Barca v City Post Match Thread

[argyle]

Bit of an off topic post but what sort of footwear to our players chose?? It might be my one eyed viewing but how many of our players lost their footing compared to the Barca players!! Fernandinho being the prime example of this!

I've noticed that, not just during last nights match, this seems to happen to our players more than the opposition!

Lots mentioned it on here last night. Ridiculous how many times we are slipping.

 

[blueinsa]

Bit of an off topic post but what sort of footwear to our players chose?? It might be my one eyed viewing but how many of our players lost their footing compared to the Barca players!! Fernandinho being the prime example of this!

I've noticed that, not just during last nights match, this seems to happen to our players more than the opposition!

Its something very much within our control and agree, to be slipping over continuously can only mean you have incorrect boots on for the conditions and at this level its unforgivable.

 

[FCBarca]

I'd add that perhaps not conducting a proper run through on the Camp Nou pitch may have had something to do with it

 

[Eccles Blue]

It was happening last season as well, both home and away, you would have thought that someone in the hierarchy would have noticed it and done something about it by now.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Have to content ourselves with the Joan Gamper - will be a while before we take anything else off Europes elite.
A lot of work, and culling to be done first. Gonna need a bigger contract (5 yrs)!

 

[BLUEMATT23]

Last night's result was typical European football. We were punished by individual mistakes, fair enough but we didn't take our chances and gave them far too much respect.

We need to learn some lessons and fucking quick.

We need to 'play the game'. We will only get on if we adopt the same principals as the other big clubs in Europe - we need to roll around like we've been stabbed up the jacksie for the simplest of fouls for a start.

We also need to get new boots that are capable of allowing us to play on European turf because our versions are shite, it wasn't just Fernandiho that was on his arse yesterday.

And Messi... best player in the world... for fuck's sake, I could be the best player in the world if everybody was scared shitless of tackling me.

We played really well for most of last night, had we been given the pen for handball at the end of the first half, had a number of other decissions gone our way it could have been very different. But we are where we are. To be honest I hate Champions League football with a passion. Give me the FA Cup any day!

We've been making mistakes in the CL for years, we never ever learn from the errors. I hate the CL with a passion.

 

[FCBarca]

For what it's worth, Barcelona players were slipping as well - just rarely in dangerous positions

 

[blueinsa]

This will go against every grain in my body but in Europe, you have to learn to play the ref. Game was close last night and for the majority of the first half we had Barca nullified so what do they do, they start to play the ref. feigning injury from nothing tackles that due to play acting look far worse and result in players getting cheap yellows. Its cheating but it gains them a sporting advantage and at this level, if you dont do the same you can forget winning the thing its that simple.

They will beat you with beautiful football or by any other means at their disposal its that simple and whilst we gifted them the game, just watch the first half about half way through and how all of a sudden the rolling around started and yellow cards started to be dished out and the effect it had on our players.

 

[Thaksinssoldier]

A little perspective on the game is needed.

We dominated them until the Bravo fart.

Sure, we had a Fernandinho slip that lead to a goal, but we immediately stuck to the plan and went right back at them. I'm convinced we had a win in us until Bravo did what he did.

Pep has to take a long hard look at himself over last night. He was right in so many things and wrong at the same time. Was the trade off of Joe not being able to pass from the back worth it?

I don't know. I probably agree that with Joe in last night we aren't in a position to take that game to Barca the way we were, but at the same time we would not have taken that beating as Joe wouldn't be in a position to get sent off.

Pep needs to do some soul searching and ask himself if the stubborn trade off didn't have room for compromise in his system, because last night it cost us and cost us big.

 

[OB1]

Patience is needed. It's early days. We were spoiled with amazing early form and results. Those have stagnated. We've still played some incredible football. We battered Everton and for the first ten/fifteen last night we were the better side and we looked excellent. We were playing the Barca way, finding pockets of space and it worked. We probably lacked a central target in Aguero but Pep clearly is struggling to get the balance right with Silva and/or De Bruyne. That's our biggest issue in an attacking sense. Two incredible talents that can play together against lesser teams but on nights like last night De Bruyne is pushed out wide to accommodate Silva centrally and allow Gundogan and Fernandinho to play.

It fell apart with stupid errors. We need to eradicate those but Rome wasn't built in a day. It will take time and we will become a more ruthless and efficient side. The result isn't a fair reflection but it is a wake up call. We need to get back to winning ways this weekend but if we play like we did at times last night we will.

Was KDB really pushed out wide? His average position for the game is close to the centre vertically; with Silva's just overlapping vertically. From 60 - 75 minutes KDB's average position is wider and he moved wide on some attacks but he and Silva both largely occupied the centre with Silva slightly deeper some of the time.

 

[OB1]

I'm hugely encouraged and excited by that performance. I know it sounds odd but I think we are right on their shoulders now. I think this team, with the defensive additions which will come over the next two windows, can and will win the Champions League. I'm sure many people have commented on the bad luck and errors, but I maintain my belief that nobody can live with our attacking players when they get going, and we showed that when it was 11v11 and 10v10.

I'm enjoying your bullishness. Good to see you back.

 

[FCBarca]

I think KDB was used primarily to stifle the midfield & starve MSN of any outlets and then be in a position to spearhead attacks to the wide players when needed

 

[OB1]

I was also encouraged by a lot of what I saw, but I think you're being too positive, I said on Saturday that our defence isn't good enough, it's not, and it should have been sorted in the summer. When Everton have 3 attacks, score once and could have scored 2, you rightly worry about playing Neymar, Suarez, and Messi. The other concern is our finishing, and has been for 18 months, despite the goals we do get, it's not good enough for the very top level, as they showed last night.

At least we are definitely adding what looks like a world class forward in January.

 

[tonea2003]

Now, i'm not too fussed about the CL full stop so the score line and all that don't particularly bother me. But i thought we played well last night, we were the better team in the first half and only appalling finishing and a 50:50 hand ball shout that didn't go our way (he was only a few metres away) saw us not go in for half time in the lead. The tactics from the outset were bang on and the only way through us was over the top, Barcelona actually struggled against us.

Then came the stupid mistake through lack of concentration from the 'keeper and the game was over because we lost that shape that was making it difficult for them and the game changed.

We then went to pot and players were making mistakes everywhere and because that was the final impression left with us because it's the last part of the game everyone thinks we had a bad game. But if you've recorded the game, watch the first half back and then don't bother watching the second half (i did this before work this morning) and you'll realise how well we played...i'll repeat, we were the better team in the first half - away, at the best team in the world!

great post mate, the signs are there

 

[FCBarca]

At least we are definitely adding what looks like a world class forward in January.

Don't jump the gun there, integrating a player from South America who has never played in Europe and is 19 years of age? I think patience is imperative. Neymar was much further along by comparison and 21 years of age before he came to Barcelona and even then many questioned whether he could 'do it in Europe'.

 

[inchy14]

All the vultures were circling when I got into work this morning. A quick mention of their CL exploits this season and it's a swift "fuck off".

I was pleasantly surprised by my rag colleagues this morning, they were all of the opinion that we were in the game and playing exceptionally well until the sending off, fine margins and all that.
That's apart from the one red prick who refuses to discuss the CL with me because we haven't won it yet, this has come about as he can't handle the abuse for now not actually qualifying for it.

 

[tonea2003]

Clearly I don't. Check my posts after we've won. I said we were wonderful against Bournemouth.

I just don't buy the mega love in that most of you do. AT THE MOMENT. In capitals for the twats who can't read

you clearly revel in the negativity, and you can't hide that by claiming to be checking the supposed love in

 

[Barcon]

This will go against every grain in my body but in Europe, you have to learn to play the ref. Game was close last night and for the majority of the first half we had Barca nullified so what do they do, they start to play the ref. feigning injury from nothing tackles that due to play acting look far worse and result in players getting cheap yellows. Its cheating but it gains them a sporting advantage and at this level, if you dont do the same you can forget winning the thing its that simple.

They will beat you with beautiful football or by any other means at their disposal its that simple and whilst we gifted them the game, just watch the first half about half way through and how all of a sudden the rolling around started and yellow cards started to be dished out and the effect it had on our players.

Agreed. When Silva was booked, the ref made no indication that he was going to get his card out until the fouled played decided to spend 5 mins on the deck.

 

[Barcon]

Exactly, thats what bravo should have done, will he now be banned for the remaining games in this group. I think we played ok tonight but that mistake may come back to bite us.

What are you talking about? The Barca goalie kicked the ball out in error. He was flustered.

 

[Terra Passenger]

Agreed. When Silva was booked, the ref made no indication that he was going to get his card out until the fouled played decided to spend 5 mins on the deck.

Yeah, I thought that that was total bullshit.

Gerard Piqué basically rolled around the pitch for 5 minutes until a yellow was awarded. Yeah, he was injured. Yeah, the tackle wasn't great. But Pique wasn't going to get up until the yellow was flashed.