UEFA Champions League Thread [Archive]

[Poverty]

Eboue etc didnt have answers for theyre attacks compared to other matches. Barca is just too good.

 

[Dave A]

Ebue should have been taken off, he was the first Arsenal player to look knackered, and it was well before any of the other's did. Oh well, there's always next year for you, but preferrably me.

 

[MistaY]

Ebue should have been taken off, he was the first Arsenal player to look knackered, and it was well before any of the other's did. Oh well, there's always next year for you, but preferrably me.

More like me.

It's all about the Ballack and Lampard midfield baybeee.

 

[Dave A]

I think they might be a problem together, they'll be stepping on each others toes too much. Also I'm not 100% sure if Ballack will hack the pace of the premiership, it's the fastst league and the most competitive league in the world.

 

[MistaY]

I think they might be a problem together, they'll be stepping on eachothers toes too much. Also I'm not 100% sure if Ballack will hck the pace of the premiershipp, it's the fastst league and the most competitive league in the world.

DONT SHATTER MY DREAMS ARGH

NOT LISTENING IM NOT LISTENING LALALALALALALA THEY'LL BE AWESOME LALALALALALALAL NOT LISTENING

 

[Diego440]

I was initially going to come here and laugh at all you Arseanal fans... but come to think of it, other than the two goals, Barça didn't really play all that good.

Even the Spanish commentators were pretty pessimistic until Barça scored, since the team failed to create good goaling opportunities. Still, I'm glad Barça won, since I know more about that team than Arsenal.

Not a good game, but a good result.

 

[MistaY]

I was initially going to come here and laugh at all you Arseanal fans... but come to think of it, other than the two goals, Barça didn't really play all that good.

Even the Spanish commentators were pretty pessimistic until Barça scored, since the team failed to create good goaling opportunities. Still, I'm glad Barça won, since I know more about that team than Arsenal.

Not a good game, but a good result.

The English commentators were bloody awful, pretty much biassed towards Arsenal. I realy hope I don't have to watch the England WC matches on ITV because it will be the same horrible biased commentary, not that BBC is any better.

Oh well heres hoping that TVAnts has english streaming wc matches!

 

[Dave A]

Ofcourse they we're biased, they're English, they wanted the English team to win. It's the same when England play in any competition, it was the same when Man U played in Europe it's the same whenever any English club play on the international stage unless they happen to be playing another English club on that said stage.

 

[Famine]

That was a rubbish game, stopped from being anything close to a football match by some absolutely mystifying refereeing.

Barca's first goal should have stood and Lehmann yellowed at worst. Then it might have been interesting (except for all the fouls called which weren't, obvious fouls being completely missed and Deco being a cheating smegpot yet again - why he wasn't carded for that dive I'll never know).


I'd also like to see a FIFA directive calling for all players who make a "card" gesture to the referee, to indicate that they think a player should be cautioned/sent-off, to be cautioned or sent-off themselves.

 

[Omnis]

Hold on, the ENTIRE ref squad was Norwegian? Shouldn't the refs be of various nationalities? They needed a swiss guy, a japanese guy, and a caymanian. The game would've been accurate and precise, honorable, and well-accounted for.

 

[Dave A]

It wasn't a rubbish game imo, but it was a game that could have been a lot better. I do agree with all you points that were wrong with it.

 

[MistaY]

Hold on, the ENTIRE ref squad was Norwegian? Shouldn't the refs be of various nationalities? They needed a swiss guy, a japanese guy, and a caymanian. The game would've been accurate and precise, honorable, and well-accounted for.

I think one of the major reasons is for communication. They do need to communicate with each other and not speaking each others language wouldn't be a good idea.

You only get teams of nationalitys, but you will never get a nationality that is playing the game. So an English Ref team or a Spanish ref team would not have been picked for this final.

 

[Dave A]

Correctamundo, the referreeing team need to be able to communicate effectively so that means they all need to speak the same language.

 

[Omnis]

I think a nice 👎 is a nice representation of "that call ****ing sucked, mate." regardless of language.

 

[OZZYGT]

Anyway, on champions league matches, player communicate with refferees (whom are not from the same country as the players) in English. So having referees from different nationalities shouldn't be a problem since they all have to speak english.

(ohh and BTW I didn't post earlier with you guys because I was dealing with this virus that my computer detected...and I still can't eliminate that muther******) 🤬


Ciao....

 

[Mike Rotch]

did anyone see if the first barca goal was offside?

 

[magburner]

Hmmm... I'm an Arsenal fan, so I'm naturally gutted that we lost to Barcelona last night. If we had not had Lehmann sent off, I reackon that we would of won the European Cup - easily!

I have to say this though - the ref was a barsteward! It was within his right for him to send off Lehmann, but he didn't need to be so dogmatic with his approach to the foul. Yellow carding Lehmann, and playing the advantage would of been a better solution, but his stewardship of the game from start to finish reeked of incompetance and bias.

I'm still proud of what Arsenal managed to achieve, they made Barcelona work for the win, even with ten players, we were a threat, Hleb and particularly Ljungberg, were tireless and gave it there all, as did Eboue. Toure and Campbell were awesome in defence, and although the goal Campbell scored was the result of a suspect foul, it was still deserved. I feel we pushed them to the limit, on a number of occasions and If Henry, and Ljungberg had converted their chances we would probably of won the cup.

Not to take any thing away from Barcelona, they scored two fantastic goals although Eto'o's was IMO off-side. Ronaldihnio was a big dissapointment for me, he didn't live up to the hype - he was not on a par with Henry last night. His free kicks were off the mark, and the best chance he had on goal was nearer the corner flag than the uprights. Rijkaard 's excellent choice of substituations, must be applauded, as I feel that they considerably changed the flow of the game in their favour. Congratulations to Barcelona for winning the European Cup, but they were not the best team on the night.

 

[DQuaN]

 

[Dave A]

Anyway, on champions league matches, player communicate with refferees (whom are not from the same country as the players) in English. So having referees from different nationalities shouldn't be a problem since they all have to speak english.

But they're the rules, you can argue it or not. And no, not all the ref's speak English.

and no, the first Barca goal wasn't offside.

 

[keeno_uk]

Hmmm... I'm an Arsenal fan, so I'm naturally gutted that we lost to Barcelona last night. If we had not had Lehmann sent off, I reackon that we would of won the European Cup - easily!

I have to say this though - the ref was a barsteward! It was within his right for him to send off Lehmann, but he didn't need to be so dogmatic with his approach to the foul. Yellow carding Lehmann, and playing the advantage would of been a better solution, but his stewardship of the game from start to finish reeked of incompetance and bias.

I'm still proud of what Arsenal managed to achieve, they made Barcelona work for the win, even with ten players, we were a threat, Hleb and particularly Ljungberg, were tireless and gave it there all, as did Eboue. Toure and Campbell were awesome in defence, and although the goal Campbell scored was the result of a suspect foul, it was still deserved. I feel we pushed them to the limit, on a number of occasions and If Henry, and Ljungberg had converted their chances we would probably of won the cup.

Not to take any thing away from Barcelona, they scored two fantastic goals although Eto'o's was IMO off-side. Ronaldihnio was a big dissapointment for me, he didn't live up to the hype - he was not on a par with Henry last night. His free kicks were off the mark, and the best chance he had on goal was nearer the corner flag than the uprights. Rijkaard 's excellent choice of substituations, must be applauded, as I feel that they considerably changed the flow of the game in their favour. Congratulations to Barcelona for winning the European Cup, but they were not the best team on the night.

couldnt have been put better IMO I have to applaud almunia although he is lame but he gave it his best I really feel for him when that second goal was luckily conceided IMO

 

[Diego440]

did anyone see if the first barca goal was offside?

According to the Spanish commentators, it wasn't

 

[livemusic]

I told you guys...

 

[Dave A]

I watched the replays of that first goal from different cameras and no it wasn't offside, he was level when the ball was passed to him.

 

[Mr. Boy]

YAHOO!!! Barca won!

IMO, the ref shouldv'e played advantage for the foul Lehmann committed. But he probably blew the whistle before Giuly scored, and he had no choice but to send off Lehmann since he was the last defender.

Ronaldinho's efforts were ineffective thanks to that Arsenal defence, and Henry was only a bit better.

Henrik Larsson and Sol Campbell were the two best players IMO. Larsson made the assists for both Barca goals. Campbell, after an indifferent season, scored and defended brilliantly.

Was the first Barca goals offside? I can't judge. I didn't get a good enough look at it.

Overall, Barca weren't really on form. The match wouldv'e been different if it was 11 vs 11. But Barca won, so I'm happy.

 

[Dave A]

Henry did brilliant everywhere but infront of Barca's goals, he was better than Ronaldinho last night, but his magic wen't infront of goal with him messing up two or three great chances. On another day, he'd have buried them.

 

[MistaY]

Oh man I hate to be a bastard but i've got to post this, because it's just sheer brilliance. Even though it's probably done by some bitter spurs fan.

 

[DQuaN]

 

[ExigeEvan]

I couldn't believe the Sky commentator (Andy Gray?) could possibly think that teh ref shouldn't have sent lehmann off. Even if the goal stood it would have still been a difficult choice not to.

Otherwise it was a precent decent game though I think I can agree with the comments that Henry made about the ref after, he certainly didn't seem to have too good a grasp on the game with some rather bad decisions.

 

[Touring Mars]

I dunno - I think Henry was very harsh in his comments after the game, and so was Wenger - not the most sporting or dignified response I've ever seen, although their disappointment was perfectly understandable.

Truth be told, I think Lehmann deserved to be sent off and the goal should have stood... it was possibly considered too harsh a penalty though, and the fact that the goal didn't stand actually kept the game exciting... if Barca had taken the lead at that point, it would have been a very different affair.

Being a Celtic fan, I am delighted that Larsson played such a pivotal role in the game, and he thoroughly deserves a Champions League winning medal. The man scored twice against Jose Mourihno's Porto in the UEFA Cup Final and still lost (Porto went on to win the Champions League the following year). I truly believe that Larsson has often been under-rated simply because he played for a Scottish side. His last game for Barca (as well as his appearances throughout the season) proved beyond all doubt that Larsson is indeed an incredible player... England would do well to keep a close eye on him on June 20th!!!

Arsenal's defeat ensures that Celtic go straight into the Group Stage of the Champions League next year - which I think is only fair, seeing as how Arsenal finished 4th in their domestic league, and Celtic won theirs... How fitting that Larsson should be the man to save Celtic's skin from beyond the contractual grave!!

 

[Dave A]

I couldn't believe the Sky commentator (Andy Gray?) could possibly think that teh ref shouldn't have sent lehmann off. Even if the goal stood it would have still been a difficult choice not to.

I agree with him, and Terry Venables at half time, most of the lads at work agreed too, the goal should have stood and Lehman should have stayed on. The ref made a bad call imo. Like was said after the match, if the ref say's he stood to the letter of the law, that law stinks. It's the ref's choice what to do in that situation and taking 1 man off so early spoilt the game for most people.