Champions League 2008/2009

[GhostOfDixie]

THE SAME PLAYER SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT OFF AND A PENALTY GIVEN IN THE FIRST HALF

Sorry for the size, but its the third time now.

Cant believe the response to the match. We might not like Drogba or Chelsea but Chelsea should of had three penalties. The ref was a joke, no excuses. End of story.

The one where he apparently pulled Drogba's shirt?

 

[steevie]

The best team was the team that won the tie mate. You can't beat class, and you can't give a team like Barca that much time. The goal was coming and I wasn't surprised when it came.

I don't think the pens were as clear cut as Chelsea made out, but you also have to notice that Abidal was sent off for doing nothing.

Also if Drogba had shown more composure then game is won. He didn't they lost and while he is kicking off, he needs to look at his own performance as a goalscorer. Not as a cheating diver.

The best team did not win the tie in reflection. Barca huffed and puffed at the Nou Camp in a game not littered with controversy gainst a resolute Chelsea defence determined not to concede. At the Bridge, Chelsea should have had at least two nailed on penalies but once again, UEFA fail miserably in employing a dreadful official in a game of high importance. Saying that, Chelsea should have made the extra man count despite the dismissal being harsh.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

I say the goal was coming because Barca had great possession, they are Barca who are without a doubt the best club in the world at the moment. I was proven right because they did score and they did win the tie.

I don't think the first one was a penalty because the foul started outside of the box.

The second one, was down to reputation I reckon. I don't think there was enough of a shirt being pulled to justify for Drogba to go down. That kind of shirt pulling goes on all the time on corners.

The third one, yes. Without a doubt. The first two not in my opinion.

Why should Abidal have been sent off.

First pen there was no foul outside the box in my opinion. It was clearly inside the box.

Second pen, again, blatant as they come. No argument. You cant use reputation as an excuse, it was a penalty.

Third pen, not as blatant as the second but definitely a pen.

Conclude? If the ref had made at least one correct decision - Chelsea would be in the final. As I keep saying, imagine it was Everton. We would all be fuming.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

The bes team did not win the tie in reflection. Barca huffed and puffed at the Nou Camp in a game not littered with controversy gainst a resolute Chelsea defence determined not to concede. At the Bridge, Chelsea should have had at least two nailed on penalies but once again, UEFA fail miserably in employing a dreadful official in a game of high importance. Saying that, Chelsea should have made the extra man count despite the dismissal being harsh.

The best attacking team won the tie.

 

[kenada_blue]

Can they really ban players in an FA Cup final for infractions during a CL contest? Different ruling bodies, no? Wouldn't they carry over a ban to next season's first CL contest for Chelsea since they've already qualified? Lame, I know, but that seems more likely.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Ballack and Drogba out for the FA final. And maybe there are rules that I'm just not aware of.

If someone could clear this up for me, that's be super sweet. Thx.

Uefa rule the champs league. FA run the FA Cup. They dont cross into each other I dont think. You get sent off in the Champs league, you still play in the Prem.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

First pen there was no foul outside the box in my opinion. It was clearly inside the box.

Second pen, again, blatant as they come. No argument. You cant use reputation as an excuse, it was a penalty.

Third pen, not as blatant as the second but definitely a pen.

Conclude? If the ref had made at least one correct decision - Chelsea would be in the final. As I keep saying, imagine it was Everton. We would all be fuming.

Ok, and imagine if it was Everton who had gone through tonight?

I think Chelsea are bitter because the lost the tie, but they didn't convert any chances. Drogba was guilty a couple of times.

 

[Neiler]

Im just concerned about how this effects Everton to be fair dont know if you guys saw the extended footage i did i think Drogba and Ballack will be banned for the cup final there really getting a vilified by the journos already. Nailed on banninging.

 

[kenada_blue]

First pen there was no foul outside the box in my opinion. It was clearly inside the box.

Second pen, again, blatant as they come. No argument. You cant use reputation as an excuse, it was a penalty.

Third pen, not as blatant as the second but definitely a pen.

Conclude? If the ref had made at least one correct decision - Chelsea would be in the final. As I keep saying, imagine it was Everton. We would all be fuming.

First. Outside IMO. Even the Chelsea players thought it was.
Second pen. Didnt think it was but they've been given.
3 - handball.

And 4th was another handball at the death.

But Chelsea were 1 up against 10 men and had plenty of chances...what else to they want? Oh yeah a peno.

 

[steevie]

The best attacking team won the tie.

The best attacking team that managed two shots in 97 minutes?

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Ok, and imagine if it was Everton who had gone through tonight?

I think Chelsea are bitter because the lost the tie, but they didn't convert any chances. Drogba was guilty a couple of times.

I would say we were incredibly lucky, as we was against Man Utd.

We'll have to agree to disagree, but for me, if the ref had given one of the three blatant pens (or even two if you give the ref the benefit of the doubt for the first), Chelsea would be in the final.

That, for any fan of any club, would be hard to take.

Imagine it though Ghost, FA Cup Final. Three blatant penalties not given to Everton and Chelsea score in the last minute. Would you defend the ref all put all the blame on say, Cahill for missing a good chance? No chance

 

[GrandOldTeam]

The best attacking team that managed two shots in 97 minutes?

Exactly. Chelsea had the better of the chances today.

And lets not forget, defending is part of the game too. We all laughted at Benitez when he criticised us for defending.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

The best attacking team that managed two shots in 97 minutes?

They won the game. Arsenal won the title doing that. We got 4th place in the league by doing that. Mohammed Ali beat George Foreman by doing that.

I am basically saying Barca are the best attacking team. They had poor crosses from Alves, but they proved that they are the better side by winning the game in the 92nd minute.

 

[bluebloodinmyveins]

The best attacking team that managed two shots in 97 minutes?

They did not deserve to go through on tonight's performance. Chelsea were denied 2 obvious penalties. Barca looked really ordinary. which is strange on what they've achieved before this game, both in their own league and in this competition.

 

[kenada_blue]

The best attacking team that managed two shots in 97 minutes?

Chelsea did have 10 men behind the ball at all times though.

I said before and I say it again, Barca should've jibbed off the [Poor language removed] footing around and just had shots from everywhere. Their crossing was awful, Alves made Hibbert looked like the best right back in the world. And what did Chelsea do? Defend, route one, got a sly goal - should've had more.

Barca saw an opening and scored. They havent scored 100 league goals this season for nothing.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

I would say we were incredibly lucky, as we was against Man Utd.

We'll have to agree to disagree, but for me, if the ref had given one of the three blatant pens (or even two if you give the ref the benefit of the doubt for the first), Chelsea would be in the final.

That, for any fan of any club, would be hard to take.

Imagine it though Ghost, FA Cup Final. Three blatant penalties not given to Everton and Chelsea score in the last minute. Would you defend the ref all put all the blame on say, Cahill for missing a good chance? No chance

I would rather give my opinions on what I saw and not speculate on what if's.

Chelsea should have had a penalty yes. But then they have lost the tie because they didn't take a couple of easy chances by Drogba and Anelka, and because they failed to defend solidly for the whole game.

It's that simple.

I feel sorry for Chelsea but I think Barca deserve to win this trophy because they have the better side.