You probably hadn't noticed because you assumed, quite fairly IMO, he was on the physio table at Newcastle.

Leythers can't even cling onto that prospect.

Still, a case of White Lightning at LIDL and a bench at the local library for the day is paradise for some of their locals.

PS: Sorry for going O/T.

In this article on how boring and pointless the group stages of the Champions League are:
[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/09/30/manual_132943.html[/url


Alex Ferguson says:

"The better teams [iinvariably[/i (my emphasis) come out on top in the end but not before some heart-stopping moments and I am sure the smaller clubs welcome the chance of going for glory, even if the odds are stacked against them."

It is that lack of variability that is draining any excitement from the sport. The moments aren't heart-stopping because the same teams 'invariably come out on top'. I don't want a lottery, but some doubt about the final outcome makes for rather more compelling viewing - if a smaller club can beat you in a straight knock-out over two legs, they deserve to go through.

After winning the CWC with Aberdeen and knocking Liverpool off their perch, I think he has grown fearful that, given a level playing field, somebody might do the same to him.

Abe just type in Harry the Tramp on that vidoe sharing site before calling leigh lol

I don't really get your point tbh, basically you claim because it's a group format there is less chance of an upset or a 'smaller' team going through but surely in a straight knock out competition the bigger side will, as you put it, invariably go through anyway, it's what generally happens in any cup format, barring the odd slip. You're are right any side over two legs can win, however, if in a group format a side like Wolfsburg for example beat United and then draw (which would obviously put them out in a straight knock out) that will then give them a four point advatage over United and a good opportunity to progress.

The point you make about a side being able to win over two legs and go through is what's being avoided in a group format, a team has to be consistent over 6 games in order to go through not just play well in two and be rewarded to go into the next round.

Anyway, on a somewhat different footballing note, Steve Woodman, prosecuting [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8283134.stmhad the temerity to suggest that the Utd fan invading the pitch "could have prevented City from equalising"[/url according to paragraph 11 !

Perhaps Fergie will consider replacing Ferdinand with Jake Clarke then?

I had to google it thought it was golf or something.

Can't see anything but an easy Man U win tonight, Chelsea might have a harder match.

Chelsea have a harder match than United? Not even you believe that


United are playing the German champions and Chelsea are playing the Cypriot champions.

Wolfsburg 1 0 up

sorry I mean

55: GOAL - DZEKO. Almost out of nothing but Wolfsburg lead. Great clipped ball over from Misimovic finds Dzeko on Evra at the back post. No contest and it's a great header to give Wolfsburg the lead.

1 1 now

59: GOAL - GIGGS. Not taken long to level matters - plenty of fortune about it though. Giggs curls the free-kick in and it takes a massive deflection off the wall and ends up in the corner.

I know I have just seen it

78: GOAL - CARRICK. Evra, Rooney, Berbatov and Giggs all involved in the set-up from the throw, with Carrick curling one home confidently with his right foot from arond 16 yards to give United the lead.

Great result for United against the Bundesliga champions.

From Sporting Life:
[iThat's it. Been a really interesting game - refreshing to see a team visit Old Trafford and not 'park the bus' - and Wolfsburg have emerged with great credit. That said, it's six points from six for United and they're on course for the next round.[/i


Two goals from Ronalado and a Kaka penalty means Real Madrid beat Mille 3-0.
Job done in Cyprus by Chelsea.

Its an alliterative term - Salford skiprats.

Tonight witnessed how injury time should be played at Old Trafford, Premier League referees take note.

Catalancs how come you were not at Old Trafford tonight?

As a point of pedantry, in that example Wolfsburg would only have a 3 point advantage, as United would get a point from the draw too.

My complaint is that consistency is being rewarded but the cost is the excitement being spread much more thinly over 6 games rather than just 2. That the mini leagues are more predictable means there is less excitement to go around in the first place too. IMO the group stages of the CL are far from compelling viewing. The difference in intensity for the knockout ties is massive and I'd welcome more of that from earlier in the season. Man Utd and the other big (ie rich) clubs of course wouldn't. The cynic in me thinks this is more about guaranteeing revenue than ensuring consistency is rewarded.

That's exactly what it is the Champions League system currently in use was basically UEFA's way of preventing a breakaway European Super League of some form or other.

Hmm not seen the report but did they mention the wolfsburg goal that was marginally off side or the two goals chalked off thet were touch and go for the real reds?

Thought tonight the widemen played well but the of midfield was a concern. They were good going forward in spells but when it came to defending there was no urgency to get back and cover the defence like we've seen if previous seasons

There must have been three Man United goals ruled out for offside then, because Giggs was a mile offside when he had his disallowed.

Ronaldo "wins" a penalty for Real tonight

he was clearly taken out by Diawara, penalty all day.

24 goals in 7 games for Madrid is crazy, averaging atleast 3 goals a game!

9 in 7 for Ronaldo.

Thought Carrick had a very good game tonight, more like last season's form.