UEFA Champions League

Well patrique we can only speculate, same as you can only speculate that Utd wouldn't have beat Barca/Liverpool/Chelsea/Bayern over the 2 legs had they drawn them.

Maybe Utd did play defensively against Barca last year, but they did win so the tactic were justified. You have to set out a game plan to suit your opponents(horses for courses and all that, and this is why players like Fletcher, Park, Anderson etc. are so important). It would be very naive to just send out a team of talented footballers to play freely and expect them to win anything, perhaps this is why Arsenal haven't won a trophy in 4 years. Maybe that's a bad thing and a sign of how football is more tactical than entertainment now sometimes, but that's the way it is. Of course you have the likes of Brazil who can play in such a way and win the World Cup but every so often they produce a group of players who are just that good.

Utd showed their class and are in the final on merit, and I believe they will win. Barca would be the tougher opponent but I still think Utd edge it.

Manchester United have "improved" in Europe to get results. When they were "gung-ho" they were never good enough to beat the Milan's and Reals or Bayerns of this world on a consistent basis, as those teams had more skill.

The big difference now is United are better at retaining possession, and their skilful players work hard.

Barcelona or Inter's or Real's or whoever do not. Their skilful players are skilful, they do not cover as left back as well.

So United are more successful but football has suffered because of it.

All of the English teams, bar the current young Arsenal side, are the same. Especially Chelsea, which is why their leading scorer cannot get on the pitch, doesn't work hard enough.

It really is sad.

Still, I can still watch my beloved Totti in Italy.

patrique wrote:Manchester United have "improved" in Europe to get results. When they were "gung-ho" they were never good enough to beat the Milan's and Reals or Bayerns of this world on a consistent basis, as those teams had more skill.

The big difference now is United are better at retaining possession, and their skilful players work hard.

Barcelona or Inter's or Real's or whoever do not. Their skilful players are skilful, they do not cover as left back as well.

So United are more successful but football has suffered because of it.

All of the English teams, bar the current young Arsenal side, are the same. Especially Chelsea, which is why their leading scorer cannot get on the pitch, doesn't work hard enough.

It really is sad.

Still, I can still watch my beloved Totti in Italy.

Been to Italy meself a good few times and there's nothing like looking at Totti ...

By the way, United, £750 million in debt offer £63 million for Ribiery, with £145,000 a week wages, and there is no outcry. If City did it, and they can afford it, the paper's would have been full of it.

Okay they agreed last year to sell Ronaldo to Real for £70 million, but this constant debt should be a worry.

I reckon if Derry City signed Messi, Kaka, Chiellini, Grosso, and Villa and went £750 million into debt they would win the CL.

Load of bull patrique, you should know better than to believe those gossip columns.

Load of bull patrique, you should know better than to believe those gossip columns.



I do know better. Alas this was the Guardian, and there was too much detail in the article to ignore it.

And it is very plausible. We all know Ronaldo is going, so who is coming in?

Ronaldo for Ribery - that would be bad business for united.

And to pay that amount of money for Ribery would just be salt in the wound - I'd take Aaron Lennon before Ribery

I mean the price is bull, no way he'll cost that amount. If Utd do buy him it'll be less than half that anyway, and sure that's mighty steep too.

And I'll just keep thinking Utd will hold onto Ronaldo for the time being! Obviously he wants to play in Spain at some stage, I'm just hoping he leaves that for another while! He's an unpredictable chap but why go to Real Madrid now where he'll not win trophies? I'd understand it if he wanted to go to Barca but Real are no great shakes at the minute.

I think Ronaldo is on the way out and United's recent blip was connected to that - there was something not qwuite right there. I reckon he's going this summer and they all know it and have now finally accepted it...

Tough one to call tonight, could go any way. Couple of interesting calls with the line-outs; Anelka and Drogba both start for Chelsea, suggesting they're really going for it from the start, and Henry out for Barca altogether.

As I say, anything could happen, but I'll for a 2-2 draw with Barca through on away goals.

Barcelona to win 1-0.

Goal scored by Messi in the 73rd minute.

What a goal by Essien, on his weak foot too!

Holy god that's some goal!

2-0 to Chelsea. My prediction.

Anywhere I can watch it on the internet?

Don't know any links admin but off the top of my head I'd say justin.tv and sopcast would have streams.

That goal was brilliant and all, but it doesn't change much at all, Barca still only have to score the once. All it changes is that there's no chance of penalties now. Chelsea will have to score again I feel, as I definately think Barca will score. Chelsea should have had a penalty there though.

They should, Malouda was def in the bix, if thats the incident you are talking about, Drogba shouldn't have if it him you mean.

mid-mon man wrote:Don't know any links admin but off the top of my head I'd say justin.tv and sopcast would have streams.

That goal was brilliant and all, but it doesn't change much at all, Barca still only have to score the once. All it changes is that there's no chance of penalties now. Chelsea will have to score again I feel, as I definately think Barca will score. Chelsea should have had a penalty there though.

Never knew about these thanks,other good stuff on it.

Yeah Jim they can be handy alright, some good streams on there at times.

Niamh, I was thinking that between the two incidents they'd amount to one stonewall penalty!

Some chance for Drogba there, he's causing the Barca defence alot of trouble.

Hard luck Chelsea! What a finish!

Messi scored yes?

holy **** unreal

Administrator wrote:Messi scored yes?

Iniesta (sp)

Iniesta scored a volley outside the box in the 92nd minute! 1-1 final score after 7 minutes of injury time!

Bloody delighted with that, and you couldn't help but be delighted when you see the antics of the Chelsea players after the final whistle, disgraceful doesn't begin to describe it.

The dream final is on, in three weeks Europes top 2 teams lock horns again!