manc-mag

That's quite an imagination.

Check out the next youtube in that sequence - see how many footy stickers you remember

Thing is the challenge surely has to be domination over the next five years and legacy. When you get to the point they're at now that is the only remaining challenge. Ferguson has now beaten the league titles record of Liverpool. That was his aim, along with winning the European Cup, which he's done twice and lost 2 finals. I suppose if he looks at Barcelona and sees little chance of beating them, the way they are going, for the next year or so, and the fact he has to replace Scholes and Giggs, he might decide he's done everything now and pack it in. I fucking hope so, it's like you're reading my mind. I think he'll have another tilt though. Money to spend this summer already guaranteed and that might make him think its worth one more go. I actually think he's going to feel the need to defend the title from City and Liverpool. Man City, without a doubt. That should make life pleasureable for you I'm not a blue you shitehawk, I just hate Man U, so by extension I have a degree of sympathy with Citeh.

Thing is the challenge surely has to be domination over the next five years and legacy. When you get to the point they're at now that is the only remaining challenge. Ferguson has now beaten the league titles record of Liverpool. That was his aim, along with winning the European Cup, which he's done twice and lost 2 finals. I suppose if he looks at Barcelona and sees little chance of beating them, the way they are going, for the next year or so, and the fact he has to replace Scholes and Giggs, he might decide he's done everything now and pack it in. I fucking hope so, it's like you're reading my mind. I think he'll have another tilt though. Money to spend this summer already guaranteed and that might make him think its worth one more go. I actually think he's going to feel the need to defend the title from City and Liverpool.

Thing is the challenge surely has to be domination over the next five years and legacy. When you get to the point they're at now that is the only remaining challenge.

Valencia should have been booked by about 20 minutes in, he just ran around clattering into people. Giggs was the busted flush that he is when the team he's playing for isn't winning in second gear (as is the norm during the domestic campaign). Hernandez might as well not have been on the pitch due to isolation (and that much was entirely Ferguson's fault given the tactics he played). Park was exposed for the player he is, which is a run-around-at-a-hundred-mile-an-hour merchant (which again is good enough for the Prem, so not his fault, he just doesnt have a footballing brain). And any team with Carrick in the middle just shouldn't be in a European Cup final never mind winning it. They were honestly miles behind and 3-1 flattered them. Still surreal to watch given how routine it is seeing Man U sweep all before them in the Prem week after week, but they honestly shouldn't have been on the same pitch.

You basically need an Ian Rush type striker pressing their defence (who are fallible), two negative CM's and then get it out wide and sling crosses in when/if you get any possession at all.

How can any Newcastle fan assume they're all done deals? That's not negative either before you start, it's purely matter of fact.

I do agree but they're as capable of getting results as any Man Utd team, they're just not as easy on the eye. Also following on from your point I'd say that it sums the state of world football up presently, that this Barcelona team are being described as the greatest team ever by the clueless masses. no way are they as good as the Ajax team of the early 70's Was thinking about this last night.....3 champions league wins in 5 years for Barca, next year they must be pretty well odds on to make it 4 in 6....I sort of agree with you, but Barca must be up there with them. There was an article in some paper last week with a former player of Manu saying they could hurt Barca in the air from corners.....so Barca didn't concede any! That sort of ability is the mark of a truly exceptional side, who are more than living up to all the hype. you can't do any more than be the best in your own era. On reflection, there comes a point where you look at a team and concede they have really reached outstanding heights, 3 successes in 5 years tells its own story. They keep the ball and move it around so well, they are the nearest I've seen to the Dutch teams and Ajax of the 70's. As they keep on winning things you will have to say they could be a match, they can't play each other so its a hypothetical situation anyway. Even comparing them to Cruyff etc says a lot. I think one of the most amazing things about that Ajax team that gets overlooked to a degree is that they went on that run of total domination having actually got tanked in their first final by a wiley Milan Side. It almost gets forgotten from that string of successful finals, but to my mind it actually adds to their story. They didn't change their style or adopt a more cynical approach, they just learned the lesson and made the step up, which is what all truly great teams manage to do.

He doesn't even have to speak as far as I'm concerned.

I actually think Milan of the early 90's would stop them fwiw. I'd much rather watch Barcelona though-and that's despite Milan having some of the best players I've ever witnessed in absolutely key departments defence and attack, with Barcelona it's all about the midfield tbh and for that reason they'll always be the better advert for football. I've said it before I'll say it again, the back five (inc the keeper) of Milan were head and shoulders better than Barcelona. Plus the three Dutchmen would get in no bother. That's 8 out of 11. Barcelona would give them a good game though I don't dispute that. Van Basten would get in any team of the last 40 years. Literally any.

I actually think Milan of the early 90's would stop them fwiw. I'd much rather watch Barcelona though-and that's despite Milan having some of the best players I've ever witnessed in absolutely key departments defence and attack, with Barcelona it's all about the midfield tbh and for that reason they'll always be the better advert for football. Would love to see this team play 'seventies Ajax. What a game that would be. Take "total football" to another level! I think that might become the mythical game that will start to be talked about now tbh, given the comparisons between the two. Especially if Barca wint it again next year with essentially the same team (which they absolutely should). Even if you over scrutinise the fantasy, I dont even think it'd end in stalemate with them cancelling each other out either, as you'd imagine Barca playing it through the middle with Ajax moving it out wide more. You'd basically have to watch it with your pant round your ankles.

I actually think Milan of the early 90's would stop them fwiw. I'd much rather watch Barcelona though-and that's despite Milan having some of the best players I've ever witnessed in absolutely key departments defence and attack, with Barcelona it's all about the midfield tbh and for that reason they'll always be the better advert for football.

Aye. Still can't get over his 'long' hair these days mind.

You hate them almost as much as I hate Man U.

Why does everyone whinge on about that ??? They all fucking do it these days. It's not cheating any more, it's being professional or "clever". Sad but true, and I hate it, but now accept it. Messi is about the only player who religiously rides a tackle (a long lost skill - that, even Leazes may agree with me on), just about every fucker else (and I mean every fucker worldwide) feels a breath of wind and goes down. Basically, aye. Anyone who watches that team and sees "cheats" over "world class footballers" must have an agenda tbh, which tbf Stevie has (though I don't really know why). People also criticising them for Unicef because it's 'paving the way' to shirt sponsorship. Which other teams would even 'pave the way'? Every other team on earth just rolls over to the fattest cheque book at the end of the day, at least they've given Unicef about £100 millions worth of free advertising. It would be revenue they've never had before. The Barcelona Way, was the same as the Athletic Bilbao way, the shirt was more than a representation of a football club, but more one of an area many believe should be its' own autonomous country, Catalunya. The point made was correct, there'd be a major outcry if they'd went from nothing to "Pepsi" just like that. Once the shirt is bastardised well that's it, and they can hide behind the cloak of a good cause in the first step. I can hear your brain ticking over thinking "fuck me is he for real", but it makes sense. Not only that, it gains massive respect from people who are taken in by it right round the world, winning them countless millions of new fans. An absolute superb marketing ploy by the people who make those decisions. Yes but the point stands, they could just go directly to Pepsi if they'd wanted to. So what if it annoys fans, what are they going to do, support someone else? They own the club anyway so it's an even less compelling argument in that sense, it's hardly like eg the Glazers coming in and pissing over tradition for an extra £100 million in the back pocket, it's a decision they'll effectively vote on themselves.

If it came as a surprise that John O'Shea was left out of a squad to face Barcelona in a Champions League final then I can only assume he must be surprised numerous times on a daily basis. O'Shea is absolutely abysmal even at Prem level and the rags whince every time he goes near the ball. Carrick I think is a fucking dreadful player, but the point about him playing in a hole surrounded by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd World Footballers of the Year puts it into even greater context about the gulf in class. Not his fault though, obviously. As much as I can't stand him, Rooney was the only one who stepped up (on the one occasion with the goal) to even make a contest of it. Him and Vidic at the back. Barca aren't just class to watch, they actually make you want to go outside and kick a ball about. It's a different level altogether.

Come on man, it was a bad loss for Man U but there's no need for Heysel retaliations. We all know it was mass murder.

Why does everyone whinge on about that ??? They all fucking do it these days. It's not cheating any more, it's being professional or "clever". Sad but true, and I hate it, but now accept it. Messi is about the only player who religiously rides a tackle (a long lost skill - that, even Leazes may agree with me on), just about every fucker else (and I mean every fucker worldwide) feels a breath of wind and goes down. Basically, aye. Anyone who watches that team and sees "cheats" over "world class footballers" must have an agenda tbh, which tbf Stevie has (though I don't really know why). People also criticising them for Unicef because it's 'paving the way' to shirt sponsorship. Which other teams would even 'pave the way'? Every other team on earth just rolls over to the fattest cheque book at the end of the day, at least they've given Unicef about £100 millions worth of free advertising.

Aye, I'm glad he went for the Joan Hickson Marple too btwinstead of the modern shite. Nice touch. I've got the boxed set for £50.

Yeah I've always dreamed of going Bath and Cambridge before I die. Those visits would complete me. Talk about scraping the fucking barrel. What a load of utter shite. The only possible reason you would go to Liverpool is to get a passport, football, or to get your photo taken beside the Penny Lane sign. That's being honest. From the same paper.... Bath is the most beautiful city in the UK though tbf. Not said ironically either, it's just superb. Ashamed to admit I've never even been to Edinburgh.

Stevie currently being talked down off the Tyne Bridge.

That's basically very true however please don't interrupt my gloating.