UEFA Champions League 2006/2007

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=204817&cc=5901

'Cesc Fabregas with two goals so far. What happened to him in the Cup?

 

Maccabi Haifa playing inspired Footy?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=204455&cc=5901

 

No Onyewu, but Liege is making it hard for Gooch to leave.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=204815&cc=5901

 

Well, it is 1-1 now. Perhaps they are inspired and I would love to see Liverpool crash out in this tie. Regardless of what happens today, I think Liverpool will go on to win this tie in the away leg somewhere in Ukraine.

Lille, my favorite French team won 3-0 today but unfortunately, the lone Polish team in the qualifying round of the Champions League lost 1-0 at Shahktar Donetsk.

 

Legia Warsaw downed 1-0. Perhaps they can get them on the 2nd leg.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=204821&cc=5901

 

I am hoping Legia Warszawa can win the home leg and advance, but I am not optimistic. Shakhtar Donetsk is a decent side and I feel they have more talent than Legia. We will see though in two weeks time.

 

I agree. Something going on there.

Meanwhile, Liege let the opposition tie it up, which means the away goal differential is to their disadvantage going into the second leg and Liege must score at least one goal at Steaua Bucuresti.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=204815&cc=5901

 

I'm not sure if this belongs here or on the transfers thread, but since Onyewu's name came up here, here is an exchange in today's Washington Post soccer chat with Steve Goff (always worth reading):

-------------------------

Washington, D.C.: Do you have any insight into Gooch's decision to decline the transfer to Middlesbrough? It sounded like it would have been a great situation for him.

Thanks.

Steven Goff: I don't know if that's accurate. I believe Middlesbrough lost interest. Fulham seems to be the front-runner now.

--------------------------

My guess is that he doesn't have any special info that we don't, but I could be wrong.


BTW, if you want to read the whole chat:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01328.html

 

don't tease me....

 

That was entertaining, if nothing else.

 

Liverpool manage to pull it out. Mark Gonzalez??

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=204455&cc=5901

 

Gonzalez is the player who couldn't get a Work Permit so they loaned him to Sociedad(?) in La Liga. Played well there and is very highly rated by people plays for Chile although he was born in Durban South Africa.

I like Gooch, but I really don't think he will leave unless Liege go out in the CL at which point we will have already probably signed a CB. Could be a good player to get in January though if we could ever get rid of that piece of crap Knight.

 

Haifa 0 - 1 Liverpool. Liverpool 3-1 on agg. 30 minutes left.

 

Maccabi evens it, 1-1. 3-2 overall. Closer than Liverpool wants, no doubt.

 

For those interested in the exploits of Gooch, don't forget to keep an eye on this:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=204816&cc=5901

Good distraction before the Fulham match. You know, other than actually working.

 

Minute by minute updates, for those interested.

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/index.html#

 

I hate to admit it, but Saha was wonderful against Celtic. He's finally starting to prove that he's worth the big fee that United paid for him. At least the best goal of the match didn't go to him -- Nakamura's free-kick was simply spectacular.

Oh, and our old boy Inamoto started for Galatasaray in their match against Bordeaux. You think he's happy that he's playing in the Champions League and not the Championship? 8)

 

I got the idea he was rather crazy when he subbed on three subs at halftime of a 2004-2005 FA Cup match they lose to Newcastle. Eventually someone was hurt and Chelsea had to finish with ten men.