Barca vs. Man Utd (first leg)

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_3463322,00.html

I hope Ronaldo shoves those words down his throat tonight.

"However, Xavi has also insinuated that Ronaldo has it easy in England as he given more time and space to showcase his talent, and feels that a real test of his ability would be provided by the tight and uncompromising defences in the Primera Division."

Ronaldo is also top scorer in Champs league. And we haven't played an English team in the competition........yet!

Really excited about this match, would be watching it with bells on...

I would say 1-0 for United but then after yesterdays match(Liverpool vs. Chelsea) anything can happen and the 90th minute...

PHB wrote: »

I'm not hugely worried about Vidic being out. Vidic is essential against any team which puts the ball in the air. But on the ground, while he's great and all, Pique isn't much worse. Pique will find this game a lot easier to play in than he would against say Blackburn or Boro [as odd as that sounds ]

The fact that he's Spanish and that he's used tot he style of play will probably suit him too

PHB wrote: »

The nerves are starting to get to me now Think its unlikely I'll get any work done for the rest of the day

Same here. Can't get it out of my head. The neighbours will be giving out about me again tonight.
Whatever is going to happen I hope we get a fantastic game of football.

Looking forward to this one...

THIS is the sort of match where you're superstars should stand up and be counted.

It's always easier at home in the first leg, keep it tight, nick a 1-0 victory.

Barca are one of the few big sides who don't have the defensive set up to do that so should Utd score early on, they're gonna feel the heat.

deisedevil wrote: »

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_3463322,00.html

I hope Ronaldo shoves those words down his throat tonight.

"However, Xavi has also insinuated that Ronaldo has it easy in England as he given more time and space to showcase his talent, and feels that a real test of his ability would be provided by the tight and uncompromising defences in the Primera Division."

Ronaldo is also top scorer in Champs league. And we haven't played an English team in the competition........yet!

As tight and uncompromising as Barca's like?

I am pretty sure that United will be able to get a goal or two tonight if they play to their strenghts. There is no doubt that Barca will be a massive threat going forward so it will boil down to how well United will defend. Over the two legs, I expect the United defence to be the difference.

If they don't play to their strenghts though and get knocked out again, I think serious questions has to be asked of AF. This is going to appear very biased as it is hard to explain but I actually had United supporters agreeing with me earlier in work.

Liverpool's win in the CL against Ac Milan is often dismissed as being a complete jam. Since then, we have managed to get to another CL final and are still in the running of getting to another one. As much as some would like to begrudge that win, it is blatantly obvious that Rafa and his Liverpool squad have their tactics against European opposition down to a tee. They just can't bring that form to the PL and this is a major problem.

Man United won the CL in 1999. They done so with two last minute goals. Since then, they have won the PL a handful of times but have not really come near to achieving any sort of real consistency in Europe since then. The lack of any real achievement in Europe makes the way in which they won that CL final really stand out as a memorable occassionn. It also makes it all the more dismissable as being complete luck as they have have not been able re-create it. If anything, I would be pretty confident in saying that AF performance in Europe would be very disappointing for United fans when you consider the success they have had at home.

In the same way that major questions are now being asked of Wenger after quite a honeymoon period, should serious questions be asked of AF for United's under achievement in Europe?!? Especially if they are knocked out this round due to him ****ing around with the system instead of playing to their strenghts.

All setup to be a cracker, the RTE panel along should be worth watching although it'll be hard to beat last night;

John "When I was managed in Leeds by Jimmy Armfield..."
Eamon "Sorry John, the late Jimmy Armfield"
John "Eh Eamon - he's still alive"
Eamon "oh"

Classic!

PHB wrote: »

Personally, if we never win a CL for the rest of Fergie's time with us, I still wouldn't want him to go.

In the league, there is noone better. The League is still the most important trophy to me every year, this year included, and he is better than any manager in the world right now at winning it.

In Europe, I don't agree with him. But the reason I don't agree with him is the reason you think Rafa is good in Europe. Rafa goes defensive, plays a defensive style, tries to hit teams on the counter and dominate possession.
Fergie does this in Euro aways, which is what most United fans get annoyed about. The problem is he tries to be too continental. If we just went with our natural way of playing, attack and outscore them with a solid defence, most United fans think we'd do better. Fergie doesn't agree because he's been burnt in the past playing that way.

My problem with Fergie's Euro tactics is he tries too much to be like Rafa. It works for Liverpool. It doesn't work for United. Why? Because it's not in our players instincts to play like that.

This goes back to my point. Rafa has Liverpool set up a specific way and he virtually plays the exact same way whether in Europe or the PL. Whether he ever achieves success in the PL is anyones guess but there is no doubt that he setting the club up so that they can be successful on both fronts. This is of massive importance in my opinion. A team that dominates their domestic league should be able to achieve success in Europe - from the big leagues of course. This is something that United have never done. It is not as if AF has not tried either. The fact that a large percentage of United fans here would be of the opinion that if Unitedplayed to their strenghts, they would have more success in Europe.

AF changing the formation, line up or style of play just for Europe and generally failing just doesn't seem to get the coverage that it should. A club of United's stature should have aspirations on a part with Real, Milan, Liverpool, Bayern and so on. It doesn't look like they will ever reach those heights in Europe under AF.

I would be majorly disappointed as a United fan in the same way I am massively disappointed by Liverpool's league form. I am tolerent of Rafa's under achievement due to him being there a few seasons.

PHB wrote: »

Barca:

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Valdes

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--Zambrotta

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Milito

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Marquez---Abidal--

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Toure

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Xavi

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Deco

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--Messi

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Iniesta---

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Eto

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Pothead got it right. If Man Utd beat us, then I'll safely admit you've beaten the strongest possilbe Barca line up.