A Week of European Delights

By Andy Jones

In a week where domestic football didn’t contain any real surprises, all eyes have been on the European competitions with some wonderful football on display by a top London team and no, I don’t mean Arsenal or even Chelsea (I would never give them that credit!) all jokes aside, I mean Fulham who took Juventus to pieces and have well and truly earned they’re way through to the next round and I truly hope that they go to win it, I’d much prefer them to Liverpool (the other English side left) as I think it would mean a lot more to their fans and to their club as a whole.

The Champions League draw for the quarterfinals was also made today and in case you haven’t seen them, this is how it all stands:
Lyon v Bordeaux
The all French tie, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top, my gut feeling is telling me Bordeaux even though they are considered the underdog, but with starlet Gourcuff pulling the strings we could be in for quite an enthralling match.
Bayern Munich v Manchester United 
A repeat of the ‘99 final, will it go all the way to extra time with Bayern one up and United needing two? I doubt it, expect Rooney to torment the Bayern defence, but don’t right Bayern off if Ribery and Robben are form with the work horse Schweinsteiger could see Bayern shock us all, but I doubt it.
Arsenal v Barcelona
Another final repeat, of course as a Arsenal fan I’ll be hoping it goes Arsenal’s way, but I have to be realistic and Barca are odds on favourite in this game.  Messi will no doubt be in everyone’s thoughts, but the media are sure to make a circus out of Theirry Henry returning to the Emirates, I expect the fans will give him a great welcome.
Inter Milan v CSKA Moscow
The last of the ties, with Inter supposedly getting the easiest opponent, but the Russians are home can be a very tough opposition, but we should expect Inter to just cruise through this match, but will they be able to go all the way, will Mourinho do what he couldn’t with Chelsea, a notable absentee this round.

What was also highlighted this week is Chelsea’s old legs looked rather lost against a fast, well organised and driven team. Are Chelsea on the way to becoming the new AC Milan, ageing superstars, an owner who no longer wants to spend, no fresh new faces and dark days approaching? For this season at least, no, they are still well in the League and are favourites to win, but all eyes will be on them in the summer, will it get shaken up, a number of players who are not needed are reportedly going to be sold, Ferreria, Belletti and such, but will we see one of the “big” players sold, a warning to the others that no one is safe and will we see a big marquee signing and Ancelotti given the funds to shape the team his way. I doubt it. I believe we will see an exodus of players leaving, but I don’t think we will see huge superstars arriving. United have the right balance of age and youth, while Arsenal seem to be acquiring that same balance. As for poor ol’ Liverpool, the sinking ship had a resurgence against Lille, but that’s a cut below the other “top three” with Liverpool looking more likely to be shown the door to exclusive “top four”.

But now that I have given my quick view on the Champions League, let me get back talking about English football. As I said this week has been dull, purely because all results went the way we would expect, no team surprised us or underperformed, the biggest news was Hull City sacking Phil Brown (who I commented on in my last post saying he should of been gone a long time ago, so I must assume their management took note of what I said) and Jermain Defoe tearing his hamstring and affecting England’s World Cup preperations.

Portsmouth may have new ownership with a consortium being led by Rob Lloyd, but it is too late for them, even if they win all their remaining games they are sure to be relegated and while Hull have appointed a new manager in Iain Dowie, they too are sure to be sent down, which leaves one final place left and I expect it to be filled by either Burnley or Wolves, I think West Ham have the players and the grit to survive.
Anyway next week my main focus will be the “Golden Oldies” of the Premier League, the players who you have seen begin as a squeaky clean player with a lack of facial hair to a squeaky clean player with a stubble and greying hair (that’s you Mr. Giggs).

But as per usual! Pick of the weekend games:
It must be Manchester United vs Liverpool, the two giants (even if one is fast falling) clash in what is sure to be an explosive game, Liverpool who are truly well and out of the running for the league have an opportunity to snag United and possibly stop United overtaking them on the total of League titles won, but the odds will be on United to trounce the Scousers, yet you have to be wary of a resurgent Torres and Gerrard, will it come down to the raging bull that is Rooney gliding in what is fast becoming a trademark header to the fleet of foot Fernando turning Vidic inside out before calmly slotting it home past Van De Sar, let’s wait and see.