Thought I'd start a football blog, we might keep this going until 2010.....England doing well....did not see the match or even the goals....I'd like Michael owen back in the squad though....and I think Peter Crouch would make a very good substitute...remember against Argentina in Geneva a few years ago....with Michael Owen and some very good movements on and off the ball...they caused havoc.....did see Scotland's missed chance....that could be very costly losing those 2 points !.

Yep !....should be a cracking game out in Porto....Man City did not play well.....at one time none of them wanted the ball.....passing it slowly around is not an option...you really have got to go for it in a game like that..they will have a job to overturn the 3-1 deficit !.

assuming manchester is still intact! mind u, its a craphole

3 clubs in the semis !...tremendous result !.....anything can happen now !, the Blues will need to score in Barcelona, that's for sure !,...the other semi will be like two big league games with the away goals being the difference, Man City have a tough job tonight....ManU had better be careful that they don't get ambushed by Everton this weekend in the cup !, Arsenal versus Chelsea....penalty kicks ?.

Not just 3 clubs in the semis, but 3 clubs in both semis with one notable exception.

Have you ever seen Gerard win the league ?

No....and I think that MU have that little advantage that might see them through in the league !, Man City out...not surprising.....they messed it up in the first leg....the big difference between the big four and the others is : when going forward the passing is not what it should be.....IT HAS TO BE PERFECT....and until they get those midfielders, forwards to understand that with training and their minds set to develop perfection in their play : they will not suceed in Europe nor will they compete with today's league leaders !.

From the bits of the game I saw, they seemed to give it a good go, albeit as you say some wayward passing/shooting

Got our semi tomorrow, and as usual with Arsenal, not too confident. Cech has been all at sea in the past few games, flapping against both Bolton and some 3rd rate team near Tranmere. Clearly confidence is the issue, but not sure whether this is a result of what he sees as a sweker defence than he's had in the past - he would never for example come running out to the corner of the box when other players were around to deal with.

Whilst I don't know the outcome of the fixture of interest to me - I feel I know the outcome of Sundays game - yet again Moyes to be an also ran

The Football League is now the strongest in Europe if not the world....must mention the Brazilian League with an incredible pool of good players though !....the FA cup looks like the Champions league minus Barcelona...the eyes of the world will be watching !.

"The eyes of the world will be watching"

Too true - but only if they pay their TV rights.

After all, got to make sure the players get adequately recompensed for running around !!!

Well, well, well - put a second rate team out and look what happens

We won't be making the same mistake.

Why on earth didn't Fergie play the stronger players.....saving them for West Brom ?.....ridiculous...if things went wrong against them mid week : just bring them on as subs....what a mistake...same as Spurs and Villa in the Uefa cup !.

ManU, 2 goals down and they come back to win by 5 to 2....that must have been quite a game...the Old Trafford crowds must have loved that !,....the Gunners will have to be at their best in the next 10 days or so....I hope that their will not be trouble on the pitch with these tremendous Champions League games coming up with tempers flaring !.

Chelsea defended very well....boy !, they will have to watch Barca on the counter attack though and also put that defense of theirs under pressure.....an all London final ?...incredible ....and possible !.

why not an all London final ?

We had one last year - went with my manc friend from Esher

All 4 teams still have a say in this, in football anything can happen, that's the beauty of the game,....people are predicting a repeat of last year's final ManU versus Chelsea but the Gunners and Barca aren't finished yet...everything to play for !.

Too tru RF, and I suspect qvery qtr-finalist is 100% aware of that, even if the media write teams off.

Well ; there we have it : Man U versus Barca....what a lucky lot the latter are !.....I somehow doubt whether that ref will be asked to master the final....how many penalty calls 3 ? possibly 4 ?.....as I did not see the semi but caught bits and pieces on the radio I can't really judge...it's in times like these that you think : "brown envelopes"....oops ! must not think like that : that would be unfair ! a trip to spec savers or such is needed for that ref...Chelsea need a Champions league exorcist because they really are cursed it seems !....Manchester United have a very good chance of winning the final but they will have to be at their very best !.

Forgot to mention : the Gunners, their problem is : they need urgently some English players in that side, I mean they only have Theo Walcott (no spelling mistakes I hope), it is ridiculous that a major North London side only fields one player fom this part of the world...Arsene needs to scout around the lesser divisions for some players to give an English feel to the side !.

Good luck to the mancs in the final - hopefully the cameras will get a close up of Platini grimacing at they pick the trophy up.

Refereeing poor in the semis - our farce, Fletcher being sent off and even a Barca player (no doubt Michele will have a go at the ref now)

Northern Ireland and Scotland might benefit from these to if selected.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDiKp_DOnf4

why is boring football on a shares thread?

also, this is world cup thread but its all about euro clubs in europe