Champions League Semis

[arnoldlayne]

So very very true and definitely worth some applauds :clap:

thanks very much!

 

[spursandbarca]

I got his substitution spot on yesterday.

I want David Villa for Barca.

I also think with all the injuries that it's not long before Fabregas is also playing for them.

Toure was woeful and very wasteful, so maybe Veloso as well?

Bojan did more in 20 minutes than Ibra in 70. He is a good player, he suffers from social anxiety. He just has to believe Guardiola has confidence in him. he has scored tons of goals at every level.

Villa he gives flexibility. he can play as a number 9 or on the left. his pace with messi or iniesta beating a player or a xavi killer ball. hed score 40 goals a season in a Barca shirt. stupid laporta and txiki got it so wrong signing Ibra, he cant play in a 4-3-3, even cryuff was criticizing him today and we all know that cryuff is the one making the decisions anyway

 

[arnoldlayne]

Bojan did more in 20 minutes than Ibra in 70. He is a good player, he suffers from social anxiety. He just has to believe Guardiola has confidence in him. he has scored tons of goals at every level.

Villa he gives flexibility. he can play as a number 9 or on the left. his pace with messi or iniesta beating a player or a xavi killer ball. hed score 40 goals a season in a Barca shirt. stupid laporta and txiki got it so wrong signing Ibra, he cant play in a 4-3-3, even cryuff was criticizing him today and we all know that cryuff is the one making the decisions anyway

Rumour has it that Villa burst into tears when he heard that Barca had gone for ZI

 

[spursandbarca]

Ibra can be really frustrating at times. I'm hoping Barca can bring in David Villa in the summer. As good as Barca are, they're still missing a couple of things. A top class partner for Pique (Chygrynskiy has been woeful). An out and out goalscorer (Messi has had to replace a lot of Eto'os goals). Possibly another ball player too (Iniesta gets injured quiete a lot).

Vidic, Fabregas and Villa please.

No need for another cd,puyol has had a very good season. milito is adequate cover. marquez is finished and chygrnsky maybe just needs another season to sort himself out. they have fontas and muniesa who will both be excellent as well. vidic would just stop their devolpment.



need a lw to replace Henry. (ribery,silva,)

a cf to replace Ibra. (villa or fabiano)


fabregas and another lb

 

[SpurSince57]

I don't think people believe Barca have any "god-given" right to win - however as a Spurs supporter, there are certain teams which I have always admired as playing football the "correct" way - with a flourish and for glory, with style (TM Bill Nicholson/Danny Blanchflower). That is why I support Spurs and it is the DNA/genetic make-up of the soul of our club.

For instance club teams such as Ajax in the 70's (Cruyff et al) and early 90's, AC Milan in the late 80's (with the holy Dutch triumvirate of Gullit, Rijkard & van Basten), Barca in the mid-90's under Cruyff, Real Madrid in the 60's (di Stefano/Puskas) and early '00's. Then countries such as Brazil in the early 70's and that wonderful team of 1982 (Zico, Socrates, falcao et al), Holland in the 70's and late 80's, Michel Platini's France in the 80's, the recent Spain team.

There have been many pragmatic football teams who win - it's one of the reasons Chelsea and Leeds are so unloved in this country. Yes it is effective but it's boring, tedious, percentage football. It was the philosophy of Graham Taylor at Watford and Villa, the style (not) of Wimbledon, Allardyce (yawn), and the late Charlie Hughes (I think was his name) who coached young England teams and told them to bypass midfield and get it to forwards quickly. Also that Norwegian bloke who's name escapes me.

When you see the breath-taking way Barca tore Arsenal apart in the first half you (or me personally) had to stand and cheer - 1-0 to the beautiful game. Their team yesterday had 5 players that came through the youth ranks. Inter didn't have a single Italian playing.

I have no doubt that Inter deserved to win yesterday but their players can put on a better and braver show than they did. Barca have the courage to try and play football the way I wish I (and Spurs) could play. Unfortunately although Mourinho is a great coach and he has the tactical acumen he doesn't have the courage to play football that way. Van Gaal does but I think pragmatism will win the day and we could see a 1-0 Inter win or a penalty shoot-out in a bore-draw.

I don't think Barca should have won - I am very disappointed that they didn't play to their capacity as they have done in the last 18 months. That makes me sad.

I guess you weren't around when Barça kicked shit out of our players in '82.

 

[Adam]

If i was Barca, id be looking at a goalscoring midfielder as opposed to anther creator.

Last night, they'd have been so much better off with a player who could smash one in from 30 yards-thats the most likely way you are going to score against a team defending like that.

I know ive just slated him for diving in the Europa thread, but i reckon Gerrard would be a good option for them-im pretty sure he'd go if the offer came in, and i think he'd be the ideal signing for them-looking at Barca at the minute, they seem 1 matchwinner short of being unplayable.

 

[arnoldlayne]

I guess you weren't around when Barça kicked shit out of our players in '82.

Actually I was and, yes I was furious about it at the time. However I remember Spurs doing the same to a Fulham team managed by Malcolm Macdonald the following season (in the FA Cup).

If you read the post I didn't say I admired Barca '82.

 

[TheChosenOne]

Actually I was and, yes I was furious about it at the time. However I remember Spurs doing the same to a Fulham team managed by Malcolm Macdonald the following season (in the FA Cup).

If you read the post I didn't say I admired Barca '82.

Jan 1984. I don't remember it being that bad, although with Roberts playing anything could have happened.

 

[arnoldlayne]

Jan 1984. I don't remember it being that bad, although with Roberts playing anything could have happened.

i didn't think it was that bad but a lot of papers, M macdonald, etc were complaining after the match.

With regards to Barca, it's THIS particular team that I admire. There were plenty of barca teams that were absolute kak and very dirty who I wouldn't be interested in watching at all (early 80's). However this barca team and it's philosophy are worth watching (IMVHO)

 

[Kendall]

People seem to forget that Inter attacked at home and could've put 6 or 7 past Barca.

So why the hell are they being criticised for defending a lead with 10 men?

It's bullshit and smacks of sour grapes.

 

[Kendall]

You guys sound like Wenger!

 

[jimtheyid]

People seem to forget that Inter attacked at home and could've put 6 or 7 past Barca.

So why the hell are they being criticised for defending a lead with 10 men?

It's bullshit and smacks of sour grapes.

Agreed.

Plus Barca were diving all over the shop. I personally enjoyed the game. Mourinho played it perfectly.

 

[Dharmabum]

Inter won the game due to the linseman/ref, simple as that. Had the linesman done his job in the first leg the score would have been 2-1 to Inter (as that D. Milito goal was blatantly off-side) and/or Barca would have won 2-0 at home (it is NOT a hands when the ball hits the a hand that is clearly held against the body, as was the case with Yaya Toure). If the ref-team had done their jobs Barca would have been in the final and no-one would have praised Jose the way they are now.
And don't get me started on all those incidents when Lucio fouled Zlatain by holding his short in the penalty area.
It's a disgrace that incompetent refs/linesman can have such an impact on the most prob the most important club competition in the world.
Time for video refs.

 

[Bonjour]

The 3-1 scoreline at Inter seemed a fair result to me. Inter were pretty dominant.

 

[Michey]

The 3-1 scoreline at Inter seemed a fair result to me. Inter were pretty dominant.

We'll keep "fair" in mind when results are beeing discussed, especially since one goal was offside.

But it will be interesting to have in mind for coming games.