[EU] Champions League 2008/2009 (26 Viewers)

[Bjerknes]

I can understand biasm, I can understand different opinions to a degree. But for the love of, I CANNOT understand why anyone would be this biased against Xavi in particular, to the point of calling him ordinary (even saying Zanetti is better...), severely underplaying his amazing performances etc. When people are biased against someone, it usually is for a reason (even if illogical), disliking the club/player/attitude etc. But what the heck is the reason why so many of you are refusing to acknowledge what a maestro he has been in the last 2 seasons? Especially last year since the euro, has won it all and he has been VERY key part of it in all of it (rightfully MVP in euros, and only 2nd behind Messi for Barca, Iniesta is immense, but he has been great 2nd half of the season, Xavi, WHOLE season, assists 3 times more, scores more). How the heck can he of all people called be ordinary? I mean seriously?

Too much talking, please view this whole vid of some plays of this season, and repeat the same stuff of insanely downplaying his acheivement and qualites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3bs_TAzqO0

It's because they're fucking retards. That's the only explanation for it.

 

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[Bjerknes]

I don't agree. If you're talking about internationals then it's Luca Toni and the other Italian strikers that made Xavi look better than Pirlo. Xavi had Torres and Villa to latch passes to, that pair could pretty much get on the end of anything. For me, it takes two to complete a pass and Xabi and Xavi plays alongside better players.

Iniesta and Messi are better players than Xavi. If Xavi was the better player he would have much more attention from Essien and co than what Messi did. Messi is the best of the lot at Barca when it come to ball control, scoring and vision.

To be honest, it doesn't really matter what you all think.

Xavi has a Champions League and a Euro, so the accomplishment speaks for itself.

Nobody cares what a bunch of Azzurri fans from Mars think, because of course they'll be biased freaks.

 

[swag]

http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/laliga...n-in-consensus-over-bar-231-a-brilliance.aspx - a good read.

I have to respectfully disagree.

 

[Fred]

I bet you didn't see him play three games last year.

I think i probably watched more Juve games than you did. Anyway thats not the point, i watched plenty of Juve games last year and this year. This year he hasn't played much, but last year he had a good season. Still it was nowhere near the season Xavi had. But you know what, ok, lets just assume he had as good a season as Xavi. For one second let us entertain that extremely biased opinion of yours. It is still a crime to compare the two in terms of passing ability.

Zanetti is a decent passer, probably the best passer in Juve after Camoranesi. But Xavi is so ahead of him in terms of passing ability, i feel silly discussing this.


Really, i am even surprised that nobody replied to this gem of a post(Other than Osman). It really shows how much you know about football.

Honestly people, check the sig, what are your thoughts, is it that i am underrating Zanetti or is Seven just so biased?

what you think


please discuss

 

[Fred]

I'm sorry Rab but this just go to show you've absolutely no idea about Modric.He is by far our best player.

He didn't fail at all with Tottenham. From relegation battlers he and Tottenham finished 8th and Luka was Tottenham's best and most consistent player the whole season. As personal records go, he was 2 assists shy of being first assister in EPL.

You're right here V, Luka has been very good for Tottenham, Lennon was probably their best player this year, not Luka, but thats only because Modric has been played out of position so many times. He has been very good for a player mostly played out of position, and i honestly think that if given enough games in the center he would be one of the top creative CM's in the league.

Theres no doubt in my mind that he is a very good player.

 

[Bisco]

I think i probably watched more Juve games than you did. Anyway thats not the point, i watched plenty of Juve games last year and this year. This year he hasn't played much, but last year he had a good season. Still it was nowhere near the season Xavi had. But you know what, ok, lets just assume he had as good a season as Xavi. For one second let us entertain that extremely biased opinion of yours. It is still a crime to compare the two in terms of passing ability.

Zanetti is a decent passer, probably the best passer in Juve after Camoranesi. But Xavi is so ahead of him in terms of passing ability, i feel silly discussing this.


Really, i am even surprised that nobody replied to this gem of a post(Other than Osman). It really shows how much you know about football.

Honestly people, check the sig, what are your thoughts, is it that i am underrating Zanetti or is Seven just so biased?

what you think




please discuss

i dont know i think 7 toke it to another level. i can live with paro>>>>>>>>>> fabregas, i can live with palla>>>>> cr7 both are hilarious but zanetti >>> xavi is a bit far fetched. there is no comparison between the two, and comparing them is very un fair to be honest. i guess thats his view on the topic

i read a couple of pages with the modric issue and i think he is def a talented player who just needs time to settle. its his first season so i think its not right to judge him for his display this season with all the crap that went on with spurs.

i would also like to warn people that it would be a mistake to label diego a flop next season if in case he does'nt deliver i think people should judge him starting his 2nd season. ( the same with neddy, i remeber when he first moved to juve he was'nt setting the matches alight but 6 months into the season he kicked in 5th gear)

 

[Stevie]

I think i probably watched more Juve games than you did. Anyway thats not the point, i watched plenty of Juve games last year and this year. This year he hasn't played much, but last year he had a good season. Still it was nowhere near the season Xavi had. But you know what, ok, lets just assume he had as good a season as Xavi. For one second let us entertain that extremely biased opinion of yours. It is still a crime to compare the two in terms of passing ability.

Zanetti is a decent passer, probably the best passer in Juve after Camoranesi. But Xavi is so ahead of him in terms of passing ability, i feel silly discussing this.


Really, i am even surprised that nobody replied to this gem of a post(Other than Osman). It really shows how much you know about football.

Honestly people, check the sig, what are your thoughts, is it that i am underrating Zanetti or is Seven just so biased?

what you think


please discuss

I dont want to dicuss the subject because i find it so ridiculous. The things being said about Xavi are so stupid i think there just being said to wind people up.

 

[Fred]

But no really, i mean Vlatko, Pitbull and the others were all making rather good arguments even if i did not agree with them, Seven on the other hand made that ultimate comparison that would have made Badass proud, Zanetti a better passer than Xavi

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

Don't take it seriously, he was trying to be amusing.

 

[Lion]

Don't take it seriously, he was trying to be amusing.

his momma may find his stupidity and ignorance amusing, but we don't.

 

[Fred]

Don't take it seriously, he was trying to be amusing.

I really think he was serious. Seven, come and tell them you were serious, as nobody really took it seriously.

 

[Henry]

fucking hell, now I remember why I frequently take long breaks from this forum

 

[swag]

Welcome back, eh, mate?

 

[Hydde]

Blog: Euro master-class
Barcelona rule Europe after stylishly conquering Man Utd. Steve Wilson hopes Coaches around the peninsula noted the manner of their victory



Barcelona rule Europe for a third time. The Catalans, who have the flag of Saint Jordi on their badge, slayed the English dragon and answered the prayers of most non-English fans around the continent by beating Manchester United.

The simple fact is that this decade – in which England’s Premier League has apparently become the best in the world – ends with the League owning just two European Cups. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Milan each have that many on their own from the past 10 years. Some domination.

But enough gloating at the expense of the self-proclaimed Best League In The World™ - although I could go on, and on – what I really want to talk about is the manner of Barcelona’s victory.

Pep Guardiola – a graduate of Serie A, even if it was just a handful of games for Brescia and Roma – has his side playing with amazing self-confidence and patience. The thing that struck me most about their performance was their willingness to build from the back and wait for the right scoring chance to present itself. They never seemed rushed, never panicked.

How often did we see Inter throwing the ball forward to Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Manchester United and hoping the Swede would perform some magic on his own? And how often did we see Ibra thwarted and the ball straight back into the Red Devils control?

The Nerazzurri were so eager to get to goal and to be on the front foot, but when each move broke down it meant they had to fight and scrap to win the ball back again. It didn’t have to be that way. What we saw in Rome is perhaps as important a shake up of tactics as the Dutch 'Total Football’ in the 1970s.

You cannot lose if you have the ball. That is Guardiola’s Blaugrana mantra. Every time they probed forward and were thwarted they turned back on themselves – sometimes right the way to goalkeeper Victor Valdes – and started all over again.

How often can you remember watching a game live and hearing fans around you shout and heckle a back pass? “We are shooting the other way!” is a favourite moan at my local ground, but after the 2009 Champions League Final I hope fans – and Coaches – begin to realise the value of possession football.

It is an approach that we already saw work for the Spaniards in the semi-final. Against Chelsea they battled and battled right up until the 90th minute, waiting for the right chance to open up. As the seconds ticked away and their dreams of going to Rome slipped away they refused to break their game-plan.

Never resorting to hit-and-hope they knew that if they kept passing and kept moving they would find that one golden chance. And they did. One shot, one goal, and Andres Iniesta sends them on their way. It is beauty over brawn, brains over barbarism – and I love it.

At all levels we see attacking players whipping in a hopeful cross, or running down a blind alley in the hope of beating the last defender only to hand the ball straight to their opponents – last night we saw the alternative.

The slower pace of the Italian game would be perfect for this patient and measured approach to the sport and I sincerely hope Jose Mourinho & Co took note. Sure, it helps to have players like Xavi, Lionel Messi and Iniesta, but I believe adopting this methodology could be the first step towards bringing the glory nights back to Italy.

damn.....

We need to get to this level next year guys.... now we have the weapons tod o it.

What wake up call.......
Times are changing...and football in italy must change too.

 

[Henry]

well, i must say i enjoyed that CL final. I was a little worried at first, Ronaldo looked dangerous, but after Eto'o'o'o'o'o somehow scored, it really was men against boys. I do think that had Manu showed more guts and determination they could have made things more interesting, as Barca's back line (even considering how little manu had the ball) definitely looked a little vulnerable to Ronaldo's pace, but with Rooney disappearing, Park failing to do his "kuyt role" up front, and the fact that none of manu's midfielders showed up in either defensively or offensively. barca could have been beaten (chelsea and liverpool would have given them a game) but manu got everything wrong. and that header from messi was priceless

 

[cimenk]

Barca is deserved to become Champions

and i pretty impress with what Pep did in his starting line up in final, he really has guts to make experiment, he believe it and it is paid him with good result.
He choose to give Yaya as CB not even Puyol or Caceres, and make Puyol play as RB, i think it is a gamble because i think more of coaches will make experiment to try player as RB, not as CB.. Also because their LB is Sylvinho is not their first choice

In midfield he choose unexperienced Busquets than Keita.

I think Barca hardest match in CL is against Chelsea, they are very lucky
CONGRATS Barca

 

[V]

You're right here V, Luka has been very good for Tottenham, Lennon was probably their best player this year, not Luka, but thats only because Modric has been played out of position so many times. He has been very good for a player mostly played out of position, and i honestly think that if given enough games in the center he would be one of the top creative CM's in the league.

Theres no doubt in my mind that he is a very good player.

I don't know how many Spurs games you've watched this season, but I've watched at least 15-20 and Luka has been their most dangerous man every time. Pretty much every decent attack they mustered, he was the organisator. Lennon was good, I've always liked that player, but he always seems to lack that finishing touch, be it an assist or goal. He's always penetrating, being dangerous but most of the time has a move too much in the end.

 

[Albertmare]

I don't know how many Spurs games you've watched this season, but I've watched at least 15-20 and Luka has been their most dangerous man every time. Pretty much every decent attack they mustered, he was the organisator. Lennon was good, I've always liked that player, but he always seems to lack that finishing touch, be it an assist or goal. He's always penetrating, being dangerous but most of the time has a move too much in the end.

I liked Luka Goal when Manure ripped them apart 5-2

 

[Seven]

Look at the video footage. Zanetti's long ball is A LOT better than Xavi's. Why do you think we play Zanetti every time we can?

Fred, the others were making the same arguments as I was. I don't take kindly to your unnecessary and childish behaviour here.

 

[swag]

damn.....

We need to get to this level next year guys.... now we have the weapons tod o it.

What wake up call.......
Times are changing...and football in italy must change too.

As someone who follows the Portuguese NT on a regular basis, saying that you can't lose if you have the ball is absolute horse shit.

I mean, that strategy sure worked wonders for Barca's fellow La Liga rivals Real Madrid against Juve in the CL, that's for sure.

Dumbasses get columns all the time... I swear.