By Mike Tuckerman
May 28th 2009 @ 2:37am
Related coverage
Champions League final one for the ages
Manchester United's Anderson, left, gestures as teammate Carlos Tevez looks on, during a training session ahead of Wednesday's Champions League final match between Manchester United and Barcelona, at the Rome Olympic stadium, Tuesday, May 26, 2009. AP Photo/Jon Super
The suggestion that UEFA conspired to knock Chelsea out of the Champions League can be put to rest. The inference that Europe’s governing body were desperate for an historically important final is a joke. UEFA proved long ago that they care little for history by revamping the European Cup in the first place.
When UEFA introduced a group stage to what was then the European Cup in 1992-93 – thereby creating the re-branded Champions League – it signalled an awareness that football had transcended its working class roots and become a multi-million dollar industry in its own right.
And while the face of European football has changed irrevocably, from the loss of the Cup Winner’s Cup to the G14 and beyond, few could begrudge the purists for purring in anticipation as Manchester United squared up to Barcelona in Rome.
When the dust settles on what was hopefully an epic Champions League final overnight, all the talk will be of the showdown between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Few will still be grumbling about conspiracy theories – the odd Chelsea fan aside.
My friend Morten is a life-long fan of Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt, and having long ago relocated to Oslo, he often flies home and away to support his team.
After one particularly galling defeat away at Aalesunds last year, he fumed at having to share the same plane home as the referee – whom Morten labelled “incompetent.”
The referee in question? None other than Tom Henning Ovrebo.
But Ovrebo’s performance in the semi-final, second-leg between Chelsea and Barcelona will be confined to the annals of history by the time United and the Catalans run out at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Hopefully it’s a final that lives up to all the hype – particularly after last year’s showpiece event fell slightly short in Moscow.
Any doubts as to the global significance of the Champions League final should be dispelled by the size of the media circus that descended upon Rome.
If you flicked on CNN or the BBC in the build-up to the game, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the world was about to stop turning – at least for ninety minutes.
Given the calibre of the two clubs in question, it’s no surprise that interest in this year’s final reached such frenzied proportions.
Manchester United need no introduction, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side hoping to become the first team to defend a Champions League title since the introduction of the new format.
Likewise, Barcelona are one of the biggest names in world football.
But it’s the style of football on display from Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering outfit that has everybody talking.
I’ve been lucky enough to catch most of Barça’s games on pay TV this year and while critics swooned over their 6-2 demolition of Real Madrid this month, the Catalans were equally ruthless in coming from behind to hammer Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in the recent Spanish Cup final.
Their free-flowing football has drawn widespread acclaim, even if their tendency to pontificate endlessly as flag-bearers of Catalan nationalism irks some – not the least their diametrically opposed city rivals Espanyol.
For neutrals the showdown between United and Barça represents a dream finale to what is undoubtedly the premier football competition in Europe.
UEFA supremo Michel Platini may be determined to strip back some power from Europe’s biggest clubs – not surprising, since former champions like Steaua Bucharest and Red Star Belgrade are these days largely forgotten – but even Platini must be pleased with the grandiose match-up between two of Europe’s undisputed elite.
Here’s hoping the 2009 Champions League final is remembered first and foremost for the football on the pitch.
The Stadio Olimpico is a notorious hotspot for hooliganism, and Roman police rarely hesitate to wade in with batons swinging – particularly when English fans are involved.
One thing is certain: this year’s Champions League final is one for the ages – if only for the unprecedented media coverage it has generated across the globe.
Hopefully the game itself lived up to all expectations.
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MVDave said | May 28th 2009 @ 6:38am | Report comment
ManU didnt play apart from the 1st 10 minutes and no doubt that eto goal knocked the stuffing out of them. Well done to Barca they won easily on the night but…l would have liked to see United play with a more adventurous line up from the start. Fozzie for once summed it up well when he said United changed their game because of Barca whilst Barca played their normal game.
Perhaps AF had too many choices and its always easy in hindsight. Next time they meet hopefully United wont be held back by selection and have a go.
Koala Bear said | May 28th 2009 @ 7:53am | Report comment
The only face saving out come to come out of the UCL Final for English football, was the reluctant return of the Chelsea reserve strip that was on loan to Man U for their UCL campaign, just before they took the field this morning … Well done Guus…
~~~~~~~~~
KB
Slippery Jim said | May 28th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Tuckerman, there is no need to try and create a straw man argument to dismiss the aberration that was Black Wednesday. No one, whether Chelsea fans or otherwise, really believed there was a conspiracy – the red card against Abidal is enough to dismiss that notion. The sight of Platini grinning from ear to ear, smarming neauseatingly and backslapping when the medals were handed out is disquieting, but does not make him part of any dark conspiracy.
No, the real issue was and is the disgraceful refereeing lapses that occurred continually throughout the Chelsea Barca semi final. In fact, while you try and say that this will be quickly forgotten, the fact that you are still bringing it up in an article written on the eve of the final, yet do not even once mention the Arsenal Man Utd semi final shows that it will remain an inherent flaw in this seasons Champions League, and effect our view of the final for years to come.
Speaking of which, Manchester Utd’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Barcelona throws into sharp relief how effective Chelsea’s tactical performance was in the semi final.
Not only did Chelsea remain undefeated over both matches, home and away, but in the second match Chelsea scored against Barcelona, a goal of sublime technical skill, and denied them a single shot on goal in the ninety minutes, with of course Barca’s flukey scuffed goal coming only in the third minute of extra time. Man Utd allowed 8 shots on goal in 90 minutes. Let us never forget that Barcelona should never have even been in the final, despite what neutral fans craving facile entertainment might have preferred, if even half of the penalties that any decent referee should have given at Stamford Bridge had been awarded.
So tactically Chelsea played Barcelona – an outstanding team in their own right – exactly the right way, over both legs, and were only denied glory in the final because the useless referee and his assistants did not perform as well as the players on the pitch did.
Brian said | May 28th 2009 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Man U have been very successful lately and will be back but as the season got on they seem to get more and more defensive. Their performances of holding onto the 1-0 against Porto and holding on to 0-0 to win the EPL against Arsenal B come to mind. Eventually when they needed to atack Barca they didn’t seem able. Their defense was probably never good enough to shut down Barca’s to 0 goals and by not playing Tevez Ferguson seemed to lose the initiave. Of course if Ronaldo scores the free kick it could all be different but well done to Barca
Pippinu said | May 28th 2009 @ 9:16am | Report comment
A win for the beautiful game?
A win for Catalan autonomy (and all former subjects of the Aragonese crown, and their descendants)?
A strike against commercial excess and the commoditisation of football?
A win for all humanity?
A win for all short arses the world over?
Slippery Jim said | May 28th 2009 @ 9:28am | Report comment
Pippu, how on earth could saying a team that paid €80 million on players at the start of the season and has two players in the top 5 highest payed footballer’s in the world be a strike “a strike against commercial excess and the commoditisation of football”???
db said | May 28th 2009 @ 9:32am | Report comment
lol @ black wednesday
build a bridge slippery jim
Pippinu said | May 28th 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment
sj
now you know I understand how easy it is to go off the deep end when it comes to incompetent refs (but I am not going to lack the empathy that you lacked some 6 months ago)
Putting aside all the ill-will you currently feel for Barca, you have to admit, as a mega-club (and 160,000 members is definitely not to be sneezed at!), they do do things in a slightly different manner to other clubs of their standing.
And anyway – how could anyone ever have a bad word to say about Barca!!!
Midfielder said | May 28th 2009 @ 9:42am | Report comment
Pip
Gotta side with SJ on this one Barca spend a tad on their side as well … they played the much better game today .. but they are no some poor side that does not spend money.
Pippinu said | May 28th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Mid
but they do things differently down at Barca.
Consider:
1. members based club
2. refuse all shirt sponsorships (and in fact do it reverse by paying UNICEF to have their name on their sponsor
3. six of the 11 are Catalan!! (and Messi was schooled in Barcelona from the age of 13)
These are surely things to celebrate!!
I repeat – how could anyone ever have a bad thing to say about Barca!!??
Slippery Jim said | May 28th 2009 @ 9:56am | Report comment
Pippu, I never claimed a wild conspiracy was afoot the way you did, I just call it as it is – the worst refereeing performance by a group of officials in living memory. I think you’ll find Guus Hiddink agrees with me on that one.
By the way, none of your points have anything to do with football, and have nothing to do with the final, or the semi final.
Pippinu said | May 28th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
sj
my points have everything to do with the claim that Barca is just another big, rich club – I’m saying they’re different and are worthy of our veneration.
Midfielder said | May 28th 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment
Pip
I know more like an AFL club in many ways but they still are not poor and spend a dollar or two … and the city of B and many business have given Barca a decent amount of coin over the years … Also no sponsor on their shirt I know it all .. but today they played a magic game they won and they won in style
dasilva said | May 28th 2009 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Great match and great result.
Manchester United seem to lost all their fight after the first goal.
Pippinu is right
Barcelona are the ultimate role models of what a club should be like.
People may dispute whether they are the best club or deserved to be in the final or not but I believe the Barcelona model is something to admire and perhaps emulate in the future in Australia.
Pippinu said | May 28th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
It’s a bit like Brazil – who has a bad thing to say about Brazil??!!
Jesse Fink said | May 28th 2009 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Hahahahahahahahahaha!
Mike, or “Tuckerman” as you are referred to here, it seems we have a one-eyed Chelsea supporter on here who is still crying into his muesli. Poor diddums.
Oh the comedy to be mined in the statement: “In the second match Chelsea scored against Barcelona, a goal of sublime technical skill, and denied them a single shot on goal in the ninety minutes, with of course Barca’s flukey scuffed goal coming only in the third minute of extra time.”
Of course! Chelsea’s Essien goal wasn’t flukey, but Barcelona’s Iniesta one was. Of course! Despite both goals being laid up on a plate from miscues from opposing players.
Congratulations to Barcelona and congratulations to you, Mike, for the great stuff you’ve been churning out for The Roar. Keep it up.
Colin N said | May 28th 2009 @ 10:23am | Report comment
“Pippinu is right
Barcelona are the ultimate role models of what a club should be like.”
I’m sorry, but when a team dives and cheats like Barcelona do and hound the ref at every decision, they don’t deserve respect in my opinion. May I also add how it was strange that Xavi wasn’t charged for describing the refereeing performance in the first leg of the semi-final as ‘worse than deplorable.’
They may play beautiful football, but when players like Puyol feign injury at every opportunity and try and get fellow players booked (and succeed), then it makes them very difficult to like.
Slippery Jim said | May 28th 2009 @ 10:24am | Report comment
Ha ha! Well played Jesse. But I can’t help thinking that now you are stalking me?!
dasilva said | May 28th 2009 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Colin N
Barcelona aren’t perfect
Too be honest I seen most big clubs do it as well.
Ronaldo dives and fake injuries. Manchester has been guilty of hounding referees in the past
Fergurson has question referees decisions in press conference before and insinuate bias as well as confront referee on the pitch.
The unsporting behaviour that barcelona demonstrated are the problem with the sport as a whole rather then specifically a barcelona issue.
The role model comment is more of the structure of the club and their youth development as well as style of football.
Pippinu said | May 28th 2009 @ 10:42am | Report comment
Doesn’t Chelsea have a reputation of hounding refs?
Koala Bear said | May 28th 2009 @ 10:50am | Report comment
Jesse,
maybe Barca can thank their lucky stars, that the same ref on Black Wednesday was not appointed for the final today… He may have done a double blinker … or a triple was it ?
Did anyone see that foul on Ronaldo when the last Barca man took him out on the edge of the box .?.. I think that was a professional foul and the Baca player should have been dismissed as being the last man in defence … Anyways good to see our man Carle made Pimbo’s squad…
~~~~~~~~
KB
jimbo said | May 28th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
There seems to be a line drawing itself in the sand here.
The vast majority of football commentators the world over agree the referee got it wrong in the Barca v Chelsea semi-final and Chelsea fans are entitled to feel aggrieved.
It’s a pity the players reacted inappropriately and drew most of the attention away from the referee’s performance.
It does once again prove that Barca and players like Messi and Iniesta only play as well as you let them. Chelsea showed this over the semi final legs.
The marking from ManU in midfield cost them the game, whereas the Barca marking in midfield was excellent and well disciplined. They didn’t give the ManU attack any room and Ronaldo and Rooney were very well marked.
It was more a case of ManU having a bad night, they can play a lot better and they proved very conclusively against Arsenal that they can beat a team that likes to pass and play possession football.
Not so sure about the victory of the passing game – both Barca goals were scored on the counter attack after two 20 metre killer passes out of defense and then midfield by Iniesta to players who were poorly marked.
Most of Barca’s “exquisite passing” was used to keep the ball away from Manu and keep the clock ticking over. Passing sideways and backwards to keep possession when you have unmarked players in better positions gets a bit boring sometimes.
None the less it was a very enjoyable game, there were some flashes of brilliance from both sides, mixed with some poor performances from Rooney, Carrick and Vidic and I couldn’t help thinking that Van De Saar wasn’t up for it either.
Colin N said | May 28th 2009 @ 10:56am | Report comment
“Doesn’t Chelsea have a reputation of hounding refs?”
Of course they do and I would say that dasilva is right with his assertion that it is a problem with the sport as a whole rather than Barcelona specifically doing it. However, I feel Barce do it more than most and when Puyol goes rolling around in agony, when Ronaldo didn’t even touch him, it is very frustrating and disappointing. Also, when Toure and Pique clearly blocked Ronaldo, they had the cheek to hound the ref.
Then, what got me even more frustrated was Valdes running up to the ref when Puyol was apprently pushed over, resulting in Ronaldo getting booked. Xavi then goes up to Ronaldo remonstrating with him, over a challenge that happens countless times in English (and probably Spanish) football.
The sooner a team concedes a goal from a player feigning injury in a big match the better, whoever the culprate.
However, I say well done to the referee for having an excellent game and generally dealing well with the ‘cheats.’
Slippery Jim said | May 28th 2009 @ 11:02am | Report comment
jimbo, I actually thought Drogba acted entirely appropriately, it was a disgrace. As for Ballack, since it seems he will not even be charged for anything at all, it seems acting like a seagull defending a chip is perfectly fine as well. I appreciate your reasoned commentary on the game, by the way.
KB, provided Carle actually gets on the field (no guarantees, considering anywhere from 1/3-2/3rds of the squad will not) I hope that he has been practicing his rabonas with Sydney FC
In all seriousness, he seems to have turned a corner from the days when having a rest and a holiday took precedence over playing for the Socceroos. Obviously Pim has made it clear that he needed more commitment from the lad, and he took it on board.
Pippu, I can post a few nice clips of Barca players and Guardiola hounding and abusing the referee at various times this season if you like, all available on Youtube…
Slippery Jim said | May 28th 2009 @ 11:07am | Report comment
Colin N, indeed – very wise comments.
The best performance, for me, in the final this year, was from the referee, I take my hat off to him (or I would if I were wearing one).
Man of the match and FIFA World Player 2009 = Massimo Busacca.
Colin N said | May 28th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
I must also ask, despite having a reputation, did you see any Manchester United players hounding the refs to the extent of the Barce players? And despite several tough challenges, did you see Ronaldo diving or feigning injury, to the extent of some Barcelona players, for example, Puyol?
P.S, I’m not sure how Barcelona was built as a business or a club, but Manchester United deserve respect for building a business, without getting any significant investment. Once they got success, from the advent of their very successful 1992 Youth cup side, they have sustained it and ultimately built on it, allowing them to spend the money they do.
jimbo said | May 28th 2009 @ 11:16am | Report comment
Puyol’s acting was a disgrace, especially one incident after he dragged his knees across Van De Saars back and then feigned an injury that stopped ManU in a promising counter attack at the other end of the field.
Iniesta went down without anyone touching him a few times.
Koala Bear said | May 28th 2009 @ 11:17am | Report comment
Slippery Jim,
I only campaigned for him to be included as a sub on the bench … It’s up to him now…
btw It seems I am the only one who saw that professional foul on C Ronaldo… I am surprised no one has commented on it … I will have to watch the replay tonight to see If I did see what I thought happened…
Midfielder or MVDave, didn’t you lads see it…. ???
~~~~~~~
KB
Brian said | May 28th 2009 @ 11:38am | Report comment
Barca are worthy champs but they are not exactly poor. In the first semi against Chelsea when they picked their first XI they only had 4 Spanish players (Xavi, Iniesta, Pique & Valdez). Never mind how many may have grown up in Barcelona. This in an era where Spain are European Champions. Barca don’t have a sponsor because they like to pretend they’re like a national side for Catalunya.
I also saw the foul on Ronaldo and thought Man U were unlucky he def got bodychecked by what appeared to be the last defender and only a yellow was given. Having said that the lack of Man U protests suggest there may have been another defender coming across. Also Man U stupidity in letting Giggs take the free kick instead of Ronaldo.
Pippinu said | May 28th 2009 @ 11:50am | Report comment
Well, they pretty much are the national side for Catalunya.
Pippinu said | May 28th 2009 @ 1:38pm | Report comment
To change subject slightly, but The Age has an interesting piece on Maldini today. He’s on the verge of turning 41 and is about to play his 901st and final game for Milan – the archetypal one team player – even more incredible when you consider that his father played 347 times for Milan, and also captained the team I believe (sorry, I’m too lazy to check that bit).
That sort of feat is right up there with Barca having 6 local players in their starting XI in terms of rarity in the modern era.
As a sad note to this otherwise great story, he made his last appearance at the San Siro last weekend, and a bunch of idiot ultras put up a banner proclaiming that he hadn’t shown enough respect to those who made him rich.
What a bunch of wankers.
The sooner Italy (and many other nations) can weed the scourge of ultras out of the game, the better off we’ll all be.
It’s hard for a Sicilian to be too complimentary too a Northerner, but Maldini really is an absolute legend in every sense of the word.
Brian Munich said | May 28th 2009 @ 1:43pm | Report comment
Sour grapes to suggest that Barca’s behaviour in the final was poor. Yes, Puyol was annoying at times but it was a mild case in the context of all that we see of that less-than-beautiful side of the game these days. And there was a nice symmetry with the often-sooky Ronaldo on the receiving end of it. Barca’s football this morning was indeed beautiful to behold.
Kazama said | May 28th 2009 @ 2:02pm | Report comment
“[Cesare Maldini] lifted the European Cup with A.C. Milan in 1963 as team captain.” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesare_Maldini
Pippinu said | May 28th 2009 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
Good onya Kaz – make me look every bit as lazy as I actually am!!
Mick said | May 28th 2009 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
Chelsea were lucky the referee save them in the first leg otherwise there would of been no point playing the second leg.
Liverpool won in 2005 helped by (1) a dive in the box by gerard in the finalbut i did not hear the milan supporters whinging (2) liverpool in the semi of 2005 v chelsea with a goal where the ball never crossed the line and (3) liverpool’s opponents in the 1/4s i think had a good goal ruled out for offside when the bloke was onside for 1 to 2 metres.
2005 would be the biggest conspiracy if any, if chelsea were good enough they would of put barca away in the 2nd leg especially when barca had 10 players on the pitch.
I
Art Sapphire said | May 28th 2009 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
Barca’s successful youth system makes me think about the West Ham’s.
The sad difference is that my beloved Hammers are not big enough to keep all the players they have developed.
Otherwise, we might have been be playing in the UCL final against Barca with a team comprising of Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard and a few choice imports. Oh well, I can always dream.
Slippery Jim said | May 28th 2009 @ 3:38pm | Report comment
Mick, hmm…let’s see one so-called penalty at Camp Nou, Four (at least) at Stamford Bridge, and the aggregate score would have been Chelsea 5 Barca 2. Sorry, can’t say I agree that Chelsea were lucky.
And yes, Milan fans and fans of other Spanish clubs on the wrong side of certain decisions to complain, and for years later. I quote one Milan fan, in a comment made three years after the UCL fina in which Gerrard was awarded that penalty (in discussion of another controversial decision):
“such a shame to see a player like gerrard do a thing like this[a dive against Atletico Madrid]…………..he is a bit of a hypocrite in that he chastises those who dive and yet he is a performer of highest order in diving………….champions league final 2005 istanbul ring a bell? giancarlo knows what im talking about. great player……..huge hypocrite”
“Yes any Milan fans know what you’re talking about. Gerrard is a cheater and always have been one. This doesn’t surprise me”
“He most certainly did dive. I did watch the game, and the referee should have given Atletico at least two penalty kicks. The score would have been 3-1 at the end with Atletico winning”
etc.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article5191537.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=796995
Fans of Spanish club Atletico Madrid even made death threats to a referee that awarded that penalty to Liverpool.
In 2007 a Spanish referee received more than 50 death threats to himself and his family from Real Madrid fans for awarding two controversial penalties and sending off two Real Madrid players. His six year old daughter even received abuse in the park for her fathers performance, being told that her father “ruined things for Real”.
Robbos said | May 28th 2009 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
Barcelona best team in Europe.
Maldini is absolute legend.
Xavi & Inesita, wow what midfielders, this is how to play, won’t be betting against Spain in WC2010.
Messi totally awesome, he doesn’t actually beat players but runs with the ball as if there is no defenders there.
Ronaldo had no support.
Rooney, Park, Carrick & vidic were poor. Van der Saar I thought could’ve done better.
Henry missed a sitter, if Barcelona lost, Henry goes missing in big matches again would be headlines.
Who is Chelsea?
Kazama said | May 28th 2009 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
Pippinu – No worries mate
Mick – Liverpool were extremely lucky in 2005 IMO. They nearly went out in the group stage but for Gerrard’s last-gasp goal against Olympiakos. And while I’ll maintain that the goal against us in the semi was never a goal, the fact is the ref should have stopped play before that because of the high boot by Baros in the lead up to the “goal.”
Ben of Phnom Penh said | May 28th 2009 @ 6:43pm | Report comment
Barcelona looked good this morning however I was surprised by Manchester United’s response following the first goal. They were all over Barcelona yet seemed to lose that aggression after 10 minutes. One cannot help but wonder if a team gets that used to being in front and dominating that when they find themselves on the receiving end they are not sure how to respond.
I thought the ref and linesmen were ok this morning.
Pippinu, I saw an article on goal.com which had the most popular teams in China following a poll of unknown veracity. You may be saddened to learn that the most popular team is AC Milan, followed by Real Madrid and then Man U. Apparently they were surprised to find that a number of Chinese sides made the top 15.
Mike Tuckerman said | May 29th 2009 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
I had tipped Barcelona months ago to win the European crown. I watched every one of their La Liga games on TV (and plenty of Manchester United’s) and I simply couldn’t see anyone beating them in Europe… although obviously they scraped through against Chelsea by the skin of their teeth.
I’m just wondering why Catalan nationalism is so unquestioningly romanticised in much of the western world? I’ve got friends (from the region) who call themselves Barcelona fans that have never seen a game of football in their lives. Are we equally romantic towards a club like Athletic Bilbao? Perhaps not, since bombs still detonate in the name of the Basque (quasi Marxist-Leninist) separatist movement.
And yes, I’m well aware of the fractured history of federalised Spain (Phil Ball’s wonderful “Morbo” takes pride of place in my extensive football library).
Pippinu said | May 29th 2009 @ 3:38pm | Report comment
Well Mike – as you would know – the Spanish Civil War was the last of the great lost causes – of course it’s romanticised to buggery!!
I have other reasons for being an unabashed Catalan sympathiser (being a desecendant of a former subject of the Aragonese crown – which harks back to a time when Sicilian was viewed as a national language, and spoken alongside Catalan amongst the noblesse of Palermo, Catania and Messina – many traces of Catalan remain within my mother tongue to this day).
Greg Russell said | May 29th 2009 @ 3:44pm | Report comment
How many people are aware of the following (information from a hopefully reputable source):
“In Premier League against the bottom 12 teams MU got 70 of 72 points. Against the top 7 teams they got 20 points from 42. Against the other top 4 teams they got 5 points from 18. So for MU to struggle against a good team was expected.”
Mike Tuckerman said | May 29th 2009 @ 3:56pm | Report comment
Pippinu – that’s fair enough, and very interesting to note.
And Greg – fantastic statistic! It certainly paints Manchester United’s achievements this season in an interesting light.
Art Sapphire said | May 29th 2009 @ 4:29pm | Report comment
Mike & Pip – lets not forget that during Franco’s Spain the only way to publicly express your Catalonian and Basque identity was at the football ground. This is why clubs like Barca and Bilbao are more than just football clubs.
You still have to be Basque to play for Bilbao. Its quite an anachronistic position in today’s modern football but then again football is not all about winning trophies.
Pip – the story I recounted to you yesterday was quite true.
Greg – great observation. Liverpool certainly fluffed their lines this season.
Robbos said | May 29th 2009 @ 4:29pm | Report comment
Greg, so in cricket terms.
Man U are Flat Track Bullies.
Pippinu said | May 29th 2009 @ 5:03pm | Report comment
That Man Utd stat doesn’t surprise – at no stage did they ever really get into a groove on course to defending their title.
Liverpool dropped a few too many gimme 3 pointers (and Chelsea flattered to deceive, looking like the new Arsenal during the first 90 minutes of the season – alas – that was their high point).
Art – I already said I believed the story!!
Pippinu said | May 29th 2009 @ 5:11pm | Report comment
Mike
and another thing about Catalan sympathisers, your observation that the Western world over-romantices it is well made – I make one point – blame Hemingway!!
As male sporting enthusiasts (which most of us are to at least some degree), how could we not be influenced by Hemingway’s tales in which men are men, and those lacking in cojones get their just rewards (and where the women don’t mind a man with smelly armpits and a bit of stubble on the face).
Slippery Jim said | May 29th 2009 @ 5:14pm | Report comment
Pippu, I’m not sure you are aware, but it was later in the season that Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1 at the Emirates.
Opta stats show Chelsea are the most attacking side in the EPL over the course of the season – with more shots on goal than any other club (248). Chelsea also set an EPL record this season for most consecutive away wins (11) and were the strongest club away from home this season. They also had the highest pass accuracy rate in the EPL (81%).
So Chelsea hardly flattered to deceive, in fact it is our latter form that was title winning, not our former form in which the sadly inadequate Scolari had one or two good games but lost crucial points until he was replaced by the mighty Guus.
Still, I do remember that first game of the season with special fondness…
Pippinu said | May 29th 2009 @ 5:21pm | Report comment
sj
you disappoint me
Art Sapphire said | May 29th 2009 @ 5:23pm | Report comment
Hey Pip – as Ernest said “An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools.’
I am out of here – have a good weekend
Pippinu said | May 29th 2009 @ 5:41pm | Report comment
Never a truer word said – I’m outta here too!!
Slippery Jim said | May 29th 2009 @ 5:52pm | Report comment
Eh? I disappoint you? Why??? Greg’s stats get praised and mine cause only disappointment? What a strange world we live in…
And not a word about my Fantasy EPL victory from anyone – nows that’s disappointing, Pippu!
Pippinu said | June 1st 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
sj
you’re right – you deserve plenty of kudos for the Fantasy EPL win – it’s a long season, and to stay top of it is a might effort – congrats!!
(sj, from memory, I was disappointed that you took the bait on Chelsea so easily! but hey – who’s lauging now!!)