Champions League Thread

[public enemy]

Essien is exciting and dynamic. Makalele puts in tackles and visably has an effect on the game.

Running around the pitch randomly doesn't make Fletcher a good player.

[Guest Booker T & The MG's]

For me Fletcher is more effective playing as an attacking midfielder.

Fletcher in recent games for Scotland (excluding Belarus) has been very effective in a more attacking role, with Ferguson or Dailly cleaning up behind him, that was highlighted by his goal and two asissts against Slovenia. Under Berti Vogts he drifted in and out of the game, and I could never figure out his position, but Walter Smith has given him a licence to go push forward, Smith obviously knew that from his time spent at Man U he could play a attacking midfielder role.

Obviously that he can't play an attacking midfielder role for Man U like he is doing now for Scotland on a regular basis, because of the quality and competition for places, but that his most effective position for me.

[Turbo Yannis]

In other news: the Betis keeper is utter shite

Good first half for Chelsea. I like the idea of playing Cudicini tonight, getting him into the swing of big games just in case anything happening to Cech. We looked like we might concede about 10-15 minutes in and we had to clear a header off the line and we lucky that one of their strikers missed a sitter. After that we seemed to settle a little and got into the stride of things. I thought when Essien knocked it to Drogba he was going to fuck it up considering his miss earlier. Got the deflection but it looked to be going in anyway.

As for the second, I know there's going to be people saying that it shouldn't have stood but I think it was fair to allow it. The goalie dropped it and didn't have a solid grip of it at the time. Ricky was definitely entitled to go for it.

Bring on the second half

Drogba off for Crespo at half time. Seen that coming. Drogba looked like he hurt himself a few times in the first half.

Edited October 19, 2005 by Turbonegro

[Guest sahyder2k5]

In what universe was that not a penalty and a dive? The ref must have confused Joaquin for Drogba >_>

This game is boring me, it's all Betis attacks, Chelsea defends, Chelsea long balls, repeat over and over.

I'm intrigued at seeing Diarra play.

Ha, Woodgate scored, and not in his own net.

Edited October 19, 2005 by sahyder2k5

[Guest Booker T & The MG's]

Just watched the Rangers gam, first half they played as well as I've seen them play this season, 3 golden chances but once again finishing let them down, Hemdani looks like a good player and is just the kind of midfielder Rangers need in these games as he allowed Feguson to get forward.

The second half though was poor, Rangers lacked everything they showed in the first half and they only have themselves to blame now if they don't go through from this group. Artmedia had 1 chance in both halfs and Debnar looked good but really nothing else of note, there reaction to drawing at Ibrox showed they were happy to leave with anything

Porto winning 2-0 did them no favours either as it put them right back in contention, a straight battle for 2nd place would be better then a totally open group.

[fourstarfizzle]

Well, glad we beat Anderlecte, apparantly Cisse scored a screaming volley to give us the win. Ah well, all is good in the Anfield camp for now.

[Different Cloud]

Rangers are only a Manager away from being a good team.

[therockbox]

And 11 players.

[Different Cloud]

Wow, that wasn't predictable.

[Guest Penis Van Lesbian]

It made me laugh, I like real jokes.

[Guest Booker T & The MG's]

And 11 players.

[9 to 5]

And 11 players.

Barry Ferguson. That ends that.

He was very average in a good league for us.

[Guest Booker T & The MG's]

And 11 players.

Barry Ferguson. That ends that.

[9 to 5]

Maybe he just excels in his comfort zone at Ibrox? Not having a go or anything, but it's clear he never really wanted to join Rovers and if he becomes a Rangers hero then all the power to him.

[Guest Booker T & The MG's]

100% agree that I don't think he ever really wanted to leave Ibrox and join Blackburn, he was forced out because Rangers badly needed the money, and Ferguson was there only asset left who could command a sizeable transfer fee.

He's in a comfort zone against some of the SPL teams, it's below his ability, but there really isn't any comfort zone when you are performing the way he does against the likes of Inter Milan and Italy, you have to go to another level to perform in those games and he's shown in the big games that he is a player of geniune quality.

[Guest Ringo Masterson]

And it's back this week.

Tuesday's fixtures:

PSV Eindhoven 1 - 2 AC Milan

Schalke O4 2 - 1 Fenerbahce

Olympiakos 0 - 2 Lyon

Rosenborg 1 - 1 Real Madrid

Liverpool 1 - 0 Anderlecht

Real Betis 1 - 2 Chelsea

Artmedia Petrzalka 1 - 1 Rangers

Inter Milan 2 - 1 FC Porto

Wednesday's fixtures:

Club Brugge 2 - 0 Rapid Vienna

Juventus 1 - 0 Bayern Munich

Arsenal 2 - 0 Sparta Prague

FC Thun 0 - 3 Ajax

Barcelona 3 - 1 Panathinaikos

Werder Bremen 0 - 1 Udinese

Benfica 2 - 2 Villareal

Lille 0 - 2 Man. Utd.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Tuesday's fixtures:

PSV Eindhoven 1 - 3 AC Milan

Schalke O4 1 - 1 Fenerbahce

Olympiakos 0 - 3 Lyon

Rosenborg 1 - 3 Real Madrid

Liverpool 2 - 0 Anderlecht

Real Betis 1 - 3 Chelsea

Artmedia Petrzalka 1 - 2 Rangers

Inter Milan 3 - 1 FC Porto

Wednesday's fixtures:

Club Brugge 2 - 0 Rapid Vienna

Juventus 2 - 1 Bayern Munich

Arsenal 2 - 0 Sparta Prague

FC Thun 0 - 2 Ajax

Barcelona 4 - 1 Panathinaikos

Werder Bremen 2 - 3 Udinese

Benfica 2 - 2 Villareal

Lille 1 - 4 Man. Utd.

[AJ]

Did anybody just see that sending off in the Liverpool match?

I'm guessing he must have said something racist. It looked like he said " fucking 'something' " and then the black guy looked at the referee and it was a straight red.

Commentators seem clueless but that's what I think it was.

[Guest Ringo Masterson]

No, but I did see Didier Drogba act like a complete twat face in the Betis match.

EDIT:

Gallas just gone out of his way and punched Dani right in the back of the neck, purposely, which should be a red card and a suspension IMO, of course, no one sees it

Edited November 1, 2005 by Ringo Masterson

[Big Red Fury]

I saw it Ringo.