Champions League 08/09

Sile wrote:

This would all be irrelevant if Anelka kept on running and scored. Instead he fell knowing it would be a red card. I'm 99,9% certain he would be able to stay on his feet.

Saying that Chelsea played good defensively in the first match is wrong. How can a team that plays good defensively allow 20 shots on goal? They played one hell of a better defensive game in the 2nd leg, because offense is the best defense, and with the Essien wonder goal they were in the driver's seat. Penalties or not Chelsea would have been better off if they kept attacking instead allowing Barca to circle the ball around the box. Any one of Messi's shots could easily have gone in just the same as Essien's did and then what.

Chelsea did play well defensively in the first leg. Most of the Barcelona shots were from long range. They were nothing. Chelsea had the best chence that match as well. Valdes saved from Drogba in the first half. Chelsea were the first team not to allow Barcelona to score in the Camp Nou this season.

20 shots or not, Barca was neutralised over 2 games. Everybody wanted a final between utd and barca, and the ref couldnt go against that. Its normal to fall for pressure, I am not saying there was cheating as in bribing or so, but the ref wanted to keep the hopes up for barca as long as he could - and finally they got a goal. With one of the many penalties would have been rewarded, the game would have been over.

Cash wrote:

20 shots or not, Barca was neutralised over 2 games. Everybody wanted a final between utd and barca, and the ref couldnt go against that. Its normal to fall for pressure, I am not saying there was cheating as in bribing or so, but the ref wanted to keep the hopes up for barca as long as he could - and finally they got a goal. With one of the many penalties would have been rewarded, the game would have been over.

If the referee wanted to keep the hopes up for Barcelona as long as he could then why did the referee give Abidal a red card when Barcelona was already a goal down?

good point

That was a large mistake by the ref and totally wrong decision, and it does stand against my way of seeing the game and the ref. However, it did balance the wrong decisions taken against Chelsea, and it also meant that he could close his eyes for any claim that the blues had from that point and onwards, As I stated earlier, I dont think it was intentional and planned, but rather a result of subconsciously created bias and pressure from the footbaöö community...

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

It's absolutely ludicrous to think UEFA had a conspiracy to get Chelsea out and only in England could this be claimed.

Chelsea went out, for all I can remember British media have slagged the Italians for playing such a way, it was always 'They played negatively from the off, they had chances and never took them, it was their own fault for playing a risky game, get over it' now it happens to a British club and it's all about conspiracy theories. Gimme a break.

It was clear that only 1 team showed up to both games to play good football, and I don't care about the money aspect, this is what this tournament should, and used to be about. I have nothing against Chelsea fans but clearly the better team won, the ref made some poor decisions for BOTH teams and that's it. The way the Chelsea players behaved was unjustifiable and even to hear to hear Hiddink going on about poor refereeing when he was on the bench for S Korea in 2002 and applauded Moreno's decisions against Italy was really stupid.

Let's look forward to a superb final guys.

Giolazio wrote:

It's absolutely ludicrous to think UEFA had a conspiracy to get Chelsea out and only in England could this be claimed.

Chelsea went out, for all I can remember British media have slagged the Italians for playing such a way, it was always 'They played negatively from the off, they had chances and never took them, it was their own fault for playing a risky game, get over it' now it happens to a British club and it's all about conspiracy theories. Gimme a break.

Totally agree. As an English man I find it embarrassing to be honest that our papers print such rubbish about conspiracy theories etc etc They should take the defeat on the chin and just get on with it. Drogba's behaviour was disgraceful.

Cash wrote:

That was a large mistake by the ref and totally wrong decision, and it does stand against my way of seeing the game and the ref. However, it did balance the wrong decisions taken against Chelsea, and it also meant that he could close his eyes for any claim that the blues had from that point and onwards, As I stated earlier, I dont think it was intentional and planned, but rather a result of subconsciously created bias and pressure from the footbaöö community...

Nah, you are writing a load of rubbish. Fact is Chelsea was going through to the Final until Barcelona scored. Was the referee involved in any way for Barcelonas goal? Did the referee take the ball of Essien and lay it off for Iniesta? The referee had an awful game but I do not think that he subconciously created bias for either team. Chelsea played the last 25 minutes with a man more and with the chences they had they should have put another goal in, instead they were playing defensively at home with a man more. When you play defensively you get tired and when you are tired you will make mistakes. That is what happenned. You can blame the referee all you want but you should take a look at Chelseas shortcomings and then factor them in.

You play within the context of the game. Fact is, Chelsea were 1-0 up with an extra man and they knew one goal from Barca would put them out. It was a risk they took and they paid the ultimate price.

Let's say Chelsea got the penalties most people (not me) think they should have got. They would have been two or three nil up. If the referee had a perfect game, Barca would have had 11 men and who is to say a team that can regularly score 5 or 6 goals couldn't nab a couple in 25 minutes? You can't, it would have been a different game and while it is more likely that Barca wouldn't progress at that stage, it would still be a possible feat.

On the other hand, Chelsea could have got the penalties, been 2, 3 goals up and Abidal is sent off because Anelka takes a blatant dive. THIS was by far the most obvious refereeing mistake so how come we are not talking about it??? How come nobody thinks it's an outrage that Eric misses the final because a player took a dive and it was deemed a red card offence??? This is the true tragedy.

Barca progressed and that's that. The ref had a bad game and that's that. Abidal was wrongly sent off, Dani Alves for me was harshly booked to early on in the game, Messi was fouled many an occasion just outside the Chelsea box with nothing given. There's no conspiracy, the ref simply had a terrible game. Time to move on.

Here's a video of the 4 said penalties:



Incident no.1: It's inside the box, yes so why the ref gives a free kick I'll never know. Well, actually, I do...because it wasn't a penalty. Malouda moves the ball past Dani Alves who is apparently so strong that Malouda who physically dominates him, runs into him and gets thrown back like Dani Alves has some kind of special shield. Perhaps if Malouda kept running he would have won a penalty legitimately. Fifty years ago, this was all part of the game. What's changed?

Incident no.2: Anybody who thinks this is a penalty is slightly nuts. Let me see, Drogba's shirt is tugged back but funnily enough, this seems to cause him to leap forwards towards Valdes like he has just been shot from a rocket launcher.

Incident no.3: Pique handball. Deliberate? Of course not. He's running to get to Anelka and Anelka's touch means he has no choice but to move his arms in order to balance himself to turn. Do pundits not understand how the human anatomy works??? On top of that, Anelka was going nowhere.

Incident no.4: Eto'o handball. Lower armball perhaps. I think the fact he is not facing the ball says it's unintentional, along with the fact that he would look like a right idiot if he jumped with his hands by his side or behind his back. Aside from anything else, he needs those hands in position to protect his balls if necessary.

Well analysed Caxi. The thing about Drogba, he's cried wolf so many times it's no wonder refs aren't willing to give him penalties even if he is fouled. That's his own doing. The Malouda one, if it was a foul, it should have been outside the box because that's where the foul occurred initially, not that I'm saying it was.

Chelsea players are a bit of an enigma....they are big strong guys yet go flying at the first sign of contact. Maybe there's a conspiracy in that?

We could go on forever I guess. To me, despite not giving a damn about who got the finals, Chelsea was robbed by the ref, but just as you guys point out things would have been different if it wasnt for the stupid red card, or for other strange decisions. As I have said over and over again, and I will say it until this discussion ends, the ref kept hopes alive for Barca all through, and they grabbed a late one and they went through.

Now, Abidal is out of the final game. But I know Barca appealed this...what happened to Fletcher´s red? Is he suspended?

For me there was no penalty in either of the cases. Both Eto'o and Pique were unintentional, its obvious. Abidal on Drogba for me at first looked a bit like a penalty but after looking at replays I think the referee got it correct. No penalty. Dani Alves on Malouda was firstly outside the box and was a 50-50 tussle. Play on. For people who say the ref and UEFA conspired to get a Barca - United final are being ridiculous. Abidal was unrightfully sent off.

Over the 2 legs Barcelona fully deserved to go through to the final in Rome.

@ Gio: The foul did start outside the box but funnily enough, malouda waited until he was inside the box to go down. And, for that reason, i don't think it's a foul, but simulation.

@ Cash: United and Barca (I think) have made a written plea for their guys cards to be rescinded. Rescinding the red cards would be against the rules but I guess if the respective referees admit to making mistakes then for the sake of good will, UEFA will let them play. As it is, rules state that neither Fletcher or Abidal can appeal the decision.

Yeh, Caxi. I watched it again last night. It's not like the first time Malouda has dived in the box...remember Berlin 2006?

As a complete neutral I will cheer for United tomorow ....
Joke a side I do believe that Manchester United deserve more this trophy then Barca... Call me one-sided United fan but I do believe that we are more complete team that only-attacking Barca... We have a great defence a fenomenal middlefield and dangerous attack...

---------------VDS------------
O'Shea---Rio----Vidic---Evra
-------Carrick--Anderson----
-------------Giggs-------------
----Park-------------Rooney--
-----------Ronaldo------------

I believe that this will be the team and its a great one..... The defence is steedy.... Anderson full of energy.... Carrick with Giggs will form a great link with attack.... Park and Rooney will run a lot at the flanks and Ronaldo will...... Well he can do whatever as long as he is good tomorow

And does anyone know where will be seated United fans... Please dont tell me it will be where Rioma fans seat.... And tomorow United fans stadium message will be "FOR SIR MATT" - (Matt Busby - He is the longest serving manager in the history of Manchester United,) because today is 100 years since his birthday...

I have heard that the Utd fans will be in Curva Nord, while barca will be in merda sud

C'mon Barca, beat the living trap of man u. I would love to see Fergusons face when Barca win the final. And I hope C. Ronaldo will spend more time on football skills, instead of playing a movie star a lá Filppo Inzaghi in his best days. Messi will show that he is the best player around.

Come on Barca!

Show them how a real team plays football!

VAMOS BARCELONA!!!!!

Barca! Barca! Baaaaaaaaaarcaaaaaaa!

Bobbi wrote:

Come on Barca!

Show them how a real team plays football!

VAMOS BARCELONA!!!!!

And how is that?...... Explain..... To know how to attack but who doesnt know how to defend??? United play the real football.... And they are the best team in the world.... Its easy to score in Spain.... look at Forlan for exampe.... 31 goals...... And in United he was a reserve player...... Pique.... WOOOOW... xaxaxaxax Give me a brake...

Come on Utd, I hope you win, if only as a thanks for that unforgettable 7-1.



Puta Barca!