Whatever way is better than 'Moysie way' which is akin to $hit on a stick.

Barcelona can continue this style, but I do not think it will help them achieve the heights that Guardiola's team did: creatively they do not seem as good against that standard of opposition: I could see even Chelsea getting something off of you. Regardless, I wonder if even Barca' fans will get tired of the likes of Xavi blaming the oppositions "incorrect" football for another Champions League exit?

Ancelotti is a better manager than Mourinho. There I've said it.

The problem with Barca is that Pep's Barca has set the bar so high that until the team is full of different players their inevitable comparison will always fall short as the main components of that side and the style are not the same.

Let's not forget that Barca are still top, in the cup final and have one foot in the quarters of the CL.

Does anyone know of anymore developments in the Spanish Press that are talking about Saturday's incident? I'll be really disappointed if the stadium is shut for two months like some media sources here are claiming could happen.

Darren, yes yes, with one foot in the quarters, what worries me though, will Milner be ready for the return leg? They really missed his creative spark tonight

comment by CroCop (U6052)
posted 11 minutes ago

You had the right way under Mourinho, don't remember when I saw Bernabeu so happy and joyful
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comment by Marcelino (U6171)
posted 10 minutes ago

Ancelotti is a better manager than Mourinho. There I've said it.
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Aww, c'mere you!

Henrik, haven't follow up on that. Have you checked on Superdeporte? I'd imagine they're the ones following Villarreal news more closely.

Crocop.

Sid Lowe had a decent report on it. Roig believes it was someone outwith the club, I'd honestly go along with that- I can't remember our fans ever misbehaving and I just don't know why someone would do that? It was a disgrace.

DTKF, i agree - up to a point.

Tata did try to change things early in the season - especially with Neymar acquisition- and also rotated his squad a lot.

Some of the changes were not successful as Barca did not have the players for the 'Plan B and C'. Some of the players influence are waning, Messi early on in the season was essentially playing as a CM with Xavi being pushed deeper as a regista and Iniesta with his contract issues was in an out of the team.

Barca have gone back to the drawing board, back to their normal style and are arguably at their best this season and as you said, they are still top and a treble is on.

I wholeheartedly agree with IOAG - and it has been said here many times- that style has even transferred to Spain. Aragones Spain was demonstrably more attractive and effective than Del Bosque's.

To use Wenger's phrase, this style is actually as a result of 'fear of failure': toxic possession with little creativity.

DTKF, i know Cesc doesn't look right to you for Barca but i feel he and Messi have a very good understanding (better than Messi and Neymar) as evidenced by their assists to each other (in double digits i believe) and Cesc also gives them an added dimension in the final third of occasionally counter-attacking.

comment by Marcelino (U6171)
posted 3 minutes ago
Sid Lowe had a decent report on it. Roig believes it was someone outwith the club, I'd honestly go along with that- I can't remember our fans ever misbehaving and I just don't know why someone would do that? It was a disgrace.
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Some idiot who thought a smokebomb is an innocent thing and knew nothing about teargas. I agree, your fans have a great track record and don't deserve to be made to pay for this.

Atletico got a €600 fine for the lighter that hit CR on the head in the return cup match.

What's up with City's fans though, it was so quiet tonight.

Seems the fans city bought are performing as bad as the players they baught

Good points, TRC. What ioag has said is basically an expansion of the point I was making about the components not being the same. There isn't the same confidence in the defence that there was under Pep, understandably so, and despite what many said about him I just don't think the attack looks as good without Villa - then there's the obvious issues with Xavi as well.

All of this, and more, has culminated in the Barca we see now. But despite that they are still the envy of most teams in Europe, so I think people have gone a bit overboard in their criticisms of them.

I know what you're saying about Cesc. My issue with Cesc in Barca is that I don't think it works with Iniesta. For me it would be one or the other, and Iniesta is the better of the two.

But I do think at some point they'll need to move away from Xavi and Iniesta and look to build around Cesc as I don't think they're making as much use of his capabilities, which is a shame to see as he's such a wonderful player.

The quote from Tebas did not exactly inspire me with confidence about the league punishing us. Hopefully it's just a fine.

I still think Barça's best attack was the one spearheaded by Eto'o with Messi coming in off the wing. So much more dynamic imo.

No, I think you are completely off here. Cesc and Iniesta can play together, no need to drop one of them so we can play 2 Milners upfront.

And as someone mentioned, Cesc and Messi have great understanding, I tell you if Cesc had pace he would be a top 3 player in the world.

I still think Barça's best attack was the one spearheaded by Eto'o with Messi coming in off the wing. So much more dynamic imo.
===================================

I imagine you mean the triumvirate of Eto'o-Messi- Henry?

Yes, that was explosive.

PS

The more i look back at Barca of old, i actually get very angry with Dinho. He really should have done much more with his talent.

I just think that having the pair of them in the team makes the team unbalanced and doesn't get the best from either as both are best in the middle with runners on the wing.

Pedro, Neymar and Messi is the best front three, for me, and the best middle three is Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets.

I disagree actually.

In big games I think Cesc need to start, with Iniesta and Xavi with Iniesta and Neymar or the wing. Now if I would have to chose between Xavi and Cesc, I'd close Cesc at this point, much more of a goal threat.

To be fair barca have been playing defensive possession for some time. They aren't as hard to defend against these days which is why teams like inter, chelsea and bayern can surrender possession, focus on being solid and win the tie. Barca need to go back to being creative and attacking. The football is disappointing to watch and it wont get barca back to the top of europe.

As for city, pellegrini bottled it. His tactics were overly cautious when the team should have been positive. Look at barcas history in away cl knockout matches, there was nothing to fear.

I didn't mention Henry because I feel he was a lesser version of the player he'd been. I think a number of players could've filled his particular role.

I've always maintained that Dinho never overcame the bitter disappointment of his 2006 World Cup. Baffles me how many modern-day fan underestimate how big the World Cup really is. Nothing comes close in terms of pressure, especially for the biggest stars of the game.

It's the big games where I think it's the biggest problem, as with that side you played tonight it's all in front of them and it's easier to defend against.

In big games I think Pedro should start every time, personally. Iniesta is better than Pedro but I think Pedro's off the ball movement is much better and gives the opposition more to think about as it's less predictable than the monotonous possession Barca seem to have in some of these games.

Imagine if Barca had Villa playing inside-left in 08/09