Football 2010-2011

[pink_triangle]

Media darlings Barca behaving like cheats and idiots.

Mourinho could be in deep shit by the way.

[pink_triangle]

Media darlings Barca behaving like cheats and idiots.

Mourinho could be in deep shit by the way.

[eFestivals]

Gonna be VERY tough yeah. Although they are beatable. Arsenal beat them.

they did, but they beat them by taking them on at their own game (trying to outplay them), and they got lucky at doing it.

I can't see Utd trying the same thing - for a start it's not their usual style, and I don't think fergie's so naive as to try doing it. Utd stand a reasonable chance if they try the same tactics as Real tried last night, but they'll be on a hiding to nothing if they try to play open football with them.

Barca are beatable, sure - any team is always beatable. But if Utd are going to beat them it's going to be a win that comes more from getting lucky than being the better team.

Mourinho could be in deep shit by the way.

Just imagine a Real/Utd final with those two managers - the winner, whoever it is, will have cheated their way to victory. Neither ever admits to being bettered.

[The Nal]

While I agree that some of the barca theatrics is difficult, its unfortunately accepted as the way things are in some country, so I dont think there is a huge will to change. I do however think some fans moaning about barca cheating shouldnt forget that their own teams are not whiter than white. Lets not forget arsenals record unbeaten run was ended by a man utd player cheating.

Edited April 28, 2011 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

"We got into good positions but in fairness we were beaten by the better team. I don't think we played as well as we can but we were against a good team."

Alex Ferguson - Wednesday 27 May 2009 after losing to Barca in the Champions League final.

Any excuse though Neil?

Yeah, I do know that occasionally - but just occasionally - fergie will admit to being bettered. It was a comment triggered by Moaniho's blinkered rant.

Cos whatever else Moaniho might have right, he's completely wrong when he says "We have to go there without Pepe, who didn't do anything". Any player going into a challenge as Pepe did has to expect a red card; it might not always come, but it should be expected. While that challenge was at the milder end of a foot-up lunge, it *was* a foot-up lunge and the ref did nothing wrong with giving a red for it.

[The Nal]

Cos whatever else Moaniho might have right, he's completely wrong when he says "We have to go there without Pepe, who didn't do anything". Any player going into a challenge as Pepe did has to expect a red card; it might not always come, but it should be expected. While that challenge was at the milder end of a foot-up lunge, it *was* a foot-up lunge and the ref did nothing wrong with giving a red for it.

[worm]

I've said it many times, but Mourinho is the medicine for what ailes football. I've never respected someone so much in football since Cantona.

[eFestivals]

I've said it many times, but Mourinho is the medicine for what ailes football. I've never respected someone so much in football since Cantona.

I wouldn't have thought any different of you.

[Greeny_Musicchild]

I've said it many times, but Mourinho is the medicine for what ailes football. I've never respected someone so much in football since Cantona.

[pink_triangle]

Yeah, I do know that occasionally - but just occasionally - fergie will admit to being bettered. It was a comment triggered by Moaniho's blinkered rant.

Cos whatever else Moaniho might have right, he's completely wrong when he says "We have to go there without Pepe, who didn't do anything". Any player going into a challenge as Pepe did has to expect a red card; it might not always come, but it should be expected. While that challenge was at the milder end of a foot-up lunge, it *was* a foot-up lunge and the ref did nothing wrong with giving a red for it.

[A-Rob]

I think that Man Utd may have a slight issue if they play in the champions league final.

In all seriousness, if Moaniho can't park the bus and get the better of a Barca he's familiar at playing, I'm struggling to see how Utd will manage it too. The one thing in Utd's favour is the unfamiliarity I guess, but their style of allowing the opposition to have the ball and soaking up the pressure isn't one that's hugely likely to bring success against a side that's so capable at using the ball.

But it'll be a single game, and Utd will have 'home' advantage, so anything can happen. It's not over till it's over I guess.

Edited April 28, 2011 by A-Rob

[The Nal]

Ive been banging on about this for a few years now and although the author is way OTT, it kinda sums up how I feel about them in places.

Do More People See Through Barca Now?

[ampersand]

Ive been banging on about this for a few years now and although the author is way OTT, it kinda sums up how I feel about them in places.

Do More People See Through Barca Now?

[The Nal]

sums up last nights game anyway. shite apart from messi's moments.

i'd rather watch a game at blackpool than endure a hyped game like that again.

just hope no-one is expecting too much from the final.

[ampersand]

aye the technique they have is second to none. but the points about five passes sidewards is a fair one.

as sexy as it is sometimes, there's far more teams and games you'd rather watch.

[Kyelo]

Both teams were diving and cheating all over the place. Barca were even worse than Real (or better at cheating)

Needs to be addressed. Players should not be allowed to surround the ref like that. If a player waves an imaginary card at the ref trying to get someone carded then the response should be the ref giving that player a yellow. Its the only way i can think that it will stop it. Then they need to ban players for simulation after the game if they cant see it in game.

[The Nal]

Simple, use the rugby union rules where only the captain can speak to the referee unless a player is directly spoken to. Yeah you see them having a quiet chat but it would make football a million times better.

[Kyelo]

Yeah cant understand how its hasnt been implemented yet. Barca and Real, but Barca in particular, were a disgrace last night the way they crowded round the ref after their players feigned unjury.

Edited April 28, 2011 by BenchBuddah

[worm]

The quality of the footie is undeniable. It’s the media holding them on a higher “fair play” platform and not reporting the fact that when they want they’re the biggest cheats in the game that annoys me.

[strummer77]

I've said it many times, but Mourinho is the medicine for what ailes football. I've never respected someone so much in football since Cantona.

[pink_triangle]

Interesting hearing sid lowe talking about cheating on the guardian podcast. His point seemed to be that the british clubs are just as much cheats as barcelona as while in britain cheating = diving, in spain cheating = kicking players. Does he have a point?

[ampersand]

nope, cos the main bit of cheating last night was alves making his injury seem far worse than it was. he deals with it like a man and the barca players don't react, then the game stays 11 v 11.

are madrid that dirty a team to have no questions raised at 4 sending offs against barca this season? or do you look at barca?

[pink_triangle]

When a defender hacks a pacy winger down on his way towards goal with another defender struggling to cover, the media in britain often call it a clever or tactical foul. To me this is just as much cheating as a player throwing himself down in the penalty box or making a foul look worse than it is and the "tactical foul" has the potential to cause injury. The difference is that giving someone a kicking is part of the british footballing culture and simulation more part of the spanish. Both are cheating and wrong.

[strummer77]

nope, cos the main bit of cheating last night was alves making his injury seem far worse than it was. he deals with it like a man and the barca players don't react, then the game stays 11 v 11.

[ampersand]

That's his point. Diving in Spain is apparently 'part of the game'. Just like someone kicking a player in the shins to tactically foul them in this country is 'part of the game'. Both are wrong but different cultures so Sid Lowe says.