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That game was painful to watch especially towards the end.Especially in 2011 because that side was miles off Barca.
Yes. That is true. And all of us have seen Fergie parking the bus as well. And many smash and grabs.It’s a strange one, as it’s not like we’d never employed any other tactics. We had our fair share of sitting back and roughing up opponents over the years when we needed to.
Always felt fletcher being suspended hurt us in 2009.In 2009, the team just didn't show up on the night so it wouldn't have mattered what way they played.
In 2011, Barcelona were one of the best club sides ever so it wouldn't have mattered what way they played.
In 2011 we had an absolute gift of a draw. We had Valencia, Rangers and Buraspor in the group and the Marseille, Chelsea and Shalke on route to the final. Probably one of the easiest runs to the final ever.The 2011 side was in decline and not the second best in Europe. We had godo momentum playing the way we did the back of end if that season so SAF stuck with it, truth is any tactic we used that day wouldn’t have helped as they were far superior. 2009 was a bad night sure but it’s easy to say with the benefit of hindsight.
I think Rooney still holds a grudge against SAF and am not impressed with these underhand digs, like when he said Van Gaal was the best manager he played for.
It was. I knew before the match that we were going to get destroyed. I literally had no faith in us winning the game. Fergie looked distraught on the sidelines. I think the truth was that the rot was starting to set in. Apart from RVP after that we didn't replace any of the top players that were part of the great noughties side.That game was painful to watch especially towards the end.
Did he say that? I'm not surprised. Van Gaal blew smoke up his arse when he was in decline.The 2011 side was in decline and not the second best in Europe. We had godo momentum playing the way we did the back of end if that season so SAF stuck with it, truth is any tactic we used that day wouldn’t have helped as they were far superior. 2009 was a bad night sure but it’s easy to say with the benefit of hindsight.
I think Rooney still holds a grudge against SAF and am not impressed with these underhand digs, like when he said Van Gaal was the best manager he played for.
Pretty sure he called LVG the best coach he'd worked under or at least that's how I read itDid he say that? I'm not surprised. Van Gaal blew smoke up his arse when he was in decline.
He meant tactically, in terms of preparation and instruction.Pretty sure he called LVG the best coach he'd worked under or at least that's how I read it
He was only player that turned up for us that night the rest were woefulI have a vague memory of Fergie giving Rooney a bollocking on the touchline during an injury break or something during the 2011 game and the speculation was that it was because he wasn’t following instructions.
To be fair that would have been painful either way, football has probably never seen a better team than 2011 BarcelonaThat game was painful to watch especially towards the end.
2011, probably. Even if we had played Berbatov, Nani and Anderson, which I think we should've.I recall Rio saying something similar, but I think we'd have probably lost both games anyway...
Thing is, we played mini Barca (Arsenal at the time) the same way and got battered.The 2011 side was in decline and not the second best in Europe. We had godo momentum playing the way we did the back of end if that season so SAF stuck with it, truth is any tactic we used that day wouldn’t have helped as they were far superior. 2009 was a bad night sure but it’s easy to say with the benefit of hindsight.
I think Rooney still holds a grudge against SAF and am not impressed with these underhand digs, like when he said Van Gaal was the best manager he played for.
Yeah, 2009 had a much bigger chance for sure. At the time, I thought we were the only team in Europe that could feasibly beat that Barcelona side in a big game. However, after the game I felt very deflated and was sure I'd seen the best club side. It was the same feeling I had when Jose first came to England and that Chelsea side dominated their way to two Premier League titles. SAF just came up against peak Jose and peak Pep at those particular periods and as great as he was and managed to adapt eventually, I don't think he knew the best way to approach them at first. Gary Neville said it was the first time he thought Sir Alex needed to take a back step when Jose first came and figure things out. I think that Barca side was sadly similar in the Europe.2011, probably. Even if we had played Berbatov, Nani and Anderson, which I think we should've.
We could've won in 2009, though. That was a great squad. I wish we would've stuck with Tevez with Rooney and Ronaldo that season.
In 2009 we missed Fletcher and Hargreeves, had gambled to start Anderson and Giggs as CM.In 2009, the team just didn't show up on the night so it wouldn't have mattered what way they played.
In 2011, Barcelona were one of the best club sides ever so it wouldn't have mattered what way they played.
I think the fact that it was a big final made a difference. SAF didn't want us to play that way with the world watching. But I'm surprised we didn't learn our lesson after the first time.It’s a strange one, as it’s not like we’d never employed any other tactics. We had our fair share of sitting back and roughing up opponents over the years when we needed to.