Champions League 2013/14

[Noah]

I'm sure a few of you might find this amusing.

Champions League a poorer competition without Liverpool

From: Metro Date: Wednesday 19 Feb 2014 12:09 pm

Liverpool have a rich history in European competition and in my opinion the Champions League is a poorer competition without the Reds.

Liverpool have won European football’s premier competition on five occasions and also lost in two finals, resulting in the best record of any English team.

Liverpool have fallen from grace in recent years and this has had a detrimental effect on both the club and the competition.

We have suffered financially without the money generated from the Champions League and it has also prevented us from signing the top players who prefer to play for at the top level.

But as a biased Liverpool supporter I also feel that the competition is missing a club like ours with the absence of a tremendous reputation and the atmosphere of the European nights that Anfield is unique for.

There is no better atmosphere in Europe than a European tie at Anfield – the atmosphere is amazing and the sooner Liverpool get back into the Champions League the better.

Hopefully Liverpool will have a good run of form to finish off the season and see them qualify for next season’s competition.

As far as English teams go in Europe, the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United are poor relations compared to Liverpool’s stature in European football, and after winning the European Cup five times and a long absence from the competition, the Reds will be relishing a return to the Champions League which will only add to the prestige of the competition with the return of one of European football’s top teams.

[Lineker]

Manchester United have no history in Europe, obviously.

[brenchill]

Who wrote that? Nerf?

[Colly]

The Champions League will be bollocks until Shola scores in the Nou Camp again, everyone knows that.

[stokeriño]

I would laugh at that article if it weren't so sad.

[Colly]

In fairness it's presumably that thing where fans do counterpoints rather than an actual article? Still silly, but it's silly fan not silly journo.

[stokeriño]

Yeah...I just didn't know what word to use other than 'article'. Such as, 'paragraph of stuff'.

[Noah]

From memory, I think its an opinion piece from a London based news service called Metro. Edit:-Yeah it's just a random fan. Doubt any legit journalist is called EmpireoftheKop

[stokeriño]

In advance of next week's Champions League tie, Chelsea TV is currently showing the 1999 0-5 win at Galatasaray in full.

De Goey, Ferrer, Leboeuf ©, Desailly, Babayaro, Le Saux, Poyet, Morris, Deschamps, Flo, Zola

That's me sorted for the next 90 minutes.

[METALMAN]

You can't copyright Leboeuf. Lots of people have that name. :/

[stokeriño]

:/

[Noah]

I think its c for champion. He was the longest reigning Chelsea heavweight champ of the pre/during/post Zola uruhh.

[Adam]

Frank Lebouef.

As for that Metro snippet, they have "Club Metro" where each team has fans write little opinion pieces on the team and they go alongside match reports etc. That'll be why it's in a national newspaper.

[Baddar]

Zenit-Dortmund is about to start on SS1.

[Baddar]

And Dortmund have an away goal already.

2, Reus.

[Lineker]

Arshavin hauled off already, after just 15 minutes

[Starvinho]

Good game in Russia. 4-2 to Dortmund with 10 to play.

Just awaiting United team news. We've gotta put in a big performance tonight, I'd like a couple of away goals to take home.

[Starvinho]

United XI: De Gea; Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young; Rooney, van Persie.

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

February 25, 2014

[METALMAN]

I don't much like Dortmund but I'm glad it looks like they are going to give Zenit a pasting. They aren't a nice team.

[Baddar]

Tom Cleverley. :/

I'd love him to put in a great performance to prove people wrong, but I doubt it. Fully expect him to be brought off for Fletcher or Fellaini during the game.