: Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:46 am  

OrdsallRed wrote:

I hadn't realised that Obafemi Martins had signed for Wolfsburg...must have missed that one in the summer!

You probably hadn't noticed because you assumed, quite fairly IMO, he was on the physio table at Newcastle.

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:58 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

When the measure of a town is how its one major sports team performed in an annual knockout competition, it really must be bad...

Leythers can't even cling onto that prospect.

Still, a case of White Lightning at LIDL and a bench at the local library for the day is paradise for some of their locals.

PS: Sorry for going O/T.

[Mild Rover]

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 1:50 pm  

In this article on how boring and pointless the group stages of the Champions League are: http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/09/30/manual_132943.html Alex Ferguson says: "The better teams invariably (my emphasis) come out on top in the end but not before some heart-stopping moments and I am sure the smaller clubs welcome the chance of going for glory, even if the odds are stacked against them." It is that lack of variability that is draining any excitement from the sport. The moments aren't heart-stopping because the same teams 'invariably come out on top'. I don't want a lottery, but some doubt about the final outcome makes for rather more compelling viewing - if a smaller club can beat you in a straight knock-out over two legs, they deserve to go through. After winning the CWC with Aberdeen and knocking Liverpool off their perch, I think he has grown fearful that, given a level playing field, somebody might do the same to him.

In this article on how boring and pointless the group stages of the Champions League are: http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/09/30/manual_132943.html Alex Ferguson says: "The better teams invariably (my emphasis) come out on top in the end but not before some heart-stopping moments and I am sure the smaller clubs welcome the chance of going for glory, even if the odds are stacked against them." It is that lack of variability that is draining any excitement from the sport. The moments aren't heart-stopping because the same teams 'invariably come out on top'. I don't want a lottery, but some doubt about the final outcome makes for rather more compelling viewing - if a smaller club can beat you in a straight knock-out over two legs, they deserve to go through. After winning the CWC with Aberdeen and knocking Liverpool off their perch, I think he has grown fearful that, given a level playing field, somebody might do the same to him.

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:08 pm  

Abe just type in Harry the Tramp on that vidoe sharing site before calling leigh lol

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 4:32 pm  

Mild Rover wrote: In this article on how boring and pointless the group stages of the Champions League are: http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/09/30/manual_132943.html Alex Ferguson says: "The better teams invariably (my emphasis) come out on top in the end but not before some heart-stopping moments and I am sure the smaller clubs welcome the chance of going for glory, even if the odds are stacked against them." It is that lack of variability that is draining any excitement from the sport. The moments aren't heart-stopping because the same teams 'invariably come out on top'. I don't want a lottery, but some doubt about the final outcome makes for rather more compelling viewing - if a smaller club can beat you in a straight knock-out over two legs, they deserve to go through. After winning the CWC with Aberdeen and knocking Liverpool off their perch, I think he has grown fearful that, given a level playing field, somebody might do the same to him. I don't really get your point tbh, basically you claim because it's a group format there is less chance of an upset or a 'smaller' team going through but surely in a straight knock out competition the bigger side will, as you put it, invariably go through anyway, it's what generally happens in any cup format, barring the odd slip. You're are right any side over two legs can win, however, if in a group format a side like Wolfsburg for example beat United and then draw (which would obviously put them out in a straight knock out) that will then give them a four point advatage over United and a good opportunity to progress. The point you make about a side being able to win over two legs and go through is what's being avoided in a group format, a team has to be consistent over 6 games in order to go through not just play well in two and be rewarded to go into the next round.

Mild Rover wrote: In this article on how boring and pointless the group stages of the Champions League are: http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/09/30/manual_132943.html Alex Ferguson says: "The better teams invariably (my emphasis) come out on top in the end but not before some heart-stopping moments and I am sure the smaller clubs welcome the chance of going for glory, even if the odds are stacked against them." It is that lack of variability that is draining any excitement from the sport. The moments aren't heart-stopping because the same teams 'invariably come out on top'. I don't want a lottery, but some doubt about the final outcome makes for rather more compelling viewing - if a smaller club can beat you in a straight knock-out over two legs, they deserve to go through. After winning the CWC with Aberdeen and knocking Liverpool off their perch, I think he has grown fearful that, given a level playing field, somebody might do the same to him. I don't really get your point tbh, basically you claim because it's a group format there is less chance of an upset or a 'smaller' team going through but surely in a straight knock out competition the bigger side will, as you put it, invariably go through anyway, it's what generally happens in any cup format, barring the odd slip. You're are right any side over two legs can win, however, if in a group format a side like Wolfsburg for example beat United and then draw (which would obviously put them out in a straight knock out) that will then give them a four point advatage over United and a good opportunity to progress. The point you make about a side being able to win over two legs and go through is what's being avoided in a group format, a team has to be consistent over 6 games in order to go through not just play well in two and be rewarded to go into the next round.

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 4:32 pm  

oggy123 wrote: Abe just type in Harry the Tramp on that vidoe sharing site before calling leigh lol Anyway, on a somewhat different footballing note, Steve Woodman, prosecuting had the temerity to suggest that the Utd fan invading the pitch "could have prevented City from equalising" according to paragraph 11 ! Perhaps Fergie will consider replacing Ferdinand with Jake Clarke then?

oggy123 wrote: Abe just type in Harry the Tramp on that vidoe sharing site before calling leigh lol Anyway, on a somewhat different footballing note, Steve Woodman, prosecuting had the temerity to suggest that the Utd fan invading the pitch "could have prevented City from equalising" according to paragraph 11 ! Perhaps Fergie will consider replacing Ferdinand with Jake Clarke then?

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 6:35 pm  

Enfield Exile wrote:

The Challenge Cup is not even as famous as the Americas Cup. BTW who won the Americas Cup last time out?

Warrington is a sorry, little place.



I like you. You're not bright, but you are awfully funny

I had to google it thought it was golf or something.

Can't see anything but an easy Man U win tonight, Chelsea might have a harder match.

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:28 pm  

Wire_85 wrote:

I had to google it thought it was golf or something.

Can't see anything but an easy Man U win tonight, Chelsea might have a harder match.

Chelsea have a harder match than United? Not even you believe that
United are playing the German champions and Chelsea are playing the Cypriot champions.

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:57 pm  

Wolfsburg 1 0 up sorry I mean

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:58 pm  

LFCRhino wrote:

Wolfsburg 1 0 up sorry I mean

55: GOAL - DZEKO. Almost out of nothing but Wolfsburg lead. Great clipped ball over from Misimovic finds Dzeko on Evra at the back post. No contest and it's a great header to give Wolfsburg the lead.