The English Football Thread

Bulldog · 03-31-2010, 03:47 PM

BBC Sport - Football - Arsenal 2-2 Barcelona

^ Games like that remind me why I love football. Two teams playing really up-tempo, short passing football and really going for the win. As far as pure and fair football goes, I haven't seen anything like the first 20-odd minutes in years. Personally I don't think the Gunners have a chance at the return game (especially if Iniesta plays), but on this showing it'll be another great watch for the neutral.

zeppy111 · 03-31-2010, 11:42 PM

^^^ Agreed. However, it does have a few nice twists, Fabregas out,Gallas possibly too. Then both CB's out for Barca, but as you said Iniesta coming back is not good news for Arsenal.

Piss Me Off · 04-01-2010, 01:22 PM

I'm finding myself cheering for Barcelona if only because i want to see more of that football, watching Messi play in particular against Stuttgart was incredible. Definitely wouldn't write Arsenal off yet though.

right-track · 04-01-2010, 01:35 PM

Arsenal can beat Barcelona!
The worse thing they can do is to try and contain them in the 2nd leg.
They're without their two centre backs for the return and if Arsenal take the game to Barcelona, they can do it.
United suffered last year in the final for allowing Barcelona too much time in midfield. If Fletcher had played it could have been such a different match. If United get the chance to meet them again (which can only be the final) then expect Park and Fletcher to play a central role in a 5 man midfield.
Once you lose possession to Barcelona, the chances are you won't get a sniff of the ball for another 5 minutes. They'll pass you to death!
The great thing about Barcelona isn't just their passing skills when in possession, but also the way they graft when they lose it.

Arsenal have the benefit of a rematch in the 2nd leg that United never had in the final and they can learn from it.
If Arsenal can disrupt their midfield and work harder than Barcelona when they lose possession...anything can happen.

Bulldog · 04-01-2010, 01:41 PM

Pretty annoyed that Fulham-Wolfsburg's not on Channel Five tonight; I quite fancied kicking back and watching that. Looks like I'll have to make do with a Liverpool game that's got draw written all over it instead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

United suffered last year in the final for allowing Barcelona too much time in midfield. If Fletcher had played it could have been such a different match. If United get the chance to meet them again (which can only be the final) then expect Park and Fletcher to play a central role in a 5 man midfield.
Once you lose possession to Barcelona, the chances are you won't get a sniff of the ball for another 5 minutes. They'll pass you to death!
The great thing about Barcelona isn't just their passing skills when in possession, but also the way they graft when they lose it

Yeah, I remember watching the Xavi-Iniesta partnership against Man U, and they looked pretty much unstoppable at centre-mid. Xavi had a blinder on his own against the Gunners, which is why if Iniesta plays I don't think they've got a chance. Making Barca work for possession and denying them the space to make their quality show is what basically needs doing. Trouble is that Arsenal have capitulated against quality oppoisition like Man U and Chelsea both ways already this season, which is why I don't exactly have a lot of faith in their pulling through this one.

Piss Me Off · 04-01-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulldog

Pretty annoyed that Fulham-Wolfsburg's not on Channel Five tonight; I quite fancied kicking back and watching that. Looks like I'll have to make do with a Liverpool game that's got draw written all over it instead.

BBC Sport says Benfica haven't lost in 25 matches so i wouldn't be too sure, they also have the superb Angel Di Maria on their side.

Revol · 04-01-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

ABU alert!

Loads of people I know are ABUs. I love to see United lose, but don't really care too much for the matches they play unless it's against Leeds (which is rare obviously!) and, to a lesser extent, Man City or Liverpool.

Bulldog · 04-01-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piss Me Off

BBC Sport says Benfica haven't lost in 25 matches so i wouldn't be too sure, they also have the superb Angel Di Maria on their side.

With the benefit of hindsight, I take my earlier remark back

Quite a good game as it turned out. Good atmosphere, dodgy ref, red card, harshly disallowed goal, glaring misses at both ends - good stuff all-round then.

2-1 to Fulham at the Cottage too. Get in!

Piss Me Off · 04-01-2010, 08:36 PM

As a neutral next weeks european ties can't get any better, let alone the Man U - Chelsea tie which should be interesting.

As a fan tommorow should be even better, i'm sure Right Track will agree, glad to know Manchester is rooting for us :P

TheCunningStunt · 04-02-2010, 01:25 PM

Rooney out for tomorrow, and Bayern.

This could cost us the championship and the european cup if Berbatov doesn't step up and do the business. It'll be very interesting. The stretford end need to get behind the lads and they'll need to rise to the occasion. A win here could propel us to the championship.

03-31-2010, 11:42 PM	#2562 (permalink)
zeppy111 16, so? Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Africa Posts: 630	^^^ Agreed. However, it does have a few nice twists, Fabregas out,Gallas possibly too. Then both CB's out for Barca, but as you said Iniesta coming back is not good news for Arsenal. __________________ My Blog (album of the day): http://musicfromthesouth.blogspot.com

04-01-2010, 01:22 PM	#2563 (permalink)
Piss Me Off Moodswings n' Roundabouts Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: At the corner of Dude and Catastrophe Posts: 4,512	I'm finding myself cheering for Barcelona if only because i want to see more of that football, watching Messi play in particular against Stuttgart was incredible. Definitely wouldn't write Arsenal off yet though. __________________ Last FM Rate Yr Music Muxtape

04-01-2010, 08:36 PM	#2569 (permalink)
Piss Me Off Moodswings n' Roundabouts Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: At the corner of Dude and Catastrophe Posts: 4,512	As a neutral next weeks european ties can't get any better, let alone the Man U - Chelsea tie which should be interesting. As a fan tommorow should be even better, i'm sure Right Track will agree, glad to know Manchester is rooting for us :P __________________ Last FM Rate Yr Music Muxtape

03-31-2010, 03:47 PM	#2561 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	BBC Sport - Football - Arsenal 2-2 Barcelona ^ Games like that remind me why I love football. Two teams playing really up-tempo, short passing football and really going for the win. As far as pure and fair football goes, I haven't seen anything like the first 20-odd minutes in years. Personally I don't think the Gunners have a chance at the return game (especially if Iniesta plays), but on this showing it'll be another great watch for the neutral.

04-01-2010, 01:35 PM	#2564 (permalink)
right-track Atchin' Akai Join Date: May 2005 Location: Unamerica Posts: 8,723	Arsenal can beat Barcelona! The worse thing they can do is to try and contain them in the 2nd leg. They're without their two centre backs for the return and if Arsenal take the game to Barcelona, they can do it. United suffered last year in the final for allowing Barcelona too much time in midfield. If Fletcher had played it could have been such a different match. If United get the chance to meet them again (which can only be the final) then expect Park and Fletcher to play a central role in a 5 man midfield. Once you lose possession to Barcelona, the chances are you won't get a sniff of the ball for another 5 minutes. They'll pass you to death! The great thing about Barcelona isn't just their passing skills when in possession, but also the way they graft when they lose it. Arsenal have the benefit of a rematch in the 2nd leg that United never had in the final and they can learn from it. If Arsenal can disrupt their midfield and work harder than Barcelona when they lose possession...anything can happen.

04-02-2010, 01:25 PM	#2570 (permalink)
TheCunningStunt love will tear you apart Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 5,107	Rooney out for tomorrow, and Bayern. This could cost us the championship and the european cup if Berbatov doesn't step up and do the business. It'll be very interesting. The stretford end need to get behind the lads and they'll need to rise to the occasion. A win here could propel us to the championship.