Champions League Final: Weighty Expectations, Foregone Conclusions

Man U have the work rate to beat Barca. Both JS Park and Valenica are box to box wingers (I think I just made up that term), who are excellent defenders while also putting a lot of pressue on opposing defenses, with Park having the added benefit of cutting inside and combining well with Chicarito and Rooney.

United scores early (Chicharito), and gets a second (Ronney) while Barca are pusing for the equializer. 2-1 United, with Villa scoring late on to make the last 10 minutes breathtaking.

I’m not sure who I’m rooting for, but this will be a hell of a spectacle.

I’ve never gotten on the Manchester United bandwagon, and I’m in awe of Messi’s talent (however you Barkers choose to define it), but what’s with the ‘Unicef’ on Barcelona’s jersey? It never occurred to me that, as a child, the coins I panhandled for and stored in those little orange boxes would be used to fund some far away world soccer power.

Really looking forward to this. Messi is a guy that can convert non or casual fans. He’s pretty amazing. Plus, there’s always a chance Rooney will bite someone’s ear off.

@triplehorn

It’s a sort of “reverse” sponsorship where Barca actually pays Unicef. Don’t worry, though, next season it’s being replaced by the “Qatar Foundation”.

At work years ago, a 60 year old out of shape rocket scientist (literally) would always whip the 20 something, former D-1 tightend in racket ball. Every time. The young guy eventually exploded and may still be institutionalized…but the older guy always wore an old, tattered tee shirt that said: experience and guile trumps youth and exuberance.

I hope the same holds true for tomorrow. SAF will have them ready - but to me, you hit on a critical point for ManU or the three lions: when Rooney has to come back into midfield to get the ball, he is JAG. Being able to keep him up and engaged is a real key (though I can see them coming out in a 4-4-1-1 type formation). So what midfield do you put together? Valencia, Park, Fletcher and Giggs? Carrick played well in Europe and I don’t think Fletcher is back yet. It will be an interesting choice.

I see Barc heading into the last 20 min with a lead, SAF doing some wacky substitutions to have Berbatov in with Rooney and Chicharito - and we see some of the fastest, intense, end to end soccer we’ll ever remember.

Heart says ManU. Brain says the other way. My bet is also that the first flop happens within the first 3 min of play. If tolerated, game may get ugly.

But I don’t think this game will be nearly as easy for Barca as many people think, and wouldn’t be surprised to see Fergie’s guile bring the trophy to Manchester.

Way to put yourself out there.

Normally I root against ManU, but Barca lost me with all their dives, whining, and gamesmanship against Real… Can’t wait for the game!

See the first leg of the semi-final against Real Madrid: Jose Mourinho’s side set out to do one thing — stop Barcelona from playing. They offered nothing going forward and were intent on merely fouling and kicking Barca’s offensive threats. That collapsed when Pepe got sent off and Barca eventually passed their way through to the goal.

Yes, Barcelona are excellent, and will pick you apart if you give them the opportunity. But too many teams set out the defensive stall and lure Barcelona on to them, hoping to soak up the pressure then maybe score on a breakaway at the other end (or, in this case, push the match out through extra time to penalties), completely giving up on trying to cause Barcelona any problems of their own to deal with.

It’s hard to argue that wasn’t the best move for Madrid. They got obliterated 5-0 when they tried to play with Barcelona earlier in the year. Playing an ultra-defensive style at least got them a result in the Copa del Rey, something I have a tough time envisioning happening without parking the bus. That Mourinho guy knows a thing or two about tactics.

Assuming you’re not my sister, where are you watching the game?

Mexican fans will be more insufferable than they already are if Chicharito factors into the scoring of this game.

I hate the diving from the Romance Nations, and I hate the Garbage Pail Kid Wayne Rooney. I hate the Heat, and I hate Dallas everything. I’m going floating, which I don’t hate.

Should be a great game though.

@magnusbleuveigner

I’m watching it at my inlaws’ house. Wheeeeee

@bigdukesix

I think the result of the first leg of the semi would indicate Mourinho didn’t get his tactics right, between style of play and style of fouling and simulation.

I don’t think SAF will do it but I’d love to see a side with Rooney, Hernandez, Valencia and Nani. Barca’s biggest flaw is their lack of speed in central defense. I’d have those four chasing long balls on the counter all game long. That would force Alves to stay more at hone and at least help stem some of that massive right side attack.

good write up. definitely lookin forward to it. and i hate the romantic nations as well.

1-1 Man U in penalties

i think fergie let pique go back to barca as part of some backroom blood pact rather than the reasons you mentioned. seriously..i’m convinced of it. i think it has something to do w/ pep taking over for him.

shame is that berba and nani probably won’t start and might not even play. i know everyone has a chicha-boner but against barcelona he’s really there only to hold the line to split the cb’s from busquets (who is the biggest piece of shit that’s probably ever played the game). i know he’ll go w/ park in a game like this to hassle their midfield but the play safe/scared style doesn’t work against barca.

who knows…i’m a united fan so i’m holding out hope..i don’t think it’ll be very pretty either way. also fuck barca.

Thanks, Sarah and I will watch it elsewhere then…

Re: "It’s a sort of "reverse" sponsorship where Barca actually pays Unicef. Don’t worry, though, next season it’s being replaced by the "Qatar Foundation."

Nice to know Barca isn’t profiting from the children, but a strategy absent fiscal providence is equally awkward to applaud.

Now, the new “Qatar Foundation” shirt space deal should help turn it around:

"Barcelona have a sizeable debt but now claim to be “the undisputed brand leader in world football”.

The deal will be worth £25m a year from next season through until 2016.

In July, an audit revealed Barcelona’s debt to be £369.5m after a loss of more than £64.36m in the 2009/10 season."

But check out the jersey they sold themselves into:

Oof.

I’m not a fan of Barca, but I can’t man u or their obnoxious fans. they’re about to be thrown on the passing carousel again, but may score a late consolation goal. Rooney never shows up for the big games. 3 - 1 Barca.

…can’t stand man u…

F Chichajoto. F Man U.

BTW, if you’re tuning at 2:45 Central Time you’re going to be super pissed. Game starts at 1:45 Central, 2:45 Eastern.

“Rooney never shows up for the big games”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO7y-Lv-PUE

Man City disagrees.

Fuck the gooners and blues.

@fma

thanks, I saw 20:45 on the UEFA site and assumed it was local Wembley time, not CET.

Chicharito is the worst finishing prolific goal-scorer I have ever seen.

flamingmonkeyass said: May 27th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
"Rooney never shows up for the big games"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO7y-Lv-PUE

Man City disagrees.

Fuck the gooners and blues
--

Yeah, because Man City is such a MASSIVE club. LOL. btw, 3 -1 Barcelona.

Ironic that you bring this up after Rooney scores an equalizer in a CL final.

BTW - congrats on the win. Your team is made up of vaginas.

Correction: supremely talented vaginas. But still vajayjays.

@fma It was a nice goal but it was a small island of brilliance in a sea of anonymity. Rooney otherwise had very little impact on the game (like most of the Man U side).

While Barca has the total package, what impressed me most is their relentless defensive ball pressure. You primarily hear about Barca’s ‘ticky-tack’ style of ball possession with crisp short passes , but it was Barca players, regardless of position on the field, who immediately applied man pressure on the ball to disrupt any continuity on offense for Manchester.

On the flip side, had Man U played a similar style of immediate ball pressure, Pedro still gets his first goal, but later goals by Messi and David Villa stand a better chance of not materializing.

I haven’t watched enough of Man U or other teams to know how often this similar style of ball pressure is capably applied, but I’ve seen the Brazilian national team apply it forever with a devastating effect. I also witnessed Ajax do it to the MLS Timbers last week in a demonstration of ‘Total Football’.

The only two players I’ve seen have any sort of impact against Barcelona were Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria. I actually thought Rooney played pretty well given the role he was tasked with.

Yes, Barcelona can really only be attacked down the wings. The problem is that if you array your side to do so, then you will be destroyed through the middle of the field. Also — there is no point in playing two center-halves (Vidic and Ferdinand for Man U), because Villa drifts deep and out wide and Messi essentially plays like a withdrawn striker. Man U had two giant ball-winning center-halves who had almost nothing to do. You’re better off playing with three holding center-midfielders and no center-halves.

That’s what makes this Barca team so great though. You are forced to completely change your personnel and game plan to come close to competing. It is one of the great sides of all-time. We’re privileged to get to watch them.

Also, this highlighted what close watchers have known; this Man U team is “workmanlike” and not great. This was a down year in the Premier League and it’s no mistake that it was one with the lowest point total ever.