Ok maybe I exagerated just a tad ;) Its true more people hate Chelsea now, but Id still rather see them win the title over United :D

WRONG! Bayern did not stop to play after the 85th. ManU simply pushed extremly strong and Bayern tried to defend. In 90% of the games, score stays the same. In 5% of the games, the team that attacks scores one goal and it 5% of the games the team that defends score on a counter-attack. NEVER, does the team that attacks score twice. That was a miracle. Unlucky as hell. Bayern deserved to winfor 85 minutes. If they had went to extra time and ManU would hve won on penalties then I would have said: FINE...that's life. But this way it's just bitter and unfair. Even Alex Ferguson was convinced that the trophy was gone..to quote him "what can I say, bloody football".

This is not a valid analysis. Personally, I think Hitzfeld made the biggest mistake of his career when exchanging Lotthar Matthäus. If he was in, the second goald WOULD HAVE NEVER fallen, I am sure. Also, if Basler was still in they would have somehow stayed more dangerous on counter-attack. But you can't accuse a team for defending with all men in the last 5 minutes. It's a bloody final. ManU was attacking even with Schmeichel. And ok, it happens that you score once but simply scoring TWICE in the VERY LAST minutes (at least if it had happened in 81 or 82...)...I guess that's similar to winning the lottery...or being hit by lightning in the case of Bayern.

and what??? ManU had "missed chances" ? That's just hilarious. That was DESPERATE ATTCKING. It's not chances. I've been playing football myself. I know what happens when you simply run out of solutions and just try to put it in. You get close and if you are lucky you put it in. Balsler dribbling the whole pitch and then Scholl hitting the post is hardly luck, now is it? Also, Janker hitting the cross bar from a bicycle kick is not a "missed chance"??? What the heck is wrong with you?

We won the group with a 2 points lead. That's what I meant.
I never talked to anyone who did not say that Bayern was the actual winner of that trophy. ManU fans excluded obviously.
Something similar happened two years later in Germany when Bayern lost the championship in the 89th minute because Hamburg had scored. in the 92nd minute they equlaized. at the same time, the game was shown on the screens in Gelsenkirchen where Schalke had already won the game and was celebrating it's first title in 40 something years. they were champions for 3 minutes. then they bursted out in tears, all the suppporters and players together on the pitch. Schalke was declared "Champions of the Hearts". Bayern went on to win the Champions League just 3 days later. I guess this way, justice was made...still it is different. That was not a direct game....
...it's unbelivable how emotional I get when I talk about those days. it's really painful to remember the 1999 final....what a freakin nightmare...

Well, it's certainly evident that you still feel very strongly about it and, speaking empathetically, I probably would too but.... that's football unfortunately.

I doubt either of us will see it the way the other does because we obviously both support our respective clubs so passionately so the matter should probably be left to rest.

If you could put yourself in a United fans' shoes for just a moment though, I'm sure you can understand why we hold that match in Barcelona very close to our hearts just for the sheer emotional rollercoaster that the United fans went through (as did Bayern fans, except in the opposite sense).

We were lucky, I can concede that - but luck does play a large role when you're reaching the end of a hectic season and coming off the back of a domestic cup and league run that would take it's toll on any team. You can't win the treble on sheer persistance and skill alone. You need a lot of luck along the way and we were very fortunate that someone up there was smiling on us that year.

Hell yeah! I have to agree on that!

At least you could have given us Ruud van Nistlerooy since we pushed so much for him during the summer. I know, Uli Höneß is still pissed with ManU's management for telling him Ruud was Bayern's player and then selling him to Real.

And now the Hargreaves story...somehow I have the feeling he'll go to Chelsea just becaue Höneß needs to take revenge somehow :D

I hate the way that football is now so much about the money that it's beginning to eclipse the actual 'game' - even to the extent of pulling out of transfer deals at the last minute or even, in the case of Liverpool, multi-million pound takeover bids in order to line their pockets with as much as possible!! There's no honour or morals anymore.

I haven't heard anything about Chelsea's interest in Hargreaves but he would be seriously damaging a currently fragile career (due to his recent injury absence) if he were to go to Stamford Bridge. He'd never get in the side for a start and there's something about Chelsea players getting hit with injuries this season that I doubt Owen would be too eager to jump into a move there after his broken leg lay-off.

Saying that, I'm getting really tired of United chasing him like they are - Bayern said "No!" so let it go, at least for a while. If he does end up moving to Old Trafford, they'll definitely end up paying an over-exaggerated sum for him which I personally think is very risky seeing as his bad injury occured so recently. Good player though but they forked out a stupid amount for Carrick at the start of the season and already they're looking for someone to replace him!:roll:

30 Million Euros is the current bid for him and Rummenige admitted Bayern will think about it. 30 Million is in my opinion was overpriced and Bayern has at least 2 players who could play Owen's position.

I've been reading this rumors about Hargreaves and Arjen Robben switching sides plus Bayern getting 10 Million Euros. Robben was heavily criticized by Mourinho and Chelsea simply wants to ruin ManUs dream transfer so, who knows. Might be some truth behind it although Hargreaves seems to actually be a ManU fan since both Tottenham and Arsenal wanted him 2 or 3 years ago but he stayed in München.

Beckham is back.....

Beckham McClaren England


England manager Steve McClaren admits he has been 'given a problem' by former captain David Beckham's return to form.

The 31-year-old midfielder appeared set for months on the sidelines with Real Madrid after coach Fabio Capello claimed he would never play for the club again following his decision to join the Los Angeles Galaxy this summer. However, he has forced his way back into their first team and has produced a string of fine performances.

Beckham set up two goals as Real beat Bayern Munich on Tuesday and McClaren told Sky Sports: "It gives me a problem, one of the problems you welcome. He's being professional and performing well for his club."

He added: "Obviously that's a problem I would rather have than not have. It's interesting.

"The reaction from every adversity he's ever gone through in his career, he's always bounced back and been professional and got on with his job.

"It's pleasing to see that a month ago he would never play for Real Madrid again and there he is starring in a game against Bayern Munich and being man of the match."

Beckham's upturn in form has led to a clamour for his recall to the national side, which he captained until their exit from last summer's World Cup.

Now he could be considered for a recall in next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Andorra.

that would bhe good news. He was definitely man of the match. He was everywhere on the pitch. Shot corners, free kicks and perfect passes. How can Beckham be left out of any team? That's just stupid.

exactly ... I think the pressure from the public will help .... I thinki Beckham usually stands out in most matches...

Dawn

Steve McLaren was watching the L'pool vs Barca game last night and the only players he would have seen were Carragher and Gerrard. Given the midfield dilemma he's had with how to play Lampard and Gerrard together, coupled with the news that he is 'considering his options' with respect to Beckham, could it be possible that he is weighing up as to whether Becks would compliment either the L'pool or Chelsea midfielder better at the expense of the other?