some unknown talent thats just come to everyones attention

[jmurphyc]

I'd say Dunphy and co will be salivating over Aguero next week as if he's some unknown talent thats just come to everyones attention

I thought Dunphy didn't rate him, no? I could be confusing him with Bojan though, as I know Dunphy definitely doesn't like him (even though he's only just turned 18). Either way, before the game Aguero will be s**t/the best player in the world and after the game he'll be the best player in the world/unable to get into the Ireland squad.

[gustavo]

I thought Dunphy didn't rate him, no? I could be confusing him with Bojan though, as I know Dunphy definitely doesn't like him (even though he's only just turned 18). Either way, before the game Aguero will be s**t/the best player in the world and after the game he'll be the best player in the world/unable to get into the Ireland squad.

Yea he was bad mouthing Bojan as a "nothing player" last season on the basis of one game , saying he wasnt strong enough , despite him only gone 17 at the time

[hunt4the]

whats the banker tonight lads???

Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Basle v Barcelona
Bordeaux v CFR Cluj-Napoca
Chelsea v Roma
Inter Milan v Anorthosis Famagusta
Panathinaikos v Werder Bremen
PSV v Marseille
Shakhtar Donetsk v Sporting

atletico 6/4
Barca 4/9
Cluj 15/4
Chlsea 4/9
Inter 1/6
Pana 9/5
PSV 7/5
Donetsk evens

Im goin chelsea 4/9 home banker

[Rambling Along]

Have they changed the offside rule since last week? Some terrible decisions over the last 2 days that dissallowed Athletico Madrid goal being the worst so far!

[Closed Account 2]

Have they changed the offside rule since last week? Some terrible decisions over the last 2 days that dissallowed Athletico Madrid goal being the worst so far!

Yes and it appears that if you are called Berbatov you are immune from the offside rule.

[reder]

The group stages should be done away with and the competition should be done knockout style.

[old git]

Yes and it appears that if you are called Berbatov you are immune from the offside rule.

at least another 3-4 players in same situation over the last few nights
why highlight berbatov is it ure anti man utd streak as berbatov said in his interview he does not call the offside he plays on and leaves the decision to match officals .. 3 wrong calls by linesman in utd match as they also gave offside against rooney for goal and he was clearly on but unfortunatly it now seems to be part of the game don't think it helps with the new offside rule that nobody seems to understand

[Junior]

The group stages should be done away with and the competition should be done knockout style.

Yes and they should rename it the European Cup

[Rambling Along]

Yes and it appears that if you are called Berbatov you are immune from the offside rule.

Likewise if your called Keane!