Man I feel so bad for John Terry.

Congrats Man U fans, enjoy.

Such a good game for the neutral, it had everything. Man U dominated first half, Chelsea were brilliant second.

What a great bloody game.

Wow .. just wow!

Unreal, great game. CHAMPIONS!!!! Thought we'd lost.. omg, so good.

Loving it

Former Liverpool and City player missing the pen to give us the trophy, top stuff.

it was soooo painful to see Terry head Giggs' shot away. I really thought that was our chance

Ah, it's all a bit of banter! I don't support Chelsea either, but James usually comes up with some interesting props, but I doubt he'll ever go against his boys soI have to take the bad side. Simo took a bet on basketball the other day and I don't think he watches the sport!

Anyways, good game, literal game of 2 halves. Just before John Terry's penalty I did say "This has a Beckham slip all over it" and lo it happened!

Tomorrow night the SPL gets decided, got to get the little games out of the way first

I'm sorry for being the guy who knows hardly anything about soccer to criticize it, but why is it a good thing that the entire championship comes down to penalty kicks. Now I'm going to make the obvious comparison that it's like Game 7 of the NBA Finals coming down to a free throw shooting contest, or the world series coming down to a home run derby. I would absolutely hate that. If the Lakers and Celtics play in the Finals and Game 7 comes down to free throw shooting I honestly would not care who won anymore and probably never watch basketball again.

I'm not trying to be the stupid American criticizing soccer, because I respect the sport, but there must be an explanation.

that was the play of the match, I think. There were moments of absolute brilliance in this game. Man U's first goal was magnificent, and the double save in the like 35 minute was amazing.

yeah , it is. .but the thing is.. players are extremely tired after the extra time... this isn't hockey, where there are constant substitutions... there are only a limited amount of subs each game. And once removed, they can't come back into the game. So by the end of the game, players are exhausted. So there is no really good way to decide things.. you could have additional extra time, but the quality of the game could really begin to degrade.

taht header really showed Terry's class IMO. He was completely cool under pressure and did what he could to push it over the bar.

The double save shouldn't have even happened IMO as carrick did his best to shoot it right at Cech. I'm not taking anything away from Cech as he was spot on for both saves, but Carrick certainly knew better then to put it where he did

yeah, he seemed to get a little excited.. he had plenty of time to make the right shot.. but again, that's easy for me to say at home, and harder to think about when you're in the heat of the moment. Rooney was spetacular early on in that play, winning the ball deep on their defensive end, then making hell of a good, long pass to set the first shot of that sequence. It's a pity they didn't score on that play, because the build up was so good.


Another match that Rooney has had zero shots on goal. Surely this isn't the role they wanted Rooney for when they signed him? I don't understand it.

it isn't the role they wanted rooney for, but he certainly did a ton of stuff today that just doesn't show up on the score sheet. It really shows how unselfish he is as you'd see him back doing defending and doing box to box type play

obviously I want to see Rooney with teh ball at his feet and play running through him, but some of his passes were just brilliant tonight

Oh no, I agree with that, he did really well in the role he was given... it just seems like a strange role to give him. But then again, what do I know, Ferg just won the Champions league, and I'm just a dumb yank.

Rooney seems happy enough with his position, he's the type of guy where it'd be pretty clear if he wasn't happy with things. When Tevez is playing, Rooney drops back slightly as the kind of central forward 'hold man', controlling the options for Tevez and Ronaldo. His work rate is good though (like when he tracked back to get the ball from Carvalho and sprayed that long cross field ball to Ronaldo last night), and he does get plenty of chances himself and will continue to... just hopefully next season he'll get a few more goals.

I think it suits him just fine, much better than a lone striker role, and he's such an important player for United.. I still maintain that he's just as important as Ronaldo, even though he's shone more and taken more awards, more goals etc.


As for the final being decided on penalties, there's always that discussion of whether it's fair or whatever... but there really is no other option, and at the end of the day, it does add to the drama! I mean, how good was that shoot out? One extreme of emotions to another in just a few minutes.

They've tried dabbling around with a few variations, like Golden Goal (first one to score in extra time wins), Silver Goal (winner at the end of the first half of extra time wins), and maybe there's been a few other things in the history of football... I'm fairly sure that the FA Cup used to go to a replay if it was a draw, but I like penalties tbh, even though as an Englishman I've suffered a lot of heartbreak because of them, lol.

In the good ol' days they tossed a coin. Penalties is probably slightly better.

I hope you're not serious.

I'm talking way back when. 30s/40s. I'd have to look it up but I'm sure the semi-finals of a major international tournament were decided by coin-flip once upon atime. The complaints the officials got probably inspired a rule change.

And now Avram Grant is sacked, 3 inches away from winning the Champions League, dragged Chelsea out of a crisis into 2nd in the league and hes sacked.

Joke club.

Yeah, I don't think he deserved the sack to be honest. I almost feel sorry for him.

Looks like Chelsea may be pretty active in the transfer market too, after Euro 2008... loads of talk about players leaving, and I reckon Abramovich wants some more 'flair players'. I read they were after Robinho for 28m.


For the manager, Eriksson looks to be the really obvious choice, but maybe they'd prefer Rijkaard? With the hope of possibly bringing a couple of players from Barca with him perhaps.

It will be Rijkaard IMO, the same source that told me Avram Grant was sacked two days ago said he'll be given the chance next.

Absolutely no chance it will be erickson LOL

Steps up to the plate and...

...bump!

Liverpool looking like crap at the minute. Standard Liege look like a surprsingly exciting and unintimidated bunch of Belgians. Gerrard + 10 need to get their fingers out, because Reina has been far too busy!

But they're winning! Let's go Reds!

lol.. Was just coming here to bump this myself.

Pretty embarrasing for Liverpool fans now, even if they go through

I assume you mean "But they're going to win".

Probably. Gerrard in the 122nd minute obv.

But if not Liverpool can continue their rivalry with AC Milan in the UEFA Cup.

Edit: Credit to Arsenal. They embarressed Steve Mclaren on his return to England. I wonder what madness he will spout in post match interviews this time. (If you haven't seen/heard them, he has developed a comedy Dutch accent ala Goldmember)

Ooooh big Dirk. Every Liverpool fan's least favourite player. They still hate you Dirk, no matter how many goals you score.

The yearly UEFA CL group stage draw rigging is over:

Group A
Chelsea
Roma
Bordeaux
CFR Cluj

Group B
Inter Milan
Werder Bremen
Panathinaikos
Anorthosis Famagusta

Group C
Barcelona
Sporting Lisbon
Basel
Shakhtar Donetsk

Group D
Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven
Marseille
Atletico Madrid

Group E
Manchester United
Villarreal
Celtic
Aalborg

Group F
Lyon
Bayern Munich
Steaua Bucharest
Fiorentina

Group G
Arsenal
FC Porto
Fenerbahce
Dynamo Kiev

Group H
Real Madrid
Juventus
Zenit St Petersburg
Bate Borisov

Group D looks like it could be a nice group of death and Arsenal have picked up some tasty away dates for their fans.

Say who? From where do you belong, small crazy-named clubs?


Should be plain sailing for the English clubs (though if any of them have that attitude, they may struggle). The hype for the 'Battle of Britain' between us and Celtic will be predictably boring... they pose us ABSOLUTELY no threat, despite what the media will try to make it. They're very average and have never won away in the CL. If we don't top our group, I'll eat my hat.

I would have said that the last time that the teams met in the Champions League but they gave you a good game at Old Trafford and beat you at Celtic Park. I wouldn't be totally suprised if Celtic caused a little upset, (and it would be amusing if Man U stuck 6 past them).

To be fair, it's the Champion's League, and any game these days can pose a threat (look at Liverpool in the qualifiers). My comment that there's no threat at all was half tongue-in-cheek, purely because it's another British team. That said, we're a much more experienced and different team from '06-07, defending champions, and they'll be no messing about from us in the group stages anymore.

I also don't think Celtic will qualify due to their away form, and the fact that Villareal are vastly superior to them (2nd in La Liga last season).

One interesting footnote from United's group... 3 of the 4 teams are managed by a Scot (you listening LJB?). Ferguson at United, Strachan at Celtic, and Bruce Rioch at Aalborg.

I think James is baiting me into some Celtic/Man Utd bet. But I can't take it because Celtic are so blatantly horrible away from home.

As for the English teams "cruising" I'm not so sure. Liverpool's group is tougher than it looks and I'm quite keen to see Torres vs Atletico and seeing Aguero flaunt himself in the CL. Arsenal's group isn't easy either. Although I would still expect both to go through 1 of them won't win their group. Chelsea (who always have a cakewalk group btw) and Man Utd will.

Oh I do love this time of year, time for me to lose my standard £20 to Mr. Hill with a bet on Real Madrid to win it.

If I was to bet on the this years tournament I would go for Bayern Munich, its been ages since a German team did anything decent in the Champions League.

I doubt it. They are a very good side but they just don't have enough to compete with the English and Spanish sides right now. I'd predict QFs for them.

Ok Man City then. I know they technically haven't qualified but when your new owners have 1 Trillion dollars in the bank you can be sure they call pull some strings to make it happen.

I'd be willing to give you 200-1 they dont even make the semi finals.

I'd be happy to take the edited bet with you, if you're interested?

I'm not that much of a gambler!

I might take that bet up if you made it the Uefa Cup instead

Guess who's back... back again.



Hmmm.. win back my support Cristiano. It will take something special.

result of the round:

Roma 1 - CRJ Cluj 2. LOL!

United are finally looking totally dominant in games, and back in full force.

We could go unbeaten for a long time, I feel, from now. Rooney is a different player this season too it seems.. which is a huge bonus.

Remember though, Celtic suck away from home and 2 goals should have been wiped for offside. Impressive nonetheless.

But Rooney should have 2 anyways so it all works out.

I was going to post this in the EPL thread but may as well post it here:

What do you think will happen with Tevez at the end of the season? His loan spell will be up, and recently with Rooney looking excellent again and Berbatov starting to pay back his £30m fee do you think Tevez will be deemed surplus to requirements? It would be a shame because I felt he was Man U's best attacking player aside from Ronaldo last year and although he is a determined, hard working guy I can't see him being happy with a bit-part role if he were to sign a permanent contract.

Yeah, I appreciate that playing the Scottish champions is never a real test of how good you are... Just kidding, but seriously, it's almost an exact replay of what happened last season.. start poor, get everyone back, dominate.

As for Tevez, it's impossible to say really, and honestly, even Ferguson and the board probably don't know the answer. They will assess injuries, and the form of Berbatov and others, in the latter part of the season... and then evaluate whether it's worth the extra £30m or whatever it will cost to keep him.

I'm totally with you though, I rate him very highly and credit him with much of our success last year, but when you're a club who wants 3 or 4 of the world's best strikers, it's always going to raise questions as to whether you can keep them all happy, and playing regularly enough. I do have faith in Fergie keeping him (and persuading the board to shell out the money), but as you point out, will he be happy with playing 30-40% of games? He may help keep Berbatov and Rooney on their toes.. but is it enough for him? He could pull a Ronaldo and request a transfer himself.

Wild night tonight. 36 goals, looking forward to the highlights!

Oh Cluuuuujjjjjjjj

Please let us get Real Madrid in the next match.


Quote from Ferguson: "That would be a nice party wouldn't it?" quipped Ferguson. "I look forward to tea and biscuits with Ramon Calderon."

Actually... seeing as I think the Champions League/European Cup has historically been rigged (UEFA is one of the most corrupt and biased organisations in the world), I'll predict the whole draw. Let's see how many I get right.


Manchester United vs. Real Madrid (To match up Ronaldo/Ferguson with Calderon etc, and possibly knock us out... Spanish favouritism)

Barcelona vs. Chelsea (Oh, they love that one because they hate Chelsea and want to see them eliminated)

Lyon vs. Panathinaikos (Give the French club their easiest possible route through)

Liverpool vs. Sporting Lisbon (I feel Liverpool are the most favoured of the English clubs... they may get lucky)

Juventus vs. Arsenal (Tough, tough match for Arsenal... continuing the theme of wanting to eliminate English dominance)

Porto vs. Althetico Madrid (Madrid don't have a realistic chance of going far, so this gives more countries representation if Porto go through)

Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan (this would be a match up I'd really like, so I'm in favour of this one)

Roma vs. Villareal (Neither of these clubs have looked particularly impressive... even though Roma topped Chelsea's group. A guaranteed Italian or Spanish club going through though, so UEFA will approve)

You're a cynical man. Possibly correct, but cynical nonetheless.

I enjoy the "neither of these clubs have looked impressive". Tell me, who has set the heather alight this year? Barca in a piss easy group? Juve and Bayern have had sides to test them and looked good. I don't believe either can win it but if we are going on group stage form then none of the English clubs, bar perhaps 1 Arsenal performance vs Fenerbahce, have looked like potential winners.

lol James I thoroughly enjoyed that draw. Great stuff

Well yeah.. the top teams don't have to set the world alight in the group stages. As long as they comfortably qualify, they're happy, within reason. And things obv change after the New Year, as the season progresses.. injuries, home league form etc.

But, I'd agree to def keep an eye out for Bayern this year. If there's going to be a surprise this year, it's them. Luca Toni, Klose with Podolski on the bench and Ribery, Scweinsteiger, Van Bommel and Ze Roberto in midfield. This is a strong Bayern team, and they could mean business this year, imo. No one will really be talking about them in England that much, because we always talk about our own clubs mainly, and just the Spanish and Italians, but they can win.

I think they've got some problems with team spirit/keeping the team together (Podolski wants to go, in the next transfer window), but if they can manage that... and get behind Klinsmann they're a genuine contender. They're the last side.. apart from Barca, that I'd want United to face.

Interesting draw. I don't think any of the English clubs will be too overjoyed with their opponents. Although I think Chelsea and Man U will go through.

Liverpool, uh, maybe but I hope not, Real need a good run in this tournament again.

And Arsenal Roma will depend on which one wants to play the football they're capable of and not the crap both teams occasionally produce.

So much for Platini rigging it for Lyon. Barca isn't who I would give them. GG Lyon.

Bayern v Sporting - sweeeeet for Bayern

Atletico to beat Porto and Villareal to beat Pana.

Not very happy with the draw, when we could have got Sporting, Athletico or Lyon... or even Real would have been easier.

But bring it on Mourinho! Should be interesting.

My prediction of Bayern doing ok is holding up. I can also see all the English teams going through. That would really bump up their coefficient!