I'm gonna ask you guys a questin.

 

What's the worst: losing to an african club in the Club World Cup semi-finals or getting relegated?

Going down !

 

 

Its horrible... you cry... and then have to face a year of not playing the team you love to hate.. and then the amount of jokes you have..

Going down !

 

 

Its horrible... you cry... and then have to face a year of not playing the team you love to hate.. and then the amount of jokes you have..

It's important that I clear a few things. The Club World Cup is the most important competition for the south-americans. And no club from Europe or South America had ever lost to a club outside these continents before we did. So, yeah, it was really embarassing.

 

But I honestly believe relegation is worst. Yeah, you'll have to put up with many jokes and you'll not win the most important honour possible, but that's it. If you get relegated, you'll spend a whole year playing small teams in the SECOND TIER.

 

And imagine that: your team got relegated, but your rival never did. That's even worse, isn't it?

It's important that I clear a few things. The Club World Cup is the most important competition for the south-americans. And no club from Europe or South America had ever lost to a club outside these continents before we did. So, yeah, it was really embarassing.

 

But I honestly believe relegation is worst. Yeah, you'll have to put up with many jokes and you'll not win the most important honour possible, but that's it. If you get relegated, you'll spend a whole year playing small teams in the SECOND TIER.

 

And imagine that: your team got relegated, but your rival never did. That's even worse, isn't it?

 

Yes, being a manchester city fan. I can tell you what that is like.

 

We went down, and Manchester United won the league and cup..

 

We even spent a season in the 3rd tier... and almost never made it out.

 

If it was not for some extra injury time, I would not be able to write about our mission to rule the world now.

 

Thanks Paul Dicov and Niky Weaver !

Fc Barcelona 2-2 Milan

what the heck? :o

Yes, being a manchester city fan. I can tell you what that is like.

 

We went down, and Manchester United won the league and cup..

 

We even spent a season in the 3rd tier... and almost never made it out.

 

If it was not for some extra injury time, I would not be able to write about our mission to rule the world now.

 

Thanks Paul Dicov and Niky Weaver !

I remember that. You played the promotion playoffs against Gilligan, right? That was absolutely incredible.

 

Our local rivals went through a similar situation. In 2005, they were playing in the Second Division. It was the last match. If they'd won it, they would go up. If they had't, they would've stayed there.

 

The game was ending and it was 0-0. The ref gave a penalty against them. They went after the ref and three of them were shown the red card. After about half an hour of paralization, the opposing team kicked the penalty... and missed it. Seconds after, they scored and got promoted. It was incredible.

^Is there a youtube vid? Sounds incredible.

^Is there a youtube vid? Sounds incredible.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ismw4Hjvj_s]Batalha dos Aflitos - YouTube[/ame]

That match was played in the Aflitos Stadium, so it's called "The Aflitos Battle".

 

Yeah, it was unbelievable, everybody knows it, but they are excessively proud of it. Damn, they released a MOVIE about it. Last time I checked, this was still the second tier.

^Thanks will watch soon.

 

I will have to see, still gutted here we did not get them in our group, its only a temporary stay of execution though !

 

Might try to beat Napoli at home before destroying Barca.

Our local rivals went through a similar situation. In 2005, they were playing in the Second Division. It was the last match. If they'd won it, they would go up. If they had't, they would've stayed there.

 

I understand the top 2 teams of that playoff go through, as they were on 9 points and the 2nd placed teams were both on 7 and playing it each other, weren't they already through and it didn't matter?

 

Wow though, 5 red cards, 4 of which for Gremio and they didn't concede despite this AND giving away 2 penalties, crazy.

Fc Barcelona 2-2 Milan

what the heck? :o

 

I never ever thought I would say this but well done Milan!!.

I see Ferguson gets upset at an innocent question regarding his goalies...but then it was asked by Kenny Dalglish daughter Kelly. He's probably still upset at the fact that Kenny taunted him while Ferguson was giving a post match interview to journalists following a Liverpool Man Utd game many years back. Striding past Ferguson with one of his other daughters Lauren who was a toddler at the time Kenny mumbles to the journalists 'you'll get more sense out of wee Lauren here'. Cue a furious expletive outburst by Fergie towards his rival...in front of a child as well! He's doesn't have much class does Sir Alex!

She did also ask if the reserve goalie was trying to challenge for a first team place, now that was a dumb question.

 

Agreed though, it isn't at all uncommon for journalists to ask a question like that, though it is a little bit stupid because you don't change your No.1 because the reserve has one good game, but then again you have to ask something and everyone's wondering about if De Gea is up for it at the moment. I don't think it had anything to do with it being Kelly, I think he's just frustrated about the speculation surrounding his new keeper because it's putting so much pressure on the guy and he's only young.

 

He is shit though, I mean really shit, I saw him make at least a handful of blunders last season and it's not like I watch a lot of Spanish football, and I've seen him make blunders in pre-season as well as mistakes at the start of the Premier Leage season. I can't even say he has great reactions or is a good shot stopper to make up for errors, hes not, I have no idea why he's considered a possible world class keeper.

She did also ask if the reserve goalie was trying to challenge for a first team place, now that was a dumb question.

 

Agreed though, it isn't at all uncommon for journalists to ask a question like that, though it is a little bit stupid because you don't change your No.1 because the reserve has one good game, but then again you have to ask something and everyone's wondering about if De Gea is up for it at the moment. I don't think it had anything to do with it being Kelly, I think he's just frustrated about the speculation surrounding his new keeper because it's putting so much pressure on the guy and he's only young.

 

He is shit though, I mean really shit, I saw him make at least a handful of blunders last season and it's not like I watch a lot of Spanish football, and I've seen him make blunders in pre-season as well as mistakes at the start of the Premier Leage season. I can't even say he has great reactions or is a good shot stopper to make up for errors, hes not, I have no idea why he's considered a possible world class keeper.

Yeah I guess I'd have to agree that it wasn't because it was Kelly. A lot has been said about De Gea.

 

I heard he came to England with a reputation for failing to deal with the long shot. I never got the opportunity to see him play in goal for Atletico bar a few European matches where they were involved but there was no reason to suggest he was worth 20m in those few games. Yeah he is young but Petr Cech was young when first playing for Chelsea and for the first two or three years he was there he was the best goalkeeper in the world in my opinion. De Gea is very lucky that he has had a team in front of him doing the job.

 

Will Lindegaard get the number 1 spot though soon. Seeing as it's Sir Alex then I wouldn't believe him about De Gea. I think the Lindegaard could well start against Chelsea.

I understand the top 2 teams of that playoff go through, as they were on 9 points and the 2nd placed teams were both on 7 and playing it each other, weren't they already through and it didn't matter?

 

Wow though, 5 red cards, 4 of which for Gremio and they didn't concede despite this AND giving away 2 penalties, crazy.

The final stage ended like this:

 

Grêmio: 12 points (3W-3D-0L)

Santa Cruz: 10 points (3W-1D-3L)

Náutico: 6 points (2W-0D-4L)

Portuguesa: 5 points (1W-2D-3L)

 

If Grêmio had lost that match, both Grêmio and Náutico would've finished the competition with 9 points, but Náutico would've had three wins and Grêmio, only two (number of wins was the first tiebreaker of the competition).

 

Yeah, it was amazing (well, not for me, I wanted them to stay down forever :sneaky:), but was it movie-worty? No matter what, this was still second fucking tier! Only real accomplishments, like a Libertadores or a Club World Cup, should have a movie made of.

Yeah I guess I'd have to agree that it wasn't because it was Kelly. A lot has been said about De Gea.

 

I heard he came to England with a reputation for failing to deal with the long shot. I never got the opportunity to see him play in goal for Atletico bar a few European matches where they were involved but there was no reason to suggest he was worth 20m in those few games. Yeah he is young but Petr Cech was young when first playing for Chelsea and for the first two or three years he was there he was the best goalkeeper in the world in my opinion. De Gea is very lucky that he has had a team in front of him doing the job.

 

Will Lindegaard get the number 1 spot though soon. Seeing as it's Sir Alex then I wouldn't believe him about De Gea. I think the Lindegaard could well start against Chelsea.

 

You think he might start this weekend?! After that interview? There is no chance, Fergie will stick with De Gea for at least 5-10 matches, even if his performances are horrific. It was interesting on the first MOTD2 of the season Lee Dixon straight out said De Gea would be gone by Christmas, the other panelist thinks he'll be a legend. The odd thing is how the commentators and panelists seem to defend his every mistake, he saved a (Not well struck) penalty against Arsenal but he also let in an incredibly weak goal and they also showed 3 other terrible misjudgements when he came out flapping at air. That's 4 mistakes in one Premier League match, but they mainly covered it up as "Hes just a kid at a big club he'll learn blah blah blah" and I don't get it, even the Sky commentators did the same when he played for Atletico, constantly reminding us that he's inexperienced. If that's the case then let him learn in the reserves, because he is making the most basic of mistakes and he isn't even making any particularly good saves, at best he's a solid keeper sometimes, thats nowhere good enough for a title chasing team.

 

So yes I say it won't be very long until Lindgaard gets his chance, he was great last night.

 

The final stage ended like this:

 

Grêmio: 12 points (3W-3D-0L)

Santa Cruz: 10 points (3W-1D-3L)

Náutico: 6 points (2W-0D-4L)

Portuguesa: 5 points (1W-2D-3L)

 

If Grêmio had lost that match, both Grêmio and Náutico would've finished the competition with 9 points, but Náutico would've had three wins and Grêmio, only two (number of wins was the first tiebreaker of the competition).

 

Yeah, it was amazing (well, not for me, I wanted them to stay down forever :sneaky:), but was it movie-worty? No matter what, this was still second fucking tier! Only real accomplishments, like a Libertadores or a Club World Cup, should have a movie made of.

 

Ahhh I thought Portuguesa were in 3rd on 7 points and Nautica 4th, thanks.

Well, it could've been easier, but at the end it doesn't matter. Well done, Rovers! :D

He's getting sacked in the morning! :p

 

Blackburn 4 - 3 Arsenal

 

Blackburn earned their first victory of the season to ease the pressure on manager Steve Kean as they came from behind to beat Arsenal at Ewood Park.

 

The result lifts Blackburn off the foot of the table, while for Arsenal their stuttering start to the season continues with Arsene Wenger's side having been beaten in three of their opening five Premier League games.

 

The Gunners took the lead, though, after Gervinho fired past Paul Robinson from 12 yards but Blackburn equalised through debutant Yakubu's deft finish.

 

Arsenal's Mikel Arteta scored from just inside the box after Aaron Ramsey's intelligent cutback before Alex Song put the ball into his own net from Ruben Rochina's free-kick.

 

Yakubu tapped in Steven Nzonzi's shot across goal for 3-2, then Laurent Koscielny bundled past his own keeper after Martin Olsson's fine run and cross.

 

Marouane Chamakh's late headed consolation completed the scoring but Arsenal had late chances to rescue a point and had a last-gasp appeal for a penalty turned down.

 

Kean was the subject of a pre-match protest by some Blackburn fans calling for his dismissal. The Rovers manager has maintained throughout the week that he is the right man to turn around the club's fortunes, and this result will go some way to convincing the sceptics that he is up to the job.

 

His side were seemingly beaten at the break, being comprehensively outplayed and lucky to be only 2-1 down.

 

Woeful Blackburn defending allowed Song to find the totally unmarked Gervinho, whose decent low strike took a slight deflection on its way past Robinson in the home goal.

 

But Rovers were posing their usual threat from set pieces, with Chris Samba twice heading wide when he should have hit the target while at the other end Robinson was keeping them in the game with saves from Andrey Arshavin and Gervinho.

 

Just as Arsenal seemed on the verge of adding to their lead, Blackburn grabbed a lifeline with debutant Yakubu scoring his first goal for the club with a deft finish past the on-rushing Wojciech Szczesny following a fine pass from David Hoilett.

 

Crucially though, Blackburn could not hold on until half-time. Arteta restored the visitors' lead, smashing the ball into the net from the edge of the box for his first Arsenal goal after Ramsey's pass.

 

Kean's men showed great spirit after the restart and totally outmuscled and outclassed a fragile Arsenal unit in the second half.

 

They were back in the game soon after the break in admittedly fortuitous circumstances after Song turned Rochina's free-kick into his own net.

 

The goal proved to be the catalyst they needed to mount a stunning comeback.

 

Moments later Rovers should have taken the lead with Rochina firing straight at Szczesny when one-on-one following Hoilett's superb pass.

 

But Blackburn's amazing turnaround was not to be denied. The marginally onside Yakubu tapped in from close range following Nzonzi's wayward shot across goal.

 

Their 3-2 lead soon became 4-2 when Arsenal put the ball into their own net for the second time. Koscielny turned Olsson's cross past Szczesny following a fine run from his own half by the Blackburn man.

 

Moments later, though, Blackburn were thankful to Robinson after he pulled off a superb reaction save from Robin van Persie's powerful header.

 

Any hopes the home fans might have had of a relaxing few minutes were dashed when Arsenal pulled one back through Chamakh who headed van Persie's cross past Robinson from close range.

 

The goal breathed life into Arsenal's challenge and in stoppage time they should have been level but Per Mertesacker inexplicably headed over.

 

The drama continued, with substitute Theo Walcott going down under Robinson's challenge. Despite the howls of protest coming from the visiting fans, referee Andre Mariner waved away shouts for a penalty.

 

Rovers just about managed to survive the late onslaught and, much to the relief of Kean, a planned post-match protest from some of Blackburn's fans never materialised.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14864139.stm

one of them was due for the chop....

Poor Arsenal!

Poor Arsenal!

 

God this is painfully pathetic to watch.

What a win by the Spurs! WHAT A WIN!!