The Soccer Thread

[calgaryballer]

Ah, the sweet smell of a Chelsea collapse... Such a delicious stench...

Looks like the stink has dissolved...

Reina drops the ball into his own net and then concede another right away to what sounds to be a very nice Alex shot

[BigBiss]

What a collapse for Liverpool. I guess it was a pipe dream anyway.

All my fault i tuned in at the half and its been all down hill since

[calgaryballer]

If this Chelsea shows up next season, it is going to be a good season

[calgaryballer]

:| 6-5 on Agg

[calgaryballer]

7-5 on agg now. I think that will be the final nail in the coffin.

This tie exceeded all my expectations

[calgaryballer]

Stupid Barca couldn't win and broke another ESPN streak for me I knew I should of gone 3 or more goals for Chelsea/Liverpool

[Bigpapa42]

Stupid Liverpool! Stupider Chelsea! Bah, really wanted to see Chelsea out and Liverpool go forward. Damnit. I'll just have to settle for a 4-0 Arsenal win tomorrow.

[calgaryballer]

Still hoping for a Barca-Arsenal rematch

[Senser81]

Liverpool gave a nice effort, but in the end it was their defense that did them in (again). Having Gerrard out was a double-whammy, because it meant they had to play Lucas Leiva in midfield. He is truly awful in defense, giving away needless fouls and being too slow/lethargic to track back. He isn't any better on offense. I don't get it.

The first goal by Aurelio was bizarre...he hit it on the ground from like 35 meters out, and Cech made almost no attempt to stop the ball from rolling into the net.

Chelsea did not play offense for the first 35 minutes of the game, so its somewhat remarkable that they were able to get 3 goals against Liverpool in essentially a little over a half. That said, Chelsea's offensive play is pathetic. Lob the ball deep, fall down, get the ref to give you a free kick. Lob the ball deep, control the ball, take two dribbles and fall down, get the ref to give you a free kick. When are the refs going to see that Chelsea really isn't all that good, that guys like Cashley Cole and Didier Drogba are shadows of their former selves, and that when they fall down its because they know they can't do anything else?

[calgaryballer]

Liverpool gave a nice effort, but in the end it was their defense that did them in (again). Having Gerrard out was a double-whammy, because it meant they had to play Lucas Leiva in midfield. He is truly awful in defense, giving away needless fouls and being too slow/lethargic to track back. He isn't any better on offense. I don't get it.

The first goal by Aurelio was bizarre...he hit it on the ground from like 35 meters out, and Cech made almost no attempt to stop the ball from rolling into the net.

Chelsea did not play offense for the first 35 minutes of the game, so its somewhat remarkable that they were able to get 3 goals against Liverpool in essentially a little over a half. That said, Chelsea's offensive play is pathetic. Lob the ball deep, fall down, get the ref to give you a free kick. Lob the ball deep, control the ball, take two dribbles and fall down, get the ref to give you a free kick. When are the refs going to see that Chelsea really isn't all that good, that guys like Cashley Cole and Didier Drogba are shadows of their former selves, and that when they fall down its because they know they can't do anything else?

Thats the frustrating thing about Chelsea. They play Route 1 for a long period, but when they get the ball down, Lampard, Essien and lately Ballack can really pick a killer pass

[Bigpapa42]

Thats the frustrating thing about Chelsea. They play Route 1 for a long period, but when they get the ball down, Lampard, Essien and lately Ballack can really pick a killer pass

Which then leaves you wondering why they don't bother with that approach in the first place? I do agree with Senser - it seems like earning the freekick is big part of the Chelsea approach.

[calgaryballer]

Which then leaves you wondering why they don't bother with that approach in the first place? I do agree with Senser - it seems like earning the freekick is big part of the Chelsea approach.

No idea, and agreed. It's not like they've had a lack of success playing the way they do, and it's been pretty similar for the last 4 years. They weren't exactly playing scintillating football last year in their run to the Champions League final. I really hope Hiddink stays around, but I can't be sure they won't tune him out too

[Bigpapa42]

No idea, and agreed. It's not like they've had a lack of success playing the way they do, and it's been pretty similar for the last 4 years. They weren't exactly playing scintillating football last year in their run to the Champions League final. I really hope Hiddink stays around, but I can't be sure they won't tune him out too

Maybe I'm just getting bitter and hateful, but the way that Chelsea plays the longballs seems to changed. They did it under Mourinho, but it seemed like the intent was for Drogba to hold it up and have the likes of Lampard and Essien come in to help. Now, it just seems like they prefer getting fouled to actually doing something.

[Senser81]

Maybe I'm just getting bitter and hateful, but the way that Chelsea plays the longballs seems to changed. They did it under Mourinho, but it seemed like the intent was for Drogba to hold it up and have the likes of Lampard and Essien come in to help. Now, it just seems like they prefer getting fouled to actually doing something.

Yes, its different now because Drogba has no intent of actually getting the ball and then making a move to the goal. Against Liverpool, he didn't even try to control the ball with his feet...he let the ball hit his head/chest then he would immediately fall down. It seems like all the Chelsea players are programmed to fall down when they get near the box.

[Boss AZ]

I'm torn on who I want to win the Porto/Man U game. Man U are my favorite English team while Porto are probably my most disliked Portuguese team. I know it doesn't seem like a problem there but I'd like to see some more success at this level from a Portuguese side, even if it is Porto. Ah well, here's to a good game hopefully.