Football Focus

[Alan Medic]

I'd swear that the BBC reported buying AND selling players this morning.

[Alan Medic]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> I'd swear that the BBC reported buying AND selling

> players this morning.

As did this morning's freebie newspaper.

[Parkdrive]

Good to see CSKA Fulham fans reminding us just how much class they've got by smashing up shops and bars and giving nazi salutes in Paris yesterday. Stay classy

[Mick Mac]

People slag off the Europa League but this is a pretty sexy QF line up. They get there in the end.

AZ Alkmaar v Benfica 20:05

Basel v Valencia 20:05

FC Porto v Sevilla 20:05

Lyon v Juventus 20:05

[Jah Lush]

How many of those teams came from failing in the Champions League and dropping down into the Europa League?

[Alan Medic]

4

[Jah Lush]

Thanks Alan. I knew I could count on you to come up with the answer. So exactly half of them in the quarter-finals. It's a travesty that teams are allowed to parachute into the Europa League after failing so dismally in the Champions League.

[Alan Medic]

Ask me another one Jah..........like how many qualify for the semi-finals.

[Mick Mac]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Thanks Alan. I knew I could count on you to come

> up with the answer. So exactly half of them in the

> quarter-finals. It's a travesty that teams are

> allowed to parachute into the Europa League after

> failing so dismally in the Champions League.

Actually my gut feeling is that they don't have a great record of actually winning it after being dropped down from champions league, apart from very recent years.

[Alan Medic]

I believe 4 have won it.

[maxxi]

...and how many teams have won the Champions League NOT having been Champions when they entered it? Man United... Liverpool... Chelsea...

[Alan Medic]

I'm sure there's a fourth......

[maxxi]

TouFour-ch?!

[ruffers]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> How many of those teams came from failing in the

> Champions League and dropping down into the Europa

> League?

I believe this is the last year that will happen.

[Otta]

And as of next year the Europa winners get a champs league spot, which could make it more interesting.

See Rooney is out today, and a doubt for the Bayern match. United supporters must be a bit worried to see that. I imagine he'll play in the week, it's only a bruised toe, surely they can dose him up for the match.

[Otta]

Interesting that one of United's better results comes when several players are apparently be rested for CL. Should some of today's team maybe be considered given the performance?

And will Andy Carroll haunt the pool tomorrow? Jamie Carragher not overly complimentary in the press today which makes me even more worried about the prospect than I akready was.

[maxxi]

Otta Wrote:

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...will Andy Carroll haunt the pool tomorrow?

> Jamie Carragher not overly complimentary in the

> press today which makes me even more worried about

> the prospect than I akready was.

Don't want to jinx it (honest) but The Irons do sometimes have a knack of spoiling the bigger clubs' ambitions at this end of the season. Let's just hope it's ManC on the final day, eh?

[Mick Mac]

Andy Carroll can swivel. No chance of him haunting Liverpool. He can score but they surely won't win....

These are my my my famous last words.

[Alan Medic]

I suppose you can't have it everyway but there have been two 'goal line technology' disallowed goals recently where the margin was minute. The naked eye and the TV camera would certainly not have detected they were not goals. Yesterday the ball must have been 99.99% over the line, if the graphics are anything to go by. Perhaps it should be adjusted to be in line with how a decision would be made by someone in the perfect position to see it, with perfect eyesight. A more sympathetic approach.

[Jah Lush]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26916661

Chris Hughton sacked as manager of Norwich City. That's a real panic decision as far as I'm concerned. OK results haven't been that good lately and they have a truly daunting fixture list in their next five games. I can't see how that will make a difference. We'll see though.

[JohnL]

Reading the Welsh media Cardiff have given up it seems (sorry to Cardiff fans - but that's what Media Wales portray)

Fulham still fighting and Sunderland with the games in hand (Spurs tonight)

Norwich last 4 leaves them in the mix

Swansea (my team) still act as if they are too good to go down - ominous.

[Mick Mac]

Tim Sherwood to be axed in summer?

[titch juicy]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Tim Sherwood to be axed in summer?

Without any question- he was always only ever an interim appointment until Louis Van Gaal takesover in the summer after the World Cup.

[Jah Lush]

Thank god for that. He's been absolutely clueless. Hopefully we'll get Van Gaal in after the World Cup.

[Parkdrive]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Thank god for that. He's been absolutely clueless.

> Hopefully we'll get Van Gaal in after the World

> Cup.

According To Ruud Gullit it's a done deal.