UEFA 2012, Champions league, etc.

**Dennard** · 05-19-2012, 10:02 AM

I'll be watching but I'm still deciding who to root for. Don't really have a prediction.

**xXClockwork** · 05-19-2012, 08:49 PM

Chelsea have done it!

**Rushman2112** · 05-19-2012, 11:27 PM

Only took Ambromovic GBP1bn to buy the trophy.

**Kevan** · 05-20-2012, 12:55 AM

Not a Chelsea fan but this cup run was amazing from them. I don't like seeing "bought trophy" comments because that belittles year after year of tough campaigns. The NFL season and Super Bowl absolutely PALES in comparison to titles in European football, especially the UCL, and the level of competition year after year is what brings me back and why I haven't missed a final since '99. The press in Spain and Germany may hate the way Chelsea won it this year, but they won it, and comparisons to Greece in Euro 2004 are unfair as well. Chelsea were completely directionless in March. Dead in the water. Di Matteo came in and had an astounding revitalization effect on them. He got his tactics right in three huge knockout ties as well as this final and got this bunch of old guys and mediocre/unproven players playing like heroes.

Just like Istanbul 2005, a fantastic occasion for the neutral fan.

**lu20vt** · 05-20-2012, 02:41 AM

The football you back what you stole, Chelsea deserve the Cup

**hitemfrank** · 05-20-2012, 04:35 AM

I thought it was a pretty poor final to be honest. It reminded me of many of the Liverpool games I watched this season. One side dominates most of the game but just dont look creative enough to score.

Chelsea turned up with a plan of defend for as long as possible and try snatch a goal. I'm not a fan of this mentality (even if it did ultimately work out for them) - it's just so negative and shows a lack of ambition in my book.

Bayern Munich went out from the start and dominated the game and looked to actually try win the game. They just looked so devoid of ides when they got into the important areas of the pitch that it took a stupid foul by Drogba (in an otherwise great game from him) to give them a chance to grab the win in extra time - and they couldn't even put that away. Although I'm not surprised that Robben missed the penalty as he was pretty poor all night.

Also, John Terry - not a classy guy. Going from suit and tie in the first half, to training outfit in the second, to being in full kit after the final whistle. Just looked like someone who wanted the headlines and his picture in the newspapers.

But on a side note - I finished top of the fantasy football league we had running.

**rm71** · 05-20-2012, 06:03 AM

Not the result I was hoping for.

**Kevan** · 05-20-2012, 02:50 PM

All that matters when you get to finals is win. Anyone can slag on Chelsea all they want and praise Bayern for "trying" to win, but who won? Seriously, who won? Bayern had loads of chances, scored in the 83rd minute AND COULD NOT CLOSE THE GAME OUT, on the biggest stage, in their own stadium. They even had a penalty in added time!

It's been 24 hours and I keep hearing the same thing from people. Negative tactics, didn't play the game beautifully, blah blah. "Lack ambition"? Are you kidding? Who the heck DOESN'T have ambition to win the trophy if they get to a final?

So what? The trophy went to the team that got their tactics right. Oh, and they were helped by a home team that had 20 chances on goal and scored once.

**kroberts** · 05-20-2012, 04:17 PM

Mostly disappointed a Chelsea win knocked the Spurs out of the Champion's League next year. Ah well.

**bonzos_beard** · 05-20-2012, 04:22 PM

hopefully abramovich will walk away now - and leave the club to rot.

**Rushman2112** · 05-20-2012, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by bonzos_beard

hopefully abramovich will walk away now - and leave the club to rot.

With you on this mate. To me Chelski and Man City epitomise what is wrong with the EPL: dodgy characters pumping in unheard of sums of money to clubs that were past their sell-by date, bringing in a plethora of over paid divers and cheats. UEFA is trying to address the issue with their "fair play" system which essentially says clubs cannot get into debt, but the people behind these clubs will just slap in whatever is necessary. How the EPL could let someone like Khun Taksin buy into a club is beyond words for instance. How many English players actually play for the clubs in question? Maybe 3 at most out of a matchday squad of 16? Over 40% of players in total are foriegners, and we wonder why the English national team is so poor at World Cups and European Championships. Sorry, will stop ranting now and take my meds.

**Kevan** · 05-20-2012, 10:24 PM

One can only hope that the leagues learn their lesson after the Shinawatra, Venky's, and now Craig Whyte debacles. But again, the "bought trophy" argument doesn't hold water with me. Aside from Porto in 2004, name one winner of the UCL in the last decade that hasn't been a well-off "rich" club. Even everyone's darlings Barcelona (a team as full of cheaters and divers as you will ever see....remember the farce that was the '09 final?) are a VERY rich club, yet no one accuses them of buying the trophy, which is a double standard if you ask me. But then again, if there is one team in the world that is held to a different standard, it is Barca, a team whose DEFENDERS even roll around if someone clips their heels.

Anyway, is the reason they get a pass only because they aren't owned by a single individual? If that's the case, that's a silly argument too. The fact of the matter is the best players go where they can be paid a lot of money. The PROBLEM is that teams like Man City (and Chelsea before them) changed the dynamic of what "a lot of money" is.

**hitemfrank** · 05-21-2012, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by Kevan

So what? The trophy went to the team that got their tactics right. Oh, and they were helped by a home team that had 20 chances on goal and scored once.

We'll have to agree to isagree on Chelsea getting their tactics right. For me, it was more that Bayern were hopeless in front of goal than Chelsea getting their tactics spot on.

Dont get me wrong, Chelsea defended brilliantly for most of the game but Bayern had more than enough clear chances to win it. They threw it away.

Also Arjen Robben backing out of taking a penalty in the shootout was disappointing. He had a chance to somewhat redeem himself and wouldn't put his name forward for a spot kick. Although he probably would hhave missed it anyway judging by how he played in the game.

**hitemfrank** · 05-21-2012, 02:12 AM

Originally Posted by Rushman2112

With you on this mate. To me Chelski and Man City epitomise what is wrong with the EPL: dodgy characters pumping in unheard of sums of money to clubs that were past their sell-by date, bringing in a plethora of over paid divers and cheats. UEFA is trying to address the issue with their "fair play" system which essentially says clubs cannot get into debt, but the people behind these clubs will just slap in whatever is necessary. How the EPL could let someone like Khun Taksin buy into a club is beyond words for instance. How many English players actually play for the clubs in question? Maybe 3 at most out of a matchday squad of 16? Over 40% of players in total are foriegners, and we wonder why the English national team is so poor at World Cups and European Championships. Sorry, will stop ranting now and take my meds.

The fair play rules are designed in a way that clubs can only spend a certain percentage on their income in a seaons. They also prevent rich owners from pumping massive amounts of money into the club each year as 'gifts' to make it seem like the clubs have more income than they actually do.

I think over three years it will go down to something like £10 million a year that owners will be allowed to put in.

However all the rules will end up doing is allowing the clubs with the biggest incomes to spend more than the clubs who bring in less money. So you could still end up with clubs gambling that their revenue will stay the same for a number of seasons and spend as much as they are allowed.

If their income does drop though they could be in some real danger...

**zeeco** · 05-21-2012, 07:54 AM

Chelsea had a lot of luck along the way but took full advantage, Messi and Robben missing penalties spring to mind, but don't forgot Chelsea were robbed by poor refereeing desicions a few years ago against barca, it's not just that billionaire owners are splashing the cash that is driving up players prices, there are far fewer great players in football today than 10 years ago. Let's hope Man United can do the treble again, far too much Blue celebrating.

**pringe** · 05-21-2012, 08:54 AM

Football, bloody hell!
KTBFFH

**xXClockwork** · 05-22-2012, 05:27 AM

Wahhhhhhhh. You know what beautiful football is? Winning football. All of the fast paced attacking machines sat at home while Chelsea lifted the trophy.

**Don Barbiere** · 05-22-2012, 10:05 AM

Congrats to Chelsea! Not my team, but if you menage to win it, is all that matters, no matter the style of play the final result is what matters. Incredible soccer this year and I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to Euro 2012. Lets keep this thread going :) Congratulations to Keith(hitemfrank) for winning the UCL Fantasy B&B League. Hopefully more people join in for the next one. I will be starting Euro 2012 Fantasy League for B&B once it becomes available for all those interested. It was a lot of fun.

**hitemfrank** · 05-22-2012, 11:16 AM

Thanks Zee.

I'd be interested in doing another for the Euro 2012 so I look forward to beating you all again

**mretzloff** · 05-22-2012, 12:18 PM

As a German, I am sad to see one of our teams lose, but congratulations to Chelsea and its fans.

Now, only two-ish weeks until UEFA Euro starts. Anyone have any predictions yet? I think we will see a repeat final between Germany and Spain with Spain winning again.