Lakenheath Old Boys

We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Champions League - Matchday 3

The matches are coming thick and fast these days, while the crisis-ridden clubs (Liverpool, Middlesboro and the like) would probably like to have a week out of the limelight. No chance. We've got the top side of the draw of Champions League groups up tonight including Shakhtar Donetsk and Eduardo returning to the Emirates and well as a full slate of Championship matches highlighted (for me, at least) by Leicester's trip to Elland Road. Join me for some banter as an alternate to on-line Solitaire.

117 Comments:

Blogger The Blue Devil said...

In the early kick-off, Chelsea have scored an impressive 0-2 away win at Spartak Moscow with a volleyed goal from Yuri Zhirkov and a sharp finish from Nic Anelka. The Blues keep rolling on.

2:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It's a home fixture against a team in the relegation zone so I want the full three points tonight for LUFC. No slip-ups, lads.

2:22 PM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

Good luck Bob and Leeds.

2:32 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Cheers, mate! If you've got a chance to follow along, check out this website:

http://mypremium.tv/

And choose the Arsenal match. Good luck to the Gunners!

2:40 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Kick-off time - come on, you Whites!

2:46 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'm currently watching the Gillette Soccer Special on:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/vmriapcwp

2:47 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

A controlled start for the Arsenal side against Shakhtar according to Charlie Nicholas.

2:48 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Real Madrid v. AC Milan is the glamor match in the Champions League tonight.

2:49 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Here's the Leeds side running out against Leicester tonight:

Brown, Connolly, Naylor, Collins, McCartney, Snodgrass, Howson, Faye, Watt, Becchio, Somma

2:50 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The rumors of Sanchez Watt having broken his ankle on Saturday were obviously just that - rumors. He's in the starting XI tonight.

2:51 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Cardiff have scored an early penalty away to Coventry after Michael Chopra was hauled back.

2:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Scunny have scored an early away goal at PNE. 0-1 there.

2:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Good chance for the Arsenal there. Nasri played the ball in for Chamakh but the striker just couldn't latch onto it.

2:55 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Ajax have scored early against Auxerre through De Zeeuw.

2:59 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The Gillette Soccer Special link has packed it in so I'm turning my attention to the match at the Emirates.

3:00 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Cristiano Ronaldo has opened the scoring for Real against AC Milan.

3:02 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bloody hell - it looks like Leicester are all over us at Elland Road. Five shots in the first fifteen minutes!

3:03 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

2-0 Real Madrid! Mesut Ozil with the second one. They're running away with it!

3:03 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'm onto a Veetle link for the Real v. Milan match, as none of the Arsenal links are working.

The replays of the goals here show that they were both fairly jammy efforts. Ronaldo's free kick went right through the wall and Ozil's effort took a wicked deflection.

3:06 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Way hay! Alex Song has opened the scoring for the Arsenal on 19 minutes. Well in, lad!

3:07 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Craig Moore has fired Derby County into the lead over Doncaster Rovers.

3:08 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That Derby goal pushes us down to 10th.

3:08 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Finally found an Arsenal link that's working for me:

http://www.sportztv.net/

3:10 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Jack Wilshere goes lunging in there and gets a bollocking from the referee. I wonder what he's thinking after getting thrown out on Saturday for a similar challenge. He got away with one there. The kid's going to gain a reputation if he keeps thugging it up.

3:10 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Leicester have now racked up seven shots to our nil in the opening twenty minutes! What's going on at the Elland?!

3:11 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Rosicky goes down under a challenge on the top of the box - ref waves on.

3:12 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Two quick goals in Rome have left that match between Roma and Basle at 1-1.

3:13 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - Neill Collins with a header from a corner just wide.

3:15 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Cluj have taken a shock 0-1 lead at Bayern through Cadu.

3:15 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Unusual - there have been lots of goals flying in during the mid-week Championship matches but tonight we've only seen three goals in the first thirty minutes.

3:16 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bristol City have taken a 1-0 lead over Reading through Haynes.

3:22 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Braga have taken the lead through Lima (Bean?) against Partizan Belgrade.

3:23 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Goalscorer Cadu has added another goal, albeit in his own net!

1-1 now Bayern v. Cluj.

3:24 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It sounds like things have settled down at Elland Road now. Still 0-0 and Leicester haven't had a scoring chance in about five minutes.

3:24 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bloody hell - another o.g. from the Cluj boys has Bayern in front now. 2-1.

3:25 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

In the Blue Square, East Anglian favorites Luton Town are 3-0 up over Forest Green! I really would love to see the Hatters back up in the Football League next season.

3:26 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bradley Johnson's had a header whistle just past the post. We're getting closer as the first half winds down.

3:27 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - a peach of a goal there through a team move for the Arsenal. Nasri received the ball from a cross from Song. Took it down beautifully and smashed it home.

2-0 Gunners!

3:28 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Luis Suarez has added a second goal for Ajax now. 2-0 over Auxerre. Loads of goals in the CL tonight.

3:29 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Half time at the Emirates and Arsenal are cruising it so far. Andy Gray was just making the point that Arsene might use this lead as an opportunity to give some bench players like Nik Bendtner a bit of playing time.

3:33 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Basle go into the interval with a shock 1-2 lead over Roma. Alex Frei and some bloke named Inkroom with the goals there.

3:34 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Half-time at Elland Road. At least we're not trailing but I expect better. It's strange that our away form is better than our home form. We have the best attendances in the division - why can't we make ER a fortress this season?

3:35 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It's a real goalkeeping howler that presented Alex Song with the opportunity for the first goal.

3:36 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The teams are back out for the second half. Rob Hawthorn and Andy Gray on the commentary tonight.

3:46 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Good chance there from Adriano but he spurned it.

3:49 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Gary McSheffrey, who was on loan with us last season, has equalized for Coventry against Cardiff. That puts them back up into the playoff spots. Cardiff still in second.

3:50 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Watford have jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Tractor Roys.

3:51 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Marseille have taken the lead through Diawara against Zilina.

3:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Shakhtar had a chance from a free kick there but squander it. They really have looked toothless going forward.

3:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Chamahk is probably the first player Arsenal have had since Ian Wright who can actually hold up the ball and play the midfielders in. What a buy he's been for the Gunners.

3:53 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Grant Holt (who else?) has given Norwich a 1-0 lead over the woeful Palace. They're going down for sure this season.

3:54 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It's Boro's first match after wee Gordon's exit. A tasty one for them against Forest, who have also flattered to deceive this season. Still 0-0 there.

3:55 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The Blades have taken a 0-1 lead over Hull City.

3:56 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

No real chances as yet at Elland Road in the second half.

3:56 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Chris Eagles has given Burnley a 1-0 lead over Barnsley.

3:58 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh dear - Forest have taken the lead against Boro. The caretaker manager won't be pleased.

3:58 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Free kick now for the Gunners. A pile of players go down in the area and it looks like he's given a penalty!

Yes - it's Adriano who's hauled down Djourou. Ridiculous challenge there. He's picked up a yellow.

4:00 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Fabregas steps up to take....

And scores easily. High in the left corner. 3-0 Gunners!

4:00 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And he lifts his shirt to reveal a birthday message to his mum. What a lovely lad.

4:01 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

With one more goal, Arsenal could break the record set by Real Madrid of 12 goals in their first three CL games.

4:02 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Palace have equalized against Norwich.

4:03 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That third goal is the spark for two changes for Arsene Wenger. Fab is going off to be replaced by Denilson.

And that's nice - Eduardo gets a warm reception as asked for by the PA guy as he comes on.

4:04 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Sanchez Watt has been substituted. Obviously still nursing that sore ankle.

4:05 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - Becchio goes close with a header.

Come on, you Whites!

4:06 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

PNE have equalized against Scunny at home.

4:06 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Another great team goal there, this time from Jack Wilshere.

4-0! Fantastic!

4:07 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

A new Champions League record for the Arsenal - 13 goals in three matches!

4:07 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Third change for the Arsenal. Chamakh coming off for Bendtner.

4:09 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Actually - Chamakh's stayed on and a good thing to. He's just broken through the offside trap (so to speak) and slotted home the fifth!

5-0 Gunners!

4:11 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

BUGGGGGERRRRRRRR!

Just as I had feared, Leicester have made their dominance pay and taken taken the lead through McNaughton.

0-1 Leicester. Come on!

4:12 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Twenty five minutes to rescue something here. It's typical for us to go from a great away win on the Saturday to a miserable home loss on the Tuesday. Makes no sense but that's the kind of erratic form we've been in this year.

4:13 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

So Arshavin and Walcott on finally.

4:13 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Still more than fifteen minutes to play at the Emirates. Plenty of time for more goals. Shakhtar have completely thrown in the towel.

4:14 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Burnley now 2-0 up - a brace for Chris Eagles.

4:15 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

2-2 between Doncaster and Derby now.

4:15 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

We've slipped to 11th on the strength of that Leicester goal.

4:15 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Palace have taken the lead against Norwich now. That will dent their promotion hopes.

4:16 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Amdy Faye have been replaced by Neil Kilkenny and Snoddy has come off for Max Gradel.

4:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Auxerre have pegged Ajax back to 2-1.

4:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It's carnival time at the Emirates now with the "Oles" ringing out round the ground.

4:18 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The Shakhtar lads are at least giving it a go. They're mostly shirtless; apparently London is a bit warmer this time of year than Donetsk.

4:18 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Down to fifteen minutes at Elland Road now. Come on you Whites!

4:19 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Ah - that's nice. Eduardo has popped up with a consolation goal for Shakhtar and he gets a warm round of applause from the home faithful.

5-1 Arsenal.

4:24 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It doesn't seem as if we're piling on the pressure. I wonder how Simon Grayson will deal with this one in the post-match presser. Fatigue?

4:26 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

ARGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!

0-2 Leicester. WTF!

4:26 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And that's allowed the villainous Millwall to jump over us on goal difference. We're in 12th now. On 17 points. 33 points to safety. That's the goal.

4:27 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Ipswich have nicked one back. 2-1 Watford there.

4:28 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

YESSSSSS!!!!!!! I should speak to soon. Becchio has got one back in the 83rd minute!

GAME ON!

4:29 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's Luciano's sixth goal of the season. What I wouldn't do for a seventh in the next ten minutes.

4:29 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's nice. Pompey have scored a penalty late on. That's three valuable away points for them against the villainous Millwall.

4:30 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Back up to 10th now! Come on!

4:31 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Chris Iwelumo has added a third goal for Burnley.

4:31 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Derby are now 2-3 up away to Doncaster.

4:32 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Full-time: 5-1 Arsenal. They've gone goal crazy in the Champions League this season. Three wins in three games and a new CL record. Fantastic!

4:34 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Btw, ManYoo hold the record of goals in the group stage: 20. Arsenal could easily beat that this season with three more matches to come.

4:34 PM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

Wahey!!!! Absolutely my favorite scoreline. A resounding victory with a goal for the returning Eduardo. Couldn't be happier.

I even made it into the Guardian's MBM commentary. Someone's infant was griping through the match and they asked for parenting tips. Here's mine.

89 min: A Walcott cross is cleared at the near post. Meanwhile, another parenting tip from Steve Dahlgren. "White noise did the trick to quiet our colicky infant son," reveals Steve. "I taped the sound of a hair dryer onto a cassette tape and ran that in his room. He's eighteen now, and speaks with a Gorbals accent, but not to the BBC."

4:37 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

We're certainly giving it a go here. Max Gradel with a blocked shot.

4:37 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nice one, Gooner! Well in getting onto the Guardian site. And well done the Gunners!

4:38 PM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

Oh man, sorry to see you behind on this one. C'mon you whites!

4:39 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Too little, too late, I'm afraid. We've gone down at least fighting at the end. 1-2.

Three points lost, I reckon. Still on 17.

4:39 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'm off home to grab a bite to eat before my late class and to catch up with the "Rents too Damned High" Party campaign for NY Governor.

4:40 PM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

Anybody here or going to be for United v Bursa or Inter v spuds?

3-0 Inter with a quarter hour gone and the spuds down a keeper, sent off for a foul as last man. Eto'o is running around Huddleston, Gallas and Assou Akoto like he was on FIFA10 on low difficulty.

3:18 PM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

United up 1-0. Nani.

3:19 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It's a busy Wednesday afternoon for me but I'm back at my class break to take note of the scores coming from the bottom half of the CL draw.

ManYoo have bounced back from a few days of negative press and are currently 1-0 up to Bursaspor due to an early goal from my boy Nani.

Spurs on the other hand are getting absolutely hammered by an Inter side that has exploded with three early goals from Zanetti, Eto'o and Stankovic.

3:20 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Afternoon, Gooner. I'm sure that that Spurs scoreline is bringing a smile to your face.

3:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

As I type, Rangers have taken the lead through American international Mo Edu over Valencia. They've done really well so far in this tournament.

3:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Leo Messi has just fired Barca into the lead against Copenhagen. No surprise there.

3:22 PM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

4-0 Inter in 30 minutes. A glimpse of the future for England under Harry Redknapp?

3:25 PM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

Hi Bob,

Nothing less than I expected really. spuds have been flattering to deceive all season. VDV's good form delaying in inevitable, but what's happening in Milan is high comedy for me

3:27 PM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

At the half it's:

Inter 4 spuds 0
Twente 0 Bremen 0

Lyon 1 Benfica 0
Schalke 1 H Tel Aviv 0

Man Utd 1 Bursaspor 0
Rangers 1 Valencia 0

Panath... 0 Kazan 0
Barca 1 Copenhagen 0

3:47 PM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

Monkey boy Bale gets one back for the spuds. Game...er..on? 4-1

4:05 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Back after my class. Thanks for the updates, Gooner.

I noticed that Mo Edu's having an up and down match. He's knocked one in his own net in the second half. 1-1 there. Wonder if he's selling the programs at half-time as well?

4:31 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

ManYoo still hanging on for a 1-0 win here with what must be just seconds left to play.

4:32 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Gareth Bale has just given Gooner a heart attack by completing a second half hat-trick in the San Siro with extra time goals. The referee finally blows up and Spurs have lost their first match in the CL 4-3. Sounds like a thriller!

4:43 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Rangers have dropped two points against Valencia at home.

United just about done with the Turks now.

4:44 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Leo Messi has got a brace against Copenhagen today.

4:44 PM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

Oh man, this is one to watch. Injury time spuds down 4-1, the shaved ape Bale scores 2 in less than two minutes to nearly steal this one. And it would have been theft. It ends 4-3 Inter.

Replay tonight on some Fox affiliate at 7pm. Worth watching.

4:47 PM  

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