This is the thread for the Champions League 2003

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So Rangers let in a dodgy goal when they were playing 10 men.

The Arse weren't very good.

Celtic were < /biased>

So...comments.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Celtic were GREBT!

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Do we see the start of Chelski falling apart? Started with Cole's whinning and now is it coming back to haunt them? Too much ego, too few games.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I miss the champions league. :(

Mr Noodles, how are you watching it up there in Canada?

― adaml (adaml), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

When I can on Foxsportsworld and the local Celtic supporters pub. This week its been purely reports and commentaries.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:51 (twenty-one years ago)

I suppose I could have watched Arsenal but I can't quite leave work at noon, specially not this week.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

FAO Man United fans - OUCH!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Real Cockfarmers won again :(

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

And the blessed Ajax won at last ! Wesley Sonck struck twice in the Benelux derby vs Brugge. 1995 it ain't (yet), but if we can hold on to the young Dutch lads like Van der Vaart for at least a year or two then there may be a real challenge to the 'big boys' (ho, ho - include Euro-no-marks like Celta Vigo and Chelsea who benefit from their country's co-efficient points) from Sp/It/Eng for a change.

― darren (darren), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Do Bestikas EVER lose games?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 21:00 (twenty-one years ago)

What a beautiful morning.

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 2 October 2003 07:25 (twenty-one years ago)

i get irrationally annoyed when all the English clubs do badly in Europe. still i guess something has to counter the amazing last few weeks I've been having.

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:18 (twenty-one years ago)

United's defending at the start of the 2nd half way woeful, they got caught short at the back way too often and O'Shea in particular was fannying around up the pitch far too much.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:25 (twenty-one years ago)

What has happened?

― the pinefox, Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:32 (twenty-one years ago)

The sky has fallen on Chelsea's heads.

Nedved's goals the other night were things of beauty. And yeah, it's fantastic to see Ajax doing so well. Wasn't Sonck playing in Belgium last year?

― chris (chris), Thursday, 2 October 2003 09:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Nothing but Schadenfreude about United, especially after Ronaldo's dive. Surpassed only by Inzaghi's campery for Lazio's penalty.

― Daniel (dancity), Thursday, 2 October 2003 10:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I was aghast to hear from a Czech journalist that the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in Prague was treated by many in Cz as a result of great merit, the players thought of as heroes. Awful. I trust that the encouraging performance away to Lazio has revised that defeatism somewhat. Although I was a Slavia fan during my time in Prague, I so want Sparta to do well for the balance of power reasons Darren mentioned above.

― Daniel (dancity), Thursday, 2 October 2003 10:10 (twenty-one years ago)

As Daniel said. Although I lived in Slovakia rather than Prague at the time - in Zilina no less, where Chelsea won a few weeks ago. Gawd, i remember going to the Pod Dubna 'stadium' (chortle) along with 700 other souls to see Slovakian Division Two fare, and look at the Canaries now ...

Btw, Sonck is Belgian. He played for RC Genk last year alongside hopeless Japanese striker Takayuki Suzuki, who wasn't as 'Genki' as he should have been. I hope that wasn't 'Lost in Translation', ho ho.

It's been a dull morning, sorry ..

― darren (darren), Thursday, 2 October 2003 10:54 (twenty-one years ago)

aha the ILM Czsk alumni club.. I actually lived at Slavia tram stop a few years ago, before moving to the more respectable Vinohardy hood..
That Sparta-Lazio was pretty classic

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:50 (twenty-one years ago)

how come no one has mentioned WATCHING SIX OR EIGHT FOOTBALL MATCHES ALL AT ONCE!!! it is the best thing about digital telly EVER (and i shall be blogging it soon tom)

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Thursday, 2 October 2003 14:11 (twenty-one years ago)

it would be better if they had the matchclock ticking in the centre of the screen in digital format, 24 style and during a late free-kick on the edge of the box run an adjacent shot of Almeida looking nervous - then Jack Bauer parasends down and nods the winner in off the far post

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 2 October 2003 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha. It takes fucking ages to change between them though :(

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Thursday, 2 October 2003 14:22 (twenty-one years ago)

(Self-publicity: I did write a little bit about Celtic's game, particularly the first goal, on the Freaky Trigger sports blog.)

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 2 October 2003 16:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Fabrice, Slavia is THE Prague team, the team for people who give a shit. As for Sky's multi-game coverage, is it any good? Does it drive you mad?

― Daniel (dancity), Thursday, 2 October 2003 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmm, not sure about that.. Always had the impression that the Zizkov clubs had the most interesting fans.

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Friday, 3 October 2003 07:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I liked Zizkov, too, but that might have something to do with Sunday morning kick-offs! I had a girlfriend who lived in Zizkov, so it was easy to slip off to the stadium, drink morning beers ("Oh go on then") and marvel at the mullets and moustaches on the crumbling terraces. I spent three years in Prague between 91 and 94, so things may have changed.

― Daniel (dancity), Friday, 3 October 2003 09:01 (twenty-one years ago)

nope..

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Friday, 3 October 2003 09:12 (twenty-one years ago)

five months pass...

QUARTER-FINALS
Porto v Lyon
Real Madrid v Monaco
Chelsea v Arsenal
AC Milan v Deportivo

SEMI-FINALS
Chelsea or Arsenal v Real Madrid or Monaco
Porto or Lyon v AC Milan or Deportivo

i don't like this draw - i can see Chelsea nudging Arsenal this time, it will be very close either way. maybe Monaco can surprise Madrid, likewise Lyon. Milan will probably make the final again.

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 12 March 2004 14:11 (twenty-one years ago)

The problem is that Chelsea invariably turn into a pack of gibbering buffoons as soon as they see an Arsenal shirt. I don't think it will be that close.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 12 March 2004 14:17 (twenty-one years ago)

i think they'll beat them at home but maybe away goal fun for the Gunners to look forward to - or - PLEASE - a penalty shootout!

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 12 March 2004 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

we love you porto (sorry, im still excited about the knocking out porto!!!) arsenal all the way

― gaol clichy (clichy), Friday, 12 March 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd love to see an English team win it, but I see Arsenal losing to Real in the semi. Milan to come through from the other half, though both quarters there look close, I think. I guess neutrals could hardly complain at a Real-Milan final.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 12 March 2004 16:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Real Madrid to beat AC Milan 1-0 in the final. Sux0r.

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 12 March 2004 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

seems a bit obvious tho - Madrid ARE beatable, it just depends how arsed they are on the night. Of course if you can't get psyched up for the European Cup then god help you, but the Juventus that edged them out so admirably last year were ordinary really (maybe only Italian clubs can do that tho).

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 12 March 2004 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Oliver fucking Kahn.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Friday, 12 March 2004 17:22 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

i want Arsenal to win for some reason, but am starting to think they won't - this should be a thrilling climax either way

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

do we want penalties? DO WE?

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

but- the other game is 5-5 on aggregate.

penalties would be fun.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:16 (twenty-one years ago)

wow, Monaco go thru as it stands

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

i want to watch the other game but cannot turn over to ITV2 as i am taping some sci-fi shit on sky one for the mister :(

the arse have taken thierry off, which is odd.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

it is madness, he must have taken a knock...

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Ashley Cole just made potentially one of the all time great goal-line clearances

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:28 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't want to turn over now. I'm kind of enjoying this one. As a neutral, I think Chelsea are doing better than I would have expected.

Silver goal is a load of arse by the way. i thought they ditched that at the end of last season?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:29 (twenty-one years ago)

As i just said...

(arse need two goals in three minutes without va-va-voom)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Bridge scores on 87 minutes, astonishing

Arsenal's season practically wrecked in just 4 days

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:30 (twenty-one years ago)

celtic scored two in less time on Saturday afternoon so it can be done.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:31 (twenty-one years ago)

it never goes how i want it to! i guess this is the beauty of things but i saw Arsenal as having a better chance at winning the cup. If Chelsea were to now lose to Monaco in the semi I would be really fucking pissed off.

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, you predicted Celtic to get fucked by Barca didn't you. Want to go put some money on Villarreal for me?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Ranieri is crying. His job may yet be safe...

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:34 (twenty-one years ago)

i am the worst predicter in the world ever. but a lot of people were hoping for an Arsenal v Real semi weren't they? as long as Chelsea now go on and win the trophy then cool.

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 357 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

However, Ambramovich has said what he desperately wants is more exciting football at Stamford Bridge. On the basis of last night, he's not going to get that with Mourinho.

On the basis of his entire career he's not going to get it. I'd be amazed if Mourinho went to Liverpool and not Chelsea - but I've been amazed before. That's the xpost over.

So what'd you make of the final?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 27 May 2004 09:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Monaco would have missed anyway. Their finishing was abysmal.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 27 May 2004 09:45 (twenty-one years ago)

If they were playing now they still wouldn't have scored. Pity Giuly went off but glad to see Prso is Rangers-class after all ha ha

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 27 May 2004 09:46 (twenty-one years ago)

We never had the opportunity to see how they would have finished with some of the clearer cut chances.

In the end they were caught in the break, great second goal. Deco is a very good player.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 27 May 2004 09:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Good to see Vitor Baia doing some top quality agonisiing in a European final. They were 3-0 up at the time, so you've got to run that clock down. Wanker.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 27 May 2004 09:54 (twenty-one years ago)

he did get kicked in the goolies Dave

― chris (chris), Thursday, 27 May 2004 09:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought Porto looked awesome last night.

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 27 May 2004 09:56 (twenty-one years ago)

They are a good team Porto but they are also, to paraphrase Judge Nutmeg - a horrible team, horrible team, horrible horrible horrible team

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 27 May 2004 09:56 (twenty-one years ago)

You say that as though it's a bad thing.

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 27 May 2004 09:57 (twenty-one years ago)

It isn't if you're a Porto fan

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 27 May 2004 09:58 (twenty-one years ago)

They were good last night, it was a proper footballing display, gritty and effective. Prso = definitely Rangers class.

― chris (chris), Thursday, 27 May 2004 09:59 (twenty-one years ago)

They remind of Italian teams of the 60s/70s and I'm wondering whether we might see a shift towards more negative football in the Champions League and away from the Real Madrid/ Man Utd approach

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Monaco were penalised by having increasingly shocking offside decisions, although finally got the rub of the green in surving a moderately clear-cut penalty shout.

As dadaismus says above, Prso looks like he'll fit right in at Ibrox.

It wasn't a bad game for the neutral, fairly end-to-end though mainly up at the Porto end. Morientes looked like he'd never seen a football before - God knows how he ended up top scorer on that evidence. Rothen hit one decent cross all night, and that was a fluke. Victor Baia was brilliant television in the last 10 minutes, throwing himself at everything no matter how hurt he was going to get.

As usual though, the commentary was brilliant.

"It seems odd an English side not being involved in this great event."
"No side have come back from a goal down since 1999. You knew I'd mention it, didn't you."
(after Carlos Alberto has been booked for taking his shirt off)"That's the same ref who sent David Beckham off against Argentina. He hasn't got any better since then."

And did I really hear Des try and shoehorn in an exceptionally weak "art Deco" pun at the end?

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Rothen was Rotten

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not a Porto fan but they were better in every department last night, I thought.

Will you Celtic fans hate Porto forever, do you think? I kind of hope so, loathings which last long after their origins are forgotten are grebt.

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Clive Tyldesley mentions Man Utd shocker.

Seems odd not having an English team - yes, that's because we've had all of 1 team in the final in the last 19 fucking years. Tit.

Porto will be hated forever - the cynicism of Portuguese teams makes me dislike their footballing culture as I dislike Mexicos.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:09 (twenty-one years ago)

you're saddening me here Dave, and Cauhtemoc Blanco

― chris (chris), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:16 (twenty-one years ago)

What's wrong with Mexico's footballing culture? Oh, right, big business is behind it. Damn the system to hell. Fight the power.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:22 (twenty-one years ago)

looks like its chelsea then

― zappi (joni), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Nice response G. Maybe itf you'd have dropped the latter part we could have had a nice discussion.

For the record, I just hate the way Mexico consistently decide that after a certain point, they can't be arsed and retreat into cynical negativity or just cease to give a fuck - that's happened in the last few world cups. The one game I've seen in Mexico have this too - there comes a point where everyone just stops caring and ceases to attack, try, and generally give a fuck. I can't stand it as much as I can't get my head around it.

That might have something to do with the way the game is structured there - I could posit an argument, but don't really know so it would have much validity.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Was it Mexico vs Italy in the last game of the 2002 group stages when both teams got to the end of the game knowing they'd qualified and then proceeded to spend the last few minutes stroking the ball around in the most listless and aimless way possible. The ref looked exceptionally bored and then blew his whistle with a big flourish without bothering to include any injury time.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Will you Celtic fans hate Porto forever, do you think? I kind of hope so, loathings which last long after their origins are forgotten are grebt.

This Porto team will cease to exist pretty soon, it'll be broken up and the best players will go to the very teams who failed to win the Champions League when Porto were winning it. Will Celtic fans hate forever? Only if they continue to be cynical/ cheating/ dirty - yes.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:40 (twenty-one years ago)

See also Mexico vs Germany in WC98, when Mexico had Germany on the ropes in the round after the group stages but ended up losing 2-1, for exactly the reasons he alludes to.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Were Porto cheating and dirty last night? I didn't notice. (Cynical is harder to judge obv).

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Not especially last night.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:46 (twenty-one years ago)

some of their defending was very good indeed, Carvalho looks more than useful.

― chris (chris), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:46 (twenty-one years ago)

So did your proud Corinthian ideals allow you to like them a little bit more last night?

Do I recall Celtic being rather negative in certain Champs League games over the past 2 or 3 seasons? Were they being cynical?

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Like them? Hardly. Negativity isn't remotely cynical, that's just playing to your strengths. The diving, faking, fouling, moaning, whinging is what I object to.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I watched a fair amount of Mexican football last year (I was in the country for a couple of months). Didn't go to any games as I was in the south and the premier division is clusterd around the bigger cities (mainly Mexico and Guadelajara).

However, from what I saw, it was a really competitive league, the table was wide open and Cruz Azul were on a decent run in the Copa Libertadores. They got to the final two years before, losing to Boca.

The players are well paid (most of Mexico's last world cup squad were domestic based players) and the best of the players from neighbouring Central American countries are attracted to play here (with the excpeption of Honduras which has a highly regarded league of its own).

Yeah, there's big business, it's highly visible (Cruz Azul is a cement company and its blue cross is everywhere in Mexico), but the standard is on a par with anything in Latin America with the possible exception of Argentina and Brazil. That may sound like a relative statement, but Chile, Peru and Colombia aren't bad either.

It's always difficult to compare leagues across countries and (like all leagues), it is tempered, or weighted by the fact that two or three teams are ahead of the rest in ability.

I don't know what you mean about teams 'retreating into cynical negativity'. I don't understand that at all in the domestic league. Nationally this may be different, but I thought that game in France '98 was due to infighting in the squad (at least that was alluded to the media afterwards). As for the other time noted above, I remember Mexico settling for the draw in 2002. They're certainly not the first to do that and it's hardly up there with the Argentina vs Peru farce of 1978.

Appologies for the long post.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:52 (twenty-one years ago)

The game when Mexico played the US was appalling in WC02 - they just couldn't be arsed at all and it was probably the most disinterested I've ever seen a team in a World Cup. Maybe I'm projecting my oen feeling here, but the idea that someone could be playing in a world cup and not seem to be that bothered is as alien as if a martian landed and said take me to your leader.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:56 (twenty-one years ago)

DB: what's more alien? A martian or a leader?

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 27 May 2004 10:58 (twenty-one years ago)

The martian. But is he art?

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Dadaismus anyone would think you were a Celtic fan

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm up to my knees in Fenian blood as I type... it's a bugger getting the stains out your corduroys

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:14 (twenty-one years ago)

okay that was a really late comment i apologise for not keeping up (i was at lunch).

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:15 (twenty-one years ago)

but this idea of Porto as negative is interesting, esp. when you look at how Liverpool went about their UEFA Cup triumph wrt Mourinho's aspirations (tho fwiw i think he gave his word to Chelsea but WANTS to go to Liverpool because it's LIVERPOOL)

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Was it me or did Mourinho take off his medal straight away with a vaguely pissed off look?

― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Boyle: Porto beat Monaco 3-0 last night. You should have seen it!

― the bluefox, Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

yep, and stormed off down the tunnel

x-post past the bitterfox

― chris (chris), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't think he was looked pissed off as such

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:55 (twenty-one years ago)

It now seems that Giuly will not make it to Euro 2004...

― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the Roy Keanesque nature of that 'medal' shot - he's like... right, the job is done. Now onto my next adventure. Celebration is for weaklings and mortals.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 27 May 2004 12:02 (twenty-one years ago)

OTM

― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Thursday, 27 May 2004 12:11 (twenty-one years ago)

what an awful linesman.

the boy deco done good again.

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 27 May 2004 12:13 (twenty-one years ago)

i feel a bit sorry for Deschamps tho i shouldn't really. he looks great in the leather and is able to say he took a team to a CL final before he was 40.

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 27 May 2004 12:15 (twenty-one years ago)

actually in the leather he would make a fine adversary for Van Der Valk or Jim Bergerac

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 27 May 2004 12:16 (twenty-one years ago)

What did Giuly do to himself? For some reason that makes me feel sad, even though I don't want France to win.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 27 May 2004 12:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Taking medals straight off seems to be in vogue this season. I suspect they think it makes them look hard.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Thursday, 27 May 2004 13:49 (twenty-one years ago)

The diving, faking, fouling, moaning, whinging is what I object to.

I bet you defend Stan Petrov every time he's accused of it though.

For the record, I thought Porto were by far and away the better team on Wednesday night, and played a far better game than they did against Celtic last year. Maybe they didn't need to be as cynical as they were last year as Monaco weren't really at the races.

Thirded on Prso, by the way. Donkey.

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 28 May 2004 08:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, I know I slagged Porto off too before

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 28 May 2004 09:25 (twenty-one years ago)

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