UCL 2007-8 - Mockba!

[Haroon]

OK guys .... we went out but still this is a beautiful competition and we Milan fans have experienced beautiful memories in it. Almost a decade has passed and yesterday it felt strange. Slighty incomplete. Since 2002-3 we have always looked forward with excitement to the Tuesday / Wednesday UCL QF nights and beyond in all but one season!

Magical times they were. Thanks Carlo. Thanks Milan for the exciting nights. We will be on this stage again at the dawn of the next decade. Until then we can chill, relax and watch these other games as these pretenders try to win it!!

Well ... for what it's worth ... let's discuss what is left of the UCL ... I've got the following thoughts on the games:


ARSE-A.NAL vs. Liverpool
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I inquired from a Gooner friend of mine the past few results of Arsenal ... they are listed below:

I've no stats but I'll go back game by game as much as I can remember.

2007-2008(EPL) Pool 1-1 Arsenal (Gerrard,Fabregas)
2006-2007(EPL) Pool 4-1 Arsenal (Crouch scored a hattrick)
2006-2007(Carling Cup) Pool 1-6 Arsenal (Baptista scored a hattrick)
2006-2007(FA Cup) Pool 1-3 Arsenal (Rosicky with 2 wonder goals)
2006-2007(EPL) Arsenal 3-0 Pool (Toure, Gallas, RvP)
2005-2006(EPL) Arsenal 2-1 Pool (Henry (2))
2005-2006(EPL) Pool 1-0 Arsenal (Luis Garcia)
2004-2005(EPL) Arsenal 3-1 Pool (Reyes(2),Fabregas and I guess it was Owen)
2004-2005(EPL) Pool 2-1 Arsenal


Here is what I wrote back (via e-mail) on a mail group to our football club members and colleagues:

Dated: March 18, 2008

Thanks. It's interesting to see that except for that 4-1 win for Pool, Arsenal has basically handed a lesson to Liverpool on most occassions. Now what counts is the run-up to the UCL big one. Pool or Arsenal going into the match with:

-> an undefeated streak
-> clean sheet mini record
-> a streak of goals scored in every match leading up to the big
-> continuous home or continuous away wins

is a disadvantage! A little bit of everything is good but a big streak of any of the above is bad. If I don't consider the above for now (they will be a factor) I can say that Arsenal will win the home leg. The pattern shows that Arsenal is likely to not lose at Anfield. Please remember that I am not comparing the forms of EPL to UCL as I strongly believe that EPL has nothing to do with the UCL when it comes to comparisons or forms.

Let's see now ....

Arsenal - Home Record

Game 1 - Win: 3-0
Game 2 - Win: 7-0
Game 3 - Win: 2-1

Now, watch that streak break against Milan in the Rd-16. Basically a new home win streak can start now.

Rd-16 vs. Milan: 0-0 Draw!


Liverpool - Away Record

Game 1 - Draw: 1-1
Game 2 - Loss: 1-2
Game 3 - Win: 0-4

Rd-16 vs. Inter: 0-1 Win!

Pool has lost on the last three trips to Ashburton Grove and scored two goals in three visits. 3-1, 2-1 and 3-0 wins for Arse. Combining that trend with the UCL away form of Pool and the home form of Arsenal .... it seems that Arsenal is lined up for a win in the first leg in London. Plus, I don't see Pool not losing to Arsenal three games in a row as the trend suggests it.

Right now, not considering the bullet points, Arsenal is lined up for a win. Let's see what happens in the remainder of this month to make this a sure fire prediction. The one bad thing in all this is that Pool has not won in London for a seemingly long time. Long streaks are bad! I'll give a concrete prediction at the end of March when I factor in everything and do some permutations!

Liverpool has 5 straight UCL wins (home and away) which is a longish undefeated streak. Arsenal has 1 win and an undefeated UCL streak of 3 games. Arsenal at this time is HEAVILY favoured to get a home win.

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continued in the next posts ...

[Haroon]

Wrote this a short while ago -> today ...


First of all ... tonight's game. ..... let's build up where we left off. Last night both away teams won and didn't concede. What a bad bloody sign for Liverpool. I thought that Arse would have the edge in the home leg in my previous mail. Now it's looking like a CONFIRMED stroll in the park for Arsenal. The omens are not good because I don't see Chelsea losing in Turkey so there is a 100.01% chance of Arsenal winning it!!! A home team has to win on UCL matchday. Last night no home team won. Tonight Fener have a 35% of winning it so it is firmly in Arsenal's favour to make the most of it.

However, I do think that Liverpool can pull a goal ... a freak goal. The away teams also scored three last night. Tonight, could be a freakish goal fest night IMO because one night the UCL has a lot of goals and the other night it is slow. Last night according to me was slow. Therefore, I think tonight we could see goals in London and Istanbul.

I am leaning towards a 3-1 if Pool score a goal or a 2-0 for Arsenal. Everything is set-up for Arsenal to probably close the tie tonight. The last time I was silently confident on this level for a win was Milan versus Pool in Athens. Everything lined up perfectly. The stars were symmetrical. Tonight is the same if you take everything into consideration.

Yes, Arsenal have a long 20 game undefeated streak at home but it is still a lot less than Bayern's streak or Utd.'s streak. Plus, the really bad streak for Liverpool is that they have won 8 of their 11 QFs. Ooops .... bad sign!


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I guess that one is what I have to say about tonight's big game.

[Haroon]

Wrote this earlier today as well regarding the feedback on Utd. Roma game last night ....



It was a good opportunistic performance but then again I am always SURPRISED when one of the Roman clubs (ROMA or LAZIO) win a UCL game at home. They are pis.s poor at home. What a terrible record they have at home!!! I haven't seen a big team like them be so ridiculously poor at home. Last night I expected a draw in all honesty but the way Roma missed their chances by Vucinic and Panucci while Utd. played a more calmer match made it a deserved victory. Slur Alice has learned a lot from the thrashing handed out to his sorry a.s.s by Milan last season.

Obviously Roma, has to be born 100 times to be a tour de force like Milan in the UCL. It's Milan's natural habitat. Obviously I am talking when we are in an era of success. Roma blew their tie last night. They will be competitive in the second leg and at best get a narrow win but it won't be enough. It's over for them now. UCL QF 2nd Legs are where heroes are born IMO. They are the best ties of the UCL. Most intense ones as well in general. We might see something exciting but don't bet on it. Utd. may stroll that one with a 2-1 win again.

However, you can read this and not be happy. I think that Utd. will reach the final and beat the over-rated Catalans in doing so but neither of them will win the European Cup for sure!!!

I will bet my left nut on... make that the right one on it. I will also bet both of Muneeb's nuts on it just for kicks! Why? It has nothing to do with a grudge or something. Far from it.

1. Utd. have reached two finals and won both of them in UCL history. Not a chance in hell that they will win the next one and make it 3/3. Just like Real are destined to lose their next final whenever they reach the final ... maybe in the next 20 years or so. If Real won 3/3 of their last finals then definitely Utd. is a step down so 3/3 is out of question be it this season or in the future. So grab some tissues in advance. It's the crying game for Slur Alice. One more thing ... the top scorer's team doesn't win the UCL. That team goes out in the Semis!!! Kaka was the top scorer and he won it for Milan last season so that is a once in a blue moon event!!! Even that one is heavily against Utd. so far as C. Ronaldo is top scorer!

2. Barcelona with their grand choking history have pulled off only their 2nd UCL win. But they have lost 4 (it's 4 or 5) finals as well. Now, a team with such a magnificent UCL choking history can't win the UCL in back to back finals (I mean consecutive finals for Barca). They have a prestige and pedigree to maintain so it will be back to choking in the finals. I mean for crying out loud ... they struggled against 10 man Arsenal for almost the entire game!!! LMAO. There can't be a bigger UCL choking club than them. Most over-rated by far when it comes to the UCL!!! So, even if by some miracle they reach it, it's game over in the final for them. I just don't see them winning back to back finals (i.e. 2) in 3 years!!! Just doesn't add up!!

So it's looking like good hunting season for Arsenal or Chelsea to claim the title. Well, if Liverpool reach the final, they will win it because it favours them as well.

Basically odds favour the trophy to come to London! I thought in September that this UCL had the Russian Chavs' name all over it. I hope they don't win it. Basically I would prefer Liverpool or Arsenal to win it. Liverpool winning is a personal thing. Arsenal winning would be justice for that stupid sending off in Paris that ruined the final for millions!! Stupid ref!

If you ask me ..... I want an Arsenal vs. Barca rematch with Onree choking all night and Arsenal winning 4-0!!! I wouldn't stop laughing for days!!!! Please please please ... let it be!!! Wan.ker ... do it!! It would be so ironic ... just like with Shev leaving and Milan winning. Awesome stuff!!!

Joking aside, one of the teams from the Arsenal half will win it IMO and there is an inkling that the trophy will go to London!

Obviously, if I see Drew, Simon, Ian or Dario celebrating with the UCL winner in the victory parade in London ... there will the wrath of Haroon awaiting!!

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Now as you can read from the above few posts ... there are some bold predictions there. I'm not one to shy away from such predictions .... Let's see how wrong I turn out to be. It's been ages since I last wrote a preview and made a prediction for Milan. I miss those days. The fun in writing those previews just vanished two Summers ago and the odd things that were happening to our club.

Moving on .... UCL it is ... so what if we are not there. We can't be there every season. But let us still enjoy the most glorious club competition.

[fillipo]

i can't wait to read your previews for the new and magical milan of next year

[Ian]

i can't wait to read your previews for the new and magical milan of next year

You've been listening to Gaylianni again

[Rosso]

My second team played better than first team, this season

FENERBAHCE - CHAMPION!!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MCn9mRWrgX4

[fillipo]

what a goal by deivid!!! wonderfull

[Haroon]

I think the denied penalty on Hleb who was clearly brought down was the most stone wall penalty of 2008 so far!

Arsenal may or may not have scored but that decision was by far the worst one of this UCL.

Everything will even out at some point for the Arse. An incorrect sending off in Paris accompanied by this wrong decision .... hmmm ... it will all even up one day for them.

Devide's touch was fantastic! What a poacher!