Champions League Semis

[ShelfSide18]

Some people here seem to think that Barca have the god given right to steamroller all who cross their path.

Well I'm sorry, it may have not been pretty (although not anti football, try Stoke/Allardyce for that) but Mourinho just put a spanner in possibly the greatest ever teams works and people are suddenly getting pissy.

I love watching Barca, but I enjoyed the underdog winning last night. I enjoyed Inters bravery and camaraderie and tough as fuck mentality just as much as I can enjoy Barca playing the beautiful game.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Mourhino is a master when it comes to tactics and I have no doubt that Inter will go on to win in the final. It doesn't always make for the most entertaining football but the results do speak for themselves.

With football being such a huge business nowadays it's about winning to survive and flourish, no matter how, rather than crowd-pleasing and, although there are a few exceptions, the days when I would be buzzing with excitement after a great and memorable a game that I'd just watched are long gone.

I'm sure that Billy Nick has probably turned in his grave many times. Unfortunately, the beautiful game is often rather ugly nowadays.

 

[mil1lion]

Rubin Kazan played the same way defensively against Barca but without the antics. They also won. I have more respect for them than Inter. Heck, we did it to Arsenal without the antics.

The main difference in viewpoints is definitely the fact that I follow Barca though. I'm always going to lean towards their style of play. But I am a football purist too, and I love football to be played in style.

Not to mention I like AC Milan, and hate Inter

 

[mil1lion]

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Jose!

.

 

[yawa]

Last year Chelsea was lifted to the skies for not trying to play football and behaving like swines. This year it's a non-classy Mourinho and Inter for time wasting from minute 1. Yes, Barca used the fact that Motta was stupid enough to shove his hand into Busquets face when already having a yellow. What teams doesn't do this..? We may not like it but it's fact. But no one mentioned every dive Militio did do steal time etc. Not once was this mentioned. It's always "the little shit" Alves etc when Barca is playing. It get's so pathetic, narrow minded and petty when chosing one player and saying that he does all the cheating just because it suits your agenda.

very well said...rep.

 

[dooey123]

Brilliant pics.

 

[spurs_viola]

I'm quite amazed of peoples opinions on here......even though it's easy to realize it all is about jealousy and poor knowledge.

Last year Chelsea was lifted to the skies for not trying to play football and behaving like swines. This year it's a non-classy Mourinho and Inter for time wasting from minute 1. Yes, Barca used the fact that Motta was stupid enough to shove his hand into Busquets face when already having a yellow. What teams doesn't do this..? We may not like it but it's fact. But no one mentioned every dive Militio did do steal time etc. Not once was this mentioned. It's always "the little shit" Alves etc when Barca is playing. It get's so pathetic, narrow minded and petty when chosing one player and saying that he does all the cheating just because it suits your agenda.

I would understand the hate towards Barca if the team was full of Drogba's, Eboue's etc and a complaining Wenger but that isn't the fact.

It's kinda fun to see so clearly who let's Barca's superiority (even Eto'o said it after the game) get to them and make them childishly jealous and bitter.

.....

Exactly. But this reaction is not very surprising - the British like to back the underdog and dislike the success that has style, which many British people see as "a bit too much", "arrogant" etc. They prefer the bulldog spirit of the "little man" and delight in supporting teams like Stoke v teams like Arsenal. Jealousy at what seems to be high up there and delight when the high-ups fall.

So Inter has become their Stoke and Barca their Arsenal last night.

 

[Shanks]

I don't think for a second that 'british' are jealous of how good Barcalona are in the slightest.

If anything, most people I speak to, would happily watch Barca every week possible, as they play, by far and away, the best football from any team, that I ever remember seeing.

But, last nights game, was more of a fair play to Inter, not exactly pretty (although I didn't watch it - snooker was far more interesting ;-) ) inter beat, what we all thought was unbeatable.

That is all, there is no hidden jealousys or anything like that.

I don't support Barca, or any other team other than Spurs, so I really didn't care much about the match result.

 

[arnoldlayne]

I'm quite amazed of peoples opinions on here......even though it's easy to realize it all is about jealousy and poor knowledge.

Last year Chelsea was lifted to the skies for not trying to play football and behaving like swines. This year it's a non-classy Mourinho and Inter for time wasting from minute 1. Yes, Barca used the fact that Motta was stupid enough to shove his hand into Busquets face when already having a yellow. What teams doesn't do this..? We may not like it but it's fact. But no one mentioned every dive Militio did do steal time etc. Not once was this mentioned. It's always "the little shit" Alves etc when Barca is playing. It get's so pathetic, narrow minded and petty when chosing one player and saying that he does all the cheating just because it suits your agenda.

I would understand the hate towards Barca if the team was full of Drogba's, Eboue's etc and a complaining Wenger but that isn't the fact.

It's kinda fun to see so clearly who let's Barca's superiority (even Eto'o said it after the game) get to them and make them childishly jealous and bitter.


Well, well.....to bad that 2 finals (champs and FA) have gone down the drain and become totally uninteresting, both when it comes to the teams and the football they stand for. Bayern excluded though, but who gives a shit about teams from Germany.

What comes next.......Germany and Italy playing the final in the World Cup

Michey

Much to my disgust Barca played below par and Inter above par, resulting in the final score.

I was an Ibrahimovich fan but was disappointed about his performance in the two legs. What happened?

 

[mil1lion]

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.

 

[spurs_viola]

I have always thought that Barca and Guardiola made a big mistake replacing Etoo with Ibra. Etoo suits their style much better than the ponderous Ibra who comes alive too rarely in big games against well organised defences.

Etoo is far more mobile and last night showed that he can be remarkably disciplined and committed in defensive responsibilities as well as providing the threat on counter-attacks.

Guardiola was perhaps too hasty in getting rid of people he did not fancy when he arrived. Etoo is one example. Ronaldinho is another. He showed this season that he could still well provide the missing magic in Barca team in the matches like yesterday's, when Barca ran out of ideas early in 2nd half.
I mean, Pedro was in his place - and did he do anything?

 

[Michey]

Michey

Much to my disgust Barca played below par and Inter above par, resulting in the final score.

I was an Ibrahimovich fan but was disappointed about his performance in the two legs. What happened?

It's obvious that Barca has lost form since their brilliant weeks against L'arse and Real.....but it would be strange if they wouldn't loose form sometime. It would be über-human to play football like that all the time

When it comes to Ibra i think it was a mistake from Guardiola to play him after having beeing out for injury and clearly not showing any sign of form. It really surprised me that he played him yeterday and even more after the first half.

 

[Bobishism]

Who else could Barca have played up front that is physical enough to unlock the Inter defence? Eto'o would have been useful yesterday.

 

[arnoldlayne]

It's obvious that Barca has lost form since their brilliant weeks against L'arse and Real.....but it would be strange if they wouldn't loose form sometime. It would be über-human to play football like that all the time

When it comes to Ibra i think it was a mistake from Guardiola to play him after having beeing out for injury and clearly not showing any sign of form. It really surprised me that he played him yeterday and even more after the first half.

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?

 

[worcestersauce]

Some people here seem to think that Barca have the god given right to steamroller all who cross their path.

Well I'm sorry, it may have not been pretty (although not anti football, try Stoke/Allardyce for that) but Mourinho just put a spanner in possibly the greatest ever teams works and people are suddenly getting pissy.

I love watching Barca, but I enjoyed the underdog winning last night. I enjoyed Inters bravery and camaraderie and tough as fuck mentality just as much as I can enjoy Barca playing the beautiful game.

Spot on! basically people are pissed off because the great Barcelona got beat, big deal and by the way did anyone notice that Inter beat them three - one in Milan which gave them the freedom to defend in last night's game or did they only win in Milan because Barca's poor little lambs were tired?

 

[arnoldlayne]

Spot on! basically people are pissed off because the great Barcelona got beat, big deal and by the way did anyone notice that Inter beat them three - one in Milan which gave them the freedom to defend in last night's game or did they only win in Milan because Barca's poor little lambs were tired?

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.

 

[Michey]

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.

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

 

[spursandbarca]

ibra doesnt fit a 4-3-3. he will be sold in the summer, rosell will replace him with David Villa. Henry is going to ny red bulls, he will be replaced by luis suarez. Fabregas and a lb will be signed.

pedro he scores goals but isnt good enough technically. ditto busquets. think guardiola just wants to prove, i bought these guys through the cantera and I won with them.

 

[Goldman]

Lol SnB you really shouldn't talk in such definitives, you don't exactly have a good track record.

 

[kcmei]

i do beleive they wanna rid ibra he just doesnt suit their style very much