Champions League Semi-Final: April 18, 2012 - FC Barcelona v. Chelsea FC - [R]

Yeah, Barca were very clean, in fact. We'll see if it's still that way with ten minutes left next week! I do think Drogba was saying, 'hey we can do this too if you get started'.

 

It was better than some of them have been but there were a few question marks I guess. It's gonna be bloody hard for us to go through even now but at least there's a game in store and not something that's already been decided.

Personally I don't have too much against Barca... it's all the numpties that surround them that I can't stand. These dipshits that keep wittering on about 'anti-football' and similar nonsense. They know so little about the game they don't even realise that defending is PART of the game.

Personally I don't think that we played as well as we did in 2009 but we were beaten on that occasion by an idiotic ref. I suppose that's what you were referring to in your comment above. Let's just hope it continues into the next game and that Messi, Lamps, Ashley and Xavi decide the issue and not the officials.

 

Er, yeah, it's only halftime. I'll semi-celebrate this one, but that match at Camp Nou will be epic. I'll still stay with Barca-Real for the final as my prediction.

 

Everyone at work was talking about this Clasico final... I said it'll be Chelsea-Bayern.

 

Tonight is going to be a good night! Anyone surprised about the Thiagos and Cuenca coming on when the game was still much in the balance... is nextgen barca upon us already?

 

Pretty much spot on. The way Terry and Lampard kept everything organized and even-keeled shows how important they are to this team. AVB-led Chelsea loses this game 4-0.

 

someone rep this guy

 

This is a bit of a weird post, in their last two finals they beat the champions of England.

 

The ref and the bad blood that was at times taken to absurd extremes. I think the players generally treated each other with a lot of respect today.

 

Manchester United are shit

I think a lot of that has to do with how the nature of the rivalry has changed. The fact that Chelsea were the only team who could stop Barca created an intense hatred. Barca know they're better now and seem to just want to get on with the game.

I think it will change back in Spain and we will see the typical cheating, whinging, diving, crying and totally unsportsmanlike version of Barca next week.

 

Numpties is the correct word for a lot of their fans. What a bunch of blowhards. They make Yanited fans look modest. Some are nice, however.

Job is only half done. Both sides face a loooooong 90 minutes in Spain.

 

Congratulations to Chelsea. Your boys played a terrific match and deserved the result. See y'all next week.

 

Michael Carrick

 

Good game, your defense is smart and experienced.

See ya'll next week.

 

From Barca's thread;
"Speechless...almost. Honestly, how anyone can support a team that bunkers is beyond me. There should be a rule that after 10 minutes if the ball remains on the opponents side of the field they concede a penalty kick. "

Response from Madrid thread;
"it appears that FIFA adopted those rules for the previous 5 games barca played..."




Good stuff, right there...

 

Thanks to the barca fans and their kind wordsn actually just came back from a pub that was 60/40 barca fans and they were surprisingly pleasant

Oh and ahahahahahhahaha iim the happoest man alive, so worth skipping work

 

So proud of the defense, they defended to the death. Will need to do that again next week. I honestly think if we can get one goal next week, we advance. Please don't let the refs screw us, puulleeaase.

More set pieces, especially corners, could make all the difference we need.

Meanwhile, RDM will likely have to play Torres, Sturridge, Malouda, Bertrand and other fresh bodies Saturday vs Arsenal. Drogs has to be dragging.

 

Congrats on the result. Rode your luck a bit at times but you have to against these and it was a good organised defensive effort. I think you'll score over there as well.

 

Lol funny post....equally funny rebut.

 

Chelsea are playing with an air of vengeance, not fear...carefree!

 

I think the majority of the players have enormous respect for each other. Fellas like Xavi and Frank in particular know how hard their respective roles are and I couldn't help noticing they went out of their way to shake hands in the tunnel beforehand.

I suspect that Drogs and fellas like Busquets aren't that popular but, then again, although they appreciate their skills, I sometimes think their own players get annoyed with them too.

As for defenders like Puyol and JT I don't think there's any question but that they admire the others play. I'll tell you one thing... I wouldn't like to be the ball in a tackle between those two fellas

 

I know. I was looking to make sure he wasn't anywhere near!

 

If we did score they'd need to get 3 to win it. Certainly 'doable' but might be hard for them.