Barca and Chelsea - what a bunch of cheats!

[Miyazaki]

Is it just me that noticed it? The commentator on itv surprisingly only seemed to notice Dani Alves!

Seemingly, every time Ballack, Drogba, Malouda, Alves, Henry and Iniesta lose the ball or anticipate losing the ball they go down like they've been shot.

Especially when Puyol got the ball off Malouda, he went down so theatrically. Its just so inappropriate, you're laying on top of another man and you begin the rolling around.

I'm sick of seeing it, especially at such a high level where players should be relying on their skill.

Drogba knew everytime he got the ball there would be no support, so what does he do? An impression of swan lake.

I think Alves is afraid of leather, because as soon as the ball comes within three yards he does a rolling stunt more suited to an action movie than a football pitch.

I really feel for Pepe to be honest and part of me would like to pat him on the back for giving Casquero something to cry about.

[Naaktgeboren]

Alves was beyond pathetic, only thing worse than hiis theoratics was the quality (or lack of) ITV's broadcast, was like watching a C64 football simulator.

Anyone else think Alves looked like something out of Planet of the Apes??

[mooperman]

Originally Posted by CloggyNL

Alves was beyond pathetic, only thing worse than hiis theoratics was the quality (or lack of) ITV's broadcast, was like watching a C64 football simulator.

Anyone else think Alves looked like something out of Planet of the Apes??

ha ha, its all gone a bit Emlyn Hughes Soccer....

[plazmoid]

Once it had happenned a few times the players seemed to realise that the ref was going to give a foul for anything.

imo Malouda was justified to look in pain considering he landed on top of Puyol's knee which tbh i don't fancy doing myself.

Dani Alvez was just horrendous though, anytime anyone went anywhere near him he went down.

[ste1000]

Originally Posted by CloggyNL

Alves was beyond pathetic, only thing worse than hiis theoratics was the quality (or lack of) ITV's broadcast, was like watching a C64 football simulator.

Anyone else think Alves looked like something out of Planet of the Apes??

Agreed, Alves was terrible and when he was rolling around after one of the malouda (?) challenges I was shouting at the TV what i would do to him if he didn't get up! Drogba ran him close mind you, he was almost worth an Oscar. I'm not sure what it is about Chelsea Barca games that always brings out the worst in both teams.

Anyway, decent game other than that but we'll probably see goals in the second leg. Marquez injury was probably cartilage and if so would require an operation.

[kopchoir]

Firstly dont listen to david pleat he is the biggest joke of a commentator going i watched the game and thought barca were the only team who wanted to play football and after chelseas pathetic display i hope they go out

[ed_mcl]

Originally Posted by kopchoir

Firstly dont listen to david pleat he is the biggest joke of a commentator going i watched the game and thought barca were the only tem who wanted to lay football and after chelseas pathetic display i hope they go out

That's the most sensible thing I've ever seen you post!

As for the cheating; it was funny how Ballack was on the floor in apparent agony until Barcelona attacked with Hleb and he was soon up on his feet defending the near post.

[jayden28]

Originally Posted by kopchoir

Firstly dont listen to david pleat he is the biggest joke of a commentator going i watched the game and thought barca were the only tem who wanted to lay football and after chelseas pathetic display i hope they go out

I thought chelsea done ok,what you expecting them to play 3 up front and get hammered 5-0!,im sure the 2 other big english clubs(manu,arsenal) would have done the same.

[reddevil63]

Cech been made MofM says it all. If it wasn't for him Barca would have thumped Chelsea.

As for the diving....

[davepuma]

I thought Chelsea got it right tonight and I'm sure any one of the English CL sides would have done the same and taken the same result. They stifled a talented Barca side and weren't able to take the few chances that came their way. The SB game will be pretty interesting now.

[ed_mcl]

Originally Posted by davepuma

I thought Chelsea got it right tonight and I'm sure any one of the English CL sides would have done the same and taken the same result. They stifled a talented Barca side and weren't able to take the few chances that came their way. The SB game will be pretty interesting now.

I can't for the life of me ever imagine Arsene Wenger with his philosophy instructing his whole team to camp out in their own half and just defend like Chelsea did tonight, not for anyone regardless of how impressive they may have been during the season, can you, honestly?

Chelsea are better than that, so I can't help but feel it was more a case of them being succumbed to the pressures of Barcelona's attack rather than some stroke of tactical genius by Hiddink as some would suggest.

They might not be so lucky at Stamford Bridge if they play that dire anti-football they did at the Nou Camp.

[Naaktgeboren]

I agree, Chelsea did what they had to do last night and I bet Hiddink will return to London with a big smile on his face. No team would travel to the Nou Camp with an all out attacking strategy it would end in tears.

Barcelona did not look as good as they think they are, Messi was contained and now they have defensive problems for the 2nd leg with Puyol suspended and Marquez out.

They will get a different game at Stamford Bridge and to be honest, I can see Chelsea taking it.

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by ed_mcl

As for the cheating; it was funny how Ballack was on the floor in apparent agony until Barcelona attacked with Hleb and he was soon up on his feet defending the near post.

To be fair he did look very uncomfortable after that attack when you watch the replays, but on a general scale the cheating was embarrassing for the entire match.


I'd be disappointed if I were a Chelsea fan, they weren't even in the game. Yes I know it's Barcelona & they're pretty handy ay keeping the ball & attacking but Chelsea didn't even attempt to play them.

0-0 away from home is not a good result. Barcelona need only to get a score draw & they have anything up to 120 minutes to do it in. You need to score away from home, losing 2-1 is not that much worse.

However, I see Chelsea beating them at home anyway

[mabo]

Personally i think Chelsea got their tactics spot on. No team has stopped Barca scoring at home this season so it was still some feat imo. United were hardly a grand attacking force against them last year and in the 06 final Arsenal spent much of the game after scoring camped out in their own half.

As for the diving, Alves was beyond a joke desperately trying to get players booked. Does anyone remember in one of the previous ties when Deco fell to ground as if he'd been shot, only for JT to boot the ball at him while he was writhing around - Deco sprang to his feet and miraculously recovered.

[oj0]

I dont think that anyone would/should have expected Chelsea to go all out with their attack, but at least a tendency to pass over the half way line without it being an endless punt up to Drogba would have been a little more productive. Not even Lampard got forward to support Drogba and it was only due to a very routine Marquez mistake that Chelsea got their only shot on target of the whole match.

I thought that Barca were a little too cute in their attacking play and on several attempts should have just taken the early shot rather than look for the perfect goal but hey, who am I to tell them how to do it, Pep Guardiola looks a rather capable manager on his own and he's only 37!