Champions League 2006/07

Post by **Guess** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 4:24 pm

It seems that there is no topic on this so far. I appologise if I have missed it and this is a duplication. I know that there was one regarding Celtic's fortunes.

Anyway all is looking well for British clubs after last night. We could have all four English clubs and Celtic go through to the next round.

Now that the Chelsea doubters have been proven wrong again it looks like Chelsea must be favourite now to win the group but will almost certainly will go through to the next round.

The problem I see now though is that Murphy's law will apply and the Brits will get drawn against each other.

Good luck to all of them.

One interesting aspect in the Manu group is that if Manu beat Copenhagen away in the next match (two weeks) and Celtic lose away to Benfica (this is a very likely possibility), Manu are guaranteed top spot. Celtic will still need points to qualify. The next game after that will be Celtic v Manu. By playing a weak side Manu could allow Celtic an easy path through to the next round.

If you were Fergie what would you do?

Post by **Big Boy** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 6:30 pm

Guess wrote:

If you were Fergie what would you do?

Isn't Sir Alex an ex Rangers player? If so, then there is no doubt in my mind what he'll do...............stop the old enemy at all costs.

Post by **lomuamart** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:42 pm

That's true.

Post by **Big Boy** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 1:14 am

If Guess' suggestion that Sir Alex might field a weakened side, you can be sure it will be because it suits the Man Utd gameplan - not because he wants to do the old enemy a favour.

Post by **Jockey** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:27 pm

Big Boy wrote:Guess wrote:
If you were Fergie what would you do?
Isn't Sir Alex an ex Rangers player? If so, then there is no doubt in my mind what he'll do...............stop the old enemy at all costs.

Sir Alex HATES rangers! He was forced out because (allegedly) he married a catholic. It is in his autobiography.

I think Celtic will beat Benfica in Lisbon thereby qualifying from the group stages before they meet Man U, who incidently put out their best team at old trafford and were lucky to get away with a win - having benefitted from a penalty that was debatable to say the least! Man U will lose at Parkhead on merit and may have to settle for second spot n the group.

Post by **Big Boy** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 1:36 pm

Jockey wrote:

Man U will lose at Parkhead on merit and may have to settle for second spot n the group.

Whilst I admire your loyalty to your home nation, you must admit that there is not a player in the Celtic team who Sir Alex could readily slot in to the Man Utd team.

There is such a vast difference between the English and Scottish Premier leagues these days. The only true hope that Celtic have is that Man Utd have a stinker, and the Celtic team play out of their skins. Such a scenario would be preferable in my opinion, because I will have to sit and suffer the match (my son being an avid - usually armchair - Man Utd supporter).

I think I should qualify my comments above - I will be truly neutral ie I have no allegience to either Scottish Football or Manchester United.

Finally, hating Rangers or not, I still believe it will be hard to forget that Celtic were the enemy.

Post by **Ken** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:27 pm

Jockey wrote:
Big Boy wrote:Guess wrote:
If you were Fergie what would you do?
Isn't Sir Alex an ex Rangers player? If so, then there is no doubt in my mind what he'll do...............stop the old enemy at all costs.
Sir Alex HATES rangers! He was forced out because (allegedly) he married a catholic. It is in his autobiography.

I think Celtic will beat Benfica in Lisbon thereby qualifying from the group stages before they meet Man U, who incidently put out their best team at old trafford and were lucky to get away with a win - having benefitted from a penalty that was debatable to say the least! Man U will lose at Parkhead on merit and may have to settle for second spot n the group.

Jockey

Our mutual friend Tam, travelled up from Coventry for the match. Watching it on tv was exciting enough but being there must have been something special. Tam said it was just like the good old days. Atmosphere seemed fantastic. Soon kick-offs will be 2.45am so some very late nights/early mornings in store. Any form of qualification will do me. Kind regards.

Post by **Thai Tam** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 6:33 am

Hi Jockey et al,

Celtic will travel to Lisbon in the hope that they can win the game. I think many of you do not fully appreciate the belief that WGS (Wee Gordon Srachan) has instilled in this team.

As for the assertion that none of the Celtic team could make the Man Utd team, I think this is said in ignorance as it is clear you do not know the quality of some of the young Scottish players in the Celtic team. In my view Mark Wilson will blossom into a world class full back, Shaun Maloney has skill and attitude in abundance, and Gary Caldwell will mature in to a great centre back.

I haven't even mentioned Artur Boruc (goalkeeper) or Jan Vennegor of Hesselink who continue to perform well at international level and who could be the men to defy Man Utd of victory at Parkhead and I don't care which team Alex sends out as we will be seeking to win that game. In recent years many teams have faltered at fortress Parkhead: Juventus, Barcelona, Porto and teams such as AC Milan, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have failed to win.

That said there are three games to be played and there is still all to play for.

As Jockey has said, Alex is not a big fan of Rangers for the reason given and hence his decision not to take the Huns job when offered it whilst at Aberdeen. More likely Alex will want to put one over WGS to show who is the master and who is the pupil.

Anyway, back up to Paradise today for the game with Motherwell and to share with the Bhoys the special atmosphere that makes Parkhead such a special place.

Hail! Hail!

Tam

Post by **Guess** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 7:10 am

Big Boy wrote:............my son being an avid - usually armchair - Man Utd supporter

There is a cure that might work for this condition. Remove him from the armchair and take hin to watch Bristol Rovers at home. It is guaranteed to put him off football for a long time. When he gets a bit older he may start supporting a decent club.

Post by **Big Boy** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 4:23 pm

Guess wrote:

take hin to watch Bristol Rovers at home

555555555555 As a lifelong Plymouth supporter, I'm not going within 5 miles of that place. Maybe I could get somebody else to take him.

Post by **Big Boy** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 4:30 pm

Thai Tam wrote:

As for the assertion that none of the Celtic team could make the Man Utd team, I think this is said in ignorance as it is clear you do not know the quality of some of the young Scottish players in the Celtic team. In my view Mark Wilson will blossom into a world class full back, Shaun Maloney has skill and attitude in abundance, and Gary Caldwell will mature in to a great centre back.

I haven't even mentioned Artur Boruc (goalkeeper) or Jan Vennegor of Hesselink who continue to perform well at international level and who could be the men to defy Man Utd of victory at Parkhead

If they were that good, they would not be vegetating in the wilderness of Scottish football. Football is a job. Those of us who have a job, have that job to earn money. We usually go to work where we can get the best wages.

Thai Tam, don't kid yourself, if those players you have named were as good as you say, they would be playing in the English Premiership.

The Champions League is a great opportunity for those guys - they will play out of their skins in the hope that somebody like Sir Alex will take a chance on them and bring them in to his reserve side, and maybe even break in to his first team.

Post by **Thai Tam** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:34 am

Hi Big Boy,

Sorry to disappoint you but the English Premiership is not the be all and end all of football and in quality probably ranks 4th in Europe.

I don't dispute that the SPL is not as competitive, nor is it of as of high quality, of the main leagues in Europe, i.e. the top 4 or 5, but then again the other 30 odd leagues in Europe are much of a muchness.

And despite what you might think money is not the only consideration and/or motivation when people make decisions about their life choices - I guess that is why many of us participate on this forum, i.e. our involvement in Thailand one way or another.

As for my assertion regarding the potential and quality of some of the younger Celtic players who have not made the "Man Utd grade", too bad and we'll see what happens in the future.

Come what may, I am fortunate to be a Celtic supporter, for as Jockey and Ken will testify it is a special club with a special support and I am escpecially proud today as my grandson attended his first Celtic game.

Hope to see you all on the 21st November.

To paraphrase the late Dave Allen, "may your team go with you."

Hail! Hail!

Tam

Post by **Guess** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:57 am

Thai Tam wrote:Hi Big Boy,

Sorry to disappoint you but the English Premiership is not the be all and end all of football and in quality probably ranks 4th in Europe.

Tam

Tam, just a couple of quick questions.

What nations in Europe do you see as having higher ranked leagues than England.

Do you think it would be a good idea to have a British Premier league that would be open to all four nations but would effectively be an amalgamation of the English and Scottish Leagues. The Welsh will already be represented in the English Premiership next year so why not the Scots. I would love to see it proven year after year after year that Celtic are better than Arsenal, Liverpool and ManU.

What the hell did you do to get sent to Coventry?

Post by **Thai Tam** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:57 am

Hi Big Boy,

La Liga, Seria A, and the Bundesliga are in my view superior to the EP in terms of the quality of football played and the technical skills displayed. The overall performance of teams from these countries on the Europen stage over the years bears out their superiority.

On the question of a British League, my answer is no. This would open the doors for those who argue for a British "national" team and the end of the individual national teams. Scotland may not be successful or as good as we would wish, but at the end of the day our failures are down to Scottish shortcomings. We take a much more realistic view of our shortcomings than do England who in recent years have allowed the home based media to hype up performances and build up national expectations way beyond the team's collective abilities.

I know the main argument for Celtic and Rangers joining the EP is really about money, i.e. television and pay for view income - given our fan base and loyalty which if combined with the tv money English clubs receive, then of course Rangers and Celtic would be in a significantly improved position from which to challenge.

No, I am afraid it is down to Celtic to perform more consistently in Europe (the question of a Europen League is a separate matter) and I think our recent games against Man Utd, Liverpool and Blackburn on the European stage show we can compete successfully.

I volunteered to go to Coventry - but not for much longer Thailand awaits.

Tam

Post by **Thai Tam** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:15 am

Hi Big Boy and Guess,

My apologies to you both, my most recent posting should have been addressed to Guess.

I'm just back from Parkhead - it has been a long day owing to a major accident at M6 near Carlisle and the 40 mph speed limits at all those road works the length of the motorway.

Time for bed and sleep if I can convince my wife to stop watching Thai TV.

Tam

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