Barcelona or Manchester

What can be said about Barca that hasn't already, incredible team who can keep the ball with such ease. Utd totally collapsed after losing the first goal but that shouldn't take anything away from Barca, they were on top form.

Glad to see Messi finally score a goal against English opposition too, don't have to hear pundits holding that against him any longer.

 

I also thought that Rooney was anonymous.

 

Alot of the Man U team were annonymous, most notably anderson and park I would say.

 

Yeah Anderson and Carrick werent great..but they were just torn apart and outclassed by Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. I thought Rooney was Utd's best but towrads the end he just seemed to give up. Barca are a class apart in every area of the pitch. Puyols is the best defender in the world, Iniesta and Xavi the best midfielders and with Henry,Eto'o and Messi the attack speaks for itself. a victory for football tonigiht.

 

No he's not.

 

Liga f****ed premier, resume of today
What a match, what a players, I love Etoo

 

Man ure were just taken to school by a real footballing team. Barca are brilliant and it's a joy to watch them. We debate great teams of the past on this forum, I believe in a few years this Barca team will be up there when truely appreciated.

 

Its brilliant for Barcelona to do it with that many of their own Youth products aswell. Valdes, Puyol, Pique, Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi (and Bojan, Muniesa and Pedro on the bench) - probably up there with the Lisbon Lions of a "homemade" team going on to be European Champions especially in this day in age where players are bought and sold every season from around Europe. 10 players that came through Barcelona's youth system went home with a Champions League winners medal tonight, I dont know for sure but I would think it's the most that have done it under the "Champions League" modern format.

 

For a squad that was assembled for more than £200m or whatever it is Man Utd have been like a reincarnation of a boring Arsenal side under George Graham this season with all the 1-0's, only a few games they've been exciting in this season. Their success is coming from a top class defence and Ronaldo pulling a goal out when they've needed it. Not in the same league as this Barcelona team in terms of excitement or class, but then who is, an outstanding team. Though they do struggle big time when one of Xavi, Iniesta or Messi is injured.

 

Man United didnt even give it 110% against Barca.

Why not?

He was the best player on the Pitch for United, i rekon he gave it everything he could against Barca. IMO.

 

He's not great positionally. Slow. Suspect marking. Not great in the air. There are a lot of defenders that are better than him.

I thought he was crap. He should have been played through the centre. He done nothing effective.

 

I think Barcelona are better than Man Utd with what was available for the teams tonight. If Man Utd had Fletcher and Hargreaves available they might have been able to stop Barcelona but they didn't and because of that Man Utd's midfield was too weak and Barcelona have the best midfield about with Iniesta and Xavi.

Rooney has improved a lot this season and been Man Utd's best player but I never noticed him tonight, defending or attacking. I think their best tonight was Van der Sar who made 2/3 saves that stopped Barcelona from embarassing them.

I think the best defender is Rio Ferdinand and Puyol wouldnt be far away, he hasn't had the best season but in the last 4 seasons i'd say he was the best defender in the world. Terry, Vidic, Cannavaro and most of the others are over-rated and quite basic players. Guys like Pepe, Lucio and that are mistake prone, Maldini and Nesta are hardly ever fit. Germany, Holland, Argentina or France dont have any great defenders.

 

I disagree Minty, i rekon Rooney was the strongest player tbh, he gave it 110%, name a player that played better than him for Man United?

 

Ronaldo, Evra, Ferdinand and O'Shea had a better game than Rooney. Giving 110% effort doesn't automatically mean that you played well.

 

I dont think so, Ronaldo played pish IMO, he hardly even touched the ball, and when he did he gave away a foul. The whole defence played poor, they were too nervous and i think thats why the full squad lost confidence.

 

Ronaldo had Man U's best chances. He had a decent game in comparison to other Man U players. We're going to have to agree to disagree here.

 

After this match... I have to feel Spain is the favorite for the WC in 2010.

----------------Casillas----------------
Ramos------Pique----Puyol---Capdevila
---------------------------------------
-----------------Senna----------------
---------Iniesta-----------Xavi---------
Cazorla----------------------------Silva
-----------------Torres----------------

And they'd still have players like Arbeloa, Xabi Alonso, Albiol, Riera, and Villa on the bench. Incredible.

 

Their biggest threat being? Argentina?

 

Even if Ronaldo tried to play the his best ability (which i didnt think he did), it still wouldnt have been enough. The full squad didnt even look as if they were on the pitch, there was nothing from the majority of the players. I was shocked at how bad the players performed, i have not honestly seen them play so bad in a very long time. Each to their own though Minty.

 

Yea, I'd say so. Defense will be a problem for them I think... and they wouldn't be able to control the midfield against Spain like they would against everybody else. It's be a * top match to watch, though.