[EU] Champions League 06/07 (9 Viewers)
- Thread starter ReBeL
- Start date
I also respect teams who play good football and to win. Barcelona are only one team who play in this style and it grates with many other supporters when Barca (their fans in particular) seem to believe theirs is somehow more pure.
Your analysis of last year's Champions League is exactly why this argument is thrown in the faces of Barcelona's victory. There should be no respect for their achievement as the the whole World was not waiting for Barcelona's second European Cup or first Champions League trophy. To clarify they shouldn't be respected any more than previous winners as they did not distinguish themselves in any other way except getting their name engraved on the trophy. It is the aspect of the win which Barcelona take for granted - just because they were popular winners.
Looking at the last ten winners of the competition; Dortmund, Real Madrid, Man Utd, Real Madrid, Bayern, Real Madrid, Milan, Porto, Liverpool, Barcelona. I'd say all except Madrid in 2002 (even though they were largely outplayed in the final) are considered fortunate or sniggered at when people try and say they were best from that year. The list and those who can recall those journeys to lifting that trophy epitomises how difficult a competition it is to win.
Barcelona fans who choose to ignore history and believe their win last year was something extraordinary and out of character of previous winners are deluding themselves and are the ones spreading the perception of arrogance and hatred towards their team. Barcelona won a cup competition - end of story.
Again there are other sides who play attractive football. It's funny you talk of Capello but Rijkaard is not the most pure coach without tactical interference. Anyone who witnessed how Barca failed to win home matches against Chelsea and Milan last year can verify that. More scary was man-marking Kaka when Milan chose not to do the same to Ronaldinho or even switching Eto'o to the left wing in the final to provide protection against Eboue. Sure Rijkaard is no Capello but to in reality he too tinkers defensively on many occasions; choosing to play Motta in physical matches or sometimes a double-pivot. Relatively with respect to Barca's attacking stance this is a big adjustment but is ignored because coaches who choose to emphasise tactics or ugly displays such as Mourinho and Capello are criticised because they openly admit it.
Ronaldinho is one of the great players today without doubt. Some would possibly say they prefer Messi or even Kaka for his efficiency. In terms of his overall greatness - my opinion is he isn't as great as Zidane nor will be. Worse still I cannot forgive how he treated the World Cup this summer and that will have stained his reputation forever - it's very likely he will never win the World Cup again and yet his triumph came when he was third man support to Ronaldo & Rivaldo. To not win it being the main billing would be a serious dent to his greatness.
Your analysis of last year's Champions League is exactly why this argument is thrown in the faces of Barcelona's victory. There should be no respect for their achievement as the the whole World was not waiting for Barcelona's second European Cup or first Champions League trophy. To clarify they shouldn't be respected any more than previous winners as they did not distinguish themselves in any other way except getting their name engraved on the trophy. It is the aspect of the win which Barcelona take for granted - just because they were popular winners.
Looking at the last ten winners of the competition; Dortmund, Real Madrid, Man Utd, Real Madrid, Bayern, Real Madrid, Milan, Porto, Liverpool, Barcelona. I'd say all except Madrid in 2002 (even though they were largely outplayed in the final) are considered fortunate or sniggered at when people try and say they were best from that year. The list and those who can recall those journeys to lifting that trophy epitomises how difficult a competition it is to win.
Barcelona fans who choose to ignore history and believe their win last year was something extraordinary and out of character of previous winners are deluding themselves and are the ones spreading the perception of arrogance and hatred towards their team. Barcelona won a cup competition - end of story.
Again there are other sides who play attractive football. It's funny you talk of Capello but Rijkaard is not the most pure coach without tactical interference. Anyone who witnessed how Barca failed to win home matches against Chelsea and Milan last year can verify that. More scary was man-marking Kaka when Milan chose not to do the same to Ronaldinho or even switching Eto'o to the left wing in the final to provide protection against Eboue. Sure Rijkaard is no Capello but to in reality he too tinkers defensively on many occasions; choosing to play Motta in physical matches or sometimes a double-pivot. Relatively with respect to Barca's attacking stance this is a big adjustment but is ignored because coaches who choose to emphasise tactics or ugly displays such as Mourinho and Capello are criticised because they openly admit it.
Ronaldinho is one of the great players today without doubt. Some would possibly say they prefer Messi or even Kaka for his efficiency. In terms of his overall greatness - my opinion is he isn't as great as Zidane nor will be. Worse still I cannot forgive how he treated the World Cup this summer and that will have stained his reputation forever - it's very likely he will never win the World Cup again and yet his triumph came when he was third man support to Ronaldo & Rivaldo. To not win it being the main billing would be a serious dent to his greatness.
1 Angelo Peruzzi (GK)
2 Ciro Ferrara
3 Moreno Torricelli
4 Massimo Carrera
5 Sergio Porrini
6 Manuel Carvalho Paulo Sousa
7 Angelo Di Livio
8 Antonio Conte
9 Gianluca Vialli (C)
10 Alessandro Del Piero
11 Fabrizio Ravanelli
12 Michelangelo Rampulla (GK)
13 Giancarlo Marocchi
14 Didier Claude Deschamps
15 Alessio Tacchinardi
16 Luca Danilo Fusi
18 Vladimir Jugovic
19 Attilio Lombardo
20 Pietro Vierchowod
21 Michele Padovano
22 Gianluca Pessotto
23 Juan Pablo Sorin
---------------------------------------------
Good times...
2 Ciro Ferrara
3 Moreno Torricelli
4 Massimo Carrera
5 Sergio Porrini
6 Manuel Carvalho Paulo Sousa
7 Angelo Di Livio
8 Antonio Conte
9 Gianluca Vialli (C)
10 Alessandro Del Piero
11 Fabrizio Ravanelli
12 Michelangelo Rampulla (GK)
13 Giancarlo Marocchi
14 Didier Claude Deschamps
15 Alessio Tacchinardi
16 Luca Danilo Fusi
18 Vladimir Jugovic
19 Attilio Lombardo
20 Pietro Vierchowod
21 Michele Padovano
22 Gianluca Pessotto
23 Juan Pablo Sorin
---------------------------------------------
Good times...
Elvin said:
1 Angelo Peruzzi (GK)
2 Ciro Ferrara
3 Moreno Torricelli
4 Massimo Carrera
5 Sergio Porrini
6 Manuel Carvalho Paulo Sousa
7 Angelo Di Livio
8 Antonio Conte
9 Gianluca Vialli (C)
10 Alessandro Del Piero
11 Fabrizio Ravanelli
12 Michelangelo Rampulla (GK)
13 Giancarlo Marocchi
14 Didier Claude Deschamps
15 Alessio Tacchinardi
16 Luca Danilo Fusi
18 Vladimir Jugovic
19 Attilio Lombardo
20 Pietro Vierchowod
21 Michele Padovano
22 Gianluca Pessotto
23 Juan Pablo Sorin
---------------------------------------------
Good times...
2 Ciro Ferrara
3 Moreno Torricelli
4 Massimo Carrera
5 Sergio Porrini
6 Manuel Carvalho Paulo Sousa
7 Angelo Di Livio
8 Antonio Conte
9 Gianluca Vialli (C)
10 Alessandro Del Piero
11 Fabrizio Ravanelli
12 Michelangelo Rampulla (GK)
13 Giancarlo Marocchi
14 Didier Claude Deschamps
15 Alessio Tacchinardi
16 Luca Danilo Fusi
18 Vladimir Jugovic
19 Attilio Lombardo
20 Pietro Vierchowod
21 Michele Padovano
22 Gianluca Pessotto
23 Juan Pablo Sorin
---------------------------------------------
Good times...
Now that was a team 
And what performances we used to give
I feel for Valencia - they top the group, and get their bogus team in Inter!
I feel Inter is superior in just about every single department and sadly, I cant but think Valencia being knocked out at last 16. I seriously wanted Lyon for Inter.
Roma has tough tough draw. But one thing that do go in their favor is the fact Lyon will start this as favorites. It will be interesting to see what they can do when there is a pressure to win. Playing as an underdog is quite different from having huge pressure, and knowing there isnt any margin for slip-up. I bet this one may be closer than one may think. 53-48 Edge to Lyon shall I say.
I feel Inter is superior in just about every single department and sadly, I cant but think Valencia being knocked out at last 16. I seriously wanted Lyon for Inter.
Roma has tough tough draw. But one thing that do go in their favor is the fact Lyon will start this as favorites. It will be interesting to see what they can do when there is a pressure to win. Playing as an underdog is quite different from having huge pressure, and knowing there isnt any margin for slip-up. I bet this one may be closer than one may think. 53-48 Edge to Lyon shall I say.