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.

[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...

[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???

[Teeque]

OK. Another sizzling hot topic here:

Who do you think will succeed Sven 'who cant keep his pants up' Eriksson as the England Manager next year? British or foreigner? And why? Who are the favorites?

OK, your call guys....

[Teeque]

Oh cherry....lotsa people got burnt at Euro 2004. The betting houses (and bookies) made a killing in that competition and laughed their way silly to the bank. Unofficial estimates of that killing: 3bil Euro worldwide.

[lord]

But I'm tipping a Barca-Milan (AC or Inter) final now and Barca the overwhelming winners,

my guess the same. Barca looks very formidable this season, despite their draws once in a while. And Milan will make the finals all too interesting to watch.

Ass-enal is just farting around the country side given their performance in EPL. Though their young team of players look promising, I personally don't see any silver-ware in their closets in the next 3 years before their players 'mature'. I could also be wrong should Wenger get a good feeder for Henry in the mean time.

[cherry]

I guess I'm not the only one... Well, I hope people learned their lesson not to under estimate the underdogs(that includes Australia too... ) especially this coming world cup.

Its the last world cup for Sven as the controversial England Manager and I heard the current favourites are Martin O'Neill(Celtic ???), Alan Curbishly(Charlton - inexperince in the international tournament) and Guus Hiddink(Korea-World Cup 2002 - I kinda like this Dutch guy) . Gee, I'm bit clueless when it comes the the manager...