Some thoughts on the Champions League.

I cannot begin to express my delight that we are not having an  'El Classico' final. Another cagey, roll on the floor, stop-start game of football, no thanks. Lets face it the past classics have been anything but classic, and now we have a final that  hosts two teams that pair up nicely and with players that will not focus solely on trying to get their fellow professionals booked.

I am not a Chelsea fan by any stretch of the imagination, but when Torres scored, Gary Neville orgasm and all, I couldn't help but embrace the goose bumps that had taken over the skin on my arms. This is why I love football. Both Chelsea and Bayern Munich were viewed as underdogs before the 2-legged semi finals began, yet both emerged triumphant, in their opponents stadium's nonetheless. I can say that I'am chomp-in at the bit for the final on May 19th, but what has cast a rather dark vail over the event is the fact that so many players will be ruled out of the game through the culmination of yellow cards. Is the point of the Champions League final not to pin the two best teams of europe against each other? Well it won't be the case this time because both teams will playing at half strength, due to these suspensions. Chelsea has Raul Meireles, Branislav Ivanovic and Ramires out.

 Not falling into this category is John Terry as he will be missing due to getting a strait red against Barcelona and deserves to miss the final for his lack of composure. Bayern have a similar story with stand out player 19-year old fullback David Alaba out, a player who has looked a real prospect so far in the Champions League. Luis Gustavo and Holger Badstuber will also be missing, posing a real issue in Bayern's defense, which has looked less than good, at the best of times.

The issue of defense caries over the Chelsea as well, with David Luis out injured and Gary Cahill limping off the field clutching his hamstring against Barcelona. The English centerback has vowed to be fit for the game, yet you cannot fight the body Gary. Let's hope he's fit. In that case heres my perspective line-up for the Blues. with the Midfield lacking, and the weakened defense of Bayern Munich leaving possible gaps to exploit, Di Matteo might just go for a Torres and Drogba combo up top:

Cech

Bosingwa  Luis   Cahill   Cole

Mata  Mikel Lampard   Kalou

Torres   Drogba 

Luis is supposed to be back in training the week of the final so I wouldn't be surprised if they take the risk. Unfortunately the best teams will not be on display but the match up still promises as entertaining final. With Bayern's loss of personnel I would expect them to line up as so:

Neuer 

 Lahm   Boateng   Van Buyten    Breno

      Schweinsteiger     

Robben          Kroos             Ribéry  

Gomez

Probably something like that.

'Electricity'- Arctic Monkeys

The Arctic Monkeys have unveiled their newest track 'Electricity' released as the B-side on the,                   ' R U Mine?' single, released today ( April 21st) for Record Store Day. Hit the video below for the audio. Exciting news has emerged, as drummer Matt Helders says their keen on coming up with new material. It has been said that the new stuff will be in the vein of newest single R U Mine, and Evil Twin ( both videos below), along with Electricity.

'Electricity' 

'Evil Twin'

'R U Mine'

European Championship Kits

It's just 60 days from now that the European powerhouses will step out onto the pitches in Poland and Ukraine to compete for the title of best in Europe. These are the home and away kits that will be worn by the teams competing. Personal favorites are the Sweden away kit with the yellow stripe cutting the black; very classy. And the France home strip with the neat collar and the thin black horizontal stripes.

View all the kits here.

Carroll and Kenny go to Newcastle.

This game was no comedy featuring two stoners searching for the holy chalice of fast food munchies, but a comedy of how a team can absolutely fall apart in a game. Can hardly tell you the frustration felt as I once again watch Liverpool fall apart like a game of Jenga during a Friday night dinner party. The fact that we where not playing at Anfield sprung hope as Liverpool have won only 5 times out of their 15 chances at Anfield. Also the added incentive to win was apparent as Former Newcastle, and beloved Geordie Andy Carroll made his first return to Tyneside after his 35 million pound move. Kenny Dalglish, Craig Bellamy and Jose Enrique also made their returns to the side they once serviced. 

The line-up was promising, starting 4-3-3 with Suarez, Carroll and Bellamy leading the midfield trio of Shelvey, Gerrard and Spearing. Starting so attack heavy is risk one might say, as Newcastle play expansive face paced, attacking football. New boys Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse form a formidable duo uptop, with Yohan Cabaye pulling the strings from the center. What the line-up said to me was that Kenny still does not know what Liverpool's best XI is. This really is nothing new, but when he keeps chopping and changing the line up, how do you expect a cohesive unit to form. He's played a large part in procuring a bunch of underperforming players, perhaps thinking that switching it up is the way to introduce urgency in them, yet so for has shown to do nothing but continually showcase their inability to communicate on the field. 

The differences between the teams are astounding, polar opposites in relation to this years form. Newcastle is operating way above expectation. At the start of the season nobody expected Newcastle to be vying for the forth spot, perhaps  sitting 8th- currently where Liverpool are-at best. Astute signings and a team playing as well simply put a team, Newcastle have exceed expectations and reached great heights. This is the opposite in the case of Liverpool, expectations were delusionally high as the team had aspirations of challenging for the title. Kenny had built a classic English based squad focused on Carroll, Downing, Adam and Henderson, which we can see now is not a concoction that produces success. Dispelling start of the season aspirations Liverpool have operated way under expectations. A challenge for the title was never a realistic goal, but at least challenge for the forth spot should have been manageable. Unlike Newcastle Liverpool's signings have gravely disappointed  and have left the worshiped Kenny Dalglish looking like a tactless old buffoon, not that I necessarily agree with that last point. 

Carroll looked tidy from the off against Newcastle, but after missing a host of chances the wheels came off for the big lad. Booked for diving Carroll only instigated the increasing volume of boos from "his people" and after that moment he disappeared into oblivion. When he came off in the second half the big center forward walked strait down the tunnel in frustration. It was a game of if's and maybe's for Liverpool, and the strongest part of their game this season the defense, let them down. Cisse was just too much to handle as the 2 goals he netted buried the reds. At the end the game proceedings transpired in comedy flick fashion. Reina was sent off for head nudging James Perch, to be fair, and Gerrard had to shoo Dalglish off the pitch when the decision time came to chose an outfield player to play in goal as they had used all their allocated substitutions.

 This loss marks an all time low for the season as Liverpool's point record shapes up as 42 points from 31 games. Which is just plain dreadful.

Fernando Torres Finds Net

Akin to a bloodhound without a nose, the once keeper terrorizing, subject of nets nightmares Fernando Torres has finally scored his first Premier League goal in 6 months. That's right people 6 months, half a year. For a striker worth 50 million pounds that's a horrendous record. For A player I absolutely adore I can personally say that I am very happy for the blond-ie locked Spaniard. You can see the pure joy on the mans face as he beats Villa's keeper Given. Look what it means to the fans...Ecstasy.

Video thanks to TheOriginalWinger