Arena "The Beautiful Game" - The Official JCC Football (Soccer) Thread.

I don't think I like the influence Mar is having on you.

 

I've always liked MasterChef. I'm a keen baker, too... so I'm partial to foody shows.

 

Barca back to being favourites again i s'pose

i hope Bayern or Madrid can beat them. or anyone really.

 

4-0 What a result!!!!! LOL @ Droylesden. COME ON GLOUCESTER!

 

One thing on Barca and their lack of a plan "B" -- anyone pay attention to Alves's crosses last night? Kind of hard to score on headers when the main player sending them in can't put even one in a remotely useful position. For all his strengths, his crosses are absolutely dreadful.

 

lol @ Madrid

What? This is war.

 

yeah, by all accounts he's been poor this season.

on a similar note, is it me or do Barca look better without Fabregas? when he plays, it seems to push Iniesta out of his best position, and they don't look nearly as good. hard to imagine a player of Fabregas' quality hindering a team.

 

Pfft so you only post here when Barça is doing well? ;P

 

No, i only post when Madrid is butthurt. An important distinction.

 

Honestly, though, has ever been good at crossing? Obviously not a major part of their game plan, but I still remember him sending one useless cross after another into the box against Inter in 2010 and several other big losses.

And completely agree on Fabregas, Villa didn't have many touches, but his positioning helped create space for Messi and that was a great finish for 3-0. Fabregas is too similar to Iniesta and Xavi.

 

Yes, Fabregas does (to some extent) have the vision and passing of Xavi and Iniesta, but I feel like he's not as mobile in the midfield area and doesn't connect with Messi as much. Yankee's right- Iniesta is pushed to the wing too many times just to accomodate Fabregas.

 

i think the best solution for all concerned would be Fab to hook up with his ol' sparring partner RVP.

 

To Manchester United? Fergie would be daft to let that pass

 

De Gea is going nowhere, neither is Rooney. Ferguson wants a long-term squad in place when he retires and De Gea can play for 20 years if he stays good enough.
Most goalkeepers don't start showing real quality until at least 25, or even 30.

Macheda should be sold, United have no use for him.

Sometimes a move can do you good, look at Balotelli.

 

Did United sell Diouf or is he on loan?
Seems they have a lot of potential attacking talent loaned out there that never becomes much (what happened to Bebe?).

 

If I remember correctly, Diouf got sold last January, while Bébé's on loan at Rio Ave, a Portuguese club. Did a little bit of research at ESPNFC, and it seems like he's a fixture in the XI at the middle-placed club. 10 apps 1 goal. Guess being a striker at United is tough, w/ Wazza, Chicha, Danny, and now RVP challenging for a first team spot.

 

That was really close for Bayern. I suppose Barça are now favourites to win this year CL after their impressive display last night with Real and Bayern looking ordinary.

 

Manchester United: The only team to consistently perform well over the two legs and still get booted out. Galatasaray, a team of Turks, couldn't put us down, but one Turk did.


... Sorry I'm still fuming.

 

Absolutely. The ref made no one tackle Modric before the equaliser

Chelsea may be **** this year, but that 2nd game against Barcelona last year showed how to deal with adversity. One centre back off injured in the opening minutes, then the other one sent off (for doing less than Nani). Then going 2-0 down.

Came back to go through.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21775416]70[/url] yard wonder goal in South Africa

awesome.

a defender, too.

 

Bayern looked not so much ordinary as arrogant, as if they were already through. Madzukic took the night off while Robben turned into the very worst version of himself, completely ignoring his better-positioned teammates and taking one shot after another. They still controlled the most of the match, Arsenal basically had two good chances and converted them both. But yeah, I assume everyone will go back to to the Barca bandwagon.

And for those who found the media frenzy over a possible Rooney departure from ManU laughable, this may be the single most absurd transfer rumor ever: Ibrahimovic to Bayern. Yeah, like he or Guardiola ever want to be in the same room, or city, ever again.

 

This is the week of (near in some cases) comeback it seems. Not for Stuttgart though, poor yankee must be hard for him to see his club lose to an Italian team.