UCL: Barcelona 0-0 Manchester United [23.4.2008] - Page 4 - TalkSoccer

**russe||** · 23-04-2008, 08:20 PM

We've been awful.

Despite their dominance though, Barca haven't really come close to scoring.

We should have had a 2nd penalty a few minutes ago - Ronaldo brought down in the box.

Good to see Nani on, should have been for Park though.

**Olzy** · 23-04-2008, 08:21 PM

Toure has been quality.

mm suprised Rooney went of I know he didnt have a good game, but more down to where he was playing.

They should of stuck him up top for a bit.

Park and Tevez are on there last legs. Neither have to pace to beat any of there back 4.

Carrick has done well except for a few way ward long passes.

**russe||** · 23-04-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanuma

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.

Very true.

Ronaldo still runs into traffic/gives away possession too often. He is still too selfish and his passing/vision is not great.

Messi sees the bigger picture far better, and uses his skill to create chances for the team rather than just himself.

Difficult to say who is the best though. Messi is more skilful, Ronaldo is better in the air, at set plays and is stronger.

**Olzy** · 23-04-2008, 08:36 PM

Messi tight control is much better. Ronaldo needs to run into space.

very 1 sided game, I thought Man Utd might have some success on the counter but were truely shocking in that dept 2nite.

Well done to the back 4, Carrick and Scholes for the defensive work.

**russe||** · 23-04-2008, 08:36 PM

We got away with playing shockingly badly. We now have to win at home next week. I'll take that considering how much worse it could have been.

We can play a lot better and hopefully will at OT, if Barca struggle so badly to create a chance when dominating a game so completely at home I don't see how they'll be getting a goal at OT.

**kyan** · 23-04-2008, 08:38 PM

Well... good result, embarassing performance.

I'd imagine it was more of a snoozefest for neutrals than last night's. United were very solid defensively, and Barcelona weren't particularly penetrating for all their possession.

The only United player who really had a good game was Evra I thought though, he was phenomenal. The bit where Messi flicked it over his head was literally the only time he really got beaten tonight.

United probably should have had 2 more penalties, there was quite a blatant one on 30mins where Marquez ran across Ronaldo and put his arm across him, while being the last man, which should have been a penalty and a red card, and then there was Abidal's lunge in the second half which I didn't think got any of the ball. But there's no point complaining, we didn't really deserve to win.

I was disappointed we didn't have a go at Barcelona tonight, I thought they might have been there for the taking considering their recent form and the early penalty call.

And on who's better between Ronaldo and Messi, I think Messi is better at football, but Ronaldo is better overall at the moment largely because of his strength, and the fact he suffers very few injuries in comparison with Messi who misses big chunks of the season regularly...

DB7 · 23-04-2008, 08:39 PM

Well, poor performance but a job done. Anything who thought that Man Utd were going to go the Nou Camp in a Champions League Semi-Final and take an out of form Barcelona side to the cleaners is just not wise.

Yes Barca had all the posession from word go but I don't recall VDS making any real last gasp saves.

Happy enough to be going back to OT with the game finely poised. Man Utd should be a lot better @home and with Barca having to score, it has the makings of a real good game.

DB7 · 23-04-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyan

And on who's better between Ronaldo and Messi, I think Messi is better at football, but Ronaldo is better overall at the moment largely because of his strength, and the fact he suffers very few injuries in comparison with Messi who misses big chunks of the season regularly...

That one is just going to go on and on......

**kyan** · 23-04-2008, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DB7

That one is just going to go on and on......

Agreed, in reality it doesn't really make a difference, both are 2 of the best players in the world and both should be appreciated.

Also on the game, I was surprised despite United's inability to retain the ball Ferguson didn't bring on Anderson at any point.

hk_on99 · 23-04-2008, 08:46 PM

Ronaldo and Drogba are diving queens. How many times did Ronaldo exaggerate something and then bitch and moan on the grass?

**LAF** · 23-04-2008, 08:54 PM

I've said this a few times about the Messi/Ronaldo debate. I think Messi will become a better player later in his career. I see the two like Platini v Maradona in Italy. Platini was ridiculously consistant and his final product (goals) were of great quantity (I see Ronaldo like this). Where Messi is like Maradona, just has that touch of class that can change a game. Obviously neither are of that level (yet). It's like a machine vs an artist.

Anyway this is what I was expecting from United away in Europe. The problem was you couldn't keep the ball, most of your players were over indulging in dribbling or long passes (Ronaldo and Carrick the main culprits). Rio and the two full backs were your best players by a long way.

Shit game.

usamu · 23-04-2008, 09:03 PM

The most frustrating match of the season for me. It was obvious, to me at least, that we needed a third CM in their to help maintain position. Massive night from the back line to keep the clean sheet. On to OT, hopefully we get the tactics right this time.

**Vargas_4** · 23-04-2008, 09:06 PM

It was a boring game, IMO.

I really expected Man Utd to get away with an away goal or even two. Total let down.

C. Ronaldo choked. That's what happenned. Have nothing more to add.

Zambrota & Iniesta were impresive. Good game for them.

**kyan** · 23-04-2008, 09:10 PM

Let's just ignore the fact that he dispatched 2 penalties under pretty huge pressure against Arsenal just a couple of weeks ago, and that it was his penalty that knocked England out of Euro 2004, shall we?

He hardly bottled it, it was a couple of inches away from being the perfect penalty. It just came a bit too early for him, needed more time to ease into the game first.

**unitedfan** · 23-04-2008, 09:12 PM

The Platini-Maradona - Ronaldo-Messi comparison is brilliant, never thought of that myself, but it makes a lot of sense.

Quote:

The problem was you couldn't keep the ball, most of your players were over indulging in dribbling or long passes (Ronaldo and Carrick the main culprits). Rio and the two full backs were your best players by a long way.

Sums our failure to retain possession perfectly. I'd say we had troubled stiflling Barca completely, although that we got the draw will divert attention from this. Tevez failed to occupy Yaya in the 2nd half, Brown put my heart in my mouth a number of times, we didnt have any control in midfield at all, and we didnt have a "Fletcher" to harry Xavi/Deco/Iniesta as he does in these big games. We spent 90% of the game soaking up pressure.