Association football (soccer)

A general topic for discussion of 'the world's sport'; I gave you the best of both worlds there, so kindly avoid debate over the name. :)


I'll start us off, anyway: who are your bets on for the Champions League final? I like to think that I can take a neutral standpoint despite my allegiance to United; with the strength of our squad atm though I hope and pray it will be a hard-fought victory (face it, it will be no walk in the park regardless), so the line is somewhat blurred. :P I think a lot is riding on the fitness of Henry and Iniesta, though, and regardless of the defenders that Barca have out I wouldn't be surprised if we lost a 0-0 draw on penalties. Hopefully it is at least entertaining. :)

Other than that, any thoughts on the plight of Newcastle, or perhaps Boro? And Burnley were promoted to the PL today on the back of a great goal...

I really wanted Hull city to be relegated. After looking at those reactions by Brown and some fans, it's a shame a team like that it's staying up for another season. It's pretty sad that Phil Brown considers that to be greatest achievement in his managerial career, and club's history.

Also, hopefully Newcastle doesn't meet the same fate as Leeds Untied. It's a lot difficult to be promoted to the top division after relegation. Nottingham Forest and Leeds can attest to that.

Well, Hull have a right to be pleased that they stayed, but certainly he might have been a bit more modest considering their recent run. They definitely did deserve relegation though after that spectacular nosedive; I only hope that they can repeat some of the brilliant attacking football that they demonstrated early in the season, in the next one.

Anyway, wasn't a big fan of Newcastle for sure, but I certainly hope that they, along with Boro, get back into the PL while they still have the parachute payments, and don't fall through the leagues like you say. Charlton and Southampton are two more examples of former PL clubs gone bankrupt and in freefall, having been very successful.

I'm a fairly big Manchester United fan. I don't follow them as much as I should, but when I am watching soccer I am always rooting for them. In fact, the only time I am watching soccer is when ManU is playing (unless it is the World Cup). One of my soccer coachs played on the Manchester United Junior Squad, so I think that is where my allegiance comes from.

As far as the Champion's League goes, I think ManU has a great chance to win this. You never know when Ronaldo is going to score, but you know it is inevitable. 8)

Ronaldo scoring is far from inevitable, as fantastic a player as he is. He has gotten better recently though with some strong words from the manager, and some goals to give him confidence. I think he has been unfairly derided for the most part this season, though; people have been wanting him gone and Tevez kept - Ronaldo is a prominent playmaker and the top scorer in the side, where as Tevez only scored five goals in the PL and wanted the same price as Berbatov, who (despite not working as hard and being hated by most) scored more than double that.

Anyway, I'm a lifelong Utd fan too, so I'll be rooting for 'em come Wednesday. I don't really mind the result though, so long as it's as good a watch as the Chelsea - Liverpool CL or the Liverpool - Arsenal PL games were (both 4-4). :D

i'll be rooting for ManU too. cuz' i really am a united fan, plus, i'm really not satisfied with barca entering the finals. until now i still think chelsea deserves it much more than barca....stupid referee.

as for ronaldo...he's a great player, i like him all right, but i know he can be far superior if he has a better control of his emotions on the field...just like rooney. he's a lot better now that he's calmer.

Newcastle "United" have sucked for years im so pleased to see those clod-hopping losers go down (Feel slightly sorry for Martins though... What a rotten situation hes in) Still thanks to there not being a relegation clause in their contracts all the players will be earning premiership money next year. N'Zogbia = Great escape.

Steven Taylor and Joey Barton are scum!!! Should be easy to get back up if they are released immediately. (If you think Terrell Owens is a cancer... You aint seen NOTHING yet)

Well done to Hull on staying up, Its a historical achievement and they add a breath of fresh air to the league. For the record Browneys celebration was nice he wasnt being a twat about it.

Wengers a crafty one, All the shareholders giving him grief about not winning a cup in 4 years Blah Blah Blah.
Turned that on its head with the Real Madrid rumours didnt he, Now hes the best thing since sliced bread again. :D

Tuncay - Top scorer for Middlesbrough = 4 goals! Ha Ha HA.

Man United won another title, Roy Hodgson did a fantastic job for Fulham, Spurs misssed out on Europe yet again, Benitez is going to stur things up by chopping and changing a team that in my eyes is pretty good. (Will he get rid of Babel and Kuyt???) And will Ronaldo and Fabregas go to Real any time soon?

IDK!?

Cant wait till next season now, Its gonna be damn good.

Martins is a poor striker. If I feel sorry for anyone it's Shearer, he couldn't have done anything that late on.



Barton should be in prison. No question about it.



I still think the way he went about it and the lack of modesty wasn't on, considering how poor they've been.



He's a fantastic manager, shareholders are basically fans and fans don't know shit. We've seen that with managers ousted at all the top clubs, we've seen it recently with Tevez and Berbatov and we'll sure as hell see it again.



Middlesbrough were diabolical this season, but the reason they went down was that their excuse for a manager Southgate sold all their best players. He then decided to buy players who were good but cheap, because their ability rides on confidence = bad idea.



Agreed that Fulham did fantastically, but also Everton and Aston Villa. With the limited funds they get they still manage incredible feats and challenge the top four every season, so all credit to them. Babel will go and Kuyt will stay, because Babel is unreliable and Kuyt is better and works harder. Ronaldo and Fabregas will stay for another season I reckon, before a great exodus of talent balances out the flow into Manchester City. :P

Well, that was a harsh lesson on how to play football...I reckon that'll send Ronaldo out in place of Ribery, and a few more with the spare £40m. Honestly, our best player was a 38 year old keeper, and the defending was comical (not to mention Carrick, I've no idea how he stayed on giving possession away so consistently); Iniesta and Messi were on top form though, to be fair.

Barcelona wins! Awesome game by the entire team. Much people wrote them off after the last game with Chelsea but they clearly showed that they belonged in the final. Puyol was without a doubt the man of the match. The man was involved in pretty much every play.

Sucks for Man U. They played one of the poorest games I've seen from them in a long time. The better team clearly won today. No complains from me.

yeah MU played poorly in the match. so, as much a MU fan i am, i must admit they deserve to be pwned by barcelona, and lose that silverware. it sucks though...i'm gonna go sulk a bit.

Same /cry

I have pepperoni pizza to gorge on now, though. Takes away the pain. :P

Barca owned. MU seemed helpless at times and without the will to fight. Kinda disappointing since I didn't have a clear fav in the match and was hoping for a batter/closer spectacle.

Lol at 1.68 m tall Messi scoring a head shot.

i'll jus leave this here

1.football i hate with a passion because there is too much money in it and people get payed ridiculous amounts for chasing a bag of wind around for 90 minutes

2.it is corrupt and fixed

3. i just all round hate it

sorry if this is not wanted i jus thought i would say my peice on this

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but football at the top level is incredibly difficult and strenuous, has ridiculous hours and and separates players from their families for weeks or months. You also can't drink much. :P Corrupt and fixed is subject to evidence which I haven't seen.

Yeah Barca is way ahead of the game as compared to MU * expecting daggers/arrows/missiles *
but i seriously think that Chelsea deserve to be in the final more than MU. they played a beautiful semi-finals and eventually lose to Barca because Barca scored an away goal. How depressing for them.

Congrats to Barca fans :D

OMG im so sad that Man-U lost to barcelona all my friends mosh pit the people rooting for man-u at the end of the game. over all it wasn't a very good game the point shots from barcelona were great at least i think that man-u could have dont much better than they played

i object that chelsea deserves to be in the final more than MU. i mean in the semi final MU played a great game, especially in the second leg. it's just that they're not in top form in the final, and losing fletcher cost them quite dearly...since in the arsenal match i see him as pivotal in launching attacks, and also in defending.

One of the main reasons why Barcelona won the Champions League final against Manchester United was the former's ability to control the midfield. Passes tend to find their target, especially with the creative duo of Iniesta and Xavi.

Everton Vs Chelsea in the FA Cup today.

I hope Everton win, They deserve a cup after working so hard all season, Moyes has done a great job there and a little reward for his efforts is in order.

CMON EVERTON! :D