May 07
Ref shocker sees Barca through
I haven’t yet penned my thoughts on the United game, thanks to a crazy week. I don’t think I can find time yet to write a proper post on this because I will be busy till the end of the week. So apologies.
I decided however, for the benefit of commenters on the previous post, that I must have a new thread here to prevent that page from crashing.
But let me just say this on yesterday’s match: the referee was a disgrace, and he deserves to get clobbered by Ballack, Drogba et al. That fantasy has now been immortalised in the form of these gifs. Hopefully they’ll lighten up your mood too. [via the ever excellent Dirty Tackle]
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- Porto it is then…
- Why Becks and van “the man†were sold so cheaply to Real
- Can you lead Manchester United to the Premier League title?
- Derby County v Man Utd: Preview
- United Barca Preview
Tags: Fun/Off the Record
May 7th, 2009 at 6:57
First Post
Disgraceful stuff by chelsea.UEFA must take a correct decision and come down heavily on drogba and ballack.
May 7th, 2009 at 6:59
They must also make sure the third rate refree never manages a champions league tie again.
I asked this in the last post.Whoever watches the la liga please tell me how is messi considered a better player than ronaldo??Messi was invisible yesterday.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:00
Most here are complaining about bad refreeing decisions yesterday? What abt the game at the Nou Camp, When Barca should have had 2 clear penalties and had Ballack sent off?
May 7th, 2009 at 7:22
I gotta say me and my country are all very embarrased by Øvrebø. The amount of people watching the game is huuuuuuuuuuuuge, and they will not have got a good ideo of how things are played here in Norway. He fucked up, simple as. I dont think we can do anything about it, neither can any of the Chelski players. Only UEFA can do something about it, but we know all of them are fucking lunatics, so I wouldnt trust them… UEFA really fucks up a lot these days! I mean, choosing a bad Norwegian ref in one of the biggest Champions League semis of all times?! Not removing Fletchers red?! Playing the final in Rome?! And previous, in Moscow where it is much more than expensive just to get a plane ticket. There are made countless mistakes by the cunts at UEFA only these last 12 months, and the worrying thing is that they seem not to care/realise it.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:32
@Vivek: Because they aren’t on the same level at all. Henry might have been pulled down, yes…but it was more of a 50-50 chance. Yesterday was more clear cut. Two stonewall penalties and another two that were 50-50. You can’t compare the two! Maybe, Ballack should have been sent off in the 1st leg, I agree with that.
About the ref booking Alves, I counted atleast 3 hard fouls he committed before giving him the yellow finally. He should have been red-carded or atleast given a yellow for the Malouda penalty appeal. No two ways about it. I felt the ref protected him for as long as he could before the yellow became inevitable.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:36
@Vivek: Mate, even the ref’s admitted he made some mistakes. Most of us aren’t Chelsea’s biggest fans. So when we are actually sticking up for him then there has to be something blatantly wrong. Gerard Pique was also sheepish after the match in his interview.
And really, in the first leg, only Henry’s trip was a close decision.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:36
The weird part is I was dreading a Chelsea-Arsenal final based on my extremely great assumption that they were playing this weekend. Similar to the FA Cup where the next league match was a pre-final of sorts (Chelsea-Everton)
Now its the losing semi-finalists that are playing this weekend. I expect an Arsenal win..I don’t think Chelsea would have recovered yet.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:51
@antsBoy:
Mate, the Henry incident was not 50-50, it was a nailed on penalty. And Ballack should have been sent off. And yesterday, yes there were 1 maybe 2 clearcut penalty decisions turned down, but I firmly believe over the two legs, Barca deserved to go thru as they played the better football, and a Barca-United final is a showpiece event.
Maybe its because of the footballing philosophies. I am an Indian, and I did not have the pleasure of watching the EPL till the 2000 season. But before that, the football on TV was restricted to the World Cups, Euros or the South American championships. You might not believe it, but the state I come from (kerala, in the southern tip of India) is more crazy abt football than cricket. There are entire towns and villages that support either Argentina or Brazil and during the World Cups the towns are painted yellow or blue. Theaters, where the games are played live, look more like Rio or Bueones Aires than India. So I grew up in that environment and when I started watching the EPL, the closest thing to Brazil or Argentina was Man United. A lot has changed since then. The league as a whole has become more defensive, but on the whole, United’s approach to the game hasnt changed. We might go negative once in a blue moon, but even in the semi last year, we tried to keep the ball and forged a few nice moves.
So I simply cannot begin to accept that a team that played long balls for 180 mins is in any way deserving of progressing than a team full of brilliant players who approached the game in the right way and played the right way. We may go on to lose in the final if Barca step up to the occasion and put up a good show or we may beat Barca playing them at their own game. But either way, it will be a MUCH better final than a Chelski-United final. This is just my personal opinion, and I am very sorry if this upsets anyone here, but I believe that as a whole the English approach to football is not what I would call a purist’s dream. At United we have a perfect blend of skill and grit, but most teams in England approach the game trying to bully the opposition out rather than trying to play the game. And I simply hate such teams. Chelski epitomize this style of play, and no matter what anyone says, I will hate them and hate them with a vengeance.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:53
@Red Ranter:
I am in no way claiming that the ref was perfect. He made some howlers, and UEFA needs to seriously look at refreeing standards. But all I am saying is the RIGHT team are in the finals, whether by virtue or fate.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:19
@Vivek: This is not a matter of the Referee…
This was just another plan by Platini to MAKE SURE that it wasn’t an all english final…
I HATE and HATE that asshole cunt!
May 7th, 2009 at 8:23
@Kartikey: What a load of crap. UEFA should come down on an official who was accepting a bribe or clearly on the take because his performance was a disgrace to the sport. Perhaps if that was your team that got fucked over like that, you would be singing another song.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:23
@Kartikey: On that we can definitely agree on.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:26
@Vivek: They obviously weren’t that blatant or more of a stink would have been made about it. Also, that’s just your way of brushing over the real issue which is that Chelsea, the better team in the tie got screwed supremely. You may like Barca more and you may be happy that Chelsea lost, and I would be too, but not like this. Nobody deserves to get screwed like this……….Hang on…Liverpool and the Fat Waiter deserve to get screwed like this. In fact I would hold a big party if Rafa and the Scousers got screwed like this.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:28
@RedDevilEddy: Yes you must pay penance for his crimes. Your punishment is to play Chelsea for a whole season on FIFA 09 and you cannot trade for Anderson. That will teach you Norwegians some respect.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:31
Vivek: You cant just say that barcelona derserves to be in the final because they play another kind of football. Its the same thing about arsenal and there attacking football. It is nice to watch and it is what makes football a great game, but even so football is also about tactics, and when chelsea over 2 legs have been able to keep barcelona from scoring and in the second leg completely silenced them its just as much a masterpiece as when barcelona played real madrid off the stadium with there supreme attacking.
For a uniteds point of view, no doubt i would rather see us in the final against barcalona. It will be a great game and i honestly cant see us loose.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:35
@Vivek: Rubbish. They are paper champions from Spain and a complete fraud. They would finish 4th or 5th in the Prem and they have no grit or guile. One shot on goal in 90 minutes in a game they nknew they had to score in. A joke is what they were and there stars did their best imitation of hibernating bears and scared squirrels. You are being blinded by the way they play in Spain. Well I have news for you mate, Spain is rubbish compared to the top teams in the EPL. Hell I would rate the Italian elite clubs as better. Look at how bad Real Madrid are and they are in 2nd. They are a shambles defensively and not just last weekend. Last weekend they were exposed. Barca play prettyboy football and it has no bollocks or substance when up against a strong physical team that can match them in the middle of the park. The best team did not get to the final from that game but mark my words when I say, the best team will win the final, and that team is Manchester United.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:36
@Darth Red Diablo: I so agree with you mate. I hate to think that way but I can’t get it out of my mind how much I am positive the last thing he wanted was another United vs Chelsea final.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:38
@Riisboll: I’d add character, courage, grit and physical presence as other things that football is all about. Credit to Barca for finding the stamina and the strength to concoct a chance at the end which Iniesta took well, but on the night and over the two ties, they were rubbish.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:39
@Grognard: Sure mate the refree is in the dock.However the behaviour of drogba crossed the line by a mile.His reaction cannot be defended.No,I would not have been singing a different tune if united did something like that.Yes i would be pretty pissed with the refree but there is no way i would defend the players.
The UEFA must also make sure that instaed of complaining about the debt and ranting about english teams it must set its house in order.The quality of refreeing and no appeal for the bloody red card of fletcher is not a great advertisement for football.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:43
Ronadlo vs Messi. Battle of the Titans Two gladiators in the Rome Coliseum in a fight to the death? NOPE! More like Messi the Christian is thrown to Ronaldo the Lion for a quick snack and and pint of ale. Mark my words, on the 27th of May Ronaldo will snatch the 2009 Balon D’Or right from Messi’s hands with a performance for the ages.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:45
@Kartikey: Their behavior was poor and it was extremely poor sportsmanship but all through it I was asking myself, if I was in their position, what would I have done. I have to be honest with my Greek temper, I would have reacted just as bad if not worse, and I think I am generally a good sport. It was a criminal act who players put their belief and trust in before a game starts and those lads felt nothing but total betrayal of the highest order. Emotions and the situation being what it was, I would have been more shocked had they not acted that way.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:49
@Kartikey: FIFA and UEFA themselves are not a good advertisement for football. They are akin to organized crime. An elitist Mafia who have control over the game and to be honest, I don’t understand why and I cannot figure out why more leagues have not seceded from them in the past? They are clouded in secrecy and double dealing as well as conflicts of interest and even the election of their officials is a bit of a mystery as most are basically bought and paid for. What also bothers me is how they seem to be in Real Madrid’s back pocket. Just wished England and the FA would wake up and just tell them to piss off.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:49
@Grognard: I cant argue with that thought.However i would have thought that someone in the chelse bench or the coach might have had shown some sense in stopping drogba.In the tunnel apparently Drogba,Terry surrounded the ref and drogba slapped the wall near the ref.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:51
Grognard,
But you’d have to agree. The gif animations above are priceless. There’s lot of creativity in this world.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:52
@Grognard: For me FIFA and UEFA are the reason that is stopping football from growing in India,USA and other places where the sport is not very popular.These administrators should be kicked out and not allowed within a 100 feet of wherever football is being played
May 7th, 2009 at 8:52
@Grognard: Well now, if that is the case Grog Bro, HOW HAPPY and ELATED am I that a Chelscum who normally screw others withour a second thought, are the ones who themselves GOT ROYALLY SCREWED tonight!
.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:53
Anyway, gotta get back to work. No sleep tonight. Only Red Bull to keep me up and a presentation in the morning.
Goodnight/Good morning/Good evening/Good day, wherever you all are, ranters.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:56
@Red Ranter: I absolutely LOVE the gif animations RR, and they depict absolutely correctly the insanity of Michael Bollocks and Mad DOG Drogba
May 7th, 2009 at 8:57
@Red Ranter: RR, I thought you were a teetotaller
. Red bull??? 
.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:00
@Kartikey: Mate NOBODY can stop Mad Dog Drogba when he goes off on one, he needs the men in white, a straightjacket, and an ambulance to the asylum
.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:03
@Craig Mc: You are right about the first part. Need a very very very very good reason to down a pint. Red Bull is when I am desperate to stay up in the night to get work done. Happens probably three/four times a year. And it’s not alcohol now is it?
May 7th, 2009 at 9:05
@Craig Mc: And I wouldn’t go there about Ballack. I think he had a fairly good reason to have a go at the ref. Although I don’t condone such behaviour, respect must be earned.
Drogba looks like he’s on a B-grade rap video
May 7th, 2009 at 9:06
I don”t usually believe in conspiracy theories but UEFA definitely didn’t want another all English final. We all know that referees tend to be partial to the home side for many reasons. That the ref yesterday was so partial against the home side begs belief.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:09
@Red Ranter: Shows how much I know about any alcohol apart from LAGERS.
. I thought red bull did have alcohol content 
.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:20
“Lets all laugh at Chelsea, lets all laugh at Chelsea, la la la la!!”
Who cares? What goes around comes around, they are a revolting team with revolting players and fans, they deserve everything they get.
The ref was awful, but Abidal should not have been sent off, and Alves’s yellow was very soft, also if Drogba could finnish then they would be through, Rome here I come!!
May 7th, 2009 at 9:22
@Grognard: I think you are overly cruel.
I can understand RedDevilEddy having to play Chelsea. That to me would be punishment enough, But not to be able to trade Anderson? …now that’s just evil.
Chelsea got screwed. I just hope that we don’t end up like that in the final.
I can understand the reactions of the Chelsea players, but I have to admit, it was totally unprofessional and unacceptable. Especially Ballack almost hitting the ref to the ground. Unprofessional and unacceptable, but understandable because if that was Giggs or Rooney, and we got screwed over like that, I don’t know how I would have felt about those reactions.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:23
Whats with all the conspiracy theories being inferred??? If there was Uefa input into swaying of referees decisions, then SURELY he would not have sent off Abidal and reduced Barca to the disadvantage of 10 men?
The ref screwed up big time with very questionable decisions, but in Drogba’s case his rep goes before him, just like our Ronnie’s does! He was the wrong referee for such a big game, but he had linesmen who did NOTHING to help him with the decisions.
I think last nights end of game behaviour reveals ONCE AGAIN the need for referees to be protected from HOTHEAD footballers. There should be an exclusion zone preventing all approach to referees when controversial decisions are made. Any player other than team captains should be banned from surrounding and menacing referees. To go along with this, there should be a panel of redress complaint that referees have to attend to give answers for their decisions, and suitable penalties incurred when Refs proved wrong on so much folly, as this ref produced last night!
May 7th, 2009 at 9:27
@Stephen: Aaaaaah Stephen, a man after my own heart and thoughts on Chelski
. They got screwed no doubt, but they have done more of their fair share of screwing, so yeah NO SYMPATHY from me.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:35
@Craig Mc: Me too I have been to Stamford Bridge many times and their fans are amongst the worst I have come across.
The were robbed, but you have to believe in Karma, Drogba, Terry, A Cole, Mikel, Ballack ect symbolise why everyone hates English football in Europe. They are arrogant, over paid charmless yobs whose behaviour reflects on all of us, and I personally am glad they are out regardless of Barca probably being the harder game. You cannot behave like that after a game of football whatever happens during it, we would never act in that manner as you say they have NO SYMPATHY from me either.
May 7th, 2009 at 10:15
@Riisboll:
I would take Arsenal over Chelski any day. I hated Arsenal during the “Invincibles” days, but that was more down to the fact that they were standing in our way of success, but I respect Wenger and the way he tries to play football. I have never hated Henry to the degree I hate Dogbreath. Also, specifically about this final, if by some chance, however remote, we were to lose, I would much rather it be Barca we lose to and not Chelski
And Grongard, I think you are being a little hypocritical. You came down like a ton of bricks on Bolton, SPurs, Villa etc. when they parked the bus against us. Now when Chelski do the same against a skilled Barca side, it is “Playing to their strengths”?
May 7th, 2009 at 10:16
Grog, I only just saw your post in the other thread! I get your point mate, and although I hate Ballack I will refrain from inciting you about him
, his name will no longer pass my lips. Verbal ranting on a rants board, are entirely different than physically manhandling and trying to punch, hit or fight referees. You know I supported you when you GAVE SOME to Nani for his headbutt against a player, and I did not and do not agree with physical hurting or trying to hurt others, regardless of whether the incidents are a great cause of injustice to a player or not. One day, somebody is going to lose it so much, that an official is going to be really hurt, as has happened in South America and somebody could be killed. And no I don’t think that is extreme. As for my going OTT in dealing with peoples comments on Nani, I agree, and I apologised and said this in following posted comments. After seeing that kind of reactive and highly charged behaviour last night, I is more than a wake up call of what being emotional and being highly charged in debating can do. I apologise on this blog to anyone who has been offended by my responses to their posts, AND it WILL NEVER be repeated from me EVER. Jb and Fred the Red were right, and being older they are much wiser than me, and I should have truly listened to them when they advised me as bloggers to calm things down 
. I am going to be a parent soon, and I want to set good precedents and behaviour to my family. Call it soft if you like, but that’s how I am feeling about things now!
May 7th, 2009 at 10:22
@Vivek: I agree with you about Wenger mate. I do respect the way he tries to play the beautiful game of football
.
May 7th, 2009 at 11:24
Hehehe, what a superb semi final. Controversy, two great goals, drama, tension – really really fun match for the neutral.
Personally I think only 1 of the penalty claims was ‘definite’, which was the Pique handball. Absolutely nailed on penalty, cept that it wasn’t. The others were marginal.
I also think it’s a bit rich of Drogba to complain, or even worse for Terry to say that Chelsea players made no mistakes, it was all the ref’s fault. That’s just ridiculous. Drogba had 3 one on ones and missed them all. Essien air kicked to give Iniesta’s goal while Ballack ducked the shot. Chelsea had an extra man for 25 minutes, but all they did was use him to triple mark Messi.
Should be an interesting final. I think Chelsea (and Liverpool) are a team perfectly suited to neutralise Barcelona’s threat, which they did very well. I don’t believe we’ll be as effective at that, and think the best way for us to be successful will be to go full tilt at them with attacking.
They’re without at least their 2 first choice full backs, and no Marquez as a reserve centre back. I’d imagine Henry will be fit by then, so potentially full strength other than that. But with Valdes in goal, we need a shoot on site policy, really dodgy that fella.
Just hope we don’t come out like the two-legged affair last year and defend the whole time. Seen what happened to Chelsea…
May 7th, 2009 at 11:28
Hi..guys…its my first post…i m from india..i would too rather loose to barcelona than chelsea but have u guys noticed that if barca win they’ll be doing “the treble”…which is supposed to be ours unique thing…so i really wanted chelsea to win…
May 7th, 2009 at 11:34
Seems like Uefa have given United an opportunity to appeal against the Fletcher red card, they say United can submit a video of said incident that led to sending off, and it will be looked at
. Wonder if Uefa have come up with this because they also want to give Barca opportunity to appeal the cards of their players. Still in fairness the Barca player did no way deserve a red card, and not even a yellow. So I wouldn’t object to that being reviewed by Uefa.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:07
@Vivek: I agree that the Chavs may have parked the bus in the first leg, but I don’t think it’s fair to say that they did so last night. The played physically and defended well, but also created many more genuine chances compared to Barca. So surely they didn’t park the bus a la the Stokes and Boltons of the world.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:17
@Eric the Red:
Every one of Chelski’s chances came out a long hoof by Terry or Alex. I dont belive they put 3 passes together in midfield all evening. Even Stoke manage 3-4 chances in a game from Rory’s missiles, doesnt mean they play football.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:24
@Kartikey: Remember when Messi took the ball of the flank yesterday, danced around two defenders with blistering speed and dished off an inch-perfect pass to Iniseta (sometime in the first half). Well, imagine him doing stuff like that for an entire match.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:26
@Andrei: I think they might imagine the same with Ronnie running at Pique, Puyol and er Silvinho.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:32
Manchester United are AS WE SPEAK submiting video evidence to UEFA and are appealing for the red card on Fletcher to be dismissed on compassionate grounds. You heard it here first.
This is a ver clever move, since Barcelona also have a player red carded who would miss the final, for an equally bad decision. I’d rather we had Fletcher to deal with Xavi and they have Abidal than not…
May 7th, 2009 at 12:40
@Traverse: Yes, Fletch would make a lot of difference and we need him in the center of the park against Barca. He’ll just get in Xavi’s boots and will help us in cutting of the supply to Messi et al. Also after seeing yesterday’s match I truly believe that one player who could really hurt us is not Messi , but Iniesta. He has a tremendous ability to keep possession even when being pressed by 2-3 players and he also has a good acceleration with the ball. We definitely need some muscle and bodies in the center.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:45
@Grognard: Why would you want me to go through that torture?
May 7th, 2009 at 12:51
@Scorp: And given the opportunity to play in a final he thought he’d lost, he’d play like an absolute BEAST. How could you not be fired up and give every ounce of energy you have to the cause.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:52
@Craig Mc: Ah, you beat me slightly to it. But yeah, the Abidal card is exactly why we have done this. Alves however deserved probably more than he got, so they shouldn’t be allowed to appeal that one.
May 7th, 2009 at 13:07
@Traverse: Trav, have you heard that Abidal is appealing then Bro?
May 7th, 2009 at 13:09
@Vivek: Entirely not true. A number of their attacks came down the flank, so it’s not as though every time they just hoofed it to Drogba and prayed (though they did do this a few times).
And why the obsession with passes in the midfield? You can string together 20 passes in the midfield, but if you can’t do anything with it in the final third what is it really worth.
Don’t get me wrong, I hate that Russian mob; and even though they were robbed in many ways last night, it couldn’t happen to a nicer lot. However, I just don’t think yesterday can accurately be described as parking the bus. In the first tie sure, but not really last night. Maybe we’re just disagreeing about what constitutes ‘parking the bus.’
May 7th, 2009 at 13:12
CHELSEA DESERVED WHAT THEY GOT
!!! IF KICKING PLAYERS IN 2 LEGS OF FOOTBALL IS FOOTBALL …. then I will stop watching football….Atleast now I will see two excellent football teams going at each other for Europe’s top honour….. 
May 7th, 2009 at 13:26
@Grognard: I haven’t posted here in a while but comments like that are just idiotic and should be left to rose tinted Chelsea fans as they ignore the facts. A ref that has taken a bribe doesn’t send a player off when Le Sulk at best trips himself up by mistake and at worst dives. If Chelsea weren’t so gutless that sending off should have won them the game but all they did was hand more possession to Barca. In both games they parked the bus and played long balls. 35% possession in the first leg and 36% in the second leg (And I believe that there were periods when Barca had 10 men where they were in the low 30’s). Arsenal got criticised for not showing any desire in either leg and even they were at 45%
As for the general level of penalty claims. I’m not sure they were fully clear, especially during initial play. The first one was a foul outside the area and the ref tried to let play carry on (the tussle in the area was 50/50) and when no advantage was found it was pulled back.
Drogbas was probally the most clear cut but the defender was Sneaky (Like Chelsea were with Henry in the first leg)and didn’t make the pull completely obvious. And his past actions were drogbas undoing especially as the fall maybe looked a bit OTT (That tussle with Toure and the additional dive at the end of it highlights Drogbas issue)
Pique may have handled it but its not fully clear from all the angles even slowed down and it doesn’t seem like he moves to handle it, it just strikes him imho and I’m not even sure that stops a goal scoring opportunity really. Le Sulk is quick but he seemed to overhit it
Eto’s seems to be more his shoulder and doesn’t seem intentional.
May 7th, 2009 at 13:38
The ref was terrible end of story. But really Chelsea should have been able to score two goals without needing a penalty especially after the sending off. Chelsea were robbed.
Still a Barcelona-Manchester United final will be more interesting. We will have no problem shutting out their strikers. My main worry is in midfield. Carrick, Anderson and Giggs will have to be at their very best to stop Iniesta and Xavi pulling the strings. I expect Barcelona to dominate the possession but I think we have enough matchwinners to win the game.
Unfortunately as is so very often the case it will probably go to penalties. In which case a Mr Berbatov had better start practicing.
May 7th, 2009 at 13:42
@Craig Mc: The match report hasn’t been handed in yet, so they couldn’t yet. That’ll happen later today. I think United will put it forward that both players get their ridiculous reds rescinded and UEFA come out of a horrible situation(the Chelsea aftermath) with a positive story. It’s very clever on our part to put it forward as an idea.
May 7th, 2009 at 13:46
Also, in my never ending quest for stats, heres on for you. This years Champions League final is 1 day after Sir Matt Busby’s 100th birthday, and 40 years since he retired.
May 7th, 2009 at 14:06
@Traverse: Oh man, why couldn’t it have fallen on his birthday, that would have garnered HUGE media attention, and everyone at OT so emotional – memories eh?
.
May 7th, 2009 at 14:08
@Traverse: I agree, it would be good if they used that ideaology Trav!
It would suit both clubs purposes and enable Uefa to be seen to be treating both teams fairly!
May 7th, 2009 at 14:12
After all that banter. It’s Shitty next lads. We will blitz them
May 7th, 2009 at 14:18
@UnitedUnited: I really hope your right Bro, Shitty is a banana skin, but if we do manage to beat them and Wigan next wednesday, then we only need 1 point from our games against Le Arse or Hull. Very important to get this over as soon as possible! Funny how Shitty are suddenly declaring that they have ALL THEIR MISSING players fit to start against us. Marvelous how almost every team always miraculously get their best players back to play Man United
May 7th, 2009 at 14:28
If we beat City we will win the league. I really think it’s that simple. If we beat them we only need 4 points from 3 games. That kind of target just feels so much easier than 7 in 4. This is more or less the last hurdle to 18-18. Nothing should have the boys more up for it than that.
May 7th, 2009 at 15:03
@craig mc ..Sorry my congratulations are coming belated. I had to make out time to say congrats me man. To the shitty game, i dont bloody care if they have five Robinhos fit and ready to go, we will take maximum points. Just hope Scholes has practised his shooting! In between, what do you make of stephen ireland? @Grognard… I’m sure that even though i dont post often, i’m an avid reader here, especially your comments. I’m glad you now have 101% faith in Fergie. I’m really gutted for Fletch cos i’m pretty certain with Fletch in the middle, the final would have been a walk in the park for us. That said, i’m sure we WILL outclass Barca. Hell, we still have Ronaldo? @ Grog… ” the best team will win in the final and that team is Manchester United ” Now that’s what i’m talking about!
May 7th, 2009 at 15:12
@colver: I am confident that Anderson, Carrick and Fletcher/Giggs is more than good enough to block Iniesta, Xavi and Toure. They might not be able to supply our forwards with excellent passes from midfield, but if there’s one thing our boys can do well, its hustle. I also have confidence in Park hustling Messi. To win the game, we will need Ronaldo, Rooney and our other strikers to be accurate with their shooting.
May 7th, 2009 at 15:40
@Beachryan: Well we need 7 points from 4 games. If we beat Man City on Sunday and Wigan on Wednesday, we will lift the trophy with a point at home to Arsenal. I’d love to go into the home game with Arsenal for the title.
And this is all dependant on Liverpool taking full points from their last 3 games. If they loose away to West Ham on Saturday, we can win in on Sunday against City (bar goal difference).
May 7th, 2009 at 15:49
Would be cool if Liverpool drop points. I would love for our guys to be fully rested before the CL final by fielding youngsters in the last 1 or 2 matches.
May 7th, 2009 at 15:51
now while i typically cannot stand robbo from the beebs, his analysis on yesterday’s game is pretty fair and excellent (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/robborobson/2009/05/daylight_droggery.html). i’m with grog on this one: the barca win can only be attributed to (no, not iniesta) the ref who had a shocker and proved wholly inadequate to take control of a game of this pace, passion and magnitude.
May 7th, 2009 at 15:53
@Karl: That would be ideal mate, but we have to assume Liverpool will win all their games, I am still concerned that we will drop points. City will not be easy, Wigan away is a tough game, obviously Arsenal are a more than decent side and Hull might need something on the last day of the season.
Liverpool have West Ham who may or maybe not playing for a UEFA spot with seems to be a poisoned chalice which no one wants, West Brom are or as well a good of being down and Spurs are not plaing for anything.
May 7th, 2009 at 15:58
@ Traverse – I’m pretty sure Liverpool will win their remaining games, which should take their goal difference to an unassailable position (mainly because of their 6-2 advantage from our head to heads – imagine if the league game to Dossena’s chip…)
I’m worried about City. Robinho has some magic in him, we should all pray for rain! And we know that their highlight each year is playing us. We’re also going to be on a high from Tuesday, and I’m worried about complacency. Plus Fergie has to uber rotate as we have 3 games in 6 days. That has undone us before.
I’m hoping Fergie goals balls out against City, best first XI he can muster, and then the second best against Wigan, and then the reserves against Arsenal. That’s the cleverest use of resources – maximise your chances of getting points. 3 from City points are worth exactly the same as 3 points from Arsenal.
May 7th, 2009 at 15:59
Sorry for the spelling grammer, but at work.
May 7th, 2009 at 16:03
@Beachryan: I think he should play our best team against City, Wigan and Arsenal and do the job. Then give them a full week off for the final by playing the reserves away to Hull.
May 7th, 2009 at 16:16
Welcome back WhiteY! Regards the shitty game, somebody HAS TO BE ON Robhino and keep him out of the game. I don’t think it will be Anderson, them being best mates and all, BUT TEVEZ might keep Robinho quiet, cos the Argies hate the Brazillians
. What do you all think? Keep Robinho and Ireland nullified, and that will take care of City!
May 7th, 2009 at 16:17
PS – anybody worried about shakey Evra trying to take care of Shaun Wright Phillips?
May 7th, 2009 at 16:24
About yesterdays game, dunno if its true but heard from a few people that iniesta was 1 booking away from a suspension before the game yesterday. If thats true shouldnt he have been given a yellow for taking off his shirt when he scored and banned for the game. I dont know as i didnt watch the game, im pretty sure he didnt have a yellow before the game but i keep hearing people say he did so i have to ask.
May 7th, 2009 at 16:25
@Stephen: When we compare our run-in to Barcelona’s, I think they will be the ones all rested and focused on the final. They have virtually wrapped up the title by pulling away with a 7 point margin and 4 games to go. Not to mention, they just hammered their best opponents at home, leaving them demoralized and in shambles.
On our side of the story, we have a potential for a 6 point margin, but with that game-in-hand that seemed to have lasted us thru the entire season since October. Liverpool have a decent shot at the title and they will push everything they have towards securing maximum points from their last games, and they are far more of a danger than Real are to Barca.
I don’t see us dropping points to City, but that Wigan trip might be tricky. I never fancy counting having a game in hand as 3 points in the bag, they are completely different things. I have a feeling that we might have to strife hard against Arsenal for the full 3 points, leaving only the Hull game to relax with.
I think Beachryan’s (@Beachryan) proposal of squad management is excellent. All we need is 7 points from any of the possible 12. We need to really go full strength against the weaker teams. Although, that being said, there’s nothing like a good rush of momentum for the final. I believe that the chase for all 3 titles in 1999 is really what spurred us on to win. Same with last year, and the 2-0 win on the final day. Momentum is very crucial. A team that hasn’t played together for 3 weeks might lack the focus, concentration and adrenaline going into the biggest match of the season.
Of course, the downside of having to play all these matches is the fatigue accumulated and the possibility of picking up injuries. I have a nagging feeling we might have one of our key players (maybe Rio or Carrick) picking up an injury over the next 4 games…we cannot afford to do that.
May 7th, 2009 at 16:27
@Matt: What a dream! No Alves, Abidal, Marquez AND Iniesta! We’d whip Busquets and Co. to shreds!!
May 7th, 2009 at 16:28
@Craig Mc: I think Evra is more than capable to handle SWP. His performace against Walcott returned some of my faith about his ability. I do hope that it was a true sign of his return to form, and not simply riding on the momentum of his teammates in a pumped up match.
May 7th, 2009 at 16:32
And I said this yesterday, but I have this superstition about our kit colours! I can’t remember winning a final in white!
We’ll have to play in all white in the final, as we are the away team for the match, and we can’t use the blue nor the red kits against Barca, who have both colours on their kits.
Hence, the USA away kit will have to be our colours, and the last time we played in a final with an away kit, we lost 2-0 to Liverpool (Carling Cup 2002)!! We did however win the European Cup Winners Cup (against Barca coincedentally) in grey…..
May 7th, 2009 at 17:19
@Jon: I didnt realise Iniesta was out of the final? are you sure?
May 7th, 2009 at 17:24
@sig: I was referring to the scenario in which Matt mentioned:
Iniesta whipped off his shirt in celebration, rightfully earning him a yellow card, which will then see him suspended for the final.
May 7th, 2009 at 17:29
@sig: I don’t know if Iniesta is out for sure, and I didn’t see the card given, but he should have got a yellow for taking his shirt off, and if the ref did book him, then he is out of the final. We’ll see when the refs report is handed in tonight.
May 7th, 2009 at 17:31
@Jon: we beat Barca in the final of the Cup Winners Cup in the early nineties wearing a white kit, not grey
May 7th, 2009 at 17:32
LiveScore shows that he was carded, and thus misses the final also.
http://www.livescore.com/default.dll/game?comp=champions_fs&game=318128
EDIT: So does the Uefa website.
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=15279/match=302812/report=ev.html
May 7th, 2009 at 17:42
Don’t think iniesta is missing the final, it doesn’t say he is anywhere
May 7th, 2009 at 17:42
@Kartikey: Why? They all felt the same. This was not just a game with a controversial call, this was grand theft Euro and they all were mad as Hell and also in a surreal state of shock. This was similar to going to a restaurant with your wife and then watching three gentleman grab your wife, assault her in front of a policeman and the policeman seeing nothing wrong with it. It was poor conduct spawned from incredible injustice.
We need to remember that we are not Chelsea fans and we also need to remember that we are not professional footballers who have worked all season and busted their asses in training and during games to reach their goal of revenge in the final. They could smell it and taste it and you could see all through the Champions League after Hiddink arrived that their drive was strong. And then all that hard work and effort, that desire and hunger to return to the final is snatched away by not one bad call but at least four terrible and criminal calls that went against them.
Lets not forget how badly they outplayed their opposition and that through these injustices, they were robbed of not just getting to the final but of beating a team they truly deserved victory over. It was a futile effort and a forlorn hope in their minds and hearts now because they see that UEFA did not want a repeat of last year and so their senses of paranoia and their feeling of conspiracy although far fetched, made their passion and anger boil over.
I know in my very heart and soul that had that been me who had suffered that injustice, I would have lost it completely. I am a for the most part a gentle giant of a man but I have been known for the occasional eruption of anger and even violence when provoked. To say I could have contained myself without possibly laying a hand on that cunt of an official would be lying to myself. I would have beaten him senseless and thus thrown my career in the toilet, but after all that hard work, sacrifice and effort to have been stolen from me, well men have erupted far worse in history, over far less. Believe me.
May 7th, 2009 at 17:50
Iniesta was only booked once during competition before last night I believe and doesn’t it take 3 bookings to be suspended. So that booking was only his second so he was safe
May 7th, 2009 at 17:52
@Red Ranter: Not really mate. You must remember that i feel about Ballack the way Craig feels about Nani. Maybe not that bent out of shape but passionately supportive of him. So although they may be funny to many, I don’t find them funny at all because it’s my player and I truly feel for him and his loss, yet again. The guy cannot catch a break in big games. Forgive me for my lack of humor on that one. I don’t have any problem with you putting it up and giving the lads a good laugh, but I for one can’t experience it that way because I am tired of seeing Ballack get screwed over.
I’m still burning over him getting a terrible yellow card in the semi-final against South Korea in 2002 which kept him from playing in the final despite him scoring the goal in that game that got the Germans into the final. The yellow card rule in the semi final stage just gets under my skin and I am just too pissed off for words. Don’t get me wrong, had Ballack made the final and faced United I would be cheering for his demise. But he deserved to make that final, not have it stolen away from him by a snake in a grass official who was bought off either by the mob or UEFA. I firmly believe that so many mistakes just smell fishy as Hell to me and if I was FIFA, I would start an investigation into the ref and his contacts. But then again, it was probably FIFA or UEFA or both that set up this atrocity to begin with.
Call me paranoid and cynical but I just don’t trust either Platini or Blatter.
May 7th, 2009 at 17:53
All the decisions were borderline at best. No clear-cut penalties. No stonewallers. I can certainly see why he never gave any of the penalty claims. They also certainly did not outplay their opposition or deserve a place in the final over barcelona.
May 7th, 2009 at 17:53
@tevez: According to UEFA.com, Iniesta has picked up 1 yellow card as of 29 April 2009, which is before yesterday’s match. Hence, he has only picked up 2 yellows in the competition so far, and IS ELIGIBLE to play for the final.
May 7th, 2009 at 17:56
@Craig Mc: Fair enough mate. There is no reasoning with you on that subject if you are one who holds grudges like that. I just see it a s a disgrace and a criminal act perpetuated on the game as a whole regardless of whether it was Chelsea who was screwed or if it was Luton Town. It was wrong. And further more, I want you on your hands and knees ready to apologize tome for that awful Ballack bashing from yesterday. If you never read my reply in the previous thread, I was a little disappointed in you for picking on my favorite player with such hate and venom while a constantly stick up and support your favorite player through thick and thin. I felt a bit betrayed their bro. I felt no love or respect there.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:00
@Craig Mc: Do you not care about my feelings at all mate? Seriously. Did my plea to lay off of Ballack not get through to you yesterday? Just remember who your friends and allies are and try not to stick it in their backs so much. I’m about as sensitive about Ballack bashing as you are about Nani. And you don’t see me bashing your Lil Man now do you. No, on the contrary, I support you and attack others who do. So show me a little love and respect and leave my favorite Kraut alone. He’s suffered enough.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:04
@Karl: Someone from Norway has to pay reparations to Chelsea and to the footballing community for that atrocious and highly criminal act yesterday. Eddy is the only Norwegian we know so he gets picked to be the fall guy. We love him but somebody has to take a hit and 38 games running Chelsea on FIFA 09 without Anderson is a small price to pay in my opinion.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:04
@Jon: Good and bad then. He’s a wonderful player. You want the best players to play in the final but i fear what he is capable of.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:05
@Jon: I hope your right Jon Bro, and Evra does the business against Wright Phillips!
May 7th, 2009 at 18:08
@Karl: Honestly mate, where do you get this stuff about Ballack almost hitting the ref? He was pissed as hell at him and screamed his mouth off but he was in full control of his body knowing ful well that striking the ref or even pushing him would be a major problem for him down the road. It’s the same with Drogba. He screamed at the man right to his face but he never laid a finger on him. Perhaps you should watch a little baseball and see how managers do this to umpires every second game. Anger and frustration is not illegal. Telling somebody off and screaming at them does not mean you physically assaulted them and to make that kind of assertion is just wrong.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:08
Well the good thing is that we can put Europe out of mind for now and concentrate on winning the league. Fergie has done wonders with squad rotation and we look far less burnt out than we usually do at this stage of the season. In fact there are signs that we are finally getting back to our best after a largely indifferent season.
The main thing we need to work on is shooting efficiency. Fergie is going to go with a defensive approach for the final im sure, so that is going to limit the chances we are going to create. So it is imperative that we learn to take our chances. Rooney in particular can be a bit wasteful in front of goal, although I have to say at the moment Rooney is in absolutely incredible form. If we go with Berbatov in the final, and i have a sneaking suspicion that is what Fergie is planning to do, the Bulgarian has to try and get more than one shot on goal. And brush up on his penalty technique.
One criticism id make of Fergie is he is too cautious in finals. So many finals we’ve been in have gone to penalties. We are good enough to win in normal time so there is no need to bring in the lottery of penalties.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:10
@Craig Mc: Did you ever think the Ref was on the take through bookies and organized crime. Read a book called;
The Fix: Soccer and Organized Crime (Hardcover)
by Declan Hill
I’m sure after you read that, your mind may be altered. It’s a fabulous read.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:11
@Grognard: Grog you should read my comments POST 41 before you keep continuing with the rhetoric Bro! I think I explained myself perfectly, and made enough apologies to last everybody a lifetime
.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:14
@Vivek: I didn’t say I like the way they played at the Nou Camp. Please tell me when I said that? But they deserved to go through because they were by far the better side yesterday and had numerous chances to score as well as having numerous calls for a penalty. How the frak is that being hypocritical. I never complimented them on their style of play or the beauty of their game. I simply stated the obvious, that they were the better team and deserved to go through. Even if they play ugly football. Sometimes some of you guys are just hopeless. READ my comments before you jump the gun. Grognard thinks very hard before he becomes a hypocrite. And if he becomes one, he usually admits to it in his writing.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:14
@Grognard: I think he’ll just use Drogba to score own-goal hat tricks for the entire season, and get the Chelski scums relegated.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:15
@colver: Quote – “so many finals we have been in have gone to penalty shootouts,” haven’t they just Bro. Lets hope for settlement in Rome without even extra time eh?
.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:17
@Craig Mc: Such maturity.
(wait till the Nani discussion comes back to town 
, kiddings.)
May 7th, 2009 at 18:17
@Craig Mc: No problem mate. Thanks for that. As for Nani’s head butt las year, I did get on him badly but it was because he had seriously jeopardized the team’s chances at the EPL title. But I forgave him and my feelings for him were and still are righteous. I don’t ever expect you to like Ballack and I can understand if you hate him too. Just spare me the grief of having to read that kind of hate because unfortunately I am saddled with having to like a player who plays for the enemy. That’s not an easy thing to live with.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:19
@Craig Mc: I’ll be shocked if they overturn the card mate. Because if they do Barcelona will demand the same courtesy for Abidal. We can win without Fletcher and we have a better chance with Abidal out of the game. Both their fullbacks missing just makes me salivate over the possibilities.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:20
@Grognard: No I haven’t read that book Grog, but I don’t personally think that game was fixed last night. But then again, who knows, it was that or THE GODS intervened for Barca as all the peoples of Spain LIT THEIR CANDLES in the churches
.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:21
@Vignesh: That made absolutely no sense whatsoever.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:22
@Wakey: Oh great you are back. GO FUCK YOURSELF WAKEY YOU FUCKING TROLL. Go dig yourself back into the hole you popped out of, fucking wanker.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:23
@Grognard: Ballack did lay his hands on the referee though. I don’t think he would have hit him, but he had his arms all over him, trying to grab him and haul him back. He is lucky the ref never sent him off on the spot.
Screaming right in the face of the referee is also unacceptable and drogba was quite rightfully shown a yellow card after the final whistle. Both players will surely receive disciplinary action and justifiably so.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:25
@Craig Mc: I did mate. I continued the rhetoric because I hadn’t got to it. I reply in sequence and I wrote that stuff before I got to 41. Sorry mate.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:27
@tevez: I saw him brush him with his hand as he was running trying to keep up with the fucking coward. Accidentally brushing against him isn’t exactly what I would constitute as physical contact or hitting him mate.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:29
@Jon: Jon Bro, the thought of parenthood brings you to a realisation that GROWING the fuck up is the order of the day .
May 7th, 2009 at 18:30
@Grognard: Was that really needed, All I said was the belief being banded around mainly in the Chelsea camp that it was a UEFA conspiracy is idiotic as it ignores an important fact. And that is for it to be a Fix to put Barca through you don’t send a Barca player off for Anelka falling over under NO contact. Barca were just really starting to hit their stride when it happened and looked like they may be starting to unlock Chelsea which in the ‘conspiracy’ world is exactly what the desired outcome was.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:31
@Grognard: No problem Grog
.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:36
@Grognard: I agree with you that Ballack DID NOT assault the referee physically in any way. At most, he brushed his hands against him, which might be out of reflex and is unintentional. Thus, to penalize him for violent conduct would be insane.
However, speaking for ‘tevez’’s case, the impression I got when seeing Ballack chase the ref through half the length of the pitch, was that he was on the verge of losing it. And judging by the distance he was from the ref, and how very rarely occasions like this happen in football (well the EPL at least, I think), it’s fair to say he was crossing the line in terms of what normal footballers would do. And I actually, for a second, really thought, he was gonna shove the ref or something of the sort, simply because he looked like a madman on the loose. He didn’t, but he looked like he was going to.
I’m sure you would disagree, and fair enough, but I felt Ballack crossed the line in his actions. I rank Drogba’s antics far worse, as he simply harassed the ref all the way to the tunnel, and the shouting curses into the camera whilst pushing away officials and stewards. That is a footballer gone insane. Ballack didn’t show that kind of disrespect, but I felt he crossed the line nonetheless.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:44
@Wakey: Yes it was because I have history with you and remember the many times in the past when you would troll over to this site and cause me grief. And I don’t like being called an idiot. Especially from the likes of you. So sod off.
If you had any intention of debating me like a man and with some class, you wouldn’t opened up with the idiot claim.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:53
@Grognard: I didn’t call you an idiot. I said the claim is idiotic. Theres a major difference.
May 7th, 2009 at 18:53
@colver: I agree mate. I too have a feeling we’ll see the Berb in the starting lineup in the final, which is rather upsetting, having seen what Ronaldo can do when he’s up front in the defender’s faces, with all the room and freedom in the world. Not to mention, no Marquez…and I believe Pique will be overwhelmed if he goes head on with Ron.
I agree that Fergie can be cautious in finals, but I feel that every manager would be, it’s the Champions League final for fucks sake. However, i feel that he will not repeat his stifling tactics he pulled last year at the Nou Camp, but play a game similar to what we did with Arsenal. I feel Arsenal are a baby/kid version of Barca, and the tactics we pulled in stifling their midfield and using possesion as best as we can will be similarly effective. Fergie won’t be overly cautious.
The reason why we always go to penalties is because we just aren’t clinical enough in front of goal. I can guarantee you, we will hit the bar/post/cleared off the line at least once in each half, and in the first half alone we will have the chance to go up 3-0, but either be stuck at 0-0 or hold a slender 1-0. It’s just United…we love making life difficult for ourselves. I think having Ronaldo leading the front line would give us a far better chance in scoring, as he is more clinical than both Rooney, and of course, Tevez, who I wouldn’t bet on scoring in the final. Our strength: creating chances. Our main problem: putting away chances. Our solution: Cristiano Ronaldo.
May 7th, 2009 at 19:18
@Jon: I think ronaldo will play the lone striker role against barca, because we can’t afford to have one of the five players behind the striker cheating. I expect that no matter who comes in at full back for barcelona the philosophy will not change – they will have more of the ball and the full backs will get heavily involved and support the midfield. Playing ronaldo up top means he won’t have to graft and there should be plenty of space for him when an attack breaks down. A more willing player can play on the wing where they will have to work hard when barca have possession.
May 7th, 2009 at 19:28
@Jon: Fergie will play the same side as the semi but Giggs for Fletcher
May 7th, 2009 at 20:14
@Grognard:
Bottom line is that Chelski failed to go thru because they did not take their chances. Against a 10-man Barca, they conceded 70% possession in the last 30 minutes. Dogbreath, for all his “disgrace” claims, is the real disgrace. He alone missed 3 sitters. They should have won DESPITE the ref, who although awful, was certainly not biased. And if you go out to some webistes (F365, for ex) and read the comments coming in, you will see that even Chelski fans have admitted to the same. There was only 1 nailed on pen last night, the Pique handball. All the others were 50-50, and yes on another they might have got 1 or 2. But may I ask, what stopped Dogbreath from finishing the chance he had? wasnt Abidal sent off for Anelka tripping himself up?
Please keep in mind that hen you accuse an entire league of being rubbish and an entire footballing philosophy to be flawed, there are millions in this world who were raised to worship the football ethos of teams like Barca….
May 7th, 2009 at 20:27
@Jon: Drogba is the biggest disgrace of the lot, calling the referee who was poor a disgrace then behaving disgracefully himself??? WTF I am sure it makes sense in chelsealand.
The issue also needs to be brought about Englands own captian twatface, saying that he
“I`m fully behind Didier, the way he reacted. You can see the passion he played with in the game and afterwards”
He is behind him, Terry is a thug and should never have been given the captaincy in the first place.
With Ballack his behaviour also was awful, but he made no contact with the referee, it reminded me of Keane against Borough in 2000, he bullied the ref but surely the referee should have shown his authority and simply booked the German surely? Ballack’s biggest mistake though was to turn his back on drop down on one knee in front of Iniesta when he scored the goal.
May 7th, 2009 at 20:44
Anybody know about some ways to get tickets to the Champions League final? Please help, I really wanna go there!
May 7th, 2009 at 20:51
@RedDevilEddy: If you are not a member or have a season ticket, with great difficulty mate.
May 7th, 2009 at 20:51
@Grognard:
“I simply stated the obvious, that they were the better team and deserved to go through”
Just for the record, when you say its obvious that Chelski were the better team, it may be obvious to you. It certainly wasnt to me. In fact I thought that over the two legs, Barca played the better football, had equally good if not better chances (over two legs), and most importantly approached the tie in the spirit of the game.
May 7th, 2009 at 20:55
@Stephen: Do you have a season ticket?
May 7th, 2009 at 20:57
@RedDevilEddy: Yes mate.
May 7th, 2009 at 20:58
@Stephen: I WILL GIVE YOU £3000 for it!!!
May 7th, 2009 at 20:59
@Stephen: Must be awsome, it really must be. I mean, I have watched my fair share of games at Old Trafford. But being able to watch every game is my ultimate dream! I really wish I was born in Manchester…
May 7th, 2009 at 21:01
@RedDevilEddy: Ha ha I am not sure if I have one yet, lets keep our fingers crossed!!!
May 7th, 2009 at 21:04
@Stephen: Good luck getting a ticket! Hopefully we will both get one. Im crossing my fingers, toes, ears and butt-cheeks!
May 7th, 2009 at 21:06
@RedDevilEddy: Me too as didn’t get one for Moscow but will just have to pray to God!!
May 7th, 2009 at 21:11
@Stephen: I will sell my left testicle if it means I will have enough to get a ticket to that game!
Heres hoping! Tell me how it turns out.
May 7th, 2009 at 21:13
@RedDevilEddy: I will bro, and you!
May 7th, 2009 at 21:19
@Grognard: This bashing agreement is between you and craig, mind. Don’t include the rest of us in it.
To everyone,
My policy stands: anything about players. No personal attacks against fellow commenters.
At the end of the day you want fans to voice their opinion on football and players, so it’s just a polite reminder to others that criticism of players is still allowed. We all have our favorites and I as a moderator cannot protect everyone against their pet players being lambasted.
May 7th, 2009 at 21:40
Boll…Ballacks jog with the ref had me laughing like a baby lol.
Chelsea were robbed, simple as. Apart from the pique one, they should of had 3 penalties, abidals wasnt a red either.
People may say it balances out as he pulled down drogba in the box in the first half, it doesnt if it were truly evend out, chelsea would of had a penalty some time in the match, both teams got bull shitted on in that match, the ref was a disgrace to eddy
.
I cant believe im saying this, but i want to win the match for chelsea
seems fletcher may have a chance after all.
May 7th, 2009 at 21:43
@Dan: “win it for Chelsea!!!” Not in a million years never for those Rent Boy scum bags, we should win it for us the fans.
May 7th, 2009 at 21:44
@Dan: I dont like it that people are aiming the refs behavior towards me…
I am not him!!!
May 7th, 2009 at 21:45
@Wakey: Saying that any claim of mine is idiotic is saying that I am idiotic. I really don’t see the difference and it doesn’t really surprise me knowing your track record of sensitivity and tact.
May 7th, 2009 at 21:49
@Jon: Fergie’s teams has rarely ever won any cup easily. Even the 4-0 FA Cup win in 1994 over Chelsea required a replay and a last second goal by Hughes to get us that replay as well as a second half resurgence in order to get the four goals. Nothing is easy with Fergie. Just once, I would like to see us go into a meaningful cup final and kick ass and take names. AC Milan have done it, Real Madrid have done it, Ajax have done it, just once, could it be us. I would love for us to really teach Barcelona the lesson they never learned from Chelsea.
May 7th, 2009 at 21:52
@Vivek: Yes they never took their chances but would you be making that claim if that was us? No, you’d be harping on the penalties that were not granted because those were 80% sure goals and if only one was given, Chelsea is comfortably in the final. So missed chances are really a mute point after that many missed calls went wayside.
May 7th, 2009 at 21:54
Grognard and Wakey,
I know your history. I don’t want either of you talking to each other anymore. That’s final. I have no energy to get into dispute resolution. This week’s been hard as it is, so both of you drop it and move on.
And you don’t need to respond to this over here in the comments.
May 7th, 2009 at 21:56
@Vivek: It doesn’t matter what you think mate. 99.9% of the people who watched that game as well as the media agrees with me. He can suffer from your self made delusions all you want. The facts are the facts and the knowledge and evidence is there for everyone to see. A four year old watching that game would tell you Chelsea were the better team. If your thighs have been buttered by your love Barcelona, that’s not my problem. It doesn’t turn a dog into a cat.
Sorry if I’m sounding harsh but you are wrong. Your view is more than welcome but don’t think that you aren’t going to be challenged for such an outrageous statement.
May 7th, 2009 at 22:01
@Stephen: I don’t want us to win it for Chelsea but for English football because after all is said done, what happened yesterday was UEFA’s way to fuck over English football. They obviously couldn’t do much about the Arsenal vs Man Utd tie. Those bastards sabotaged that semi-final because of their English bias. And i expect similar corruption in the final. UEFA lives for Real Madrid, Barcelona and AC Milan winning every year.
May 7th, 2009 at 22:04
@Red Ranter: I have no problem with that mate. He just better keep from referring to me on anything. By the way, didn’t you ban him a long time ago?
May 7th, 2009 at 22:05
@Grognard: I want to win it for us not English football, what has English football done for us?
FA stitched us and made us take the blame over pulling out of the FA cup, banned Rio for 8 months ect, do you think other English clubs fans will be supporting us?, they booed our players playing for England? So fuck them.
May 7th, 2009 at 22:34
@Grognard: Ah so only Idiots can do idiotic things. We had better start informing all reference book publishers and education establishments that the likes of Einstein need to stop being held up as Geniuses because Grognard has spoken and declared them idiots because they at one point made an idiotic claim or two.
You can make an idiotic claim without being an idiot and being told a claim is idiotic especially when an accompanied with an undeniable and rock solid argument doesn’t make it. The simple fact of the matter is the events of the match PROVE BEYOND DOUBT that there was no Anti English conspiracy. You and the Chelsea fans can keep ranting on about how the 4 far from clear cut penalty shouts prove it BUT the 2 Barca shouts in the first leg, the Fact that your Man Crush Ballack should have been sent off in the first leg, the fact that while a goal down Barca had a player sent off All disprove any ‘plot’
It was simply a case (Second leg especially) of close calls, a ref out of his depth, Linesmen who gave him no help and players who refused to help the ref with their antics and lack of sportsmanship. No plot whatsoever to deny an English Final.
They may feel ‘robbed’ by the decisions but the simple fact of the matter is the game was there to be taken, especially after the sending off and they failed to go after it.
May 7th, 2009 at 22:35
@Stephen: I’m sorry mate. I can’t help you with that. Your feelings are entirely yours. I don’t share them.
May 7th, 2009 at 22:37
@Grognard: Just the truth mate.
May 7th, 2009 at 22:42
I’m just gonna pray that we don’t get this same reffing in the final…
I’m suspicious that it’s not the ref’s fault, but his instructions,
they wanna prove that english are not the dominant league in europe pretty adamantly,
after this display, they’ll prob disallow our friggin goals!!
screw chelsea they get what they deserve, but it show what the refs are capable of ey
May 7th, 2009 at 22:47
@Stephen: Really Bro – Ballack turned his back and dropped down on one knee in front of Iniesta, when he made the shot into the net for the winning goal? There’s the conspirator then
, Maybe Ballack was payed off to lose the game, and the chasing the ref at the end was just a ploy to deflect from his conspiracy. 
, I’m just kidding Grog, I am letting my imagination run wild, practicing in the hope of becoming a screenwriter 
. I know that Ballack is an honest player really!
May 7th, 2009 at 22:50
Fuck Chelsea, and fuck the FA has everyone forgotten the racist arsehole steward who racially abused Evra? Oh yes another brilliant “English” footballing decision by the ABU no sorry the FA lets ban him for 4 games.
May 7th, 2009 at 22:56
Ive read rumours on a few sites that Drogba and Ballack will lose the entire Champions League season of 2009/10. Any confirmation?
May 7th, 2009 at 22:56
@Red Ranter: Fine I’ll leave again as it seems Free Speech is only allowed for people who want to spout complete and utter rubbish. I like this blog and was going to give the community a second chance but its not worth it. It just ends up making me feel ashamed to call myself a Fan of this club when it has fans like him.
May 7th, 2009 at 23:01
I saw tonight the Ballack and Lampard after match interviews with the press on sky. Apparently they were the only two players who would stop to talk to the press on their way out of the ground. Lampard was clearly upset, and said more or less that they all felt cheated, but he wished Barca luck for the final. Ballack questioned the decisions and felt like the rest of us they weren’t correct, and that he was hurt, but he was very nice and pleasant to the press, and conducted himself well in the interview. Courteous to excess, which is a side of him I haven’t seen before. So I think he realised how his actions may have looked to the world, and in that he took the trouble to stop and explain, well that was humble really. Other players just stalked off and shrugged off press attempts to talk to them. So credit to Lampard & Ballack on this occasion!
May 7th, 2009 at 23:06
@Stephen: FFS Stephen, you shouldn’t have reminded me of that
. But that was the decision of the FA appointed commitee and not Chelsea. I do believe that guy who got away with it was indeed GUILTY as sin, because he is in the BNP and well I don’t need to tell you what that means.
May 7th, 2009 at 23:08
@Stephen: I just want to win it mate, because if we win it, IT WILL BE FOR US
.
May 7th, 2009 at 23:09
@Craig Mc: Surely we can’t be feeling sorry for Chelscum now mate nooooooooooooooooooo
May 7th, 2009 at 23:12
@Craig Mc: And we desreve it bro!!! Your new kid could be born on the back of another double, gives he/she the best start in life in my view!
May 7th, 2009 at 23:14
I think we all need to put this whole Chelsea thing to bed now. They are not going to Rome and Barca are – unfair or not, THAT IS A FACT! This is a United blog, and I want to talk United
.
May 7th, 2009 at 23:17
@Stephen:
, well you said it Bro. I want to win that back to back double like you wouldn’t believe. Come on you RED DEVS 
.
May 7th, 2009 at 23:35
@Craig Mc: Since I am Conspiracy Guy, I’m open to any conspiracies. That’s a good one too. If ever there was a game the FBI would use in the classroom to identify the fix being on in a sporting event, this one would be the test subject.
May 7th, 2009 at 23:37
@Wakey: BOO HOO HOO!
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out shit for brains. Bye now! 
May 7th, 2009 at 23:42
@Craig Mc: I saw that to. It just shows that they are just human and players who are capable of losing it like any of us in the heat of the moment. I don’t condone poor sportsmanship but I also am brought up in a culture where umpires are verbally abused in baseball, and where fighting is allowed in hockey. In North America the perception towards football is that it has been “wussified” (DEF; Grognard speak for a sport full of wussies). Europe is into this thing about FAIR PLAY, yet everything footballers do is so hypocritical of that with the diving, theatrics, shirt pulling etc. So asking them to all of a sudden act like men and be responsible when they really do have a reason to lose it is asking to much in my opinion.
May 7th, 2009 at 23:44
@Craig Mc: Does that mean that Ballack is your co favorite player with Nani now?
May 7th, 2009 at 23:47
@Wakey: Yes, I am a free speech hypocrite. I think your decision might be the best possible solution to this problem. This may come across as rude, but I don’t see any other way to help you out here.
May 7th, 2009 at 23:50
@Craig Mc: young Craig, I hear congratulations are in order, hope your going to make an honest woman out of that lovely girlfreind of yours, and by the way, has she got any good looking freinds who would like a tall, rugged irishman with film star looks , great personality and humility.
May 8th, 2009 at 0:03
@Fred The Red: Heh –
Been away a long time, haven’t you? Welcome back.
May 8th, 2009 at 0:23
@Red Ranter: thanks for noticing, Ive been reading without posting, its amazing to see the roller coaster of emotion and opinions over the course of a season, during our blip there was a lot of heat and not much light shed on our plight so I decided to spectate for a while, so now that things have returned to an even keel you might see a few more posts.
It promises to be an exciting end to the season and hopefully our form has returned just in time to finish the job off.
A victory on sunday would go a long way in securing the title and the final in Rome has the potential to produce anything, and thats the way it should be, nerve racking because Barca are a team to be respected and feared in equal measure, but also exciting coz we have the game and the players to bring back the trophy as well, its a proper 50/50 game were all results are possible.
May 8th, 2009 at 2:18
@Fred The Red: Well if Rooney stays on the left flank and Ronaldo plays striker, were golden!! Looks like this is a winning combo for us, and without a doubt the team has a more natural feel to it now.
The Berbatov experiment should be put to bed and if Tevez needs some exercise, I’d say we could let him run around a bit in the 2nd half of the City and Wigan games. Other than that we now must know our strongest lineup, and so if the players are fit, let them play until the PL is all wrapped up.
May 8th, 2009 at 2:47
Redrich I also think in the final we should go with pretty much the same team we went for against Arsenal. If we are chasing the game we can bring on Tevez or Berbatov. But I think it is best to keep it tight knowing that we have enough pace in our team to be dangerous on the break. That move that led to the third goal was vintage United circa 2007 and not a Berbatov to be seen.
Berbatov is a good player but I think he is a little too static for the Barcelona game and what is going to hurt Barcelona is our movement as their backline is quite slow.
I hear Barcelona will have some players missing. Who are they?
May 8th, 2009 at 2:54
@Wakey: OK, so if you don’t get your way, you’re not gonna play the game. Wow, that sounds like a real adult way to deal with things.
I think that your definition of “free speech” need an amendment. If you believe that people spout utter rubbish, then it be up to you to prove that your spouting has more credence than theirs. You believe that you are free to call people whatever you like and then seem utterly surprised that they are free to defend themselves from your attacks. Free Speech is not really free, is it, because an inflated and controversial statement will always create a price to be paid, and usually by it’s shouter.
The honest thing to do here, is to get over yourself and whatever conflict you have going, and engage people in a normal humane way. Knowing that other folks have passionate feelings too.
Conflict results in war, but debate will end in amity.
May 8th, 2009 at 2:58
@Fred The Red: Good to see you back mate. Now stop being a stealthy silent bugger and contribute more.
May 8th, 2009 at 3:01
@Redrich: WOW! That was beautifully said mate.
May 8th, 2009 at 3:26
@colver: Abidal and Daniel Alves are suspended at this point and if Pujol is still out when then final comes around, they have a big, big problem defensively.
Barca are a ball control team and we usually are too, so from that angle, the game shows some intrigue. I would imagine that they will use a much more cautiously approach than with Chelsea, and probably more so than they are used to playing most teams. Overall I see our chances much rosier than if we’d played Chelsea. They would have been very motivated to teach us a lesson and, frankly, I was done with school many years ago!!
May 8th, 2009 at 4:22
@Grognard: Cheers, mate. It’s obvious to me that this whole “free speech” issue needs some clarification. RR has said time and time again that that if you are trashing another commentator, personally, its taboo. I happen to agree with that. We spend so much time and effort sparring with one another and defending our sacred opinions, that the whole purpose of this blog can get lost in a smoke screen.
This should be like life-LITE, not a fucking combat zone. I for one, come to this blog as a relief from my daily grind and not to try and make everyting so much more complicated and decisive than it really is!!
May 8th, 2009 at 4:34
@Redrich: I totally agree. I come here because of my insatiable passion to talk footy and share my passion for all things United. It amazes me though how some will use these forum for their venom spewing agenda due to the bitterness and anger they carry over their personal lives. Sure we can debate, disagree or just joke with each other but to get personal and start insulting people just because one is having a bad day or because they are just ass clowns is just so frustrating. Fortunately it’s not as bad as it seems. There are other sites where Hell seems like a better place to be due to the anger and disrespect that is shown to each other. This site is well managed and it is blessed with a core membership of very fine people with a like minded passion about the game and our beloved Man Utd. Thank God for that.
May 8th, 2009 at 4:38
@Redrich: I should also add that for me Red Rants offers me the outlet and release for all my footballing passion. Living in Canada I live in a Hockey only zone and a city that is flooded with hockey pucks for brains. I hate the sports scene here because it’s so one dimensional and so agricultural, if you know what I mean. Even amongst my friends I have nobody who shares my passion for footy. So this site is a godsend for me because it allows me to share my feelings and read the feelings and thoughts of others who share this interest and passion. There are days where I so wished I lived in Manchester so that I could have a few friends and we could go to a local pub, have a few ales and Man Utd ourselves to death. To dream…….
May 8th, 2009 at 5:05
@Grognard: Well fucking aaa. I’m stuck in the SF Bay Area and my British friends seem to have given up the good game years ago.
I’m fortunate that my wife and youngest daughter put up with all this stuff. In fact they were crazier than I was on tuesday night, so I’m not totally alone.
But to actually banter back and forth here is pure magic to me. Just to share and receive opinions about United is like a drink of water to a thirsty man. Well, fuck, this all sounds a bit modeling, so I’ll shut up now.
By the way I did want you to know that I know your neck of the woods, sort of. Been to BC the last 4 years on my holiday. Vancouver, just twice, we like Victoria a little better, but my whole family agree’s that it is a beautiful place to live. You’re a lucky man.
May 8th, 2009 at 5:43
@Redrich: That’s funny mate because I hate here and I have visited the Bay Area several times and absolutely love it there. Lets trade.
Also, I had two British friends (one passed away recently), both from Manchester but neither was a big fan. How rare to actually have British friends from Manchester and for both of them to not be fans was and is so frustrating.
It’s refreshing to know others share my pain of feeling isolated from the game and it’s passionate followers so yes isn’t great to find a community online where we can express our hearts and souls and debate over the game we love.
Next time you make it to Vancouver you must let me know and we’ll meet for a beer and talk some football. Cheers.
May 8th, 2009 at 6:04
@Grognard: I’ll look forward to that Grog!!
May 8th, 2009 at 6:15
@Grognard:
I am extremely sorry to inform you that you have no right to tell me whether I am right or wrong. For what its worth, if you had seen the coverage in India by TEN Sports, the pundits (both English) agreed with me. And you might want to check out the following mailboxes in F365:
http://www.football365.com/mailbox/story/0,17033,8744_5292666,00.html
http://www.football365.com/mailbox/story/0,17033,8744_5293128,00.html
http://www.football365.com/mailbox/story/0,17033,8744_5294187,00.html
So ur “99.9% claim goes out of the window.
And there were just 2 penalties, even the extremely biased Rob McNichol agrees
http://www.football365.com/referee365/0,17033,8747_5293804,00.html
May 8th, 2009 at 6:31
@Grognard:
All my views on the game are summarized in this article.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2009/05/06/1250303/cl-comment-chelsea-unlucky-but-barcelona-win-is-a-victory-for-foo
A section from the above article:
“One shot, one goal and a Champions League final. It did not come from a hack, hoof or a dubiously won penalty kick. It came from a trust in convictions and a willingness to stick by a plan.
Barcelona are a better football team than Chelsea. They proved that by limiting the Blues to containment and damage limitation. And Chelsea are not a third-tier side, visiting a Premier League ground in an FA Cup day out. They are a team of multi-million euro footballers and international captains.”
May 8th, 2009 at 7:48
@Vivek: Stop being such a baby aboutthis. I was disagreeing with you which is what we do when……..we disagree with each other. I feel you are wrong and the majority of people agree with me. So don’t lose sleep over it, don’t stop eating and please stop pulling your hair out mate, because baldness isn’t pretty.
Relax, take it like a man and move on. I wasn’t insulting you. I was disagreeing with you. If you feel you are right, go with that pal and all the power to you. I’m not exactly going to lose sleep because Vivek thinks I’m wrong, and you shouldn’t care two bits over what the Grognard says. Peace. 
May 8th, 2009 at 8:14
@Vivek: Who the frak gives a rats ass about what Rob McNichol thinks? Who the frak is Rob McNichol and above all, who cares? Do you want me to waste my time to copy and paste 50 links that prove you wrong mate? It must have taken you an hour to find some anti Chelsea, pro Barca ass clowns who wrote fantasy fiction to your heart’s desire. I can find dozens of articles that basically flush your argument down the crapper. But I won’t because it’s not worth it to me. I am not trying to win a contest here. You feel you are right and I know I am right. And nothing you have brought up has changed my mind. In fact the articles you hide behind are really poor and sad examples of tabloid biased journalism and that’s that.
I have nothing against you mate, I just disagree with you on this, and there is no way we will come to an understanding on it, so I suggest you just let it be. I don’t hate Barcelona. They play the game the way it should be played while Chelsea is a team I hate with a passion. But my passion and bias against them will not permit me to lie and and compromise my own ethics and fairness by claiming that Barca were the better team, because not only were they not, it wasn’t even close. Barcelona is a highly skilled offensive powerhouse but they are an undersized soft team when it comes to playing an EPL team that has size, skill and power, not to mention physical presence. They completely neutralized Barca but credit to Barca for not giving up and patiently waiting for their one true shot on goal. They took their chance and Chelsea never took theirs. But lets not forget that the ref, whether you want to admit it or not, had a terrible game and gave Barca a chance to fight back when one of his wrong decisions would have put the game out of reach. In fact the ref admits to his mistakes and has been told by UEFA to shutup. Barcelona admit to it and the rest of the world does as most people have good common sense and good enough eye sight that isn’t clouded by Blues hatred. So just accept it mate and move on.
Barcelona can play their champagne football in La Liga where the marking is non existent but when they play the top English clubs, they will have to up their game and man up. That cute and sexy Arsenal style of football doesn’t wash with Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool. So lets wait for the final where United will be the next team to frustrate Messi by cutting off the passing lanes to him, by hassling and constantly bumping and hampering the efforts of Xavi and Iniesta into submission, and as our twin towers on defense make Samuel Eto’s night even more frustrating that the last two games were, and while our counter attacks tear Barca’s patchwork back four into shreds with the brilliance of Ronaldo and Rooney.
Champaign football will be on exhibition in Rome, but it will be United who play it with a dash of beer and pretzels style grit and guile. Barcelona like Arsenal, need more grit and guile to beat the likes of Man United and Chelsea fairly. They don’t have it and therefore, they will lose unless United suffer a rash of serious injuries before that big game. So believe it, it’s true. United will show which league and which team rules European and world football.
Last night Barcelona won the battle for good football over anti-football. Too bad they never played good football in achieving that goal eh? Because they were total shite.
May 8th, 2009 at 9:00
@Fred The Red: Awwwwwwww Fred, so great to see you back!
.
.
1. Quote – Tall, Rugged Irishman with FILM STAR looks, great personality and humility???. With those credentials Fred, I don’t think you need any help from me to attract the ladies to your honey pot
2. Regards the making an honest woman bit, I am working on it with a lot of heart mate. But the GF has no intention of walking down any aisle until AFTER she gets rid of the ‘little bump’ if you catch my drift
May 8th, 2009 at 9:01
@Redrich: Grognard insulted me for no reason. I called his and Chelseas conspiracy theory idiotic (not him or the chelsea fans themselves), because it is and supplied an undeniable reason why its idiotic. However he is one of these people who if you dare question him he attacks you, he drove me away from this blog once and quite frankly I don’t see why I should even bother trying again because why should I have to read his wild accusations left right and centre and not be able to counter anything I think is out of order as his views are so extreme it actually means I cant take part in most discussions here.
He always goes on about wanting to be debated but when you try to he ignores your points and instead resorts to personal attacks and RedRanter is too gutless to do anything about him. The simple fact is if he is going to keep making such wild claims and being so hate filled as he is then he has to expect to be told he is wrong and either has to listen to what he is being told or piss off from the internet and just inflict his mindless rantings on himself alone
May 8th, 2009 at 9:03
@Wakey: You’re still here?
May 8th, 2009 at 9:06
@Grognard: Not wishing to offend Bro, but I think you know that Ballack will NEVER be a favourite or anywhere close to that where I am concerned.
. I was just trying to find positives to encourage you, because you were taking quite a few bitter hits from some sources 
. So please don’t lambast me for that OK??? 
. However I did mean what I said about the Ballack attitude of his post match interviews. Maybe he had seen the aftermath of the on field behaviour, and wanted to tone things down 
.
Secondly, do you truly believe Grog that anybody come come close to the Nani in the loyalty love stakes?
lol .
May 8th, 2009 at 9:22
Grog, I think I said in an earlier post, that the end of game behaviour and RAGE which led to the most out of control player behaviour scenes at Chelsea were so vivid a picture to me, that It finally got through to me that abuse verbal or of any kind is not palatable! We have had our own share of Out of Control behaviour, with Roy Keane, Eric the King Cantona, etc and although we defended them to the hilt, doesn’t make it right Bro. Especially when the pictures are flashed all over the world. The same scenes occured frequently in the Arsenal victory years, and they too like Chelscum were terrible losers. I think Fergie has worked hard to sort overeactive behaviour at OT, though Fergie himself has done his fair share of rampaging and Ref baiting’hating. So I don’t want to see it, NOT IN MY OWN LIFE – no more unwarrented verbal bashing of other commenters, and hopefully NO MORE rotten aftermatch behaviour from players, though I feel I may have to invest in blinkers for that from players
May 8th, 2009 at 10:07
@Red Ranter: The guy is clearly a whack job.
May 8th, 2009 at 10:08
@Red Ranter: Yes as I’m not letting Gorg and RedRich make me out to be in the wrong. I posted a perfectly good post that attacked the ‘conspiracy’ not the user and I got back a barrage of hate from a user who likes making wild accusations yet doesn’t like being debated and challenged as he is a ’self proclaimed football messiah’
He will no doubt start verbally abusing Vivek next if Vivek keeps challenging him. After all he is already talking down to him in the way it started with me with him using unquantifiable reasoning that is basically just “I’m right because I say so”. Vivek gives a good argument and supporting facts and evidence and he is dismissed. The simple fact is everything shows thet Chelsea really weren’t the ‘better’ side, they were negative in the same way that Arsenal were in the 2005 FA Cup final when they robbed us of an FA Cup win due to their negativity and employed the tactics that Chelsea have complained about on a number of occasions when teams like Bolton employ them against them. When they were a man up and the game was for the taking they had 30% of possession and they took of their main threat Drogba and brought on a defender (And Drogba clearly wasn’t injured despite being helped off, an injured player doesn’t jump around like he did at the end.) I will also add that while it seems that most people think they were robbed by the decisions thats different to thinking they were the better team, especially across the two legs. The Sky pundits were adamant that Chelsea were robbed but stated how poorly Chelsea played as they couldn’t string 4 passes together
May 8th, 2009 at 10:09
@Red Ranter: RR, I don’t know what you have to do Bro to get through to ALL of us bloggers who want to contribute here, that personal attacks are NOT GOING TO BE TOLERATED. You have tried to be nice, tried to discuss amicably and ranted when all else failed. I know I have been a big culprit myself, but you wont get anymore ignoring blog rules from me. I want to again apologise to all I have offended by not answering their comments respectfully, I may disagree with comments, and that often, but politeness in response is RED RANT BLOG POLICY isn’t it? Please don’t lambast me for suggesting this, or that I am criticising the way you run the blog, but as all you have tried to do has failed, is it time to JUST DELETE the posts of all those of us who resort to name calling insults, WHOEVER we are. I think about Stephen Darwin’s amiable response to my rants, which going back over them, were uncalled for, and unprovoked. Stephen Darwins reply to my OTT Nani support was to be honest an opposite contrast in DIGNITY responsive debating, to my hotheaded euphoria. I can be man enough to see and admit that! So I think any post or response that becomes personal for any reason should be deleted, starting with this one if you think it appropriate. I know this may not be practical for you RR, because your are very busy, and can’t always be monitoring 24/7. A deleting monitor might help – joking
.
May 8th, 2009 at 10:10
@Wakey: Perhaps you should ask if the others on here share your view, because you are coming across like somebody who is in serious need of therapy man. Seriously, go get some help because you’ve lost it.
May 8th, 2009 at 10:13
@Craig Mc: I didn’t think so. But I had to try mate just to see if I could get a laugh out of you. And I am more than aware that Nani rules with you. Perhaps you can adopt Wakey too because he is in some serious need for some love, warmth and tenderness. That evil Grognard has got him all bent out of shape, he might do something terrible like jump off his couch or something.
May 8th, 2009 at 10:18
@Craig Mc: Boy fatherhood is turning Craig in to a real softy. Either way Bro, we luv ya and Nani too.
May 8th, 2009 at 10:24
@Grognard:
I accept the peace agreement
. Afterall we both want the same thing, to see United lifting the trophy again. Its just that some of your comments about Barca and theie footballing style in general irked me a little bit but I fully agree with you on the post 188. I have just been making the same noises. In any case, I promise to drop it, and look forward to what will surely be a “classico” in Rome
May 8th, 2009 at 11:09
I really don’t know where this Chelsea love has come from but let me put things accross as I see them.
Chelsea are a nothing club owned by a corrupt Russian, Roman Abramovich should be in jail for making his billions on the back of millions of ordinary Russians, deliberately scared into giving away at a fraction of their true value coupons/shares in the huge oil/steel/ aluminium companies that these 2 gangster capitalists bought !
Also their club is captained by a cry baby thug who is so self indulgent that he makes Victoria Beckham look humble. The big England captain who was injured for a vital qualifying match against Croatia when his country desperatly needed him, then was fit three days later to play a full 90 minutes for Chelsea, remarkable.
They also have the racist steward who abused Evra last season, Chelsea supported the thug and Evra was banned for 4 games.
They have no tradition after the Champions league win last season you are asked for a dignatry to represent your team in collecting the medals we had Bobby Charlton CBE, capped 106 times for England and 606 times for United, er Chelsea had “United fan” Peter Kenyon.
They have Ashley Cole playing for them.
Their club is built on the back of money, not success like ours and I for one have no love for the Rent Boyz and Drogba’s behaviour sums them up, THEY HAVE NO CLASS.
May 8th, 2009 at 11:31
@Stephen: I agree Bro that Chelsea have no class, and I don’t think anyone on here has mentioned that they have mate
.
It is a shame they have Ashley A.hole Cole playing for them, his wife Cheryl should play instead, because NOW she would be a threat, stopping all opposing attackers dead in their tracks
. If Kimba Walsh played for them too, then I would have to DEFECT to them mate 
, just joking Stephen.
In fairness they were denied at least 2 penalties, which would have got them to Rome. Am I glad they are not going to be in Rome, hell yes I am! Was I glad to see John Terry crying again at the end – yes.
Do I agree with their OOC behaviour and ref hassling at the end – NO I feckin don’t.
However, I can understand why after putting in so much effort all the games to the semi, that to go down like they did, by poor refereeing decisions, I would be raging if it was our club that happened too. That’s just being honest.
Do I personally believe that Chelsea were the better team, NO I don’t, and that is just being honest. But then every pair of eyes sees something different, so we do not all agree on that.
If all the above constitutes Chelski love, then I scratch my head in amazement Bro.
May 8th, 2009 at 11:37
@Craig Mc:
May 8th, 2009 at 11:55
@Grognard: Sorry my man, I’m not with you on Ballack. I cannot see how you can condone his behaviour with “Anger and frustration is not illegal” BUT yet, when I tried to defend Rooney over the ball-throwing incident, you totally opposed the “Anger and frustration is not illegal” principle. If you watch the incident in real-time (without the benefit of hindsight), you will see that he almost clobbered the referee. At least that was what it looked like to me at the time (without the benefit of hindsight in knowing afterwards that he did not hit out at the ref). As good a player as what he is, he should have displayed the type of grace that Fletcher showed for his injustice. During that act, he portrayed the same amount of class as a certain Mr. Drogba. (I’m sorry if he is one of your favourite players…Rooney is one of mine, yet I got lambasted for defending him over far less attrocious behaviour).
May 8th, 2009 at 12:05
@Vivek: One thing I don’t get in this whole Chelsea/Barca debate (and I’m only asking you because I’ve noticed you express it,) is this idea that the better team won.
First, it seems as though ‘the better team’ is simply code for ‘the more aesthetically pleasing team.’ That doesn’t necessarily mean better. Us versus Arsenal is a case in point. Moreover, what is pleasing is just so subjective. I do find Barca breathtaking at times. But so too is a lightening paced counter such as our 3rd on Tuesday. So too is the pure power with which Ronaldo’s strike against Porto was taken. But really none of this is my main point.
What I really don’t get is what the big deal is about the better team winning. The fact is that on any given day an inferior team can beat a superior one. Isn’t it precisely this that makes cup football so interesting? We have the leagues to suss out who are the better teams. You need to be consistently strong over such a long period that the cream invariably rises to the top. That’s why we value the league title so much. But in cup ties anything can happen, and surely that is half of the fun.
Finally, whether or not Barca are the better team, does not lessen the fact that the Russian mob have a right to feel cheated. The referee was so poor in that game that it likely cost them a trip to the final. That being said, over the 2 legs I do think that Barca were superior and they too were denied a penalty in the first leg. However, having the first tie done and dusted, Chelski outplayed Barca at home (6 or 7 scoring chances to 1), had at least 1 stonewall penalty ignored, and rightfully are pissed about it. Lord knows if that had happened to United I’d have have lost the plot!!!
May 8th, 2009 at 12:14
@Eric the Red: I don’t think most people are saying that the better team won on the night Eric, I think what I see most people are trying to say is that the best footballing team won out – i.e. Barca. Yet still that is open to debate, and will no doubt have the shit debated out of it til the cows come home. Fans will always have differing opinions on things, even fans of supporters of the same football team. Fandom eh?
May 8th, 2009 at 12:17
Tell you what though Ericthe Red, what pleases me tremendously about all this, is that while the media are discussing and harrassing the Chelski and their players, United have not been subjected to all the usual MEDIA HYPED up tension of the Manchester Derby, so our lads have been able to quietly prepare in PEACE and QUIET for what is a very important, and MUST WIN Derby game for us
.
May 8th, 2009 at 12:32
@Eric the Red:
I had promised that I would drop this, and I will. To answer your question on why I think the better team won, I would point you to my post earlier (post #8). Perhaps it is just the difference in looking at a game from a different perspective, but I firmly belive that a Barca-United final will be a much better spectacle than a United-Chelski final. I am not denying the fact that Chelsea have a right to feel aggrieved. (Although its hard to sympathise with their antics at the end). But I certainly dont believe for one moment that it is some kind of conspiracy, the ref was just poor, not biased.
In any case, we should simply drop the matter and concentrate on the Derby and the final in rome, which is sure to be a classic
May 8th, 2009 at 12:38
@Red Ranter: Awwww REALLY RR? I don’t want Lil Man Nani lambasted, can’t you just put a BAN on that pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese
.
May 8th, 2009 at 12:40
@Vivek: Consider it DROPPED then Vivek
. By the way guys, if I overuse the smileys, it is just because I can’t stop smiling NOW!
May 8th, 2009 at 12:43
Okay, gotta get back to my deadline project
, which I will be hard at until about midnight now I think, considering I dilly dallied about this morning. One of the advantages of being self employed m’thinks 
. By then and PLAY NICE everyone 
.
May 8th, 2009 at 12:50
@Craig Mc: Ya, but it is precisely everyone saying ‘that the best football team won out’ that is starting to piss me off. It’s cup football and sometime the best team doesn’t win. That’s life.
I think really I’m just getting pissed at people (e.g., the Spanish media) wanking all over Barca. All this ‘God loves football’ and ‘justice was done’ and ‘greatest team in the world’ bullshit. It’s the attitude that they have some sort of divine right to win because they play beautiful football that gets me. But I guess that on the positive side, everyone can write us off and it will be all the sweeter if we spank the shit out of them
May 8th, 2009 at 13:05
@Vivek: I agree that Barca-United is a more interesting final and that it was poor officating and not some conspiracy.
I also hate the way the Chavs play and would prefer to watch Barca anyday of the week. But what really has me annoyed is the ‘Barca deserved to and had the divine right to win simply because they play beautiful football’ that is coming from the Barca players and Spanish media.
Am I glad Barca won? Yes. Do i think Chelsea were robbed? Yes. Do I care? Hell no. I hate that Russian mob so much that I laughed my ass off when Iniesta scored. Cheated or not, my only thought was ‘It couldn’t have happened to a nicer lot.’ And you’re spot on: their antics did them no favours in the sympathy department.
But since you feel the need to drop this for some reason, let’s do so. Cheers mate!
May 8th, 2009 at 13:06
@Eric the Red: Spot on mate, we hardly played the beautiful game when we played them last season, it has to be horses for courses, do what you have to do to get through.
We all want to play great attacking football but a great side knows when to change their style and adapt to the opponent.
May 8th, 2009 at 13:08
@Wakey: Grognard may come across as being the way you imply him to be, simply because he has a very good knowledge of the sport, and can present his case clearly. However, he is not a bully, and does not gangpress ranters into agreeing with him, nor does he impose his views forcefully onto everyone who does not agree. As demonstrated by him and Vivek, just because a debate is heated, it can still end in a truce, and not require anybody to be bashing individuals on the blog.
You have come back out of nowhere, and started off your first post by labelling someone’s view as ‘idiotic’, which I might add is extremely rude. I’m sorry, but none of here really want you around, as you can’t seem to get along with anybody. Please leave.
May 8th, 2009 at 13:38
@Stephen: Agreed. This is what puts us a cut above the rest. Barca play beautifully, but that is the only way they play and if that isn’t working they’re done. We can play possession football and we can pass and play incisive through balls just as Barca can. But we can also absorb pressure and counter with blsitering pass if the situation warrants it. That too can be beautiful football. The 3rd against Arsenal was breathtaking to watch. And when everything else goes tits up we can simply grind out a result and win with one peice of magic such as Ronaldo’s wonder strike against Porto (which again was a a beautful thing to behold, I was awestruck for 15 minutes).
Having said all that, I was annoyed as shit with that string of 1-0’s and want beautiful footie!!
I’m with Grog, I want my cake and to eat it too!!
May 8th, 2009 at 13:42
@Stephen: Adding to the above: I’d have no problem if we catenaccio’d the shit out of them and won 1-nil just so I could laugh at all of the ensuing whinging about the injustice of it all.
May 8th, 2009 at 17:31
@Stephen: We aren’t arguing for Chelsea mate, we’re arguing for the good and the integrity of the game. Injustice is injustice. It makes no difference who it is against and so allowing bias, rivalry and hatred to cloud ones mind and heart over what is just, is incredibly wrong.
May 8th, 2009 at 17:38
@Karl: I was upset with Rooney because his antics were born out of childishness and because they were hurting his team, Our team. He wasn’t mad about such an incredible injustice as two hand balls not being called, and 3 fouls in the box not being called as well as one being in the box but but being placed outside of the box. Ballack’s frustration and reason for going berserk was completely justified and like I said before, if that was me, I would have done worse. I also know that all of us would condone what he did a hell of a lot more if it was our team that got burned and frankly, with some of you, it would be different if it just wasn’t Ballack who did it. Ballack hatred amongst United fans is very high so the last group I would expect any understanding from is a bitter group like that who hate his guts. All I am asking is for you and others to be truly honest with yourselves and ask yourselves what you would have done if that were you, or if that was Man Utd get screwed over?
May 8th, 2009 at 17:39
@Grognard: What Chelsea and integrity on the same sentance?
May 8th, 2009 at 17:48
@Craig Mc: The best philosophy of football won out. Chelsea for my books is the better team. Overall their lineup for me is better than Barca’s and they have a lot more of the main ingredients for success at that level than Barca have. Barca is small and soft and they are not that strong defensively or in terms of power and height. Yes they have Messi and Xavi and the overrated Dani Alves but everybody else is not up to par with what Chelsea has. I would never take Eto’o over Dorgba (and I despise Drogba), I am not a big fan of Iniesta and I would take Lampard over him and Xavi, I’d take Ballack over those two also but I am also showing bias their, and Micahel Essien is the best footballer who showed up on that pitch period. Yes, if I had the money I would buy Essien over Messi. I love Messi but he is small, injury prone and easy to mark out of a game if your team is physical and tactically smart. And Chelsea are both.
Frankly, I was terrified of having to face Chelsea in the final. Under Hiddink they are far superior to the way AV Grant was playing them. Barcelona, fine attractive football and great team, but they as well as their league is a cut below the English League in overall quality as well as not possessing the necessary physical components to play teams like the top 3 from England due to a lack of height, physicality, grit and guile. Sure they may play the more attractive football, but the best in the game are not measured by cosmetics, but by results and how they produce at crunch time. And lets face it, they lucked out against Chelsea. That game should have been put away a half dozen times before Iniesta took his wild crack that was guided in by the footballing Gods who clearly wanted a more attractive final.
May 8th, 2009 at 17:49
@Craig Mc: That will come mate, just you wait and see. Three weeks to go and a lot can be said before then.
May 8th, 2009 at 18:00
@Vivek: Whether the ref was poor or bias, I find it really cold mate that you cannot sympathize with what happened to them and be a little more understanding over why they lost it. You also have to remember that Chelsea were totally gutted by the Iniesta goal only to have a shot of still winning when Ballack struck the ball with seconds left and Eto’o blatantly raised his arm and blocked it with his arm. That happening so near the end escalated emotions to a fever pitch because there was no time for players to settle down and cool off and get on with the game. The ref ignored the plea and then the game was over. Now you come on here and tell me that you in the same position would have done nothing? I don’t believe it one bit. I give you more credit for having a heart and a soul to accept that you would have quietly walked to the dressing room. In fact when interviewed, Hiddink and other footballers and managers past and present also understood and condoned the actions as being the heat of the moment and being instigated by great injustices. Try playing a sport for a year where you bust your ass every day in training and where you leave everything on the pitch on game day and go on until you have almost reached the promised land only to have it taken from you by thieves.
It’s your prerogative as to who you cheer for and what you want from the game, but fairness to both yourself, your team as well as the enemy is vital if we are to enjoy a competitive sport. For you to not be sympathetic just tells me you hate Chelsea so much and love Barcelona so much that you don’t care. And for me mate, thats sad but above all, it’s bloody well cold.
May 8th, 2009 at 18:11
@Eric the Red: If Barcelona played Chelsea 100 times without draws, Chelsea would win way more than they would lose. Barcelona is just physically over matched against them. Tactically and physically Chelsea are the better team because in two matches they were able to halt Barca’s big players and never gave up many scoring chances while creating many themselves and also creating many opportunities for penalties in the box.
No Chelsea does not play better football or more attractive football than Barcelona, but that isn’t the question. The question is who is the better team,not who looks better playing thew game. Frankly Barcelona did not look better playing Chelsea. Their one dimensional Arsenal-like thinking threw them in a corner that frankly they were lucky to extricate themselves from. For 90 minutes they were devoid of ideas on how to break down the Chelsea team and get their short passing and fast flowing game going. But Guardiola being the wet behind the ears rookie that he is at this level, had no ideas. They did very little to change their approach and attack after attack bogged down in midfield because all the passing lanes were blocked and because Chelsea hounded their stars who were clearly not used to that kind of attention and close marking back in Spain.
Nope, Chelsea was by far the superior team and I am just overjoyed they lost because it guarantees United (barring a rash of injuries) their second straight Champions league trophy. Why? Because we are just as talented as Barcelona, we have more quality in depth and because we can play the tactical defensive style that beat Arsenal and that Chelsea used to perfection and neutralize Barca just like we did last year. Except this year, I expect more from us offensively. Could I be wrong? Sure, but I seriously doubt it. Only time will tell.
May 8th, 2009 at 18:13
@Jon: Thanks for that mate. Greatly appreciated.
May 8th, 2009 at 18:27
@Eric the Red: And really though, when we look back at the game we must ask ourselves what was beautiful about the football Barcelona played? Their continual breakdowns in passing and complete confusion and frustration in not getting their plays, give and go’s and crosses to their targets? The plain fact is that Barcelona inability to adapt and their continual attempt to bash through the Maginot Line without any backup plan or contingency was ugly to watch. Their was nothing remotely beautiful about their football. Their football is beautiful if inferior clubs let them do their thing. That’s hardly the MO for a fantastic and unbeatable team.
I am convinced that if Barcelona played in the EPL they would be fighting it out with Villa and Everton to see who can catch Arsenal. They would be left in tatters every week trying to match up physically with teams as well as having to figure out how to break through big physical teams that are adept at parking the bus and defending. United has the quality and the balance in both attack and defense to succeed in that league even if it occasionally forces us to change our style. And that ability to change and adapt is why we are the best team in the world and a cut above the Barcelona’s who only play their dressed up and cute one trick pony show style. Too bad Chelsea and united aren’t another Real Madrid. We will beat them because we are superior in quality and tactics but we will also beat them because in fairness, they will be in big trouble without both of their starting fullbacks. Defensively that will hurt them but Alves and Abidal mean so much to their attack and so much to Henry and Messi. It could end up being a 3-0 4-1 type game for us. But lets face it, Fergie never wins a trophy with ease, especially in Europe. He likes to put us through the emotional ringer before we prevail.
May 8th, 2009 at 18:30
@Stephen: OK, it was a stretch.
May 10th, 2009 at 3:58
Just a couple of points for careful consideration.
- Chelsea did not get the big decisions, but they still created enough cahnces to score more than 1 goal, but didn’t take them and that is the reason that they are not in the final. Lots of teams have games where they don’t get the decisions, but they still have the courage to overcome this and close out games. So well done to Barca for playing until the final whistle – Chelsea knew they were playing roulette if they defended the 1 goal lead!!!! Just like Bayern Munich did in 1999, you cannot shut up shop and invite pressure, esp with a team that boasts the attacking flare Barcelona has.
- In the final of any cup competition, any result can happen. Liverpool were losing 3-0 at half time against a Milan team that did not concede goals, we all know what happened there – they were not the better side but they had the most courage. Barca have got a better chance of beating us than they did Chelsea, because as ‘Eric the Red’ points out Chelsea are a defensive team with big bruisers who make it difficult to play. United will be attacking from the off so this will give Barca more space in our half as the game goes from end to end. On paper we have a better defence, but look how Liverpool destroyed us, we cannot start to assume that we have got the trophy in the bag!
- Fergie will have to get the tactics just right because Barca can hurt is through playing football or resort to the tactics Liverpool seemingly are happy to employ – the long ball and we know how devastating Henry can be, he would love to get on over on us after what we did to Arsenal too!
Might only be the odd goal in it, so we need to be at our very. I think that we will win, but it is not as cut and dry as some of the other comments would suggest.
-Midfield will be the key and I hope Fletcher gets