Barcelona vs Man United

If Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, it will make a mockery of this prestigious award.

Messi shouldnt be given an award just because he's a dwarf.

Markus wrote:If Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, it will make a mockery of this prestigious award.

It's up to ronaldo to show he deserves it then

At the minute he is winning it by default, rather than by any stunning performances. But this can all change over the next few months in the latter stages of the CL and the euros

borocooper wrote: Messi shouldnt be given an award just because he's a dwarf.

Markus wrote:If Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, it will make a mockery of this prestigious award.

that hasn't happened already?

we could be seeing a Ronaldo vs Torres Champions League Final and a Ronaldo vs Torres European Championships Final. That would make it a Ronaldo vs Torres WPOTY and I know where my money's going

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Markus wrote:If Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, it will make a mockery of this prestigious award.

that hasn't happened already?

I dont really care for FIFA award, but the Golden Ball I do think is serious, that’s why I cant see Messi winging

Iniesta - Xavi in midfield is SUICIDE (especially against ManU). If I had to chose one it would be Iniesta and Xavi to warm the bench. Henry shouldn't play, he's been pants and Bojan/Messi/Iniesta are much better than him. So Rijkaard will play Iniesta - Xavi in midfield and Henry on the left.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Markus wrote:If Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, it will make a mockery of this prestigious award.

that hasn't happened already?

Are you suggesting that previously the Ballon d’Or has been mocked?

Parks lives wrote:So if Barca wins and Messi contributes nothing, he'll still win the Golden Ball?

Sounds about right.

Lets be fair. Even if Utd win with Ronaldo scoring and win in the final, I'd still bet on Messi winning the WPOTY award.

The Ballon D'OR is usually slightly more accurate. We'll see I guess but Messi would have to at least score in the semis and final and then have a superb second half of the year to stand a chance.

Ronaldo does deserve to win WPOTY (though I don't understand the Utd's fans obsession with it) but it would be amusing to see him win it if Messi outclasses him in the CL (like Kaka did last time round). But I agree Ronaldo deserves to win it (for his goals not performances though) As a neutral I don't find anything exciting about his performances or style of play.

Messi may not score as much but I'm on my feet when he has the ball.

Markus wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Markus wrote:If Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, it will make a mockery of this prestigious award.

that hasn't happened already?

Are you suggesting that previously the Ballon d’Or has been mocked?

Well they got the Kaka part right But I would had given the second place to Cris

golsud wrote:Iniesta - Xavi in midfield is SUICIDE (especially against ManU). If I had to chose one it would be Iniesta and Xavi to warm the bench. Henry shouldn't play, he's been pants and Bojan/Messi/Iniesta are much better than him. So Rijkaard will play Iniesta - Xavi in midfield and Henry on the left.

To be fair his options are slightly limited at the moment with Deco & Puyol out. I'd go:

--------Toure
-----Xavi--Deco-----
Messi--Eto'o--Iniesta

or with Puyol in, possibly:

Marquez
Toure--Xavi

Calidad wrote:

golsud wrote:Iniesta - Xavi in midfield is SUICIDE (especially against ManU). If I had to chose one it would be Iniesta and Xavi to warm the bench. Henry shouldn't play, he's been pants and Bojan/Messi/Iniesta are much better than him. So Rijkaard will play Iniesta - Xavi in midfield and Henry on the left.

To be fair his options are slightly limited at the moment with Deco & Puyol out. I'd go:

--------Toure
-----Xavi--Deco-----
Messi--Eto'o--Iniesta

or with Puyol in, possibly:

Marquez
Toure--Xavi

Abidal can play CB (I'm sure he can't do it worse than at LB) so Marquez could still play in midfield. There is also the option to play Guddy instead of Xavi (who does f@ck all). But it doesn't really matter as Rijkaard will get the lineup wrong anyways

Juligen wrote:

Markus wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Markus wrote:If Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, it will make a mockery of this prestigious award.

that hasn't happened already?

Are you suggesting that previously the Ballon d’Or has been mocked?

Well they got the Kaka part right But I would had given the second place to Cris

Kaka proved by having a lethargic season domestically, scoring 10 goals in the CL and winning the competition is enough to win you the Ballon d’Or ..

Tweedle wrote:
Lets be fair. Even if Utd win with Ronaldo scoring and win in the final, I'd still bet on Messi winning the WPOTY award.

The Ballon D'OR is usually slightly more accurate. We'll see I guess but Messi would have to at least score in the semis and final and then have a superb second half of the year to stand a chance.

NO fucking way, I am telling you from my South American perspective, Brazilians pundits and critics used to cry over Barcelona performances and Messi, now the papers only talk about Ronaldo, that the best of the World Award already has a name. Even the Argentine papers that I read agree that Ronaldo is playing out of this world.

The way they describe Ronaldo is just how they used to talk about Kaka. Barcelona will probably, again, have no trophy this season and Ronaldo is on his way for a double, and he won the League last year. Is just too much to be denied.

Markus wrote: scoring 10 goals in the CL and winning the competition is enough to win you the Ballon d’Or ..

if only everything in life could be so easy

golsud wrote:

Calidad wrote:

golsud wrote:Iniesta - Xavi in midfield is SUICIDE (especially against ManU). If I had to chose one it would be Iniesta and Xavi to warm the bench. Henry shouldn't play, he's been pants and Bojan/Messi/Iniesta are much better than him. So Rijkaard will play Iniesta - Xavi in midfield and Henry on the left.

To be fair his options are slightly limited at the moment with Deco & Puyol out. I'd go:

--------Toure
-----Xavi--Deco-----
Messi--Eto'o--Iniesta

or with Puyol in, possibly:

Marquez
Toure--Xavi

Abidal can play CB (I'm sure he can't do it worse than at LB) so Marquez could still play in midfield. There is also the option to play Guddy instead of Xavi (who does f@ck all). But it doesn't really matter as Rijkaard will get the lineup wrong anyways

Guddy never really does much though. Xavi at least can retain possession which will be important against Utd. I know he's had a below par season, but considering the service he has given Barca over the years, I think it's a little early to be showing him the door. In the double winning season (before his injury) he was absolutely fantastic. Since then, he and the team have both gone downhill. He's still just 26, and I think he deserves a spell under a new manager, as do most of the players.

Markus wrote:

Juligen wrote:

Markus wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Markus wrote:If Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, it will make a mockery of this prestigious award.

that hasn't happened already?

Are you suggesting that previously the Ballon d’Or has been mocked?

Well they got the Kaka part right But I would had given the second place to Cris

Kaka proved by having a lethargic season domestically, scoring 10 goals in the CL and winning the competition is enough to win you the Ballon d’Or ..

It's not just goals. His performances were fantastic (as were his goals) he was pretty much the difference between Milan and other sides in each phase of the competition.

Markus wrote:Kaka proved by having a lethargic season domestically, scoring 10 goals in the CL and winning the competition is enough to win you the Ballon d’Or ..

what the hell Rai, he won for the 06/07 season, so if Ronaldo wins the 2008 best player, gets injured in 09 and doesnt play for the rest of the year, he wont be a deserving winner. Does even make sense for you?

You win a award for what you did, not for what you will do after the award.

Calidad wrote: he was pretty much the difference between Milan and other sides in each phase of the competition.

In the final?

Against Bayern Munich?

Calidad wrote:

golsud wrote:

Calidad wrote:

golsud wrote:Iniesta - Xavi in midfield is SUICIDE (especially against ManU). If I had to chose one it would be Iniesta and Xavi to warm the bench. Henry shouldn't play, he's been pants and Bojan/Messi/Iniesta are much better than him. So Rijkaard will play Iniesta - Xavi in midfield and Henry on the left.

To be fair his options are slightly limited at the moment with Deco & Puyol out. I'd go:

--------Toure
-----Xavi--Deco-----
Messi--Eto'o--Iniesta

or with Puyol in, possibly:

Marquez
Toure--Xavi

Abidal can play CB (I'm sure he can't do it worse than at LB) so Marquez could still play in midfield. There is also the option to play Guddy instead of Xavi (who does f@ck all). But it doesn't really matter as Rijkaard will get the lineup wrong anyways

Guddy never really does much though. Xavi at least can retain possession which will be important against Utd. I know he's had a below par season, but considering the service he has given Barca over the years, I think it's a little early to be showing him the door. In the double winning season (before his injury) he was absolutely fantastic. Since then, he and the team have both gone downhill. He's still just 26, and I think he deserves a spell under a new manager, as do most of the players.

Xavi only makes the game slower by passing it back, won't risk a pass until the game is won and will don't even try to defend. He's going to be 28 this year, I'd sell him without thinking twice if a decent offer came in before the world realises he's not worth much. More cules are starting to see this which is good

Juligen wrote:

Markus wrote:Kaka proved by having a lethargic season domestically, scoring 10 goals in the CL and winning the competition is enough to win you the Ballon d’Or ..

what the hell Rai, he won for the 06/07 season, so if Ronaldo wins the 2008 best player, gets injured in 09 and doesnt play for the rest of the year, he wont be a deserving winner. Does even make sense for you?

You win a award for what you did, not for what you will do after the award.

All I said is to win this award today, you don’t need to perform at domestic level, just have a good campaign in Europe. It’s not a blemish on him whatsoever.

Juligen wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Markus wrote:If Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, it will make a mockery of this prestigious award.

that hasn't happened already?

I dont really care for FIFA award, but the Golden Ball I do think is serious, that’s why I cant see Messi winging

Ronaldo won it in 2002 which was ridiculous tbh because he was injured for most of the year!

Markus wrote:

Juligen wrote:

Markus wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Markus wrote:If Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, it will make a mockery of this prestigious award.

that hasn't happened already?

Are you suggesting that previously the Ballon d’Or has been mocked?

Well they got the Kaka part right But I would had given the second place to Cris

Kaka proved by having a lethargic season domestically, scoring 10 goals in the CL and winning the competition is enough to win you the Ballon d’Or ..

lethargic? I wouldn't go that far. He had a good second half to the season coupled with an extremely dominant CL display...

Parks lives wrote:

Calidad wrote: he was pretty much the difference between Milan and other sides in each phase of the competition.

In the final?

Against Bayern Munich?

He won the freekick which led to the first goal, and then setup the 2nd goal.

Against Bayern he won and scored the penalty in the first leg, and assisted Seedorf for his goal in the 2nd leg.

I agree its a bit excessive to say he was the difference - Seedorf, Nesta and Inzaghi all helped, but he made decisive contributions in pretty much every match.

Parks lives wrote:

Calidad wrote: he was pretty much the difference between Milan and other sides in each phase of the competition.

In the final?

Against Bayern Munich?

Scored a penatly against Munich (which he won if I remember correctly) made an assist in the 2nd leg, and was directly involved in another too. Also gave Bayern a torrid time with his attacking play.

In the final he won the FK for the goal, and beautifully set up the 2nd.

golsud wrote:

Calidad wrote:

golsud wrote:

Calidad wrote:

golsud wrote:Iniesta - Xavi in midfield is SUICIDE (especially against ManU). If I had to chose one it would be Iniesta and Xavi to warm the bench. Henry shouldn't play, he's been pants and Bojan/Messi/Iniesta are much better than him. So Rijkaard will play Iniesta - Xavi in midfield and Henry on the left.

To be fair his options are slightly limited at the moment with Deco & Puyol out. I'd go:

--------Toure
-----Xavi--Deco-----
Messi--Eto'o--Iniesta

or with Puyol in, possibly:

Marquez
Toure--Xavi

Abidal can play CB (I'm sure he can't do it worse than at LB) so Marquez could still play in midfield. There is also the option to play Guddy instead of Xavi (who does f@ck all). But it doesn't really matter as Rijkaard will get the lineup wrong anyways

Guddy never really does much though. Xavi at least can retain possession which will be important against Utd. I know he's had a below par season, but considering the service he has given Barca over the years, I think it's a little early to be showing him the door. In the double winning season (before his injury) he was absolutely fantastic. Since then, he and the team have both gone downhill. He's still just 26, and I think he deserves a spell under a new manager, as do most of the players.

Xavi only makes the game slower by passing it back, won't risk a pass until the game is won and will don't even try to defend. He's going to be 28 this year, I'd sell him without thinking twice if a decent offer came in before the world realises he's not worth much. More cules are starting to see this which is good

Fair enough then. You see and know more than I do. But would you really trust Abidal at CB in such a big game? He's been off form as it is and has hardly played in that position.

Cruyff feels that the two teams are well matched technically, but he expects Barça to go through if the players don't make any stupid mistakes.

kas wrote:Cruyff feels that the two teams are well matched technically, but he expects Barça to go through if the players don't make any stupid mistakes.

oops