2007/08 Soccer Thread - Euro Fever!

ManU vs. AS Roma - holyshítholyshítholyshít.

Yes, indeed.

For those of you who didn't know, ManU lost the first leg of their tie against Roma 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.

So they came back to Old Trafford, and beat the holy living sh*t out of Roma 7-1. Yes, you read that right. SEVEN. And no Roma players were sent off or anything. It was the most clinical destruction of one side we've seen in the Champions League in almost forever.

...and I feel asleep before the game and missed it. GNARGH.

A last-minute goal from Michael Essien allowed Chelsea to off Valencia meaning there's a sizeable chance that the Semi-Finals will include three English sides, and the possibility of the Manchester United-Chelsea fight for the Quadruple/Treble is still on.

Again, 7-1. Holy freaking sh*t. And this after a hellacious game at the weekend when they lost 2-1 to Portsmouth on two dumb mistakes.

Oh, and Arsenal still can't score/beat anyone.

Lastly, some sad news for Fulham fans, Chris Coleman is out. I'm sad to see him go, but the team has had absolutely no luck in the past few months and is now barely out of the relegation race, so to be honest, I can understand the move.

Spunior wrote:

ManU vs. AS Roma - holyshítholyshítholyshít.

For some reason, your statement pretty much sums it up. I was going give some dumb analogy about how the Roma thrashing at ManU was like the period at the end of a Hemingway sentence, but just thought better of it.

I guess they wanted to make sure they advanced...

Well, it seems the semi-finals have been decided. Liverpool beat out PSV Eindhoven 1-0 on Anfield (winning 4-0 agg.) and proceeds to meet Chelsea in the semis on their home-court on April 24th. 2nd match a week later.

AC Milan beat Bayern Munich 2-0 at Allianz Arena in Germany. They won 4-2 on aggregate. AC Milan goes on to meet at Old Trafford against Manchester United on the 24th.

I think I can see the outcome of the Manchester-Milan game, but Liverpool-Chelsea is gonne get interresting. And I might even get some tickets for the Finals! Yay! A collegue of my father can't go and we might get his tickets. Screw final exams, this gets priority!

Today's Update is brought to you thanks to Andriy Shevchenko, Brendan Shanahan and 2 Good, 2 Bad.

Oh, and Showboat from SoccerAM too.

Anywho, the FA Cup Final will be Manchester United v. Chelsea as both sides won at the weekend, ManU trouncing Watford 4-1 while Chelsea snuck past a dogged Blackburn side.

It doesn't take much to explain how thrilled the proper media outlets (SkySports, Le Beeb, etc) are about the prospect of Man U and Chelsea facing each other for all the bits and pieces in roughly about three weeks time. In theory, the pair could end up playing to decide the Premiership winner, the FA Cup (assuredly) and the Champions League. ManU are still on pace for the double, while Chelsea are still on pace for an unprecedented quadruple, with the Carling Cup already in hand. All this, and still noone's sure if Mourinho's leaving at the end of the year.

In more pedestrian news, there were six goals between Tottenham and Wigan as the game ended 3-3. Arsenal finally manage a result against Bolton, Fulham's season is getting worse after the firing of Chris Coleman, losing 1-0 to Reading, noone scores in a 0-0 draw between Man City and Liverpool, Newcastle lose again, and West Ham's probably going down again after losing to Sheffield.

That should be all but... what? You want continental highlights? Oh for f...

Racing Santander 2-1 Real Madrid

Barca 1-0 Real Mallorca

PSV 2-0 FC Twente

Schalke 3-0 Mainz

Stuttgart 2-1 Hannover

Bayern Munich 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen

Inter 2-2 Palermo

Roma 4-0 Sampdoria

Oh, and apparently Sunderland may be on their way back up since apparently Roy Keane isn't a half bad manager and they're winning and winning.

West Ham was pants against the Blades today. Good grief, it was Sheffield U we're talking about. I love how this teams somehow gets results from quality sides (Such as an Arsenal win that should have never, ever happened and a crazy 1-0 result against ManU in Dec) but then walk out there and get smoked.

Bastards.

I'd root for Fulham (America) United, keeping with London clubs, but they look like crap too and I'm not sure they're going to survive either.

Two Words...

Lionel. Messi.

Holy poop.

Oh, and both ManU and Chelsea won at the week to keep ManU's lead at 3, and Inter's bid for a unbeaten season came to a end against Roma. They're still a mortal lock to take the title though.

Listening to the results as they come in, and West Ham refuse to just go down, while Watford are now doomed.

I've always been a critic of the relegation dogfight (creates an elite upper class of clubs, competition to see who is least worst), but I have to admit, there's a ton of drama about it. What do you all think? And does MLS need it?

Prederick wrote:

Listening to the results as they come in, and West Ham refuse to just go down, while Watford are now doomed.

I've always been a critic of the relegation dogfight (creates an elite upper class of clubs, competition to see who is least worst), but I have to admit, there's a ton of drama about it. What do you all think? And does MLS need it?

My Hammers played out of their minds offensively today. They really tried to give away at least 2 points and possibly all 3 though on just boneheaded moves around Green's box. The Hammers should've definitely made more of their chances, but Howard had a pretty fine match to keep Everton close.

I love the relegation dogfight, even if my side still can get out, though a win next week really makes things interesting for Wigan, the Blades, and the Hammers. I think they shouldn't just institute it for MLS, but they should consider it for MLB and College Football, especially College Ball... just rank out the 100+ teams and guarantee good games all around and end this pounding on the puffballs that goes on early season between top programs and DII programs.

MLS? Eh, not so much. There's just not enough teams for them to create something like that. Now, perhaps if they joined with, say Mexico's league, that might be viable.

Some Highlights from the weekend...

Three champions got confirmed this weekend, as Inter clinched the Serie A (as much value as you may place in that), Lyon took Ligue 1, and Celtic took the SPL in dramatic fashion, although, to be fair, none of those three teams was in any danger of capitulating the title.

No goals in the EPL on Sunday, with Chelsea going 0-0 with Newcastle, and Villa getting the same result against Portsmouth.

Arsenal's crap season continued with a 2-2 draw against Tottenham.

As Blacksheep mentioned, West Ham got three more points, against Everton this time.

Kuyt bags two more to put Liverpool past Wigan.

Manchester United's lead is still at 3 as they drew against Middlesbrough and Chelsea, as mentioned, didn't take advantage.

The weekend also featured two exceptionally long-distance goals, one from Achille Emana and the other from Diego.

EDIT: Oh, and that's not nearly all the fun. Someone won both the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards in England. I'll give you a clue, his name rhymes with "Fisty-Mano Flon...aldo". I'm not good at rhyming games.

Plus, noone in Spain wants to win the goddamn title, with Barca losing to Villareal meaning the title race is WIDE open, with even Real Madrid (who haven't been very good) still in the title race. The Double-Yew, the Tee, the Eff.

Champions League Semi-Finals generally suck, as the teams are too scared of losing to actually go out and play some goddamn football. Nevertheless, I'll be watching tonight. My prediction? 1-1, and Milan will end up taking it at the San Siro. Unfortunately.

Today's Lesson: I make atrocious predictions.

A pulsating encounter at Old Trafford that featured an own-goal and some hilarious defending ended 3-2 in favor of ManU over AC Milan. ManU have a slight edge heading into next week's fixture. I'll have the goals up later on tonight.

Hand. On. The. Trophy.

Everton 2-4 ManU

Chelsea 2-2 Bolton

I had a feeling this week that Bolton would throw a total monkey wrench into Chelsea's season, and lo and behold. With three to play, ManU are now five points ahead of Chelsea, and barring an epic collapse, should win the Premiership. Chelsea, meanwhile, have lost Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Ballack to injury, with a trip to Anfield for a chance to play in the CL Final looming on Tuesday. It's going to take all of Mourinho's know-how and ability for this, because Chelsea's season could very well implode Tuesday afternoon.

The "Great Escape" continues for West Ham with escape from punishment for the whole Tevezcherano deal and a huge win over relegation rivals Wigan. With Charlton having been demolished by Blackburn the scene at the bottom is looking quite clogged...

15 Sheff Utd 36 -19 38
16 Fulham 35 -19 36
17 Wigan 36 -22 35
18 West Ham 36 -27 35
19 Charlton 36 -24 33
20 Watford 36 -32 24

Fulham play Arsenal tomorrow.

Prederick wrote:

Hand. On. The. Trophy.

Everton 2-4 ManU

Chelsea 2-2 Bolton

I had a feeling this week that Bolton would throw a total monkey wrench into Chelsea's season, and lo and behold. With three to play, ManU are now five points ahead of Chelsea, and barring an epic collapse, should win the Premiership. Chelsea, meanwhile, have lost Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Ballack to injury, with a trip to Anfield for a chance to play in the CL Final looming on Tuesday. It's going to take all of Mourinho's know-how and ability for this, because Chelsea's season could very well implode Tuesday afternoon.

The "Great Escape" continues for West Ham with escape from punishment for the whole Tevezcherano deal and a huge win over relegation rivals Wigan. With Charlton having been demolished by Blackburn the scene at the bottom is looking quite clogged...

15 Sheff Utd 36 -19 38
16 Fulham 35 -19 36
17 Wigan 36 -22 35
18 West Ham 36 -27 35
19 Charlton 36 -24 33
20 Watford 36 -32 24

Fulham play Arsenal tomorrow.

I'm glad you threw that in there for me. I didn't even get to see or keep up with the crucial game because I had to coach a girls rec team during game time - ack! I'm just happy they didn't crap the bed a la Sheffield U. Now they just need a draw against ManU, if nothing else (lets go 1-0 win!) and I know they'll have a boatload of transitory supporters wearing Blue rooting for them to upset the boys in Red.

I'm caught. On the one hand, my second-favorite team just won, but in doing so, they beat my favorite team, and plunged them into the thick of the relegation dogfight.

Arsenal 3-1 Fulham. Goals from Baptista, Adebayor, and Gilberto mean that Fulham are one point away from the drop with their remaining games against Liverpool and Middlesbrough. Hoo-boy.

And, in our last shocker of the weekend, Big Sam Allardyce has resigned as manager of Bolton with immediate effect. Rumor has it he'll be headed to Manchester City.

I haven't mentioned the English Championship at all here, but it's been a freaking blast this season, with great games, great goals, a tight title race and more. But thanks to a loss to Crystal Palace by Derby, Sunderland and Birmingham (the former managed by Ex-Man Utd Hero Roy Keane) are going to be in the Premiership next year. Keane has been absolutely fantastic at Sunderland this year, taking the team from the relegation places in September to the title. No Really.

Either way, here's a great vid of the chaos as the final relegation place was decided, with Leeds joining Notttingham Forest as the most recent ex-"Big Club" to go down, down, down.

Over in Holland, a crazy title race ended with PSV winning the title and in Spain, Sevilla have gone top over Barcelona.

SEcond half of Extra time at Anfield, with the game tied at 1-1 on aggregate. Penalties loom. It does say something that Mourinho didn't trust his subs enough to put ANY of them on before 90 minutes had been played.

120 minutes of sound and fury signifying penalties. IMHO, if Chelsea go through, it'll be hard on Liverpool. They probably could've won 2 or 3-0, given that Chelsea looked utterly useless in attack, almost as if Mourinho had said that if they went down 1-0 to play for penalties... after the 22nd minute.

Chelsea's season has come undone. Liverpool wins it on penalties meaning that all Chelsea has left to play for is the FA Cup. In a week, they've lost their chance at the PRemiership (short of a miracle) and the Champions League. Obviously, this won't bode well for Mr. Mourinho's job prospects, especially given how poor Chelsea were, as opposed to some sheer lunacy from the Special One.

Prederick wrote:

Chelsea's season has come undone. Liverpool wins it on penalties meaning that all Chelsea has left to play for is the FA Cup. In a week, they've lost their chance at the PRemiership (short of a miracle) and the Champions League. Obviously, this won't bode well for Mr. Mourinho's job prospects, especially given how poor Chelsea were, as opposed to some sheer lunacy from the Special One.

They'll be back in the race when West Ham thumps ManU for that last game of the season. =)

It's 2005 all over again!

Milan slaughter ManU 3-0 to cruise into the Final, which will be a rematch with Liverpool, although I highly doubt we'll see anything as crazy as the events of Istanbul.

Two notes after the game:

1.) Cristiano Ronaldo is not the best player in the world. Kaka is. Also, Gennaro Gattuso did a magnificent job shackling the tricky winger.

2.) Coming back from 2-0 down against Everton is NOTHING like trying to come down from 2-0 down against Milan.

Although, in Chelsea and ManU's defense....

"Can we stop calling it the Champions League now that it's clear that jobbers playing for just the one trophy have a ridiculous advantage?" demands Adam Boscarino. "I think the 'I wasn't good enough to compete for my own league' League is more appropriate."

*chortle*

Good day for the Claret and Blues. West Ham and Tevez brutally assaulted Bolton who seemed to play uninspired (where are you Big Sam?) football, while Villa cracked the whip on Sheffield U to keep that relegation race the only interesting one left now that Man U has pretty much wrapped up the race with their win in the Manchester Derby.

Here's to Man U resting their starters for the final game (crosses fingers)

So, another boring weekend of football....

...of course not! Where to start?

ManU won 1-0 over ManCity, which, combined with Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Arsenal sent the title back to Old Trafford. As has surely been mentioned some 5,000,000 times, a great deal of journalists, and myself too, probably, thought Fergie was past it. Egg on our faces. The question now is about whether Mr. Mourinho will stay on at Chelsea, and the future of the Blues. My money's still on "No". The releationship seems too fractious, Mourinho has no love lost for Ballack and Shevchenko, while Abramovic seems to favor both, the latter at least, and is rumored to be unhappy with Mourinho's more "pragmatic" style of play. I still think firing Mourinho would be a mistake.

Carlos Tevez was right voted West Ham's PoY, given his role in keeping the Hammers up, notably scoring or assisting on every goal during their 3-1 win over Bolton. This is a Bolton side, who, in the midst of a European place push, had their boss, Sam Allardyce, leave them, apparently for Newcastle. Will Big Sam's tactics work on Tyneside? Can he actually get Newcastle to finish over 10th place for a change of pace? Lord knows.

Clint "Deuce" Dempsey may have assured Premiership survival thanks to a solitary strike that gave Fulham a 1-0 victory over L'Pool.

Newcastle still aren't very good, by the by.

Villa smacked around Sheffield.

Watford gave Reading's UEFA Cup chances a solid kick in the nuts, although frankly, I think that benefits Reading. Next year is all about consolidation for Reading, and the UEFA Cup wouldn't help at all.

Wigan 0-1 M'Boro

Everton 3-0 Portsmouth meaning that Everton will almost surely be in the UEFA Cup next year.

And Charlton are going down, after goals from Berbatov and Defoe gave Tottenham the win.

And some Goal of the Month action.

In the Championship, Sunderland are already going up, but why not win the league in style?

Here's a bunch of goals from Yorkshire.

En Italia, watch out for Totti's free-kick in Roma's 2-1 win at Palermo.

Christian Vieri scores a ridiculous goal in Atalanta's win over Siena.

Here's a Serie A wrapup for you.

And lastly, in Spain, the title race gets closer, with Barca beating Sociedad 2-0, Valencia beating Depor 2-1, and a thriller at the Bernabeu that finished 3-2 to Real Madrid.

There. I'm pooped.

All good things must come to an end, they say, and so it is for Sheffield United today, as they join Charlton and Watford on the way down.

With Carlos Tevez personally keeping the Hammers up, a 2-1 loss to Wigan doomed Sheffield.

Tottenham finishes 5th, with a win over Manchester City, to the tune of 2-1.

Michael Owen may be utterly luckless, but it doesn't seem to be that bad, at least.

Bolton, sans Big Sam, is off to Europe.

A thriller between the Rovers and Reading.

And Didier Drogba's 32nd goal of the year.

And for some more fun, here's this week's Showboat from SoccerAM.

Whew.

I'm ruined the seat cushion I was on while watching Tevez drag the Hammer's carcass (with some help from Green and Benayoun! Benayoun! the defensive stalwart!) the final length to keep their heads above water... especially after Sheffield did their level best to work the Hammers out of it by getting smoked at home.

I can't say it was a wonderful season, but it was a wonderful season.
Now it is off to see if Tevez is legal.

UEFA Cup with Penalties!.

Whoo! Sort of. Sevilla wins again, making them the best team in Europe that'd rather be in the Champions League.

I am so seriously pissed off about the FA Cup final. It's just so freaking typical of Chelsea to be so unnaturally lucky. Robbing ManU from The Double. Argh!

Agemmon wrote:

I am so seriously pissed off about the FA Cup final. It's just so freaking typical of Chelsea to be so unnaturally lucky. Robbing ManU from The Double. Argh!

Reading the text commentary on Saturday while listening to the cricket, Mark Lawrenson from the BBC made the comment: "This is a good advert for the cricket season." Amen.

Who's going to watch Liverpool - AC Milan on Wednesday?

Haakon7 wrote:
Agemmon wrote:

I am so seriously pissed off about the FA Cup final. It's just so freaking typical of Chelsea to be so unnaturally lucky. Robbing ManU from The Double. Argh!

Reading the text commentary on Saturday while listening to the cricket, Mark Lawrenson from the BBC made the comment: "This is a good advert for the cricket season." Amen.

Who's going to watch Liverpool - AC Milan on Wednesday?

It is now the *only* game in town, excepting MLS action. Go FC Dallas!

I'm going to, although, after what happened in '05, I fully expect them to sucker me in for the full 90 minutes, even if it's as ineptly pathetic as the FA Cup.

Also, Chelsea have bought Steve Sidwell, because..... why not, I guess. I really can't see the reason in that. Sidwell had a good season, but he hasn't made me think "European Quality" though. Oh, and Owen Hargreaves is almost assuredly headed for Manchester United.

For those of you wondering what a "Faux Pas" sounds like, here's a hum-dinger. Comparing Liverpool to Weetabix. Wow Tom. Just wow.

IMAGE(http://soccernet-akamai.espn.go.com/design05/images/JonMC/May2007/milan_getty-500.jpg)

Pretty much. 2-1 to the Rossoneri. Not a great match, but Liverpool had no cutting edge (any midfield involving Bolo Zenden has none) and Pippo Inzaghi is, as always, Pippo.