Football (Soccer)

[Exar Kun]

Underdogs??

Chelsea has been around since 1905 as a club in the English league. They won the league title in 1955 I believe. They also won the League Cup twice and the FA cup in 2000. Most people wouldn't really know about them today because they've been silent ever since with Arsenal and Man United; NOT to say that they don't have a lot of fans. They're not a bad club being on Arsenals heels right now. Arsenal will still kick buTT.

Information on Chelsea FC club visit this groovy site:Chelsea FC

Ya MPS. Poland all the way man. (Even though they don't got a great football league)

[Oriphus]

Chelsea??? Wha are Chelsea??

Um...thanks for all the information, but i think you missed the joke. I know loads about Chelsea, my joke was their history. they have only ever one the League Title once, back in the 50's i think. United have won it 15 times and Liverpool 18 times. My joke was "Who are Chelsea?" cuz they arent one of the greats lol.

Thanks for the information anyway though
Chris

[MPS]

yea, and thanx for support for polish leagure, although i dont support it that much myself

[Exar Kun]

What do you guys think?

Wow. I was looking through this football thread and it's all Oriphus, admin and MPS. You guys own. Wonder if they got any football fans at Doom9. Anyways I wondering what you guys would think if they changed the number of qualifying spots back to 16 (Like it was back 30 years) for the Worlds(FIFA). Sure the Worlds would be a lot shorter but they could solve that by making each of the teams play 3 games against each other. Best of 3 in each group would win. From my perspective, this could improve the quality of soccer and would prevent situtations in which a heavy favourite team gets eliminated just because of one dumb penalty shot (re: like Ireland in the last worlds).

Another point worth debating, what is Canada lacking in football that prevents them from qualifying for the Worlds. Like jeez, Canada is one of the top countries in the world (economic wise) and they can't qualify. Is it just me or do they just SUCK that bad. Or maybe football wasn't meant to be their sport. Probably the latter.

[Oriphus]

On the Canada comment, there just isnt enough interest, therefore support, for the game there. Its mainly Ice Hockey as the national sport. Once there become wider interest, ie: canada qualify for a major, then it is likely that the younger generation will think its cool and start to play it. There is nothing easier than kicking a ball around in the street...

Im quite happy with the number of teams qualifying (32? isnt it) as it enables a longer competition and therefore generates more interest. I love watching the matches and usally try to watch every single one (even if its on reply). I was irritated as well by the Ireland mishap last time out. We look a lot stronger however, for the coming world cups, pity we are out of Euro 04 though

Really looking forward to the Man United v Arsenal match tomorrow. Looks os far like Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and possibly Rudd Van "The Man" Nistelrooy will be out. Unfortunately i wont be able to watch it as im playing for my University in an important LEague match at 2pm and have to be there from 12.30 to warm up etc....

Ah well....We'll win no problem Eh Admin

Exar Kun - stick around for some footie talk. Myself, Admin, MPS and a few other make contributions all the time. Would like to see some more users. lol - we only have 40 pages

[admin]

Should be a good match today, as always, I hope for the best and expect the worse. 5-0 to the Arsenal, it is then

[Oriphus]

its started.....

[admin]

Two words: Sack Wenger

[MPS]

nice to have u on board exerhun

canada - it's all hockey and curling i guess

man utd wins i hope

[MPS]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Paul Scholes rulez today

wowowowow!!!!!!

kiss your FACup byebye arsenal

[admin]

We played like crap today, probably the worst I've seen this season. Wenger's team selection was dubious, as were the substitutions (taking off Pires was a big mistake). I hope we improve for the next three games, which will decide whether this season was a success or not.

[Oriphus]

I didnt want to come on and gloat, so was waiting for you to post Admin

Maybe this is the point in the season were Arsenal start to fall apart and loose all of their next 8 games and then Chelsea fall apart and Man United win the league. I suppose if that happens FIFI will decide there was an error in our Champions League game with Porto and award us the Champions League trophy haha

[Oriphus]

Oh, and i have no comment on the game im afraid, ive only seen the replays and will wait as usually to tomorrow night to wathc the full match before commenting.

If its any conselation, my football team were beaten 5-2 today by a team that was no where near as good as ours. really sloppy defending and a pitch that was mostly sand, rather than gras (mud wouldve been better) had something to paly, but uncharacteristic mistakes at the back played a key part. 4 goals down inside 20 minutes. I guess the fact that our keeper was injured and our manager had to go in goals instead might have had something to do with it....

[admin]

If Arsenal do start slipping up, then Chelsea will win the league

(and I don't think anyone want that to happen)

I've seen Chelsea play, and they are crap. Against Man City, Chelsea had 1 shot and 1 goal, whereas Man City hit to bar/post half a dozen times. The same with yesterday's game at Tottenham, which Chelsea should not have won. They have the luck at the moment, but they are beatable.

United may still have a part in deciding who wins the league - your game againts Chelsea may decide who gets the number 2 spot, or whether Chelsea win the league or not.

And just to highlight Wenger's selection mistake, when Reyes came on, he looked very special indeed, so he should have started. If he started, then Scholes might not have had the chance to injured him late on - he is now out for the rest of the season BTW (another example of United's "Fair Play"?). I didn't see the incident, but Ljungberg is also out for a few games with a broken hand, probably from another United "Fair Play" ...

But that main mistake was that Henry and Pires must always play together, that's when they're most effective. For both of the United games, when Pires went off we lost momentum in attack, and then conceded a goal or in yesterday's case, lost the game. The best example was the Celta Vigo away game, when Henry and Pires passed to ball into the net for the third goal in the 3-2 victory, and also the numerous last minuted goals Pires has scored when we're up 1-0 and looking nervous.

[Oriphus]

I agree with the philosophy of Pires and Henry playing together, they do make a fantastic pair. When either one goes off Arsenal do tend to drop off slightly.

Now i dont think you can call the tackle on Reyes a mallicious one at all. It was a very strong tackle, where Scholes as always was very commited. He did catch the youngsters anle and twice it nearly in half as Reyes went down, it looked very very painful. I feel for the lads, but i really dont think that United are a dirty team. They generally play hard and pass well. Teams that pass well and track back well, dont usually have to be dirty players. I think it is more likely to be an Arsenal player that needs to question his "Fair Play" tactics, based on past experience.

Anyway, thats neither here nor there. It was another good match to watch, im looking forward to watch it all tonight (it better be on MUTV - im just assuming cuz league matches are on).

I think that Arsenal will win the title. United will be beating Chelsea at home and ill hopefully be at it. By doing that, i think we will make sure that Arsenal win it. However, the fans should probably be content with a 2nd place and one trophy (the FA Cup). Next year i think you will see a very strong United team...