i aee arsenal didn't even have a shot on target despite the majority of possession and just got suckered. oops. that make their games around the second leg tough. BTW we think we are bad with poxy 12:30 kick offs. arsenal have to play v Chelsea in that slot after their last 16 game. no other league in Europe would allow that.
So they should They should have had one this week And that game would have stood a chance at a draw in the **** 12:30 atmospheres
There was a fair sense of satisfaction in seeing Arsenal moaning about Porto's tactics. Personally I thought Arteta got schooled by Conceicao.
some of us won't be going to their board and trying to gloat though. cos we have actual lives Seriously though it just goes to show what the different reffing styles in europe can do to a side. Arsenal get away with a lot, (especially cbs and saka) in england but in europe they were getting dinged left and right. I looked up what league games arsenal have round this CL tie. Brentford Home Stat 5:30pm Porto Home on the Tuesday 8pm Chelsea H Sat at 12:30 Theres not one other league in the top 5 leagues that would allow that to happen. Not one. that is crazy unfair when you want your teams to do the very best in Europe as its good for the whole league.
Obviously I don't keep a check on what all our ex-players are saying about the club, you tend to see headlines of either praise or, rarely with us, dissatisfaction with some aspect of what happened during their time or on leaving. I know Alonso has said that he's a Liverpool fan and always will be and he's also said that the reason he left Real was because despite how hard he worked, it was others who got all the praise. The only thing I've seen him say positive of the club is about Ancelotti who he admires as a coach.
I know but the links between the Basques and Catalans are strong and stronger with each other than the rest of Spain. Alonso's Dad played for Barcelona so there's a family link as well.
I have said this many teams. The other European leagues, Spain especially, bend over backwards to re arrange fixtures for their clubs in order for them to do well in Europe. Its the whole Premier League TV deal thing. In Spain the clubs negotiate their own TV deals, which means they can renegotiate directly with the Tv channels to move fixtures around, and La Liga doesnt give a ****, where as in the UK, the PL negotiates the deals for the clubs as a package, and the PL dont want to decrease the value of their product by having to move fixtures around, which inconveniences Sky and Amazon etc, so its the Premier Leagues fault and our clubs just end up with a distinct disadvantage in Europe every time. This is also part of the reason why La Liga has more European trophies than any other league (also the fact that they had awesome Barca and Real teams in years passed, also helps, but it definitely does have an effect),
If you are training for games at 8pm and 9pm then its a consistent thing. training for late games and doing all your food intake etc to peak at 8pm then some **** throws you into 12:30 and expects you to peak at 2 days notice. Its just not going to happen. Its just that simple. the Prem has a virtual monopoly on games via SKy and BT/TNT have a cost relationship to not annoy sky and lose the access. it also has a legal block on showing 3pm games on a saturday. As BT gets to pick games for 12:30 they try as much as possible to get "a big side" in thier picks. Its their only chance. Sky won't let them have the 5:30pm slot I just think the prem is also mad into far east viewing and really want that early game as well.
Alonso has "nothing new to say" regarding speculation on his future. "Right now I'm the Coach here, that's for sure. For the future I have nothing new to say, we'll see." Sounds like he's probably leaving Leverkusen then.
Yeah he’s not leading them down the garden path with ‘Im contracted til x’ nonsense, their fans will be expecting him to leave hopefully after delivering the league title
When is the draw for the next round? (Edit - tomorrow) Assume most would like to play Qarabag? I'd prefer Milan but with the injuries we have ATM, I'll join you in wanting Qarabag
So cup draw tomorrow can get the following Qarabag Milan Freiburg benfica sporting prague marseille roma From that list ideal prob be Freiburg given the short travel and quality of opponent. Sporting could give good look at future manager though
Its a very exciting day to get the draw for the last 16. The list is not exactly a gimmie list in any way but thats just fine is'nt it. All the best sides go into the last 32 having dropped down or some **** clubs did **** in the groups. Its far better than being given a minnow nobody cares about i suppose.
More o read about the sporting manager more I like what I see. Done great stuff there and we obviously have strong links with the Portuguese lesgues after recent signings so that makes sense. Obviously a bit of a weaker league but has taken broken the Porto / benfica stranglehold on the league last few years. Style of play sounds very good as well
