UEFA Champions League 2008-2009

Originally Posted by Christian

Well as a fan I also find Chelsea's appoach pathetic... I'm glad Milan never play like this, and it's one of the reason I'll always support the Rossoneri. Chelsea is a big club, and yes, playing like that was probably the only way that Chelsea could get anything from the game, so fair enough, but that's only because Barcelona is simply a better team, pure and simply... Chelsea were lucky to DRAW, really lucky.

Had they been a truely great team, then they would've been able to play Barcelona's game and then won... All the great teams in history have played like that, I've never seen Brazil take Chelsea's approach, nor Milan, and it'll be a sad day when I do.

To be fair, Christian...
Chelsea didn´t create because Lampard, Essien and Ballack were horrible last night. The plan of Hiddink was clear: Sit back, and explore the counters. But Chelsea midfield can´t make a right pass last night...

And regarding your point about Milan(agree 100%), they were saying the same thing about us some years ago. That we are(like any Italian team) a catenaccio(sp?) team, and that it was the beauty Barca against the beast Milan.

And if it wasn´t for that clean goal of Sheva that referee called a foul...we, and not they would go to that Final against Arsenal. I can´t remeber anyone from Barça whining that time...

Well, their most important papers, Sport and Mundo Deportivo, really shows the type of mentality that rule´s Barcelona heads. They are more rubbish than Brazilian Political´s papers...and I thought that wans´t possible...

Originally Posted by Brasileiro

GeoTav, it´s not because I´m a fan of Alex, but he did one foul woth of a yellow(in Messi) and was deservedly booked. But I can´t remember the second worth of a yellow?? Tell me what other Alex foul was...

In Ballack case I agree, he did 3 fouls that are were worth of a yellow. But at the same time, Pujol(sp?) did 2, and only receive one yellow. As I said, the referee did wrong decisions in both ways...

I now want a Chelsea - Arsenal final. I didn´t want another English final, but one more time, the arrogance of Barça players(fans, press) makes me sick.

Alex also made a foul on Henry that was worth another yellow card then.
As I said, there should have been 3 red cards (or 6 yellow cards for 3 players ). About Ballack, it's not only about his fouls (I even think the one on Iniesta at the end wasn't a real foul), but more because of the way he always protests with the referees, it's quite irritating.

About Barca players, I don't think they are arrogant, but some of their fans are and press is too especially the years they play so well (but it doesn't happen each year).

Originally Posted by GeoTav

Alex also made a foul on Henry that was worth another yellow card then.
As I said, there should have been 3 red cards (or 6 yellow cards for 3 players ). About Ballack, it's not only about his fouls (I even think the one on Iniesta at the end wasn't a real foul), but more because of the way he always protests with the referees, it's quite irritating.

About Barca players, I don't think they are arrogant, but some of their fans are and press is too especially the years they play so well (but it doesn't happen each year).

It was that in the air?? When Henry landed knocked out?? If thats the case, Imo it was a clear accident, since it was Alex shoulder that hit Henry´s head. I never saw a hit like that, very unfortunate...

Now, if It was the case of Alex leading with his elbow, and hit Henry even without intention, I would have agree it was worth a yellow...

Regarding the second bold: I thought like you, but after the interviews last night, I changed my opinion. Messi was invisible because every time he cut inside, there was Mikel, Alex, Terry there to stop him. Chelsea wasn´t violent last night, they were just tough.

Barca players were used to past easy of everyone in Spain and in their easy schedule in Champions(No offense, but it wasn´t the Lyon I used to see)...and now that they take the first real test of the season: the whining started.

As I said, it´s just my opinion, but Barca player quotes last night and today, are typical of people that think they are best than everyone. Very arrogant imo...

Originally Posted by Brasileiro

To be fair, Christian...
Chelsea didn´t create because Lampard, Essien and Ballack were horrible last night. The plan of Hiddink was clear: Sit back, and explore the counters. But Chelsea midfield can´t make a right pass last night...

And regarding your point about Milan(agree 100%), they were saying the same thing about us some years ago. That we are(like any Italian team) a catenaccio(sp?) team, and that it was the beauty Barca against the beast Milan.

And if it wasn´t for that clean goal of Sheva that referee called a foul...we, and not they would go to that Final against Arsenal. I can´t remeber anyone from Barça whining that time...

Well, their most important papers, Sport and Mundo Deportivo, really shows the type of mentality that rule´s Barcelona heads. They are more rubbish than Brazilian Political´s papers...and I thought that wans´t possible...

I see your point about them being a bit arrogant when things are going their way, but about Chelsea I do agree with them. Barcelona ARE the most impressive team at the moment, and to be fair, it does give them a right to be arrogant.

About when we played them in 2006, I can't remember what they were saying after, or before the game. I do remember though that it was a couple of absolutly amazing games, despite the outcome. We were absolutly amazing at the time, with Pirlo, Kaka and Shevchenko being at the top of their game, and Barcelona with Ronaldinho being fantastic. People talk about Chelsea-Liverpool being the best game off the last 10 years or so, I think the Milan - Barcelona games were the best.

It is ofcourse annoying having them saying stuff like that about us. But the brittish media are just as bad. The fact that some of them still talk about Serie A teams playing Catanoccio speaks volumes... Especially considering the trend in EPL at the moment (I remember a period where Liverpool had played 8 out of 13 games 0-0). Ferguson's latest comments are disrespectfull aswell in my opinion, and so is the general trend of the Island.

Originally Posted by Christian

I see your point about them being a bit arrogant when things are going their way, but about Chelsea I do agree with them. Barcelona ARE the most impressive team at the moment, and to be fair, it does give them a right to be arrogant.

A right to be arrogant ? The years when we were the most impressive team in CL, were we arrogant ?

Originally Posted by GeoTav

A right to be arrogant ? The years when we were the most impressive team in CL, were we arrogant ?

No ofcourse we weren't. But what I'm saying is, that being abit arrogant, when they actually are the best, is ok, to me, as opposed to the arrogant English media, who have always been like that. Cristiano Ronaldo has for the last 3 years changed his name to 'The world's best player' in the English media, Peter Crouch is the best striker in the world according to them, while Gerrard is the biggest thing since Maradona and that's only cause Maradona scored against England (the greatest team in the world). When Merda was playing Manchester United they were mocking Zlatan Ibramimovic, I know he's playing for the wrong team, but he's good, REALLY good.

Originally Posted by Christian

No ofcourse we weren't. But what I'm saying is, that being abit arrogant, when they actually are the best, is ok, to me, as opposed to the arrogant English media, who have always been like that. Cristiano Ronaldo has for the last 3 years changed his name to 'The world's best player' in the English media, Peter Crouch is the best striker in the world according to them, while Gerrard is the biggest thing since Maradona and that's only cause Maradona scored against England (the greatest team in the world). When Merda was playing Manchester United they were mocking Zlatan Ibramimovic, I know he's playing for the wrong team, but he's good, REALLY good.

I know what you mean, typical English media: "Rooney could be better than Pelé"...LOL

Back to the Chelsea X Barca match...Before the final of the last America Cup, Argentine press was mocking all Brazilian NT team, saying they would trash Brazil and that no one could stop Messi, Riquelme and Tevez, blá, blá, blá...

They(Argentine) were amazing in that America´s Cup...but like Barca, Brazil would be the first and real test for them. They grow in confidence trashing weak teams, and when they face Brazil(without Kaká, Ronaldinho), couldn´t see the face of the ball. Messi did one great play at the beginning of the game and disappear, Riquelme also, and Tevez was neutralized by Alex and Juan.

We played at the counter at that day, but in contrary of Chelsea, our midfield didn´t underachieve. We put a emphatic 3x0 on them, and it could have been more. And what happened after the game?? Argentine media, fans and players(like the Barca ones) were in the media putting the blame on the referee, the stile of Brazil and in the way "we played the Anti-Football". Man, we trashed them 3x0!!!

To play in the counter is part of football, and imo Barca players need to shut up and go to Stanford Bridge and show that they are the best also against strong teams(with a real defense)...and they better hope the referee next weak it is not of today´s game between M. United and Arsenal. Now, that was a great job by a referee...

The first guy in a while to not believe in Cristiano Ronaldo dives...

Originally Posted by Brasileiro

To play in the counter is part of football, and imo Barca players need to shut up and go to Stanford Bridge and show that they are the best also against strong teams(with a real defense)...and they better hope the referee next weak it is not of today´s game between M. United and Arsenal. Now, that was a great job by a referee...

The first guy in a while to not believe in Cristiano Ronaldo dives...

Yep you're right, that's the only thing to do for them now, and I hope they're gonna give Chelsea a big spanking.

The referee between Man Utd and Arsenal was the same that Chelsea tried to influence, Claus Bo Larsen, funny nothing was said about that in the English media though... But I agree that he was great in the game.

Originally Posted by Christian

Yep you're right, that's the only thing to do for them now, and I hope they're gonna give Chelsea a big spanking.

The referee between Man Utd and Arsenal was the same that Chelsea tried to influence, Claus Bo Larsen, funny nothing was said about that in the English media though... But I agree that he was great in the game.

It was the same?? Wow...
I really want to know who was that guy...one of the best referee performances that I saw in a long time. Thanks for the tip...

Arsenal is going to win CL!!
**** Man Utd!!!!!!!!

After 11 minutes in the second leg of the Arsenal-MU semi-final, we already know that MU will qualify ...

stupid game....poor little gibbs.....stupid almunia

Sigh that's the Champions League for you...you need a little luck to go your way if you want to make it all the way to the trophy. A lucky slip from Gibbs...and some atrocious goalkeeping (the freekick was good but certainly saveable) and Man-U are in the final. I hope Barca meet them there, I don't want a repeat of last year's final.

The match of yesterday and the results of Arsenal in the last few years just shows that Wenger's youth politics doesn't work.

Like someone said on a French blog linked to Eurosport.fr, Arsenal is a potential WC team each year, there are a lot of promises each season, big hopes for the following one, but this statement is available each season, they never do the jump to this WC team.

And like Evra said in an interview: it was like if yesterday, we saw 11 men against 11 boys.

Also, Wenger is not a good tactician.

Just a thought after recalling some discussions here (people wanting Wenger and/or wanting us to buy the same kind of players than them).

Originally Posted by Mystik

Sigh that's the Champions League for you...you need a little luck to go your way if you want to make it all the way to the trophy. A lucky slip from Gibbs...and some atrocious goalkeeping (the freekick was good but certainly saveable) and Man-U are in the final. I hope Barca meet them there, I don't want a repeat of last year's final.

Agree.

I want Barca to win it this year.

But, it's not going to happen, Chelsea is going to win tonight. They can't stop Drogba. Not without Puyol and Marquez. Caceres and Pique? No way.

Hope I'm wrong.