Is it too early to predict the Champions League Finals?



The Barca vs Real Madrid matchup today will determine who advances to the Final out of their bracket. Barca holds a 2 goal advantage, meaning Real Madrid will need to win by 3 goals to advance.



Manchester United holds the same goal advantage and is the favorite to advance out of their second leg battle with Schalke tomorrow.



I am a bit concerned with the play style of Man U after watching their game against Arsenal this weekend. Too many long balls for breakaway runs. Arsenal played a quick touch, short pass game (ala Barca) and dominated the Red Devils. Any thoughts?

In my opinion ManU is THE example of the british soccer I have known all my life : Big boys running fast, playing hard throwing long ball in the box in order to slide or head awkwardly the ball into the goal. Very average (in my opinion) but very efficient soccer once you insured you have the bigger/faster boys (that's where money talks, check the terrible financial state of the clubs there).

I spent a few weeks reading English blogs were posters are complaining how terrible their youth programs have been for years and what a failure the youth british system has been. They complained about focus on wins at all cost and on athleticism over brain and technique (heard that before ?)

I wonder how much this british soccer has influenced our own soccer her in the US but my bet is that it has a lot to do with our own poor showing.
Things are changing though. Spain and barcelona are showing a way to win games without the big fast boys working painfully hard and I am quite sure their are making a point.
So BARCA ALL THE WAY BABY !!!

That was certainly the MO for MU vs Arsenal. I think playing without Giggs has hurt them on defense and the attack. His maturity and cleverness adds a dimension to the group dynamic. He is a differnce maker because he can hold the back line, work the middle and serve the top. Fabio, on the other hand, is not a contributor on either side of the ball. Something is missing between the ears.

Looks like it will be Barcelona. Real Madrid doesn't even have a shot at goal at 43'.
I agree Barca all the way. Manchester does not have a chance against Barca...I am sure MU will beat Schalke tomorrow.

ManU got a lesson in futbol a few years ago in the Champions League Final and it'll happen just the same. Fergie might wanna get an update on his numerical system cuz he'll be sitting there in the bench counting the number of passes in a row that Barcelona is stringing together while his guys are running in circles. Let's see if he can find a way to blame the referees in this one.

Did you see Pique during the first 30 mn of the game ? No really, did you see him ? We always talk about offence in barca but watch again what he does in the back line...Look how absolutely dominant Pique is. This needs to be shown in soccer school. What a joy that was !

I hate to be the dark cloud around with regard to Barcelona but I really don't like the way they play or act on the field. It is pretty clear they are the best team, but they look like a bunch of whiny kids on the field. Macherono takes more dives than Greg Louganis and Pujols can't stop getting in the ref's ear everytime someone thinks about getting near a Barca player.

I was watching with my son last night and he asked why Mascherono was rolling around on the ground crying like he had just been shot after barely getting nicked. I told him it was plain and simple, "Cheating" he is trying to get RM to get carded. Not the pretty side of the game if you ask me.

Sprint wrote:I hate to be the dark cloud around with regard to Barcelona but I really don't like the way they play or act on the field. It is pretty clear they are the best team, but they look like a bunch of whiny kids on the field. Macherono takes more dives than Greg Louganis and Pujols can't stop getting in the ref's ear everytime someone thinks about getting near a Barca player.

I was watching with my son last night and he asked why Mascherono was rolling around on the ground crying like he had just been shot after barely getting nicked. I told him it was plain and simple, "Cheating" he is trying to get RM to get carded. Not the pretty side of the game if you ask me.

Go Man U!!!!

gababa wrote:In my opinion ManU is THE example of the british soccer I have known all my life : Big boys running fast, playing hard throwing long ball in the box in order to slide or head awkwardly the ball into the goal. Very average (in my opinion) but very efficient soccer once you insured you have the bigger/faster boys (that's where money talks, check the terrible financial state of the clubs there).

I spent a few weeks reading English blogs were posters are complaining how terrible their youth programs have been for years and what a failure the youth british system has been. They complained about focus on wins at all cost and on athleticism over brain and technique (heard that before ?)

I wonder how much this british soccer has influenced our own soccer her in the US but my bet is that it has a lot to do with our own poor showing.
Things are changing though. Spain and barcelona are showing a way to win games without the big fast boys working painfully hard and I am quite sure their are making a point.
So BARCA ALL THE WAY BABY !!!

I disagree with these statements completely. Man Utd are not big. Rooney is 5’ 10, Giggs is 5’ 11, Scholes is 5’7”, Hernandez is 5”8”. The EPL plays more direct than the La Liga in general but that doesn’t mean the style is poor. Sometimes you have to play different styles depending on the weaknesses and strengths of your opponents.

Did you like the way Barca played in the first leg? RM forced them to play because of the two holding mids. Barca’s acting was atrocious. Many should have been sent off.

Since you are throwing all the EPL teams vs. La Liga. Opinions on Arsenal or Wigan play vs. Levante or Sporting.

EPL indebtedness? La liga is close to 6 billion in debt. RM would not have made a dinero if they had not sold their training ground a few years back, or received a loan of $200 mil from the central bank of Spain. Barca made only 8 million even with champions league win.
Each league has its positive top down teams. Give me the strength of the EPL over all the other leagues top to bottom.

twotone wrote:ManU got a lesson in futbol a few years ago in the Champions League Final and it'll happen just the same. Fergie might wanna get an update on his numerical system cuz he'll be sitting there in the bench counting the number of passes in a row that Barcelona is stringing together while his guys are running in circles. Let's see if he can find a way to blame the referees in this one.

Won't need to...Sir Alex always has a plan the second time around.

Go MAN U.

No need to wait on predictions. BARCA continues to roll.

this will be an interesting game. If ManU can press the attack and take the game to Barca they may be able to make them affraid to hold the ball. The last time they met they started out that way with ManU completely dominating the game but once the game switched to barcas style it was over. Since losing Ronaldo, manu has become much more varied in the attack. Hernadez, nani, and rooney will all push the pace and they have to make barca lose their patience and start running instead.

soccerrus2 wrote:

gababa wrote:In my opinion ManU is THE example of the british soccer I have known all my life : Big boys running fast, playing hard throwing long ball in the box in order to slide or head awkwardly the ball into the goal. Very average (in my opinion) but very efficient soccer once you insured you have the bigger/faster boys (that's where money talks, check the terrible financial state of the clubs there).

I spent a few weeks reading English blogs were posters are complaining how terrible their youth programs have been for years and what a failure the youth british system has been. They complained about focus on wins at all cost and on athleticism over brain and technique (heard that before ?)

I wonder how much this british soccer has influenced our own soccer her in the US but my bet is that it has a lot to do with our own poor showing.
Things are changing though. Spain and barcelona are showing a way to win games without the big fast boys working painfully hard and I am quite sure their are making a point.
So BARCA ALL THE WAY BABY !!!

I disagree with these statements completely. Man Utd are not big. Rooney is 5’ 10, Giggs is 5’ 11, Scholes is 5’7”, Hernandez is 5”8”. The EPL plays more direct than the La Liga in general but that doesn’t mean the style is poor. Sometimes you have to play different styles depending on the weaknesses and strengths of your opponents.

Did you like the way Barca played in the first leg? RM forced them to play because of the two holding mids. Barca’s acting was atrocious. Many should have been sent off.

Since you are throwing all the EPL teams vs. La Liga. Opinions on Arsenal or Wigan play vs. Levante or Sporting.

EPL indebtedness? La liga is close to 6 billion in debt. RM would not have made a dinero if they had not sold their training ground a few years back, or received a loan of $200 mil from the central bank of Spain. Barca made only 8 million even with champions league win.
Each league has its positive top down teams. Give me the strength of the EPL over all the other leagues top to bottom.

I know I am pushing my description of English soccer "a little" for the sake of the discussion but you have to admit that Hernandez really is the exception that confirms the rule. Even Rooney that is small also matches the pitbull analogy and I will put him into that very direct, physical branch of players.
Regarding the attitude on the field, first of all, it hurts to take those hit and those cleats so you can give those guys (especially the "small/light" players) a few seconds before they get back up. Second the attitude issue really is cultural. When your typical Latin person talks or argues he is noisy, very demonstrative and expressive. Same on the field. There is some good some bad but in the end I am willing to go for that because I value free flawing creativity over extreme organisation.
I guess it is a matter of taste, me, I take Samba over Heavy metal. Any day.

I think that is what makes this game interesting. 2 teams in england that are thought to play some possesion and a free flowing soccer are arsenal and ManU. The last time Barca and ManU met this is what caused the problem. ManU was a team that was used to holding the ball and making the other team chase. The were completely uncomfortable and actually frustrated by being on the other end of that situation. In LaLiga Barca tend to hold 60+ percent of the posssion. In Premier Leaguge ManU tends to hold a similar percentage. They will not out posses Barca so the question is how will fergie change his tactics

Sure is the final that most want to see. This will be great

I like the way Man U can attack with a variety of tactics (possession, long ball, wing play). Barca relies on frequent short passes and diagonal runs from the top of the 18. If the Red Devils send 4 attackers (2 in the middle plus wing play) at the Barca defense. I like them as a favorite. If they play like they did vs Arsenal last week, it could be ugly. I agree that Fergie will be prepared.



But, first, there is Chelsea this weekend...

yes. Did you notice all the missing players from the starting lineup. He clearly was focused on the chelsea game. They can almost win the "P" league title with that game

gababa wrote:

soccerrus2 wrote:

gababa wrote:In my opinion ManU is THE example of the british soccer I have known all my life : Big boys running fast, playing hard throwing long ball in the box in order to slide or head awkwardly the ball into the goal. Very average (in my opinion) but very efficient soccer once you insured you have the bigger/faster boys (that's where money talks, check the terrible financial state of the clubs there).

I spent a few weeks reading English blogs were posters are complaining how terrible their youth programs have been for years and what a failure the youth british system has been. They complained about focus on wins at all cost and on athleticism over brain and technique (heard that before ?)

I wonder how much this british soccer has influenced our own soccer her in the US but my bet is that it has a lot to do with our own poor showing.
Things are changing though. Spain and barcelona are showing a way to win games without the big fast boys working painfully hard and I am quite sure their are making a point.
So BARCA ALL THE WAY BABY !!!

I disagree with these statements completely. Man Utd are not big. Rooney is 5’ 10, Giggs is 5’ 11, Scholes is 5’7”, Hernandez is 5”8”. The EPL plays more direct than the La Liga in general but that doesn’t mean the style is poor. Sometimes you have to play different styles depending on the weaknesses and strengths of your opponents.

Did you like the way Barca played in the first leg? RM forced them to play because of the two holding mids. Barca’s acting was atrocious. Many should have been sent off.

Since you are throwing all the EPL teams vs. La Liga. Opinions on Arsenal or Wigan play vs. Levante or Sporting.

EPL indebtedness? La liga is close to 6 billion in debt. RM would not have made a dinero if they had not sold their training ground a few years back, or received a loan of $200 mil from the central bank of Spain. Barca made only 8 million even with champions league win.
Each league has its positive top down teams. Give me the strength of the EPL over all the other leagues top to bottom.

I know I am pushing my description of English soccer "a little" for the sake of the discussion but you have to admit that Hernandez really is the exception that confirms the rule. Even Rooney that is small also matches the pitbull analogy and I will put him into that very direct, physical branch of players.
Regarding the attitude on the field, first of all, it hurts to take those hit and those cleats so you can give those guys (especially the "small/light" players) a few seconds before they get back up. Second the attitude issue really is cultural. When your typical Latin person talks or argues he is noisy, very demonstrative and expressive. Same on the field. There is some good some bad but in the end I am willing to go for that because I value free flawing creativity over extreme organisation.
I guess it is a matter of taste, me, I take Samba over Heavy metal. Any day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYLVUdapK5Q

soccerrus2 wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYLVUdapK5Q

Brought to you by Jose_Mourinho.com

go99 wrote:this will be an interesting game. If ManU can press the attack and take the game to Barca they may be able to make them affraid to hold the ball. The last time they met they started out that way with ManU completely dominating the game but once the game switched to barcas style it was over. Since losing Ronaldo, manu has become much more varied in the attack. Hernadez, nani, and rooney will all push the pace and they have to make barca lose their patience and start running instead.

Afraid to hold the ball...hehe.

If you can put a team under a constant offensive threat you can make them affraid to hold possesion for extended periods out of the fear that every lost ball will turn into an immediate scoring opportunity. Now the "if" is the key part of that.

Will there be any local coverage for the ManU v Barca final on Saturday?

GLORY GLORY Man United!!!!

finish1 wrote:Will there be any local coverage for the ManU v Barca final on Saturday?

I don't think Babe Laufenberg will be at Wembley asking pointed questions about Ryan Giggs boffing celebrity sluts, but the game itself is on Fox Sports @ 1pm.

finish1 wrote:Will there be any local coverage for the ManU v Barca final on Saturday?

It is on Fox (regular local channel) at 1:00 PM CDT.
I'm not a Man U. hater, but they really don't have much of a chance against Barca.

Thanks for the channel update. just a few stats to post about the 2 teams production during the Champions League Tounament:

Goals Scored: Barca 28, ManU 18
Shots on Target: Barca 86, ManU 68
Shots off Target: Barca 78, ManU 53
Corner: Barca 55, ManU 76
Fouls: Barca 137, ManU 158
Possession %: Barca 62%, ManU 58%

Although Barca has taken a lot more shots on at the goal than ManU, the differential between on target and off target isn't that much. Also, the possession % is very similar.


Can Barca hold back ManU's speed of play? Can ManU break up the short passing game of Barca?

i still remember listining to those english smug ass announcers saying that barca was no match for man u and then watched barca rip their hearts out. So boring to listen to those epl ninnies who act as if the epl is god's gift to soccer. watch again as barca puts on a possession clinic and man u ( again) gives up in bewilderment.

finish1 wrote:Thanks for the channel update. just a few stats to post about the 2 teams production during the Champions League Tounament:

Goals Scored: Barca 28, ManU 18
Shots on Target: Barca 86, ManU 68
Shots off Target: Barca 78, ManU 53
Corner: Barca 55, ManU 76
Fouls: Barca 137, ManU 158
Possession %: Barca 62%, ManU 58%

Although Barca has taken a lot more shots on at the goal than ManU, the differential between on target and off target isn't that much. Also, the possession % is very similar.


Can Barca hold back ManU's speed of play? Can ManU break up the short passing game of Barca?

I think the possesion numbers are key. ManU is ussed to dominating possesion and the last time these 2 teams met, they did not respond well to losing the possesion game to Barca. Can they adjust to not having the ball as much? ManU has more lethal scorers but Barca will dominate the possesion. Nani may be one of the keys. He will need a killer game to exploit alves defensively and also to keep him from pushing forward. Also a key game for Hernadez. His speed and movement could be a issue. I think either Barca will impose it's game and ManU will get played off the field or ManU will turn it into a 90 min horse race of up and down soccer and win with better athleticism.