capriccioso

31, I think. I miss the old OFC days where we'd knock 66 goals in our only 4 qualifiers then have to play the 5th placed CONMEBOL/AFC team. Such fun it was to average 16 goals a game. Edit: IIRC even our keeper, Mark Bosnich, scored in one of those games

Hey don't knock the OFC! There are quality teams in there, like American Samoa

It would be a very bad scenario, as Iced said, probably the worst thing that can happen at this point other than new 5 year deals for Malouda, Lampard, and Bosingwa. Last year I thought that missing out on the Champions League this season would be a nightmare scenario, and unfortunately that nightmare is looking very real.

Yeah, Napoli are going into this game as favourites. We must score 3 goals, I think, or even 4 to stand a chance. I can't see us shutting them out so we'll have to be at our best in attack. Hopefully Drogba and co. have a good game.

Hi! Respect to Napoli, great club. If you beat us I will be supporting you in the Champions League

Not really. Gamesmanship is usually associated with Latin American and South European countries, they are stereotyped with bending the rules to their advantage. Obviously this is an unfair stereotype as its spread worldwide now, even anglophone players are diving, etc. Despite this, the English media still slams any gamesmanship. In Australia, that kind of thing is hated with a passion, sport is one of the most important features of our national psyche and if sport doesn't go with our general values of fair play and having a go, trying your best etc. we're quick to pick up and vent our anger on it.

Cycling fans reckon a consequence of doping is an enlarged head: As you can see, Eddy Merckx, one of the legends of the sport has an alarmingly huge head, which wasn't anywhere near as large back when he raced. We can tell if Messi's a drug cheat in 20 years time by the size of his head. And sorry if I offend any Napoli fans, but Maradona's head seems to have grown of late as well.... But he will always be a cheat in my book for that shameless handball goal. Pele and the true legends of the game never did such things.

Yeah, their fans have unknowingly convinced me to support Napoli

Right it looks like I've solved the mystery. Napolitans are superstitious and predict misery in the hope that good luck will be on their side and vice versa; those who predict good things cause misery.

I don't think it'll be that simple. We'll be hard pressed to stop them from scoring, especially because we're attacking which plays right into the hands of their counter-attacking philosophy.

It's been at the most 2 years since our name last struck fear into the hearts of all across Europe. But I suppose for Napoli fans, being this far in the Champions League is new to them and they look at us as a club thats always been there or thereabouts and automatically assume we're still one of the best teams in Europe.

I hope not!

We need 3 goals to go through IMO, and even then, it'll be a close run thing. I can't see us keeping a clean sheet, we may need 4 goals.

You Napolitans are too afraid. We're not that good, we're not Barcelona!

Hi Dj Borgs Most likely 4-3-3. Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Cole, Mikel, Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Drogba, Sturridge.

But everyone likes pasta The thing with Inter was, Mourinho had it already instilled into them that they were invincible. From what I've seen over on the Napoli forum, their manager isn't the best going around plus they have a shaky defence. If we get an early goal we can make them extremely nervous, but if we don't, they'll grow in confidence throughout the match. It's also up to the crowd who're attending on Thursday, to make a lot of sustained noise, chanting etc. and intimidate them.

I reckon we need Mikel for this game. It's going to be one of those games where an early goal is absolutely vital, if we can score inside of 10 minutes we'll have them worried and nervous the whole night. I think we may not progress if we leave it too late, I can't see us getting up if we take say, 40-50 minutes to find a goal.

Just read that all in one breath , great post. I don't fully understand FFP, if we miss out on the Champions League, can't we spend whatever we like until the time comes where we are in the qualifying places again?

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I feel for Lukaku. 18 million pounds and he's barely had a game. We should alternate between Sturridge and Lukaku in pre-season or towards the end of this season if we have the luxury of not having to win. That can tell us if Romelu and Sturridge are ready to step up. If they are do we need to buy a new striker? What about that Mexican bloke we signed who's on loan, hows he done?

Or white in the case of Spuds.

Why don't you like Fulham? I do

So, Mourinho's been ruled out. That leaves us with Rafa

Hahahaha the first person EN meets and greets is Eva.

This is the kind of fixture the old Chelsea (i.e. under Villas-Boas and during 'bad moment') where we'd drop points. Lets see what happens with di Matteo. Usually there's a honeymoon period with our new managers before we turn to shit a few weeks/months in.