2016-17 UEFA Champions League

Time for revolution. Time for change from top to bottom. At Barcelona, the standard can't ever slip to that. I don't just mean in terms of results but I mean in terms of actually enjoying watching this team play because, I fear that without Messi and in its current incarnation, this Barcelona side is not good to watch.

In 1974 the club were brave, they bought Johan Cruyff.

In 1988 the club were brave, they appointed Cruyff as manager and adopted his philosophies throughout the club.

In 2008, faced with a declining team of household names, the club were brave, they appointed Guardiola and they trusted in themselves, their players, their coach.

In 2017, is this club brave enough to do what's needed? To bring the smile back to this club?

I won't talk anymore about this tonight but I'll leave you with this quoute from Johan Cruyff which, after tonight, is more poignant than ever.

Following winning the Champions League at Wembley in 1992:

"And now, you didn’t only win it, but the way you won it. Don’t talk about You: ‘No. no. You won the game. No. No. We enjoy watching. Enjoying a game for Barcelona is much more important than only winning.”

Enjoying a game for Barcelona is much more important than only winning.....

sReq | uTeK

Andersonisgod wrote: »

I'd say he covered that distance too when he demolished Bayern Munich a couple of years ago....

AH yea I'm sure Pele was a great player in his prime too. But don't let nonsense that doesn't have anything to do with the argument at hand cloud your judgement.

Also are you forgetting the 7-0 aggregate score BAYERN v Barcelona?

Francie Barrett

Barcelona team just looked broken. You'd expect them to control possession and to press they opposition. They did neither. The current manager will not be able to turn this around, he needs to be sacked.

MisterAnarchy

Mascherano was a big loss tonight, umtiti was a liability.

Rakitic should have started in midfield, his energy in midfield would have aided Iniesta and Busquets,neither of whom looked fit.
Gomes is a dud, can't understand Enrique picking him.

BorneTobyWilde

Barcelona need Rodgers asap .

Flint Fredstone

Enrique is out of his depth... actually no wait, Enrique is a genius... hmmmm no, we need a revolution.

Flip flopping around, all over the town.

Paris est magique

!

Wow! Just wow! What a performance by PSG tonight :eek:! Reminds me my teens and their glorious era in the 90ies!

They outplayed Barça in every single part of the game. Young Kimpembé replacing Thiago Silva at the last min and masterising both Messi & Neymar was not something you'd have expected.

Hopefully Verratti injury is not too bad. It'd be quite a blow for PSG.

The Talking Bread

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Time for revolution. Time for change from top to bottom. At Barcelona, the standard can't ever slip to that. I don't just mean in terms of results but I mean in terms of actually enjoying watching this team play because, I fear that without Messi and in its current incarnation, this Barcelona side is not good to watch.

In 1974 the club were brave, they bought Johan Cruyff.

In 1988 the club were brave, they appointed Cruyff as manager and adopted his philosophies throughout the club.

In 2008, faced with a declining team of household names, the club were brave, they appointed Guardiola and they trusted in themselves, their players, their coach.

In 2017, is this club brave enough to do what's needed? To bring the smile back to this club?

I won't talk anymore about this tonight but I'll leave you with this quoute from Johan Cruyff which, after tonight, is more poignant than ever.

Following winning the Champions League at Wembley in 1992:

"And now, you didn’t only win it, but the way you won it. Don’t talk about You: ‘No. no. You won the game. No. No. We enjoy watching. Enjoying a game for Barcelona is much more important than only winning.”

Enjoying a game for Barcelona is much more important than only winning.....

Oh will you ever shut up! I reckon you never kicked a ball in your life! !!!!

LuckyGent88

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Id say he could be out of a job soon enough too. Lost to bottom of the table at the weekend and have constantly thrown away leads all season. Miles off Bayern who haven't been their usual force this year.

After looking at tonight's highlights, it was just like how the season has gone really. Dominating most teams but not taking the chances. Have to be clinical when most teams are defensive against you.

Augbanayang missed 2 sitters and a penalty and they missed a member of other chances.

Predictable enough result in the PSG-Barca game tonight. Barca haven't been at the races all season. To play in the manner they do and win a Champions League it has to be 10/10 every time at this level. A drop off in intensity, ball possession and penetration while playing that brand of football and teams playing that style become more vulnerable than most. We seen it in 2013 against Bayern, and in turn happened to Bayern against Madrid. And happened to Spain

As for the other game, I'd still expect Dortmund to turn it around.

Pighead

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Time for revolution. Time for change from top to bottom. At Barcelona, the standard can't ever slip to that. I don't just mean in terms of results but I mean in terms of actually enjoying watching this team play because, I fear that without Messi and in its current incarnation, this Barcelona side is not good to watch.

In 1974 the club were brave, they bought Johan Cruyff.

In 1988 the club were brave, they appointed Cruyff as manager and adopted his philosophies throughout the club.

In 2008, faced with a declining team of household names, the club were brave, they appointed Guardiola and they trusted in themselves, their players, their coach.

In 2017, is this club brave enough to do what's needed? To bring the smile back to this club?

I won't talk anymore about this tonight but I'll leave you with this quoute from Johan Cruyff which, after tonight, is more poignant than ever.

Following winning the Champions League at Wembley in 1992:

"And now, you didn’t only win it, but the way you won it. Don’t talk about You: ‘No. no. You won the game. No. No. We enjoy watching. Enjoying a game for Barcelona is much more important than only winning.”

Enjoying a game for Barcelona is much more important than only winning.....

I guess nine months is a long time in football.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=99806303&postcount=2055

In, out, shake it all about.

You'd have to ask why PSG aren't running away with the French league when you see a performance like that. They've been pretty patchy this season.

martyos121

The Golden Miller wrote: »

Predictable enough result in the PSG-Barca game tonight.

:rolleyes:

KaiserGunner

As an Arsenal fan PSG have been by far the best team that we have played all season, don't know how they didn't beat us in the two games. So to see them destroy a team like Barcelona is pretty impressive. It's credit to the French league that they aren't running away with it. Just shows how good Monaco are as well, will be a very tough game for Man City in that tie.

Pighead wrote: »

I guess nine months is a long time in football.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=99806303&postcount=2055

In, out, shake it all about.

You'd have to ask why PSG aren't running away with the French league when you see a performance like that. They've been pretty patchy this season.

I'll support any Barcelona coach. At times that enthusiasm is unfortunately misplaced and the brilliance of Messi and Suarez has masked glaring deficiencies in this team. It's wrong, it's not at the standard expected of Barcelona and, even worse, it's not fun to watch. Give me Cruyff, give me Guardiola, give me Xavi Hernandez.

sReq | uTeK

Pighead wrote: »

I guess nine months is a long time in football.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=99806303&postcount=2055

In, out, shake it all about.

You'd have to ask why PSG aren't running away with the French league when you see a performance like that. They've been pretty patchy this season.

Can we sticky this.

Sergio Busquets: "it's not about the attitude, it was a football thing, PSG were better tactically."

That is damning.

Pighead

Andersonisgod wrote: »

I'll support any Barcelona coach. At times that enthusiasm is unfortunately misplaced and the brilliance of Messi and Suarez has masked glaring deficiencies in this team. It's wrong, it's not at the standard expected of Barcelona and, even worse, it's not fun to watch. Give me Cruyff, give me Guardiola, give me Xavi Hernandez.

Your commentary this season doesn't support the claim that you haven't been enjoying the football Barca play. You have been glowing in your praise of them and when they lose you haven't criticised the manager or players. Instead you've been banging on about foul play and an agenda at play by officials to halt Barca in their tracks. Tonight is pretty much the first time all season you've said the football is poor and the manager is out of his depth.

Pighead wrote: »

Your commentary this season doesn't support the claim that you haven't been enjoying the football Barca play. You have been glowing in your praise of them and when they lose you haven't criticised the manager or players. Instead you've been banging on about foul play and an agenda at play by officials to halt Barca in their tracks. Tonight is pretty much the first time all season you've said the football is poor and the manager is out of his depth.

I leave my criticisms for elsewhere where the spotlight upon myself isn't quite so ferocious. Check through the thread tonight and read some of the personal digs at me, instead of comments about the game. Impossible to post in a balanced manner against that backdrop.

Anyway, this isn't the Andersonisgod 2016/2017 thread (despite some of the comments here tonight) it's the Champions League thread so I'm hoping to refrain from talking too much about myself (which is why I originally left the thread, though I was peeved enough by 1 comment particularly to be tempted back in) so now I'm gonna leave again.

The Golden Miller wrote: »

Predictable enough result in the PSG-Barca game tonight. Barca haven't been at the races all season. To play in the manner they do and win a Champions League it has to be 10/10 every time at this level. A drop off in intensity, ball possession and penetration while playing that brand of football and teams playing that style become more vulnerable than most. We seen it in 2013 against Bayern, and in turn happened to Bayern against Madrid. And happened to Spain

No. No one expected nor predicted this result beforehand. And no one could have guessed it. If you've watched just a couple of PSG latest games in L1 you'd see it as obvious as it is. PSG is no Bayern too. They're a team in reconstruction with Emery and it clicked on with green lights everywhere tonight for the first time ever.

Pighead wrote: »

You'd have to ask why PSG aren't running away with the French league when you see a performance like that. They've been pretty patchy this season.

They never put that level of intensity in L1 this year. They also probably know they have some margin. Though they certainly did not expect Monaco and most importantly Nice to have such seasons so far. And again they're in reconstruction phase with Emery. It takes time to change your way of playing. Tonight is the first time they accepted Emery way that much and with that level of intensity for 90 min.

KaiserGunner wrote: »

As an Arsenal fan PSG have been by far the best team that we have played all season, don't know how they didn't beat us in the two games. So to see them destroy a team like Barcelona is pretty impressive. It's credit to the French league that they aren't running away with it. Just shows how good Monaco are as well, will be a very tough game for Man City in that tie.

Credit to Monaco & Nice mainly. Most teams (mine included and despite beating PSG) don't offer very much. That said, with what PSG has become, for many teams it is the game of the season so they give it more than they usually do.

Now coming back to the Arsenal game. The difference with tonight is a couple more months of getting used to Emery "method"

iroced wrote: »

No. No one expected nor predicted this result beforehand. And no one could have guessed it. If you've watched just a couple of PSG latest games in L1 you'd see it as obvious as it is. PSG is no Bayern too. They're a team in reconstruction with Emery and it clicked on with green lights everywhere tonight for the first time ever.

The result flattered PSG tonight. PSG are no Bayern circa 2013, but it didn't need a great team to do to Barca what Bayern done to them before, and what Madrid did to Bayern a year later. I said a few months back on this thread that Barca would struggle big time if they didn't vastly improve and clearly they haven't. Only for Messi they would be even further behind in La Liga. Until they get their act together they are an easy team to play at the moment. Sit back and hit them on the counter while man marking Messi. It's all sideways passing and blunt attacks with no tempo, intent or penetration. Football is always cyclical, and Barca's troughs and peaks will be greater than anyone else's due to how they play

Shanotheslayer

The Golden Miller wrote: »

Predictable enough result in the PSG-Barca game tonight.

I'm sure you've a beautiful betting slip to back this up because PSG were a very generous price :rolleyes:

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

I'm sure you've a beautiful betting slip to back this up because PSG were a very generous price :rolleyes:

https://gyazo.com/934d772fee1cc77afdb646b65746d6ab. Granted, I had both to score, but it was to be expected PSG would win

The Golden Miller wrote: »

The result flattered PSG tonight. PSG are no Bayern circa 2013, but it didn't need a great team to do to Barca what Bayern done to them before, and what Madrid did to Bayern a year later. I said a few months back on this thread that Barca would struggle big time if they didn't vastly improve and clearly they haven't. Only for Messi they would be even further behind in La Liga. Until they get their act together they are an easy team to play at the moment. Sit back and hit them on the counter while man marking Messi. It's all sideways passing and blunt attacks with no tempo, intent or penetration. Football is always cyclical, and Barca's troughs and peaks will be greater than anyone else's due to how they play

I agree with this. You could add ageing Iniesta & Busquets and the lack of Rakitic in midfield too. Maybe also more hunger in this PSG team than in Barça's one who've already won so much silverware.

It's the "predictable enough" part I do not agree with considering it ended 4-0 for PSG. Predictable win why not. But not predictable 4-0

sReq | uTeK

Neymar was the only player that had a game. Messi lost the ball for the 2nd goal in 38 minutes and stood there watching 4 PSG players attack. Disgraceful attitude

**** me Veratti is some player

Shanotheslayer

The Golden Miller wrote: »

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

I'm sure you've a beautiful betting slip to back this up because PSG were a very generous price :rolleyes:

https://gyazo.com/934d772fee1cc77afdb646b65746d6ab. Granted, I had both to score, but it was to be expected PSG would win

Unlucky not to land that. Don't know why you didn't take PSG win at 3.3 as well. I thought the odds were high myself probably based on league form.

I disagree it was 'expected' given they weren't the bookies favourite

iroced wrote: »

It's the "predictable enough" part I do not agree with considering it ended 4-0 for PSG. Predictable win why not. But not predictable 4-0 .

Well we've seen Barca hammered before. Same with Bayern in their first season trying to play tiki-taka. Same with Spain. The win was predictable since Barca are well below their best and the manner they play in, easy to counter. PSG were always going to set up in one way, which isn't how they normally play, so it made them look world beaters. A good defence like Juve or Monaco could just as easily do to them what they did to Barca tonight, when the onus is on PSG to bring the game to the opposition ( I suspect a strong counter attacking team will win it this year, probably Juve, but possibly Monaco or Atletico). Of course, any exact result is not predictable, I just didn't think it was surprising in the least considering we've seen below par tiki-taka teams ripped apart on the counter before.

Arghus

Well that was a one sided thrashing.

The Golden Miller wrote: »

Well we've seen Barca hammered before. Same with Bayern in their first season trying to play tiki-taka. Same with Spain. The win was predictable since Barca are well below their best and the manner they play in, easy to counter. The result not surprising, hence the "predictable enough" comment. Of course, any exact result is not predictable

Yeah but that's only looking at the Barça side of the game. PSG did not show anything this season to let us imagine such thrashing. Even their 2 good games against Arsenal, they were naive and lacked efficiency. Eeven in L1 they just had 1 win against the top sides (Monaco, Nice, Lyon, Marseille). They were doing better lately but L1 standard. So for such a high intensity display coupled with cold blood finish tonight to happen was quite some stretch. In a way, I'd have rather backed Monaco who are solid at the back and scoring for fun in L1 than PSG to have such a game.