Anyone care to PRAISE the Champions League?

[Tooting Gull]

Seems to have been getting a caning all day. Tonight you had a magnificent game of football between two of Europe's great teams, superb atmosphere, outstanding skill, tie left on a knife-edge. I mean, what more is there? Is it not possible for even the most chippy to sit back, forget the politics and just enjoy the game?

No, thought not...

 

[Trigger]

Sorry, been watching the cricket... Sri Lanka giving New Zealand a right good thumping, cracking game.

 

[empire]

flickin between the dogs and cricket,but tom will be another matter,something about watching liverpool in europe

 

[Easy 10]

"Champions League" - except only one of the last four teams are actually Champions. Still, throws up some decent games now and then, once we've snoozed through the group stages.

 

[El Presidente]

Ooh yes, an American soccer franchise against a team from a disgraced corruption strewn league, full of millionaires who are really in touch with the fans who idolise them, yours for only £55 tonight.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Ooh yes, an American soccer franchise against a team from a disgraced corruption strewn league, full of millionaires who are really in touch with the fans who idolise them, yours for only £55 tonight.

Have you got any idea how bitter you sound?

 

[Buffalo Seagull]

As a stand-alone competition it's great...Europe's biggest clubs going head-to-head.
But it's f***ing up domestic leagues right across Europe. The clubs in the Champions League make so much money from TV rights, it enables them to buy all the best players, which makes it easier for them to qualify for the tournament again the following season.

 

[Common as Mook]

Wasn't bad I suppose. Dreadful defending though.

 

[Easy 10]

FAR too many teams in the competition nowadays, but then money talks dunnit. The League format also favours the big teams and largely eliminates the possibility of that one-off SHOCK result that see's an underdog go through to the next round. Same old faces in the last 16/last 8, maintains the status quo for the top teams, and ensures they keep their noses in the trough that much longer.

It was far more of an achievement to win the thing in the old European Cup days. Firstly, you HAD to be champions in the first place. And secondly, with it being straight knockout all the way through, every tie was on a knife-edge with no room for error. f*** it up in the 1st round, and thats it, yer OUT, nine months of qualifying up the swanny.

That was the real deal. Nowadays you can stumble on through the groups, play out a few turgid draws, have the odd slip-up, and STILL find yourself in the last 8. Thats rubbish, that is.

 

[Common as Mook]

FAR too many teams in the competition nowadays, but then money talks dunnit. The League format also favours the big teams and largely eliminates the possibility of that one-off SHOCK result that see's an underdog go through to the next round. Same old faces in the last 16/last 8, maintains the status quo for the top teams, and ensures they keep their noses in the trough that much longer.

It was far more of an achievement to win the thing in the old European Cup days. Firstly, you HAD to be champions in the first place. And secondly, with it being straight knockout all the way through, every tie was on a knife-edge with no room for error. f*** it up in the 1st round, and thats it, yer OUT, nine months of qualifying up the swanny.

That was the real deal. Nowadays you can stumble on through the groups, play out a few turgid draws, have the odd slip-up, and STILL find yourself in the last 8. Thats rubbish, that is.

Spot. On.

 

[Braders]

watched the new simpsons and Sundays Dream Team episode instead this evening - the battle of Britians tomorrow

Liverpool vs Chelsea

 

[Les Biehn]

Have you got any idea how bitter you sound?

Or acurate?

 

[Tooting Gull]

This is just becoming another slagging thread. The point was that if you can't appreciate that game, you are no lover of football.

And that's it.

 

[Beach Hut]

This is just becoming another slagging thread. The point was that if you can't appreciate that game, you are no lover of football.

And that's it.

Yep forget the politics enjoy the beautiful game

 

[Easy 10]

It was undoubtedly a good game Tooting, but its a bit like eating VEAL. Its delicious and enjoyable, but you can't help feeling slightly WRONG about enjoying it.

 

[Tooting Gull]

It was undoubtedly a good game Tooting, but its a bit like eating VEAL. Its delicious and enjoyable, but you can't help feeling slightly WRONG about enjoying it.

Or slightly more downmarket, maybe a Burger King.

 

[Easy 10]

Or slightly more downmarket, maybe a Burger King.

Well, the Champions League hasn't yet induced projectile vomiting, but I guess that could well be a side-effect if we are presented with the sight of Ronaldo prancing around the pitch in Athens, staring adoringly at his reflection in the Champions League Trophy.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Seems to have been getting a caning all day. Tonight you had a magnificent game of football between two of Europe's great teams, superb atmosphere, outstanding skill, tie left on a knife-edge. I mean, what more is there? Is it not possible for even the most chippy to sit back, forget the politics and just enjoy the game?

No, thought not...

Was a quality game. It was brilliant to watch two very different sides going at it tonight, both were excellent at what they did. United were all about moving the ball forward quickly and spreadin the play between the wings, Milan kept hold of the ball and moved it short distances whilst maneuvering themselves into attacking positions. They shot themselves in the foot by sitting back in the 2nd half thinking they could contain United.

I'm starting to think that alot of people on here don't actually like football.

 

[Gully]

Made me laugh this evening when they showed the Glaziers sitting in the stand, remember all those who said their involvement would be the end of the club, doesn't seem to have been the case does it.

 

[pasty]

Well I thoroughly enjoyed it and, unlike many others here I suspect, I leapt up in joy when United scored their third goal.

United vs Liverpool final please. With Liverpool winning it.