World Football Thread VII

[alva]

Aww c'mon José, give it up already, will ya...

[Lawrence of Arabia]

what happened to messi, i left to go cook for three minutes, and when i got back he was gone.

[Maquiladora]

Mourinho is right, although hes bitter about everything too. You can hardly call Barcelona the "better team" last night when Barca had the upper hand from the beginning, all they had to do was not waste possession and play out time. Sure Chelsea still gave away the ball a lot in midfield last night but they were hardly in a position to build up passing momentum for 5 minutes. Was also Lampards first game back, although he still made 2 through-balls.

All things being equal i favour Chelsea in a fair match because they can attack just as effectively, but theyre also good in the air, defensively and offensively, which Barca arent in defence one bit.

I agree about the ref too, he did his best to stifle the game, which helped Barca regroup. Any time Chelsea got up some speed Barcas defence was all over the place, which is why i dont think theyre the certain winners everyones making them out to be.

what happened to messi, i left to go cook for three minutes, and when i got back he was gone.

He went off crying because someone touched him.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

He went off crying because someone touched him.

I thought messi was ready to punish chelsea????

i guess he didnt realize hes playing with the big boys now.

[Maquiladora]

Yeah that was funny. He pulled up after a bump i think it was his hamstring.

As Mourinho says, Barcelona still havent beat Chelsea 11v11.

[MikeH]

Chelsea were poor yesterday though, Barca didn't have to chase the game but they played ok. There were too many fouls from both sides. I thought that Robben behind Drogba quite obviously wasn't working and I was surprised they didn't change it earlier. They should at least have switched JC into the middle and Robben to the wing. Duff was really bad. The team looks far better balanced with Robben and JC on the wings, Gudjohnsen in midfield from the start. Super Frank had to do much too much defending with Robben playing in the cheating position...

A real let down of a match.

[alva]

I thought messi was ready to punish chelsea????

i guess he didnt realize hes playing with the big boys now.

I haven't seen many big boys who continue playing with a pulled harmstring.

You can hardly call Barcelona the "better team" last night when Barca had the upper hand from the beginning, all they had to do was not waste possession and play out time.

Errr, they would have been foolish to play any other way. It was up to Chelsea to take the risks, not Barca.

As to the fact of not beating them with eleven v eleven.
He keeps coming with these things...haven't lost twice in a row, haven't lost at home, eleven v eleven. There's always some statistic out there to prove your point.

This year, Barca is the better team (at the moment?) and arguably last year too. The difference being that this year they stay in the CL, while last year they didn't.
It's not about being the best team, it's not about winning, it's about reaching the next round.

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by alva

You can hardly call Barcelona the "better team" last night when Barca had the upper hand from the beginning, all they had to do was not waste possession and play out time.

Errr, they would have been foolish to play any other way. It was up to Chelsea to take the risks, not Barca.

I never said Barca shouldve played any other way.

So... to call them the "better team" is to reasonably say both teams had the same job to do. Chelsea had more to do, of course it looks like a breeze when all you have to worry about is not conceding. We saw that in the game, Barca were confident and free on the ball, Chelsea were cautious not to waste any possession and it played on their normal creative game.

As to the fact of not beating them with eleven v eleven.
He keeps coming with these things...haven't lost twice in a row, haven't lost at home, eleven v eleven. There's always some statistic out there to prove your point.

What things, facts?

Its the in thing to say Barca are the best team in Europe these days because they attack with flair like noone else, or because they have more players who pull out the tricks when the pressures off. Barca have plenty of weaknesses, especially in the air and flanks, we just havent seen a fair game with anyone capable of tearing them a new one yet.

[reds4ever]

I've no axe to grind re Chelsea but Mourinho is becoming a pantomime act. He needs to take a step back and realize that not every games focal point should be him vs the ref, him vs the other manager, him vs the FA, him vs the fans.

[C0ckney]

to be fair barca were the better side and would have won the game last night if not for a dubious penalty in the last minute.

[C0ckney]

reds

it's about time he learnt to keep it shut instead of opening it wide at every opportunity

[alva]

What things, facts?

t's about time he learnt to keep it shut instead of opening it wide at every opportunity

That's more or less what I meant.
Last year after loosing a game (in the CL) he went on that on his leadership, Chelsea never two games in a row.
This time it's: "hey, they never beat us eleven v eleven".
He has made a few others like that.

Somethimes, you've just gotta say:" we lost", I don't mind the obligatory:" hey, IF". Those are understandable, but please, keep them to a minimum.

BTW: any thruth in the rumour that he may leave Chelsea (for AC Milan) at the end of the season. There was some talk about it here last night.

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by C0ckney
to be fair barca were the better side and would have won the game last night if not for a dubious penalty in the last minute.

There were many dubious decisions... only that penalty didnt change anything.

t's about time he learnt to keep it shut instead of opening it wide at every opportunity

That's more or less what I meant.

The last thing we need is more managers like Arsene Wenger mumbling their way through another post match interview. For all Fergusons faults at least he says what he thinks and gets involved.

[reds4ever]

Is your Paypal account in the black buddy?

[Maquiladora]

Yes, unfortunately i have to hope another English side gets knocked out. Oh well its only Liverpool.