FC Zenit, St.Petersburg

[pirkko]

Fans of FC Zenit celebrating the beautifiul UEFA semifinal win over Bayern Munich 1 May.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DGNDaS3Hro

The city went crazy for one night - Zenit are simply revered in St.Petersburg.

The grisly but endearing song in the background is a Zenit anthem.

[Gordon Neill]

The Zenit/Bayern tie may have been a beautifu game, but the other semi-final was ugly. The unacceptable face of ugly.

With limited flair at their disposal, Rangers have had a series of gritty displays to reach the final (tagged as 'anti-football' by one of their defeated opponets). In each tie, they've gone out with a packed defence, aiming to score 'nil' and hoping that the opposition will score even less. Astonishingly, it's worked.

For the sake of the beautiful game, it would be nice to see another 4-0 from Zenet. But I doubt it. 0-0 is far more likely, after full-time, after extra time, and after several penalties. And then the Zenet goalie will make a mistake.....

[Con Murphy]

The Zenit/Bayern tie may have been a beautifu game, but the other semi-final was ugly. The unacceptable face of ugly.

With limited flair at their disposal, Rangers have had a series of gritty displays to reach the final (tagged as 'anti-football' by one of their defeated opponets). In each tie, they've gone out with a packed defence, aiming to score 'nil' and hoping that the opposition will score even less. Astonishingly, it's worked.

For the sake of the beautiful game, it would be nice to see another 4-0 from Zenet. But I doubt it. 0-0 is far more likely, after full-time, after extra time, and after several penalties. And then the Zenet goalie will make a mistake.....

Celtic fan, eh?

:-)

[Gordon Neill]

Con put in a high tackle:

Celtic fan, eh?

I thought I might get acused of that! Actually, No, I'm just a football fan. And, I suppose, a bit of an idealist.

In theory, I'm Hibee (supporter of Hibs aka The Hibees aka Hibernian). But I rarely watch matches beyond the safety of my armchair nowadays. Partly, I've been priced out of any regular interest. Partly, I find the tribalism repulsive*. Partly the best players and managers immediately get hoovered up by the wealthier clubs, so what's the point?

And partly I just get bored. It's difficult to retain any interest when at the start of the season, before a ball has been kicked, the only uncertainty is will it be Celtic or Rangers who win the league. It would save a lot of time if they just missed out all the games and simply tossed a coin.

Sadly, the English league is sliding in the same direction, with only three or four real contenders at the start of a season for the title. The days of a side like Nottingham Forrest getting promoted, winning the title, and then winning the European Championship have gone for ever.

* My strength of felings on this destructive Celtic-Rangers tribalism are so strong that I suspect I'll be perversely supporting Zenit. I think it's the same gene that makes me like world music. It's the goat factor.

[Charlie]

The days of a side like Nottingham Forest getting promoted, winning the title, and then winning the European Championship have gone for ever.

How true, as Nottingham Forest clamber back into what used to be (accurately) called The Second Division of the (English) Football League.

But at least Andy Reid, fat, slow and a former Forest player, has not only graced the (former) First Division this season but helped Sunderland to stay in it. Having a good eye and a sure foot can still count for something, even if they are not held together by the body of a greyhound.

What do you imagine Andy does during the training sessions, when the rest of the team are running their twentieth lap of the pitch? Sit in the stand, puffing a fag, checking the horse racing results?

[Gordon Neill]

But is Andy Reid as fat as Wayne Rooney?

[Gordon Moore]

Crumbs, for a minute I thought I was looking at a reflection, then I saw the Man U sign of the devil.

[kevin]

What do you imagine Andy does during the training sessions, when the rest of the team are running their twentieth lap of the pitch? Sit in the stand, puffing a fag, checking the horse racing results?

All of those plus a few chicken balti pies washed down with a couple of pints of Guinness.