CL Quarter finals coming up…

April 1st, 2008 | by: Jan |

It’s that time again. The Best of the Best are going to slug it out against each other. No AC Milan, Real Madrid, Ajax or Bayern Munich this time around, but Schalke O4, Fenerbahce and AS Roma.

The latter got a severe beating from Man United in the group stages last year. I believe it was 7-1 at Old Trafford. And although the Romans play sans Totti this first leg, I doubt that the Mancunians will be able to whip their Roman asses again. Despite the tremendous form Man United is in.
I secretly think Manchester United could be too cocky, what with the whole world drooling over their play… Never discount the Romans, I’d say…

Edwin van der Sar hopes to be back in goal to lead the defensive pack for Sir Alex in Rome tonight.

Schalke 04 is the dark horse tonight, playing football lovers’ fave Barcelona. The Germans normally don’t stand a chance against the Rijkaard managed team.

The next day, it’s brother murder: Liverpool vs Arsenal. The Reds from the Mersey-side – without Babel this time? – may have less quality on paper but their reputation as cupfighters will surely put some stress in Wenger’s mind. Anfield is the grounds for the first leg.

The final quarter-finals is Ten Cate’s Chelsea playing in Turkey against Fener. Chelsea doesn’t seem to have the form, but the draw last weekend might motivate Boring Chelsea to explode.

Great fixtures mean red eyes for yours truly. Meet you at the flip side…

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Comments

By goose | April 1st, 2008 at 4:01 am

GO Liverpool!!

Posted from Netherlands

By dirk v.d berg | April 1st, 2008 at 6:24 am

Do you guys think Ajax will ever be an Champion’s League contender again? Even though we always give up our best plyers, I figure if we get a whole bunch of talent to come up at once, and keep them thru the winter we can do it. Or just sign a bunch of old guys like Davids, who no one else will want to sign.

Van Basten must sign LITMANEN.

Posted from Canada

By goose | April 1st, 2008 at 7:01 am

@Dirk; no…. only prize dutch teams will be able to win is the Uefa Cup

Posted from Netherlands

By Caleb | April 1st, 2008 at 10:18 am

I’d not a big fan of Man U, but I’m hoping they can repeat their raping of Roma from last year. I hate Roma and I really enjoyed their embarrassment last year. Come on Man U!

By Igor | April 1st, 2008 at 10:47 am

Go Arsenal!! how can any dutch fan cheer for liverpool over arsenal when arsenal play as close to total football as anyone nowadays, has van persie who is better than babel and kuyt together (i say this eventhough i have a soft spot for kuyt), and has a tradition of having great dutch players like overmars, gio and BERGKAMP!

Posted from Canada

By Jan | April 1st, 2008 at 12:57 pm

Well, that’s the big question. If Ajax could have kept their best players, they could have had a team that looked like this:

Stekelenburg

Silva Heitinga Vermaelen Vertonghen

Sneijder Maduro Davids Vaart

Huntelaar Babel

With the right coach, this team could do well in the CL. But they stuffed up (Maduro, Vaart) or needed the cash (Sneijder, Babel). Now Heitinga and Huntelaar are leaving (Hunter is a rumor).

JC thinks it’s still possible. I am a bit more weary of it. We need to accept that we are merely a second-tier nation, who develop big talents for the big nations… If Sneijder gets the call from Madrid (even apart from all the euros) what do we expect him to do…

Posted from Australia

By goose | April 1st, 2008 at 1:16 pm

@Igor; dont know why but im not a fan of this Arsenal team….ofcourse is was during Bergkamps reign…and ofcourse i hope vPersie does well but theyre just not my team…and also i hope Kuijt will shine in the Champ.Leg. so that vBasten selects him for the EC

@Jan; it really isnt a big question cause the players go where the money is anyway..thats just the reality…we may have the odd semi like Psv had but expect it once every 5 years

but i say it again; having not the best home competition can be GREAT for your national team for all the obvious reasons!

Posted from Netherlands

By goose | April 1st, 2008 at 1:17 pm

btw; @Caleb; right!! hate Roma with a passion too!! lets hope for..hmmm.. 7-1??

Posted from Netherlands

By ferenc | April 1st, 2008 at 8:24 pm

i hate english teams except arsenal. but the most dutch team of all of them with its tradition,style and coach and obviously johan behind everything is barcelona (not in great form at the moment)

Posted from Hungary

By Caleb | April 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 am

Goose – well it wasn’t 7-1, but I’m still satisfied

I’m going for Arsenal today too. I love their style of football. Like Igor said, it’s as close to total football as anyone out there now, and I a big fan of Van Persie. My girlfriend is going for Liverpool though, so should be an interesting game to watch. Come on Gunners!

About Ajax – I think they should be able to do better than they are lately. Other countries outside the big 4 (England, Spain, Italy, Germany) have teams that regularly make it far in the CL, like France or even Turkey. Are those leagues much better than ours? Or is it just that our league is so well known for developing talent that the other leagues still our players much earlier than they do from those other leagues?

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