₦airaland Forum

The police must be brought to book on this and other killings. We should keep the pressure on them by circulating these stories till they reach the governors, IGP, police commisisoners, etc

Happy new year Cules.

Nice analysis on the Espanyol match medjai.

I think Espanyol played very well and gave their all in the match. Espanyol has now taken more points from Barcelona than any other club in La Liga (including madrid) in the last 5 years or so.

My biggest grouse with La Liga clubs of late is that clubs give their best when when playing Barca and simply roll over for madrid. There has been basically no Madrid derby in the last 5 years. Madrid simply show up and score a basket of goals against Athletico Madrid and Getafe.

Of course, we could have killed off the match, but once again, in an away game, we bottled it this season. As medjai pointed out, our attack has been less lethal this seson. Villa & Pedro have been below par this season and injuries have not helped either. There is also way too much reliance on Messi as he carries too much of the scoring burden for the team (this started from last season actually, when Messi scored more goals than the next 3 players combined for the club). In the sextuple season, Messi, Etoo and Henry scored about 30 goals each in the league.

In addition, I think Pep plays Messi too often. In the Copa match against Osasuna, we were 2-0 up at home and he brought in Messi. I thought that was unnecessary, especially considering that Messi just arrived in Barcelona from Argentina the day before.

Finally, I think it is now clear that 3-4-3 is wonderful at the Nou Camp (and against Madrid, Santos). However, we should stick to 4-3-3 for away games and continue to work out the various formations in the comfortable home games.

Women can be funny o! So you'd rather your husband didn't care that someone else could see you indecently dressed? That would make you happier? Oya now, men, let's leave them, make them de run around naked bout town,

medjai:
We play Hospitalet later tonight in the CDR round of 16 in our last game of what has been a fantastic 2011.

I expect Pep to give our youngsters a run out in this one as we are already 1-0 up from the first leg.

Pinto; Montoya, Bartra, Fontas, Maxwell; JDS, Roberto, Thiago; Tello/Rafinha/Deulofeu, Pedro, Cuenca. . . This is the sort of line up I expect.

Pep has to name a number of 1st team players (as per Copa rules) so he won't be able to field as many of the B-team players as we all wish.

Will any of the SS channels show the match abi we have to watch it online like the 1st leg?

The match was a lot easier than people expected. Barca played at their sublime best. The score could have been even more one-sided but 4-0 in a final is more than enough. I hope we continue this rich run of form into the upcoming league matches & especially UCL - this team really deserves to be the first team to retain the UCL in its current format.

Pep's experiment with 3-4-3 seems to be working well after the initial setback earlier in the season especially in away La Liga matches. The squad has blended quite well and we now have enough cover to absorb a few injuries. Keita will be off for the nations cup, while Villa & Afellay are long-term absentees due to injuries.

OT: Hleb is back in Barcelona after Wolfsburg cancelled his loan deal. I think Pep should just use him in copa matches. no point paying him for nothing.

Leverkusen is a satisfactory draw. The germans don't usually play ultra defensive. Plus leverkusen should still be scared of us after we beat them silly last time we met.

AjanleKoko:
Villa needs to get his form back. He looked awful in the few minutes he played.
But hey, who cares?

He really did. His form is serious cause for concern. I don't know what the solution is. Maybe pep should play him in the centre against some of the weaker sides so he can get a good run of scoring goals.

So now here's my analysis:

1st I have to admit that we were quite fortunate in this match. I've hardly seen Barca get so many lucky breaks in a match. Madrid could have run ahead in the 1st half due to many defensive mistakes.

Iniesta was great as usual - he is one of our most critical players as we over-depend on Messi when Ini isn't playing. Sanchez is impressing me more and more everyday. To think I complained about him just a few weeks ago.

Messi was unselfish in this match - was it Pep's doing or just the fear of Pepe? This allowed the other players to take initiative and this really helped us.

Finally, I say this shows money well spent: our goals were scored by our new boys: Cesc, Alexis & Marcelo (lol).

It's funny how the last few seasons have panned out. We tend to lose a match early in the season to a very lowly team. Then we all get worried, especially as Madrid starts to thrash all comers. Then the classico comes along and we beat Real silly and regain the lead. Then we refuse to hand the lead back and retain the league.

Mcleo007:
Alexis and Fab will make d list. Their current form can't be ignored, and I trust Pep to that. Iniesta might play up front with Messi and Alexis while Fab partners Xavi in a box-to-box playing pattern.

Sorry man. You were absolutely right and I was wrong. Alexis & Fab made the start. pep is becoming less predictable nowadays and taking risks. Some have not worked out right (eg against Valencia) but today it worked out very well.

Mcleo007:
Alexis and Fab will make d list. Their current form can't be ignored, and I trust Pep to that. Iniesta might play up front with Messi and Alexis while Fab partners Xavi in a box-to-box playing pattern.

Form is not everything. Coaches like Pep tend to be conservative and go with the tried and trusted, especially in high pressure matches like El classico. Villa is an almost certain starter and I see only one of Cesc & Alexis starting.

Here's the line-up I expect Pep to use for the classico:

Valdes

Alves-Puyol-Pique-Abidal
Xavi-Busi-Iniesta
Fabregas-Messi-Villa

Subs: Pedro/Alexis, Masch (for Puyol) & Keita/Cuenca, depending on how the match goes.

I don't see Alexis starting as Pep will not want to use 2 newcomers in the classico. That Villa was rested last weekend is a pointer that he will play against Madrid.

^^^^
The boys were excellent. Everyone played superbly. Even slow Fontas looked solid. Montoya was really good on the right. Batra, solid in CB and I think he should play in the 1st team as often as possible. I love the move he did in the 1st half, flicking the ball past an attacker right in our box!

JDS was solid as DMF and I hope Pep will stop playing him asa RB where he's more cagey in his play. Even Maxwell played well, both as LB and later as DMF. No need to talk about Thiago & his bro Rafinha - those ones are known geniuses. Pedro played very well and I hope this helps his confidence. Deulofeu was disappointing again and I think he needs to spend more time in the lower leagues, gaining confidence, as the skill is clearly there.

My man of the match was Cuenca - he has really matured this season. He was really excellent in this match.

Very good game tonight. We needed a confidence booster ahead of the El Classico and we got one. I'm not saying we will necessarily beat Madrid (I hope we do, but I won't bet my house on it), but at least there's every chance that we can cut Madrid's league advantage in the Bernabeu.

Back to tonight's match: Alexis was very impressive, Masch (as usual) was solid in defence. Good to have Fab - he gives the team a different dimension.

For once, Pep made early substitutions, with preservation of the squad for the Classico being the main objective, once it was clear we were winning

^^^^

Yes o - Levante is on some good form currently and we cannot under-estimate them.

Hopefully everyone will be in shape, and on form, for the classico.

Lol. Alves set Villa up just as I pressed "Send" on my last post.

Good to see Villa score - hope this is the beginning of happy days for him.

Brilliant goal by Sanchez to calm the nerves. Then, a 2nd goal from him in the same match! I'm already rating him higher than I did at the weekend,

These Rayo boys aren't playing badly sha. I'm really impressed, but they should save their best for madrid, not us

Whats happening with Alves? He's been anonymous in this match, as we was over the weekend in Madrid.

AjanleKoko:
Na wa o.
All those senseless draws now weigh in. That needless draw against Sociedad, and Messi's penalty miss against Sevilla.
We need to do something about the away form in the league. To say the least, it is awful. This is the worst away record in 3 years.
Ironically we have won all our away games in the UCL, but in the league we won 2, drew 2, and lost 1 away. The boys had better find their mojo fast. The forward line is beginning to suck. Everyone seems to rely on Messi. Villa's form is crap, and I don't know what club Alexis is playing for

Ah, well . . . six points adrift is a tough call in any league these days.
Barca beating Real home and away this season isn't something I dare hope for.
Anyway, on to the other competitions , plus we can still show Madrid pepper in those ones

Agree completely.

Pep needs to give the guys the hairdryer treatment. It's like they've lost the will to win away.

As for Messi, he sure needs some rest. It's foolhardy to expect him to deliver 90mins, every single game, home & away.

Can we still win the league? Yes, it's November. But with Madrid's current form, winning the league is going to be very hard as we look more likely than Madrid to drop points.

I think the league should be our 2nd priority (afterall, we've won it for 3 straight years). The 1st should be retaining the UCL and setting the record as the 1st team to retain the modern version of the cup.

medjai:
Soriano's back! Bagged a brace in Barca B's 2-1 win over Celta Vigo.

Good news. We need both Soriano & Afellay back (I know Afellay is still out for a long time). Our attackers are in such atrocious form right now - we could do with Soriano's goal scoring instincts.

My highlights in this match:

Messi was waaay too selfish, taking on players unnecessarily and losing the ball in the process.
Sanchez has not impressed me in any of the matches he has played. Looks like we paid top dollar for an above-average player.
Pep should have instructed the full back to pump crosses in once he saw Getafe were defending with 2 banks of defenders. That should always be the strategy against such teams.
Pedro has lost form in an unbelievable way.
Busquests really needs to stop his irritating diving habits.
Alves rested midweek, yet he did not make many of his trademark runs down the flank, sitting back most of the time.
Pep needs to rest Messi once in a while. He should have been pulled out at half time against Zaragoza. We need him at full fitness to break down stubborn defenses.
Pep seriously needs to teach the team to attack set pieces. Our set-piece conversion ratio is poor.

And finally:
I've noticed this and said it many times over the last few years: How come we defend corners without anyone on the line? We have conceded many goals from this in the past and tonight's goal may have cost us the league already.

No Mercy on Messi: rough tackles on the Argentine all night long

Rugby tackles by Milan. I'm happy the ref isn't giving red cards. No excuses for Milan tonight. Barca will rule San Siro

This is unfair! Why must Barca play with brilliant young players against the old men of Milan?

That Xavi's goal na real ojoro! Barca don start again o!

You know Messi is tired when he loses a dash against Zambrotaa who is almost old enough to be his dad.

But who cares about tiredness when he can pick out Xavi with a perfect pass.

^^^^
We conceded as I was reading your post. Defence opened up again. With Pato in, we definitely need some changes at the back. Pique is on the bench & should come in.

Good game so far by Barca, even with Pep's strange defensive line-up.

Thiago is looking briliant so far. Messi looks a bit tired, but he's still doing his stuff.

I want to see a re-shuffle in defence before Busi makes his usual mistake at the back.

Milan's gra-gra is too much - the forget that this is UCL, not Serie A where boxing on the pitch is allowed. Van Bommel is doing his usual stuff (kicking the daylights out of the Barca players).

All in all, a great match so far. I see more fireworks in the 2nd half.

Barca wins

Looks like we switched to 3-4-3 as Busi is now moving up and Puyol is no longer spending time on the flanks, interesting stuff

I can't believe Messi missed from inside the 6-yard box!!!

Other than that, Messi looks a bit tired when making the runs. Tired from 90 mins over the weekend after a jet-lagged week, after playing 2 full internationals? I'm sure I would be,

Milan score just as I was complaining about the defensive line-up.

And Ibra of all people!

Great start! Good to score early.

But this Pep's line-up is not comfortable for me sha! I'm always nervous when Busi plays CB, especially against a top team. Puyol at RB & Keita in DMF also not ideal. I woulda preferred to see Maxwell at LB & Abidal in CB with Masch.

biolabee:
I feeel Cuenca was impressive for his debut(sic)
Sanchez is not as sharp as he was early days
All in all a good game but the Q is why does Messi play all 90 mins

These teams play their all against Barca but lay down for Real's thrashing

I agree. Why must Messi play 90 mins once he starts a match? Doesn't matter if we're winning 10-0, Pep never takes him off.

As for Sanchez, I've not seen any great game he has played for us so far. Hope he improves to the level of the Udinese clips we saw in the summer.

My comments on today's match:

Our boys are still overdoing the 1-2s. Sometimes, a 1-2 is not necessary or there's a better option.
The boys are still looking for the perfect opportunity before they shoot. As far as I'm concerned, if you're at the edge of the box, unless someone else is very free as in one-on-one-with-goalkeeper, you have every right to pull the trigger. We have overplayed seriously in the last few matches and when we had a quality opposition (Sevilla), there was no way we were going to score.