Champions League Final - Barcelona vs Arsenal

Valdes vs Lehmann
Puyol vs Toure
Xavi vs Fabregas

and of course

Ronaldinho vs Henry

Two of the most attacking teams in Europe will battle it out tomorrow night in Paris for a chance to win the biggest club competition in football and lift the great trophy. Both teams are undefeated in the Champions League so far this season and have qualified for the final in style.

What better way to celebrate our independence day here in Norway than a matchup with this magnitude and importance. To top it off we are represented in Paris, as Terje Hauge has gotten the call to be the game`s referee. Norwegians will also work the lines and Tom Henning Øvrebø will be the 4th official.

I`ve told you guys how I feel about Terje Hauge before and I`m sure you guys recall his officiating at Stamford Bridge in the quarterfinals. I`ll be very surprised tomorrow night if it turns out he did a good job. Not good enough to make the World Cup, but still given a chance to work the final in the 2nd greatest competition in football? Pretty crazy if you ask me.

And I found a pic of his linesman, Ole Herman Borgan, from last night. He will of course be present at the line in Paris tomorrow. What do you think?

I hope the Arse win but I cant see it. I just hope its as good as the FA cup final and not the normal negative type Euro final.

I hope the Arse win but I cant see it. I just hope its as good as the FA cup final and not the normal negative type Euro final.Last year final was awesome though.

Yes, clearly one of the best... I thought it was done at half time but when Gerrard scored, I was sure they could come back.

Last year final was awesome.
It was but it was the exception rather than the norm.

Bergkamp! :bow:

Will be the last official game of his impressive career.

I'm very much pulling for Barcelona.

As opposed to Arsenal they play truly attacking football (and not attacking counter football - which isn't anything bad either - see Chelsea-Liverpool - but still ) and I just dread the thought of Wenger winning the Champions League. In fact I hate the thought of Wenger winning anything.

I'm quite torn.
I'd like the offensive Barca to win, but I usually pull for the underdog, and there are some french guys I'd like to see win the CL (Henry, Wenger, not so much Pires).

What's the odds in Las Vegas for this game ?

Go Gunners!

Not a bad way to say goodbye for Larsson, I really hope that he'll get some minutes on the pitch tomorrow.

Go Barca!

Should be a good game. Arsenal are easily the most enjoyable team to watch in the Premiership when they play like they can. Would be freakin awesome if two years in a row it came back to the motherland.

How many British players are in Arsenal? Cole, Campbell (who probably won't even start)Somehow I hope that Campbell starts, because then I won't have a reason for supporting Arsenal anymore. That said, it would be great for Senderos if he could play in the CL final.

What's the odds in Las Vegas for this game ?
Vegas?

In the USA?

They don't give a rat's *** about futbol.....

And speaking of rat's ***.....GO ARSE!!!!!!

Should be a good game. Arsenal are easily the most enjoyable team to watch in the Premiership when they play like they can.

Agreed 100%.

Go Barca...that'll teach Wenger from stealing from our youth academy!

And I found a pic of his linesman, Ole Herman Borgan, from last night. He will of course be present at the line in Paris tomorrow. What do you think?

I think he was dropped for the final, so try again.

If Arsenal play their best, they have a chance. Barca's one weakness might be that I don't think that they are as well organized as the Arsenal. If the Gunners can get into wide areas against the Barca back 4, I think that they could create a goal or two.

Should be a great match.

I think he was dropped for the final, so try again.

True. He was dropped late last night, which is of course the right thing to do. The point of the pic was to get one linesman in Barca jersey and the other in an Arsenal shirt. The Arsenal guy decided to be a no-show and in good sport Borgan showed up wearing the Barca outfit. No biggie, but still a moronic thing to do.

Here`s to a great game between 2 great teams. Best of luck to both teams fans, and may the best team win!

Expected starting lineups?

Expected starting lineups?

Too early I think, Rijkaard is not showing his hand on Messi...


By the way, my newspaper had the following starting XI for Barcelona in the following formation :lol:

--------------Valdez --------------
Oleguer - Puyol - Marquez - Gio
------------- Iniesta -------------
Edmilson ---- Deco ------- Ronnie
--------------------------------------
---------- Giuly - Eto'o ------------

Amazing how badly informed some journalists are, Barcelona's been playing 4-3-3 since forever. Do these people even watch matches? :shakehead


Either way with the possibility of Messi over Giuly (highly unlikely IMO) and Belletti over Oleguer (which could very well happen) this seems like it will be the starting XI for Barca, when you put them in 4-3-3 of course.


I think Arsenal won't have many surprises:

------------- Lehman -----------
Eboué - Touré - Campbell - Cole
------------- Gilberto S -----------
Hleb --------- Cesc -------- Pires
-------------------------------------
-------- Reyes ----- Henry --------

Senderos is fit but I think Wenger will stick with Campbell (watch for him to get destroyed by Eto'o tonight). On the left Flamini is fit but it looks like Cole will play.

Too early I think, Rijkaard is not showing his hand on Messi...
..Either way with the possibility of Messi over Giuly.. :confused:
Is Messi available for this game?? i thought he was still out! :hyper:



Amazing how badly informed some journalists are, Barcelona's been playing 4-3-3 since forever. Do these people even watch matches? :shakehead Talking about newspapers... today's Gazzetta dello sport has its first page about the CL final at page #16! Now, i realize the scandal underway is something biblical but at least i would expect they consider the CL final more important than mercato news and rumours (page 14 and 15).. :shakehead

What about Larsson? i would not be surprised to see him start in place for Giuly.. but probably the French gets the nod to help defensively on Cole and Reyes side. Btw, i would expect Reyes to not play as forward and Wneger to use only one striker (Henry), maybe with ljungberg in place for Pires

I think Arsenal won't have many surprises:

------------- Lehman -----------
Eboué - Touré - Campbell - Cole
------------- Gilberto S -----------
Hleb --------- Cesc -------- Pires
-------------------------------------
-------- Reyes ----- Henry --------So do you disagree and think this is pretty much set?

Too early I think, Rijkaard is not showing his hand on Messi...


By the way, my newspaper had the following starting XI for Barcelona in the following formation :lol:

--------------Valdez --------------
Oleguer - Puyol - Marquez - Gio
------------- Iniesta -------------
Edmilson ---- Deco ------- Ronnie
--------------------------------------
---------- Giuly - Eto'o ------------

Amazing how badly informed some journalists are, Barcelona's been playing 4-3-3 since forever. Do these people even watch matches? :shakehead


Either way with the possibility of Messi over Giuly (highly unlikely IMO) and Belletti over Oleguer (which could very well happen) this seems like it will be the starting XI for Barca, when you put them in 4-3-3 of course.


I think Arsenal won't have many surprises:

------------- Lehman -----------
Eboué - Touré - Campbell - Cole
------------- Gilberto S -----------
Hleb --------- Cesc -------- Pires
-------------------------------------
-------- Reyes ----- Henry --------

Senderos is fit but I think Wenger will stick with Campbell (watch for him to get destroyed by Eto'o tonight). On the left Flamini is fit but it looks like Cole will play.

The sun writes that Pires will play instead of Reyes, so perhaps Henry and Ljungberg on top if that is true?

:confused:
Is Messi available for this game?? i thought he was still out! :hyper:


Talking about newspapers... today's Gazzetta dello sport has its first page about the CL final at page #16! Now, i realize the scandal underway is something biblical but at least i would expect they consider the CL final more important than mercato news and rumours (page 14 and 15).. :shakehead

What about Larsson? i would not be surprised to see him start in place for Giuly.. but probably the French gets the nod to help defensively on Cole and Reyes side. Btw, i would expect Reyes to not play as forward and Wneger to use only one striker (Henry), maybe with ljungberg in place for Pires

So do you disagree and think this is pretty much set?

Larsson played this weekend when Barca rested many of their players, including Guily, so most experts take that as a sign that larsson will start on the bench. Messi's status is a bit unclear, but he is in the squad so he might be a joker for Barca.

I don't know anything about soccer i play rec, but don't know about world soccer. So i Ronaldhino the best player in the world :dunno:

Yes.

According to L'Equipe :

---------Lehman----------
Eboue-Toure-Campbell-Cole
---------Gilberto---------
Hleb----Pires-------Ljungberg
----------Cesc----------
-------------Henry-----------

---------Valdes---------
Oleguer-Puyol-Marquez-Gio
-----------Edmilson----------
--Iniesta-------------Deco--
Giuly------Eto'o------Ronnie

Ljundberg - way above his head. I'd play Reyes, van Persie before him. Definitely let Bergkamp at least see some minutes in his last official game.

Ljundberg - way above his head. I'd play Reyes, van Persie before him. Definitely let Bergkamp at least see some minutes in his last official game.

I will be very surprised if Ljungberg don't play from the start. He has proven much more than both Reyes and van Persie, so I don't really know what you are talking about.

Here are the starting lineups:

Barcelona:
1 Valdez – van Bronckhorst, 5 Puyol, 4 Marquez, 23 Oleguer – 17 van Bommel, 15 Edmilson, 20 Deco – 10 Ronaldinho, 9 Eto'o, 8 Giuly.


Arsenal:
1 Lehman – 2 Cole, 23, Campbell, 28 Touré, 27 Eboué – 13 Hleb, 15 Fabregas, 19 Gilberto, 7 Pirés – 8 Ljungberg – 14 Henry.

I will be very surprised if Ljungberg don't play from the start. He has proven much more than both Reyes and van Persie, so I don't really know what you are talking about.

Ljungberg lacks pretty much every skill a quality players has to have at this level. All he has is a good workethic.

Anyway, L'Equipe is correct with the line-ups, except van Bommel will play for Iniesta and some players play different positions.

Ljungberg lacks pretty much every skill a quality players has to have at this level. All he has is a good workethic.

Anyway, L'Equipe is correct with the line-ups, except van Bommel will play for Iniesta and some players play different positions.

I strongly disagree. Ljungberg has plenty of skill and speed. The reason he hasn't performed as good this season as previously is because he has injury problems, and still do. He is one of the most important players on the team, which wenger himself has said.

WOW!
Henry showing how he chokes in big games... :sarcasm:

Man is he showing who the boss is!

WOW!
Henry showing how he chokes in big games... :sarcasm:

Man is he showing who the boss is!

Can't believe he missed that :eek:

Dude the ****ing ref is a retard.

Like the commentators are saying, it should have been advantage Barca and kept Lehmann in the game. bull ****.

Actually it was a great save by Valdes on Henry.


Well, the ref has just ruined the fun. By disallowing the goal and throwing a red card, he's turned this game into a sucky game most likely.
What's the point of throwing the red card and allowing a free kick when the goal was obvious anyway.

Giuly seems on absolute fire. His controls have been outstanding.

Funny call that. He could've let the tackle slide, award the goal. Instead he calls the free kick, gives Lehman the red card, and takes away a Barca goal.

I would probably have let the play stand.

If you play advantage though and they score, he still has to go back and show the red for a clear red card offence. In my opinion he at least gave Arsenal some hope to stay in the game and perhaps Barcelona will do something stupid and get a red.

1-0 Campbell!

Wow - quite some dive though.

Perfect header by Sol. No chance on that one.

Oh that foul was krap

It was, but both sides are diving.

Perfect header by Sol. No chance on that one.
Not a keeper in the World that could stop it. Maybe Craig Forrest. :)

If you play advantage though and they score, he still has to go back and show the red for a clear red card offence. In my opinion he at least gave Arsenal some hope to stay in the game and perhaps Barcelona will do something stupid and get a red.
No, he didn't have to give the red according to the rules.

Horrible dive by Eboue, but quite a symbol to see Campbell scoring this first goal.
If Wenger has one quality it has to be the human relationships he has with his players. Campbell being a starter -and scoring- in this final has a lot to do with that.

Not a keeper in the World that could stop it. Maybe Craig Forrest. :)

:D He was pretty good, i remember he got cancer, did he recover?

I would probably have let the play stand.
Any decent ref would have.
This one is getting fleeced every two calls.
Calling fouls on dives (Eboue, Ronnie), not calling anything on clear foul (Marquez on Henry) and obviously, that horrible free kick on Giuly's goal.

Eto hits the post!

No, he didn't have to give the red according to the rules.
It would be hard to explain that one away to your boss though. I did not think a play as that could be construed any other way. Perhaps I am wrong but I cannot recall a play like that not being a red.- woodwork!!!

Yes, there are plenty of cases where the ref lets it go if the award is a goal.
If Giuly shoots wide for instance, he HAS to give a card (yellow maybe in this case).
As Giuly scored, it didn't need a red card.

:D He was pretty good, i remember he got cancer, did he recover?
Yes, he does soccer central on Sportsnet and I would say he'll be on analysis for the World Cup. I really like his TV work- loved his goalkeeping.

Yes, there are plenty of cases where the ref lets it go if the award is a goal.
If Giuly shoots wide for instance, he HAS to give a card (yellow maybe in this case).
As Giuly scored, it didn't need a red card.
OK. Wonder what the score would look like now if he had awarded the goal?

Yes, he does soccer central on Sportsnet and I would say he'll be on analysis for the World Cup. I really like his TV work- loved his goalkeeping.

Good to hear, he was solid. :)

Pathetic, I don't want to hear any further word by Whiner on diving and cheating :shakehead
I've seen little real diving by Barca yet so right now I don't think you can see both teams are diving.



Having said that, I think the ref made the wrong decision sending Lehman off and disallowing the goal. It would have been much better for the match, although it's turning out to be a good match now as well.

Some kind of game so far.

First of all, terrible job by the ref. Barca should have gotten that goal and then we could still see a decent game of football. Instead, he's basically killed the game. The challenge by Marquez on Henry was absolutely horrific, but not even a call. Eboue with a blatant dive does get a call which ends up leading to the Arsenal goal. Terrible, terrible job, and in UEFA's biggest game as well, they should be embarrassed.

I am proud of Arsenal. After Lehmann was sent off, I was sure that we would be embarrassed. However, the team has carried itself with pride and dignity and they've kept their shape very well. Even if they lose 5-1, I am still proud of the effort that they have shown.

I still think that Barca will win. Ronnie has been having an incredible game and if it hadn't been for a great save by Almunia, we'd already be at 1-1. Barca just have too much skill and sooner or later, they will find an opening. They do have 45 minutes and then the 30 minutes of extra time. But just the joy after Campbell scored was incredible and I am proud of this team. Here's to a great second half! :)

How can you disallow a goal to give a free kick!??
What an idiotic call. :speechles
And a call that could have very well ruined the game.
Fortunately Arsenal scored and that changed everything..

I really don't get Rijkaard decision of placing Eto'o on the left and Ronaldinho deep in the middle.. in fact as soon as Eto'o was back at center he burned Campbell and was tremendously dangerous.

Anyone knows if Messi is on the bench?

How can you disallow a goal to give a free kick!??
What an idiotic call. :speechles
And a call that could have very well ruined the game.
Fortunately Arsenal scored and that changed everything..

I really don't get Rijkaard decision of placing Eto'o on the left and Ronaldinho deep in the middle.. in fact as soon as Eto'o was back at center he burned Campbell and was tremendously dangerous.

Anyone knows if Messi is on the bench?

I think that Rijkaard put Eto'o on the left to try to keep Eboue from going forward too much. Eto'o isn't too defensive, but he's better than Ronnie. It worked for a while, but then the goal ended up coming from that side, so he switched back.

Agreed Helice, amazing how he burned Campbell there.


Messi not on the bench BTW.



Cruijf is going berserk right now on the refs, he's really mad I've rarely seen him like that.

I agree though, use the advantage rule and give the goal to Barca. And the Eboué dive (man was that a blatant dive, how could anyone get that call wrong???) was called by the linesman (I think the one who was brought in today). Cruijf was even angrier at that decision.

How can you disallow a goal to give a free kick!??
What an idiotic call. :speechles
And a call that could have very well ruined the game.
Fortunately Arsenal scored and that changed everything..

I really don't get Rijkaard decision of placing Eto'o on the left and Ronaldinho deep in the middle.. in fact as soon as Eto'o was back at center he burned Campbell and was tremendously dangerous.

Anyone knows if Messi is on the bench?

I think he had blown the whistle before Guily scored. But I agree that he should have waited, let the goal stand, give Lehman a yellow card, and we would have a two-way offensive game again.

Pathetic, I don't want to hear any further word by Whiner on diving and cheating :shakehead
I've seen little real diving by Barca yet so right now I don't think you can see both teams are diving.

Ronnie dived twice I think to get away with a ball he had lost, and Edmilson fell all alone early on, which gave his first free kick to Ronnie.
Basically, Barca is leading in dives 3-1, but of course, Eboue's dive was more obvious, closer to the goal, and much more costly.

Pathetic, I don't want to hear any further word by Whiner on ****** and ******* :shakehead


When it's Arsenal, it's gamesmanship. :D

Anyone knows if Messi is on the bench?
He's not.

When it's Arsenal, it's gamesmanship. :D

True, like that blatant penalty on Gerrard in last year's CL final to make it 3-3, that wasn't a dive either

;)





I thought Ronnie's dives were less obvious Evilo, there was at least some contact.

I think that Rijkaard put Eto'o on the left to try to keep Eboue from going forward too much. Eto'o isn't too defensive, but he's better than Ronnie. It worked for a while, but then the goal ended up coming from that side, so he switched back.Naah, he switched cause offensively it wasn't working (as obvious).
Also, who should be worried? Barca and Ronaldinho of Eboue or Arsenal and Eboue of Ronaldinho??

He's not.****.

(thanks)

I'd say it depends on the moment he made the call.
If he blew it right after Lehmann made the foul there is simply no way around disallowing the goal.

It's not really easy for the ref, either. Last man back, foul, clear red card, that's not necessarily a moment where you wait with blowing the whistle.

Naah, he switched cause offensively it wasn't working (as obvious).
Also, who should worried? Barca and Ronaldinho of Eboue or Arsenal and Eboue of Ronaldinho??

That one, Eboue is good, but not that good.

I thought Ronnie's dives were less obvious Evilo, there was at least some contact.
Yes, they were less obvious (as I stated) and obviously less costly.
However, he once fell on the ball (a common tactic when you lose the ball in order for the ref to blow a foul for you) and at another time, he took someone's jersey (Toure?) and fell down with a foul being made.
In any case, the ref is fleeced again and again.

Well, time for the second half, should be interesting.

I'd say it depends on the moment he made the call.
If he blew it right after Lehmann made the foul there is simply no way around disallowing the goal.

It's not really easy for the ref, either. Last man back, foul, clear red card, that's not necessarily a moment where you wait with blowing the whistle.

He is suppose to be one of the best refs in the world, and should know that you should let situations play out before you blow the whistle.

I'd say it depends on the moment he made the call.
If he blew it right after Lehmann made the foul there is simply no way around disallowing the goal.

It's not really easy for the ref, either. Last man back, foul, clear red card, that's not necessarily a moment where you wait with blowing the whistle.
That's why any good ref knows you have to watch the entire portion of the field before blowing the whistle so that you know if the advantage can be useful or not.

Obviously, the guy blew the whistle as soon as Eto'o was down without looking anywhere (and Giuly was very noticeable for the ref to see).

Good, Iniesta is brought on.

VB on Edmilson's spot then. Personally I would probably have taken VB of but this will get more tempo and flow in Barça's game as well.

He is suppose to be one of the best refs in the world, and should know that you should let situations play out before you blow the whistle.

I memory serves, Hauge won't be officiating at the World Cup.:dunno:

Larsson is coming on for Barca. Van Bommel out.

What the hell is wrong with Henry... complaining about not getting support? With 10 men against Barcelona - and he wants more support?

This is beginning to be eerily like El Classico 2 from this season - Real Madrid vs Barca at the Nou Camp. Roberto Carlos sent off early, Real forced to play with 10 men, Barcelona takes the lead, Ronaldo equalizes and Barcelona spends the rest of the game absolutely dominating but never able to score the winner...

Henry, Henry, Henry...

Henry, Henry, Henry...

Nice audition by Henry tonight for his future team... :biglaugh:

This is beginning to be eerily like El Classico 2 from this season - Real Madrid vs Barca at the Nou Camp. Roberto Carlos sent off early, Real forced to play with 10 men, Barcelona takes the lead, Ronaldo equalizes and Barcelona spends the rest of the game absolutely dominating but never able to score the winner...

I don't know... Barcelonas had the ball, but I kind of feel that Arsenal has had just as many, if not more, real threats.

Nice passing by Iniesta and Larsson, nice finish.

Golaso!

Nice goal.

Beautiful goal.

2-1 Belletti from Larsson!

Bad, bad keeping.

Bad, bad keeping.

It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't impossible to save either.

Henry must be kicking himself by now.

You wanna blame the goalkeeper for Arsenal having the ball... umm... NEVER?

I didn't blame the loss on Almunia, but of course you have to blame that goal on him. That was a terrible goal.

Also, I think Almunia on the whole has been very good. But that goal wasn't.

We love a good downpoor during a CL final :yo:

Also, I think Almunia on the whole has been very good. But that goal wasn't.

Tough spot for him. I wouldn't feel very confident with a backup keeper sent in suddenly either. The sheer pressure of Barcelona finally overcame Arsenal.

Possession stats:

Barcelona 71% :eek:
Arsenal 29%

I am a swede, and i am not trying to "glorify" him. But Henke Larsson have been awesome and a great factor in both goals for Barca in his last game in a european championship.

That's it! Barca :handclap:

Wonder if the tragic loss will push Henry further out the door or inspire him to come back?

I am a swede, and i am not trying to "glorify" him. But Henke Larsson have been awesome and a great factor in both goals for Barca in his last game in a european championship.

I really like Sweden's chances in the World Cup, especially with the Rooney injury to England.

I hope henke fails in HIF after the summer. ;) But this he deserves.

Congrats Barca and their fans!!

All three Barca subs brought something : Larsson, Iniesta and Beletti.

Well, it was a sucky final I must say, and most of it can be blamed on the ref.
I have no idea why UEFA decided to give this guy a CL final since he's not internationally well known for a good reason.

Toure destroyed Deco's legs and got away without a card. And many many more stupid decisions.

That red card also dictated the game : Barca had the ball, and it was quite obvious they would have scored at some point.

Still Henry had two golden opportunities that he should have burried and that game would have been different.

Would have been a nice final probably without that red card though. Thank you ref for ruining it.

Barca is a nice winner, and definately deserving overall, but I came away unimpressed by their last three games.

Great game :clap:

Wonder if the tragic loss will push Henry further out the door or inspire him to come back?
He's as good as gone if you want my opinion.

Henry's choking ends up costing Arsenal the title.

Barca never really got going though bringing Iniesta and then Larsson really did help things. Arsenal fought bravely but they were always going to be up against the odds when this Barca juggernaught could play freely because of the numerical disadvantage.


Larsson turned the match for me, along with Iniesta. Belletti also finally provided some good offense down the flanks which was lacking before (Giuly was rather poor). Good substitutions by Rijkaard.

I thought for Arsenal Hleb and Gilberto did well stuffing holes in midfield, and Freddy was great producing some offense

I wish I got to see more of it, looks like it was a good game.

Victor Valdes has quite a good game as well for Barca.

BTW Flyhigh, you have two Liga picks to make. ;)

Well, it was certainly a heartbreaking loss. I actually felt that Arsenal had the better of the chances after half-time. Henry especially had a golden opportunity, but he just couldn't take advantage. Valdes also made a really great save on Ljungberg's shot. I'm not too happy with Almunia to be honest. The Eto'o goal, he should have been out at least two more steps to close off the angel and I felt that he should have had the Belletti goal as well, but that's football. I just would have rather seen Arsenal lose to a couple perfect shots instead of shots that should have been saved and that Lehmann would have saved.

I'm still proud of this team. Every player really played his heart out, by the end of the game, it was sad because you could tell that each man in yellow was dead on his feet. I really wish the red hadn't been given. This final was entertaining, but it would have been incredible without the card and to be honest, even with Barca 1-0 up, I think Arsenal would have had a good fighting chance.

I'm not sure about Henry staying or leaving. He was very upset at Wenger for not making a switch (Hleb for Reyes) and I just hope that he doesn't get too angry. The Gunners just need Henry, but my heart is telling me that he'll leave.

I was surprised at Ronaldinho, I thought he had a very, very quiet 2nd half and didn't really create anything.

I'd just also like to mention Ljungberg who really did have an great game even though I've ragged on him all year.

Yes he waited for me, again! :P

After watching tons of hockey games recently, soccer is slow. :D
Good game, the ref was awful. Don't blame Henry, I thought he played with heart but same problem as the NT, can't bury the chance.

Arsenal was very young and it showed. They had trouble to finish the game and finished exhausted...

I am so happy for Henrik Larsson, he is such a great guy. I hate the team he will be playing for after summer, but he is one guy i really feel deserve this together with Puyol. Congrats Carles, Ronaldinho, Henke and the fans of Barca!

Yes he waited for me, again! :P

After watching tons of hockey games recently, soccer is slow. :D
Good game, the ref was awful. Don't blame Henry, I thought he played with heart but same problem as the NT, can't bury the chance.

Arsenal was very young and it showed. They had trouble to finish the game and finished exhausted...

Beli let me PM you, I think it might be a little early to take the guys you mentioned.

Yeah, that precision free kick was definitely the mark of a choker

More like the shot in the 70th minute.

Thoughts:

I love Iniesta (and Evilo, do you still think he didn't belong at #12 in the overall prospects' list?).

What a crappy officiating.

Rijkaard substitions were perfect (his plan for the game was not).

That rule of last defender gets the red must be removed (at least as for it is called now). Today it gave the ref the chance to ruin the game. But it can be worse than that. Imagine if the foul was inside the penalty area..

Arsenal's fans must be feeling horrible right now

This game was a diving festival and there was not a single Italian on the pitch. :sarcasm:

i had another one, but forgot about that :(

Wow, they've just showed the Eto'o goal, and he might just have been offside... Didn't notice it at all at full speed, but indeed, it's very very close. I'd say he's offside by a hair, but this was a difficult call for the linesman.

i had another one, but forgot about that :(

Wenger's face after the loss was priceless?

:innocent:

I love it, my buddy called me from the game and I couldn't hear a god damn word! It was chaos!

I love Iniesta (and Evilo, do you still think he didn't belong at #12 in the overall prospects' list?).
I'd say if Essien is 35th or something, then Iniesta definately doesn't deserve to be 12th... ;)

Dude, the second half was a build up play/passing CLINIC

The one thing I was confused was that how no Arsenal player made any attempt to try to hinder Iniesta bringing the ball upfield. He bascally would dribble about 1/4 of the field, cross the midline, and then distribute/move. and NOBODY would stop him.
Dude, playing at 10 for 50 minutes will do that to you.
Barca playing (pretty shameful BTW) passes for 10 minutes or so is quite an easy task for Barcelona. Especially against an exhausted squad with a player.

Wenger's face after the loss was priceless?

:innocent:
:shakehead
He was very proud of his team and his comments were classy.

He hit the net. He made the goalkeeper work.


This is not hockey, if you get these chances at this level when you're that good you simply have to finish it. Otherwise you're a choker



Dude, the second half was a build up play/passing CLINIC

It was still a bit too slow for my liking. Not as much movement as there usually is when Barca are firing on all cylinders



The one thing I was confused was that how no Arsenal player made any attempt to try to hinder Iniesta bringing the ball upfield. He bascally would dribble about 1/4 of the field, cross the midline, and then distribute/move. and NOBODY would stop him.

Two guys watching Ronnie and only 10 men on the pitch.

Wow, they've just showed the Eto'o goal, and he might just have been offside... Didn't notice it at all at full speed, but indeed, it's very very close. I'd say he's offside by a hair, but this was a difficult call for the linesman.

If it's close they should let it go. I have no problem with that call.

I love it, my buddy called me from the game and I couldn't hear a god damn word! It was chaos!


Chaos both ways, I'd say

:shakehead
He was very proud of his team and his comments were classy.

He should definately be proud of his team, he has good reason obviously. Haven't heard his comments yet though.

Still that doesn't mean I loved the look on his face (hey I'm honest about those things)

Dude, playing at 10 for 50 minutes will do that to you.
Barca playing (pretty shameful BTW) passes for 10 minutes or so is quite an easy task for Barcelona. Especially against an exhausted squad with a player.

Every soccer team out there would have passed around the ball like that in a simular situation.

Despite the horrible reffing, it still became an interesting match with a deserving winner, IMO.

Still a shame Bergkamp had to go out like this. The camera never even turned onto him..

If it's close they should let it go. I have no problem with that call.
No, definately too hard to blame the ref here.
Just thought I'd point out that it could be another ref mistake.

Every soccer team out there would have passed around the ball like that in a simular situation.
Probably in today's football. Which doesn't make it less shameful.

Despite the horrible reffing, it still became an interesting match with a deserving winner, IMO.

Still a shame Bergkamp had to go out like this. The camera never even turned onto him..
Just think of Pires' last game as a Gunner. Thrown out of the game after 20 minutes.

Fantastic game, though at times in the 2nd half I thought Barca would never score one.

Brilliant substitutions by Rikjard(?). Iniesta immediately made a few runs and passes that opened up the Arsenal defense. Larsson was also brilliant, as he directly made the pass for both goals. Belletti was also a wise choice, for the goal AND for replacing the useless Oleguer.

Arsenal's counterattacks were great, and they deserved a better fate.

Probably in today's football. Which doesn't make it less shameful.

Yeah perhaps, I guess I'm just used to it ;)

Haha, Xavi getting a bit too friendly with the King and the Queen. They looked pretty uncomfortable when he hugged them :biglaugh:

Just think of Pires' last game as a Gunner. Thrown out of the game after 20 minutes.

Different, but painful too. Bergkamp played for the Gunners for a full decade, last chance at really winning anything and he never even gets to take of his warming up gear.

Fantastic game
Surely wasn't fantastic to me.
A pee-wee game compared to last year.

Wow, they've just showed the Eto'o goal, and he might just have been offside... Didn't notice it at all at full speed, but indeed, it's very very close. I'd say he's offside by a hair, but this was a difficult call for the linesman.

I thought about that, but honestly, it would have been a really tight call, questionable to say the least. I'm disappointed, but I blame Almunia for that one, not the linesman.

Also sad to see Bergkamp and Pires go out like that, but I think all Gunner fans will remember them for their remarkable contributions to the club. :yo:

Different, but painful too. Bergkamp played for the Gunners for a full decade, last chance at really winning anything and he never even gets to take of his warming up gear.
He would have probably been on the pitch in a different situation (-> without that red card). But Wenger obviously needed Reyes' speed.

A pee-wee game compared to last year.

Well, two pee-wee teams as well compared to last year's winner :innocent:

Well, two pee-wee teams as well compared to last year's winner :innocent:
You mean the one that got eliminated by... Benfica?

You mean the one that got eliminated by... Benfica?

Ah no, since Igor Biscan left it's not the same team anymore. We'll likely never see a team with that quality again, winning the CL with Djimi Traoré and Igor Biscan...

Surely wasn't fantastic to me.
A pee-wee game compared to last year.

Different strokes for different folks! ;)

Ronaldinho looked like a man possessed. He was leading the attack throughout most of the game until the rest of the team woke up.

:lol:
Or maybe it was your goalie...

Ah no, since Igor Biscan left it's not the same team anymore. We'll likely never see a team with that quality again, winning the CL with Djimi Traoré and Igor Biscan...

Speaks volumes for Rafa's managerial prowess.

Also, Henry really has what it takes to be the best striker in the world by a massive distant. His skillset is undeniable, however somehow his finishing seems way off in crucial games and tonight was no exception. This is where Shevshenko and more recently Eto'o do step it up.

Still the best striker in the world to me though. Classy player too..

Different strokes for different folks! ;)

Ronaldinho looked like a man possessed. He was leading the attack throughout most of the game until the rest of the team woke up.
Disagree as well. If there was a choker in this final, it was Ronnie IMO.
He was a non factor (except for that pass on the red card).
Henry at least created three chances by himself.

Ronaldinho looked like a man possessed. He was leading the attack throughout most of the game until the rest of the team woke up.

Huh? Ronaldhino had a rather below-average game IMO.

Different strokes for different folks! ;)

Ronaldinho looked like a man possessed. He was leading the attack throughout most of the game until the rest of the team woke up.

I thought he was pretty bad compared to his normal standard... GREAT GAME THOUGH! I have to be a little homer but I just love the game that Henrik Larsson did, great passing to both goals! (Doesn't make it worse that I had put some money on Barca)

Congrats Barcelona! :handclap:

Every soccer team out there would have passed around the ball like that in a simular situation.Not true.

Not true.

Either that or defend massively.. I don't see any difference. Both boring but part of the game.

Barcelona deserved to win. Hard to say what Arsenal could have done with 11 men. But if you dont have the sending off, they would have been 0-1 down.

Still Barcelona showed fully why I have never been able to warm to this 'beautiful' game they supposedly play. Instead they showed off the ugly side of their game tonight. Whining to the ref, some truly obscene dives, waving imaginary cards like it was a poker game.

Huh? Ronaldhino had a rather below-average game IMO.

At times, he was the only one going forward at all, while Eto'o and Guily were ineffective. Sure, he didn't have a great game but he tried to make things happen.

Eto'o and Giuly IMO had a really superior game compared to Ronnie.

Huh? Ronaldhino had a rather below-average game IMO.He was still very good in the first half, but yes, disappointing in the second, decisive one. He was clearly scared by the idea of losing the cup.

At times, he was the only one going forward at all, while Eto'o and Guily were ineffective. Sure, he didn't have a great game but he tried to make things happen.

I've got to disagree too. Maybe it's just compared to how I've seen him usually dominate, but I don't think he was much of a force out there.

Eto'o and Giuly IMO had a really superior game compared to Ronnie.

Eto'o did. But Guily, aside from the first half, was invisible. He did not do much at all in the 2nd.

He was still very good in the first half, but yes, disappointing in the second, decisive one. He was clearly scared by the idea of losing the cup.

He looked very tense out there to me. Made a few wrong decisions as well, not passing when he should and not making the dribbles when he could have


Still he pulled a lot of attention towards him and that helped Barca throughout the second half as for instance Iniesta got tons of space.

Eto'o and Giuly IMO had a really superior game compared to Ronnie.
I agree ..
it was his worst game i've seen of him !
he was not useless but clearly not the player he CAN be !

Not true.I've realized there is a misunderstaing going on.

I mean that not all the teams would have been able to play ball possession and kill the time that way.
And i would add, no other team can do that as well as Barca.

I didn't even think there was something to be criticized.

The criticism of Ronnie is unjustified, IMO. He was closely marked the entire game by at least 3 Arsenal players everytime he touched the ball. Not only that, the Barca players continuously fed him the ball when there were better options. Sure he didn't have a fantastic game but he had a few chances. I remember a great pass he fed to Guily in the first.

The criticism of Ronnie is unjustified, IMO. He was closely marked the entire game by at least 3 Arsenal players everytime he touched the ball. Not only that, the Barca players continuously fed him the ball when there were better options. Sure he didn't have a fantastic game but he had a few chances. I remember a great pass he fed to Guily in the first.

He was wasteful a few times though, he missed both free kicks and he had that opportunity in the box that he completely miscued on.

He looked very tense out there to me. Made a few wrong decisions as well, not passing when he should and not making the dribbles when he could have


Still he pulled a lot of attention towards him and that helped Barca throughout the second half as for instance Iniesta got tons of space.Agree on both things.

Ronnie played a PSG game.
I mean, he was trying all alone too many times, making bad choices and losing many balls.
Not as dangerous as in other games.
Still, a half Ronnie is still a pretty good player! :)

Now you know what it's all about. This team has stepped it up time and again for one another and we now have our deserved Champion's League crown. I'm so happy for everybody, but especially for the players like Puyol, Xavi, Oleguer, Iniesta, Motta, Messi, Valdes and Gabri who came up through the club. Some of these guys could have gone on to "greener" pastures and played elsewhere, but they've never looked anywhere else. Puyol has taken a pay cut and turned down huge moves to other clubs. Puyol and Xavi especially have done so much for this club and waited so long for this moment. I'm thrilled that Larsson and Gabri will both leaving on top. I'm also thrilled for Frank Rijkaard as he's never been given the credit he deserves and has yet again outclassed another "better" manager. I also have to credit to the President and the board. Three years ago this time we were in tough shape. Two and a half years ago we were stuck in 11th place in La Liga. There was a conspiracy by the previous board to discredit the current board. Our debt was massive. Rijkaard's head was being called for. Laporta was receiving death threats from the Boixos Nois. Now everything that Laporta and his candidacy said would happen has. I also want to give special credit to Belletti tonight. I wasn't shocked, though I was disappointed, that he didn't start. He sure came on and did the trick though. He's been really slammed on the Barça forum (and rightly so at times) and I've been probably his staunchest defender. Yet he's really come up big in the CL this season and he's deserving of the goal.

Now it's time for Barça and all the Cules to cherish this great triumph. Las Ramblas will packed tonight and the party will go on for days.

Visca Barça!!! Visca Catalunya!!! MES QUE UN CLUB!!!

Probably in today's football. Which doesn't make it less shameful. :shakehead

Now you know what it's all about. This team has stepped it up time and again for one another and we now have our deserved Champion's League crown. I'm so happy for everybody, but especially for the players like Puyol, Xavi, Oleguer, Iniesta, Motta, Messi, Valdes and Gabri who came up through the club. Some of these guys could have gone on to "greener" pastures and played elsewhere, but they've never looked anywhere else. Puyol has taken a pay cut and turned down huge moves to other clubs. Puyol and Xavi especially have done so much for this club and waited so long for this moment. I'm thrilled that Larsson and Gabri will both leaving on top. I'm also thrilled for Frank Rijkaard as he's never been given the credit he deserves and has yet again outclassed another "better" manager. I also have to credit to the President and the board. Three years ago this time we were in tough shape. Two and a half years ago we were stuck in 11th place in La Liga. There was a conspiracy by the previous board to discredit the current board. Our debt was massive. Rijkaard's head was being called for. Laporta was receiving death threats from the Boixos Nois. Now everything that Laporta and his candidacy said would happen has. I also want to give special credit to Belletti tonight. I wasn't shocked, though I was disappointed, that he didn't start. He sure came on and did the trick though. He's been really slammed on the Barça forum (and rightly so at times) and I've been probably his staunchest defender. Yet he's really come up big in the CL this season and he's deserving of the goal.

Now it's time for Barça and all the Cules to cherish this great triumph. Las Ramblas will packed tonight and the party will go on for days.



watch it there! Wenger is a great manager as well.

Congratulations though, Barca have always been my favorite La Liga club and they did knock Chelsea out...

Still Barcelona showed fully why I have never been able to warm to this 'beautiful' game they supposedly play. Instead they showed off the ugly side of their game tonight. Whining to the ref, some truly obscene dives, waving imaginary cards like it was a poker game.

Yet Arsenal did no such thing right? :shakehead Typical English bias. Well not even English sour grapes (or Henry's sour grapes for that matter) can take away our deserved title.

Belgian Fan. Nice comments today and way to call things as they were.

watch it there! Wenger is a great manager as well.

Congratulations though, Barca have always been my favorite La Liga club and they did knock Chelsea out...

I'm not knocking Wenger. Wenger means more than anybody to Arsenal if you ask me. I'm just tired of Rijkaard getting a raw deal.

Thank you FlyHigh. Really tough to celebrate a win when the opposition supporter in this forum is you. I'm proud to have faced a side like Arsenal in the Final and our teams more than any other are who I'd want to see.

I watched the game as a passive fan and i wasn't really cheering for any team in particular but started rooting for Barcelona after that horrible dive by the arsenal player which lead to the first goal...

It was a decent game but i expected a little more excitement from a supposed best vs best game.

I really like that Barca team !!
They bring the real beauty of this sports(soccer) with their offensive play all year long.
That's why they are my favorite team with Lyon !

I'd say if Essien is 35th or something, then Iniesta definately doesn't deserve to be 12th... ;)One more time:

Essien was ranked at #27! :teach:

Henry rips refs.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=368290&cc=5901

I'll just let it slide because I think highly of Henry and he's probably just angry. But he shouldn't go accuse others of diving when his own teammates did the same.

It was one of the most pathetic efforts by a referee since Morena's infamous Italy - South Korea game during the World Cup 2002.
This ******* referee fooled all of us spectators by deciding this game on his own.
It's inexcusable that a referee gives two goals that actually were none and furthermore demonstrates that he has no sure instinct.
You can do that in a minor league but not in a Champions League Final.

And I'm certainly not a Arsenal fan! I just wanted to watch a entertaining game.

Henry rips refs.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=368290&cc=5901

I'll just let it slide because I think highly of Henry and he's probably just angry. But he shouldn't go accuse others of diving when his own teammates did the same.

This was an interview on Sky TV on the pitch 3 minutes after the end of the game and he was very annoyed and frustrated. It is never good to speak in the heat of the moment. I think the harsh words came from that. It was not very Henry-like comments and I think he will probably think differently after the shower. :)

This was an interview on Sky TV on the pitch 3 minutes after the end of the game and he was very annoyed and frustrated. It is never good to speak in the heat of the moment. I think the harsh words came from that. It was not very Henry-like comments and I think he will probably think differently after the shower. :)

Yep that's what I thought. He'll feel better when he's on Barca next year anyways! ;)

He'll feel better when he's on Barca next year anyways! ;)

No thanks.

For me one of the key moment aside the sending off was Wenger decision to sub Fabregas for Flamini. I didn't like that decision.

I understood why Flamini was coming on but I thought he would replace Hleb. Ljunberg would have gone on the other side and Flamini would have stayed on the left side to protect Cole and block the runs of Belletti who was just in the game. But why does Wenger sub his best passer, a guy that can keep the ball in the feet and gain some time? At the time of substitution, Arsenal looked very much like the team who was going to score the second goal. Ljunberg and Fabregas were starting to have space in counter attacks, and Barcelona's defence had problems. Fabregas seems to still have something in the tank, he just had a big run with a shot few minutes before.

But by replacing him, this was the end of Arsenal attacks. It reminded me of Houillier's tactic in Milan when he got rid of Govou and got Reveilliere in. Same negative substitution, same conclusion.

I didn't really understand also why it took him 4 minutes to get Reyes in after Barcelona second goal. It was a bit strange. Oh well, I guess it is easy for me to be criticising.

Arsenal played very hard tonight, but Barcelona had the little something extra in the competition this season, this flair and quality that made them well deserved winners.

I didn't really understand also why it took him 4 minutes to get Reyes in after Barcelona second goal. It was a bit strange. Oh well, I guess it is easy for me to be criticising.

The commentary for the broadcast I watched said that Henry was shouting over to Wenger time and time again to make some sort of change. I think that was the one and it came a very long time after Henry called for it.

Am I understanding this correctly? The goalie trips a player, and so the goal doesn't count? That makes absolutely no sense to me. You don't erase a goal because the other team committed an error.

Am I understanding this correctly? The goalie trips a player, and so the goal doesn't count? That makes absolutely no sense to me. You don't erase a goal because the other team committed an error.

Absolutly. A good ref gives Barca the goal and Lehmann the yellow card. But this referee had no clue how to lead a football game. An that's a shame considering the Champions League is one of the biggest tournaments in the world.

I'll just add that after re-thinking the match and (already) re-watching parts of it, Ronaldinho did have some decisive moments. He played a sweet ball to Eto'o when Lehmann was sent off. He also played in another really good ball to set up Eto'o's shot that was pushed to the post just before the half. Overall he wasn't spectacular, but he had his moments.

From Fifa's rulebook:

From Fifa's rulebook:
I Happen to think if he goes by the book- I stated this earlier- that he should have allowed the goal AND after the goal was scored, showed Lehmann the red. A keeper out of his area with a deliberate trip and no cover. He was the last man between himself and an open goal. Is that not a red card offence? I did not think that would be a "feel" call. That is why I felt he cut Arsenal a break. If everyone is convinced the call is rubbish than why don't they change the rules? Perhaps I need the FIFA rule book of what a red card offence is.

I Happen to think if he goes by the book- I stated this earlier- that he should have allowed the goal AND after the goal was scored, showed Lehmann the red. A keeper out of his area with a deliberate trip and no cover. He was the last man between himself and an open goal. Is that not a red card offence? I did not think that would be a "feel" call. That is why I felt he cut Arsenal a break. If everyone is convinced the call is rubbish than why don't they change the rules? Perhaps I need the FIFA rule book of what a red card offence is.
I agree with you. The goal should have been allowed because Barca still had possesion and Lehman had the well deserved red card.
I was rooting for Arsenal but being a man down against the worlds best team for most of the game is never easy. I think they did a brave job defending for most of the match, but in the end barÇa was just too much to handle.
Player of the match for me is Henrik Larsson

I Happen to think if he goes by the book- I stated this earlier- that he should have allowed the goal AND after the goal was scored, showed Lehmann the red.

That's my take based on the link. The crazy thing is that some people are actually arguing that the sending off was better for Barça than the goal. I'd take the goal every time.

Just watched the replay on ESPN2.

That Red Card was WAY too harsh especially in a game of this magnitude. Penalty Kick should have been awarded instead of a Red Card.

Laarsen's assist on Barcelona's second goal was simply amazing.

That's my take based on the link. The crazy thing is that some people are actually arguing that the sending off was better for Barça than the goal. I'd take the goal every time.
I thin knobody says that here.
I think with the way the ref edcided, everyone got punished : Barca, Arsenal AND the fans.

No thanks.
Come on, any team would gladly take Henry. :shakehead

That Red Card was WAY too harsh especially in a game of this magnitude. Penalty Kick should have been awarded instead of a Red Card.

The foul was out of the box. No penalty could have been awarded on matter what.

:shakehead
Well, you might not like it, but the way they passed in their own half was shameful to me. As someone pointed out, basically 90% of today's teams would have done the same, so it's not a knock on Barca, but rather a knock on today's football.
I'm NOT talking about the passes they did in Arsenal's half. But passing the ball 5 times to each defensemen was shameful IMO.

It was borderline. Lehmann was in the box, Eto'o not really sure, eventually he flew into the box, and the ball was near the line. That part was a little difficult.The foul was out of the box.

Well, you might not like it, but the way they passed in their own half was shameful to me. As someone pointed out, basically 90% of today's teams would have done the same, so it's not a knock on Barca, but rather a knock on today's football.
I'm NOT talking about the passes they did in Arsenal's half. But passing the ball 5 times to each defensemen was shameful IMO.it was 2-1 in the CL final. What do you expect them to do?? Losing the ball and give the other team a chance? Just to please the bored fans?

No, but to actually try something.
This was weak. But as I said, it's that way football is played nowadays. No sportsmanship, no need to win with "panache", just win baby.
The prime example is the France-Bulgaria of 1993 where Ginola "only" gained 20+ seconds and when he finally centers the ball and a goal is scored by Bulgaria, the blame goes on him... :shakehead
In today's football, players are in fact organizing the unsportmanship.
- They decide before the game who should stand in front of the ball in case of a free kick (to avoid it being shot too fast) when he doesn't have any right to do so.
- they fall on the ball to force a foul (the ref has to choose between a handball and a foul).
- when they give the ball back to a team that put it out because of an injury, they send it in the toughest spot possible (like a thrown near the goal line). That's in the best case, because it's becoming quite common that a team doesn't give the ball back at all.
- Just yesterday, with Henry down, an Arsenal player puts the ball out, but gets intercepted by a Barca player who himself puts it out. Result : he intends to get the ball back. Arsenal doesn't give it back, they're seen as unsportsman like.
- In yesterday's game, you could see around 5 Barca players (boy do I hate Edmilson) coming to the ref, agitating their hands to show a card should be given, and 5 other Arsenal players pushing and telling the ref it wasn't worth a red card. The ref actually has to run many timesin such situations to flee the pushing.
- Nearly at EVERY foul, a player which has nothing to do with the foul comes in and asks for a card to the ref (or pleads there was no foul if he's from the other team).

Sorry, but that's not the mentality I encourage.
You don't find is shameful, fine. I do.

What you describe here is totally different from what you criticized before. The things you list in the above post are unsportsmanlike in my opinion as well. But keeping ball possession as Barca did at the end of the game is actually a display of skill, and they also generated a couple of attacks out of it. This is a valid part of the game IMO, if the other team cannot get possession of the ball (and keep it when they have it) it's their own fault.

No, you're missing the mart I'm talking about.
When Barca had the ball near the center line and was toying with it as they know how to do, I don't have a problem with it.
When it was a Belleti to Marquez to Puyol to Gio to Iniesta to Puyol to Deco to Marquez to Beletti to Marquez to Puyol, etc... deep in their own half, it was the exact contrary of "panache".

I Happen to think if he goes by the book- I stated this earlier- that he should have allowed the goal AND after the goal was scored, showed Lehmann the red. A keeper out of his area with a deliberate trip and no cover. He was the last man between himself and an open goal. Is that not a red card offence? I did not think that would be a "feel" call. That is why I felt he cut Arsenal a break. If everyone is convinced the call is rubbish than why don't they change the rules? Perhaps I need the FIFA rule book of what a red card offence is.

If the goal would have counted, Lehman wouldn't have gotten the red card. It's common praxis to let the goal stand and give a yellow card in these situations, although if you follow the rules strictly it may not be that way.
The refeere admitted after the game that he did a mistake, and should have followed the play, but he said he was consentrating on the situation, and blew the whistle when eto when down. So at that point he didn't have a choice but to dissallow the goal.

When it was a Belleti to Marquez to Puyol to Gio to Iniesta to Puyol to Deco to Marquez to Beletti to Marquez to Puyol, etc... deep in their own half, it was the exact contrary of "panache".They played it perfectly. They would have been moron otherwise.

Until the rules are not changed and a limit per single ball possession like in basketball is established, there is nothing wrong with that.

As Strizzi said, the other things you listed are not related.

The foul was out of the box. No penalty could have been awarded on matter what.


I meant a free kick. Regardless, a Red Card is way too harsh.

I meant a free kick. Regardless, a Red Card is way too harsh.A free kick? Disallow the goal and award a free kick? This is probably one of the worst decisions the ref could have made... If the goal is disallowed, there must be a red card. But to allow it and give a yellow one would have been correct IMO.

Quiniou (former international ref) said today in L'Equipe that it was simply a bad decision (out of many). He said it should have been a goal and a yellow.
He said he doesn't blame the ref of Eboue's dive, since it was hard to see at full speed.

At least the ref has acknowledged his mistake : "I probably shoud have waited to see where the ball was going".
Well he screwed up, but at least he's a man about it, and doesn't hide behind excuses.
We should keep in mind it's a lot of pressure for the ref as well.
Still too bad the ref's mistake(s) took the center stage of a CL final.

Am I understanding this correctly? The goalie trips a player, and so the goal doesn't count? That makes absolutely no sense to me. You don't erase a goal because the other team committed an error.


It was the NHL-referee rule. The referee blew the play dead before the shot on goal.


As for Eto'o's (that's strange to type) goal, you can see the one defender (#28?) just stopped and threw his hand in the air to let everyone know it was off side. Maybe he should have kept playing

At least the ref has acknowledged his mistake : "I probably shoud have waited to see where the ball was going".
Well he screwed up, but at least he's a man about it, and doesn't hide behind excuses.
We should keep in mind it's a lot of pressure for the ref as well.
Still too bad the ref's mistake(s) took the center stage of a CL final.
Solid to own up to it.

I thin knobody says that here.
I think with the way the ref edcided, everyone got punished : Barca, Arsenal AND the fans.

Barça definately got punished. I don't see how Arsenal got punished though. Arsenal benefitted more from the ref last night than we did. He took away a goal from us and gave them a freekick which gave them a goal. Any ideas that Arsenal got punished by Lehmann's sending off are ridiculous and speculatory.

Come on, any team would gladly take Henry. :shakehead

Probably, but I hope he gets nowhere near Barça. I don't want to see him wearing our shirt.

Well, you might not like it, but the way they passed in their own half was shameful to me. As someone pointed out, basically 90% of today's teams would have done the same, so it's not a knock on Barca, but rather a knock on today's football.
I'm NOT talking about the passes they did in Arsenal's half. But passing the ball 5 times to each defensemen was shameful IMO.

:biglaugh: OLE!

No, but to actually try something.
This was weak. But as I said, it's that way football is played nowadays. No sportsmanship, no need to win with "panache", just win baby.
The prime example is the France-Bulgaria of 1993 where Ginola "only" gained 20+ seconds and when he finally centers the ball and a goal is scored by Bulgaria, the blame goes on him... :shakehead
In today's football, players are in fact organizing the unsportmanship.
- They decide before the game who should stand in front of the ball in case of a free kick (to avoid it being shot too fast) when he doesn't have any right to do so.
- they fall on the ball to force a foul (the ref has to choose between a handball and a foul).
- when they give the ball back to a team that put it out because of an injury, they send it in the toughest spot possible (like a thrown near the goal line). That's in the best case, because it's becoming quite common that a team doesn't give the ball back at all.
- Just yesterday, with Henry down, an Arsenal player puts the ball out, but gets intercepted by a Barca player who himself puts it out. Result : he intends to get the ball back. Arsenal doesn't give it back, they're seen as unsportsman like.
- In yesterday's game, you could see around 5 Barca players (boy do I hate Edmilson) coming to the ref, agitating their hands to show a card should be given, and 5 other Arsenal players pushing and telling the ref it wasn't worth a red card. The ref actually has to run many timesin such situations to flee the pushing.
- Nearly at EVERY foul, a player which has nothing to do with the foul comes in and asks for a card to the ref (or pleads there was no foul if he's from the other team).

Sorry, but that's not the mentality I encourage.
You don't find is shameful, fine. I do.

So Barça are the side that didn't show sportsmanship or pananche? Did you see the goals?

OLE!

Hi!

Henry > Eto'o

Bye!

As for Hauge, he's admitted when he's "wrong" before. I saw an interview on Sky after the Chelsea match. They spoke with a Norwegian football analyst and he said that Hauge has a lot of respect in Norway because he admits to his mistakes. What other refs do this? Either way, his mistake benefitted Arsenal and Arsenal only. Also, based on the rules I've read and what I've seen and heard, I have seen nothing that tells me he couldn't have awarded both the red and the goal. At the end of the day though, the ref was poor. The bigger calls went Arsenal's way in this one though.

Hi!

Henry > Eto'o

Bye!

Hi

Not last night.

Bye!

Hi

Not last night.

Bye!

Eto'o wasn't even that great himself aside from that goal. Henry created much more on his own and he had no support whatsoever.

Still, players aren't made in one game. Henry remains the best striker in the world to me.

Eto'o wasn't even that great himself aside from that goal. Henry created much more on his own and he had no support whatsoever.

Still, players aren't made in one game. Henry remains the best striker in the world to me.

Eto'o was a major part of the red card incident. He also scored a nice goal and even had a nice move/shot put onto the post by a save. Henry had a fine match as well though despite his attitude.

Sky Sports News showed OPTA stats on Henry and Ronaldinho. Don't understand the comparison so much, but Ronaldinho had more key passes (twice as many).

Henry is better. Still wouldn't swap him for Eto'o though. I wouldn't take him on a free though either.

Barça definately got punished. I don't see how Arsenal got punished though. Arsenal benefitted more from the ref last night than we did. He took away a goal from us and gave them a freekick which gave them a goal. Any ideas that Arsenal got punished by Lehmann's sending off are ridiculous and speculatory.



Probably, but I hope he gets nowhere near Barça. I don't want to see him wearing our shirt.



So Barça are the side that didn't show sportsmanship or pananche? Did you see the goals?

OLE!
1- Arsenal got munished by the red card... I don't see what's weird about that statement... :confused:
2- Why don't oyu want Henry in Barca?
3- And did you read what I wrote? :dunno:

I would.

Can you imagine THIS lineup?

Eto'o, Henry, Ronaldinho, Messi, Xavi, Deco + 4 defenders?

VB and Iniesta on the bench?

WOW

No, I can't. I can't imagine Henry in a Barça shirt after yesterday.

Boy, I wonder why the F!@# that was... Um I don't know, the fact that Ronaldinho had the ball for about 3/4's the game and there were like 900 Barcelona players to pass to in the Arsenal end, and the fact that Henry was the lone forward up front who had nobody to pass to might have had something to do with it.

Which is why I said I didn't understand the comparison so much. I wonder why the F!@# you didn't comment on that. Either way, regardless of Ronaldinho's overall performance (or more importantly Henry's comments), Ronaldinho was key in one huge play and key in another very dangerous play that nearly yielded a goal.

1- Arsenal got munished by the red card... I don't see what's weird about that statement... :confused:
2- Why don't oyu want Henry in Barca?
3- And did you read what I wrote? :dunno:

1 Well for starters, munished? :sarcasm: No, they weren't punished. We were. We had a goal taken away. That would have been better for us than Lehmann being sent off.

2 After the disgraceful comments he made after the match, forget about it. Not on a free and not if he offered to play for free.

3 Yes. OLE!

Eto'o was a major part of the red card incident. He also scored a nice goal and even had a nice move/shot put onto the post by a save. Henry had a fine match as well though despite his attitude.

Sky Sports News showed OPTA stats on Henry and Ronaldinho. Don't understand the comparison so much, but Ronaldinho had more key passes (twice as many).

Henry is better. Still wouldn't swap him for Eto'o though. I wouldn't take him on a free though either.Who is Henry better than? Ronaldinho? Or did you mean Eto'o, I sort of didn't understand the phrasing, cuz you compared Ronaldinho and Henry atop and after you mention Eto'o.

Hi!

Henry > Eto'o

Bye!

In all honesty if you are to compare Henry to anyone on the Barca squad, I say it's Ronnie. The are both creative fowards who create chances for their team first and foremost but also score their fair share of goals.

Comparing Henry to Eto'o is not a good comparison because Eto'o is a pure finisher who's job it is to make the most of the chances created by his teammates....

And I'll take Henry on Barca any day. The thought makes me salivate

I think Henry > Eto'o, but Eto'o and Ronaldinho have such great chemistry that you don't want to disrupt.

Henry brings more to the table... Eto'o is the definition of a striker.

I think Henry > Eto'o, but Eto'o and Ronaldinho have such great chemistry that you don't want to disrupt.

Henry brings more to the table... Eto'o is the definition of a striker.Thing is that some could argue that Henry is as good a finisher as Eto'o, but an incredibly better playmaker. Not to mention he's a better dribler. I couldn't even imagine a formation that would involve Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Henry.

Who is Henry better than? Ronaldinho? Or did you mean Eto'o, I sort of didn't understand the phrasing, cuz you compared Ronaldinho and Henry atop and after you mention Eto'o.

I meant Eto'o.

Thing is that some could argue that Henry is as good a finisher as Eto'o, but an incredibly better playmaker. Not to mention he's a better dribler. I couldn't even imagine a formation that would involve Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Henry.

I could, until last night. Now I don't even think about it.

The latest from MasterCard:

The latest from MasterCard:Pretty funny but I don't think Henry really choked.

Pretty funny but I don't think Henry really choked.

Neither do I. I didn't make it though. My guess is it came from some United supporter.

As for Hauge's comments, I consider them an apology of sorts. Well being a Barça supporter and seeing as how we were the only ones who were screwed on that call, I accept Mr. Hauge's apology. Besides, we won anyway and even your bad decision couldn't take away our deserved win.

1 Well for starters, munished? :sarcasm: No, they weren't punished. We were. We had a goal taken away. That would have been better for us than Lehmann being sent off.

2 After the disgraceful comments he made after the match, forget about it. Not on a free and not if he offered to play for free.

3 Yes. OLE!
1/ Yes I figure you'd know that getting a red card is getting "m"unishment.
As for scoring a goal being better than the red card, it's arguable. It's a tough thing to determine either way. Keep in mind Arsenal had the better chances at even strengh.

2/ pfff. Ridiculous. Henry is as classy as it gets.

3/ Then you surely have seen that I included both Arsenal and Barca players for poor sportsmanship (and in fact more a global remark on today's football).

1/ Yes I figure you'd know that getting a red card is getting "m"unishment.
As for scoring a goal being better than the red card, it's arguable. It's a tough thing to determine either way. Keep in mind Arsenal had the better chances at even strengh.

2/ pfff. Ridiculous. Henry is as classy as it gets.

3/ Then you surely have seen that I included both Arsenal and Barca players for poor sportsmanship (and in fact more a global remark on today's football).

1 Then how come we scored the only goal 11 v 11?

2 He showed no class after last nights match.

3 I also saw how you got to that point.

1- Are you implying the team that scores first at the 20th minute automatically wins even though the other team had better chances in the first 15 minutes?
2- Don't get me started on Eto'o class OK? :D I don't recall Henry insulting anyone because he didn't get the Ballon d'Or.
3- And?

wow les habs calm down ...
your dissing one of my favorite player based on 1 game and a really important one.

Henry already said that when he's on the field there only one thing that matter and it's win.
he's a warrior and IMO by far the best striker in the world.
This was one his most important game and he was dominating at the start of the game but when the ref gave a red card he was the only guy on the offensive side and couldnt do much.
He also made an amazing lob for campbell and the goal.
I would take Henry anytime on my team !
BTW I'm a barca supporter and my favorite player is Ronnie, so it's not like im an arsenal homer.

Eto'o Henry duo would be crazy good .. both guy can score and create their chances. Henry could also make play happen for Eto'o .
Please Henry sign with barca !!

1- Are you implying the team that scores first at the 20th minute automatically wins even though the other team had better chances in the first 15 minutes?
2- Don't get me started on Eto'o class OK? :D I don't recall Henry insulting anyone because he didn't get the Ballon d'Or.
3- And?He said "Henrik Larsson was the difference but I didn't see Ronaldinho and I didn't see Eto'o." I think that's somewhat of a harsh statement, maybe I'm reading into it too much.

His point was that Ronnie, Eto'o and himself were the center of the media attention. Instead he said Larsson was the man of the match.

Yet Arsenal did no such thing right? :shakehead Typical English bias. Well not even English sour grapes (or Henry's sour grapes for that matter) can take away our deserved title.

Perhaps you need to check yourself before giving me attitude. I never stated Arsenal were innocent angels and I said Barcelona deserved to win. Eboue's dive led directly to their goal and every team today is not above diving to gain advantage.

I was simply saying I've never been able to enjoy Barcelona's "beautiful" football because of the ugly side to their game. There some terrible dives by Ronaldinho and Deco. It's particularly disgusting considering they already had a man advantage and yet they still felt the need to fake and cheat! It actually was to the detriment of their football. The best players were the one who actually played football - Larsson and Eto'o - without all the theatrics.

The referee may have had a bad game but at least he wasnt duped by many of those dives. He did fail however to book Ronaldinho and Deco for the worst of those. He spotted the blatant dive and should have followed through with the mandatory discipline since those players actually appealed for the phantom foul.

All these Henry to Barca statements are moot now. He held a press conference friday and announced he will extend his contract. Article on www.soccernet.com

All these Henry to Barca statements are moot now. He held a press conference friday and announced he will extend his contract. Article on www.soccernet.com
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=250744

;)

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=250744

;)
I figured there was one, I just went straight to this first. Figured it was relevant in the context of the discussion in this thread as well

Perhaps you need to check yourself before giving me attitude. I never stated Arsenal were innocent angels and I said Barcelona deserved to win. Eboue's dive led directly to their goal and every team today is not above diving to gain advantage.

I was simply saying I've never been able to enjoy Barcelona's "beautiful" football because of the ugly side to their game. There some terrible dives by Ronaldinho and Deco. It's particularly disgusting considering they already had a man advantage and yet they still felt the need to fake and cheat! It actually was to the detriment of their football. The best players were the one who actually played football - Larsson and Eto'o - without all the theatrics.

The referee may have had a bad game but at least he wasnt duped by many of those dives. He did fail however to book Ronaldinho and Deco for the worst of those. He spotted the blatant dive and should have followed through with the mandatory discipline since those players actually appealed for the phantom foul.

I don't need to check a thing. You slated Barça without the slightest mention of Arsenal. Arsenal were worse than Barça were. The fact that you made NO MENTION of Arsenal while slating Barça says it all. And now that you have mentioned Arsenal, you've only mentiond Eboue's dive. You didn't even elaborate on his disgusting display out there.

1- Are you implying the team that scores first at the 20th minute automatically wins even though the other team had better chances in the first 15 minutes?
2- Don't get me started on Eto'o class OK? :D I don't recall Henry insulting anyone because he didn't get the Ballon d'Or.
3- And?

1 Arsenal were better for about the first five minutes. We had the best chance, the chance that should have been a goal before the ref screwed us (and not them). You're the one saying they were better 11 v 11, yet we scored the goal. Do the math.

2 Get started on Eto'o's class. I could care less. It has nothing to do with the fact that Henry was classless after the match and is a sore loser. Just like Wenger.

3 And what? You know the ridiculous comment you made and you've had plenty of responses. Had it been Arsenal in that situation, you'd have applauded them. And? Oooooooooooooooleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

wow les habs calm down ...
your dissing one of my favorite player based on 1 game and a really important one.

Henry already said that when he's on the field there only one thing that matter and it's win.
he's a warrior and IMO by far the best striker in the world.
This was one his most important game and he was dominating at the start of the game but when the ref gave a red card he was the only guy on the offensive side and couldnt do much.
He also made an amazing lob for campbell and the goal.
I would take Henry anytime on my team !
BTW I'm a barca supporter and my favorite player is Ronnie, so it's not like im an arsenal homer.

Eto'o Henry duo would be crazy good .. both guy can score and create their chances. Henry could also make play happen for Eto'o .
Please Henry sign with barca !!

I am calm. Regardless of his ability, he was classless and unprofessional after the match. The longer he and Wenger believe the nonsense that they were churning out after the match the longer they'll go w/o ever winning the Champions League.

As for Henry at Barça, I'm THRILLED he's staying at Arsenal. Like I said, wouldn't take him on a free transfer or on zero wages. Don't want him, don't need him. Kings of Europe without him.

As for Henry at Barça, I'm THRILLED he's staying at Arsenal. Like I said, wouldn't take him on a free transfer or on zero wages. Don't want him, don't need him. Kings of Europe without him.

Agreed. As a Liverpool fan I wouldn't want Henry either. I just wish someone would take that classless loser Gerrard off our hands. We'd even pay a team to take him because that's how much we don't want him.

1 Arsenal were better for about the first five minutes. We had the best chance, the chance that should have been a goal before the ref screwed us (and not them). You're the one saying they were better 11 v 11, yet we scored the goal. Do the math.

2 Get started on Eto'o's class. I could care less. It has nothing to do with the fact that Henry was classless after the match and is a sore loser. Just like Wenger.

3 And what? You know the ridiculous comment you made and you've had plenty of responses. Had it been Arsenal in that situation, you'd have applauded them. And? Oooooooooooooooleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!
1- I didn't say they were better. I said you can't know how the game would have turned. Not necessarily in your favour.
2- No I won't. It seems you can live with a very uncalssy player in Eto'o, yet you can't live with one of the classiest, Henry. Fine. I disagree.
3- You may notice I'm as unbiased as they come in this game, I didn't pull for either team. I would have said the same thing for Arsenal players.

I am calm. Regardless of his ability, he was classless and unprofessional after the match. The longer he and Wenger believe the nonsense that they were churning out after the match the longer they'll go w/o ever winning the Champions League.

As for Henry at Barça, I'm THRILLED he's staying at Arsenal. Like I said, wouldn't take him on a free transfer or on zero wages. Don't want him, don't need him. Kings of Europe without him.
:biglaugh:

As for Henry at Barça, I'm THRILLED he's staying at Arsenal. Like I said, wouldn't take him on a free transfer or on zero wages. Don't want him, don't need him.

On the field, I agree, Barcelona are good enough without him to need him. But in marketing terms, Henry at Barcelona would have made Barcelona the most watched team on the planet, no question. The club would have made an absolute fortune on the Henry+Ronaldinho combo and I guess this is one of the reason why Laporta seemed to be very interested for a while.
But then Henry left Nike and joined Reebok. I guess after that it would have been a problem with Barca who is Nike through and through.

1- I didn't say they were better. I said you can't know how the game would have turned. Not necessarily in your favour.
2- No I won't. It seems you can live with a very uncalssy player in Eto'o, yet you can't live with one of the classiest, Henry. Fine. I disagree.
3- You may notice I'm as unbiased as they come in this game, I didn't pull for either team. I would have said the same thing for Arsenal players.

1 You said Arsenal had the better chances at 11 v 11, yet we scored the goal (you know, the one the ref took from us). Do the math.

2 Henry was classless after the Final. End of story. You can bring up whatever you want after that, but he was.

3 OLE!

I don't need to check a thing. You slated Barça without the slightest mention of Arsenal. Arsenal were worse than Barça were. The fact that you made NO MENTION of Arsenal while slating Barça says it all. And now that you have mentioned Arsenal, you've only mentiond Eboue's dive. You didn't even elaborate on his disgusting display out there.

You need to check yourself because you're accusing me of all kind of imaginary things in your head.

If it makes you happy I'll name some more dives. Ljungberg dived a couple times. Cesc also dived once. Pires has a big reputation for diving (he'll do very well in Spain!) but I dont remember a specific dive - he didnt play long. However it seemed notable to me that Arsenal only started diving in response to Barcelona. If one team does it, the other has to, especially when a man down.

However Ronaldinho and Deco by themselves dived more than the entire Arsenal team. Ironically it worked against their so-called beautiful football