Welcome back,
It's time for the Question of the Week again, with the deadline being 3pm on Monday.
English clubs have never looked stronger in European competition.
In the Uefa Cup, Tottenham Hotspur - who have become thrilling to watch in attack, but can cause heart attacks in
defence - have reached the quarter-finals.
They have now scored an amazing 23 times in their last seven games.
Can they outscore their opponents all the way to the Uefa Cup final?
Newcastle held a 4-2 lead against AZ Alkmaar going into the second leg of their Round of 16 knockout game this morning
(after press time).
While Manchester United are hot favourites to land the English Premiership trophy, they, Chelsea, and Liverpool are all in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Liverpool face tricky Dutch side PSV, while Man U take on Italian upstarts Roma.
Chelsea, though, face a hard prospect in Valencia, but that's why they bought Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko.
The Postman's Question of the Week: Do you see English clubs sweeping both European Cups, and why do you fancy the teams you pick to do it?
Reply by 3pm on Monday, in not more than 200 words, please (click link right for auto word counter).
Post your views here by clicking on "comments" below my sign-off here, or e-mail to The New Paper's sports desk under the title "Dear Postman" (by clicking the link on the right).
At your service,
Ernest Luis
The Postman
The New Paper
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29 comments:
Looking at the fixtures, it is easier to see a possible all-English final for the Champions League than seeing Spurs winning the UEFA Cup. No offence Spurs fans, but as much as I would like to see English clubs winning both European competitions, I'm afraid their defence could not live up to the remaining teams in the competition who have good pedigree.
As much as they can score at will, but if they cannot buck up in shoring up their defence, the dream of lifting the trophy will just be a distant one.
With their apparent Jekyll-like performances in the Champions League, I can see Liverpool advancing to the Final where they will face AC Milan again in a repeat of the 2005 final or against United.
Football purists would definitely like to watch the latter and I believe a win for an English team in the Champions League would cement the Premiership's rise in standards even further and the place to play for professional footballers. Cos if trends were to be followed, footballers normally move to leagues where teams last won the big kahuna...
Due to Newcastle's exit this morning, we have one less English team to contemplate.
Let's begin with the UEFA Cup. With teams like Bremen who played in the Champs League earlier and Sevilla who's currently challenging Barca in the La Liga, I think Spurs would face a hard fight just to reach the finals. As you put it, attacking wise, they have no problems but their defence has been spilling goals. Moreover, their squad strength could be severely tested with games coming up thick and fast. However, if they play the game with the Brazilian mentality-"u score 1, i score 2" and Berbatov continues his goalscoring feats, we may see Spurs in the latter stages. But still, highly unlikely i feel.
For the Champs League, on paper, Pool has the easiest match. With his pedigree in Europe and wellversed knowledge of continental football, I say, Benitez have the best chance of the English teams to lift the cup. In addition, being out of all competitions at this stage frees the squad of excessive exertions.
Man U should follow suit. Roma seemed lucky in the previous round against Lyon. But beating Lyon is never tough as Real Madrid can testify. The Italians are firmly in second place in the Serie A and could have the luxury of resting key players in domestic combat. With the classic italian defence mentality in them, they could be hard to crack down. As opposed to Man U who is still fighting neck-to-neck with Chelsea, their squad could be tested to the limit. However, Man U seldom fail to score and if the defence keep it tight, Man U should still go through.
Valencia for me is as unpredictable as say, the weather. They can knock out the likes of Inter and the next, be held to a draw in La Liga. But they have proven hard to beat en route to the quarters. Chelsea, after their injury crisis midseason are starting to find their way again with 6 wins on the trot in the EPL. They might not be playing spectacular football (bar 3-3 against Spurs) but the efficient machine has been grinding out 1-0 wins. With Terry back, all the Blues need is a goal or two for Drogba.
It will be a good quarterfinals for the English. My personal favourite for the cup would be Liverpool simply because its squad would be the most well rested and Benitez is almost unmatchable tactically in Europe.
cheers,
kel
I would love to see English clubs bringing back both the European trophies but it wouldn't be that easy as it looks.
Although Spurs have scored an amazing 23 goals in their last seven, their defence is letting them down. Look at their last four matches, having scored 13 goals and conceded 10 goals. With teams like Sevilla who was last year's champions, Benfica who dumped Liverpool out of last season's Champions League and teams playing the Champions League earlier like Leverkusen and Bremen, it'll be hard for Spurs. I think Sevilla wiull retain their title.
In the Champions League, there are 3 English club left, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. It looks easy, on paper for Liverpool as they meet PSV in the quarter-finals. As said by Liverpool's manager, Rafa Benitez "No team is easy in this stage of the competition. Each team proved themselves by reaching to this stage of the competition." PSV's manager Koeman, who managed Benfica last season, dumped Liverpool out of the competition last season. Maybe it's time for a little sweet vegengance for Liverpool.
Chelsea will face Valencia, and i see Valencia knocking the English Champions out of the competition. Valencia plays a defensive game quite similar to the style of Liverpool, and this is what Chelsea don't like. Chelsea will get frustrated and this will prove their downfall. Villa and Morientes have been in a great form this season so expect them to score.
United will face tricky italian side Roma, and it will be anyone's game for this match.
I think Liverpool have the greatest chance to bring back the Cup. Their determination which proved a point during last 2 years finals against Milan, and their fans at Anfield is one of the best, if not the best will be the key to their success in the Champions League.
Much as I like to see two English teams duke it out in the Super Cup in Autumn, I believe that Spurs does not have what it takes to win the UEFA Cup.
One, they relied too much on Berbatov to deliver the goals. Once he's out,there's no way Defoe or Mido can step in.
Two, Paul Robinson is not what he used to be. They will have trouble dealing with flamboyant teams, such as Sevilla.
Lastly, Spurs is still fighting for the last UEFA spot in the EPL. They are at eighth place.One point below Reading and Everton.They will definitely be exhausted fighting on two fronts.
In the Champions League, there's a 25% probability that at least one English Team will make it to Athens. With Chelsea and Liverpool duking out in the semis a real possibility, the catch is whether Man Utd can break the necks of Milan or Bayern, after winning against Roma. With Milan having a goal drought and Bayern league woes, I guess Man Utd will go through and yes, there will be an all-English Champions League final in Athens.
My guess would be Sir Alex lifting the Cup rather than Mourinho or Benetiz because if he can do it 1999, I'm sure he can perform another miracle in 2007. He still has Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The chances of seeing English clubs getting their hands on the 2 most coveted trophies in European football is as good as seeing Sir Alex aiming his boots at one of his players again.Slim chances but not impossible.
Firstly in the much less glamorous UEFA cup.The sole English surviving team,Spurs have to overcome teams with great European football pedigree.Teams like Benfica,Leverkusen and Bremen have been playing in Europe year in year out.Their players are seasoned European campaigners,this is where Spurs young players will lose out in terms of experience and not forgetting the absence of their influential captain King which will definately not help the situation.One last thing,the high-flying cup holder Sevilla is still in the competition too,even their custodian help out to score,fated to remain and defend their title perhaps.
Next to the more exciting Champions League.This is where the highest probability of an English club will lift the holy grail of European football,and maybe even an all-English final affairs.All teams in the last 8 have qualities in them.People say Liverpool have the easiest tie with PSV but it might be not the case as Ronald Koeman seem to be one having an upper hand when it comes to playing English sides,however if Liverpool play to their strength going through to next round shouldn't be a problem.While Man U and Chelsea both have tricky ties against Roma and Valencia respectively,both English teams have to depend on their home ground advantage to make the difference.If both teams make it to semis,thats at least one English teams in the final and left the last spot to either Bayern or Milan,both tough nuts to crack.One depending on Kaka and another living off Makaay.If either of them have an off-day,thats the end of the journey for them.
Its really down to actual performance and a bit of luck at this stage now.
Cheers
On the paper, an all-English Champion League is possible. There are no easy opponents left in the final eight. Of the 3, Liverpool has the easiest task and the least distractions (out running for league, Fa cup, league cup) and should be able to move on to the semi unless of course, they perform an "Arsenal disintegration".
Chelsea and Man U are still fighting on 3 fronts. With fixtures piling up for their players, fatigue could be their achilles heel. It will be a tough call and one of them won't make it to the semi and hopefully, it will not be my beloved Chelsea. From the semis onwards, it will be anyone's game and it will boil down to whichever team desires to lift the trophy more!
As for UEFA cup, I think the possibility of another Spanish team winning is higher than Spurs winning the cup. We all know how impressive the Spurs attack is and how terok (lousy) their defense is. Quality opposition will perform a "Middlesbrough 4-1" on Spurs unless of course, they can rectify their leaks at the back. 18 goals conceded in last 9 games is no laughing matter! Anyone still banking on Spurs?
To win European competitions, teams need to be tactically savvy, be defensively sound, are experienced and possess players capable of making a difference. An English European champion is possible but not in the UEFA cup.
Spurs’s defensive frailties and the lack of experience in a young team will be their undoing even with their attacking verve. With the likes of Sevilla, Benfica and Bremen still in the competition, Spurs will need lots of luck and better defending to win the competition.
The 3 English sides left in the UCL stand a great chance of winning the competition. They have a wealth of talent and experience as well as astute managers who have won the competition before. If Chelsea is able to overcome Valencia, I do see them as possible champions.
Judging from the signings they’ve made this season, it’s a clear indication where their priorities lie. With key players back from injury, this could be their year. Having put their recent blip behind them, the team is slowly gathering momentum and recent displays have shown they are difficult to beat.
While Liverpool and United are worthy winners but the Blues look likely champions.
Last season, many of us were contemplating whether the English could make a clean sweep of both European titles when two English clubs (Boro & Arsenal) reached both finals. In the end, that didn't happen as both teams fell to classier Spanish opponents.
However, it could be the English’s lucky season this time round.
In the UEFA Cup, Sevilla and Tottenham are possibly the two strongest teams left. But with the distraction of the domestic league title chase for Sevilla, I feel this could hand Tottenham a slight edge.
In the Champions League, Rafa Benitez has made Liverpool a force to be reckoned with in Europe, after dispatching Spanish and Italian giants (including Juve, Milan & Barca) in recent seasons. Thus compared to Chelsea and Man U, both of whom have been knocked out by Spanish and Italian teams (Barca & Milan) in the past two years (and face no easier tasks in facing teams from similar countries this time), I feel Liverpool has the best shot out of the three.
(However, I'm not too sure about how Liverpool would fare against yet another "lesser" Ronald Koeman team, so I sort of have mixed feelings on this.)
Moreover, it could really be either a case of deja vu or revenge for the English this time, so… I won’t be betting on anything!
Tottenham always have a habit of winning 3-2 and they are unglamorous beating West Ham only by a goal that Salteri tap-in that even a kid can simply tap in.Its still quite a bitter pill to swallow seeing a team play so well but yet beaten by the second-best team of the might.I would prefer Newcastle to win the trophy.
You people really think I was dead, didn't you? As my favourite wrestler Shawn Michaels would say, 'DON'T HUNT WHAT YOU CAN'T KILL'. I bet most of you here can't even play a simple street soccer game. Moreover, scoring from distance. I would like to thank the pretty student nurses and nurses for making my stay (for an illness I never had) a pleasurable one.
Anyways, Spurs will not win UEFA Cup.
Manchester United will be outclassed, outsmarted and outstyled by my favourite Italian team, AS Roma. I like the way Francesco Totti gathers 2 or 3 men around him and with a classy backheel, ball is released to another Roma player.
Liverpool can do anything to PSV, they will lose in the semis or final anyways.
As for my beloved Chelsea (can't you people believe there's a joke in my town where Chelsea wants me for 11 million pounds. My father laughed it off by claiming I have to play 3 months loan deal for Portsmouth first. Yes, my old man supports Portsmouth), I expect them to win the Champions League. Now that the Bermuda Triangle of Carvalho-Terry-Makelele is back in business, Lampard's passes will lead to Drogba's goals.
And if you guys has a problem with that, you will find out why I called myself 'the write off'.
oh hey, q-s is back after the semi-ban..
anyway, back to the topic. there's a higher possibility of an English Cup winning the Champions League than Spurs suddenly becoming UEFA champions. Spurs have the skills that can help them go far in the competition, but with a brittle defence, it's hard to imagine they'll even reach the finals. spurs have a lot of young, budding talents like huddlestone, but this is where the youths concept becomes a two-bladed knife for them: it can either help them or "destroy" them. with these young players, spurs can unleash their typical fast game, with speedy players tearing down the wings. the players also don't tire easily. but with youth generally comes inexperience. these boys have rarely been on such a stage before where they are ranked among the best to compete in the not-so-glamorous UEFA cup, but still an important competition. they're up against teams who have UEFA Cup experience tucked away under their belts(or their shorts). i don't think the spurs boys can beat them.
the Champions League is becoming more fun to watch, with 3 english teams competing. i know most of you people are rooting for liverpool to beat PSV easily and then lift the Cup for the 6th time (and rub it in MU's and Chelsea's face). but don't forget that you Reds are facing the same team that knocked the Gunners out of the competition, so that's to say they're no pushover. but if statistics are anything to go by, liverpool should make it through. chelsea and Man Utd are facing rather tough opponents in Valencia and Roma. i know that most of us will dismiss the quality of these two teams, but hey, if they're lacking quality, why are they still in the League? anyway, chelsea will probably have an easier job than Man Utd, who is now plagued with injuries to some of the key players. if mourinho doesn't mess up his tactics, or even if he does, they'll still win because aren't they famous for the last-minute 1-0 wins? lampard to save chelsea again. manchester united will have close fights with Roma. maybe Roma will win the one at Italy, but Man Utd will bounce back and produce a stunner at Old Trafford. so chelsea should face liverpool, and maybe Man Utd would face AC Milan, the more desperate team compared to Bayern. what should be definite is that at least one english club will be in the finals. man utd's record against AC Milan is very rabak (Malay slang for horrible); we always keep losing to them. but if Shrek, Ronnie and Co. play it out well, and decide to make it a nice parting gift for Ferguson, an unlikely player will snip in a win for the Devils; most probably John O'Shea. chelsea is just bored of playing second fiddle to Man Utd, so Jose decides he wants to shut the critics up and see his team back to normalcy i.e. hogging headlines for spectacular wins. they manage to beat Liverpool on penalties. then they'll face MU in the finals. both teams will slug their guts out for this final, especially if MU have claimed both the Premiership and the FA Cup. MU will score first, then get complacent, then Chelsea will equalise thorugh a sudden burst of shevchenko's magic. chelsea will press on, MU will struggle. then Fergie makes a clever switch and MU are raring to go. 10 minutes left on the clock, MU equalise with a Ronaldo header. chelsea panics because they dont want it to enter penalties. MU grabs the chance and slot in one more. the whistle blows and we complete the Treble!
ok, so that's a rather naive hope from a MU fan. i really want that to happen. but thinking it over, i'm going to be the devil's advocate and say that Spurs will win the UEFA Cup, but the Champions League will be Milan's.
And I thought it was supposed to be, if we got a problem with him, he has two words for us: "S*** It!!!"... LOL...
I would like to invite Q-S for a game of street soccer where I play almost every Sunday evenings at the Hougang Ave 7 street soccer court in front of block 341. I would like to experience and learn some skills from him since he speaks like quite the pro... That too if he has the balls to come down and play...
Or maybe The Postman can organise a meet-up / kickabout amongst us at The Cage. It would sure be fun to play with one another rather than just comment in here. Who knows we could unearth some raw gems??? I'd certainly want the ya-ya ones to turn up just to see if actions speak louder than words...
Or if empty vessels make the most noise... :P
Encik Pujangga Malam, boleh beritahu saya di mana bas dari Hougang Interchange boleh pergi sana. I'll come alone at first, then with friends. Problem is, my friends are so poor, they don't have money to buy water or top-up their transit link card. Or you pick me up at Hougang Interchange. I'll go there when I'm free.
Suka wrestling jugak, ya? Haha.
Don't i dont see english clubs sweeping both cups,i only fancy liverpool or chealsea winning it. AS for chealsea,Morrino has yet have to won the champion's league with chealsea and i am pretty sure he wants to finally win it for chealsea.Whereeas for liverpool, this is thier only chance of silverware this season and die-hard fans like me would be utterly disappointed if liverpool end this season trophyless.With PFV's Alex out for the big match against liverpool,the reds have a good chance of beating PSV.
And Ballack would shine for chealsea and prove thier worth.Man U would beat AS Roma, but i don't think Man U would see of Millan and Muich plus their injury crisis, they just just might end the season throphy less.With a possible chealsea versus liverpool semi-finals, i think liverool would just mick it from chealsea at anfield.
Tottemham would not even make it to the Semis as Sevilla have Enzo Maresca,a key mid-fielder who is currenly in in pop form and Sevilla would unlock the spurs defence to take the tie.I think liverpool would edge out unique or Millan in the finals.
Haha been busy the past week. I know it’s bit late to talk about the midweek question now.. Pardon me but I just want to say is managers should curb their mouths (even though it is difficult to do so in games of such passion). However, if they don’t, the media is the one that is making the most out of it. I mean, if the media did no coverage about the Mourinho-Riley incident, the fans would have no idea about it, much less to learn of a new Portuguese word to swear.
Not only do managers shoot their mouths around, but players too with both their words and actions. Players (like Rooney) would probably make more of an impression on youngsters (with his unrestrained gestures) since they are on the field , immediately captured by cameras and screened worldwide.
To force them to be gentlemen is quite impossible. Even clear-headed Zizou couldn’t resist doing the headbutt in the World Cup Final. Let’s just enjoy the soccer & not be distracted by other less-worthy ornaments.
An English club in both the Finals is possible. It will be a long shot to see 2 English Champions.
Though Spurs do look shaky at the back, I must say they do have the creative attacking potential to see themselves through to the finals.
All 3 managers have won the champions league before. Only Mourinho has not won it with his present club. Though Chelsea followed by Man Utd, has the supposedly more difficult games, that doesn’t mean Liverpool is the team with the best prospects of entering the Finals. When it comes to European matches (especially at this stage), what’s down on the paper is not as important anymore. The crucial elements are the player’s mentality-cum-performance on that day and the manager’s tactics.. & perhaps luck.
I would fancy Chelsea to be that one in the final match. Mourinho has proven shrewd in his substitutions in the last 2 matches against Porto. That’s what you need: bravery and the confidence. Without Terry, Chelsea have been rather vulnerable. However, they do have the never-say-die attitude. Even when they are down, they will not let themselves be out. (A quadruple is still possible for them)
English clubs winning both competitions? Not a chance. Just remember last season. Oh how almost everyone in Singapore looked down on the Spanish clubs(who are Sevilla anyway!)
The English clubs will not win both competitions simply because of the huge amount of games they are playing. Jose Mourinho has already pointed out that Valencia will play only two games prior to their encounter compared to Chelsea's four!
Sevilla will about retain their UEFA Cup and AC Milan will make up for what has been a disappointing season by winning the trophy they threw away two years back.
The Premiership is not as good as we make it out to be. This season will be another reminder of that.
q-s match report
Chelsea Vs Sheffield United
What a goal by Shevchenko. He got the ball, aimed it perfectly and it's a goal.
Kalou's goal was a simple tap-in.
Ballack's goal was a routine header.
I'm impressed with the Terry-Carvalho-Makelele defensive triangle.
Arjen Robben did superb on the wings. Sometimes he's on the left, sometimes he's on the right.
Petr Cech was kind of average. With some decent saves.
Disappointed with Kalou, Wright-Phillips and even Frank Lampard.
I asked some student nurses what they think of Frank Lampard and they go, 'He's soooo cute,' Or were they talking about me. Just kidding.
The key word here is Chelsea got CLASS.
This report is brought to you by www.geocities.com/syahrein81/index.html
Thank you.
Just like Vette, I leave it late for mid-week topic.
Managers must open their mouths to make it More Beautiful Game.
Bad influence on impressionable youths will be the players who dives, challenging and confronting referees decisions, fighting among players or wanting to thrash up referee, pretend to be seriously injured get opponents red-carded out of the game and purposely injure the other team's players.
From: Chester Low
I will use my 2 methods to tell you whether English Teams win UEFA Cup and Champions League together in the same season.
Tottenham Hotspur wins Eurpoean Trophy in Even Decades and winning years end add up together must be 7 from 2 diffent Even decades.
Tottenham win 1963 European Cup Winners Cup of Even Decade and 1984 UEFA Cup.Winning year end with 3 of 60's add up winning year end with 4 of 80's 3 + 4 = 7 of 2000's which is 2007.Therefore Tottenham Hotspurs wins UEFA Cup.
My 1212 IQ Method or 1st and 2nd English winners of European Cup /Champions league will determine which English team wins 2007 Champions League.
1 or 1st English team to win European Cup is Manchester United which won it in 1968.
2 or 2nd English team to win European Cup is Liverpool in the year 1977.
1 or 1st English team to win Champions League is Manchester United that happens in 1999.
2 or 2nd English team to win Champions League is Liverpool in 2005.
Therefore 1 or 1st English team that is Manchester United will win 2007 Champions League.
Because of last seaon's English teams were Losing Finalists.Therefore, this season will be English UEFA Cup and Champions League Winners.They are TottenHam Hotspur and Manchester United.
From: Chester Low
If Chelsea overcomes Valencia, they will be favorites to be European champions. Mourinho knows he has his work cut out and it's going to be a battle. However, Chelsea has shown in recent matches they are back to their best.
They are a powerful and intimidating side and are the form team at the moment. With key players back and fully fit and summer signings Shevchenko, Kalou and Ballack finally showing their pedigree, they are the English side’s best bet for the trophy.
Spurs will be the dark horses for the UEFA cup. However, they will need lots of luck and better defending if they are to win it. They need to keep their best players fit and work on defending as a unit.
However, their lack of experience and a quality squad may prove to be their undoing and experienced campaigners like Sevilla will look to exploit that fully. At this stage, every team has a chance of winning it but I don’t see the Lily Whites doing it this season.
Some afterthought on the foul words by Mourinho -why is he the only manager mentioned? I am quite sure that the other managers have been shooting their mouths too. Mourinho was brave enough to admit it. And the referee really did not care much about it. He probably received many verbal attacks from other managers and players...
I think Liverpool and Chelsea has the quality and experience to go all the way to Champion League finals. Spurs is too unpredicatble for UEFA cup final. Sevilla will probabley take that.
The fresh wave of optimism that surrounds English football stems from its recent European exploits, suggesting that the Premiership has indeed come of age in terms of establishing itself as the dominant league in the continent.
However, I believe the premature hype of an all-English Champions League final and bullish hopes of Tottenham emerging triumphant in the UEFA Cup are not an accurate indicator of how far the English has arrived in Europe.
No doubt the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are capable of beating any other team on their day, but it remains a fact that inconsistency and the lack of big-match composure results in them continually falter where it matters most.
Although Arsenal, Liverpool and even Middlesbrough did fly the English flag high in previous seasons, it will be an uphill task for the English contingent to pull off such a remarkable feat similar to what Barcelona and Sevilla achieved last year.
The Premiership remains immensely popular and entertaining, but when it comes to the crunch, not all teams can successfully rise to the occasion in Europe. An English victory at the Champions League final staged at Athens may look promising, but certainly not easy as it seems.
as u can see from the bolton match,
man utd dun even need regular team players playing to win 4-1.
and it wasnt even a penalty..
so its darn obvious that the treble is heading to wards old trafford.
want to know why?
liverpool take on psv who knocked out arsenal who themselves in a space on a week, knocked out liverpool cold and took them out of both carling and fa cups!
chelsea take on valencia, who are very clinical,and tactically disciplined, mourinho is gonna have a horid time, even if he gets thru valencia, his squad cant last the full competition.
terry,lampard spat on wages..
mourinho spat with roman..
and roman's divorce!
what the heck...
uefa cup?
newcastle and spurs look strong contenders,
spurs can score,
newcastle can grind.
but, one thing is for sure,
defending champ sevilla proves a tough nut to crack..
get thru them and the title's there for the taking..
MAN UTD TO TAKE THE TREBLE..
GLORY GLORY MAN UTD
Well even if Chelsea do get past Valencia,they might have to face their cup menace,Liverpool once again.As we know the record of Chelsea against Liverpool in cup competition isn't that great and Liverpool has always been a good cup team except for this year cup exits under the hands of Arsenal.
So let say Chelsea passed the Spainish test.The one coming next is even tougher.The route to lifting that Champions crown won't be easy for the Blues.
Spurs have drawn Sevilla in the next round.2 of the most likely UEFA cup winners perhaps.Whoever win this tie will be the hot favourite in my eyes followed by Bremen.
Liverpool will dispatch PSV like they have done so earlier in the group stages. They always seem to underestimate opposition in the League but raise their game for the big European ties.
Valencia is not a very consistent side, having just lost at home to unfancied Racing and losing 6 out of 14 away La Liga matches. Expect Chelsea to grab a win at home and at least playing out a draw at the Mestella. With Jose at the helm, Chelsea will be too strong for Valencia.
United have shown earlier in the group stages against Benfica, they are still able to grind out results. Having missed out on the latter stages of the competition for a few seasons, the Devils’ hunger will see them overcome Roma and then either Milan or Munich, 2 sides that are pale shadows of their glorious past.
With this, United will meet either Pool or Chelsea in the final. United to win.
Kanoute will want to show Spurs what they missed out on. Spurs may be scoring for fun but Sevilla have a tight defense at home, just 8 conceded in 12 games. Spurs’ leaking defense to see them lose the tie.
-Raymond Ng, 19, Man U fan
English clubs will make a clean sweep in Europe. 2007 belongs to them.
In the UEFA Cup, although Spurs is the only English team left, their strikers will help them win the cup. Spurs are presently leaking goals, but they are perfectly capable of parking a bus in front of their goal. This season, they beat defending EPL champions Chelsea, 2-1. Not all teams can boast to have scored against Chelsea, let alone beat them.
In the Champions League, an all-English final is on the cards.
Liverpool, on paper, have an easy tie against PSV, so they’ll win their quarter-final tie. Then in the semi-finals, they’ll play either Chelsea or Valencia, both with similar styles of play. Liverpool can overcome Chelsea, so they’ll overcome Valencia.
Man Utd’s mounting injury crisis means nothing. Their current position at the summit of the EPL shows they can triumph in the face of adversity. The weekend’s game at Bolton showed that midfielders like Park are adept scorers. Such prowess would see Man Utd through to the Champions League final.
It will be tricky, but Chelsea will overcome Valencia. With their mean defence (19 goals in 30 games), their “blue bus” will plug any leaks.
English clubs will sweep away other europe clubs to win the Champions League and Uefa Cup.Tottenham will be able to lift the Uefa cup because they are in good form and they have skilled players.But they should be aware of other strong teams such as Sevilla.
In the Champions League,I am sure Man Utd will win.With young stars like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo,Man Utd can succeed.
Md Helmi b Sarodin,13,student,Man Utd fan
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