UEFA Champions League (Official Thread)

[osuteke]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwPoqd3t2wE&feature=player_embedded"]this goal is awesome[/ame]

 

[tmporter]

Is anyone else surprised by the finals in both the Champions League and the Eurpoa Cup. I don't think anyone had Bayern Munich playing Inter Milan for CL glory and Athletico Madrid going against Fulham in the Europa Cup Finale. Fulham may not even be in a European competition next year, even if they win this years Europa Cup. I am unsure if the winner gets an automatic bid, because they are barely in the top half of the Prem this season.

 

[Bucklion]

Ful-HAM! Ful-HAM! My boys keep rolling

Hell of a run...I think they can win it. I'm not sure if they get an auto for winning or not, actually, but I don't think so.

 

[tmporter]

Ful-HAM! Ful-HAM! My boys keep rolling

Hell of a run...I think they can win it. I'm not sure if they get an auto for winning or not, actually, but I don't think so.

I am very impressed that Fulham has gotten it done in Europe. They didn't get an easy road either. I do think the European run has hurt their Prem form, but they have done what so many others have not. Made it to the final in a European competition. I hope Fulham win on the back of a Clint Dempsey goal. They are a small club with limited resources and look at what they are doing. They need another 4 or 5 top quality players to be able to do this year in and year out. They really only have a squad of 20 guys. That isn't enough to go deep in Europe, handle the Prem with a top 6 finish and the other cup competitions. Look at the big boys, 25 to 30 players will have played 25 games or more. Its simply a matter of games played.

 

[Bucklion]

I am very impressed that Fulham has gotten it done in Europe. They didn't get an easy road either. I do think the European run has hurt their Prem form, but they have done what so many others have not. Made it to the final in a European competition. I hope Fulham win on the back of a Clint Dempsey goal. They are a small club with limited resources and look at what they are doing. They need another 4 or 5 top quality players to be able to do this year in and year out. They really only have a squad of 20 guys. That isn't enough to go deep in Europe, handle the Prem with a top 6 finish and the other cup competitions. Look at the big boys, 25 to 30 players will have played 25 games or more. Its simply a matter of games played.

Yep, I've followed them closely since they got back up, especially since they had my favorite player of all time (McBride) for a spell. They are sort of the equivalent of the Milwaukee Brewers or the Kansas City Royals contending for the World Series...they aren't going to win the Premiership or make it to the CL, but they can make a run like this and they sting at least a top team or two every season. Sadly, they are also much like the Montreal Expos, as guys like Van der Saar, Saha, and a few others have gone on to the bigger clubs

 

[tmporter]

Yep, I've followed them closely since they got back up, especially since they had my favorite player of all time (McBride) for a spell. They are sort of the equivalent of the Milwaukee Brewers or the Kansas City Royals contending for the World Series...they aren't going to win the Premiership or make it to the CL, but they can make a run like this and they sting at least a top team or two every season. Sadly, they are also much like the Montreal Expos, as guys like Van der Saar, Saha, and a few others have gone on to the bigger clubs

I don't see them like that. They have sold some players onto bigger and more established clubs, but always at a great return. That is the model of European soccer. Fulham are really just 2 great players and 3 to 5 depth players away from being in the discussion with Villa, Everton, Man City, Tottenham and Liverpool for the 4th to 7th spots. And if you read some of the new reports about the scousers, Liverpool may be the next Leeds United. There was a story on ESPN soccernet about it today. Liverpool need a new stadium, the have massive debts, like United but without the real ability to pay them, no trophies for so long a generation of their fans don't know the sweet taste of success. Some of the bigger English clubs have to get their houses in order or face the same fate as Pompey. I really see Fulham growing in the right way. Slow and controlled. I just can't see Fulham being in the relagation battles like Bolton, Wigan and Blackburn have been and may continue to be in. They have a solid nucleus of players and Roy seems to be quite deft in his managerial decisions. I have my first love in United and then I really respect Villa, from their days being sponsered by Dr. Martens, and Fulham.

On a side note, I can't wait to watch the Europa Cup final. I think it may be better than the boring Champions League final. Munich and Milan may play a boring counter attacking game that goes to PKs with a nil to nil scoreline.

 

[IronBuckI]

Ful-HAM! Ful-HAM! My boys keep rolling

Hell of a run...I think they can win it. I'm not sure if they get an auto for winning or not, actually, but I don't think so.

I found this in an ESPN article about the Premier League missing out on an automatic "Fair Play" bid to europe.

It looks like a win tomorrow automatically qualifies Fulham for Europa next season.

ESPN

Premier League misses out on Fair Play place

By Soccernet staff




...
The news directly affects both Fulham and Burnley, who were in line to take England's place.

Fulham would have effectively been guaranteed a place in Europe next season regardless of the result in Wednesday night's Europa League final against Atletico Madrid. Victory will automatically qualify them for next season's group stage as holders. But in defeat they would have taken England's Fair Play place as the best team not to have made it into Europe by a conventional route.

 

[Bucklion]

I found this in an ESPN article about the Premier League missing out on an automatic "Fair Play" bid to europe.

It looks like a win tomorrow automatically qualifies Fulham for Europa next season.

ESPN

Cool info...thanks. Hope they win especially then...they had an off year in the Premiership, so getting back in for next year would be a great achievement (as would winning of course).

 

[IronBuckI]

Inter Milan takes the UEFA Champions League 2-0 over Bayern Munich. Ridiculous run to the championship where they took out Chelsea (English Premier League Champions), Moscow (currently one point behind first place in the Russian Premier League), Barcelona (La Liga Champions), and Bayern Munich (Bundesliga Champions).

 

[ScriptOhio]

Sports History

On this day in 1985 - In Brussels, Belgium, at Heysel Stadium a concrete retaining wall collapsed and 39 people were crushed or trampled to death. More than 400 people were injured. The soccer event was the European Champion's Cup final.

 

[CHU]

Champions League Draw

Group G is fun. Kind of comical with the amount of money Real spent a couple years ago and they get stuck with Ajax and AC Milan. They'll still get out, but it's funny.

G
AC Milan
Real Madrid
Ajax
Auxerre

UEFA.com - UEFA Champions League

 

[TDG]

Tottenham got stuck with Inter and Werder Bremen. If they don't make it out of the group stage, I will laugh until I cry.

 

[Buckeye513]

AS Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk
AC Milan v Tottenham Hotspur
Valencia v FC Schalke
Inter Milan v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Real Madrid
Arsenal v Barcelona
Marseille v Manchester United
Copenhagen v Chelsea


Good draw for Arsenal. Sooner they get knocked out, sooner they can focus on the league.

 

[IronBuckI]

Inter Milan also has the FIFA Club World Cup final this Saturday night at 11 PM EST on Fox Soccer Channel.

Inter will be playing TP Mazembe from the Congo. According to Wikipedia, this is the first time in the history of the tournament that the final won't be played between European and South American teams.

TP Mazembe upset Pachuca (Mexico) 1-0 and Internacional (Brazil) 2-0 in it's last two matches to reach the final.

I posted in this thread because of Inter's involvement, and because I figured that anyone that gave a shit about the FIFA Club World Cup could be found in this thread.

 

[tmporter]

AS Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk
AC Milan v Tottenham Hotspur
Valencia v FC Schalke
Inter Milan v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Real Madrid
Arsenal v Barcelona
Marseille v Manchester United
Copenhagen v Chelsea


Good draw for Arsenal. Sooner they get knocked out, sooner they can focus on the league.

I guess that is one way to look at it. I guess I would have taken a different approach. But once again Roman's Legions get the easiest draw possible. United were handed a reasonably easy draw. Marseille is a good team, but United should win that home and home fairly easily. Tottenham should be used to the away venue, having played Inter there already. I would predict Shakhtar beats Roma, Tottenham get by AC Milan, Valencia beats Schalke, Bayern beats Inter, Lyon in the upset over Madrid, Barca cruise past the Gooners, United get by Marseille and Chelsea dominate Copenhagen.

That said, the Tottenham v AC Milan and the Inter Milan v Bayern could be the most competitive matches. Roma and Shakhtar could be the most difficult teams to handicap as who knows what Shakhtar will try to do on the road in Rome. I just don't like Real, so I hope Lyon can steal one. United and Chelsea should be rather comfortable and it doesn't look good for Arsenal. That match up could be close or could end up a blowout for Barca. I guess only time will tell. Until then, it's time for another Guiness.