World Cup and European leagues

[Hoosier Titan]

I watched this game this evening..........all 3 Liverpool goals should have been stopped, quite an escape from Portsmouth and quite a Liverpool crowd on hand.
Torres' header to win was equally as good as the one he had vs Chelsea.  Such power.

It was very similar.  The Fabio Aurelio free kick was unfortunate, in a way.  Crouch's sloppy back pass caused David James to have to handle it, setting up the point-blank shot.  I have no idea how that Kuyt goal went in. 

Anybody else as stunned by Scolari's sacking as I am?  Yes, Chelsea were looking poor, but no one--players or managers--is getting a chance to find his way.

[sac]

Anybody else as stunned by Scolari's sacking as I am?  Yes, Chelsea were looking poor, but no one--players or managers--is getting a chance to find his way.

Yes, I can only assume something else was going on behind closed doors. 



The free kick by Aurelio was the first time I've seen one that close.  I couldn't believe they scored there.  I think it was inside the penalty spot wasn't it?  It was  a cool goal to see but might poor defense.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Anybody else as stunned by Scolari's sacking as I am? 

Whew!  I nearly had a heart attack before I remembered which board I was on and re-read the name.  I thought Titan Hoosier had said that Solari had been sacked!

[Apologies to those who don't follow women's hoops.]

[Hoosier Titan]

Anybody else as stunned by Scolari's sacking as I am? 

Whew!  I nearly had a heart attack before I remembered which board I was on and re-read the name.  I thought Titan Hoosier had said that Solari had been sacked!

[Apologies to those who don't follow women's hoops.]

LOL!! Sorry, Mr. Ypsi!  Absolutely NO chance of that.  I didn't even think about the names being similar before.  Fans would probably chip in to pay for another year's tuition for Solari if she wanted to use her four years of eligibility. 

And now, back to your regular programming.

[ScotsFan]

The free kick by Aurelio was the first time I've seen one that close.  I couldn't believe they scored there.  I think it was inside the penalty spot wasn't it?  It was  a cool goal to see but might poor defense.

Villa had one inside the box a couple of weeks ago against Wigan and I still am amazed that Wigan was able to keep Villa from scoring.

[Hoosier Titan]

At the time, I thought the free kick might actually be too close--the wall was looming large.  In the Liverpool goal, the defender on the upright moved away slightly and the ball somehow squeezed through.

[Jim Matson]

H-Titan,  LF is Larry Fitzgerald.

US-Mexico match is a good one.  Should be 2-0 though...

[Browneagle64]

2-o it was indeed. Its always great to see National team players try to rise to the occasion on the World Cup qualifiers. Hats off to young Bradley (Papa bradley sure was licking his chops just watching his son first connect with Donovan shot and of course that head bunt of a goal.) Great second half by team USA and of course great 1st half by El Tri (yes i had to through that in or Old papa brown would have choked me. lol)

[Hoosier Titan]

Okay, now I'm on board.  Another 2 points lost for Liverpool.  Liverpool 1-Man City 1

Thank goodness for basketball!

[ScotsFan]

Okay, now I'm on board.  Another 2 points lost for Liverpool.  Liverpool 1-Man City 1

Thank goodness for basketball!

Yeah.  With ManU now 7 points clear at the top of the tables, I think Rafa would be wise to turn his focus now squarely on the Champs League.  After all, he has had a lot of success with Liverpool over the years in the Champs League.

Speaking of the Champs League, ManU and Inter played to a scoreless draw in a battle of League leaders yesterday.  The match was in Milan at the San Siro.  The tie will move to Old Trafford next week to see who advances to the final 8! 

Other scores saw Arsenal win at the Emirates over Roma 1-0.  Porto scored two away goals in at 2-2 draw at Atletico Madrid.  And Barca drew with Lyon 1-1 in Lyon.

The other two Prem League teams remaining in the draw see Liverpool taking on Real Madrid in Spain today and Chelsea, with their sudden newfound confidence, taking on Juve at the Bridge.

[sac]

Okay, now I'm on board.  Another 2 points lost for Liverpool.  Liverpool 1-Man City 1

Thank goodness for basketball!

I watched the game last night, Liverpool is ordinary without Gerrard and they missed Alonso as well.  The difference between Man U and Liverpool right now is ManU can loose Rooney and keep winning, Liverpool lose Gerrard and they just aren't that good.  They get a game with ManU in a couple weeks, that could either seal the deal or make things interesting, but its a must win.

On the other end, though credit has to go to ManCity, I thought they played well at both ends.


I think Liverpool are just hoping to survive Real Madrid today and hope whatever deficit isn't too much to overcome.  A draw without a goal might be perfect.

[sac]

Okay, now I'm on board.  Another 2 points lost for Liverpool.  Liverpool 1-Man City 1

Thank goodness for basketball!

I watched the game last night, Liverpool is ordinary without Gerrard and they missed Alonso as well.  The difference between Man U and Liverpool right now is ManU can loose Rooney and keep winning, Liverpool lose Gerrard and they just aren't that good.  They get a game with ManU in a couple weeks, that could either seal the deal or make things interesting, but its a must win.

On the other end, though credit has to go to ManCity, I thought they played well at both ends.


I think Liverpool are just hoping to survive Real Madrid today and hope whatever deficit isn't too much to overcome.  A draw without a goal might be perfect.

How about one better........Liverpool 1 Real Madrid 0  with the away goal.  Thats the best scenario out there.

[Hoosier Titan]

Woo-hoo!!  Thanks for the good news! 

The bad news--twisted ankle for Torres.  Hopefully it's nothing worse.

[ScotsFan]

How about one better........Liverpool 1 Real Madrid 0  with the away goal.  Thats the best scenario out there.

Looks like Rafa bought himself some time with this great result for the Reds!  Looks as though Liverpool should be on cruise control as they make their way to the round of 8!

Sometimes I can't grasp how Rafa can't duplicate his success in the Champs League to a Premiership title?!   

[sac]

Sometimes I can't grasp how Rafa can't duplicate his success in the Champs League to a Premiership title?!   

I'm certainly far from a soccer expert, but I think the English game is much more offensive orriented than the European game.  Perhaps the defensive philosphy is put to a harsher test on a more regular basis in league play. 

I also don't think Liverpool has had the same depth that ManU/Chelsea/Arsenal have had the years I've watched the league.  They've definitly put their eggs in the  Champions League basket when they needed to vs the league.



Here's another theory..........draws are good in the Champions league, but not in the EPL.  In two Weeks Liverpool will be looking for and playing for any kind of draw with Real Madrid, it sends them through to the next round.  Perhaps those tactics are perfect for such occasions, but in the EPL you lose 2 points and preumeably ground in the standings.