*Official* English Football Season 2007-08

[PY]

One interesting point in this is how many times would Benitez have even been in the CL if it wasn't top four qualify now?

 

[Matteh]

Lets just take that statement and discuss.

No, not really a fact. Fergies European record consists of 3 major tropheys (CWC with Aberdeen, CWC and CL with Utd.). Might be wrong, but dont recall Benitez winning any European tropheys prior to Liverpool. So hmm, best reword that one to favour your opinions a bit more.

I could have won the Cup Winner's Cup.

 

[Shaggy Alfresco]

I could have won the Cup Winner's Cup.

And beaten Real Madrid in the final?

 

[roseboy64]

Against Barcelona? Good luck. Apparently it was Real though..........

 

[roseboy64]

Aye, worried me that, seen the highlights from Fosters reserve outing (playing them inside the ground on Sat), confirmed my worries that he's just not a top class keeper. So shaky with the ball at his feet. Might be a shot stopper, but thats not good enough in the modern game. Was one worrying point where he tried to do a Barthez and round an opposing striker, ended up doing a Barthez and land on his arse, losing the ball with a poor hasty clearance after getting in trouble.

Judging him on one game when he's just back from injury? Saw him at Watford? Not a comparison to Old Trafford but you could see the potential.

 

[roseboy64]

One interesting point in this is how many times would Benitez have even been in the CL if it wasn't top four qualify now?

None especially not that season they finished 5th. Benitez was in charge then wasn't he?

 

[roseboy64]

Oh and forgot this. Would not want Gallas as my captain. Flamini had to sort him out a fe wtimes against Wigan. Plus he's such a crybaby and nasty punk.

 

[Matteh]

Ronaldo's the world's biggest crybaby.

 

[Matteh]

And beaten Real Madrid in the final?

Yep.

 

[roseboy64]

Ronaldo's the world's biggest crybaby.

Probably is but the comment about Gallas was just that. About Gallas. I mean Roy Keane was a nasty pice of work sometimes but he was a leader. So too John Terry and Gareth Barry. Steven Gerrard's good value too and Vieira as well. So why mention Ronaldo? What does he have to do with Gallas being a seemingly sucky captain?

 

[roseboy64]

Yep.

You should be managing Mansfield then huh? Would be in the Prem in a few seasons.

 

[Matteh]

Actually, you raise a point. The job's vacant now, couldn't hurt to send a letter.

 

[roseboy64]

True. Brings memories of the guy who applied for the Boro job with his FM and kid football credentials.

 

[chalky]

One interesting point in this is how many times would Benitez have even been in the CL if it wasn't top four qualify now?

Good point of course the retort to that was the season Man U won the Champions League they wern't champions.

 

[chalky]

TBH, Liverpool are a pretty crap domestic side and winning the CL on the odd occasion (in the recent years) doesn't make you any better than a club like Man United who are constantly challenging for either the Premiership (which I think we will win this year), the CL, the FA Cup or all 3. Liverpool are a good European side, but it really does end there TBH.

Didn't Liverpool win the FA Cup 2 Seasons ago?

Man Utd haven't really been challenging for the Champions League though have they? 1 Final in since readmission.

As for the Premiership Man Utd won it last year but wasn't that the first time in 4 years?
And as finishing 4th gets you same prize as 2nd you could argue how much better it is finishing 2nd to 4th.

I'm no Liverpool fan (as I have said) but the discounting of Liverpool's Champions League success is ridiculous I'm sure if you asked Fergie or Wenger they would certainly swop a league title or 2 for a Champions League.

No doubt Manchester Utd are a more successful side than Liverpool in recent years but I don't think the margin is as great as some are saying.

If peoaple are so confident about Man Utd I'm willing to have an avatar bet that Liverpool will go further than Man U in the Chapions League this season. Any takers?

 

[chalky]

Lets just take that statement and discuss.

No, not really a fact. Fergies European record consists of 3 major tropheys (CWC with Aberdeen, CWC and CL with Utd.). Might be wrong, but dont recall Benitez winning any European tropheys prior to Liverpool. So hmm, best reword that one to favour your opinions a bit more.

Benitez won a UEFA cup with Valencia the season before he came to Liverpool.

So Benitez in 4 years 1 UEFA Cup, 1 Champions League & 1 Champions League Final

Fergie in 20 odd years 2 CWC & 1 Champions League

I would definately say Benitez record is better

 

[GIMH]

3-1 to the Oldham, Martin won't be happy...will have to get searching for a suitable avatar

We were abysmal, just as we were looking good we've returned to our autumn form, and with Goodison out injured, we're ****ed. The bank manager will be pleased; no Wembley for me.

I eagerly anticipate my new avatar

 

[Barney Rubble]

Can't quite believe we beat United, TBH. Can't believe we're in the semis. Can't believe we're favourites. If we don't win this thing it'll be a huge disappointment, but at the same time, I'm not counting my chickens. Never say never when it comes to giant-killings.

 

[GIMH]

No offence, but I want Barnsley to lift this Cup. My reasons are:

I like Pompey and HR, but the thought of a non-Prem club winning excites me
I don't like West Brom, they annoy me
Cardiff are Welsh
Barnsley were in League One just two seasons ago, and last time I went there the car park steward said, "have you got a couple of quid in p?" best question I have ever been asked, Barnsley for the Cup.

Oh yeah, and they gave us Chrissy Shuker and Tony Kay

 

[The Sean]

Well the dust has settled long enough to comment now, and what a weekend. I was initially gutted with the loss to Pompey but the defeat of Chelsea and the Gooners dropping points at Wigan yesterday have softened the blow somewhat.

Regarding our game, a lot of fans and pundits seem to be split between the “the ref was **** and we got mugged” and the “we were **** and deserved what we got” schools of thought. I reckon they’re both true. Yep, we got mugged by a team that set its stall out to defend, and yep, the ref was appalling (I would like someone to genuinely explain to me how the Ronaldo incident wasn’t a penalty – he didn’t even try to get close to the ball). All that being said though, Pompey defended like Gods, they stuck to their gameplan superbly, and they took the chance that came their way. I absolutely can’t fault them, and if we’re honest United had the players and the opportunities to win that game several times, but we choked – I reckon we could have played until Christmas and not scored. It just wasn’t our day, and we got done fair and square. This is what happens in cup football.

It did raise a few questions, obviously – Why did we insist on hitting high balls into the box when the average height of Portsmouth’s defence is 8’3? Why did Fergie take Tevez off to bring on Anderson when he was in my mind one of our more dangerous players? Could the Scholes/Hargreaves combination have had any less influence on the match had they just sat on the sidelines all game? Is it possible for Louis Saha to take more than three steps without injuring himself?

In the end it’s not all bad – we’ve got some real magic now in the last four of the Cup, and United can join Chelsea and the Arse on concentrating on the other two trophies.