FIFA Football Season 08/09

**Yasamuu**

Figured there wasn't a discussion for any Football (soccer) so I'd go ahead and make one like the NFL discussion thread.

The UEFA Champions League kicked off last night and there was already a shock result with FC Cluj of Romania, debutants in the competition, scoring a win against Roma in Rome one of the toughest places to go to throughout Europe. The question is whether they can match the might of Chelsea in the next round of matches. They will have the advantage of home soil.

GROUP A:
Chelsea 4-0 Bordeaux Match report
Roma 1-2 CFR Cluj-Napoca
GROUP B:
Panathinaikos 0-2 Inter Milan
Werder Bremen 0-0 Anorthosis Famagusta
GROUP C:
Barcelona 3-1 Sporting
Basle 1-2 Shakhtar Donetsk
GROUP D:
Marseille 1-2 Liverpool Match report
PSV 0-3 Atletico Madrid

Tonight sees Manchester United, Arsenal (England) and Celtic (Scotland) in action. Hopefully all do well for the sake of the reputation of their home leagues. (Though if Celtic lose I'll be happy SMILEY

)

Wednesday, 17 September 2008

Celtic v AaB, Gp E, 19:45

Dynamo Kiev v Arsenal, Gp G, 19:45

FC Porto v Fenerbahce, Gp G, 19:45

Juventus v Zenit St Petersburg, Gp H, 19:45

Lyon v Fiorentina, Gp F, 19:45

Man Utd v Villarreal, Gp E, 19:45

Real Madrid v BATE, Gp H, 19:45

Steaua Bucuresti v Bayern Munich, Gp F, 19:45

The game of the night will be Juventus vs Zenit St Petersburg, for me. Don't be suprised if Zenit pull off a victory, either. There is a huge amount of money and quality in the Russian leagues right now and the UEFA Cup winners of last year, beating Rangers 2-0, will be darkhorses in this years Champions League.

~~

The English Premiership has seen an interesting start with the biggest suprise being that Spurs are at the bottom of the league after 4 games, feel sorry for Gareth (Bale), having shelled out £70m on new players it's rather suprising to see them languished at the bottom but as the saying goes it's a marathon not a sprint.

Liverpool and Chelsea sit joint top, with Liverpool bouyed by their first League win over Manchester United in over 4 years at the weekend, running out deserved 2-1 winners. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool can finally mount a challenge on the league title having been in the top 4 for the past 3 years but not good enough to challenge the front runners of Manchester United or Chelsea, certainly for Liverpool fans this is long overdue.

Saturday, 20 September 2008
Blackburn v Fulham, 15:00
Bolton v Arsenal, 17:30
Liverpool v Stoke, 15:00
Sunderland v Middlesbrough, 12:45
West Ham v Newcastle, 15:00
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Chelsea v Man Utd, 14:00
Hull v Everton, 15:00
Man City v Portsmouth, 15:00
Tottenham v Wigan, 15:00
West Brom v Aston Villa, 12:00

The pick of the fixtures this weekend is Chelsea vs Manchester United on Sunday, that should be a thriller.

~~

The Scottish Premierleague sees Rangers out in front(Woot) at the top by 3 points ahead of archrivals Celtic, whom they beat 4-2 at Celtics home ground two weeks ago, and Kilmarnock both tied on 10points. Rangers ended Kilmarnocks spell as the only team in the UK not to have conceeded a goal by narrowly beating them 2-1 in the battle to become out right leaders of the league, both teams had entered the match level on 10points but Rangers took all 3 thanks to Kris Boyd. New comers to the league Hamilton have made a good start to their campaign beating favourites for 3rd place Dundee United in their opening game in the league and laying in 4th place. United had been tipped for third but find themselves rockbottom after 5 matches with a measley 2 points. Celtic and Motherwell are flying the flag in Europe for Scotland this year after Rangers' early shock exit.

Saturday, 20 September 2008

Aberdeen v Dundee Utd, 12:30

Hamilton v Hibernian, 15:00

Hearts v Inverness CT, 15:00

St Mirren v Falkirk, 15:00

Sunday, 21 September 2008

Kilmarnock v Celtic, 16:00

Rangers v Motherwell, 15:00

The pick of the fixtures this weekend is Kilmarnock against Celtic at Rugby Park. 2nd vs 3rd and having being beaten by Rangers this weekend, Kilmarnock will want to bounce back and continue their good start to the season, though it will be a very difficult task to do so against Celtic. Coming back from a european match can tire a team though and Celtic will have to cope.

Please, add whatever you want about the MLS, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue1, Eredivisie, A-League, J-League, Russian Premier League etc etc. I just don't have the time to add more about those just now.

Discuss anything and everying about football, transfers, scores, scandals, etc etc.

**jl10899**

Soccer!

**exsuscito**

I honestly don't care how Liverpool fare in the Champion's League this season. They've won it once, been to a final that we would've won had it not been for terrible tactical decisions, and proven that we're one of top three teams on the European stage. With that in mind, I'd much rather they donk out early and concentrate on the Premiership.

Criingey

The 'Gers MUST and i mean MUST win the league this year.

Canny be going through all that qualification nonsence for Champions League again!!!

**Yasamuu**

Criingey wrote:

The 'Gers MUST and i mean MUST win the league this year.
Canny be going through all that qualification nonsence for Champions League again!!!

Yah, and condeming Celtic to it next year might earn us some added cash in the process if they drop out :p

Sidenote: Wb Criinge SMILEY

exsuscito wrote:

I honestly don't care how Liverpool fare in the Champion's League this season. They've won it once, been to a final that we would've won had it not been for terrible tactical decisions, and proven that we're one of top three teams on the European stage. With that in mind, I'd much rather they donk out early and concentrate on the Premiership.

I think I under-estimated Riera, he really looked the part on Saturday and could be the key to Liverpool becoming successful this season. Torres better start scoring though, he's in my fantasy football team. I'm sure he will since he's a god.

Criingey

Cheers Yas!

Aye but it could definately work in our favour if they have more games to play.

Still i reckon with the signings Smith has made this season we really should manage to get that trophy back!

**Yasamuu**

Pedro Mendes was the missing link. I wonder how Barry will get back into the team now. :o

Special mention for the American Maurice Edu, though, him and Davie Weir both came through the scholarship system so it's it's a little incentive to see them end up at the club I support.

I think Rangers will win the league though, yes.

**Mave**

jl10899 wrote:

Soccer!

He's right Yasa. You spelled Soccer wrong. =P

**Yasamuu**

Yasamuu wrote:

(soccer)

No I didn't!

=p

Criingey

Yasamuu wrote:

I think Rangers will win the league though, yes.

To quote the parlence of my peers.

QFT!

**Moonlite**

I would just like to be able to get three points - from anywhere really. SMILEY

Criingey

I think youll be just fine... got a very new team there. Gonna take a little while to settle.

**Yasamuu**

Alan Hutton hasn't played yet, Spurs woes will disappear when he returns. Plus Pavlyuchenko scored against Celtic and England, he might aswell be my hero. SMILEY

**Moonlite**

Yasamuu wrote:

Plus Pavlyuchenko scored against Celtic and England, he might aswell be my hero.

That was low Yasamuuuuu.

Criingey

Yas.. heard this?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foo...ers/7619643.stm