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2009 Champions League Final in Rome. Manchester United vs FC Barcelona
(http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:Vna9h02jDyKocM:http://www.mcalcio.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/barcelona_man_utd_cl.jpg)
(http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/04_04/RonaldoAbidal_468x324.jpg)
(http://www.futbolwallpapers.com/wallpapers/barca-vs-manu.jpg)
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Oh gosh..at least put a photo of a Barca player who go actually be able to play in the final nah :devil:
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well since it eh have no chelsea
BAAAARCAAAAAALOOOOOOOOONAAAAAAAA!!!
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Hope for a great match, may the better team on that day win! Please United fans no predictions, lets just keeping it going!
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So if Big Players step up in Big Games.... is this really a show down between CR7 and that messi fella??? Robaldo has show that he is a world class player and of not the best in his last 6 games in the CL! Messi looked a little above average in this semis... is he really the best in the world? Or is Ronaldo still King?
"To any opponent that we will meet in the next game.... you can throw Puyol, Inesta, Messi, we have that fella Park, I'm sure you've heard of him, Vidic and Anderson...check your papers!" I do not see Barca having the advantage... neither Messi against english opponents!
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So if Big Players step up in Big Games.... is this really a show down between CR7 and that messi fella??? Robaldo has show that he is a world class player and of not the best in his last 6 games in the CL! Messi looked a little above average in this semis... is he really the best in the world? Or is Ronaldo still King?
"To any opponent that we will meet in the next game.... you can throw Puyol, Inesta, Messi, we have that fella Park, I'm sure you've heard of him, Vidic and Anderson...check your papers!" I do not see Barca having the advantage... neither Messi against english opponents!
Every time Messi got the ball at least three Chelsea players swarmed him - he was hardly EVER dispossessed and passed it successfully to one of his unmarked team mates. Just look at how Barca scored their goal.
Ball passed to Messi, three Chelsea players surrounded him, Messi keeps his cool, passes to Iniesta - BOOM.
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Every time Messi got the ball at least three Chelsea players swarmed him - he was hardly EVER dispossessed and passed it successfully to one of his unmarked team mates. Just look at how Barca scored their goal.
Ball passed to Messi, three Chelsea players surrounded him, Messi keeps his cool, passes to Iniesta - BOOM.
don't get me wrong... in my opinion la liga > premiership
but ah watching yuh eh... ah watching yuh good :waiting:
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Every time Messi got the ball at least three Chelsea players swarmed him - he was hardly EVER dispossessed and passed it successfully to one of his unmarked team mates. Just look at how Barca scored their goal.
Ball passed to Messi, three Chelsea players surrounded him, Messi keeps his cool, passes to Iniesta - BOOM.
don't get me wrong... in my opinion la liga > premiership
but ah watching yuh eh... ah watching yuh good :waiting:
Ah know, ah know! :rotfl:
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Every time Messi got the ball at least three Chelsea players swarmed him - he was hardly EVER dispossessed and passed it successfully to one of his unmarked team mates. Just look at how Barca scored their goal.
Ball passed to Messi, three Chelsea players surrounded him, Messi keeps his cool, passes to Iniesta - BOOM.
don't get me wrong... in my opinion la liga > premiership
but ah watching yuh eh... ah watching yuh good :waiting:
Given all the mess I talking... yuh want to know something.... Chelski pay 700 mil to make it to the Semis... and still could not hold the small man down...! This will be the best finals... I'm coming to the CR game if ah loss ah go buy you and yuh woman ah rounds ah drinks :beermug:
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So if Big Players step up in Big Games.... is this really a show down between CR7 and that messi fella??? Robaldo has show that he is a world class player and of not the best in his last 6 games in the CL! Messi looked a little above average in this semis... is he really the best in the world? Or is Ronaldo still King?
"To any opponent that we will meet in the next game.... you can throw Puyol, Inesta, Messi, we have that fella Park, I'm sure you've heard of him, Vidic and Anderson...check your papers!" I do not see Barca having the advantage... neither Messi against english opponents!
Every time Messi got the ball at least three Chelsea players swarmed him - he was hardly EVER dispossessed and passed it successfully to one of his unmarked team mates. Just look at how Barca scored their goal.
Ball passed to Messi, three Chelsea players surrounded him, Messi keeps his cool, passes to Iniesta - BOOM.
So truly this will be a test of the two best players in the world :beermug:
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So if Big Players step up in Big Games.... is this really a show down between CR7 and that messi fella??? Robaldo has show that he is a world class player and of not the best in his last 6 games in the CL! Messi looked a little above average in this semis... is he really the best in the world? Or is Ronaldo still King?
"To any opponent that we will meet in the next game.... you can throw Puyol, Inesta, Messi, we have that fella Park, I'm sure you've heard of him, Vidic and Anderson...check your papers!" I do not see Barca having the advantage... neither Messi against english opponents!
Every time Messi got the ball at least three Chelsea players swarmed him - he was hardly EVER dispossessed and passed it successfully to one of his unmarked team mates. Just look at how Barca scored their goal.
Ball passed to Messi, three Chelsea players surrounded him, Messi keeps his cool, passes to Iniesta - BOOM.
So truly this will be a test of the two best players in the world :beermug:
Cant agree with you there ...it is a test of the two best teams in Europe ...in the world maybe ...but the best player in the world has already been decided ...even if he does not play in the game Messi will still be crowned the world's best 2009 just as Ronaldo would have been even if he missed the european final last year.
You see whereas one game decides the best team ...one game does not give a player the edge over another no matter the difference in the game .....you would have to look at the players all season and their contributions to the team effort.
For the team however it comes down to one game ..
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Man United will give dem the business...GLORY GLORY!!!
EPL FOREVER!!!
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So if Big Players step up in Big Games.... is this really a show down between CR7 and that messi fella??? Robaldo has show that he is a world class player and of not the best in his last 6 games in the CL! Messi looked a little above average in this semis... is he really the best in the world? Or is Ronaldo still King?
"To any opponent that we will meet in the next game.... you can throw Puyol, Inesta, Messi, we have that fella Park, I'm sure you've heard of him, Vidic and Anderson...check your papers!" I do not see Barca having the advantage... neither Messi against english opponents!
Every time Messi got the ball at least three Chelsea players swarmed him - he was hardly EVER dispossessed and passed it successfully to one of his unmarked team mates. Just look at how Barca scored their goal.
Ball passed to Messi, three Chelsea players surrounded him, Messi keeps his cool, passes to Iniesta - BOOM.
yeah but chelsea is shit
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Last time I remember these last two meeting in a Cup final, ManU were huge underdogs. Barca had the might Diego Maradona and all of England was talking about Bryan Robson.
Anyway ManU hit dem some hard clout, with Maradona pulling off a Chris Angel (talk about disappointment). ManU emerged 3-1 winners (I Think).
Just to jar the memory of the older heads and enlighten the youth dem
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Last time I remember these last two meeting in a Cup final, ManU were huge underdogs. Barca had the might Diego Maradona and all of England was talking about Bryan Robson.
Anyway ManU hit dem some hard clout, with Maradona pulling off a Chris Angel (talk about disappointment). ManU emerged 3-1 winners (I Think).
Just to jar the memory of the older heads and enlighten the youth dem
Nah Observer.
I think yuh remembering a UEFA Cup or CWC meeting back in the early eighties.
United win the first leg 2-0 but then get beat 3-0 in the Nou Camp. Can't remember if Maradona was playing but I believe it was in '83 or '84. I remeber Robson scoring (of course).
The next time they meet after that was in the '91 CWC final. Barca was the favourite with Koeman and Laudrup but United beat them with a Hughes double (big, big player)
After that was the Champions League group stage meetings. The thing about United Barcelona is that up until last year every game was a open, entertaining game.
In '94 United come from behind to draw 2-2 with a Lee Sharpe flick but then Barcelona kill them 4-0 in Spain.
Then in 1999 group stages they draw 3-3 twice in two of the best games you will ever see.
Hopefully this final will live up to the past meetings
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Last time I remember these last two meeting in a Cup final, ManU were huge underdogs. Barca had the might Diego Maradona and all of England was talking about Bryan Robson.
Anyway ManU hit dem some hard clout, with Maradona pulling off a Chris Angel (talk about disappointment). ManU emerged 3-1 winners (I Think).
Just to jar the memory of the older heads and enlighten the youth dem
Nah Observer.
I think yuh remembering a UEFA Cup or CWC meeting back in the early eighties.
United win the first leg 2-0 but then get beat 3-0 in the Nou Camp. Can't remember if Maradona was playing but I believe it was in '83 or '84. I remeber Robson scoring (of course).
The next time they meet after that was in the '91 CWC final. Barca was the favourite with Koeman and Laudrup but United beat them with a Hughes double (big, big player)
After that was the Champions League group stage meetings. The thing about United Barcelona is that up until last year every game was a open, entertaining game.
In '94 United come from behind to draw 2-2 with a Lee Sharpe flick but then Barcelona kill them 4-0 in Spain.
Then in 1999 group stages they draw 3-3 twice in two of the best games you will ever see.
Hopefully this final will live up to the past meetings
I should research it (i too dam lazy) but I am sure ManU won on aggregate in 83-84 (maybe is the aggregate score I remember). I remember the game and Diego was disappointing, but Shuster looked dangerous in both legs. What I remember was the game at ManU talk about one crazy ass crowd.
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European hed to head here:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=644224&sec=uefachampionsleague&root=uefachampionsleague&cc=5901
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European hed to head here:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=644224&sec=uefachampionsleague&root=uefachampionsleague&cc=5901
Ok it was 3-2 aggregate 83-84. Thanks Filho.
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Then in 1999 group stages they draw 3-3 twice in two of the best games you will ever see.
Yeah boy wow!!...Good call!!
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Then in 1999 group stages they draw 3-3 twice in two of the best games you will ever see.
Yeah boy wow!!...Good call!!
Co-sign x 10
Look the highlights here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkp2fJx9ILA
If only dat goal didn't save Yorke bicycle kick (0:32) ...dat woulda be one of the greatest goals ever in a Champions League match
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Barca to appeal Abidal and Alves suspensions
May 9, 2009
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Barcelona will appeal Eric Abidal's red card and the yellow card shown to Daniel Alves in the hope of getting their suspensions for the Champions League final against Manchester United overturned.
Click Here
"Of course we will appeal the cards of Abidal and Alves, out of respect for the players," coach Pep Guardiola said at a news conference on Saturday.
Guardiola also said he thought United's Darren Fletcher should be allowed to play in the Rome final on May 27, after the midfielder was sent off in the semi-final against Arsenal.
United have appealed but UEFA rules make it unlikely that the suspensions will be lifted.
Abidal was sent off for what the referee saw as a trip on Nicolas Anelka in Wednesday's semi-final second leg, while Alves was booked for a challenge on Ashley Cole.
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may de better team win on that day,definitly de 2 top teams in europe.EPL V La Liga.on de 27th will be war.let's go united.
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MAN UTD V BARCELONA
Barca's Henry facing fitness battle for Rome final
By Soccernet staff
May 9, 2009
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Barcelona forward Thierry Henry is facing a battle to be fit for the UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United.
GettyImages
Henry has impressed at the Nou Camp this season.
Henry suffered a knee injury in last week's 6-2 thrashing of Real Madrid and the severity of the problem was initially played down.
The French ace was included in the squad which travelled to London for the second leg of the semi-final tie with Chelsea.
He eventually sat out the 1-1 draw which allowed Barcelona to progress on away goals and advance to a final date with holders United in Rome on 27th May.
However, Henry is struggling to recover in time to be available for the game after further tests showed he has suffered a strain to his anterior cruciate ligament.
Club doctors have confirmed that the former Arsenal captain will miss the next four games, including the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao.
Henry will also sit out the Primera Division fixtures against Villarreal, Mallorca and Osasuna as Barcelona look to wrap up the domestic title.
The club have confirmed that the 31-year-old is undergoing 'specific treatment' in an attempt to be fit for the showdown with United later this month.
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The both teams should have one more European CL Cups for their pedigree. Both teams are well balanced and more so this season.
Barca have Eto, Henry, Messi and ManU Ronaldo. Rooney, Tevez and Berbatov. Barca have the more technical midfield that contribute to the goals. ManU midfield are a blanket and physical. The back lines are where I see a difference, with IMHO ManU have the better central pairing and a better goalkeeper. This in the end could be the difference. If ManU score first it could be curtains early.
This one close to call and all I hope for is a game to remember.
If I was a betting man I would say on present form ManU have the edge.
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F365 and SkySports are reporting that Iniesta will miss the Champions League final with a torn thigh muscle...which is at least 3-4 weeks out if claims about his injury are true...
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:cursing: :frustrated: :banginghead:
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9 games in like 3 and a half weeks, what yuh expect go happen..
i thought with a good lead in the league and Cup final to play on wednesday, that Guardiola woulda rotate the side some more man..
put a lil more faith in Bojan, Hleb and Gudjohnsen and give yuh men ah lil rest.
sad if its true, hes in the form of his career and a necessity for the final.
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Hmm...it getting worse for Barca. Sad...i woulda like to see this game played at full capability for both teams.
Soccernet (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=645140&sec=europe&&cc=3888)
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta looks set to miss the Champions League final against Manchester United later this month after picking up a thigh injury in his side's 3-3 draw at home to Villarreal on Sunday night.
Iniesta looked downbeat as he left the pitch at the end of the match on a disappointing night for Barcelona, as the Catalans failed to secure the three points they needed to seal the title at the Nou Camp.
Early indications suggest the midfielder has suffered a recurrence of the serious thigh injury he picked up in November and Barca coach Pep Guardiola admitted he is likely to lose his in-form star for the rest of the season.
"I don't have a good feeling,'' he said on Sunday night. "We will do tests tomorrow, but there is no way he will play this week.''
That means Iniesta will definitely miss the final of the Copa del Rey, which sees Barcelona face Athletic Bilbao at Valencia's Mestalla stadium on Wednesday night. "We will try to get him fit for Rome - that's all we can do,'' he said. "We will have what the tests reveal.''
Thierry Henry is also fighting to be fit for the season's showpiece against United after picking up a ligament injury in the 6-2 thrashing of Real Madrid last weekend.
The winning mentality needed..buh.....sometimes it better to win the battle and lose the war.
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No Iniesta, no Henry, no Marquez. Injury.
No Abidal & Alves Suspension
And still games where anything can happen ??? Wrong time for things to go wrong
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Like in bball dey need a deep bench
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Last night I was watching some highlights from the 2001 U-17 WC in T&T. Is then I noticed that Iniesta was on that team too.
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He should make it.. (http://sport.es/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=44&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=611417&idseccio_PK=803)
My spanish eh so hot..buh according to google translations...
Iniesta will be in Roma.El barcelonista Andrés Iniesta is convinced that will be able to play the end of the Champions before the Manchester United, the next one 27 of May in Rome, since suffers "a small one roturita" muscular of two centimeters in the straight previous one of the right leg
From wha i read on some fan sites......small rupture...he should be ok time 27th. Copa del rey outta de question doh. And today is de man birthday.
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Iniesta handed fitness boost
Barca star hopeful of facing United despite injury scare.
Andres Iniesta is confident he will be fit for the UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United after tests revealed that his injury is not as serious as first thought.
(http://img.skysports.com/09/04/218x298/Andres-Iniesta_2202753.jpg)
The Blaugrana midfielder limped out of the 3-3 draw against Villarreal on Sunday and initial examinations saw club medics state that he could be a doubt for the showpiece encounter in Rome later this month.
But a new round of tests on Monday have confirmed that Iniesta has suffered only a "small tear" to the muscle in his right leg and that he will recover quickly.
"It is good news," Sport quote the player as stating as he passed reporters following a visit to the clinic.
It is an injury in the same place as the one that the playmaker suffered in November and sidelined him for two months, but this time the news is more positive.
Iniesta will miss the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday against Athletic Bilbao and Pep Guardiola will be cautious about how many appearances he makes before the end of the league season.
Barcelona already have Rafa Marquez and Gaby Milito out of the Champions League final on 27th May through injury, while Thierry Henry is facing a race to be fit and Eric Abidal and Dani Alves are suspended.
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Why this must be the dream UCL final
By Les Murray | 13 May 2009 | 12:02
Link (http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/blogs/lesmurray/why-this-must-be-the-dream-ucl-final-187389/)
And, understandably, the deluge will continue.
Fortune this year has brought us rare and treasured ingredients, and therefore prospects, for a fixture we look upon annually as the supposed measure of the game’s modern quality. The UCL’s ultimate and deciding game, given that the tournament engages the world’s richest teams and its best players, surely has to be nothing less than that.
This time it’s between Manchester United and Barcelona, a fixture whose setting is equally apt, la citta eterna, Rome.
One team is, by deed and title, the best in the world. The other, by popular conclusion, is the world’s most watchable.
The match will parade, on opposite sides, the world’s two most admired players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, both iconic figures of extraordinary creative gifts, which can turn a game and be the difference between winning and not winning such a sought-after trophy.
Both teams, by their own traditions and ideologies, are respected and are expected to play in a way that will please the tumult of billions who live in hope that football, at this apex, will deliver what it is meant to.
But, of course, not all agree with this notion, the notion that two teams who subscribe to a passing game, who believe in technical and cerebral creativity as a route to victory, and who cling to these principles as matters of club identity, are the most appropriate to contest a Champions League final.
For my last column, while exploring the virtues of the FFA’s new national curriculum, we used the heading: ‘And one day we, too, can play like Barcelona,’ arguing that, just maybe, the revolutionary curriculum will take Australia finally to a level of technical competitiveness we have always sought.
As I read the comments readers made in response to the article, one took my breath away: ‘And one day we, too, can play like Barcelona? What? Pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass and never shoot? I hope not. Give me the blood, guts and passion of the EPL any day.’
As bizarre as this observation was, given that Barca had scored an astonishing and unrivaled volume of goals this season (including six against Real Madrid a few days before this comment was posted), the reader had a right to make it.
He was only expressing his personal taste, articulating a certain view about what constitutes entertainment in football. He prefers the bruising, physical and incongruous clatter, the fire and brimstone of the EPL, to the way Barcelona pin-ball their way to their victories.
Fine. That is his view. Beauty, after all, is in the eye of the beholder, even in football. I have, I guess, no more right to declare that Barcelona is the most entertaining football team on the planet at this time than someone else has of saying Stoke City is.
But still there needs to be a reality check.
Those of us whose business involves the promotion of football – and I have been part of that business for three decades – need to draw on and highlight the unique qualities football has which set it apart from other sports, especially in this country, the other so-called football ‘codes’ with which football competes.
There needs to be a historical understanding of why football conquered most of the world in the first place and, for example, rugby did not.
Those differences are many. But first among them is that football is a game in which the ball is manipulated by the feet and which, by extension, means that in football the skill needed to manipulate that ball is paramount.
Indeed that is the very essence of the game.
A major reason why football conquered across the world over a century ago, especially the working classes, is that it’s uniquely accessible to all: poor, rich, skinny, fat, short, tall, man, woman.
This ecumenical virtue nominates pure ability, individual and collective, as the governing factor that determines victory or defeat in a game. Size, physical power, muscle and aggression can play a part in deciding a football game’s outcome. But on their own their role is minor.
Those virtues are determining factors in rugby, AFL and NFL but not in football. In rugby you cannot survive if you are skinny. In AFL you are a loser if you are short and in gridiron you have to be man mountain before you can make a buck.
But this is not the case in football.
What is the virtue that links Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Tevez, Kaká, Torres and Fabregas, whose physical attributes are utterly disparate? It is their skill and creative ability, and ultimately their capacity to manipulate the sphere, of course.
It is this that sets football apart. If we were to admire footballers and football teams only or primarily for their power, physique and capacity to mix it, we may as well be talking about rugby. And then, you may well ask, why are we being football fans at all?
In the Australian context, and in the context of the mission to entice our countrymen to appreciate and value the distinctive beauties of the beautiful game, this Champions League final is magnificently opportune.
If the pairing’s virtues live up to their prescriptions, if the ingredients are indeed right, if the coaches don’t corrupt the glorious opportunity with regressive tactics, this fixture will be a monument to the efforts of those who have long talked in hope of vindication that football is beautiful.
It is important, very important, that this final lives up to its billing.
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(http://cl.exct.net/?ju=fe2f16737461007f7c1476&ls=fdf1137374600d7c76127572&m=ff2a1d717361&l=fe601575736506747315&s=fdfd15727063057474167170&jb=ffcf14&t=)
;D
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the way how man u playing against arsenal right now. is how they r going to play against barca
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Barca will carve open that back four.
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:heehee: lol
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Barca will carve open that back four.
So all yuh already give the ref an advancement :devil:
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Barca will carve open that back four.
United's back 4 better than Barca's, even if Rio is missing. Didn't Pique just start tuh playing football?
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Rio will be present
Dont compare Utd's back 4 of today ( at home with a point needed to win a league) vs CL Final squad (hungry, ready to retain the cup)
The back 4 vs Barca will be very up for the ask at hand...hope your defenders can cope with us as well
But again..I like it when you lot underestimate United....many have made that mistake..and subsequently paid the price
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But again..I like it when you lot underestimate United....many have made that mistake..and subsequently paid the price
hahaha- the way you talk there you'd swear Man U is some pee-on lower level scrapping and fighting cinderella football club...
I've never heard anyone seriously underestimate Man United, outside of silly gun talk for fun. There are some teams that you never underestimate and obviously Man U is one of them.
Someone say drama queen? lol
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But again..I like it when you lot underestimate United....many have made that mistake..and subsequently paid the price
hahaha
I've never heard of anyone seriously underestimate Man United, outside of silly gun talk for fun. There are some teams that you never underestimate and obviously Man U is one of them.
Someone say drama queen? lol
Kicker... if Utd play Chelsea Livers Barca Real or any top team in each league ... the ABU'S( Anybody but United) call a win for the opposition... is just haters but I know Barca the team will not underestimate us..No team will as we will not underestimate any top club
Scroll up... "Barca are going to rip into that Utd back 4" that is underestimation
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But again..I like it when you lot underestimate United....many have made that mistake..and subsequently paid the price
hahaha
I've never heard of anyone seriously underestimate Man United, outside of silly gun talk for fun. There are some teams that you never underestimate and obviously Man U is one of them.
Someone say drama queen? lol
Kicker... if Utd play Chelsea Livers Barca Real or any top team in each league ... the ABU'S( Anybody but United) call a win for the opposition... is just haters but I know Barca the team will not underestimate us..No team will as we will not underestimate any top club
Scroll up... "Barca are going to rip into that Utd back 4" that is underestimation
haha I hear you....You studyin' goofy though? One setta gun talk on the forum and behind de scenes his bamsee twitchin like never before...I have instant message excerpts as proof if ah ever need tuh blackmail his arse lol....
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Man Utd can clinch the quadruple..... or Barcelona can be the first spanish team to win a treble. Nice.....either way....
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Ferguson and Guardiola- two contrasting managers
Marc Guillén
The Rome final sees two very different managers pitting their wits against each other – Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager for the last 23 years, and Pep Guardiola, who joined Barça 25 years ago, but is still in his first year as manager.
When Alex Ferguson made his debut in Europe with Aberdeen, Josep Guardiola was just 7 years old, since then the Scot has never stopped managing and Pep has never stopped learning what it means to be a part of FC Barcelona.
Three titles
One thing can’t be questioned about Pep – his fantastic record: in two years he’s won every trophy he’s been involved in as a manager. Last year he took the Barca reserves to a third division title and this year he’s taken the first team to a historic domestic league and cup double. What’s more he’s done it by keeping true to the club’s tradition of attacking football, a tradition he has been brought up on since he first joined the club, as he commented recently: “we are as clear as water – we always play in the same way”.
United’s most successful boss
Ferguson joined United in November 1987 and although his past with various smaller clubs in Scotland and the successful European Cup Winners Cup winning Aberdeen had given no special indication of any special link with the Old Trafford club he went on to become the club’s most successful manager and an emblematic figure for them.
11 EPL titles
It took Fergusson six years to win a title for United, but since then he has chalked up a total of 11 Premier League titles (out of a club total of 18). Fergusson’s strong character was always a constant, but he also showed considerable skill in molding a series of teams who were both secure at the back and exciting going forward.
If they win….
If Barca take the title, Pep Guardiola, 38, will become the third youngest manager to take Europe’s top trophy. Only two managers, both for Real Madrid, have taken the title at a younger age: Pepe Vilallonga, who won the European Cup in 1956 and Miguel Muñoz, who was a few days younger than Guardiola when he won it in 1960.
In contrast, if United win, it will make Ferguson, who is 68, the second oldest manager to win the title, behind only Raymond Coethals who won the Cup in 1993 with Olympic Marseilles when he was 72.
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You studyin' goofy though? One setta gun talk on the forum and behind de scenes his bamsee twitchin like never before...I have instant message excerpts as proof if ah ever need tuh blackmail his arse lol....
REALLY!!
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But again..I like it when you lot underestimate United....many have made that mistake..and subsequently paid the price
hahaha
I've never heard of anyone seriously underestimate Man United, outside of silly gun talk for fun. There are some teams that you never underestimate and obviously Man U is one of them.
Someone say drama queen? lol
Kicker... if Utd play Chelsea Livers Barca Real or any top team in each league ... the ABU'S( Anybody but United) call a win for the opposition... is just haters but I know Barca the team will not underestimate us..No team will as we will not underestimate any top club
Scroll up... "Barca are going to rip into that Utd back 4" that is underestimation
United is probably the biggest club on the planet as far as fan base is concerned, and the most dominant club in England, so its natural that many people want to see them lose. but noon actually thinks Chelsea, Liverpool etc are superior to United. Not today's version of United anyway. And if you check around, United are actually favored to win the CL final. And rightly so. They are the defending champs and eased into the final. They have more depth and experience than Barca. BUt the ABU (didn't even know such a thing existed) will want Barca and Barca also play a type of football that a certain type of fan romanticizes. I'm pretty sure Barca is the slight favorite in terms of neutral fan support globally. But everyone, including Barca fans would consider a Barca win a slight upset, especially if Iniesta and Henry don't recover or aren't 100%. At the end of the day..look where people putting their money..ManU are odds on favorites to win.
Sempre Barca!
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sorry cant ever see how the a barca team winning is an upset. thats too strong a word to use
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sorry cant ever see how the a barca team winning is an upset. thats too strong a word to use
Ent!
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sorry cant ever see how the a barca team winning is an upset. thats too strong a word to use
Ent!
Well ahem !! using performances against villareal as a guide, United should sneak away with this one shouldn't they ?
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But everyone, including Barca fans would consider a Barca win a slight upset, especially if Iniesta and Henry don't recover or aren't 100%. At the end of the day..look where people putting their money..ManU are odds on favorites to win.
a barca win would be a slight upset? what a laugh.... :rotfl:
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But everyone, including Barca fans would consider a Barca win a slight upset, especially if Iniesta and Henry don't recover or aren't 100%. At the end of the day..look where people putting their money..ManU are odds on favorites to win.
a barca win would be a slight upset? what a laugh.... :rotfl:
Calm down people. Maybe 'upset' by itself is the wrong word, but I said 'slight upset' meaning ManU has an edge when you consider Barca may be without Henry and Iniesta as well as Alvez and Abidal. Upset doh mean they overcame catastrophic odds..it just means they overcome some kind off odds..and by putting 'slight' before 'upset' you should know I not saying the gap all dat wide. Allyuh like ting eh? ;D
Seriously, does anyone not think Barca without Abidal, Alvez, Henry and Iniesta represents a recognizable dip in quality. Barca is a great at full strength, but I for one would be a bit worried if Iniesta and Henry aren't near 100% on the day of the final, or worse yet, one or both can't play. Especially Iniesta. Look at the team Barca put out against Chelsea when they were missing Puyol and Henry (not mentioning Mrquez since I find Pique handling it). I wouldn't expect that 11 (with keita and Busquets in mf, and Yaya in the back ??? ???) to win the CL, so I will be pleasantly surprised if Barca could put out an 11 without those 4 (even with the return of Puyol) and beat United. Take out the equivalent 4 starters from manU and tell me it wouldn't be at least a 'slight upset' if they beat a full strength Barca. At least dais how I see it.
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sorry cant ever see how the a barca team winning is an upset. thats too strong a word to use
Ent!
Well ahem !! using performances against villareal as a guide, United should sneak away with this one shouldn't they ?
sarcasm?
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But everyone, including Barca fans would consider a Barca win a slight upset, especially if Iniesta and Henry don't recover or aren't 100%. At the end of the day..look where people putting their money..ManU are odds on favorites to win.
a barca win would be a slight upset? what a laugh.... :rotfl:
Calm down people. Maybe 'upset' by itself is the wrong word, but I said 'slight upset' meaning ManU has an edge when you consider Barca may be without Henry and Iniesta as well as Alvez and Abidal. Upset doh mean they overcame catastrophic odds..it just means they overcome some kind off odds..and by putting 'slight' before 'upset' you should know I not saying the gap all dat wide. Allyuh like ting eh? ;D
Seriously, does anyone not think Barca without Abidal, Alvez, Henry and Iniesta represents a recognizable dip in quality. Barca is a great at full strength, but I for one would be a bit worried if Iniesta and Henry aren't near 100% on the day of the final, or worse yet, one or both can't play. Especially Iniesta. Look at the team Barca put out against Chelsea when they were missing Puyol and Henry (not mentioning Mrquez since I find Pique handling it). I wouldn't expect that 11 (with keita and Busquets in mf, and Yaya in the back ??? ???) to win the CL, so I will be pleasantly surprised if Barca could put out an 11 without those 4 (even with the return of Puyol) and beat United. Take out the equivalent 4 starters from manU and tell me it wouldn't be at least a 'slight upset' if they beat a full strength Barca. At least dais how I see it.
I feel you just managing your own expectations so you don't get too devastated with a loss :devil:
Let's be honest, no way iniesta missing this match. He's the heartbeat of the team and will be on the field, even at half strength.
And I dunno if iz just me but I find Man U not really clicking on all cylinders either... einning big games on some spectacular free kicks and long range lasers
They have the best player, defense and coach. But Barca has the second best player, playmaker and attack.
A good match-up
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the ABU'S( Anybody but United) call a win for the opposition... is just haters
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/strenkt/2vi2duajpg.gif)
Filho, I feel yuh had to take some Eno's or Andrew's for that upset yuh talking bout.
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But everyone, including Barca fans would consider a Barca win a slight upset, especially if Iniesta and Henry don't recover or aren't 100%. At the end of the day..look where people putting their money..ManU are odds on favorites to win.
a barca win would be a slight upset? what a laugh.... :rotfl:
Calm down people. Maybe 'upset' by itself is the wrong word, but I said 'slight upset' meaning ManU has an edge when you consider Barca may be without Henry and Iniesta as well as Alvez and Abidal. Upset doh mean they overcame catastrophic odds..it just means they overcome some kind off odds..and by putting 'slight' before 'upset' you should know I not saying the gap all dat wide. Allyuh like ting eh? ;D
Seriously, does anyone not think Barca without Abidal, Alvez, Henry and Iniesta represents a recognizable dip in quality. Barca is a great at full strength, but I for one would be a bit worried if Iniesta and Henry aren't near 100% on the day of the final, or worse yet, one or both can't play. Especially Iniesta. Look at the team Barca put out against Chelsea when they were missing Puyol and Henry (not mentioning Mrquez since I find Pique handling it). I wouldn't expect that 11 (with keita and Busquets in mf, and Yaya in the back ??? ???) to win the CL, so I will be pleasantly surprised if Barca could put out an 11 without those 4 (even with the return of Puyol) and beat United. Take out the equivalent 4 starters from manU and tell me it wouldn't be at least a 'slight upset' if they beat a full strength Barca. At least dais how I see it.
I feel you just managing your own expectations so you don't get too devastated with a loss :devil:
Let's be honest, no way iniesta missing this match. He's the heartbeat of the team and will be on the field, even at half strength.
And I dunno if iz just me but I find Man U not really clicking on all cylinders either... einning big games on some spectacular free kicks and long range lasers
They have the best player, defense and coach. But Barca has the second best player, playmaker and attack.
A good match-up
Haha. I wouldn't feel that bad hoss. I honestly kinda glad they just in the final. Plus, I also expect this Barca to get better over the next few years. I just trying to be objective (and maybe manage expectations a little :devil:). Just as some may think I'm being too conservative in my assessment of Barca, I think most are getting carried away at how good they think this Barca squad is. I agree that with the strongest 11 out there, I like Barca's chances against anyone. But which part of 'IF Iniesta and Henry don't play' is all that confusing? If they play, I readjust my opinion of Barca's chances. But without them, Barca is not as good as some of you make them out to be. Even the loss of Alvez and Abidal changes Barca's shape big time. Especially the loss of the Brazilian. He is a big part of Barac's attack and creates a lot of room for Messi with his runs from deep. Add to that the loss of Iniesta and Henry and Barca cannot play the type of football that has gotten them to this point. So while you say Iniesta must play, I am only saying what I think are simple facts..Barca without Alvez, Abidal, and possible Henry and Iniesta is a substantially weakened side. No excuses. Big sides hadda deal. If ManU lost Rooney, Evra and a couple other key starters, and Barca was full strength, I'd say Barca is a clear favorite to win and I could care less who United missing. So I doh expect united fans to care who Barca missing. It is a reality of a long season and you need quality teams with the requisite depth. But until i see henry and/or Iniesta step on that field and moving freely, i lil nervous bout Barca chances. I can't imagine the fan o any team missing Iniesta, henry, Alvez and Abidal type players not worrying a little how that will affect their squad. Now if henry and Iniest stpe on the field, or even just Iniesta, bess believe I will be feeling a bit more positive
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Now see Rio struggling for fitness. That would be a big loss to manU. Even if he starts, he may not be 100%. Same thing I was saying...reality of a long season.
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If Man U is favored, which I think they are.... if Barca wins it's an upset. simple.
I think people are confusing upset, with suprise.
This is a Goliath v Goliath match up so there will be no surprises (other than a dread blowout on either end)
With Barca's injuries & suspensions, and after viewing how Chelsea frustrated Barca's fluidity, add to that the somewhat EPL biased sentiment in the mainstream resulting from Chelsea's bout of weeping & moaning....I would think that the majority are leaning toward Man U winning this one...(that last part is just my perception).
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If Man U is favored, which I think they are.... if Barca wins it's an upset. simple.
I think people are confusing upset, with suprise.
This is a Goliath v Goliath match up so there will be no surprises (other than a dread blowout on either end)
With Barca's injuries & suspensions, and after viewing how Chelsea frustrated Barca's fluidity, add to that the somewhat EPL biased sentiment in the mainstream resulting from exacerbated by Chelsea's bout of weeping & moaning....I would think that the majority are leaning toward Man U winning this one...(that last part is just my perception).
one change for yuh
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Calm down people. Maybe 'upset' by itself is the wrong word, but I said 'slight upset' meaning ManU has an edge when you consider Barca may be without Henry and Iniesta as well as Alvez and Abidal. Upset doh mean they overcame catastrophic odds..it just means they overcome some kind off odds..and by putting 'slight' before 'upset' you should know I not saying the gap all dat wide. Allyuh like ting eh? ;D
you is ah man does ask for 'slight' pepper on yuh doubles and then cuss and bawl for water ent?
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If Man U is favored, which I think they are.... if Barca wins it's an upset. simple.
I think people are confusing upset, with suprise.
This is a Goliath v Goliath match up so there will be no surprises (other than a dread blowout on either end)
With Barca's injuries & suspensions, and after viewing how Chelsea frustrated Barca's fluidity, add to that the somewhat EPL biased sentiment in the mainstream resulting from Chelsea's bout of weeping & moaning....I would think that the majority are leaning toward Man U winning this one...(that last part is just my perception).
i really dont know where you pull this one out from.
in my books an upset is a surprise, plain and simple. No need to delve in semantics.
If Barca win, then they will just prove that they are the real deal and and tell us what we already suspect; one of the best teams of this generation.
If Man Utd win, then they are the best team in Europe and shows that the EPL is a cut above.
Nothing more, nothing less.
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Dat loss of alves...abidal and marques has barca weaker...no doubt bout it. Alves is a serious attacking threat...dealing with him and messi wouldnt have been easy for evra...so if he was there i woulda anticipate park being on that flank to help out. Worse yet yuh have no abidal on de left...who does stay home a bit....which is ronaldo's flank. Add to that....normally puyol woulda get sqeeze out to de right...buh....pique would be the only recognised CB....unless caceres get a sweat. (which he should..ah mean yuh pay money fuh de man to bench him when yuh have a drought at CB?) I hearing some people saying yaya in the back..buh....i think that was only a one off thing for chelsea due to anelka and drogba having height. Yaya would be best suited in midfield..cuz he does add a lot.
Maybe it might be like this
Caceres/Puyol-----Puyol Caceres----Pique----Silvinho
Yaya
Xavi Iniesta
Messi Etoo Henry
While United doh have that much injury worries....Rio always has had his back problems this season..he should be rested. The lineup for the defence fairly straight forward....the midfield is where the guessing starts to happen. I think it might be something like this
Neville/Rafael ----Rio---Vidic---Evra
Carrick----Anderson
Ronaldo Park
Berbatov Rooney
I feel Tevez might come off the bench. However the big sacrifice would be if to drop Park (which i doubt..he miss out last year..and he work rate needed for messi) and push rooney on the left..and let tevez play up top. Or Berbatov might bench and Tevez play...cuz he looks better on the counter..which United might be prone to do...though not as much as chelsea since especially with alves missing..some of their attacking prowess curtailed.
All in all..i want a good game...with both teams playing football. I doh mind either way who wins.
To call it an upset if Barca wins....might be the wrong choice of words...buh i get where Filho is coming from. Looking at the personel available..Barca weaker due to alves and abidal missing..henry and iniesta touch and go as it is. Etoo finishing has been woeful lately....and this is a game where every chance matters. Park have enough heart and lungs to run down messi whole night...plus evra there too. The midfield is the key....anderson has enough creative vision to pick good passes when he in de mood...and plus he has defensive qualities..so he and carrick can be a fustration to xavi and iniesta. However those two dont lose the ball that often...and any physical battles..if yaya there....he would attempt to assert himself. Add to that a fairly makeshift backline...a burst of pace on either flank coupled with a through ball...is pressha. Even if United feel like it..Rafael might get a run..cuz he like alves in a way....good going forward...however he is prone to some mistakes coming back. Den again dahs henry flank....mistakes cant be done there. United has the edge..but it would be a nice battle for sure.
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Calm down people. Maybe 'upset' by itself is the wrong word, but I said 'slight upset' meaning ManU has an edge when you consider Barca may be without Henry and Iniesta as well as Alvez and Abidal. Upset doh mean they overcame catastrophic odds..it just means they overcome some kind off odds..and by putting 'slight' before 'upset' you should know I not saying the gap all dat wide. Allyuh like ting eh? ;D
you is ah man does ask for 'slight' pepper on yuh doubles and then cuss and bawl for water ent?
nah..i does just get slight pepper ;)
easy breds...not everybody does use every word the same way. for me, an upset is just against the odds and I qualify it by saying it was a small upset, big upset etc. by saying it would be a sligt upset, i thought i was making it clear that ManU hold a slight advantage imo. in any case, i told yuh what I meant. if you still doh agree ManU has an edge IF Barca is missing Iniesta and Henry, along with the suspensions to ALvez and Abidal..cool. But that's all I meant.
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If Man U is favored, which I think they are.... if Barca wins it's an upset. simple.
I think people are confusing upset, with suprise.
This is a Goliath v Goliath match up so there will be no surprises (other than a dread blowout on either end)
With Barca's injuries & suspensions, and after viewing how Chelsea frustrated Barca's fluidity, add to that the somewhat EPL biased sentiment in the mainstream resulting from Chelsea's bout of weeping & moaning....I would think that the majority are leaning toward Man U winning this one...(that last part is just my perception).
i really dont know where you pull this one out from.
in my books an upset is a surprise, plain and simple. No need to delve in semantics.
If Barca win, then they will just prove that they are the real deal and and tell us what we already suspect; one of the best teams of this generation.
If Man Utd win, then they are the best team in Europe and shows that the EPL is a cut above.
Nothing more, nothing less.
I doubt Chelsea could be in a CL final potentially without a bess forwrd, bess mf and 2 bess defenders and you not give a more nuanced analysis of the game, or what it may signify. You eh sounding like Omar dey..I feel yuh still suffering a semifinal tabanca dey
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i really dont know where you pull this one out from.
in my books an upset is a surprise, plain and simple. No need to delve in semantics.
Well wha ah go tell yuh- yuh learn something new today.
So if the underdog beats the favorite, but for whatever reason you had a feeling it was coming, so you weren't surprised...then it's not an upset? lol...
An upset means that the favorite to win the game (defined by the odds) loses. And that's NOT delving in semantics...that's just how it is.
I dunno who is the odds on favorite between Man U & Barca for this game, but if anyone refers to a particular result between those to two teams as being an upset, my guess is that they're referring to who (they believe) the favorite is, and who (they believe) is the underdog as defined by the odds.
You define upset as surprise. I define upset as "going against the odds"... and I delving in semantics... yuh eh see allyuh good?
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The best attack against the meanest defence
Marc Guillén
The Champions League final in Rome will feature the competition’s top scorer (Barça) against the competition’s meanest defence (Manchester United). Their statistics in this season’s campaign clearly show the virtues of the two teams.
Barça have scored more goals than any other team in the CL this season – and by a big margin. Barça have hit the net 30 times, an average of 2.5 goals a match compared with Man U’s total of 18, an average of 1.5 per match. The difference is to be found in the players’ sharpness in front of the opposing goal as both teams have enjoyed 14 shots on goal per match.
The best defence
ARSENAL-MANCHESTER_06.jpgAlex Ferguson’s team just keeps getting stronger and stronger in defence and in terms of tactical discipline. Manchester United have conceded the fewest goals (6) – 0.5 per match – while Barça have conceded 13, 1.3 per match.
Messi the goal machine
QM3D4725.jpgLionel Messi is the competition’s top scorer with 8, while of the players who will be present in Rome, Henry leads the way with 5. Then come 3 players from the recently crowned Premier League champions, Berbatov, Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo with 4 goals. Samuel Eto'o and Bojan Krkic have 3 apiece.
Possession for Barça
The statistics also show that Barça have more possession of the ball (62%) while Manchester United trail behind with 54%.
Xavi and Messi, kings of the assist
fcb-basilea_x11x.jpgThere is general agreement that Barça are playing the best football in Europe at the moment and statistics relating to goal assists seem to prove this. Xavi Hernández leads the way with 6 goal assists followed by Messi with 5. For Manchester United, Giggs and Rooney have 3.
Fair play in Rome
One area where the two teams definitely coincide is in clean play. In the ranking of fewest fouls committed, Barça are second while Manchester United are fourth. Cristiano Ronaldo has been the victim of the most fouls (36) - together with Ribery - followed by Iniesta (31). Strangely enough, Messi comes way down the list with 23.
The best attack against the meanest defence
Messi beats Ronaldo on efficiency
Most pundits have singled out Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the best players in the world but the statistics seem to indicate that the Argentine international is much more effective in front of goal. Messi scores a goal every 3 shots while Ronald needs no fewer than 13 shots to score one goal.
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by the way i am very sure ya ya toure is starting in defense
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The way I see it is Barca really only use 1 formation
--------------Valdes--
Puyol----Pique--Yaya---Sylvinho
------Iniesta?--Basquets--Xavi
-----Messi----Eto'o---Henry?
f**k the spelling on the guy in the middle
We can choose to neutralize them both centrally and on the wings with this formation and it also allows attacking play from Utd on the wings and through the center...plus Ronaldo is very very dangerous in that top role
1)
------------------------VDS---
--O'Shea-------Rio-------Vidic-------Evra
-----------Carrick-------------Ando
--------------------Giggs/Scholes
---Park---------------------------------Rooney
--------------------Ronaldo
Or we can exploit their weak defense for the final by going all out..but this will be too risky?
2)
------------------------VDS---
--O'Shea-------Rio-------Vidic-------Evra
--Ronaldo----Carrick---Ando-----Rooney
----------------Berba----Tevez
or
3) This formation allows attacking high energy game but can also be helpful defensively except on the wing Ronaldo plays
------------------------VDS---
--O'Shea-------Rio-------Vidic-------Evra
-----------Carrick-------------Ando
--------------------Giggs/Scholes
---Ronaldo---------------------------------Rooney
--------------------Tevez
I could see it being number 1
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barcelona has player named keita( a holding midfielder) who will start infront of basquets and if pep really feeling to experiment keita can even slot in at left back
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The way I see it is Barca really only use 1 formation
--------------Valdes--
Puyol----Pique--Yaya---Sylvinho
------Iniesta?--Basquets--Xavi
-----Messi----Eto'o---Henry?
That's the preferred formation for sure, but you watched the Chelsea 2nd leg right? They played with only Eto'o and Messi up top, with Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets and Keita in mf. They tend to use that formation a lot to close out games, or during mid season on the road when Messi or Henry were rested a bit (and surprisingly Pep wouldn't give Bojan a run, but resorted to something resembling a 4-4-2). They also played a 4-3-2-1 formation using Messi alone up top as the '#9" against real Madrid at the Bernabeu with Henry, and Eto playing deeper and wide and Iniesta as a deep holding mf alongside Yaya, just behind Xavi. Also when Barca wants to play high, Dani Alves adds to the mf and Abidal pinches in a little for something resembling a 3-5-3. I don't think they are as deep as ManU and have as manu utility players. ManU has quite a few players who are proficient at a number of roles and that helps display more tactical flexibility. But Barca is a little more flexible than you think. I do agree that if henry is fit we are more than likely to see Barca play their favorite 4-3-3.
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ok twins.. one at a time:
easy breds...not everybody does use every word the same way. for me, an upset is just against the odds and I qualify it by saying it was a small upset, big upset etc. by saying it would be a sligt upset, i thought i was making it clear that ManU hold a slight advantage imo. in any case, i told yuh what I meant. if you still doh agree ManU has an edge IF Barca is missing Iniesta and Henry, along with the suspensions to ALvez and Abidal..cool. But that's all I meant.
cool scene, i was just on kicks not really getting worked up. I too also agree that Man U has the advantage with Barca's injuries and suspensions. However, i still think most are anticipating an even battle, and barca winning would not be far against any odds.
But i understand that we differ on the meaning of upset so thats where the mix up is.
i really dont know where you pull this one out from.
in my books an upset is a surprise, plain and simple. No need to delve in semantics.
Well wha ah go tell yuh- yuh learn something new today.
So if the underdog beats the favorite, but for whatever reason you had a feeling it was coming, so you weren't surprised...then it's not an upset? lol...
An upset means that the favorite to win the game (defined by the odds) loses. And that's NOT delving in semantics...that's just how it is.
I dunno who is the odds on favorite between Man U & Barca for this game, but if anyone refers to a particular result between those to two teams as being an upset, my guess is that they're referring to who (they believe) the favorite is, and who (they believe) is the underdog as defined by the odds.
You define upset as surprise. I define upset as "going against the odds"... and I delving in semantics... yuh eh see allyuh good?
umm.. you for real?
scroll up.. you are the one who confuffle de scene when yuh split it into upset and surprise, not me.. This ain't court..
isn't winning against the odds effectively doing what was not expected = a surprise = an upset??
which is what i categorically disagree with.
Like i said above, I believe Man Utd has the advantage going into the tie.
But if i read in the papers the next day after Barcelona beat Man U (which they will), that 'Barcelona upsets Man Utd to win CL' then it would be nothing short of a journalistic travesty.
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umm.. you for real?
scroll up.. you are the one who confuffle de scene when yuh split it into upset and surprise, not me.. This ain't court..
isn't winning against the odds effectively doing what was not expected = a surprise = an upset??
which is what i categorically disagree with.
Like i said above, I believe Man Utd has the advantage going into the tie.
But if i read in the papers the next day after Barcelona beat Man U (which they will), that 'Barcelona upsets Man Utd to win CL' then it would be nothing short of a journalistic travesty.
;D lol @ confuffle- long time I eh hear that.
All I did was suggest why the terming of a Barca victory as a slight upset would be considered "a laugh" when to me iz no scene tuh consider it that depending on who is the odds on favorite...and then you grand charge me jusso jusso...
Not every upset is a surprise in my opinion. Two closely matched teams could have a favorite & an underdog...and hence an upset depending on the result...no surprise either way though....I wouldn't be surprised if Barca beats Man U, but I'd accept if by the bookmakers it's considered an upset. (lewwe doh define surprise nuh :beermug: )
Journalistic travesty has nothing to do with what I'm saying...irrelevant.
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umm.. you for real?
scroll up.. you are the one who confuffle de scene when yuh split it into upset and surprise, not me.. This ain't court..
isn't winning against the odds effectively doing what was not expected = a surprise = an upset??
which is what i categorically disagree with.
Like i said above, I believe Man Utd has the advantage going into the tie.
But if i read in the papers the next day after Barcelona beat Man U (which they will), that 'Barcelona upsets Man Utd to win CL' then it would be nothing short of a journalistic travesty.
;D lol @ confuffle- long time I eh hear that.
All I did was suggest why the terming of a Barca victory as a slight upset would be considered "a laugh" when to me iz no scene tuh consider it that depending on who is the odds on favorite...and then you grand charge me jusso jusso...
Not every upset is a surprise in my opinion. Two closely matched teams could have a favorite & an underdog...and hence an upset depending on the result...no surprise either way though....I wouldn't be surprised if Barca beats Man U, but I'd accept if by the bookmakers it's considered an upset. (lewwe doh define surprise nuh :beermug: )
Journalistic travesty has nothing to do with what I'm saying...irrelevant.
i was about say that, then by your definition (using bookmakers as the gauge), every time a game is played there is an upset..
but truthfully, i both upset and surprised that you have me splitting hairs like i have nutten better to do on a wednesday evening. :D
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i was about say that, then by your definition (using bookmakers as the gauge), every time a game is played there is an upset..
Nope...only if the favorite doesn't win.
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Let me state it one time before ah forget.....
GO BARCA!!!...
:flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower:
for Manboo.... :devil: ;D
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Let me state it one time before ah forget.....
GO BARCA!!!...
:flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower:
for Manboo.... :devil: ;D
COSIGNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
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i want barca to win it for the simple reason
Thierry Henry deserves it, never won it and was robbed for FIFA player of the year when Ronaldihno got it
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Let me state it one time before ah forget.....
GO BARCA!!!...
:flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower:
for Manboo.... :devil: ;D
COSIGNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
WHO SAY TREBLE!!!!!!
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What the hell, weary backing BARCA LOL , well i never :'( :devil:
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Damn, United doh have a chance!
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If Man U is favored, which I think they are.... if Barca wins it's an upset. simple.
I think people are confusing upset, with suprise.
This is a Goliath v Goliath match up so there will be no surprises (other than a dread blowout on either end)
With Barca's injuries & suspensions, and after viewing how Chelsea frustrated Barca's fluidity, add to that the somewhat EPL biased sentiment in the mainstream resulting from Chelsea's bout of weeping & moaning....I would think that the majority are leaning toward Man U winning this one...(that last part is just my perception).
An upset is when someone achieves a very unexpected victory against a clearly superior opponent. No way a Barca win will be an upset when they're being lauded as the best team in Europe.
If a no-name tennis player beats a number one seed like Serena...that's an upset. If Venus beats Serena although Serena was seeded number one, that's not an 'upset' because Venus is arguably just as good even though she wasn't 'favoured' to win based on the odds or 'seeded' as high as Serena.
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well said toppa
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i want barca to win it for the simple reason
Thierry Henry deserves it, never won it and was robbed for FIFA player of the year when Ronaldihno got it
steups....... allyuh chelsea and arsenal men real spiteful yes...........no wonder allyuh cyah win nutten :devil:
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If Man U is favored, which I think they are.... if Barca wins it's an upset. simple.
I think people are confusing upset, with suprise.
This is a Goliath v Goliath match up so there will be no surprises (other than a dread blowout on either end)
With Barca's injuries & suspensions, and after viewing how Chelsea frustrated Barca's fluidity, add to that the somewhat EPL biased sentiment in the mainstream resulting from Chelsea's bout of weeping & moaning....I would think that the majority are leaning toward Man U winning this one...(that last part is just my perception).
An upset is when someone achieves a very unexpected victory against a clearly superior opponent. No way a Barca win will be an upset when they're being lauded as the best team in Europe.
If a no-name tennis player beats a number one seed like Serena...that's an upset. If Venus beats Serena although Serena was seeded number one, that's not an 'upset' because Venus is arguably just as good even though she wasn't 'favoured' to win based on the odds or 'seeded' as high as Serena.
thank you toppa... couldnt have said it better myself.
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Thierry Henry deserves it, never won it and was robbed for FIFA player of the year when Ronaldihno got it
UTTER NONSENSE
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If Man U is favored, which I think they are.... if Barca wins it's an upset. simple.
I think people are confusing upset, with suprise.
This is a Goliath v Goliath match up so there will be no surprises (other than a dread blowout on either end)
With Barca's injuries & suspensions, and after viewing how Chelsea frustrated Barca's fluidity, add to that the somewhat EPL biased sentiment in the mainstream resulting from Chelsea's bout of weeping & moaning....I would think that the majority are leaning toward Man U winning this one...(that last part is just my perception).
An upset is when someone achieves a very unexpected victory against a clearly superior opponent. No way a Barca win will be an upset when they're being lauded as the best team in Europe.
If a no-name tennis player beats a number one seed like Serena...that's an upset. If Venus beats Serena although Serena was seeded number one, that's not an 'upset' because Venus is arguably just as good even though she wasn't 'favoured' to win based on the odds or 'seeded' as high as Serena.
This is a ridiculous debate in which both sides are correct. Clearly Toppa, Omar and Freakazoid are agreeing to the more popular use of the word 'upset' and I have no interest in disputing that. But Kicker is also correct and any time overcomes any kind of odds (perceived or real) it can be called an upset. It does not have to be earth shattering odds. We don't all talk the same, and not all words have one simple, singular meaning or usage. The word upset really is used both ways. Seriously...it's a free world. Personally, I always used it as when a team overcomes any kind of odds (my opinion of oddds anyway) and then I qualify the type of 'upset'. So what Toppa calls an upset, I would call a big upset, or a huge upset. And I know I'm not the only one who interprets it that way. For example, if Barca and Real Madrid were neck and neck in la Liga, went to camp Nou and Real Madrid wins by the slenderest of margins, 1-0..I would not blink an eye if someone said Madrid upset Barca. Not because there was any difference in quality in the two teams, but because you'd expect Barca to have a slight edge at home.
ANYHOW....In my defense, I wwas describing what I'd call a slight upset which is just to say, I'd consider ManU favorites if Barca are missing Alvez, Abidal, Henry and Iniesta...Toppa, you can't make your judgement on Barca's chances just becasue it's Barca and they are earning plaudits. Look at the context in which I was making my statements. If Real Madrid were facing manU in the final without Sneider, Robben, Ramos and Higuain, plus you missing long-term injuries Ruud and say Pepe get injured in the semis too..I mean, I'm sure you would readjust the odds of your squad winning. It just would not be the same RM. At least that's how i see it. no scene if you don't agree.
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If Man U is favored, which I think they are.... if Barca wins it's an upset. simple.
I think people are confusing upset, with suprise.
This is a Goliath v Goliath match up so there will be no surprises (other than a dread blowout on either end)
With Barca's injuries & suspensions, and after viewing how Chelsea frustrated Barca's fluidity, add to that the somewhat EPL biased sentiment in the mainstream resulting from Chelsea's bout of weeping & moaning....I would think that the majority are leaning toward Man U winning this one...(that last part is just my perception).
An upset is when someone achieves a very unexpected victory against a clearly superior opponent. No way a Barca win will be an upset when they're being lauded as the best team in Europe.
If a no-name tennis player beats a number one seed like Serena...that's an upset. If Venus beats Serena although Serena was seeded number one, that's not an 'upset' because Venus is arguably just as good even though she wasn't 'favoured' to win based on the odds or 'seeded' as high as Serena.
thank you toppa... couldnt have said it better myself.
lol allyuh real jokey yes... This hadda go down as the most unnecessary fight-down I ever get on the board.
An upset is when the underdog beats the favorite.
A favorite is who the majority expects to win
In sports, that majority expectation is commonly determined by the bookmakers' odds, or some kinda established line/points spread.
So whether it's a vast majority or not, a marginal underdog, a huge underdog, a slight upset, a major upset...an upset is an upset.
Most upsets don't register on the radar (the press, the average person's senses) unless they are huge/major upsets....
In your example Toppa it has nothing to do with clear superiority....Was Argentina clearly superior to Cameroon when Cameroon upset them in WC 90? Was Asafa Powell clearly superior to Richard Thompson when Richard upset him at the last olympics? Was Germany clearly superior to Bulgaria when they upset them in WC 94?....It has to do with, like you say, who the majority expects to win (of course most times the majority will expect the "superior" athlete to win)... and like I said, that majority is most conclusively determined by bookmakers' odds.
Whether YOU choose to see it as an upset or not is a different story.
Next we hadda define majority lol ;D aaah this forum is the best yes.
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Allyuh eh fed up?
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Allyuh eh fed up?
it seems not
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Allyuh eh fed up?
it seems not
wham..allyuh trying to 'upset' somebody ;) ::)
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:devil:
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BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRCCCCCCCCAAAAAAAAAAALOOOOOOONA :duel: :whip: :challenge:
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Barca resting all them players but like they dont realise them men will be ring rusty when is time to perform or what :devil:
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the players rest for 1 game and u talking bout rusty?
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guardian.co.uk home
Andrés Iniesta and Thierry Henry will be fit for Champions League final
• Former Arsenal star will be ready 'by the skin of his teeth'
• Iniesta's torn thigh has now healed, say Barcelona
Andrés Iniesta and Thierry Henry will be ready for the Champions League final against Manchester United on 27 May, according to Barcelona medical staff. Both have begun running and Iniesta is expected to return to light ball work on Thursday.
Henry's full recovery is fractionally more doubtful but Barcelona remain optimistic about both players. "They will make it [for the final]," said a source at the club.
Henry picked up a knee ligament injury during Barcelona's 6–2 victory over Real Madrid on 2 May and Iniesta suffered a two-centimetre tear in his thigh muscle during the 3–3 home draw with Villarreal eight days later.
Both were rated as doubtful for the final but scans on Iniesta's thigh show that the tear has now healed and he is continuing hill runs and weights with physios from the club. Staff have also worked to relax the stretched cruciate ligament that Henry suffered and he too has returned to running.
"It is a little harder for Henry to get back to full fitness and sharpness because he's a tank and, besides, his problem is articular," a source revealed. "But even if it is by the skin of the teeth, he'll be there if the manager [Pep Guardiola] needs him. Just. But he'll be there."
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i am sure many of us sweat with 2 cm tears in our muscles so i know ineista go play 4 sure. henry on the other hand i still doubting
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I get an email in work yesterday inviting me to a meeting on Wednesday 27th from 2:00 to 3:30 PM....ah cuss,cuss, cuss in mih mind and accept the invitation under duress...
Den less than five minutes later another email come saying the meeting rescheduled to Thursday....apparently the man who supposed to facilitate the meeting did forget what day Wednesday was, den ketch heself and correct his grave, grave mistake.... ;D
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I get an email in work yesterday inviting me to a meeting on Wednesday 27th from 2:00 to 3:30 PM....ah cuss,cuss, cuss in mih mind and accept the invitation under duress...
Den less than five minutes later another email come saying the meeting rescheduled to Thursday....apparently the man who supposed to facilitate the meeting did forget what day Wednesday was, den ketch heself and correct his grave, grave mistake.... ;D
Smart fella
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Barca resting all them players but like they dont realise them men will be ring rusty when is time to perform or what :devil:
Man u doing the same thing, plus is only one game so they eh go be that rusty
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Reduce the Champions League final to a battle of its two premier talents and it becomes Lionel Messi against Cristiano Ronaldo. The equation, of course, is more complicated, but the decisive duel may involve Messi. The question of how to halt the Argentine has been posed regularly in a season that has brought 41 goals for club and country.
GettyImages
Patrice Evra tackles Lionel Messi in last season's Champions League semi-final
Yet one man is qualified to answer it, and he is Messi's immediate opponent in Rome on Wednesday. Patrice Evra helped nullify Barcelona's diminutive dribbler in 2008's semi-final. His task is exactly the same next week.
"Last year was last year," said the French full-back. "Now it is a new year but after the game I was very proud of myself. I did my job very well and Ji-sung Park helped me a lot." Although Evra can rely on the assistance of either the Korean or Wayne Rooney, his job may be harder as Messi has become more prolific in the intervening period.
"I don't know if he is a better player, but he scores more goals," said former Monaco defender Evra. "He has more responsibility for Barcelona. He is just one of the best players in the world and I respect him."
Jinking infield from a starting position on the right, Messi's close control and sublime skill, allied with Barcelona's slick passing game, has made him difficult to combat. Left-backs across La Liga may beg to differ but Evra insisted: "You don't have to prepare anything different. Training against players like Rooney, like Ronaldo, like Carlos Tevez, like Dimitar Berbatov, I know what you have to do against a big player. When you play against a player like Messi you can stop him 10 times but if he passes you once and scores, people say: 'Evra has played a poor game against Messi'. This is why I need to be focused for 90 minutes of the game."
One blemish on Messi's otherwise glittering CV has been his failure to score against English opposition. Chelsea's tactic in the semi-final entailed a dedication to their defensive duties. Evra, however, has another formula. "I need to attack," said the 28-year-old. "I need to play my game, to enjoy my game."
While Messi has a strong case to assume Ronaldo's mantle as the world's best footballer, Evra approaches the reunion with the Argentine confident he is the outstanding player in his position and buoyed by his semi-final performances.
Theo Walcott was identified as Arsenal's potential match-winner. Instead, he ranked among the quieter Gunners over the two ties, providing Evra with redemption after a harrowing afternoon against another speedy English right winger, Aaron Lennon, in the Carling Cup final.
"I played one poor game in Carling Cup and people started to say 'oh, he is not the same'," added Evra. "I play for Manchester United, but I was happy with the criticism. It makes me believe I am the best left-back in the world. Because when you have only one bad game and people criticise, it makes you proud."
GettyImages
Patrice Evra: The best full-back around?
Twice a member of the PFA team of the year, Evra believes his peers' approval cements his status ahead of Ashley Cole, Gael Clichy, Philipp Lahm and Yuri Zhirkov among the leading left-backs in the modern game. "I improve every year," he said. "I respect every player but I say I am just a little bit better."
Withdrawn after 45 minutes of his United debut - a derby defeat to Manchester City in 2006 - Evra's standing has grown since then. "I just wanted to show that it was not a wrong decision to buy me from Monaco," he said.
It certainly wasn't, but his has been an unusual road to Rome. Born in Senegal and brought up in France, his professional career began in Italy, at the now defunct Sicilian Serie C club, Marsala.
"I remember when I got my first tracksuit, I was looking in the mirror and I was so happy. It was just a privilege for me," said Evra, who was a striker then. If, more than a decade later, that remains a highlight of his career, one disappointment stands out.
Following an alleged clash with Chelsea's groundstaff in April 2008, Evra was belatedly handed a four-match ban for improper conduct. The defender had no soon returned than he was promptly injured, leading him to say: "I lost 10 games. It was an injustice. It still hurts me."
It served as a reminder that a reputation can be damaged within the space of a few seconds. He explained: "It's not easy because you can be the best left-back in the world and if you don't play well in the final, people say you're the worst left-back in the world. And I play against Lionel Messi. It isn't easy."
That's an understatement. But if Evra can stop Messi again, Manchester United's No.3, rather than Ronaldo, could prove the key to retaining the Champions League.
What do you guys think can Evra stop Messi
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What do you guys think can Evra stop Messi
Not by himself.
It took Bosingwa, Cole and Malouda to keep him quiet and he still had them busy at times.
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no, i eh fed up yet...
This is a ridiculous debate in which both sides are correct. Clearly Toppa, Omar and Freakazoid are agreeing to the more popular use of the word 'upset' and I have no interest in disputing that. But Kicker is also correct and any time overcomes any kind of odds (perceived or real) it can be called an upset. It does not have to be earth shattering odds. We don't all talk the same, and not all words have one simple, singular meaning or usage. The word upset really is used both ways. Seriously...it's a free world. Personally, I always used it as when a team overcomes any kind of odds (my opinion of oddds anyway) and then I qualify the type of 'upset'. So what Toppa calls an upset, I would call a big upset, or a huge upset. And I know I'm not the only one who interprets it that way. For example, if Barca and Real Madrid were neck and neck in la Liga, went to camp Nou and Real Madrid wins by the slenderest of margins, 1-0..I would not blink an eye if someone said Madrid upset Barca. Not because there was any difference in quality in the two teams, but because you'd expect Barca to have a slight edge at home.
ANYHOW....In my defense, I wwas describing what I'd call a slight upset which is just to say, I'd consider ManU favorites if Barca are missing Alvez, Abidal, Henry and Iniesta...Toppa, you can't make your judgement on Barca's chances just becasue it's Barca and they are earning plaudits. Look at the context in which I was making my statements. If Real Madrid were facing manU in the final without Sneider, Robben, Ramos and Higuain, plus you missing long-term injuries Ruud and say Pepe get injured in the semis too..I mean, I'm sure you would readjust the odds of your squad winning. It just would not be the same RM. At least that's how i see it. no scene if you don't agree.
lol allyuh real jokey yes... This hadda go down as the most unnecessary fight-down I ever get on the board.
An upset is when the underdog beats the favorite.
A favorite is who the majority expects to win
In sports, that majority expectation is commonly determined by the bookmakers' odds, or some kinda established line/points spread.
So whether it's a vast majority or not, a marginal underdog, a huge underdog, a slight upset, a major upset...an upset is an upset.
Most upsets don't register on the radar (the press, the average person's senses) unless they are huge/major upsets....
In your example Toppa it has nothing to do with clear superiority....Was Argentina clearly superior to Cameroon when Cameroon upset them in WC 90? Was Asafa Powell clearly superior to Richard Thompson when Richard upset him at the last olympics? Was Germany clearly superior to Bulgaria when they upset them in WC 94?....It has to do with, like you say, who the majority expects to win (of course most times the majority will expect the "superior" athlete to win)... and like I said, that majority is most conclusively determined by bookmakers' odds.
Whether YOU choose to see it as an upset or not is a different story.
Next we hadda define majority lol ;D aaah this forum is the best yes.
kicker, look....
if you dont know what a word or term means, nothing is wrong with taking the lesson and moving on rather than fighting it down to the bitter end.
Better to do that than to make yourself look like an ass, trumpeting that Barcelona 'upset' Man United whether or not you qualify it with 'slight' or what not. it have no underdog in there and no one cares about the bookmakers odds in a match that pits the 2 best teams in Europe.
The debate unnecessary and Filho cleared up what he meant a long time ago. but you so in a rush to ride in on the back of Filho post that yuh going down to the wire with it. The term is used just as Toppa explained it.
i telling yuh what it mean, i eh asking yuh!!
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kicker, look....
if you dont know what a word or term means, nothing is wrong with taking the lesson and moving on rather than fighting it down to the bitter end.
Better to do that than to make yourself look like an ass, trumpeting that Barcelona 'upset' Man United whether or not you qualify it with 'slight' or what not. it have no underdog in there and no one cares about the bookmakers odds in a match that pits the 2 best teams in Europe.
The debate unnecessary and Filho cleared up what he meant a long time ago. but you so in a rush to ride in on the back of Filho post that yuh going down to the wire with it. The term is used just as Toppa explained it.
i telling yuh what it mean, i eh asking yuh!!
you hadda be kidding. I dunno what the term means lol...ok bredda take win but...
Firstly I never said that Barca was an underdog. Check my posts breds. I said that if Man U is favored, then a loss would qualify it as an upset- and the most conclusive way to determine who is favored is by checking the bookmakers' odds, or some kind of established line or spread. That's actually a normal characterization... I personally wouldn't consider either result an upset worth talking about or even characterizing in that way (I even said that most upsets don't even appeal to the average person's senses- average person be someone like me), but given the current circumstances at Barca, the sentiment around the EPL & Man U hype, and how the term upset is interpreted in a strict sense I wouldn't begrudge someone who did...Check my posts and you'll see that that is what I've been saying. I dunno what your problem is.
There is nothing I've said in my posts that would indicate that I don't know what the term means..and the last time I checked I was the one getting fight down. I made a general statement about why Barca beating Man U could be viewed as a slight upset...(i.e. if you term upset as underdog beating favorite, and if you term underdog by way of the bookmakers' odds...which is actually quite common). I eh fight down nobody, I said that those who would consider the use of "slight upset in the context of Barca laughable are substituting "upset" with "surprise" - and In my opinion "surprise" is just a loose interpretation of "upset" because to me, not every upset is a surprise...I doh see what the fuss is about, and there's nothing that I've said in my posts that is not true or not commonly acceptable- different to your view sure (only barely), but untrue- far from it....... is allyuh (you and Toppa) quote up my post and start tuh oppose me....and I fighting it down to the bitter end right?...anyways..
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If Man U is favored, which I think they are.... if Barca wins it's an upset. simple.
I think people are confusing upset, with suprise.
This is a Goliath v Goliath match up so there will be no surprises (other than a dread blowout on either end)
With Barca's injuries & suspensions, and after viewing how Chelsea frustrated Barca's fluidity, add to that the somewhat EPL biased sentiment in the mainstream resulting from Chelsea's bout of weeping & moaning....I would think that the majority are leaning toward Man U winning this one...(that last part is just my perception).
An upset is when someone achieves a very unexpected victory against a clearly superior opponent. No way a Barca win will be an upset when they're being lauded as the best team in Europe.
If a no-name tennis player beats a number one seed like Serena...that's an upset. If Venus beats Serena although Serena was seeded number one, that's not an 'upset' because Venus is arguably just as good even though she wasn't 'favoured' to win based on the odds or 'seeded' as high as Serena.
thank you toppa... couldnt have said it better myself.
she might want to say it a lil bit better :devil:
http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE51J5BY20090221
Venus upsets Serena to reach Dubai final
leww done this nah. i jess getting kix now.
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I fighting it down to the bitter end right?...anyways..
Yes...cos yuh keep responding and responding with paragraphs to boot.
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If Man U is favored, which I think they are.... if Barca wins it's an upset. simple.
I think people are confusing upset, with suprise.
This is a Goliath v Goliath match up so there will be no surprises (other than a dread blowout on either end)
With Barca's injuries & suspensions, and after viewing how Chelsea frustrated Barca's fluidity, add to that the somewhat EPL biased sentiment in the mainstream resulting from Chelsea's bout of weeping & moaning....I would think that the majority are leaning toward Man U winning this one...(that last part is just my perception).
An upset is when someone achieves a very unexpected victory against a clearly superior opponent. No way a Barca win will be an upset when they're being lauded as the best team in Europe.
If a no-name tennis player beats a number one seed like Serena...that's an upset. If Venus beats Serena although Serena was seeded number one, that's not an 'upset' because Venus is arguably just as good even though she wasn't 'favoured' to win based on the odds or 'seeded' as high as Serena.
thank you toppa... couldnt have said it better myself.
she might want to say it a lil bit better :devil:
http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE51J5BY20090221
Venus upsets Serena to reach Dubai final
leww done this nah. i jess getting kix now.
Yeah, and allyuh not fighting down a thing right?
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If Man U is favored, which I think they are.... if Barca wins it's an upset. simple.
I think people are confusing upset, with suprise.
This is a Goliath v Goliath match up so there will be no surprises (other than a dread blowout on either end)
With Barca's injuries & suspensions, and after viewing how Chelsea frustrated Barca's fluidity, add to that the somewhat EPL biased sentiment in the mainstream resulting from Chelsea's bout of weeping & moaning....I would think that the majority are leaning toward Man U winning this one...(that last part is just my perception).
An upset is when someone achieves a very unexpected victory against a clearly superior opponent. No way a Barca win will be an upset when they're being lauded as the best team in Europe.
If a no-name tennis player beats a number one seed like Serena...that's an upset. If Venus beats Serena although Serena was seeded number one, that's not an 'upset' because Venus is arguably just as good even though she wasn't 'favoured' to win based on the odds or 'seeded' as high as Serena.
thank you toppa... couldnt have said it better myself.
she might want to say it a lil bit better :devil:
http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE51J5BY20090221
Venus upsets Serena to reach Dubai final
leww done this nah. i jess getting kix now.
Yeah, and allyuh not fighting down a thing right?
oh gorm. a lil humor. anyhow, doh study me nah. at this point i jess having a laugh. your example was a lil too easy to google and i couldn't help myself. in any case, nobody accuse me of a fightdown and i eh accuse nobody of the same, so not sure why you calling me in dat. unless you just 'upset' that you weren't entirely correct. anyhow, last i check Omar understand what i was getting at, kicker understand where i was getting at...but Omar and Kicker cyah see eye to eye :devil: :devil: i not kidding when I say I love dis site.
kinda sure everyone ready to move on to better things.
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GLORY FLICKIN GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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GLORY FLICKIN GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Point yuh could loose yuh monie in Vagas yuh know. Man-U go geh lash. ;D
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Alyu Barca men go real feel it come next week...Man U go give it to alyu real good
Man U 4 EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR :beermug: :devil: :rotfl:
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What do you guys think can Evra stop Messi
:rotfl: no one man could stop messi! Is like tryin tuh mark MJ or Kobe or Bron (or Chauncey or Melo ;D) with one man....yuh bound tuh get light up! Dem is js some special athletes right dey...ah cut above d rest..so fuh yuh tuh have ah chance dem calibre of athletes deserve more attention...as we saw in Messi's case against deceased Chelsea and sometimes it's jus not enuff..lol.
And quite frankly messi run up against d TANK Essien and was able to help he team to progress...so Evra...steupssssssssssss...suck eye!
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whoever wins ..This 2009 tournament will always be remembered for the ' semi Final " where 4 penalty claims by a single team were disallowed . dat eh easy to forget.
England won the WC in 1966 ..what about that do most people remember ?? It was a victory made possible by a referee .... dat would never change .
Haiti beat T&T in 73 ..what do we remember .... it was a victory made possible by the referee ....sorry this one kyah set with me yet even though I plan to watch.
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whoever wins ..This 2009 tournament will always be remembered for the ' semi Final " where 4 penalty claims by a single team were disallowed . dat eh easy to forget.
England won the WC in 1966 ..what about that do most people remember ?? It was a victory made possible by a referee .... dat would never change .
Haiti beat T&T in 73 ..what do we remember .... it was a victory made possible by the referee ....sorry this one kyah set with me yet even though I plan to watch.
Ah understand wuh yuh sayin d boss but we had a player sent off wrongfully and was under pressha too...still we weather d storm and get d result...so both teams was hampered by d bad officiating...and if yuh ask me...we had it d worst...but we still bore dem fellas with 10 men...yes dey had some decent penalty shouts ah would admit but i honestly think that one or two could've gone either way..and d referee called it as he saw it fit...is not that he is a thief (thank d lord d game play in ENG) anyway dais why many ppl cyar understand why there is still a technological deficiency in football altho we have all these technological advances in the world today..Is bout time dey implement something concrete to assist the referees wether is by utilizing embedded technology like in tennis or video like in various sports...the beautiful game need a technological upgrade Mr. Blatter and Mr. Platini!
ANYWAY BACRA-4-LIFE!!!
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whoever wins ..This 2009 tournament will always be remembered for the ' semi Final " where 4 penalty claims by a single team were disallowed . dat eh easy to forget.
England won the WC in 1966 ..what about that do most people remember ?? It was a victory made possible by a referee .... dat would never change .
Haiti beat T&T in 73 ..what do we remember .... it was a victory made possible by the referee ....sorry this one kyah set with me yet even though I plan to watch.
I think almost everyone but Chelsea fans (understandably) has moved on.
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
Tevez and Berbatov to be benched by Sir Alex?
By Soccernet staff
May 22, 2009
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A leading British newspaper claims to have discovered Sir Alex Ferguson's team for next Wednesday's Champions League final - and there's no place for either Carlos Tevez or Dimitar Berbatov.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo
AndrewYates/GettyImages
Sir Alex will put Cristiano Ronaldo up front
The Sun claims Manchester United will field the same team which secured a place in the Rome final with a 3-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, and that means Sir Alex will opt for the industry of Ji-Sung Park over a second striker.
The only change to the starting line-up will be an enforced one with Darren Fletcher suspended for the red card he picked up against the Gunners.
It means PFA Player of the Year Ryan Giggs will come into the side as he looks to win the Champions League for a third time.
Cristiano Ronaldo will again be deployed as a striker, with Wayne Rooney out on the left, as Sir Alex hopes to utilise the pace of the Portuguese star against a suspect Barcelona defence which is without Daniel Alves, Rafael Marquez and Eric Abidal.
This also suggests that the Red Devils' boss has already decided skipper Rio Ferdinand will be fit enough to play, regardless of whether he gets a run-out against Hull City in Sunday's pivotal final Premier League game.
Predicted Team: Edwin van der Sar, John O'Shea, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Anderson, Ji-Sung Park, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo.
No surprise here
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Spurs 2- ManU zip!!!
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Spurs 2- ManU zip!!!
You kidding right?
That game was about a month ago.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=244387&cc=5901&league=ENG.1
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Spurs 2- ManU zip!!!
::)
funny thing is it have the date right under the score
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One homosexual Reebok ad.
http://www.youtube.com/v/SqxRDIBkDbo
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more macomeh man behaviour.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i214/justatest_photos/wtfronaldo.gif)
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Rome issues alcohol ban for final
BBC Sport
Local authorities in Rome have issued a total ban on alcohol in the city in a bid to prevent crowd trouble at Wednesday's Champions League final.
Manchester United take on Barcelona in the showpiece with more than 67,000 fans expected in the Italian capital.
Alcohol will be banned throughout the city and its airports and stations from 2300 on Tuesday to 0600 on Thursday.
Forged tickets are also a concern, as around 5,000 fans without tickets are likely to be in and around the city.
Rome prefect Giuseppe Pecoraro said: "There are no more tickets left to sell, hence, the tickets that are circulating are false."
Regarding the alcohol ban he added: "It will not be a militarised city.
"All the necessary measures have been taken in order to give the best possible image of this city."
Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno is determined to quash the threat of violence and said: "I have asked interior minister Roberto Maroni to have maximum attention from the security officers to avoid any incidents.
"Only several hundred of those fans that do not have a ticket are hooligans."
Alemanno also confirmed that there will be official meeting points for Barcelona and Manchester United fans.
"We have placed two meeting points for the fans," he said.
"One in Piazza Cipro for the Spaniards and the other one in Piazza delle Canestre for the English supporters."
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Live chat with Shaka Hislop
ESPN
We've got an extra bonus chat for you on Wednesday as Shaka Hislop will be online throughout the Champions League final to give you his thoughts.
A hugely experienced goalkeeper who spent more than 10 years in the Premier League, Shaka was first spotted when playing for Howard University in the United States before moving to England with Reading.
Impressive performances for the Royals - he was twice voted Player of the Year - led to a move to Newcastle United in 1996. He spent three years at Newcastle before moving to London - where he was born - to West Ham United for the first of two spells.
Hislop's performances for the Hammers led to international recognition with Trinidad and Tobago, eventually winning 26 caps and playing in the 2006 World Cup.
After leaving West Ham he played for Portsmouth for three years before returning to Upton Park for one more season. He finished his career where it started, in the United States, with MLS side FC Dallas and retired in August 2007.
Shaka will be here on Wednesday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. BST (2:45 p.m. ET). He'll be online before the games kick-off and will be watching all the drama as it unfolds!
CLICK HERE (http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=26676) to chat.
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dem boy and dem now BBM meh, dey reach
(http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/Galeries/futbol/temporada08-09/05/altres/arribada_a_Roma/26-05-09_WEB_VIAJE_01.jpg)
(http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/Galeries/futbol/temporada08-09/05/altres/arribada_a_Roma/26-05-09_WEB_VIAJE_11.jpg)
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It eh have no Barca forever thread or nuttin...so i go post dis here.
Next season kits:
(http://shop.fcbarcelona.com/product_images/maxzoom/prd_maxzoom_barca-55653.jpg)
(http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/Galeries/club/temporada08-09/05/nou_equipatge/bojan_pique.jpg)
Official name of the colour of de away kit: "mango"
Some say it pink. You decide.
Decent enough doh.
Keeper kit sweet too.
(http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/gif/20090521/cuacua2.jpg)
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DT yuh is ah real clong jedd! :rotfl:
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Thierry Henry deserves to win this CUP
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Thierry Henry deserves to win this CUP
steups....u come back with this shit?
he had his chance....and they blew it.
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Rio is fit :beermug:
Let's get ready to Rumble
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http://www.youtube.com/v/fr_WO0620Z4
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looks like another Stoke City-like game plan on the way from Man Utd...
Vidic ready to win at all costs
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8064374.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8064374.stm)
By David Ornstein
Nemanja Vidic is sure Manchester United will beat Barcelona in the Champions League final - and does not care about the style in which they do it.
Wednesday's match in Rome pits holders United against the team regarded as the most attractive in Europe this season.
But United defender Vidic, 27, told BBC Sport: "All that matters is the result, you'll quickly forget about the style.
"Football is not about the style - it's about the winning and we have the confidence and belief to do it."
The Serbia international added: "I don't think we are arrogant - we respect Barcelona but we believe in ourselves and in the players we have.
European giants ready for ultimate final
"We won the league and have reached the Champions League final so we have to believe we can win it. We know it's going to be a hard game and have big jobs to do but we are excited and we will try to hurt them."
Unlike Vidic, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson conceded he would like to win in a manner that will earn his team plaudits and insisted: "We have our own style and hope we can express ourselves the way we want to on Wednesday."
The Scot acknowledged that with the opposition being Barca many fans would expect an attractive final and he hoped United could play their part in delivering that.
"Football is always needing a boost," he said. "We have negatives in the game that surface every year in all different ways.
"But when we get a game of football that paints the real story of football then we're all lifted by it. I think Barcelona and Manchester United can do that in this final.
"There is a strong possibility it will be a very good final."
Barca have scored 104 league goals this season, setting Spain and Europe alight with their unique brand of attacking football.
Michael Carrick
I wouldn't say I'm glad it's not Chelsea but now that it's Barcelona it really feels like it's a special European final - they are a massive club and have something special about them
Michael Carrick
It has taken them to within touching distance of becoming the first club to win La Liga, the Copa del Rey and European Cup in one season.
At times this season Pep Guardiola's side have looked unstoppable, not least during their 6-2 demolition of title rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, but Ferguson said Chelsea's semi-final performance against the Catalans gave him reason to be cheerful.
The Blues held Barca to a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp and in the second leg, a dominant performance resulted in Chelsea entering stoppage time 1-0 up before the visitors equalised to go through on away goals.
"I watched their game against Real Madrid and it was an absolutely magnificent performance," stated Ferguson.
"I said to myself, 'Christ, we might have to play them' but then Chelsea showed that they can be beaten so I take some encouragement from that."
United have won three, lost two and drawn four of their nine previous meetings with Barca.
The pair met at the semi-final stage last season, playing out a 0-0 draw in the first leg before a spectacular strike by Paul Scholes gave United a 1-0 win in the return.
Ferguson's men went on to beat Chelsea in the final and are bidding to become the first side to win back-to-back Champions League titles.
Victory would mean United would join Real Madrid, AC Milan, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Ajax in the group of clubs to have won four or more European Cups.
"I'm well aware of how special it is but sometimes it's more about getting the job done than and the small details of winning the game over what surrounds the occasion," commented United midfielder Michael Carrick.
606: DEBATE
What do you think the score will be on what is bound to be a fantastic night on Wednesday?
matty937
"People keep mentioning about winning it twice along with the league and everything else. Hopefully on Thursday we can sit back and appreciate it but until then it really is about getting the job done and winning the game."
Carrick was pleased to see Barca edge past Chelsea to reach the Rome showpiece and set up a meeting with United, who beat Arsenal 4-1 on aggregate in the other semi-final.
"I wouldn't say I'm glad it's not Chelsea but now that it's Barcelona it really feels like it's a special European final," said the 27-year-old. "They are a massive club and have something special about them.
"To meet them at this time as well - with both of us at the top of our leagues - the time is right for a good game of football and a real test for both teams.
"We're confident for the same reason as them. Of course we respect them and appreciate the likes of Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta - they're special players and there's no doubt about that.
"But we're good enough to win, we've been there, we're the champions and we've done it before. That gives you enough confidence to believe you can do it again."
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vidic comment suggests to me that manu are going to play us the same way they did last yr. Sit deep and counter, it can work 4 them cause they have very good players going 4wd
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I anticipate that Man U will come hard at Barca...
Barca is undermanned in crucial areas of the field- if there's anytime you can beat them with open football it's now, and if there's any team in the World who can do it, I'd have to say it's Man U.
What's the story on Iniesta & Henry? Barca is a different (significantly weaker) team without those guys.
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I anticipate that Man U will come hard at Barca...
Barca is undermanned in crucial areas of the field- if there's anytime you can beat them with open football it's now, and if there's any team in the World who can do it, I'd have to say it's Man U.
What's the story on Iniesta & Henry? Barca is a different (significantly weaker) team without those guys.
supposedly they're both 100% fit ahead of the game..
but who can tell whether that is just pre-match gun talk.
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http://www.youtube.com/v/cC-AVpuE-cA
;D
VIVA RONALDO!
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Vidic REALLY say that football is not about style?!?! No wonder he playing in the epl.
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Vidic REALLY say that football is not about style?!?! No wonder he playing in the epl.
Not nice :heehee:
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http://www.youtube.com/v/cC-AVpuE-cA
;D
VIVA RONALDO!
That boy is ah bullah!!
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/strenkt/189258674_8769b0b642_o.gif)
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y he n go to Arnold Schwarzenegger english class
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(http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090526/capt.clf15705261831.italy_soccer_champions_league_final_clf157.jpg)
(http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20090526/i/r2478925760.jpg)
(http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20090526/i/r3109733483.jpg)
Even the old war horses come out: Hristo Stoichkov, Ronald Koeman, Pep Guardiola
Stoichkov must be chaining up ah scene to break a foot wid he wile self.
(http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20090526/i/r2989033748.jpg)
(http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090526/capt.clf30505261941.italy_soccer_champions_league_final_clf305.jpg)
All yuh doh worry, I was here already, I've got this.
(http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090526/capt.clf30705261944.italy_soccer_champions_league_final_clf307.jpg)
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http://www.youtube.com/v/cC-AVpuE-cA
;D
VIVA RONALDO!
That boy is ah bullah!!
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/strenkt/189258674_8769b0b642_o.gif)
takes one to know one asshole
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(http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090526/capt.clf14805261813.italy_soccer_champions_league_final_clf148.jpg) = (http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/strenkt/lemar.gif)
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I definitely ent watching dat video unless he divin at least 4 times :devil: :devil:
Més que un club
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iNG5AE7xrYU/SRJXIVgGIyI/AAAAAAAAFWk/FBxj1tli_H0/WC1-1.jpg) ;D
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Thierry Henry deserves to win this CUP
steups....u come back with this shit?
he had his chance....and they blew it.
still doesn't mean barca are going to make panty boy cry
oh and i would have supported the english side if they werent playing barca with henry
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more macomeh man behaviour.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i214/justatest_photos/wtfronaldo.gif)
:rotfl: :devil: :rotfl: :devil: :rotfl: :devil:
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Nice comments by Pep.
Come on Barca!
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=650000&sec=uefachampionsleague&cc=5901
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola believes the only way his side can beat ''the best team in the world'' in the Champions League final is to ''play beautiful''.
The Spanish champions go into the clash with holders Manchester United at Rome's Stadio Olimpico looking to clinch their third European title.
''The fans know that it will not be easy,'' said Guardiola. ''We know we face the best team in the world and we want to beat the best team in the world. In order to do that, we will try to be Barca.
''I want my players to play beautiful and I want them to be daring and to show to the world why we have been so successful and lift the cup.
''That is my only worry, I don't want to have any regrets after the game that we didn't do this or that on the pitch, in other words we didn't show the play that we have been able to do so far.''
What Guardiola has done so far has been most impressive. A member of the first Barcelona team to win the European Cup with a 1-0 victory over Sampdoria 17 years ago at Wembley, Guardiola has led the Catalan outfit to a Primera Liga and Copa del Rey double in his first season at the helm.
''I could never have imagined anything like this at the beginning of the season,'' said the 38-year-old. ''I just wanted to do a good job, but in my first year to win the League, the cup and to be here, one step away from being European champions, is great. We cannot deny that it has been a great season.
''I have been fortunate to have a great team and we've been able to do well. But we can still do better.''
Guardiola knows Manchester United have few weaknesses.
Sir Alex Ferguson's team go into the clash on a record 25-match unbeaten run in the competition. United have a superb defensive record in this season's competition with just six goals conceded, but Guardiola is respectful of the whole team.
''I think Manchester United have lots of virtues,'' he said. ''If we are not strong in defence they will attack and it is a team that attacks well.
''If it has to defend, it defends with humility and if it has to counter-attack, they are deadly. We have tried to correct some things that we do badly and highlight the positive things we do.''
Barca will rely on the inspiration of Spanish internationals Xavi and Andres Iniesta in midfield, while they hope Lionel Messi can maintain his form in front of goal. Messi is the competition's top scorer with eight goals this season.
''We are going to see a great Messi,'' said Guardiola. ''He is in good form and the team will help him to deliver. If we play in the way we can play, then Messi will have a good game.''
Much of the focus has been on Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo but Guardiola feels any player could decide the game.
Barcelona last won the Champions League three years ago when beating Arsenal in the final in Paris with defender Julian Belletti scoring the winner.
''I don't know if the game will be decided by star players,'' Guardiola said. ''Of course, because they are stars they have more responsibility. Both (Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo) are very good players.''
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(http://www.manutd.com/pix/theClub/clb_trp_FCWC.jpg) (http://www.manutd.com/pix/theClub/clb_trp_fa.jpg)
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP FA PREMIER LEAGUE
(http://www.manutd.com/pix/theClub/clb_trp_fa.jpg) (http://www.manutd.com/pix/theClub/clb_trp_leacup.jpg)
FA PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL LEAGUE CUP
(http://www.manutd.com/pix/theClub/clb_trp_comm.jpg)
FA CHARITY / COMMUNITY SHIELD
tommorow we go have this too :devil:
(http://www.manutd.com/pix/theClub/clb_trp_uefa.jpg)
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
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(http://www.manutd.com/pix/theClub/clb_trp_FCWC.jpg)
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP
(http://www.manutd.com/pix/theClub/clb_trp_fa.jpg)
FA PREMIER LEAGUE
(http://www.manutd.com/pix/theClub/clb_trp_leacup.jpg)
FOOTBALL LEAGUE CUP
tommorow we go have this too Barca goin an win dis one :devil:
(http://www.manutd.com/pix/theClub/clb_trp_uefa.jpg)
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
FIXED
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Thierry Henry deserves to win this CUP
steups....u come back with this shit?
he had his chance....and they blew it.
still doesn't mean barca are going to make panty boy cry
oh and i would have supported the english side if they werent playing barca with henry
we doh want/need yuh support breds :shameonyou:
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Yorke get mention yes...but not in a way we may like...lol
Why the European final is soccer's biggest game
by Anthony Sanchez, Bleacher Report
Back in the days when England's footballers spent as much time in the pub as they did on the pitch, when football shorts the world over were tight enough to cut off circulation to the legs and it was quite normal for top-class players to sport facial hair, every four years something remarkable used to happen for football fans.
The World Cup brought with it an escape from terrible pitches and a chance to see the very best the world had to offer. Moments of genius from exciting new players wowed the viewing public. Players sprung into the public consciousness of nations overnight.
Within hours they could take on a godlike status and like mythical characters, their reputation seemed to only increase during the four years away from the spotlight between World Cups.
These days even the best players struggle to achieve such a high standing. Every comment is reported, every bad performance or run of bad form is scrutinized.
A reputation can still be made in a World Cup tournament but just as easily it can ripped to pieces in the intervening four years.
The Champions League now provides the true litmus test for world football's finest. European cup glory may never hold the stature of winning a World Cup, perhaps even in the minds of the players themselves it will never tug the heart strings the same way achieving something for you country can, but in terms of quality it is light years ahead.
With limited time to prepare, narrow selection criteria and such large breaks between playing quality opposition can an international team of the same standard of an elite club side even be assembled?
Europe's big clubs are now almost limitless in their powers. Every squad competing in the Champions Leagues is bursting with football talent harvested from every corner of the globe. Players you might have seen every four years in the past can now be seen week in week out in Europe's big leagues. This year's Manchester United-Barcelona final is much more than just an intercity rivalry.
Nationals of Brazil, Argentina, France, Portugal, Serbia, Bulgaria, South Korea, Cameroon, Uruguay, Mali, Belarus, Iceland, and the Netherlands will all be in attendance alongside the native British and Spanish players providing an interest around the world that spills well over Europe's borders.
No dead weight will be taking to the pitch in Rome. Every player will be there by virtue of their talent. International managers may have to play with the cards that the gods of genetics dealt them, but managers at the highest level of European club football have already rigged the pack.
Players who have competed at the highest echelons of club football have been a glaring omission at World Cup finals. Ryan Giggs and George Weah's absences in recent years stand in stark comparison to the memory of Costa Rica's Paulo Wanchope or Trinidad and Tobago's Dwight Yorke lining up alongside their football nobody countrymen.
Similarly, the World Cup has produced more and more mismatches as the years have gone by.
Who can forget Scotland's Colin Hendry hopelessly trying to stop Brazil's Phenomenon in the opening game of France 98? Or Luca Toni against nearly every defense he's come up against?
The World Cup can no longer be considered the greatest test. It's without doubt still the world's premier sporting spectacle, but the highest quality of football is now played at the highest professional level. It transcends borders and tribal allegiances.
Come May 27, Rome's Stadio Olimpico will be hosting what should be the highest quality game of football to date. Barcelona and Manchester United's teams have been works in progress for years.
Having been brought together from the four corners of the earth, they have been refined and finely tuned everyday on the training ground. The result is two teams whose football ability stands head and shoulder above everyone around them.
This year's Champions League Final will be more than a normal game. It will be the culmination of over a century of football evolution, as it is every year. May the best team win.
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Yorke get mention yes...but not in a way we may like...lol
Why the European final is soccer's biggest game
by Anthony Sanchez, Bleacher Report
Back in the days when England's footballers spent as much time in the pub as they did on the pitch, when football shorts the world over were tight enough to cut off circulation to the legs and it was quite normal for top-class players to sport facial hair, every four years something remarkable used to happen for football fans.
The World Cup brought with it an escape from terrible pitches and a chance to see the very best the world had to offer. Moments of genius from exciting new players wowed the viewing public. Players sprung into the public consciousness of nations overnight.
Within hours they could take on a godlike status and like mythical characters, their reputation seemed to only increase during the four years away from the spotlight between World Cups.
These days even the best players struggle to achieve such a high standing. Every comment is reported, every bad performance or run of bad form is scrutinized.
A reputation can still be made in a World Cup tournament but just as easily it can ripped to pieces in the intervening four years.
The Champions League now provides the true litmus test for world football's finest. European cup glory may never hold the stature of winning a World Cup, perhaps even in the minds of the players themselves it will never tug the heart strings the same way achieving something for you country can, but in terms of quality it is light years ahead.
With limited time to prepare, narrow selection criteria and such large breaks between playing quality opposition can an international team of the same standard of an elite club side even be assembled?
Europe's big clubs are now almost limitless in their powers. Every squad competing in the Champions Leagues is bursting with football talent harvested from every corner of the globe. Players you might have seen every four years in the past can now be seen week in week out in Europe's big leagues. This year's Manchester United-Barcelona final is much more than just an intercity rivalry.
Nationals of Brazil, Argentina, France, Portugal, Serbia, Bulgaria, South Korea, Cameroon, Uruguay, Mali, Belarus, Iceland, and the Netherlands will all be in attendance alongside the native British and Spanish players providing an interest around the world that spills well over Europe's borders.
No dead weight will be taking to the pitch in Rome. Every player will be there by virtue of their talent. International managers may have to play with the cards that the gods of genetics dealt them, but managers at the highest level of European club football have already rigged the pack.
Players who have competed at the highest echelons of club football have been a glaring omission at World Cup finals. Ryan Giggs and George Weah's absences in recent years stand in stark comparison to the memory of Costa Rica's Paulo Wanchope or Trinidad and Tobago's Dwight Yorke lining up alongside their football nobody countrymen.
Similarly, the World Cup has produced more and more mismatches as the years have gone by.
Who can forget Scotland's Colin Hendry hopelessly trying to stop Brazil's Phenomenon in the opening game of France 98? Or Luca Toni against nearly every defense he's come up against?
The World Cup can no longer be considered the greatest test. It's without doubt still the world's premier sporting spectacle, but the highest quality of football is now played at the highest professional level. It transcends borders and tribal allegiances.
Come May 27, Rome's Stadio Olimpico will be hosting what should be the highest quality game of football to date. Barcelona and Manchester United's teams have been works in progress for years.
Having been brought together from the four corners of the earth, they have been refined and finely tuned everyday on the training ground. The result is two teams whose football ability stands head and shoulder above everyone around them.
This year's Champions League Final will be more than a normal game. It will be the culmination of over a century of football evolution, as it is every year. May the best team win.
I sure Weah etal go change place wit DY in a NY minute. What Jabber Jaws used to say NO RESPECT NO RESPECT
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boy i vex yesterday I wake up tired like a dog cyah bodge from d decide me eh goin nowhere, well i doh really keep track ah dates eh an', ah was lil groggy too, so it eh even dawn on me dat yesterday was d 26th, ah had to go out to work today >:(, vex,
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Yeah man..de big day reach! good luck to de ManU fans.
GO BARCA!!
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i jus wanna see a great game of football today
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Any official release on Iniesta and Henry's fitness?
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Manchester United vs. Barcelona: Breaking down the dream final
Barcelona defense vs. Manchester United attack
When three-quarters of your starting back four are sidelined, you know things aren't looking good. But that's the reality facing Pep Guardiola, who'll be without Rafa Márquez, Daniel Alves and Éric Abidal (not to mention Gabi Milito, who has been out all year). Gerard Piqué has stepped it up since moving back to the Camp Nou this summer and will be ready to go against his former club.
Yaya Touré is a beast, but there is no escaping the fact that he'll be out of position at the heart of the defense, while whoever plays left back -- whether it's rarely used 35-year-old Sylvinho or the inexperienced Martín Cáceres -- looks badly overmatched. Carles Puyol, back at right back after his suspension in the semifinal second leg, will need to do his usual guts-and-glory routine to keep this makeshift group functioning. Goalkeeper Víctor Valdés, seen by some as a weak link, has been improving quietly and may be one of the game's top 10.
On the other side of the ball, Sir Alex Ferguson has liked the 4-3-3 in Champions League play with Cristiano Ronaldo reinvented as a center forward, Wayne Rooney on the left and Park Ji-Sung wide right. It has worked well: Ronaldo is peaking, Rooney's work rate on the wing is outstanding and Park is very dependable. Yet in a match like this, conventional wisdom would call for a guy like Dimitar Berbatov (who has blown hot and cold, despite being United's record signing) or possibly Carlos Tévez. Either way, United has plenty of options and a distinct advantage in this department.
Edge: Man. United.
Barcelona midfield vs. Manchester United midfield
With Touré switched to the back four and Andrés Iniesta not fully fit, Xavi will need to have a huge game. On his day, he can dominate with guile and accuracy (as can Iniesta, for that matter). The question is whether they'll be outmuscled by the opposition and, given Iniesta's lack of fitness, it's a legitimate issue. Rounding out the three (and replacing Touré as the enforcer) is Sergi Busquets, who, at 20, has been a revelation this season. If his nerves don't play up, he should be OK. He has the strength, intelligence and defensive prowess to let the skill players do their thing.
Darren Fletcher's suspension made headlines, but, in fact, Michael Carrick would have been a bigger loss. The former Tottenham and West Ham midfielder has been a human metronome in the middle of the park, making up for a lack of quickness with guile and strength while providing the kind of steady, reliable passing the front players crave. Anderson's progress has perhaps been slower than expected, but he brings energy and a forward threat. Paul Scholes, at 34, has lost a step, but his experience should see him through.
Edge: Barça, but only slightly.
Barcelona attack vs. Manchester United defense
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Lionel Messi (37 goals in 50 games), Samuel Eto'o (34 in 50) and Thierry Henry (26 in 41) have scored an outrageous 97 goals between them this season. It may well be the greatest front three in history. The question marks here come from Henry's fitness (he hasn't played in 3½ weeks) and whether Messi is played through the middle (which could isolate Eto'o out wide and negate any kind of aerial threat) or on the right (where he wouldn't have Dani Alves behind him, possibly negating his effectiveness). Still, Barça is absolutely loaded in this department.
Man. United enjoyed a long stretch of clean sheets and credit must go to Edwin van der Sar. The big Dutchman was one of the best in the world for the best part of the past two decades, yet, at 38, he also occasionally shows the signs of age. Nemanja Vidic was dominant in the first half of the season, now he has slowed a little, whereas Rio Ferdinand (who ordinarily complements him beautifully) is recovering from a calf injury and may not be at his best. Patrice Evra hasn't been as effective as he was last season (when, arguably, he was one of the top three left backs in the world) but he remains solid. At right back, likely starter John O'Shea is a jack-of-all-trades who makes up for a lack of natural athleticism with drive and intelligence.
Edge: Barça.
Barcelona bench vs. Manchester United bench
Barça is already stretched at the back and options are few and far between. Seydou Keita really is an attacking midfielder but, if pressed into action, will probably have to reinvent himself in a different position. Alexander Hleb has shown little this season, Eidur Gudjohnsen is on the wane and Bojan Krkic is still just a teenager (and a very undersized one at that).
So many options for United. Berbatov and Tévez would start on most teams, Ryan Giggs provides experience and brains, whether in the middle or out wide, Johnny Evans has been a hit at the back, as has Rafael. Nani was a bust this year, but it doesn't really matter when you have so many alternatives to choose from.
Edge: Man. United.
Guardiola vs. Ferguson
Taking charge of a club like Barcelona in your first season as a manager would have scared the pants off most men. Not Guardiola. He found a way to put together a well-balanced attacking side, helping guys like Eto'o and Henry not just coexist but thrive. Yet experience matters, and having been here as a player just isn't the same thing.
Sir Alex is a living legend who has rewritten the record books and enters his third Champions League final. His greatest asset may be his pragmatism: He has rebuilt and torn down United at least three times in his 23 years in charge, each time emerging stronger than before. And he can beat you in so many different ways.
Edge: Man. United.
X-Factor
Nobody has successfully defended the European Cup since AC Milan in the late 1980s, which doesn't bode too well for United. Logic (and Barcelona's absentees) should make Ferguson's crew favorites, and yet it looks too close to call. The fact that Messi is due a big game on the biggest stage of all just tips this one toward Barça.
Edge: Barça, slightly.
Keys to the game
Barcelona
1. Get the strikers (particularly Henry and Messi, as Eto'o always runs his butt off anyway) to work hard and press United in its own half when you don't have possession.
2. You have an edge in tight spaces; use it. This means push the back four up and congest the middle. Xavi, Messi and Iniesta can thread the needle with the best of them.
3. Don't get sucked forward. United is devastating on the break and, if it sits back, you'll be tempted to bomb on. If you do, keep your shape at the back or you'll pay a hefty price.
Manchester United
1. You have an enormous edge on set-pieces. Ronaldo, Vidic, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Rooney -- there is no way Barça can pick up everybody on corners and free kicks. Make sure you exploit this.
2. Don't raise the barricades. In last year's semifinal against this same team, you went ultra-defensive. You may be tempted to do so because it worked for Chelsea in this year's semis (at least to some degree). But this would be a mistake. You're not built to play that way and, besides, if you go a goal down, it will be that much harder to react.
3. Get physical. Not dirty, just physical. Henry will be hobbling anyway. Xavi and Iniesta don't measure up physically with your midfielders. Messi can be rattled, too. Just make sure you keep your discipline.
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(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/strenkt/Picture2.png)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCP1N0HesiI&feature=related :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
Hispanic ...........not Asian as advertised ;D
Barca ALL D WAY
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What is the exact time for this game ?
Any links for online viewing ?
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this article mek mi feel more worried about we make shift defence, but say wah we n going down without ah fight after all its a final, the champions league final at that.
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this article mek mi feel more worried about we make shift defence, but say wah we n going down without ah fight after all its a final, the champions league final at that.
I support both teams...buh...speaking without bias...i recognise that long time. I dunno why caceres eh getting a sweat..and if anything he naturally is a CB. Barca need Yaya in de midfield.....against chelsea dey needed him in defense cuz anelka and drogba eh short.....but now i doh think he necessary in the back.....dey go be thrown off with that. Pique could handle berbatov physically if he play.....and everybody else height manageable...unless ronaldo up front too. The key is the midfield battle. Anderson go harass inestia and xavi a lot....yaya could balance dat out. As it is...de weighting more in united's favour. And dahs jus me being honest. It go be real pressha if united midfield end up being carrick..anderson and park and yaya not there. Add to that...that leaving the front line to be any 3 of ronaldo...rooney..tevez and berbatov...the only real guess is either tevez or berbatov.
Fact is..no matter wha happens.....i just want to see a good game. Incidentally...Barca scoring first i think might cause that....United might be pragmatic and try to hit them on the counter if they score first.
Oh..and i feeling it. Today go be de day my boy anderson score he first.
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this article mek mi feel more worried about we make shift defence, but say wah we n going down without ah fight after all its a final, the champions league final at that.
I support both teams...buh...speaking without bias...i recognise that long time. I dunno why caceres eh getting a sweat..and if anything he naturally is a CB. Barca need Yaya in de midfield.....against chelsea dey needed him in defense cuz anelka and drogba eh short.....but now i doh think he necessary in the back.....dey go be thrown off with that. Pique could handle berbatov physically if he play.....and everybody else height manageable...unless ronaldo up front too. The key is the midfield battle. Anderson go harass inestia and xavi a lot....yaya could balance dat out. As it is...de weighting more in united's favour. And dahs jus me being honest. It go be real pressha if united midfield end up being carrick..anderson and park and yaya not there. Add to that...that leaving the front line to be any 3 of ronaldo...rooney..tevez and berbatov...the only real guess is either tevez or berbatov.
Fact is..no matter wha happens.....i just want to see a good game. Incidentally...Barca scoring first i think might cause that....United might be pragmatic and try to hit them on the counter if they score first.
Oh..and i feeling it. Today go be de day my boy anderson score he first.
Yuh boy say he will strip if he score today.
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i must say pep's lack of confidence in Cáceres, really worry mi. i jus know that he has pace, i havent really seen much to make an indept analysis, but i havent heard anything bad about d yute. hope pep knows what he doing .
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by d way. anybody want to join mi mafia wars group on facebook? ;D ;D
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Damn I am excited for this match finally! I could not sleep and I can't wait to leave work!. United!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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- It is Barça’s sixth appearance in the final. Of the previous five, they won two (1992 and 2006) and lost three (1961, 1986 y 1994). It is United’s fourth final, but they have won every time they have made it so far (1968, 1999 and 2008).
manu real lethal once they make d final dread.
too bad that changing today
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this article mek mi feel more worried about we make shift defence, but say wah we n going down without ah fight after all its a final, the champions league final at that.
I support both teams...buh...speaking without bias...i recognise that long time. I dunno why caceres eh getting a sweat..and if anything he naturally is a CB. Barca need Yaya in de midfield.....against chelsea dey needed him in defense cuz anelka and drogba eh short.....but now i doh think he necessary in the back.....dey go be thrown off with that. Pique could handle berbatov physically if he play.....and everybody else height manageable...unless ronaldo up front too. The key is the midfield battle. Anderson go harass inestia and xavi a lot....yaya could balance dat out. As it is...de weighting more in united's favour. And dahs jus me being honest. It go be real pressha if united midfield end up being carrick..anderson and park and yaya not there. Add to that...that leaving the front line to be any 3 of ronaldo...rooney..tevez and berbatov...the only real guess is either tevez or berbatov.
Fact is..no matter wha happens.....i just want to see a good game. Incidentally...Barca scoring first i think might cause that....United might be pragmatic and try to hit them on the counter if they score first.
Oh..and i feeling it. Today go be de day my boy anderson score he first.
Yuh boy say he will strip if he score today.
I know. I done make up my mind i go take off de tv after de game if dat going and happen. If yuh does get a yellow for taking off yuh shirt...yuh could get a red for stripping ent?
i must say pep's lack of confidence in Cáceres, really worry mi. i jus know that he has pace, i havent really seen much to make an indept analysis, but i havent heard anything bad about d yute. hope pep knows what he doing .
I eh see much of him either..buh i doh understand why you go pay 15 million to give a man no sweat. Come nah...yuh name Rafa? De man is a CB....use him and pique...put puyol on de right.....and leave yaya in de middle!
by d way. anybody want to join mi mafia wars group on facebook? ;D ;D
Send meh a link dey.
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Alright fellas I off to the game. Going into the same bar that I watched last year's final.
I can't make any predictions but I just hopping for a great game. It is a real opportunity we have here with the two best teams in Europe going at it.
I feel that Ferguson was not happy with the way they won the final on penalties last year, or the way they best Barcelona in the semis. he will want to show that this is not just his most successful team but one of his best.
Barcelona will be a real test for United's possession game. Barcelona are the masters of that and I oculd guarantee already that they will have more of the possession. It will be interesting to see what United does if they go ahead and Barcelona apply the full court press. Will it be backs to the wall and hit on the break or a more open back and forth encounter.
On the other hand if United goes down, how long will it be before Rooney, tevez, Berba and Ronaldo are on the pitch and will it work or leave United exposed.
Big test for Barcelona too. They tend to over-possess when they reach these big games. Their version of defence is not to sit back with 10 men but to not be as creative and take fewer risks than they would against weaker sides. They try above, all else, to not lose the ball in the middle of the pitch and they try to work the ball outside and back in, so that if they lose it their whole team is still between the ball and the goal. Messi and Ronaldo are good but the beauty of both these teams is that neither player is a one-man team because the collectives are so good.
Good luck to Barca and the Barca fans.
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This final will also settle in some men's minds who is the best footballer on de planet. man U is the best side in England and Barca in Spain ..they also have the two best players in world football...one the holder of the title , the other, the heir apparent who some say has already won the award for this season ..no matter the outcome today.
The support players may well steal the show if tactics cancel out the best players. We have seen it happen in the semis where Chelsea cancelled out the threat of Messi. Ronaldo has been critisized for not showing his best on the big occassions but that could be because of tactics employed to stop him.
Sir Alex is a shrewd tactician and plays the game well in the press..... Berbatov and Eto'o for me are the ones who could topple the apple cart. On any other teams in the world these two players would have been the drawing cards. If for some reason they are given less than the attention they deserve one of them may well decide this tie ...
My take is man United to win ....
..and Messi to confirm that he is indeed Maradona's replacement in World football.
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Yeah well i looking to make a move soon..
This tie has the potential to be one of the greatest ever (although Liverpool fans may beg to differ), however I have a sneaky feeling that Manchester will sit back too much to make this the classic that it can be.
I just don't see Manchester being able to impose their will on this game. I expect them to sit back, hit on the counter and try to make use of the set pieces. On the other hand, I think barcelona will find it difficult getting through the United back four.
I looking for Messi to shine today because I consider this defence to be, physically an easier proposition than Chelsea was in the semis. I dont think Carrick/Scholes/Giggs can show the same work rate as Essien/Lampard/Ballack did to cover the LB position, so I looking for him to take it to them but that is just my personal opinion. At the same time, I expect Ferguson to try to exploit that soft under-belly and the weaknesses in Barca's full back position.
Really can't venture a guess on what we will see in the next 1 and a half hours, but looking forward to this one.
Like the english say..
"I'm well up for this one lads!!"
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live stream info ...???
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live stream info ...???
http://www.atdhe.net/
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live stream info ...???
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=39954&part=sports
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GO MAN U
GO EPL
GLORY!! GLORY!!
RED DEVILS FOREVER!!
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wasnt glory glory ah leeds thing?
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nice manu playing 433
sylvinho starting at left back. basquets playing holding mid. toure in defence and henry and inesita starting
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Well...we go hadda wait and see.
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lawddddddddddddd manu supporters and d britsih commentators and analysts real fireball cocky dread
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:devil: :devil: :devil: :devil: let the games begin bitches .
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It go have some penalty controversy eh. Watch and see.
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i must say pep's lack of confidence in Cáceres, really worry mi. i jus know that he has pace, i havent really seen much to make an indept analysis, but i havent heard anything bad about d yute. hope pep knows what he doing .
I find Caceres good, but still developing, and prone to the glaring/goal conceding error. Middle of the season, Pep was prob. thinking by May he'd have Marquez, Puyol, Pique and maybe even Milito with Abidal as a makeshift, to play in the center. So he put Caceres and Victor Vasquez in his back pocket til next season. Now that he needs Caceres, he doh trust him to be ready cuz he wasn't playing him enough throughout the season. I more surpised at the lack of run Bojan get this season. Sylvinho and all hold it down in La Liga when Abidal was hurt but get real salt after that. Really curious to see what Barca starting 11 going to look like today
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valdez
puyol toure pique slyvinho
xavi basquets iniesta
messi eto henry
van der sar
oshea ferdinand vidic evra
anderson carrick giggs
park ronaldo rooney
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valdez
puyol toure pique slyvinho
xavi basquets iniesta
messi eto henry
van der sar
oshea ferdinand vidic evra
anderson carrick giggs
park ronaldo rooney
Licks book for Barca today :devil: :rotfl: ManU 4 EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
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Fellas ah need a live link. adthe.net not working on the job. >:(
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So according to the poll, if Manu win, it'll be an upset?
:devil:
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justintv working ah watching de pregame
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Fellas ah need a live link. adthe.net not working on the job. >:(
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=39954&part=sports
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dat not working too....everything is blocked on the job....help
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If Henry playing at the level he was b4 the injury Barca will make mass.
If they have to pull him off and move Eto'o around, then is trouble.
I wonder if Man U will use that Bolton game plan like they did vs Arsenal.
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ManU kit looking sweet, not going to lie. But they's only one Los Blancos, thank you!
>:(
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PERFECT RANGE ,GOOD STOP KEEPER
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dat not working too....everything is blocked on the job....help
Who tell yuh go to work today? Go on yuh lunch break and find a pub.
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Nerves showing all around
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Why dah Leprechaun eh hush he - !!
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Fergie rel disrespectful.
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y would u intorduce a new ball in a finals?
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1 shot 1 goal
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To modify my normal truism about Man U:
Ferdinand + Vidic + Van Der Sar + Eto'o = Goal in yuh sc**t!
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Man, wtf? As soon as Barca scored the site went down. Had to celebrate on facebook.
But YEAH!!! Nice Eto, nice!
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y would u intorduce a new ball in a finals?
It looks like both teams having problems with the ball in the air.
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if u are goig to give away freekicks aginst manu do it close to d 18 yard. y. cause ronaldo cannot score from that close
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Make La Liga proud Barca. ;D
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Barca need to shoot the damn ball a little though.
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Barca beginning to control the game.
But yeah, they need to shoot.
I find the ref could have let play continue instead of giving that free kick.
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Lawd three men on Messi.
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manu would be more potent if they play ronaldo on the left and rooney in the centre
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y toure n pipe that. u defenders lead d attack there yes
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*ahem* paging Cristiano Ronaldo and a Mr Wayne Rooney.
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GLORY FLICKIN GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Point yuh could loose yuh monie in Vagas yuh know. Man-U go geh lash. ;D
;D Pay day!
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allyuh n rate mi coaching. fergie jus did what i suggetsed with switching ronaldo and rooney
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manu would be more potent if they play ronaldo on the left and rooney in the centre
Sir Alex?
You have time to post online? Yuh team losing. Bring in Tevez
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Messie just run through the whole defence dey? :-\
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Messi is a borse yes....dem cyah give him a half chance he go purge ManU
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wait nah manu still in their coach.
but i dont believe this will be the only goal in this game. as they does say on fifa the next goal is going to b very important. who will score it?
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*ahem* paging Cristiano Ronaldo and a Mr Wayne Rooney.
heheheheheh...dems fellaz does put dey tail between dey legs when BIGGER playerz on showcase!!!
Messie just run through the whole defence dey? :-\
dais why ah find it was disrespectful to say dat shitty man like Evra could stop Messi....Fuh ah team tuh hav ah chance dey hatta put 3 and 4 men on him to have ah chance and still dat not enuff...cuz is level watch in d eyes then blow pass..lol. d man is d trute right now...who vex loss..lol
GO BARCA!!!!
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Weh de Man-U people boi? Like deh gone home. ;D
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and btw....ah see like it have some waggonist joinin d empire....so welcome and continue to vote in the poll...lol.
WE WANT TUH WIN EVERYTHING 2DAY...LOL
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Messie just run through the whole defence dey? :-\
yea girl, he movin like a real beast today
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Man-U beating barcelona remember i tell yuh dat! dat lucky spanish team getting it, trust meh! let them enjoy their false comfort for now. positive.
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what i starting to realise is that alot ah manu supporters only watch 1 league. i am sure i have seen more manu games this season then some bonafide manu supporters hmmm.
i expect manu to come out breathless in d 2nd half. tevez getting ah early sweat. if berbatov comes on with him will depend on how much fergie fear us.
but between me and allyuh is only ah matter ah time b4 that diagonal ball manu playing to the man on left open barca defence. i hope valdez answer d call when it comes
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Barca start off Shaky. Man U had them under pressure, but since the goal, It looking like Barca playing Bolton for real. Manu U pinned back and hoping a long ball to Rooney or Ronaldo will bring results from the counter-attack.
I find Barca a little too comfortable with the scoreline, but then, them men score 135+ goals for the season, they not fighting up or stressed about scoring.
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Solid 1st half by Barca, but Manu was bossing the game in the earlies. They let that goal shake them and allowed Barca to get a little rythm. I like how Barca played at the end of the half, but ManU still have some good matchups in the attack. I find C. Ronaldo looking very sharp and a few times well Rooney would have had a jump on Puyol if Carrick found the right ball over the top. Yaya does make me nervous in the back too. I notice that Barca slowing down the game when they get the ball. 2nd half will be a nailbiter. I feel there will be more goals to come. Come on Barca!
ps. some of allyuh real like gun talk eh..is only half time. ManU is a big side. Dey eh taking de next 45 lying down. Plenty ball still to come
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Man-U beating barcelona remember i tell yuh dat! dat lucky spanish team getting it, trust meh! let them enjoy their false comfort for now. positive.
Just cool, Doh feel sick today yuh know.
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what i starting to realise is that alot ah manu supporters only watch 1 league. i am sure i have seen more manu games this season then some bonafide manu supporters hmmm.
i expect manu to come out breathless in d 2nd half. tevez getting ah early sweat. if berbatov comes on with him will depend on how much fergie fear us.
but between me and allyuh is only ah matter ah time b4 that diagonal ball manu playing to the man on left open barca defence. i hope valdez answer d call when it comes
Berbatov is ah goat!! Carlitos is d boss and dais d man i fear...he go be poisonous when he come on...so dais where d "great" Sir Alex failed...Carlitos shoulda been ah starter...but i eh complainin!! But d thing about it Barca eh relly settle down yet...dey only look comfortable comin to the end of the half...so when we do...is 3 more goals tuh follow!!!
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tevez for anderson
i woulda take off giggs but then again there is no substitute 4 experience
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ah dream barca win 4-1 but that aint happening
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allyuh n rate mi coaching. fergie jus did what i suggetsed with switching ronaldo and rooney
Bring in Tevez
These quotes just prove than anybody could coach from in front the TV
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MAN BOO dont deserve Carlitos...dey treatin him too bad...he's ah bigger player than that!!
CARLITOS COME TO THE NOU CAMP!!!!
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ah dream barca win 4-1 but that aint happening
i hopin fuh ah 4-0 victory...SERIOUSLY ;D ;D
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henry kick d ppl ball hard nah dread
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Henry to Ferdinand: Feels like old times. Hold a beats dey.
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COME ON TiTi!!!! YUH HATTA SCORE THAT SON!!!!
PUNISH THEM!!!!!!!!
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HOW DE ASS MESSI MISS THAT!!!!!!!
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y dis 2nd goal not coming
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y dis 2nd goal not coming
IT GO COME BREDDA!!! IT GO COME!!
AH DOH LIKE HOW DIS SHIT TEAM ONLY TRYIN TUH DAMAGE MUH PLAYERZ THO.....CHUTTS MAN!!
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Sir Alex Baccoo working overtime.
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manu n realise valdez injured?
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COME ON FELLAZ...ONE GOAL IS NOT ENUFF 2DAY....WE PLAYIN D LUCKIEST TEAM IN D HISTORY OF D TEAM..lol
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if pique aint ah boss well ah dont know wat
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barca is sitting back a lil too much. i dont like it
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Steel curtains. ;)
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messirific
.
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barca is sitting back a lil too much. i dont like it
well ah see dey brining in muh boi Keita...ah doh kno fuh who tho
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
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De Baccoo dead!
Sir Alex, you are free!!!!
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barsa 2
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class header by messi dread
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Fire. :flamethrower:
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Man, they ent go let Henry score to complete the season?
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OK...dey could bring in Keita now....GOOD GAME TiTi!!
BIG TEAM IS BIG TEAM!!!
2 MORE FELLAZ!!!
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:heehee:
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now this is y i doh like fifa 09. it says that puyol cannot mark ronaldo. yet right now puyol is ronaldo daddy
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Ronaldo or Messi? :heehee:
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Ronaldo or Messi? :heehee:
:heehee:
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Congatulation all Barca Fans :beermug:, your team played well and deserved to win , i shall depart now :angel:
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Congatulation all Barca Fans :beermug:, your team played well and deserved to win , i shall depart now :angel:
Borse, de game eh over yet.
If Liverpool could come three goals down, then ManU can come from two goals down, even if is only ten minutes to go.
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Congatulation all Barca Fans :beermug:, your team played well and deserved to win , i shall depart now :angel:
Wait fuh de ressa goals. :devil:
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Puyol playing like a striker today boy. What heart
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Whey we get outplayed for 72 minutes up to now. Over all their team and individual defending has been good and in possession typical Barca. Manu losing possession to easy. When Puyol in the running for man ah the match. it tells yuh wha kind ah game this has been. ManU put down a shite performance and they have to live with it. No scene!
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its never over till its over
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amazing stat, pep has one every competition he has been in as a coach. his career is short though. only 2 years but still thats amazing
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Sorry all Man-U fans. That was a hard lorse deh. ;)
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:applause:
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its never over till its over
its over now, Congrats!!
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name on d trophy already yes. that is efficiency
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Hoepfully this puts to rest the "debate" about who's better between Messi and Ronaldo.
Die meister! Die Besten! Les grandes equipes, the champions!!!
Go La Liga.
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Congrats Barca...!!! Ah thought Manu was the better side, but not today...
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CONGRATS BARCELONA and the true barca supporters...(not the gutless chelsea men who wanna play they backing barca all of a sudden.)
We go be back next year.
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Ronaldo or Messi? :heehee:
:heehee:
still got jokes eh...lol
FUH D LAS TIME...TEAMS CANT COME OUT TO PLAY FOOTBALL WITH BARCA CUZ DEY WOULD GET BORE...ASK MAN BOO..MADRID...MUNCHEN...AND D REST YUH SURE TUH GET NUMBERS...AND IF YUH DO LIKE TERRIBLE CHELSEA AND TRY TUH SPOIL D BEAUTIFUL GAME...IT NOT HAPPENNIN!! BARCA-4-LIFE!! BEST TEAM IN D WORLD RIGHT NOW AND STEERED BY THE BEST PLAYER IN D WORLD...YOUNG LIONEL MESSI aka d trute!! AND PLAYIN IN D BEST LEAGUE IN D WORLD...LA LIGA...
PUT DAT IN ALLYUH SMOKE AND PIPE IT.....LOL
WHO SAY TREBLE!!!!
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Congrats ah have to eat my words tonight. Barca wanted it more :beermug:
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Los Vegas lorse plenty monie today. Underdogs/pothounds does bite hard yuh know. lol
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whaat fergie fail to realise is the most important men in 433 is not the 3 up front but d 3 in d middle. a fact that goes unnoticed is how many tackles xavi and iniesta win and yes we know they are dangerous going 4wd. all said and done i think manu shoulda do wat barca does, which is to play their game.
a certain sm mag was scoffing at barca 4 having one formation( well in his mind its 1). what he failed o acknwledge is that we have mastered it
spanish teams 12 champion league trophies
english and italian 11........... :whistling: :whistling: :whistling:
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Congrats Barca. we'll be back next season, no worries..............
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Hoepfully this puts to rest the "debate" about who's better between Messi and Ronaldo.
cosign!!
congrats barca!
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Let me state it one time before ah forget.....
GO BARCA!!!...
:flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower:
for Manboo.... :devil: ;D
COSIGNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
WHO SAY TREBLE!!!!!!
WAY MUH FELLOW BARCAHOLICS AT!!!!!??!!!!!
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Congrats ah have to eat my words tonight. Barca wanted it more :beermug:
No, they were better.
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Damn, I was not expecting that result! Real men go be in mourning
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And Alves not even on the field!
Man U record against Top sides this season hasn't been the best.
They play attacking and flowing ball when is Man City and Portsmouth, but vs top sides, they act like a mid-table screen. Sir Alex say his side better than Real Madrid, but at least Madrid come out to play, not to drop back, defend and hope they could catch them on the counter.
Ditto for Chelsea. If yuh is big side, then come out swinging
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Congrats Barca...!!! Ah thought Manu was the better side, but not today...
clearly man u shit down deyself today :-\
as a chelsea fan, ah glad barca take instead ah ManU
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Finally dem Manu MEN COUDld hush for a while. Till next season guys.
Biggest team in europe.
:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
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Barsa ain't no undrdog. They played better that Manu. Congrats to them for taking the fight out of Manu. But, anyway, next year.
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No, they were better.
Cosign
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Man of the match..puyol. Close second...pique.
Giggs in the middle in a game like that with no help to hold up the play? Come on......
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And Alves not even on the field!
Man U record against Top sides this season hasn't been the best.
They play attacking and flowing ball when is Man City and Portsmouth, but vs top sides, they act like a mid-table screen. Sir Alex say his side better than Real Madrid, but at least Madrid come out to play, not to drop back, defend and hope they could catch them on the counter.
Ditto for Chelsea. If yuh is big side, then come out swinging
You ony talkin shit in yuh ass oui!! WTF Chelsea ha to do wit dis?!
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big upset dey say!!! :devil: :D
Big Up!
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One thing I like about football eh. Is the players who does come and get the medal and trophy, not some old man in a suit, who giving speech with the commissioner.
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10 yrs later ......................another treble.
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Study..messi score..a header. Henry finally get a champions league. Nice. Honestly....the better team..especially on the night won.
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congrats
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And Alves not even on the field!
Man U record against Top sides this season hasn't been the best.
They play attacking and flowing ball when is Man City and Portsmouth, but vs top sides, they act like a mid-table screen. Sir Alex say his side better than Real Madrid, but at least Madrid come out to play, not to drop back, defend and hope they could catch them on the counter.
Ditto for Chelsea. If yuh is big side, then come out swinging
You ony talkin shit in yuh ass oui!! WTF Chelsea ha to do wit dis?!
Dred, I is a chelsea fan long time, but that display vs Barca was woeful.
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Well done Barca, better team one. United played shite throughout the side! United come back stronger next year! Nothing worse than listening to Tommy Smith when yuh team losing, thank god for the mute button.
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whaat fergie fail to realise is the most important men in 433 is not the 3 up front but d 3 in d middle.
That's interesting.....Fergie is one of the best tacticians in the game and you questioning the man's ability?
Allyuh good yes....
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Looks like Sir Alex has some more years at Man U to catch up with 'Pool 5 Champions League titles....Well done Barca ;)
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And Alves not even on the field!
Man U record against Top sides this season hasn't been the best.
They play attacking and flowing ball when is Man City and Portsmouth, but vs top sides, they act like a mid-table screen. Sir Alex say his side better than Real Madrid, but at least Madrid come out to play, not to drop back, defend and hope they could catch them on the counter.
Ditto for Chelsea. If yuh is big side, then come out swinging
You ony talkin shit in yuh ass oui!! WTF Chelsea ha to do wit dis?!
Dred, I is a chelsea fan long time, but that display vs Barca was woeful.
U talkin shit fella. Chelsea saw a potential weakness and attempted to use it to their advantage. Despite the free flowing style ManUre used Chelsea had far more and even better opportunities. It isn't about what type of game you feel is better it is about results. You think a loss with a free flowing style looks better than an ugly win on a coach record?
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i glad henry get the CL he went barca for...hm, this game put a new spin on the messi vs ronaldo debate
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i glad henry get the CL he went barca for...hm, this game put a new spin on the messi vs ronaldo debate
That shouldn't have even been a debate as far as this years best player is concerned
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based on the three games toure played as a cb . i have to apologise to pep and give him he props causse toure was solid
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PHEW!!!
:rotfl: :rotfl:
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based on the three games toure played as a cb . i have to apologise to pep and give him he props causse toure was solid
He was excellent today. Puyol impress me today tho, he locked down that corner like ah boss
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And Alves not even on the field!
Man U record against Top sides this season hasn't been the best.
They play attacking and flowing ball when is Man City and Portsmouth, but vs top sides, they act like a mid-table screen. Sir Alex say his side better than Real Madrid, but at least Madrid come out to play, not to drop back, defend and hope they could catch them on the counter.
Ditto for Chelsea. If yuh is big side, then come out swinging
You ony talkin shit in yuh ass oui!! WTF Chelsea ha to do wit dis?!
Dred, I is a chelsea fan long time, but that display vs Barca was woeful.
U talkin shit fella. Chelsea saw a potential weakness and attempted to use it to their advantage. Despite the free flowing style ManUre used Chelsea had far more and even better opportunities. It isn't about what type of game you feel is better it is about results. You think a loss with a free flowing style looks better than an ugly win on a coach record?
If football was only about ugly results, we would all be watching Norwegian football, or Ireland. If you want to claim to be tops in the world, then you have to be able to impose your will on other teams. Last year Man U was able to do that, this year, not so much. You have to capture the imagination as much as the trophies.
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PHEW!!!
:rotfl: :rotfl:
Dey rag my team but at least we eh get 2 in we pwefem
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whaat fergie fail to realise is the most important men in 433 is not the 3 up front but d 3 in d middle. a fact that goes unnoticed is how many tackles xavi and iniesta win and yes we know they are dangerous going 4wd. all said and done i think manu shoulda do wat barca does, which is to play their game.
a certain sm mag was scoffing at barca 4 having one formation( well in his mind its 1). what he failed o acknwledge is that we have mastered it
spanish teams 12 champion league trophies
english and italian 11........... :whistling: :whistling: :whistling:
congrats. Clearly alves and dem wasnt missed, simply because Xavi and iniesta is Barcas true defense with puyol and pique to do the cleaning up. Heard a commentator, before the game, say that in his mind puyol is a better full back than he is a center back and he may have a case there. He play like a boss, but at the same time utd did little to help them selves. Messi is a boss, but he have to surpass puyol xavi and iniesta to be the heart of this barca team.
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U talkin shit fella. Chelsea saw a potential weakness and attempted to use it to their advantage. Despite the free flowing style ManUre used Chelsea had far more and even better opportunities.
There you go focusin COMPLETELY on the second leg again CONVENIENTLY ignoring what happened in the first leg ;D
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Superb, record-breaking season for Barca. Champions of Europe!
SEMPRE BARCA!
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congrats to barca
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Aye, aye, take allyu time nah. Dis thread is not about Chelsea. Let u laugh at the ManBoo supporters.
:devil:
Real Madrid taking it next yr.
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based on the three games toure played as a cb . i have to apologise to pep and give him he props causse toure was solid
Me too. Puyol and Silvinho played real good. Ah mean...jeez....man now get foul.....and reach back in de box to tackle? Lawd. Pique....lawd.
Saying United played poorly taking away from how good barca played. After the first goal.....barca kept pressing high up. United couldnt see their way.
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PHEW!!!
:rotfl: :rotfl:
Dey rag my team but at least we eh get 2 in we pwefem
at least is not we team smelling/licking shitty liverpools arse. :devil:
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PHEW!!!
:rotfl: :rotfl:
palos, as ah ex moderator, yuh shud know betta dan to be startin new thread all over d place. yuh mus know yuh wuda get merge. ;)
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What was most striking to me was how Man U were unable to cope with Barca's midfield's pressing tactics.
Man U TRIED to play the ball around in midfield but Barca's midfield put them under so much QUICK pressure that they inevtiably gave away the ball most of the time.
Contrast that to when barca's midfield had the ball, their possession skills and passing was sublime.
I keep saying that the most impressive part of Barca's game for me is their off the ball play. Xavi and Iniesta in particular are phenomenal in that regard..yet...they're known for their offensive prowess. AMAZING!
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And Alves not even on the field!
Man U record against Top sides this season hasn't been the best.
They play attacking and flowing ball when is Man City and Portsmouth, but vs top sides, they act like a mid-table screen. Sir Alex say his side better than Real Madrid, but at least Madrid come out to play, not to drop back, defend and hope they could catch them on the counter.
Ditto for Chelsea. If yuh is big side, then come out swinging
You ony talkin shit in yuh ass oui!! WTF Chelsea ha to do wit dis?!
Dred, I is a chelsea fan long time, but that display vs Barca was woeful.
U talkin shit fella. Chelsea saw a potential weakness and attempted to use it to their advantage. Despite the free flowing style ManUre used Chelsea had far more and even better opportunities. It isn't about what type of game you feel is better it is about results. You think a loss with a free flowing style looks better than an ugly win on a coach record?
If football was only about ugly results, we would all be watching Norwegian football, or Ireland. If you want to claim to be tops in the world, then you have to be able to impose your will on other teams. Last year Man U was able to do that, this year, not so much. You have to capture the imagination as much as the trophies.
So an ugly Champions leage final win is worth less than a beautiful CL Finals loss?
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PHEW!!!
:rotfl: :rotfl:
palos, as ah ex moderator, yuh shud know betta dan to be startin new thread all over d place. yuh mus know yuh wuda get merge. ;)
True dat sistren. But ah get accuse so much time of mergin people thread when me had nutting to do wit it, ah wanted to see why dem does get so pissed off bout it so ah try a ting.. 8)
Nex time doh ah go do fuh Tallman....leh he try dah shit again! >:( >:( :devil:
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Iniesta from another planet. Talk about control the tempo, dominate the attacking actions & was actually responsible for bringing Xavi into the game (Xavi started slow).
Overall total domination on the day. Good season for ManU, but the better team won today.
:applause: :party: :wavetowel: :notworthy:
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Congratulations Barca...
well deserved...the 1st goal knocked the stuffing out of us as we started off brilliantly...
I'm very disappointed at the lack of effort and desire by Utd today but its done now...time to move on
Only Ronaldo deserved a champions league medal today... the rest were poor
We'll never Die, We'll never Die, We'll Keep the Red Flag flying High!
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PHEW!!!
:rotfl: :rotfl:
Dey rag my team but at least we eh get 2 in we pwefem
What alyu win this year?????? :rotfl: :beermug:
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yup that high press, was almost the undoing of manu against porto. alot of manu fans 4got about that game. thing is no matter how good u r . u need space to play
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Iniesta from another planet. Talk about control the tempo, dominate the attacking actions & was actually responsible for bringing Xavi into the game (Xavi started slow).
Overall total domination on the day. Good season for ManU, but the better team won today.
:applause: :party: :wavetowel: :notworthy:
Check yuh hotmail
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well, its nice to see d man u supporters takin there defeat in stride. nicely done fellas, nicely done
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what an UPSET that match was eh :devil: :devil:
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what an UPSET that match was eh :devil: :devil:
:rotfl:
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well, its nice to see d man u supporters takin there defeat in stride. nicely done fellas, nicely done
haha. you should thank the Barca supporters for having a lot of class and not polluting the thread with the kind of garbage you would have seen if ManU had won (hint: no discussion so far about EPL v La Liga).
Sylvinho :applause: :applause: probably his last game for Barca, and fittingly, his most important. What a way to end your Barca career. Great game. Pure class.
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what an UPSET that match was eh :devil: :devil:
:rotfl:
slight ;) :rotfl: :rotfl:
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well, its nice to see d man u supporters takin there defeat in stride. nicely done fellas, nicely done
haha. you should thank the Barca supporters for having a lot of class and not polluting the thread with the kind of garbage you would have seen if ManU had won (hint: no discussion so far about EPL v La Liga).
Sylvinho :applause: :applause: probably his last game for Barca, and fittingly, his most important. What a way to end your Barca career. Great game. Pure class.
He had a very good all around game. Way to go out indeed.
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Congratulations to FC Barcelona, and especially to Guardiola :beermug:
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hail barca! :notworthy: :applause: :notworthy: :applause: :notworthy: :applause:
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Only Ronaldo deserved a champions league medal today... the rest were poor
For what.
Kicking up people and beating all bout the midfield and losing the ball.
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I hate Manu and dislike Barca, so today was the lesser of 2 evils for me....But I was disappointed in Manu.. They never appeared to show any urgency...Although some credit for that belongs to Barca..
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what an UPSET that match was eh :devil: :devil:
lol ah was waiting for this :D
Hats off to Barca :applause: what a game- what a season. They won everything in style..
Syvinho = professional..wow
Iniesta & Messi - joint MOM. Messi scored with his head lol...Puyol & Pique...honorable mention
Henry- props..monkey off his back.
Man U: Not bad today, but clearly second best. On a more cruel night they woulda lost by 3 or 4 goals. They need a bit more creativity in the middle of the park. CR9 stepped up today.
Real Madrid 2010.
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hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha :rotfl: :devil: ;D
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I aint goin to shed no tears for this game, Barca were the better team, Barca fought hard to get to the Final (tho many Chelsea fans will disagree) and they got what they deserve, United played great football on their way to the Final but in the end the hype an the media coverage must have been too much for them an in the end they were unworthy of defending the title.The only time you will see tears come down my face IS WHEN THE SOCA WARRIORS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CUP IN SOUTH AFRICA!!!
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Not a single member of the World Champion Italian team of 2006 was on the field tonight in the CL Final.
Matter of fact, none were on the field in the semis either.
For what it's worth, 2 members of the French team (Henry & Evra) were on the field tonight.
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Not a single member of the World Champion Italian team of 2006 was on the field tonight in the CL Final.
Matter of fact, none were on the field in the semis either.
For what it's worth, 2 members of the French team (Henry & Evra) were on the field tonight.
I'm not surprised as Serie A players hardly ever defect to other leagues (unless loaned out) it seems.
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Tallman yuh MC!! >:( :devil:
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Tallman yuh MC!! >:( :devil:
Let dis serve as an official warning. Next time yuh will end up on ah milk carton.
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And Alves not even on the field!
Man U record against Top sides this season hasn't been the best.
They play attacking and flowing ball when is Man City and Portsmouth, but vs top sides, they act like a mid-table screen. Sir Alex say his side better than Real Madrid, but at least Madrid come out to play, not to drop back, defend and hope they could catch them on the counter.
Ditto for Chelsea. If yuh is big side, then come out swinging
You ony talkin shit in yuh ass oui!! WTF Chelsea ha to do wit dis?!
Dred, I is a chelsea fan long time, but that display vs Barca was woeful.
U talkin shit fella. Chelsea saw a potential weakness and attempted to use it to their advantage. Despite the free flowing style ManUre used Chelsea had far more and even better opportunities. It isn't about what type of game you feel is better it is about results. You think a loss with a free flowing style looks better than an ugly win on a coach record?
If football was only about ugly results, we would all be watching Norwegian football, or Ireland. If you want to claim to be tops in the world, then you have to be able to impose your will on other teams. Last year Man U was able to do that, this year, not so much. You have to capture the imagination as much as the trophies.
So an ugly Champions leage final win is worth less than a beautiful CL Finals loss?
Who say that?
What I said was that you can't claim to be a big team and then play like you scared to lose. The greatness is the trophy plus the beautiful game.
If you win the silverware, but can't capture the imagination, you will always be a winner, but never achieve greatness.
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don't count yuh trophies before you win them!
quintuple my arse! allyuh fuhget the great british press blight>? if they predict it it will not happen
my only wish was that manu played that way against arsenal ah well see you next season, hope shithoundo can stop crying in time for it
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manu didnt play "bad" they were outplayed
ah man say AIG stand for Alex Is Gutted yes
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Barca so dangerous them had Rooney defending and marking Puyol :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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(1) A while back, somebody (ah cyah remember who it is but ah feel it was kicker.....my apologies if it wasn't. ;D) on another thread was making the case for Ronaldo being a better player (or something so) than Messi and offered that cry-baby is better at heading the ball than Messi. My argument was that Spanish football doesn't revolve around long balls in the air and cross balls like the epl does. I hope the display of superb CRAFTSMANSHIP and SKILL it took to score that header was enough to put that myth of his "heading" to rest.
(2) I hope vidic notice how much "style" was put into that beat he get before he left Van der Saar stranded at his first post. Baaaaaaaaad vidic! :shameonyou: There's football life outside the EPL, and it involves "style."
(3) I hope evra (and vidic, too) siddong and together watch "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" in the off-season. They go see Eli Wallach (aka "Tuco"; "The Ugly") buss a cyap on a man and then tell 'im
"if you come too choot, choot! Don't talk!" Leave all the pre-game talking to the REAL BIG players and the Manager.
(4) I hope all the men who like to call Victor Valdes a shithong recognize the greatness of the save he make (to maintain a clean sheet and possibly suppress a late manu surge) when he adjusted his arm at point blank to deny cry-baby after the second goal. If he have to leave Barca because some of the fans so want 'im to leave, he could do it now in peace and with his head held high. He was nothing short of excellent for Barca in the Champions' League this season.
Congrats to all the fans of Barca, La Liga, Beautiful football, Las Ramblas, and CONGRATULATIONS to all members (real, honorary and by proxy ) of MUHAHA!! :devil: At least allyuh take allyuh lix wit some class today!
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well said chow well said
buh ah mango chow cant beat ah pineapple chow eh ;D
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well said chow well said
buh ah mango chow cant beat ah pineapple chow eh ;D
Boss, doh try dat at all!!...my mango chow will make yuh eat dem words and feed yuh pineapple to a pothong! (or a manu fan!) ;D
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(1) A while back, somebody (ah cyah remember who it is but ah feel it was kicker.....my apologies if it wasn't. ;D) on another thread was making the case for Ronaldo being a better player (or something so) than Messi and offered that cry-baby is better at heading the ball than Messi. My argument was that Spanish football doesn't revolve around long balls in the air and cross balls like the epl does. I hope the display of superb CRAFTSMANSHIP and SKILL it took to score that header was enough to put that myth of his "heading" to rest.
(2) I hope vidic notice how much "style" was put into that beat he get before he left Van der Saar stranded at his first post. Baaaaaaaaad vidic! :shameonyou: There's football life outside the EPL, and it involves "style."
(3) I hope evra (and vidic, too) siddong and together watch "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" in the off-season. They go see Eli Wallach (aka "Tuco"; "The Ugly") buss a cyap on a man and then tell 'im
"if you come too choot, choot! Don't talk!" Leave all the pre-game talking to the REAL BIG players and the Manager.
(4) I hope all the men who like to call Victor Valdes a shithong recognize the greatness of the save he make (to maintain a clean sheet and possibly suppress a late manu surge) when he adjusted his arm at point blank to deny cry-baby after the second goal. If he have to leave Barca because some of the fans so want 'im to leave, he could do it now in peace and with his head held high. He was nothing short of excellent for Barca in the Champions' League this season.
Congrats to all the fans of Barca, La Liga, Beautiful football, Las Ramblas, and CONGRATULATIONS to all members (real, honorary and by proxy ) of MUHAHA!! :devil: At least allyuh take allyuh lix wit some class today!
Chow. VV came off his line a few times too and made some vital interceptions when he couldn't use his hands. Imagine if VV had collect that first goal that VDS conceded on his near post after getting a weak left hand to it, de man woulda be getting pong all now. Very good game by a very good keep.
Zoid..is a pineapple chow you come wid dey? Anytime a pineapple chow beat out ah mango chow, ah feel dat have to go down as a slight upset
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What was most striking to me was how Man U were unable to cope with Barca's midfield's pressing tactics.
Man U TRIED to play the ball around in midfield but Barca's midfield put them under so much QUICK pressure that they inevtiably gave away the ball most of the time.
Contrast that to when barca's midfield had the ball, their possession skills and passing was sublime.
I keep saying that the most impressive part of Barca's game for me is their off the ball play. Xavi and Iniesta in particular are phenomenal in that regard..yet...they're known for their offensive prowess. AMAZING!
This is why I shook my head at the Man U fans who believed Barca would be easier to play than Chelsea, i think it was Sammy in particular who believed this and I could help but imagine if they understood why Barca has been trashing so many teams with such ease.
men coming on here talking bout how the way to beat Barca is to play your own game, the problem is, their MIDFIELD never allows the opposition to play their game either through their pressing tactics when they don't have the ball, and the fact they never waste a pass when they do, thus THEY ALWAYS have more possession thatn the other team, not one team has beaten Barca on ball possession all season.
I hope the Man U fans have a better understanding of it now.
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(1) A while back, somebody (ah cyah remember who it is but ah feel it was kicker.....my apologies if it wasn't. ;D) on another thread was making the case for Ronaldo being a better player (or something so) than Messi and offered that cry-baby is better at heading the ball than Messi. My argument was that Spanish football doesn't revolve around long balls in the air and cross balls like the epl does. I hope the display of superb CRAFTSMANSHIP and SKILL it took to score that header was enough to put that myth of his "heading" to rest.
(2) I hope vidic notice how much "style" was put into that beat he get before he left Van der Saar stranded at his first post. Baaaaaaaaad vidic! :shameonyou: There's football life outside the EPL, and it involves "style."
(3) I hope evra (and vidic, too) siddong and together watch "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" in the off-season. They go see Eli Wallach (aka "Tuco"; "The Ugly") buss a cyap on a man and then tell 'im
"if you come too choot, choot! Don't talk!" Leave all the pre-game talking to the REAL BIG players and the Manager.
(4) I hope all the men who like to call Victor Valdes a shithong recognize the greatness of the save he make (to maintain a clean sheet and possibly suppress a late manu surge) when he adjusted his arm at point blank to deny cry-baby after the second goal. If he have to leave Barca because some of the fans so want 'im to leave, he could do it now in peace and with his head held high. He was nothing short of excellent for Barca in the Champions' League this season.
Congrats to all the fans of Barca, La Liga, Beautiful football, Las Ramblas, and CONGRATULATIONS to all members (real, honorary and by proxy ) of MUHAHA!! :devil: At least allyuh take allyuh lix wit some class today!
Chow. VV came off his line a few times too and made some vital interceptions when he couldn't use his hands. Imagine if VV had collect that first goal that VDS conceded on his near post after getting a weak left hand to it, de man woulda be getting pong all now. Very good game by a very good keep.
Zoid..is a pineapple chow you come wid dey? Anytime a pineapple chow beat out ah mango chow, ah feel dat have to go down as a slight upset
Well Filho, I eh even see de game yet, but tanx fuh de info. I only see highlights so far (ah watchin it wit a mango chow later! ;D) But yuh right about hummuch man woulda be criticizing VV if he woulda get ketch wit a first-post goal, even though, in all fairness to VdS, the way and location dat vidic take dah beat, it left VdS having to come out quickly with little time to make the adjustment on the angle because Eto'o went from being in a position of having to deliver a cross from a difficult angle (which VdS was probably more likely preparing for and not guarding more of his first post) to suddenly having the goal and VdS exposed. vidic did a poor job in shepherding Eto'o to the baseline * (just my humble opinion)*.......but at least he did a poor job "with style." ;D
I happier than a runaway slave right now! :beermug:
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(1) A while back, somebody (ah cyah remember who it is but ah feel it was kicker.....my apologies if it wasn't. ;D) on another thread was making the case for Ronaldo being a better player (or something so) than Messi and offered that cry-baby is better at heading the ball than Messi. My argument was that Spanish football doesn't revolve around long balls in the air and cross balls like the epl does. I hope the display of superb CRAFTSMANSHIP and SKILL it took to score that header was enough to put that myth of his "heading" to rest.
lol didn't realize Messi's heading ability (or inability) was a myth ;D...but funny yuh bring it up because:
Iniesta & Messi - joint MOM. Messi scored with his head lol...Puyol & Pique...honorable mention
Think I remember the conversation though- I was more making a case of CR being crowed World Player of the Year for last season... and objectively saying why he could be considered a better player while admitting that I prefer Messi personally-ah know the separation between opinion and objectivity is a tough thing to discern on this board :devil:...But again that for football played a year ago.... (somewhere someone out there is arguing that Penny is still the sweetest ting in the world ;D ;D)..
No questioning Messi won the one on one battle today (if there ever was one)- C.Ronaldo was actually very good today too.
Play yuhself though...it's all good :beermug: :beermug:
p.s. yuh boy VV real like himself today too...
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What the hell, weary backing BARCA LOL , well i never :'( :devil:
I does always back Barca u 4got 1 DHINO wit a bit of Ronald was on dat side.
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Now I doh follow club football religiously but this was the 3rd Champions League Final I watched back to back....
Correct mih if ah wrong but in 07 it was
ManU vs. Milan....ManU lose and if ah eh mistaken Ronaldo was humbled in that one....
ManU vs. Chelsea last year....won on penalties....played good...
ManU vs. Barca 09...they lost....and de "great" Ronaldo was humbled again...
Can I deduce that Manu can handle EPL opposition but teams outside of that League they cyar cope??...
BIG UP to the true, true Barca fans...all yuh side give ManU ah good cut arse today boy.....whhhheeeyy ManU fans....all yuh team didn't leave England or wha?? :devil: ;D
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Now I doh follow club football religiously but this was the 3rd Champions League Final I watched back to back....
Correct mih if ah wrong but in 07 it was
ManU vs. Milan....ManU lose and if ah eh mistaken Ronaldo was humbled in that one....
That was the semi-final
Milan went on to beat Liverpool in the final.
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Let me state it one time before ah forget.....
GO BARCA!!!...
:flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower:
for Manboo.... :devil: ;D
COSIGNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
WHO SAY TREBLE!!!!!!
WAY MUH FELLOW BARCAHOLICS AT!!!!!??!!!!!
WUKINNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
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Tallman yuh MC!! >:( :devil:
Let dis serve as an official warning. Next time yuh will end up on ah milk carton.
mek he kneel on de grate man ;D
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Now I doh follow club football religiously but this was the 3rd Champions League Final I watched back to back....
Correct mih if ah wrong but in 07 it was
ManU vs. Milan....ManU lose and if ah eh mistaken Ronaldo was humbled in that one....
That was the semi-final
Milan went on to beat Liverpool in the final.
Oh right, I stand corrected....but they still got a good cut arse from a non-EPL team....so my question still remains....
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Now I doh follow club football religiously but this was the 3rd Champions League Final I watched back to back....
Correct mih if ah wrong but in 07 it was
ManU vs. Milan....ManU lose and if ah eh mistaken Ronaldo was humbled in that one....
That was the semi-final
Milan went on to beat Liverpool in the final.
Oh right, I stand corrected....but they still got a good cut arse from a non-EPL team....so my question still remains....
I prefer La Liga Serie A much more attractive football. U grew up on Big League Soccer and Road 2 Wembley but sunday afternoon Serie A wit Madonna in d 90's was amazing
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(1) A while back, somebody (ah cyah remember who it is but ah feel it was kicker.....my apologies if it wasn't. ;D) on another thread was making the case for Ronaldo being a better player (or something so) than Messi and offered that cry-baby is better at heading the ball than Messi. My argument was that Spanish football doesn't revolve around long balls in the air and cross balls like the epl does. I hope the display of superb CRAFTSMANSHIP and SKILL it took to score that header was enough to put that myth of his "heading" to rest.
lol didn't realize Messi's heading ability (or inability) was a myth ;D...but funny yuh bring it up because:
Iniesta & Messi - joint MOM. Messi scored with his head lol...Puyol & Pique...honorable mention
Think I remember the conversation though- I was more making a case of CR being crowed World Player of the Year for last season... and objectively saying why he could be considered a better player while admitting that I prefer Messi personally-ah know the separation between opinion and objectivity is a tough thing to discern on this board :devil:...But again that for football played a year ago.... (somewhere someone out there is arguing that Penny is still the sweetest ting in the world ;D ;D)..
No questioning Messi won the one on one battle today (if there ever was one)- C.Ronaldo was actually very good today too.
Play yuhself though...it's all good :beermug: :beermug:
p.s. yuh boy VV real like himself today too...
:rotfl: Yuh have jokes in yuh elokwents! lol!....But my "argument" if you will, was that maybe because of the difference in styles of the two leagues/teams maybe Messi (and players in Spian, as a whole) is not called upon to do as much heading of the ball as cry-baby is (or EPL players are) but it doh mean dat he "cyah head de ball." I mean, if what yuh tryin to say is that between last season and this one, he practice more heading.....well...I eh know 'bout dat. But either way, we cool. :chilling: You think he improve, I think he showcased what he coulda do all along. But you and Filho tell meh meh boy VV was good today in trute so ah lookin forwad to watchin it tonight! RUMUHAHA 'TIL I DIE!!
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something i n hear any1 ond board mention. the fact that eto instead of messi played on the right and the fact that evra was preparing 4 messi. he was even speaking about it in interviews
one more thing barca''s 851 goals in all european competitons is the most by any team
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:rotfl: Yuh have jokes in yuh elokwents! lol!....But my "argument" if you will, was that maybe because of the difference in styles of the two leagues/teams maybe Messi (and players in Spian, as a whole) is not called upon to do as much heading of the ball as cry-baby is (or EPL players are) but it doh mean dat he "cyah head de ball." I mean, if what yuh tryin to say is that between last season and this one, he practice more heading.....well...I eh know 'bout dat. But either way, we cool. :chilling: You think he improve, I think he showcased what he coulda do all along. But you and Filho tell meh meh boy VV was good today in trute so ah lookin forwad to watchin it tonight! RUMUHAHA 'TIL I DIE!!
seen...But let's face it- De man is 5ft 6.
Improve or not, good header of the ball or not, best player or not...at the highest level, he eh go too many headers in his career...through no one's fault but his genetics. C. Ronaldo on the other hand is 6ft 2....nuff said.
Tonight's header was a beauty though... It was a cushioned and placed header which gave the keeper no chance.
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Last year when thay met the spanish dominated man u, but man u got lucky. Then they scrape through and win the finals on penalities
This year well they dominated them again, but the english couldnt get lucky twice
Congrats PEP, you have done well
Ah cant wait for the next episode of special 1 TV
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:rotfl: Yuh have jokes in yuh elokwents! lol!....But my "argument" if you will, was that maybe because of the difference in styles of the two leagues/teams maybe Messi (and players in Spian, as a whole) is not called upon to do as much heading of the ball as cry-baby is (or EPL players are) but it doh mean dat he "cyah head de ball." I mean, if what yuh tryin to say is that between last season and this one, he practice more heading.....well...I eh know 'bout dat. But either way, we cool. :chilling: You think he improve, I think he showcased what he coulda do all along. But you and Filho tell meh meh boy VV was good today in trute so ah lookin forwad to watchin it tonight! RUMUHAHA 'TIL I DIE!!
seen...But let's face it- De man is 5ft 6.
Improve or not, good header of the ball or not, best player or not...at the highest level, he eh go too many headers in his career...through no one's fault but his genetics. C. Ronaldo on the other hand is 6ft 2....nuff said.
Tonight's header was a beauty though... It was a cushioned and placed header which gave the keeper no chance.
But Kicker, a man height ain't have nutting to do with whether or not he could head a ball good or better than another player or not yuh know.....it only affects the heights he might can attain that others can't ...Heading is all about technique....I mean, I is 6' 4" and I SURE I could get to some crosses that Peter Shilton couldn'ta get to, but............yuh ketch wha ah sayin'? If anything, what you saying more argues my case for me because, if he so short, he really shouldn'ta get to that ball today and finesse it past VdS like he did, and I doubt that he just learn to do that this past season. (Yuh tink Rio was headin dah ball in dah net so?) If you know some of the drills that Argentinian players have to go through in the selection process for their National youth teams maybe you might be more willing to accept that, when called upon, Messi would always be able to show that he can hold his own in that department. Respek, all the same. :beermug:
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But Kicker, a man height ain't have nutting to do with whether or not he could head a ball good or better than another player or not yuh know.....it only affects the heights he might can attain that others can't ...Heading is all about technique....I mean, I is 6' 4" and I SURE I could get to some crosses that Peter Shilton couldn'ta get to, but............yuh ketch wha ah sayin'? If anything, what you saying more argues my case for me because, if he so short, he really shouldn'ta get to that ball today and finesse it past VdS like he did, and I doubt that he just learn to do that this past season. (Yuh tink Rio was headin dah ball in dah net so?) If you know some of the drills that Argentinian players have to go through in the selection process for their National youth teams maybe you might be more willing to accept that, when called upon, Messi would always be able to show that he can hold his own in that department. Respek, all the same. :beermug:
Yeah no doubt- not disagreeing with anything you say... just saying that all else being equal CR9 is more likely to be noted for his heading ability throughout his career because he's bigger, stronger and more likely to win balls in the air.
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But Kicker, a man height ain't have nutting to do with whether or not he could head a ball good or better than another player or not yuh know.....it only affects the heights he might can attain that others can't ...Heading is all about technique....I mean, I is 6' 4" and I SURE I could get to some crosses that Peter Shilton couldn'ta get to, but............yuh ketch wha ah sayin'? If anything, what you saying more argues my case for me because, if he so short, he really shouldn'ta get to that ball today and finesse it past VdS like he did, and I doubt that he just learn to do that this past season. (Yuh tink Rio was headin dah ball in dah net so?) If you know some of the drills that Argentinian players have to go through in the selection process for their National youth teams maybe you might be more willing to accept that, when called upon, Messi would always be able to show that he can hold his own in that department. Respek, all the same. :beermug:
Yeah no doubt- not disagreeing with anything you say... just saying that all else being equal CR9 is more likely to be noted for his heading ability throughout his career because he's bigger, stronger and more likely to win balls in the air.
Arright.....but for somebody who bigger and stronger, he damned sure does fall dong on de grong plenty! ;D
something i n hear any1 ond board mention. the fact that eto instead of messi played on the right and the fact that evra was preparing 4 messi. he was even speaking about it in interviews
Good tactical move by Pep. Flexibility and adjustments that attacking players can enjoy where defenders can't always be so. Eto'o really took vidic to school on that first goal.
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something i n hear any1 ond board mention. the fact that eto instead of messi played on the right and the fact that evra was preparing 4 messi. he was even speaking about it in interviews
Good tactical move by Pep. Flexibility and adjustments that attacking players can enjoy where defenders can't always be so. Eto'o really took vidic to school on that first goal.
Pep pull dat one against RM in the Bernabeu too. But allyuh sure you should be talking dat..after all Barca only know how to play one way. Manu have eleventeen hundred different formations and each one could mash up Barca one.
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something i n hear any1 ond board mention. the fact that eto instead of messi played on the right and the fact that evra was preparing 4 messi. he was even speaking about it in interviews
Good tactical move by Pep. Flexibility and adjustments that attacking players can enjoy where defenders can't always be so. Eto'o really took vidic to school on that first goal.
Pep pull dat one against RM in the Bernabeu too. But allyuh sure you should be talking dat..after all Barca only know how to play one way. Manu have eleventeen hundred different formations and each one could mash up Barca one.
:rotfl: Ah could laff at dah one NOW! If it did backfire watch how ah woulda be keepin' meh arse quiet on de forum....Is only loads ah manure yuh woulda be seein' on de forum (woulda be 25 pages by now!) tellin' we how great a tactician alex (not the Chelsea defender) is....MUHAHA members woulda couldn'ta see dey WAY!
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alright, ah reach and i eh think ah going and scrimmage through 12 pages of thread...
but dis one is for kicker and filho...
Barcelona upsets Man Utd 2-0 to take the Champions League
after watching that game, you see just how jokey that line sounds? :rotfl: :devil:
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alright, ah reach and i eh think ah going and scrimmage through 12 pages of thread...
but dis one is for kicker and filho...
Barcelona upsets Man Utd 2-0 to take the Champions League
after watching that game, you see just how jokey that line sounds? :rotfl: :devil:
lol, ent, well done Barca, great header Messi, de man look like Jordan hanging in de air for that header, not to mention de placement, bless
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alright, ah reach and i eh think ah going and scrimmage through 12 pages of thread...
but dis one is for kicker and filho...
Barcelona upsets Man Utd 2-0 to take the Champions League
after watching that game, you see just how jokey that line sounds? :rotfl: :devil:
hahah. good one. after watching the game? how about before watching the game I woulda find dat sound jokey :beermug: seriously tho' Omar, you really believe that is the context I used it in? I was really just saying I'd be surprised if Barca without Henry and Iniesta, Alvez and Abidal, could beat a full strength ManU. It was a hypothetical scenario that's being way overanalyzed and taken out of context. On the contrary, I real surprise Barca won so easily. I think I coulda take a run with Barca and they would have still won.
then again, if you listen to them English pundits before the game, you would have thought ManU just had to show up and they would have been crowned champs.
hear nah..jess for you ;)
http://www.kusi.com/home/46275622.html
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alright, ah reach and i eh think ah going and scrimmage through 12 pages of thread...
but dis one is for kicker and filho...
Barcelona upsets Man Utd 2-0 to take the Champions League
after watching that game, you see just how jokey that line sounds? :rotfl: :devil:
hahah. good one. after watching the game? how about before watching the game I woulda find dat sound jokey :beermug: seriously tho' Omar, you really believe that is the context I used it in? I was really just saying I'd be surprised if Barca without Henry and Iniesta, Alvez and Abidal, could beat a full strength ManU. It was a hypothetical scenario that's being way overanalyzed and taken out of context. On the contrary, I real surprise Barca won so easily. I think I coulda take a run with Barca and they would have still won.
then again, if you listen to them English pundits before the game, you would have thought ManU just had to show up and they would have been crowned champs.
hear nah..jess for you ;)
http://www.kusi.com/home/46275622.html
Now yuh pushin it ;D :beermug:
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anybody caught a close up of eto 's boots. gold and black( very fitting colours) with he name and d venue and date on d boots
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I think Alex ferguson should have included christiano Ronaldo in the team instead of leaving him in manchester. who wha He was on the field? really oh the guy who was only fouling Puyol
oh yeah, he was on probably for like 2 mins cause i aint see him after that, was he on the sideline getting treatment for some kinda injury cause really i eh think he was on the field
WELL DONE PEP!!!
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alright, ah reach and i eh think ah going and scrimmage through 12 pages of thread...
but dis one is for kicker and filho...
Barcelona upsets Man Utd 2-0 to take the Champions League
after watching that game, you see just how jokey that line sounds? :rotfl: :devil:
too right BUT the amount of ppl hating on manu to loose put them in the underdog position which tickled me pink before the game
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:applause:
Well done Barca, thoroughly deserved title. Not just because of today, but all season they exhibited amazing football. And not just pretty football, TOTAL football: they work just as hard when not in possession to win the ball back, especially in the midfield.
Other observations:
-good tactical move by Guardiola to put Messi in the middle instead of on the right. It caught the Utd defence unaware
-Rooney was way too defensive for Utd today, u rarely saw him in an attacking position. IMO it took a lot of bite out of the Man U attack.
-Barca plays the one touch football with HARD passes to foot....and they make it look so easy. Impeccable ball control. (P.S. Messi had put down one chest control in the midfield in the second half, running at pace and take down a bullet pass in stride, with 2 men on his back.....i never even see that on playstation)
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alright, ah reach and i eh think ah going and scrimmage through 12 pages of thread...
but dis one is for kicker and filho...
Barcelona upsets Man Utd 2-0 to take the Champions League
after watching that game, you see just how jokey that line sounds? :rotfl: :devil:
hahah. good one. after watching the game? how about before watching the game I woulda find dat sound jokey :beermug: seriously tho' Omar, you really believe that is the context I used it in? I was really just saying I'd be surprised if Barca without Henry and Iniesta, Alvez and Abidal, could beat a full strength ManU. It was a hypothetical scenario that's being way overanalyzed and taken out of context. On the contrary, I real surprise Barca won so easily. I think I coulda take a run with Barca and they would have still won.
then again, if you listen to them English pundits before the game, you would have thought ManU just had to show up and they would have been crowned champs.
hear nah..jess for you ;)
http://www.kusi.com/home/46275622.html
A San Diego new source dawg??? :rotfl:
i surprise dem ent say they didnt call it the European Champions League Soccer final too.. lol
anyhow, my point was always that yuh cyah use that terminology talking about the 2 best teams in europe. and to be honest what happened in this game didnt really surprise me.. Only the first 10 minutes with man utd storming them did surprise me.
I said before the game that man utd physically cannot give Barca the fight that Chelsea did and I was right. Giggs, Anderson and Carrick in the middle was no match. that was the way to beat that side and Man Utd couldnt do that, so it was actually a much easier game for Barcelona to manage, even being understaffed at the back. They had all of the ball in midfield and Giggs was chasing shadows.
but doh worry i just getting meh kicks. i eh looking to go back in that talk at all. I on western conference finals right now..
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aye ah wanted some1 else to mention that chest trap dread. i say messi have ah living room set on his chest, that was real cushion dread
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alright, ah reach and i eh think ah going and scrimmage through 12 pages of thread...
but dis one is for kicker and filho...
Barcelona upsets Man Utd 2-0 to take the Champions League
after watching that game, you see just how jokey that line sounds? :rotfl: :devil:
hahah. good one. after watching the game? how about before watching the game I woulda find dat sound jokey :beermug: seriously tho' Omar, you really believe that is the context I used it in? I was really just saying I'd be surprised if Barca without Henry and Iniesta, Alvez and Abidal, could beat a full strength ManU. It was a hypothetical scenario that's being way overanalyzed and taken out of context. On the contrary, I real surprise Barca won so easily. I think I coulda take a run with Barca and they would have still won.
then again, if you listen to them English pundits before the game, you would have thought ManU just had to show up and they would have been crowned champs.
hear nah..jess for you ;)
http://www.kusi.com/home/46275622.html
Now yuh pushin it ;D :beermug:
way too late for dat. good kix
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A San Diego new source dawg??? :rotfl:
i surprise dem ent say they didnt call it the European Champions League Soccer final too.. lol
anyhow, my point was always that yuh cyah use that terminology talking about the 2 best teams in europe. and to be honest what happened in this game didnt really surprise me.. Only the first 10 minutes with man utd storming them did surprise me.
I said before the game that man utd physically cannot give Barca the fight that Chelsea did and I was right. Giggs, Anderson and Carrick in the middle was no match. that was the way to beat that side and Man Utd couldnt do that, so it was actually a much easier game for Barcelona to manage, even being understaffed at the back. They had all of the ball in midfield and Giggs was chasing shadows.
but doh worry i just getting meh kicks. i eh looking to go back in that talk at all. I on western conference finals right now..
breds..ah google de ting and ah real fraid to check out dis kusi.com fuss I never hear bout it. :rotfl: :rotfl: But the story taken from the Associated Press. Altho' I feel they have license to make up whatever headline they want :devil: :devil:. It have some headlines bout Barca upset ManU, or Barca stuns ManU and all dem sites reaaaal jokey. So I say lemme catch some jones and sign off with the first one dat eh look too sketch. Like I say..I laughing at the whole thing long time.
but come nah man. You self said Barca were 'overwhelming favorites' (not favorites ah man, but overwhelming favorites) to beat Chelsea back in 2006. Same Chelsea that beat Barca the year before and and redefined what it took to win the EPL under Mourinho, and was leading it for a 2nd year in a row. I thought you were having a laugh. You went on to say that the 2009 Chelsea worse and this Barca better so Barca were even huger favorites than 3 years ago. My point was that no way should any team be 'overwhelming' favorites to beat Chelsea when Chelsea are one of the best teams in what is considered by many as the best league in Europe, and one of the best teams on the continent. I don't think the difference in quality between ManU and Chelsea justifies the use of 'upset' as ridiculous when it's manU v Barca, but somehow Barca were beyond 'overwhelming favorites' to beat Chelsea? Alright man...i think you just overanalyzing an innocuous hypothetical man. I hope I am the 'overwhelming favorite' to be the last to respond to this point.
SEMPRE BARCA
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Allyuh start back wid dat ;D I done tell allyuh the only way to determine whether or not upset is a relevant term for this matchup is to determine the overall expectations...and the best way to do that is to survey the pre- match odds/spread/lines on the game....without that everyone will have his/her own opinion... and none will be more correct than the other...Speaking of which ....I actually read an article from a betting website that said that alot of the major bookmakers had Barca as slim favorites going into this match even with the potential injuries and the suspensions- I was gonna post it on here, but didn't want to raise that hornets' nest.....
Anyways..I agree with Omar in the sense that Barca's performance was not surprising especially since Man U was clearly not intent on parking the bus from the 1st minute. I'm not surprised though the Man U came out with a head of steam in the first 10 minutes because I'm pretty sure Ferguson wanted to grab the early goal while Barca was still kinda flat, and hadn't yet gotten a rhythm, (if yuh wait too long, and let them establish a passing rhythm, yuh might as well forget it).... and then employ conservative tactics...so they pressed high from the 1st minute...unfortunately for them..(and fortunately for the sake of an open game), the goal came from Barca...so Man U was forced to remain open...and as we've seen this season, any team that attempts that against Barca was doomed 9 out of 10 times.
The fact that Chelsea was able to frustrate (and scare) Barca, and that Barca had some roster issues coming into this one, and the general hype that the EPL is the dominant league in Europe today, is really what may have toppled the odds in Man U's favor coming into this one- but anyone free from the EPL bias, who has seen Barca this season, knows that on Barca's day their opposition is merely performing an exercise in damage control....Today like many was one of Barca's days.
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well in a nutshell, here is my final synopsis of exactly what took place in the game today (barcelona being the fowl and man u being the kid)....
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc62/trini_omar/fowl.gif)
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That is the best match report I see so far! 8)
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well in a nutshell, here is my final synopsis of exactly what took place in the game today (barcelona being the fowl and man u being the kid)....
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc62/trini_omar/fowl.gif)
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
I simply cannot understand or do not know where de hell allyuh men does come out, boy!!
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Congrats to FC Barcalona and it fans. They definitely deserve this victory. They played very well today. :beermug:
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well in a nutshell, here is my final synopsis of exactly what took place in the game today (barcelona being the fowl and man u being the kid)....
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc62/trini_omar/fowl.gif)
I never see a fowl rush a human so...it big up itself dey
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1 more thing. Laporta have more balls than d bene ball lady.
and omar yuh match report was both funny and totally accurate :rotfl: :rotfl:. i woulda never think 2 look 4 dat vid
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Let me set some basket here, it's ironic dat Barca win when de ref teef for dem to come to de final, lets face it, the final should have been an all english final LOL......
Ah wah see who go jump on dis one LOL :rotfl: :beermug: :devil:
Man U 4 EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
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Let me set some basket here, it's ironic dat Barca win when de ref teef for dem to come to de final, lets face it, the final should have been an all english final LOL......
Ah wah see who go jump on dis one LOL :rotfl: :beermug: :devil:
Man U 4 EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
at dis stage dais water under d bridge an too quote mihself
(http://startswithabang.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/simpsons_nelson_haha3.jpg)
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well in a nutshell, here is my final synopsis of exactly what took place in the game today (barcelona being the fowl and man u being the kid)....
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc62/trini_omar/fowl.gif)
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
perfection. small man moves perfectly represent the 1st 10 minutes of the game.
anyone find yesterday's game was an almost exact replica of the Spain Germany Euro 2008 final, except Spain never got that 2nd goal.
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well in a nutshell, here is my final synopsis of exactly what took place in the game today (barcelona being the fowl and man u being the kid)....
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc62/trini_omar/fowl.gif)
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
perfection. small man moves perfectly represent the 1st 10 minutes of the game.
anyone find yesterday's game was an almost exact replica of the Spain Germany Euro 2008 final, except Spain never got that 2nd goal.
Notice no one eh talking about Barca only have one way to play, because ManU play three ways last night & none wok. ;D (Just on kicks).
ManU game seemed to be score first and put Barca under pressure to come forward and hit them on the counter. Once they ended up on the wrong end against the run of play, they never looked capable. I mentioned to a friend next to me during the first half that ManU looked tired. Then it was a matter of Barca making them run. As I said before, two great teams with one completly on top of their game on the night.
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As a neutral, I have to say I was very disappointed by the display Man U put on last night. I was hoping for a much more competitive game of football and it goes without saying that Man U are capable of much more than they produced last night. I thought that my initial impression - that Barca's domination of the game was complete - was misguided but it seems the critics agree:
Brilliant Barcelona outclass Man Utd
Post categories: Champions League
Phil McNulty | 00:21 AM, Thursday, 28 May 2009
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Sir Alex Ferguson feared the side-effects of a trip on Barcelona's "carousel" - and he was doing his suffering in public after Manchester United were left sick and dizzy after the roughest of rides in Rome.
Barcelona's peerless midfield pair of Xavi and Andres Iniesta were the inspiration behind Ferguson's colourful christening of their passing style as he said: "I don't think they have ever given the ball away in their lives".
This extravagant claim appeared based in solid fact as Barcelona ruthlessly stripped Manchester United of their Champions League crown on the banks of the Tiber.
And as Ferguson grimly accepted the truth that Manchester United were dismantled by Barcelona, additional pain came from the knowledge that he knew what was coming and still his Premier League champions were ill-equipped, tactically and technically, to deal with it.
Ferguson's inner frustration surfaced with a needlessly aggressive response to a perfectly reasonable question about his hunger to fight back from this chastening night, but he made no excuses. It would have been folly to do so and he knew it.
Ferguson was critical of his players, labelling defending "shoddy" and admitting some big players would have been disappointed with their showings, but it was a rebuke delivered with an air of resignation as opposed to anger.
No shame in being outclassed by the best team in Europe - the problem for Ferguson was that it was Manchester United on the receiving end as opposed to inflicting it on their manager's behalf.
Picking over this defeat was hurting Ferguson. He was not used to it but on this occasion had to take his medicine. To fight United's corner in the face of such inferiority would have been futile. United were tactically bankrupt long before referee Massimo Busacca's whistle brought the punishment to a close.
Even the defiant, sympathetic applause of Manchester United's fans, who did their best to lift their team in a very dark hour, had a surreal tinge. It was not meant to be like this.
Manchester United were ready to embrace history in the Stadio Olimpico as the first club to defend the Champions League, but by the time Ferguson trooped into his post-match inquest it had left town.
In contrast the youthful Pep Guardiola was applauded in by elated, and highly-partisan, Catalans after a debut season as a coach that has hauled in La Liga, the Spanish Cup and now the Champions League. Perhaps Pep should retire now at the age of 38 - the only way is down surely?
After an opening nine minutes that gave false hope to all with United at heart, Barcelona had the place to themselves. The torture session was started by Samuel Eto'o's opening goal after 10 minutes.
Those of us who felt Barcelona would lack the physical presence to combat United were rather pleased with ourselves until that point. Shots in from Cristiano Ronaldo. Barca a bag of nerves. Exactly as we thought.
Eto'o's goal, courtesy of another moment of Fernando Torres-style frailty from Nemanja Vidic when faced with a world-class striker and poor goalkeeping from Edwin van der Sar, finished United.
It was as if confidence had simply been passed from United to Barcelona like a baton. Ferguson's gameplan fell apart as Ryan Giggs did not so much play in the hole as plunge through it and the deployment of Wayne Rooney on the left almost constituted an act of negligence.
The crumbling of United's edifice, there was an alarming visible decline in performance, gave life to Guardiola's inspirational decision to play Lionel Messi in a central role as opposed to out wide. United could not fathom how to deal with him and the Argentine's brilliant header simply crowned a glorious night for football, if not Ferguson.
It also settled, for now, the argument about who is the world's best player. Messi bestrode this showpiece, putting Ronaldo in the shade. Ronaldo, however, demonstrated as much spirit as anyone in a white shirt last night.
He never stopped running and his petulant late spats with Carles Puyol were borne out of frustration. Messi had help in the shape of Xavi and Iniesta, Ronaldo was a man alone.
Ferguson's own approach will be questioned and there can be no doubt his tactics failed on this occasion.
He went with the energy of Anderson and Ji-Sung Park in midfield, and while it worked against Arsenal it did not stand a chance here. Ferguson praised Park's awareness of space before the game, insisting "he doesn't need the ball." Sadly for the South Korean, this was a night when he had no choice in the matter.
And Rooney's deployment on the left, while it has enjoyed success before, is less successful against a team that denies United decent possession for minutes on end, as Barcelona did here.
It reduced Rooney to a virtual non-presence in the game, stuck helplessly on the fringes. He was eventually moved into the centre, but by then the pattern was set, the game was gone. Barcelona were ticking over and United were not good enough to turn it around.
Rooney's best work is through the middle of the pitch and this is where he should be restored next season.
United's display and defeat must be placed in context. They have won the Premier League for a third successive season and reached a Champions League final for the second year in a row. One defeat does not constitute a crisis - but the sheer scale of Barcelona's superiority will have shocked Ferguson and his players.
This tournament holds a special place in United's history and Ferguson's heart. The hurt will be especially acute on this, the highest stage.
United will regroup, rebuild and call on their reserves of resilience - but Barcelona are the best team in Europe. And, on this compelling evidence, by some distance.
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Barca has to be the best football club I've seen in the last 20 years and this is coming from a Man U fan.....
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Fork spain and dey macomareman footballers, them boy does fall on the ground for every thing, if yuh only blow on them a little too hard, is on the ground and rolling round like if they got shot. sstttuueeeppppsssss!
man-u shoulda dog them, but they catch man-u on ah bad day. now ah have tuh listen to dem idot mexiacan bragg and boast how good messi and barca is, BTW EPL is still the best league! three semifinalist and barca got lucky in the final 40 sec to upset chelsea, plus the tiefin referee blank chelsea a penalty. FORK Laliga and seri A too. the EPL is the best league in the world!
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Fork spain and dey macomareman footballers, them boy does fall on the ground for every thing, if yuh only blow on them a little too hard, is on the ground and rolling round like if they got shot. sstttuueeeppppsssss!
man-u shoulda dog them, but they catch man-u on ah bad day. now ah have tuh listen to dem idot mexiacan bragg and boast how good messi and barca is, BTW EPL is still the best league! three semifinalist and barca got lucky in the final 40 sec to upset chelsea, plus the tiefin referee blank chelsea a penalty. FORK Laliga and seri A too. the EPL is the best league in the world!
You go boy.........Kick up dat jep nest :rotfl: :beermug: :devil:
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Let me set some basket here, it's ironic dat Barca win when de ref teef for dem to come to de final, lets face it, the final should have been an all english final LOL......
Ah wah see who go jump on dis one LOL :rotfl: :beermug: :devil:
Man U 4 EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
LOUDESTTTTTTTTT OF STEUPSSSSSSSSSSSS
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well in a nutshell, here is my final synopsis of exactly what took place in the game today (barcelona being the fowl and man u being the kid)....
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc62/trini_omar/fowl.gif)
:notworthy: U come good dey
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well in a nutshell, here is my final synopsis of exactly what took place in the game today (barcelona being the fowl and man u being the kid)....
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc62/trini_omar/fowl.gif)
classic.
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Let me set some basket here, it's ironic dat Barca win when de ref teef for dem to come to de final, lets face it, the final should have been an all english final LOL......
Ah wah see who go jump on dis one LOL :rotfl: :beermug: :devil:
Man U 4 EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
LOUDESTTTTTTTTT OF STEUPSSSSSSSSSSSS
Basketttttttttttttttttt :rotfl: :beermug: :devil:
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well in a nutshell, here is my final synopsis of exactly what took place in the game today (barcelona being the fowl and man u being the kid)....
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc62/trini_omar/fowl.gif)
classic.
Was that Paul Scholes? :rotfl:
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Fork spain and dey macomareman footballers, them boy does fall on the ground for every thing, if yuh only blow on them a little too hard, is on the ground and rolling round like if they got shot. sstttuueeeppppsssss!
man-u shoulda dog them, but they catch man-u on ah bad day. now ah have tuh listen to dem idot mexiacan bragg and boast how good messi and barca is, BTW EPL is still the best league! three semifinalist and barca got lucky in the final 40 sec to upset chelsea, plus the tiefin referee blank chelsea a penalty. FORK Laliga and seri A too. the EPL is the best league in the world!
wahappen cool yuh sungin lil irritable ::) ;D anyways
(http://startswithabang.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/simpsons_nelson_haha3.jpg)
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Off all kicks, hard luck Man Utd.
That's how it goes sometimes.
And this is coming from a Liverpool fan.
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(http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20090528/i/r3393379029.jpg)
(http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090528/capt.68049650c2e240ef87107870c91659f0.italy_soccer_champions_league_final__xalt102.jpg)
(http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090528/capt.5731d62b9f644656a40f55a37c26d2b2.italy_soccer_champions_league_final__rom108.jpg)
The champions leaving for the airport this morning.
Should be in Barcelona after lunch Trini time.
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Ferguson and Manicou so nasty wid dey self, he walk with the EPL trophy to show off the double had they of won.
TOO BAD!!
If yuh look closely yuh go see Small Mag hiding under the buss.
(http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20090525/i/r1215081957.jpg)
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Some Stats!!
Barcelona has become the fifth team to win a treble:
1966/67 Celtic
1971/72 Ajax
1987/88 PSV
1998/99 Manchester United
2008/09 FC Barcelona
Pep Guardiola has become the sixth person to have won the European Cup both as a player and as coach.
Miguel Muñoz (1956, 1957, 1958 Real Madrid as player; 1960, 1966 Real Madrid as coach)
Giovanni Trapattoni (1963, 1969 Milan as player; 1985 Juventus as coach)
Johan Cruyff (1971, 1972, 1973 Ajax as player; 1992 Barcelona as coach)
Carlo Ancelotti (1989, 1990 Milan as player; 2003, 2007 Milan as coach)
Frank Rijkaard (1989, 1990 Milan, 1995 Ajax as player; 2006 Barcelona as coach)
Josep Guardiola (1992 Barcelona as player; 2009 Barcelona as coach)
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:'(
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Filho, wha yuh feel Ronaldinho thinking bout right now.
He leave a side (whether forcibly or not) where he was the star to go to AC where he barely even gets a sweat. All the while watching his apprentice reach the heights where he once was.
I wonder if Pep go even consider buying him back!!
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Small Mag, look ice water.
(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45833000/jpg/_45833394_messigoal_getty766.jpg)
The diminutive one dimensional payer who Man U could nullify because Barca only plays in a 4-3-3- formation.
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Ah does like to see when so called wold best defenders get skin out.
Small Mag, I thought Ferdinand and Vidic was going and keep Barca quiet becuase all yuh have all the formations and Barca only have one.
(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45833000/jpg/_45833130_etoo_ap766.jpg)
When Vidic eat ah nice cut from Eto'o to score
(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45833000/jpg/_45833353_henry_getty766.jpg)
Too bad Henry eh score to complete ah best move that had the wold's best defender break dancing.
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Well lemme start a next outta timing talk...
Chelsea were a much better ambassador for English football than dem 11 white cones Man Utd put out against Barcelona in the final.
In retrospect, I'm sure Sir Alex wouldve been more than glad to have the stifling, physical presence of Essien/Lampard/Ballack in midfield instead of Anderson/Carrick/Giggs.
Compared to the rigors of the semi-final, the final was a cakewalk for Barca yesterday.
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Well lemme start a next outta timing talk...
Chelsea were a much better ambassador for English football than dem 11 white cones Man Utd put out against Barcelona in the final.
In retrospect, I'm sure Sir Alex wouldve been more than glad to have the stifling, physical presence of Essien/Lampard/Ballack in midfield instead of Anderson/Carrick/Giggs.
Compared to the rigors of the semi-final, the final was a cakewalk for Barca yesterday.
They probably thinking the same thing.
(http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/02Mo6e76If6w5/610x.jpg)
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Yeah fellas I reach.
A day late, but I been real busy since the game and I want to make sure I find the right words to describe what went on.
Congrats to Barca the team of the year and Messi will probably pick up the player of the year award this year although one of Iniesta or Xavi should run him close. They could easily do a 1,2,3 but the way the nomination and voting does go C. Ronaldo will probably end up somewhere in the mix.
Now for the game, United get outplayed. That ent bad Barca is a good team and there's no shame in losing but they get outclassed on the night. Much of that is Barca just being better man for man but the general play was sloppy. Also Ronaldo had in right in saying that Ferguson got his sums wrong. Anderson just wasn't doing it and get replaced. But once the team was a goal down Park become useless and he shouldna walk out for the 2nd half either. Rooney also get isolated on the wing and the game pass him by. It is also disappointing that they didn't put Ronaldo out wide earlier on the right to test Sylvinho.
United actually had a lot of possession but in the first half Ronaldo was isolated and Barca was able to collapse on him too easy. 2nd half was too many nearly balls and half chances. The opportunities were there to get something but they just were not up for it. With a better performance they probably would have still lost but not look so bad.
In Xavi and Iniesta Barca have 2 bona fide world class playmakers, who not half bad at the physical aspects of the game. COmplete modern midfielders. They also play the kind of football that everybody's try to teach. The front 5 space them selves perfectly and move forward and back as one. When the front three move forward as a line with Xavi/Iniesta in possession defenders don't know when to stick or twist. Just watch Vidic on the 1st goal. Obviously he was too far from Eto'o but if he drift left Iniesta could drive into space and buss a bullet or play into the empty space for Eto'o to steal behind him. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. United on the other hand try diagonal balls that were always too long and into obvious channels.
In retrospect, I'm sure Sir Alex would've been more than glad to have the stifling, physical presence of Essien/Lampard/Ballack in midfield instead of Anderson/Carrick/Giggs.
Good observation but yuh can't play one way all season and then switch it up if you don't have the personnel. They really needed to put pressure on Xavi and Inesita but the most athletic of the 3, Anderson, had a bad game, Fletcher suspended and Hargreaves injured last year. The reason why Chelsea had so much success at slowing Barcelona in midfield as opposed to their back four is that in Essien, Ballack and Mikel they have 3 great athletes (4 if you really count Essien). The good news is that the problems there to be seen and fixed. this game do plenty for the stock of Hargreaves (if he ever play again) and Fletcher. Not so much for Park and the Rooney-Left, Ronaldo-Center formation. This team ent get bad overnight. Looking for them to get back to the final next year.
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Well lemme start a next outta timing talk...
Chelsea were a much better ambassador for English football than dem 11 white cones Man Utd put out against Barcelona in the final.
In retrospect, I'm sure Sir Alex wouldve been more than glad to have the stifling, physical presence of Essien/Lampard/Ballack in midfield instead of Anderson/Carrick/Giggs.
Compared to the rigors of the semi-final, the final was a cakewalk for Barca yesterday.
We simply did not show up...
As JDB said our midfield did not press Barca...we gave them 2 feet of space to work with everytime they were on the ball.. We missed Fletcher alot...and Hargreaves as well
Anderson was supposed to be the aggressive ball winner but he like many let the occassion overwhelm him...
We couldnt win the game if we didnt have the ball..and that's exactly what happened... our midfield lost us the game
I still cant believe we were so out of it... out of all the games to not show up.. it's embarrassing for the club, players and the fans
Hopefully we can add 1 or 2 key additions and hope for an injury and suspension limited season and win the lot next year
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yuh know it have men still voting in this poll. ::)
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We simply did not show up...
As JDB said our midfield did not press Barca...we gave them 2 feet of space to work with everytime they were on the ball.. We missed Fletcher alot...and Hargreaves as well
Anderson was supposed to be the aggressive ball winner but he like many let the occassion overwhelm him...
We couldnt win the game if we didnt have the ball..and that's exactly what happened... our midfield lost us the game
I still cant believe we were so out of it... out of all the games to not show up.. it's embarrassing for the club, players and the fans
Hopefully we can add 1 or 2 key additions and hope for an injury and suspension limited season and win the lot next year
Man U showed up. They were up for the game- it showed in the first 10 minutes- they didn't start out flat or anything...and they had their fair share of the breaks (esp within the first 30 mins). Against other opposition they would have been ok and nobody would be talking about them not showing up. All that happened is that a better team showed up on the other side of the half line. Barca is a better team than Man U- full stop. They are more creative, more precise in their passing, and more disciplined in their defensive positioning and recovery when they lose the ball. And it's not just in this game- it's been that way for most of the season. (You probably didn't realize it because you probably don't watch la liga enough) Man U had their fair share of the ball but couldn't really make anything happen with it. They didn't "give" Barca space...Barca created it....(Man U started with two ball winning middies in Park & Anderson and a deep lying central player in Giggs- There was no "giving" of space...Barca midfield outsmarted the opposition and made that space of their own)....When Man U didn't have the ball they tried to cover but ended up chasing, and ultimately couldn't keep up with the intricate patterns in which Barca moves the ball because until now, they hadn't faced a team that could move it around with that kind of precision, pace and creativity...As JDB said, they didn't get bad overnight...they just weren't prepared to face such a high level of technique, precision and quality...and their personnel lacked the individual ability to adapt within the 90 minutes... I watched my poor boys in white get dismantled (even worse) by it a few weeks before and could only shake my head... Sometimes yuh just have to concede...It happens.
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Finally saw d game. Nice header Messi. Somebody in bago somebody waitin to copy he on 06/06
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boy I wish TT could have ah passin game like that bertille........yes I said bertille had dem fellas playin ah nice short passin game in 1999-2000 roun dere, I tink, dey use to even get ah lil too cute wit it at times.
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Filho, wha yuh feel Ronaldinho thinking bout right now.
He leave a side (whether forcibly or not) where he was the star to go to AC where he barely even gets a sweat. All the while watching his apprentice reach the heights where he once was.
I wonder if Pep go even consider buying him back!!
Nah..de past is the past. And maybe Dinho will feel in some ways that he's been there, done that. I'm guessing that the way things going at Barca, Guardiola will feel he can look to the future for success. Study Giovani Dos Santos. Now dat is youth who was misguided proper. Fabregas might be feeling de itch too. But he is young and in a good side and has time to win things, but you get the feeling patience running thin at the Emirates. It would not surprise me when Cech go home for vacation, his boyhood partners like Pique, his family, people on de street will be pressuring him to consider returning home to a club that will take him back in a heartbeat.
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All R10 studyin is getting his speed back, Ancelotti's departure and making AC Milan a force so he can make the World Cup team.
Still the best player in the world and one of the best ever.
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Well lemme start a next outta timing talk...
Chelsea were a much better ambassador for English football than dem 11 white cones Man Utd put out against Barcelona in the final.
In retrospect, I'm sure Sir Alex wouldve been more than glad to have the stifling, physical presence of Essien/Lampard/Ballack in midfield instead of Anderson/Carrick/Giggs.
Compared to the rigors of the semi-final, the final was a cakewalk for Barca yesterday.
We simply did not show up...
As JDB said our midfield did not press Barca...we gave them 2 feet of space to work with everytime they were on the ball.. We missed Fletcher alot...and Hargreaves as well
Anderson was supposed to be the aggressive ball winner but he like many let the occassion overwhelm him...
We couldnt win the game if we didnt have the ball..and that's exactly what happened... our midfield lost us the game
I still cant believe we were so out of it... out of all the games to not show up.. it's embarrassing for the club, players and the fans
Hopefully we can add 1 or 2 key additions and hope for an injury and suspension limited season and win the lot next year
you still persist in saying they didnt show up??
Incumbent champions don't "not show up" in a CL final to defend a trophy that means so much to a club and to the individual players.
They got beaten by a much better team, plain and simple. The gulf in class was too evident. While Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets were stroking the ball effortlessly in midfield, Carrick, Anderson and Giggs were stretching for balls, playing some hospital passes, and continuously playing the ball back to the safety of the back four. Then resorting to a predictable, long diagonal pass to the wings.
As a matter of fact, I will even go as far as to say that Barcelona still had another gear to go again. If they had put away their chances or been a bit more incisive, Man Utd was good for a 4 goals easy, and who knows if their confidence sapped we couldve seen a repeat of the Real Madrid drubbing.
Sometimes is just to rock back and say yuh get yuh ass cut.
Trust me, thats better than having a legitimate grouse, like a ref thiefing yuh side or something. :devil:
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Small Mag can never admit that his side is just inferior at the moment.
Die hard fan. No shame in dat
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Small Mag can never admit that his side is just inferior at the moment.
Die hard fan. No shame in dat
I think it's that same die hard, sycophantic nature and some of their absurd, brainless in-your-face style of debate that makes them among the most reviled fans in all of football. THEY doh see no shame in DAT.
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Small Mag can never admit that his side is just inferior at the moment.
Die hard fan. No shame in dat
I think it's that same die hard, sycophantic nature and some of their absurd, brainless in-your-face style of debate that makes them among the most reviled fans in all of football. THEY doh see no shame in DAT.
Fuh real.
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Small Mag can never admit that his side is just inferior at the moment.
Die hard fan. No shame in dat
I think it's that same die hard, sycophantic nature and some of their absurd, brainless in-your-face style of debate that makes them among the most reviled fans in all of football. THEY doh see no shame in DAT.
ya talk ah book in dat post MC
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Ah does like to see when so called wold best defenders get skin out.
Small Mag, I thought Ferdinand and Vidic was going and keep Barca quiet becuase all yuh have all the formations and Barca only have one.
(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45833000/jpg/_45833130_etoo_ap766.jpg)
When Vidic eat ah nice cut from Eto'o to score
(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45833000/jpg/_45833353_henry_getty766.jpg)
Too bad Henry eh score to complete ah best move that had the wold's best defender break dancing.
Fuh Real Eh!! IMO dem fellaz is decent defenders but nuttin special....all ah dem edible as we saw...Rio by Vidic by Evra..lol. I still find it disrespecting to think dat dem food could stop d most lethal strike force in the world! I does still laff at the notion that Evra could stop Messi...that's simply ridiculous..lol
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Well lemme start a next outta timing talk...
Chelsea were a much better ambassador for English football than dem 11 white cones Man Utd put out against Barcelona in the final.
In retrospect, I'm sure Sir Alex wouldve been more than glad to have the stifling, physical presence of Essien/Lampard/Ballack in midfield instead of Anderson/Carrick/Giggs.
Compared to the rigors of the semi-final, the final was a cakewalk for Barca yesterday.
We simply did not show up...
As JDB said our midfield did not press Barca...we gave them 2 feet of space to work with everytime they were on the ball.. We missed Fletcher alot...and Hargreaves as well
Anderson was supposed to be the aggressive ball winner but he like many let the occassion overwhelm him...
We couldnt win the game if we didnt have the ball..and that's exactly what happened... our midfield lost us the game
I still cant believe we were so out of it... out of all the games to not show up.. it's embarrassing for the club, players and the fans
Hopefully we can add 1 or 2 key additions and hope for an injury and suspension limited season and win the lot next year
Me eh even read the rest if the post. You does post some real shyte yes. Alyuh get beat off th efield and you talking about you all eh show up. That is ah joke right? You can't be serious about that. The "biggest team" in the world. with the "best manager" in the world, along with the "best players" in the worl, Playing in the BIGGEST FOOTBALL CLUB FINAL IN THE WORLD and you will say your team did not show up. What a joke fella.
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Rio FErdinand is a Donkey, and I will always say that. I don't care what anyone say. He is a donkey. What he does in the defense for Man Utd any average defender could do that, stand and kick a ball away. When it comes to defending he is so dumb it not funny. I said he would have showed ho poor his individual defensive skil is and he did. Poor fella.
Alex Fergusson on the biggest day of the year got every single thing wrong. Talk about Rafa cracking up. The man sat on the bench and looked clueless, he could not help his team. He may a very questionable 1st 11, which could only lead him to make crazy subs.
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i was wondering about eto's celebration so here it is.
Samuel Eto'o: My Goal Comes Thanks To My Father's Blood
After Manchester United had made a good start, they found themselves behind to what the goalscorer believes was an important time to have scored...
27 May 2009 23:21:29
Samuel Eto'o could not hide his delight after scoring to help Barcelona to win the Champions League in Rome against Manchester United on Wednesday evening.
The Cameroonian international put the Catalan outfit ahead after the Red Devils had made a bright start and from then on his side were able to employ their style of play.
With ten minutes on the clock, Eto'o received the ball on the right in the area and he cut inside Nemanja Vidic before beating Edwin van der Sar at the near post.
"The goal came at the most important time," he told Canal Plus. "There is a God up there and there is justice.
"It came at the vital time because it allowed us to go in front.
"I am happy because the team deserved it. But when things like this happen, one does not always know how to celebrate."
Eto'o then explained his gesture of slapping his arm after the goal as he stated that it means "el sangre de mi padre" (my father's blood). "I dedicate this cup to my father, I am very happy, I helped my team to win and that's fantastic," he added.
Lionel Messi netted a second in the 70th minute to hand Barcelona a 2-0 win against the Premier League champions and to give the Catalan heavyweights a unique treble of the Spanish title, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
Lucas Brown, Goal.com
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Eto'o then explained his gesture of slapping his arm after the goal as he stated that it means "el sangre de mi padre" (my father's blood). "I dedicate this cup to my father, I am very happy, I helped my team to win and that's fantastic," he added.
yeah
was also curious why he did that
still seein Vidic just standing there watching (http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45833000/jpg/_45833130_etoo_ap766.jpg) :devil:
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/5429585/Barcelonas-Gladiators-Watch-Pep-Guardiolas-motivational-video.html
Apparently Guardiola sanctioned a video to be made that was aimed to inspire his team for the final , really good stuff , the man is definitely thinking outside of the box and is bringing something fresh to the table, his relationship with is team is something to be admired..read interviews with Henry and Gudjohnson earlier this season..Pep just sat them down and stated his belief and confidence in their ability..simple as that...goes a long way in building up a player to strive for his best in the face of past difficulties...I definitely see them makings a dynasty with him at the helm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEnqArnhFKI
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don't let this thread die.
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Hiddink blames SAF for CL defeat
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9658026/Hiddink-blames-SAF-for-CL-defeat (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9658026/Hiddink-blames-SAF-for-CL-defeat)
Guus Hiddink has blamed Sir Alex Ferguson for Manchester United's Champions League final loss, declaring that he failed to prepare tactically.
The Dutchman insisted that he was bored watching the spectacle in Rome as Spanish champions Barcelona ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.
The 62-year-old left his temporary post at Chelsea at the end of the season following the team's FA Cup success against Everton at Wembley last month.
However it was Champions League glory that Hiddink craved most and he nearly achieved it, coming within a second of knocking Barcelona out of the competition at the semi-final stage.
However the Red Devils failed to get to grips with Barca in the same manner that Chelsea achieved over the two legs in April, leaving the Russia coach disappointed.
"I had no joy watching the Champions League final," he said. "It was boring. There was only one team on the pitch and it was Barca.
"There was no real fight and it was proof that it's very important to analyse the opponent.
"Barcelona played their own football, but they also knew in advance all the weaknesses of Manchester United."
Hiddink is not the only one to criticise the tactics used by United in the final after Ferguson came under fire from his own players following Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo's comments stating that the team was too negative.
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don't let this thread die.
Omar The Great Resuscitator
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Hiddink blames SAF for CL defeat
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9658026/Hiddink-blames-SAF-for-CL-defeat (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9658026/Hiddink-blames-SAF-for-CL-defeat)
Hiddink is not the only one to criticise the tactics used by United in the final after Ferguson came under fire from his own players following Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo's comments stating that the team was too negative.
blasphemy!!! Glory Glory boohoo.
:devil: