Soccer XXVI

[Chaldanya]

What, cup and relegation?

I'm not invited anymore, am I?

Ahh, that's not playing fair. I have resolutely not mentioned beating your lot to get to the final or the fact that you appear to be in dire straits (again). I'm sure I'll feel ok when you are playing such glamour ties as Scunthorpe or similar. :D

N

[Renasko]

I find it interesting to consider the possible advantages Birmingham will now have serving as one of England's cup winners, qualifying the club for European competition. Have Birmingham ever competed in the UEFA Cup or European Cup before? It'll be a new experience for their playing squad, at least. Barring a couple of exceptions like Bowyer, Ferguson and Zigic. Additionally, more funds may be available to add experience and quality. Bentley, Derbyshire, Hleb and Martins all find themselves currently loaned to the club. This day's victory will put them in good stead, and allow them to perhaps negotiate the permanent transfers of those players, if they so like.

Maybe bring in new players altogether. The likes of Carr, Ferguson and Bowyer won't be able to keep up much longer with the demands that will face them. Larsson's contract elapses at the end of the summer, etc. New faces will be essential.

Speaking of European qualification, Celtic's title ambitions were hit today with a low standard display against Motherwell. 2-0 loss bringing an end to an impressive 17 match unbeaten streak. Oh well.

[Horus Ex Machina]

This shows how out of it I've been, I never even realized that Congolese club TP Mazembe was in the Club World Cup Final against Inter a few months back. Here's a belated congrats to them for doing Africa proud and finally breaking up the Euro/S. American stranglehold on the final. Apparently their owner is Africa's answer to Roman Abromovic and spends lavishly on the club even keeping some players from joining European clubs. They've already taken over the dominance of the N. African clubs in the African confed and have set their sites on the world. Amazing stuff. Interesting that we've yet to see similar feats out of a Nigerian or S. African club. Too bad I was so late on this.

While it's great to see such a successful domestic club effort taking place in Africa, the realist in me wants to ask a few questions. The only countries I could see such spending as being self-sustainable is in N. Africa, Nigeria, or S. Africa. Does Katumbi actually make any money off the club or at least come close to breaking even. Especially since their success is predicated on them apparently not selling any of thier best players to Europe. And if so, what happens when Katumbi's ownership ends? Does African club football move back to the doldrums? If his model of success was sustainable, why haven't African clubs like Heartland, or Orlando Pirates done anything comparable? Granted, Congolese football on the whole is on the rise and I would not be surprised to see them make noise at the African Cup of Nations and perhaps steal a WOrld Cup berth at perhaps Cameroon's expense. It will be interesting to see where this leads.

[Mme Erzulie]

And a much needed one, too. Hitzlsperger looks to have a pretty good understanding with Parker and Noble, making for a surprisingly-Premiership-quality midfield three. Hopefully we can beat the drop and build on that for next season.

Wigan. Wigan are the worst team in the league. Look, the table confirms it. *nods firmly*

Even though I thought Liverpool were poor and lacklustre, I also thought West Ham looked much, much stronger than their league position indicates.

[Calibandar]

Amazing that Arsenal mananged to lose that game. They want to win a trophy so badly, for so many years, and then they get a chance in the Carling Cup final, and they go and lose again, now to Birmingham. It's not like they had to play Man U or Chelsea in the final again, this was a massive opportunity.

I cannot believe that this team will eliminate Barca from the Champions League. I certainly hope not.

[Horus Ex Machina]

I cannot believe that this team will eliminate Barca from the Champions League. I certainly hope not.

Then again, if they can take that trophy it makes up for anything else. Liverpool fans felt much better about thier inability to win the EPL when they were hoisting the European title in '05. I still like Barca's chances to overtake that lead in the return leg with the away goal.

[baxus]

wenger really needs to back away from his transfer policy, at least temporarily, and bring in a star player or few.

if you look at those seasons arsenal won the title, played in CL finals, their team wasn't made of youngsters or relatively unknown players, but included henry, overmars, bergkamp, sol campbell (at the time a very, VERY good player), pirres as well as older players like their defenders in season '97/'98, later on parlour...

wenger's ways are great for creating a financially sound club, building a new and improved stadium and that's no mean feat, but you can't win trophies on a regular basis when your team stars are van persie (who's injured more often than not) and fabregas (who's a great player, no doubt about it, but he's getting more and more injury problems) and your star signings are arshavin (who's been on and off, more often off, since joining arsenal) and koscielny (paid 10 million for him and his fumble in the league cup finals really justified the price tag)

the worst part is that arsenal manages to always be near the top, but not quite on it.

i imagine being so close to trophies all the time and yet so far is very annoying to their supporters, as well as on their players and staff.

[BigFatCoward]

Sky sports news has just shown a horrible clip from a game in south america, a player kicked an injured owl off the pitch. it is prob on youtube (why you would want to watch it i don't know) but my computer is playing up at the minute. apparently the player had to be escorted of the pitch as the crowd where trying to attack him.

[baxus]

to add insult to injury, the guy said: "i kicked it to see if it would fly" :blink:

[Renasko]

Good firey display in the United-Chelsea game. It was quite clear the result meant a lot to both side of players. Should've been a drawn, really. Harsh penalty against Smalling, who couldn't really get out of the way. Ah well. I'd mention Terry's handball in the penalty area earlier in the game, but what does it matter? :P

Old Firm again tomorrow.

[polishgenius]

Bit ridiculous that Vidic got sent off when Sideshow Bob didn't. Although other than the rashness Luiz looks like an excellent buy.

Other than that, no real complaints. Penalty was harsh but not a terrible call, and let's face it, our goalscorer should never have been playing.

[Jon AS]

Tsk, letting the football thread fall off the first page...

Bayern got kicked out of the cup tonight by Schalke. Not a great game, particularly when compared to Dortmund's spectacular triumph on saturday, but at least there was a happy ending there.

If van Gaal doesn't do really well in the Champions League he might well be on his way out at the end of the season, only a year after Bayern declared him their best coach in living memory. That's Bayern for you, a club that's firmly convinced that there is no such thing as bad publicity.

[Renasko]

Tsk, letting the football thread fall off the first page...

I'd talk about how shit Rangers are, but there's nothing left to say...

[mormont]

I'd talk about how shit Rangers are, but there's nothing left to say...

We could say that given how poor Rangers are, and given that Neil Lennon has been allowed to buy a whole new team over the course of 12 months, Celtic should be running away with the league instead of in a situation where they'll be second if Rangers win their games in hand?

Last night's shenanigans were embarrassing for both clubs. Signing Diouf was (as it always is) a major mistake. Meanwhile, we see proof once again that Lennon doesn't have the maturity to be an Old Firm manager. He can't handle it. (To be fair, McCoist needs to take a look at himself also.)

[Renasko]

We could say that given how poor Rangers are, and given that Neil Lennon has been allowed to buy a whole new team over the course of 12 months, Celtic should be running away with the league instead of in a situation where they'll be second if Rangers win their games in hand?

Are you presuming that Walter Smith hasn't spent any money? :lol: This season alone they've blew money on the likes of James Beattie, Jelavic and Weiss. For a broader look, Davis and Edu in midfield cost them 5.6 million. McCulloch, Naismith, Whittaker, Lafferty, Papac...they were all bought. Over 3 million spent on Lafferty. :lol:

The difference being we knew where and who to invest our money in. We've spent our cash on players who've fitted in well at the club, adapted quickly to our style and now, whether we're guarenteed CL money or not, we'll have insurance to pay off our debts. Ki, Kayal, Hooper, etc. are already worth more than what we paid for them. For the money Rangers spent on Papac, we signed Izaguirre, for example. Guess who got the better deal.

ETA: We'll run away with the league next season. Ground still being made. Leave off Lennon, there was a lot going on.

[mormont]

Are you presuming that Walter Smith hasn't spent any money?

No. Are you suggesting that he's had anything like the amount of money to spend that Lennon has? Look at the team's squad lists, and you'll see the truth of that one. Rangers' squad is full of loan signings, kids and players that people outside Scotland think have retired (David Weir and Lee McCulloch, I'm looking at you). Rangers are crap, remember?

Lennon has spent more in the last 18 months than every other team in Scotland (including Rangers) combined: significantly more. Their net spending is probably double that of everyone else put together. And yet, Celtic are mostly relying on Rangers' fixture congestion as their best chance to win the league.

You're the one who's saying Rangers are so very bad. By your own logic, Celtic ought to have a significant lead. That's pretty simple. Oh, you'll do it next season? Come off it.

Leave off Lennon, there was a lot going on.

I might have if this were an isolated incident. Ever since Lennon took over, though, he's been consistently proving this point.

But in the interests of balance, let me say: Rangers' statement about the trouble is absolutely reprehensible. Weak bullshit self-justification.