2012-13 UEFA Champions League

Turtwig

roanoke wrote: »

Fair play to Beckham. I can't imagine there's too many players who have stepped up in level from MLS to a CL QF v Barcelona.

That may be but he's stealing Zlatan's spotlight!

Kirby

Alves is one of the most overated players in that team. He always has been. His ball retention is awful and in a team like Barcelona that keeps the ball with ease. Nearly half the time he gets it, they lose possession. Watch for it tonight.

Turtwig

Kirby wrote: »

Alves is one of the most overated players in that team. He always has been. His ball retention is awful and in a team like Barcelona that keeps the ball with ease. Nearly half the time he gets it, they lose possession. Watch for it tonight.

A lot of that is down to a terrible understanding with Alexis though. Himself and Cuenca, Himself and Pedro, Himself and Messi, Himself and Cesc all worked really well. Alves and Alexis on the same wing usually results in possession lost or a just a blunt edged attack.

Andersonisgod

Kirby wrote: »

Alves is one of the most overated players in that team. He always has been. His ball retention is awful and in a team like Barcelona that keeps the ball with ease. Nearly half the time he gets it, they lose possession. Watch for it tonight.

I don't agree. He is a hugely valuable out-ball. His energy but also his understanding of the Barcelona philosophy is invaluable. Granted his delivery mightn't always be the best and his defending, while good, isn't great but I wouldn't call him overrated and I certainly wouldn't undermine his importance to this Barcelona team.

Also he's been in great form this season. Last season he was poor, it looked like he might be on his way to PSG, he started the season slowly but his form has picked up considerably since then and he has been hugely consistent since.

markie29

Andersonisgod wrote: »

I don't agree. He is a hugely valuable out-ball. His energy but also his understanding of the Barcelona philosophy is invaluable. Granted his delivery mightn't always be the best and his defending, while good, isn't great but I wouldn't call him overrated and I certainly wouldn't undermine his importance to this Barcelona team.

Also he's been in great form this season. Last season he was poor, it looked like he might be on his way to PSG, he started the season slowly but his form has picked up considerably since then and he has been hugely consistent since.

is there anyone on the Barcelona team you dont rate?

Turtwig

markie29 wrote: »

is there anyone on the Barcelona team you dont rate?

Their Kit designer maybe? Only three more possible european games of that awful orange to endure!
*shudder*

Andersonisgod

markie29 wrote: »

is there anyone on the Barcelona team you dont rate?

I'm not a huge fan of Sanchez though I do have sympathy for him. His best position is through the middle, where he played the majority of time in the season with Udinese when he won Serie A player of the year. Of course that isn't really possible at Barcelona with Messi in the side. I don't think his style suits Barcelona at all. I think he is a hugely talented player, just at the wrong club for him.

Aside from that I'd find it tough to pick out many other players in the Barcelona squad who I don't rate. It's a great squad, collectively it is the greatest team of it's generation, an argument could be made for it being the greatest team ever. There is little, if any, deadweight.

Kirby

Andersonisgod wrote: »

I don't agree. He is a hugely valuable out-ball. His energy but also his understanding of the Barcelona philosophy is invaluable. Granted his delivery mightn't always be the best and his defending, while good, isn't great but I wouldn't call him overrated and I certainly wouldn't undermine his importance to this Barcelona team.

Also he's been in great form this season. Last season he was poor, it looked like he might be on his way to PSG, he started the season slowly but his form has picked up considerably since then and he has been hugely consistent since.

I just don't agree. It's one of those things that, when I say it to people, they look at me like I've two heads. My inner nerd usually comes out at this point and I point it out during the game.

I did it in the last round when Barca played Milan in the 2nd leg. I was watching it with a mate and he disagreed with me so we decided to keep count. After 30 minutes he had a ball retention rate of 40%. 4/10. The 10 times he received the ball, Milan instantly got it back 6 of them. Either by dribbling into somebody, passing it poorly, or crossing it to nobody. That's simply appalling. And he recovered well. He was 1 for 5 at one point. And yes, I'm great fun at parties. :P

I realise that it is unfair to just take a snapshot of one game. It proves nothing. But it was just a recent example. He is the same in every game. It's like the Dara o'briain "...eh....." thing. Now that I've said it, you can't not notice it.

Andersonisgod

Adrian Chiles: "Are Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta going to be starstruck playing against David Beckham"

He asked it in a completely serious manner and the question was answered without even the hint of a giggle by Lee Dixon. ITV are their nauseating, biased English worst.

Andersonisgod

Kirby wrote: »

I just don't agree. It's one of those things that, when I say it to people, they look at me like I've two heads. My inner nerd usually comes out at this point and I point it out during the game.

I did it in the last round when Barca played Milan in the 2nd leg. After 30 minutes he had a ball retention rate of 40%. 4/10. The 10 times he received the ball, Milan instantly got it back 6 of them. Either by dribbling into somebody, passing it poorly, or crossing it to nobody. That's simply appalling. And he recovered well. He was 1 for 5 at one point. And yes, I'm great fun at parties. :P

I realise that it is unfair to just take a snapshot of one game. It proves nothing. But it was just a recent example. He is the same in every game. And it a real pet hate of mine when people big him up.

Fair play to you for taking close observation and while I do think there is a place for stats like that what they don't take into account is the individual role of the players. He is the outball, when it gets congested in the middle he is more often than not the recipient of the crossfield pass and it does take a little bit of time for the rest of the team to shift across so that could be a factor.

He is also so often tasked with playing the cross when it does go out wide, infact I wouldn't be surprised if tonight he puts more crosses into the box than Sanchez so that will play a part. With Messi and Villa in the box it's not likely his success rate will be high but if he can get just one right and it leads to a goal then it will have been worth it and he will have done his job.

RandolphEsq

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Adrian Chiles: "Are Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta going to be starstruck playing against David Beckham"

He asked it in a completely serious manner and the question was answered without even the hint of a giggle by Lee Dixon. ITV are their nauseating, biased English worst.

What an odd question. They have achieved more than Beckham in their careers.

Kirby

He just compared Beckham to the Eiffel tower. I sh*t you not. :P

markie29

I think Mascheranos height could be a problem against Ibra tonight...Ibra could run riot.

Andersonisgod

Kirby wrote: »

He just compared Beckham to the Eiffel tower. I sh*t you not. :P

You'd almost think its just going to be 90 minutes of Beckham alone on the pitch with a football.

Professional Griefer

he does it again

Nuri Sahin

Alaba! 1-0 after 20 seconds!!!

Oat23

Jesus! :eek:

Even HSV managed to hold out for 4 minutes.

Havermeyer

Wicked deflection. Decided to swing to Buffon' left mid-flight.

WoollyRedHat

Where can I watch Juventus vs. Bayern Munich?

Kirby

Sky have it.

PSG won't get a better chance than that all night.

lertsnim

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

Where can I watch Juventus vs. Bayern Munich?

Sky and Setanta are showing it

Nuri Sahin

Vidal should have been booked there.

markie29

Deleted User wrote: »

PSG won't get a better chance than that all night.

i am sure they will...barcas defense is not the best

AdamD

Beckham playing for set pieces? Can see no other reason unless the normal CM is absolutely dreadful..

RandolphEsq

I get a semi-erection when Barca have the ball, and tenderly massage it as they pass it about.

Professional Griefer

Some strike that was.

markie29

i like the way PSG have Beckham playing...he will keep passing it to the wide men and exploit Barcas fullbacks

Beckham has put in a few great crosses already and a great 60 yard pass.

About time there was a yellow for Barcelona, being outplayed so far. He said.

Kirby

Good save there.

markie29

Great save.....PSG deserve to be ahead by now.

eagle eye

RandolphEsq wrote: »

I get a semi-erection when Barca have the ball, and tenderly massage it as they pass it about.

Psychedelic

AdamD wrote: »

Beckham playing for set pieces? Can see no other reason unless the normal CM is absolutely dreadful..

The commentator on ITV said that one of the PSG management said they picked Beckham because he has 105 Champions League caps and the experience he has in these games.

cson

Did my eyes deceive me or did Mascherano just hoof that out of defence? :eek:

PSG all over them.

Kylo Ren

When did Barcelona sign Sisqo as RB?

cson

Matuidi is some player. Box to box, energetic; like a bigger better Ramires.

smileyj1987

That really should have been 1 - 0 you would expect so much better from Ibrahimovic

Professional Griefer

Silly from Ribery.

Cienciano

Good refereeing not to give that one on ribery

Andersonisgod

Barca just getting their passing together now. Alves doing well defensively as I'd Mascha and Busquets.

Cienciano

Some miss from Robben. He delayed a pass that should have led to a great chance earlier.

Barcelona love to foul.

cson

Juve are fairly all over the shop. Should have been 2-0 there Robben.

DubDani

Bayern all over Juve, and should be up by 2, if not 3 by now.

markie29

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Barca just getting their passing together now. Alves doing well defensively as I'd Mascha and Busquets.

are you looking at the same game as me?

Red Crow

markie29 wrote: »

are you looking at the same game as me?

He can't see the game properly though his Barcascope.

Red Crow

That was an unbelievable pass

Ugh.

Anyone

Class.