Roiling football blather

[baboon2004]

I think Essien, Ballack, Drogba etc (but esp. Essien) are just too tenacious and physical (as well as being very good) for Barca to cope with, next week or any week, in the final analysis. Barca have still to prove that they can switch it up against a team employing different tactics - all this talk of greatness is woefully premature.

Feel (slightly) sorry for Messi, being compared to Maradona all the time. Let's face it, Maradona made an impact when it counted (most famously in 1986, of course). Thus far, Messi hasn't lit up Europe in the biggest of games (Lyon and Bayern were comparatively low pressure as both sides were well beaten), and doesn't look as though he will at the very highest level. Still a brilliant, brilliant player, and, who knows, maybe he'll add that decisive something to his game. Maybe it will happen if he comes to the Premiership?

 

[baboon2004]

So, predictions for tonight? I have absolutely zero idea. Surely got to be United, despite the defensive blips vs Tottenham. Arsenal's defence at Liverpool looked more porous than a broken colander, and with no Arshavin they could be a little toothless?

 

[crackerjack]

I think Essien, Ballack, Drogba etc (but esp. Essien) are just too tenacious and physical (as well as being very good) for Barca to cope with, next week or any week, in the final analysis. Barca have still to prove that they can switch it up against a team employing different tactics - all this talk of greatness is woefully premature.

Feel (slightly) sorry for Messi, being compared to Maradona all the time. Let's face it, Maradona made an impact when it counted (most famously in 1986, of course). Thus far, Messi hasn't lit up Europe in the biggest of games (Lyon and Bayern were comparatively low pressure as both sides were well beaten), and doesn't look as though he will at the very highest level. Still a brilliant, brilliant player, and, who knows, maybe he'll add that decisive something to his game. Maybe it will happen if he comes to the Premiership?

Interesting how you run from "woefully premature" to then compare Messi, unfavourably, with Maradonna. He was 25 when he was making miracles in 86, 23 when he left Barca, where his impact was considerably less than the 21-year-old Messi's. Yes, yes, Butcher of Bilbao injury, but even so - find a middle-aged Barca fan and ask them who did more for the club.

 

[crackerjack]

That was a 1-0 hammering.

Did Arse just get out of jail, or was it simply a stay of execution?

Can't see that team beating United, they were clueless.

 

[don_quixote]

is van persie back for the second leg?

 

[nomos]

kind of glad i didn't go down to the pub to watch that. sounded painful. i think rvp is supposed to be back for the next one. hopefully clichy too but i think it's arshavin and gallas who could really help.

 

[baboon2004]

Interesting how you run from "woefully premature" to then compare Messi, unfavourably, with Maradonna. He was 25 when he was making miracles in 86, 23 when he left Barca, where his impact was considerably less than the 21-year-old Messi's. Yes, yes, Butcher of Bilbao injury, but even so - find a middle-aged Barca fan and ask them who did more for the club.

That's a fair point - I'm prob. getting carried away by the hype. But, as I said, I feel sorry for him getting saddled with the 'new Maradona' tag - it's very unlikely anyone will ever do what Diego did in Mexico.

I think that all the talk about Barca is indeed woefully premature, as Pep Guardiola himself says. The British press loves to idolise a foreign team, probably these days to cover the fact that the PL hasn't bought its way to absolute success.

God, Arsenal were lucky. How they miss Arshavin already....

 

[don_quixote]

all the talk of barca is just hype hype hype. chelsea will play them off the park at stamford bridge.

and win 1-0.

 

[IdleRich]

"That was a 1-0 hammering.
Did Arse just get out of jail, or was it simply a stay of execution?"

Well based on the performance Arsenal have to be overjoyed with the result and they're still in the game. Then again that's what I said about Inter as well after the first leg.

 

[baboon2004]

Not to get all Alan Hansen, but the defending on last night's goal was beyond shocking. Three unmarked United players within the six yard box when the ball comes through. i'd be gutted if an under-15 side played like that.

Almunia was pretty good as a shot-stopper last night - kept Arsenal in the tie, but they're going to have to score at least 3 to go through, I think.

That Ronaldo shot would've been goal of the season if it'd gone in.

It's rather heartwarming to see the ice cracked between Wenger and Ferguson (see the pat on the back after the game).

 

[scottdisco]

Serie A to breakaway

 

[crackerjack]

FFS


A team waiting for the beach are suddenly thrown into a relegation battle.

And we're playing them on Saturday and have to win.

No fair!

edit: it just got worse
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11719_5263727,00.html
(alright, I realise i'm talking to myself here)

 

[crackerjack]

well that was all unnecessarily nervy. for a while there i was turning into a leeds fan

 

[crackerjack]

This Barca - Real game is extraordinary.

Crap defending is the way forward for football, no question.

 

[baboon2004]

Just watching the highlights now. Real Madrid have possibly the worst defence I have seen in my entire life. Are they drunk? And they're second in La Liga??

I might even be supporting Chelsea on Wednesday, cos all this Barca worship is getting silly. Let's see them score against a decent team, and then we'll talk. And Drogba/Anelka/Lampard et al are brilliant players in their own right (plus Hiddink is an outright genius, psychologically and fooballing-ly). At least we can refer to "Fulham's defence" and not die laughing halfway through the phrase.

And a Man U-Chelsea final won't be so bad again. Just watch from 3:25 here - what a goal that would have been... And watch at 10:00 for the funniest football commentary..ever?

But Chelsea were SO unlucky...United got battered (mostly) from 45 minutes on.

 

[don_quixote]

i reckon fulham would have coped with barcelona better than real madrid

in real's defence they've only failed to win one league match since they last played barcelona in december.

 

[scottdisco]

Rolling Championship thread

i hope Birmingham win today for the sake of my Handsworth mate.

bravo Crackerjack!

gutted for Tranmere.

Ricky Hatton haha.

 

[scottdisco]

Hucks.

i'm really, really sorry mate.

i know what relegation is like.

it's shit.

 

[crackerjack]

L1 won't be all bad next year Hucks. At least we both start 10pts above Southampton.

 

[mixed_biscuits]

I might even be supporting Chelsea on Wednesday, cos all this Barca worship is getting silly. Let's see them score against a decent team, and then we'll talk. And Drogba/Anelka/Lampard et al are brilliant players in their own right (plus Hiddink is an outright genius, psychologically and fooballing-ly)

You might want to watch Barcelona's dismemberment of Bayern in the previous round. The Germans arguably qualify as a 'decent team.'

Not that Chelsea can pretend to be of premier international class anyway, being only 3rd in the Premiership, below the erratic Liverpool and out of the running for their domestic title.

Chelsea's bus-parking Nou Camp escape was by no stretch of the imagination a 'genius' performance. They showed little or no inclination nor ability to do anything with the ball and 'earned' their draw only through Barcelona's profligacy. A team that is dominant when defending does not permit >20 efforts on goal, after all. (This is assuming that defending starts higher up the pitch than the edge of the penalty area...)

btw Real's defence is the equal second best of La Liga.