UCL: Barcelona 0-0 Manchester United [23.4.2008]

[Trim]

Ronaldo fucks up big time! Hits the post from the penalty spot.

What a great chance wasted.

[NJ10]

Cannot believe that he missed that. I would have had my mortgage on him scoring (and been homeless by now!).

Big big let off for Barcelona that, Andy Gray was right in saying that it might have destroyed them mentally going a goal down so early.

[ReMad]

C. Ronaldo misses a penalty kick!!
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[hanuma]

If nothing else Utd fans will know just how fucking difficult Barca are when they're on form.

Now imagine how hard they were back in 05 and 06 with Eto'o and Ronnie in the best form of their lives. Every time they go forward they make you shit bricks.

Ronaldo, fantastic player.
Messi, ...... beyond belief.

[ReMad]

Messi flicks the ball over Evra's head!!
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[Olzy]

Barca are in comfort zone. But dont look to threatening.

Need to get Rooney in the game. Tevez needs a better touch. If only Park had more offensive threat excellent worker but doesnt really have any top qualities going fwd.

Evra is doing a decent job so far. Rio excellent as usual.

Why doesnt Anderson play instead of Park? Anderson works his butt off aswell.

[hanuma]

Originally Posted by ReMad

Messi flicks the ball over Evra's head!!
Click Here for Video

It's not just for the sake of it though. The beauty of Messi is his direct and simple play, no superfluous Quaresma-like shite from him, beat your man score a goal. Ronaldo could be even better if he was as single-minded.

Interesting first half. It brings back lots of memories. Utd can be happy with the score, but Barca are close - Whoever works out tactics for Barca should see Iniesta on the left isn't working out, need to change the starting positions around so he plays deeper.

For me Utd could do something similar and go to 442 or at least 4411 and get more of a hold on the central midfield. Then Rooney can push up against the centrebacks to hold the ball up.

[unitedfan]

I agree, we need more of a foothold in midfield. I think Ferguson's idea coming here was that Tevez nipping at Yaya would be enough, but we need that, and another man alongside Scholes and Carrick, both of whom are more comfortable as possession players than breaking up players. Anderson for Park is a forseeable change, later in the game.

[hanuma]

And they've done exactly that. 4411, Tevez moved to left wing.

Now the problem is that the team is too stretched and players are getting sucked out of position too easily and noone is able to support the forwards.

Need to play more compact.

[unitedfan]

The game is a lot more open 2nd half, which isnt nessecarily a good thing for us.

And that's due to us being stretched, as hanuma pointed out before me.

[hanuma]

Originally Posted by unitedfan

The game is a lot more open 2nd half, which isnt nessecarily a good thing for us.

And that's due to us being stretched, as hanuma pointed out before me.

I think Fergie might be a bit over-eager for the away goal.

The ball is going forward so quickly that players can't keep up with the play. It's all very well for the critics to say Barca lacked pacey attacks in the first half, but patience is a virtue, and you need to wait for the right situations to occur. 2 v 5 isn't as good as 5 v 5.

[ReMad]

A well played cooperative attack for Barcelona ends with Eto'o shooting the ball beside the left post
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[hanuma]

Rooney needs to get right at the head of the attack, completely wasted out wide tonight.

[Olzy]

Barca have more pace and strength than United.

Tevez and Park always get shoved of the ball to easy or not quick enough.

[unitedfan]

Tevez has completely failed in the 2nd half, with his job of taking Yaya out of the game. Due to that, he's stopping all our attacks and starting all of ours.