La Liga Discussion Thread 2014/15 Season.

Francie Barrett

CSF wrote: »

Just seen the elbow, Messi has turned into a right nasty little character.

It's sad to see.

Andersonisgod

CSF wrote: »

Just seen the elbow, Messi has turned into a right nasty little character.

I do like how everytime we talk you claim this morale high ground, yet all I see right now is bitter comments. If Ronaldo could produce a complete 45 minutes like that I guarantee I wouldn't be the only "bedwetter" here. If you are so unbiased where is your praise for Messi? Afterall, you and others ask me why I do not praise Ronaldo, so where is your praise for a magnificent half of football that has driven Barcelona to a 2-0 lead against the reigning Spanish champions and a side who have just soundly beaten Real Madrid 2-0. It doesn't even matter, there are far more valuable opinions out there.

CSF

Andersonisgod wrote: »

I do like how everytime we talk you claim this morale high ground, yet all I see right now is bitter comments. If Ronaldo could produce a complete 45 minutes like that I guarantee I wouldn't be the only "bedwetter" here. If you are so unbiased where is your praise for Messi? Afterall, you and others ask me why I do not praise Ronaldo, so where is your praise for a magnificent half of football that has driven Barcelona to a 2-0 lead against the reigning Spanish champions and a side who have just soundly beaten Real Madrid 2-0. It doesn't even matter, there are far more valuable opinions out there.

I didn't call you a bedwetter, why don't you address that to the person who called you it?

Ulysses Gaze

CSF wrote: »

Just seen the elbow, Messi has turned into a right nasty little character.

I am a big fan of Atleti and Simeone, but let's face it. They have hardly been shrinking violets themselves during this match.

They chopped down Messi a couple of times and Neymar as well. Look at his ankle.

What's good for the goose and all...

Turtwig

Utterly dominant display from Barca. Can't help but wonder how much of that is a Diego Simeone own goal? Messi has the freedom of the pitch against that Right Back.

Barca's play deserves the 2 goal lead. They don't however deserve that lead and the argument can indeed be made that Messi should have, at the very least - very least!-, have one yellow card, if not two.

Andersonisgod

CSF wrote: »

I didn't call you a bedwetter, why don't you address that to the person who called you it?

I'm simply responding to previous comments revolving around Ronaldo and my bias, now I ask you about Messi and your bias. In any case if you don't want to answer I don't particularly care. Barcelona's front 3 are functioning like we all imagined that they could and they are running, arguably, the best defense in Europe ragged.

CSF

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

I am a big fan of Atleti and Simeone, but let's face it. They have hardly been shrinking violets themselves during this match.

They chopped down Messi a couple of times and Neymar as well. Look at his ankle ffs.

What's good for the goose and all...

There was a bad tackle by Gamez for sure. Rough tough tackling a staple of the Simeone's side, no surprise there.

Turtwig

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

I am a big fan of Atleti and Simeone, but let's face it. They have hardly been shrinking violets themselves during this match.

They chopped down Messi a couple of times and Neymar as well. Look at his ankle.

What's good for the goose and all...

A valid point, I thought that tackle on Neymar was horrific, studs showing into the shin!. However, Messi's handball has irrevocably swung the game in Barca's favour. At 1-0 Atleti were still happy to play containment. Now they've got to force things and that suits Barca down to the ground.

CSF

Andersonisgod wrote: »

I'm simply responding to previous comments revolving around Ronaldo and my bias, now I ask you about Messi and your bias. In any case if you don't want to answer I don't particularly care. Barcelona's front 3 are functioning like we all imagined that they could and they are running, arguably, the best defense in Europe ragged.

I would find it difficult to lavish praise on someone who in this 45 minutes has set up one goal with a handball and who should have been sent off after an elbow to the head.

If you ignore all of that, he has played very well, but I can't see why you would ignore that.

Turtwig

klose wrote: »

A cheat! A cheat! A blatent handball and now an elbow to the back of gamez head?

Pfft, not enough exclamation, sensationalism and outrage!

4/10

:pac:

Andersonisgod

CSF wrote: »

I would find it difficult to lavish praise on someone who in this 45 minutes has set up one goal with a handball and who should have been sent off after an elbow to the head.

If you ignore all of that, he has played very well, but I can't see why you would ignore that.

Odd I don't remember you being so vehemently annoyed last season when Barcelona were denied the title by a poor offside calls against Messi but hey let's just bury our heads in the sand.

Haha if that's a red card we might aswell all just quit now. I'd explain why it obviously isn't a red card but I suspect that , for most, they don't need an explanation.

CSF

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Odd I don't remember you being so vehemently annoyed last season when Barcelona were denied the title by a poor offside calls against Messi but hey let's just bury our heads in the sand.

Haha if that's a red card we might aswell all just quit now. I'd explain why it obviously isn't a red card but I suspect that , for most, they don't need an explanation.

I don't think comparing poor officiating decisions with cheating is like for like. But whatever way you want to twist the conversation in to suit an agenda, that is fine.

And red card for sure, led with the elbow to the head. That is a red card all day long.

Andersonisgod

CSF wrote: »

I don't think comparing poor officiating decisions with cheating is like for like. But whatever way you want to twist the conversation in to suit an agenda, that is fine.

And red card for sure, led with the elbow to the head. That is a red card all day long.

Haha I'd love to know what your method for going past a player is if it involves your arms staying by your side.

ebbsy

Either way Barca are handing out a scotching here.

Ulysses Gaze

Soft penalty?

Atleti won't mind that though.

CSF

Soft enough peno tbh

CSF

Great peno all the same from Mandzukic

Andersonisgod

Well the ref has gotten the script from the league, you can only laugh really. As utterly ridiculous as it gets.

klose

Soft peno but retribution for the earlier incident i would say

CSF

klose wrote: »

Soft peno but retribution for the earlier incident i would say

Decisions balanced out now yeah. Still don't see Atleti making their way back into this. They've been 2nd best by a distance.

ebbsy

Getting naughty now

fullstop

Shocking ref. Don't know how he missed the handball by Messi earlier and that penalty decision was laughable, he just fell over.

klose

CSF wrote: »

Decisions balanced out now yeah. Still don't see Atleti making their way back into this. They've been 2nd best by a distance.

Aye, atletis midfield is absent, tiago and gabi have been anonymous.

CSF

Here comes Torres!!!

TheCitizen

Andersonisgod wrote: »

I do like how everytime we talk you claim this morale high ground, yet all I see right now is bitter comments. If Ronaldo could produce a complete 45 minutes like that I guarantee I wouldn't be the only "bedwetter" here. If you are so unbiased where is your praise for Messi? Afterall, you and others ask me why I do not praise Ronaldo, so where is your praise for a magnificent half of football that has driven Barcelona to a 2-0 lead against the reigning Spanish champions and a side who have just soundly beaten Real Madrid 2-0. It doesn't even matter, there are far more valuable opinions out there.

I hope you're not connecting me with that CSF.

My question to you was; you were saying Enrique should be sacked in that Real Sociedad thread, maybe not in so many words but that was the gist of what you were saying. He may not last long in the job - as in for years - but I think you were jumping the gun a bit there.

HalloweenJack

At least we now know what Messi has to do to get booked.

elefant

Great entertainment!

The likes of Alves and Busquets aren't exactly endearing, but they are entertaining!

CSF

This is getting seriously feisty.

CSF

There would be reds here in an English game.

CSF

Game over. Seriously sloppy defending from Atleti there. Should have got it clear.

LuckyGent88

Lovely cross field ball by Suarez to set that goal up

HalloweenJack

Lovely move but Atletis defending has been pathetic tonight.

Andersonisgod

No words are needed, he's won the game tonight, he's gotten Barcelona right back into this title race. Messi! Messi! Messi! We all chant together.

klose

Best ive seen barca in a good while with messi looking like his old self. When was the last time atleti conceded 3? Get miranda back in there.!

Mushy

Andersonisgod wrote: »

No words are needed, he's won the game tonight, he's gotten Barcelona right back into this title race. Messi! Messi! Messi! We all chant together.

They were only 1 point off going into this round of games, not exactly getting them back into it.

TheCitizen

Andersonisgod wrote: »

No words are needed, he's won the game tonight, he's gotten Barcelona right back into this title race. Messi! Messi! Messi! We all chant together.

Bedwetter.

Ulysses Gaze

klose wrote: »

Best ive seen barca in a good while with messi looking like his old self. When was the last time atleti conceded 3? Get miranda back in there.!

Miranda back in and they need a new left back. None of the options they have at the moment are a patch on Filipe Luis.

Fudge You

TheCitizen wrote: »

Bedwetter.

Your input to this thread is spectacular this evening

Andersonisgod

Mushy wrote: »

They were only 1 point off going into this round of games, not exactly getting them back into it.

1 point but Madrid have a game in hand, a draw tonight and it's 3 points and a game in hand and that could already be too much.

gosplan

Andersonisgod wrote: »

No words are needed

Finally

Andersonisgod

gosplan wrote: »

Finally

Lots of anger in here tonight. 3 possibilities: people either really hate Barcelona, really like Atletico or really hate me.

Turtwig

For all the criticism they receive two stats are worth noting.

Barcelona have been the only team to beat Valenica at the Mestalla. Barca have kept Atletico contained for multiple set pieces.

Thoroughly deserved win for Barca but two questions need consideration:
What on earth was Simeone thinking with his right back selection?
How in the blazing hell did Leo Messi not get sent off, one elbow and one absolutely reckless attempt to win the ball against the goal keeper where he actually extended his leg!?

I suppose one could also ask whether that was the worst high profile la liga refeering performance in quite some time? Dismal stuff from the officials.

TheCitizen

Fudge You wrote: »

Your input to this thread is spectacular this evening

Aye, can't always have spectacular evenings on these threads I suppose:pac:

I think the point I'd make would be Enrique is hardly for the sack given that Barca are still in the CL and in with a good chance of winning La Liga and still the Copa Del Rey. Some people have suggested that he should be for the sack however, I find that a bit premature.

gosplan

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Lots of anger in here tonight. 3 possibilities: people either really hate Barcelona, really like Atletico or really hate me.

Bah, you love it.

You used to drive me mad but now I see the funny side.

Fair play too. You are relentless.

Headshot

Andersonisgod wrote: »

possibilities: people either really hate Barcelona, really like Atletico or really hate me.

Man thats a hard one.

CSF

Credit to Luis Enrique, he set up Barcelona to deal with Atleti very well. Only 3 more league games before a potentially huge home game vs Real. Those 3 really need to be wins or touch will have been lost with the top 2.

Hopefully Torres can have an impact. Would like to see him start vs Granada or Vallecano to relieve the pressure from him with a goal or 2.

Mushy

Andersonisgod wrote: »

1 point but Madrid have a game in hand, a draw tonight and it's 3 points and a game in hand and that could already be too much.

Very true, but still wouldn't say back into it. Kept them in it maybe, but I'd put that at a push as there is still so long left.

Johner

Messi blessed that he wasn't sent off tonight.

Ulysses Gaze

Johner wrote: »

Messi blessed that he wasn't sent off tonight.

Gamez could have walked for the challenge on Neymar.

SlickRic

I despise Atletico. Possibly one of the hardest teams around to watch. Just a bunch of hatchet men.

All the same, summing up the game is really quite simple.

Enrique outfoxed Simeone by putting Messi on the right. The middle stayed congested and Messi controlled the game.

However, the game was still there for Atletico at 1-0 when Messi Maradona'd to set up the second.

It evened out with the ridiculous penalty decision.

The better team won. Happy for Enrique. Messi will get the plaudits but Enrique deserves his fair share of the credit.