The Round Football Column 05.05.08: 150th Edition - Champions League Semi-Final Review, Plus More
Posted by Tim O'Sullivan on 05.05.2008
Didier Drogba owns Liverpool, Paul Scholes sends Man Utd to Moscow, Antonio Valencia saves Wigan, Daniel Guiza can't stop scoring, plus more. One Click Away.
Hello.
Man Utd are one JJB Stadium win away from yet another Prem title. Football is so weird at times – you fight from mid-August and it all comes down to one game. It feels like their title, but that doesn't really matter if Wigan shock them next Sunday.
Antonio Valencia could be a big player next week and he finally produced the sort of performance he's been hinting at, as Wigan beat Villa 2-0 on Saturday. As well as Wigan played on the counter and in defence, the Villa really blew their chance for fifth. I'm sure they would have got it had they won on Saturday.
Fulham's exceptional fight for survival continued with a win against Birmingham. I don't know if it's Roy Hodgson's mild speech impediment or Diomonsay Kamara's version of Luca Toni's goal celebration, but it's been slightly endearing to see Fulham battle back from the brink of Championship football. Playing Portsmouth on the final day, six days before they play the biggest match in their history, is surely an opportunity they can't mess up.
Bolton pretty much survived for another season after a 2-0 win against Sunderland. I know they're safe, but Sunderland were really shocking. You would think they would still care about winning football games, but obviously not.
Nicklas Bendtner scored a fantastic header as Arsenal beat Everton in an awful game at The Emirates. Emmanuel Eboue put in one of the worst performances I've ever seen from any Arsenal player EVER!
Fernando Torres made me have second thoughts on the class of Richard Dunne, as Liverpool beat Man City in Sven's penultimate game.
You know the old saying, "they have one eye on the cup final"? Well, Portsmouth seem to have three eyes on Wembley. Uncharacteristically poor defending and zero imputes up-top. A word for Tuncay though, who could be someone to look out for next season.
Roque Santa Cruz saved Blackburn's blushes after going 1-0 down at home to Derby. The "signing of the season" bagged a brace to add to his tally and one more goal next Sunday will give him 20 Premier League goals, which is just superb for a first season striker who doesn't take penalties.
Reading are in serious danger of dropping to The Championship after being beaten by a side who haven't even seemed conscious since winning the Carling Cup.
Man Utd 1 Barcelona 0 (Man Utd win 1-0 on aggregate)
This was an interesting tie, but not for the reasons we all thought. Fergie obviously has painful memories of semi-final exits and decided to approach it more ruthlessly. I can't help but feel like they could have blown Barcelona away if they really attacked them, but instead Fergie implemented some very defensive tactics and sneaked through courtesy of a Paul Scholes cracker.
It was really weird watching Barcelona, because in possession they seemed really confident and fluid. However, did they ever look like scoring? I don't think they did. Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown were class and in total control throughout. Lionel Messi had some nice moments, but he was pinpointed as the major threat and handled accordingly. Samuel Eto'o is still in Rio's pocket, Thierry Henry wasn't given enough time and Bojan is too lightweight for a game like this. It was not vintage Barcelona and a summer makeover is clearly imperative.
Chelsea 3 Liverpool 2 (Chelsea win 4-3 on aggregate)
Did anyone expect this game to be as good as it was? I certainly didn't, but the second leg being held at Stamford Bridge was clearly going to change the dynamic.
I think Rafa screwed up a bit in the second half. Chelsea were clearly on the ropes after Mr. Talent but no work-rate equalised. Changing the formation and throwing Crouch in the mix would have freshened up Liverpool's attack and kept the home side up against the ropes.
Instead, Chelsea started from scratch in extra time and totally flooded Liverpool's final third. After the referee's assistant finally had the balls to disallow a goal if someone was obstructing the keeper (bravo), Sami Hyypia gave away a penalty, Lamps scored from the spot (how bad would it have been if he missed?) and the unplayable Drog wrapped it up.
Ryan Babel made it 3-2, but Chelsea always seemed in control. It felt like their time and they probably deserved it. As for Drogba, well it's just a shame he's often disinterested, because when he's on his grade A game I can't think of a better striker on the planet. The camera angle behind the goal showed just how hard he hit those goals. I just wish he went up to Rafa and squeezed his cheeks or something.
I've posted this column before Real Madrid's game at Osasuna, but I presume they've won the league. Wait for the update, dudes.
UPDATE: THEY DID WIN THE LEAGUE AND THEY DID IT IN DRAMATIC FASHION. 1-0 DOWN IN THE 85TH MINUTE, A SUPERB HEADER FROM ROBBEN AND A POWERFUL VOLLEY FROM HIGUAIN GAVE REAL A LATE WIN. THEY ARE CHAMPIONS!
Barcelona scored three goals in the opening 14 minutes to blitz Valencia away at Camp Nou. Even that Henry chap scored!
My favourite player, Daniel Guiza bagged another brace as Mallorca beat Bilbao 2-1.
Murcia are relegated after losing 3-2 at Racing Santander.
Nihat continued his great season with a brace as Villarreal beat Getafe 2-0.
Fiorentina really have blown their quest for fourth spot in Serie A. They were clear of AC Milan with a safer run-in, but their season has capitulated and the 2-1 defeat at Cagliari was the tip of Di Caprio's girly iceberg.
Kaka scored as AC Milan won the Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelan derby, 2-1.
Inter's defeat looked more interesting as Roma won 3-0 at Sampdoria. Pizarro, Cicinho and Panucci were the unlikely scorers.
Juventus lost at Siena.
Fabio Quagliarella scored again as Udinese beat Empoli 1-0.
Cristiano Ronaldo won the Football Writers' Player of the Year for the second time in a row. El Nino was second and David James third.
Mathieu Flamini has agreed to join AC Milan, because he's a cock.
My predictions have been shit in recent weeks, but I got the Champions League semis correct and I said Zenit would overcome Bayern Munich. Yeah, look at me…..I'm so great. I'm being hilarious, of course, but that day I accidentally stumbled upon Bayer Leverkusen v Zenit I knew I was watching a really exciting new team. A 4-0 win against Bayern Munich shocked everyone, but for me it was just how emphatic it was – not that they won.
As for the other semi, well Rangers knew nothing but defending………but since when do Italians have the right to complain about victory courtesy of defensive tactics? ***cough*** 2006 WORLD CUP ***cough***. Seriously, the cynics can go whistle. Winning is everything.
The final day of The Championship was apparently crazy. I was watching Arsenal, but from what I hear it was worth the hype.
The once mighty Leicester City were relegated to League One (hello Lineker's tears) after a 0-0 draw at Stoke, who were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their history.
Southampton survived after a 3-2 win at home to Sheffield United, who subsequently missed out on the playoffs.
Watford clung onto the playoffs, but Crystal Palace cemented their place in their also and I can't see Hull, Bristol City or Watford stopping them.
Cheltenham's win over Doncaster kept them in League One and helped Nottingham Forest return to The Championship. I can't remember Forest being in the automatic spots all season, but all that matters is where you are after game 46, I guess.
NIKE have released a couple of pretty cool adverts. One charters the life of an amateur footballer on his way to superstardom and the other is to promote "THE CESC FABREGAS SHOW", which sounds like it could be horrible.
Anyway, the ads:
The rumour mill is going mental once again.
There are too many to trudge through, but the highlights include Liverpool making a bid for Gareth Barry, Chelsea wanting Villa, Messi and Kaka and Real Madrid lining up Huntelaar and Van der Vaart.
After the Euros, we should see three to four weeks of non-stop transfer craziness.
It's the final day of the Premier League on Sunday and I guess the importance of Man Utd and Chelsea's games depends on what the latter do at St. James' Park today.
Hopefully we see some new kits and great goals, like we usually do on the final day.
In Italy, AC Milan will be keen to keep hold of fourth with a win at Napoli, but big clubs have struggled there this season. Fiorentina have a good shot, still.
Real Madrid v Barcelona is this Wednesday, but aside from Real partying in their faces it looks set to be the flattest Clasico in years.
The Seville derby should be better. That's this week, too.
Last Week's Match Predictions (Bold = Prediction ……. Italics = Actual Result)
UEFA Champions League – Semi Final, Second Legs
Tuesday 22nd
Man Utd v Barcelona 2-1 // 1-0
Wednesday 30th
Chelsea v Liverpool 1-0 // 3-2
UEFA Cup – Semi Final, Second Legs
Thursday May 1st
Fiorentina v Rangers 2-1 // 0-0
Zenit St. Petersburg v Bayern Munich 3-2 // 4-0
Barclays Premier League
Monday 28th
Derby v Arsenal 0-2 // 2-6
Saturday 3rd
Aston Villa v Wigan 3-0 // 0-2
Blackburn v Derby 3-0 // 3-1
Bolton v Sunderland 0-0 // 2-0
Fulham v Birmingham 2-0 // 2-0
Man Utd v West Ham 1-0 // 4-1
Middlesbrough v Portsmouth 3-0 // 2-0
Reading v Tottenham 1-1 // 0-1
Sunday 4th
Arsenal v Everton 2-0 // 1-0
Liverpool v Man City 2-1 // 1-0
Next Week's Match Predictions
Barclays Premier League
Monday 5th
Newcastle v Chelsea 1-2
Sunday 11th
Birmingham v Blackburn 1-2
Chelsea v Bolton 4-1
Derby v Reading 2-2
Everton v Newcastle 1-1
Middlesbrough v Man City 2-1
Portsmouth v Fulham 0-1
Sunderland v Arsenal 2-4
Tottenham v Liverpool 2-2
West Ham v Aston Villa 2-1
Wigan v Man Utd 0-2
Hobbsy celebrated his appearance on The Bill by macking on the best Fiona-from-Shrek look-a-like I've ever seen.
Your right the rumour mill is bloody nuts... if Chelsea get any of the 3 players you mentioned then thats just scary. Mind you at the rate its going Real Madrid is going to be Netherlands v2.0 ... hell bring Overmars and Davids to Madrid while we're at it!
At least my good ol' West Ham got beat to prove WHY we are just god awful, how are we mid table again?
Posted By: Brad (Guest) on May 05, 2008 at 09:14 AM
Were you busy this week?
Posted By: Chungles (Guest) on May 05, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Is anyone really stupid enough to think that that is really Fabregas doing that stunt in the advert?
Posted By: dra (Guest) on May 05, 2008 at 06:44 PM
I have heard a rumour that Kenwyne Jones is twice the player Ade'cant'score is!
And that shoot is awesome!
Posted By: NTJJ (Guest) on May 08, 2008 at 04:00 AM
How you can call Torres my no work rate! he has been a sensation this season and brought so much to the premiership, with out his goals liverpool wouldnt have won 16of their premiership games! he is a non stop runner who doesnt complain with the rough handling he is given, especially by Terry in the first leg, not sure which player you've been watching really!?
Posted By: magic (Guest) on May 08, 2008 at 07:44 AM
