Football Focus

[Emerson Crane]

Keef Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> You took your chances. They said on tv that after

> an hour, Barca had made 400 passes, to Arsenal's

> 200, but you can pass it all day long, it's no

> good if you dont pass it in to the bloody goal!

> Take nothing away from Spurs, but think Arsenal

> get the result of the week, even though they were

> at home.

At home yes, but playing arguably the best club side in the world, not some washed up Italian side full of 30 somethings. And lest we forget we turned them over at thier place a few seasons ago, as we did with Inter when we turned them over 5 - 1, and Real when Henry scored a blinder at their place and we won 1 nil.

I'll be elated if we win at the camp nou, but very surprised. We'll have to defend better and when any chances come along be 100% clinical. Here's hoping.

[Jah Lush]

Emerson Crane Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> At home yes, but playing arguably the best club

> side in the world, not some washed up Italian side

> full of 30 somethings.

Who currently sit three points clear at the top of Serie A. Hardly a washed up side.

Any win at the San Siro is a good win and Spurs can be justly proud of their performance in view of the intimidation they faced from the Italian's persistent fouling and wind up tactics. I think we'll beat AC Milan at White Hart Lane but Arsenal face the tougher test at the Nou Camp.

[Keef]

At home yes, but playing arguably the best club side in the world

That was basically my point. ;-)

[Keef]

Although also agree with Jah that Spurs' win was a great acheivement, and it's not fair to take it away from them.

[Emerson Crane]

Keef Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Although also agree with Jah that Spurs' win was a

> great acheivement, and it's not fair to take it

> away from them.

Listen, a side with the likes of Gattuso and Seedorf in it is harldy going set the world alight, AC may be top of the Italian League but thats hardly a ringing endorsement. On the other hand, Barca are 5 points clear at the top of their league, which is far superior to Serie A by a long way, and I gave us very little chance it has to be said. But lets have it right, the result last night was the bigger achievement.

['bout now]

Are the current European champions Spanish or Italian?

['bout now]

It's a rhetorical question BTW.

You beat Barca at home, well done.

Spurs beat AC away well done.

Both fantastic results and to try and argue what is the bigger achievement is ridiculous.

[Sandperson]

Hmmm. Italian....

[Jah Lush]

Exactly 'bout now. Inter Milan isn't it. It just that Emerson cannot bare to say anything good about Tottenham/Man Utd/Chelsea. Blinkered.

[Sandperson]

The problem with the top leagues in Europe and arguably the top leagues anywhere is that, at best, there's a handful of clubs who can win the league. Saying one Spanish side is better than one Italian side is a pointless comparison because it's all relative. The only thing you can say is that both teams are top of their league. Therefore both English teams got a good result. I would add that beating a team away would seem to me to be more of an achievement than beating them at home but the way Barca played last night, in the first half at any rate, it was like they were playing at home.

[Jah Lush]

And the Arsenal got a bit lucky. Messi's "goal" wasn't offside and Arshavin's late handball was a penalty that somehow wasn't spotted by the referee or his assistants. It's still a great result and hats off to Jack Wilshire again. I thought he was superb all night and my Man of the Match.

[Sandperson]

Yes, that Messi 'goal' would have changed the whole game.

[Emerson Crane]

Sandperson Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The problem with the top leagues in Europe and

> arguably the top leagues anywhere is that, at

> best, there's a handful of clubs who can win the

> league. Saying one Spanish side is better than one

> Italian side is a pointless comparison because

> it's all relative. The only thing you can say is

> that both teams are top of their league. Therefore

> both English teams got a good result. I would add

> that beating a team away would seem to me to be

> more of an achievement than beating them at home

> but the way Barca played last night, in the first

> half at any rate, it was like they were playing at

> home.

We've beaten teams like Real Madrid, Inter and AC away in last few years. But you'll already know that, or should do.As for being blinkered, I find the fuss made about AC being beaten at home a tad OTT. Its been done.

[Jah Lush]

Barcelona haven't won away from home in the Champions League in their last nine matches. It's no big deal.

['bout now]

You have to be in it to win it and Tottenham haven't so what's your point?

They are getting the plaudits because its their first season in the sodding competition, credit where it is deserved.

Likewise credit to Arsenal.

It's as simple as that.

[Emerson Crane]

My point is quite simple, most people seemed to believe spurs would be able to get a result, on the other hand most people thought the Arsenal wouldn't get a result at home against Barca. But we did.

[Sandperson]

Can we just say they are both great achievements then!?

As is this....The Special One.

[Narnia]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Valdes = Ray Clemence 1971

>

> Van Persie = Steve Highway 1971

Trying to say Stevie Heighway scored an own goal are you?

['bout now]

That, SP is utterly bonkers.

[Jah Lush]

That is an extraordinary achievement by Mourinho.

[Keef]

It is indeed. When your record reads like his, you can get away with calling yourself special.

My point is quite simple, most people seemed to believe spurs would be able to get a result, on the other hand most people thought the Arsenal wouldn't get a result at home against Barca. But we did.

I have to be honest, before the matches, this was pretty much how I thought it would turn out. I thought Spurs would at least get a good result to take back home, and I thought Arsenal would get beaten.

Glad I was wrong about Arsenal, but seriously, as has been said, they were both great results, deserving credit. (from both sides)

[Mick Mac]

Arsenal are lucky.

Arsenal are boring.

[Mick Mac]

Narnia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Mick Mac Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Valdes = Ray Clemence 1971

> >

> > Van Persie = Steve Highway 1971

>

> Trying to say Stevie Heighway scored an own goal

> are you?

Whoops. For Clemence read Bob Wilson.

I think I let one in at the near post there Declan.

[kpc]

UEFA are charging a ?26 administration fee on Champions League final tickets. Makes TicketMaster look positively charitable (almost).

[Emerson Crane]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Arsenal are lucky.

>

> Arsenal are boring.

Lucky they don't have you as a fan. As for boring, well I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than watch that SPL drivel. Celtic and Rangers are an embarrassment to the CMPL.