MATCH of the week

[Teeque]

Lets talk sports here.

Many of us here do walk and talk sports here whether they be in EPL, UCL, NBA, NFL, golf, tennis, squash, cricket etc. Furthermore, its World Cup year this season and plenty to talk about. Not to mention the sleep disorders, panda eyes and the ire of the missus (or gal mate). Its not only the games but also the sports personality involved or just the game in general. Discuss your opinions, speculations, your favorite teams or sportspersons, the darkhorses, fantalk, or just plain ardent support of any game, team or personality. Feature a match/game each week and here we go....
Just bear in mind the basic netiquette and stay off the F's - no filth and no flames - then you should be fine.

[Teeque]

vs

Patrick Vieira, the former captain and midfield enforcer, returns to Highbury as Juventus visit Arsenal in the quarter final first leg. It will be his first visit since joining Juventus last season. And this will be a huge match for these two great teams.

Arsenal has just disposed of Real Madrid 2 weeks ago and have been going great guns in both the Premiership and the Champions League recently. Although they are still placed fifth in the Premiership, behind Tottenham Hotspurs and traditional derby rival, they will be looking to continue that great run of form with a very young team whose average age is 23. Again, the unmistakable genius and, some say, the greatest goal poacher in the world now, Thierry Henry is the man to watch.

Juventus is also coming off a run of good form and with former Highbury man, Patrick Vieira visiting, emotions on both sides will be on a high. But Patrick has said he will not be unfazed and Juventus is the team he now plays for, there will be no favors. Juve is currently on top in Serie A and is now tipped to go on to the Finals in this Champions League edition, along with Barca. Man to watch - Patrick Vieira. Will their challenge fizzle out to a team of impressionable youngsters tonite? Or will they go in with guns ablazing that even the Gunners will be blown apart?

Tonite's MOTW, I'm sure, will be a pulsating one.

[Teeque]

Will Arsenal do a Liverpool like last season and go on to the CL Finals and win it?

[Teeque]

A great European nite at Highbury. The Gunners won the first leg 2 - 0 with Juve having 2 players sent off in Camoranesi and Zebina, 2 stalwarts in the Italian team. Adding insult to injury, Vieira will also miss the return leg in Turin when he collected his 5th yellow card in the competition. The goals were scored by Fabregas, the young star which Wenger touted as replacement for Vieira, and as always, Henry. Arsenal were in control of the match throughout and the 'replacement' outshone Vieira in the midfiled. Without a doubt, Fabregas was the man of the match as he scored the first goal and created the second for Henry. The Gunners are now heavily odds on to go thru to the semis with a 2 goal advantage going to Turin in a week's time and Juve has 3 first team players out of the tie. Now, could Vieira follow in the footsteps of Owen to miss out on European glory when he switched teams in search of European honors?

In the other quarterfinal match between Benfica and Barcelona, the match ended in a goalless draw despite Barca having chances to score but could not capitalise. Benfica was reduced to taking potshots at Barca's goal but did not make any headway. Finally, Benfica's defence held out and proved their wins over the 2 English Premiership giants, Liverpool and Manchester United, were no fluke.

[chsum]

err....Teeque u should be talking about Liverpool derby win over Everton were Stevie got send off and yet still manage to beat them

err.. since Liverpool is out of CL, which team u want to win the cup ah?
Benfica or Arse anal.

[Teeque]

... since Liverpool is out of CL, which team u want to win the cup ah?
Benfica or Arse anal.

Neither. The 'bum' side threw every bookies' form book out the window with their win last nite and shld get thru the semis. Its anybody's game then in the semis. But I'm tipping a Barca-Milan (AC or Inter) final now and Barca the overwhelming winners, unless the bucktooth wizard is injured or suspended. By then, Messi will be back after injury and these 2 players will be key to their title challenge.

So, who are your winning picks for the Champions League? Naahh, i dun think its the 'Bums', do you???

[mohd(Q)]

err....Teeque u should be talking about Liverpool derby win over Everton were Stevie got send off and yet still manage to beat them

err.. since Liverpool is out of CL, which team u want to win the cup ah?
Benfica or Arse anal.

I think the darkhorse will win the match cos Benfica never been in CL for a long long time.....

[cherry]

I wonder if you guys know where to find the book that covers those countries and in depth information on the players who would be playing in the world cup... I got the previous world cup (2002) edition and I forgot where I put it I prefer it to be a printed copy so that I could read it anywhere especially before going to sleep

[jasonbhlee]

Teeque....should run a football pool here........esp when the world cup is round the corner.....

[JayChou]

ok im in the pool.. I take Argentina.. and of course, everyone else second team:- England

[Teeque]

World Cup publications will be on sale in bookstores soon, earliest end of April. If not mistaken, Dunhill will produce limited editions for distribution to its consumers.

Folks...betting pool? No lah, chang wont allow that here. Besides difficult to control, must bring in the professional bookies but then we'll be in trouble with the law. Unless your bookies wanna offer his services for charity lah...

OK. Merseyside derby review coming up...

[cherry]

I heard Klang have lot of bookies but I still prefer to use makan treat among friends as a reward rather than money... I think I learned a valueble lesson during the EuroCup 2004 when I tipped to one of my customers for the quarter final match between Czech Republic against Greece and my customer lost RM5K

Thank Tee, I'm really happy to hear that I'll surely want to get a copy of that book (Dunhill) and there is still ample time for me to save money...

[Jose Mourinho]

Chelsea have completed the signing of striker Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan for a fee of around £30m.
The 29-year-old signed a four-year contract on Wednesday after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.

"I am here for the challenge and the excitement of the Premier League," said the Ukraine captain.

Because the exact fee has not been disclosed, it is not known whether it beats the £30m Manchester United gave Leeds in 2002 for Rio Ferdinand.

It is however a club record fee for Chelsea, eclipsing the £24.5m they paid for Lyon's Michael Essien in 2005.

Chelsea manager Mourinho said: "Today is a day when the dream became reality. Andriy has always been my first choice for Chelsea since I arrived. "Before it was not possible, now it is for real. He has great qualities, ambition, discipline, tactical awareness and of course he is a great goalscorer.

Shevchenko becomes Chelsea's third signing of the summer after midfielder Michael Ballack from Bayern Munich and Feyenoord striker Salomon Kalou. Mourinho is also reported to be interested in signing Real Madrid and Brazil defender Roberto Carlos.

Source: BBC Sports Online (1.6.2006)

Anybody willing to bet that Chelsea would not win the Priemership title again next season?

[slappy]

Chelsea have completed the signing of striker Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan for a fee of around £30m.
The 29-year-old signed a four-year contract on Wednesday after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.

"I am here for the challenge and the excitement of the Premier League," said the Ukraine captain.

Because the exact fee has not been disclosed, it is not known whether it beats the £30m Manchester United gave Leeds in 2002 for Rio Ferdinand.

It is however a club record fee for Chelsea, eclipsing the £24.5m they paid for Lyon's Michael Essien in 2005.

Chelsea manager Mourinho said: "Today is a day when the dream became reality. Andriy has always been my first choice for Chelsea since I arrived. "Before it was not possible, now it is for real. He has great qualities, ambition, discipline, tactical awareness and of course he is a great goalscorer.

Shevchenko becomes Chelsea's third signing of the summer after midfielder Michael Ballack from Bayern Munich and Feyenoord striker Salomon Kalou. Mourinho is also reported to be interested in signing Real Madrid and Brazil defender Roberto Carlos.

Source: BBC Sports Online (1.6.2006)

Anybody willing to bet that Chelsea would not win the Priemership title again next season?

Mourinho posting Mourinho, huh.

It's easy when Mourinho (referring to the special one, not you) has the russian oil monies to splurge. Isn't Shevchenko, kinda old to justify a 30mil pound price tag?

Mourinho has probably signed more underperformers than great players since he became manager. The good ones, backbone of Chelsea, Lampard, Terry are inherited.

Mourinho is really living fantasy football in reality. Can spend all those money without batting an eyelid.

[donkey]

I think b4 Chelsea wins the title next season, Roman is already broke.. that crazy fella seems wanting to spend all the money..(maybe already got planning to leave the club)