[Archived] Champions League

[neekoy]

And why do we want them to win again?

add that they play horrible boring football and I can't stand another twelve months of 'Never Walk Alone SIX SIX SIX!!!!"

[American]

Man U will comfortably beat AC Milan and Chelsea will lay their Liverpool bogey. This will set-up the most boring European final ever.

So, Milan and Liverpool it is!

I really should start betting against your predictions. I'd be a VERY rich man right now...

[doctorryan]

Jose got lucky at Old Trafford in 2004 and should have been out.

Jose had Benni's goals in 2004.

[M-K]

What if we were in the same position , bet you would'nt be saying that would you.

Dude, I am very much of the opinion that a game of football won by any means necessary is not a game worth watching. It's supposed to be entertainment. This Liverpool side stinks and the system that gives such a bunch of hopeless cup-specialist spoilers another chance of being "champions" of Europe stinks even worse. Unbelievable that Chelsea can get such stick for being negative when Liverpool are every bit as boring to watch. Hope they get turned over in the final.

[Roar of the Rover]

Dude, I am very much of the opinion that a game of football won by any means necessary is not a game worth watching. It's supposed to be entertainment. This Liverpool side stinks and the system that gives such a bunch of hopeless cup-specialist spoilers another chance of being "champions" of Europe stinks even worse. Unbelievable that Chelsea can get such stick for being negative when Liverpool are every bit as boring to watch. Hope they get turned over in the final.

Liverpool are special in Europe, didn'y you see in 2005, they were minutes away from getting knocked out until Gerrard rattled the ball into the back of the net. Sometimes no matter who you've got in your team you can win, by what? Tactics. Rafa Benitez is the best manager in the world at the moment. How many European Finals has Fegie been in his years at Old Trafford? 1 in about 20 right? Rafa's already got 2 finals in 3 seasons. They deserve it this season, they beat the current holders on there own patch and overturned a very strong Chelsea side.

[Cheshireblue]

Just looking at recent winners of the "Champions" league, it's fairly even between Champions and not champions that have won it.

2006 FC Barcelona (LW) 2-1

2005 Liverpool (4th) 3-2 penalties3-3 after extra time

2004 FC Porto (LW) 3-0

2003 AC Milan (4th) 3-2 penalties 0-0 after extra time

2002 Real Madrid CF (LW) 2-1

2001 FC Bayern München (LW) 5-4 penalties 1-1 after extra time

2000 Real Madrid CF (2nd) 3-0

1999 Manchester United FC (2nd) 2-1

1998 Real Madrid CF (LW) 1-0

Milan and Liverpool both make a mockery of it being a champions league.

[rovers4ever95]

"Following the GMTV telephone scandal Manchester United are sueing UEFA for allowing them to enter a competition that they had no chance of winning!"

[Exiled in Toronto]

Dude, I am very much of the opinion that a game of football won by any means necessary is not a game worth watching. It's supposed to be entertainment. This Liverpool side stinks and the system that gives such a bunch of hopeless cup-specialist spoilers another chance of being "champions" of Europe stinks even worse. Unbelievable that Chelsea can get such stick for being negative when Liverpool are every bit as boring to watch. Hope they get turned over in the final.

Couldn't agree more. I thought watching this game was like watching 'Arry Bassett's Wimbledon play John Beck's Cambridge. AC Milan last night however were a joy to behold.

[American]

Liverpool are special in Europe, didn'y you see in 2005, they were minutes away from getting knocked out until Gerrard rattled the ball into the back of the net. Sometimes no matter who you've got in your team you can win, by what? Tactics. Rafa Benitez is the best manager in the world at the moment. How many European Finals has Fegie been in his years at Old Trafford? 1 in about 20 right? Rafa's already got 2 finals in 3 seasons. They deserve it this season, they beat the current holders on there own patch and overturned a very strong Chelsea side.

Not even one of the top 4 managers in his league (just squeezed into the top 5 with Sam not technically a manager right now). What has he done there in his time? One could easily argue that league wise, Houllier was more successful.

Without looking it up, I'd say that in the time he's been at Liverpool, he's spent more than Fergie (net).

So he does decent in a knockout competition his club isn't even good enough to qualify for without having to have a play-in match, doesn't make him the best in the world.

[M-K]

Liverpool are special in Europe, didn'y you see in 2005, they were minutes away from getting knocked out until Gerrard rattled the ball into the back of the net. Sometimes no matter who you've got in your team you can win, by what? Tactics. Rafa Benitez is the best manager in the world at the moment. How many European Finals has Fegie been in his years at Old Trafford? 1 in about 20 right? Rafa's already got 2 finals in 3 seasons. They deserve it this season, they beat the current holders on there own patch and overturned a very strong Chelsea side.

Well I hope you enjoy watching the likes of Mascherano and Sissoko stifle a creative Milan side while the rest of them hoof balls over the top for that ungainly donkey Crouch to knock down to the headless chicken Kuyt.

Maybe Gerrard will score another of his Lampard-style 1-in-20 long-range flukes, and everyone can talk about what a genius he is. Maybe Liverpool will win on penalties and the commentators can bang on about how they just about deserved it. One thing's for sure - I won't be watching, not least because if I ever hear those whiny gits doing another tuneless chorus of 'you'll never walk alone' after their team has spoiled its way to another undeserved trophy, I'm liable to put my foot through the telly.

[roversyoyo]

Well I hope you enjoy watching the likes of Mascherano and Sissoko stifle a creative Milan side while the rest of them hoof balls over the top for that ungainly donkey Crouch to knock down to the headless chicken Kuyt.

Maybe Gerrard will score another of his Lampard-style 1-in-20 long-range flukes, and everyone can talk about what a genius he is. Maybe Liverpool will win on penalties and the commentators can bang on about how they just about deserved it. One thing's for sure - I won't be watching, not least because if I ever hear those whiny gits doing another tuneless chorus of 'you'll never walk alone' after their team has spoiled its way to another undeserved trophy, I'm liable to put my foot through the telly.

Reading all this, I cant help but feel some of us are being a bit hypocritical. Its exactly what we did to the Arsenal in the FA cup. Stifled their game completely and sneaked a winner.

Me thinks your contempt and hatred of Liverpool FC is colouring your judgemnt somewhat. I'm no fan myself but if do you think they really give a flying moneys what other fans feel.......they dont. I'd feel exactly the same way if we won it, I wouldn't give a fig if someone said we shouldn't be in the competition because we weren't champions and we dont play the "right" way. I'd just be celebrating like a mad man.

They do like to rub it in however, and take great pleasure in telling everyone they are the champions of Europe. Sometimes its sickening to listen to, this is what gets my back up. For that reasion alone i'll be supporting Milan.

[Eddie]

Likely to be a horrible final. Two boring and negative sides, even when AC Milan won 3-0 United were the only side who actually did anything of interest. As for Rafa being the best manager in the world, you must be joking. Despite regularly spending millions he can't even get his side close to winning the league.

[ewoodblue]

I don't know what most people have against Liverpool,the last Euro final they were in was fantastic.So was their Fa Cup Final against West Ham.

I'm chuffed that Liverpool have got to Athens.

I just get the feeling a few people are throwing hissy fits because Man United have bit the dust.I'm always glad to see the back of the arrogant mancs, the only team in England i won't cheer on in Europe.

I can't wait for the final.

[Rovermatt]

Likely to be a horrible final. Two boring and negative sides, even when AC Milan won 3-0 United were the only side who actually did anything of interest.

Your usual alternative take on things no doubt?

[RevidgeBlue]

Reading all this, I cant help but feel some of us are being a bit hypocritical. Its exactly what we did to the Arsenal in the FA cup. Stifled their game completely and sneaked a winner.

Me thinks your contempt and hatred of Liverpool FC is colouring your judgemnt somewhat. I'm no fan myself but if do you think they really give a flying moneys what other fans feel.......they dont. I'd feel exactly the same way if we won it, I wouldn't give a fig if someone said we shouldn't be in the competition because we weren't champions and we dont play the "right" way. I'd just be celebrating like a mad man.

True, but Hughes hasn't had 90m to spend like Benitez has AND the Spaniard arguably inherited his best players anyway in the likes of Gerrard, Hypia (at the time)Carragher and Risse. Did someone say best manager in the world? Circa sixty Premiership points behind Chelsea in the last three seasons. Someone must be having a giraffe!

My own personal position on English Clubs in Europe is that when we were outside the top flight I wanted them all to do well. (Man Ure excepted) Now we're in the top flight I want them all to fail as I don't want them doing anything that will put them in a stronger position relative to us.

Similarly I wouldn't expect the fans of any other Premiership Clubs to be cheering us on in Europe but it would be nice to think we had the moral backing of the remainder of the country.

And if we were successful you're right, I wouldn't give two hoots about the manner in which it was achieved but I fully expect we would get flak from outside if we ground it out in a boring manner.

[M-K]

Reading all this, I cant help but feel some of us are being a bit hypocritical. Its exactly what we did to the Arsenal in the FA cup. Stifled their game completely and sneaked a winner.

Damn right, and while as a Rovers fan I enjoyed seeing Arsenal - by far the more talented side - come away with egg on their faces, it wasn't exactly an edifying spectacle as a game. If I was a neutral, I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to watch another Rovers match after that, and it did nothing to silence the critics who call us a dirty, cheating team.

What gets my goat is that Liverpool are alone among the 'boring' Prem clubs in that they rarely suffer the same criticism.

Come on Milan!

[Bazzanotsogreat]

Likely to be a horrible final. Two boring and negative sides, even when AC Milan won 3-0 United were the only side who actually did anything of interest. As for Rafa being the best manager in the world, you must be joking. Despite regularly spending millions he can't even get his side close to winning the league.

Eddie I don’t know what game you were watching last night but it couldn’t be the same one, where Milan played the best attacking fluent football of the whole competition. The first half performance of Milan was up there with the Madrid side of 4/5 seasons ago in terms of passing/movement . As for United how can you say they were the only ones trying to do anything, I cant remember any decent moves nor a decent chance on goal. If Milan had been a little more clinical in front of goal it would of 5-0 easily

[Eddie]

Your usual alternate take on things no doubt?

Eddie I don’t know what game you were watching last night but it couldn’t be the same one, where Milan played the best attacking fluent football of the whole competition. The first half performance of Milan was up there with the Madrid side of 4/5 seasons ago in terms of passing/movement . As for United how can you say they were the only ones trying to do anything, I cant remember any decent moves nor a decent chance on goal. If Milan had been a little more clinical in front of goal it would of 5-0 easily

First of all that was nothing compared to what United did to Roma a couple of weeks ago. It was a boring game in which Milan got two goals in a first half where United didn't really turn up. The second half United went after it, as they had to, and Milan hit them on the break. Neither Milan or Liverpool have been exciting in the champions league, nor are they exciting in their domestic leagues. The champions league looks on course for another boring final in which neither side can claim to be the best side in Europe.

[mjs]

It was a boring game in which Milan got two goals in a first half where United didn't really turn up.

I know you like to be controversial, but all you are really doing is making yourself look ignorant about the game of football.

There was some real top quality football last night and it was anything but boring.

[Rovermatt]

First of all that was nothing compared to what United did to Roma a couple of weeks ago. It was a boring game in which Milan got two goals in a first half where United didn't really turn up. The second half United went after it, as they had to, and Milan hit them on the break. Neither Milan or Liverpool have been exciting in the champions league, nor are they exciting in their domestic leagues. The champions league looks on course for another boring final in which neither side can claim to be the best side in Europe.

Whatever Eddie. Last night Milan roundly trounced the side you've been proclaiming to be the 'best in Europe' for weeks now.

[Roar of the Rover]

I don't know what most people have against Liverpool,the last Euro final they were in was fantastic.So was their Fa Cup Final against West Ham.

I'm chuffed that Liverpool have got to Athens.

I just get the feeling a few people are throwing hissy fits because Man United have bit the dust.I'm always glad to see the back of the arrogant mancs, the only team in England i won't cheer on in Europe.

I can't wait for the final.

Well said.

[Roar of the Rover]

Well I hope you enjoy watching the likes of Mascherano and Sissoko stifle a creative Milan side while the rest of them hoof balls over the top for that ungainly donkey Crouch to knock down to the headless chicken Kuyt.

Maybe Gerrard will score another of his Lampard-style 1-in-20 long-range flukes, and everyone can talk about what a genius he is. Maybe Liverpool will win on penalties and the commentators can bang on about how they just about deserved it. One thing's for sure - I won't be watching, not least because if I ever hear those whiny gits doing another tuneless chorus of 'you'll never walk alone' after their team has spoiled its way to another undeserved trophy, I'm liable to put my foot through the telly.

Steven Gerrard and flukes dont go together mate, That goal in the F.A Cup Final was no fluke!, it was sheer brilliance. He is way better than Frank Lampard! Steven Gerrard is Inspirational and thats going to come in use again in Athens just like it did in Istanbul!

[Roar of the Rover]

Not even one of the top 4 managers in his league (just squeezed into the top 5 with Sam not technically a manager right now). What has he done there in his time? One could easily argue that league wise, Houllier was more successful.

Without looking it up, I'd say that in the time he's been at Liverpool, he's spent more than Fergie (net).

So he does decent in a knockout competition his club isn't even good enough to qualify for without having to have a play-in match, doesn't make him the best in the world.

How the hell can Sam be even near the top 5, he would'nt be in my top 20.

1. Rafa Benitez

2. Alex Ferguson

3. Jose Mourinho

4. Frank Rijkard

4. Arsene Wenger

[Eddie]

Whatever Eddie. Last night Milan roundly trounced the side you've been proclaiming to be the 'best in Europe' for weeks now.

A fact that before last night no one would disagree with. I'm not saying United deserved to go through, because they didn't. That for me doesn't change who is or isn't the better side.

[Eddie]

How the hell can Sam be even near the top 5, he would'nt be in my top 20.

1. Rafa Benitez

2. Alex Ferguson

3. Jose Mourinho

4. Frank Rijkard

4. Arsene Wenger

On what can you possibly base that?