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| Champions League | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 1 2008, 07:30 AM (4,227 Views) | |
| Martin | May 6 2009, 07:57 AM Post #286 |
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I believe you are correct Mr. Pither about why Arsenal went to a more direct route last night, Manchester United would not let them play any other way. I can understand Simon's frustration at Fletcher's sending off. It looked harsh to me too and it is Fletcher, along with Anderson who do so much of the dirty work in midfield. But Manchester United has plenty of depth especially in that sector of the field so this is something which the club should be able to overcome. The third United goal was a real work of art. I remember talking about this during the World Club Cup but I do not recall seeing any team which transitions from defense to attack as quickly as Manchester United. And the third goal last night was a prime example of that. Cristiano Ronaldo produced the goods for United in their semifinal, the ball now is in Lionel Messi's court to see what he can do for Barcelona in theirs. An early Barcelona goal and we could have a classic, if not I would not be surprised at another very tactical game like the first leg. |
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| SuperEagle | May 6 2009, 09:07 AM Post #287 |
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Well I took the loss hard last night but not as hard as this bloke, Kenyan Arsenal fan hangs himself after Man Utd defeat Bill Shankly was wrong, football is not more important than life! In all seriousness though I really was not surprised at the loss, man United are simply a better team than Arsenal right now. In this instance the league placings do not lie. Arsenal are developing a young team with potential, much like United were 3-4 years ago. Hopefully the new club leaders will have the patience to see this out. As for the game itself, I agree with the comments about United taking Arsenal's midfield out of the match. Last night was as anonymous as you will ever see Fabregas and much of the credit for that goes to United's defensive pressure. And when he was needed Cristiano Ronaldo responded, that to me is always a sign of a player ready to take his performance up to the next level, producing on the big stage. It is not because Chelsea are a rival of Arsenal's but because I want to see a United-Barcelona final so that we can see the two dominant teams of the season meet in the biggest match of the year. That really would be a dream final. |
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| Winslow | May 6 2009, 01:03 PM Post #288 |
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And Wednesday's result (somehow I forgot to watch Tuesday's match)... . . . . . . . Chelsea 1, Barcelona 1 (1-1 aggregate; Barca advances on away goal). Well, the Blues needed 180 scoreless minutes to pull this off, and they got it--but they forgot about injury time! Chelsea took an early lead on a piece of magic by Essien, who volleyed Lampard's blocked shot past Valdes and in off the underside of the bar. That was the only goal until the third minute of injury time, when Barca's pressure paid off--Messi passed to an unmarked Iniesta just outside the box, and he thumped it first-time past Cech. Serious drama. Chelsea had two penalty shouts in the first half; first Dani Alves was whistled inside the box but the ref said it was outside, then Drogba tumbled in the box and tried to blame Abidal, who had grabbed his jersey but didn't make him fall IMO. Early in the second half, Valdes stoned Drogba from close range; about 15 minutes after that, Anelka and Abidal raced after a through pass, Anelka fell, and Abidal was sent off--bogusly IMO, as the replay showed Anelka stumbling over his own feet. Then with ten minutes to go, Anelka's ball hit Pique in the arm, but the Norwegian ref waved play on. So. Barcelona-Man United? I'd watch that final! |
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| Simon | May 6 2009, 01:36 PM Post #289 |
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Phew! Amazing the sort of dramatic situations that this sport can conjure up! Congrats to Dr Z, though I do feel for robdog, Merengue, Martin, Gaviota and co who must be heartbroken. Just hopefully not as shattered as that poor bloke from Kenya. Prior to this match I had been expecting Chelsea to go through to the final, and as Winslow says, that's how it was turning out until Barcelona chose the 3rd minute of injury time as a good occasion to have their first (yes, first!) shot on target - and of course it went in from Iniesta and hey presto Barca are in the final! Not a great game as such, but a tense and absorbing one. Barcelona had all the ball, but Chelsea had all the chances and if they could have stuck a second goal in they would be through, but they missed various good opportunities to kill Barca off. None better than when Drogba turned in one-on-one with Valdes but couldn't score. Unfortunately I must also follow Winslow's lead and mention the refereeing as well, which I thought was very poor. Chelsea could and probably should have had two or three penalties. In particular I've no idea how Pique got away with a spot of cricket fielding (or basketball if you prefer that sporting analogy!) from Anelka's flick, while Malouda was pulled over a couple of feet inside the Barca box only for the ref to give a FK outside the box! It was like the referee was so determined not to appear to be a 'homer' that he resolved not to give Chelsea anything, and yet the big decision he did give Chelsea's way was equally bad. Poor Eric Abidal sent off for doing next to nothing. I asked it yesterday, but I still don't see why UEFA can't allow an appeals process ahead of the final. I was kind of hopeful for Barca to win, as I think Chelsea would be the tougher test for United. With all due respect for Barcelona, I really think they need a 'Plan B'. As with the first leg, it seemed too easy for Chelsea to predict what they'd do and shut them down. I'll bet that if you'd said to Hiddink before the game that Barca would have just one solitary shot on goal all night, he wouldn't have pictured his team being eliminated! But credit to Barcelona for keeping going, even when incorrectly down to 10 men. Eto'o, Messi and co didn't really produce anything in either leg, but what they did do was show real work rate. They never stopped running and pressurising the Chelsea player on the ball. And yes, 'Manchester United v Barcelona in the European Cup Final in Rome' - doesn't that have a nice ring to it? |
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| shelsoccer | May 6 2009, 02:01 PM Post #290 |
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I can't disagree with Simon's sentiments. Chelsea deserved to go through. The officiating was questionable to say the least. Barcelona's slow build-up and insistence on playing through the middle was far too predictable. However, I really didn't want to see another ManU-Chelsea final. I think ManU-Barca has the chance of being a much better game, if Barca can finally come to grips with EPL-style football and can add some urgency to their game to accompany their outstanding technical ability. |
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| Manzanares | May 6 2009, 02:28 PM Post #291 |
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I don't feel sorry for Cheslea at all and as most here know I am hardly a fan of Barcelona. But I like to see a team play football and not kick like Chelsea did for 90+ minutes tonight. But the ref, whose other errors have already been delineated here let Chelsea get away with their physical play which helped them shut Barcelona down for almost all of the match. And while Hiddink had a plan to shut Barcelona down defensively, why but why would you take a forward (Drogba) off and put on a wing back when at home and up a man? Drogba may have been hurt (probably tired from all his diving) but you put on another forward like Kalou to put the pressure on the opposition. In the end I think Barcelona were justified winners for their offensive outlook. I credit Cheslea for a dogged defensive performance but I am always happy to see negative teams like them defeated. |
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| robdog | May 6 2009, 03:38 PM Post #292 |
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Dude, look at the teams that I support. Name one Continental Title between them??? I like them, cause of the personnel they have & the fans that support them. I know they will always supply me w/ some type of drama. Watching Chelsea lose out (The Blues did not lose today, they went out on away goals) is something I have witness before (Remember the phantom goal in the 2k5 semis vs L'Pool???). The Blue Flag will still fly high in Rancho Cordova, after today & many other days. It's the times when Chelsea will face Pachuca that I worry about the most Well, at least C Ronaldo will have to deal w/ barfa, who will be w/out three defensive starters
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| Merengue | May 6 2009, 09:07 PM Post #293 |
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So I was watching the Chelsea-Barcelona game at my local Spanish restaurant with Martin and some Barcelona supporting friends of ours and when Iniesta scores that injury time goal Martin leaps out of his chair, high fives some of the celebrating Barcelona fans, hugs the owner's pretty wife (a Barcelona supporter even though her husband is 100% madridista) then sheepishly looks at me and says, "I can't believe I just went crazy about a goal scored by Barcelona!" "Nor can I" was my reply! ![]() Well for those looking for drama they got it on Wednesday. Some speculated an early Barcelona goal would have opeend the game up but instead it was a cracker from Essien which began the game. I am reading where Chelsea are claiming the ref was bought and/or was doing whatever possible to ensure there would not be an all English final. I guess it all depends on your perspective. As a neutral I thought he was poor for both teams, as Manzanares noted he permitted a lot of rough play from Chelsea, bought Anelka's dive and wrongly sent off Abidal and missed a handball by Pique (who otherwise was excellent). The injury time handball was not intentional and to claim otherwise is wrong in my view as the Barcelona player had his back turned to the ball, you try leaping and doing that and keep your hands by your side. And the supposed foul by Dani Alves against Malouda in the first half, to me it looked like the ball was pushed one way and the two players who were going in another direction were mutually pushing one another, I am not even certain if it was a foul and even if it was the initial contact was outside the box and carried to the inside. Anyway Chelsea should not blame the referee for their elimination, blame themselves for missing some good chances. Victor Valdes has come in for his share of criticism over the years but he saved Barcelona with some very big saves in one on one situations. Chelsea's defending did do what no other team has yet done to Barcelona this season though and that is make their potent offense look ordinary and predictable. Barcelona always move the ball quickly and crisply but Chelsea were somehow in these two matches able to slow them down. Full credit to them for that. But I have to say like many others the thought of a Manchester United-Barcelona final is very appealing. |
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| Dr. Z | May 6 2009, 09:54 PM Post #294 |
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Football can be a cruel game and Chelsea found out about that on Wednesday. I agree with Merengue's analysis of the official and to me the only legit penalty not whistled was Pique's handball. But before Chelsea complain too much remind them of the penalty they committed against Henry in the first leg which was not called! These things even out in the end. I also feel that Manzanares made an excellent point that Chelsea got too conservative when up a man and with Drogba forced off with an injury (although if you sa whim complaining to the ref at the end you never would have known he left injured!), why take off a forward and put on a wingback? This was one of the poorest games I have seen from Barcelona this season and Dani Alves and Eto'o were especially poor. But the team does have a fighting spirit to it and Iniesta who always was looking to create something turned out to be the club's hero. That was very pleasing to me. On to what should be a classic final between Barcelona and Manchester United. Without Dani Alves and Abidal (plus the injured Marquez) Barcelona will once more have to use a makeshift defense. I hope Guardiola uses these next few weeks to work on finding the right defensive combination for the Champions League final. Merengue, you can not blame Martin for hugging the owner's pretty Barcelona supporting wife, sounds like she is both good looking and smart!
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| Poniendo el pecho a las balas! | |
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| rosarino | May 7 2009, 07:19 AM Post #295 |
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High drama indeed. It was not a great game but was of course dramatic and both goals scored were wonderful strikes. The officiating is getting plenty of discusison not only here but in the press but Simon is right that it never should have come down to that as Chelsea squandered their opportunities to put the game away. And include me with those agreeing with Manzanares excellent point about taking Drogba off and putting on a wingback when up a man at home. The great Hidink erred there I think. Chelsea are a big, physical team who now how to defend well, a very disciplined defensive effort from them over 180 minutes but whenever you let your opposition off the hook you are playing wth fire and Chelsea got burned by not putting Barcelona away when they had the opportunity. |
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| Martin | May 7 2009, 07:52 AM Post #296 |
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I got caught up in the moment! What else can I say? Those who have followed my posts both here and at other forums over the years may recall my general dislike of both Liverpool and Chelsea so I was pulling for Barcelona yesterday and Iniesta's goal was an exciting moment. As for hugging the restaurant owner's wife, well she hugged me, who was I to push her away? :lol: 180+ minutes and there was not much separating the two teams. Chelsea were so strong defensively in both legs but as others noted last night they did look to score but other than Essien's great strike (did it remind anybody else of Zidane's great goal against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Final?) they could not finish as Valdes did make some very good saves, he stood his ground and forced the Chelsea attackers to pick their spot and then was quick enough to make reaction saves to stop those shots. Manzanares does make an interesting point about Belletti coming on for Drogba. Assuming Drogba was hurt or even if he was gassed, by taking him out Cheslea did lose their attacking edge. They did move Anelka up to the point of attack and deployed Belletti on the wing where Anelka was but up a man they did have a chance to put the game away but instead chose a more conservative approach. As for the referee's mistakes, I agree with Merengue's analysis, he erred for both sides. I would also add a clear trip late in the match on Messi on one of the rare opportunities he was able to break into space but Malouda tripped him in front of the ref who waved play on. But for me the ref made two big mistakes, one of which helped each team, not calling the handball on Pique and the other sending off Abidal when Anelka fell over his own feet. Chelsea need to blame their poor finishing and not the referee for this loss. |
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| libero | May 7 2009, 09:26 AM Post #297 |
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Last night's game was why we love this sport so much. Great intensity and such a dramatic finish. It really was a hard fought game and I am another poster who thinks Chelsea only have to look in the mirror if they are seeking to place blame on their elimination. A little more self confidence in attack could have paid off against Barcelona's 10 men. To echo Simon's thought from yesterday, it is too abd UEFA doe snot have some sor tof appeal process for wrongly issued red cards. Both Fletcher and Abidal were wronglys ent off in my view and will now miss the opportnity to play in a final. That is harsh punishment for them each to suffer. |
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| Simon | May 7 2009, 11:09 AM Post #298 |
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Dear me, and you call Real Madrid - Barcelona a rivalry? I'd rather castrate myself without anaesthetic than watch Liverpool even win at cards! It is a good point about Belletti coming on, although funnily enough Belletti was among the various Chelsea players to have a good chance to seal the deal, when he dribbled inside the full-back only to drag a tame shot wide. That's the crux of it really, Chelsea were in the lead at home, had totally nullified Barcelona as an attacking threat and were up a man. Perfect conditions in which to get a second goal, but they fluffed their lines. Apparently it was Alex and Bosingwa who said that UEFA fixed it so that there wouldn't be two English teams in the final. Bosingwa tried to backtrack today but there may yet be a case to answer from UEFA for them, Ballack and Drogba. I personally wouldn't say the ref's ineptitude was even-handed as I thought the Malouda-Alves incident was definitely in the box (there must be footage online somewhere but I've not got the time to look!), and obviously the Pique one should have been given. As for the Drogba one, my view is coloured against him by the way he goes down so easily, but it is true that if you grab a fistful of someone's shirt when they're past you in the box, you're normally asking for trouble. Anyway, I think everyone besides the Portuguese-speaking contingent in London's West End think it was plain ineptitude rather than anything more sinister. Probably doesn't make it any easier to swallow for Chelsea, but there it is. At least they still have a Cup Final to look forward to! |
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| gaviota | May 7 2009, 11:42 AM Post #299 |
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Well unlike Martin I was hoping for a Chelsea win! I read this quote from Guus Hiddink after the game, Of course players can make mistakes, coaches can mistakes and referees can make mistakes, but that is all in the game. But if you have seen three or four situations waved away then that is the worst refereeing I have seen. “At this moment I have to think a lot if I have ever seen worse,” the Dutchman said. Hey Guus I can remind you of two games involving you where the officiating was far worse than last night, 2002 World Cup Spain-South Korea 2002 World Cup Italy-South Korea I had to get that off my chest! :angry: I follow libero's point that games like this are why we love the sport. Even when your team is not involved a high profile match like that just keeps you glued to the television. It is great entertainment and in the end that makes it all worthwhile. Well Simon, your club has my support on 27 May. |
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| Alexao | May 7 2009, 12:59 PM Post #300 |
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After the Manchester United-Arsenal semifinal was over after 10 minutes of the second leg I enjoyed that this semifinal went down to the last minute. I agree with the consensus here that Chelsea could have won the game but became too cautious up both a goal and a player and playing at home. When they took off Drogba it gave Pique and Toure, the Barcelona central defenders, all the time in the world to pass the ball forward to Xavi to start another attack. You would think up a man in those circumstances Chelsea would look to press Barcelona even more and make that man advantage count. In the last 10 minutes you could not tell Chelsea had an extra player. |
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Well, at least C Ronaldo will have to deal w/ barfa, who will be w/out three defensive starters


5:04 PM Jul 10