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The Footy... (2011-2012 season)
- Thread starter Morbyd
- Start date
mashednlovingit
Well-Known Member
read my earlier comment
"I don't buy all this "Barca were poor because they don't have a plan B".
3 league titles, 2 CL, one spanish cup plus european supercups and world club cups.. all this since 2009 implies we don't really need it. Id rather stay as we are than have a plan b and sacrificing some of our usual style of play."
like you say, we only have about 4 players over 6 foot in our entire squad anyway.
Great game yesterday... good to see two teams trying to attack for a chance..only kidding
I was over the moon with the outcome.. God I love these football rivalries where your enemy's misfortunes suddenly makes your own bad result seem that much better!
I think Bayern are favourites for the final but I wouldnt bet against Di Matteo right now.
Who got suspended from Bayern? Was it mainly the defense?
Ferd, are you originally from Barcelona?
No, parents from Madrid and North Spain but was born and always lived here. My dad always had spanish footy on the radio when we were little. Not sure why I support Barca, my older brother is a Real Madrid fan, I probably just wanted to support the rival. Plus I think at the time I liked Gary Lineker, so that clinched it
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I disagree. I think they were both top quality saves. They may not have been placed in the far corner, but they were both well struck, and Neuer did well to get down low first of all, and secondly to get his body behind it.
You can see from the slow speed replay of Ronald's penalty that he actually made contact with the ball twice to make the save, because after he initially made contact it could have ended up anywhere. Good goal keeping.
paulhinrichsen
Active Member
Very happy as a Bayern fan after that effort...Gustavo, Alaba are really cementing their spot in our team for the long run..they played fantastic. Alaba is not at fault for the penalty, thats just dumbluck.
But just remember, Gary Lineker once said "Football is a simple game - you play for 120 minutes and then the Germans win on penalties."
But just remember, Gary Lineker once said "Football is a simple game - you play for 120 minutes and then the Germans win on penalties."
been thinking about this.
chelsea parked the bus, we know this. can't remember seeing a match like the 2nd half the other day when so many players were defending right in the box. over two legs barça had like 50 odd chances/shots, chelsea had what 5 or 6 and scored 3 of them. it was a bit of a freak that chelsea managed to get through, credit to them, but still a big element of
fair play, but when torres scored and camp nou knew straight away the game was lost, there was an instant chorus of "millor que hi ha". the crowd knew barça had done nothing wrong, they had played their way and will keep doing it. sometimes even the best lose, messi's pen, alves half a yard offside. that's the difference between success and failure sometimes, but usually never for barça because the sheer weight of chances, as in these two games, normally proves telling.
tots units fem força
chelsea parked the bus, we know this. can't remember seeing a match like the 2nd half the other day when so many players were defending right in the box. over two legs barça had like 50 odd chances/shots, chelsea had what 5 or 6 and scored 3 of them. it was a bit of a freak that chelsea managed to get through, credit to them, but still a big element of
fair play, but when torres scored and camp nou knew straight away the game was lost, there was an instant chorus of "millor que hi ha". the crowd knew barça had done nothing wrong, they had played their way and will keep doing it. sometimes even the best lose, messi's pen, alves half a yard offside. that's the difference between success and failure sometimes, but usually never for barça because the sheer weight of chances, as in these two games, normally proves telling.
tots units fem força
Morbyd
Moderator
But there's the other side of it.
Yes, it was parking the bus, and surely Barca had missed some great chances (penalty aside... people failed to note that there was about a 5 inch gap between Cech's hand and the bar so a little lower and he would have saved it). But that takes nothing away from a great defensive performance.
I didn't see stats for the 2nd match but in the first one some Chelsea players covered 1.5 times the territory they do in a normal league match. That's a heck of a lot of running. In the 2nd match, down to 10 men, it was almost like watching 9 John Terrys. Everyone put their body on the line.
And you can create as many chances as you want but you've got to take them. The goals that Ramires set up (leg 1) and scored (leg 2) were beauties. His shot was inch perfect. I didn't think he had it in him. Perfect skill and composure on that moment. That cross in leg 1, behind the onrushing defenders, was nearly as brilliant.
Like every Chelsea fan, I sighed when Iniesta scored and thought that was the end of the line. The boys on the pitch could easily have been forgiven for doing the same. But they didn't and they fought with a lot of heart and for that they should hold their heads up high.
Yes, it was parking the bus, and surely Barca had missed some great chances (penalty aside... people failed to note that there was about a 5 inch gap between Cech's hand and the bar so a little lower and he would have saved it). But that takes nothing away from a great defensive performance.
I didn't see stats for the 2nd match but in the first one some Chelsea players covered 1.5 times the territory they do in a normal league match. That's a heck of a lot of running. In the 2nd match, down to 10 men, it was almost like watching 9 John Terrys. Everyone put their body on the line.
And you can create as many chances as you want but you've got to take them. The goals that Ramires set up (leg 1) and scored (leg 2) were beauties. His shot was inch perfect. I didn't think he had it in him. Perfect skill and composure on that moment. That cross in leg 1, behind the onrushing defenders, was nearly as brilliant.
Like every Chelsea fan, I sighed when Iniesta scored and thought that was the end of the line. The boys on the pitch could easily have been forgiven for doing the same. But they didn't and they fought with a lot of heart and for that they should hold their heads up high.
Robi3249
Active Member
Its a shame that 'parking the bus' has now replaced the correct label, defending! With the crackdown on tackling in recent years I think people are under the misapprehension that this part of the game is bad. It is a part of the game as well and Chelsea managed to do the other side better than Barcelona as well, namely scoring. Well played Chelsea and I'm sure Barcelona will evolve their play to combat such well planned and executed tactics.
madwhitegiant
New Member
I wouldn't say Barca were poor. It just didn't work out and these things happen in football.
It's all very noble saying oh we shouldn't just sling the ball in the box but Shirley that is better than looking for someone to brush past you in the box and then roll over dramatically? Not saying Barca were doing that the other night but they have done in the past as have many teams this season plenty in the championship too see Southampton for starters. I'd much rather have a good old goal mouth scramble than have players that go over easier than some of my old birds looking for penalties.
Interesting to see who will take over at Barca and where Pep goes now.
Morbyd
Moderator
From BBC:
Of all the clubs Guardiola has faced in all competitions as Barca manager, he has only failed to register a single victory against one club - Chelsea - failing to beat them in four attempts.
8)
Kidding aside, Pep did an amazing job channeling his team's (admittedly massive) talent into a nearly unstoppable force. 13 trophies in 4 years don't lie. I don't blame him for taking a break - he's won everything there is to win (aside from the World Cup!)
Of all the clubs Guardiola has faced in all competitions as Barca manager, he has only failed to register a single victory against one club - Chelsea - failing to beat them in four attempts.
8)
Kidding aside, Pep did an amazing job channeling his team's (admittedly massive) talent into a nearly unstoppable force. 13 trophies in 4 years don't lie. I don't blame him for taking a break - he's won everything there is to win (aside from the World Cup!)
ronaldo penalty near enough and he gave it some laces too!!
Neuer is a great keeper, nearly as good as Hart!!
hope not, lets hope they carry on exactly as they do, because 99% of the time it works and its beautiful to watch!!
but as a resident of "Stewk" I guess you are used to a more "direct" type of play
there is defending and there is parking the bus.
credit to chelsea on winning, but they parked the bus. to me that isn't really part of football. at most it's a necessary evil to be very rarely used.
morbs - yeah, i hear the flip side. it paid off and ultimately, that's all that matters, the result.
The 10 in the box and hope for a counter attack, may be effective but is very boring. The smooth flow is why it is called the beautiful game. Teams can defend without parking the bus, if not they will get routed.
ronaldo penalty near enough and he gave it some laces too!!
Neuer is a great keeper, nearly as good as Hart!!
I was not trying to say Neuer is not a good keeper, it was more of an indictment of the kicks. I think Neuer is a top rate tender.
Morbyd
Moderator
I guess they meant in competitive matches?
Here's another story out today (granted, in the Mail so take with bucket of salt):
John Terry's cheeky knee-to-the-back allegedly provoked by Sanchez consistently intentionally bumping Terry's cracked ribs
