Chelsea....oh, Chelsea!

[wiw]

The second best team in la liga are Real and they looked **** against us so arguably they are flat track bullies. I'm sure AZ look amazing every week in Holland too.

Their possession passing was a joy to watch but in the final third they were terrible. On the evidence of last night a bigger pitch will do them no favours as they used wide areas incredibly poorly. They barely even looked out there and when they did they took too much time to make the ball as it was always a second option for them. They put no pressure whatsoever on either Chelsea football. The age old criticisms of Arsene Wenger teams seem to apply doubly to the current Barcelona team they have all the silky touches and skill but try to do too much.

Yeah there is the simple fact that La Liga is probably a bit **** this season

I agree they were terrible in the final third. They seemed to just crowd in the middle and make it even more conjested which didn't seem such a clever idea. Why they didn't stick the top 3 in their normal positions is beyond me, but I really do think a bigger pitch will help them though..everything they do stems from the movement and passing of the middle 3 with the way they move and prod at defences but they just never got going last night because of the lack of space (imo )

[calvoboy]

I thought Chelsea were hard done by but that is what happens when you waste time from the 1st minute of the 1st leg, as for conspiricy theorys the ref wouldn't have sent Abidal off for nothing if he was told to make sure Barca went through.

Exactly - I thought he was the typical sort of ref who makes it to the later stages of the Champions league - one who lacks the bottle to make all but the most obvious big decisions. UEFA don't like refs who give penalties or send people off in the earlier stages of the competition so the ones who get rated by them tend to be those who keep their heads down, don't give penalties, and keep everyone on the pitch unless it's obvious that they've got no option.

No conspiracy - just incompetence. And while I think Chelsea were hard done to, I think the handball by Pique was the only clear cut pen. The handball from Drogba's shot the defender wasn't looking at the ball, sometimes you see them given, sometimes you don't. The other two I didn't think were penalties at all. Drogba went down well after the little shirt pull, and the Malouda one was just a normal battle for the ball until he threw himself to the floor.

[PTP]

Fair point about Henry. I think you are over harsh on their players but they have a huge problem with physical play and lack the bravery to use their skill. When Messi ran at Chelsea they had all sorts of problems (same with Iniesta) but they did it so rarely.



This is true but I don't see how this isn't a huge failing in the team.

i am saying all tongue in cheek though - they are obv very good players - i think last night, chelseas tucked in deep, were very compact and very diffiuclt to break down! - at one stage of the game i was thinking (hope this comes across correctly) that i couldn't help bu think that chelsea had watched liverpool in europe and seen the success we had and tried to copy 'our' style a bit. If that had been liverpool lasdt night we and rafa benitez would have been slaughtered for the defensive performances over the two legs.

Barcas prob was that - other than when they play Liverpool, Man U or Chelsea once or tiwce a season in europe, they come up against no other team in any other competition that are capable of shutting out and stoppping these 'world class' players like messi and eto and xavi from running the show.

[Neil Young]

The second best team in la liga are Real and they looked **** against us so arguably they are flat track bullies. I'm sure AZ look amazing every week in Holland too.

Their possession passing was a joy to watch but in the final third they were terrible. On the evidence of last night a bigger pitch will do them no favours as they used wide areas incredibly poorly. They barely even looked out there and when they did they took too much time to make the ball as it was always a second option for them. They put no pressure whatsoever on either Chelsea football. The age old criticisms of Arsene Wenger teams seem to apply doubly to the current Barcelona team they have all the silky touches and skill but try to do too much.

I think you're going a bit overboard. They are definitely overrated and the better team over the two legs lost last night IMO. But the reason they were poor in the final third was because Chelsea are a really good team of very strong players with a manager who is very astute tactically. In short, they stopped them playing. That's why Iniesta and Messi didn't run much with the ball - they didn't get much chance to do so.

Yes, they lack a Plan B but they aren't twice as overcomplicated as Arsenal in attack. That, frankly, is impossible without using supercomputers.

[dww]

i am saying all tongue in cheek though - they are obv very good players - i think last night, chelseas tucked in deep, were very compact and very diffiuclt to break down! - at one stage of the game i was thinking (hope this comes across correctly) that i couldn't help bu think that chelsea had watched liverpool in europe and seen the success we had and tried to copy 'our' style a bit. If that had been liverpool lasdt night we and rafa benitez would have been slaughtered for the defensive performances over the two legs.

Barcas prob was that - other than when they play Liverpool, Man U or Chelsea once or tiwce a season in europe, they come up against no other team in any other competition that are capable of shutting out and stoppping these 'world class' players like messi and eto and xavi from running the show.

I guessed but in a way I wish you didn't as I get bored with everyone fellating the Barca players at every opportunity.

I think a pertinent example is Benayoun. Moved from Spain to the PL and did well enough at a poor team where he could get away with his lack of bravery at times as teams give lesser teams space at times. Came here and in his first season was only good against weaker opposition but recently he has learned that if he takes chances and takes people on his skill with his feet is just as effective at intimidating players as physical strength. It is a big mental barrier and I think it is one that the top players in England such as Ronaldo, Torres, Fabregas etc have had to learn and it makes them better all round players.

[Will]

I like the way Sky brought up the "conspiracy theory" 5 pens and only 1 a decent shout the rest were not pens plus a man sent off wrongly for Barcelona evens it out. Sky are just pissed off that Chelsea didnt get in the final so they will get less viewers it not being an all English affair. Good.

[blacky]

"the referee was bought!" big words, thats what i felt hiddink was trying to say but stopped himself when interviewed after the game - the chelsea players clearly feel that the ref cheated or was bribed! - Interestingly i don't think it was by barca either, but more a uefa conspiracy

Absolutely. It was obvious last night. He was never going to give a penalty. Lets hope the same Bias applies in the final. Let united be on the receiving end of bad refereeing decisions for a change!!

[dww]

I think you're going a bit overboard. They are definitely overrated and the better team over the two legs lost last night IMO. But the reason they were poor in the final third was because Chelsea are a really good team of very strong players with a manager who is very astute tactically. In short, they stopped them playing. That's why Iniesta and Messi didn't run much with the ball - they didn't get much chance to do so.

Yes, they lack a Plan B but they aren't twice as overcomplicated as Arsenal in attack. That, frankly, is impossible without using supercomputers.

However I think they had plenty of chances to run at Chelsea they just bottled it consistently - in both legs. They chose to keep passing and lacked the willingness to take people on and risk getting hurt.

Chelsea did lots of things well to make them so but Barcelona were poor. I admit that the closing down was good but Barcelonas lack of willingness to isolate people one on one played into their game plan. The constant narrow passing was exactly what they wanted Barca to do. Hiddink set his team up excellently but putting Belletti on for Drogba was a huge mistake I believe. Psychologically it seemed to relax the midfield too much and considering Barca were down to 10 they were given far too much space in midfield and as a consequence were able to continue playing in Chelsea's half.

[Reece]

I like the way Sky brought up the "conspiracy theory" 5 pens and only 1 a decent shout the rest were not pens plus a man sent off wrongly for Barcelona evens it out. Sky are just pissed off that Chelsea didnt get in the final so they will get less viewers it not being an all English affair. Good.

I don't know about that. Plenty of us on here alone had said we won't watch it if it was the Mancs and Chelsea. I'm sure most will definitely watch it now to cheer on Barca.

Absolutely. It was obvious last night. He was never going to give a penalty. Lets hope the same Bias applies in the final.

I just really can't believe there is any kind of conspiracy - it was just a **** refereeing performance. Don't forget he made a bad decision to send of Abidal too. Or maybe he is also just really **** at the conspiracy malarkey.

[dww]

I just really can't believe there is any kind of conspiracy - it was just a **** refereeing performance. Don't forget he made a bad decision to send of Abidal too. Or maybe he is also just really **** at the conspiracy malarkey.

He was abysmal wasn't he.

The conspiracy theorising much like the behaviour of the Chelsea players at the end is/was pathetic.

[Will]

I think everyone will as before but they will have lost a large chunk of Chelsea fans. The game would of generated alot more intrest in England if it was an all English affair there is doubt of that. Though i will be watching and cheering on Barcelona.

[dww]

I think everyone will as before but they will have lost a large chunk of Chelsea fans. The game would of generated alot more intrest in England if it was an all English affair there is doubt of that. Though i will be watching and cheering on Barcelona.

I think without a doubt the neutrals or supporters of smaller teams would have been more likely to have watched an all English final. They far outweigh any LFC/Arsenal fans whatever who might be put off. Most supporters of those teams love football and are likely to watch come what may. The bigger changes are in the number of people who get caught up in the hype/carried along by mates.

[Neil Young]

However I think they had plenty of chances to run at Chelsea they just bottled it consistently - in both legs. They chose to keep passing and lacked the willingness to take people on and risk getting hurt.

Chelsea did lots of things well to make them so but Barcelona were poor. I admit that the closing down was good but Barcelonas lack of willingness to isolate people one on one played into their game plan. The constant narrow passing was exactly what they wanted Barca to do. Hiddink set his team up excellently but putting Belletti on for Drogba was a huge mistake I believe. Psychologically it seemed to relax the midfield too much and considering Barca were down to 10 they were given far too much space in midfield and as a consequence were able to continue playing in Chelsea's half.

Maybe it would have panned out differently but Drogba was injured (wasn't he? It's always so hard to tell) and I can't see any better alternative on their bench. They still had Anelka up front and had some decent breaks.

As for the dribbling, I didn't see it like that. I noticed that every time Iniesta and, especially, Messi got the ball they had a Chelsea player right on them. Only in the last few minutes did I see them have any space when receiving a pass and that's when they did run. However I'll confess I didn't watch the whole game as closely as I might have done so you could be right. If so, then perhaps the idea was to stretch Chelsea and wear them out with the passing rather than running with the ball and giving defenders time to get into position.

Anyway, however they were set up you've got to say Chelsea's tiredness at the end cost them.

[PTP]

I guessed but in a way I wish you didn't as I get bored with everyone fellating the Barca players at every opportunity.

I think a pertinent example is Benayoun. Moved from Spain to the PL and did well enough at a poor team where he could get away with his lack of bravery at times as teams give lesser teams space at times. Came here and in his first season was only good against weaker opposition but recently he has learned that if he takes chances and takes people on his skill with his feet is just as effective at intimidating players as physical strength. It is a big mental barrier and I think it is one that the top players in England such as Ronaldo, Torres, Fabregas etc have had to learn and it makes them better all round players.

aye totally agree - i am obv not going to say - i think all the barca team are wank! cause obv they aren;t but some are grossly overrated - as u say, and i agree, right now the game in the premiership is so much stronger, faster, and tougher than the rest of europe and the big 4 (with arsenal slightly sliding away as they are similar to barca) being so much stronger than any other team, cause they are organised, can defend in numbers, and attack in style with pace, they can play fast one touch football, oor if they have too change the style and just get in the mixer, plus every single player from the keeper through to the strikers, look to chase the ball down when not in possesion

I think the likes off torres and fabregas, and ronaldo etc - would ****ing murder teams in spain now having settled and stepped up to the plate in England.

Barca are the only team around that outside "the big four" are capable of challenging, and thats because they have some great players or play a great style of football, but when it comes down to it, they can't mix it up haven't got a plan b and thats probably down to the fact that in spain, and in europe except when they play chelsea/liverpool/united - they don't have anyone else they can mix it up against.

[SK]

What cospiracy theory? They had one penalty shout that was legit, and that was the pique handball, other than that nothing, and the ref was totally wrong to send abidal off.

Poor refereing that's all, shame it happens in the semi-final and was a bit surpried at the choice of the ref by uefa, but there you go.

and chelsea were not the better side, they were just better at anihilating everything out of the football match. kinhell even we went at barca at anfield, and didn't just sit back, but attacked them from the off.

i'm glad barca are in the final, as i think they have more of a chance to beat the scum than chelsea would have had.