[Archived] Champions League

[CornwallRover]

half time barca 0 - 1 chelsea. gd game so far chelsea after not goin near the barca penalty area hav started to look stronger and stronger. they're probably a little lucky to go in with a lead at half time but im not complaining. also chelseas goal created by our very own Damien Duff

GR8

Hate to tell you this, but he's not ours anymore.

Plus, cut out the txt speak.

[ben_the_beast]

he's still one of my faveorite players though.

sorry i was all excited at half time and didnt realize i was speaking in txt

[philipl]

Well, what a turn up! Liverpool finally look something like. Chelsea cheated out of a great result by Anders (pretty boy look at me!) Frisk whilst the Mancs and Arsenal simply abdicated.

Isn't it about time the Mancs and Arsenal learnt that charity begins at home? Carroll and Toure blunders should be saved for when the Rovers play them rather than gift goals to AC and Bayern who are perfectly capable of tonking them without any gratuitous help.

Liverpool are capable of blowing their lead by the Rhine whilst England's top 3 are probably already all on their way out.

[BuckyRover]

I still think Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool will go through

Before Chelsea got reduced to 10 men Barca didnt look like scoring.

Arsenal would never allow themselves to play that bad against Bayern 2 times in a row and will be very happy about the late goal.

Liverpool at 3-0 ahead.

And im writing Man Utd off but a 1-0 deficit is never enough to be comfortable and you can never ever write RFW off.

[DaveyB]

Can someone explain why they support the English teams in Europe? And, before anyone has a go, I'm not having a pop just really interested to know the reasons.

I enjoy watching these games, but don't ever really root for one team or the other (except for last night when I wanted Utd and Barca to win, but that was to do with having money on the games not anything else - I was rooting for Wigan for the exact same reason - doesn't mean I prefer them to Coventry)

I know that I am not the most patriotic guy in the world - i struggle to get truly excited by the national team - but I can at least understand why other people do. But not with club sides. These clubs aren't representing England - they are making themselves even more money to further ruin the competiveness of the league in which my team plays. In my eyes it's like wanting Burnley to win (except aginst us - obviously), cos they are a Lancashire team!

[American]

I think what it is, Davey, is that if the Prem teams do well, that means that we are in one of the best leagues, if not the best, in the world. If they don't, that means we are Dundee.

[Alex Rover]

I know that I am not the most patriotic guy in the world - i struggle to get truly excited by the national team.

I think that's answered your question. It''s the patriotism for England that means we'll support a team for the good of the country.

Bizarelly we might only have Liverpool to cheer on in the next round

[Rovermatt]

Wrong thread.

Edited February 24, 2005 by Rovermatt

[DaveyB]

I know that I am not the most patriotic guy in the world - i struggle to get truly excited by the national team.

I think that's answered your question. It''s the patriotism for England that means we'll support a team for the good of the country.

Bizarelly we might only have Liverpool to cheer on in the next round

But this is the point that I struggle with. Why is it patriotic to support Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool or Man Utd when they play in Europe? Why is it for the good of the country?

They are only really representing themselves and their fans, not the country. TBH I'm not sure any of those teams can really be classed as being particularly English when you consider the nationality of the majority of the playing and coaching staff (maybe Utd at a push!)

I live in Sheffield. At the moment much of the talk round here is of Sheff Utd's good cup run. Do you think that Wednesday fans were sat at home rooting for Utd to beat Arsenal on Saturday 'cos it's nice to see a Sheffield team do well'? I don't think so. Were you rooting for Burnley last night against Derby cos it's good for Lancashire teams to do well?

I just don't understand why people who normally dislike the so-called big boys, suddenly become big fans when they play in a European competition.

[neekoy]

I agree, it is not because of the English that the English premier league is so good. Why don't you go for Madrid because of Beckham and Owen or FC Bayern because of Hargreaves?

Unless bloody Blackburn are in there I don't go for any English teams, even if they do have Australians i.e Kewell

Right on DaveyB

[D.W.]

But this is the point that I struggle with. Why is it patriotic to support Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool or Man Utd when they play in Europe? Why is it for the good of the country?

They are only really representing themselves and their fans, not the country. TBH I'm not sure any of those teams can really be classed as being particularly English when you consider the nationality of the majority of the playing and coaching staff (maybe Utd at a push!)

I live in Sheffield. At the moment much of the talk round here is of Sheff Utd's good cup run. Do you think that Wednesday fans were sat at home rooting for Utd to beat Arsenal on Saturday 'cos it's nice to see a Sheffield team do well'? I don't think so. Were you rooting for Burnley last night against Derby cos it's good for Lancashire teams to do well?

I just don't understand why people who normally dislike the so-called big boys, suddenly become big fans when they play in a European competition.

I think it's because most English fans want other countries to view our league as being up there with the Spanish and Italian ones. If all the English teams go out of Europe early then it'll just confirm other European fans thoughts that we have an inferior league to them, wheras if we have some English teams doing well then it looks good for us.

I don't particularly care if Arsenal, Chelsea or Man Utd win the Champions League, but I am hoping they all give a better showing of themselves in their return games. At the moment, English teams as a whole just look stupid after their performances, seen as those teams are supposed to be the best we have to offer.

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

A couple of intriguing 2nd leg return games tonight.

I'm hoping that AC Milan can keep up their excellent home record in Europe to knock out the Red Scum.

Milan haven't lost a knockout match at home in the European Cup since 1979.

Johan Cruyff, meanwhile, has launched a strong attack on Chelsea's defensive style of play.

The Dutch legend says that defensive tactics are a blight on the modern game and that he hates teams who score one goal and then shut up shop.

(Chelsea have won nine Premiership games 1-0 this season. I'm sure every Chelsea fan would be delighted with a 1-0 win tonight.)

Cruyff though says that Chelsea's defensive play is a "turn off" and that it makes him loathe football.

I wonder if he's heard the chorus of the old Elvis Costello tune: "I don't want to go to Chelsea, oh no!"

[Eddie]

I will be chearing on all of the English teams tonight, certainly want at least two of them to go through, though I woudln't be that surprised if they all went out...

[AllRoverAsia]

Its midnight here and I was just reading on the BBC about Moaninghow, Chelsea and refs and it suddenly hit home that I don't actually give a toss about Chelsea and actually would quite like them to go out. I think it's just that I've heard enough about M to last a lifetime.

Strangely I want Man U to win... and Arsenal ... and Liverpool......

these are indeed strange times

[philipl]

The cat is in amongst the Catalan pigeons- Eider duck Gudjonsson for Chelski scored after 8 minutes.

[Eddie]

I don't want Chelsea to win the competition, but people on the mainland are so up Barcelona that I would like an English team to knock them out. Have Chelsea go out in the next round.

[brfcshabba]

Lampard 2-0

[philipl]

Duff 3-0 Good lad!

Ronaldinho pulls one back with a pen so Chelski just a goal away from going out.

Edited March 8, 2005 by philipl

[SouthAussieRover]

Stunning second by Ronaldinho

[philipl]

Chelski in the shitski

[brfcshabba]

Why are they saying it was a dubious penalty. He clearly put his hand up and punched the ball

[frosty]

How could it be a dubiuos penalty. He punched it!

Ronaldinho - god!

[Manchester Blue]

I've been watching the other game but flicking over to Chelsea. There will definitely be more goals but still fancy Barca. When you have the best player in the world in your ranks you've always got a chance.

[rog of the rovers]

I Hate games that dont live up to their billings!

C'mon Chelsea, I want Duffer to get a Champs League medal

[roversWASmylife]

Chelsea v Barca is a brilliant game up to half time. The passing has been brilliant, some of the goals as well have been good.

Ronaldinho, how he scored that I'll never know.

Still an open game.