[TriniKing_CE]

And to think that Barca brought home the gold right after dumping Ronaldinho on our doorstep. Who has the last laugh now?

Don't forget Zambrotta (and his blunder clearance against Man Untd. last year)

My friend (who is a Barca Fanatic his enitre life btw) thanked me again today after the final for taking Dinho an Zambo from them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

(not to mention before the deals even took place and became official, he was saying to me 'tell your club come and get them - they are yours!') (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

S.O.B.


...Next Year for Milan hopefully [seems like I've awlays looked ahead to next season +vely, but can't blame me!) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[Zed.D]

Don't know why you would have any kind of sympathy for Paul Scholes. In my opinion he's a disgrace to the game. Did you see his tackle on Busquets? He tried to brake his leg... he generally behave unsportsmanslike, and always have been like that, like trying to score a 'Hand of god' goal against Zenit earlier this year.. Don't give anything to a guy like that.

I still kinda like him. maybe because I liked the 90's Man U, with him, Becks, Schmeichel, Giggs, etc.

And to think that Barca brought home the gold right after dumping Ronaldinho on our doorstep. Who has the last laugh now?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Sad but true. we shouldn't have tried to revive Dinho's career with Carlo as coach...

Which is why Maradona is a loser, regardless of his talent. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

He is not a loser, he scored the greatest solo goal in history in the very same game (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[han2503]

I watched the game yesterday in a bar swarmed by Man Yoo fans. And let me tell you, it was a great night. I cheered Barca on like a maniac, that's how much I did not want to see Man Yoo lift that trophy again. And the satisfaction it gave me to keep poking at the Man yoo fans was just incredible. At one point I though they were going to come at me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

On the game. I don't know if it was because Man Yoo were completyly sh!te or if it was that Barca played a great game. But Man Yoo should have just stayed home. They couldn't even touch Barca. It was amazing to see. At first they started out the better of the 2 teams, but once Eto'o scored and Barca settled into the game Man U couldn't get anywhere near them

Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Basquettes(sp?), Puyol and Pique were all immense. Henry was very quite and lived up to his title of a bottler and Eto'o wasn't that great but really made it count with that goal, even though it was down to Van der Saar's slippery fingers on the night.

One last thing, Pep Guardiola... He's a great man to have in football, absolute class

[Zed.D]

Blog: Euro master-class

Barcelona rule Europe after stylishly conquering Man Utd. Steve Wilson hopes Coaches around the peninsula noted the manner of their victory
Barcelona rule Europe for a third time. The Catalans, who have the flag of Saint Jordi on their badge, slayed the English dragon and answered the prayers of most non-English fans around the continent by beating Manchester United.

The simple fact is that this decade – in which England’s Premier League has apparently become the best in the world – ends with the League owning just two European Cups. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Milan each have that many on their own from the past 10 years. Some domination.

But enough gloating at the expense of the self-proclaimed Best League In The World™ - although I could go on, and on – what I really want to talk about is the manner of Barcelona’s victory.

Pep Guardiola – a graduate of Serie A, even if it was just a handful of games for Brescia and Roma – has his side playing with amazing self-confidence and patience. The thing that struck me most about their performance was their willingness to build from the back and wait for the right scoring chance to present itself. They never seemed rushed, never panicked.

How often did we see Inter throwing the ball forward to Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Manchester United and hoping the Swede would perform some magic on his own? And how often did we see Ibra thwarted and the ball straight back into the Red Devils control?

The Nerazzurri were so eager to get to goal and to be on the front foot, but when each move broke down it meant they had to fight and scrap to win the ball back again. It didn’t have to be that way. What we saw in Rome is perhaps as important a shake up of tactics as the Dutch ‘Total Football’ in the 1970s.

You cannot lose if you have the ball. That is Guardiola’s Blaugrana mantra. Every time they probed forward and were thwarted they turned back on themselves – sometimes right the way to goalkeeper Victor Valdes – and started all over again.

How often can you remember watching a game live and hearing fans around you shout and heckle a back pass? “We are shooting the other way!” is a favourite moan at my local ground, but after the 2009 Champions League Final I hope fans – and Coaches – begin to realise the value of possession football.

It is an approach that we already saw work for the Spaniards in the semi-final. Against Chelsea they battled and battled right up until the 90th minute, waiting for the right chance to open up. As the seconds ticked away and their dreams of going to Rome slipped away they refused to break their game-plan.

Never resorting to hit-and-hope they knew that if they kept passing and kept moving they would find that one golden chance. And they did. One shot, one goal, and Andres Iniesta sends them on their way. It is beauty over brawn, brains over barbarism – and I love it.

At all levels we see attacking players whipping in a hopeful cross, or running down a blind alley in the hope of beating the last defender only to hand the ball straight to their opponents – last night we saw the alternative.

The slower pace of the Italian game would be perfect for this patient and measured approach to the sport and I sincerely hope Jose Mourinho & Co took note. Sure, it helps to have players like Xavi, Lionel Messi and Iniesta, but I believe adopting this methodology could be the first step towards bringing the glory nights back to Italy.

Spot on. especially the underlined paragraph pretty much reminded me of how we play.

This post has been edited by Zed.D: May 28 2009, 10:24 AM

[GonzZo]

Spot on. especially the underlined paragraph pretty much reminded me of how we play.

+1

[MizNelson]

They were the champions last year (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) Believe or not, but we went an entire campaign without getting eliminated in 07.

I'm aware of that. What I meant was that Man U's loss to Barcelona spelled their first loss in any CL match - all stages - since the 3-0 thrashing at the San Siro in 2007. They were unbeaten in all of their matches last year and this year prior to yesterday's final.

[6Best]

I would just say - Barca completely owned ManU & I'm glad about it .

[kurtsimonw]

He is not a loser, he scored the greatest solo goal in history in the very same game (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Yeah, I'd probably agree with that, Dalian Atkinsons was better due to the much better finish. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[MizNelson]

Hail to the champs. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u45/BMWTaylor/user_2064_70cuda.jpg)

[dst]

Nice! Wish it was was red and black.

[MizNelson]

Here is THE ballsiest promotional campaign I think I've ever seen.

(IMG:http://goal-images.adbureau.net/goal/728x90_cfc_freegracies.jpg)

Apparently someone thought it'd be a great idea to offer a free Barca t-shirt to Chelsea jersey buyers. Talk about rubbing salt in the wound.

"Gee, yeah, I want a shirt featuring the team who eliminated us in controversial fashion on the way to winning the title."

[dst]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) the ****?

[Zed.D]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) the ****?

My dictionary says brave, someone who's got BIG balls!