2013/2014 Champions League Thread

[PIMking]

Mia San Mia

[PIMking]

Thomas Müller!!!

Nice header

[Locke]

Great header by Muller. Pizarro draws Mertesacker away and Muller heads home because Koscielny is busy screwing around at the other end of the field for some reason.

[PIMking]

[agulati]

Originally Posted by Locke

Its Arjen Frickin Robben. Hes an amazing player and fantastic to watch, but if you think he isnt going to go down in that position with that kind of contact then you'd have to be high. I now that and Wenger knows that, apparently everyone knows that except Szczesny.

True. That red card was on Szcezsny.

Well hopefully Arsenal has a good game in Germany.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Locke

apparently everyone knows that except Szczesny.

To be fair to Szczza, it's rather difficult to change the momentum of your legs once you commit to going in one direction. If it was his hands, then I could see him removing them from the cheating diving tosser's path. However, it was his foot and it would have been almost impossible to move that out of the way after reading and committing to the play.

Was it an unnecessary sending off as the opposing team had the chance to replace a clear goal scoring opportunity that was denied, yes.
Was it an application of the rules both teams knew going into the match, yes again.

It sucks but those are the rules and one can only hope that FIFA and UEFA adopt retrospective punishment via post-match video reviews. Szczza deserves his two match ban and a one or two match extension based on video evidence of his gesture, but Robben should also miss the next round.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Addick

To be fair to Szczza, it's rather difficult to change the momentum of your legs once you commit to going in one direction. If it was his hands, then I could see him removing them from the cheating diving tosser's path. However, it was his foot and it would have been almost impossible to move that out of the way after reading and committing to the play.

Was it an unnecessary sending off as the opposing team had the chance to replace a clear goal scoring opportunity that was denied, yes.
Was it an application of the rules both teams knew going into the match, yes again.

It sucks but those are the rules and one can only hope that FIFA and UEFA adopt retrospective punishment via post-match video reviews. Szczza deserves his two match ban and a one or two match extension based on video evidence of his gesture, but Robben should also miss the next round.

I completely agree with you.

Whats this about a gesture though? First I've heard of it. All of this 'gesture' nonsense is getting ridiculous.

[Montana Moe]

Originally Posted by Locke

I completely agree with you.

Whats this about a gesture though? First I've heard of it. All of this 'gesture' nonsense is getting ridiculous.

Tagged for the faint of heart.

NSFW!

[Locke]

That was dumb of Szczesny.

Neuer saying what we're all thinking:

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has urged FIFA to consider abandoning the “triple punishment” of a penalty, red card, and suspension for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity in the penalty box.

“One should reconsider the rule,” Neuer said, before adding that “from a keeper’s point of view you have to be critical of the red card… the team is already punished by the penalty call.”

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/17...t-rule?cc=5901

[d_phaneuf]

I do like the last man rule in general, because otherwise you would just get more cynical yellows

but I agree the double punishment needs to change, taking someone down for a penalty is not in the spirit of the last man rule

just give the penalty, and only a Red if the challenge deserves it (i.e studs up, contact to the head etc.) and then once you avoid that the triple isn't an issue at all

[Locke]

I agree, a penalty is enough. By the time its a penalty and a red card its game over.

[cam_wmh]

I've been the scapegoat in that scenario myself a couple times.

Agree with the rest, that it's a rule that needs to be changed. Yellow & PK.

[Locke]

I didnt realize that Juan Mata was cup-tied. They paid almost £40M for a cup-tied player? You'd think they'd at least have gotten a bit of a discount for that.

[Lego Man]

Originally Posted by Locke

I didnt realize that Juan Mata was cup-tied. They paid almost £40M for a cup-tied player? You'd think they'd at least have gotten a bit of a discount for that.

Knowing Mourinho, getting him cup-tied is probably the only reason he started any games at all this season. He hardly ever played any EPL minutes at all this year.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Some kind of ridiculous game going on in Russia. Dortmund leading Zenit 4-2

[Locke]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Some kind of ridiculous game going on in Russia. Dortmund leading Zenit 4-2

That Mkhitaryan purchase looks better every day.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Locke

I didnt realize that Juan Mata was cup-tied. They paid almost £40M for a cup-tied player? You'd think they'd at least have gotten a bit of a discount for that.

Despite being out of favour with Mourinho, I'm surprised their 2012 & 2013, Blues P.o.Y didn't play MORE games in Europe leading to his January sale.

$40 mil for a player recognized as the most valuable to Chelsea, by his team-mates, for the two most recent seasons that's cup tied for one?
Every day, twice on Sundays.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Oh my, United's defense is playing poorly to say the least

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Brutal marking by United, a lucky bounce and they're down 1-0

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Campbell nutmegs Carrick and then a beautiful finish. 2-0 Olympiacos