[Falco]

Just watching the first half of Real-Bremen here, and despite two goals its a match yet to spark really into life.

Marcelino, Real's young Brazilian left-back is pretty much a clone of Roberto Carlos. Tosic (I think), Bremen's left back has been impressive too, with Bremen's diamond formation lacking width his raiding down that flank has kept Ramos pinned back. His deflected cross led to the Bremen equaliser (some shocking work by Metzelder to let Sanogo get in front of him I reckon).

Diego typically looking threatening behind his strikers, but they pose far less of threat without Klose. RVN is as usual a threat in the box although he was the architect rather than the scorer of the Real goal. The kind of 4-3-2-1 that Madrid are playing with is also very narrow (makes Marcelino prominent down the left). Little space in two congested midfields, hence the likes of Higuain and Rosenberg keep peeling off wide to threaten.

Just wonder if the Real midfield of Guti, Sneijder and Gago will get overrun in later stages by a Milan, Liverpool or a Chelsea. The Bremen defence keeps getting caught square far too often for them not to concede again.

Anyone else watching any of the games? Thoughts?

[Coco with marshmallows]

2-0 down to Shaktar in the first twenty minutes. Away from home, but still. We're officially f****d.

I had real hopes of getting points here, because god knows Milan (again!) and Benfica (again!) was going to be hard enough.

So, Celtic are screwed.

Rangers host Stuttgart tomorrow night.

Note - before anyone asks - Yes, I'm a Celtic fan, but I'm also a Scottish football fan and as such support Rangers in Europe. Or at least, I don't actively support their opposition. Not till the Quarter final stage anyway......

[Falco]

Real kept coming in waves and finally got the goal they deserved, RVN breaking to sweep home from Raul's short pass. Guti incisive pass created the opportunity and he served up another absolute corker in the first half but has been quiet otherwise. Typical Guti.

Robben makes his debut, coming on for Raul late in the second half, adds a different dimension with his willingness to go wide. Drenthe is woefully misused compared to his efforts in the U21 Euros, slotting into central midfield for Guti rather than wreaking havoc out wide.

Madrid have done this without getting out of second, without really breaking a sweat. Spurned 3 or 4 good opportunities in front of goal and as I type Sneijder butchers another one.

[dktorode]

Hope the Gunners can carry their good League form into the champions league this eve.

[Grumble]

This is hard to write, as a diehard Liverpool fan, but I think we DESERVED to get beat tonight ..... we simply did not compete against a very average Marseille team.
The blame I'm afraid has to go to the Manager who once AGAIN picks the wrong team ..... START your best team, win the game and then take off players with the game in the bag.
Special mention tonight for our invisible midfield of LETO ( no honestly he was on the pitch) GERRARD ( His head was obviously elsewhere after his traumatic week) BENAYOUN (beats one then another then himself) and finally The top DONKEY of the Match (step forward and fall over your own feet ) MO SISSOKO ( should have gone to specsavers, we play in RED)

Quite simply GARBAGE !!!

[Called-by-the-Voices]

Goddamn... i HATE Chelsea... They play such anti-football... Awfull

[Fist Gamet]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Me hopes, Coco, like me, you are a happier man tonight!!

NOT only did Rangers butth**p the French Champions in France last night, but the Bhoys beat AC Milan for good measure. European Champions? Chumpions! Take a touch of shocking refereeing, throw in some scandalous play acting and diving, sprinkle with a keeper dodgier than my gran's knees (and, incidentally, falls over easier than her and embarrases himself by getting stretchered off after a fourteen year old fan runs onto the pitch and brushes a hand against his chest) and led by a Captain who is both a nasty wee cheat and bad loser...then, THEN, you see what the European Chumpions are really made of!!
Get it up ye!!!

He he, rant done, Apols to any AC fans







but yer team is duff.

[Binder of Demons]

I just got to see a replay of the Celtic - AC Milan game, and I pretty much agree with the sentiments above.

I know Celtic should have had better security, and they should deservedly be fined for the breach. But seriously, if DIDA doesn't get banned for faking an injury to try and get a match result overturned, then UEFA has a lot to answer for.
And if you want precedent, then think back to the qualifiers for the 1990 world cup, when the Chilean goalkeeper ROJAS faked being hit by a flare, and had to be stretchered off. Now he did take it further, by cutting himself to draw blood and make it look worse. But, when FIFA found out it was a scam, they banned CHILE from ALL Fifa tournaments for 4 years, and banned the goalkeeper for life.

Now I hope that Uefa show some spine and ban DIDA for at least a few games, otherwise they will be further rewarding this type of behaviour. Reminds me of RIVALDO's amazing acting performance at the 2002 world cup, when a player kicked a ball at him, and when it hit his SHIN!!!, he fell to the floor holding his face. And the opposing player got sent off. That kind of behaviour really disgusts me, and I wish they would finally start imposing much higher sanctions on cheats.

On a positive note, I am glad to see that the AC Milan management team, and players like KAKA have all come out and said the result should stand, and that Dida was wrong to have acted like he did. But it still leaves a sour taste, and again gives ammo to football/soccer haters who see players as a bunch of pansies.

Now there, that's my rant over (for now).

[Falco]

Jeez Celtic were lucky to win that. Joe Cole with an absolute peach of a pass against Valencia. Rangers did good though, fancy them to get out 2nd, long way to go yet...

[Coco with marshmallows]

well, £12,500, and Dida banned for two games (though Milan are appealling) - not a bad result when all's said and done. At least they didn't reverse the decision.....

[Sir Bob]

with dida getting banned i was hopeing something simlar might happen to junino after his dive against rangers to win a free kick that he slammed against the post. this also got davie weir a booking. this seems to be overlooked wich is a pity.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

After a mighty 7-0 victory last night, my cheer is continued by Liverpool's ineptitude.

Your wingers cant pass wind and Rafa's decided they should go with no strikers up top again!

Cant wait til Sunday!

[Grumble]

Thelomen Toblerone;216354 said:

After a mighty 7-0 victory last night, my cheer is continued by Liverpool's ineptitude.

Your wingers cant pass wind and Rafa's decided they should go with no strikers up top again!

Cant wait til Sunday!

Careful what you wish for :folken:

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Hehehe, I'll be sitting merrily in the pub waving Turkish and French flags.


The question for Liverpool fans now is do yout hink you can still qualify for the UEFA cup? I mean, obviously you wont progress in the CL, so is aiming to get put into the UEFA your best bet?

Who knows, you might have a chance of winning a game in that competition- hell, even the spuds can!

[Coco with marshmallows]

careful TT, pride goeth and all that.

Up our end, the Gers held Barcelona in one of the dullest games i've watched. Ever.

and the atmosphere was pitiful. I was watching the game with a mate who is a rangers fan, and he was actually embarassed. They were silent for over half the match. Terrible.

As for Celtic, they were damn lucky to only lose by one goal, continuing our utterly appalling away form in the Champion's league. One point from a possible 45 for god's sake.....

[Sir Bob]

the rangers match had to be dull, if they played any other way they would have got humped!! as it was 0-0 was a fantastic result, the atmosphere did seem to dip in places but how many fans would keep it up when its the away side that has 80% of the ball and you are sh**ing your self every time they cross the half way line.

[Coco with marshmallows]

but that's kind of my point. If the Ibrox crowd had gotten on the back of the Barcelona players, I don't think they would have been so terrifying. Despite their professionalism, a truly scary/loud crowd can massively affect team's performances.

As evidence, look no further than Celtic's home record in the Champion's League, or just European competition in general. If the crowd had been vociferous enough, maybe the Rangers would have raised their game and gotten a win, or at the very least a more comfortable draw.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Touche. Its one nil to the scouse gits.

Bugger.

Oh well, serves me right I spose.

Could be worse, I could be a spurs fan! Another loss, dear dear.

[Sir Bob]

just look at rangers home record in eruope its not to bad!!! though what i was shocked at was rangers"fans" leaving on 88-90 mins!

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Well, a draw's better than nowt and we played well.

How's that leave the confidence of you scousers this season then?

6 points off the pace and looking to be heading out of the CL already, are you panicking?