2013-03-15, 14:48 | Link #4201 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
|
Quote:
Still, I agree that Real and Barca won't likely meet. UEFA certainly wouldn't like one Spanish and one German semi-final. That would be bad for TV-ratings. |
|
2013-03-15, 21:56 | Link #4203 |
魂を踊らすように
Join Date: May 2006
Location: London, UK
Age: 39
|
Looks like we drew quite the tough opponent
Bayern might have not been brilliant in the last match but they're still a fully experienced CL team. Scoring a goal or two in the first leg in Munich is going to be crucial for us. IMO our midfield is on par if not slightly better than Bayern's, and our defence should be sound... but I suspect Conte will play again with the two support strikers, a tactic that despite having worked well so far in terms of making our play flow correctly and efficiently, it might not work against the Germans unless Giovinco grows some balls and steps his game up once and for all. |
2013-03-21, 15:12 | Link #4208 |
Alive
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: in my really nice house
|
so what you guys think of this
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/198710.html#
__________________
|
2013-03-21, 15:44 | Link #4209 | |
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Montreal, QC, Canada
Age: 40
|
Quote:
After all, why are Juventus and Bayern set to kill each other in the quarterfinals while both Real and Barcelona got easier draws in the lot? Food for thought... |
|
2013-03-21, 15:56 | Link #4210 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
|
When I see the result of the CL and EL draw (no German, Spanish and English team facing each other) I think it's fishy. When I see the convoluted theories on how it's rigged I think it's a load of bull. Then again Anglo-Saxons do love their conspiracies theories.
__________________
|
2013-03-21, 18:21 | Link #4211 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
|
Quote:
Worst situation possible for UEFA is a final between PSG and Galatasaray. Two teams from smaller leagues. Not surprising that the minor teams all got difficult draws. The only time the whole system failed was 2004 when Porto and Monaco beat the odds. The only time since 1996 (and Bosman) that any team from a non big 4 league made the final. That those two made it must have annoyed a lot of marketing people. Personally I wouldn't mind to see a final between Dortmund and Galatasaray. Both sides have brilliant supporters which could really bring some life to the event. |
|
2013-03-21, 22:05 | Link #4212 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Earth
|
Well, can't say I am surprised if all those accusations are true...imo, the refereeing in the last few years have been so fishy anyway...I won't say the referee was forced to make the intentional wrong call, but I have a feeling that the favoritism does indeed exist in UEFA
__________________
|
2013-03-21, 22:15 | Link #4213 |
Spinning round and round~
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore
Age: 31
|
Accusations aside, I believe the fact that Barcelona and Real Madrid have been, in the last few seasons, drawn together close to the final stages would actually indicate something fishy. Being the pro-Spanish (pro-Barca, rather) idiot Platini is, and with his Anglophobic sentiments I am not surprised Spanish teams get favouritism from referees every single year.
|
2013-03-22, 14:18 | Link #4214 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
|
Referees are employed by the national associations so I would be surprised if UEFA could simply instruct them to help or discourage individual teams without opposition.
Still, referees are football fans too, so I can understand if there is some favoritism towards Barcelona for their playing style. Real may benefit from their stature as biggest club in the world, but how much is that worth against other top teams? There are also investigations in to the influence of crime and gambling syndicates on matches. Organized crime uses football betting as a way to launder money. Would be terrible for the game if the mob 'encourages' certain decisions based on betting behavior. |
2013-03-26, 23:52 | Link #4216 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Suburban DC
|
Anybody see any qualifiing action?
Gotta say, even though our players need work on offense, I'm proud of the US getting the draw at Mexico when it mattered. We did get lucky with some calls though, lol! So what's up with the three lions? |
2013-03-27, 23:53 | Link #4219 |
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Montreal, QC, Canada
Age: 40
|
I seriously believe that Manchester United should do what Bayern Munich did in the early 2000s when they stopped recruiting local prospects while aiming at several foreigners to make the backbone of their 2001 Champions League-winning squad (Sagnol, Lixarazu, Kuffour, Hargreaves, Andersson, Giovane, Salihamidzic, etc.). Whether people approve this way of doing or not, Bayern's signing of several foreigners forced the DFB to radically change the way to teach younger players in Germany. As a result, German football as a whole improved a hell lot to be what they are today.
So far, City, Arsenal and Chelsea stopped recruiting English players, but not much has changed in the FA system. However, if Manchester United (the big cheese of English football) comes out in the future and openly stops recruiting English players, it should be the alarm signal the FA needs to change their ways. I know what I propose here (stop recruiting English among top PL teams) will rub a few feathers among British members here and I'm sorry if it offends some, but I strongly believe that the only way to change things with England is for clubs to take such radical measures. It's about doing one bad thing with the purpose of bringing greater good further down the road. Last edited by KiraYamatoFan; 2013-04-02 at 03:57. |
2013-03-27, 23:55 | Link #4220 | |
勇者
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Tesla Leicht Institute
Age: 34
|
Quote:
As for England, I just realized Dejan of FC Seoul score, pretty cool to see K-League players making some impact internationally.
__________________
|
|
Tags |
football, soccer |
Thread Tools | |
|
|