The European football thread

[ukhotstove]

Well one epic which is the Hargreaves saga is finally over.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/6546939.stm

[LFC1892]

I don't get to see much of the Bundesliga, so I'll ask here....is Hargreaves any good?

[ukhotstove]

Been pretty decent for England but not seen enough of him to rate him for a season.

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by LFC1892

I don't get to see much of the Bundesliga, so I'll ask here....is Hargreaves any good?

When he is played at his natuaral posistions, then yes.
Either DMF or MC
England tried to play him in an attacking role or on the wings and he simply cannot play there and looks horrible as a result.

He is a very good player
But is he worth 17 million
It will not show up on the score sheet. Dont expect 7 goals and 15 assists out of him a season.
17 million is alot of money though...
Well at least it is to someone who watches the Bundesliga, money like that is not tossed around every day.

This puts Bayern into an interesting situation.
We also lost Hasan Salihamidzic
The chairman said the club is going to undergo major changes

It will be interesting to see who is brought in
Arjen Robben has been rumoured since he has fallen out of favour at Chelsea
I would much much rather them go after Rafael van der Vaart whom Hamburg has said they would sell if the price is right

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

When he is played at his natuaral posistions, then yes.
Either DMF or MC
England tried to play him in an attacking role or on the wings and he simply cannot play there and looks horrible as a result.

In his last few games he's played for England, he's been a DMC. And he's been their best player when he's there. 17mil is a lot to pay for a destroyer, when ManU are light on strikers.

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by edrooney

In his last few games he's played for England, he's been a DMC. And he's been their best player when he's there. 17mil is a lot to pay for a destroyer, when ManU are light on strikers.

17 million is alot to pay for anyone
I am still somewhat shocked that Bayern was able to negotiate that kind of money.
I would if all of that is up front or in installments.
Maybe Bayern can sell Man U a striker or two
Bayern has six top quality strikers on its team

[rudel.dietrich]

Today marked the first day I have ever quit on one of my FM teams.
I was at Brest for two full seasons.
First season we finished 12th out of 20
Next next we finished 7th
The 3rd season was full of promise as we looked to perhaps compete for promotion
But we started off the season losing and never improved
At the mid way point we are 5-4-14 and 18th in the table

The team has simply quit on me
All of my players have terrible morale and I get nasty media messages after every game for such small things as players being angry at being substituted

I finally had enough of it and I had lost my passion and heart for the team
I resigned on Dec 28th

I have no idea what happened
I have never seen a teams fortunes go to hell that quickly

Im going to take a few months off and see if I can latch on with a up and coming team in the first division somewhere

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by edrooney

In his last few games he's played for England, he's been a DMC. And he's been their best player when he's there. 17mil is a lot to pay for a destroyer, when ManU are light on strikers.

" Totaly right, he looked a terrible player when they played him out of position and have to say I was one of his hardest critics but when he plays in his normal position he has been the pick of the bunch. Surely they must have a striker lined up though and plenty money to spend because if they only had around £20 mill to spend then their pretty much stuffed, going to cost them £10 mill at least to bring in a striker although Viduka's been mentioned

[Muppetus Galacticus]

So what happens to Carrick now?

[1878]

Accoding to UK newspapers Bayern have signed Luca Toni and are about to sign Robben.

[ukhotstove]

I know the first thing you think about when you get up is what's happening in the good old Veikkausliiga in Finland well at the moment the MyPa v KooTeePee game is 0-0 but they've only been playing 4 mins.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

I know the first thing you think about when you get up is what's happening in the good old Veikkausliiga in Finland well at the moment the MyPa v KooTeePee game is 0-0 but they've only been playing 4 mins.

Phew! Thank God you're here!

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Phew! Thank God you're here!

Yup or you'd be stuck talking about Man Utd, Chelsea, Champions League, Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Champions League, Liverpool, Man Utd................

[ukhotstove]

Superb programme on last night in fact so good I'd rate it best this year, all about fans following their football teams away. They followed a woman and her kid who support Leeds Utd when they played away against Millwall, that game was intense. Another was a guy who lives in Luton and goes and watches East Fife which means him clocking up 12,000+ a season, one of the best was a 60+ year old guy who's a Burnley fan who they followed when he went watching them against Preston, he's an ex bodybuilder who threw abuse at the ref for 90 mins. And the last one was a guy who weighed in the region of 20 st following Leicester City who took a page out of the Newcastle handbook by going topless at every game, these are hardcore fans.

There is nothing like following your team away, when footballers say that scoring a goal and playing football is better than sex, an away game on a midweek day specially when your team wins is the same for a fan. Hard to explain to Americans as you don't have an away game culture but the buzz you get from it is unreal, far far better than watching your team at home.

[ukhotstove]

Be a few thousand seats empty for tonights game, by all accounts Milan have sent tickets back which will not be put up for sale and 5,000 seast wi remain empty because of advertising.



Last post ever, so you can either take a pic or cheer, no doubt most will cheer, latas.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Be a few thousand seats empty for tonights game, by all accounts Milan have sent tickets back which will not be put up for sale and 5,000 seast wi remain empty because of advertising.



Last post ever, so you can either take a pic or cheer, no doubt most will cheer, latas.

Why?

[LFC1892]

Dont go UKHS, this thread will be half of it's quality without you(no offence to the other regular posters) .....just watched State of Origin(Rugby League) and am a little pi$$ed.

[LFC1892]

OK, Liverpool and Milan kick off in 5 hours from now(11.15pm here now). Should I stay up and watch it, or record it on the hard drive for later?

[LFC1892]

Liverpool and Italian giants AC Milan come face to face in Athens in a repeat of the epic Champions League final of two years ago.


> Athens gripped by UCL fever photo gallery

Here, we look at how the two European heavyweights match up.

EUROPEAN CUP PEDIGREE

Liverpool are by far the most successful British participants in European football's top club competition - and would join Milan as the continent's second most decorated club, on six wins, with victory in Athens. Titles in 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984 preceded the 'miracle of Istanbul' two years ago, when the Reds fought back from three goals down to beat the Italians on penalties in arguably the most exciting final in the history of the competition.

Milan's six titles came in 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994 and 2003, and they would move within just two wins of undisputed European kings Real Madrid if they topple Rafael Benitez's men this time around.

FORM

Liverpool have qualified for the Champions League again next season through their league position, AC are almost there, although neither was anywhere near claiming their respective title - Milan's challenge being effectively ended before it started due to a points penalty for their part in the Italian match-fixing scandal.

In Europe, Liverpool cantered through an easy group before seeing off reigning champions Barcelona and then thrashing PSV Eindhoven in the quarter-finals. Their semi-final with Chelsea was a tight and unattractive affair which was eventually decided by Jose Reina's shoot-out heroics.

Milan stuttered through an even easier group and needed extra-time to beat Celtic before Bayern Munich were edged in the last eight. However, they were in majestic form as they sent Manchester United crashing in the semis.

PAST ENCOUNTERS

The two giants of European football have met only once in competitive action and it proved mildly diverting. Paolo Maldini's first-minute volley and Hernan Crespo's double appeared to have put the Italian club out of sight in the 2005 final in Istanbul. But a header by Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer's

Daisy-cutter and Xabi Alonso's penalty follow-up - all scored within seven minutes after half-time - took the game to extra-time and penalties. Jerzy Dudek's dancing then unsettled Milan as the Reds won on spot-kicks. All that can really be drawn from the clash is that you should not, under any circumstances, avert your glance until the final whistle this time around.

TACTICS

Rafael Benitez has enjoyed great success in continental competition with both Liverpool and Valencia, so he is unlikely to stray far from his tried-and-tested formula. Expect rigid defensive lines, with Javier Mascherano deployed as the Spaniard's midfield terrier to disrupt Milan's undoubtedly smoother attacking play. The Argentina international could also be used to man-mark Kaka. If Benitez again opts for Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt in attack, expect many passes to be of the longer variety.

Milan battered Manchester United into submission by relentlessly pressurising the ball in all areas of the field, and some of Sir Alex Ferguson's side were simply unable to cope as their technique was found wanting. They will do the same again, hope to win the ball in dangerous areas, and look to free the likes of Kaka and Clarence Seedorf with the game stretched.

SHOW-STOPPERS

Both Liverpool and Milan are dominated by an outstanding individual. For the Reds it is Gerrard. When they are at their best it is invariably when he is driving them forward from a central position, either with the ball at his feet or unleashing long-range passes with unerring accuracy. He also has one of the best shots from outside the box in the business.

If there were any doubts about Kaka's standing as the best player in the world, his performances in the semi-final against Manchester United dispelled them. Hugely skilful and hard-working, if he is given space in or around the area he will destroy Liverpool's title hopes. Equally proficient as a scorer and provider of goals.

WEAKNESSES

Liverpool's lack of a genuinely world-class striker could cost them against defenders as wily as Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini, and, not for the first time, the Reds' primary goal threat might come from on-rushing midfielders. If Milan score first and shut up shop, the Merseysiders may be left to rely on a moment of magic as they lack the attacking guile to hurt the Rossoneri.

With a sensational 10 goals in this year's competition, Kaka's importance to Milan is inestimable. No truly `one-man team' would make it all the way to the final of the world's premier club competition, but the fear remains that, to a large extent, if the Reds can stop the Brazilian, they will blunt them as a creative force. That, however, is far easier said than done.

VERDICT

The stage is set for Kaka to seal his position at the summit of the world game. Benitez will set out his team to stop him, but as the one true potential 'great' on display he will lead Milan to a narrow victory in a tense, tactical battle in Athens.


Boooooo, the Reds to win and once more be the champions of Europe!!!!

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by LFC1892

OK, Liverpool and Milan kick off in 5 hours from now(11.15pm here now). Should I stay up and watch it, or record it on the hard drive for later?

Depends if you can wait up another 2 1/2 hours on top of that as this game could well go to penalties IMO, unless there is an early goal.

And I'm hardly the right person to be answering this - as you know I'm not exactly a "night owl".