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Barca vs. Man Utd (first leg)

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,920 ✭✭✭evad_lhorg


    makes me wonder how big teams like united and liverpool have standard players like Brown and Squirtle squirtle in their defences


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    Compared to United's other back 3, every other defender on the pitch is standard.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 697 ✭✭✭oobydooby


    PHB wrote: »
    Compared to United's other back 3, every other defender on the pitch is standard.

    United's team is also brilliant. Yeah I got a bit carried away with 8 or 9 world class players, but there's nobody in the Barca line-up who I wouldn't happily take in the Pool squad.

    edit: And Brown has been very good this year - clearly not the same class as the other 3 but as the chink in your armour he's not weak at all.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 42,595 ✭✭✭✭Boggles


    Word is Henry has been hit by a virus. Good news I think, football has a way of being romantic and all that, it would be just like him to have a stormer.

    They have training tommorow evening at 7 gmt, so it should be a bit clearer who there personal will be.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,046 ✭✭✭eZe^


    oobydooby wrote: »
    Wow, that's a cracking team (on paper). I've seen your later post you reckon pothead won't play Deco. Is Deco "injured" the same way as Ronnie or is there a chance that he might play?

    Really looking forward to this game, even though I'll be more anxious watching the Pool game (pool fan) this one has the makings of a classic.

    With a potential line-up like that, with 8 or 9 world-class players, it's really damning of Rijkaard that Barca are doing so poorly in La Liga.

    Well, initially I thought he was resting Thuram and Deco because he planned on starting them Wednesday, but after a little pondering, I reckon he gave Marquez a run out so he could stretch his legs in a live environment as he plans on starting him Wednesday. Deco hasn't played a game for Barca in months now, so it would be a risk to start him with no game time, although Ive already outlined that he can bring something to the table that our other midfielders cannot.

    Henry may miss the first match, which is a shame, but I really want Frank to play Iniesta on the left, he could definitely terrorize the Utd defense more than Bojan as he is more of a central striker, and shouldn't be risked to start at such a young age, to much pressure on the star. The problem is, Barca's defence on paper is as good a Utd's but its just been so atrociously **** this season that it could be our undoing.

    It'll be a little bit of magic from Iniesta or Rooney, or a defensive slip by Abidal or Brown that'll decide the outcome of the tie imo, I just hope Barca dont self destruct, they need to start believing they can do it.

    2007/08 Champions League

    Manchester United
    Played: 10
    Won: 8
    Drawn 2
    Lost 0
    Scored: 18
    Conceded: 5

    Barcelona
    Played: 10
    Won: 8
    Drawn 2
    Lost 0
    Scored: 18
    Conceded: 5

    ''This says it all for me. Ignore Barcelona's form in La Liga. In the Champions League this season they are exactly identical to us. This match is gonna be so much harder than some are thinking. Somethings gotta give and I hope its us who gets pasts them''

    A post I read from a Man U fan who doesn't quite hold the same amount of optimism as 99% of England atm.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,176 ✭✭✭Unearthly


    I'm not confident at all but we have given ourselves the best chance we could by having a fully fit squad(hopefully)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,006 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    United to win 2 - 1.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 42,595 ✭✭✭✭Boggles


    Unearthly wrote: »
    I'm not confident at all but we have given ourselves the best chance we could by having a fully fit squad(hopefully)

    Plus United are a better team as a whole, the second leg is at home, Barcelona have proved to be dreadful travellers, if you believe half the news they are a team with a lot of inhouse fighting, etc etc.

    That said, Messi could score a hat trick in 12 minutes. Barcelona's home defensive record is actually quite good. United are perinial under achievers in Europe, etc etc

    There is so much going for both teams and alot against.

    I think whoever gets through will earn it thou, I just can't call it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,065 ✭✭✭✭MisterAnarchy


    If United really go at them like they can, they should advance. As we seen though, AF likes to **** around in Europe and make it as complicated as possible.

    Yes,it all depends on United's attitude in the Camp Nou.
    If they approach the game positively then they will have a good chance but if they are negative like they have been in the vast majority of their away games over the last few years then I see serious trouble for them.
    United away from home in the Champions league are very suspect and they will not have faced as dangerous an attack before .
    Lyon and Roma were both pretty toothless something that cannot be said of Barca.
    Its a pity both these teams have to meet at the semi final stage,it would have been the purists ideal final.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 25,953 ✭✭✭✭kryogen


    i am sure fergie knows that Barca will be much more likely to score then Roma or Lyon were so i can see him sending out a team that is told to attack whenever possible tbh....if we defend brilliantly for 89 minutes but fail to score then Barca break the defense with a moment of magic it will all have been for nothing, an away goal is vital so i am sure we will be set out looking for one


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,692 ✭✭✭Loomis


    In Europe we've nearly always been able to outscore teams but because we were always likely to concede it left little margin for error. Similar to how Barcelona are lately actually - always likely to score but always likely to concede if you get at them. This year our defense is playing brilliantly which makes the margin a lot bigger. I think this is our biggest advantage over Barcelona. I see this being a score draw and hopefully should give us the advantage to take to Old Trafford.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 700 ✭✭✭Prufrock


    United will be able to catch Barca out on the counter attack if Uniteds attacking players perform. Depends which Barca turns up though.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21,296 ✭✭✭✭gimmick


    ''This says it all for me. Ignore Barcelona's form in La Liga. In the Champions League this season they are exactly identical to us. This match is gonna be so much harder than some are thinking. Somethings gotta give and I hope its us who gets pasts them''

    I think that is slightly misleading. Man Utd have played better sides than Barca in this years competition. Even looking at the knock outs, Man Utd beat Lyon and Roma, Barca beat Celtic and Schalke. IMO, Lyon and Roma are both better than who Barca beat.

    I really hope Barca can do this. No doubting the talent there, not to mention a second trophyless season beckons. If those players have any heart, they will turn up tomorrow night and show man U who is boss.

    Mes Que Un Club.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,430 ✭✭✭Sizzler


    I see Hargreaves is being touted as a man marker for Messi :eek:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,176 ✭✭✭Unearthly


    Sizzler wrote: »
    I see Hargreaves is being touted as a man marker for Messi :eek:

    A defensive midfielder man marking barca's best attacking player?

    Where do the media come up with it :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,079 ✭✭✭✭Malice


    Prufrock wrote: »
    Depends which Barca turns up though.
    This sums it up for me. Barca seem defensively frail and generally out of sorts but are more than capable of conjuring something up.

    I think the key thing here to remember is that it's a two-legged affair. Can Barca be trusted not to screw up at least once over the two games? As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think they can.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,303 ✭✭✭✭event


    lads, regarding a few of ye saying barcelona are defensivly frail, they have teh second best defence in la liga, only madrid have conceded less

    also, according to uefa.com they have conceeded just 5 goals this year, level with united and bettered only by chelsea.

    its not as if they leak goals by the bucket


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,529 ✭✭✭Im_No_Superman


    Really looking forward to the game now, think the two games are going to be fantastic. I think (hope) Utd will just about edge it. Had a dream last night that Rio scored and we won 2-0 in the Camp Nou, you heard it hear first! :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,283 ✭✭✭Smegball


    event wrote: »
    lads, regarding a few of ye saying barcelona are defensivly frail, they have teh second best defence in la liga, only madrid have conceded less

    also, according to uefa.com they have conceeded just 5 goals this year, level with united and bettered only by chelsea.

    its not as if they leak goals by the bucket

    But tbh the La Liga hasn't exactly set an example of being a defensively solid league has it :pac:


  • Posts: 14,379 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Smegball wrote: »
    But tbh the La Liga hasn't exactly set an example of being a defensively solid league has it :pac:


    Any time Ive watched barce this year Ive seen a calamity of errors at the back tbh.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 526 ✭✭✭LuckyCharms


    Too close to call until i see the team sheets. If united go for an attacking team with nani + anderson from the start then im going united win. If we start with 451 with carrick , hargreaves then 1-1 or 1-0 defeat , prolly 1-1 though since fergie will itroduce nani n anderson in second half.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,430 ✭✭✭Sizzler


    Unearthly wrote: »
    A defensive midfielder man marking barca's best attacking player?

    Where do the media come up with it :confused:

    Mad Ted, MAD :D

    Mr.Alex doesnt usually worry about opposition players that much, usually lets them worry about ours! Can't recall him putting a marker on anybody of late :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,907 ✭✭✭LostinBlanch


    Sizzler wrote: »

    Mr.Alex doesnt usually worry about opposition players that much, usually lets them worry about ours!

    Eh? Where've you been since 2003? :confused:

    His abject refusal to play football in Europe the United way after being knocked out by Real in '03 has seen us under achieve big time. Didn't we go two years without an away win?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,046 ✭✭✭eZe^


    gimmick wrote: »
    I think that is slightly misleading. Man Utd have played better sides than Barca in this years competition. Even looking at the knock outs, Man Utd beat Lyon and Roma, Barca beat Celtic and Schalke. IMO, Lyon and Roma are both better than who Barca beat.

    I really hope Barca can do this. No doubting the talent there, not to mention a second trophyless season beckons. If those players have any heart, they will turn up tomorrow night and show man U who is boss.

    Mes Que Un Club.


    We did beat Lyon already, more thorougly than Man Utd over two legs. If I remember correctly, Barcelona are also the only team to beat Celtic away, a place Man Utd lost last season?

    Keep the faith brother.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    Can't recall him putting a marker on anybody of late

    He often puts Fletcher on people. He put him on Totti, and put him on Fabregas. It works and is important.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 526 ✭✭✭LuckyCharms


    Evra would be great for taking care of messi imo, hargreaves and fletcher are good at the job but messi is a different bred of player to totti and fabregas, also in a different league imo to almost anyone.Evra would be able to compete for speed with messi which i think would be important, although if messi is stuck on browns wing then well, someone will have to help the poor chap out.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,096 ✭✭✭An Citeog


    PHB wrote: »
    He often puts Fletcher on people. He put him on Totti, and put him on Fabregas. It works and is important.

    He also put him on Kaka!:(
    Evra would be great for taking care of messi imo, hargreaves and fletcher are good at the job but messi is a different bred of player to totti and fabregas, also in a different league imo to almost anyone.Evra would be able to compete for speed with messi which i think would be important, although if messi is stuck on browns wing then well, someone will have to help the poor chap out.

    It's not Messi's speed that makes him so good, it's his ball control. When he (and to a slightly lesser extent, Iniesta) runs with the ball, it's like it's stuck to him foot. He's in complete control all the time and very difficult to dispossess. Ronaldo has great control aswell but not as good as Messi and this is why Ronaldo has such a difficult time when he comes up against the top defenders. If he could add this to his game, he'd be absolutely unstoppable!:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    Indeed, I don't think any defender alone can stop a great player like Messi Ronaldo or Kaka, all for different reasons.

    Hargreaves needs to double up on him. At the same time though, he has to watch Iniesta, who is just as good a player on his day.

    I think we should do what everyone does against great players, double mark him, keep physical, and pray he has an off day. The fact that he is coming back to fitness I hope helps this.

    A bit of history about the ties between these two clubs for people who don't know,

    Last 6 results from BBC:

    1983-84 ECWC q-final
    UTD 3-2 BARCA (aggregate)
    1990-91 ECWC final
    UTD 2-1 BARCA
    1994-95 Champ Lge groups
    UTD 2-2 BARCA
    1994-95 Champ Lge groups
    BARCA 4-0 UTD
    1998-99 Champ Lge groups
    UTD 3-3 BARCA
    1998-99 Champ Lge groups
    BARCA 3-3 UTD

    Some amazing moments and goals in these matches. Rivaldos amazing goal sticks out.

    In the last 4 games, there has been 20 goals between them!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,176 ✭✭✭Unearthly




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,077 ✭✭✭✭Xavi6


    We all know that the game revolves around one player and if he's on form then there will be only one winner. Step forward please Barcelona's dynamic number 6! :D


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