UEFA Champions League Final - Manchester United vs. Barcelona

Or agree you're on another orbit.

Beaten in first leg, aggregate never extended beyond 1 = 'Wiped the floor' with the opposition.

Destroyed 4-0 and 1-0 in two one-sided games = 'Agree to disagree'.

:confused:
 
Granted for the first leg Barcelona definitely did not wipe the floor with the gunners but if you look at the stats for the second leg I think you will see what people will mean if they say Barcelona dominated that second tie, some of it may have been Arsenal tactics just trying to sit back, break on the counter or something, but those stats are very heavily swung in the Catalan's favour.


I think United can do it though but I think they are relying on a bit of luck, where as if Barca turn up they should just about win it.
 
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Beasty said:
Granted for the first leg Barcelona definitely did not wipe the floor...
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They didn't 'wipe the floor' over both legs either.

They had the better of both games (even the one they lost), but since when does an advantage constitute decimation? As shown by the fact they lost one game outright and never had more than a one-goal advantage over Arsenal (and I presume you watched the game to see their missed chances and decisions that went against them), they never enjoyed 'domination' in any sense of the word unless you're going for its least hyperbolic sense.

As I said, look no further than the Real / Spurs tie for a true definition of 'wipe the floor'; much more appropriate to talk about if people are going on about one-sided ties.
 
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All I said was that people looking at the stats would see that the game seemed very one sided, 10 attempts on goal to 0, 7 off target to 0, 68% of the possesion, I never said they actually did dominate the game, as stats don't tell the full story, seems like you only read the part of my post that you quoted before replying.
 
Talking of not reading what was posted, if you don't think that tie constituted 'dominating' or 'wiping the floor' or anything along those lines, why are you replying to me when I'm engaged in debate with eminent intellect that is elmuzzy?

Do you not think I watched the game as a football fan? Didn't I just say above I thought Barca had the better of it too? What's your point here?
 
I wasn't replying to anyone :p I was just participating in the current conversation in the thread whilst keeping on topic too. Offering my views as I did...

I quite enjoyed it, thanks. :D
 
Are Barcelona the better team on their day? Yes.
Can UTD beat then? Yes.
Will they? I have a feeling yes.

Very long season for most of that Barcelona team (7-8 World cup winning players) less rotation and 4 huge games against their most fierce of rivals.

United should be the fresher out of the sides realistically, UTD look so deadly when they break with speed, this is most definitely the key. They can also defend a lot better than the likes of Arsenal.

First goal will be crucial, if Barcelona score first I fear they will probably win the game as UTD will have to chase it and be more exposed.

Think UTD will win 2-1.

Vidic needs to be careful though as great at defending as he is, he is also a bit of a brawler and shouldn't get away with as much as he does so will have a hard task stopping the movement of Barcelona, especially as Messi is basically given free roam privileges.

Fortunately for UTD as well Villa really is down on confidence if he was still bang on form like he started could be a different story, same goes for Pedro, after his injury he doesn't quite seem with it.

Plus side is Puyol should be back and Abidal played 60 minutes yesterday.
 
Beasty said:
All I said was that people looking at the stats would see that the game seemed very one sided, 10 attempts on goal to 0, 7 off target to 0, 68% of the possesion, I never said they actually did dominate the game, as stats don't tell the full story, seems like you only read the part of my post that you quoted before replying.
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Barca were the better side over the tie, but the second leg stats are a little misleading, since they had about 20 shots in 30 minutes as soon as RvP got sent off (we were still going through at that point remember!). Barca's style is to dominate possession, but that will not guarantee a win, especially if Man Utd's defence have a blinder, can't see them getting through on goal easily.
 
Where have you heard he's getting a 5 game ban? It's only just breaking on SSN that they're investigating the incident, let alone him being found guilty and a ban being decided.
 
BaZ87 said:
Where have you heard he's getting a 5 game ban? It's only just breaking on SSN that they're investigating the incident, let alone him being found guilty and a ban being decided.
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Marca, not the most reliable source but it seems uefa have notified barca of the implending charge. 15th or 16th may the call is to be made.
 
guyfawkes5 said:
Why can't it be that both sides are good but one is better?

As far as I'm concerned Messi is obviously a great player, but that doesn't stop Vidic and Ferdinand being one of the most effective centre-back partnerships in Europe...

Barcelona may have beaten Arsenal but they didn't 'wipe the floor' with them, now United are a demonstrably better team this season than the Gunners so wouldn't that suggest a 'trashing' is even less on the cards than when Wenger and co. entertained the Catalans?

Why does it always have to a dichotomy of 'brilliant' and 'awful'? Surely the fact both these teams progressed to the Champions League final shows that they are both 'brilliant' and it will be a hard-fought contest on the night, with it being unlikely either side will blow the other away.
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Arsenal beat united recently mate. what does that say about things?
 
jonneymendoza said:
Arsenal beat united recently mate. what does that say about things?
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well one win out of 8 arent bad odds are they LOL (as Arsenal havent even been close to winning the previous 7 games vs Utd)


Personally I would prefer to send as full a first team out against Blackburn to gaurentee the point required (rather than potentially lose with a terrible away performance at the weekend, and be scrambling in the home game against Blackpool who could be really in trouble by then fighting for their lives)

Im all for a team like the below:

PIG/VDS

Rafio/Oshea Smalling JE Fabio

Valencia Fletcher Scholes Anderson

Berba / Owen


(Valencia needs the games to automatically win an EPL medal - if its won of course), Fletcher needs the games anyway ( even if only a sub at Wembley), unfortunately I cant see Scholes being anything other than a liability waiting to happen vs Barca - so he might as well play, and Anderson has been really good recently but I think a few more games would do him good.

Cant see Berba or Owen starting against Barca, and I would be surprised if Own even made the bench, of course SAF could go 5 across the middle at Blackburn, so it would probably include Gibson

Im not too sure about Fabio & Rafael's fitness currently but I really hope they are both available for Wembley (even if they are just on the bench)
 
jonneymendoza said:
Arsenal beat united recently mate. what does that say about things?
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It means **** all.

Any team can win on their day, if the Man Utd we all know and love turns up against Barcelona they will turn them over.

I've seen them do it more often than not, more so, I've seen Barcelona struggle when a team gets at them.

Back to your original point, I would put a pound on Man Utd to beat Arsenal being 3-0 down at half time, if it meant anything.
 
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