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Champions League 2010-11
Topic Started: Jul 16 2010, 07:51 AM (4,385 Views)
Merengue
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Pepe,Mar 8 2011
05:05 PM
Arsenal of course are livid at van Persie's expulsion for receiving a 2nd yellow for kicking the ball after the whistle blew. If I were the ref I would have given him a break, sending a guy off with a 2nd yellow in a game of this consequences is pretty harsh in my eyes. But that is not why Arsenal lost, they lost because they did not come to play, they simply defended. They did that well for most of the game but you always knew Barcelona would find some openings especially with passers of the quality of Iniesta, Xavi and Messi on the team.

Total shots on goal for Arsenal: zero! That says it all, they scored on an own goal by Busquets, other than that and one attack late in the match which Mascherano I believe broke up, Arsenal had nothing going forward. They will use van Persie's ending off as an excuse for why they lost but they should really look in the mirror, as an evenly slightly more ambitious attitude could have paid off for them. Barcelona were not overwhelming in this game and as ursus notes missing Pique and Puyol, they were just not what they typically are. But they were the better of the two teams over both legs and go through.

Mexes red carded? There is a surprise, he is the French reincarnation of Paolo Montero! Nice to see Shakhtar make it to the quarterfinals and they do not seem like they will be pushovers either.

What Pepe said mirrors my own views on this game. I think Mascherano earned his transfer fee with that tackle to deny Bendtner a chance to shoot on goal. As others said that and the corner Busquets headed into his own goal was the extent of Arsenal's offensive production over 90+ minutes. Maybe it was just coming off an injury absence but Fabregas was AWOL in this game. Barcelona were not at their best in this game but they were certainly superior to a very timid Arsenal.

I did not see Shakhtar-Roma but read DeRossi was fortunate not to have been sent off, Pepe wrote it was no surprise Mexes was red carded, it was a surprise that DeRossi did not join him. I would put DeRossi in a top 10 list of chippiest players in Europe.
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enganche
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Inter Milan parking the bus in front of Barcelona's goal last year in the semis was more expected than Arsenal doing the same today. Inter had a 2 goal advantage and then went down a man very early on last year. Arsenal only had a one goal lead today and were playing ultra defensively long before van Persie was sent off, which happened around the 60 minute mark. I will agree with the others here, the expulsion was harsh, but Arsenal only have themselves to blame for losing with such an incredibly defensive performance.
Prefiero morir de pie que vivir arrodillado
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SuperEagle
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As the resident Gooner here let me just write that I was very disappointed in this game. In the way Arsenal played from the start, I do not care what Inter and Mourinho did last year when playing most of the game down a man and up 3-1, Arsenal's style is not to sit back and defend then defend some more. It is not in the players' DNA to play such a style.

I also am obviously disappointed in van Persie's sending off. To me it was uncalled for, when he was already on a yellow. People can argue "the rules call for that" but common sense says in a closely fought Champions League second leg round of 16 match, you do not send a player off for a 2nd yellow for kicking a ball after the whistle went up for offside. If van Persie had kicked a ball away in midfield after a foul was called, I could better understand receiving a second booking but he was in on goal on an attack, the whistle blew and he shot. Sending him off and thereby changing the dynamic of the game was not called for there by Massimo Busacca, the referee. He ended up inserting himself into the game when he did not need to.

Clearly both Fabregas and van Persie were not fully fit and neither was a factor in this game, well actually they both were but in a negative way, van Persie for his sending off and Fabregas for the ridiculous backheel right to Iniesta which led to Barcelona's first goal. Barcelona were the better team for 3/4 of the two legs but Arsenal shot themselves in the foot with their overly cautious approach and then they were not helped by the sending off. Good game by Almunia coming in off the bench, he did keep Arsenal in the game. This was a two legged series Arsenal could have won but down a man and playing the game too conservatively kept them from taking advantage. A lost opportunity. Last year Barcelona were clearly better than Arsenal, this year they were not that much superior but the Gunners own tactics and some overly fussy refereeing did them in.
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Rufus T. Firefly
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I feel for you SuperEagle as after the own goal things were looking up for Arsenal, barcelona did not have their shooting boots on and Arsenal had some momentum after the own goal. but then van persie was sent off and the game effectively ended. Barcelona were able to take advantage of the man advantage and get that 2nd goal and force the penalty. But anybody else think if van Persie was still on the field and it was he not bendtner on that attack late in the game, he controls the ball better and prevents Mascherano from breaking up the play? Of course that is supposition but I bet SuperEagle and any Arsenal fan would rather have seen van Persie in that situation than Bendtner.

Barcelona did what they needed to do in order to win but I get a feeling this team is a little vulnerable defensively and if a team actually makes them work on the defensive end, as Arsenal did in the 2nd half of leg 1, then Barcelona can be beaten. I have a feeling this team will not win the Champions League this year.
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rosarino
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The first goal Messi scored was a real gem, he sees the goalie advancing and lifts the ball over him then volleys it in. What a pleasure to watch him play.

I will join those writing that although the red card was harsh, Arsenal did absolutely nothing in this game. As a neutral I am happy to see a team intending to play, emerge victorious.
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chacal
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enganche,Mar 8 2011
06:45 PM
Inter Milan parking the bus in front of Barcelona's goal last year in the semis was more expected than Arsenal doing the same today. Inter had a 2 goal advantage and then went down a man very early on last year. Arsenal only had a one goal lead today and were playing ultra defensively long before van Persie was sent off, which happened around the 60 minute mark. I will agree with the others here, the expulsion was harsh, but Arsenal only have themselves to blame for losing with such an incredibly defensive performance.

I second these thoughts. Arsenal were so negative today. I am glad to see those tactics were not rewarded.

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Alexao
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chacal,Mar 8 2011
09:21 PM
enganche,Mar 8 2011
06:45 PM
Inter Milan parking the bus in front of Barcelona's goal last year in the semis was more expected than Arsenal doing the same today.  Inter had a 2 goal advantage and then went down a man very early on last year.  Arsenal only had a one goal lead today and were playing ultra defensively long before van Persie was sent off, which happened around the 60 minute mark.  I will agree with the others here, the expulsion was harsh, but Arsenal only have themselves to blame for losing with such an incredibly defensive performance.

I second these thoughts. Arsenal were so negative today. I am glad to see those tactics were not rewarded.

I third those thoughts!

Good win for Shakhtar helped by their goalie making a penalty save when the score was still only 1-0 and before Mexes was sent off. I like watching Shakhtar play, they play some technical football but also are a well organized team defensively.
Xandão
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Johnbuildr
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Rufus T. Firefly,Mar 8 2011
10:35 PM
I feel for you SuperEagle as after the own goal things were looking up for Arsenal, barcelona did not have their shooting boots on and Arsenal had some momentum after the own goal. but then van persie was sent off and the game effectively ended. Barcelona were able to take advantage of the man advantage and get that 2nd goal and force the penalty. But anybody else think if van Persie was still on the field and it was he not bendtner on that attack late in the game, he controls the ball better and prevents Mascherano from breaking up the play? Of course that is supposition but I bet SuperEagle and any Arsenal fan would rather have seen van Persie in that situation than Bendtner.

Barcelona did what they needed to do in order to win but I get a feeling this team is a little vulnerable defensively and if a team actually makes them work on the defensive end, as Arsenal did in the 2nd half of leg 1, then Barcelona can be beaten. I have a feeling this team will not win the Champions League this year.

Count me as a neutral on this game as well, but Arsenal would have had a lot better chance to draw within one, which would have obviously meant a tie for the series, if van Persie had not been sent off, wrongly in my view.

Not only was it a second yellow, but the ref was behind him some ways and the crowd was bellowing loudly. Add to that the fact that his shot was very soon after the whistle and it makes the call all the more irksome because refs need to consider the situaiton on these kinds of calls. This one did nothing of the sort.

So, in the end, it does not please me that Arsenal did not score another goal just because of their defensive style of play, because I think their best chance to be more offensive minded was taken from them in a clear case of poor officiating judgement.

Just another point of view, boys.
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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Martin
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Quote:
 
What Pepe said mirrors my own views on this game. I think Mascherano earned his transfer fee with that tackle to deny Bendtner a chance to shoot on goal. As others said that and the corner Busquets headed into his own goal was the extent of Arsenal's offensive production over 90+ minutes. Maybe it was just coming off an injury absence but Fabregas was AWOL in this game. Barcelona were not at their best in this game but they were certainly superior to a very timid Arsenal.

I did not see Shakhtar-Roma but read DeRossi was fortunate not to have been sent off, Pepe wrote it was no surprise Mexes was red carded, it was a surprise that DeRossi did not join him. I would put DeRossi in a top 10 list of chippiest players in Europe.


What do you mean Fabregas did not do anything in the game? He set Iniesta up perfectly for Barcelona's opening goal with that backheel! :o

Arsene Wenger complaining about the officiating? Say it ain't so, well then again there is a reason they call him Arsene Whinger!

Guardiola playing Busquets out of position at centerback shows how much he has lost confidence in Gabriel Milito. I do agree with those praising Mascherano, and it was games like this where his tenacity will be very useful to Barcelona.

My mind is failing me but if I recall corectly last season CSKA Moscow also made the quarterfinals, so after much unfulfilled promise it looks like Russian and Ukraininan teams are starting to make an impact in the Champions League. We already know they have done well in the UEFA Cup and now Europa League but Champions League glory had previously eluded them. It helps the competition, however, to have contenders other than those from Europe's Big Four leagues.
Club Sportivo Desamparados
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Mr. Pither
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Quote:
 
My mind is failing me but if I recall corectly last season CSKA Moscow also made the quarterfinals, so after much unfulfilled promise it looks like Russian and Ukraininan teams are starting to make an impact in the Champions League. We already know they have done well in the UEFA Cup and now Europa League but Champions League glory had previously eluded them. It helps the competition, however, to have contenders other than those from Europe's Big Four leagues.


That is true and I think Shakhtar are finding like Lyon did too that for some clubs it takes some time knocking at the door of the later rounds of the Champions Legaue before you can finally make the breakthrough. It took Lyon years before they finally made the semifinals last season, for Shakhtar it has taken less time for them to advance to the quarterfinals. It is that extra experience they now have of playing European games which is helping them advance this far now.

Lost I think in the talk about whether Arsenal's tactics were too negative or not or whether the sending off of van Persie really effected the outcome of the game, is the fact that Arsenal were really crap yesterday. Their passing was atrocious, some of tha is due to Barcelona's always suffocating pressure but much of it also was due to Arsenal's poor passing. Guardiola himself noted Arsenal never strung more than 3 passes together. His team made it difficult for them to do that but with an unfit Fabregas in the lineup Arsenal really did not have that many players who could effectively pass the ball. Wilshere is a great prospect but is still very green and felt the pressure yesterday, van Persie is a finisher not a creator, Rosicky surprisingly started but he has been slumping for years, Nasri is not a bad passer but is more of a guy who likes to drbble past defenders, Arsenal's defenders are not particularly good on the ball, the list goes on. Actually I was left thinking after the game that Arsenal over achieved getting as far as they did not only against Barcelona but to be in 2nd place in the league because in truth they have a lot of limited players and those skilled ones they do have have been bothered by numerous njuries this year (Fabregas and van Persie.)

P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD
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Johnbuildr
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<<...Lost I think in the talk about whether Arsenal's tactics were too negative or not or whether the sending off of van Persie really effected the outcome of the game, is the fact that Arsenal were really crap yesterday. Their passing was atrocious, some of tha is due to Barcelona's always suffocating pressure but much of it also was due to Arsenal's poor passing. Guardiola himself noted Arsenal never strung more than 3 passes together.....>>

Now that was funny. As well as true, of course. :lol:
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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Don Balon
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Wednesday's results:
Tottenham 0-0 Milan (Tottenham 1-0 overall)
Schalke 3-1 Valencia (Schalke 4-2 overall)

A nervous Tottenham holds on and eliminates Milan. The Italians hadd the better of the play but just could not finish, once again ibrahimovic disappeared in a big game.

Valencia scored first through Ricardo Costa but Jefferson farfan's fre ekick just before the half tied the game and the aggregated score. But Schalke went in front early in the 2nd half as Mario Gavranovic put a loose ball in. Manuel Neuer kept Valencia off the scorebaord with some good saves then in injury time farfan wrapped it up with hs 2nd goal. Neuer showed why he is Germany's number 1 goalie, thanks to him his club are in the quarterfinals.

After watching both Tottenham and Schalke each show their share of deficiencies, I kept thinking these are the two clubs most teams would be happy to be paired with in the quarterfinals.

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Lalo
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I tried watching Tottenham-Milan but it put me to sleep after a long day of work! Poor play by both clubs but Milan should be really upset because they had the chances to win that game not just tie it on total goals. Robinho and Pato just could not find the net while Ibrahimovic, as Don Balon noted, was invisible. As for Tottenham, their central defenders did all right as did Sandro in defensive midfield, the rest went missing in action. Does Crouch foul every time he jumps for a ball? Every time I see him play it seems like he does.
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Yogi
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A very frustrating game for Milan, as a few others here already commented, Tottenham were there for the taking, they played nervously and their only attacking ideas were to hit long balls forward where Crouch would inevitably foul someone. Lalo I am 100% in agreement, Crouch seems incapable of jumping without either putting his hand or elbow on an opponent to gain leverage. Milan shut Spurs down and Seedorf was fantastic in the Pirlo role, he has previously expressed his dislike for playing there but today he was excellent, always controlled and either able to distribute the ball or defensively was in position to break up plays.

But it was in attack where Milan suffered, Robinho and Pato worked hard but could not put anything away while Ibra, as others already wrote, was awful in this match. His one good contribution was the layoff to Robinho late in the match where Robinho shot over the bar. His reputation for non productivity in important matches is unfortunately well deserved. Boateng was very active but is not fully fit and tired and rightfully had to be subbed out. This was a game Milan should have won but did not, the consolation is it was a much better performance than in leg 1 which is where this series was lost.
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Sammy Maudlin
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I think for the first time in this competition, Tottenham finally showed some Champions League nerves. That is what hurt them in this 2nd game against Milan. But the defense held firm, Sandro was very good once again in defensive midfield and after a very poor first half the team woke up a bit in the 2nd and were more competitive against Milan. I was hoping Rednapp would put Defoe in to cause Milan trouble with his speed as the long balls to Crouch definitely did not work. Yogi the Milan fan is rght that this matchup was decided not at White Hart Lane but three weeks ago at San Siro. The team that played then is the Spurs I hope to see in the quarterfinals.
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