UCL 2009/2010

[CanadianLoonie]

Originally Posted by stevanford1

The same reason people outside England pay attention to the EPL ? Before Calciopoli the league was just as good as La Liga. 10 years ago it was probably the best league in the world. All the best players wanted to play in Italy. It's decline is a shame. I think you'll find that in the next 3-5 years La Liga will overtake the EPL as the best league in the world.

Unlike the Premier League and La Liga, I think Serie A is utterly boring because the teams play too defensively, as bear witness recently in this week's Champions League game when Inter generally just sat back trying to hold Barcalona from scoring while waiting for counter-attacking opportunities to score against them.

Same thing with the Italian national team, too defensive.

And thus, I'm enjoying Serie A's decline...hopefully Serie A clubs will perform poorly enough in European competition that it's UEFA ranking will continue to sink.

As for La Liga, there's not really much competition for the league title outside of the El Clásico derby...

Originally Posted by Cellos88GT

Are you some kind of douchebag? What kind of retarded question is this? I can tell you that it certainly isn't a question that would be asked by a true football fan. If you believe that the Serie A is a garbage league then you are simply retarded and you have just proven to us that your opinions on world football matters are nil because it's clear that you have no idea what the fuck you are talking about.

I never said it was a garbage league.
I simply think it's an overly defensive, boring league despite the big name talents being employed.
Maybe I am not a true football fan if football is meant to be played in a cautious, defensive manner instead of being offensive-minded and entertaining as it's played in the Premier League or La Liga.

Now, I admit I didn't start following European club football much at all until the 2005 Champions League Final, and didn't follow national domestic leagues until after the 2006 World Cup, so you can say I lack a history of following the game, but you didn't have to call me a douchebag.

[Cellos88GT]

Originally Posted by CanadianLoonie

Unlike the Premier League and La Liga, I think Serie A is utterly boring because the teams play too defensively, as bear witness recently in this week's Champions League game when Inter generally just sat back trying to hold Barcalona from scoring while waiting for counter-attacking opportunities to score against them.

Apparently you've never heard of the "catenaccio" style of play.

Same thing with the Italian national team, too defensive.

...and how many world cup titles have they won?

And thus, I'm enjoying Serie A's decline...hopefully Serie A clubs will perform poorly enough in European competition that it's UEFA ranking will continue to sink.

That is a terrible thing to say. What decline are you talking about anyways? Have you watched any Serie A games anyways? I feel that all EPL fans toss out the same blanket statements regarding the Serie A, it's all hootenanny.

Last weekend the Genoa vs. Napoli game was absolutely epic. I don't understand how anyone could find that boring. I think the EPL is more boring if anything.

[CanadianLoonie]

Originally Posted by Cellos88GT

Apparently you've never heard of the "catenaccio" style of play.

Actually, I have...the Italian tactical philosophy of defensive football first and foremost...and I had it described to me from an Italian no less during the 2006 World Cup...

Originally Posted by Cellos88GT

...and how many world cup titles have they won?

Now, if only Trezeguet's penalty kick didn't hit the crossbar and stayed out, or if Zidane wasn't provoked into headbutting Materazzi, it may still be 3.

Damn it, since that World Cup I went from disliking Italy because of it's style of play to full fledged hatred after Italy beat Germany and France, my two co-favorite national teams, in succession to win the World Cup.

Originally Posted by Cellos88GT

That is a terrible thing to say. What decline are you talking about anyways? Have you watched any Serie A games anyways? I feel that all EPL fans toss out the same blanket statements regarding the Serie A, it's all hootenanny.

Last weekend the Genoa vs. Napoli game was absolutely epic. I don't understand how anyone could find that boring. I think the EPL is more boring if anything.

I'm referring to the UEFA League coefficient.

If you can tell me which Serie A matches are going to be offensively-oriented and going to be full of attacking play, then tell me about it and I've give it a go.

But if Serie A matches are going to be a titanic struggle of one team trying to out-defend the other, then I'll stick with the Premier League.

Now, I thought on Wednesday that watching Barcelona vs Inter, La Liga champions vs. Serie A champions was going to be epic, but it turns out watching Arsenal trying to fight back from 2 goals down after 5 minutes was much more worthwhile in entertainment value.

[Cellos88GT]

Originally Posted by CanadianLoonie

Now, if only Trezeguet's penalty kick didn't hit the crossbar and stayed out, or if Zidane wasn't provoked into headbutting Materazzi, it may still be 3.

Damn it, since that World Cup I went from disliking Italy because of it's style of play to full fledged hatred after Italy beat Germany and France, my two co-favorite national teams, in succession to win the World Cup.

I was so happy when they beat those French assholes. Serves them right for when they stole Euro 2000 from us. The game they had against Germany was great. I loved watching Italy crush two of their big rivals back to back.

I'm referring to the UEFA League coefficient.

If you can tell me which Serie A matches are going to be offensively-oriented and going to be full of attacking play, then tell me about it and I've give it a go.

But if Serie A matches are going to be a titanic struggle of one team trying to out-defend the other, then I'll stick with the Premier League.

Now, I thought on Wednesday that watching Barcelona vs Inter, La Liga champions vs. Serie A champions was going to be epic, but it turns out watching Arsenal trying to fight back from 2 goals down after 5 minutes was much more worthwhile in entertainment value.

See this claim that Inter is boring is ridiculous because it doesn't make any sense when you lay the team out on paper. Inter is the one team in the Serie A that has a style of play that couldn't be more different from the traditional "catenaccio" style. Inter, as the name suggests, has the most foreign players on its squad of all the Serie A teams, most of which hail from Brazil. Secondly, this current Inter team is coached by one of the GREATEST coaches of this day and age, José Mourinho who is Portuguese. With these two points in mind, I'm really curious as to how a team like Inter can be boring to watch.

[CanadianLoonie]

Originally Posted by Cellos88GT

I was so happy when they beat those French assholes. Serves them right for when they stole Euro 2000 from us. The game they had against Germany was great. I loved watching Italy crush two of their big rivals back to back.

It was watching France win EURO 2000 that go me supporting France for good after cheering for them to win the World Cup as hosts.

And the French didn't steal anything...the Italians were just too defensive as usual and thought a 1-0 scoreline was enough to win going into injury time...

Now I support anyone and everyone who is playing against Italy, and Spain taking them out in Euro 2008 felt good.

[Cellos88GT]

None of that matters cause Italy still has four world cup titles to their name and they are still the current world champions. It's a beautiful thing.

[Susie]

Originally Posted by vRS

Bumblebee kit rules.

[vRS]

Just spent £120 on the 3 home match package

[Whappeh]

Arsenal just defeated Olympiacos. Epic effort by the Olympiacos keeper though. Guy was a beast for 80 minutes.

[desertgeek]

WTF Liverpool!? Just pathetic.

[AiR]

Originally Posted by Whappeh

Arsenal just defeated Olympiacos. Epic effort by the Olympiacos keeper though. Guy was a beast for 80 minutes.

I was watching Barcelona but I kept the Arsenal match on my monitor too but with muted sound and everytime I glanced over I saw Nikopolidis leaning on his knees huffing and huffing. Old man does alot of saves but sure is tired after a match

[Heathrow]

Originally Posted by Whappeh

Arsenal just defeated Olympiacos. Epic effort by the Olympiacos keeper though. Guy was a beast for 80 minutes.

Originally Posted by desertgeek

WTF Liverpool!? Just pathetic.

Originally Posted by AiR

I was watching Barcelona but I kept the Arsenal match on my monitor too but with muted sound and everytime I glanced over I saw Nikopolidis leaning on his knees huffing and huffing. Old man does alot of saves but sure is tired after a match

Champions League Results
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Wednesday, 30 September 2009

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AC Milan 0-1 FC Zurich
Apoel Nicosia 0-1 Chelsea
Bayern Munich 0-0 Juventus
Bordeaux 1-0 Maccabi Haifa
CSKA Moscow 2-1 Besiktas
FC Porto 2-0 Atletico Madrid
Man Utd 2-1 Wolfsburg
Real Madrid 3-0 Marseille

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Tuesday, 29 September 2009

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Arsenal 2-0 Olympiakos
AZ 1-1 Standard Liege
Barcelona 2-0 Dynamo Kiev
Debrecen 0-4 Lyon
Fiorentina 2-0 Liverpool
Rangers 1-4 Sevilla
Rubin Kazan 1-1 Inter Milan
Unirea Urziceni 1-1 VfB Stuttgart
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BBC Sport - Champions League Results

[CanadianLoonie]

Bayern Munich 0-0 Juventus.....yet another example of defensive football displayed by an Italian club after realizing that's the only way they can avoid defeat.

AC Milan 0-1 FC Zurich.....Unbelievably good! Hope Milan doesn't make it out of the Group Stage now...

Fiorentina 2-0 Liverpool.....Unbelievably bad...stupid Liverpool, scored too many goals against Hull over the weekend that they can't spare some mid-week?

[Cellos88GT]

Congrats to Fiorentina they had an awesome result!

AC Milan really needs to just start over...

Juventus, weak performance but considering the number of injured players I'm not terribly surprised.

[Alasondro Alegré]

How about all those backheel touches for the goal this week? There were at least three, very unusual.

[Walsh_e]

Originally Posted by CanadianLoonie

Fiorentina 2-0 Liverpool.....Unbelievably bad...stupid Liverpool, scored too many goals against Hull over the weekend that they can't spare some mid-week?

Wonderful result, shuts up Liverpool fans for a week! In fairness first half they were awful, second half they were alot better without creating many clear cut chances.

From watching this game I have decided that Mutu is the new Inzaghi, very few players can be offside on almost every attack but some how he managed it!

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by vikiradTG2007

I didn't mean Rangers. There's another team there which will lose every single game.

What was that ?

BTW what a round it has been so far !

[motogpboy]

FORZA VIOLA!!!!!!!!



Can't believe we're 2-1 halfway through the group stage with 2 out of the next three at Stadio Artemio Franchi!!!

If all goes well we just might make it to the Elimination rounds!!!

Mutu!!!!!

Fi-ren-ze!!!!!

[stevanford1]

AC Milan. Suck shit Real Madrid.

[Cellos88GT]

Originally Posted by stevanford1

AC Milan. Suck shit Real Madrid.

FO REALS!!!!

so whats that garbage about Italian Football again CanadianLoonie?