Chelsea v Barcelona

[User removed 4]

Say what you like about Drogba, but his work rate was absolutely phenomenal last night. He was everywhere (as well as being on the floor). Can't stand all the Chelsea plastics that walk around Sussex in their soul-less replica gear with that shitty round badge on, but I for one will be hoping they finish the job in the second leg, go on to lift the cup and that Roberto di Matteo gets the job.

How old school fans like Bushy put up with all the plastic c*nts following that club I'll never know.

Its a different club now mate, i've been sat in front of tore andre flo a couple of seasons ago in the west lower, and i was the only one who recognised him!! its not as if he played 20 years ago is it ??

 

[Common as Mook]

I don't think it was especially ugly. The Chelsea goal was as good a technical bit of football as anything Barca did all game. Lampard outside of the boot pass out to Ramires on the wing was absolutely sublime. Chelsea did exactly what you have to do to beat Barca, and they did it very well.

I agree. Lazy journalism and jealousy have ill described their performance last night.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Shows that even with 78% possession, Barca still lost, having the ball does not mean you win the game, goals do.

True, it will not always prevail but bigger picture Barca have done rather well from their possession based game, as have the Spanish national team. It seems to work.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Hopefully they can go on and win it.

The mighty Bayern will have something to say about this.

 

[Common as Mook]

True, it will not always prevail but bigger picture Barca have done rather well from their possession based game, as have the Spanish national team. It seems to work.

I agree. However, Barca have been vulnerable this season and on this occasion, more agricultural football based on a sound back 4 may prevail. Italian football had years of success with this. CATENACCIO!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I agree. However, Barca have been vulnerable this season and on this occasion, more agricultural football based on a sound back 4 may prevail. Italian football had years of success with this. CATENACCIO!

4 points off the top of Primera and in the semis of the Champions League does not strike me as a particularly vulnerable team. They will not win every game all of the time. They have not been beaten yet, there is still the second leg.

 

[Common as Mook]

4 points off the top of Primera and in the semis of the Champions League does not strike me as a particularly vulnerable team. They will not win every game all of the time. They have not been beaten yet, there is still the second leg.

They are more vulnerable this year than last year. They've lost and drawn more games. I'm fully aware they haven't been beaten yet, you patronsing git!

 

[Finch]

This was Barcelona at their worst and most boring. They can be great to watch sometimes, but they obsess over possession so much that sometimes they favour possession over making an attacking move, in a first leg tie away from home they were always going to be conservative, but it was a bit too conservative. 72-78% possession and they were f***ing boring.

I expect them to be brilliant at home though.

Am I the only one that saw Drogba cop a boot to the nuts? (purely accidental) No one else seems to have mentioned it, he was hunched over for ages.

 

[Common as Mook]

This was Barcelona at their worst and most boring. They can be great to watch sometimes, but they obsess over possession so much that sometimes they favour possession over making an attacking move, in a first leg tie away from home they were always going to be conservative, but it was a bit too conservative. 72-78% possession and they were f***ing boring.

I expect them to be brilliant at home though.

Am I the only one that saw Drogba cop a boot to the nuts? (purely accidental) No one else seems to have mentioned it, he was hunched over for ages.

I thought he squashed a bollock when performing another outrageous dive

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I thought he squashed a bollock when performing another outrageous dive

That's what I saw as well but totally agree with everyone else finch said barca were at their boring worst last night.

 

[Bold Seagull]

That's what I saw as well but totally agree with everyone else finch said barca were at their boring worst last night.

I'd like to see how many teams could carve out that many clear cut chances against a Chelsea team that simply put a bank of 4 on the edge of their box, then a bank of 5 a few yards in front. I think any team would have struggled to break down that set up or play fluid attacking football. Chelsea gambled last night and got lucky. It was a great performance by them but to watch that match and say Barca were the boring team, well, can't say I can agree with that.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I'd like to see how many teams could carve out that many clear cut chances against a Chelsea team that simply put a bank of 4 on the edge of their box, then a bank of 5 a few yards in front. I think any team would have struggled to break down that set up or play fluid attacking football. Chelsea gambled last night and got lucky. It was a great performance by them but to watch that match and say Barca were the boring team, well, can't say I can agree with that.

This.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

you patronsing git!

Sorry, not intended.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I'd like to see how many teams could carve out that many clear cut chances against a Chelsea team that simply put a bank of 4 on the edge of their box, then a bank of 5 a few yards in front. I think any team would have struggled to break down that set up or play fluid attacking football. Chelsea gambled last night and got lucky. It was a great performance by them but to watch that match and say Barca were the boring team, well, can't say I can agree with that.

100% this.

 

[perseus]

Well, I thought the game was interesting. The TV did not give a right perspective visually as it was tight in ball watching (as usual) but it seemed to me that Barca had a starting line-up with three at the back and the rest were divided between defensive midfielders and attacking midfielders and Fabregas (who might as well not been on the pitch).

But it was still four at the back when defending as one of the midfielders covered. I do NOT think the Barca system is particularly exciting. It is just their first team has exciting players: Sanchez, Messi, Villa, The Barca system is a bit like the boring Sunderland play, effective and sometimes stifling. But they were away in European Cup match, what else to expect?

I would not mind Albion playing the same way in tricky away matches.

Chelsea were even more boring. Without Drogba their team would be very ordinary.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Well, I thought the game was interesting. The TV did not give a right perspective visually as it was tight in ball watching (as usual) but it seemed to me that Barca had a starting line-up with three at the back and the rest were divided between defensive midfielders and attacking midfielders and Fabregas (who might as well not been on the pitch).

But it was still four at the back when defending as one of the midfielders covered. I do NOT think the Barca system is particularly exciting. It is just their first team has exciting players: Sanchez, Messi, Villa, The Barca system is a bit like the boring Sunderland play, effective and sometimes stifling. But they were away in European Cup match, what else to expect?

I would not mind Albion playing the same way in tricky away matches.

Chelsea were even more boring. Without Drogba their team would be very ordinary.

cheer up

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I'd like to see how many teams could carve out that many clear cut chances against a Chelsea team that simply put a bank of 4 on the edge of their box, then a bank of 5 a few yards in front. I think any team would have struggled to break down that set up or play fluid attacking football. Chelsea gambled last night and got lucky. It was a great performance by them but to watch that match and say Barca were the boring team, well, can't say I can agree with that.

I didn't say THEY were the boring team, the match in general was very boring. I really do not find continual passing around the box waiting for the perfect pass before being tackled and then the ball being punted forward as particularly attractive or exciting. As Finch said last night they were retaining posesion for posessions sake and being ultra cautious. It was like watching paint dry.

 

[Medwayseagull]

Must be pretty unusual for a team with 79% possession, 24 shots, 6 on target plus two which hit the woodwork, to walk away with a defeat and no goals. In that context I think next week is quite ominous for Chelsea unless you can ride your luck over two matches.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Must be pretty unusual for a team with 79% possession, 24 shots, 6 on target, to walk away with a defeat and no goals. In that context I think next week is quite ominous for Chelsea unless you can ride your luck over two matches.

All they need is a lucky deflection or the ball dropping to the right player on a free kick or corner and Barca will need to score 3.

 

[Medwayseagull]

All they need is a lucky deflection or the ball dropping to the right player on a free kick or corner and Barca will need to score 3.

If those stats are repeated I wouldn't bet against Barca scoring more than 3.