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| Champions League | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 1 2008, 07:30 AM (4,225 Views) | |
| CelesteBlanca10 | May 27 2009, 07:33 AM Post #316 |
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Can't agree with you more, Martin. Well said. I think Barca will need to overcome some mental problem they have - not only the fact that historically they don't do well against English teams, but more to stay focused even when they're not doing that good. I've noticed a few times that when midfield control is not theirs, key players like Iniesta and Leo can easily disappear (especially when they are doubled-marked like usually teams do) and the team just sleeps. For the life of me I can't understand why Fergusson prefers Berbatov over the amazing Carlitos. We're up for a great match!! |
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| Manzanares | May 27 2009, 07:51 AM Post #317 |
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I am interested in CelesteBlanca's comments because to me one of Barcelona's strengths is their never say die attitude, that is what helped them beat Chelsea while playing with 10 men when it seemed the odds were against them. Iniesta even more than Messi and Xavi is to me Barcelona's key player and none of us know how he will respond after missing these past few weeks with injury. But I feel how Iniesta plays will determine how Barcelona do tonight. Ferdinand and Vidic are two excellent defenders, strong, smart and almost always well positioned. But if I were Barcelona I would look to attack Vidic as I think he can be vulnerable to speedy attackers, I still recall Fernando Torres turning him inside out a few months ago. But on the other side that speed advantage is something which I think Unted will look to exploit against Barcelona's patched together defense. This should be a good day for all fans of this beautiful sport. |
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| Alexao | May 27 2009, 08:02 AM Post #318 |
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I think Barcelona will really miss Daniel Alves as his overlapping runs help Messi out a lot. Without Daniel Alves, Manchester can double team Messi. As Manzanares writes Iniesta's status will be important because with he on one side and Messi on the other it is difficult to defend Barcelona. But if Iniesta is not fully fit then Barcelona's attack is less threatening. I feel manchester United ahs the advantage off the bench as they can call on Tevez or Berbatov to help the attack, Barcelona just do not have anyone who can come in and spark their attack as a substitute. My pick for the score: Manchester United 3x1 Barcelona. |
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| CelesteBlanca10 | May 27 2009, 08:21 AM Post #319 |
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I agree they are a good example of a "never say die" attitude. I was particularly talking about Messi, that sometimes disappears when times are hard. It happens to him in the national team sometimes. I totally agree with you about Iniesta - he is definitely the barometer of the team, and one of the most hard working player i know. |
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| gaviota | May 27 2009, 08:25 AM Post #320 |
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Glory, glory Man United! ![]() Of course as a Real Madrid fan I will be supporting Manchester United tonight. But I am looking forward to an exciting game. Unlike some I think Barcelona's defense will be fine. What should concern them more is their attack which for the past month has not been as effective. Maybe the long season is finally getting to them? I think it will be a tactical game, like most finals with Manchester United winning 1-0 off a corner or free kick headed in. |
| CHAMP13NS | |
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| enganche | May 27 2009, 09:16 AM Post #321 |
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I am hearing Keita will play left back tonight. So with Toure at centerback, Barcelona will have two midfielders deputizing as defenders. And a 20 year old Sergi Busquets playing in midfield. If I am United, I try and pressure Busquets every time he touches the ball and use Ronaldo, Park and Rooney to run at Keita and test to see if he can defend. These move sby Guardiola also limit his options in midfield off the bench too. |
| Prefiero morir de pie que vivir arrodillado | |
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| Sporting | May 27 2009, 10:04 AM Post #322 |
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Giggs is in the starting 11, which will surprise many (including me). I thought he would be saved for halfway throught the second half, when the tempo will presumably have dropped a little. |
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| Winslow | May 27 2009, 01:00 PM Post #323 |
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And the winner is... . . . . . . . Barcelona! Final score 2-0, on a 10th minute goal by Eto'o and a Messi goal midway through the second half. Man United nearly converted in the second minute (C. Ronaldo's free kick was boxed around by Valdez, and Pique needed to hustle to clear the rebound from Park), but after two more Red Devil shots went wide, Iniesta dribbled through midfield (a United soft spot all night) and passed to Eto'o on the right; he faked out Vidic and beat van der Sar on the near post from close range, just before Carrick sent him flying. There were more near misses (Giggs, Messi, Xavi) in the first half, as Barca slowly started to grab hold of the match. As the second half began, Messi just missed an Eto'o pass and van der Sar made two good saves, but in the 70th minute Xavi dribbed to the top of the box and crossed to a ridiculously unmarked Messi, who headed it in without any trouble. A couple of minutes later, a loose ball in the box fell to C. Ronaldo, but Valdez stuffed him. That was about it from the Mancunians except for a pair of bookings (one of them a very bad tackle by Scholes on Sergio Busquets). Good match, justified result. |
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| Don Balon | May 27 2009, 02:36 PM Post #324 |
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A surprisingly easy win for Barcelona, as after the first 10 minutes which Manchester United controlled, it was all Barcelona as Xavi and Iniesta drove Barcelona forward. Appropriately it was those two who set up the two goals too. When your best player is your goalkeeper, as it was tonight for Manchester United, that says a lot. It was the midfield where this game was won and Barcelona dominated there thanks in alrge part to Xavi and Iniesta. We all talked pregame about Barcelona's stand in defense but it held up well, actually it was Manchester's defense which showed more vulnerability. I am not sure what Pep Guardiola can do for an encore after this dream first season coaching but he and his team were fantastic tonight. |
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| Pepe | May 27 2009, 02:51 PM Post #325 |
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Simply a dominating performance from Barcelona. They just took the air out of Manchester United with their passing and movement. United had so much trouble taking the ball away from Barcelona and Don Balon is right, Xavi and Iniesta were superb. Their ball control, passing and intelligence are why both Barcelona and Spain are champions. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are wonderful footballers but for me there are not any players in the world better now than Xavi and Iniesta. |
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| gaviota | May 27 2009, 03:04 PM Post #326 |
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Ditto. I am so glad Xavi and Iniesta are Spanish! ![]() Congratulations to the Barcelona fans here for a dominating performance. |
| CHAMP13NS | |
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| hobbes | May 27 2009, 03:19 PM Post #327 |
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I’ve always liked Iniesta and Xavi and both were great tonight, but I thought Puyol was really inspirational — all over the pitch and he seemed to frustrate Cristiano Ronaldo as the match wore on. I also thought Sergi Busquets was very steady and deserves a lot of credit. Ronaldo looked like he was going to take the match over from the opening whistle and as much as he helped United dominate the early exchanges, he didn’t seem to be involving anyone else. Rooney seemed adrift on the flank and Giggs never made any impact. I thought Park was poor and I thought ManU missed Fletcher. As others noted the game was won in the midfield, but I was surprised how out of sorts Vidic and Ferdinand looked. Barça’s back line help up well and Pique and Touré both excellent. I feel for Simon, but I was happy Barça won. Not the classic I was hoping for, but not the worst final I’ve seen either. cheers, hobbes |
| Saskatchewan for the CPL: multis e gentibus vires | |
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| calimocho | May 27 2009, 05:13 PM Post #328 |
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I think hobbes is right to note how influential Puyol was in this match. he defended very well first against Rooney and later against Ronaldo and was the soul of this Barcelona team. And like every Spaniard I am so happy to have he, Iniesta and Xavi on Spain's national team. What a year it has been for those three, European Nations Cup winners last summer, Spanish La Liga and Copa del Rey champs and now European club champions. There is only one thing left for them and that will take place next summer in South Africa! Every player on Barcelona passed the ball well and that I think is what frustrated Manchester United as they just had difficulty taking Barcelona off the ball. Yet on the other end Barcelona were able to neutralise Ronaldo and Rooney. Maybe it was just a bad night for Manchester United and a good one for Barcelona but there is no doubt which club deserved the win on this might. |
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| raconteur | May 27 2009, 07:25 PM Post #329 |
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I know it has worked for them in the past but this idea of using Rooney and Park as wingers and Ronaldo alone up front is not in my view a good idea. Well normally Rooney and Park do press the opponents well defensively but my God Rooney is a fine forward, play him behind a center forward and use Ronaldo on a wing where he can cut inside and still run at opponents and have the opportunity to shoot from distance. Winslow pointed it out but Manchester United's midfield was giving Barcelona so much space. Guardiola smartly moved Messi away from the wing and United's planned double teams and had him roaming around the center of the field where he combined well with Iniesta and Xavi. Even before Anderson was pulled off and United went with one less midfielder, Barcelona outnumbered Man United in midfield and that I thought is why they had so much room in midfield. Guardiola did an excellent job in preparing is team for this final and then his players superb skills and passing took over. Question, at the final whistle they had Guardiola listed onscreen as the 6th man to be a Champions Cup/League winner as both player and coach. Who were the other 5? Off hand I can think of Johan Cruyff, who coached Guardiola when Barcelona won in 1992 and won it as a player with Ajax and Carlo Ancelotti with Milan. I am thinking one of those old Real Madrid coaches like Miguel Munoz also did it but am not sure. |
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| rosarino | May 27 2009, 10:12 PM Post #330 |
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A complete game from Barcelona. Like most I too was surprised at the ease at which they controlled the game. Xavi and Iniesta are rightly getting praise here but it was a team performance which won this title for Barca. Busquets and Pique showed poise beyond their years, Puyol was the inspirational leader, Toure and Sylvinho did their jobs in defense, Henry did all right considering his rustiness and Eto'o not only scored the opener by turning Vidic inside out and toe poking past van der Sar but he kept Evra occupised for most of the game so his overlaps were not a factor in the match. And Messi showed he can score with his head while also being a danger running at Man United's defense. Manchester United can have few complaints about this game, Barcelona outplayed them and it was Barca's stars who produced when needed as Man United's went missing. |
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