LanceVanceDance07 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 You can quote me on that! Okay I will Schalke are mid-table in the Bundesliga and recently fired their manager Felix Magath. Even with Inter's defensive woes, I expect them to comfortably go through to the semis. Where are my cookies You got me sir, didn't expect Inter's defence to be that amazingly bad, especially in the first leg (Chivu is a f*cking joke), probably the worst defensive performance I've seen in this stage of the Champions League. I will give my credit, Schalke fully deserved the semi-final match against United. Doesn't mean I see them beating United though Went to the TFC match against David Beckham and the LA Galaxy last night, unfortunately I didn't get his autograph after the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der_Don Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 You can quote me on that! Okay I will Schalke are mid-table in the Bundesliga and recently fired their manager Felix Magath. Even with Inter's defensive woes, I expect them to comfortably go through to the semis. Where are my cookies Doesn't mean I see them beating United though Me neither. Especially with the first leg being in Germany. Would love to see S04 go through, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyDog Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I think It's going to be a Man United v Real Madrid final. Madrid will beat Barca over the two legs. Just tell me what are you smoking? Real Madrid might beat them in one match and the biggest win can be 2-0. Barca will then return and smack them 5-1. There's no way they can beat Barcelona. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cactus. Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I think It's going to be a Man United v Real Madrid final. Madrid will beat Barca over the two legs. Just tell me what are you smoking? Real Madrid might beat them in one match and the biggest win can be 2-0. Barca will then return and smack them 5-1. There's no way they can beat Barcelona. Despite Barca tearing them a new asshole in the league early, you're forgetting one very important thing when it comes to the Champions League: The Jose Effect. Even if he has to turn this mouth-watering tie into the most boring football you've ever seen ("sh*t on a stick", anyone?), he has his ways of beating the best. Madrid have just as much of a chance to get to the final as Barca does, plain and simple. Congrats to the Portuguese teams dominating the Europa League thus far! Portugal is obviously thrilled for having three teams in the semis, we're just afraid that the rest of Europe will "tune out". Some go as far as saying that the title will lose some of its value and prestige. Lose its value and prestige? I don't think so. The champions league certainly wasn't hurt when there were 3 English teams in the semis a few seasons back. You may be right about some people "tuning out" if there are two portuguese teams playing in the final, but I think it just symbolises a good year for Portuguese football if nothing else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uNi Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I can't wait for a final between Porto - Benfica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canoxa Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I can't wait for a final between Porto - Benfica. I'm not even sure what to root for. Braga beating Benfica once again, or Porto beating Benfica once again in a final. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIKKS66 Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Dont they call Porto's manager Andre Villas Boas the new Mourinho? Been reading about him; he used to be one of Mourinho's lieutenants at Porto, Chelsea and Inter. I wonder what the odds are of him replacing Ancelotti if Porto win the Europa League. He's been linked with the Liverpool job too. One to watch, this guy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canoxa Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Dont they call Porto's manager Andre Villas Boas the new Mourinho? Been reading about him; he used to be one of Mourinho's lieutenants at Porto, Chelsea and Inter. I wonder what the odds are of him replacing Ancelotti if Porto win the Europa League. He's been linked with the Liverpool job too. One to watch, this guy? Oh, very much so. The "kid" is an absolute photocopy of Mourinho. He was picked up by Bobby Robson in Oporto. Oporto as in the city, not the club: I believe he descends from second generation emigrants to England that originally hailed from the city, so when his family got back to Portugal, he caught Bobby in an elevator and started talking to him in flawless English about football. Sir picked him up at 16(!) - Mourinho was assistant manager, he worked in observation. After one year, Villas-Boas had his coaching degree. He worked as Mou's assistant in Porto, Chelsea and Inter, as you said. He broke off from Mourinho just last year. He arrived at Académica and did a splendid job. Splendid as in taking a bottom (at the time) team with no wins and coaching it to tenth place and a domestic cup semi final. Porto quickly picked up him. He arrived this year and quickly won the Super Cup against Benfica! He has already shattered some of Mou's records. I'm specially supportive of him because some words were traded between Mourinho and him when he came to Porto, though I can't even remember why now. Oh, and even if Porto pick up the Europa League, Villas Boas isn't going anywhere. He's going for the Champions League. Just like... Mourinho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOSEPH X Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Here's an extra incentive to stay tuned to the ads during the FA Cup semi between UTD and City. There will be a big Battlefield 3 showcase during the break http://www.electronictheatre.co.uk/index.p...t-during-fa-cup I hope they show new footage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I think It's going to be a Man United v Real Madrid final. Madrid will beat Barca over the two legs. Just tell me what are you smoking? Real Madrid might beat them in one match and the biggest win can be 2-0. Barca will then return and smack them 5-1. There's no way they can beat Barcelona. Despite Barca tearing them a new asshole in the league early, you're forgetting one very important thing when it comes to the Champions League: The Jose Effect. Even if he has to turn this mouth-watering tie into the most boring football you've ever seen ("sh*t on a stick", anyone?), he has his ways of beating the best. Madrid have just as much of a chance to get to the final as Barca does, plain and simple. Madrid will not make the same mistake that they made at the Nou Camp. They played a high defensive line and the attacking trio of Messi, Pedro and Villa tore them a new one. If Madrid want to beat Barcelona they'll need to sacrifice the principles which they have for a night or two and just get amongst them physically like Inter Milan did. I believe that the two clubs are playing each other 4 times in 3 weeks or something like that? It is crucial for Madrid to give a good account of themselves in the league match, if Barca win that as comfortably as they won the first meeting between the two then they will quickly think that they are unbeatable. It will also be difficult for Madrid to recover. One thing which I have been mulling over is whether or not Madrid will sacrifice the cup match in order to rest their players. Barcelone are on for a treble, and will be the first club ever to win two trebles if they do win it. They have a much bigger incentive to win the Copa del Rey than Madrid. That trophy doesn't carry the same high appeal as the FA Cup due to its structure, so it doesn't have a very high prestige and I'm almost sure that Mourinho will sacrifice a defeat in this competition in exchange for the increased chance of a win in the Champions League. And don't write of Schalke either guys. The old-stager in Raúl taking a team of great young talents to an improbably European final, on the way beating the champions and Machester United. It has a great romanic touch and I will be rooting for them (I don't bear any grudges against Man Utd, I just love an underdog tale). And how about Schalke's winning goal as well: Not a bad finish for a centre-back... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyDog Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I think It's going to be a Man United v Real Madrid final. Madrid will beat Barca over the two legs. Just tell me what are you smoking? Real Madrid might beat them in one match and the biggest win can be 2-0. Barca will then return and smack them 5-1. There's no way they can beat Barcelona. Despite Barca tearing them a new asshole in the league early, you're forgetting one very important thing when it comes to the Champions League: The Jose Effect. Even if he has to turn this mouth-watering tie into the most boring football you've ever seen ("sh*t on a stick", anyone?), he has his ways of beating the best. Madrid have just as much of a chance to get to the final as Barca does, plain and simple. Congrats to the Portuguese teams dominating the Europa League thus far! Portugal is obviously thrilled for having three teams in the semis, we're just afraid that the rest of Europe will "tune out". Some go as far as saying that the title will lose some of its value and prestige. Lose its value and prestige? I don't think so. The champions league certainly wasn't hurt when there were 3 English teams in the semis a few seasons back. You may be right about some people "tuning out" if there are two portuguese teams playing in the final, but I think it just symbolises a good year for Portuguese football if nothing else. The Jose Effect maybe worked with Inter so they beat Barcelona 3-1 at San Siro. But you are forgetting one thing too: Barcelona will push as hard as they can and when that happens, they won't allow Madrid see the ball for five minutes, no matter if the coach is Jose Mourinho or someone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Zilcho Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 3-1 Barcelone first leg. 3-1 Real Madrid second leg? Now that would be a thriller U R B A N I T A S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 The Jose Effect maybe worked with Inter so they beat Barcelona 3-1 at San Siro. But you are forgetting one thing too: Barcelona will push as hard as they can and when that happens, they won't allow Madrid see the ball for five minutes, no matter if the coach is Jose Mourinho or someone else. The Jose effect is what? The fact that he beat Barcelona once last year and then held on for dear life? In case you forgot, Barcelona used the same pressing tactics which they'd always used in that match, Inter Milan were just resilient and lucky and held out to win. It doesn't matter if Barca have the ball for 5 minutes at a time if they only score 2 goals and Madrid score 3. And that is what Morinho will preach coming into this game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canoxa Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 For those who thought that second leg was boring, watch out for the CL games. Barça will play for possession even more than they already do, out of spite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean_R_LFC Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I personally would like to see a Schalke Barca final, I wouldn't rule schalke out of beating united Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyDog Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 The Jose Effect maybe worked with Inter so they beat Barcelona 3-1 at San Siro. But you are forgetting one thing too: Barcelona will push as hard as they can and when that happens, they won't allow Madrid see the ball for five minutes, no matter if the coach is Jose Mourinho or someone else. The Jose effect is what? The fact that he beat Barcelona once last year and then held on for dear life? In case you forgot, Barcelona used the same pressing tactics which they'd always used in that match, Inter Milan were just resilient and lucky and held out to win. It doesn't matter if Barca have the ball for 5 minutes at a time if they only score 2 goals and Madrid score 3. And that is what Morinho will preach coming into this game. If you don't have the ball, you can't score. In the last 5 El Clasicos, Real Madrid scored 2 goals while Barcelona scored 16. Half of it were scored on Santiago Bernabeu. I mentioned the "Jose effect" with Inter because I didn't watch that match so I don't know who dominated the field and who deserved to win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 If you don't have the ball, you can't score. In the last 5 El Clasicos, Real Madrid scored 2 goals while Barcelona scored 16. Half of it were scored on Santiago Bernabeu. I mentioned the "Jose effect" with Inter because I didn't watch that match so I don't know who dominated the field and who deserved to win. Well yes, however in all football matches both clubs do have the ball. Contrary to popular belief Barca don't have 100% of the possession in every match that they play. Therefore while it may be more likely that a team will score if it has higher possession, counter attack goals and flukes of luck mean that possession isn't the be all and end all when it comes to football matches. For example in the Inter Milan game they had 68% of the possession and lost by 2 goals. Possession has a half-relatoinship with winning, winning teams often have greater possession and people therefore draw the incorrect assumption that that is why they won the match. It isn't. Barcelona decrease the chance of another team creating chances by keeping the ball, however chances are always created, as Hercules Alicante will attest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Girish Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 West Brom 1-3 Chelsea @ half-time. Wasn't convinced with our start. Too defensive and West Brom took full advantage of that opening the scoring. But we have got back into the game since thanks to some poor defending and goalkeeping. The third one by Lampard was pretty good though. No wonder we missed him for majority of the season. We have to finish this off in the second half. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cactus. Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 finally Lampard on the scoresheet, my fantasy team has been needing him. Now i just need him to score two 2nd-half hat tricks and I'll be happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Zilcho Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Come on United! I'm itching for kick off... U R B A N I T A S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Girish Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Well, that was a frustrating second half. So many missed chances, so many offsides. The 'pass the ball to Torres' strategy didn't work either. Although, he was very marginally offside when he got the ball in. Should've gotten the benefit of doubt, but nothing's been going his way. Still, 3 much needed points. Have to win every match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seddo Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 I will continue my lol'ing at Torres. A nice scuff and mis-hit shortly after his dissalowed goal. Berbatov missed two great chnaces in the space of a minute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Zilcho Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Berbatov missed two great chnaces in the space of a minute. They damn near killed me! First one, edge of my seat. Second, I was f*cking livid! Still, bit of a pep talk and I think the second half United will come stronger and ready to get into the game early on. I'm hoping for an early United second half goal to spice things up a little. And more importantly, get Chicharito on! he'll sort them out, I think a bit of his mexican magic is required now U R B A N I T A S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddy Posted April 16, 2011 Author Share Posted April 16, 2011 City deserved the win today, well done to them. Everton beat Blackburn and Wigan won...the bottom of the table has been shaken right up, gona be so close at the end! Also, Villa now in 9th? its f*cking mad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seddo Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 City deserved the win today, well done to them. Woah, woah, woah. It's not over yet, don't be jinking it . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flitcroft101 Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 United out. Schalke will finish off their season next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Zilcho Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Ahhhh, Berbatov! Scholes! Carrrrrrrrrriiiiickk... I'm going to go hang myself. U R B A N I T A S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seddo Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 The treble my arse. Fack off. Hope Bolton beat Stoke and then City in the final now though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOSEPH X Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Gah! Sickening result. Bit of afters going on between Rio and Balotelli, but I can't watch. Think I'll play some AC:B til el classico. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Girish Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Ahhhh, Berbatov! Scholes! Carrrrrrrrrriiiiickk... I'm going to go hang myself. Hold on, there's still the CL semi-final to lose. You wouldn't want to die in vain, now would you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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