₦airaland Forum

jmaine:
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Thanks for this info. . . This should quell some frayed nerves down and also increase the Platini is shyte rants .

daremichae:
You must have an intellect mind to read a game, and get­ your notes, strength and weakness, which i believe the­ special-one has done already. The match was really­ hyped, special dignitaries travelled to Barcelona from­ all parts of the world to watch the match, cos of the­ capabilities of the teams and respective coaches­ involved in the game. We all knew what Messi, Xavi,­ Iniesta, Villa, C'Ronaldo, Ozil, Di Maria, and­ Mourinho can do.

The whole world was expecting a very­ tight and competitive game, but Jose Mourinho decide to­ go for a tactical-reading one, to take notes of the­ tactical strengths and weaknesses. He has the ability­ to think deeper, wiser and differently,,,a quality that­ clearly underlines him as the special one and a true­ genius, who knows so much about the inside of the­ game,,, he could have been teaching Football-Tactics in­ a school that other coaches would pay to attend and get­ a certificate for.

He wasn't moving around on­ the Touch-line shouting and passing messages across­ like he would normally do, only reading and taking­ notes of tactics that would matter, when the stakes are­ higher (Knock-out phases of competitions).

so for now­ Barcelona can rejoice, rejoice and rejoice, as they­ have done wonderful well, they have prooved so many­ pundits wrong, they have been incredible, but on­ another note, they should celebrate with a caution,­ come the end of the season,,,as who laughs last last­ best (lesson from last season champions league), REAL MADRID FOR
LIFE

holydante:
The way we think is that we want the ball and it makes life harder for you if we have got it. Jose Mourinho lets the other team have the ball and adjusts his own team to react to that. You cannot compare the two philosophies, Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff

Same crop of players, no change in  tactics, hold the ball, attack, lose it, get it back as a group. The minute stats are coming out, i counted 25 uninterrupted passes that led to the 2nd goal, counter attack hardly works against a well oiled Barca machinery. JM will always turn a naturally attacking team into a counter attacking one, Mikel Obi is a typical example of ''what should not happen to a budding attacking midfielder''

As always the legend lives on, JM yet to win @ d Nou, ever-petulant CR7 yet to score @ d Nou, Pep makes it 5 out of 5 clasico wins, Messi yet to score against JM,  perpetual flop CR7 on the big stage-the comparison with Lionel Messi once again is obvious and baseless, the latter carries the team on his shoulders while the former is an attention-seeker and self glorification flop

One of the most expensive assembled teams in recent memory going down like a card pack with the touted special mouth having nothing up his sleeves to counter the assault, this kind of feat can only be achieved by a coherent, committed, selfless and dedicated team whose feet were on the ground from Valdes to Villa, no one is considered a demi god or special, just jell together and know that the happiness and fate of millions of fans and supporters lies on your feet.

It was just 3 points at the end of the day, but the effects and how it was garnered will be in the annals of history, a great side indeed. we look forward to our next game against Espanyol, and the Blancos on 17th April 2011

T'estimo Barca

I surely missed out on the comments, were you all commenting via laptops or what?(I use BB and it doesn't show me sports thread(pls can someone kindly lemmie know if its possible to be on the forum live on BB or how to do it via twitter)

When am not on my pc, I try also to surf the sport section with my BB. At first, I find it hard, but later on
I figured out I could reach the sport section by going to www.google.com first. Then type
"nairaland sport section", you'll definitely see a url that will link you to the sports section.


PS: Referees officiating was 92% perfect.

chic2pimp:
All Hail KING XAVI [b]HERNANEZ[/b]

medjai:
I was impressed by Adriano's performance as left back. He was solid at the back and was brilliant going forward as well. He even made an assist.
He may start as left back in the El Classico

AjanleKoko:
There is an interesting comparison of the Barca and Real sides, position for position, ahead of the Clasico, on Goal.com.
You can check it out here: http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2292/editorials/2010/11/22/2226086/have-your-say-who-has-the-better-starting-xi-barcelona-or

I made my comparisons like this:

1. Valdes vs Casillas: Casillas definitely takes this. He is a senior player and well-experienced. Valdes is not that far-off though.
2  Alves vs Ramos: I'd say at par, but I think Ramos actually plays better at national team level.
3. Maxwell vs Marcelo: Maxwell is better. Both are not great as far as full-backs go. Marcelo I think is ill-suited for that position, and defends badly. Though I suspect we will see Abidal here, since this is CR7's wing. Maxwell may not be able to hold his own against Ronaldo.
4. Puyol vs Carvalho: These are two great players. Tough one to call. But Carles would edge it slightly I think.
5. Pique vs Pepe: No comparison, Pique is way better. He has been careless this season though, but so has Pepe.
6. Busquets vs Khedira: You have to be kidding me. Sami who? Busquets is one of the best holding midfielders I've seen in a long time. Passmaster, crafty, imperious, and difficult to pass. He is way better than Khedira. Khedira is just coming up.
7. Xabi Alonso vs Xavi: Alonso is great but Xavi is better. This is not cule bias, these guys actually play together for Spain. Xavi is superb at what he does. His game is different from Alonso's though. He is more deep-lying, and doesn't tackle, but his passing accuracy is unrivaled in any league.
8. Iniesta vs Oezil: Just like the Busquets/Khedira comparisons. Oezil is great, up and coming, but Iniesta is probably the main reason why Pep passed on him. Iniesta edges this one for now.
9.Villa vs Higuain: Villa has a badder reputation, but I think Higuain is equally good as a goal poacher. Villa though slightly edges this one, for three reasons - speed, ability to let loose from anywhere in the final third, and working with the other guys up front. Even when he doesn't score, he hits the post.
10. Messi vs C Ronaldo: Messi is the fans favourite, but CR7 is pretty darned good. Forget that he has failed to find even a shot on goal in 5 meetings with Barcelona, he is a genius player and wonder boy. Not a playstation player like Messi, but a genius all the same. I would say this one's even.
11. Pedro vs Di Maria: Di Maria is more talented, but Pedro has the big game experience.  Pedro can be a bit selfish sometimes though. Di Maria moves well. I think these two men are at par, at the very least.

As par the game proper, I believe the game will be won by either side if the other does this:

Barcelona: May win as a result of the possession game. RM need to get the ball to hurt Barca, and if they can't get it, they may get frustrated after a while, like it happened last year. Barca can knock the ball around for eternity, then in one playstation moment, get the killer pass through to Messi, Villa, or Pedro. Game over if that happens.

RM: May win as a result of Barcelona's insistence on playing a high line in defence. Di Maria on the right, CR7 on the left, might spell disaster, if any of those two find the ball, plus space to run. Barcelona's defence doesn't close down attackers on time, and usually pays for that. Mounriho doesn't play in the middle anyway, so I expect a lot of fast breaks from los blancos. At least one of them will likely end in the net.

I pray and hope it would be a masterpiece. I trust Mourinho anyway, he won't come without a plan.

akpanikpe:
asa stole the show with that wonderful live performance, did you see the standing ovation? after that nothing, i mean absolutely nothing.