[NCR] UEFA Champions League :: Crew Forum

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

For those of us interested in UEFA Little Cup, Dempsey makes a career highlighter.
[ame="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcmncu_100318-ful_school"]Dailymotion - 100318_FUL - a College video@@AMEPARAM@@http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video@@AMEPARAM@@video[/ame]
Edit: I dont know what BS's daily motion embedding situation is but I just copied the link. You can see it after the jump

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

That goal is sick. Looks like something you see out of our friends from SA.

Can someone explain to me how Drogba gets red while Motta gets nothing?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=587N-6DFdWY"]YouTube- Red Card Drogba vs Inter Milan (Chelsea vs Inter 0-1)[/ame]

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

Southeast Asian Match Fixers

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

My guess is that the referee saw what I saw, and that was that Thiago Motta ran up on Drogba, who responded with a basic Krav Maga hip throw, and then stood on Motta's ankle (on which I'll give Drogba the benefit of the doubt and say it was probably unintentional). Just one Inter supporter's opinion, though. My vision at the time of the foul may have been somewhat encumbered by several beers and tears of near hilarious joy.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

Shoddy reffing: this season's UEFA CL theme.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

The knock-out rounds continue with the quarterfinals beginning next week. The draw last Friday resulted in the following match-ups:

1st Leg
Tuesday, March 30
Olympique Lyonnais vs. Bordeaux - Stade de Gerland, Lyon
Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United - Fußball Arena München, Munich

Wednesday, March 31
Arsenal vs. Barcelona - Arsenal Stadium, London
Inter Milan vs. CSKA Moskva - Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan

2nd Leg
Tuesday, April 6
Barcelona vs. Arsenal - Camp Nou, Barcelona
CSKA Moskva vs. Inter Milan - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

Wednesday, April 7
Bordeaux vs. Olympique Lyonnais - Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich - Old Trafford, Manchester

I'm more stoked for the quarters than I have been in years, mainly because Inter's still in it, but for a lot of other reasons, too. In my opinion, it's always better when all of the big leagues are represented at this point of the tournament. The way the draw worked out, Barca is the obvious favorite, but I don't think they should be considered the overwhelming favorite. Rubin Kazan beat them at Camp Nou in the Group Stage, and Stuttgart played them tough at VfB before getting blitzed at Camp Nou. Arsenal will offer up more of an away challenge in the second leg than Stuttgart could muster. That said, with their styles of play being so similar, it's going to take Arsenal beating Barcelona with Barca's game, and beating talent with talent, and that's a tall order.

The Lyon/Bordeaux match-up is going to be terrific to watch. The intensity of intra-league rivalry matches at this point in the tournament is always very high (the Inter Milan/AC Milan semis in 2003 being the one that always comes to mind for me), and one of these teams will be the first Ligue 1 side to make the semis since Monaco in 2004. Other than seeing Lyon versus Madrid in the Round of 16, I haven't seen anything of either of these sides this year, so it's more or less a pick 'em for me. I'm going to really enjoy watching this one.

After three years of having 3 EPL clubs in the semifinals, there's a very real possibility of having none make it through the quarters this year. This would require Bayern pulling off a spectacular upset of Manchester United and Barca holding off Arsenal. I think if Bayern is to defeat Man U, it will have to be done in the way that Inter ousted Chelsea. If they can fight for a one goal win at home, then do to Manchester United at Old Trafford what Inter did to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which was go aggressive and not hang all their hopes on a scoreless draw against a powerful offense, I think Bayern can shock the world (and particularly the Fox network who I think is rather counting on Manchester United being in the final) and advance.

And I'm biased as all hell when it comes to Inter/CSKA. I was hoping that Inter was going to draw one of the French teams or CSKA, and I was happy that was how it came up. Will this be an example of being sorry for what one wishes for? I doubt it. Mourinho's got the Nerazzurri focussed on simply advancing in this tournament, which I think is the proper way for a team like Inter to handle it. Whereas a team like Barcelona or Manchester United can legitimately expect to make the finals and win, a club like Inter needs to focus on advancing round by round, not winning it all. For years Inter has been crushed by pressure from ownership and supporters to win Europe. Now, Mou has got them to realize that it's all about beating the team they are facing. That approach got them out of a tough group, and got them by Chelsea. In this sense, I think you can point to Inter as being the anti-Real Madrid in this tournament. Madrid with Ronaldo this year had a feeling of Inter with Ibrahimovic in past years when they crumbled under the expectations of winning it all; Inter with Eto'o, Milito, and Pandev up top and Sneijder controlling the midfield is attacking it one hurdle at a time. (And Julio Cesar's the best keeper left in the tournament, so there's that.)

My picks for the semifinals:

Bayern vs. Bordeaux
Inter vs. Barcelona

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

And here's the TV info. (Subject to change.)


Tuesday March 30
2:30pm ET - Bayern Munich vs Manchester United - FSN & FSE (5pm ET SDD on FSC)
2:30pm ET - Lyon vs Bordeaux - FSC (5pm ET SDD on FS+)

Wednesday March 31
2:30pm ET - Arsenal vs Barcelona - FSC & FSE (5pm ET SDD on FS+)
2:30pm ET - Inter Milan vs CSKA Moscow - FS+ (5pm ET SDD on FSC)

==

Tuesday April 6
12:25pm ET - CSKA Moscow vs Inter Milan - FSC & FSE (early kickoff)
2:30pm ET - Barcelona vs Arsenal - FSN & FSE (5pm ET SDD on FSC)

Wednesday April 7
2:30pm ET - Manchester United vs Bayern Munich - FSC & FSE (5pm ET SDD on FS+)
2:30pm ET - Bordeaux vs Lyon - FS+ (5pm ET SDD on FSC)

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

scornflakes, I'm not as optimistic as you about Bayern. Here's our brutal upcoming schedule:


Wed, 24.03.2010 FC Schalke 04 - FC Bayern (German Cup)

Sat, 27.03.2010 FC Bayern - VfB Stuttgart (Bundesliga)

Tues, 30.03.2010 FC Bayern - Manchester United (Champions League)

Sat, 03.04.2010 FC Schalke 04 - FC Bayern (Bundesliga)

Wed, 07.04.2010 Manchester United - FC Bayern (Champions League)

Our squad isn't deep enough to handle this. We're going to need lady luck on our side.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

CSKA Moscow will shock Inter and advance. CSKA has good players and should not be underestimated. If they advance it will require them to draw or win at Inter. CSKA has played alot of quality sides in the group stages so i'm not worried they will be afraid of Inter.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

But... but... Russia doesn't play on a European schedule! They can't possibly compete with the rest of the world until that happens.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

I gotta say, between learning from your better knowledge and watching 2 minutes of the match, you're right: I may have been a bit optimistic.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

Stupid f*cking Lyon. C'mon Bordeaux.


EDIT: That's what I'm talkin' about!!!! 1-1!

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

I don't know how anyone can hate on Lyon, really. Plus my main (ex) homey Lisandro Lopez already has one banger today and is looking for another.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

There's a team name in green in my signature. Should be all the explanation necessary.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

Wow.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

Whoa! Maybe I had second thoughts too soon . . . I mean . . . huh?!

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

I just got done watching the game on DVR.

I am beside myself.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

That game was awesome. I hadn't had the chance to see a Bayern Munich game in it's entirety this year but they are damn explosive. What a fun match to watch!

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

I was cheering for you today. You go down this weekend. I'll be at Claddagh at 9:30 Saturday morning for the game.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

Best game we've played all season. And without Robben, too! Crazy.

This weekend is a tricky fixture for Bayern. Do we rest Ribery and Robben for Man U on Wednesday even though a win on Sat. could put us in 1st? Ugh, decisions decisions.

I think at this point the Champions League is more important to us than the Bundesliga. We'll be playing for a draw on Saturday most likely.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

Both matches yesterday were fun, but that second half by Bayern was truly the most impressive half of soccer all day. I don't know why, but I'm always surprised by how good Ribery is. He reminds me of every unassuming guy who I've ever played basketball or soccer against who looks like he should barely be able to find the field and then goes out and makes everyone else look slow and weak. There was simply no way that free kick he took should have found the goal; but of course it did, because Ribery is that guy, and that guy scores goals. My optimism for their chances flagged for about 10 minutes after Rooney's goal, but it came back when they demonstrated they weren't going to fold. I still think that if they take the same kind of attacking attitude to Old Trafford that Inter brought to Stamford Bridge, Bayern will be in the semis. If they sit back and try to protect, it'll be trouble.

Now if I can just find a reliable stream for Inter-CSKA today, I'm going to be a very happy joe.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

I am not even actually watching the game but periodically checking the ESPN Gamecast, Barca v. Arse. Literally, the Barca goal has one hollow yellow circle representing one shot on goal by Arse. Meanwhile, the Arsenal goal looks like someone with an automatic paintball gun loaded with light blue paintballs has opened fire, reloaded, and fired again.

Re: NCR: UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds

Barca-Arsenal was quite a game...what a second half. Also, my thanks to Veetle for a high quality feed for those of us that currently don't have FSC.