CL knock out stage

**OwlsFan** · 16/04/2009, 2:41 PM

Originally Posted by old git

imagine if torres had stayed on and scored the winning goal ....

I can understand taking him off if you have another excellent forward on bench to replace him to try and get back into game .. but unfortunatly liverpool dont.... 20 mins is a long time in football to try and rescue a game ... why did hiddink not take of drogba then with 20 mins to go when chelsea had game sown up & nothing to play for

Tell me the last time a team scored 3 in the last 20 minutes to win a game? You might find a couple but they are few and far between, especially when that team, having been leading 2-0 at half time, conceded 3 in the 2nd half to find themselves 3-2 down! Of course it could happen but odds were greatly against it. If Liverpool win the league and a fit Torres leads the charge, I am sure Benitez will be forgiven.

As for taken off Drogba, I wish he did as I just can't stand his feigning injury. Pathetic.

Kissing the badge for the fans is another one (I saw Drogba do it), when we know that 99% of players, including Drogba, wouldn't think twice about leaving a club if more money is offered.

**DeLorean** · 16/04/2009, 3:05 PM

Since when does cheating make someone a bad player? I'd prefer if nobody dived or cheated as well but it is the way it is. Until the players are punished severely it will continue. Drogba/Ronaldo do it more than most but they are still top players. Torres is no stranger to taking a tumble here and there for the cause and Gerrard has had a couple of high profile incidents. Rooney usually gets praised for his work rate and professionalism but he's dived plenty of times too, most notably to end Arsenal's unbeaten run at 49. Drogba and Ronaldo are possibly the worst but they are in good company.

By the way Torres was taken off for Ngog in the 80th minute and not with 20mins to go, just saying!!

**old git** · 16/04/2009, 7:49 PM

Originally Posted by BarelyLegal

Since when does cheating make someone a bad player? I'd prefer if nobody dived or cheated as well but it is the way it is. Until the players are punished severely it will continue. Drogba/Ronaldo do it more than most but they are still top players. Torres is no stranger to taking a tumble here and there for the cause and Gerrard has had a couple of high profile incidents. Rooney usually gets praised for his work rate and professionalism but he's dived plenty of times too, most notably to end Arsenal's unbeaten run at 49. Drogba and Ronaldo are possibly the worst but they are in good company.

By the way Torres was taken off for Ngog in the 80th minute and not with 20mins to go, just saying!!

ronaldo & drogba probally the worse i would agree .. but must give ronaldo some praise cracking goal he scored last night .. quite a surprise it has not been mentioned before now ... we are all quick to have a go when he plays crap or falls over .

**De Town** · 16/04/2009, 10:13 PM

aswell as the great goal, he actually worked hard for the team last night aswell, which hasnt been seen too much in the past. good performance from him all round i thought.

**OwlsFan** · 17/04/2009, 9:31 AM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

You used the phrase no part. I don't think this is correct. It was not a decisive part but to say no part is incorrect.

The away goal rule yet again didn't result in any team going through in the UEFA Cup quarter finals either. Won't stop George Hamilton almost having a canary if a team scores away from home.

I wonder is Europe outside of the UK and Spain losing interest in the CL with the dominance of the English clubs, albeit awash with non-English nationals?

**Roadend** · 17/04/2009, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by old git

imagine if torres had stayed on and scored the winning goal ....

can understand taking him off if you have another excellent forward on bench to replace him to try and get back into game .. but unfortunatly liverpool dont.... 20 mins is a long time in football to try and rescue a game ... why did hiddink not take of drogba then with 20 mins to go when chelsea had game sown up & nothing to play for

N'gog almost scored but for Essien heading off the line (now not saying he's brilliant or anything obviously)

**lionelhutz** · 28/04/2009, 10:39 AM

Two mouth watering semi finals tonight and tomorrow night.

I'd love to see Barca once again produce their best and out class Chelsea and I think it will happen. The other semi is harder to call IMO, heart over head I'm going with Arsenal.

Predictions for the 1st legs;

Barca 3 - 1 Chelsea

Man Utd 2 - 2 Arsenal

**DeLorean** · 28/04/2009, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

Two mouth watering semi finals tonight and tomorrow night.

I'd love to see Barca once again produce their best and out class Chelsea and I think it will happen. The other semi is harder to call IMO, heart over head I'm going with Arsenal.

Predictions for the 1st legs;

Barca 3 - 1 Chelsea

Man Utd 2 - 2 Arsenal

Chelsea United Final for me. Reckon United will win handy enough tomorrow night. Will be in a very strong position going to the Emirates. Chelsea to scrape draw tonight.

**lionelhutz** · 28/04/2009, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by BarelyLegal

Chelsea United Final for me. Reckon United will win handy enough tomorrow night. Will be in a very strong position going to the Emirates. Chelsea to scrape draw tonight.

Just wondering what do you base this on?

Arsenal have already beaten Utd this season - albeit at the Emirates. I think Arsenals midfield will pass their way through United. Man U's midfield is fairly average whoever they play and Arsenal style of play will cut them open as they did at the Emirates.

Vidic and Ferdinand will have to be at their very best to stop them conceding at home.

**DeLorean** · 28/04/2009, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

Just wondering what do you base this on?

Arsenal have already beaten Utd this season - albeit at the Emirates. I think Arsenals midfield will pass their way through United. Man U's midfield is fairly average whoever they play and Arsenal style of play will cut them open as they did at the Emirates.

Vidic and Ferdinand will have to be at their very best to stop them conceding at home.

A couple of weeks back I actually felt the same as you. After they drew 2-2 with Porto I remember thinking that United would be better off not playing Arsenal in that kind of form. Things have picked up significantly since though I think. I'd say United will try to keep it tight not allowing Arsenal any space to play their nice one touch football. Also with RVP out and Arshavin not available I think Adebayor will be much easier to manage. I don't think Fabregas is being used properly either, although I didn't see the Boro match at the weekend. Against Liverpool though (which would be a match more similar to tomorrow night) I thought he was too far forward to control the game. Denilson was playing the role which I think Fabregas excels in. Also I would think they will be extremely vulnerable anytime United get at them, especially from set pieces. It's a while back now but I didn't think there was an awful lot in that match at the Emirates earlier in the season, plus I really don't think it's relevant to tomorrow night.

**DeLorean** · 28/04/2009, 12:58 PM

Bosingwa likely to start left back on Messi. Kind of funny quote from The Examiner:-

"Normally a right-back, Bosingwa switched to the other flank in the win over West Ham on Saturday but Argentina international Messi, scorer of 21 goals so far this season, is certain to provide him with more problems than Luis Boa Morte"

**lionelhutz** · 28/04/2009, 1:37 PM

Originally Posted by BarelyLegal

Bosingwa likely to start left back on Messi. Kind of funny quote from The Examiner:-

"Normally a right-back, Bosingwa switched to the other flank in the win over West Ham on Saturday but Argentina international Messi, scorer of 21 goals so far this season, is certain to provide him with more problems than Luis Boa Morte"

He's actually scored 34 goals this season - 21 in the league, 8 in the CL and 5 in their domestic cup. Hope he shines tonight and brings joy to the true followers of football

reder · 28/04/2009, 1:43 PM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

He's actually scored 34 goals this season - 21 in the league, 8 in the CL and 5 in their domestic cup. Hope he shines tonight and brings joy to the true followers of football

I would love to see that but I can see Chelsea smothering them over 2 legs and sneaking through.

**gustavo** · 28/04/2009, 1:44 PM

I'd fancy Barcelona to win by 2 tonight

**old git** · 28/04/2009, 3:29 PM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

He's actually scored 34 goals this season - 21 in the league, 8 in the CL and 5 in their domestic cup. Hope he shines tonight and brings joy to the true followers of football

may be wrong here but read somewhere messi has never scored against english teams

... fancy chelsea to score tonight but barcelona to just shade it think chelsea's best hope is that drogba deceides to turn it on tonight instead of rolling around .

**smasher** · 28/04/2009, 3:48 PM

Wonder how many times this guy will cheat tonight. Will he,unlike the Liverpool game, ensure he feigns injury on the field rather than off it and roll back on. More importantly will the referee book him for the inevitable dive?

**old git** · 28/04/2009, 4:32 PM

[QUOTE=OwlsFan;1144567]Tell me the last time a team scored 3 in the last 20 minutes to win a game? You might find a couple but they are few and far between, especially when that team, having been leading 2-0 at half time, conceded 3 in the 2nd half to find themselves 3-2 down! Of course it could happen but odds were greatly against it. If Liverpool win the league and a fit Torres leads the charge, I am sure Benitez will be forgiven.

owlsfan
last time a team scored 3 in last 20 min to win game ... last saturday evening 25-4-09 utd scored 5 in 22 mins to win game

**Sicuani** · 28/04/2009, 8:06 PM

Was Platini listening to music on his phone at the start of the 2nd half..seemed to be enjoying it until if discovered he was on TV.

**old git** · 28/04/2009, 8:50 PM

Originally Posted by smasher

Wonder how many times this guy will cheat tonight. Will he,unlike the Liverpool game, ensure he feigns injury on the field rather than off it and roll back on. More importantly will the referee book him for the inevitable dive?

drogba had a few rolls tonights

but totally outdone on feigning injurys by the one and only daniel alves ... poor match with chelsea doing enough to grind out result barcelona's mafnificent forward line were a major disapointment .. henry completly vanished once he got knock on head by alex in second half

**smasher** · 29/04/2009, 8:26 AM

Originally Posted by old git

drogba had a few rolls tonights

but totally outdone on feigning injurys by the one and only daniel alves ... poor match with chelsea doing enough to grind out result barcelona's mafnificent forward line were a major disapointment .. henry completly vanished once he got knock on head by alex in second half

Awful game, I thought. Yeah, 'Diveba' wasnt too bad last night but he did'nt really get a chance to perform his vast range of diving skills. But, rest assured we will not have to wait too long!