Champions League - Matchday 6 (scores included)

Guy:Incognito

Thats not an excuse for standing and watching tho. They should be rushign the barce players, getting on top of them, dont let them settle and knock it around. They dont seem in too much of a ruch to get forward when they do have the ball either.

Ronan|Raven

the liverpool - galatasary match is highly eneventful tbh, good goal from okan though.

Ronan|Raven

3-1 Galatasary, Sasa Ilic (sp?), terrible defending from Riise.

Mad Dog

2-0 Chelsea SWP

Ronan|Raven

Some very fresh faced youngfella called Miki Roque is now on in place of Alonso.

Mad Dog

Result 2-0 Chelsea....Top of group ! !

Ronan|Raven

fowler scores his second.

kinaldo

Eamon Dunphy: "Barcelona don't defend like a Champions League team..."

What the hell does that even mean!? I could understand maybe if he said that about Newcastle!

I wonder if he realises they're still the holders...

They're no Celsea at the back, but then who are?

Guy:Incognito

kinaldo wrote:

I wonder if he realises they're still the holders...

Seeing as there hasnt been a final since they won it, I reckon he has an idea.

Anyway, being the holders only means you were good last season.

Mark

kinaldo wrote:

They're no Celsea at the back, but then who are?

Barcelona.

P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Chelsea 6 4 1 1 10 4 6 13
2 Barcelona 6 3 2 1 12 4 8 11

redspider

Galatasaray 3-2 Liverpool

GOALS
Necati (24) Okan (28) Ilic (80)
Fowler (22, 89)

A game with nothing at stake, but perhaps a night where something could be learned even if Liverpool lined out a '2nd 11'. Liverpool played a formation like this:

---

Dudek

---

- Peltier - Paletta -- Agger -- Riise -
Pennant - Alonso - Carragher - Guthrie

---

Bellamy - Fowler

---

Subs came on:
Garcia (Guthrie 65) Crouch (Bellamy 74) Roque (Alonso 84)

Robbie got the opener with his arse! A good cross from Bellamy from the left hand side.

The Turkish outfit came back through a stray pass from Xabi. Paletta perhaps could have done better, but Alonso's sloppiness was the main culprit. They scored again a few minutes later with a wel struck shot after a Liverpool clearence. No blame on Dudek but perhaps he could have done a bit better. No one got in a good blocking position. The third was ppor defense from Liverpool, mainly by Riise, although Agger and Paletta could have perhaps done more to recover, as Carra always does.

Fowler got a late consolation goal, a good header from about 8 yards out after a cross from wide by Pennant. The other notable item of play was a neatly worked free kick, a deft chip by Alonso put Robbie clean through but his shot was too lame and too direct at the keeper.

Lessons:
- Paletta and Agger not strong enough as CB's together, both lacking in enough experience, combined this with Peltier on the right.

- Peltier did the best of the 'new' players I thought.

- Not sure if Guthrie did much in the game at all

- Robbie not fit enough to be a super sub, still has good finishing skills though although still misses sitters

- a night to gain experience

Redspider

ps: nice goal by Ronaldinho, typical Brazillian
Gudjohnsen was offside for the 2nd goal, it shouldnt have counted

Good to see Shevcenko score, although that made him more selfish for the rest of the match. Chelsea dominated their game.

mike65

Never thought I'd say this but G'luck to Celtic tonight, from being dumped out of the CL in qualifiers and UEFA Cup likewise to Knockout stages in 15 months would be quite an achivement for Scottish football.

Mike.

kinaldo

They're already through to the knockouts, no luck required.

mike65

You spoilt the moment by showing my iggerance.

Mike.

A Dub in Glasgo

mike65 wrote:

You spoilt the moment by showing my iggerance.

Mike.

It was a nice sentiment anyway

kinaldo

With Barcelona through and now the bookies favourites, Man Utd might be better off taking a draw tonight and hoping for 2nd. That would at least rule out Barca, Real Madrid and Inter in the next round, although I think a match against either has the potential to be a classic. I wouldn't be so keen on Lyon or Milan as a spectacle.

Rikand

kinaldo wrote:

With Barcelona through and now the bookies favourites, Man Utd might be better off taking a draw tonight and hoping for 2nd. That would at least rule out Barca, Real Madrid and Inter in the next round, although I think a match against either has the potential to be a classic. I wouldn't be so keen on Lyon or Milan as a spectacle.

True, both teams would also beat United easily tho. It would be no contest

A Dub in Glasgo

Just seen the Ronaldinho free kick from last night. Nice although when Ronnie does it, it is visionary and when Thompson did for Celtic against Liverpool, the media were saying it was a fluke!

kinaldo

Rickylovesuall wrote:

True, both teams would also beat United easily tho. It would be no contest

I'd fancy Man Utd to overcome Bayern Munich, Lyon, Valencia and Porto or CSKA Moskow. Some of the 2nd placed finishers look much tougher and I would expect Barca and Real Madrid to beat them, and Inter and Roma would be very tricky games.

I hope Man Utd top their group tonight and draw Real Madrid. I still have fond memories of those games from 00 and 03, and it's amazing to think that Capello and Ferguson have never faced each other as managers despite sharing 4 CL finals between them.

CorkMan

Glad Barca got through.

Chucky the tree

inter and Roma are poor teams. United would have both of them easily enough.

Pacifico

Anyone know if the Arsenal game is on anywhere?

mike65

Setanta

Mike.

Pacifico

Ah, its on setanta, dont have it though (damn Sky :mad:)

PS Did RTE get a new camera or something?!

Royale with Cheese

http://live-footy.org/wed6.12/Porto_Arsenal4.html

You can watch the Arsenal game here. No software needed

kinaldo

Eamon Dunphy: "Alex Ferguson is a bloody ejit, a disgrace and a liar..."

super_furry

Dunphy's on form again - "Ferguson is a liar and a fool." "Sir Alex Ferguson is a knight of the realm in *that* country, he should be trying to clean up football instead of defending that obvious cheat (Ronaldo."

super_furry

United and Benfica here - http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/championsleague/

Atlas_IRL

lol What Ronaldo does is the same as tiger woods picking up a golf ball from the rough. classic Dunphy

Guy:Incognito

Did Benfica send out the youth team? lol how small are their players.:D

Xavi6

Dyin to see Quaresma do some damage against Arsenal. He's what Ronaldo only wishes he could be.

super_furry

Xavi6 wrote:

Dyin to see Quaresma do some damage against Arsenal. He's what Ronaldo only wishes he could be.

Greg Louganis?

Mad Dog

Celtic 1-0 down

A Dub in Glasgo

The midfield and defence just parted to allow Copenhagen to score, nice finish though

Xavi6

Please tell me someone else saw what Quaresma just did. What a player.

Aquos76

Man U losing 1-0 to a fantastic strike

Pacifico

Holy ****!

What a goal!!!

A Dub in Glasgo

WTF is Strachan doing having the defence playing like that, absolutely appalling defending all night just when Celtic were getting back into the game.

2-0 to the Danes

kinaldo

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

WTF is Strachan doing having the defence playing like that, absolutely appalling defending all night just when Celtic were getting back into the game.

2-0 to the Danes

Maybe he wants to finish 2nd in the group...

Chucky the tree

The arsenal game is a snorefest as expected.

Guy:Incognito

Super finish for Benfica. Still reckon Utd will get 1 or 2.

Guy:Incognito

Chucky the tree wrote:

The arsenal game is a snorefest as expected.

Surely not heading for a mutually benificial draw?

Pepe LeFrits

Zzzzzzzzz.

Chucky the tree

Stekelly wrote:

Surely not heading for a mutually benificial draw?

It better be.

Mad Dog

Anybody been watching the RTE stream which went down just before Benfica goal and there are some eejits in earshot of a mike on it now, hilarious stuff

Aquos76

Vidic you ****in beauty 1-1

Guy:Incognito

1-1. it was coming. Benfica well dodgy at the back, If yer man Rocha doesnt get to the ball the rest of them are fooked cos they cant defend. The keeper was all over the place, came out and only managed to take out his own player.

eirebhoy

Can't believe Celtic haven't scored. The defence is as bad as it has been any time this season when questions are asked but I can't believe Copenhagen have kept a first half clean sheet.

Celtic need to top the group if they have any chance of getting into the last 8. There's no way they'll hold a 1st leg lead away to any team in Europe atm so they need to get the 2nd leg at home.

kinaldo

Thanks to Newcastle and our crap defence I can't enjoy any of tonight's CL action

Chucky the tree

United just need a draw to qualify yea? and a win to finish first? Fingers crossed Celtic will come 2nd and we will draw them.