Not over 2 legs. With one game you can rationalize that you had a bad game. You get the feeling that if this were a 7 game series it would be a 4 game sweep and that Barca wouldn't score one goal.
But you're not playing a full strength Barca. No Messi(he was playing hurt the last game), no Puyol, no Abidal, no Sergio. Not saying we'd win but you can't pound your chest like you just beat the 2010 team. Or you can, I don't give a **** what you do. Today's your day and you haven't even played the final.
Looks like Spanish football is going the way of the Euro. Die Klassische! Die Klassische! Die Klassische! Die Klassische! Die Klassische!
Well my prediction was right, Barca got embarrassed. However that's like predicting the Heat will win the finals. So nothing to see here.
Good call . Thanks for being a good sport (at least in your first post ). I have a hangover from partying too much. I hope the party continues in Wembley. Well, if Dortmund wins, I might have to just crash the enemy's party. But I don't think so :grin:.
By the way, apparently this was the most lopsided semifinal aggregate in the history of the Champions League .
Let's not get too hasty man. Without a doubt Bayern will be favourites to win every competition they play for the next 3-4 years but iirc Barca still have two or three of the best players in the world at their position(Leo, Xavi, Iniesta) and an upgrade at certain positions- back four, goalkeeper, and they'll still be legit in every competition as well. Either way, it's great to see Bayern and Dortmunt destroy the two La Liga big-timers in such fashion.
I've always said if I were a manager and my left back lets Robben cut inside on him, I will sub the player out immediately and not bother playing him for a long long time. It's one thing if Robben gets to the byline and "tries" to cross with his right. It's one thing if he goes on a mazy Giggs-ish or run or even if he has moves on the wing like Belgiums Dries Mertens, but no. Robben just cuts in and that's that. It's not forgivable imo for a defender to ever let Robben cut inside because you know that's all he wants to do. Anyway kudos to Robben for doing what he "do".
Hope Barca don't go after Hummels this summer. Sad to see players leaving/rumoured to leave left and right from BVB. Picking BVB to win the final, with Gotze scoring the winning goal. How funny would that be...
You are right - but recently I have seen him make a couple beautiful crosses with his right foot and even seen him score a couple of times with his right foot. But playing the odds, you would always have to try and prevent him from cutting inside because everyone knows that's his move. The problem is, when he is fit, he is so fast that even though you know his move, it's hard to stop him .
I don't think Puyol and Abidal will really make a difference in getting Barca back up to its old level - they are part of the past glory - but I would never count out Barca out. As was said, they still have Messi, Xavi (even though he is fading), Iniesta, and also people like Fabregas, Busquets, Pedro, Alves. They will not go away - and similarly to Bayern since 2009, this loss will serve as a catalyst to fixing things and coming back stronger. If I were them, I'd get Ter Stegen (or Adler), Hummels and maybe even Reus (I hear he has a fixed € 25 M out clause in his contract...). Someone like Kagawa could also be an interesting pickup that would fit in their system. Barca will be back and will be a formidable opponent again - probably even next year already. And they will be looking for revenge against Bayern...like we did for that 2009 loss. Our clubs are proud. I would also like to compliment Barca on being fair in defeat. No excuses were made. It's a great club - and I am looking forward to some interesting battles during the next few years.
Well said man, we were clearly beaten. Though, I will add that the most important thing is to have a strict sit down with Tito. The leader of this team has to be the Manager and he was nowhere to be found this season. I get that he is battling cancer and I wish him a speedy recovery but if he is not committed to the club 110% is time for us to look for a replacement. Yes, Barca will still be relevant in the coming years, don't forget that Leo is only 25! I hope Rosell and Co address the right problems or we will fall into Gaspart 2.0 era. About the defending Robben scenario, I think his quickness is what defenders struggle with. People say the same thing about defending Messi (not so much now) he always cuts inside but I guess he is even harder to defend as he also has the passing abilities.
