General Football Discussion

[SPL]

Would agree. Happy 110th Birthday Ajax and lets have that title.

[Orange14]

Don't know how many were watching the CL match between Barca and Arsenal this evening. I can't believe that they gave Fabregas a penalty for what looked to be minor contact if that and to top it off gave Puyol a red card. This has to be one very questionable call. I also thought Arsenal looked extremely poor until Walcott came on. But giving up two away goals makes it difficult going forward.

[aveslacker]

Don't know how many were watching the CL match between Barca and Arsenal this evening. I can't believe that they gave Fabregas a penalty for what looked to be minor contact if that and to top it off gave Puyol a red card. This has to be one very questionable call. I also thought Arsenal looked extremely poor until Walcott came on. But giving up two away goals makes it difficult going forward.

I watched a bit of the match and was amazed out how Barcelona just dominated Arsenal on their own turf. Unbelievable.

[Kowalczyk]

I watched a bit of the match and was amazed out how Barcelona just dominated Arsenal on their own turf. Unbelievable.

There is no way Arsenal are gonna survive their trip to the Camp Nou. Barcelona will do 'em over there.

K.

[Blind3]

Agree with Ko. I feel that Arsenal without Fabregas makes for heavy sledding for The Arse. Barcelona can survive without Carles Puyol. Unless he gets hurt in the interim, Gabriel Milito seems to be regaining the form which Barcelona saw before they signed him. He should be able to slot in in the center and Eric Abidal or Maxwell can play on the left. Also, Toure Yaya didn't do a bad job in the center during last years final. Was glad to see Zlatan continue to get the no goal dry spell gorilla off his back.

[Blind3]

Looks like squad depth will play a huge part in the return. What with no Fabregas, Gallas, and Arshavin for Arsenal and no Puyol or Pique for Barcelona.

[SPL]

Just to say that Barca with Messi were on a different planet to Arsenal . There was an amusing article on goal.com about Arsenal and Barca . It refered to the so called Arsenal way of playing and said 75% of the teams in Europe play that way . In Europe they call it passing . I think the english press believe passing type of footy is an invention of Wenger.

I am still on cloud nine after Man u 's Ko . I cannot stand them and I am delighted they were ko.

I may be english but I only care about one team in the world, Ajax.

[Orange14]

Both Wenger and Ferguson are among the biggest whiners of any managers around. I laughed when Ferguson complained that Bayern forced the match referee to issue Rafael's second yellow card and send off. He also said that they were out to injure Rooney when in fact Rooney reinjured his ankle by coming down on it awkwardly when not even challenged. Rooney shouldn't have even been playing as the risk of re-injury was so great.

[Blind3]

Didn't SAF also say words to the affect of " the Bayern Munich players acted like typical Germans ? " I thought I heard that on Sky Sports noon broadcast today. If so, nothing like endearing yourself to the German people.

[Orange14]

Didn't SAF also say words to the affect of " the Bayern Munich players acted like typical Germans ? " I thought I heard that on Sky Sports noon broadcast today. If so, nothing like endearing yourself to the German people.

Yes he did. This was also beyond the pale. Anyone who watches Bundesliga matches or the German NT for that matter knows that they are far less reckless than your typical EPL team. It is sour grapes on the part of Sir Alex; he should be questioning his own team for losing a two goal aggregate advantage when they were up 3:0.

[Philippe]

I hope we'll get a Barça / Bayern final. Lyon is very mediocre, and Inter nothing but cheats (sorry Wesley and Chivu).

[orange goblin]

inter cheats? hahaha very funny

[ajaxusa]

For Holland's sake, I'm glad Robben is in such goal scoring form heading towards South Africa. But he's still a bitch. I *loved* watching King Louis van Gaal giving him an earful when he came off the field yesterday. LOVED it.

[ZoefdeHaas]

For Holland's sake, I'm glad Robben is in such goal scoring form heading towards South Africa. But he's still a bitch. I *loved* watching King Louis van Gaal giving him an earful when he came off the field yesterday. LOVED it.

Me too! I tried to 'read' Van Gaal's lips in the replay but couldn't quite make it out...

"Want me to come at you at night again huh? Huh? This time no lube!"

[Kowalczyk]

"Want me to come at you at night again huh? Huh? This time no lube!"

This an old-skool, very typical Zoef comment...

You're a strange kid. But we love you.

K.

[ajaxusa]

A little bit of (Champions League) commentary from our old pal JOB. Some very interesting comments, but here's my favorite:

"As Robben walks off Van Gaal shows he is a character with little concern for personal space. (I can attest to this from personal experiences, one of which involves Van Gaal freshly showered with nothing but a draping towel and a few molecules of air between us. Highly recommendable experience!)"

John O'Brien And Brendan Hunt Discuss The Champions League Semifinals

[ajaxusa]

I'm not sure whether this should be posted here, or in Grab Bag Of Random Posts, or maybe in The New Vak 425 Pathetic Joke Corner...

The latest worst miss ever

OMG, it takes a special player to miss from that position.

[martinkohout]

I'm not sure whether this should be posted here, or in Grab Bag Of Random Posts, or maybe in The New Vak 425 Pathetic Joke Corner...

The latest worst miss ever

OMG, it takes a special player to miss from that position.

Wow. That's a beauty. Malouda missed an absolute sitter (right about the 6:10 mark) in Chelsea's 7-0 rout of Stoke City on Sunday, but this is even better. Or worse.

[Philippe]

Lyon out, well done Louis. Now let's Barça eliminate Inter. After extended time would be my favorite.

[Orange14]

I guess it was predictable that the "Special One" would have his team playing totally behind the ball. It makes me really dislike Inter. If the result holds up, I'll be cheering on Bayern with all my heart (can't say that I've ever done that before).

[SE6Ajacied]

I guess it was predictable that the "Special One" would have his team playing totally behind the ball. It makes me really dislike Inter. If the result holds up, I'll be cheering on Bayern with all my heart (can't say that I've ever done that before).

Not too happy with the result either - can't believe it was only 1-0. Suppose I'm happy for Wesley though....

[qezu]

Not a big fan of everyone's behind ball tactic, but the way inter shows their rearguard formation did really impressed me. Barca doesn't have very much clear cut chances. They are totally being shut down.

CL Final: Bayern v Inter.
Robben v Sneijder
Van Gaal v Mourinho. One of them will be winning 2 CL with 2 different teams for the first time.

[Manneken Pis]

Not a big fan of everyone's behind ball tactic, but the way inter shows their rearguard formation did really impressed me. Barca doesn't have very much clear cut chances. They are totally being shut down.

CL Final: Bayern v Inter.
Robben v Sneijder
Van Gaal v Mourinho. One of them will be winning 2 CL with 2 different teams for the first time.

I found a really good website that analizes tactics in matches called "Zonal Marking", here's their take on last nights Barça v Inter game:

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/04/28/ ... o-tactics/

[Kowalczyk]

Van Gaal is the man...

I really hope he'll win the Champions League (again).

That's how it goes in football: he had almost been sacked in September. One more defeat and he would have been axed. And now? On his way to the Bundesliga title. German cup final. Champions League final. He's totally the man now.

K.

[Philippe]

Inter will need to score, take risks, therefore Louis’ Bayern should win.