The Soccer Thread 11/12

Originally posted by 49ersMyLife:
Barca beat Napoli 5-0...in a game where they hit the woodwork 3 times in less than 60 seconds.

spoiled it. i recorded it but didn't have the time to watch it.

Originally posted by 190836:
spoiled it. i recorded it but didn't have the time to watch it.

lol...my bad, but why'd you come to this thread if you hadn't watched it man. Well, you can still watch it, Barca effed 'em up.

Originally posted by 49ersMyLife:
That's 6 defenders, 1 playmaker, and 2 strikers (I don't know what Alonso offers anymore...) - this team will never score against Barcelona. As a Barca fan, I would absolutely love Ramos as a CB. As for CL - Real lost because of Mourinho's poor tactics of defending and not attacking. Even if Pepe wasn't kicked out, it would have ended up as a tie at the end of 90 minutes. No way Barca loses at home to Real. Also, Real usually loses composure after they realize that they are going to lose - so that has no bearing on them losing or winning.

I agree, Real is playin' better this year - and are probably the second best team in the World - and why not, they easily have the most talent up and down their roster by far...but if they couldn't beat Barca in August - they aren't going to beat them in November or next year - and it will come down to that. Real played with their full team throughout the pre-season and practiced for weeks. Barca didn't and wasn't close to being at their best.

The only way I see Real beat Barca twice in La Liga is if Kaka plays like Kaka of 2009. Too bad Mourinho won't give him enough playing time because he is not his guy.

It's all about the counter attack and set pieces. Fabio is a wing back he is every bit as good as attacking as defending. I left out Di Maria because he becomes invincible when he plays Barca. Real basically has 10 men out there. Alonso provides the long ball passes through the air or ground on the counter. As well as the long set piece into the box. Pepe the holding midfielder to snuff out any through passes. Ramos I like at CB because it keeps him honest. He, along with Marcelo get caught ball watching more times than otherwise. IE David Villa's goal in the first game. I would LOVE to see Kaka get quality minutes in El Classico but it looks like he might be on his way back to AC Milan. Too damn bad, wanted to see how well he could play with Ronaldo.

I honestly think that Real will win the next game. Barca will have their 60% possession but that basically comes from the mid-filed going back and forth with the defense. Box defend Messi and they have a great shot.

La Liga starts tomorrow!

Originally posted by 1251alex:

the move that knocked Flamini out for 5 months. Pasquato will be a mighty fine sub for Krasic.

WOW!

Pwned isnt even good enough of a word to describe that!

Also want to put it out there

Man City is winning the EPL

FILTY team

Originally posted by NickV:

Originally posted by 49ersMyLife:
That's 6 defenders, 1 playmaker, and 2 strikers (I don't know what Alonso offers anymore...) - this team will never score against Barcelona. As a Barca fan, I would absolutely love Ramos as a CB. As for CL - Real lost because of Mourinho's poor tactics of defending and not attacking. Even if Pepe wasn't kicked out, it would have ended up as a tie at the end of 90 minutes. No way Barca loses at home to Real. Also, Real usually loses composure after they realize that they are going to lose - so that has no bearing on them losing or winning.

I agree, Real is playin' better this year - and are probably the second best team in the World - and why not, they easily have the most talent up and down their roster by far...but if they couldn't beat Barca in August - they aren't going to beat them in November or next year - and it will come down to that. Real played with their full team throughout the pre-season and practiced for weeks. Barca didn't and wasn't close to being at their best.

The only way I see Real beat Barca twice in La Liga is if Kaka plays like Kaka of 2009. Too bad Mourinho won't give him enough playing time because he is not his guy.

It's all about the counter attack and set pieces. Fabio is a wing back he is every bit as good as attacking as defending. I left out Di Maria because he becomes invincible when he plays Barca. Real basically has 10 men out there. Alonso provides the long ball passes through the air or ground on the counter. As well as the long set piece into the box. Pepe the holding midfielder to snuff out any through passes. Ramos I like at CB because it keeps him honest. He, along with Marcelo get caught ball watching more times than otherwise. IE David Villa's goal in the first game. I would LOVE to see Kaka get quality minutes in El Classico but it looks like he might be on his way back to AC Milan. Too damn bad, wanted to see how well he could play with Ronaldo.

I honestly think that Real will win the next game. Barca will have their 60% possession but that basically comes from the mid-filed going back and forth with the defense. Box defend Messi and they have a great shot.

La Liga starts tomorrow!

Actually counter-attacking doesn't work against Barca anymore. Real abandoned that strategy against them in the Supercup. They did well because they applied pressure on Barca's defenders to pass the ball up - which forced several turnovers. Real didn't drop back and let Barca come in so they can counter-attack.

I do agree that Pepe should be playing the holding mid-field role, but Ramos will get killed at CB - which is what happened in the 2nd leg when Iniesta scored. Ramos used to be a really good defender, but he has regressed since the World Cup for whatever reason - and so has Alonso.

The best way to beat Barca is to apply pressure up high - and Hercules (or was it Malaga) showed the blue-print last season.This is what Real did in Supercup and did well. This is the no.1 reason why Barca went out and got Alexis. If Alexis can quickly adapt, he will play one of the most important roles for Barca this season - to hurt teams who pressure Barca up high - with his speed and ability to dribble and finish. This was a preemptive move from Barca to counter this as they expected teams like Real to employ this strategy.

Playing all those defenders means Real is unlikely to score against Barca - which maybe Jose strategy. I just think it's a risky strategy when playing against a team with the best player in the World. Personally, I doubt he plays counter-attack against Barca. He will play high up and pressure them into turning the ball over - and break their rhythm.

Originally posted by NickV:
Also want to put it out there

Man City is winning the EPL

FILTY team

nope. they'll be a close 2nd place though.

Originally posted by NickV:

Originally posted by 1251alex:

the move that knocked Flamini out for 5 months. Pasquato will be a mighty fine sub for Krasic.

WOW!

Pwned isnt even good enough of a word to describe that!

yep yep. this youngster just gave Milan some squad problems for the next 5 months.

I heard someone on here say Real Madrid is the 2nd best team in the world...maybe on paper. not on the field. Manchester United is still better than them, and they hold the title for 2nd best in the world imo. They play sucha fluid style of football much like Barca. Madrid is just a team stacked full of stars who plays second fiddle to a team thats been mostly playing together since they were little kids. If you move Coentrao and Ramos out of their defensive flanks, thats just a disaster waiting to happen. Bench Marcelo and put Khedira in that midfield and that lineup looks a little more solid.

also, NickV, whats your opinion on Bruno Alves? His father said he hopes to see his son in Turin before the transfer market closes.

Originally posted by 1251alex:
also, NickV, whats your opinion on Bruno Alves? His father said he hopes to see his son in Turin before the transfer market closes.

Beast. Mauler of a player when one on one with the attacker and is amazing on set pieces. Best vertical jump in the world.

Originally posted by 1251alex:
I heard someone on here say Real Madrid is the 2nd best team in the world...maybe on paper. not on the field. Manchester United is still better than them, and they hold the title for 2nd best in the world imo. They play sucha fluid style of football much like Barca. Madrid is just a team stacked full of stars who plays second fiddle to a team thats been mostly playing together since they were little kids. If you move Coentrao and Ramos out of their defensive flanks, thats just a disaster waiting to happen. Bench Marcelo and put Khedira in that midfield and that lineup looks a little more solid.

Noooo. Khedira has been a flop for Madrid. Waste of moeny. He is better suited as a sub if you want to close out a game. That was me also who said that Real could be the second best.

I should have reworded it better, after this season they could be second best. Obviously Man U should be considered second since they were in the CL final last year. Crushing Arsenal helps out also lol.

Real just murdered Real Zaragoza 6-0 CR7 with a hat trick. Man City with a blow out also. WTF is up with the London teams??

Also in reply to 49ersMyLife on my formation use.

They went with their usual 4-2-3-1 but with a slight adjustment. Instead of Khedira alongside Alonso as a CDM they used Coentrao. When I saw the formation I had this exact face lol

It worked out so good. I knew Fabz was versatile but not that much. His main role was to cover up for Marcelo when he pushed forward. Genius move for Mou. So often last year they gave up goals because Marcelo thinks he is a winger lol but Fabio covered for him and pushed forward when he held back. Had an excellent game today.

Thats why he is the special one and Im here typing on the computer They got it right. My formation, although could provide attacking options, was more defensive. With what they used today had the extra pace and attack but was still solid defensively. Di Maria still didnt have a good game. Even with the Assist for one of the goals. He had a wide open look at the net and missed wide.

Thiagoooo with the first goal in La Liga for Barca!!!

Fab scores, assist from...who else - Lio Messi. They are going to be a lethal combo for years to come.

2-0 up against Villareal

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6909533/us-midfielder-michael-bradley-set-join-serie-club-chievo-verona