Who do you want to win the Champions League?

[Rook]

Barca, because they're as a complete side as the get, without buying success. Althoug i'd like to see Schalke win, for Raul. Raul V Real final - beast!

What???????

 

[Del]

United so there one step closer to knocking the RS well and truely of there ****in perch

 

[jamesc]

Either United or Real Madrid..

United so they get closer to the ****e, and Real Madrid as I've got family there who supports them

 

[neonleon]

I'd like to say Barca. It's one of the best teams I've ever seen, but they seem to choke a fair bit in the Champions League.

The best team then. I really dont want to see united win though.

 

[CanadaToffee]

What???????

OK, I'll try explain for Bryan. Barca 1st choice 11:

Valdes, Dani Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Messi, Villa.

The 3 in bold were purchased, the rest all came up through their youth ranks. If you look at the rest of their squad, the ratio is similar.

Of all the major teams in Europe, Barca have spent the least on new players over the past few years...by a large margin.

 

[kenada_blue]

United cos everyone says its the worst ever united team

 

[neville]

UNITED

 

[formerly manx toffee]

Not bothered in the slightest. Bit like internationals...have no view.

 

[Neiler]

Real.

 

[zed]

i`d like to see man utd beat barcelona in the final

 

[Rook]

OK, I'll try explain for Bryan. Barca 1st choice 11:

Valdes, Dani Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Messi, Villa.

The 3 in bold were purchased, the rest all came up through their youth ranks. If you look at the rest of their squad, the ratio is similar.

Of all the major teams in Europe, Barca have spent the least on new players over the past few years...by a large margin.

Arsenal have spent alot less. Man Utd hasn't been splashing the cash the past few years either despite selling Ronaldo for 75M.

Some teams (like ours) would have a boner if they had 35M to spend in 5 years. Barca though, they tried to splash 35M for a BACKUP (Cesc) this summer. 35M for Zaltan plus Eto and then they offloaded Zaltan the next year for a happy meal. They get to play their B team in the lower leagues so they can keep a bloated side (this is alot different and a much better advantage for development of players than playing reserve games).

If we were allowed to take in 150M Euro of TV money/year and go 450+M in debt we'd be winning trophies too.

At least Real doesn't have any pretension that they aren't evil. At least the English teams divide the TV revenue.

 

[sotnas]

OK, I'll try explain for Bryan. Barca 1st choice 11:

Valdes, Dani Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Messi, Villa.

The 3 in bold were purchased, the rest all came up through their youth ranks. If you look at the rest of their squad, the ratio is similar.

Of all the major teams in Europe, Barca have spent the least on new players over the past few years...by a large margin.

That's a good point, although it doesn't tell the whole story.

They are able to keep their best yongsters because they can afford to compete with anyone for wages. They do have the resources and they make use of them.

Let's take a look at my club, Sporting Lisbon. If we were as rich as Barcelona, we could have a team with Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo as wingers and a midfield with Veloso, Moutinho and Carlos Martins. And we would still bench Simão and Ricardo Quaresma.

So money still talks in the case of Barcelona.

 

[toffeestillidie]

OK, I'll try explain for Bryan. Barca 1st choice 11:

Valdes, Dani Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Messi, Villa.

The 3 in bold were purchased, the rest all came up through their youth ranks. If you look at the rest of their squad, the ratio is similar.

Of all the major teams in Europe, Barca have spent the least on new players over the past few years...by a large margin.

not a very accurate portrayal, that'd be like if i showed chelsea's starting 11 (excluding torres) to try to say they don't spend that much. like people have said, you have to consider players like zlatan and mascherano. between villa and mascherano alone they spent around 57 million pounds.

and also like its been said, money is why they can keep those players. if money wasn't a factor, west ham would be one of the best teams in europe based on academies.

my problem with barca is the whole "more than a club" thing. they are not more than a club, they are exactly a club, a very good one, but still a club, no more, no less. to try to turn your club into a symbol of general anti-fascism is just ridiculous.

my team is definitely shalke, and while i don't like real madrid either, i hate barca slightly more, so i'll hope for a shalke madrid final

 

[trigger the blue]

Man Utd,does anyone know if we get more money from Rooney deal if they do win?