*** Barcelona v Arsenal ***

[ashton287]

You just beat me to it John. That Real Madrid side was beyond awesome. The likes of Gento and Santamaria as well as the legends of football you mentioned were unstoppable in their heyday. I remember them scoring 7 goals in a European Cup Final.

Perilous phrasing mate, we don't never another one of those threads.

I only saw the first 60-65 minutes of the game but that red card was ridiculous. Seemingly killed the contest (going by the final score, at least). I can't stand RVP for his usual bitching and histrionics but - If I were him - I'd do my best to bury the referee for that. An even contest between two great teams ruined because the referee bottled it.

98000 people, no flag from the assistant and sent off for failing to hear a whistle from a third of the field away. Glad FIFA passed that rule before considering things like goal line technology - their priorities are clearly in order.

I agree
And i hate the way it will get brushed under the carpet because "arsenal didn't have a shot anyway"
They where winning the tie ffs, they didn't need to have a shot!!

So your both FOR goal line tech?

You dont think it would kind of spoil the game? I think sometimes refs fucking up is part of the game and if we make the game unfuckupable then it will take some of the excitement out of it. A shit decision hurts sometimes but it's what seperates football from tennis/ When was the last time 98,000 people turned up for a tennis match?

[Ted Hughes]

Barca have been are still without a doubt the best team on the planet, what I would like to know is how are we going to deal with them if we ever meet, we keep the ball well we defend play some very sharp pass and move on occasion as good as Arse, not for as long periods, Arsenal, our best footballing team have just been treated as the local pub team, battered and could have been beat by 10/11 if Alves cuts back 8 x, how do clubs like us expect to do if we meet Barca next season.

Arsenal were treated like that at the swamp a few weeks ago where they passed the ball like a team full of Jeff Whitleys, they are bottlers. We can't judge our future chances by using them as a benchmark.

[Esky]

Was kind of a reductio ad absurdum mate.

I'm on the fence for goal line tech, but any ruling about it would have more merit than mandatory cards for kicking a ball away after the whistle.

[pears12]

That red card was a shocker, if refs were held accountable for shite performances I would say he should be reffing serie C next week instead of the cl.

I don't think I hate any team as much as I hate Barcelona, mainly because the commentary in any game they play is pretty much just listening to their private tv station. Also I not sure they are best team ever, there is some great teams like milan late 80s, real madrid with puskas and di stefano, ajax in 70s were very good to watch.

Also has la liga been this uncompetitive in recent memory it reminding me of the scottish premier league more and more

[Hazy2]

Barca have been are still without a doubt the best team on the planet, what I would like to know is how are we going to deal with them if we ever meet, we keep the ball well we defend play some very sharp pass and move on occasion as good as Arse, not for as long periods, Arsenal, our best footballing team have just been treated as the local pub team, battered and could have been beat by 10/11 if Alves cuts back 8 x, how do clubs like us expect to do if we meet Barca next season.

Arsenal were treated like that at the swamp a few weeks ago where they passed the ball like a team full of Jeff Whitleys, they are bottlers. We can't judge our future chances by using them as a benchmark.

Looking at it mate I do not agree. Arsenal have had 10 yrs champs league to call upon, they have class players ok some were not 100% fit ,Over 2 games they have had a footballing lesson,IMO we are nowhere as good , we have no pace whatsover ever, no world class nucleas, Yes Silva is top draw, look how they swatted Wiltshire/Nasri who was forced to play left back from the 1st minute my question is where do we and others look to get close to Barca, who lets be honest had no C/Halfs Keeper was not 100% fit and looked like they 20 players against a team that, the quality of player is not there to just buy.

[Ted Hughes]

Barca have been are still without a doubt the best team on the planet, what I would like to know is how are we going to deal with them if we ever meet, we keep the ball well we defend play some very sharp pass and move on occasion as good as Arse, not for as long periods, Arsenal, our best footballing team have just been treated as the local pub team, battered and could have been beat by 10/11 if Alves cuts back 8 x, how do clubs like us expect to do if we meet Barca next season.

Arsenal were treated like that at the swamp a few weeks ago where they passed the ball like a team full of Jeff Whitleys, they are bottlers. We can't judge our future chances by using them as a benchmark.

Looking at it mate I do not agree. Arsenal have had 10 yrs champs league to call upon, they have class players ok some were not 100% fit ,Over 2 games they have had a footballing lesson,IMO we are nowhere as good , we have no pace whatsover ever, no world class nucleas, Yes Silva is top draw, look how they swatted Wiltshire/Nasri who was forced to play left back from the 1st minute my question is where do we and others look to get close to Barca, who lets be honest had no C/Halfs Keeper was not 100% fit and looked like they 20 players against a team that, the quality of player is not there to just buy.

I don't see much difference between us & Arsenal mate, apart from they've got no balls & we have. Other than that, style yes, they often play better football (but not always) & they've been together longer, actual value as a team though, no. They're just more 'run in'. We were much better at the swamp than Arsenal were; we sometimes outplayed the rags, Arsenal collapsed & surrendered. That's all I can go on as we haven't played Barca. In the 2 games we had v Arsenal, we closed them out on their own ground & out passed them with 10 men for large periods at our ground. Last season 11 v 11 we beat them twice & drew the other because Bob didn't try to beat them at theirs.

As for better players, the only ones I would swap directly are Fabregas & Wilshire for some of of our lesser midfielders, such as Barry & Milner. I wouldn't swap them for Silva or Yaya as I recon Silva is better & Yaya is unique & different (a plan B). Wishire isn't there yet he's a fantastic potential player but sometimes great sometimes not. I wouldn't touch any of their CB's or keepers with a ten foot pole. I wouldn't swap Tevez for Van Persie or Mario for Nasri. I think Dzeko will score goals more than any of their forwards in the future & gives us something they don't have. Then we have AJ vs Walcott. No comparison imo. The rest of their squad are just mediocre imo.

I think that, by this time next season, we'll be way better than Arsenal if Bob does his job. Wenger is special in attack but he has never built a successful Arsenal defence from scratch. I don't think he can.

[Hazy2]

Barca have been are still without a doubt the best team on the planet, what I would like to know is how are we going to deal with them if we ever meet, we keep the ball well we defend play some very sharp pass and move on occasion as good as Arse, not for as long periods, Arsenal, our best footballing team have just been treated as the local pub team, battered and could have been beat by 10/11 if Alves cuts back 8 x, how do clubs like us expect to do if we meet Barca next season.

Arsenal were treated like that at the swamp a few weeks ago where they passed the ball like a team full of Jeff Whitleys, they are bottlers. We can't judge our future chances by using them as a benchmark.

Looking at it mate I do not agree. Arsenal have had 10 yrs champs league to call upon, they have class players ok some were not 100% fit ,Over 2 games they have had a footballing lesson,IMO we are nowhere as good , we have no pace whatsover ever, no world class nucleas, Yes Silva is top draw, look how they swatted Wiltshire/Nasri who was forced to play left back from the 1st minute my question is where do we and others look to get close to Barca, who lets be honest had no C/Halfs Keeper was not 100% fit and looked like they 20 players against a team that, the quality of player is not there to just buy.

Well our visit to the Emirates this season must have been a dream, did we not have a shot and did last night with Arsenal chasing shadows not take you back to us, my point is we got a chasing and Arsenal got one where are we if that is state of play.
I don't see much difference between us & Arsenal mate, apart from they've got no balls & we have. Other than that, style yes, they often play better football (but not always) & they've been together longer, actual value as a team though, no. They're just more 'run in'. We were much better at the swamp than Arsenal were; we sometimes outplayed the rags, Arsenal collapsed & surrendered. That's all I can go on as we haven't played Barca. In the 2 games we had v Arsenal, we closed them out on their own ground & out passed them with 10 men for large periods at our ground. Last season 11 v 11 we beat them twice & drew the other because Bob didn't try to beat them at theirs.

As for better players, the only ones I would swap directly are Fabregas & Wilshire for some of of our lesser midfielders, such as Barry & Milner. I wouldn't swap them for Silva or Yaya as I recon Silva is better & Yaya is unique & different (a plan B). Wishire isn't there yet he's a fantastic potential player but sometimes great sometimes not. I wouldn't touch any of their CB's or keepers with a ten foot pole. I wouldn't swap Tevez for Van Persie or Mario for Nasri. I think Dzeko will score goals more than any of their forwards in the future & gives us something they don't have. Then we have AJ vs Walcott. No comparison imo. The rest of their squad are just mediocre imo.

I think that, by this time next season, we'll be way better than Arsenal if Bob does his job. Wenger is special in attack but he has never built a successful Arsenal defence from scratch. I don't think he can.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Just one variation for me Ted. I would swap Mario for Nasri.

[london blue 2]

Wenger and Nasri have been charged by Uefa

[Hazy2]

Barca have been charged with failing to provide Arsenal with a ball before and during the game.

[BobKowalski]

Just one variation for me Ted. I would swap Mario for Nasri.

That's an interesting point if only because I think it highlights a weakness in our thinking.

Nasri is in his I think 3rd season and its taken him this long to get to a high level on a consistent basis.

Nasri at City wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes. Nor would Gareth Bale for that matter.

Mario has been at City 5 minutes and phrases like 'on borrowed time', 'liability' have been bandied about.

Mario is an outrageous talent. He has scored what 12 goals in 16 games? - and I swear the lad isn't really trying yet. I am not saying definitively he will become what we all hope at City but by god I hope we do give him the time to give it a go, to mature, to develop if only for the romantic in me. Fake Ron got the time at MU why can't we do the same?

Yet you want to swap him? Do we have any patience? Any capacity to see things long term? No room for positive thinking? The occasional glance at the big picture?

Or is it always going to be 3 games and '"Well he's fucking shit get rid"

[Tony P]

Just one variation for me Ted. I would swap Mario for Nasri.

That's an interesting point if only because I think it highlights a weakness in our thinking.

Nasri is in his I think 3rd season and its taken him this long to get to a high level on a consistent basis.

Nasri at City wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes. Nor would Gareth Bale for that matter.

Mario has been at City 5 minutes and phrases like 'on borrowed time', 'liability' have been bandied about.

Mario is an outrageous talent. He has scored what 12 goals in 16 games? - and I swear the lad isn't really trying yet. I am not saying definitively he will become what we all hope at City but by god I hope we do give him the time to give it a go, to mature, to develop if only for the romantic in me. Fake Ron got the time at MU why can't we do the same?

Yet you want to swap him? Do we have any patience? Any capacity to see things long term? No room for positive thinking? The occasional glance at the big picture?

Or is it always going to be 3 games and '"Well he's fucking shit get rid"

This

[Hazy2]

Just one variation for me Ted. I would swap Mario for Nasri.

That's an interesting point if only because I think it highlights a weakness in our thinking.

Nasri is in his I think 3rd season and its taken him this long to get to a high level on a consistent basis.

Nasri at City wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes. Nor would Gareth Bale for that matter.

Mario has been at City 5 minutes and phrases like 'on borrowed time', 'liability' have been bandied about.

Mario is an outrageous talent. He has scored what 12 goals in 16 games? - and I swear the lad isn't really trying yet. I am not saying definitively he will become what we all hope at City but by god I hope we do give him the time to give it a go, to mature, to develop if only for the romantic in me. Fake Ron got the time at MU why can't we do the same?

Yet you want to swap him? Do we have any patience? Any capacity to see things long term? No room for positive thinking? The occasional glance at the big picture?

Or is it always going to be 3 games and '"Well he's fucking shit get rid"

Good pots Bob, however IMO Mario is already packed and out of Coms, I agree talent to burn. Home bird mate happiest back in Milan sometime soon sadly. Ibra is only on loan he will be shipped out with Mario allowed the leading role.

[Slim]

Just one variation for me Ted. I would swap Mario for Nasri.

That's an interesting point if only because I think it highlights a weakness in our thinking.

Nasri is in his I think 3rd season and its taken him this long to get to a high level on a consistent basis.

Nasri at City wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes. Nor would Gareth Bale for that matter.

Mario has been at City 5 minutes and phrases like 'on borrowed time', 'liability' have been bandied about.

Mario is an outrageous talent. He has scored what 12 goals in 16 games? - and I swear the lad isn't really trying yet. I am not saying definitively he will become what we all hope at City but by god I hope we do give him the time to give it a go, to mature, to develop if only for the romantic in me. Fake Ron got the time at MU why can't we do the same?

Yet you want to swap him? Do we have any patience? Any capacity to see things long term? No room for positive thinking? The occasional glance at the big picture?

Or is it always going to be 3 games and '"Well he's fucking shit get rid"

This

Don't be stupid Tony, he makes the wrong point and rather than contribute in any way you quote him and type "this"? Well thanks for fucking coming.

And here is why he is wrong. No-one doubts his ability, no-one ever has. It's so fucking plain that even a dumbfuck bald seppo could see it, what the problem is from top to bottom is his attitude. Nasri never had an attitude when he came in, maybe he wasn't so consistent but he kept his head down, worked hard and got his game to the level it's at now. Mario is petulant and disruptive, gets yellow cards almost every game and is probably the most frustrating player to watch cause you know what he can do when he can be fucked doing so.

If Mario had come in and scored half as much as he has(10 in 16 I think btw, not 100%) but worked hard, kept his mouth shut and put in the yards, people would be more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and time to settle in. Think I am full of it? Dzeko...end of.

[BobKowalski]

Just one variation for me Ted. I would swap Mario for Nasri.

That's an interesting point if only because I think it highlights a weakness in our thinking.

Nasri is in his I think 3rd season and its taken him this long to get to a high level on a consistent basis.

Nasri at City wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes. Nor would Gareth Bale for that matter.

Mario has been at City 5 minutes and phrases like 'on borrowed time', 'liability' have been bandied about.

Mario is an outrageous talent. He has scored what 12 goals in 16 games? - and I swear the lad isn't really trying yet. I am not saying definitively he will become what we all hope at City but by god I hope we do give him the time to give it a go, to mature, to develop if only for the romantic in me. Fake Ron got the time at MU why can't we do the same?

Yet you want to swap him? Do we have any patience? Any capacity to see things long term? No room for positive thinking? The occasional glance at the big picture?

Or is it always going to be 3 games and '"Well he's fucking shit get rid"

This

Don't be stupid Tony, he makes the wrong point and rather than contribute in any way you quote him and type "this"? Well thanks for fucking coming.

And here is why he is wrong. No-one doubts his ability, no-one ever has. It's so fucking plain that even a dumbfuck bald seppo could see it, what the problem is from top to bottom is his attitude. Nasri never had an attitude when he came in, maybe he wasn't so consistent but he kept his head down, worked hard and got his game to the level it's at now. Mario is petulant and disruptive, gets yellow cards almost every game and is probably the most frustrating player to watch cause you know what he can do when he can be fucked doing so.

If Mario had come in and scored half as much as he has(10 in 16 I think btw, not 100%) but worked hard, kept his mouth shut and put in the yards, people would be more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and time to settle in. Think I am full of it? Dzeko...end of.

So not a Mario fan then?

Oh and split the difference and call it 11. I'm feeling magnanimous :)

As a matter of interest Is anyone happy on here about anything or is perpetual misery a lifestyle choice?

[Slim]

No, I am a fan. But you are arguing the wrong point, a wrong point only a blind man in a dark room wearing a blindfold would actually miss. In arguing the wrong point, you merely give people who aren't fans easy shots and more ammo to aim in his direction.

In short, STOP HELPING.

[Renato_CTID]

Another season without any trophey for Messieur Wenger and Les Gooners, oh how impeccable is the God of Footbal with this young talents' thief! How many years will stay at Emirates without a strong international golkeeper: five or ten years again?

[BobKowalski]

No, I am a fan. But you are arguing the wrong point, a wrong point only a blind man in a dark room wearing a blindfold would actually miss. In arguing the wrong point, you merely give people who aren't fans easy shots and more ammo to aim in his direction.

In short, STOP HELPING.

Hang on. Where's that light switch?...oh shit my bloody knee...

I have a stunning riposte. Its along the lines of ' Well yeah says you..'

Fuck me its a belter of a comeback

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Just one variation for me Ted. I would swap Mario for Nasri.

That's an interesting point if only because I think it highlights a weakness in our thinking.

Nasri is in his I think 3rd season and its taken him this long to get to a high level on a consistent basis.

Nasri at City wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes. Nor would Gareth Bale for that matter.

Mario has been at City 5 minutes and phrases like 'on borrowed time', 'liability' have been bandied about.

Mario is an outrageous talent. He has scored what 12 goals in 16 games? - and I swear the lad isn't really trying yet. I am not saying definitively he will become what we all hope at City but by god I hope we do give him the time to give it a go, to mature, to develop if only for the romantic in me. Fake Ron got the time at MU why can't we do the same?

Yet you want to swap him? Do we have any patience? Any capacity to see things long term? No room for positive thinking? The occasional glance at the big picture?

Or is it always going to be 3 games and '"Well he's fucking shit get rid"

hahaha Why do I think you just wanted to have a dig BK. As I recall earlier in this thread there was a little debate about comparing the current Arsenal team with City and considering which of their players we might take and if so which of ours would go.I was responding to a post and my comment that ,in the current circumstances, I would go for that swap doesnt in any way mean that I don't rate Mario and want him out.You have just taken it out of context to suit yourself.It's like saying the only player in the scum side who would strengthen our side would be Nani and I would swap him for Mario. Meaningless.

I too think he is an outrageous talent and I just hope he is given enough time to fully develop and show off that talent.

"Yet you want to swap him? Do we have any patience? Any capacity to see things long term? No room for positive thinking? The occasional glance at the big picture? " Boy you really got carried away with these efforts didn't you. Time for a lie down I think.

[BobKowalski]

Just one variation for me Ted. I would swap Mario for Nasri.

That's an interesting point if only because I think it highlights a weakness in our thinking.

Nasri is in his I think 3rd season and its taken him this long to get to a high level on a consistent basis.

Nasri at City wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes. Nor would Gareth Bale for that matter.

Mario has been at City 5 minutes and phrases like 'on borrowed time', 'liability' have been bandied about.

Mario is an outrageous talent. He has scored what 12 goals in 16 games? - and I swear the lad isn't really trying yet. I am not saying definitively he will become what we all hope at City but by god I hope we do give him the time to give it a go, to mature, to develop if only for the romantic in me. Fake Ron got the time at MU why can't we do the same?

Yet you want to swap him? Do we have any patience? Any capacity to see things long term? No room for positive thinking? The occasional glance at the big picture?

Or is it always going to be 3 games and '"Well he's fucking shit get rid"

hahaha Why do I think you just wanted to have a dig BK....

Possibly you were feeling sensitive :)

However as we are now all agreed that we should keep Mario and not swap him for Nasri or indeed Nani and that long term planning is a jolly good thing, happiness and peace now abounds and we will be a sunnier and more positive forum from now on.

I love a happy ending