European Football team competitions 2016/17

[Zidane]

Very disappointing for The Gunners.I thought they would lose but not get thumped.FA Cup is all that's left for them now.....might not even qualify for next years Champions League.....the end of the Wenger era ?

[747man]

Andy............the end of the Wenger era ?.....He's JUST Last Week be given a NEW 2 Year Contract.....Keep up at The Back Laddie !!!

[BobHelm]

That could be true 747, but it is not something that the BBC is privy to..
Quote after last night's match in todays Sport section..

Wenger's Emirates future is uncertain with his contract up at the end of the season. Can he overcome this latest setback?

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38988612

[Zidane]

Andy............the end of the Wenger era ?.....He's JUST Last Week be given a NEW 2 Year Contract.....Keep up at The Back Laddie !!!

Alan,who has told you that ? The same guy who told you Juan Mata was a "done deal" probably ?

Arsenal were hopeful he would sign a new deal by the end of the season but that was before last nights shocking result !

"The Gunners board are hoping the manager will commit his future before the end of the season.
A two year deal is being lined up for the international break in two months' time.
As a result, it would mean Wenger's continued role is confirmed earlier than previously anticipated, as Arsenal were apparently going to wait until the summer." Daily Express

[stattointhailand]

Contract oh yes, that's the bit of paper whose sole use is to tell the taxman how much you "officially" earn :-"

Payet had one of them at West Ham, and Big Sam with England and Gary Rowett at Birmingham etc etc

Search me why they bother to spend weeks arguing about this and that before they finally sign the bloomin' things, and then as soon as something happens they completely ignore it

[747man]

Alan,who has told you that ?............Andy An Arsenal Fan ( Friend of Mine )But He was.....

[Zidane]

The pressure mounts on Arsene Wenger.......and 747man ! :-"

Wenger out.jpg (3.15 KiB) Viewed 1288 times

[stattointhailand]

Man Utd v St Etienne live from 02:30 PPTV (channel 36) and a comedy rerun of last nights fiasco in Munich from 21:45 tonight :-"

[747man]

The pressure mounts on Arsene Wenger.......and 747man ! :-"

Wenger out.jpg

Absoloutley NO Pressure on Me Andy, I'm on the Costa Del Nong Khai Mate ... :-" :-"

[BobHelm]

Arsene Wenger: Decision on Arsenal manager's future at end of season

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38991573

You don't want to believe what your maes tell you 747!!!!

[stattointhailand]

Especially COCKNEY ones


tee heee bleedin' sousers 'll believe anyfink yer tell em

Mata's a done deal
Wenger's signed a new contract




even 'ad one who believed Liverpool could win the league :-"

[stattointhailand]

From Daily Record ... "Celtic have joined forces with other European clubs to push for an expanded 48-team Champions League group stage."

This at a time when Jose has started to whinge about the fixture congestion and other managers are saying that Chelsea this year and Man Utd previously have an advantage because of the lack of Euro matches getting in the way.

If Statts was in charge the "Champions League" would revert to a knock out comp with the Champions of Europes top 8 leagues only represented. Open Draw with winners of 2 leg ties progressing to the s/finals and the open draw with winners of 2 leg S/F progressing to final. No fixture congestion as the finalists only play a max of 5 games.
Champions of ALL other leagues in Europe (excluding Israel who have NEVER had any team play their matches in Europe anyway) to play for a Champions Shield with similar open draws and knock out rounds dependent on how many minnow nations are competing.

[BobHelm]

United should have done enough in the first leg to go through.
Spurs get a reasonable away result, although it is impossible to guess what sort of side will turn up for the second leg. They were favourites going into this tie & put out a pretty much 1st. 11 - then played 'average' to put it kindly..

[BobHelm]

[stattointhailand]

19:45 Wed evening is a rerun of the Man Utd v St Etienne Ist Leg on PPTV (Channel 36), followed by live coverage of the second leg starting from 23:30.

Not sure about the time (it says 02:00) Wed night/Thurs morn Sevilla v Leicester. Perhaps they are starting their pre game show early so as to have it follow on from the Man Utd game?)


Bit off topic but advance notice Chelsea v Swansea live from 21:30 Sat on PPTV (Ch 36)

[Zidane]

Manchester City 5 Monaco 3
From the BBC.
Manchester City came from behind twice to secure a crucial two-goal advantage after a classic Champions League last-16 tie against Monaco at Etihad Stadium.
On a night of fluctuating fortunes and thrilling football, Pep Guardiola's side were on the precipice in this tournament before dragging themselves back to ensure they go into the return in Monaco with a priceless lead.
Raheem Sterling gave Manchester City a 26th-minute advantage after fine work by Leroy Sane but Monaco proved their threat to lead before half-time through Radamel Falcao's header and Kylian Mbappe's powerful rising drive.
Falcao then saw a penalty saved by Willy Caballero just after the break before Monaco keeper Danijel Subasic's blunder gave Sergio Aguero his first goal.
Colombian Falcao, back to his best after failed loan spells at Manchester United and Chelsea, then lifted a brilliant chip over Caballero to put Monaco back in front - but this was the signal for City to launch an enthralling attacking salvo.
Aguero - who felt he was denied a first-half penalty after he tumbled under a challenge from Subasic - volleyed in another equaliser before John Stones made amends for poor defending in the build-up to Falcao's second by putting City ahead on the night with a sliding finish at the far post after 77 minutes.
Man of the match Sane handed City that two-goal cushion with a simple tap-in from Aguero's pass eight minutes from time - but Monaco's vibrant attacking ambition means this tie is far from over.

In the other Champions League tie,Atletico Madrid look well in control after winning 4-2 away at Bayer Leverkeusen.

[BobHelm]

Juventus seem to have their tie in the bag after a good away leg.
Leicester pulled a goal back near the end to give themselves a real chance in their home leg. However their form is so poor this year nothing is certain.

FC Schalke, Fenerbahçe & United had all done the hard work in their first legs & progress.
The bad news for United was that last night's goalscorer, Mkhitaryan, went off for injured & so is doubtful for Sunday. Eric Bailly also had an early bath due to 2 yellows, but the rest was training ground stuff for United..

[BobHelm]

Spurs disappointingly go out. Their attempt was certainly not aided by Ali being dismissed before half time. He is, clearly, a talented young footballer but has a all too swift temper on the pitch.
Here he felt that he should have been given a free kick, was not, argued with the ref & then launched into a wild tackle when the chat got nowhere..

Elsewhere...
Apoel Nicosia claim a bit of a surprise win against Athletic Bilbao.
Roma did all the hard work away & so progress in a tough on paper clash against Villarreal.

The draw for the last 16 takes place in Nyon later today with the two lgs being played on 9th. & 16th. March..

[BobHelm]

The draw..

fixtures.png (22.11 KiB) Viewed 1053 times

Jose is not happy with it & suggests that the Russians will be tough opponents.
I would think that it is likely that he is more worried about the travel aspect as United have a tough start to the March schedule..

[BobHelm]