The midweek/weekend games thread

[braineclipse]

Didn't realise how good Lavezzi was until tonight. I knew Cavani was a great player, but Lavezzi was a constant threat.

Easily the best game I've ever seen him play (probably seen him 4-5 games before), not counting the goals. Like you say a constant threat and actually looked quite creative and clever. Every time I've seen him before he's looked more like Walcott, just quick and that was it.

Cavani just looks better each time I see him. Didn't work for him in the World Cup, but he was played as a winger most of the time and he's just not a winger. Top top player...

 

[Yossarian]

I agree, really annoying commentary. I think he even said that this was the first time he had seen some of the Napoli players and he seemed to know very little about how they play. They played similarly to how they played against Emirates Marketing Project and like against Emirates Marketing Project they allowed Chelsea quite a lot of possession, but defended well and looked a constant threat on the break. Despite all their possession Chelsea didn't really create many good chances, their goal was just a defensive mistake/poor pitch while Napoli did create some pretty good chances.

Yet Neville was going on and on about how poor Napoli were defensively and how unlucky Chelsea were to not score more goals.

He actually said that Napoli didn't deserve to win by 2!

 

[braineclipse]

He actually said that Napoli didn't deserve to win by 2!

Ridiculously biased.

Napoli had a shot cleared off the line and Cavani through with Cech, both better chances than any chance Chelsea had apart from their goal. Chelsea really created very little, one lucky accident chance for their goal and then some long range efforts and set plays.

 

[thfcsteff]

I want every English team to lose. The lack of objectivity in our media and frankly blatant jingoism fudges me off.

The lack of respect we got for our CL run is ridiculous. Nobody mentioned that had Madrid played 11 men for 80 minutes, it might have been a different result in the first leg. @ clear pens turned down second half. We were fudged over.

 

[Roy1983]

I've never understood the whole 'I support English teams in Europe' why? Cos I definitely don't!!!

 

[El Guepardo]

I've never understood the whole 'I support English teams in Europe' why? Cos I definitely don't!!!

Yeah, I don't understand this mentality either. Firstly, the teams are often rivals to our club, secondly it's not as if the team actually really plays to represent England, it plays to represent itself and thirdly, what benefit do I get out of the team winning? Nothing. I would prefer to watch a decent game of football where the best team won (or the team that isn't our rival.)

 

[yiddo2786]

In what sense were Arsenal's 9 foreigners plus Gibbs and Walcott or Chelsea's 9 plus Cahill and Sturridge in any way representing England? Both under foreign management and foreign ownership.

And even if they were representing English talent in Europe I'd still be objective in each game when choosing who to 'support'.

 

[El Guepardo]

In what sense were Arsenal's 9 foreigners plus Gibbs and Walcott or Chelsea's 9 plus Cahill and Sturridge in any way representing England? Both under foreign management and foreign ownership.

And even if they were representing English talent in Europe I'd still be objective in each game when choosing who to 'support'.

Exactly, the players are chosen to represent their club, not on the basis of nationality, but on their ability and their considered suitability for the position. There is no link between Chelsea/Arsenal etc and England except for the fact that they play their trade in the Premiership, where we already have our team and so won't be supporting one of the others.

 

[Dr Rosenrosen]

That patriotic element may be lacking in England, but for smaller footballing countries like Switzerland, Belgium, Turkey, Greece, Israel, etc. it is likely a much bigger deal to have one of your country's teams - even a domestic rival - representing at the top level.

 

[EJG]

I know there's the whole we need them to do well to keep England's UEFA ranking high argument, because that helps Spurs, but as soon as I see any other English team playing in Europe I just want them to lose and start cheering on the opposition!

 

[Jordinho]

Last week Zenit fielded more Portuguese players than Benfica. Similar with Besiktas and Braga. Which team should someone from Portugal cheer on?

 

[Bullet]

I know there's the whole we need them to do well to keep England's UEFA ranking high argument, because that helps Spurs, but as soon as I see any other English team playing in Europe I just want them to lose and start cheering on the opposition!

Surely we want only 3 cl teams if we finish third finally

 

[ArcspacE]

Fantastic display from Napoli.

I also wonder where the whole Cahill reacharound came in before - he's looked shocking since his move, imv

 

[indianspur]

Cavani again with such an impressive work rate and constant menace to the opposition. One of the best forwards in world football

 

[Lost Mango]

I've never understood the whole 'I support English teams in Europe' why? Cos I definitely don't!!!

I guess in the old European Cup days the one entrant (The Champions) were representing the nation and their succes had much less impact one way or t'other finacially or competively so one's team was less impacted

 

[zin]

That patriotic element may be lacking in England, but for smaller footballing countries like Switzerland, Belgium, Turkey, Greece, Israel, etc. it is likely a much bigger deal to have one of your country's teams - even a domestic rival - representing at the top level.

I agree to a point. I'm from Cyprus and I'm very happy to see APOEL doing so well, however speaking to Cypriots who actually support another team and go to matches and have the passion for the Cypriot league they are absolutely hating it.

I guess it's the same for English people who don't really support a team as a fan. They are more interested in seeing an "English team" do well.

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

That patriotic element may be lacking in England, but for smaller footballing countries like Switzerland, Belgium, Turkey, Greece, Israel, etc. it is likely a much bigger deal to have one of your country's teams - even a domestic rival - representing at the top level.

This is true I think, I'd even include the French in that as well, they all seem quite happy when Lyon / Marseille are doing well in the CL.

 

[Spaceman]

Fantastic display from Napoli.

I also wonder where the whole Cahill reacharound came in before - he's looked shocking since his move, imv

looked shocking for bolton most the season too

 

[Finney Is Back]

In what sense were Arsenal's 9 foreigners plus Gibbs and Walcott or Chelsea's 9 plus Cahill and Sturridge in any way representing England? Both under foreign management and foreign ownership.

And even if they were representing English talent in Europe I'd still be objective in each game when choosing who to 'support'.

Wasn't there a game in Europe once where the (non Britain based) opposition had more British players than Arsenal did?

 

[ArcspacE]

Dodged a bullet, I say