Champions League Finale: Manchester United vs. Barçelona

[Sly]

The current Manchester United team is not as good as previous Ferguson teams. They are efficient and work hard, however they lack game changers with the flair to turn a game on it's head. Only Rooney can do this and to a degree I understood his decision for wanting to leave this season.

The powershift in English football is changing. I believe both Arsenal and Manchester City would have been more technically suited to playing Barca.

Maybe the time has come for the likes of Alex Ferguson, to retire as he has a major job on his hands. The youth they are now producing isn't as good as it once was and they will need to invest if they wish to compete. The great forest team struggled as they aged with Clough at the helm. With next season being the final crazy spending year, I'd expect Man City and maybe Chelsea to buy elite players to produce the goods for the upcoming future. Man U don't have that luxury available to them.

Scholes and un-named premiership footballer, should most likely follow the lead of Van Der Sar and consider retirement.

The Premiership title will go to Manchester next season. Just the blue half of the city.

[Father Ted]

well he wasn't, fabio and valencia aside the team was fine - barca were just a different class.

I disagree. 4-4-2 against barca doesnt work. They had no width whatsoever. Starting valencia over nani was crazy. As for giggs, a 37 year old midfielder in centre midfield? You are having a laugh. Man u should have packed the midfield with fletcher, carrick and Anderson.

[Haydos]

Leaving the top scorer in the best league in the world out of the squad and playing a kid at right back.... I'd say for once mate your spot on!... and he never once got up in the second half, resigned to an inevitable defeat...

The Villa goal was beautiful all round... although credit to the Rooney goal, a fab team move!

Very glad obviously that barca won, very much deserved!

And thankfully, an entertaining final!!

Berbatov hasn't scored in the champs league for 30 months. Roughly 1200 minutes of game time. I think he got it right. Half time at 1-1 justifies that. He did need to change the system early in the 2nd half though when it became clear that Barca meant business. That was exactly why Fletcher was on the bench and he wasn't utilised.

[FoxyPV]

Man utd were outclassed by a far superior team. I think SAF should have packed the midfield and tried to limit the space Barca had but hindsight's a wonderful thing.

I think he knew they weren't good enough and he'd nothing on the bench to change what was occurring on the pitch.

- sitting with a couple of Utd fans and when Nani came on, them saying he'll make an instant impact - he did - his first touch gave it to Busquets who set up Villa.

Barca were awesome. Messi is so good it's terrifying.

[Jimothy]

It could have worked for Fergie with a 442 but only if he'd started with Anderson and Fletcher/Park in the centre. They were never going to out football Barcelona, so they needed to give them very little time on the ball. Carrick and Giggs don't have the engines to do that. Fergie concentrated on putting ball players in the middle and hard workers (Park and Valencia) out wide, and Barca's main danger comes from those three in the middle. Also you have to play your own game and no matter how good they are try and get at them, he should have started Nani, because starting Park and Valencia gave the full backs nothing to think about. Dani Alves didn't have to worry about surging forward because he had nothing to worry about defensively. Doesn't really matter because I think Barca would have won anyway but at least Man Utd would have challenged them and maybe created some chances.

Oh yeah and Evra was absolutely ****ing awful.

[Collymore]

The powershift in English football is changing. I believe both Arsenal and Manchester City would have been more technically suited to playing Barca.

I'm sorry but I have to pick you up on this - How can you put Man City in the same category as Barca and Arsenal? They're one of the biggest non-footballing sides in the premier league and often rely on their strong physical advantage. Even Leicester out footballed them at times this season.

[Bert]

As much as I don't really like Barcelona, last night just goes to show how good they are. Fair play to them, they're going to dominate for years to come. It's going to take something very disastrous or special to stop them.

United started well but that's about it. Still, a league title and a 3rd champions league final in 4 years is a great achievement. Pleased that Rooney actually showed up in a big game too. Vidic was a man mountain as ever.

[shen]

As much as I don't really like Barcelona, last night just goes to show how good they are. Fair play to them, they're going to dominate for years to come. It's going to take something very disastrous or special to stop them.

United started well but that's about it. Still, a league title and a 3rd champions league final in 4 years is a great achievement. Pleased that Rooney actually showed up in a big game too. Vidic was a man mountain as ever.

The most pressing issue is probably the age of Xavi and Puyol. How long will they be able to sustain this level of performance? Is there a replacement in the making for the former? Or is Fabregas the only real candidate?

[Narborough_fox]

The most pressing issue is probably the age of Xavi and Puyol. How long will they be able to sustain this level of performance? Is there a replacement in the making for the former? Or is Fabregas the only real candidate?

Well they've shown they can cope without Puyol, winning the League and Champions Legaue with him only playing (or starting) 7 games.

[Haydos]

The most pressing issue is probably the age of Xavi and Puyol. How long will they be able to sustain this level of performance? Is there a replacement in the making for the former? Or is Fabregas the only real candidate?

As fantastic a player Puyol is he'll be infinitely easier to replace that Xavi (Despite him having a good few years yet). He does have a contract til 2016 though so maybe that tells us their plans for him. Still, Iniesta still has at least another 6 years at the top level and Busquets is very young, it's not like there'll be a crisis, they've got plenty of time. I think Fabregas and Iniesta are a bit too similar though.

I remember the Mail running this article at the time about the World Footballer of the Year. I didn't really understood it, if it was serious it was utterly pathetic and downright embarrassing....

The best players of the world (and Xavi)

[Bert]

I noticed last night that the key to them getting the ball back so quick is due to their passing style. They play short passing, which means the players are closer to each other, so when they've not got the ball, they've normally got 2, 3 players crowding out one player putting them under huge pressure. Then as soon as they've got the ball back they've instantly got options available.

[shen]

Well they've shown they can cope without Puyol, winning the League and Champions Legaue with him only playing (or starting) 7 games.

As fantastic a player Puyol is he'll be infinitely easier to replace that Xavi (Despite him having a good few years yet). He does have a contract til 2016 though so maybe that tells us their plans for him. Still, Iniesta still has at least another 6 years at the top level and Busquets is very young, it's not like there'll be a crisis, they've got plenty of time. I think Fabregas and Iniesta are a bit too similar though.

I remember the Mail running this article at the time about the World Footballer of the Year. I didn't really understood it, if it was serious it was utterly pathetic and downright embarrassing....

The best players of the world (and Xavi)

I don't disagree with Puyol being easier to replace. Xavi might have a contract until 2016, but he'll be 36 by then. We've yet to see a decline, but it could well happen.

[iBleedLeicesterColours]

As much as I don't really like Barcelona, last night just goes to show how good they are. Fair play to them, they're going to dominate for years to come. It's going to take something very disastrous or special to stop them.

United started well but that's about it. Still, a league title and a 3rd champions league final in 4 years is a great achievement. Pleased that Rooney actually showed up in a big game too. Vidic was a man mountain as ever.

+1, Agree with this. United's midfield was were it would be won or lost. Carrick & Giggs couldn't handle Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Messi etc. Think Scholes should have played more, kept the ball.

[Haydos]

I don't disagree with Puyol being easier to replace. Xavi might have a contract until 2016, but he'll be 36 by then. We've yet to see a decline, but it could well happen.

Sure it could, I see it going similar to Scholes' twilight though. There's potential to keep the higher standard even longer than Scholes though due to the slow tempo style Barca have. He doesn't really need to be at 'peak' fitness to carry on in their current system.

I'm sure La Masia will roll out someone in his mould sometime soon

[Nick]

From what I saw:

Barcelona had 20 shots on goal to United's 4

Barcelona had 70% of possession - at Wembley.

Man Utd attempted to play them using width and pace on the break - Valencia never beat his man and Nani stuck nearer the middle?

If you can't play through Barca then you need to play over them and hold the ball up - Rooney and Berbatov can do this - where was Berbatov? - Fergie didn't have a plan B

Utd midfield had experience but no legs - Carrick and Scholes not good enough.

The passing ability of the Barcelona side is not paid for - it's developed daily in coaching - Prem coaches could learn a lot from watching the Barcelona training session on the friday......

The only player that would get in the Barcelona side is Rooney on last nights form.

United lost - Football was the winner last night.

Pure football - Barca knew exactly where each other would be - their movement off the ball was immense.

Would have been nice to see an English side win - but they didn't deserve to, the were outwitted tactically and outplayed on the pitch in every area.

Fergie got it wrong last night in my opinion, it was like seeing Steve Howard on the teamsheet in the play-off against Cardiff - you knew you were in trouble before the whistle blew for kick-off.

[VinceNoir]

From what I saw:

Barcelona had 20 shots on goal to United's 4

Barcelona had 70% of possession - at Wembley.

Man Utd attempted to play them using width and pace on the break - Valencia never beat his man and Nani stuck nearer the middle?

If you can't play through Barca then you need to play over them and hold the ball up - Rooney and Berbatov can do this - where was Berbatov? - Fergie didn't have a plan B

Utd midfield had experience but no legs - Carrick and Scholes not good enough.

The passing ability of the Barcelona side is not paid for - it's developed daily in coaching - Prem coaches could learn a lot from watching the Barcelona training session on the friday......

The only player that would get in the Barcelona side is Rooney on last nights form.

United lost - Football was the winner last night.

Pure football - Barca knew exactly where each other would be - their movement off the ball was immense.

Would have been nice to see an English side win - but they didn't deserve to, the were outwitted tactically and outplayed on the pitch in every area.

Fergie got it wrong last night in my opinion, it was like seeing Steve Howard on the teamsheet in the play-off against Cardiff - you knew you were in trouble before the whistle blew for kick-off.

Howard was brilliant in that game! They couldn't handle him.

[shen]

Sure it could, I see it going similar to Scholes' twilight though. There's potential to keep the higher standard even longer than Scholes though due to the slow tempo style Barca have. He doesn't really need to be at 'peak' fitness to carry on in their current system.

I'm sure La Masia will roll out someone in his mould sometime soon

I think Barcelona's "slow" play is very deceptive though as they're constantly moving, and that includes Xavi, and actually play frighteningly quick on the counter. They also press high up and close down quickly while he's nearly always under great pressure when in possession. He's physically in great shape currently, but I can see him fading a bit within the next two or three years, especially if he gets a knee injury like he did a few years back.

[Haydos]

Howard was brilliant in that game! They couldn't handle him.

I think he means from their point of view.

[Haydos]

I think Barcelona's "slow" play is very deceptive though as they're constantly moving, and that includes Xavi, and actually play frighteningly quick on the counter. They also press high up and close down quickly while he's nearly always under great pressure when in possession. He's physically in great shape currently, but I can see him fading a bit within the next two or three years, especially if he gets a knee injury like he did a few years back.

I know what you mean about the tempo but I reckon his always-three-steps-ahead type play will be an asset. Do you think Iniesta will fill his shoes in a couple of years or that they'll try and bring in/through a long term like-for-like?

[Nick]

Howard was brilliant in that game! They couldn't handle him.

Yeah he backed into them, bullied them, fell over, made a real nuisance of himself.

One might say he played with Pashun.

I'd rather we'd have had a Yakubu camping on the six yard line, lying on an inflatable carry-mat cooking bacon on a calor gas stove, keeping two defenders by the fireside with him in case his stove explodes and he scores two goals with his penis.

[Haydos]

Yeah he backed into them, bullied them, fell over, made a real nuisance of himself.

One might say he played with Pashun.

I'd rather we'd have had a Yakubu camping on the six yard line, lying on an inflatable carry-mat cooking bacon on a calor gas stove, keeping two defenders by the fireside with him in case his stove explodes and he scores two goals with his penis.

Hmm. You didn't mean from their view point.

Take the blinkers off and realise we wouldn't have even got close without him playing in the 2nd leg.

[Nick]

I think he means from their point of view.

Nah - I saw that team sheet and new we didn't have striker to deliver goals even on his best form.

I realise he has a role in a Heskey esque model - but he's not good enough for this division anymore - it's all about mobility and he hasn't got any anymore. Sorry.

[Haydos]

Nah - I saw that team sheet and new we didn't have striker to deliver goals even on his best form.

I realise he has a role in a Heskey esque model - but he's not good enough for this division anymore - it's all about mobility and he hasn't got any anymore. Sorry.

I'm not disputing that.

In that game he kept us in with a shout though.

[shen]

I know what you mean about the tempo but I reckon his always-three-steps-ahead type play will be an asset. Do you think Iniesta will fill his shoes in a couple of years or that they'll try and bring in/through a long term like-for-like?

I think they will replace him with someone as similar as possible, which is probably why they've been courting Fabregas for some time now.

[Nick]

Hmm. You didn't mean from their view point.

Take the blinkers off and realise we wouldn't have even got close without him playing in the 2nd leg.

No Blinkers.

I have been Steve's ally on these boards for a long time -

Time is now up - his game is too one dimensional and it's time for him to move on.

We had nobody on form in that Cardiff game to play off him effectively - he did his job but we all knew it would take more than the squad we put out or the players we had available for the second leg.