They'll be sacrificing sheep in the streets of Karagandy tonight - Champions League 2013/14

Long overdue, we're more than ready.

Arsenal in black shorts, bit uneasy with this.

no way Arsenal can win with these shorts

It certainly looks odd

Jesus Christ imagine having to wake up every morning seeing Mereiles next to you

he looks like a friend of mine

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSza-3chMzI/UcQhM0CKVoI/AAAAAAAAsGs/KjSCW7dE8PE/s320/Raul+Meireles+wife,+Ivone+Viana+wears+Red+Bikini+in+Miami+14.jpg

Aww he found his soulmate

Jenks tonight being played by Rylan off of X Factor.

This is pretty terrible btw

yup.

Is Raul naked there? He'll've done her ink himself. I wonder if he's the prolific type and there are a whole string of women in Porto, Liverpool, London and Istanbul bearing the mark of Meireles.

Good title

Ty

I can't watch the second half of this drab.

GET INVOLVED

Tom Repton: "A Woking fan here in Guadalajara, Mexico. No interest in tonight's results - just following the football as normal."

that's beautiful

It doesn't get more involved than that

worst Sting cover ever

@Joey7Barton
This Arsenal game is worse than the cricket...

Watching this for 30 secs and im kinda sick of it. Feel like turning it off like a martyr and offering the tv over to herself, get those soft points where i can

clearly this Aaron Ramsey performance exhausts superlatives

Hearing Koscielny has a skull base fracture...

fener are a shit side for the money they have spent

MNEK was £12m ish

triffic bit of short selling by spartal

Arsenal looking useful. A couple of smart acquisitions and they could be real challengers.

o jenko :(

jenks should of scored

ha xp

Think they might batter us on sunday tbh

can we standardise either jenks or jenko pls, obv jenky is abominable

Jenk.

with a Spanish 'j' obv

jenk is the kind of sobriquet you append to a lumbering beast CB or CM, not a gangly RB with deceptive pace

Carlo jenkinovič

Jenkers

at arsenal college london that'd be dandy my dear fellow

either that or the name of his first nightclub

Jenk - 11 nov 2011
Jenks - 19 dec 2012
Jenko - 27 aug 2013

dzhénx

, bruv

*, mphrab

gienq

The Ox & Jenko on tour in Asia!

We've seen the Per and Poldi comedy double act on tour and now we have new pretenders to the throne - The Ox and Carl Jenkinson!

The young England internationals have been inseparable friends ever since their arrival at the Club in the summer of 2011.

But after two weeks of living in each other's pockets are the cracks beginning to show? Not a chance.

Check out our video of the pair bantering about their time together in Asia by pressing the 'Play' button above.

Copyright 2013 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source

so yeah it's jenks from now on

guys

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenkem

so obv

hope stet isn't going to be getting any writs for that c&p

do u think arsenal's legal department will consider four lines as fair usage

is there a Europa League thread btw? meant to flag up that consolation goal against Swansea last Thursday, as good a bicycle kick as you'll see

duke jenkem and it's a deal

paok v schalke game was bonkers, played in a near empty stadium. it was 1-1 60 mins in and jones gets sent off for schalke and then schalke go 2-1 up 3 mins after the sending off. cue a flurry of awful defending, a couple of goals from set pieces and sitters missed. schalke manager brings on youngster meyer who sets up a goal and then takes him off 3 mins later. entertaining game but both sides were really poor and it ended up 3-2 to schalke who have really dropped off although drexler is a really classy player.

just like to reiterate that content was taken from www.arsenal.com the official site of the arsenal football club plc

Michael Laudrup hasn't done his homework Europa League 2013/14

that sounds pretty good michael

i was going to watch it but couldn't really be bothered watching fitba so i watched arsenal instead

max meyer is extremely highly rated in germany, flattering comparisons to gotze and ozil and from the u17 world cup highlights its not too hyperbolic

draxler is just excellent

first half was truly wretched i might add. i was surprised to see that felipe santana ended up in schalke although watching him tonight i can see why.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8hCgEavLJo

http://deadspin.com/this-is-how-you-protest-uefa-sanctions-1210719525

Uefa has threatened Shakhter Karagandy with disciplinary proceedings if they continue to perform the ritual slaughter of animals around games.

The Kazakh champions caused a stir when they slaughtered a sheep at the Astana Arena the day before last Tuesday night's 2-0 Champions League play-off first-leg win over Celtic, leading animal rights group Peta to express its outrage in a strongly worded letter to Uefa president Michel Platini, urging the organisation to punish Shakhter.

There were concerns that Shakhter would repeat the ritual at Parkhead in the return leg this evening and, although it is now clear that will not happen, European football's governing body has made it clear that disciplinary proceedings will be launched if the practice is repeated.

In a letter to Shakhter's executive director, Yerden Khalilin, Uefa competitions director Giorgio Marchetti said: "We were informed that an animal slaughter took place at some point prior to the Uefa Champions League fixture involving FC Shakhter Karagandy and Celtic FC at the Astana Arena on Tuesday 20 August 2013.

"Although certain practices may be culturally rooted, they have no place in or around a sporting arena or event.

"In this context, I would like to make you aware that animal slaughter on a football pitch or in a stadium before, during or after a Uefa competition match – or with reference to a Uefa competition – is totally improper, and will not be tolerated.

"In case of re-occurrence, it will inevitably lead to a full investigation by our disciplinary bodies."

So hopefully when Celtic lose the tie we can still sneak through like we did against Sion

this time u are the sheep

if shakhter draw man u i reckon edward woodward should avoid the away leg.

Man U not in the Europa League iirc
</hopeless optimism>

See we're giving them a man of a start by playing Forrest...

Not one of our summer signings deemed worthy of a starting place, well done to our famous worldwide scouting network.

But now is not the time for pessimism. 4-0 us.

Beginning to wish I'd gone to the pub, but the pub doesn't have a couch to hide behind.

Both our right backs on the park, Lenny'll need a new first substitution.

sg are only mild favourites at most bookies

why is james forrest shit? is tony watt not shit? how is scott brown doing these days?

James Forrest is ineffectual when deprived of space to run into.

Scott Brown has been pretty good since coming back from injury last season.

Jury out on Tony Watt - not getting enough time on the pitch or in his position.

hmmn i hope he does alright so he doesn't become another federico macheda

Boateng 1_0. Oh well, psv needed to score anyway.

Balotelli's link up play has been exceptional so far tonight.
Maher looks good tho.

Timely goal from Commons, I think if we'd gone in 0-0 we'd have really struggled to get going again.

<3 Samaras

And Samaras keeps the momentum going this side of half time. I am still not good at this optimism malarkey.

I also fucking love Sami, the big hairy daftie.

My mum, who knows next to nothing about football, has just phoned to say that "that team you're playing" look "really nasty. They all look like thugs not footballers". My mum OTM.

What do Celtic need? One more?

Terrible miss

ffs Celtic

Heading for extra time atm, though I doubt it'll get there. Celtic need to score more than Shakhter from here, or no more goals and win on penalties.

Forrest playing well. Stokes couldn't hit Kenny Miller's arse wi a banjo.

Taking too many chances at the back.

Meh.

the EL's the place to be, man

Cunt's challenge that, easily a red

nice

!

Stokes u beaut

feel a little for the kazakh lads

celtic result ensures animal sacrifice will resume by the truckload. despicably selfish.

Never in doubt though was it, apart from one dodgy moment?
I've got no time for time wasting thugs tbh. Reminds me too much of the domestic game.

ftewe

barca - PSG - man city - napoli

make it happen draw gods

Aw, can't they get Dortmund?

Not Barcelona again, please. I cannae stick commentators going on about them.

Teams that qualify for the group stage will also participate in the newly formed 2013-14 UEFA Youth League, a competition available to players aged 19 or under

Is this what killed NextGen?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013%E2%80%9314_UEFA_Youth_League

Request thread title change plz.

Not insinuating anything obv, but what the hell were those Karagandy defenders doing when Stokes went past them?!

xp NEVER

happy that arsenal and celtic have qualified

No

i'm sorry you are not sharing my joy

Football's way more about loathing than love

Touch of the Archie Gemmills about Stokes' jinking run to set up the winner last night, amirite?

http://i.minus.com/ibmVPzBeIoTjSO.gif

touch of the knackered half-arsed defending tbh

I think they were tired and afraid of giving away a penalty. Good footwork from Stokes all the same.

http://i.imgur.com/o8q6lwc.jpg

I can't find a photo of Scott Brown getting himself booked for noising up the Shakhter Karagandy keeper after the goal.

Delicate fingers for a big man

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/69531000/jpg/_69531074_samaras.jpg

hope you're happy

@SerieAFFC 4m
Champions League rehearsal draw saw Man Utd, Juventus, Dortmund and Real Sociedad drawn together

Billy McNeill starting to show his age.

Dunno why I always tune into these things at the advertised time - UEFA drag everything out every year.

Chelsea luck out with Schalke. Arsenal get Marseille. Far worse teams from pot 2 they could've got. Always Milan-Barca feels like every year!

Utd already got it worse than the last two years

Man City going into the Real Madrid/Juventus group would be quite funny now.

Owen getting tortured by mentions of Istanbul on stage right now. Ha!

FFS Chelsea how spawny can you get.

give me the options and the price list and i'll tell you

Arsenal gonna have to get Dortmund here I think.

I guess Celtic will be rooting for C or G here then?

Higuin gets to play at the Emirates!

oof that's not a good draw for Arsenal

same old :(

Oh look Celtic-Barca again.

Mourinho leads a charmed life.

Wonder what the odds are on Chippy Vela getting the winner at OT?

Other than Marseille that's exactly what you want for Arsenal. Pretty good draw except Chelsea. Most teams could qualify from most groups.

Gies some new teams, we've beat all that lot already.

Lennon's taken to the Yazoo in despair
http://i.minus.com/iBCmPHGYHud6K.gif

porto / atleti / zenit looks fun

arsenal's looks nasty

united's looks pretend tricky

fuck chelsea

Utd's might be interesting, see how Phil Neville coaches them through a CL campaign

neil lennon drinks chocolate yazoo, ewwww

I got a ticket for Arsenal v Napoli today, hope this isn't a terrible idea for my first proper match

I doubt I'll ever be able to afford to go again

Excellent choice imo. Rafa in Europe is something to see - it might be a bit short on thrills but should be compelling for that. It's a smashing group for fixtures - I was looking at the Dortmund games but don't think I can make any of them.

Weirdly I actually sort of forgot about Dortmund, maybe if it goes well I'll get flush with excitement and try and make that one too

If nothing else at least I'll get to hear that sweet champions league music

I think that Hamsik's hair/shark face should be worth it. Glad for the reassurance tho! Been so long since I saw a proper match live I've sort of forgotten what it's like, I fear being tempted in to going too often

wish i could see utd-bayer, lots of talent on display front 4 of kiesling, son, sam, and can, vs. van persie, rooney, valencia, and kagawa(!)

son, sam and can is almost biblical

Watching Gala vs Real. It was ok till Real scored, because Cim Bom were better, but I think Real will cruise to 0-3 now.

Real deserve to lose, if only for that hideous Comic Sans like font on the back of their shirts.

Laughable Rooney miss followed by classy Rolfes curler to equalise.

they're loving that on the Wolves match text

tyldesley chuckling about ABUs has got to be a new low

lol twp getting narky

just saw the two mins of that that corresponded with that great counter attack valencia goal

nice

Holy shit @ Yaya's goal

holy shit at weiss's goal

Ya that was a beauty too.

holy shit at yaya's goal

holy shit an ancelotti's eyebrow, after a good result that thing really goes buckwild huh

Weiss as in that wee tit that used to play for Rangers?

yap

some decent goals tonight
http://i.minus.com/iulqWNTFp0mGb.gif

Kinda stoked about tonight's games. Think I'm gonna go with Napoli vs Dortmund.
Welcome From Dortmund

Tempted to put a fiver on Barcelona reaching double digits tonight tbh

We don't have any Chelsea fans on ilf anymore do we? Interested to know how Van Ginkel and Willian get on tonight.

the 10 year-old in me is listening to the radio commentary solely for the pleasure of hearing Alan Green making accidental Fanni jokes

Xp it's sad Pete isn't around any more, would welcome a Chelsea fan here again

Messi scored 1-0 with a free kick against Ajax. Disappointed that Barca ain't 4-0 up already.

Higuin, 1-0. Lovely cross good header.

Klopp sent off

Subotic was off injured. Ref wouldn't allow him back on. Napoli scored while he was off. Klopp with the sarcastic applause.

How are Napoli looking? The ol' Rafa magic?

Klopp was sent off just because of a sarcastic applause? Srsly?

re klopp, looks like twas a bit more than that

http://youtu.be/GWoU16D4f4w

Barca Ajax game is a piece of shite. Ajax can't, Barca won't. Was hoping for a proper 7-0 or something.

That is amazing.

Celtic are giving me the heebies by being not shit, which means they will do something calamitous and terrible any time soon.

Klopp clip is amazing, not Barca being shite.

Chelsea tragically in front

Hummels hamstring strain comes off. Aubameyang on. Weidenfeller sent off!!!

Holy shit that Ambrose/Forster fankle was exactly the sort of thing I was saying about calamitous and terrible. AC Milan are very much hit'n'hoping it here though. Game's there for the taking.

Acres of space at the back cost hummels subbed off, before they reorganised ball over the top, weidenfeller charges off his line to stop higuin, handles outside of the box.

What I hate so much is that the pundits here are saying it ain't half bad from Ajax. The audience in Barcelona seem equally impressed by Ajax as a name from the past. They'd be sacrificing sheep in the stands if Barca were only 1-0 up against Karagandy. But when it's Ajax they have this huge respect all of a sudden. Fuck that.

Who's on Dortmund-watch? Down to 10 men? Is my both-teams-to-score coupon gubbed?

xposts, ah ok, cheers.

Good first half for Celtic, bar a couple of scary moments. Matthews getting all sorts of opportunities but unfortunately looking every bit the full back pushed forward too far. Mulgrew in midfield surprisingly effective for once.

Ismael, Napoli looking v good, atmosphere amazing. Lewandowski did have the first chance tho, good save by pepe. Rafa knows Europe.

On revista Guillem Balague reckoned Celtic could qualify out of their group. He didn't think Milan were anything other than poor.

Ailsa, how's Virgil van Dijk holding up?

not as good as the Valbuena/Kompany pic but in the same ballpark:

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/9/18/1379532324717/Arsenal-010.jpg

Van Dijk looking OK, nothing scary (awaits usual jinx to ensue). Was really impressed with him at the weekend.

I want to say nice things about van Dijk in 43 minutes or so.

^ that's what I should have done.

Thought Sami was going to score a belter there.

Guardian mbm says "Willian looking entirely surplus to requirements"

anyone watching can comment?

Charlie Mulgrew just attempted a bicycle kick and ended up on his arse. Stick to, er, not doing that, please.

sitter missed for Milan - they're getting in behind us now

Aye, Muntari should've scored there. My mind is still boggling at a world where Charlie Mulgrew attempts bicycle kicks against AC fucking Milan.

Thanks Ailsa! Always thought of him as a bright prospect. Holland is v v low on backs, and he seems like a good guy. Hope he continues to improve.

arsenal lead, defensive fuck-up, good finish by theo

My bottle's gone here. We're getting at them but it's leaving us wide open to breaks. Milan forwards getting on the ball too easily

Insigne thunderous free kick off the underside of the bar and in. 2-0 Napoli rampant.

Aubemayang off the bar and out to deny ailsa her bet.

Positive subs from Lennon, sucker punch due any time now :(

That's the only btts I had, the rest were wins, Chelsea also now fucking it. Stupid football.

oooooh Stokes hits crossbar from free kick

Here comes young Jonas Hofmann for Dortmund. V exciting player. Been impressed with how on the front foot the napoli CB's have been tonight always looking to nick the ball around the halfway line.

fuckers

shitty deflected shot

JINXY McJINX :-(

shot was going ten yards wide

Oh, ffs, they fucking do NOT deserve to be 2 goals up.

Free kick for off the ball incident? Rule check plz.

One Celtic player following that in versus five Milan players. Fucking hopeless defending.

Zuniga og helps ailsa out. Tiny chance for Dortmund maybe.

Ref giving em some soft free kicks here.

And to add insult to injury, Dortmund get the goal I was after, but fucking Chelsea are losing now. What a fucking shit night.

lol xpost

Reus lines up the free kick...............

Good save Pepe

Chelsea lost at home to Basel!

fucking Chelsea are losing now. What a fucking shit night
fucking Chelsea are losing now. What a fucking shit night
fucking Chelsea are losing now. What a fucking shit night
fucking Chelsea are losing now. What a fucking shit night

Mourinho's first defeat at Stamford Bridge iirc. Second coming my arse.

Feels like an O'Neill era defeat. Loads of positives in possession etc but ultimately found out defensively once again.

They were winning until Mata came on. Clearly his fault.

Ha, yes, out of context, that looks like the wrongest thing I've ever said.

xposts to IK

Napoli hold on ,strange at the end but they were by far the better side. Suck it Jose, Rafa rules!

Didn't Chelsea lose a League Cup tie at home to Charlton or reading under mourinho at Stamford bridge?

on penalties

anyway,

http://b.vimeocdn.com/ps/385/922/3859227_300.jpg

Here's Mikael Lustig turning Balotelli upside down to cheer me up:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BUeZULYCAAAGv9P.jpg

didn't touch him imo

supermario won't be on lus tig

Great photo though, it's like a still from Cirque du Soleil or something.

yeah, reminds me of this artist i saw somewhere who isn't into football at all but is fascinated by the extreme contorted poses that occur during games

incredible free-kick by lorenzo for napoli last night

yeah

but srsly basel first goal

also the lol schalke goal is good, i mean you see crosses drift in untouched but this one is like it's a holy protected magic spell.

That first Schalke goal is a Jesper Gronkjaer classic. The move leading up to the third goal is great though.

I hate that the BBC described the Celtic performance as "spirited".

"Brave Celtic sunk by Milan"

I swear that's prob even the right amount of characters for a BBC headline.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BUhgRxCCMAAF-fB.jpg

from some twitter bantz merchant: "Wayne Rooney spotted in the Chelsea dugout last night wearing a stick on moustache!"

pretty funny in fairness to the lad.

I love the first Basel goal looks like a football themed pinball machine.

that goal is like the type of fifa passing that people criticize as being unrealistic

fair comment

i mean im not even sure, say there's five involved in the move, that three of them have any idea.

Neil Lennon controversially claims that Barcelona are "good"

It appears that with mega-increased access to TBLITW in the USA the downside is highly-reduced access to Champions League play. (Or so the griping on twitter leads me to believe.)

this is bollocks, why isnt arsenal napoli the tv game

ooh ozil cracker

ozil is my god

if arse get another soon this could end up a thrashing, shredding them on the counter here

havent seen arse play like this in... a long-ass time

Rafa out

zuniga's good fun for napoli

RTC otm. Arsenal on fire the first half.

looking forward to Suedey's report

scott brown sent off for having a kick at neymar

how is neymar

What a moron. Like it isn't hard enough.

Craig Burley totally didn't see anything

i doubt neymar even noticed the kick he was too busy rolling around after the non foul. but brown is a dick for doing that.

sorry it was Craig Levein

still a dick whichever one it was

i know, just assumed Burley wd be more biased

hah i think there's bad blood between burley & celtic actually

barcelona game is dull

maybe something happens but if it does it will be through chance or error rather than deliberately

cesc's lack of quickness is more obvious playing for barcelona in this role than it is when he plays for spain

goal for fabregas

lol

Gonna be a few angry celtic supporters after your blood nakh

good for cesc

i hate watching barcelona without messi

cesc does seem to score a lot of orthodox #9 goals like that when playing 'false #9' for barcelona

someone ahould sms onimo or ailsa at the game telling them who to blame.

fraser forster looks great making those saves most gks find hard to reach

seems like the hype about him from the last time they played barcelona has died down now

lol ajax

if you play in scotland the british media dont care really. If he played in England he would be their #2 keeper i think

yes but to play in england he would have to convince an epl manager/director and have more than half a dozen matches per season vs reasonable opposition in order to be chosen for their national team

you can't say players in scotland are ignored when an epl side pays 3 times what atletico paid for david villa in order to buy a midfielder that kilmarnock's former manager says can't pass

I wasn't at the game. Brown was a tit but Neymar was pulling some Derlei shit all the way through the game and my only shameful opinion is that if he was going to get himself a red he should have kicked him harder.

haha yeah

Have to admit that's what I said in the pub as well, might as well have made it worthwhile.

especially if there's a ban for violent conduct as a result which is presumably what the red card was for.

i think there's bad blood between burley & celtic

He's a touch unhappy about his time at Celtic, it's true, and there's precious few, if any, Celtic fans that have any time for him. He's a negative wee bawsack and I resent every second I've ever spent listening to his whingy negative ignorant dismissive views on anything to do with Scottish football. I believe he's over doing ESPN's coverage of Scottish football in the US, and good fucking luck to anyone who employs that tit to promote their product. I expect if he'd seen Brown's kick at Neymar he'd have completely forgotten his own petulant boot at yon Moroccan dude in the 1998 World Cup and been calling for Brown's public flogging and for Celtic to be expelled from all European competition for the rest of all time.

(I don't like Craig Burley)

Anyway, the game. The main thing I was noticing all game, and it can't have escaped the notice of our management team, is that every time Samaras got the ball there were three or four Barcelona players around him almost instantly. Now, that's three or four players not around someone else, but he rarely had an out ball to whoever those guys were ignoring to crowd around him because nobody showed for him because we don't have a midfield at the best of times, and with Scott Brown off we had even less of one, so he basically had to go and run at four guys who are pretty shit hot at removing the ball from you.

Also, ffs, that free header that Charlie Mulgrew put past the post...

The Arsenal Napoli game last night was kind of odd, I hadn't been to the Emirates before and it was interesting experience. Odd crowd, it WAS quiet, the Napoli fans made more noise than the rest of the stadium it seemed. They sang for the whole game despite the scoreline. Every now and then one or two people piped up after a Napoli song and shouted "now piss off back home" which felt really out of place. Around me were one group of lads, couples, a dude with his mum, kids, tourists, a lot of Japanese dudes, VIP guests of Carlsberg, business guys and also lots of Italians. It was cool but there wasn't much of an atmosphere either, there was a lot of space and lots of polite clapping for good play and only real excitement for the goals... people were still coming in by the second goal as well, which really annoyed me, and started leaving 15 mins early - so on that basis everything I heard was true.

It felt totally unreal like it wasn't really happening, like I was watching myself play FIFA on a really fancy fucking screen or something. The first half was definitely like that, it felt like Napoli weren't even there, Arsenal just dominated everything. Everything was so assured it was ridiculous, they seemed to have the ball the entire time and the passing and skill was never in question even if it didn't always come off. I expected them to score every time, and seeing as they did so early I just wanted more and more and was disappointed when the game sort of petered out. It was a great performance obviously, but it all happened so quickly, I'll probably watch the whole game on the arsenal site today

Some of the Arsenal play was sublime, nice to see Rosicky who was great in the first 45 and had some amazing touches then got tired and a bit sloppy in the second before being replaced by Wilshere. Napoli were never really up to much, they couldn't have had more than a couple of shots in the whole game. Arsenal should have scored more but started getting in each others way and being a little indecisive after the first two, but it didn't really matter (except I got a taste for goals). Ozil's goal was amazing, in the blink of an eye just like his run and pass for Giroud on the second, they were finding space everywhere and Napoli were very disappointing after all the hype. No Higuain but most of their players seemed anonymous to me (although watching live I was finding it harder to keep track anyway) save for Hamsik's hair and oh look, Pepe Reina

Giroud is a fucking beast by the way, he won every single thing in the air and most good play involved him flicking it on or heading it and that was great to see. Ozil was obviously amazing, Ramsey was good but seemed to be trying a bit too hard at times on the wing and trying to score, Rosicky was great for one half and was involved in really intricate stuff - could appreciate him much more live so was glad to see him, love him. Sad I didn't get to see Bendtner come on, I was watching him on the sidelines and hoping. Flamini and Arteta pretty much bossed it, and seeing Per stick a long languorous leg out to stop any dangerous attacks was fantastic. Kos seems like his perfect partner, all last ditch tackles rather than that slow assured style, and he was solid, and Sagna and Gibbs were involved in building up most promising attacks. It was hard to realise this was such a good performance in a way because it felt so easy it seemed like it was always this way, kind of a gentle introduction for me but also now my expectations are sky high and I won't accept anything less.

I couldn't buy a beer because of UEFA regulations, that's the most stupid fucking thing. I think a prem game might be better in terms of atmosphere/beer/lack of UEFA and also I think getting a seat in the lower tiers might be more fun in general, although my view was pretty great (still felt like playing the most expensive game of FIFA)

Great report. I'm holding off on getting Liverpool tickets (on sale today) in hope of picking up exchange tix for the lower tier. Never been down there before, but the upper tier can definitely be like you say - people disappearing at halftime and so on, loads of tourists. aiui touts take out membership cards, and lend them to tourists at a hefty fee plus hefty deposit. So much for cards cutting down on touting.

otm re Rosicky, he's fantastic to see live - so quick how he takes on people in short bursts. He seems to have a rep as this feeble, easily-discouraged guy, but he doesn't look that way in the flesh at all.

calling for Brown's public flogging

Seems fair enough to me. I thought Charlie Mulgrew was going to start crying in his post match interview.

xp Yeah I was really glad he was back for this! He's very committed, puts in great tackles and wins the ball back in such style

Quick word on Jack Wilshere too, I know he's good but I didn't really realise just how until last night, taking one touch when receiving the ball and suddenly finding himself space and leaving two players standing, was really good to watch. They had some really good chances on the counter but nothing came of them, still needs to work on letting go of the ball and making better decisions near the opponents box but just so lovely to see that sort of skill and simplicity

I was thinking about the Liverpool game too, just to see what sort of atmosphere there'd be for that one! But actually not sure I'll really be able to afford to go again for a while, maybe the league cup against chelsea for some cheap thrills though

BGITW

BGITW is a year old next week, when does this stop being a slump?

http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljut9qKvny1qf3608o1_500.gif

15 min: Ribéry rushes down the right-hand side of the box, then does an about-turn and tees up Schweinsteiger, whose low shot is saved - yes, saved! - by Hart.

nothing wrong with a cheap shot imo

yep, Fellaini is shite

Galatasaray one-up at Juventus, it's the Mancini effect

Bayern have been just wonderful to watch tonight. total demolition. even Dunphy was begrudgingly complimentary to them at half time.

hart is pony

http://imageshack.us/a/img33/3083/q2ed.jpg

lol never change

Seriously impressed by Bayern. Passing Citeh to bits.

http://i.minus.com/ibfsFampPwV5WI.gif

Are the highlights on regular telly tonight? Last night's highlights were useless - two goals in two attacks for Arsenal, then the rest of the game was all Napoli.

http://celebrityhairstylez.com/greece/kostas-mitroglou-hairstyles/

not often you see a man with such finely sculpted eyebrows

Arsenal - Dortmund being on ITV has made my week. Prospect of midfield's both being slightly lighter-weight than usual with Flamini and Gundogan both out, potential for luscious free-flowing attacking football is high

superfluous apostrophes, really got my money's worth out of that English degree

http://i.imgur.com/52nUfAj.gif

is dortmund's hardman, not gundogan

lewa auba and reus vs big merts ought to be some entertainment

still kinda feel like dortmund will flake this out though

Well yeah Bender obviously more defensively minded than Gundogan but Ilkay plays sits deep and covers quite a lot of ground, won't do them any good not to have him in there with all of Arsenal's attacking mids. Who's playing instead of Gundogan atm, Sahin?

Yup, Sahin. Gundogan is their best mid by far tho. Grosskreutz the weak link at FB. Reus has been terrific so far this season and Aubameyang only so so.

Want back to back Dortmund wins in this double header so that it all comes down to Napoli-Arsenal in the final game.

how has Mkhitaryan been doing so far? Haven't heard much about him

Haven't seen their last 2 games but the 5 before that he was pretty great. Moves the ball v quickly and smoothly, not a tricksy #10 but good at finding space and making runs into the box. I hadn't seen him play before this season but now that I have I'd say that if he had gone to LFC then only Suarez would be remotely on his level.

CSKA manager Leonid Slutsky agrees that the pitch is in a poor state.

Slutsky, whose side have lost five of their last seven games in all competitions, said: "I suppose the quality of the pitch is, absolutely, equal to the quality of our latest results."

Guardian mbm'ing Milan-Barca tonight but not Celtic-Ajax

Keano!

Good work Chilesy, would've been easy to duck that

gah, Keano occupying the moral high ground not as good as watching Keano not

Wrighty pronouncing it 'ozzle' pleases me

bah i missed the keano bit

did he just stop himself from saying "absofuckinglutely" a minute ago btw

Chiles's question was nice: 'On a scale of 1 to 10, how angry are you?'

02 Sep 2002
Sir Alex Ferguson said last night that he had changed his mind about Roy Keane's sending-off against Sunderland and admitted that the Manchester United captain deserved to be shown the red card for his clash with Jason McAteer.

McAteer, one of the Republic of Ireland players who criticised Keane for walking out of the World Cup squad, was clearly shown on television baiting Keane. He mouthed, "Put it in your book", to Keane and mimed writing, a reference to the United captain's controversial autobiography.

ok seen it now. did like wright giggling his tits off tbf

also lol at him with "the all-seeing all-knowing alex ferguson saying those things it seems a bit unnecessary"

clinical

balls up

fuckin Aaron Ramsey eh. getting a big head

umm kit ari anne

lol kloppo is such a cartoon character

arse lucky to get nil so far jeff

srsly looks like dortmund have 17 players on the pitch

Fairly even at Celtic Park, though we're* starting to give it away in our own half and commit a few fouls.

Ajax just hit the post.

* we in this case meaning Emilio Izaguirre

fuck you arsenal, yr pants, i was looking forward to this all day

thanks Arsenal i feel okay about staying in now

Giroud's been really good

Messilike finish

still dont understand his hair but great cf play

yeah hes looked the most lively for arsenal. this is good though it was like watching spain v ireland there for a bit

Penalty to us... scored by Forrest after loads of time wasting and fucking about by Ajax + ref.

lol at Chiles using Roy as his straight man. No way he finishes the night with all his teeth

We've started the second half well.

Millions of polis surrounding the Ajax fans - something either kicking off or just about to, I think.

2-0

2-0!

Forster saves one-on-one and we went up the other end and scored right away - slight deflection from Kayal shot took it away from the keeper.

apparently the Ajax fans are ripping up seats and launching them at Celtic fans, stewards and police

been causing trouble all day in town apparently

are ajax fans noted cunts?

I went to the game in Amsterdam in 2000 and we had to run a gauntlet of flying bricks and poles and bottles to get into the stadium.

"one's called Ronald, one's called Frank" ringing around Celtic Park :)

are ajax fans noted cunts?

i know what one of our posters is gonna say here :D

Did you rang? :)

GO CELTIC AND YES AJAX FANS ARE V V NOTABLE CUNTS

there it is

ha

Ghehe, i honestly hadn't looked at ilx for weeks, but thought 'Awes! Celtic 2-0 up!' Timing is everything :)

Terrible referee this, he's just forced Celtic to substitute a defender when they wanted to wait until after a set piece.

Ajax have had more and better chances but their finishing has been woeful so far.

oof

referee's been garbage all night

feel like all recent referees at celtic pk in europe have been woeful

Wtf Biton...

ach fuck off ref

that take by Lewandowski a moment ago

What a fucking idiot

bad challenge but not a straight red

just as well game's a bogey

another slack red at CP

Nonsense to call a ref on that imo, esp in europe

Not a straight red?! Blimey, I'm the first to wish ill on Ajax, but this was ankle breaker if I ever saw one.

An ankle breaker

ach fuck off ref

changed my mind, stupid tackle from Biton

Ooof

In my defence I have to put up with cunts going in like that on Celtic players every week and getting away with it.

Ah fuck goal for them.

YYYAAAAAAASSSSS!!!!

Wipe the flair wi thum!

Good performances from Forrest, Kayal, Forster, Mulgrew, Samaras and most notably Virgil van Dijk.

Van Dijk will be Van Gaal's surprise pick for the World Cup, calling it. Though you can't quote me on that.

If Ajax win 1-0 over Celtic in their home game, that Schone goal could be p costly :-/

flying seat

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BXNWVgOCEAAdsxV.jpg

Barcelona remain the only team to have ever beaten Celtic at Celtic Park in the group stages. We'd be some team if we could travel.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BXNActXIAAAKKq3.jpg

(another Barca victory and tonight's defeat of Ajax missing from the bottom0

I didn't realise it was quite that good. How do you explain the terrible away form though?

a man short without TBFITW

Does any club claim to have average fans, fans who are much the same as any other?

fulham?

Haha, they probably do as well.

the away form jpg would be correspondingly awful

was a time celtic hadn't won away in europe for an age, until they beat spartak moscow

Didn't they win away loads in the Uefa cup year? It's not like quality of opposition explains it all, plenty of average teams reach the CL group stages.

10 (!) years ago

grown so old, grown so ugly

Van Dijk will be Van Gaal's surprise pick for the World Cup, calling it. Though you can't quote me on that.

He's good, and he's becoming adept at doing the work of two men having to play alongside Ambrose

Ambrose isn't nearly as bad as he used to be, and is frequently on the right side of good.

Never in the cl ime....woeful second half last night, didnt see first

Ambrose doesn't let a CL game pass without a stupid failed dribble in his own half that puts his team in trouble.

(xp) tbf that's the only time I get to see him

man city scraping a 2-1 win against a poor cska side. hart making a last minute save against honda.

Kagawa starts!

...with Rooney at #10 and Giggs in midfield

I actually think Moyes is setting him up to fail

nah, this is the dream game for you lot - putting la liga to the sword without having to move out of second gear

game is on Sky 1 btw fyi

Does Modric usually play as a 10 for RM? Also Juve going with a back four from what I can tell.

He's got deeper throughout his career but he can play that role, he did for Zagreb and for Croatia on occasion.

Ronaldo one nil. RM kinda 4 4 2 with CRon and Benzema up top.

This ref's a card-happy bellend

ok yeah Sociedad are shit. Should be out of sight though

Ibra completing his hat-trick earlier btw

http://i.imgur.com/im1NpZg.gif

ping i believe would be the word

There is a god. Zlatan.

inevitable Sociedad equaliser coming up

madrid juve pretty much dead since chiellini was sent off

bale subbed in

ronaldo being a total twat getting chellini sent off

Kagawa starts!

...with Rooney at #10 and Giggs in midfield

I actually think Moyes is setting him up to fail

― Number None, Wednesday, October 23, 2013 7:04 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

truth nuke

HOWEVER

"work in progress" cannot be repeated enough

Had a brilliant second half tonight and him and Rooney actually look like they could get a decent partnership going (as they did against Norwich last season)

time to drop RVP?

"He hadn't really found his feet yet but I saw something from Shinji tonight which I hadn't seen in other games, so I was really pleased."

"His effort when we didn't have the ball was fantastic. With Shinji, everybody tells me about his ability and what he has got, but tonight is the first time I’ve really seen Shinji.

"I thought when we put him into the no.10 role, and even after it, he was good with Wayne. His attitude and energy were excellent and I was pleased for him.

A+ Moyes trolling

i've seen something from david seaman that i hadnt seen before tonight, wenger said, his close control, his running and his final ball were all excellent, which is something that i hadn't seen before.

juve madrid is shit

Wonderfully taken penalty.

varane gives away stupid penalty that vidal converts

probably a good thing, madrid might bring on isco and try to play
a bit

utd sociedad game is boring too. chicarito missing an open goal has been the highlight so far.

even by Utd away in Europe standards it's been remarkably tedious

Fergie often had Utd play with an intensity, desire and speed that could mask all manner of mediocrity. Moyes seems content to let them slow it down and show their true class.

to make matters worse sociedad dont seem the least bit bothered in playing either

this has suddenly got very interesting, bale with a powerful nearpost finish 1-2

Positive subs from Moyes. Kagawa central now

bale and ronaldo on the break just look so lethal

even that time when ronaldo refused to pass and ended up shooting from a stupid angle

Good run from Kagawa results in RVP hitting the post, best football they've played so far.

Fellaini bringing his own brand of desire and intensity to the game by elbowing and kicking everyone.

llorente 2-2

hes like the best champo forward in the world

turn on, real falange concede. excellent

lol turned on radio penalty Utd

ILF trolls of the future

xpost ashley young dives badly wins peno and then rvp hits it straight at the keeper hahahaha

which Utd politely miss

Young at it again.

Penalty saved.

how's this for some progressive banter: juve aren't much better

ashley young, honestly what is he like

foreign players ruining the blitw with their cheating ways

Robin van Persie steps up and sums up Manchester United's day by wrapping his penalty against the far post. All power, no finesse.

How is there a far post with a penalty?

he ran in parallel to the goal line

Ah. I never knew it worked like that. I thought it was about the position of the ball compared to the posts. Which, for both posts, is the same with a penalty.

This world never ceases to amaze me.

Wait, you're pulling my leg right?

Been a long day...

lol sorry dude

<3

buffon 70-yard ball out of hand onto toe of running marcelo w/o breaking stride

that's the shit that gets me going

wait is there a marcelo on both sides

fellaini sent off

proving he's capable of doing it on the big stage

deserved tbh

yup

Special police brigades are breaking up fights between Celtic and Ajax fans in Amsterdam. The city's on emergency alert not just because of that, but also because fans of Anderlecht, Zagreb (playing PSV tomorrow) and St. Pauli (wtf) are on their way for a good old hooligan tiff... Smdh

hooliganism still a big thing in holland?

Not that I know, oddly enough! Can't remember the last time something like this even happened. I know the Zagreb fans are feared, but I've no clue why clubs from Germany and Belgium who aren't even playing are suddenly joining in.

Didn't you report on Anderlecht hooligans stirring up trouble in Holland a year or two ago. Celtic do claim an affinity with St Pauli, but I doubt it's related to fighting.

Jeff Stelling just now (over a shot of the Dortmund fans singing You'll Never Walk Alone)

"They're playing our style of football...and now they're singing our songs as well!"

Xp Can't remember if I did report on that or not.. :-/

I blame wine

dortmund just look so much faster and fitter. (great technique too.)

Arsenal acquitting themselves quite well i think

kaka surprisingly lively

Just home in time for a dull last three minutes of Ajax vs Celtic. Looks like I didn't miss much. Various texts reporting Samaras, Stokes, Commons, Forest and Izaguirre as being shite.

It's a dire match, Onimo. I'm only watching to see Ajax lose against this, quite frankly, hilariously bad Celtic.

Great chance for us there, Kayal seeing the glory as it opened up then wasting the chance.

1-0 them, ripped open like we weren't there.

rip football

And screw Celtic for allowing Schone to score in the dying seconds last time around. Costly.

On what I've seen so far Boerrigter for Forrest maybe looks like a plan. Forrest hasn't touched the ball. Boerrigter never more than half fit since he arrived but looks lively and useful on the rare occasions he can move.

nae cunt watching barcelona milan?

FUCK'S SAKE FORREST THAT'S FUCKING PISH

2 v 1 and instead of a) taking the man on or b) passing to Stokes he c) gives it to the 1 badly positioned defender.

Is Ramsey just going to be like this forever?

maybe if he didnt get shawx it would have happened at the same time as bale and real would be 2/11 welsh

I'll still be amazed if Arsenal win this

I'll still be amazed if Arsenal win this

― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 6 November 2013 21:06 (17 seconds ago)

i was about to type this same sentence

Virgil van Dijk doing ok. Everyone else, without exception, is pish.

Get the Arsenal-Dortmund game on if you haven't already, it's shaping up for an epic

BBC's "as it stands" table not looking good for us

http://i41.tinypic.com/2q1b8gp.jpg

double dutch

Oh, look, we're taking off our only "striker", that'll help.

there's yer other "striker" on now

messi neymar messi

>>>>>>>>>>>

how are messi and neymar playing together? has neymar settled in to la liga well?

Seriously impressive from Arsenal. I was expecting an onslaught from Dortmund, but they stifled them so well.

that was a penalty at the end though

neymar has mostly been good, messi has been underwhelming the last couple of games but a lot of people say he is pacing himself for the world cup, which is probably true and not the worst idea

xavi and especially iniesta a bit subued while tata moves to a quicker transition based game with 5-10% less possession per game

Celtic are shite. That was as bad a display as I've seen since, ooh, Saturday.

Welcome to Amsterdam :-(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KyvY1x-cs0&sns=tw

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/775095792.gif

Celtic are shite. That was as bad a display as I've seen since, ooh, Saturday.

First half of this game wss total mince... from both sides. There was an improvement in the 2nd half but only from Ajax.

"It's an opportunity lost, but all is not lost," said Lennon. "The whole thing could flip again if we beat Milan and Barcelona take something off Ajax."

ooh idk neil big ask for the catalan lads there

xxp can't stop watching the sunglasses + flag man.

feel like that gif is the first time in years it's felt like germany are an arrogant footballing behemoth rather than the technically brilliant underdogs doing things the right way.

last time i remember that feeling was watching croatia vanquish the 90s team in 1998.

that's not from last night fyi

but the context is

well it's from last year's all German CL final so not really

Then they were aiming at the stars with Live Forever; last night was them dropping Be Here Now

xxp can't stop watching the sunglasses + flag man.

Range of facial expressions on topless guy ftw

Nothing like the sobering slap in the face of your team conceding to make you remember that its fucking freezing and you're not wearing a shirt.

Paris Saint-Germain dropped their first points in this season's Champions League on Tuesday evening when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Anderlecht. The Belgians looked like they might snatch a win until The Mighty Zlatan Ibrahimovic rode in to save the day on his metaphorical ninja unicorn to bag a 70th-minute equalizer.

After the match, a few Anderlecht players revealed that the Swedish striker used more than just his power, agility and enchanting musk to gain the advantage: he also likes to trash talk. The Guardian has quotes that USMNT midfielder Sacha Kljestan gave to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad:

"After a perfectly normal challenge, Ibra turned to me and provoked me, making a joke about my moustache, saying: 'That really is terrible.'"

It seems wrong to mock a man for his face fuzz during Movember — even if it is a permanent fixture — but fortunately, Kljestan had a burn of his own lined up:

"I responded by saying that he should think about his nose."

Champions League: BT Sport wins £897m football rights deal

Celtic are being horribly naive here against Milan and are being picked off repeatedly on the break. Kaka and Balotelli have the freedom to do whatever they want. Defending at the Milan goal was shocking, Kaka four yards out, middle of goal, heading in from a corner with no-one near him.

Our attacking play has mostly involved the getting it wide and getting crosses in (mostly from deep) that failed so spectacularly over two legs against Juventus last year. This type of play gets people saying we are playing well and taking the game to them etc but Milan are clearly completely comfortable with that primitive tactic.

Ajax are terribly ok. 2-0 up against Barca :-/

And have had 55℅ of possession.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink is in the crowd. I'd be OK with the getting out wide and putting crosses in if he was on the park. When your main strike threat is Kris Commons, not so much.

The defending was an utter shambles at the Milan goal.

So tired of pundits mistaking "absolute fucking shite defending" for "zonal marking". Zonal defending wasn't the problem, it was that they weren't doing it properly. Or at all, really.

Amazing chance missed by Van Dijk. Corner at other end with NO DEFENDING again

0-2 :(

Provan still chuntering on about zonal fucking defending.

yeah p sure there's a difference between zonal marking and doing fuck all

Ajax down to 10 men and 1-2. My twitter feed being taken over by a highly disturbing photo of a man who fell from the stands at half time. Ambulance took him away, they are mopping the floor now :-(

Wish I hadn't clicked on that :-(

Celtic are being horribly naive here against Milan and are being picked off repeatedly on the break. Kaka and Balotelli have the freedom to do whatever they want. Defending at the Milan goal was shocking, Kaka four yards out, middle of goal, heading in from a corner with no-one near him.

Our attacking play has mostly involved the getting it wide and getting crosses in (mostly from deep) that failed so spectacularly over two legs against Juventus last year. This type of play gets people saying we are playing well and taking the game to them etc but Milan are clearly completely comfortable with that primitive tactic.
--^stop that^ (onimo)

Soz Ailsa

Mario's good but ffs don't just LET HIM DO WHATEVER THE FUCK HE WANTS

:-(

Zonal marking?

*ducks*

also, LBI, not your fault, you did say "highly disturbing"...

Just so we're clear I'm at the pub watching the arsenal game right now, had been checking in on this thread but I don't know how the hell zing made the quote upthread happen, it was entirely unintentional and wasn't meant to be drawing attention to any part of onimo's post. Now need to suss wtf is going on with zing. As you were.

Marseille have been wank btw

xp Yeah I know. Photos been removed already btw

I'm just taking the whole quote as a resounding otm xp

Hold on, Chelsea lost?! Youse might've said.

http://imageshack.com/a/img811/9231/qyi8.jpg

Aw hell, they qualify anyway? No wonder you managed to keep a lid on it.

Puskas and di Stefano both got hat-tricks?! Get outta here

thats a really good barca team that got beat. i thought they were going to play the youngsters.

shame chelsea are through and we arent. didnt see the game but all indicates to another ok second gear type performance that has got us doing alright this season already.

Heaven forfend that I should produce another by-the-numbers "Get Involved" post that'll draw nakh's terrifying articulate ire in my direction but really, you guys were by the far the better team and should've had a couple more

Terrifyingly articulate, fuck this phone etc

18 year old German-American forward comes on for Bayern vs CSKA and the US soccer twitter world blows the fuck up

Quite a feat to make Bayern's first team before wikipedia notices you.

Lovely jubbly

Pleased with MU winning with some goals again, but seriously, they don't have to play good to beat this dire Leverkusen squad.

Nonsense. This is a new dawn for The Pride of All Europe.

lol galatasaray

Peachy from Nani

Lol NBS

So. Fucking. Easy.

What's going on?

All the "See? Kagawa on 10 and we're brill!" Is such huge nonsense though. Buttner on 10 would've done equally well against this side.

3rd Juve goal was lovely. Pirlo clipped wide, Pogba dinked cross, Vidal floated header for his hat-trick. Llorente has been good as well. Sets up a Gala-Juve duel to the death on matchday 6. Tevez vs Mancini.

Drogba turn and pass for Gala goal was exquisite.

Apocalyptic hail storm in Istanbul. Which is the most exciting thing that has happend between Gala and Juve so far.

They brought in a pink ball! Feels like the '90s all over again!

The lines of the box etc can be seen any more. Play suspended. Bunch of pussies.

watch some usa/costa rica highlights in the meantime

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9xuaQDkmL8

no hail tho

Ha thanks! :) Play suspended for 20 mins so I have time. They are going to paint the lines orange now.

http://twitter.com/WillemBosch/status/410504808630845440/photo/1

Dutch pundits launch into analysis of the snow shoveling. I love football.

WHERE ARE YOU GUYS? THIS IS HISTORY IN THE MAKING. IT'S SNOWING AGAIN.

"Should the teams adjust their tactics to the weather?"
"The pitch is always of influence on the game."
"They are shoveling snow the best they can."

Pundit Ronald Koeman ladies and gentlemen. This is the best tv I've seen all year.

I'm feeding a baby and listening to Second Captains, LBI - it's very pleasant but I feel like I'm on the wrong side of history on this one

Haha :) To your consolation, I've never fed a baby. Not sure if that makes me being on the right or wrong side of history though :)

Pundit Youri Mulder, former international and striker for Schalke 04, losing his temper on live telly now.

"What the fuck are they doing? This is not how you shovel snow!"

It's like I'm watching a Beckett play. I feel deeply in love with life right now.

She fell asleep, allowing me to switch on just in time for the abandonment :(

I am watching the tragedy that is Man Utd on itv

Game off... All great things must come to an end ;_;

Onimo, I will join you in the misery as Dutch telly decided now to broadcast the second half of that.

http://imageshack.com/a/img856/8222/vb0h.jpg

Can't stomach the boring boringness that is my beloved MU this season :(

ManC seems the match to watch, coming up 2-3 from 2-0 now at Bayern

IK, you forgot the fifth image:

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02451/readers-snow-deer_2451171b.jpg

holy shit is that really the score in the man c match?

Yes it is!

james milner single handedly beating the world's greatest team.

Utd winning too now, this is excellent stuff

Januzaj is a bright light in an otherwise smothering greyness.

why what colour shirt is he wearing

He's not wearing a shirt, it seems. The others are, they are cold and shivery. That about sums it up.

Deems damnit you missed the GREAT SNOWED UNDER GAME OF 2013 NEVER FORGET

sorry trigonometry called

Check your priorities man.

Olympiakos - Anderlecht: THREE red cards for Anderlecht. THREE penalties for Olympiakos, who missed two.

If I were a Benfica fan, it would heavily frown on that...

Kljestan becomes the 5th American to score in the CL. and he was apparently just treated for skin cancer.

ended up having to sit in the special section of the pub - decent enough - to watch City-Bayern cos there was a slow trickle of serious students of football who wanted to watch United

irl serious students missed it all and are still programming ;_;

ended up talking to a couple of Dutch lads about Robben

never seen a highlights show on torrents but there is one tonight UEFA.Champions.League.Extra.Time.2013.12.10.HDTV.x264-W4F such a silly knockoff of motd down to the shirts
damn au clair, face made for radio
catching up, silva is so wonderful to watch for a neutral, need a rioferdy5 getting stood up gif

It's a little unfair Pellegrini getting stick for thinking City needed a three-goal win, not two, when all the stories I read yesterday said exactly that.

it's a lot to keep track of for a super baked eagle dude tbf

Bonus Gala-Juve coverage at 1pm when they'll play whatever mins were left from last night's game.

But apparently it's still snowing. Perhaps they're just gonna play the game in 20 min chunks for the rest of the week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25328129

amazing "the onion" vibe to the bbc's take on pellegrini.

"I said it would be very difficult to beat Bayern by three goals," said Pellegrini, who gave the impression he had given up on the 5-2 scoreline he seemed to think they needed.

But apparently it's still snowing. Perhaps they're just gonna play the game in 20 min chunks for the rest of the week.

― pandemic, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 11:42 (10 minutes ago) Bookmark

serious brainwave imo, i'd totally watch an episode of fitba every evening a week instead of eastenders

Sky was definitely reporting right up to kick off that City needed the 3 goal margin - didn't bother checking, myself. Munich losing at home this season was a big enough deal.

Nice to see the old City is still in there at their core, somehow turning an away win at Bayern into a failure.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BbNCNHYCQAEmCkV.jpg:large

was going to post this. credit to the groundstaff.

Well the balls already got stuck in the mud once and we've been going approximately 20 econds.

lol they cleared the pitch with a tractor, no wonder it's totally fucked.

this is ridiculous

Reason #1,245 as to why I never made it as a professional footballer. Fuck playing in conditions like this. When I used to play Sunday mornings and it was cold and frosty I really couldn't be bothered. I was a complete liability.

Stadium looks 3/4 full. Either Gala's support is mostly unemployed or 30,000+ sickies have been called in this morning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGx2zm7pBxY

pshh

Like watching Pulis' Stoke vs Big Sam's Blackburn, but with better players. Don Goodman on the commentary murmuring with approval about "getting it in the mixer"

Ooh good save Buffon from Drogba!

Llorente has been p good in Serie A over the last few weeks but he's looked absolute gash today so far.

so you're saying he can't do it on a cold, snowy Wednesday in Istanbul?

Lol

If they hold out for 15 mins more here Juve will qualify for the knockout stage with 1 win in 6 group games FFS

They've done that before iirc, circa 1998 or so

economy of effort, to be admired

Not entirely convinced that Mancini isn't playing for a nil-nil.
Oh wait, he's brought a forward on.

Sneijder 1-0 5 mins left!!

Now rolling arond in the snow pitchside.

Wretched defending.

Don Goodman on the commentary murmuring with approval about "getting it in the mixer"

― pandemic, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 13:43 (30 minutes ago) Bookmark

"one long ball, we've been screaming out for it... and they reap the rewards"

Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder pops up to steer a Didier Drogba across Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon and into the bottom corner.

BBC has Drogba nestled into the corner of the net.

haha. Lovely image.

Juve sunk. Gala thru'.

Mancini

All three Italian sides could go out today

Sky tried to sneak the phrase 'Super Sixteen Stage' in just now. What is this college basketball?

Although that's 'sweet sixteen' iirc

I like it - could have a great eight stage for the QFs, and the phwoar four for the semis.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71678000/jpg/_71678560_galatasarayafp1.jpg

over fields we go, laughing all the way

he looks pregnant there, I hope Moyes does some due diligence

Since when did you only play part of an abandoned game and not the whole game?

since 2011

New wording of paragraph 10.08
"If the referee decides to abandon the match, for example because the field is unfit for play, the remaining match time must be played the next day, unless the case is referred to the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body. If, for reasons beyond control, the match cannot be replayed the next day, the UEFA administration will take a final decision.

I think that was introduced for EURO 2012 but the wording is almost identical for the CL

Sweet

I wish they had that rule in Scotland, would've been lulz for Ross County to traipse all the way to Paisley to play twenty minutes or whatevs against St Mirren.

we'd be in the relegation zone if it applied to UK league football

Great call from Howard Webb, sending off Montolivo after a disgusting foul on Ajax's Poulsen. One might even say a brave call. Coming from me, that says something.

Celtic are currently watching Barcelona play football. I think there's a good chance we'll ship four or more goals tonight.

Milan-Ajax got predictably dire after the red card for Milan. Feels like Ajax had a better chance at winning this against 11 then against 10 players.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71686000/jpg/_71686763_71686762.jpg

Such a pleasure to watch Rosicky / Cazorla / Arteta patiently shuffling neat passes around the midfield only to watch Jenk gallop off down the right, lose possession and foul his man.

you can't expect to win games at this level if you've done a bag of eccies

xpost

He has no eyes! No wonder he isn't picking up those runs from wide.

3-0 and a whole half to go :(

0-7, 0-5, karma

Aye I was just thinking what this lot would do to the Hearts kids given how Celtic trampled all over them.

http://www.mscnbc.com/news/2/80169/Ajax_fans_stabbed_before_Milan_clash.html

Ben Shave ‏@benshave 11m

Moyes in the house at the Calderón.

make mine a Koke

5-0 and that's with missing sitters.

14 minute hat trick for Neymar.

Celtic back four on a flat line on the halfway line. Best tactic for playing away at Barca.

"neil lennon is a tactical genius"
7 results (0.27 seconds)

GOAL! Barcelona 6-0 Celtic (Tello)
That's Celtic's heaviest ever defeat, and it equals Barcelona's biggest home Champions League margin of victory. Oh dear.

Ever ever?

http://rt.com/files/art-and-culture/news/great-wall-china-collapse-355/image.jpg

Record defeat: 0-8 against Motherwell in 1937.

Arsenal a goal and a man down

Now relying on a 10-man Marseille to hold on against Dortmund.

Wait, are they? Or is it that Napoli will need more goals? I don't fucking understand this goal-difference, goals scored, head-to-head bollix, Pellegrini you have my sympathy

Napoli have to win 3-0 (I think).

But still they go through if Dortmund only draw.

comeback

Dortmund score!

Großkreutz

Dortmund score! 12 points for the three of them now

Meanwhile enjoying the fuck out of a helpless, clueless Ajax trying to score against ten Milanese

2-0 now! shiiiiit....

napoli player in tears

cut to

arsene wenger wry grin

thank fuck for a final whistle. real, barca, atleti, psg, bayern. we are fucked unless we luck out on atleti... who are now one of the best teams in europe and can still easily beat us.

Ah, poor old Rafa's gonna have to win the Europa Lge again. By the time the knock out stages roll round Dortmund should have all their players, bar Subotic, back.

Both City and Arsenal gonna end up with a tough draw. At least City can't get Bayern I guess.

So all the German teams and all the English teams made it. Also the worst Italian team.

Both City and Arsenal gonna end up with a tough draw. At least City can't get Bayern I guess.

― pandemic, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 21:42 (3 minutes ago)

Yeah their selection of Real, AM, Barca, PSG and BVB is a well easier... maybe... slightly... best league in the world, right? RIGHT? Right.

Think Arsenal and City would at least have a fighting chance vs psg, atleti, dortmund, barca(depending on if messi is feeling like messi). Don't think any English team would go thru vs Bayern or RM.

Utd's possible opponents: Galatasaray, Olympiakos, Schalke 04, Zenit or AC Milan.

Cunt montolivo

Napoli OUT with 12 points
Zenit IN with 6 points (and -4 gd)

Moyes gonna pull a Rafa '05. 5th place finish and CL win

Fuck. That gives me a cold sweat.

Post match interviews being like

http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/The+Basicis+of+Sportsing.+%C2%A0_2ea007_4921552.jpg

trenchant sports commentary

:-)

Celtic are currently watching Barcelona play football. I think there's a good chance we'll ship four or more goals tonight.

Sent a text saying "Record European defeat on the cards", two seconds after the first goal went in. Still, as one of my friend's girlfriend once said to him after we'd lost to Rangers 2-1 or something, "Well at least you got one".

It's the most one-sided humping I've ever seen us take. If you look at all our other games against them in the past ten years you could say that score was on the cards in every one of them - there's only so many times you can do that heroic backs to the wall throw yourself in front of everything thing before the quality beats you. Kind of amazing it took so many attempts really.

We could have scored three or four in the last ten minutes when Barca got bored of toying with us (Samaras shot off the line, good chances for Commons and Mulgrew) and it would have gone down as an end-to-end classic goalfest like all those EPL 4-3 games where no-one can defend properly.

some rubber-legged trickster cunt at 5s this week did me just like neymar did ambrose for the third goal. did not need reminding

twas that ether, that shit that make your soul burn slow

I'm losing patience with people elsewhere on the internet who seem to think a characterless humping conceded by a bizarre lineup is nothing to be concerned about. I've even encountered one zoomer who thinks Lennon put that team out to get humped on purpose as some sort of protest at how shite our signing policy is in an attempt to get Lawwell to untie his hands o_O

Can't understand why both Commons and Stokes would be benched in favour of Pukki. Apart from that and Izzy being out it was as strong a line-up as was available, I think.

nothing to be concerned about

I kind of want to agree with this, or at least not decide the world is over. No-one likes getting destroyed like that but as I said, such a destruction could easily have happened to last year's team or the team that went to Barca under Martin O'Neill and had a teenage David Marshall to thank for it not being 8-0. When you regularly have to punch above your weight and wage bill you're occasionally going to come unstuck.

In order to fix whatever it is that causes us to lose six goals we'd need to invest money in players who'd be too good for Scottish football and wouldn't want to come anyway and if they did we'd end up Sevco'd.