Tackles, balls and Seaman - The footie thread

[Jim]

Chelsea Barcelona had a fucking quality second half!

Chelsea are fucking scum though, Del Horno was a disgrace and I couldn't give a shit whether or not it should have been red, I'm glad that prick was taken off the pitch.

Seriously though, what more could any non-Chelsea supporting Englishman ask for?

Chelsea to lose and Terry to score an own goal? 

Andy Gray is so biased it's not funny though. Did you hear him after Barca's first goal? 'That's cruel....that's cruel,' minutes after Chelsea had also, under the same circumstances, forced an own goal. When Chelsea scored, it was from good pressure...When it's Barcelona, Terry is unlucky? Give me a break. Neutral my fucking arse.

I cannot wait for the return leg. Chelsea need to score at least two goals at the Nou Camp...

[Shoco]

ha you thought that was biased, you should have heard liam brady on irish tv, he despises chelsea (and utd when theyr playing) he couldnt hide his delight

one of his quotes - chelsea will have that pitch ripped up and relayed before barca get out of london

i thought the sending off was harsh

did anyone here jose's "interview" after the match??

[Ignatius]

Amazing second half between Chelsea and Bar?a. Messi was brilliant, so Ronaldinho. Bar?a could've scored 7 goals easily...

I don't like Del horno either. He used to play for Ath. Bilbao. He's played with Spain a few times but has mentioned he doesn't really about Spain cause he feels basque and you guys know already about the political conflict we are going through at the moment in Spain with the autonomies.

About Real Madrid and Arsenal, yeah, Arsenal played much better. Fabregas, Henry, even Reyes did ok. I don't really like Real Madrid, but like Gunner said, they are used to this second match heroics. Besides, Arsenal has never passed the quarters in the Champions league so it should be interesting...

[MadmanDan]

Well shockingly, I was a Chelsea supporter last night. I started the game on neutral ground, but the events turned me into one.

First of all, the game was destroyed by Del Horno's ridiculous sending off.

Second of all, when they were 11 to 11, and even in lots of 10 to 11 moments, Chelsea were stronger, more inciseive, and showed that Ronaldinho is the "phenomenon" that he is only in a championship were Hasselbaink and Forlan can be top goalscorers.

And why do you find it weird for an English comentator to be biased? I don't get it...

[Ignatius]

Well shockingly, I was a Chelsea supporter last night. I started the game on neutral ground, but the events turned me into one.

First of all, the game was destroyed by Del Horno's ridiculous sending off.

Chelsea were stronger, more inciseive....

What game did you watch last night? when they were 11 Vs 11 Barcelona had more shots on goal.

Both teams started up very slow. The first half was very tactic...Bar?a ha learned last year's lesson so they were very cautious on the defensive end. This is an 180 minute match so there was no wa need to go for it in the first 45 minutes.? However, Bar?a had more shots on goal and more ball possesion. Chelsea was playing their game, Makalele takes the ball away, gives it to Lampard, he will then passes it to one of the wings and a crossover will follow. That's Chelsea's game.

Messi was Del Horno's worst nightmare on the first half. Ferreira couldn't guard him either on the second...

As soon as Bar?a started to play their game, it was history. Even with 10, Chelsea is playing at home...it shouldn't be that much difference.? But, the second half there was only one dominant team. Messi could've scored a few, same as Larsson... If you are saying Bar?a played better cause they had one more you are just justifying Chelsea's defeat. Sure is better to play with 11 players than 10, but the second half looked like Bar?a was playing against a second division team.

[Jim]

Yeah, madman, seriously, you've justified your name with that statement...

Come on dude, I back you up when it comes to United, but what you just said is ridiculous!

Oh, another one of Andy Gray's beautiful insights last night...

Apparantly, Shaun Wright Phillips should have conceeded a foul to prevent the goal. I guess he's a fan of the Claude Makelele school of football........

Barcelona were all over Chelsea for most of the second half, and I don't see how anybody watching could not have felt that Barca were going to get the winner...

Oh, and bollocks to what you said about Ronaldinho. He is, without question, the best player in the world at the moment, and that isn't judged by how many goals he's scored.

What I do have a problem with, however, is that supposadly Frank Lampard is the second best player in the world...

He's not even the best player in the England team...

[Sweet s]

No he's not the best player in the England team ,That honour goes to Wayne Rooney

[Danny Top Hat]

ha you thought that was biased, you should have heard liam brady on irish tv, he despises chelsea (and utd when theyr playing) he couldnt hide his delight

That's quality, what a legend!

Messi was awesome last night but there's no question that he faked injury. ?Del Horno didn't even think of playing the ball, plus he should've been booked a few minutes earlier for a worse foul, so he deserved everything he got in my opinion. ?Barca also should have had 2 clear-cut penalties so Chelsea should have no complaints.

Also, where I watched the game the room exploded when Barca got their goals. ?Everyone hates Chelsea.

[MadmanDan]

Well what can I say? Apparently I'm more objective whan it comes to United...but I stand by most of my post.

What was to be an incredibly even match was ruined by a horrible referring decision (can anybody argue whith that?)

Ronaldinho is a VERY VERY GOOD player, but he's not what people make of him. When Rivaldo played for Barca he was incredible, he literally won matches for them almost every week. Then he discovered how sweet life in the Primera was when he went to Milan and he warmed the reserve bench most of the time.

I can't say that Ronaldinho isn't one of the world's best players, that would be idiotic. He has vision, skill, class, technique, etc. But he's way overrated, just because of the circus acts he does.
 
   One might say he's Cristiano Ronaldo five years from now 

[Ignatius]

When Rivaldo played for Barca he was incredible, he literally won matches for them almost every week. Then he discovered how sweet life in the Primera was when he went to Milan and he warmed the reserve bench most of the time.

that's true...but more in the late years. That happen when Figo had been traded to Real and Rivaldo was just the only decent player really. He won himself a few matches cause the rest of the team sucked pretty much. Ronaldinho has messi, eto'o, Deco, Xavi...this team is much stronger than Rivaldo's team.

[Miz]

Oh, and bollocks to what you said about Ronaldinho. He is, without question, the best player in the world at the moment, and that isn't judged by how many goals he's scored.

Come on, he's good, but he's not as good as Henry.

With regards to the Chelsea match, as much as I don't like the fact that they've been able to buy the Premiership title, and as much as I hate the fact that John Terry gets away with a blatent handball about three thousand times every game, how can any of you be happy that an English team is doing badly in the European cup and Englands best centre back scores an own goal?

In my pub, there were more people cheering for Barcelona than for Chelsea, and I can guaruntee that there weren't any Spaniards there.

This is a team that has three or four England internationals in it, and we're happy when they lose?

[Shoco]

Oh, and bollocks to what you said about Ronaldinho. He is, without question, the best player in the world at the moment, and that isn't judged by how many goals he's scored.

Come on, he's good, but he's not as good as Henry.

With regards to the Chelsea match, as much as I don't like the fact that they've been able to buy the Premiership title, and as much as I hate the fact that John Terry gets away with a blatent handball about three thousand times every game, how can any of you be happy that an English team is doing badly in the European cup and Englands best centre back scores an own goal?

In my pub, there were more people cheering for Barcelona than for Chelsea, and I can guaruntee that there weren't any Spaniards there.

This is a team that has three or four England internationals in it, and we're happy when they lose?

well from my point of view, im Irish so happy to see them get theyr asses kicke eben if duffer plays for them, is chelsea played good exciting football then id be happy for them to stay in the competition, but lets face it barca are far better to watch so id rather see them go thru

[Jim]

Hell yeah!

Dude, we all fucking hate Chelsea. And for a pretty good reason.

Most of their team are scum anyway, and if they're going to win things for England with little shits like Makelele, then I'd rather they didn't. I don't buy into that go for the English team ethic anyway, not when it's a team I despise against I team I admire.

As for Terry, pah! King and Dawson could fill the centre back roles for England and you wouldn't notice the difference too much. England have far too much quality at the back for me to give a shit what Terry is up to.

Messi was awesome last night but there's no question that he faked injury.  Del Horno didn't even think of playing the ball, plus he should've been booked a few minutes earlier for a worse foul, so he deserved everything he got in my opinion.  Barca also should have had 2 clear-cut penalties so Chelsea should have no complaints.

God, yeah, I didn't even mention the penalties. Barca could easily have had 5 or 6 goals in the second half.

As for Del Horno, why not look at it this way if you still think that it was a 'horrendous' decision: Danny's right, I don't see how anybody can make a serious claim that he went to play the ball, so I guess it should have been at least a yellow...; did anybody notice how he reacted after the challenge? Identically to Messi, if not worse. In my book that's simulation, which is a bookable offence, so they both should have been booked for that as well. So, if we're really getting down to how it should have played out, Messi should have been booked, Del Horno should have been booked twice and Chelsea would still have been down to ten men.

The second leg will be interesting, because if Chelsea need three goals in the last ten minutes, there is no fucking way they are going to take defeat graciously...

[Miz]

As for Terry, pah! King and Dawson could fill the centre back roles for England and you wouldn't notice the difference too much. England have far too much quality at the back for me to give a shit what Terry is up to.

Spoken like a true Spurs fan. Michael Dawson is as good as John Terry?!?!?!

The way Campbell and Ferdinand are playing, and with Woodgate getting injured every three minutes, England have only got one other world class Centre-Back in Jamie Carragher. If you would be comfortable with Michael Dawson starting for England then you're even more of a retard than I though :p

[Jim]

Dude. Dawson will be there in a couple of years.

But if you genuinly think that Jamie Carragher is a better centre-half than Ledley King...

dduuddee. Maybe you've been looking at too many Avril Lavigne photos again.

Oh, and for the record, the Sun a few weeks ago, a paper who pretty much hate Spurs (the editor is a Gooner...), but are usually spot on when it comes to sport, said that Dawson could 'rip Terrys' England shirt from his back' in not too long.

Seriously, watch the guy. He's tremendous. Certainly, I'd never start him in a competetive internation, because of the experience thing, but he is light years ahead of Carragher.

[Danny Top Hat]

I've got a nasty feeling Robbie Savage is gonna cripple one of our key players today.  I just really hope it's Reyes and not anyone important.

[grendood]

arsenal beaten again, if liverpool dont win the champions league... arsenal will win it, and totenham will be oot of the champions league, its written in the sky.

fergie claiming united's season will be a success if they win the mickey mouse cup? your a legend you big red nosed cunt, but right now you're in cuckoo land, u should have quit in 99. 

I know my football. 

[Izzy]

I've got a nasty feeling Robbie Savage is gonna cripple one of our key players today.? I just really hope it's Reyes and not anyone important.

 

17 mill worth of quality

[Danny Top Hat]

He's been a really terrible buy, he contributes nothing to our games.  All he does is lose the ball and dive around.  I seriously think we should sell him to Real Madrid as quickly as possible - they're the only team stupid enough to pay good money for him.

[Jamie]

Staunton's first game in charge of Ireland. What are your opinions? Yes or No on Stevie? I think we might win it, he's restored a lot of confidence in the lads, judging by interviews as of late, and he retired from Ireland not to long ago, so some of the more senior players in the squad might get along with him. And with Bobby Robson supplying that extra bit of experience I think it's gonna go well.