UEFA Champions League/Europa League 24/25/26 April *** Spoilers ***

If Chelsea had gone in at 2-0 at half time I dont think they would scored in the 2nd half, they just got in at 2-1 and said "right lets defend like ****" and made a game plan.
 
Somnambulist said:
Indeed. You only have to look at their scoring stats this season to see that the spread is waaaaay out of wack compared to the previous couple of years when their front three had a truly crazy amount of goals each. It's all Messi this season, then I think Fabregas and Xavi are the next highest with under 15 each.


Pep's turning into tinkerman?

I know Villa has been out for most of the season but the shape's different now (as DM said in an earlier post)... I'd be interested to see Xavi's assist rate compared to last year, for example.

The kids they have seem like mini-Pedros rather than Xavi/Iniesta types, and when I see Sanchez play I feel like there's something sort of un-Barcery about him.
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In his epic season he got 20 assists in the league, 7 in the champs league, and 6 and 2 goals in those competitions.

14 assists in the league the year after that 7 last year and 6 so far this season. He's far less of a focal point, Messi from 4 years ago has gone 11/10/18/13 assists, so he's increased his assist rate as Xavi's has gone off. It's really the way the team plays, its become so dedicated to Messi now.

People constantly bang on about Messi playing through the middle, he came in and goes through the middle but he was flat out a right winger for ages, a VERY high one who dribbled into the box a silly amount. This year, not least because of Villa, he's been playing as a striker, this was working great when he was "less" involved and actually ran at the defence. I'd say over the last 4 months Messi has increasingly dropped deeper(as in for longer periods in games) as ultimately he's a playmaker with an insane scoring tally, he's not a striker, he loves being deeper on the ball and loves playing one two's as he runs in on goal.

Now as he drops deeper, there isn't anyone to play those one-two's off, and as he's become so crucial to the team, marking Messi hurts Barcelona more than it ever used to.

2-3 years ago, you could put two men, or three to mark Messi out of a game...... then Xavi and Iniesta would rip you a new one, it simply didn't matter against Barca, take one player out of the game the others kill you.

The team focus FAR too much on Messi, they let Messi dictate how they are playing, if Messi drops deep, no one makes runs, if Messi slows down, they all slow down, if Messi starts running into corners they all start passing to the corner.

Pep also yet again decided to switch up the formation, that is all well and good, but if a team is used to playing in formation A, playing formation B is generally a bad idea when formation A CAN win, Chelsea's normal setup almost certainly couldn't win so they tried something out the box, Barca have failed almost every time they've tried an out the box formation this year. It's cost them the league(with their three at the back costing them points most of the times he's tried it) and its now cost them the champs league.

Thing about a great manager is, they can perform under pressure, I'm no fan of Mourinho but his job was on the line this year and the fans/media/owners would have destroyed him if he lost two more el classico's and the league..... Pep hasn't been under pressure for 4 years, by far the best squad in the world he had, he's bought some of the best players in the world while their main rivals were rebuilding. Under pressure this season he's failed at every major hurdle. Every big change he's tried to implement has failed, his new tactics have failed, his substitutions under pressure have been very poor, and his insistance on not playing a striker upfront has cost him any proper silverware this year.
 
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johnyccc said:
http://i.imgur.com/epldv.jpg Seems a little harsh :p
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hahahah

True though, I bet just about everyone was thinking it, even the Barca players in the dressing room are probably thinking it.

It was so funny because what was it, a few minutes after he came on he got a long ball, his first touch wasn't terrible and the second touch knocked it about 20 yards away, literally my reaction was to say that even Adebayor's control isn't THAT bad. I fully expected him to blast it wide early or get too close to the keeper. Though Valdes made it laughably easy for him, ran out far too soon, was at the edge of the box too early so had no where to go but down or run out of the box and probably give away a handball and get sent off.
 
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I stated on here before the 1 leg even kicked off that Chelsea would somehow make the final. Thankfully I put my money where my mouth is and just won over £100 !!!!!
 
So you put £1 on lol

tbh Torres was always going to have the chance to score, fresh and Barca had 10 players in Chelsea half, it was bread and butter to him but remember his miss against at OT
 
drunkenmaster said:
hahahah

True though, I bet just about everyone was thinking it, even the Barca players in the dressing room are probably thinking it.

It was so funny because what was it, a few minutes after he came on he got a long ball, his first touch wasn't terrible and the second touch knocked it about 20 yards away, literally my reaction was to say that even Adebayor's control isn't THAT bad. I fully expected him to blast it wide early or get too close to the keeper. Though Valdes made it laughably easy for him, ran out far too soon, was at the edge of the box too early so had no where to go but down or run out of the box and probably give away a handball and get sent off.
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What's more strange about his goal is his original positioning!! He comes out of defense and loses possession, yet carries on up the field without tracking back to the position he had been playing since coming on. Pretty scary considering the wave after wave of pressure they had been soaking up. He is basically hanging out on his own while Barce attack, luckily I think Cole gets a big boot in and clears the ball, lands to Torres, goes on and scores :)
Dumb, but lucky move that paid off!

Congrats Chelsea, no idea what line-up you'll play in the final?
 
Such a dramatic game.

I think Chelsea can beat BM, but not RM. RM are much better in the air and aren't weak little 5'6" boys.

Shame they will miss their best player over the two legs, Rami has been superb.
 
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