Barcelona

[Maxiedge]

**** Barca. The way they turned Mascherano's head before a big game was bang out of order.

Wolf in sheep's clothing...

[Vermilion]

**** Barca. The way they turned Mascherano's head before a big game was bang out of order.

Wolf in sheep's clothing...

No different to when we take players from clubs with less money and ambition than ourselves....is it ?

And tbf...Mascher's head was'nt that hard to turn.

Can't help but admire the football though surely ?

[Maxiedge]

Yeah it was nice...ok fantastic but they had all summer to make a move but did it before a big game. Where is he now? He's not even in their starting 11. Look at how they've basically kidnapped Fabregas too...

I don't like them and really hope one day we'll be tearing them a new a-hole.

[Shaggy]

RyanBabel Ryan Babel
Conversation of the morning .. " Barcelona " !!!

[Neil Young]

Just want to echo those sentiments about Barca, never seen such a performance and I just refuse to believe there has been a club side that is on par with this team. They have exceptional ability, work rate, team work, stamina and hunger.

The way they pressed Madrid all over the pitch was very impressive, I remember noting that the Madrid players couldn't pass the ball and when it went back to Casillas the Barca players backed off him but guarded every outlet for him, he couldn't do anything and he knew it, but took a punt upfield where a Barca player won it and an attack started.

To be able to offer that sort of pressue and movement off the ball you have to be incredibly good physical shape.

Then there are the individuals in the team Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Villa and even Pedro and Alves, unbelievable really.

In my opinion football has become so advanced in all aspects, technical, tactical and physical, that it's hard to compare teams between era's but pitting any other team from another era against this team would only result in a Barca win IMO.

Let's have a look at the assumptions here. If you are going to compare teams across eras then you need to do it 'fairly'. I'd like to see Xavi and Iniesta and all the rest play with an old, wet, lace-up leather football on a ploughed field. I doubt they'd be quite as effective as teams from an earlier era then.

It's all a pointless exercise. Barcelona were great last night (from what I saw of it ) and can probably play any other current team off the pitch. That's good enough - I don't see how ahistorical and flawed comparisons really move things on at all.

[Arn]

I'm still smiling and that just because of a performance by a team that I don't really care about but love to watch.

Barcelona are the ultimate football entertainers. Poetry in motion.

[Shaggy]

It certainly restored some of my faith in the beautiful game - to see the 'evil' Real ****s trying their usual tricks, getting nowhere with it and getting absolutely pumped in the process. Beautiful.

[Tee]

They have left an indelible mark on the minds of millions after that performance. Sheer perfection in almost every sense. How can anyone not but fall in love with that team? Absolute footballing heaven.

On a side note, Sergio Busquets.... Mascher better get used to that bench!

[Imy]

Whats depressing is watching a great side like Barcelona then watching the **** we've been playing with inept players and management.

We're light years away

[Fredo]

We're light years away

2 years ago we were competing with them.

[Imy]

2 years ago we were competing with them.

I know, and i would have been fairly confident of a win too.

Can you imagine Roy Hodson's team against them

[Fredo]

Unreal isn't it? At our best under Rafa, we'd have gone there and been fairly confident of getting something - though it has to be said that this Barca team is probably better than what it was then.

[-V-]

the only weakness is Valdes who I don't rate at all, they had the choice who to keep Reina and Valdes and choose the later, although they've been so successful it doesn't matter I bet they wished they'd kept Reina.

Probably the most under-rated player in football. He has improved massively over the last 3 years, he is brilliant for them and he's everything with them so why would they have regrets??

[RichC]

I know, and i would have been fairly confident of a win too.

Can you imagine Roy Hodson's team against them

Shocking how far we've fallen.

It makes me shudder seeing Royston putting a side out against this lot - we'd get the same treatment as Madrid followed by a press conference starting with "we can be proud......"

[McDermotX]

Probably the most under-rated player in football. He has improved massively over the last 3 years, he is brilliant for them and he's everything with them so why would they have regrets??

I think its more a case of looking for a weakest link relatively speaking, rather than pin-pointing him as a bad keeper.
Wouldn't have him in my best team, but he's still a good keeper who has played extremely well for Barca over the last few years.

They wouldn't be the first "best team ever" to have unnecessary question marks over who's in goal.