Champions League quarter-finals

[Chris]

You always back the underdog!!

I cant see them going through, their centre backs are good at defending long balls, set pieces and stuff but struggle with pace and movement. I dont see how it'll be any different to the group games where Barca played in 1st gear and drew in the San Siro then comfortably won at the Nou Camp.

[Shaggy]

I don't fancy Inter at all. They were comfortably beaten by Barca when Barcelona were undercooked. At this stage no-one can live with their passing and movement.

I know it's all about Messi but I could watch Xavi play all day.

[Tee]

I have a really horrible feeling the Manc cunts are going to wriggle their way to the final and fluke their way past Barca.

[Shaggy]

Mancs are going out tonight.

[dww]

You always back the underdog!!

I cant see them going through, their centre backs are good at defending long balls, set pieces and stuff but struggle with pace and movement. I dont see how it'll be any different to the group games where Barca played in 1st gear and drew in the San Siro then comfortably won at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona are clearly the better team but at times against Arsenal they looked arrogant and I think Arsenal set up in both games to give them a game of football which is a mistake I don't see Inter making. I think that Inter seem to be improving in Europe and the group stages rarely give a good indication of how teams play later in the CL.

It is a fair point about the Inter CBs and a lot will depend on how they play in midfield in my view. If they can play like Chelsea did last season against Barcelona then I think they have a good chance of winning.

[Chrono]

Mancs are going out tonight.

I don't want to jinx it so I will say no more but I do agree.

[dww]

I have a really horrible feeling the Manc cunts are going to wriggle their way to the final and fluke their way past Barca.

Mancs are going out tonight.

I hope Shaggy is right.

I think that the Mancs would get easily get beaten by Barcelona. They leave midfield far too open and unlike last season they don't even have the option of putting out an in form defensive midfield with two good attacking options on the break. Like Wenger I think Fergie's attacking philosophy makes them doomed against that sort of attack.

[Chris]

Theyve definitely got a better chance than Arsenal had thats for sure. I just think this team is so good rather than any major criticism of Inter. Injuries to Xavi and Messi before the game though and things change big time!

[Exiled_red]

Mancs are going out tonight.

I really hope so

[wiw]

I don't fancy Inter at all. They were comfortably beaten by Barca when Barcelona were undercooked. At this stage no-one can live with their passing and movement.

I know it's all about Messi but I could watch Xavi play all day.

Iniesta too, obviously

[Shaggy]

Obviously.

[dww]

"Messi is the best player in the world," added Bendtner. "I would rather get beaten by a better team than lose in the last minute or something like that. I don't like too many excuses. They were better than us."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/apr/07/arsenal-barcelona-champions-league

Just to add some balance to the Bendtner discussions.

[-V-]

As I said before the game I have some sympathy for Arsenal/Wenger. Its hard enough trying to beat Barca with your best team but to be robbed of 5 of your best players too makes it impossible

[Chris]

**** Wenger, he's classless prick.

[dww]

I like Wenger.

I agree with -V- that it was a pretty thankless task without a lot of his first choice players. I thought the limitations of Nasri were exposed badly. I think a few of the players, particularly Diaby, did well in the circumstances and will probably grow from the experience.

The game did also show a flaw in the way that Arsenal don't seem capable of formulating a plan B. The whole game Walcott looked to have a lot of space but they didn't seem to want to play balls in behind - instead faffing about in midfield and eventually giving possession back to Barcelona.