What else is there to say: world class football from Arjen Robben. That was an amazing first-touch half side-touch volley.
Do I think Bayern was the better side? To be honest, no, I don't. But give them a ton of credit for scrapping two goals away to come out with just enough to advance.
The red card not only left Man U a player short, but it induced Ferguson to withdraw Rooney. And Nani had two goals of solid finishing, but the bulk of the labor was done by Ecuador's Antonio Valencia.
abril 07, 2010
Considering Everton
When Landon Donovan arrived at Everton, they were in the relegation zone. Somehow they've had a crazy few 3 months won a bunch of matches and show up after a week in April with a chance at the Europa League.
Currently 5th and 6th are occupied by Tottenham and Liverpool with 58 and 55, while Aston Villa is just slightly behind with 54. Everton has 50.
Aston Villa and Tottenham have only played 32 games, however, while Liverpool and Everton have both played 33. Manchester City, with 59 points, has also played 32 games and has the pole position for the Champions League.
On Wednesday the 14th, Everton plays at Aston Villa, followed by Blackburn away, Everton at home, Stoke away and Portsmouth at home.
Aston Villa has Everton at home, Portsmouth away, Hull at home, Birmingham at home, Manchester City away and Blackburn at home.
If you were to bet, I'd still put money on Liverpool and Tottenham making the Europa League, but it's not impossible to see Everton in there but it will likely come down to whether Everton and Aston Villa can get a result in a week.
Currently 5th and 6th are occupied by Tottenham and Liverpool with 58 and 55, while Aston Villa is just slightly behind with 54. Everton has 50.
Aston Villa and Tottenham have only played 32 games, however, while Liverpool and Everton have both played 33. Manchester City, with 59 points, has also played 32 games and has the pole position for the Champions League.
On Wednesday the 14th, Everton plays at Aston Villa, followed by Blackburn away, Everton at home, Stoke away and Portsmouth at home.
Aston Villa has Everton at home, Portsmouth away, Hull at home, Birmingham at home, Manchester City away and Blackburn at home.
If you were to bet, I'd still put money on Liverpool and Tottenham making the Europa League, but it's not impossible to see Everton in there but it will likely come down to whether Everton and Aston Villa can get a result in a week.
abril 06, 2010
Leo Messi! Messi! Lionel Messi! Messi!
Some variation of his name 4 times. Why? For the four goals he scored in beating Arsenal today. Obviously a great result for Barcelona. Arsenal is a dangerous club, as they showed by being up 3-2 in aggregate after 110 minutes of the 180 minute two leg match.
In some ways, Arsenal is the perfect team for Messi to face. They attack and play possession (and truthfully, due to injuries were without their 3 best attacking players). That means Messi will frequently find himself with space. Arsenal would never ever shame themselves like Chelsea did in last year's Champions League semis where Chelsea packed 11 men into the penalty area and basically put up a tent. And while Arsenal should be commended, it is true that it leaves them vulnerable to master class displays from Messi.
Barcelona will face Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals. But first, they have Real Madrid this Saturday...in Madrid at the Bernabeu.
In some ways, Arsenal is the perfect team for Messi to face. They attack and play possession (and truthfully, due to injuries were without their 3 best attacking players). That means Messi will frequently find himself with space. Arsenal would never ever shame themselves like Chelsea did in last year's Champions League semis where Chelsea packed 11 men into the penalty area and basically put up a tent. And while Arsenal should be commended, it is true that it leaves them vulnerable to master class displays from Messi.
Barcelona will face Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals. But first, they have Real Madrid this Saturday...in Madrid at the Bernabeu.
abril 05, 2010
Barcelona v. Arsenal injury report, leg 2 at Camp Nou
The injury report will be pretty key to the match.
Lots of key injuries for both sides.
Out for Arsenal: Alex Song, Robin Van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Wlliam Gallas, Andrei Arshavin, Aaron Ramsey
Somewhat Questionable: Sol Campbell
Out for Barcelona: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gerard Pique, Carlos Puyol
Doubtful: Jeffren, Yaya Toure, Andres Iniesta
Thierry Henry is apparently still having calf problems as well.
For both sides the question is: who starts at central defense?
Lots of key injuries for both sides.
Out for Arsenal: Alex Song, Robin Van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Wlliam Gallas, Andrei Arshavin, Aaron Ramsey
Somewhat Questionable: Sol Campbell
Out for Barcelona: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gerard Pique, Carlos Puyol
Doubtful: Jeffren, Yaya Toure, Andres Iniesta
Thierry Henry is apparently still having calf problems as well.
For both sides the question is: who starts at central defense?
Fernando Torres backs Arsenal to win the title?
"I want Arsenal to be the champions. They have the best fixtures of the three. Wenger deserves to win the title and to be imitated for his work he has done in his time there."
El Nino is a student of the game if he backs Wenger.
abril 03, 2010
This week's English Premier League action
I watched everything but the first 15 minutes of the Manchester United versus Chelsea game. There's little doubt that Chelsea was the better side today. Even so, there's also no doubt that Drogba was offside on the 2nd goal that put them up 2-0 and ended up being the difference maker in a 2-1 win that may decide who wins the Premiership. I thought Chelsea goalie Petr Cech looked very shaky on crosses. It was no surprise that Man U ended up scoring on what was arguably a Cech misplay.
And even though Chelsea won, I thought Chelsea's defense looked extremely unorganized at times. Although I'm happy Man U lost and is now behind, Chelsea's defense is unimpressive. They have the advantage going forward, and they are already out of the Champions League so they can focus on the league...with the exception of the FA Cup Final next weekend. Of their 5 games left, 3 are at home (Bolton, Wigan, Stoke) and they shouldn't drop points. The two away games are Tottenham and Liverpool, both of whom will be very motivated to try and crack that 4th Champions League spot.
As for Man U, midfield possession just wasn't impressive. When Park has more offensive spark than Berbatov, you know you have problems. Rooney has really become indispensable for them, and with Rooney I think they'd have found a victory. They have Blackburn, Man City and Sunderland away, while Tottenham and Stoke at home. Obviously the Manchester derby at Man City is going to be a huge game. Carlos Tevez has been scoring goals and would love to score another couple against Ferguson.
I saw most of the Arsenal v Wolverhampton tie. Arsenal won it in the final minute on a Bendtner header. They definitely deserved the win, and it was necessary to keep them in contention. While they have Barcelona away on Tuesday, after that they have Tottenham, Wigan, and Blackburn away, with Man City and Fulham at home. They have to beat Tottenham next weekend to stay alive as title contenders, I think.
Tottenham and Man City's performance may not only determine who goes to Champions League, it may determine who is crowned champion. It would be pretty sweet for Carlos Tevez to deny Ferguson a title.
And even though Chelsea won, I thought Chelsea's defense looked extremely unorganized at times. Although I'm happy Man U lost and is now behind, Chelsea's defense is unimpressive. They have the advantage going forward, and they are already out of the Champions League so they can focus on the league...with the exception of the FA Cup Final next weekend. Of their 5 games left, 3 are at home (Bolton, Wigan, Stoke) and they shouldn't drop points. The two away games are Tottenham and Liverpool, both of whom will be very motivated to try and crack that 4th Champions League spot.
As for Man U, midfield possession just wasn't impressive. When Park has more offensive spark than Berbatov, you know you have problems. Rooney has really become indispensable for them, and with Rooney I think they'd have found a victory. They have Blackburn, Man City and Sunderland away, while Tottenham and Stoke at home. Obviously the Manchester derby at Man City is going to be a huge game. Carlos Tevez has been scoring goals and would love to score another couple against Ferguson.
I saw most of the Arsenal v Wolverhampton tie. Arsenal won it in the final minute on a Bendtner header. They definitely deserved the win, and it was necessary to keep them in contention. While they have Barcelona away on Tuesday, after that they have Tottenham, Wigan, and Blackburn away, with Man City and Fulham at home. They have to beat Tottenham next weekend to stay alive as title contenders, I think.
Tottenham and Man City's performance may not only determine who goes to Champions League, it may determine who is crowned champion. It would be pretty sweet for Carlos Tevez to deny Ferguson a title.
Leo Messi has room to improve
That's scary, I know. But it's true. Leo Messi could probably double his goal scoring this year if he would increase his conversion rate.
Leo Messi plays football a bit like it's futsal. Futsal is much less about striking the ball past the goalie than flicking it by the goalie. The goal is so small that the goalie always has a chance.
For such a prolific goalscorer, Leo Messi is rather profligate in front of the goal. He creates so many great chances that he can afford to cavalierly let more go to waste than others.
Today's goal against Atletico Bilbao was a great example. He'd already had some excellent chances that he hadn't converted. Pedro got the ball on the right in space. Messi saw the run and cut in front of his defender so sharply that the defender fell down. The ball arrived to Messi at the six yard box in the middle of the goal, with no one within a few yards of him. He one touch deflected it on goal, right at the keeper. It happened to nutmeg the goalie before striking his back leg on the way into the net. I don't think that's what Messi was aiming for.
It's crazy, I know, but I think if Messi works on his finishing he could be scoring tons more goals.
Leo Messi plays football a bit like it's futsal. Futsal is much less about striking the ball past the goalie than flicking it by the goalie. The goal is so small that the goalie always has a chance.
For such a prolific goalscorer, Leo Messi is rather profligate in front of the goal. He creates so many great chances that he can afford to cavalierly let more go to waste than others.
Today's goal against Atletico Bilbao was a great example. He'd already had some excellent chances that he hadn't converted. Pedro got the ball on the right in space. Messi saw the run and cut in front of his defender so sharply that the defender fell down. The ball arrived to Messi at the six yard box in the middle of the goal, with no one within a few yards of him. He one touch deflected it on goal, right at the keeper. It happened to nutmeg the goalie before striking his back leg on the way into the net. I don't think that's what Messi was aiming for.
It's crazy, I know, but I think if Messi works on his finishing he could be scoring tons more goals.
abril 01, 2010
4 good games today
There were four good Europa League games today.
Fulham 2-1 over visiting Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg
Benfica 2-1 over visiting Liverpool. Everton's rivals were on the receiving end of some poor reffing, and my loyalties would tend more towards Everton than Liverpool.
Valencia 2-2 against visiting Atletico Madrid
Hamburg 2-1 against visiting Standard Liege
I started off watching Liverpool, switched to Valencia Atletico, and then watched 60 minutes of mighty Fulham's win. Roy Hodgson has done a great job with that club.
Fulham 2-1 over visiting Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg
Benfica 2-1 over visiting Liverpool. Everton's rivals were on the receiving end of some poor reffing, and my loyalties would tend more towards Everton than Liverpool.
Valencia 2-2 against visiting Atletico Madrid
Hamburg 2-1 against visiting Standard Liege
I started off watching Liverpool, switched to Valencia Atletico, and then watched 60 minutes of mighty Fulham's win. Roy Hodgson has done a great job with that club.
Europa League games today
Benfica vs Liverpool
Fulham vs Wolfsburg
Hamburg vs Standard Liege
Valencia vs. Atletico Madrid
I wasn't too sure how this new incarnation of the UEFA Cup would turn out, but this is a pretty solid matchup on all sides. Standard Liege, though it has lost some good players recently including Belgium's Marouane Fellaini and US' Oguchi Onyewu, is still a quality side that should give Hamburg a decent run.
Fulham is in form and got a decent draw against Wolfsburg. A well balanced tie, I assume.
Benfica vs. Liverpool is obviously a good matchup. Given Liverpool's status it will probably be the televised match around the world.
But Valencia v Atletico is pretty similarly fascinating, and features some strikers we'll see in South Africa this summer.
All in all, can't wait to go watch some football.
Fulham vs Wolfsburg
Hamburg vs Standard Liege
Valencia vs. Atletico Madrid
I wasn't too sure how this new incarnation of the UEFA Cup would turn out, but this is a pretty solid matchup on all sides. Standard Liege, though it has lost some good players recently including Belgium's Marouane Fellaini and US' Oguchi Onyewu, is still a quality side that should give Hamburg a decent run.
Fulham is in form and got a decent draw against Wolfsburg. A well balanced tie, I assume.
Benfica vs. Liverpool is obviously a good matchup. Given Liverpool's status it will probably be the televised match around the world.
But Valencia v Atletico is pretty similarly fascinating, and features some strikers we'll see in South Africa this summer.
All in all, can't wait to go watch some football.
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