Go Roma go

[Pauly]

If they didn't lose Chivu to stupid ugly money bags Inter who will no doubt play without an attacking midfielder later against liverpool, Roma would be a real chance to win the CL. I hope they can do something tonight, i don't expect them to win it, but if there's ever a manager who deserved more money it's spalletti, and with the form roma are in and Madrid missing Robben Ramos and another couple they might have a chance.

Was disappointed to see Milan go out of course but it was all too predictable after the insulting team they've managed to develop lately. Yes they are in a transition year and that was the last Champions League game you'll never see Paolo Maldini play in, but to have Kaladze in CB, Kalac, Ambrosini, an 18 year old and an unfit Inzaghi on the pitch is a situation that obviously needs changing. I have no doubt fat B will open his (our) cheque-book and some italian tax payer money will go into their signing a new Central defender.

Inter is a shame. a real shame. it's a squad really as good as the incredible 97 squad with zamorano ronaldo (anyone remember that Schmeichel save from Zamorano?) baggio and company, but for as long as i can remember they have wasted their attacking talents by not having a creative player in central midfield. Is that an inter "style" or is it just c**tery?

[Phillip]

I thought Kaladze played well, but that keeper for Milan, Kalac, has the slowest reflexes that I have ever seen in a top-tier team. It is a joke that he is out there, given his inability to move from the spot where he is currently situated. I know he is big and all, but come on!

[Tim]

Always had a soft spot for Roma after I was in Rome for their last CL game vs Real, and managed to get a ticket. The atmosphere was incredible, even though they lost 3-0

Would like them to knock out Real and then school L*verpool, although I worry Fat Rafa's men will go on a run to the final, after beating Inter, which should be a formality thanks to the disgraceful red in the first leg.

[just]

I fancy Roma in this one simply because of the number of players Real have missing. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ramos, Metzelder, Sneijder, Saviola, Robben are all supposed to unavailable.

[Valerie]

Robben unavailable??? Surely because his wife is about to pop, and not due to injury, right?

[dkw]

now i know this is gonna be a massive surprise to you val, but robben is out through injury. no, honest. he is.

[Valerie]

Incredible. Who would've thought... Real can thank their lucky stars this is a one-off, stalwart as Robben is.

[abramovich]

If they didn't lose Chivu to stupid ugly money bags Inter who will no doubt play without an attacking midfielder later against liverpool, Roma would be a real chance to win the CL. I hope they can do something tonight, i don't expect them to win it, but if there's ever a manager who deserved more money it's spalletti, and with the form roma are in and Madrid missing Robben Ramos and another couple they might have a chance.

With all due respect to Roma Pauly, i could easily name half a dozen teams still left i the competition that have a better chance to win CL than them(with or without Chivu).

[The Moos]

I hate Roma so I hope that Real Madrid thrash them. Wouldn't mind 5-0 or 6-0

Sad that Robben is injured....again....for the 4th time....since the summer 2007....

[bjd]

Was disappointed to see Milan go out of course but it was all too predictable after the insulting team they've managed to develop lately. Yes they are in a transition year and that was the last Champions League game you'll never see Paolo Maldini play in, but to have Kaladze in CB, Kalac, Ambrosini, an 18 year old and an unfit Inzaghi on the pitch is a situation that obviously needs changing. I have no doubt fat B will open his (our) cheque-book and some italian tax payer money will go into their signing a new Central defender.

Pauly what do you think the chances are of a managerial change at AC Milan in the Summer ? Considering their League form as well ?

And if so, what do you think the chances of a certain Portugese bloke taking over are ?

[loz]

Got your wish Pauly.

[TheWestwayWonder]

now i know this is gonna be a massive surprise to you val, but robben is out through injury. no, honest. he is.

The ironman's streak ends.....

[BlueBosnian]

Raul scores from an offside. Goal allowed as usual for a club such as Real, even in the Champions League.

Glad to see them lose though, even though I cannot stand watching any Italian team, because of their football-killing-tactics.

[Maksimov]

Congratulazioni Roma! Adios Real!

[Pauly]

If they didn't lose Chivu to stupid ugly money bags Inter who will no doubt play without an attacking midfielder later against liverpool, Roma would be a real chance to win the CL. I hope they can do something tonight, i don't expect them to win it, but if there's ever a manager who deserved more money it's spalletti, and with the form roma are in and Madrid missing Robben Ramos and another couple they might have a chance.

With all due respect to Roma Pauly, i could easily name half a dozen teams still left i the competition that have a better chance to win CL than them(with or without Chivu).

with all due respect buddy, 2-1 roma. try watching them before you say rubbish like that. with tonetto and juan out for good players they are a brilliant side

[abramovich]

If they didn't lose Chivu to stupid ugly money bags Inter who will no doubt play without an attacking midfielder later against liverpool, Roma would be a real chance to win the CL. I hope they can do something tonight, i don't expect them to win it, but if there's ever a manager who deserved more money it's spalletti, and with the form roma are in and Madrid missing Robben Ramos and another couple they might have a chance.

With all due respect to Roma Pauly, i could easily name half a dozen teams still left i the competition that have a better chance to win CL than them(with or without Chivu).

with all due respect buddy, 2-1 roma. try watching them before you say rubbish like that. with tonetto and juan out for good players they are a brilliant side

Real were playing like sh.te lately and were missing several key players. Wait till Roma face a real team like when mancs wiped the floor with them last season.

[Pauly]

With all due respect to Roma Pauly, i could easily name half a dozen teams still left i the competition that have a better chance to win CL than them(with or without Chivu).

with all due respect buddy, 2-1 roma. try watching them before you say rubbish like that. with tonetto and juan out for good players they are a brilliant side

Real were playing like sh.te lately and were missing several key players. Wait till Roma face a real team like when mancs wiped the floor with them last season.

did you even watch the match? I doubt anyone who did could deny it was an incredible performance from roma. This is a side playing with 4 or 5 players from roma youth in their 11, working without a budget comparable to any side around it, who beat madrid home and away and basically controlled the game. You would think people would appreciate good football occasionally rather than letting bias or disdain get in the way... anyhow, thank you for watching your standard 14 minutes of italian football this season, for the record.. here is the league table: roma sit second. spalletti a genius.

Inter Milan 26 18 1 7 61 34

Roma 26 16 3 7 55 22

Juventus 26 13 4 9 48 22

Fiorentina 26 13 5 8 47 15

AC Milan 26 11 5 10 43 18

Udinese 26 11 9 6 39 -2

Sampdoria 26 10 10 6 36 1

Genoa 26 9 9 8 35 -4

Palermo 26 9 9 8 35 -6

Atalanta 26 8 8 10 34 0

Napoli 26 9 11 6 33 -3

Lazio 26 7 10 9 30 -4

[TheWestwayWonder]

I dont mean to hijack the thread from what was intended for, but Pauly posting the standings for Scudetto reminded me of a question that ive had for some time now: What in the hell is wrong with AC Milan this season? I havent watched them play aside from highlights and the occasional CL game this season, so I have to wonder about their situation. It seems that a crisis like that at any other club would have people ready to cast the manager aside like an Anchor or in full on panic buy mode but as far as i can see

-they lack a decent striker aside from Pato (hard luck to Ronaldo, but they were never going to lean on him at 31) and my understanding was that pato isnt a natural striker

-their defense seems to be decrepit aside from Kaladze and Bonera, neither of which ive heard much fuss over

-Kaka is wasting his prime years as a shining star among a bunch of white dwarfs

can anyone comment on this? I feel like their talent gap with Inter is approaching the point where they are in need of a mass spending spree in the hundreds of millions this summer just to close that gap

[Pauly]

firstly it's a transition year

secondly they have perhas had too much faith in dida which ha backfired and they now have an absolute joke of a keeper in the goal

thirdly gilardino has not worked out as they'd hoped

fourthly, mainly scoring is their problem, but it doesn't help to play a... great left back (kaladze) in the center.

they don't score so well.

unlucky with ronaldo

inzaghi great but injured

pato too young

kaka not wasting anything. they will spend big next year, have been in how many european finals recently?

in any case... they were improving but have started to stumble again in the last few games.

[JT26CFC]

Kaka is wasting his time i agree, but (if anyone saw the arsenal vs. milan match) kaka is constantly being marked by at least 2-3 players at once. Pato's good in the serie A, but he went missing in the CL match. Inzaghi is offsides far to many times and Gilardino just hasn't been playing well at all this season. I don't know if I'd be suprised if they didn't make it in the CL next season.

[abramovich]

did you even watch the match? I doubt anyone who did could deny it was an incredible performance from roma. This is a side playing with 4 or 5 players from roma youth in their 11, working without a budget comparable to any side around it, who beat madrid home and away and basically controlled the game. You would think people would appreciate good football occasionally rather than letting bias or disdain get in the way... anyhow, thank you for watching your standard 14 minutes of italian football this season, for the record..

No need to get attitude. Yes i did watch the game and they deserved to go through. That doesn't mean Roma have a great chance to win the whole thing because there are better teams left in the competition. Well done for them to knock out Madrid but i wouldn't bet on them against the likes of us,MU,Arsenal,Barca,etc

[barak81]

Pauly i think its time to admit that seria is playing catch up now as is la liga to be honest, and despite AC's heroics last season i think this has been the case for a few seasons now.

The top four english clubs are just to strong now, and i can see them pulling even further away in the coming years with the money being pumped in to the epl! the only team i can see winning it other than and english team is barca

[icecoolguy22]

Now I dont feel that bad about letting Robben go last year. A great player on his day, but out injured again when his team needs him the most.

[Pauly]

Pauly i think its time to admit that seria is playing catch up now as is la liga to be honest, and despite AC's heroics last season i think this has been the case for a few seasons now.

The top four english clubs are just to strong now, and i can see them pulling even further away in the coming years with the money being pumped in to the epl! the only team i can see winning it other than and english team is barca

erm......................... do you think inter and milan are poor? it's a ridiculous statement i won't even bother answering- italian clubs have been the most successful over the last.. as long as i can remember, won the world cup with 99% local players, and whenever milan have a bad performance people jump on the bandwagon. pato kaka nesta pirlo seedorf gattuso- yes they are really trembling at the foregone conclusion that is the dominance of.. oh wait... english clubs just won a couple of knockouts and everyone is pissing their pants with excitement again.

[Guest]

Inter have a very good squad still, but there is no doubt in my mind that the Italian clubs have declined in recent seasons and the English clubs have come to the fore.