Intriguing game to follow, that's for sure. If i was a gambler my fiver would be on Barca. If there are goals in the second leg, Chelsea have to win, Barca go through with only a draw!

There will be.
It has the classic set up for the home team to be going for the win, getting caught on the counter attack and losing out on the away goal.

But this is Barcelona. They don't play on the break. Chelsea will press them like they've not been pressed before. I think they'll crumble.

Unless they manage to score early and panic Chelsea into taking chances when they don't have to.

What are you doing over here on the Canada bit? Bored with tres and Andi?

But welcome, and I agree with you.

i agree it will be close, i just think seeing barca at bayern they are the 'home' side to beat, i think chelsea will do them at home, more of a considered game than against liverpool though, think he will go with dogbreath on his own up front for at least 70 mins, then bring on anelka and switch formation if they have not nicked one.

Cheers novo. Football is my game, ever since I followed blackburn to places like Rochdale, Bury, Halifax etc in the bad old days of the 70's. But no footie threads in PT or France.

I reckon a Manyoo - Barca final

A nice win for Arsenal's semi-reserve team, against the Arsenal retirement home of Portsmouth. Only 3 players from the Man U CL game started, Theo Walcott, Bacary Sagna and Alex Song (who played as a defender).

3-0, and 4th place is safe as none of the teams below us can catch us. Niklas Bendtner, Carlos Vela and Aaron Ramsey were outstanding today.

Is 4th really something to be that proud of - or is it relief I sense in that post?!

Personally I'm hoping for a repeat of the 2006 final, finishing the other way this time of course... But I agree with Ewood, I don't think Chelski will make it past the Spaniards.

Considering it was all doom and gloom early this year I'm relieved to have secured 4th and a Champions League spot again.

After Barca's battering of Real this weekend I have high hopes they'll stuff Chelski

It's going to be interesting once Man City's new found wealth kick's in, one of the current 'top' 4 (or thieves as I call them) will miss out, which could mean another administration coming up.

Only Chelski has the financial backing to 'miss out' on the pudding for more than a season. I'm hoping above hope it's ManUre, who after ripping off all creditors end up with a bit of a Leeds 2007 future.

Abu Dhabi Citeh's wealth will only really help if they qualify for Europe, without the lure of European football they will find it hard to recruit the very best.

And Arsenal could cope without Champions League football for a season, the club is run on a sound financial footing and unlike Man USA and the Liverpool Reds the owners didn't rack up huge debts to buy the clubs.

Why do I find this discussion increasingly academic?

C'mon Villa, fercrissake don't let 'Ull away with a point this afternoon or we're well and truly stuffed.

I maybe changing jobs soon, which bizarrely enough would see me popping over to Cleveland for a few months at the end of the year...

Could be I get to go and watch Newcastle v Swansea !!!


Rather Newcastle v Liverpool mind and maybe Middlesbrough v Swansea.


Hull have to lose all their remaining matches for Newcastle to have much of a chance, the game next week is one of the old 6 pointers for sure but they are relying on Hull to continue what they are best at (recently in any case).

Middlesbrough and Fulham are must must wins!

Yup. Villa 1-0 Hull after 40 minutes. Howay, Villa!

great quote on 606

"I don't think I've ever seen five teams so desperate to be relegated. Only three of them can go down but all five of them seem to have given up already!"

Sounds about right..

According to Caroline Cheese (running the live text on beeb.com), Hull have lost 1-0.