Andy Gray

[Imy]

I watched it live too. Gray and the hairy bollock seem to think the Premier League is better then the La Liga

Barca would piss all over the likes of Stoke, Stoke, Blackburn et al wouldn't be able to get the ball of them. Espanyol who are a physically strong team were taken to the cleaners by Barca last weekend.

Gray and Keys are clueless, but i suppose they have to defend 'their' product.

[Kenneth]

I watched it live too. Gray and the hairy bollock seem to think the Premier League is better then the La Liga

Barca would piss all over the likes of Stoke, Stoke, Blackburn et al wouldn't be able to get the ball of them. Espanyol who are a physically strong team were taken to the cleaners by Barca last weekend.

Gray and Keys are clueless, but i suppose they have to defend 'their' product.

It's not about who Barca would murder. I wonder how the lower la liga clubs would do against the lower PL clubs.

[The Erectile Banana]

Hate to be the party pooper But i watched this live, and that's not what he said.

He didnt say Barca 'would struggle' in the PL and with playing the likes of Stoke. What he said was, he WONDERED how Barca would handle that kind of aerial & physical barrage from the likes of Stoke, bearing in mind that it's nothing they'd have faced before.

He wasnt saying they wouldnt cope, he was asking the question of how they may handle it, and to what extent.

The most laughable piece of journalism here, is in the goal.com article above. They've used comments completely out of context, and published 'quotes' which he didnt actually make.

He's still a ballbag though.

[Icon]

And Balotelli..?

[Exiled_red]

[Vermilion]

If there was ever any doubt as to this mans ignorance this is it. What a plonker.

[Kenneth]

Hate to be the party pooper But i watched this live, and that's not what he said.

He didnt say Barca 'would struggle' in the PL and with playing the likes of Stoke. What he said was, he WONDERED how Barca would handle that kind of aerial & physical barrage from the likes of Stoke, bearing in mind that it's nothing they'd have faced before.

He wasnt saying they wouldnt cope, he was asking the question of how they may handle it, and to what extent.

The most laughable piece of journalism here, is in the goal.com article above. They've used comments completely out of context, and published 'quotes' which he didnt actually make.

the reaction here is pretty weird. Asking how a team like Barca would handle playing a big bruising lower PL team on a cold wet November night, with the way games are refereed here compared to Spain, well it's a perfectly reasonable question. And anyone hanging on the editorial line of goal.com is a cretin.

[Vermilion]

the reaction here is pretty weird. Asking how a team like Barca would handle playing a big bruising lower PL team on a cold wet November night, with the way games are refereed here compared to Spain, well it's a perfectly reasonable question. And anyone hanging on the editorial line of goal.com is a cretin.

Shaggy was just putting it out there is all.

[Shaggy]

the reaction here is pretty weird. Asking how a team like Barca would handle playing a big bruising lower PL team on a cold wet November night, with the way games are refereed here compared to Spain, well it's a perfectly reasonable question. And anyone hanging on the editorial line of goal.com is a cretin.

LOL

Maybe the goal.com take on events was erroneous, but this debate is a valid one and football people/journos all over the place are laughing at Gray, in particular The Guardian's Sid Lowe who decimated him the other day.

It isn't a reasonable question either. Do you seriously believe Barca have only ever played football in searing Mediterranean conditions against nice tippy tappy football teams?

[malg]

Once a cock always a cock.

[Kenneth]

And yes, I don't think Barca play the kinds of sides we do so regularuly in the PL. Do you?

[Shaggy]

There are more of them over here obviously but it is a complete fallacy to suggest every team in Spain plays tippy tappy football in red hot/balmy conditions. There are some bruising teams over there.

But then I would agree it's a bit of a joke making an issue out of all this. Gray is a self-confessed PL cheerleader. To expect insightful, balanced analysis from him is just ridiculous. The worse this league gets, the more desperate his "it's the best league in the world!!!!1" rubbish becomes.

[Craig_H]

There are more of them over here obviously but it is a complete fallacy to suggest every team in Spain plays tippy tappy football in red hot conditions. There are some bruising teams over there.

But then I would agree it's a bit of a joke making an issue out of all this. Gray is a self-confessed PL cheerleader. To expect insightful, balanced analysis from him is just ridiculous. The worse this league gets, the more desperate his "it's the best league in the world!!!!1" rubbish becomes.

It's not just the 'bruising' element though - even then, i'd dispute the idea that there are many spanish teams who play it as physical as the physical PL sides do.

But in regards to stoke, the whole long throw thing, is an exceptionally unique weapon that they have - it's so rare, that even English PL clubs hadnt faced it before, to such an extent that plenty are still unsure of how to combat it even now.

Bearing that in mind, i dont know how anyone could suggest that it's something Barcelona would consider themselves to have come up against before - they simply havent. That isnt to say they wouldnt cope, or would therefore struggle - but i certainly think it's an interesting point, valid for discussion.

I agree with your general points about Gray, he's cringeworthy in cheerleader mode. I've always said, the bloke is knowledgable and talks a lot of sense, but only when he keeps away from the Sky-brand of sensationalism-for-attention characteristic. You know the kind of thing - the whole 'Grand Slam Sunday' bull**** that Sky have made their own. Unfortunately, it's inevitable that he has to play along with it and/or gets caught up in it at times.

[Shaggy]

The Stoke long throw thing is unique, I accept that. But IMO it's pretty laughable to suggest one of the greatest club sides of all time - featuring Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Puyol, Pedro etc - might lose any sleep over Rory Delap's throw ins.

If Barca played Stoke, I'd predict 7-0.

[Craig_H]

The Stoke long throw thing is unique, I accept that. But IMO it's pretty laughable to suggest one of the greatest club sides of all time - featuring Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Puyol, Pedro etc - might lose any sleep over Rory Delap's throw ins.

If Barca played Stoke, I'd predict 7-0.

It is indeed a laughable suggestion. Not one that Gray actually made, though.

This is quite enjoyable, because i know how badly you want to mock him and hang him out to dry

Ordinarily, i'd be in your corner on this, but i dislike sensationalism in print media more than i dislike the less-likeable characteristics of Andy Gray. Close run thing though