Ballon D'Or 2012 (part 2)

The irony in your post is quite amazing, and you quoting possession stats as some proof of quantity of service players get is rather hilarious. There was nothing false in my post, as I can back them up with statistical proof.

 

Zlatan was excellent the first half of the season. I was praising him non stop. But then he got arrogant and cocky and challenged the coach in what his tactics were. In the end Zlatan was wrong and Pep ended up being right since Barca won La Liga and Messi was pichichi.

 

Rayo I'll give you, but Valencia? Every year Valencia does better in Europe than Celtic, including this one (so far). Not sure what you are basing your opinion on(?)

Also in case you didn't realize, Valencia played (and lost to) Barca in Camp Nou so even pointing to this one win by Celtic at home over Barca doesn't help your argument much.

 

That's because you only watch the after-match reports from the opponent's side. celito is right on this one.

 

Are Barca fans genetically incapable of being unbiased?

Mascherano can be debated, but Song had 2-3 bookable offences, which he managed to survive.

 

Barcelona also escaped a penalty kick in the match - can't find a video of it. At least, Barcelona themselves received a similar call vs AC Milan last year.

 

Who really cares? It was Barca's first loss since pre-season, and it came at a good time - a relatively meaningless game. There's a reason Tito rested Cesc and Villa. Not making excuses, just stating facts. The game is hardly worth bringing-up outside the Celtic forum as it simply isn't very relevant or important in the grand scheme of things.

 

Still butthurt about that?

Using a fairly meaningless game as an excuse to rant against a call that went Barca's way over six months ago.... Looks like you are reducing yourself to zahzah's level.

 

If my intention was to rant I had also used this example

 

Second loss.
BTW: It won't be meaningless if Barca lose to Spartak, hence risking being 2nd or even 3rd in the group. And away in Moscow... I like Spartak's chances.

 

First since the Super Cup which is generally considered pre-season.

I bet you do. Of course you never like to lose, but if you have to, losing a match when you only need 1 point in your next 3 games to advance is a good time to lose.

 

And you just did. So, by your definition, you're ranting/butthurt.

Stop zahzahing around.

 

Supercup was preseason? After 2 La Liga games were already played? Ok..............

You honestly don't care if Barcelona win their group? Barcelona having to play Man Utd, Bayern, Juventus or PSG in the 1/8 final is without consequence?

Wow... truely out there...

 

Super-cups are often considered preseason glorified friendlies, yes.

Most of the teams you just listed are currently in second or third place. Throw-in AC Milan and Arsenal while you're at it.

Also, even with just 1 point Barca would still stand a good chance to win the group.

 

50% is most?

Your grasp of logic and mathematics continues to astound me.

 

Valencia are ahead on goal difference and they have Bayern at home. I know head-to-head is the first tiebreaker, but until they played both head-to-head matches you have to go by goal difference.

Juve are third (and not much difference between playing them or Chelsea anyway).

Also, I said "relatively meaningless". As in less important compared to the Celta Vigo and Mallorca matches that surround it and different from "totally meaningless".

 

BocaFan: "Of course you're right, but if I change the rules then..."

 

Point is, your comment was either dumb or ignorant. Listing a bunch of teams Barca might have to play only if Barca finish 2nd. The bonus was that you follow that statement with an implication that I was nuts.

 

Messi has improved his all-around game each season while no part of his game has worsened. Ronaldo's game has stagnated the last 3 or so years. That's not knocking Ronaldo. In fact its totally normal for a guy in his late twenties to level-off.

Therefore if Ronaldo is better than Messi currently, it must mean that Ronaldo was way better than Messi from 2009-11. I'll let individual posters decide on their own how likely that is/was.

 

This confirms your lack of ability to analyze the game. Song was spared a second yellow, but a few Celtic players were spared a yellow also. Mascherano didn't deserve a red because a foul was not called and didn't exist.

There is no way in hell Messi was invisible vs Celtic. He was the most dangerous Barca player and had the most chances to score. You can criticize him for not finishing, but not for being invisible. I also think Celtic's GK played very well, just like he did at Camp Nou.

And lastly, "doping rumors" existing only in your doping head....

 

By whom? People like you and Puck who can't the difference between the watermelon and football?

 

There was contact, but the general practice in football is that in a game-defining situation (ie contact inside the box or as last defender or possible second-yellow card), the defensive team can get away with slightly more than usual.

Of course when Barca is the defending team, the mouth-breathing Barca-haters come out of the woodwork.