I haven't seen Allforone for ages. I used to love his "United are da bestest team eva" posts.
Where'd all the Gooners go!?
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tbf replace United with Arsenal and that's exactly how you post.
Well, quite clearly not, given that I often concede that at this point in time, it has been categorically proven that the United side is superior to Arsenal's. All I've said is that it might change by May. Allforone would compile a best of United and Arsenal team, and put Anderson in ahead of Fabregas and the like.
I actually think Barca will have a harder time against L'Arse this season. I don't know why.
Just think that Barca are running through their league so easily that a half decent side may throw them off.
Who knows, stranger things have happened. And I want Arsenal to win that tie. More games for them is better for United.
Just think that Barca are running through their league so easily that a half decent side may throw them off.
Who knows, stranger things have happened. And I want Arsenal to win that tie. More games for them is better for United.
You're just exaggerating I think, Allforone was in the newbies with me and he was a much better poster than that.
He was a good poster, outside Arsenal. It was very strange - he'd have some very good points to make elsewhere, and just took the ultra biased stuff to the Gooner threads. Let's campaign to have him back.
I actually think it's testimony to the ability and strengh in depth of Barca
and then again Messi looks in the best form of his life
I really doubt they would find it difficult to dispose of the Arse
Allforone's not been seen since he made a muppet of himself when dealing with the City supporter newtonheathdave.
Do you not see the irony in that post?
I don't Arsenal to win the tie, purely because it would give them a big confidence booster which could be harmful for our title chances. Arsenal are easily our biggest title rivals this season.
United and Arsenal toe to toe. This has never got shirty before 
Nip and tuck this I reckon until final day.
Nip and tuck this I reckon until final day.
Barcelona should win the tie, but I'm not entirely convinced they'll win the two games. As Pete says, there's a lot of value on us to win the home leg, and it is eminently possible.
One big factor is the fitness of Djourou - if Squillaci plays with Koscielny, it's not going to be pretty. Sagna is also out because of a dodgy refereeing decision against Partizan. How well we keep the ball is important - if Barcelona have a lot of it, they will score. We need to keep possession 50/50.
One big factor is the fitness of Djourou - if Squillaci plays with Koscielny, it's not going to be pretty. Sagna is also out because of a dodgy refereeing decision against Partizan. How well we keep the ball is important - if Barcelona have a lot of it, they will score. We need to keep possession 50/50.
Nope.
He's been banned since then?
Don't think he got banned - he made some comment about Brian Kidd being retarded and he got jumped on. That's the last I saw him.
He was banned for a couple of days and hasn't been seen since.He's been banned since then?
Well you should, storey-lite.
Sagna out is a big loss for you guys, partly because Eboue isn't that great at defending. Djourou has been Arsenal's best defender whenever I have seen him play.Vermaelen's injury could cost you the title, When is Vermaelen back for you guys?
On another note, I saw F365 saying that Squillaci is even worse than Silvestre(when he was playing for Arsenal), surely he can't be that bad?
I find it quite ironic that I'm being told I think Arsenal are the best team ever when a) I used to be accused of being a Liverpool fan and b) I'm saying we're not favourites to win a two legged tie in this very thread.
Squillaci is OK when he's not playing with Koscielny. They're just dreadful together. Kosc has been great for us - has scored some big goals recently, and is a good solid defender. His call up to the French squad is no coincidence.
Vermaelen is supposed to be back perhaps for the second leg of the Barcelona game. Although I massively doubt we'll see him this season, because you know what the Arsenal medical staff are like.
Agreed on Sagna and Eboue - that's got car crash written all over it.
I want Koscielny and Squillaci to start
Looks like you'll get your wish, sadly.
I can't decide whether I agree with this or not. Obviously, given that Barcelona are class and your defense is the weakest part of your line-up you'd think so.
However, looking at the last 3 seasons in Europe, Barcelona have struggled when given the ball but facing an organised, tight unit. See them vs United in '08, vs Chelsea in '09 (where, although they went on to win the CL, Chelsea were denied by an horrific refereeing display and a quality last minute winner), and Inter in '10. That's generally the way to beat them in Europe, but I'm not sure if that's Arsenal's best route to take.
That's the thing. I would happily accept we're not going to put in a defensive performance like those three teams. Inter last season were unbelievable in the Camp Nou, one of the greatest defensive performances ever in the modern game. We're not realistically going to emulate that.
You're right about that Inter performance. Maybe not as back-to-the-walls as that game, but I don't think looking for 50/50 possession would be the way forward. Could only see you being caught out there.
I wouldn't underestimate how flaky Barca are at the back either if you can keep the ball long enough to have a go at them. Alves is no kind of defender, Pique is lacking pace and Puyol is very rash, Maxwell doesn't impress defending either.
Barca are pretty average at the back true but they get away with it since having any bit of the ball against them in bloody hard.
Their defense won't worry unless this happens :
Their defense won't worry unless this happens :
Alves is a good defender when asked to do so. Usually Barcelona's tactics tell him to play as a winger but I've watched him play a match against Valencia when he didnt attack, he just stayed back and defended well. So he can if needed.
Pique was statistically one of the fastest CBs at the world cup according to fifa's site. Maxwell isnt all that and neither is Abidal.
Still their defence is better than yours
Arshavin, RvP or Fabregas can cause anybody pain and they didn't enjoy Feo motoring at them either. Last time up they played that high press but ran out of petrol after an hour they can't risk doing that again so we should get a kick.
He might have a high top speed but he's slow on the turn and slow to accelerate over 5-10 yards.
I think you can cause them problems. You can cause almost anyone problems.
But will you finish your chances? Thats the part I doubt.
I've no doubt that Messi, Villa or Pedro - perhaps all 3, will get on the scoresheet at some point over 2 legs.
Almost every CB is
Ferdinand might be 83 but he's not slow, even Vidic could show Pique a clean pair of heels.
I'd agree with Peter that in separation the Barca defence isn't the strongest and certainly could be got at.
But in saying this I've predicted their collapse a few times but my predictions never came to fruition because it is a team effort with Barca. They work extremely hard off the ball and their centre midfield always provide really good protection for the back four.
But in saying this I've predicted their collapse a few times but my predictions never came to fruition because it is a team effort with Barca. They work extremely hard off the ball and their centre midfield always provide really good protection for the back four.
One of the fastest CBs at the world cup.
If your suggestion that he's slow turning and over the first few yards holds true, then he must be really fast once he gets going to achieve that stat. Its not like he'll have been sprinting across the entire pitch at the world cup - the stat will have come from him chasing someone down. So no, not many will show him a clean pair of heels. Certainly not Vidic.
Those first few yards could feasibly be enough to get the ball under control and your shot away however.
Hehe...
Loads of football fans do this. It's the whole "we've got absolutely no fecking chance whatoever! None! So even if we lose, at least I pre-empted it!" defence.
Barca are no great shakes away from home in Europe. Inter took them apart at the San Siro last season, and could have made the tie safe.
Arsenal haven't been great at home though, and you'd suspect Barca could have a field-day if they're in the mood.
Arsenal haven't been great at home though, and you'd suspect Barca could have a field-day if they're in the mood.
why? in recent years ourselves and Inter beat them and neither of them had manged more than 40% of ball possession. So what's the point of doing so?
Because you had defences that were capable of restricting their attack. Our defence is nowhere near as bad as is made out, but realistically I don't think we can give up possession to the same extent as you or Inter did and win the tie.