It might have been me being quick to jump the gun. It's just the way it sounded on 1st glance was like I love Madrid and everything they stand for which couldn't be further from the truth. It's just as I've voiced my opinion in the last few months the arrogance of Barca at the moment that is getting me. Though as I say whilst this is good for Madrid, the real prize (out of these 4 games) was always going to be who attends Wembley for the CL final as the league was as good as done anyway.

To be fair dst, I think that's the only way to stop Barcelona. I just cannot see any other way.

True that's the only way to stop them... but from someone who calls himself special I would expect to match them...

I think you're being harsh for the sake of it. Barca have a far superior team and teams have to play a different game to beat them. Call it anti-football, but he won that game. If it's 0-0, fine. But he got his 10 man Madrid to equalise against them the other day, now he's beaten them.

5-0 is 5-0, it's one hell of a beating. But that's 5 games against Barca now in the past 2 seasons and he has only really been outclassed as a manager in 1 of them.

Well done Ronnie!

Exactly, at least he knows how to beat Barcelona.

+1

What does that even mean, yeah it's anti-football and yeah obviously he won it. I did not say it's not effective I'm saying it's negative for the spectator and for Real Madrid too... they played like a small team...

if you told me that's how the CL semis are going to be I would not watch the games, even if you had also told me Barcelona would win in the end.

Classic FAIL.

I was about to post that... so stupid... well, it was Ramos...

About the game now I have to admit I was wrong as I now watched some extended highlights of the game and in the first half - which I previously said I did not watch - Madrid looked like the better team and overall had the best chances in the game. They did play destructive football in the second half but their whole game was not so negative. My bad.

Also I'm looking for some comments from Mou about red cards but there are none... obviously that's cause he knows Arbeloa (how dumb is that guy really?) should have seen one in the first half when he tried to elbow Villa on the ground and when that failed stepped on him... I guess I should not bother looking for a comment on that by "The Provocative One" huh?

Do people have short memories? Spain won the WC with hardly playing fantastic football. In fact they were statistically (look at their results) and from watching the games one of the most boring teams in it.

David Villa carried the Spanish team back then, especially in the beginning. The German team looked way better.

Ash, who/what is your post directed at exactly? are you implying that Madrid's game and Spain's game have something in common?

Not to anyone directly, it was more rhetorical. It just seemed strange some moaning about "anti-football" with Madrid when Spain kind of did the same in the WC. They weren't this free-flowing masterclass, like they were in the Euro's, they were actually pretty painful to watch. Granted the tournament as a whole was a little lacking in excitement but Spain didn't help, I only remember one game (Chile?) with the 2 penalty incidents and quite enjoyable to watch. All the other games were monotonous bores if I'm being brutally honest, just as some would say last nights was.

I agree with chu-lip, Germany amongst others were far more attacking, but in the end they didn't win it. I don't think Madrid care that they won the cup with anti-football, just as Barca wouldn't if they were in Madrid's shoes.

Spain "kind of" played anti-football in the World Cup? how can you possibly say that?

Boring? yes maybe (not for me really, but I can understand if anyone feels so) as they couldn't play anywhere near as entertaining as they did in Euros 2008 but they still dominated most of their games (possession/chances) and beat all of their opponents except Switzerland. if dictating your game by playing possession football and not giving the ball away is called anti-football, then you're right.

EDIT: again, getting bored by Spain is one thing I can understand, comparing them with how Mourinho's Madrid played last night is another, which I cannot understand.

I kind of get your point, perhaps I was being too harsh with "anti-football", though I think the same could be said about Madrid last night. Perhaps, as you say, the word 'boring' is a better phrase.

But lets be honest here, Madrid didn't just sit back for the whole game, in-fact in the 1st they were easily the better side, then Barca came into it in the 2nd half. Teams have defended against Barca and failed, obviously others haven't, Inter for example. Though people can not expect teams to flamboyantly attack them when the same people have labelled them "the best side ever", you will just get picked apart 99 times out of 100.

I still stand by my statement that the 5-0 was a fluke result, and that level of difference isn't there. Are Barca the better side? sure, but not by that level.

I don't get what RM have to do with the Spanish national team at all!?

But since it was brought up, I too did not enjoy watching Spain last summer.


Obviously! I don't know who said differently but he's probably mentally ill...

^^ They share a GK.

-

@ Milan Are Brilliant


Agreed - and I never thought otherwise. Madrid didn't just sit back and park the bus like Inter did last year in Camp Nou. they defended more than they attacked, obviously, but it wasn't what I'd call anti football (even dst took his words back when he was the highlights!). they played with so much heart and passion and played like it was the last game of their lives. really, the amount of effort they put to stop Barca in their own half was unbelievable. every time a Barca player (especially Xavi and Iniesta) had the ball, 2 or 3 Madrid players would literally jump on them to get the ball. although sometimes they could be a bit more fair as I thought they didn't always go for the ball. but still, I applaud them for what they did last night and perhaps deserved to win after all. I say "perhaps" because Barca played a great game too and had their share of scoring opportunities.

No, I agree, I'm not saying Barca were outclassed at all, Casillas reinstated his worth and why some people believe him to be the greatest at the moment with some of his saves last night.

Don't get me wrong I like Barca (to a point), Xavi & Iniesta are something else, simple football, simple passes, simple movement, but they do it so effectively. It's what we are all taught as kids but no-one (at least in my generation did it like this) everyone wanted to be a more Messi/CR7 type (the similar back then!) and run past everyone on their own. Now it's great to see Barca glamourising the team game, because that's what football is and the more kids that learn this the greater the sport will become. Sure, we all love the individual players who can turn games like that on a consistent basis, but they are very rare.

I can't take credit for this, but a commenter wrote this on ESPN's story about the trophy falling, and it was too good to not pass along...

Haha,good one!!

HE'S BACK!



Hat-trick vs Valencia in a 6-3 win today.

Kaka' scored twice as well, by the way. Benzema got the other.

Nice to see he got his MOJO working. I would have liked a hatrick, but this will do.

Don't expect hattricks. he's finished!

Oooo, I love posts dipped in sarcasms. But this I agree with, it will take another good showing from the guy in this year or next year's CL to win over lost fans. Me? I've never been Kaka's biggest fan (God bless his socks), but smack me right in the kisser if I ever said that I did not enjoy watching him play.

Used to love his runs when he was here in Milan, did not want him to leave, and now equally enjoy his RM stint.

Calm down dear

RM will take not winning the league at the moment as they're able to play more relaxed than Barcelona. They'll look fresher at least in the first half against Barcelona in the CL Wednesday... I hope Barcelona will be able to defend well then.

Yeah, that was a little too over-the-top comment. What can I say, I am a sucker for underdog stories, and champions making their return to prove they still have it in them. I was overjoyed last year for Diego Forlán, maybe this year it could be Kaka's turn.

Nah, I just found it absolutely hilarious. Kaka has never been and will never be a favourite of mine, but when he's really on fire... bless.

Agreed, same here. I do am hurt when I read various sites and blogs saying the guy is over the hill. Now I'll be the first to admit that he is not the speed wagon we knew and love, but the fact remains that he had to battle a new club environment as well as months and months of injuries.

Add to that the guy never played enough to get back into form, and the reality that he has a more subdued role this time right behind the forward attacking line. If it were not for these factors, I would have understood that the Kaka story is done and dusted. But something deep down tells me that he will get back to his champion form - maybe not the destructive Kaka, but the effective Kaka is not far fetched.

Like you said, when he turns it on, it's a sight to behold. The guy has footballing vision matched by few!

I just watched the highlights. His speed is still there judging by his move on one of the goals he set up. And his second goal was very nice!

It's good that he's back, at least if he plays against Barcelona I won't mind RM going through... yeah I like him more than I dislike Mourinho.

That's the spirit! Though Kaka (and Real Madrid overall) will have the play the two games of their lives to go through, it will be no easy task. Gives me the shades of the Milan vs inter CL derbies a few years back.

Naah, I dislike him more then I like Kaka. Plus I don't like RM. So, it's decided for me.

I've always and will always like Madrid more than Barca. I like some of their past and present players. Also Mourinho's attitude has never bothered me. I find his achievements something to look up to. Anyways, the trick to Morurinho's comments is not to take him seriously. I think deep down, he knows it's all a game and he just likes to play!

And I don't like any of them, so I guess I'll be in the Barca camp for this one, even though I've had it up to here with the Catalans since the world cup.

I like both of them.

But I don't want Madrid to win, because I don't want them to get their tenth Champions League.

Yep, it's all mind games. He'll never stop because it works. He gets into the heads of opposing managers, players and his own players and creates an environment for him and his team to succeed.

Wow Messi with 50 goals so far this season

Yeah, pretty good. Though putting CR7 in Barca, would be the equivalent of cheating on FIFA, just saying...

Bring on the hate

I'm not anti-Messi or anything. I love the kid and his personality, how humble he is despite being so unreal, but I'd love to see him repeating these feats in other leagues or international scenes as well. I really do... in the Copa del Rey final, he had some absolutely fine movements, like setting up Pedro in that offside goal, but overall he wasn't anywhere near the Messi we see against the rest of La Liga teams. he lost the ball "many" times that night, how often does that happen? the boy who has the ball glued to his feet... I think it's become a tad too easy for him to shine in La Liga because, let's face it, it's a league full of spaces where teams don't bother to play any sort of destructive football/press the opponent/etc. that's the only explanation why he's getting better every season when you'd think there's possibly no more room for improvement.


EXACTLY.

Go Barca!


I personally don't enjoy his stint at RM but I'm with you on the rest of your post!

He doesn't have to score hat-tricks or braces to prove he's not finished. my mind isn't changed about him after this recent game. he's the kind of player that you can bet your money on to play a good game if he's not struggling with injury. he rarely has (had) off games. I think that was the best thing about him. I hope he stays injury free from now cause he deserves better as a footballer than to warm RM's bench.

The general consensus on MF is that all the Barca stars should be tested in another league in order to prove their true worth. Which makes sense, because Barca is in a league of its own ... Having said that, what makes Barca so damn good? Isn't it those star players that are in question?

Food for thought



haha ... Are you still not over the 'Hand of God'


CR in Barca ? They should suspend La Liga and CL till the whole Barca squad retires then

I think to a point there is good reason behind it, honestly I think Xavi/Iniesta in their positions could do it in any league. Though Messi I'm not sure, sure he wouldn't be terrible but I don't think he's physically big enough to really hack it in say an English, or an Italian league, certainly not to this level.

Whereas CR7 did it in England, that's why I might give him more credit. Not saying the English league is the be all and end all but he's now done it in 2 top-class leagues. I remember on here a lot saying Ronaldo wouldn't do it in other leagues, yet that's been proven, just now for Messi to do the same!

I think he can make it in any league but why should he go elsewhere if he's playing in top club and one he grew up in and loves? Barca for him is not the same like United was for Ronaldo. He might stay in Barca for life but it won't be from fear to fail in another league.

I'm not saying he should, just that's why people might give the same or more credit to CR7 as he's done it in 2 leagues, in teams that on paper are no where near the level of Barca (eradicating the players in question).

Well, you can use this argument about many players that chose to stay in one team for a long time like Raul, Del Piero, Totti and so on... I just appreciate loyalty, even if it's not as common these days.

Of course, though when you compare 2 players, one that's played in a team that a lot of people are saying "is the best ever" obviously that includes Messi and doing well and one has done it in 2 world class teams in 2 separate top-class leagues it's only normal to point that out.

Anyway, I really can't be bothered with this conversation again. They're both in a league of their own (with Xavi) and to me it's Messi/CR7/Xavi then everyone else at the moment. I'm just glad to the people who called him a 'trick pony' and said he could only do it in the English league have been proven wrong.

No..I think the reason Xavi, Iniesta, Pirlo etc get overlooked is because they shone with their national teams. Messi hasn't. In fact neither has CR to be fair. But CR gets points because he shone in another league.

Agreed on all bar CR not doing it for Portugal - have to say during the 2006 WC he became public enemy #1 for the Rooney incident then turned in a MOTM display in the next match V Argentina I believe it was. They lost, but despite all the jeering and booing CR was sensational.

I far prefer him to Messi who I just cannot bring myself to like.

Nice to hear I am not alone. The thing with this guy is that he is not overly physical, which means whenever he faces some real athletes, there is a chance he will flop. I am saddened to say this but over 90% of the teams in La Liga are no where near top quality. Hence the scoring spree - no real fault of his though, but the guy has got it made.

Unless he one day decides to leave Barcelona and try his hands at some other - read, tougher - league. But why, oh why would he? That's the real question. He'll probably happily win an other half a dozen World Player/Golden Balls and retire happily ever after. But I've got my mind made up, he is not something I will like, or even respect - unless he tears it all up in Argentina, then maybe. Or like I said, another club and league - Serie A or Premier League.

But then again, we have all seen his displays in the NT and against real Italian/EPL teams.

I suppose the 34 goals in 54 appearances in the Champions League don't count then. Good to know.