Apologies, yet again faithful readers.
I wasn't planning on a usual Monday morning post, considering the PL was essentially dark over the weekend. Still, something nominal may have been warranted. Then, Sunday night, I got swamped by my actual job and didn't even have 10 minutes to post.
Anyways...
We're back in the Champions League this week. Tuesday it's headlines by Liverpool/Real Madrid (ESPN2) and Chelsea/Juventus (Live Setanta, replay ESPN Classic).
Wednesday it's the epic Manchester/Inter Milan return match at Old Trafford (ESPN2).
Remember to due to stupid daylight saving's time, these matches are an hour later on your clock (3:45 p.m.) because those Euro snobs didn't feel like monkeying around with its clocks.
Before a couple thoughts on the games themselves, something to get off my chest.
The away goals rule.
I understand why and what it is, more importantly the rationing behind it even it it leads to some less than thrilling two-leg affairs.
Here's what absolutely kills me -- the rule still exists should a tie go into extra time. The odds of after 180 minutes of soccer these matches going into 30 extra minutes is slim, and even slimmer to go to penalties -- even four of the eight finals this decade have gone to kicks.
This is my humble thought, should a game go to extra time, away goals is out the window.
First off, the home teams in the second legs in the 2008-09 event all won their groups. Second, yes, there is something to say for scoring on the road, but when it comes after 180 minutes of even soccer it should count double. Though at a mild disadvantage since they're not home, the away teams get 30 more minutes for the chance of 'double-goals' than the home team.
If the road team manages to score in extra time, it's essentially worth two goals, which is completely and utterly lopsided. More important, it's not fair.
Why not wipe the slate clean when and if a match heads to extra time. From my perspective there is no downside. Will the road teams then decide to shell up for the final 30 minutes sine they're away from home? Again by that point in the game you can almost throw everything out due to fatigue.
What's a worse scenario, deciding a game with penalty kicks or knocking out the home team if both teams score in extra time.
It's like 'Animal Farm' some goals are more equal than others.
Rant over.
As for the games themselves. Liverpool will coax a way to get home against Real Madrid. Juande Ramos ought to throw caution into the wind and throw everything at Liverpool in the first 20 minutes, otherwise it's going to be a long night at Anfield. Even still, Liverpool at home is due a goal and will find one by hook or by crook.
This win will give Raffer another stay of execution.
Juventus has potential but it'll be so worried that Chelsea might score that the Old Lady will wait until it's too late to try to make something happen. My gameplan if I were Juventus is test Petr Cech early and often, he's bound to fumble one sooner or later and guys like Trézéguet and Del Piero have make careers pouncing on those fluffs.
Panathinaikos heads back to Greece with a tidy away-goal in its pocket against Villareal and might have the best homefield advantage left in the tournament, assuming there isn't a riot in the next 20 hours and the match is played behind closed doors. Write this down, the winner here inevitably ends up playing Chelsea. No doubt about it. Also, the nice run by the Yellow Submarine over the last couple seasons might be over.
I'll go out on a limp and say Bayern beats Sporting with a 5-0 lead in Munich. Hell, they ought to just let Luca Toni chug giant mugs of beer on the center line -- it'll be more entertaining.
As for pure entertainment, Atletico Madrid/Porto could go either way. Porto might feel great with its two away goals in the bank, but Atletico has the firepower to erase it quickly. Sitting back and bunkering down isn't the way to play this one.
I'll recap the Tuesday games and preview the Wednesday games tomorrow. Also, I'll be live-blogging the Liverpool game at Fanhouse.
I wasn't planning on a usual Monday morning post, considering the PL was essentially dark over the weekend. Still, something nominal may have been warranted. Then, Sunday night, I got swamped by my actual job and didn't even have 10 minutes to post.
Anyways...
We're back in the Champions League this week. Tuesday it's headlines by Liverpool/Real Madrid (ESPN2) and Chelsea/Juventus (Live Setanta, replay ESPN Classic).
Wednesday it's the epic Manchester/Inter Milan return match at Old Trafford (ESPN2).
Remember to due to stupid daylight saving's time, these matches are an hour later on your clock (3:45 p.m.) because those Euro snobs didn't feel like monkeying around with its clocks.
Before a couple thoughts on the games themselves, something to get off my chest.
The away goals rule.
I understand why and what it is, more importantly the rationing behind it even it it leads to some less than thrilling two-leg affairs.
Here's what absolutely kills me -- the rule still exists should a tie go into extra time. The odds of after 180 minutes of soccer these matches going into 30 extra minutes is slim, and even slimmer to go to penalties -- even four of the eight finals this decade have gone to kicks.
This is my humble thought, should a game go to extra time, away goals is out the window.
First off, the home teams in the second legs in the 2008-09 event all won their groups. Second, yes, there is something to say for scoring on the road, but when it comes after 180 minutes of even soccer it should count double. Though at a mild disadvantage since they're not home, the away teams get 30 more minutes for the chance of 'double-goals' than the home team.
If the road team manages to score in extra time, it's essentially worth two goals, which is completely and utterly lopsided. More important, it's not fair.
Why not wipe the slate clean when and if a match heads to extra time. From my perspective there is no downside. Will the road teams then decide to shell up for the final 30 minutes sine they're away from home? Again by that point in the game you can almost throw everything out due to fatigue.
What's a worse scenario, deciding a game with penalty kicks or knocking out the home team if both teams score in extra time.
It's like 'Animal Farm' some goals are more equal than others.
Rant over.
As for the games themselves. Liverpool will coax a way to get home against Real Madrid. Juande Ramos ought to throw caution into the wind and throw everything at Liverpool in the first 20 minutes, otherwise it's going to be a long night at Anfield. Even still, Liverpool at home is due a goal and will find one by hook or by crook.
This win will give Raffer another stay of execution.
Juventus has potential but it'll be so worried that Chelsea might score that the Old Lady will wait until it's too late to try to make something happen. My gameplan if I were Juventus is test Petr Cech early and often, he's bound to fumble one sooner or later and guys like Trézéguet and Del Piero have make careers pouncing on those fluffs.
Panathinaikos heads back to Greece with a tidy away-goal in its pocket against Villareal and might have the best homefield advantage left in the tournament, assuming there isn't a riot in the next 20 hours and the match is played behind closed doors. Write this down, the winner here inevitably ends up playing Chelsea. No doubt about it. Also, the nice run by the Yellow Submarine over the last couple seasons might be over.
I'll go out on a limp and say Bayern beats Sporting with a 5-0 lead in Munich. Hell, they ought to just let Luca Toni chug giant mugs of beer on the center line -- it'll be more entertaining.
As for pure entertainment, Atletico Madrid/Porto could go either way. Porto might feel great with its two away goals in the bank, but Atletico has the firepower to erase it quickly. Sitting back and bunkering down isn't the way to play this one.
I'll recap the Tuesday games and preview the Wednesday games tomorrow. Also, I'll be live-blogging the Liverpool game at Fanhouse.
Labels: champions league, Soccer
What, no thoughts on the Arsenal/Roma tie? I just don't think that Arsenal won't score in Rome -- they've been on a good run since Eduardo re-laced up the boots, and Walcott getting back will only help some more. If the Gunners do score, you're looking at Roma needing three goals to get through -- and with Di Rossi out due to suspension and Totti not at full steam, I just can't see it happening.
Oh, just saw you're going to preview Wednesday's games tomorrow. Uh, yeah.
D'oh.
Looking forward to the Inter Man U match, on the pitch and the Mourinho versus Fergie elements.
I enjoyed your posts on The Wire some time back, any shows out there capturing your attention like that one? Tough for any show to top The Wire though...