Champions League

I realise that you have to play like that to beat Barca, but fucking hell. What Chelski did was anti-football for 180 mins.

Why didn't Barca shoot more in the final minutes, there's always a chance for a deflection. They've been doing their nifty passing play for the last 30 mins without results. I don't mind that FCB lost, they've won plenty the last couple of years. I just hope Madrid doesn't make it and Bayern wins it in the end. Don't need to be in penalty kicks since Terry won't be there to fail again.

  On 4/25/2012 at 9:49 AM, MortstoX said:

I realise that you have to play like that to beat Barca, but fucking hell. What Chelski did was anti-football for 180 mins.

bullshit. Football is a game where (at a professional level at least) you attempt to win by applying tactics that given certain variables (your players, the opposing side, weather etc) will give you the best chance of doing so. Chelsea got their tactics right. Barcelona didn't and when they couldn't overcome Chelsea's tactics, they had no other plan.

We hear over and over - Barca don't change their style of play, they always play the same way and it is magnificent. Well, they certainly didn't change their style of play, but it certainly wasn't magnificent.

Barca play defensive football as well - the only difference is they do it higher up the pitch. This requires a tremendous work rate - and you could see it against Madrid on the weekend and against Chelsea over these two legs - playing virtually the same starting 11 game in and game out with that style of play is taking its toll on the players. What it also illustrates is that the collection of players Guardiola has been fortunate enough to manage over the past 3 seasons is a very special group of players, and it is unlikely Barca will be able to replace them with players of equal caliber as they age.

Puyol - 34. Xavi - 32. Alves* - 28. Iniesta - 27 (though he looks 37 with that receding hairline lol) Abidal* - 32. Keita - 32. David Villa - 30. So not a bunch of spring chickens, and they simply can't rely on Messi for everything - he looked shattered, which is unsurprising given how much he's played this season.

*I put asterisks next o the two wingbacks for very different reasons. Alves is a cunt, but he's still a good player. Abidal is an excellent LB, but he lacks flair going forward. his replacement, Adriano, has plenty of flair going forward, but lacks a little defensively.

  On 4/25/2012 at 10:28 AM, azatoth said:

Terry won't be there

lol john terry might be a cunt, but he is an excellent CB. Terrible liar though lol

Also really, if one wasn't entertained watching that match, one should just give up on watching football.

  On 4/25/2012 at 10:41 AM, chenGOD said:

  On 4/25/2012 at 9:49 AM, MortstoX said:

I realise that you have to play like that to beat Barca, but fucking hell. What Chelski did was anti-football for 180 mins.

 

bullshit. Football is a game where (at a professional level at least) you attempt to win by applying tactics that given certain variables (your players, the opposing side, weather etc) will give you the best chance of doing so. Chelsea got their tactics right. Barcelona didn't and when they couldn't overcome Chelsea's tactics, they had no other plan.

We hear over and over - Barca don't change their style of play, they always play the same way and it is magnificent. Well, they certainly didn't change their style of play, but it certainly wasn't magnificent.

Barca play defensive football as well - the only difference is they do it higher up the pitch. This requires a tremendous work rate - and you could see it against Madrid on the weekend and against Chelsea over these two legs - playing virtually the same starting 11 game in and game out with that style of play is taking its toll on the players. What it also illustrates is that the collection of players Guardiola has been fortunate enough to manage over the past 3 seasons is a very special group of players, and it is unlikely Barca will be able to replace them with players of equal caliber as they age.

Puyol - 34. Xavi - 32. Alves* - 28. Iniesta - 27 (though he looks 37 with that receding hairline lol) Abidal* - 32. Keita - 32. David Villa - 30. So not a bunch of spring chickens, and they simply can't rely on Messi for everything - he looked shattered, which is unsurprising given how much he's played this season.

 

*I put asterisks next o the two wingbacks for very different reasons. Alves is a cunt, but he's still a good player. Abidal is an excellent LB, but he lacks flair going forward. his replacement, Adriano, has plenty of flair going forward, but lacks a little defensively.

Sorry. What I meant was: "I realise that you have to play like that to beat Barca, but fucking hell. What Chelski did looked like anti-football for 180 mins"

Barca fans shouldn't be too worried about their ageing squad. A lot of talent under 25: Cuenca, Tello, Sanchez, Busquets, Thiago, Cesc, Pique.

“It looks bad on the replay cause I really tried hard to paralyse him."

fixed

and, wasn't terry that guy who banged some other guy's wife which made that player quit the national team? seems to be kind of an asshole, this terry character.

Also, racist.

Also, unofficially sold himself as an ambassador for the club (selling his presence and providing unsolicited backroom tours).

Also, assaults people in clubs. But that's not uncommon with footballers.

  On 4/25/2012 at 11:13 AM, MortstoX said:

 

Barca fans shouldn't be too worried about their ageing squad. A lot of talent under 25: Cuenca, Tello, Sanchez, Busquets, Thiago, Cesc, Pique.

Pique is 25, and you left out Messi. ;)

Those are all very good players - but Cesc is not an Iniesta or Xavi, neither is Biscuits (Biscuits has the additional misfortune of being a cunt). Cuenca i like, Tello I haven't seen enough except I know that he's fast as fuck. Thiago is good, but again, he's no Xavi or Iniesta.

  On 4/25/2012 at 11:34 AM, chenGOD said:

  On 4/25/2012 at 11:13 AM, MortstoX said:

Barca fans shouldn't be too worried about their ageing squad. A lot of talent under 25: Cuenca, Tello, Sanchez, Busquets, Thiago, Cesc, Pique.

 

Pique is 25, and you left out Messi. ;)

Those are all very good players - but Cesc is not an Iniesta or Xavi, neither is Biscuits (Biscuits has the additional misfortune of being a cunt). Cuenca i like, Tello I haven't seen enough except I know that he's fast as fuck. Thiago is good, but again, he's no Xavi or Iniesta.

Barca could probably do with getting a world class striker and midfielder (e.g. Aguero and Silva) to help them transition in the next 2 years... and continue to rely on La Masia for their regular stream of quality youngsters.

Watching Barca reminded me of why Arsenal are a failure, they want to score goals by just passing, Barca refused to shoot from outside the area, had so many opportunities to do so and with al of them world class player they would have scored.

  On 4/25/2012 at 12:17 PM, jhonny said:

  On 4/25/2012 at 11:34 AM, chenGOD said:

  On 4/25/2012 at 11:13 AM, MortstoX said:

Barca fans shouldn't be too worried about their ageing squad. A lot of talent under 25: Cuenca, Tello, Sanchez, Busquets, Thiago, Cesc, Pique.

 

Pique is 25, and you left out Messi. ;)

Those are all very good players - but Cesc is not an Iniesta or Xavi, neither is Biscuits (Biscuits has the additional misfortune of being a cunt). Cuenca i like, Tello I haven't seen enough except I know that he's fast as fuck. Thiago is good, but again, he's no Xavi or Iniesta.

Barca could probably do with getting a world class striker and midfielder (e.g. Aguero and Silva) to help them transition in the next 2 years... and continue to rely on La Masia for their regular stream of quality youngsters.

I think it's more important to buy a world class CB (Thiago Silva, Chiellini) and a LB/LWB (Bale?).

  On 4/25/2012 at 1:26 PM, MortstoX said:

  On 4/25/2012 at 12:17 PM, jhonny said:

  On 4/25/2012 at 11:34 AM, chenGOD said:

  On 4/25/2012 at 11:13 AM, MortstoX said:

Barca fans shouldn't be too worried about their ageing squad. A lot of talent under 25: Cuenca, Tello, Sanchez, Busquets, Thiago, Cesc, Pique.

 

Pique is 25, and you left out Messi. ;)

Those are all very good players - but Cesc is not an Iniesta or Xavi, neither is Biscuits (Biscuits has the additional misfortune of being a cunt). Cuenca i like, Tello I haven't seen enough except I know that he's fast as fuck. Thiago is good, but again, he's no Xavi or Iniesta.

Barca could probably do with getting a world class striker and midfielder (e.g. Aguero and Silva) to help them transition in the next 2 years... and continue to rely on La Masia for their regular stream of quality youngsters.

I think it's more important to buy a world class CB (Thiago Silva, Chiellini) and a LB/LWB (Bale?).

Yeah I agree I was being specific about their attacking options, their defence does need work. Bale would be the ideal LWB. Ashley Cole probably has a couple of years left and could be an option too.

One of the most entertaining football games I've seen in years. Just...wow.

Chelsea deserve every ounce of the two-match spoils here. Barca were lacking in everything but triangular zzzzzz passing.

Holy fuck. This is the craziest game I've seen in a long time.

  On 4/25/2012 at 6:18 PM, The Overlook said:

One of the most entertaining football games I've seen in years. Just...wow.

 

Chelsea deserve every ounce of the two-match spoils here. Barca were lacking in everything but triangular zzzzzz passing.

Barca vs Chelsea

Total shots:

47 vs 11

Shots on target

12 vs 4

Shot that hit the bar

4 vs 0

Forgot about the game and when I turned it on it was already 2-0 and soon 2-1. Mad semis.

wonderful match

also im happy about the final. no more midget and his catalan actresses.

Why do people hate Barca? Is it because they are so successful and has the best player in the world? And it's not like having actresses is strictly a Barca thing, every team still in it have a number of them.

I don't hate them at all. I just didn't think they deserved to win against Chelsea and I very much wanted them to win. I detest Chelsea.

I just dislike how Barcelona and their glory hunting fans perceive themselves as being god's gift to football. They are so goddamn self-important. Same goes for Real.

  On 4/25/2012 at 10:13 PM, The Overlook said:

I don't hate them at all. I just didn't think they deserved to win against Chelsea and I very much wanted them to win. I detest Chelsea.

Yeah, they were no good against Chelski and deservedly got eliminated. I'd like to see them be able to adjust more.