Today's football.

[muddy mudguard]

Mata is a top footballer no doubt about it. Ask the Chelsea fans - player of the year previous two years before the prodigal son returns. The fact Jose didn't want him was more about him reasserting his authority over the team. Selling their best player over the last two years while cutting his nose off to spite his face is certainly an act to establish authority.

I will accept that perhaps with the system they play, he would've had to replace Hazard, but I think Mourinho was killing two birds with one stone at the most.

 

[4737carlin]

Chelsea would of beeting Bayern tonight, just good to see UTD go out

 

[dannyboy]

Mata is a top footballer no doubt about it. Ask the Chelsea fans - player of the year previous two years before the prodigal son returns. The fact Jose didn't want him was more about him reasserting his authority over the team. Selling their best player over the last two years while cutting his nose off to spite his face is certainly an act to establish authority.

I will accept that perhaps with the system they play, he would've had to replace Hazard, but I think Mourinho was killing two birds with one stone at the most.

Exactly, the reports of him not wanting Mata were emanating before a ball had even been kicked this season.

 

[red1]

Chelsea would of beeting Bayern tonight, just good to see UTD go out

In a one off chance, Chelsea has the highest chance out of the English teams to beat Bayern, but over two legs they would get beaten comfortably. The kind of performance they put in in Paris would get them wrecked.

 

[Muzumbu]

Quater Finals:

Barcelona

1-2

Atlético Madrid
Real Madrid

3-2

Borussia Dortmund
Paris Saint-Germain

3-3 (a)

Chelsea
Manchester United

2-4

Bayern Munich

Top goalscorers:

1.

Cristiano Ronaldo - 14 (51 mins per goal)
2.

Zlatan Ibrahimović - 10 (65 mins per goal)
3.

Lionel Messi - 8 (79 mins per goal)
4.

Diego Costa - 7 (58 mins per goal)
5.

Sergio Agüero - 6 (72 mins per goal)
6.

Robert Lewandowski - 6 (135 mins per goal)

Semi Finalists:

Atlético Madrid

Real Madrid

Chelsea

Bayern Munich

 

[red1]

I have to say though, Messi was an absolute disgrace today. Shocking performance. And on top of that, he ran just one mile more than their goalkeeper.

 

[bicycleheader]

I have to say though, Messi was an absolute disgrace today. Shocking performance. And on top of that, he ran just one mile more than their goalkeeper.

just home after watching the game and having a few beers to drown my sorrows, and I cant disagree with you as much as i love the little maestro.

That was one of the worst performances ive seen since before Pep took over as boss. Messi barely moved but there was a lack of effort from most of the team, its like it was a nothing game for them. Most teams in the world would have gone hell for leather for that one goal to get extra time. Im particularly tired of watching Alves, as the ball always ends up with him in space and he doesnt know what to do anymore. Its like watching Cahill plod around, a shadow of his former self.

Said it at half time when it looked like the end, and say it now when its all confirmed....going out like that is worse than going out to a top class Bayern side by 7 goals to zero.

but from now on, cmon Atleti. Anybody but Chelsea and Madrid.

 

[TyphooToffee]

With Untied out I suppose Arsenal will now finish 4th

 

[red1]

just home after watching the game and having a few beers to drown my sorrows, and I cant disagree with you as much as i love the little maestro.

That was one of the worst performances ive seen since before Pep took over as boss. Messi barely moved but there was a lack of effort from most of the team, its like it was a nothing game for them. Most teams in the world would have gone hell for leather for that one goal to get extra time. Im particularly tired of watching Alves, as the ball always ends up with him in space and he doesnt know what to do anymore. Its like watching Cahill plod around, a shadow of his former self.

Said it at half time when it looked like the end, and say it now when its all confirmed....going out like that is worse than going out to a top class Bayern side by 7 goals to zero.

but from now on, cmon Atleti. Anybody but Chelsea and Madrid.

Messi bottled it just like last season againt Bayern, when Barca need him the most, he no longer steps up to the plate, in fact he disappears entirely. I couldn't see Barca getting through today anyway, Atletico's game play was far superior throughout the whole season.

Barca haven't improved from last year despite knowing what the problems are; lack of a plan B, woeful defence, inability to defend set pieces, inability to score set pieces. They still think they're on cloud nine under Guardiola and Messi at his peak back in 11' when they could just zip the ball about at 100 miles an hour and not even need to worry about defending. This Barca team has a declining Messi and perhaps more worryingly an aging Xavi who quite frankly is a ticking timebomb, they're never going to be the best without replacing him properly. Guardiola's passing system was originally built around Xavi.

 

[dannyboy]

Messi bottled it just like last season againt Bayern, when Barca need him the most, he no longer steps up to the plate, in fact he disappears entirely. I couldn't see Barca getting through today anyway, Atletico's game play was far superior throughout the whole season.

Barca haven't improved from last year despite knowing what the problems are; lack of a plan B, woeful defence, inability to defend set pieces, inability to score set pieces. They still think they're on cloud nine under Guardiola and Messi at his peak back in 11' when they could just zip the ball about at 100 miles an hour and not even need to worry about defending. This Barca team has a declining Messi and perhaps more worryingly an aging Xavi who quite frankly is a ticking timebomb, they're never going to be the best without replacing him properly. Guardiola's passing system was originally built around Xavi.

I disagree with the assertion that he bottled it, he just isn't physically capable of replicating the performances he was putting in two years ago. What looks like a lack of effort/attitude problem is the signs of a player who is obviously suffering the effects of an injury.

On Barcelona in general, the appointment of this manager they currently have is the most baffling thing for me. He has added absolutely nothing to their set up. The team was crying out for fresh ideas, and a new approach but he's brought nothing to the table.

They've stood still for three years and as a consequence they've been overtaken. Still good enough to blow away the majority of La Liga sides but they won't be winning the Champions League until they invest a fair amount of money into the team.

 

[bicycleheader]

Messi bottled it just like last season againt Bayern, when Barca need him the most, he no longer steps up to the plate, in fact he disappears entirely. I couldn't see Barca getting through today anyway, Atletico's game play was far superior throughout the whole season.

Barca haven't improved from last year despite knowing what the problems are; lack of a plan B, woeful defence, inability to defend set pieces, inability to score set pieces. They still think they're on cloud nine under Guardiola and Messi at his peak back in 11' when they could just zip the ball about at 100 miles an hour and not even need to worry about defending. This Barca team has a declining Messi and perhaps more worryingly an aging Xavi who quite frankly is a ticking timebomb, they're never going to be the best without replacing him properly. Guardiola's passing system was originally built around Xavi.

no offence, but all far too simplistic. Barça have had a lot of games since Pep and they have ranged in quality.
What do you mean exactly by bottling? its such a silly phrase to put down such a player. He was barely fit for the Bayern tie last year, so you are off on that one. People repeat inaccuracies too much when talking about football. Tonight he just didnt appear to try just like most of the rest of the team. The rumour all season here is that he is holding back for the world cup but i dunno about that.

That game didnt show much about how Barça are now, how the defense is or how Atleti are better because in many other games theyve shown the opposite, for example in the first tie last week.

The reason im disappointed tonight is because that and the Betis game I watched live on Saturday was a complete drop in attitude and effort at the strangest time in the season. I haven't seen that in this squad before. This was a thing apart from the general and understandable decline of a team who were arguably the best in the world for a good 4 years and for many the best team ever seen.

I agree on how key the lack of replacement for Xavi is.

 

[dannyboy]

no offence, but all far too simplistic. Barça have had a lot of games since Pep and they have ranged in quality.
What do you mean exactly by bottling? its such a silly phrase to put down such a player. He was barely fit for the Bayern tie last year, so you are off on that one. People repeat inaccuracies too much when talking about football. Tonight he just didnt appear to try just like most of the rest of the team. The rumour all season here is that he is holding back for the world cup but i dunno about that.

That game didnt show much about how Barça are now, how the defense is or how Atleti are better because in many other games theyve shown the opposite, for example in the first tie last week.

The reason im disappointed tonight is because that and the Betis game I watched live on Saturday was a complete drop in attitude and effort at the strangest time in the season. I haven't seen that in this squad before. This was a thing apart from the general and understandable decline of a team who were arguably the best in the world for a good 4 years and for many the best team ever seen.

I agree on how key the lack of replacement for Xavi is.

I always thought Fabregas was bought as the heir apparent for Xavi, is there no chance of him abandoning his forward role and dropping back in there?

 

[bicycleheader]

I always thought Fabregas was bought as the heir apparent for Xavi, is there no chance of him abandoning his forward role and dropping back in there?

I havent seen that level of passing but perhaps the problem is waiting/hoping for or expecting another Xavi when the man himself was quite a long time in and out if the team before it all really clicked under Pep.

Im a huge fan of Sergi Roberto and think he has al the attributes to be a key player but he will need the patience and loyalty that Xavi and Iniesta got from their time as squad players until they were main men.

Cesc is loudly cursed around here, but just as Barça can go from very good last week to shamefully weak this..so can Cesc move on from this time in his career and settle into an important role in the team.

 

[dannyboy]

I havent seen that level of passing but perhaps the problem is waiting/hoping for or expecting another Xavi when the man himself was quite a long time in and out if the team before it all really clicked under Pep.

Im a huge fan of Sergi Roberto and think he has al the attributes to be a key player but he will need the patience and loyalty that Xavi and Iniesta got from their time as squad players until they were main men.

Cesc is loudly cursed around here, but just as Barça can go from very good last week to shamefully weak this..so can Cesc move on from this time in his career and settle into an important role in the team.

It'll be extremely difficult to find someone to replicate the level of passing accuracy Xavi has. At his peak, he simply didn't lose the ball.

The thing that disappointed me tonight was the complete lack of ideas, they even resorted to tossing the ball in from ridiculous angles to the likes of Messi and Neymar.

 

[LinekersLegs]

The reason im disappointed tonight is because that and the Betis game I watched live on Saturday was a complete drop in attitude and effort at the strangest time in the season. I haven't seen that in this squad before. This was a thing apart from the general and understandable decline of a team who were arguably the best in the world for a good 4 years and for many the best team ever seen.

I agree on how key the lack of replacement for Xavi is.

How much, if any, has the proposed transfer ban affected the squad?

i know that at the least its probably going to be delayed as you appeal it so that you can recruit this summer but if the team were to react I woild have expected a fighting response such as "look we don't need any players anyway". Yet Barca have just been pretty limp since.