messi off course turned it barca's way....ronaldo was a flop...thats the irony of the whole game...only one can be a star...man u did not have much match winning material once ronaldo was not upto the mark...they even failed to stop messi...barca looked like a well oiled machine with great tactics....
Re: Who turned it Barcelona's way?
by Remsang Pulamte on May 29, 2009 05:40 PM
haha.. @rlna: that was the ultimate answer to the title "Who turned it Barcelona's way?"
The match was much closer than made out by all the experts. Barca won, and deservedly so, but not as easily as it is being made out. M.U. could have scored in the first 10 minutes. Had they done so, the game may have taken a different turn. Messi and Ronaldo may have held the key for their respective teams, but it was Iniesta and Xavi who were the dynamos who supplied the power needed for this win. Kudos also to the confident Barca defense, especially Captain Puyol and M.U. discard Pique who were outstanding. Also to Silvinho, the aged veteran who matched his younger team mates in their quick passing and ball control. Even the normally reticient Ferguson admitted that they were outplayed by a technically superior team.
Barca played better and luck too was on their side. First goal, on the near post was almost saved. Second goal was a gift; no Utd player chased to prevent the ball from crossing, neither did anybody mark any player.
The catalans are with some top world class players But I guess it is the coach's first time lucky.
Re: Lucky Catalans
by Mandar Desai on May 29, 2009 01:26 PM
'The catalans are with some top world class players But I guess it is the coach's first time lucky' how lame is that Remsang?
Re: Re: Lucky Catalans
by Remsang Pulamte on May 29, 2009 05:30 PM
Mandar, coaches play crucial roles in the team formation. Guardiola is lucky to see his first season so successful (sort of a beginner's luck). Guus Hiddink also almost did that with South Korea in 2002 world cup.
Kiran, I too loathe Fergie's arrogance at the way he picks up the player for the FA cup semi-final. I also dont like at the speed his chews when his team is losing. But he is still one of the greatest manager in the footballing world. He should call it quit now.
However, Utd had great fighting spirit and comes from behind to snatch trophies. Unlike Barca, they did not hunt and chase after expensive players from another continent (South America). Instead it grooms local talents, Ireland, Scotland and nearby countries.
Its just another bad day for Utd.. Lets hope for the best next season.
Re: Lucky Catalans
by Kiran Joseph on May 29, 2009 02:22 PM
Remsang, winning the treble cant be just luck. I can understand your post, as it is a very bitter pill for the average MU fan to swallow to see their team so comprehensively beaten, when they were favourites by a bit of a distance (though most of it was the hype). I remember the days when dreams were on of the Quintuple and the competition in the league was treated with disdain. What does MU finally have - one silly 'world club cup' beating some lowly asian and south american teams?, one carling cup - that too on won on penalties and the League, just scraped through. It would have been a different story in the league if Arsenal had won at OT and Fergie had to field a stronger team for the Hull match, which could then have gone to the wire. IMO, Fergies dominance is coming to an end and next season we will see different dynamics at play, raging Benitez out to settle a score, Anceloti out to prove a thing and Wenger desperate for success. Good luck red devils and red nosed Fergie!
Puyol, Pique, Toure.. And most of all it was Pique's defending against Rooney which made it easy for Barca.. Whenever Rooney comes in with the ball, it was Pique who defended him with perfection by not allowing it to go to any other MAN UTD players.. So my MOM will definitely go to Pique and player of the tournament should go to both Xavi and Iniesta.. Hurray Barca..
Well we have to accept that Messi was better on the champions league final. Messi was better that Ronaldo, Xavi and Iniesta were better than Messi in the Finals. I have to say, Xavi and Iniesta were the Architects of Barca champions league title
Re: Ronaldo or Messi
by yash on May 29, 2009 11:59 AM
messi played better then ronaldo in final ronaldo didnt get much possession to ball courtsey to poor midfield but if u looke overall aspects of game of two players ronaldo is better than messi esp his freekicks
Re: Re: Ronaldo or Messi
by anirudh kar on May 29, 2009 12:25 PM
there is no way ronaldo can match the charisma or the tenacity that messi has...messi is not only a ball player but also a team man....ronaldo can only ignite fire on the field if the ball is with him...messi has a superb off the ball movement which ronaldo just cannot match...
Barca is a great team.They played very good game during final yesterday.I have read all the comments on board. It is important not to see the game but to read the game.Barc's each and move was strategically strong and well executed. United was just fighting to get the ball and when they get the ball they couldn't keep the ball. Eto Messi Inesta Pique Pyuol were the great. I can say that before coming to final, BARC really studied the MU's game. Just after Eto'c goal,entire situation became changed and BARCA gained controlled step by step without losing control
Barca were no match to Guss Hiddink's Chelsea. Hiddink had tactically killed off Barca....but that awful refree ruined everything. Barca didnt deserve to be in final. Man U v Chelsea was the actual fight for the Champs league. Drogba was right...Refree was F.....disgrace...
Who was the catalyst for Barca's victory...? None other than Sir Alex himself. Starting with Rooney playing wide and an inexperienced Anderson with Scholes on the bench left their midfield with a wide gaping hole which the thankful Iniesta ruled without challenge... Poor Carrick... What could he do without any support. Its a eleven man game!
