I'm an Arsenal fan so of course I'm sad that Chelsea won, however this picture almost makes it worthwhile. It actually made me smile.



I'm sure Merkel likes football as much as Cameron does and they're just showing fake emotions for the electorate but it's still funny. Along with Hollande being clearly bored. The guy sat in front of Obama looks like he lost everything on a bet.

Also well played Obama, pretending to be interested in 'soccer'.

What the hell was Arsene doing there?

Bayern should have won that game. But, they didn't.

The only thing that would have made that game better was if the crowd sneaked the team out of the stadium so the Resistance could deliver them back to England.

I'm a Chelsea fan but, fark, even I feel bad for Schweinsteiger.

Chelsea fans threw celery - a long-time club tradition

Lyrics to accompanying song strangely absent.

Biff_Steel: Bayern should have won that game. But, they didn't.

Silly me, I still think that the team that scored the most is the team that should have won.

So, here we are and still haven't heard one word if Di Matteo will be retained despite wining both the FA Cup and the Champion's League.

this lucky biatch

/or alternatively, those lucky guys

Daniels: I'm a Chelsea fan but, fark, even I feel bad for Schweinsteiger.

I told my brother that they were going to have to take his shoelaces away and 5150 him.

IANAPSP, but goddamn I hate that stutter step penalty kick; you've played soccer your entire life, just bury it in the corner because no goalie can stop that.

Daniels: I'm a Chelsea fan but, fark, even I feel bad for Schweinsteiger.

Did Cech get a piece of that shot or was it a straight DOINK off the post?

TonnageVT: Slaxl: Also well played Obama, pretending to be interested in 'soccer'.

He's an admitted West Ham supporter. Link

Hah, didn't know that. Good for him. West Ham needs the fans.

Killer Cars: Did Cech get a piece of that shot or was it a straight DOINK off the post?

It's hard to tell, but if it was a fingertip it was the smallest of fingertips

TonnageVT: Killer Cars: Daniels: I'm a Chelsea fan but, fark, even I feel bad for Schweinsteiger.

Did Cech get a piece of that shot or was it a straight DOINK off the post?

I thought he got a fingertip to it that then donked the post.

I think if it were just a TAD bit more powerful of a strike, it would have bounced off the post and hit Cech's foot to go back in. It looked awfully close to hitting his foot as it was.

Mr_H: I think if it were just a TAD bit more powerful of a strike, it would have bounced off the post and hit Cech's foot to go back in.

Not claiming to have the greatest eyesight in the world, but even watching it live I thought I saw it graze Cech's fingertips, but Schweinsteiger definitely could've put more oomph into that shot.

Killer Cars: Daniels: I'm a Chelsea fan but, fark, even I feel bad for Schweinsteiger.

Did Cech get a piece of that shot or was it a straight DOINK off the post?

Got his hand on it.

Biff_Steel: Bayern should have won that game. But, they didn't.

By a lot...that game shouldn't have even been close.

/cool that keeper took one of the PK's...and made it.

TonnageVT: tuffsnake: Why the shiat can't Europe put the team names on the farking jersey? I can still remember sitting at a pub in Ireland and looking like a farking moron asking, "Who are the Arrnots?"

Rather the ads be on the jerseys and around the pitch than interrupting the match. Though, I must say, it can get a bit out of hand at times.

[www.soccershopusa.com image 430x430]

Well, you have to pay for the game somehow. I'm not sure what the other option really would be -- maybe Internet style ads on the side of the screen with the game in a window? Every game is on pay TV? It's not like baseball where you have very clear, very definite breaks in the game.

So what is a bigger deal in the U.K., this championship or the one that Manchester City won?

DrewCurtisJr: So what is a bigger deal in the U.K., this championship or the one that Manchester City won?

My opinion:

Champion's League > Winning the League > FA Cup > qualifying for Champion's League > minor trophies (Europa, Carling Cup, Community Shield) > avoiding relegation

meanmutton: Well, you have to pay for the game somehow. I'm not sure what the other option really would be -- maybe Internet style ads on the side of the screen with the game in a window? Every game is on pay TV? It's not like baseball where you have very clear, very definite breaks in the game.

I always expect them to like shrink the active screen on the HD stations and put a wrapper around it paid by someone. There has to be a way to work commercials in to a commercialless game without going batshiat like the NFL.

Daniels: meanmutton: Well, you have to pay for the game somehow. I'm not sure what the other option really would be -- maybe Internet style ads on the side of the screen with the game in a window? Every game is on pay TV? It's not like baseball where you have very clear, very definite breaks in the game.

I always expect them to like shrink the active screen on the HD stations and put a wrapper around it paid by someone. There has to be a way to work commercials in to a commercialless game without going batshiat like the NFL.

The only time I dislike the NFL commercials is that they take a break after a PAT then again after the kickoff. If they'd just pick one of those, I'd be fine with it.

NBA, to me, is the worst. They actually force the teams by rule to call a timeout in the middle of the game in order to go to commercials.

TonnageVT: I believe that the Champions League is always the bigger trophy to win. To be champions of Europe is a hell of a feat since you're going up against the best of the whole continent.

meanmutton: Champion's League > Winning the League > FA Cup > qualifying for Champion's League > minor trophies (Europa, Carling Cup, Community Shield) > avoiding relegation

Thanks.

TonnageVT: tuffsnake: Why the shiat can't Europe put the team names on the farking jersey? I can still remember sitting at a pub in Ireland and looking like a farking moron asking, "Who are the Arrnots?"

Rather the ads be on the jerseys and around the pitch than interrupting the match. Though, I must say, it can get a bit out of hand at times.

[www.soccershopusa.com image 430x430]

Yes, that is a bit much. On the other hand, a quick GIS has revealed that the Mexican Hoops have made up for their ad-coated kit by adding some wonderful imagery to the beautiful game.






/oh how i love a woman in green and white

Slaxl: TonnageVT: Slaxl: Also well played Obama, pretending to be interested in 'soccer'.

He's an admitted West Ham supporter. Link

Hah, didn't know that. Good for him. West Ham needs the fans.

Yes they do.

/West Ham fan

DrewCurtisJr: So what is a bigger deal in the U.K., this championship or the one that Manchester City won?

Depends what you mean by deal and how you measure the biggity of it.

Like Tonnage says, the league has always been a marathon - you're tested (twice) against all the other top teams around in your country. There is less luck/temporary form involved so over the course of a full 38 game season the best team invariably come out top. In that sense I think it's actually harder to win the PL than the CL (cf. Liverpool 2005 & Chelsea 2012: won CL, finished 5th in PL)

On the other hand there's more money and international prestige in the CL and you are competing with (but not playing against) all the best teams from every league in Europe which, due to their financial strength, are the best teams in the world. You don't face all the best teams due to the structure of the competition. When it gets to the knockout stages, any team can have an off day, be unlucky with injuries or have decisions go against them. They try to even that out by playing each tie other than the final over 2 legs, but it doesn't always mean the "best" team wins the tie.

meanmutton: DrewCurtisJr: So what is a bigger deal in the U.K., this championship or the one that Manchester City won?

My opinion:

Champion's League > Winning the League > FA Cup > qualifying for Champion's League > minor trophies (Europa, Carling Cup, Community Shield) > avoiding relegation

In Scotland European competition is much, much bigger. There's far more money and prestige involved as well as a substantially higher calibre of opposition. The league is important, but only as a contest between Rangers and Celtic to see who wins and who loses. The rest compete for third place with little realistic expectation of displacing either of the Old Firm.

This may, however, change next season as Rangers are doomed.

For Scotland, i would say Champions League>Europa League>SPL>Scottish Cup>League Cup>top half before the split>avoiding relegation.

I am VERY HAPPY!
/celery!
and Champagne!

meanmutton: DrewCurtisJr: So what is a bigger deal in the U.K., this championship or the one that Manchester City won?

My opinion:

Champion's League > Winning the League > FA Cup > qualifying for Champion's League > minor trophies (Europa, Carling Cup, Community Shield) > avoiding relegation

Your side's never been promoted, I take it.

/mine has, and only just achieved the latter this season

Celery, celery!

KJUW89: By a lot...that game shouldn't have even been close.

/cool that keeper took one of the PK's...and made it.


Bayern farked up their game against BVB that could have won them the title, with Robben missing a PK and a few tap ins just like how Bayern should have converted their chances and beat Chelsea by at least 2 goals.

Daniels: I'm a Chelsea fan but, fark, even I feel bad for Schweinsteiger.

As big of a Basti fanboy as I am, I feel even worse for Lamn. Both are players who really deserve an international trophy of some kind.

I think the loss might almost be what Bayern needed, as weird as that sounds. It'll put some fire in their bellies. We lost in 1999 in a crushing defeat, and went on to dominate the next year. Mark my words, Schweinsteiger and Lamn won't retire without a CL title.