Topic: Champions League Semi-Finals: April 26th-27th

[WelshMike]

Ronaldo vs Mourinho

Ronaldo will win.

[jaffod]

It's weird, I can't remember a thing about that home leg. I remember we were hanging on at the end after they came back into it but I couldnt tell you anything else about the actual game

I know what you mean. I can remember we battered them first half and Ronaldinho hit the post in the 2nd, other than that it's just a blur.
 I still have to remind myself that I have seen Messi in the flesh, I feel cheated that he was in Arbeloa's pocket all night!

[It's Jimmy Corkhill]

Nothing subtle about it

Subtle as he can be

[DougLFC94]

madrid make it 5 red cards in 5 el classico games with jose tactics in the 2nd leg at the nou camp

thats up with the best of them tonight!

[Rohit]

Should have played kaka instead of diarra or atleast an actual striker. Both diarra and pepe would win the ball only to hoof back upfield and alonso is pointless if they plan to just hoof the ball up to ozil or adebayor . Atleast kaka would be able to keep the ball under pressure.

[The_Cutter]

These gifs are the best thing about this thread.

Love this:

[Ray K]

He's absolutely spot on for once.

Maybe, but I can't bring myself to say 'C Ronaldo is dead right'

Mourinho "I don't know if these things happen because of UNICEF..."
can anyone confirm weather he has or has not said this?

"I don't understand if this is because of Unicef or because of the power Villar has in the UEFA" -  Jose Mourinho

[SmithdownAndy]

Completely and utterly agree.  Would never want that fucker anywhere near our club.

I can't understand how anyone would want him.  He shows no real loyalty to any club he's been at.  The only thing he's interested in is money and spending a lot of it.  If he ever came here, he'd only hang around for a couple of years, then move on to the next project that intrigues him. 

His career goal seems to notching as many top clubs as he can off his bed post.

In reality, him and City would be a match made in heaven right now.

Mourinho he's had more clubs than fucking Nick Faldo and the tit don't even play golf.

[007.lankyguy]

Crouch missed a fucking sitter.

He was running at pace to be fair but he should definately have scored.

[It's Jimmy Corkhill]

Poor form bringing UNICEF into it.

As classy as ever, eh Jose?

Gobshite

[TALBERT]

I want to start the Big Sam to Real Madrid campaign up again

[SMD]

I love how no one brings up Mourinho's home record any more.

[hesbighesred]

I watched the highlights of that match recently, i was surprised at how different the reality was from how i remembered it. We had something like 3 decent counters, 2 of which we scored from, and we played really deep. They also missed a host of chances. Of course we did the normal pressing etc but that game was a lot more about us keeping shape than about pressing high up the pitch. Mayve Rafa's intention for that game was a lot more attacking than Mourinho's is, but Barca's quality of passing eventually pegged us back and kept us there for the majority of the game.

As for the home game, no doubt our 2 away goals gave Rafa the impetuous to play riskier tactics at home and we successfully carried that off. I do remember us clinging on near the end though, so it was never comfortable.

Interesting, thanks for that. It would be damn good to watch those matches again. Still though, as you say we did at least seek to press their back line where possible, Mourinho's tactics were Hodgsonesque...no pressing whatsoever until their own half. Can't deny it was effective though, Mourinho's big problem was possibly that Real lack the slyness, discipline and even enjoyment of that side of the game compared with a lot of the players he had at Inter. Someone like Pepe in that kind of role is asking for trouble, as opposed to Diarra who I thought was quality on the night.

[pinky]

Didn't we beat Barca in 2007 ?
Didn't Inter (Moanalot's previous team) beat Barca in 2009 ?
Doesn't the current Madrid team have 2/3 of the best players in the World playing for them ?

Leaving tonight game aside (that deserves its own chapter), 2007 Barcelona was nowhere close to any of Pep's Barcelonas. 2007 Barcelona lost to most big clubs that year actually.

[cashmere pringle]

I watched the highlights of that match recently, i was surprised at how different the reality was from how i remembered it. We had something like 3 decent counters, 2 of which we scored from, and we played really deep. They also missed a host of chances. Of course we did the normal pressing etc but that game was a lot more about us keeping shape than about pressing high up the pitch. Mayve Rafa's intention for that game was a lot more attacking than Mourinho's is, but Barca's quality of passing eventually pegged us back and kept us there for the majority of the game.

As for the home game, no doubt our 2 away goals gave Rafa the impetuous to play riskier tactics at home and we successfully carried that off. I do remember us clinging on near the end though, so it was never comfortable.

how do you all think kenny would cope with such a team as Barca ?

[Agger]

This has been the worst Champions League season ever.

[DougLFC94]

Poor form bringing UNICEF into it.

As classy as ever, eh Jose?

Gobshite

is that true?

[keano7]

Mourinho's a born winner and has shown that at every club he's been to thus far. His tactics v Barca in all but one of the el classico's have been bemusing. Barca were fragile at the back with Puyol at left back and Masch in at centre half yet Jose played highly defensive tactics to defuse any Barca counter attacks. He should of gone with a a standard 4-4-2 and attacked them at home as in the Nou Camp your always going to be second best. Tie all but over but an early Madrid goal could make things interesting.

[J-Mc-]

Kenny = The King
Fowler = God
Messi = Jesus
sMD = The queen of GIF's

[007.lankyguy]

Leaving tonight game aside (that deserves its own chapter), 2007 Barcelona was nowhere close to any of Pep's Barcelonas. 2007 Barcelona lost to most big clubs that year actually.

Yeah the pressing was nowhere near as good nor the mentality

[royhendo]

Mourinho "I don't know if these things happen because of UNICEF..."

 

Amazing

[...]

madrid make it 5 red cards in 5 el classico games with jose tactics in the 2nd leg at the nou camp

This will be the mancs' reaction if Messi gets a yellow card in the second leg

[jaffod]

This has been the worst Champions League ever.

Let's just hope it doesn't get any worse.

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

I know what you mean. I can remember we battered them first half and Ronaldinho hit the post in the 2nd, other than that it's just a blur.
 I still have to remind myself that I have seen Messi in the flesh, I feel cheated that he was in Arbeloa's pocket all night!

Maybe next time they face us in the CL, we'll let Messi batter us and score five past Pepe to please you 

[CHOPPER]

This has been the worst Champions League season ever.

Theres a fair chance it's about to get a whole lot worse.......

[Hazell]

As for the home game, no doubt our 2 away goals gave Rafa the impetuous to play riskier tactics at home and we successfully carried that off. I do remember us clinging on near the end though, so it was never comfortable.

He did that frequently, whether it was the first or second leg - see Juventus in 2005, Benfica in 2006, the Barelona game in 2007 and the Real Madrid game in 2009. Obviously we were clinging on a bit in 2007 but that's what happens when you play a quality side and don't convert your chances.

[Fanxxxxtastic]

Am i the only one pissing myself over that Llama gif at the top of the page ?

No.  I was pissing myself at the sloth as well

[pinky]

Yeah the pressing was nowhere near as good nor the mentality

The pressing, the mentality, their ability to create chances, keep possession, their competitive level...

Nothing was as good.

[Thiago]

I feel sorry for all you Real Madrid fans for having that guy disgrace your club.

[007.lankyguy]

how do you all think kenny would cope with such a team as Barca ?

Go gung ho and tear them apart

In all seriousness I reckon mainly on the counter but with better composure on the ball and with more players getting forward than Real with more emphasis on actually passing. Counter attacking in the main but I still think less defensive than Real have done. We'd still probably get beaten fairly comfortably.

[Not funny reecehenebry]

Interesting, thanks for that. It would be damn good to watch those matches again. Still though, as you say we did at least seek to press their back line where possible, Mourinho's tactics were Hodgsonesque...no pressing whatsoever until their own half. Can't deny it was effective though, Mourinho's big problem was possibly that Real lack the slyness, discipline and even enjoyment of that side of the game compared with a lot of the players he had at Inter. Someone like Pepe in that kind of role is asking for trouble, as opposed to Diarra who I thought was quality on the night.

I thought barca were happy to let the crowd push Real forward rather than allow themselves open to the counter. And when Real started diving Barca followed suit. Pepe got it right tonight, allowed Real to self-explode under Jose hyperbole.

[Rohit]

Out of curiosity when was the last time ronaldo scored from a free kick. He always seems to hit the wall or sky them now days.

[Hunter Thompson]

Anyone know who's on yellow cards for Barcelona?

[...]

This basically sums up tonights game

[007.lankyguy]

The pressing, the mentality, their ability to create chances, keep possession, their competitive level...

Nothing was as good.

Yeah I guess, that side had quite a bit more flair but not enough cutting edge and discipline in Rijkaard's last two seasons there.

[Elzar]

Are all these Jose quotes real?

What a sad twat.

[Fiasco]

Did Messi get booked tonight? Or is he at risk of missing the final if he picks up a yellow in the second leg?

[J-Mc-]

This basically sums up tonights game

[hoonin]

No-one like Mourinho but tactically he was a sending off and a piece of Messi-inspired brilliance away from a 0-0 draw.  He did exactly what we did in the 2 leg at Anfield against Barca in 2006 - don't let them get behind you.  That's incredibly difficult against a team that has so much ability in its ranks.

Tonight was different to 2007 I think. Barca were already trailing 1-2 from their home leg, not to mention being a notch below Guardiola's current side.

Real were abysmal in the first half given their talents and home advantage. They seemed content to just stop Barca playing. 2nd half they were better and, yes, the game changed with the red card. Saw a couple of replays immediately after but it looked inconclusive at the time. Did he miss the ball and end up unintentionally going in high? Still don't know.

Sod all the controversy though. Messi is just bewitching and bewildering to watch at times.

[DougLFC94]

Did Messi get booked tonight? Or is he at risk of missing the final if he picks up a yellow in the second leg?

if he picks a yellow up in the next leg he's out for the final, to be honest i wouldnt even risk him, he's done his bit tonight