On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Mikecg]

Sitting in the vale drinking rancid bitter and chewing on a lamb shank.

[matthew123]

Come on now Atila time to show some humility. Although I have to say I am over the moon!!

Seriously though, Sky News have just reported widespread flooding in Merseyside due to all the Scousers pissing themselves laughing..

BTW, what goes Beep, Beep, Beep... the United parade bus reversing back into the garage!

[Mikecg]

LOL!

[Atila Reincarnate]

Went to the game? That's a joke right?

[Sharon_H]

Er, you need to ask?

[Annasfield]

Think you have to have been to all the qualifying games etc to get a ticket. Unless you get lucky in that UEFA ballot.

[mockney piers]

Blimey. Did any of you actually watch the game amid posting? Anyhoo, pretty good as cup finals go, best team on the night definitely won it, barca looked double the team than turned up for the Chelsea games.

Would have been nice for those footballers to show a tad more respect to juan carlos, but perhaps they were traumatized by the sight of Berlisconi's weird hair(piece).

[Atila Reincarnate]

I can't stand Man Ure as everybody on this forum knows and I'm made up with the Barca win especially against a side whose fans sing "Argentina" and songs about how the fake Ronaldo made England look shite. I wish a pestilence on them and their "fans". Get in Barca, this is a situation which has got a lot of mileage. And I'll milk it for all it's worth.

[matthew123]

I think Red Devil and Sandperson are probably decent guys and are not typical of the usual United fan so I'll say hard luck lads you were beaten by the best team in Europe. Obviously I am extremely happy Barcelona won, as apart from quite liking Barcelona's style of play I'm glad it's put Fergie back in his box.

Wasn't it great to see Iniesta, Xavi and Messi giving a masterclass in football tonight? What players, so small, but so dominant on the ball. All this bull shit about Premiership hurly burly football has finally been put to bed.

As for Juan Carlos, the King, I think he is a die hard Madrid man so not really surprised seeing as he kept a dead pan face on Barca's victory that maybe the team representing the Catalans decided not to make any political gestures.

[Mick Mac]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> I expect only Arsenal fans could have the blind

> loyalty to think Tierry Henry is the best player

> ever to have played in the Champions League -

> surely he has been a bit part player in the

> competition.

It's good to see you're totally objective though, and have no prejudice at all. Give me strength.

Not sure what you mean by that Atila - I'm pretty neutral when it comes to English football. I just think Henry is not up to the job and proved it again tonight, Eto showed the difference. I have said before Henry is a sunshine player - thats 3 very good chances he has had to score in a Champions League final and failed - luckily tonight his team did not live to regret the miss, as Barca's real class players stepped up on the night, what great play by Eto and Messi.

I had a good bet on Barca tonight, but even I was surprised by their superiority - best team in Europe without a doubt, United won the English league but they struggled a few times, they were consistent but not breathtaking this season - Barca won the Spanish league in breathtaking fashion and that's why I backed them.

[mockney piers]

By dead pan face you are clearly referring to his emotional bear hugs with the barca players. Methinks you have him confused with genreralisimo Franco. JC is a healer of wounds and a huge proponent of pan Hispanic unity, try thinking for yourself occasionally heforentrotting out rubbish.

[Atila Reincarnate]

You must have watched a different to me

[Mick Mac]

And the odds are out for next years English Premiership.

Man Utd 2.37

Chelsea 3.75

Liverpool 3.75

Arsenal 8.00

Man City ?

If I was choosing to bet now I might choose to be a Liverpool fan next season, although might be worth waiting to see if Rafa can remember his tactics from the last quarter of last season until the start of the next season. He seemed to change to a more attacking style and if he can keep that going I think Liverpool are as good as anyone.

As normal noone quite knows what Arsenal will come up with. Man united showed some limitations tonight but are always there or there abouts but tonights defeat will hit them really hard as they have come to earth with a bit of a bump. If Chelsea had Hiddink I would back them right now, he really showed them the way. But who knows really....

[matthew123]

LOL Mockney they showed a close up of the King whilst Barcelona were ahead and he was definately dead pan. He is often seen at the Bernabau and usually has a smile. I didn't see the bear hugs with the Barcelona players as I was still jumping up and down but anyway that suggests ... hang on do you mean the bear hugs showed lack of respect?

Ah, I'm glad to hear there were bear hugs breaking down the political barriers... fair play to all!

[????]

Atila Reincarnate Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ???? Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Stoke 2009= Arsenal 1978-1997

>

>

> Not sure who you support or how long you've been

> watching football but you are clearly deluded.

> During the period you've quoted we won a number of

> trophies, including a title or two something Stoke

> can only dream of. I grant you we were poor from

> 1980 to 85 and from 86 to 88 but we never plumbed

> the depths that Stoke have managed this season.

> Piss poor team, piss poor attitude to the

> beautiful game, typical of the "English" approach

> to the game, all physicality, aggression and fcuk

> all else. All fart and no poo as my eldest son

> would say. Such a stone age approach to the game

> has no place in the 21st century.

And you wonder why us supporters of proper teams think you 'big team' lot are arrogant wankers? By your crappy logic the awful, awful Arsenal team of the late 80s and early 90s should have been expelled on aeshtics alone..because you play a bit of pretty football nowadays and have plastic supporters galore doesn't give you the right to say hardworking teams like Stoke don't deserve their place in the top flight.....it is truly laughable from an Arsenal fann of your claimed age...Arsenal put back the development of sophisticated football in this country years under George Graham so leave out the high ground on Stoke eh...

[Keef]

Hard luck United, but you can't really have complaints.

[????]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> Think you have to have been to all the qualifying

> games etc to get a ticket. Unless you get lucky in

> that UEFA ballot.

Bet you wrote that on the bus ;-)

[Mick Mac]

Quids - am I right in saying you follow Tottenham Hotspur and the other chap what you are having a go at supports the Woolwich Arsenal? Mighty fine banter, you can't beat a bit of banter.

[Keef]

The ONLY thing I'll say about United, was that Ronaldo let you down. Not in his play, although that wasn't the best, but in his petulance. Yes he's an awesome player, but you need him to keep his head in these big matches.

[????]

leave me alone MM....what next? Millwall?

[Mick Mac]

Oh sorry - was it Weat Ham - my memory does let me down from time to time.

[Sandperson]

We were out played tonight. Not sure Barcelona were brilliant, but they were certainly better than us. We couldn't keep hold of the ball and I'm not sure Carrick was up to it tonight.

But hey, you've got to be in it to win it and we were. Atila, you and you're Barca fetish? Tried supporting your own team in Europe? We turned you over and showed you up for the terrible side you've been this season. Did you manage fourth place and no trophies this season as well? I make that four years.

Matt, you are hilarious as ever. Fergie back in his box? You mean because he's won the league, again. Reached the European Cup final, won the League Cup and the World Club Championship? There's only one trophy left and Liverpool can't even win that. I got a load of stick on here for enjoying winning the league over your rabble but apparently it's ok for you to enjoy us losing. Hmmm, double standards from the whinging Scousers? I don't believe it! As for the sound of our bus reversing...remember this?

Beep, beep, beep...

I make that nearly two decades since you won the league. :))

[Annasfield]

???? Wrote:

> Bet you wrote that on the bus ;-)

However did you guess? I thought that was you when we got on but wasn't sure. My grinning like a cheshire cat probably gave me away.

[Sandperson]

Suprise, suprise, Anna's happy, She spends whole seasons travelling the country watching her team and the happiest she gets is when another team lose. Wasting your money again next season Anna? ;-)

[Mick Mac]

SP - I have only read the first line of your post.

Lets put the record straight - Barca WERE brilliant - to dominate United like that you have to be brilliant. United I'm afraid hardly got a touch, or thats how it seemed from 10 mins onward. A real top class performance.

We are always quick to congratulate MU when they do well, but they were outclassed tonight and we need to toast Barca - the media will tomorrow. It was not about MU playing badly, it was Barca's speriority.