Barca

[danielneeds]

I want to tell my prospective kids that I was there when Messi came to the Lane, and that he and Bale both put on a show! That is what the glory game is all about.

Semi finals would be nice though!

 

[jonnyp]

We'd get slaughtered.

 

[KeaneIsKeane]

come on. I'd love to see how we stack up against them. Would we lose?, probably, but if they are the best then I want to see how we stack up against them.

 

[BorisTM]

Bring them on!!! Even if we lose it would be with an echo of Glory.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

The combination of a young, adventurous manager and a squad of unbelievable talent quite clearly put the swaggering ladyboys in their place. After reading how it went down, I bet Jose was spitting feathers after that show - says Miss Ronaldo was tucked away in Messis pocket for the duration.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I like it
I see here many people overestimate Barca. Real's midfield could not produce a single tackle in the whole game. They lost the game in their minds. Any team immune to their personal rivialry, with clear head would do better. Just think about Benny Disco, who doesn't know who Messi is and not being in awe.

Like we always do against Utd/Chelsea/Lpool and until about a week ago Arsenal you mean?

I love the optimism on here these days but I really think people are getting a bit ahead of themselves, Barca would kill us, and I mean kill us, no doubt about it. Do you think we could go to the Nou Camp and defend for 90 mins like Inter did last season and only concede 1? No chance.

As much as I'm happy about our progress in the last few weeks we've still got a long way to go. I think the last few results and Harry talking about winning the league has raised expectations through the roof with some fans!

 

[BuffaloSid]

nah not at Camp Nou, we'd sit back and try and hit them on the counter with Bale or Lennon. 451 all the way nice and tight. Madrid lined up in an attacking 433 and got murdered.

thats because Harry redknapp is a far superior tactition than "the special one" :shake:

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

You think we'd play with two in midfield against Barca?


Imagine if we played Hudd and Modric like up at City last year, it would be murder.

I could just imagine Harrys post match interview, coming out and saying "I went for it. i picked to widemen and two up front. we came here to give it a real go..."

speaking after being demolished 8-0 at the camp nou.

The difference with barce to alot of teams we've faced and beaten is they keep the ball better than any team in the world and they also convert most of their chances. So if we were 2-0 down at half time like we were against the goons it would probably go on to be 6-0 as we tired chasing the ball around. I don't think Harry gives alot of thought to tactics and just focuses on us out scoring the opposition. This is one team he would have adjust those tactics for though.

 

[michaelden]

I'd go 8-0-2.

8 Defenders, Lennon and Bale upfront and whack the ball to them whenever possible.

but we'd have 4 RBs in defence, 3 CBs and a LB Eek

 

[Peters]

Well we can beat Inter and they can't so obviously we'd win. Trust me football is always like that, it's that easy.

....and we drew 1-1 with Barca last time we played them (with no central defenders or Bale)

http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3148185,00.html

 

[spursontheloose]

We'd get screwed. The only chance we'd have to score is toe punting it from the half way line everytime we take centre after they get a goal!

Seriously though I believe the our players have learnt alot over the last couple of months and we would'nt just give the ball up and roll over just because were playing Barca, even if they did put a few past us to begin with. Our squad has great talent and we have players who learn quickly aswell. My yardstick is the Inter away game, in which we could've easily been annihilated but we got our heads down, picked ourselves off the floor and had a go back...... with only 10 men. To me that speaks volumes about our squad and gives great reason to be optimistic! :-D

 

[nailsy]

I'd go 8-0-2.

8 Defenders, Lennon and Bale upfront and whack the ball to them whenever possible.

I'd play two keepers. You can do that can't you?

 

[gibbs131]

IMO that was a freak result.

 

[sharky127]

Why all the negativity?

Barcelona are undoubtably a great team but they still drew away to Copenhagen and only beat them 2-0 at the Nou Camp (with Messi scoring the 2nd in injury time).

Would we lose in the Nou Camp, probably but i'd hope we're much better equipped to run them close than Copenhagen and i'd still back us to get something from the Lane so we'll always have a chance!

Still i hope we win our final game to top the group and thus avoid the big boys in the 2nd round!

 

[Zimmy]

IMO that was a freak result.

Yeah you're right, it should have eight or nine to Barca.

 

[gibbs131]

Yeah you're right, it should have eight or nine to Barca.

That would be impressive since they had 6 shots on goal.

 

[Zimmy]

That would be impressive since they had 6 shots on goal.

No they didn't, they had six shot's on target, 15 on goal.

They won the game after 60 minutes and then passed Madrid off the pitch as if it were a training exercise.

Awesome performance.

 

[mil1lion]

Absolutely. Barca could've won by far more if they really went for it. But they decided to send a message to Real Madrid by totally outplaying them in the centre of the pitch. They tore Madrid open as and when they saw fit too. We could've been looking at another 8-0 win for Barca but they settled for the 5. Wonderful team.

Its the Cruyff philosophy that I admire most, and it runs through the veins of Barca. First it is about playing entertaining football. They believe in that style of football so much that the results will come naturally. Just keep playing the same way and you'll be successful, and it works.

Spurs are not too disimilar in attitude under Harry at times. He'll gladly play VDV, Lennon, Bale and Modric in the same team. The only difference is, we dont do it every single game. Sometimes we show a bit of caution (like playing Palacios and Sandro at Bolton) rather than sticking to the same system and style of play.

Obviously Barca are on a whole new level in terms of the quality they possess. Thats why they can afford to avoid the cautious approach. Not to mention they dont ding it up to Crouchie. If we could match the fitness and workrate of Barca I think we'd challenge Man Utd and Chelsea in the Premier League title race.

I'm not sure if I want us to avoid Barca in the CL either, just because it would be invaluable experience for our team. I'd expect Harry to be more cautious int hat game no doubt. But you cant underestimate the difference in workrate and tracking back of Lennon and Bale compared to Ronaldo and Di Maria. I think we'd give Barca a game, lose by a couple of goals, but keep our dignity and heads held high.

 

[spursandbarca]

dont want spurs vs barca at all. not even in the final. never had to cheer against barca in my lifetime, dont want to now.

 

[spursandbarca]

madrid didnt really line up 4-3-3.

benzema was isolated up top vs puyol and pique. he never was going to win that battle.

ronaldo played in a free role, and di maria was not sticking to his wing either. alonso was the holder and kheidera tried to play as holder also. surely the likes of gago or diarra would have been better suited. barca has so much room once they won the ball.

barca defended from the front. and when they won the ball had time and space.