1. Aha, crikey, we took over the world media for one night only, love it - wait 'til this time next year and we'll be Premier League champions

    And cheers for the stuff about the actual origin of the name intrigued me. And thanks Tim for the Wiki. link I just figured it'd be better to hear it direct from the source in case there were discrepancies
  2. 3:1 ... and counting. turned off tv. in all fairness, ManU is top class - and we're not. well deserved finalist. go ManU Schalke made it to the semi final after all, which is the biggest success in many years. We can be proud, even if we lose so clearly now. But like I said before, ManU is a top team, no way of denying that. bye Champions League, it was fun for sure
  3. Schalke really had no chance against a much better United. Its great for the team and the fans but they just dont belong in the semi-finals

    Looking forward to the final, my two favorite teams in Europe. I dont know whos gonna win, I think its 40-60 for Barca.
  4. Schalke just ran out of steam it seems. They put in some good performances over the course of the competition and probably got further than they could manage unfortunately. I think Schalke fans should be proud of their players, to see them in the same draw with Barcelona, Man Utd and Real Madrid is something to be respected.

    In the first leg against United, they struggled to get out of their own half and after being peppered for a long time by the United attack, they finally caved in. Coming back from 2 away goals is going be tough, especially when you're heading to Old Trafford but we did see them thrash Inter away. Second leg United were just too clinical, but credit to Schalke, they managed to get the ball in the back of the net twice (one goal disallowed due to a tight offside). Might've been a different story had Neuer been on form again and Schalke kept the ball away from their defence.
  5. id like to see United win it now, but i think Barca's acting may be too good on the day
  6. I think Manchester will win, I think it's only 25% of chances that Barça may win... Nevertheless it will be a great match
  7. Originally posted by LikeASong:I think Manchester will win, I think it's only 25% of chances that Barça may win... Nevertheless it will be a great match

    Seriously? Crikey. I would say Barca are just ahead, like 51% to Utd's 49% - close, but I think Barca have to be seen as the favourites. Man Utd have a better mentality and attitude in my opinion (no saints, but a bit more honest), Barca have got some serious work to do to regain my respect, Messi aside.
  8. Messi needs man marked. Literally one man to do nothing but deny him any space. Double up on him even. That still leaves Villa but I think Evra, Vidic and Rio will be enough to contain what Barca has left. Either way, United will have a better go than they did in 09. Control Messi, game won.
  9. Originally posted by germcevoy:Messi needs man marked. Literally one man to do nothing but deny him any space. Double up on him even. That still leaves Villa but I think Evra, Vidic and Rio will be enough to contain what Barca has left. Either way, United will have a better go than they did in 09. Control Messi, game won.

    I don't think it's so much control Messi as cut off the supply lines, i.e. man mark Xavi and Iniesta. Greece did that in the World Cup, and yes, Greece aren't Man Utd, but whilst they stuck Papadopoulos on the little man and he did nothing, the other players eventually broke through. That said, Rehhagel is and was Mourinho's predecessor in terms of negative football...

    Stop balls actually getting to the likes of Messi and Villa, and Barca will have a problem. United have enough quality to hit them on the counter, e.g. Hernandez, Rooney, Nani and Valencia can hurt any team in the world. It'll be a quality match in terms of tactical play, but whether it'll be quite the spectacle we hope for, I'm uncertain.

  10. Originally posted by WojBhoy:[..]
    I don't think it's so much control Messi as cut off the supply lines, i.e. man mark Xavi and Iniesta. Greece did that in the World Cup, and yes, Greece aren't Man Utd, but whilst they stuck Papadopoulos on the little man and he did nothing, the other players eventually broke through. That said, Rehhagel is and was Mourinho's predecessor in terms of negative football...

    Stop balls actually getting to the likes of Messi and Villa, and Barca will have a problem. United have enough quality to hit them on the counter, e.g. Hernandez, Rooney, Nani and Valencia can hurt any team in the world. It'll be a quality match in terms of tactical play, but whether it'll be quite the spectacle we hope for, I'm uncertain.




    Spain didnt play Greece in the world cup, you might mean Euro 2008? Nevertheless, every team knows that the supply by Iniesta and Xavi is crucial for Barcelona and Messi but still nobody is able to defeat them. Dont you think all other 8 players are top class as well?! Even when United is able to neutralize Xavi, Iniesta and even Messi, there is still a lot of danger coming from Pedro, Villa, Dani Alves and all the others... Therefore I think Barca will be the obvious favorite for the final!
  11. Originally posted by Coen:Spain didnt play Greece in the world cup, you might mean Euro 2008? Nevertheless, every team knows that the supply by Iniesta and Xavi is crucial for Barcelona and Messi but still nobody is able to defeat them. Dont you think all other 8 players are top class as well?! Even when United is able to neutralize Xavi, Iniesta and even Messi, there is still a lot of danger coming from Pedro, Villa, Dani Alves and all the others... Therefore I think Barca will be the obvious favorite for the final!

    Nah I know Spain didn't play Greece bud, I was talking about Argentina because I was just talking about how to stop Messi - their gameplan under Maradona basically revolved around him running it, which was what I was trying to highlight, 'cause Gerard was discussing how to stop Messi but I agree with you about the final.
  12. Originally posted by WojBhoy:[..]
    Seriously? Crikey. I would say Barca are just ahead, like 51% to Utd's 49% - close, but I think Barca have to be seen as the favourites. Man Utd have a better mentality and attitude in my opinion (no saints, but a bit more honest), Barca have got some serious work to do to regain my respect, Messi aside.


    Yeah, I'm being serious. I think that Barça players are very tired, ManU guys are fresher... And they have the thorn in their side regarding the Rome final