Lister00169

Interesting read about the way some of the Inter fans "supported" their team.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns...league&cc=5901

The last line had me rolling "....if this is the abuse, or more like pent-up frustration, fans of the best side in Italy express towards their own players, what kind of language would you hear during a relegation six-pointer?"

JediMindTricks

burdisso's sending off really wouldn't have made a difference, though.

4 english teams in the final 8. very impressive.

can't wait for the draw on friday.

Lister00169

I 50% agree with that - Zanetti was giving the defenders a tough time in the first half, but when Burdisso was sent off, Zanetti had to move further back into a midfield position.

I think Inter would have had more changes with Zanetti in front, though the man doesn't know when to pass the ball.

But to the 4 English teams - the draw should be interesting.

JediMindTricks

yea but with a 2 goal deficit and not having scored an away goal, i think inter would have had a tough wall to climb even if he hadn't been sent off...especially with missing some key players.

i don't think inter would have been able to score 2 goals on liverpool to at least send the game to extra time.

as for their fans, what can you say about some of these italian fans. they're just way too hardcore. scary, really.

i'd love to watch a soccer game in england or spain or germany. but i'd be terrified for my life to watch one in italy.

Lister00169

^^^
England fans in the Premier League are fairly tame, it's the Division 2 and 3 fans that are insane. But, you know who tops them all are the Russian's.

Every foreign team that goes to Russia are scared out of their minds because the fans are nuts. A lot of local Russian football is linked to the Russian mob, so that gives you an inkling on what it would be like.

JediMindTricks

i'd be nervous about visiting russia more or less going to a soccer game.

but i guess every country/league has their faire share of hardcore fans or ultras or whatever they want to be called.

Lister00169

Moscow is very nice and safe from what my brother tells me (was a Flight Attendant - not gay), but once you are outside of Moscow, watch out.

Dynamo Kiev fans I hear are the worst ones out there for a mainstream team - random stabbings, shootings, beatings and torchings (yes, lighting people on fire!!!)

I think watching at home will be sufficient enough for now

uzzmaan

There's a show called "Real Football Factories" that I've managed to catch bits and pieces of during the past couple weeks that profiles support clubs, or firms as they call it, all over the world. Last two shows I caught were in Moscow and Istanbul. Scary stuff.

Oh, and I hate being at work and not being able to watch the Champions League.

JediMindTricks

i remember going crazy during the last world cup. dunno how i'm going to take it this summer too.

uzzmaan

I know, it's going to be tough. It sucks that there's no way that I know of where we can get access to an online stream of the games. I know they do it for cricket matches, which have a much smaller audience than football, so it would seem like a good business idea to do it for football also.

JediMindTricks

i'll hook you up when i get home.

i have the links at home. whether or not you can install it on your work comp...

but there are streams.

unfortunately, i can't install it here at work.

Lister00169

Don't forget about me!!!

JediMindTricks

uzzmaan

Thanks in advance, JMT

+invisible rep

JediMindTricks

no prob.

JediMindTricks

uzzmaan and lister: PM sent.

Lister00169

You rock bro, I will try the link out when I get home

JediMindTricks

well the draws are out:

1. arsenal vs. liverpool
2. manchester united vs. as roma
3. chelsea vs. fenerbahce
4. schalke vs. barcelona

so man united and roma play for the third time in 2 years.

obviously, arsenal vs. liverpool will be the main attraction.

my picks are: liverpool, man united, chelsea, and barcelona.

uzzmaan

I would like to see Roma progress, but I don't see it happening.
My picks are the same as JMT's.

JediMindTricks

holy crap.

i just looked at arsenal's schedule.

they play liverpool 3 times in a row!!!

and they have to play man united AND chelsea still.

if they win the league, major props to wenger and co.

Lister00169

Reminds me of last year when Liverpool played Chelsea a few times in a row.

This is going to be an insane series!

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

My picks:

ManU
Barca
Chelsea
Liverpoo (this is a tough one since Arsenal have been awesome all season, but Liverpoo alway play well in European play, not to mention Torres is lethal)

Then it will be Chelsea > Liverpoo & ManU > Barca and then it will be Chelsea > ManU

uzzmaan

At this early stage, I'm predicting a Liverpool-ManU final, with Liverpool taking the trophy

JediMindTricks

i picked liverpool to win too, but i disagree with some things.

other than the milan win, arsenal have not been playing well at all recently.

i think they can still beat liverpool, but tactically, i'm going to give benitez the edge over wenger.

liverpool might just "give" arsenal a result in their league match. but i think benitez will do enough to get a result at emirates and take the tie in the home match.

liverpool always play well in europe, but with two PL teams, will they play a european style? or will it be another PL type of play.

but that torres is lethal. but toure and gallas is a great partnership.

Lister00169

Who else is as as me about the matchups???

JediMindTricks

moonraker

haha hilarious f'n roma. there's a video of the draw where it shows the announcement of united vs roma and the roma guy throws his hand in the air with frustration, then it goes to the united reps and they are laughing.

still excited that 4 epl teams have gotten this far. if 1 of them does not win it all it would be a big surprise. lots of good matches coming up though for those who follow the epl and then of course the champs league

Lister00169

Well, Liverpool just let their emotions run away with them. I agree the ref was harsh with the yellows and reds today, but we put ourselves in that position. United were faster and knew how to pass effectively.

On a side note, I never really watched Christiano Ronaldo's play very much, but hot damn that guy is good - I know.

*sigh* Looks like C.L. is the best we can do this year...again.

moonraker

mascherano was an idiot, that's all. agreed the ref was harsh with all those cards flying out in 2 minutes though.


chelsea surprisingly come back and drogba saves them to make the title race that much more interesting.

herbalist

Drogba is a beast.

JediMindTricks

drogba owns arsenal.

JediMindTricks

the latest to my collection:

Lister00169

^^
Very nice JMT! Where do you get your gear from?

JediMindTricks

i'll typically shop at

onionbag.com
soccer.com
subside.us.com
nikys-sports.com

they're all located in the US except subside.

i prefer onionbag since they have fair prices for jerseys and name/numbering.

uzzmaan

Can't believe Arsenal let that chance slip through their fingers yesterday. The title race may have become more interesting, but 6 points this late in the season is pretty close to insurmountable, no? Especially with Man U playing pretty well at the moment

JediMindTricks

what's more unbelievable is that arsenal had a 5 point lead until draws to clubs like birmingham and wigan.

i think we've been seeing what happens when a young, inexperienced squad faces pressure from a title race.

i think the race is over.

i can't see man u dropping too many points from here on.

gocubsgo55

6 points is not much at all, especially with the schedule as it is (with Man U and Chelsea's competition coming up). But we dropped 11 points these past 5 games. 4 taken out of a possible 15. It won't get any easier from here on out. I believe ManUre will hold on and take the title, again.

JediMindTricks

you're right. 6 points is not a lot. (and chelsea's only behind by 5)

but with the way they're playing, the way their defense has been, and with their depth (very important since they're probably the favorites to win the champions league), it's hard to see them dropping too many points.

the chelsea and arsenal matches will be intriguing especially if all 3 sides have something to play for whether it's the league or champions league.

but man u own arsenal though.

but i just don't see them dropping too many points.

moonraker

nice jersey pick up JMT. did you not get the gold champions 06/07 badges though?! those are key!

if you forgot them, you can order them separate on their site and then have a local shop apply them with a hot press. http://onionbag.com/detail.aspx?ID=2859 just make sure ya get 2, one for each sleeve

i've got the same but longsleeve and Rooney. onionbag.com rules.

JediMindTricks

nah i don't like the badges on the sleeves.