I have no sister. My brother is a cnut though so that works out.Is this was another forum id say "your girlfriend, you sister and your mum". It's not that type of place though so I wont!
I have no sister. My brother is a cnut though so that works out.Is this was another forum id say "your girlfriend, you sister and your mum". It's not that type of place though so I wont!
Chelsea aren't even good at attacking and they looked looked dangerous for almost the entire match. A Manchester City would put them to bed in about 20 minutes.Barca is immense defensively, yes William the post twice but if Atletico can go to two CL finals on three years being a pragmatic team then so can Barca.
They’ll do the business at home
I got confused there for a minuteHaha okay, Barca bailed us out
It’s quite funny some people in this forum are defending Lukaku the same way some Bayern fans defended Gomez (who, to be honest, was a much better striker. 12 goals in 12 games in the CL season of 11/12, only Messi and Ronaldo ever were better in CL history). „His first touch is shit and his link up play is non-existant, but he scores!!“. Yet we only became the force of 12/13 when we replaced him with Mandzukic. He never scored as many goals, but he had a first touch and could pass a ball.Pretty much. He's not someone to elevate you to regularly challenging for the league/CL.
Football doesn't work like that. Chelsea did well to stifled Barcelona. City can test Barcelona defense more, but they leave their defense open for Barcelona to have a go too. Barcelona is still more experienced and clinical.Chelsea aren't even good at attacking and they looked looked dangerous for almost the entire match. A Manchester City would put them to bed in about 20 minutes.
Hard to quantity as a claim I accept. I just look at positions like CB and CF and find the dearth in those positions to be interesting.I don't know about the first part, but certain teams buying players for two quality starting XI sure is a problem.
It is, and as you say they could still add Dembele who could give them a spark to take responsibility off Messi but they are not the frightening team of years past, notable that both Real and Barca have found themselves in a position where they have an ageing team, perhaps backs up my earlier point about the lesser numbers of top players, and to be fair sticking with the best of their generation.They aren't, but they are much better than the last season Barca imo. They relied too much on the individual brilliance of their 3 up front and didn't play like a team. This version can soak the pressure, it's very efficient and more defensively solid.
I can't see them as favourites, but considering they lost Neymar and Dembele is spending practically whole season out with an injury, work from Valverde (and Messi) is impressive.
Don't think this Barca mind being attacked and giving you the ball. Would be interesting.Chelsea aren't even good at attacking and they looked looked dangerous for almost the entire match. A Manchester City would put them to bed in about 20 minutes.
On what planet are this Barca side ‘immense defensively’?!Barca is immense defensively, yes William the post twice but if Atletico can go to two CL finals on three years being a pragmatic team then so can Barca.
They’ll do the business at home
Today was exactly the kind of leg that Guardiola would've lost with this squad, a manager famous for getting bad results in away legs and relying in feats at home to turn it around.Chelsea aren't even good at attacking and they looked looked dangerous for almost the entire match. A Manchester City would put them to bed in about 20 minutes.
An injury away from Thomas Vermaelen starting.On what planet are this Barca side ‘immense defensively’?!
I know, I couldn't believe what I read either. Willian should have had a hattrick today and that was without really even trying to attack.On what planet are this Barca side ‘immense defensively’?!
No-one thinks Chelsea are that good either.Chelsea didn't create much except Willian shooting from distance. Don't know what people have watched.
City should try to get a goal against Wigan first before thinking about putting Barca to the sword in 20 minutes.
I think the explanation might be that there are many REALLY good players, and therefor less that stand out.Personally I think we are in a down generation in European football, don't think there are as many exceptional individual players around as say 15 years ago, and when the top teams stockpile the few that are around you get this absurd gap.
I saw tonight an aging Iniesta and Suarez, a toothless Messi and substandard supporting cast almost go under against an English side who aren't going to make Champiions League next season.Football doesn't work like that. Chelsea did well to stifled Barcelona. City can test Barcelona defense more, but they leave their defense open for Barcelona to have a go too. Barcelona is still more experienced and clinical.
Vermalen was outstanding when Umtiti was injured tbf.An injury away from Thomas Vermaelen starting.
Teams have always looked to take the other team's best player out of the game, it is hardly a new idea. Impossible to prove either way of course, all subjective.I think the explanation might be that there are many REALLY good players, and therefor less that stand out.
Also teams set up their tactics against the teams with the best players, in a way to take them out of the game - Like Herrera vs Hazard last year.
Weaker teams will play alot more defensively, and give them less space to run and dribble in.
Chelsea are Barca's boogey team. People underestimate bad matchups. Barca in their absolute prime registered 1 shot on target in 2009 against Chelsea.No-one thinks Chelsea are that good either.
I love this overrating of City.Chelsea aren't even good at attacking and they looked looked dangerous for almost the entire match. A Manchester City would put them to bed in about 20 minutes.
It was one gameI saw tonight an aging Iniesta and Suarez, a toothless Messi and substandard supporting cast almost go under against an English side who aren't going to make Champiions League next season.
They remind me of Brazil in 2014, bumbling past substandard opposition to incredible hype before they come up against a fresh, young, vibrant side like Manchester City and have dildos shoved here there and everywhere.
Yes, and the meltdown was fascinating. How does this City team react when the pressure comes on against a top team in a big match. Been a coast for them this season.It was one game
I saw City get done off Wigan last night...
Both Barcelona and Real certainly look vulnerable. But, on the other hand, you have more teams of high quality comparing to some of the last CL campaigns.It is, and as you say they could still add Dembele who could give them a spark to take responsibility off Messi but they are not the frightening team of years past, notable that both Real and Barca have found themselves in a position where they have an ageing team, perhaps backs up my earlier point about the lesser numbers of top players, and to be fair sticking with the best of their generation.
A stronger Barcelona under Pep also struggled at the Bridge against 2 under performing Chelsea (at the time).I saw tonight an aging Iniesta and Suarez, a toothless Messi and substandard supporting cast almost go under against an English side who aren't going to make Champiions League next season.
They remind me of Brazil in 2014, bumbling past substandard opposition to incredible hype before they come up against a fresh, young, vibrant side like Manchester City and have dildos shoved here there and everywhere.
They had two very presentable chances from counter attacks too where they didn't get the final ball right, and generally had Barca looking rattled and panicked the last 15 mins of the first half. I doubt they'd approach City with the same game plan of course.Chelsea didn't create much except Willian shooting from distance. Don't know what people have watched.
City should try to get a goal against Wigan first before thinking about putting Barca to the sword in 20 minutes.
Yes, no-one wants to see Real and Barca carve it up every year with someone taking the turn of Atletico or sadly Juve as the plucky but overmatched underdog. May not be the parity i wish for but better than it has been. 8-10 teams at the top of the European game and the rest just being punching bags and feeder teams is still far from ideal. No idea how you change it though, get rid of the oil clubs and the number of challengers drops even further.Both Barcelona and Real certainly look vulnerable. But, on the other hand, you have more teams of high quality comparing to some of the last CL campaigns.
All big matches so far (Real - PSG, Juventus - Spurs even this Chelsea - Barcelona) have been very good/excellent to watch. Add Bayern, City, Liverpool and hopefully us after tomorrow in the mix and you have practically 10 teams who are capable of knocking each other out. Much prefer that than what we've seen in the last few years.
Well, I'll prefer it as long one of City or Liverpool don't go all the way.
How is current Barca incredibly hyped? Sounds like you are talking about PSG or City here.They remind me of Brazil in 2014, bumbling past substandard opposition to incredible hype before they come up against a fresh, young, vibrant side like Manchester City and have dildos shoved here there and everywhere.
Yeah, also very true. The gap behind those 8-10 teams is now even bigger.Yes, no-one wants to see Real and Barca carve it up every year with someone taking the turn of Atletico or sadly Juve as the plucky but overmatched underdog. May not be the parity i wish for but better than it has been. 8-10 teams at the top of the European game and the rest just being punching bags and feeder teams is still far from ideal. No idea how you change it though, get rid of the oil clubs and the number of challengers drops even further.
I reckon not.Chelsea will go through.
On the planet where they are top 2 in least amount of goals conceded.On what planet are this Barca side ‘immense defensively’?!
On what planet are this Barca side ‘immense defensively’?!
An injury away from Thomas Vermaelen starting.
I know, I couldn't believe what I read either. Willian should have had a hattrick today and that was without really even trying to attack.
Did you not witness any of the pre-match build up? How the clouds would part for Barcelona to descend and put 6 or 7 past Chelsea or whoever else was foolish enough to stand in St. Messi & co's way?How is current Barca incredibly hyped? Sounds like you are talking about PSG or City here.
Not true, Barca was in charge completely after the Chelsea goal. Chelsea looked completely rattled once Messi swualized. That away goal probably will be the biggest reason Chelsea may have lost the chance for an upset. They can’t park the bus at Camp Nou and will get Exposed.They had two very presentable chances from counter attacks too where they didn't get the final ball right, and generally had Barca looking rattled and panicked the last 15 mins of the second half. I doubt they'd approach City with the same game plan of course.
Who is the team that's conceded less? Barcelona have 11 in the league, 2 in the Champions League and 2 in the Copa Del Rey.On the planet where they are top 2 in least amount of goals conceded.
And what about when Barca beat juventus and Real Madrid 3-0?Did you not witness any of the pre-match build up? How the clouds would part for Barcelona to descend and put 6 or 7 past Chelsea or whoever else was foolish enough to stand in St. Messi & co's way?
Was utterly predictable given they struggles away to Juventus/Sporting and in recent La Liga games that they may struggle here also.
City may have ballsed up some FA Cup match but what they're doing in the Premier League this season is beyond dispute.
Did someone actually say this? Barcelona got a very good result which I'm sure they're quite happy to take home.Did you not witness any of the pre-match build up? How the clouds would part for Barcelona to descend and put 6 or 7 past Chelsea or whoever else was foolish enough to stand in St. Messi & co's way?
Fair enough. Think Conte's plan will be to absorb Barca's pressure and keep the score down to at 1-0. Even if it's 2-0 they can keep their game plan, albeit, they'll have to be more adventurous earlier in the game.I reckon not.
*last 15 mins of the FIRST half, sorry.Not true, Barca was in charge completely after the Chelsea goal. Chelsea looked completely rattled once Messi swualized. That away goal probably will be the biggest reason Chelsea may have lost the chance for an upset. They can’t park the bus at Camp Nou and will get Exposed.