I used to like Chelsea, but can't stand them since Abramovich took over. I don't want them to win anything so I'm most certainly supporting Barca in this competition. On paper, 1-0 is a good result, of course, and they have the initial advantage but that was an embarrasing night for english football and showed nothing other than Stoke could compete in the CL. For the people saying Barca played boring football, it's extremely hard to play attacking, attractive and flowing football when your opposition sits with 10 players behind the ball (how many times did we see the Chelsea midfield stradling the 18yard line?) and then has the ball lumped up to Drogba who drops to the ground. And they STILL managed to make plenty of chances and should have scored on 4 occasions. Chelsea rode their luck, played dull tactics and cheated. On another day it still could have resulted in 4-0 and we'd be saying how their tactics were wrong. If it were stoke against Arsenal, we'd be saying how Stoke were negative and showed no ambition. Rose tinted glasses for the last english team in Europe here... By all means, take your 1-0 lead, be proud that you have the advantage, but don't get on your high horse about how amazing Chelsea are when you just kill the game because you can't compete and don't accidently forget that you could have been thumped 4-1 with the exact same performance.
Chelsea stopped Barca getting the away goal which is important. If they can get a goal at the Nou Camp, Barca need three. Still very much game on. Will be difficult to stop Barca scoring though so they need that away goal.
I don't think Messi would be as dominating in the PL as he is in La Liga but he would still be head and shoulders above everyone else.
Oh Great! Arsenal4life goes quiet, CofPL turns into the blue hulk lol..".grrrrr Puny Red Humans Hulk like shiny big cup!!!"
I dislike Barcelona; I hate how our media and the pundits seem to worship them and consider them "streets ahead of other sides". I'm not saying Barcelona aren't a good side by any means. I just don't think they deserve the hype.. In reality they are only slightly better the top sides in our league. In addition to this they simply play lightweight football. It would for example be interesting to see how they play against Stoke with a premier league referee. I think we could possibly be surprised and the game ending slightly closer than most of you think. Yes they play possession football; Yes they play more "skillful" football; However so do Arsenal and where are they in our league? NOT FIRST! (granted Barce > Arsenal though). Nonetheless I predict a score line of 2-1 when Chelsea go to the nou camp. Chelsea to go through on the away goal. Hopefully this will provide the reality check that those that worship Barcelona need!
I hate Barcelona............Why? The media big them up........... I ****ing hate this response. So you hate the media and not Barcelona. Very rarely to you here Pep, xavi, Iniesta, Messi say anything to the press and when they do it's complimentory. I feel people only "hate" Barcelona because everyone else likes them and they think it's cool to be different. I go to a lot of music gigs and i am forever hearing friends rave about this band or that band and how brilliant they are (and they are normally correct) but when they "make-it" and are widely known they say they are ****. It's just bollocks.
My biggest problem with Barca ( bar a few of the players) is the diving and the antics. Sergio Busquests would be my captain in my starting 11 of biggest cheating ****s in the world. They play exceptional footy but maybe the gloss is starting to wane a bit. You can't be dominant for as long as they have and not get figured out sooner or later. They are exciting as well and the technique is just tremendous. Chelsea played their cards right and wasn't any different to what we did back in 05 with Juve and Chelsea, 07 with barca and Chelsea. Gotta be smart in these Euro ties.
Some people like watching Barca play, but when I watch a footy match I want to see end to end stuff. The only chance of that happening for the final I think would be a Real-Barca final or Bayern-Chelsea final. Would also like to see someone different win it this year, but not Chelsea. If Chelsea were to get knocked out I would not want them to get spanked at the Nou Camp. Ideal scenario is Barca winning 2-1, Chelsea though on away goals only to concede a last minute Barca winner to make it 3-1...that would hurt a lot more.
I agree. Pep was the first one to say that possession doesn't win you games, goals do. And Messi is one of the most down to Earth players in the world despite his global appeal.
At the end of the day, it's about personal preference. Some will prefer a fast, direct team that uses pace and strength. Whilst others (like myself) prefer the quick passing and movement that uses technique, skill and intelligence. I suppose I prefer this style is because it's harder to replicate - you don't see many teams playing as well as Barca. Players with technique, vision, intelligence are a lot harder to come by than fast, physical players.
If Chelsea win, they would take the 4th spot right ( if they didn't make the top 4)? Imagine the pain that Spurs, Arsenal, Newkie would endure! Bar Newkie I wouldn't be too bothered by the others.
To be honest i can be partial to both. I'm a gooner myself and while i love the quick passing that we can acheive on our day (not saying its as good as barca's) i loved watching us when we were a fast powerful team. Watching Vieira, Petit, Pires, Henry, DB etc in full flow was expectional. I'd say the same about Chelsea 06(ish) with Ballack, Essien, Drogs etc in prime. I can full understand people basing a view on Barca and if they dont like them because they prefer a faster game rather than a possisional one (i must admit i love watching Barca) but to say this ****e about them being arrogant and boring etc just for the sake of it annoys me.
i don't care. honeslty..... the bayern v real game was an actual game. the chelsea barca game was a farce. the cheslea players tried hard but it was an awful awful game to watch. If a side plays genuinely v barca they can make a game of it but get beat by great football... its not barca's fault side put 20men behind the ball is it? the barca back 4 were in chelsea's final 3rd most of the night which is IMO sick.
Not trying to argue for the sake of arguning but why would a team attempt to play Barca at football when they are not as good and lose just so fans of other teams are happy. Chelsea knew what they had to do and did it. Exceptionally well. I know what i'd prefer if i was a Chelsea fan
