OK, how do WE beat Barca?

[bigblue]

I trust Mancini will have a way. Honestly hope we get drawn in their group. I have faith we will progress and nick a great result off them - then beat them again in the knockout round!

[Bridge'srightfoot]

If we get Barca, I'd focus on enjoying watching them play. There isn't a team in the world who even comes close. Tonight they dominated the rags for 90 minutes and by dominated you mean the Rags didn't even have a sniff.

[Paco Gento]

Once they get past the 1st line of defence is hard to stop them because they are good one on one. If you don't allow them consistently one on one situations they are beatable.

Fast defenders, athletic midfield able to cover a lot of ground and maximum concentration for the whole match. We are the only team to keep a clean sheet against them in a big game but this was down to the man marking in midfield. We were set up not to concede and it worked.

Wenger beat them 2-1 although very lucky he did beat them by having a go at them. In Spain they struggle against sides who play 442. Del Bosque will beat them with a solid team, he'll attack them from start to finish and beat them. He's the only manager in football capable of beating Guardiola with attacking football.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Simple answer? You can't. If Barca play like they did tonight we wont beat them no matter how well we play. The best football side ever by a mile.

[bigblue]

Beat them at their own passing game, while adding a bit of physicality - city's specialty when we're playing great. I really feel we can give them a run for their money and would love to see it happen!

[edge275]

The thought of Barry and Milner up against these guys is frightening.

[Tru_Blu]

Simple answer? You can't. If Barca play like they did tonight we wont beat them no matter how well we play. The best football side ever by a mile.

this

[Blue Noodle]

Simple answer? You can't. If Barca play like they did tonight we wont beat them no matter how well we play. The best football side ever by a mile.

this

It doesn't mater how you set up to play Barca, you can't legislate for Messi. How often does he beat 3 or 4 men before scoring? You just can't defend against that. He's almost a goal a game this season. Over two legs you're practically starting with a two goal handicap.
If you want to beat them, you'll have to either sign Messi or be very patient and hope that Barca can't replace their older players.

[13021J]

I think the key is that they don't play with a CF. Therefore when teams play two CB they are marking nobody and so the midfield battle is made easier for Barca. I think teams need to either play with one less CB or no traditional full backs to fill up the midfield.

Just a thought.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

The thought of Barry and Milner up against these guys is frightening.

Exactly.

We'd lost that central midfield in instant.

They got two of the probably two best central midfielders in the world right now. And they are looking to add Fabregas. Jeez.

[CitizenYank]

First you spend more than the US national debt to build a spaceship to fly into a black hole and enter
an alternative universe. But no, Barca would probably beat us their too!!

In the end, they will most dominating team in my lifetime, and they also my favorite player in the game
(take a bow Xavi !) ha ha ha

.... maybe, if we could go back in time?!

[Ted Hughes]

Wait for Mourinho to knock them out, then beat his side.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Would any of our players get in their side?
Kompany and Tevez would have a chance imo. It's scary to think Silva wouldn't even get in their side.

[Ted Hughes]

Would any of our players get in their side?
Kompany and Tevez would have a chance imo. It's scary to think Silva wouldn't even get in their side.

Tbh I think Kompany, Tevez, Silva, Yaya, De Jong & Balotelli could all individually swap for their Barca counterparts & there would be no difference provided it was only one of them playing at any time. The way Barca play, if you put all 5 in at once, it would totally fuck them up. I recon any one of those players would immediately start playing the 'Barca way' if they were put in that team, with that movement around them. In our team, they only do it in flashes. The key is to get our whole team doing it all the time. Not easy but not impossible.

[Rag_hater]

Put Yaya on Xavi and Nigel on Iniesta and Vinney on Messi.
Then let David play in Mario and Carlos

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Would any of our players get in their side?
Kompany and Tevez would have a chance imo. It's scary to think Silva wouldn't even get in their side.

Tbh I think Kompany, Tevez, Silva, Yaya, De Jong & Balotelli could all individually swap for their Barca counterparts & there would be no difference provided it was only one of them playing at any time. The way Barca play, if you put all 5 in at once, it would totally fuck them up. I recon any one of those players would immediately start playing the 'Barca way' if they were put in that team, with that movement around them. In our team, they only do it in flashes. The key is to get our whole team doing it all the time. Not easy but not impossible.

I don't think SIlva or Nige would get in. Silva isn't as good as Xavi, Iniesta, Messi or Pedro. Nige isn't good enough on the ball to get in their team.
Yaya never nailed down a permanent place in their side.
Balotelli wouldn't either imo.

Kompany, and Tevez would maybe.

[Ted Hughes]

Would any of our players get in their side?
Kompany and Tevez would have a chance imo. It's scary to think Silva wouldn't even get in their side.

Tbh I think Kompany, Tevez, Silva, Yaya, De Jong & Balotelli could all individually swap for their Barca counterparts & there would be no difference provided it was only one of them playing at any time. The way Barca play, if you put all 5 in at once, it would totally fuck them up. I recon any one of those players would immediately start playing the 'Barca way' if they were put in that team, with that movement around them. In our team, they only do it in flashes. The key is to get our whole team doing it all the time. Not easy but not impossible.

I don't think SIlva or Nige would get in. Silva isn't as good as Xavi, Iniesta, Messi or Pedro. Nige isn't good enough on the ball to get in their team.
Yaya never nailed down a permanent place in their side.
Balotelli wouldn't either imo.

Kompany, and Tevez would maybe.

Yaya was a mainstay of their team until Busquets came along. Messi said as much when he left. Many Barca fans would have had Yaya over Busquets as would I. I think Silva would fit into their pattern in place of either Xavi or Iniesta & look every bit as good. The type of football they play is exactly what Silva does.

When rating any of Barcas's players though, however good their system, people need to remember that they all play alongside Lionel Messi. De Jong, Yaya, Messi, Silva ,Tevez, Balotelli playing under direction of Guardiola would give Mascherano, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta Villa, Pedro +A.N. Other, managed by Bob, a serious game & probably beat them imo.

[Nigels Tackle]

sign messi, iniesta and xavi. simple.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Would any of our players get in their side?
Kompany and Tevez would have a chance imo. It's scary to think Silva wouldn't even get in their side.

Tbh I think Kompany, Tevez, Silva, Yaya, De Jong & Balotelli could all individually swap for their Barca counterparts & there would be no difference provided it was only one of them playing at any time. The way Barca play, if you put all 5 in at once, it would totally fuck them up. I recon any one of those players would immediately start playing the 'Barca way' if they were put in that team, with that movement around them. In our team, they only do it in flashes. The key is to get our whole team doing it all the time. Not easy but not impossible.

I don't think SIlva or Nige would get in. Silva isn't as good as Xavi, Iniesta, Messi or Pedro. Nige isn't good enough on the ball to get in their team.
Yaya never nailed down a permanent place in their side.
Balotelli wouldn't either imo.

Kompany, and Tevez would maybe.

Yaya was a mainstay of their team until Busquets came along. Messi said as much when he left. Many Barca fans would have had Yaya over Busquets as would I. I think Silva would fit into their pattern in place of either Xavi or Iniesta & look every bit as good. The type of football they play is exactly what Silva does.

When rating any of Barcas's players though, however good their system, people need to remember that they all play alongside Lionel Messi. De Jong, Yaya, Messi, Silva ,Tevez, Balotelli playing under direction of Guardiola would give Mascherano, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta Villa, Pedro +A.N. Other, managed by Bob, a serious game & probably beat them imo.

Disagree, Iniesta and Xavi are the heartbeat of Barca, even without Messi Barca would dominate. They can keep the ball for 15 minute spells, every single player is comfortable on the ball. The question is would any of our inidvidual players get in the Barca side? And imo with the exception of Kompany and Tevez maybe they wouldn't.

[Ted Hughes]

Would any of our players get in their side?
Kompany and Tevez would have a chance imo. It's scary to think Silva wouldn't even get in their side.

Tbh I think Kompany, Tevez, Silva, Yaya, De Jong & Balotelli could all individually swap for their Barca counterparts & there would be no difference provided it was only one of them playing at any time. The way Barca play, if you put all 5 in at once, it would totally fuck them up. I recon any one of those players would immediately start playing the 'Barca way' if they were put in that team, with that movement around them. In our team, they only do it in flashes. The key is to get our whole team doing it all the time. Not easy but not impossible.

I don't think SIlva or Nige would get in. Silva isn't as good as Xavi, Iniesta, Messi or Pedro. Nige isn't good enough on the ball to get in their team.
Yaya never nailed down a permanent place in their side.
Balotelli wouldn't either imo.

Kompany, and Tevez would maybe.

Yaya was a mainstay of their team until Busquets came along. Messi said as much when he left. Many Barca fans would have had Yaya over Busquets as would I. I think Silva would fit into their pattern in place of either Xavi or Iniesta & look every bit as good. The type of football they play is exactly what Silva does.

When rating any of Barcas's players though, however good their system, people need to remember that they all play alongside Lionel Messi. De Jong, Yaya, Messi, Silva ,Tevez, Balotelli playing under direction of Guardiola would give Mascherano, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta Villa, Pedro +A.N. Other, managed by Bob, a serious game & probably beat them imo.

Disagree, Iniesta and Xavi are the heartbeat of Barca, even without Messi Barca would dominate. They can keep the ball for 15 minute spells, every single player is comfortable on the ball. The question is would any of our inidvidual players get in the Barca side? And imo with the exception of Kompany and Tevez maybe they wouldn't.

I agree that Xavi & Iniesta are brilliant players but without looking I bet Silva's record for goals & assists is as good or better, playing in vastly inferior teams. If he had the opportunity to settle into that formation, I think he'd do the same job. They play in a superb team, with the world's best player. When he doesn't play, or is struggling for fitness, they don't usually look anything remotely like the best team in the world imo.

I wouldn't have Pedro in our strongest side in place of anyone.