2007/2008 Premiership Footy Thread

meanwhile...

Sir Alex Ferguson has delivered a defiant response to suggestions his Manchester United side are faltering in their bid to complete a Premier League and Champions League double.

Ferguson's men face Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal at Old Trafford on Tuesday just three days after suffering a controversial Premier League loss to second-placed Chelsea.

That 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge — marked by a disputed penalty decision that gave Chelsea their winner — means English champions United head the league on goal difference and must win their two remaining games to be sure of retaining the domestic title.

And having been held to a scoreless draw in a disappointing first leg clash in Spain, they must now beat Barcelona to reach the final of Europe's premier club competition for the first time since they won it in 1999.

United's task will not be helped by the ongoing doubts over the fitness of striker Wayne Rooney and influential centre-back Nemanja Vidic, both of whom were given only a 50/50 chance of starting by Ferguson.

The manager, however, rejected on Monday claims the demands of a long campaign are beginning to tell on his side at a crucial stage of the season.

"I'm not concerned the season is beginning to affect the team," he told a news conference.

"I think we should be sitting here as champions of the league. I think decisions have gone against us, bad decisions have gone against us.

"But here we are sitting here at this very moment, it doesn't matter about the decisions in the past. When we started out in the league in August, it was to win the league. We signed up to play 38 league matches, and we are going to play 38 league matches.

"And if it means we have to win the last two games to win the league, then so be it," the Scot added.

"Where we are now is, with two games left - it doesn't matter if we've had 50 penalty kicks turned down, or 50 given to us, or terrible performances, or great performances - we are sitting here now with two games left.

"A semifinal tomorrow, a home game on Saturday and a game against Wigan away. Disaster!" commented Ferguson sarcastically.

Ferguson was criticised at the weekend for his decision to rest key players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, at Chelsea and a bad day was made worse when it emerged some of his squad had been involved in an altercation with the London club's ground staff as they warmed down after the game.

The manager confirmed United would send a report to the Football Association (FA) about the incident while raising the question of why the Chelsea groundsman was so keen to clear the pitch.

But he insisted events at Stamford Bridge would only help motivate his team ahead of the Barcelona clash.

"We are filing a report and it will be sent to the FA and we're very happy with that," Ferguson added. "We are delighted with that. We hope the FA investigates it.

"There's just one question I want to put if we're talking about Saturday. Why were the lawnmowers on after the match to cut the grass. Are you not supposed to cut it before the game? There's a good question for you."

He added: "Saturday can only help us, no question about that. Playing Wednesday night after a lunchtime kick-off there is no way I could have played the same teams; so I had to decide where I could get the best freshness and give my team the best chance of a European final because that is the best incentive for any player.

"Time and time again I said this club should have had more success in Europe (United's 1999 triumph was only the second time they'd won the European Cup after they became the first English club to lift the trophy in 1968) and I wanted to give them the very best chance and it was a very easy team to pick on Saturday," said Ferguson.

"We are disappointed in the manner in which we lost (at Chelsea). That is normal but with the incentive of a big game you put that behind you quickly and the intensity of the training session reflected that."
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www.iafrica.com

:)
 
Goals flowing in now. So is the drink judging be some of the celebrations :o
 
How did Derby even get two? :)

Not a great game, but it was nice that a few "2nd" team players got a run.
 
hj2k_x said:
I am not hating on AG. I don't think he is a good manager but I am not hating on him. I hate the negative style of Chelsea's play. And it's not like this is new to this season.

I remember when they won the league, winning so many games 1-0. Awful :(
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Yeah they did win a lot of 1-0's but on end of season it avgd out to about 3-0 if you took all the goals into account and hey you knew even at 1-0 up we werent going to concede - now i never knoew we are bloody daft in defense atm - been baying for avrams blood from day 1 so im happy if he get ousted.

J
 
killadoob said:
no rubbish guys chelsea have had supporters since united started in 1905

i read it in wiki, see im so clever :)
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heh poke fun at knowledge you didnt have - you are just making mankers look more and more daft - an artform in itself - this is akin to pissing in the wind - pointless - its called a debate not a blinkered im going to bash you over the head with a bible and try and belittle you campaing. Enjoy im not going to bother pissing in this wind much longer - only your opinion is valid - wonder why tons of people are leaving the forum.

J
 
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jsheed learn to take a joke man

tons of ppl are leaving the forum i think cause catch calls them losers and tunes them blind

plus alot of ppl who leave have no sense of humour and cannot handle forum banter :)

woooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooooo

only a few more hours to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Sorry I was moody and pissed after I had too many emos telling me how tough life was - just got annoyed :P

J

killadoob said:
jsheed learn to take a joke man

tons of ppl are leaving the forum i think cause catch calls them losers and tunes them blind

plus alot of ppl who leave have no sense of humour and cannot handle forum banter :)

woooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooooo

only a few more hours to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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haha no probs jsheed :)

i also have a bad habit of rubbin ppl up the wrong way

my friends are still amazed no one has ever beaten me up
 
killadoob said:
haha no probs jsheed :)

i also have a bad habit of rubbin ppl up the wrong way

my friends are still amazed no one has ever beaten me up
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Hahah i get exactly the same from mine - at the utd match i got a group of united guys asking me if i had a death wish and wanted to go outside - well i was on the table shouting go my blues and stuff :P - anyhow the big african chelsea supporters behind me thought otherwise but i almost got the ****e clogged out of me - never seems to happen tho I balance on the edge.

J
 
.geek said:
How did Derby even get two? :)

Not a great game, but it was nice that a few "2nd" team players got a run.
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I'm gonna say it out loud.... it's cos Arsenal players get lazy and start playing cat and mouse with the opposition... then they come back to bite. It's like SA cricket at times... just wish they would get more pro and take every game seriously... just my 5c rant... still love and support them tho. It was one entertaining game that one.

I get the distinct feeling there are two camps in the side now... but the side is mostly young, and I like that... no primadonnas yet... unlike chelsea with drogba and manchester with ronaldo.
 
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When Newcastle beat Chelsea this weekend and Man United beat West Ham and Arsenal beat whoever they're playing, Arsenal could be 2nd on the log and Chelsea 3rd.
 
newcastle beat chelsea?

eish cannot see that happening

chelsea will win their remaining fixtures, can united do the same though?
 
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