CHOULO19

This is a different thread Bring money to the country? Yes, because everyone in Iraq and Sudan is living large, right?

Why do you think that he made it worse for his people? Why do so many adore him if that is the case? On a side note, how long do you think it will be before Venezuelan oil is controlled by the US now that Chavez is dead?

Lewis McGugan scored the only goal in the 84th minute.

We were lucky to get 1-1 at home against Prague. If you don't think that is a possibility, you really need a reality check.

Opposition Views Here

Our own S3ra has been kind enough to answer a few questions ahead of our clash with Steaua in the EL. Here is what he had to say: -First, how long have you been a Steaua Bucharest fan? Football is huge in Romania and I practically grew up with Steaua. I was raised by my grandparents and my granddad was in the army. Since Steaua was traditionally the Army Team, this almost always meant that an army man was also a Steaua fan. The first game I went to was sometime in 2001, a league game away against Sportul Studentesc. We lost that game 3-1. The first European game I attended was a 1-1 draw at home against Liverpool in the 2003 Uefa cup. -Steaua are doing great in the league. What have been your strengths and weaknesses this season? Our physical preparation is definitely our biggest strength this season. We got a new coach last summer (Laurentiu Reghecampf) and he's implemented German training techniques used by many of the big teams in Europe. We already had quality players who were good technically and 7-8 players from our starting line-up have been together as a team for a while now and they have all benefited from the physical training sessions. The coach has also managed to improve the mood of the squad and the team spirit. The thing is that Steaua is a very volatile environment because of the crazy owner, Gigi Becali, who has managed to destabilize everything and sabotage his own investment with his statements and team interference almost every year since he took over the club. This season he has been unexpectedly tame (so far) and the results have improved. In terms of weaknesses, we lack a proper centre forward and we're exposed at right-back with the first 2 in the pecking order recovering from long term injuries. Our goalkeeper Tatarusanu's poor decision making when it comes to crosses is also a worry. -You knocked out Ajax, against the odds, in the last round after loosing 2-0 in the first match. Do you think coming into this match as the underdogs again gives you an advantage? I think some of the underdog status may have washed off after we eliminated Ajax. We definitely start the game as second favorite but if Chelsea don't take this seriously they may be in for a surprise. We finished top of a group with Stuttgart, Fc Copenhagen and Molde, for the players these European games are always a good chance to show their worth on a bigger stage. -Do you follow the EPL closely? How famous are Chelsea in Romania? The Premier League is the only one I follow closely apart from the Romanian First League. I support Arsenal, I am a fan of the offensive football they play and the way the club is managed financially, even if this policy has meant that in recent years they have not been able to keep up. Every club has its ups and downs though. Chelsea have been pretty popular here ever since Dan Petrescu played for the Blues in the 90's and I followed their games back then and remember a lot of quality players from that side like Wise, Gus Poyet, di Matteo or Zola. -There has been debate between Chelsea fans of whether or not the club should take the Europa League seriously. How important is it for Steaua Bucharest? I think there's definitely a difference between the way we approach the Europa League and how Chelsea see it. Of course we are aware of the fact that this competition lacks all the glamour and attention of the Champions League but it always beats an average league game in terms of excitement and expectations. We have a good European tradition and even though the coach stresses that the Romanian League is the priority, as we haven't won it for 7-8 years, the player's are always highly motivated on European nights. -Who has been your best player this season and who could be a threat for us on Thursday? It's hard to single out a single best player this season, it has been very much a team effort. The most efficient player would have to be Raul Rusescu. He has scored over 20 goals in all competitions this season, his finishing and his goal instinct are very good and he will definitely be a threat. Another essential player is Chiriches, a quick central defender with good positioning who has also scored some fantastic goals (an overhead kick against Molde in the group stage and a half-volley into the top corner from outside the box against Ajax). However, 7 or 8 of our starting line up were called up for the national squad and 5 started the game so there is more than one threat. -If you could have one player from Chelsea at Steaua, who would it be and why? Torres, he will surely regain his scoring touch and Chelsea fans don't like him much anyway, I imagine, and would probably want to get rid of him and Rafa at the same time I am kidding, I would prefer Oscar, there's always something exciting about a very technical Brazilian playmaker. -What formation are you likely to play? It will almost certainly be 4-2-3-1. We have experimented with 3-4-3 until it backfired miserably against Stuttgart in the group stage and we played 4-1-4-1 in the return leg against Ajax because of suspensions but I imagine with 2 legs and eveything still to play for, our coach will not want to take any unnecessary risks. -Finally, please predict the result. 2-1 to Steaua. Click here to view the article

I thought it was a red card. I even said so on twitter before the ref sent him off. You just can't jump towards an opponent with your foot that high. Had he caught him on the head he could have cause some serious injury.

I have a pretty good idea about the corruption in Venezuella but I also know of how much Chavez helped the Venezuellan people, especially the poor. Very few presidents can say they changed their countries more than Chavez did. Like him or not, he was a free man. But let's not turn this into a political debate.

Like him or not, the man gave everyone something different to think about and always worked for the good of his people. Sad day. Rest in peace president Hugo Chavez, he was a free man.

United goal really doesn't change much. Madrid still need a goal if they want to stay in the tie.

Remember last time Kaka played at old toilet?

I have both and gmail always sends me emails about google+ which I ignore because I once read that it has something to do with sharing pics..

Red nose shot himself in the foot by not starting Rooney. Fully expect madrid to go through tonight.

A lot of people I know have google+ accounts but I have no idea what exactly google+ is. Why should I create an account?

Poll is up (since Steve probably forgot to do it ) Vote!

He's been unlucky with injuries the past couple of years, but I don't remember him getting injured much before that, so you can't really call him "injury prone".

It's just amazing how much Benteke has improved throughout this season with Villa. Shows what happens when you actually give a young player a proper chance.

Yes I do. Cahill is a better athlete, but Dawson is a better defender, imo.

Typical case of a player (usually British) getting hyped after a couple of good performances. This is why I's saying that we should monitor Shaw for at least one more season before deciding to buy him. On Cahill, I actually wanted Dawson instead. Still think he's better, tbh.

That's what I call motivation!

Dogs are like a friend: fun to play with and extremely loyal. Cats are like getting a girlfriend: they want your attention in every minute, get incredibly jealous (I used to have cat that would get jealous whenever I put my laptop on my lap! ) but will forget about you when they meet a guy with a bigger bowl of milk!

It's amazing how our managers insist on playing 4-2-3-1 when 4-3-3- would solve so many of our problems.

No idea why I thought you had said you're a psychologist. Your phd subject is so awesome! I admit, I'm jealous. Majoring in philosophy is a dream of mine, but I had to do something "practical" I await your reply, but I feel I'm at a disadvantage in this discussion. You're a professor and I'm just an amateur who's read a few philosophy books! Take it easy on me Sting

Hahaha I literally just "LOL"ed at the first part to the annoyance of my sleeping parents The second part is where we disagree mon frere. I don't believe there is a truth but rather truths to every matter that change according to the time frame, and to the place not unlike opinions. My problem with the correspondence theory of truth is that it tries to define the mysterious concept of truth with an even more vague concept of "a" reality. The thing is everyone perceives reality different than others according to what he wants it to be, as I'm sure you as a psychologist know (How do you know that I see blue the same way you do). And everyone is convinced that his reality is true. But if there are infinite "customized" realities, and no one can see the reality, does it really exist? The second objection is that truth changes with time. To go back to your Hitler example, had the Germans won the war, the Nazi principle would be consider now "objective" around the world instead of the capitalist principles and the truth about the war would have been what the Nazis would have written instead of what the Allies have written or what actually happened (the truth at the moment any event happened) Now before you give that look, let me ask you this: Is there a reason that truth should exist other than that we want it to? And if that is the case wouldn't that make truth (and 'a' reality for that matter) an illusion? Isn't that how Freud defined illusion? Not something that exists (is correct) or not but rather that it is a belief that is motivated by desire, regardless if it is true or not. (Epistemology is truly the most interesting and confusing subject in metaphysics if not all of philosophy) Now to go back to the original point, I believe that there will be infinite and ever-changing truths and objectiveness to any point, granted that the change is swift in the time interval of the event (or subject) and that the fluctuations in the truth decrease as you go further in the future, but since an ultimate truth does not exist or we can't turn around to see it (think of Plato's shadows on the cave wall analogy) we might as well discuss who is currently better between Hazard and Kagawa according to our current truths. PS: I had just gotten into bed and was about to sleep when I saw your reply on my phone, and I couldn't resist but to get up, turn my laptop back on give this lengthy response If I am sleepy in class tomorrow, it's all your fault!

I'll reply in a few minutes..