Bloody Football!

[Stavros]

Does anyone think the Chelsea-Manchester United game was a thrilling mixture of football and farce? Is the real issue player surrounding a referee and trying to intimidate him into reversing or giving a card? In how many sports are the players allowed to surround a referee as if they were about to lynch him? Although I would be surprised if Clattenburg used bad language as is claimed (and Chelsea players have had to publicly retract allegations about referees before now) if he did then he must go. But the real issues must be the way that players dive, or cheat or deliberately try to provoke bad behaviour from an opponent to get them a card, and the combination of lack of respect for the match officials and their occasinally bizarre decisions. It might make for a lively match, but if it isn't fair, it can spoil the enjoyment of the game.

And to think we have to go through it all again tonight! Surely its time to drop this pointless competition, why are there two cup competitions for this country? Enough!

[GroobySteven]

Does anyone think the Chelsea-Manchester United game was a thrilling mixture of football and farce? Is the real issue player surrounding a referee and trying to intimidate him into reversing or giving a card? In how many sports are the players allowed to surround a referee as if they were about to lynch him? Although I would be surprised if Clattenburg used bad language as is claimed (and Chelsea players have had to publicly retract allegations about referees before now) if he did then he must go. But the real issues must be the way that players dive, or cheat or deliberately try to provoke bad behaviour from an opponent to get them a card, and the combination of lack of respect for the match officials and their occasinally bizarre decisions. It might make for a lively match, but if it isn't fair, it can spoil the enjoyment of the game.

And to think we have to go through it all again tonight! Surely its time to drop this pointless competition, why are there two cup competitions for this country? Enough!

I'm fucking tired of Chelsea. It was a good game, Man Utd looked dominant for 25 mins but Torres diving (again) deserved a red card. I think the allegations against Clattenburg will be false and if that's found out to be the truth then the players making them should get an extensive ban and the club fined. Lying, cheating and intimidation starts at the top with this club and when you've an owner whose made his money through those methods, it's natural it spills down.

[robertlouis]

Changing tack a bit. Champions League. All the British clubs have so far been, well, a bit pants, haven't they? Celtic have an excuse as they don't have any money - and they were within a minute of holding Barca to a draw away - but Man U, despite having max points so far have looked very shaky and unconvincing, and the other three have just been shite.

Best league in the world? Hollow laughter.....

[SammiValentine]

The Champions League needs Liverpool Bah.

I think the current premier league is actually more competitive right now, compared to the big four era (which was 04/05- 08/09, which is the period when english clubs "dominated" the champions league, note I say dominate in a sarcastic tone as its a long way off the late 70's early 80s when that was real english dominiation) however I do think that the overall quality of the premier league has dropped, the imports since 09/10 have not matched the exports, and I include Managers in this equation. The change of the big 4 has weakened the "premier leagues" performances or results in Europe as the new teams have not stepped up to the mantle, Liverpool was big hitters most seasons under rafa in europe.

To me its no suprise the results in champs league, not since Messi run rings Man Utd at wembley in May 2009. The only real surprise for me was Chelsea managing to win it last year, and we all remember that amazing sporting spectacle. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Re Celtic, punching above their weight in champs league, well done to them, I tip my hat. Now I can watch them put everyone behind the ball and hang on for dear life all day long v Bacelona, but a team such as chelsea and how they have changed the game with Roman, hahaha. SMH as they say.

[SammiValentine]

Does anyone think the Chelsea-Manchester United game was a thrilling mixture of football and farce? Is the real issue player surrounding a referee and trying to intimidate him into reversing or giving a card? In how many sports are the players allowed to surround a referee as if they were about to lynch him? Although I would be surprised if Clattenburg used bad language as is claimed (and Chelsea players have had to publicly retract allegations about referees before now) if he did then he must go. But the real issues must be the way that players dive, or cheat or deliberately try to provoke bad behaviour from an opponent to get them a card, and the combination of lack of respect for the match officials and their occasinally bizarre decisions. It might make for a lively match, but if it isn't fair, it can spoil the enjoyment of the game.

And to think we have to go through it all again tonight! Surely its time to drop this pointless competition, why are there two cup competitions for this country? Enough!

Nothing wrong with two cup competitions. A lot of clubs outside of the premier league are very grateful for this extra source of income. Worthwhile IMO.

[robertlouis]

The Champions League needs Liverpool Bah.

I think the current premier league is actually more competitive right now, compared to the big four era (which was 04/05- 08/09, which is the period when english clubs "dominated" the champions league, note I say dominate in a sarcastic tone as its a long way off the late 70's early 80s when that was real english dominiation) however I do think that the overall quality of the premier league has dropped, the imports since 09/10 have not matched the exports, and I include Managers in this equation. The change of the big 4 has weakened the "premier leagues" performances or results in Europe as the new teams have not stepped up to the mantle, Liverpool was big hitters most seasons under rafa in europe.

To me its no suprise the results in champs league, not since Messi run rings Man Utd at wembley in May 2009. The only real surprise for me was Chelsea managing to win it last year, and we all remember that amazing sporting spectacle. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Re Celtic, punching above their weight in champs league, well done to them, I tip my hat. Now I can watch them put everyone behind the ball and hang on for dear life all day long v Bacelona, but a team such as chelsea and how they have changed the game with Roman, hahaha. SMH as they say.

I agree entirely with your comments on the EPL, although it's less about the rest upping their quality and more about the frailties, mostly defensive, of the Big 4 - and if Liverpool get some striking power to match their overall play, their challenge after Christmas could be interesting.

And the last decent Champions League Final was Milan v Liverpool in 2005 - which I watched over an iffy internet connection in Tokyo!

Any chance that Rafa might take the Scotland job?

[SammiValentine]

I agree entirely with your comments on the EPL, although it's less about the rest upping their quality and more about the frailties, mostly defensive, of the Big 4 - and if Liverpool get some striking power to match their overall play, their challenge after Christmas could be interesting.

And the last decent Champions League Final was Milan v Liverpool in 2005 - which I watched over an iffy internet connection in Tokyo!

Any chance that Rafa might take the Scotland job?

I dont know, the premier league has lost Ronaldo, Fabregas, Alonso, many others - have they really replaced them? You could argue current stars at chelsea and man city do rival such names, your Agueros, Silvas, Hazards etc but even so theyre not under the same influential management, Mouriniho, Rafa.. who has replaced them? Mancini, Di Matteo...? Ouch.

As I say Man City have attracted quality players with unlimited money but still not gelled as a side, the fact that the champions are not really what I would class a "team" are what I base my expectations of prem clubs doing in the champions league, and that is very little. As i said chelsea was a shock last year, hopefully not repeated

[Stavros]

Nothing wrong with two cup competitions. A lot of clubs outside of the premier league are very grateful for this extra source of income. Worthwhile IMO.

Then leave it the clubs outside the Premier League, I think its possibly unfair on clubs that don't have squads as large as the major Premier League Clubs, unless they play two different teams for the two different tournaments; and anyway, the FA Cup is not as exciting as it once was.

I am no fan of Manchester City, but I thought they were hard done by last night. The oddest thing of all is that Roberto Mancini reminds me of an Italian woman I used to know (and like rather a lot) and no, its not his hair..

[robertlouis]

What a fantastic result for Celtic! If the ref had had the courage, Mascherano would have been sent off, young Watt would have scored again and Barca would have been down to ten men, 3-0 or 3-1 the final score. A fervent Glasgow crowd, Parkhead or Ibrox, is truly the twelfth man.

The Barca boss remarked before the game that when they'd won he would play a youth team in the final two games. Tosser.

[rodinuk]

Now possibly his final two games