Kornblume

If they draw Lyon, they're gonna explode them. No way that french team can compete with Barça.

I watched most of that game against Rennes since it was on TV here. On paper Bordeaux should be a big challenger in the weak French league, they do have some players with skills (Gourcuff, Cavenaghi) but the mix seems not to work totally yet. They needed a garbage goal to equalize against Rennes. And well, it is amazing to see how slower and less powerful the French league is compared to the Premiership. Bottom line, as long as Chelsea shows up to play, and maybe score one or two early, we should be fine.

He's from Kitchener, Ontario. I was just wondering, since I have never seen him play, if he'd be good enough for someday make the canadian squad.

Scoot, What kind of playing time is David Edgar getting this season? And how does he perform when he gets to play?

How come is Sheva not an option for that game? Is he injured, or just not match fit? (Sorry if it looks dumb, but on this side of the Atlantic it's not always easy to keep track). Had he been available, I'd have loved to see a 4-1-3-2: Cech Ferreira/Ivanovic-JT-Carvalho-A Cole ----------Essien J Cole---Deco--Lampard -----Anelka--Sheva Something I'd love to see with both Ballack and Drogba in the team (in places of Joe Cole and Sheva). If not, I guess, like most here, that the team will be: Cech Ferreira/Ivanovic-JT-Carvalho-A Cole ----Essien--Lampard Joe Cole---Deco---Malouda -------Anelka (or maybe Lamps goes at Malouda's place and Mikel at his.) Cudicini, Alex, SWP, Mikel/Malouda, Di Santo on the bench.

I totally agree on Eto'o. I do not see any surprise in Drogba leaving, it's not as if it came as a shock to anyone... The question of his replacement is a very good one thought. If Arshavin does come, I guess we'll see him paired with Anelka or Sheva. I would still like to see come in a young and skillfull striker. Huntelaar would be very good, David Villa as well. If there is no such arrival, I guess Pizarro will stick around one more year, yet again as a back up, who won't see much of the field. There is no reason to keep him if Arshavin and/or another striker comes in. As far as SWP is concern... we probably won't miss him at all.

For Russia he kinda played as a free electron, mostly on the left side. So I guess he'd be a very VERY good fit on the left side of a hypotetical 4-2-3-1, as it seems it is the formation Scolari likes best. An attaking crew like that one would look very great: ----------Essien---Ballack J Cole--------Deco-------Arshavin ---------Drogba/Anelka (I frankly do not know wheter Lampard will stay or not, or where to put him, but if he does stay, he could be where Arshavin is on that scheme. I believe it could very well work, as it did for Sneijder during the Euro.)

I just read on yahoo! France that Alcides will be back from PSV, since Chelsea did not want to let him there another year. Apparently, he said that he was coming back to take Carvalho's place. Riccy, the article said, is very close to secure a move to Inter. With Alcides back, Riccy maybe out... what can we expect to see in defence next year. If I am right, we now have, Terry, Carvalho, Ferreira, Bosingwa, Alex, Bridge, A Cole, Ben Haïm, Belleti, Alcides and Ivanovic. That makes eleven players, so some of them will certainly leave. Has Bridge played any minute after the Carling Cup final? Where was Ivanovic anyway? So, I would not be surprised if Bridge left. After all, Scolari did play both Ferreira and Bosingwa during the Euro, Paulo being on the left side. Could he take Bridge's place as the 2nd choice left full back?? Other than that, I guess Ben Haïm is gone, altho he performed at least fairly, as a 4th choice center back. I would believe that our back line could look like this next year: Bosingwa-Alex-Terry-A Cole (subs: Ferreira, Alcides, Ivanovic, Belleti) That is assuming Carvalho does go to Inter, both Ben Haïm and Bridge leave. Belleti and Paulo are also potential candidate to departure. Could it be so?

I went with Germany, altho my heart is totally Oranje. I just believe that the Germans have an easy group, and a much easier knock-out stage ahead of them. Should be a great tournament, thought.

I tought the same, Valerie, but it's not like, even with Babel out, the team lacks weapons in offence.

I very agree. (As a quebecer, "my" national team is Canada (in a way at least...), but since they suck so bad, I cheer for the team that made me a football fan, the Oranjes) Altho when I checked the last few results of friendly matches or qualifyers, it seems that the players have made their point with Van Basten for a 4-4-2 formation. I'm still gutted that he managed to get both Seedorf and Van Bommel out of the squad.. but now they have to do without. As for what would be my starting eleven with the 23 he named, I'd go with something like: --------Van der Sar Heitinga-Ooijer-Mathijsen-V.Bronckhorst(he played there in the last WC, right?)/else.. ----------De Zeeuw--------- Van Persie----------------------Robben ----------Van der Vaart/Sneijder --------Huntelaar--Van Nistelrooij Anyway, if the Shed End adopts the Netherlands, it's fine by me!

The three Chelsea players are in. Not really surprising. What is more surprising is that Cissé gets the axe in favor of Gomis. Flamini and Ben Harfa are also left out. Still can't believe that Domenech picks Toulalan before Flamini...

I went with a classic: Cech Ferreira JT Carvalho A Cole Makelele Ballack Lampard J Cole Drogba Kalou Bench: Cudicini, Essien, Alex, Sheva, Anelka, Mikel, Malouda Altho.. now I'm thinking maybe Essien should start at RB. I have a feeling that he will. And maybe that Malouda will be on the left instead of Kalou.

I must say I am very looking forward to it myself. A great afternoon that could be! (It's a 14:45 kick off here.) Can we expect a great performance from Drogba? After all, he delivered after Tubby woke him up, and now Rooney and Vidic are risking it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 407247.stm If the effect turns out to be the same... well they can talk as much as they want!

As arranged with Coco, I'll also mail him my 10£. A Québec's contribution to the final!

That is exactly what I tought.. how can they be offside on a shot? But justice has been made! Safe, I guess, to say that they were two taking that penalty. And as I was typing Cech made an important save...

DROGBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! 1-0 And GREAT pass from Lampard to Kalou, who also ran well inside the box to get the first shot.

Skrtel is off due to injury, that brings on Hyypia... Let's hope we can take advantage of his lack of pace.

The lineup for the next round is pretty interesting. Two teams, in Fenerbahçe and Schalke have made it for their 1st time ever, while usual suspects are out. Plus, Italy now has only one team, and I guess (altho it does not please me) it'll remain this way, since I doubt Inter will beat Liverpool by 3. Moreover, it is not the italian squd we expected to see! Spain has only one team left. France, none. Germany one (same situation as Italy). Meanwhile, we get a turkish team. England proves its status by having 3, and maybe 4. And that would count has half the quarter finalists. Awesome for the EPL. Confirmed qualification: Chelsea Manchester United Arsenal Schalke 04 AS Roma Barcelona Fenerbahçe [inter Milan/Liverpool] Seems like a wide open table now. And we do have a very realistic chance at the title this year. As for the draw, I'd like, as some others said in another thread, to avoid English teams, plus Barça. I honestly believe we can beat English teams, but for the sake of novelty I'd rather have someone else. Any of Roma, Fenerbahçe and Schalke will do for me! And if not.. well who cares, bring 'em on! Who would you like to face?

And on goes Chelsea! Great!

Who said Ballack and Lampard can't play togheter?

I'd go with ---------Cech Belleti----JT---Carvalho---Bridge -----------Essien J.Cole--------------Lampard -----------Ballack ------Drogba-----Anelka Subs: Cudicini, Alex, Kalou, SWP, Mikel/Makelele I believe Grant will still go with a 4-3-3 tho. In that case, Joe Cole might very well start. And one of Anelka and Drogba will be on the bench. Just hope that Terry and Lampard will play, and Malouda gets dropped.

If Lampard leaves, he's #1 choice on the left for sure, in the hypothetical formation I made up.

As for the strikers, what will happen this summer hinges on Drogba's situation. 1-Drogba leaves Then we absolutely need to buy a striker, which would hopefully be Huntelaar. Then we'd have him, Anelka, Kalou and Sheva. David Villa, Berbatov and Karim Benzema could also be interesting options. 2-Drogba stays Then we have him, Anelka and Kalou. Sheva would have to be sold then. Buying another striker would also be possible then, but we'd not necessary need a Huntelaar (altho I would still be rooting for him). Pizarro is out either way. In midfield, bringin Van der Vaart would be awesome. We could finally start playing a 4-4-2. Imagine a diamond like this: -----------VDV Lampard----------Ballack ---------Essien That could really be deadly. And even if Lampard does leave, we'd still have SWP, Joe Cole and Malouda for the wing duties. Of course, is Lampard stays, one of SWP or Malouda might very well be gone. With Mikel also still in the mix, I really doubt Sidwell will play another season at Chelsea. In defence, the only signing we need is no more injuries! Especially for the center backs. Ok... maybe a right back would be welcome!

Well, the rules he taught me were simple. Out if the ball touches the wickets, if they bring the ball at center before you reach the base, if the ball is caught in the air. Seems easier to me than the whole force/non force out possibilities baseball has. How can it be less complicated in baseball with the baserunning when the offensive team in cricket only has one player playing at a time? (Unless I am missing something, which is for sure possible.) The strategy is different. Baseball does not limit you with overs, but you have less outs, so you need to manufacture run quick in the late innings, which also brings strategy into whether or not run the player standing at 2nd base, etc. As for the skills.. I don't know really. Batting seems even, fielding I cannot comment, haven't seen enough cricket. But pitching? I believe the edge has to be in baseball, with the curveball, changeup, slider, 2 or 4 seem fastball, cut fastball, sinker, knuckelball. I do not want to seem over-arrongant either, since I'm certain that the bawlers? ballers? (sorry don't know how to spell it) also put effect when they throw the ball. (Bottom line, I don't know the first "real" thing about cricket, and (no offense really, I'm saying with all due respect and more), we'd need to watch a baseball game togheter so I can explain things, then we flight to England and you do the same with me for cricket. Just to say, no need really to argue, both sports are related in an obvious way, one coming from the other, but they certainly evolved to be 2 very different games! Probably more a question of different skills than more or less.)