Let's be fair here. The goalkeeping and defending of PSG yesterday were a dumpster fire. The ref was atrocious. Not only did the ref give soft penalties to Barcelona (the second one was a WTF moment), but he denied at least 2 good ones for PSG. If I were a PSG fan this morning, I'd be livid. Verratti's ball that set up Cavani's goal was a picture perfect pass from about 40 yards. His one touch diagonal pass to send Di Maria on breakaway was a beauty. People can use the 6-1 debacle to support their preconceived notions but they have to look at that game in context. If someone is trying to pin that loss on Verratti they need to have their eyes checked.
Verratti was probably their best player out there. Him, Di Maria, and Cavani were good. Rest were shocking. Draxler was ok I guess.
He didn't play that good, but he had no support in mid and the rest of his team got pressed to death and did nothing to stop it. Even amidst that, he was still dictated quite well. There's no point in reiterating this stuff to the same people. Just wait until he's back in Italy, presumably with Juve, so they can get an idea of how good he truly is.
He is a player with immense skills but does not know how to fully utilize them. His game is missing elements. I am still waiting for him to show improvements but it is not coming along. Perhaps he is too comfortable at PSG and playing a limited role.
Anyone who wants a laugh must read this: http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/italia-vs-england-friendly-r.2016831/page-20 It's basically a carbon copy of all the same nonsense about Verratti sucking, and passing 5yards, but with more meme's...definitely worth a trip into memory lane. I think it's the same thread where Totti-fan made the claim that Motta was "generally the better player at PSG than Verratti" We don't care what you think of Insigne. It is heart warming to see you and pops having a moment where you get along though. So their limitations are that they are not superhuman? Signore, this is immense progress from you. I have faith in your turn around. Previously this was the best you could say... Implying that Verratti needed to save PSG today. He almost did too. To do the rest he basically needed to play keeper, defense and then score the goal that Di Maria was denied.
I still can't believe the Di Maria PK wasn't called. It was clear as day that he was tripped. Mascherano even admitted it after the game. I'm no conspiracy theorist, but this is where you start to begin to wonder about refs.
Definitely reds on both Mascherano and Neymar when he blatantly kicked, I believe it was Meunier, in the calf. Barca has been getting calls like that for the better part of a decade, so I am not surprised.
Let's hope Porto doesn't get any "special" calls next week. BTW, everyone is on the Barca and Bayern wagon right now, but I think Juve can shut them down.
11 on 11 yes.. but if Uefalona calls in some special favours then we don't really stand a chance 11 v 15 (i'd lump all the officials on their side including clearly the 4th official with "barca time").
There was a penalty call for a shirt tug on Messi that wasn't made. Enough with the excuses. Fortune favours the brave. When you dominate and take the game to the opposition as much as Barca did than eventually something will click. PSG were garbage, the players esp mids need to take responsibility.
Some people are just blind..some blind and dumb. Some are that way by choice and others just can't help it, they were born that way. In a game where one call, or non call, can lead or take away from a goal and decide the match, those who choose to ignore such, their opinion is irrelevant. Neymar doesn't score his brilliant free kick if he was red-carded for the blatant kick to Meunier's calf. That's a straight red in any ref's book. Falc argued that the Marchisio back heel attempt was not a red card with the entire referee forum and even recruited me to help, but here in a case where one is, he choses to take the fifth. On the non call to Di Maria, in Mascherano's own words he admitted to fouling him. Score there and it's over. Refs can and do decide matches. Obviously a team has to press when behind to even create an opportunity, for goal or for a call to go their way. In this game, PSG crumbled on some of the goals, and Barca was gifted others. The most important calls were the ones ignored though.
Verratti was the player that pulled down Messi, but it was outside the box. OK long ball over the top, but the best move for me was the ball to release Di Maria.
Who the fck cares what he looks like? He probably can get more p*ssy in a month than we collectively do in a lifetime.
I'm hearing rumors now that Gabbiadini, Gagliardini, and Spinazzola are getting callups for the WCQ. Gabbs and Gagliardini are a given to me at this point with the way they are playing. Inter's midfield has been completely different since January. Spinazzola is a bit of a surprise. He's impressed me a lot with his skill and pace in Atalanta's midfield, but I didn't think he was quite ready. Then again, he's already 22 or 23. Time to get over our stupid mentality of waiting until someone is 28-29 to cap them.