The Official 2010/2011 Champions League Thread

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

uhh...no.

Then came the:

Edit: Comparing them as whining and diving poofters would be valid but in terms of talent and achievements - never.

Alright then, you can compare whomever you want based on whatever criteria you so choose.

All I did was post an article where a prominent referee confirmed the conclusion that Ronaldo dives for free kicks more often or more blatantly than most people and as such the referees, during their pre-game preparations, discuss how best to deal with him.

Thats all.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Locke and rubecube, I always knew you guys were ridiculous, but that takes it to a different level. Comparins Burrows to Ronaldo.....hahahhaha

Ronaldo is arguably the best in the game right now. If he's not number one, he's definitely number two, I don't know how you could deny that. That's why he deserves some respect. I never said respect him for the diving. I never said that. Even as a huge fan of his, I wish that stuff would leave his game. It's embarassing, but at the same time, I don't think it's as bad some make it out to be. Respect the guy for his amazing talent. Respect him for being one the best in the world.

Hate him for being a diva, hate him for being a little baby sometime, hate him for being a diver, fine. But at the very least recognize the guy is an awesome talent.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Locke and rubecube, I always knew you guys were ridiculous, but that takes it to a different level. Comparins Burrows to Ronaldo.....hahahhaha

Ronaldo is arguably the best in the game right now. If he's not number one, he's definitely number two, I don't know how you could deny that. That's why he deserves some respect. I never said respect him for the diving. I never said that. Even as a huge fan of his, I wish that stuff would leave his game. It's embarassing, but at the same time, I don't think it's as bad some make it out to be. Respect the guy for his amazing talent. Respect him for being one the best in the world.

Hate him for being a diva, hate him for being a little baby sometime, hate him for being a diver, fine. But at the very least recognize the guy is an awesome talent.

Originally Posted by Locke

Further, he is an amazing talent, and he deserves some respect, hes also a diver, something a World Class referee up there just confirmed.

Already done, numerous, numberous times, stop harping on it, yes, hes a really, really good soccer player, we know that, he also dives, a lot, so much so that the referees have to pay special attention to him because hes so special.

Doesnt mean when new articles come out I'm just going to ignore them.

[Locke]

And Portugal still isnt that good. But thats for another thread.

[d_phaneuf]

I wouldn't have him at 1 or 2

top 5 probly not either

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Locke

And Portugal still isnt that good. But thats for another thread.

Oh, Im not denying any of that. They're in a big hole to qualify.

[d_phaneuf]

If I was starting a team from scratch, not taking in to account age

Xavi
Messi
Iniesta
Fabregas
Essien

I would take over him

[Locke]

That seems a tad cynical, but I would make that decision based on what you're trying to accomplish with any given team.

Hes got a 'Dion-esque' attitude in my opinion which can be a huge negative in anything team related.

[d_phaneuf]

I think a midfielder has a bigger impact on a game than a winger/forward

if it was pure attacking players than ya, he is right up there with Messi behind Bale

[Pagal4321]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Ronaldo is arguably the best in the game right now. If he's not number one, he's definitely number two, I don't know how you could deny that. That's why he deserves some respect.

Ummmm, no he is not.

Sure, he's talented. But no, he is not the best in the game, nor is he the second best in the game.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by rubecube

So Alex Burrows also deserves respect because he scores goals in addition to all the other crap he pulls?

Yes.

[SuperMatt18]

I am probably the least biased in this thread (no Italians or Serie A players in the top 10) and to me Ronaldo is at the very worst top five in the game, and more likely top three.

Messi is clearly number 1, but then it is a battle depending on preference between Xavi and Ronaldo for the second spot.

Ronaldo is more of a threat attacking from the wing and is more likely to hurt you by himself with a moment of individual brilliance.

Xavi is more clinical and will make everybody around him better, thus make his team better, and will eventually break through with his brillant passing.

So depending on what you want more in a player (individual brilliance vs. team brilliance, winger vs. central midfielder) you will have them rated differently. Messi is the best in the world because he combines bits of both aspects of the game.

Iniesta, Fabregas, Essien, etc are all great players but they are not in the conversation with those three.

Iniesta is probably the closest out of that group but I feel that his success is more attributed to the greatness of Xavi and Messi, than the other way around.

[d_phaneuf]

I would have Sneijder in the top 10, he hasn't been great this year but its pretty obvious he is just tired

and the fact that he got overlooked on the top 3 shortlist for the ballon d'or is a joke

Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi had great years

but Sneijder won the copa d'italia, Serie A, and the Champions League, if he is punished for not winning the WC (although he came 2nd) than Messi should be as well

[SeoulFire]

Originally Posted by Locke

Alright then, you can compare whomever you want based on whatever criteria you so choose.

All I did was post an article where a prominent referee confirmed the conclusion that Ronaldo dives for free kicks more often or more blatantly than most people and as such the referees, during their pre-game preparations, discuss how best to deal with him.

Thats all.

That's all fine and dandy until you decided to defend the strawman.

[TopChed]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

I would have Sneijder in the top 10, he hasn't been great this year but its pretty obvious he is just tired

and the fact that he got overlooked on the top 3 shortlist for the ballon d'or is a joke

Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi had great years

but Sneijder won the copa d'italia, Serie A, and the Champions League, if he is punished for not winning the WC (although he came 2nd) than Messi should be as well

I definitely agree. It seems so strange to have 3 players from the same team on there. You shouldn't be eligible to win player of the year without being the best player on your team. I mean, those three are deserving and all, but Sneijder's year was insane. Not to mention voting was done in October to set these 3, so not a whole lot of weight should be placed on this season so far.

[d_phaneuf]

percentages that each team can draw the others on friday

[d_phaneuf]

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


pretty much the worst possible draw for Spurs and Arsenal, amazing for chelsea, not great but very winnable for United

[d_phaneuf]

in terms of how the odds makers view it

To Qualify - AC Milan v Tottenham
All Bets
15 Feb 19:45 UK 8/11 Tottenham EVS AC Milan

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To Qualify - Arsenal v Barcelona
All Bets
15 Feb 19:45 UK 1/4 Barcelona 11/4 Arsenal

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To Qualify - FC Copenhagen v Chelsea
All Bets
15 Feb 19:45 UK 1/14 Chelsea 13/2 FC Copenhagen

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To Qualify - Inter Milan v Bayern Munich
All Bets
15 Feb 19:45 UK 5/6 Inter Milan 5/6 Bayern Munich

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To Qualify - Lyon v Real Madrid
All Bets
15 Feb 19:45 UK 1/5 Real Madrid 10/3 Lyon

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To Qualify - Marseille v Man Utd
All Bets
15 Feb 19:45 UK 1/5 Man Utd 10/3 Marseille

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To Qualify - Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk
All Bets
15 Feb 19:45 UK 8/11 Roma EVS Shakhtar Donetsk

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To Qualify - Valencia v Schalke 04
All Bets
15 Feb 19:45 UK 4/7 Valencia 5/4 Schalke 04




it's from a british site so those are European odds, EVS is even, bet 1 to win 1, the other numbers are bet the number on the right side to win the amount on the left. So for example bet 14 to win 1 for chelsea (meaning they are huge favorites)

[SuperMatt18]

A couple of good matchups in AC Milan vs Tottenham, Bayern vs Inter (rematch of finals), and Arsenal vs Barca.

Some favourable draws for smaller teams like Roma and Shakhtar, Valencia and Schalke who were able to avoid one of the powerhouses.

Chelsea, Madrid, and Man U should move into the final 8.

[Locke]

Chelsea and United with sweetheart draws. That should be no trouble for them at all.

I'm hoping Bayern take the whole thing. They almost have Robben back and Gomez has finally found some impressive form.