The Official 14/15 UEFA Champion's League and International Club News Thread

[d_phaneuf]

typical chelsea fans

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...is-metro-video

[Addick]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I'd like to think it would all be ok but I'm not sure.

Although things here are probably not as peachy we might believe, Canada's history with immigration and race is a much different story than the one in Italy.

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

typical chelsea fans

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...is-metro-video

Just came in to post the same thing, as I just saw it today. That is absolutely disgusting. Not to mention a lot of their success has been through African Americans. Makes zero sense.

[Bagor]

That was a fine bit of shenanigans at Liverpool last night on a lot of fronts.

1. Has Brentan not communicated his penalty taking order to the team? Henderson over Balotelli? Seriously? Has Henderson ever taken a penalty
2. Henderson really showing he is captain material by letting Balotelli walk all over him. And then the post goal sulk.
3. The whiny little Sturridge sulk.
4. And of course even though he wasn't even on the pitch Stevie Me decides to call out Balotelli in the media when his manager at least had the sense to go into damage control and deflect the issue leaving it for behind closed doors.

"Jordan should have taken the penalty. Rules are rules. It should have been Henderson. Mario has been a bit mischievous," said Gerrard. "Jordan is the captain and Mario showed Jordan a bit of disrespect there, but he's scored a very important goal. I think six or seven players would have wanted to take that penalty so if they all say they are taking it, what happens then? Rules are in place for a reason."

But it appears dumb dumb can't remember the rules he quoted to the media earlier this season regarding the pecking order for penalties.

"I'm aware that he's a terrific penalty taker," said Gerrard after that match. "The manager has told him if I'm not on the pitch he'll take them."
Perhaps Gerrard has already forgotten about the second part of his statement -- after all, he was not on the pitch against Besiktas and Balotelli took the penalty. By his own logic, Balotelli did nothing wrong.

http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com...ario-balotelli

[devo22]

Sorry, but how anybody could criticize Rodgers and Gerrard in that case is beyond me. It was a typical Balotelli BS move, just like Mirallas the other day. There's a designated penalty taker and you respect that, period. Luckily for Balotelli he scored (unlike Mirallas).

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by devo22

Sorry, but how anybody could criticize Rodgers and Gerrard in that case is beyond me. It was a typical Balotelli BS move, just like Mirallas the other day. There's a designated penalty taker and you respect that, period. Luckily for Balotelli he scored (unlike Mirallas).

Gerrard and Rodgers are at the front of the line for criticism for me. Rodgers should have clarified the order better. He apparently had Henderson as the pen taker, but hadn't discussed the scenario of what happens if Balotelli came on. There should really be no doubt that Balotelli would take in that scenario, he was by far the best penalty taker on the pitch.

Henderson didn't really make a a fuss until Sturridge was in his face telling him to. Sturridge shouldn't have been in there at all, and certainly shouldn't have been pouting after. Henderson also should have shown some balls and made a decision one way or the other.

Gerrard should have shut his mouth like all those who were actually involved did. Its his fault that this went from being barely an issue to being a huge news piece.

[devo22]

Okay makes sense. I didn't see the scene to be honest (I was watching Salzburg-Villareal), but read afterwards that Henderson was supposed to take the penalty and Balotelli grabbed the ball and took it instead ... which in itself sounds worse than what you're writing.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by devo22

Okay makes sense. I didn't see the scene to be honest (I was watching Salzburg-Villareal), but read afterwards that Henderson was supposed to take the penalty and Balotelli grabbed the ball and took it instead ... which in itself sounds worse than what you're writing.

Balotelli did grab it from him, I just think he was right in doing so. Rodgers and Gerrard have both said at some point that Balotelli is the next kick taker after Gerrard. Henderson and Sturridge didn't seem to be aware of this at the time though, which is BRs fault IMO.

It was all handled quite poorly, and Gerrard made it 10 times worse by stating it all publicly, instead of going with the diplomatic answer like BR, Henderson, and Balotelli all did.

http://www.lfc.vn/analysis/analysis-...tv-sport-elk1/

[Bagor]

Yeah, you've got to have your pecking order established so that everyone knows their place on it regardless.
As bad as the optics of the situation were I think Balotelli was within his rights as designated #2 penalty taker to take the penalty.
What will happen next is the media is going to be asking Gerrard to explain his attack on Balotelli with regard to his earlier statement.

[scottish_flame]

Caught the last 15 mins of the barca v man city game. Barca passing and control are a joy to watch. I still wish Suarez was playing for Liverpool. The premiership is a poorer leagie without him

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by scottish_flame

Caught the last 15 mins of the barca v man city game. Barca passing and control are a joy to watch. I still wish Suarez was playing for Liverpool. The premiership is a poorer leagie without him

I don't know what it is but I hate everything about this post.

[d_phaneuf]

[SuperMatt18]

Arsenal get a great draw and still manage to screw it up...crazy.

[Locke]

Arsenal just got hammered. 3 away goals are going to be tough to overcome.

[Barnet Flame]

It's like our own ####ty version of Groundhog Day.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

It's like our own ####ty version of Groundhog Day.

Thanks Piers Morgan's Twitter.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

like a bauss

[Locke]

Classy move by the Italian teams. Except for Cesena.

Italy's top football teams voted to give Parma a five million-euro ($5.5 million) emergency fund on Friday in order help the club finish the season.

Sixteen of the 20 clubs in Serie A voted in favour of the measure. Roma, Napoli and Sassuolo abstained, and only Cesena voted against the move.

The measure means last-place Parma should be able to play Atalanta on Sunday, after their previous two matches -- at home with Udinese and at Genoa -- were postponed indefinitely because the club couldn't pay for basic services such as security and electricity.

The vote follows Sky television writing a letter to the Lega Serie A demanding that everything be done to ensure that Parma's game with Atalanta, and all of their remaining fixtures this season, go ahead as scheduled.

Parma have been sold twice this season, players have not been paid in months, and a bankruptcy hearing has been set for March 19.

http://www.espnfc.com/parma/story/23...-finish-season

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I think Schalke is really unlucky to be tied 1-1 today. They've been so wasteful in front of goal

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Ronaldo is basically a god
Schalke could/should have 3/4/5 goals, yet they go into half tied 2-2, 4-2 RM on aggregate.

Second half is going to be a great half