Man Utd vs Barcelona, Champions League Final 08/09

The best team in the world vs the fourth best team in the world.

Should be a cracker.

QUESTION>

Will Messi vs Ronaldo in the final have a bearing on who wins WPOTY?

Or do you think Messi has is wrapped up regardless?

I didn't think Ronaldo had a chance at it a couple of months ago, but he's scored a couple of CL crackers since then whereas Messi went missing a bit against Chelsea.

Yes it will, but we all know who should be taking home the award...

The most deserving final is many years... the 2 best teams in Europe in the final, this is what the CL final should be about.

Tweedle wrote:QUESTION>

Will Messi vs Ronaldo in the final have a bearing on who wins WPOTY?

Or do you think Messi has is wrapped up regardless?

I didn't think Ronaldo had a chance at it a couple of months ago, but he's scored a couple of CL crackers since then whereas Messi went missing a bit against Chelsea.

WPOTY is already wrapped up. Messi will be the first player in years to have failed at the highest level and still won the award due to performances against second rate sides. At least Ronaldo has actually turned up against big opposition from time to time, Messi goes missing every time he's faced with a competent defender.

Fergie has to play Rooney up front in this game. The main difference between him and Ronaldo is that Ronaldo refuses to alter his game in such a way that won't give him the limelight. Another game with Rooney playing left wing back, it's no wonder he is never up for WPOTY awards. Too much of a team player.

I think/hope Fergus will go with something like this:

Park-Carrick-Anderson-Giggs

Ronaldo-Rooney

Just don't give us another game of Rooney spending half the time defending and Ronaldo taking all the plaudits..

bluenine wrote:The most deserving final is many years... the 2 best teams in Europe in the final, this is what the CL final should be about.

How is scoring in the 93rd minute after failing to score in any of the previous ~375 minutes against organised English defences any more deserving than winning in the manner any of the recent finalists have done.

As for Man Utd, there best victory this season is a second leg away win against Porto, in 2006 Barca won first legs in the San Siro and Stamford Bridge and Arsenal won a first leg in the Bernabéu, now they were impressive.

Most deserving based on league form? Possibly, but then I thought this forum was above cheap media hype.

Barca and Utd are 'on paper' the best two teams 'from different leagues'.

For the neutral, its the dream tie 'on paper'.

Is anyone expecting Messi to turn up?

Tweedle wrote:Is anyone expecting Messi to turn up?

No. I'm expecting him to spend the entire game trying to beat Evra on the inside and running into Vidic only to have half the board then claim it is a penalty and the other half to deny it, regardless of whether it is or isn't.

He wont run into Vidic he'll probably make it to the right wing at least 4 times with his skillfui side ways dribbling.

The real battle here is Carrick vs Messi and you all know it.

Trying to guess what Utd's lineup will be. I'll go with:

---------------VDS---------------

O'Shea----Rio----Vidic-----Evra

--------Carrick--Anderson------

Park---------Tevez-------Rooney

-------------Ronaldo-----------

With the front four effectively swapping around.

Barca have both Alves and Abidal suspended. Anyone else? Any guesses for the lineup?

-------------------------- why do they shoot at me----------------------------

-- let me score--------- let me score----------------- let me score-------------- let me score -----


-------------- let me score--------------------------------------

------------------------ let me score--------------------------

---------------------------------- let me score----------------

--- let me score--------------------- let me score ---------------- let me score-----


Is my guess for the Barca side.

you forgot 'DIVE!!! DIVE!!!' on the right wing and in defensive midfield.

I expect:

VDS
O'Shea-Ferdinand-Vidic-Evra
Carrick-Anderson
Park-Giggs-Rooney
Ronaldo

Henry-Etoo-Messi
Iniesta-Xavi-Keita/Busquets
Sylvinho-Toure-Pique-Puyol
Valdes


If we had similar injury problems and it wasn't a CL final, I wouldn't be surprised if Guardiola throws a 3-4-3 out there. But I don't think he'll take that risk as it would require trying it at least once in a Liga game, and the element of surprise would then be lost anyway.

Tweedle wrote:

you forgot 'DIVE!!! DIVE!!!' on the right wing and in defensive midfield.

Are you referring to Ronaldo here?

Doubt Giggs will start the game Kas. His legs are gone. Utd would get overrun. IMO tevez is perfect against you in that he'll hassle you high up the pitch.

I would of liked the same team that started against Arsenal at home. However obviously Fletcher needs to be replaced.

I'd be very happy with Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney as our front 3.

Its a shame Alan Smith isnt still around.

Interesting parallel to 1992, which the Barcelona sports papers have been repeating non-stop today:

during the 1992 European Cup, Barca looked to be tumbling out of the competition after seeing their 2-0 first leg against Kaiserslautern wiped out by three unanswered goals by the Germans in the return leg.

However, Bakero popped up in injury-time to head home Ronald Koeman's free-kick and earn Barca a 3-3 draw and passage through to the group stage on the away goals rule.

Barca would then go on to win the final 1-0 against Sampdoria, securing their first European Cup title in the process.

borocooper wrote:-------------------------- why do they shoot at me----------------------------

-- let me score--------- let me score----------------- let me score-------------- let me score -----


-------------- let me score--------------------------------------

------------------------ let me score--------------------------

---------------------------------- let me score----------------

--- let me score--------------------- let me score ---------------- let me score-----


Is my guess for the Barca side.

Farca won just 2 out of 5 finals.
Manyoo won 3 out of 3.

love how the epl fans like cooper and the likes, have been doubting us all season

saying things like we are chokers and have peak, have already catch our 2nd wind.

we go out to chelsea

all of the time the team has proved then wrong.

i wait for them to do it in the final again.


man utd team


---Rafu-----Vidic--Rio---Evra

--park------carrick--scholes--ronaldo
--rooney----------

--------------Halfway line
-------------------Tevez

I was right really, you did peak..you were shit for weeks after I said that.

its a tough one this.

which will be worse to bare...

the arrogance of barca fans (well mainly messiah) or the arrogance of united fans if they win.

Saying that i think United will win, Chelsea barely attacked yesterday and still created a shed load of chances, ronaldo will destroy them, especially if he plays in his natural position.

Barca are now gonna play against the best team in world with a defense that is harder to open then anglophilehedgehogs legs and with C.Ronaldo in top shape...he will edge Messi!!!

Dont forget Manutd doesnt lose CL finals!! And remember all the big dreamteam talk in 1994..I do. That was the first time I thought you looked a lot like ajax!

So no one thinks Berbatov will start upfront?

Park . . Carrik . . Anderson

Ronaldo . . . . . . . . . Rooney
. . . . . . . Berbatov

Batman wrote:Park . . Carrik . . Anderson

Ronaldo . . . . . . . . . Rooney
. . . . . . . Berbatov

Batman wrote:So no one thinks Berbatov will start upfront?

Nah. I think he'll start on the bench. Fergie will bring him on if it goes down to penaties.