tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33581513.post3915905698909682167..comments2023-11-15T11:47:05.697+00:00Comments on Manchester United blog..: Arsenal lucky to beat Barca: but credit to them, they might have done us all a favour...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33581513.post-49745623752298607892011-02-23T13:38:29.779+00:002011-02-23T13:38:29.779+00:00Damian,
Holding a high line against a team like B...Damian,<br /><br />Holding a high line against a team like Barca is akin to committing suicide.<br /><br />And get this, even with the high line Barca completed 600 passes - I think we can safely say this ploy failed miserably or are you going to tell me if they had defended deeper the margin would have even greater?<br /><br />Wenger got this horribly wrong but you have survived and gotten away James Ryddel - Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18341271207454849421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33581513.post-64642377909949005462011-02-23T08:00:39.136+00:002011-02-23T08:00:39.136+00:00Darkritual,
This is where stats can be misleading...Darkritual,<br /><br />This is where stats can be misleading. Barca's whole game centres on retaining possession. It doesn't matter in which direction the ball is played, as long as you keep the ball and deny the opposition: Opta didn't tell you that!<br /><br />Your point about passing accuracy in the final third could be valid. It doesn't alter the fact that Barca had a good James Ryddel - Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18341271207454849421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33581513.post-49851270424390255092011-02-23T07:55:59.118+00:002011-02-23T07:55:59.118+00:00Bongo,
I believe we knocked Barca out in 2008 en ...Bongo,<br /><br />I believe we knocked Barca out in 2008 en route to winning the trophy! We also knocked them out in 1999...and you know what happened that year...James Ryddel - Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18341271207454849421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33581513.post-23143241415602600172011-02-23T07:15:29.377+00:002011-02-23T07:15:29.377+00:00Aside from the passing Arsenal had more shots on g...Aside from the passing Arsenal had more shots on goal and left Barcelona wide open for various periods in the match. Maybe Barcelona was lucky Arsenal didn't score more...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15247466527760078150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33581513.post-21404910759349196922011-02-23T05:07:24.995+00:002011-02-23T05:07:24.995+00:00Barcelona made 600 passes but they were mostly all...Barcelona made 600 passes but they were mostly all inside their own half. In my opinion their are more important statistics that are more revealing. I will have to check Opta stats for this but during the game they released stats that Arsenal had made more passes in the final third and had a 85% passing accuracy compared to Barcelona's 70%. Do you not think this is more telling than the 600 darkritualhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02131165237169071388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33581513.post-15390388005904420522011-02-23T04:30:57.709+00:002011-02-23T04:30:57.709+00:00When was the last time Man U beat Barca??When was the last time Man U beat Barca??Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404990449056774717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33581513.post-19881078435198513352011-02-23T01:46:44.041+00:002011-02-23T01:46:44.041+00:00Couple of things -- first, Messi was offside becau...Couple of things -- first, Messi was offside because Pedro's shot caromed back from the goalie, then hit Pedro, and bounced forward to Messi, who was ahead of Pedro and therefore offside.<br /><br />Second, Barca had more offsides than in any game this year -- it was an effective strategy.<br /><br />Finally, the passing differential is mis-leading. Arsenal created more chances and were muchUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05242348191728971747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33581513.post-17923070238765500422011-02-22T23:04:56.566+00:002011-02-22T23:04:56.566+00:00I can't believe how easily people are influenc...I can't believe how easily people are influenced by commentators :/<br /><br />The Messi goal was offside, look at a replay of it now! After Pedro attempts to pass to Messi, Szczesny saves it, and Messi is now in an offside position before it rebounds back of Pedro.<br /><br />Bar a referee blunder, I don't believe in 'deserving' or 'luck' in football. You deserve exactly RobinYourPersiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15697836445105010346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33581513.post-52016387490070718172011-02-22T21:37:35.363+00:002011-02-22T21:37:35.363+00:00The TV analysis I was watching also said that Arse...The TV analysis I was watching also said that Arsenal played too high a line and should not have been trying to play the offside game, which led to the Barca goal. However, other analysis I read in articles following the match suggested that our high line condensed midfield and therefore limited the Barca chances. I can't tell which is right but I know whatever system you play, Barca are a Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14649126477522704361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33581513.post-59322442960747177302011-02-22T21:33:55.763+00:002011-02-22T21:33:55.763+00:00Julian,
I think we did a pretty good number on yo...Julian,<br /><br />I think we did a pretty good number on you in the CL last season! Arf.<br /><br />Though, I seriously doubt we would repeat that should we meet again this season, not away from OT at least any road.James Ryddel - Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18341271207454849421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33581513.post-65465789892922768992011-02-22T21:30:12.247+00:002011-02-22T21:30:12.247+00:00Fair article, well put. I'm an Arsenal fan and...Fair article, well put. I'm an Arsenal fan and had my head in my hands for a good fifty minutes!<br /><br />Where we'll have to agree to disagree though is where you imply that IF we beat Barca and its a big IF, we cannot win the competition. No other team can out play and outpass Arsenal like Barca. For that reason, IF we beat them, we stand a very good chance of going all the way. I julianjackshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05708955925507152646noreply@blogger.com