Comments on: CL Action… http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html World Cup 2010 - South Africa, Oranje, Nederlands Elftal, Eredivisie, Marco van Basten, Dutch football, The Netherlands Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:05:34 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: finnster01 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-163590 finnster01 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:20:58 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html#comment-163590 So as expected, we are left with 4 English, 2 Spanish, 1 German and 1 Portuguese team. With perhaps the exception of the master divers from Portugal, that is about right in terms of reflecting the correct weightings in terms of the quality of the European club game at the moment. I would have expected an Italian team still to be left, but their club football is really in a complete tailspin, and the results reflect that. Man Utd vs Inter was men against boys. Depending on the draw, I predict 1 English team (either Man U or Liverpool) against Barca in the final. Should be a complete cracker. Can't wait for Friday's draw (11 GMT I believe) So as expected, we are left with 4 English, 2 Spanish, 1 German and 1 Portuguese team.

With perhaps the exception of the master divers from Portugal, that is about right in terms of reflecting the correct weightings in terms of the quality of the European club game at the moment.

I would have expected an Italian team still to be left, but their club football is really in a complete tailspin, and the results reflect that.

Man Utd vs Inter was men against boys.

Depending on the draw, I predict 1 English team (either Man U or Liverpool) against Barca in the final. Should be a complete cracker. Can’t wait for Friday’s draw (11 GMT I believe)

]]> By: Kevin http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-163589 Kevin Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:42:53 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html#comment-163589 @Caleb: I agree that Sneijder is world-class and all players have some bad time. But I think Real is now in crisis and he has a bad time so if they wont change the coach soon, I think Sneijder should leave because this team won't help him to regain his form. Anyway the best three attacking midfielders right now should be Robben, Babel and Kuyt. I hope that Sneijder, VDV and VPS will come back soon. @Caleb: I agree that Sneijder is world-class and all players have some bad time. But I think Real is now in crisis and he has a bad time so if they wont change the coach soon, I think Sneijder should leave because this team won’t help him to regain his form. Anyway the best three attacking midfielders right now should be Robben, Babel and Kuyt. I hope that Sneijder, VDV and VPS will come back soon.

]]> By: finnster01 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-163583 finnster01 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:28:05 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html#comment-163583 Nice to see Arsenal are not starting a single English (or British) player as usual. 6+5? hahahahaha Something tells me which club will be the first to sue over that. Nice to see Arsenal are not starting a single English (or British) player as usual.

6+5? hahahahaha

Something tells me which club will be the first to sue over that.

]]> By: Andrew http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-163581 Andrew Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:56:14 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html#comment-163581 @Finn, Re: Liverpool in the league. The eleven they put out yesterday is a match for anyone, anytime. But I think the league is a money thing, as in money equals depth over 60-70 games a season. When Sir Alex goes to his rotation (and he does)or someone gets hurt (lets say Rooney or Ronaldo at the beginning of the year) he's bringing in Tevez or Giggs or Park or Scholes, guys who have all excelled at the highest levels...Liverpool can't match that over the course of the season and inevitably drop points in games they're clear favorites. I'm a big Liverpool fan, too; since the 70's, but as you say a day in the life... @Finn, Re: Liverpool in the league. The eleven they put out yesterday is a match for anyone, anytime. But I think the league is a money thing, as in money equals depth over 60-70 games a season. When Sir Alex goes to his rotation (and he does)or someone gets hurt (lets say Rooney or Ronaldo at the beginning of the year) he’s bringing in Tevez or Giggs or Park or Scholes, guys who have all excelled at the highest levels…Liverpool can’t match that over the course of the season and inevitably drop points in games they’re clear favorites. I’m a big Liverpool fan, too; since the 70’s, but as you say a day in the life…

]]> By: finnster01 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-163579 finnster01 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:22:28 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html#comment-163579 @Caleb: I honestly always thought Ramos was overrated. He may have done well back in the day in Spain with limited resources. But the fact is he took a Tottenham team that had finished 5th in the Prem and destroyed it. The players hated him, he was arrogant, never talked to the players etc. He never got along with the other management there either. Now Rafa's game tactics in Europe is spectacular. There is nobody better. However his mysterious rotation system in the league that he is the only one able to understand properly is one of the main reasons 'pool hasn't won the league since 1990. I still have no clue what that is all about. I guess it is like taking a medicine. Most come with side effects. In Rafa's case, we'll never win the league but will always be in the mix for the CL. It is just the way it is. If the Prem was played back-to-back home & away games, he would win the league every year. Instead, we can beat Man U and Chelsea at home, but get spanked against Middlesboro etc. Just another day in the life of a Liverpool fan @Caleb: I honestly always thought Ramos was overrated. He may have done well back in the day in Spain with limited resources. But the fact is he took a Tottenham team that had finished 5th in the Prem and destroyed it. The players hated him, he was arrogant, never talked to the players etc. He never got along with the other management there either.

Now Rafa’s game tactics in Europe is spectacular. There is nobody better. However his mysterious rotation system in the league that he is the only one able to understand properly is one of the main reasons ‘pool hasn’t won the league since 1990. I still have no clue what that is all about.

I guess it is like taking a medicine. Most come with side effects. In Rafa’s case, we’ll never win the league but will always be in the mix for the CL. It is just the way it is. If the Prem was played back-to-back home & away games, he would win the league every year. Instead, we can beat Man U and Chelsea at home, but get spanked against Middlesboro etc. Just another day in the life of a Liverpool fan

]]> By: Caleb http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-163578 Caleb Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:21:25 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html#comment-163578 Oh yeah, I'm also not worried about Sneijder. Players go into slumps all the time, that's normal. He also showed signs of coming out of the slump last night. Still not peak, but getting better. It's ridiculous to say that he should leave to another team, he's one of Real's best players. Stop overreacting guys. What really needs to happen is Ramos needs to play him week in week out so he can get the rest of his form back. Unfortunately I'm not sure about Ramos' tactics anymore... Oh yeah, I’m also not worried about Sneijder. Players go into slumps all the time, that’s normal. He also showed signs of coming out of the slump last night. Still not peak, but getting better. It’s ridiculous to say that he should leave to another team, he’s one of Real’s best players. Stop overreacting guys. What really needs to happen is Ramos needs to play him week in week out so he can get the rest of his form back. Unfortunately I’m not sure about Ramos’ tactics anymore…

]]> By: Caleb http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-163577 Caleb Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:15:54 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html#comment-163577 I watched the Real vs. Liverpool game last night... what a depressing game for us Real supporters! There was certainly no luck in Liverpool's win this night - well, the first goal could have been called a foul, and the penalty was obviously no penalty, but Liverpool just dominated the game so much that I can't complain. But WTF is Ramos doing lining up that same double defensive-mid line up?!? They created absolutely nothing in the first game at home, would they all of a sudden start creating while away at Anfield?? Real needed goals, and in order to do that they needed some creativity! Sneijder was a start, but he can't do it by himself with two useless defensive players beside him. Lass was decent defensively, but tried to do too much offensively and often lost it (I think Jan mentioned the same thing last game, but it was even more obvious this time), Gago was invisible. Anyone else notice how much better Real started to play in the last 30 minutes or so when Sneijder and VdV were both on, and later when Guti was also on? Of course Liverpool was already 3-0 up, but the domination completely stopped from that point and it was actually Real pressuring Liverpool for most of the last half hour. Ramos should have started with only Diarra, and included both Sneijder and Guti, or Sneijder and VdV. I mean seriously, they needed to go and score, not defend!! Just ridiculous, the tactics last night! Other than that, Liverpool played very well as a team, fought hard for the ball and made Real look very amateur. Real also missed Ruud and Huntelaar, they really could have used one of them. I watched the Real vs. Liverpool game last night… what a depressing game for us Real supporters! There was certainly no luck in Liverpool’s win this night – well, the first goal could have been called a foul, and the penalty was obviously no penalty, but Liverpool just dominated the game so much that I can’t complain.

But WTF is Ramos doing lining up that same double defensive-mid line up?!? They created absolutely nothing in the first game at home, would they all of a sudden start creating while away at Anfield?? Real needed goals, and in order to do that they needed some creativity! Sneijder was a start, but he can’t do it by himself with two useless defensive players beside him. Lass was decent defensively, but tried to do too much offensively and often lost it (I think Jan mentioned the same thing last game, but it was even more obvious this time), Gago was invisible.

Anyone else notice how much better Real started to play in the last 30 minutes or so when Sneijder and VdV were both on, and later when Guti was also on? Of course Liverpool was already 3-0 up, but the domination completely stopped from that point and it was actually Real pressuring Liverpool for most of the last half hour. Ramos should have started with only Diarra, and included both Sneijder and Guti, or Sneijder and VdV. I mean seriously, they needed to go and score, not defend!! Just ridiculous, the tactics last night!

Other than that, Liverpool played very well as a team, fought hard for the ball and made Real look very amateur. Real also missed Ruud and Huntelaar, they really could have used one of them.

]]> By: finnster01 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-163576 finnster01 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:19:24 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html#comment-163576 @Mario: The 6+5 is a decent idea. Although I think it will never happen. If it does happen, you will have one of the Big 4 or Big 18 (or whatever the number is) suing UEFA/FIFA under EU Labour Law immediately. It will be another Bosman ruling type and FIFA/UEFA will lose. I don't think it is winnable for UEFA unless an exemption is passed for football in the European parliament. Just will never happen. It is interested to see as Jan pointed out that Liverpool started with more Spaniards than Real Madrid yesterday...Same with Arsenal. You take Theo Walcott out of that lineup, how many English players are left? 6+5, yeah right. Will never pass the legal challenges. @Mario: The 6+5 is a decent idea. Although I think it will never happen. If it does happen, you will have one of the Big 4 or Big 18 (or whatever the number is) suing UEFA/FIFA under EU Labour Law immediately. It will be another Bosman ruling type and FIFA/UEFA will lose. I don’t think it is winnable for UEFA unless an exemption is passed for football in the European parliament. Just will never happen.

It is interested to see as Jan pointed out that Liverpool started with more Spaniards than Real Madrid yesterday…Same with Arsenal. You take Theo Walcott out of that lineup, how many English players are left?

6+5, yeah right. Will never pass the legal challenges.

]]> By: Carlos http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-163575 Carlos Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:13:53 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html#comment-163575 Watched the whole game (whilst flicking to Chelsea game too) but really it was like Ajax of 95 demolishing Bayern. Pool could have had 5-6 goals in if it wasn't for Iker. Kuyt (that name again) was very good, Babel even better, but the whole team looked like they wanted to win more. Saw so many stray passes from Gago and Diarra ??? Wesley at least sprung a few surprises. Sorry but it was a VERY poor show and altho I advocated very much that Diarra was a better choice, Unfortunately lastnight they needed Klaas not Lass. No one gave Robben a decent ball ? Watched the whole game (whilst flicking to Chelsea game too) but really it was like Ajax of 95 demolishing Bayern. Pool could have had 5-6 goals in if it wasn’t for Iker. Kuyt (that name again) was very good, Babel even better, but the whole team looked like they wanted to win more. Saw so many stray passes from Gago and Diarra ??? Wesley at least sprung a few surprises. Sorry but it was a VERY poor show and altho I advocated very much that Diarra was a better choice, Unfortunately lastnight they needed Klaas not Lass. No one gave Robben a decent ball ?

]]> By: Jan http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html/comment-page-1#comment-163573 Jan Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:07:39 +0000 http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org/1/cl-action.html#comment-163573 Liverpool on the other hand, is a team and a fighting footballing machine. Every players knows what the other player does. The running lines of Torres, Kuyt, Babel, Gerrard. It's so well oiled. Too bad Benitez doesn't play like this all the time! Why not? Mascherano was priceless and the center backs outstanding! If Liverpool can keep this up, they're a fave for the title. My Top 4 teams: Chelsea, Liverpool, Barca and Bayern... Bayern vs Barca would be a tremendous fixture to watch.... Liverpool on the other hand, is a team and a fighting footballing machine. Every players knows what the other player does. The running lines of Torres, Kuyt, Babel, Gerrard. It’s so well oiled. Too bad Benitez doesn’t play like this all the time! Why not? Mascherano was priceless and the center backs outstanding!

If Liverpool can keep this up, they’re a fave for the title.

My Top 4 teams: Chelsea, Liverpool, Barca and Bayern…

Bayern vs Barca would be a tremendous fixture to watch….

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