I'd class Di Stefano in that bracket too, and he's never played in a World Cup, much less won an international tournament.
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[EU] Champions League 04/05 (13 Viewers)
- Thread starter Roverbhoy
- Start date
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No, and yes, they did. They weren't a whole lot behind Man Utd in terms of results, passion and raw talent back then. Of course, they had debts only a Romanista could love, a moron of a chairman, and they fired an excellent manager only to replace him with a walking permatan, and later a man know affectionately in England as "monkey heid", all of which now sees them in the Championship, aka first division, aka old second division...
English players are overvalued, of that I've no doubt. Small clubs can demand insane money for a decent English player.
English players are overvalued, of that I've no doubt. Small clubs can demand insane money for a decent English player.
English clubs have to spend more on English players, it always been like that, that is why Beattie cost 6m and so did Morienties...and who is better? Mori obviously. African players cost less then Europeans mainly because:
1. They can be seen more, on TV for example...
2. They are european...with all due respect to any non-Europeans...but the biased is that European football at any level is better then any other, so a player who proves himself in europe would be more expensive then the same kind of player from for example Africa because they have 'proven' themselves...
Thats why I said it was wrong to believe that, I think it is wrong to believe players that have only ever won a world cup is wrong, look at players like George Best...is it right he'll never be considered a true great because he was born in Northern Ireland??? And what about Baggio? One of the true greats, but will never be considered great because of a missed penalty...
1. They can be seen more, on TV for example...
2. They are european...with all due respect to any non-Europeans...but the biased is that European football at any level is better then any other, so a player who proves himself in europe would be more expensive then the same kind of player from for example Africa because they have 'proven' themselves...
Thats why I said it was wrong to believe that, I think it is wrong to believe players that have only ever won a world cup is wrong, look at players like George Best...is it right he'll never be considered a true great because he was born in Northern Ireland??? And what about Baggio? One of the true greats, but will never be considered great because of a missed penalty...
Keep it up chxta!
What are the chances of Jose Mourinho extending the hand of friendship to Frank Rijkaard? Could an invitation to join him in his office at Stamford Bridge after the return leg of the next week's Champions League tie be on the cards?
Most importantly, will the Barcelona boss get to sample the full body of a £240 bottle of the finest Portuguese red?
Frankly, Werder Bremen's prospects of overturning a 3-0 deficit in Lyon look decidedly more promising than any of the above scenarios.
Mourinho occasionally surprises with displays of magnanimity. His gentlemanly demeanour on Tyneside following the recent FA Cup defeat by Newcastle United won him admirers anew.
But given the testy nature of last week's events at the Nou Camp in general, and the acrimony between the two managers in particular, it's a fair bet that Rijkaard post-match, will make a swift return to Catalonia, before you can say 'Barca Velha.'
Far from offering conciliation this week, Barcelona's Dutch coach merely stoked the fire ahead of Tuesday's Stamford Bridge decider. Rijkaard described (before a ball was kicked) his team's midweek derby opponents Espanyol as 'a team with more of a winning mentality than Chelsea, a more positive side from a footballing perspective'.
It won't have escaped Mourinho's notice that Espanyol were the very picture of stultifying negativity on Tuesday.
In a way though, it's a shame the managers have stolen the show here. Perhaps we can redress the balance by focusing more on the match itself in the hours leading up to what ought to be a fascinating night by the King's Road.
As usual on these big occasions, Tommy Smyth will join me for commentary, and I'm delighted to be able to confirm that most of you with access to ESPN will see every kick of the ball. Before you Americans ask, yes, it's also live for you on espn2.
Who really holds the edge going into the second leg? It's a difficult question to answer. Returning home after a 2-1 first-leg defeat away, is seldom unsatisfactory.
The difficulty for Chelsea lies in the fact that Barca's high technical level, allied to a borderline gung-ho approach, gives them an excellent chance of bagging that priceless asset in two-legged European competition; the away goal.
Barcelona are neither accustomed to, nor particularly at ease, grinding out a goalless draw, in the manner Chelsea might be expected to do in their shoes.
There's a legitimate worry though, that collective fatigue is undermining the blaugrana's quest for honours. The spark of enterprise was missing against Espanyol the other night.
By the time Tuesday evening comes along, the Catalan giants will be facing their sixth game in the space of seventeen days. So much for the time-honoured maxim that no one comes close to matching English clubs, as regards crowded fixture lists
Frank Rijkaard still doesn't have the luxury of giving his top players a much needed rest. Carles Puyol, Samuel Eto'o and Xavi have started every single league match this season. Deco has missed just one game, and Ronaldinho, a couple. The spine of the side has a weary look about it and perhaps with good reason.
The winter signings of Maxi Lopez and Demetrio Albertini have served to strengthen the squad, but Rijkaard can't bring himself to field much less than his first-choice team in the Primera: not with Real Madrid breathing down his neck.
It should be added that Chelsea's resources are less plentiful than they appeared a few weeks ago. Mourinho's team for Tuesday might fall short of picking itself but not by much.
Don't expect wholesale changes from the side which lined up in the first leg. Eidur Gudjohnsen will almost certainly start in place of the suspended Didier Drogba. Mateja Kezman, despite netting the winner in Cardiff, might have to content himself with a place on the bench
Although Chelsea find themselves behind at the end of the first act, a brazen outlook seems improbable. After all, Barcelona are entitled to feel that a high-scoring encounter at Stamford Bridge will suit their attacking tendencies.
Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele, as so often in the Champions League, carry a weighty burden on their shoulders. The midfield area will be crucial, and if Chelsea are to succeed, the pair of them will have to outplay and outwit Xavi and Deco; by no means a mere bagatelle.
If Barcelona have an Achilles heel, it's to be found on the left-hand side of their defence; a weakness Lampard and Damien Duff exploited deftly in the construction of Chelsea's goal at the Nou Camp.
Gio Van Bronckhorst and Sylvinho are accomplished players, but not necessarily high-quality defenders. Oleguer, who sits to the immediate right of the full-back, can get befuddled by clever footwork and quick movement.
It will be no great shock, if Chelsea match Barcelona's 2-1 victory and thus send the tie into extra time.
My gut feeling tells me though, the peacock will be preening late on Tuesday night. No prizes for guessing who I'm referring to!
Editted to place emphasis
Most importantly, will the Barcelona boss get to sample the full body of a £240 bottle of the finest Portuguese red?
Frankly, Werder Bremen's prospects of overturning a 3-0 deficit in Lyon look decidedly more promising than any of the above scenarios.
Mourinho occasionally surprises with displays of magnanimity. His gentlemanly demeanour on Tyneside following the recent FA Cup defeat by Newcastle United won him admirers anew.
But given the testy nature of last week's events at the Nou Camp in general, and the acrimony between the two managers in particular, it's a fair bet that Rijkaard post-match, will make a swift return to Catalonia, before you can say 'Barca Velha.'
Far from offering conciliation this week, Barcelona's Dutch coach merely stoked the fire ahead of Tuesday's Stamford Bridge decider. Rijkaard described (before a ball was kicked) his team's midweek derby opponents Espanyol as 'a team with more of a winning mentality than Chelsea, a more positive side from a footballing perspective'.
It won't have escaped Mourinho's notice that Espanyol were the very picture of stultifying negativity on Tuesday.
In a way though, it's a shame the managers have stolen the show here. Perhaps we can redress the balance by focusing more on the match itself in the hours leading up to what ought to be a fascinating night by the King's Road.
As usual on these big occasions, Tommy Smyth will join me for commentary, and I'm delighted to be able to confirm that most of you with access to ESPN will see every kick of the ball. Before you Americans ask, yes, it's also live for you on espn2.
Who really holds the edge going into the second leg? It's a difficult question to answer. Returning home after a 2-1 first-leg defeat away, is seldom unsatisfactory.
The difficulty for Chelsea lies in the fact that Barca's high technical level, allied to a borderline gung-ho approach, gives them an excellent chance of bagging that priceless asset in two-legged European competition; the away goal.
Barcelona are neither accustomed to, nor particularly at ease, grinding out a goalless draw, in the manner Chelsea might be expected to do in their shoes.
There's a legitimate worry though, that collective fatigue is undermining the blaugrana's quest for honours. The spark of enterprise was missing against Espanyol the other night.
By the time Tuesday evening comes along, the Catalan giants will be facing their sixth game in the space of seventeen days. So much for the time-honoured maxim that no one comes close to matching English clubs, as regards crowded fixture lists
Frank Rijkaard still doesn't have the luxury of giving his top players a much needed rest. Carles Puyol, Samuel Eto'o and Xavi have started every single league match this season. Deco has missed just one game, and Ronaldinho, a couple. The spine of the side has a weary look about it and perhaps with good reason.
The winter signings of Maxi Lopez and Demetrio Albertini have served to strengthen the squad, but Rijkaard can't bring himself to field much less than his first-choice team in the Primera: not with Real Madrid breathing down his neck.
It should be added that Chelsea's resources are less plentiful than they appeared a few weeks ago. Mourinho's team for Tuesday might fall short of picking itself but not by much.
Don't expect wholesale changes from the side which lined up in the first leg. Eidur Gudjohnsen will almost certainly start in place of the suspended Didier Drogba. Mateja Kezman, despite netting the winner in Cardiff, might have to content himself with a place on the bench
Although Chelsea find themselves behind at the end of the first act, a brazen outlook seems improbable. After all, Barcelona are entitled to feel that a high-scoring encounter at Stamford Bridge will suit their attacking tendencies.
Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele, as so often in the Champions League, carry a weighty burden on their shoulders. The midfield area will be crucial, and if Chelsea are to succeed, the pair of them will have to outplay and outwit Xavi and Deco; by no means a mere bagatelle.
If Barcelona have an Achilles heel, it's to be found on the left-hand side of their defence; a weakness Lampard and Damien Duff exploited deftly in the construction of Chelsea's goal at the Nou Camp.
Gio Van Bronckhorst and Sylvinho are accomplished players, but not necessarily high-quality defenders. Oleguer, who sits to the immediate right of the full-back, can get befuddled by clever footwork and quick movement.
It will be no great shock, if Chelsea match Barcelona's 2-1 victory and thus send the tie into extra time.
My gut feeling tells me though, the peacock will be preening late on Tuesday night. No prizes for guessing who I'm referring to!
Editted to place emphasis
My predictions for the second leg:
Chelsea-Barca: 1-0 for Chelsea, advance on away goal. If Milan can shut out Barca so can Chelsea.
Milan-Man United: 2-1 for Milan, aggregate score of 3-1 for Milan.
Lyon-Bremen: 2-1 for Lyon, they advance 5-1 on aggregate. (Bremen might as well just forfeit the match.)
Inter-Porto: 2-1 for Inter, they advance 3 goals to 2.
Juventus-Real Madrid: 2-1 for Juventus, but Real go through on away goal. :down: God I hope I'm wrong about all of these if Juve could go through.
Leverkusen-Liverpool: 3-1 for the German side, and they advance by winning the penalty shootout.
Monaco-PSV: 2-0 for Monaco, 2-1 for the Principality on aggregate.
Arsenal-Bayern: 2-2, Bayern goes through 5-3 in total.
I cannot wait. I love football.
Chelsea-Barca: 1-0 for Chelsea, advance on away goal. If Milan can shut out Barca so can Chelsea.
Milan-Man United: 2-1 for Milan, aggregate score of 3-1 for Milan.
Lyon-Bremen: 2-1 for Lyon, they advance 5-1 on aggregate. (Bremen might as well just forfeit the match.)
Inter-Porto: 2-1 for Inter, they advance 3 goals to 2.
Juventus-Real Madrid: 2-1 for Juventus, but Real go through on away goal. :down: God I hope I'm wrong about all of these if Juve could go through.
Leverkusen-Liverpool: 3-1 for the German side, and they advance by winning the penalty shootout.
Monaco-PSV: 2-0 for Monaco, 2-1 for the Principality on aggregate.
Arsenal-Bayern: 2-2, Bayern goes through 5-3 in total.
I cannot wait. I love football.