[DoctorGonzo08]

Originally Posted by THFC

Look at it yourself, as blatant as a brick through a window. Fast forward to about 5:30.

I'm not saying it wasn't. I'm saying given all the rest of the diving and play acting, would the ref not think this may have been more of the same?

If they weren't flapping around the place this would make a tackle like this easier to call by the ref.

[SantryRed]

Originally Posted by carlcon

These threads are great for differentiating between which posters enjoy watching football, and which ones prefer to play FIFA.

What does that even mean?

[Bodhisopha]

I didn't see much play acting from Barca last night, some but not much. Poor Busquets isn't allowed to be hurt anymore it seems. I recall him going to ground twice, once when Pepe stomped his foot and the other time when Alonso nailed him in the side. Both looked legitimately painful to me.

People on here are too quick to take on the biased opinions of lazy and in last night's case, utterly useless commentators. Punditry by numbers, think for yourselves.

[THFC]

Originally Posted by super_furry

Well I thought that that your glaring hypocrasy is so self evident that it didn't require further explanation, however I'm more than happy to indulge you.

You see when you firstly ask people to avoid the "fanboy shíte again lads". It seems to be at odds with the two contradictory points you follow it up with.

You claim that it's only those who don't watch Barcelona on a regular basis that think they're a team of cheats. You then admit that you don't watch Madrid on a regular basis but are still able to claim that they're a "team of thugs."

I shouldn't have to explain my post sentence by sentence but here it goes. I said that anyone that watches Barca regularly knows they don't playact regularly. Cheating is a very broad term which I deliberately avoided. I cannot say Barca aren't a "team of cheaters", I dont believe they are, but there is evidence to legitimately have that opinion. But they don't playact - like some of their players do in the Clásicos - on a regular basis. Anyone that watches them week in week out already knows this.

As for me calling Real a team of thugs, it was proceeded by the sentence "based on last night and other Clásicos". I don't know if you saw that bit or not, but I can only assume you didn't, because it makes your post look pretty stupid now. Anything else you want me to clear up?

And thanks for using your words, that was much better.

[THFC]

Originally Posted by DoctorGonzo08

I'm not saying it wasn't. I'm saying given all the rest of the diving and play acting, would the ref not think this may have been more of the same?

If they weren't flapping around the place this would make a tackle like this easier to call by the ref.

I totally agree with you on that point, but the ref should still have comfortably been able to make that call.

[Gerty]

Originally Posted by Bodhisopha

I didn't see much play acting from Barca last night, some but not much. Poor Busquets isn't allowed to be hurt anymore it seems. I recall him going to ground twice, once when Pepe stomped his foot and the other time when Alonso nailed him in the side. Both looked legitimately painful to me.

People on here are too quick to take on the biased opinions of lazy and in last night's case, utterly useless commentators. Punditry by numbers, think for yourselves.

Sergio Busquets has lost the right to complain about anything.

His mentality is a disease on the game and it's a shame because he is a fantastic player.

[Bodhisopha]

Originally Posted by Gerty

Sergio Busquets has lost the right to complain about anything.

His mentality is a disease on the game and it's a shame because he is a fantastic player.

You prove my point.

Idiots can't assess a situation for themselves. Busquets goes down = Feigning

Good man.

[Davaeo09]

Originally Posted by super_furry

Well I thought that that your glaring hypocrasy is so self evident that it didn't require further explanation, however I'm more than happy to indulge you.

You see when you firstly ask people to avoid the "fanboy shíte again lads". It seems to be at odds with the two contradictory points you follow it up with.

You claim that it's only those who don't watch Barcelona on a regular basis that think they're a team of cheats. You then admit that you don't watch Madrid on a regular basis but are still able to claim that they're a "team of thugs."

Omg... nit picking much?
Im a Barcelona fan, I enjoy watching them, and will continue to do so. Call me if a fan boy if ya like but at the end of the day I have tried to reason with the arguments on here.

Some of you need to get down of your high horse...

[DoctorGonzo08]

Originally Posted by Bodhisopha

I didn't see much play acting from Barca last night, some but not much. Poor Busquets isn't allowed to be hurt anymore it seems. I recall him going to ground twice, once when Pepe stomped his foot and the other time when Alonso nailed him in the side. Both looked legitimately painful to me.

People on here are too quick to take on the biased opinions of lazy and in last night's case, utterly useless commentators. Punditry by numbers, think for yourselves.

You recall Busquets going to ground when contact is made, but you don't recall him running into Pepe, literally, and taking ground? Or when he went to ground holding his ass, and then sat up and wasn't sure if it was his ribs or just something he ate?

It is the pundits who are backing this 'clever' brand of football. Both teams were at it last night.

[#15]

Originally Posted by super_furry

I think it's because for the most part, the harsh tackles and dirty play are punished and called to task. The diving, play acting and cheating is ignored and accepted.

Nail on the head.

Everyone accepts that violent play is a stain on the sport, but there are always some who defend play acting.

The only thing more pathetic than diving is people defending diving.

It's just embarrassing seeing professional athletes roll around like fannies. There is no other sport that has such an engrained culture of cheating among the athletes, administrators and fans.

It's very difficult to watch top level soccer if you are also a fan of other sports like rugby, American football, basketball, MMA, etc.

[Gerty]

Originally Posted by Bodhisopha

You prove my point.

Idiots can't assess a situation for themselves. Busquets goes down = Feigning

Good man.

Nobody is saying that Busquets can't be legitimately injured from a challenge.

[dfx-]

Originally Posted by SantryRed

What does that even mean?

That's exactly what I was thinking. I still haven't worked it out.

[Ush1]

Originally Posted by #15

Nail on the head.

Everyone accepts that violent play is a stain on the sport, but there are always some who defend play acting.

The only thing more pathetic than diving is people defending diving.

It's just embarrassing seeing professional athletes roll around like fannies. There is no other sport that has such an engrained culture of cheating among the athletes, administrators and fans.

It's very difficult to watch top level soccer if you are also a fan of other sports like rugby, American football, basketball, MMA, etc.

Well in fairness no other sport is near as popular as football and there is plenty of people who defend violent play and/or dangerous tackling.

[RasTa]

Originally Posted by dfx-

That's exactly what I was thinking. I still haven't worked it out.

I think he means the Barca fanboys play Fifa, i.e not stepping onto a pitch. Anyway I don't hate Madrid for being tough, you would be led to believe Pepe broke Messi's leg instead of standing on his finger judging by some of the reactions on here.

I watched this match with a good few Canadians last night, they heard it was the two best teams on the planet. Little surprise they where all rolling around the floor laughing at every feigned injury from both sides. It was embarrassing.

Pretty much the last 5 or 6 El Classico's have being disgraces from both sides imo, which is a shame as there is usually some amazing football played in-between so not arsed watching them anymore. Ref's should let them sort it out the hockey way.

[CongoPowers]

jesus, people still arguing here.

I understand the frustration of other fans. it's always the same for the best sides. better to be in that position than the nice guys who never challenge seriously, though.

for those who are perhaps a bit bitter, remember, no team's dominance lasts forever. Barça possibly won't have a team this good ever again, it's just a period of dominance for a big club, like Real Madrid, Milan etc have had too (and were also victim of some bizarre criticism besides what was actually deserved).

there are Barça players guilty of diving, as there are with every other team. the hilarious thing is when it's suggested that English teams for example are any better lol. it's become more and more part of the game. it's not good or worth defending, but that's just the way it is now.

same with surrounding the referee, top two in Spain criticized after last year's CL tie for this, Manchester United players did the exact same the following weekend when Chicharito went down in the box (against Blackburn I think). again, it happens in every top league, every weekend. not good, but something that probably won't change.

so everybody should just chill.