Chelsea playing for penalties?

Giggs hasn't played on the left much this season at all. Park, when he's played, unless deployed specifically to stop someone, has played on the right. Ronaldo, in big matches where United are likely to lose the midfield battle often swaps positions across the front line.

I don't think anyone eats Park alive. Really, anyone. That would suggest that someone can match his movement which is quite frankly, ridiculous. The man just refuses to walk during a game.

 

What's up with Marquez?

 

That's right. What about Milito and Caceres?

 

Milito has not played in over a year and I do not think he is back yet (is he still in their CL squad?).

Why not? Man Utd have a superior defense and attack to Chelsea. In midfield Fletcher would have been required to match the power Chelsea have but Barcelona do not have that. Man Utd played Barcelona last year with a central midfield of Carrick and Scholes.

 

Yeah. That was strange, wasn't it. He just fell over with nobody within 10 yards of him. Looked to be in a lot of pain as well.

Well, you wouldn't expect me to agree about the superior defense and midfield, would you , (I'd say they're about even overall), but, more to the point I think Barca are going to be even poorer in defense than they are normally, (and THAT'S saying something). I'm expecting a ManU victory... possibly quite heavily if barca keep pushing if they go behind.

If they grab a goal it might be quite a bit tighter.

 

It'll be interesting to see what happens when they haven't got fellas like Scholes, Giggs and Neville, (the 'Golden generation'), to call on.

Personally I think the biggest difference will be when Ferguson retires. Nothing lasts for ever, does it.

 

Hahahaha. LOL. ROTFLMAO. This is one of the most unwittingly ironically titled forums I've ever seen.

Oh well, as a longterm Chelsea fan, I'm beginning to get a bad taste in my mouth about the histronics when we get knocked out of the CL against Barca. What is it about losing to Barca that is so unacceptable? None of the whingers mention that Drogba had a gilt edged opportunity to finish things but shot straight at the keeper...

Maybe, eventually, cooler heads will prevail. IMHO, of course, Chelsea v. Man. U. would have been a much better game, but I WOULD think that wouldn't I.

Oh well, I would say injuries to Drogba and Essien cost us a great season, and RA continuing the managerial revolving door pretty much ensures the same for next season.

 

ManU has given up more prem goals than Chelsea, so it's difficult to argue that they have the superior defense. I don't think ManU has the midfield to prevent Barca from releasing their attacks up the middle as Chelsea did.

 

Let us put it this way. United's back five, when on, is the best in Europe. There have been a couple periods when the defense has been poor, but apart from that, it has been impenetrable.

The match will not be a walkover. United will do well to shackle Messi and Iniesta and must make the best of our chances on the break and must also do our part to win midfield if possible.

I think United should be favourites, but that counts for very little on the day. The advantage in terms of possession still lies with Barca, but United are more dangerous on the counter, on set pieces and will likely line up against a 35yo LB and an out of position CM playing CB.

 

that's not true at all. First of all, Chelsea have Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel probably the two best defensive midfielders in the country.

Secondly at left back we have Ashley Cole, possibly the best in the world, definately world class and better than Evra.

In the middle it's disputable, but Terry and Alex have a better defensive record than Vidic and Ferdinand despite all the hype Vidic and Ferdinand get.

At right back Bosingwa shits on Gary Neville and Rafael.

Our wingers are better at tracking back defensively as well.

The hype tells you United have the strongest defense but the facts-goal scoring record- tell you different and there are varying opinions from all different camps. However remember just because people tell you over and over that Manchester United have the greatest defense in the premier league, that doesn't make it true. Jagielka and Lescott at Everton are also playing just as well as the Manc and Chelsea center halves

 

We could probably argue all day about who thinks whose team has the better defenders, so all I want to say is, I respect your opinion, but based on the performances over the season, I disagree with all your claims apart from the RB and DM positions.

I also noticed you never mentioned Cech. Going on this season, you cannot seriously think Cech has been better than VDS. I think as a unit (goalkeeper and defenders) we've been more solid (with the exception of that one bad month).

 

This is why I said they're probably about even, overall. I certainly don't there's any substantial difference between the two.

 

pwned

 

What are we supposed to be looking at there?

 

A little friendly one-on-one basketball game before the match??? I dunno???

 

A little hint: that's Cech in a ready stance behind Ballack.

 

So what you are saying is; two-on-two???

 

What he is saying is that you all are not presenting both sides of this argument. Both teams have had valid claims of penalties, both teams were screwed by the refs but only one side (Chelsea) has been backed here.

 

LOL

... and you can tell it's handball from that clip, can yer?

It looks to me like Ballack or Messi kicks the ball and it hits something and then hits Ballacks hand. It's impossible to tell exactly what happened even when you watch it over and over again.

In any event, even if he's correct, what is he saying? That they should have had 1 penalty to our 4? Fair enough.... I'll settle for that.