[Cougar]

Barca were pretty good I thought.

But United and Fergusons tactics were shameful, Anderson, Carrick and Giggs were strolling all night. Hargreaves or Fletcher would have made a world of difference to that side, it's very difficult to think of one Utd player who really made an effort. Why were they playing so high up the pitch when Chelsea had already shown that sitting deep and hitting them was the way to play.

Gray was rattling on about Utds defenders but as I said before if you don't protect your defence against players like Messi and Iniesta then you can't blame Ferdinand and Vidic.

[Bhurnae]

Yup pretty poor fare........Utd seemed to get to the half way line then run out of ideas.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Cor, if you werent gonna even bother you might as well have let Arsenal win and go through to the final, we could have lost at least equally well.

[Mezla PigDog]

Cougar, on May 27 2009, 09:45 PM, said:

Gray was rattling on about Utds defenders but as I said before if you don't protect your defence against players like Messi and Iniesta then you can't blame Ferdinand and Vidic.

At least you had Andy Gray. I had to put up with pearls of wisdom from Clive Tyldsley. I swear I could do a better job at commentating than him. He's on the list.

[Cougar]

I switched over because the pciture was better on Sky, I find Gray and Tylders both equally anoying.

[Binder of Demons]

Seriously lads, count your blessings. I had to watch the game on ESPN and we had Tommy Smyth with a Y, doing the co-commentator duties. He's a tit. Though maybe not as much of an irritant as Andy Gray. Hard to say. Haven't heard Sky in about 3 years now.

Was very impressed by Barca. totally dominated the midfield, and their passing was excellent. Xavi and Iniesta were really impressive. United could really have done with Fletcher to try and put some pressure on the Barca midfield. I can barely remember anything that Giggs did?

Still, it was great to watch a quality team put on a display.

[Grumble]

[quote name='Binder of Demons' date='May 27 2009, 10:53 PM' post='609914']

I can barely remember anything that Giggs did?

Well he did win the players player award (Backslappers Club) chosen for the best non playing substitute !

Let me say how gutted bloody delighted I am that Man ure missed out on the glory tonight, a little like they missed out on playing with passion, heart, desire, spirit, belief, leadership against a team I thought was there to be taken. Oh how they needed a Steven Gerrard tonight ..... someone ..... anyone to inspire his teammates ..... any takers ..... not a one !!!

[polishgenius]

We were so poor. I have no idea what happened, the bottle just went. Barca didn't even have to play particularly well, though Iniesta and Xavi were very good.

[lord of tragedy]

always felt united were fundamentally flawed by a lack of pace among the centerhalves. barca aren't particularly brilliant either. damp squib of a final sadly lacking liverpool.

[drinksinbars]

carrick was imo the worst player ont he pitch, i have never seen such poor passing and lack of movement or thought. lazy play and unimaginative passing. the tactics as well were way off, why have ronaldo up front and rooney ont he wing? what was fergie thinking having park on as well?? and giggs looked like a pensioner trying to chase the midfield of barca. shameful performance.

[HoosierDaddy]

Things that I noted:

United's mid-defenders allowed Barca to just run at the United back line. Messi and Iniesta, in particular made mincemeat out of the United back 6. It looked to me like there was never a coherent defense being put forward. For gods sakes, when Puyol is charging through the middle, unchallanged, what do you expect? Barca had the technical skill to devestate because of that, obviously. Sylvenho (probably spelled wrong) tore up United's right side.

Also, Park... was worthless for United. Giggs, equally worthless. United never really looked good at all, except for the first 5 minutes.

Barca deserved the win.

[caladanbrood]

Barca were by far and away the better team. Several of United's players were simply anonymous. Ronaldo got himself noted by his mini-war with Puyol, but Anderson, Carrick, Rooney, O'Shea and Vidic may as well not have even been on the pitch for all they stamped their names on the game. Compare that to Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets (who I've never even heard of before, shame on me) and you can see exactly why Barca won this game.

Ferdinand, incidentally, was awful. He was at fault for both goals, and was clearly not fit for a match of this standard. I can only say bad judgement from Fergie. When your central defender allows a 3ft tall guy a free header in the 6-yard box, you know something's wrong.

[dktorode]

Barca deserved the win...nough said

[Tiste Simeon]

I agree, Barca outplayed us on every level.

Hey look! A fan who isn't ashamed to say the better team won something! Scousers take note...

[Macros]

you're right, last night the better team did win


Was too drunk last night to even consider posting my thoughts until now.
United were a no show, as much as I despise the dick, Ronaldo was the only scum player that made any impact.
Anderson and Park demonstrated completely that they were utterly out of their depth.

Messi showed (for me) why he IS the best player in the world, hes only 21 so hes going to get better.
3 united player sandwhich the little chap, he fights through them, falls, gets up and hacks after the ball, then the ref pulled up for a free kick.
Now call it bias based on my irrational hatred for ronaldo, but in that situation I would lay every damned penny I have on ronnie going down squealling stuck pig

but back to the game, the 3 main men for barca - iniesta, Xavi and messi. United tried to double/ triple up on one of them and it left the other two with too much space.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

caladanbrood, on May 28 2009, 09:10 AM, said:

When your central defender allows a 3ft tall guy a free header in the 6-yard box, you know something's wrong.

It's true, Messi's shorter than me ffs, and I would mock any defender that let me win a header.

I cant believe Silvinho did that well against Utd, he wasnt exactly a world-beater at Arsenal (although I did like him and he was fairly good), and that was 10 years ago! We shipped him out to let Cashley and Clichy play iirc. What is he, 72 now?

[Macros]

i *think* hes 37