Football (Soccer)

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Based on what? When, besides the recent free kick, have we ever seen him score anything like Henry, Ronaldinho, Eto'o etc? He is known for running up and pelting the ball at goal, that is essentially hit and hope, as proven by the fact that some of them go screaming over. If he was aiming for goal with any kind of pre-planned precision this wouldn't happen as often as it does.

Im sure he aims for the goal... Just because he doesnt use the side of his foot doesnt mean he isnt making it accurate. Plus with the way the balls are designed now, you're more likely to get swerve and dip on the shot if you smack it.

It's fair enough you prefer Lampard over Gerrard, I dont agree, but can accept it... But I dont understand how you can say Gerrards shooting technique isnt good. Most of his long range efforts either nestle in the top or bottom corners, that wouldn't happen if it was just a hit and hope.

Roberto Carlos toepunts the ball, but he was hailed as one of the best strikers of the ball around for ages.

I didn't say Gerrard couldn't strike the ball well, I said he hits and hopes a lot. He can still hit and hope with power.

-AC

Champions League draw..

Group A:
LIVERPOOL
Porto
Marseille
Besiktas

Group B:
CHELSEA
Valencia
Schalke 04
Rosenborg

Group C:
REAL MADRID
Werder Bremen
Lazio
Olympiakos

Group D:
AC MILAN
Benfica
Celtic
Shakhtar Donetsk

Group E:
BARCELONA
Lyon
Stuttgart
Rangers

Group F:
MANCHESTER UNITED
Roma
Sporting Lisbon
Dynamo Kiev

Group G:
INTER MILAN
PSV Eindhoven
CSKA Moscow
Fenerbahce

Group H:
ARSENAL
Sevilla/AEK Athens
Steau Bucharest
Slavia Prague

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
I didn't say Gerrard couldn't strike the ball well, I said he hits and hopes a lot. He can still hit and hope with power.

-AC

Yea, he has lots of power... but theres definately accuracy in his strikes.

The draw has been kind to England, I can see all 4 teams qualifying as group leaders... Chelsea have the toughest group, but they'll grind out the results as usual I reckon.

It's been pretty darn cruel to Celtic and Rangers.

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom

If anyone can just continually have shots until they score, then everyone would do that.

But thats the big secret, hardly anyone does!
And those who do get lucky now and again.

But with Lampard I think its a good sense of positioning.

So Kaka´s got European footballer of the year.

Well deserved imo. Scored some excellent goals last season and proved very difficult to stop.

Kaka got it.. I missed that part of the ceremony.

Good, he is an amazing player who I have watched get better and better since he played in the world youth championships.

Originally posted by Bicnarok
But thats the big secret, hardly anyone does!
And those who do get lucky now and again.

That's because hardly anyone is able to have many shots. You can't just decide you will.

Originally posted by Df02

The draw has been kind to England, I can see all 4 teams qualifying as group leaders... Chelsea have the toughest group, but they'll grind out the results as usual I reckon.

I think Liverpool have the trickier group.

Nightmare for Rangers supporters (I aint one), Barca, Stutgart and my fav Euro team....LYON!

My girlfriend and best mate are Rangers so it was nice to wind them up. Great for the club though, and also Scottish Football.

Celtic won't qualify for thelast 16 either I dont think, Benefica will triumph this time round. Also after seeing celtic conceed a goal at Celtic Park on Wednesday...it aint no fortress no more.

Rangers and Celtic are crap anyway, playing in such a week league doesn´t help. They may win the odd game but will go out early.

As for Chelsea, I can´t see them having any problems getting through.

Originally posted by Df02
The draw has been kind to England, I can see all 4 teams qualifying as group leaders... Chelsea have the toughest group, but they'll grind out the results as usual I reckon.

All four should win their groups, IMO, although Man United's could prove tricky.

Going back on my original predictions for this season, I think this year could be Chelsea's for the Champions League. Man United's squad isn't big enough to challenge for the CL as well as the league this season, I think. Liverpool though, they have a b-team that would (on paper) finish top of most European leagues quite easily, there is no doubt in my mind that they will win at least one trophy this year, CL being one of the possibilities. Any side that can afford to restrict the use of the likes of Yossi Benayoun to mere preliminary games is one to be feared.

I was thinking a team that signed him wasn't one to be feared.

He's quite good though.

Diarra went to Arsenal. Very good signing, but it won't show just yet, while Gilberto is playing a lot.

Arsenal needed a winger the most, not another defensive midfielder, i cant believe they didn't sign any wingers. Arsenals squad is thin except in central midfield, not to mention they have allot of injury prone players. I am disappointed with the transfer window(except for Sagna, he looks class), i cant see this squad challenging for the title, as the season progresses, they will ran out of steam. But i hope i am wrong, God i hope i am wrong.

Originally posted by Count Makashi
Arsenal needed a winger the most, not another defensive midfielder, i cant believe they didn't sign any wingers. Arsenals squad is thin except in central midfield, not to mention they have allot of injury prone players. I am disappointed with the transfer window(except for Sagna, he looks class), i cant see this squad challenging for the title, as the season progresses, they will ran out of steam. But i hope i am wrong, God i hope i am wrong.

Well, I don't buy all that winger business. It would only be as a back-up for Hleb or Rosicky (who are both scoring at the moment). Arsenal never played with proper wingers under Wenger anyway; it's just a bit of a bandwagon that's started up.

Diarra is a very good buy, because if you now take him out, who is behind Gilberto? Flamini, Diaby and Denilson aren't DMs; Song isn't all that; Djourou is primarily a CB. Add to that the fact that Diarra is 22, and Gilberto is almost 31. By the time Diarra is essential he won't be so easily available, if at all. He has been widely regarded as the heir to Makelele.

In any case, as you said, the Sagna buy is now looking excellent. Arsenal already had two RBs, so a buy that strengthens a seemingly strong position can turn out to be surprisingly necessary. Wenger knows more than us regarding what Arsenal need.

(Unlike Jol and Spurs*)

*This is probably true.

I don´t remember Arsenal playing with wingers or offensive left/right backs since Wenger was there. They have their own style which is very effective in most cases. I think they will do well.

Liverpool will do Very well imo.

Ljungberg, Pires and Reyes were wingers and played very regularly under Wenger, especially the first 2.

If Liverpool do well, it'll be the first time in a millenia.

They're always tipped to "do well", never do.

-AC

They actually appear able to score goals, and lots of them now though. You can hardly blame people for tipping them to do well this season, with the squad they have.

Originally posted by Df02
Ljungberg, Pires and Reyes were wingers and played very regularly under Wenger, especially the first 2.

Ljungberg, Reyes and Pires were only wingers by default. They didn't run down the wing and cross balls in, which is the 'deficiency' that people want cured. All Arsenal's wide men- those three, Rosicky, Hleb, Overmars, etc- have cut inside towards goal.

Arsenal have always played with wide men cutting in, holding midfielder[s] dropping back while the wingbacks fly down the flanks.

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
If Liverpool do well, it'll be the first time in a millenia.

They're always tipped to "do well", never do.

-AC

You seem to absolutely detest Liverpool. Or, maybe just the suggestion that they'll do well. What team do you support? Please tell me it's Charlton, or the like.