Barcelona V Arsenal 8/3/11

We'd become the best team

In my mind?

To be honest, anyone with an ounce of knowledge should know this, they are the bench mark of world football, no two ways about it mate. They are on another level from anyone else. They're not just the best team now, this current Barcelona team are one of the best sides ever in my opinion. Certainly the greatest team I've ever seen.

Plan D wrote:In my mind?

To be honest, anyone with an ounce of knowledge should know this, they are the bench mark of world football, no two ways about it mate. They are on another level from anyone else. They're not just the best team now, this current Barcelona team are one of the best sides ever in my opinion. Certainly the greatest team I've ever seen.

I agree.

They have showed that if you play this style of football with the right kind of players and do it consistently.. you will crush everyone in your path 99% of the time.

Plan D wrote:In my mind?

To be honest, anyone with an ounce of knowledge should know this, they are the bench mark of world football, no two ways about it mate. They are on another level from anyone else. They're not just the best team now, this current Barcelona team are one of the best sides ever in my opinion. Certainly the greatest team I've ever seen.

They play nice, but on the European level DO fail to dominant IMO. They're arguably not even the best team in the past 5 years yet alone of all time. They might be one of the best passing sides of all time....but that's just a side note in comparison to success. There's not been one season where they've convincingly been the best imo FOOTBALL team. The 08/09 season was their best.....yet for me Chelsea should've won that semi final and that will always hang over them.

They "masterclass" Arsenal 2/1 in possession yet still lose. The fact that they're doing what they're best at to the fullest of their ability but still get beaten is enough to satisfy me. When it comes to the greatest teams of all time I have higher expectations.

The-Reporter wrote:They have showed that if you play this style of football with the right kind of players and do it consistently.. you will crush everyone in your path 99% of the time.

If only it was 99% of the time. I'm not disputing their league dominance....but Chelsea and Man Utd have had that in recent years too. Barcelona have always brought their game to the European stage.....yet don't come away with the win nearly as much....and when they have it's been controversial more than once.....(yes...not just Chelsea)

Barca weren't at their best in the first league Lux...

Luxz0rz wrote:

Plan D wrote:In my mind?

To be honest, anyone with an ounce of knowledge should know this, they are the bench mark of world football, no two ways about it mate. They are on another level from anyone else. They're not just the best team now, this current Barcelona team are one of the best sides ever in my opinion. Certainly the greatest team I've ever seen.

They play nice, but on the European level DO fail to dominant IMO. They're arguably not even the best team in the past 5 years yet alone of all time. They might be one of the best passing sides of all time....but that's just a side note in comparison to success. There's not been one season where they've convincingly been the best imo FOOTBALL team. The 08/09 season was their best.....yet for me Chelsea should've won that semi final and that will always hang over them.

They "masterclass" Arsenal 2/1 in possession yet still lose. The fact that they're doing what they're best at to the fullest of their ability but still get beaten is enough to satisfy me. When it comes to the greatest teams of all time I have higher expectations.

The-Reporter wrote:They have showed that if you play this style of football with the right kind of players and do it consistently.. you will crush everyone in your path 99% of the time.

If only it was 99% of the time. I'm not disputing their league dominance....but Chelsea and Man Utd have had that in recent years too. Barcelona have always brought their game to the European stage.....yet don't come away with the win nearly as much....and when they have it's been controversial more than once.....(yes...not just Chelsea)

Sorry but am not buyin' that. 2 Champions League Trophies in 5 years, but they just play nice football?

Fine Shagger wrote:Barca weren't at their best in the first league Lux...

About 65% possession vs Arsenal was their LOWEST in the Champions League by a fair bit. For me.....that proves how they are successfully doing what they do best.....playing good passing football....yet they're not winning games. They weren't at their best....that's something you see 95% of the time in La Liga though. For me, there's no way it's coincidence.

Plan D wrote:Sorry but am not buyin' that. 2 Champions League Trophies in 5 years, but they just play nice football?

You don't have to....because they don't just play nice football i.e. misquote.

I know they beat Arsenal in the final but that feels like AGES ago.....I think more along 1 win in 3/4 years.

Luxz0rz wrote:

Fine Shagger wrote:Barca weren't at their best in the first league Lux...

About 65% possession vs Arsenal was their LOWEST in the Champions League by a fair bit. For me.....that proves how they are successfully doing what they do best.....playing good passing football....yet they're not winning games. They weren't at their best....that's something you see 95% of the time in La Liga though. For me, there's no way it's coincidence.

Play that first leg 10 more times and Barcelona win 8+. Poor Messi finishing is a rarity, if he'd been his clinical self this conversation wouldn't even be taking place right now. (Or if his legit goal counted/Koscielny rightfully sent off)

Fine Shagger wrote:Play that first leg 10 more times and Barcelona win 8+. Poor Messi finishing is a rarity, if he'd been his clinical self this conversation wouldn't even be taking place right now. (Or if his legit goal counted/Koscielny rightfully sent off)

Decisions went for Barcelona too. There was a time when Messi hit the side netting and he was offside but it wasn't called.

No idea why Koscielny should've been sent off.

Barcelona lost fairly. Arsenal had chances like Barcelona and until Van Persie scored he had almost been as wasteful as Messi. (though to be fair if all chances had been taken Barcelona would've been up.....but that never happens so it's pointless to consider that) Barcelona were actually terrible 90% of the second half.....Barcelona winning 8+ is hilarious.

Luxz0rz wrote:

Fine Shagger wrote:Play that first leg 10 more times and Barcelona win 8+. Poor Messi finishing is a rarity, if he'd been his clinical self this conversation wouldn't even be taking place right now. (Or if his legit goal counted/Koscielny rightfully sent off)

Decisions went for Barcelona too. There was a time when Messi hit the side netting and he was offside but it wasn't called.

No idea why Koscielny should've been sent off.

Barcelona lost fairly. Arsenal had chances like Barcelona and until Van Persie scored he had almost been as wasteful as Messi. (though to be fair if all chances had been taken Barcelona would've been up.....but that never happens so it's pointless to consider that) Barcelona were actually terrible 90% of the second half.....Barcelona winning 8+ is hilarious.

Fairly my arse. Koscielny should have been sent off for his professional foul on Pedro.

Fine Shagger wrote:Fairly my arse. Koscielny should have been sent off for his professional foul on Pedro.

I meant performance wise. I don't think Barcelona played well enough in the second half to win the game.

I don't even remember Koscienly's foul on Pedro tbh...if there was any controversy I was thinking the offside goal/the handball.

Luxz0rz wrote:

Fine Shagger wrote:Fairly my arse. Koscielny should have been sent off for his professional foul on Pedro.

I meant performance wise. I don't think Barcelona played well enough in the second half to win the game.

I don't even remember Koscienly's foul on Pedro tbh...if there was any controversy I was thinking the offside goal/the handball.

That's fair, though like I said if the legit goal had stood the 2nd half would've been much different.

For some reason the media ignored the foul, I posted a link in the old match thread but it's been removed due to copyright.

Much like the time everyone frothed at the mouth during the Barca-Chelsea 2nd leg, forgetting in the first leg a stonewall Ballack hand ball wasn't given.

Barcelona can't play to their 100% maximum every game, that's just silly to think. I don't think they had a great second half either, didn't do enough for me. But still your comments about Barcelona not producing it on the European stage are laughable. They have won it twice in 5 years and on another 2 of those occasions, they reached the Semi Finals...

06- Winners

07- Last 16

08- Semi Final

09- Winners

10- Semi Final

Fine Shagger wrote:That's fair, though like I said if the legit goal had stood the 2nd half would've been much different.

For some reason the media ignored the foul, I posted a link in the old match thread but it's been removed due to copyright.

Much like the time everyone frothed at the mouth during the Barca-Chelsea 2nd leg, forgetting in the first leg a stonewall Ballack hand ball wasn't given.

Even if it meant Barcelona won more (which is debatable) this is why I'd like video technology. It'd stop all these unfair what ifs and just settle the score. There was more than enough drama in that game without the controversy (i.e. that's for those mugs who think that bad decisions add spice to the game)

Plan D wrote:Barcelona can't play to their 100% maximum every game, that's just silly to think. I don't think they had a great second half either, didn't do enough for me. But still your comments about Barcelona not producing it on the European stage are laughable. They have won it twice in 5 years and on another 2 of those occasions, they reached the Semi Finals...

06- Winners

07- Last 16

08- Semi Final

09- Winners

10- Semi Final

This still doesn't give them enough dominance IMO. In this time there's been enough controversy and class from Chelsea and Man Utd to go around. Had Chelsea had some better luck they could've won 2 seasons in a row...same with Utd (in the sense that if Chelsea beat Barcelona they might've won in the final)

I don't see ANY team in Europe that are on Barcelona level.

Luxz0rz wrote:

Fine Shagger wrote:That's fair, though like I said if the legit goal had stood the 2nd half would've been much different.

For some reason the media ignored the foul, I posted a link in the old match thread but it's been removed due to copyright.

Much like the time everyone frothed at the mouth during the Barca-Chelsea 2nd leg, forgetting in the first leg a stonewall Ballack hand ball wasn't given.

Even if it meant Barcelona won more (which is debatable) this is why I'd like video technology. It'd stop all these unfair what ifs and just settle the score. There was more than enough drama in that game without the controversy (i.e. that's for those mugs who think that bad decisions add spice to the game)

Plan D wrote:Barcelona can't play to their 100% maximum every game, that's just silly to think. I don't think they had a great second half either, didn't do enough for me. But still your comments about Barcelona not producing it on the European stage are laughable. They have won it twice in 5 years and on another 2 of those occasions, they reached the Semi Finals...

06- Winners

07- Last 16

08- Semi Final

09- Winners

10- Semi Final

This still doesn't give them enough dominance IMO. In this time there's been enough controversy and class from Chelsea and Man Utd to go around. Had Chelsea had some better luck they could've won 2 seasons in a row...same with Utd (in the sense that if Chelsea beat Barcelona they might've won in the final)

Nah sorry, thats bollocks Lux, all if, buts and maybe's from you, I'm presenting cold hard facts to the table and you're giving it, if, buts and maybe's. You know, if my auntie had balls, she'd be my uncle.

Plan D wrote:Nah sorry, thats bollocks Lux, all if, buts and maybe's from you, I'm presenting cold hard facts to the table and you're giving it, if, buts and maybe's. You know, if my auntie had balls, she'd be my uncle.

Yet for me Barcelona's reputation is to an extent based on ifs and buts.

2 in 5 years? So what? Based on what I've said I don't think it's dominance at all. Like I said...arguably not even the best team in the last 5 years yet alone of all time. The fact that there is such ifs and buts is part of that.

Who's better then? In the last 5 years?

Plan D wrote:Who's better then? In the last 5 years?

My point isn't that there's a better team....it's that they haven't dominated to the extent that I'd say they've been better then their closest European rivals.....Chelsea and Man Utd.

All three have consistently reached the latter stages....all 3 could say they could have as many or more than each other without being unrealistic. Chelsea were a penalty kick and a refereeing decision away from a CL win and a place in the final.....

In the end I think it's been too close to say any team definitely.

Can't wait for this match, I'm hoping Arsenal can do the unthinkable

The-Reporter wrote:

Absolute legend. Tore the Barca defence to pieces that night. Henry

OMG ESPN here in NZ have chosen to play the Roma game live and delay the Barca game who the fuck wants to watch the Roma game over this ?????

I know. it's fucking bullshit, and streams fuck up for me. I think i'm just going to record it. I'll watch it after uni.


shouldn't be too hard to avoid the score.

haha yeah cause no one gives a shit.

One time I recorded the Liverpool/Chelski game and all these peeps at uni were wearing the LFC shirt and I was like oh fuck that pretty much gives it away

Whenever Arsenal and Barcelona have played the team that scores first has never gone onto win the match

Really excited for this.

Messi 3 - 1 Assnal

Luxz0rz wrote:They play nice, but on the European level DO fail to dominant IMO. They're arguably not even the best team in the past 5 years yet alone of all time.

No team can be expected to win the CL every year. That being said, Barcelona are still easily the best team in the world. They won 2 CL titles in the past 5 years. Name another club that is better than Barcelona in the past 5 years.

And by the way, Barca's team 5 years ago was not as good as they are now or last season. When you are determining the best team in the world, you base it on current performance and talent not performance over 5 years.

ahlycotc wrote: No team can be expected to win the CL every year. That being said, Barcelona are still easily the best team in the world. They won 2 CL titles in the past 5 years. Name another club that is better than Barcelona in the past 5 years.

I don't expect Barcelona to win it every year....but easily the best team in the world? No way.

ahlycotc wrote:
And by the way, Barca's team 5 years ago was not as good as they are now or last season. When you are determining the best team in the world, you base it on current performance and talent not performance over 5 years.

ahlycotc wrote:
They won 2 CL titles in the past 5 years

So why are you pushing this "2 CL titles in 5 years" point then? Barcelona have run La Liga but that doesn't mean they're the best....and like I've been saying in this thread I don't base it over 5 years that's too long.

ahlycotc wrote:Name another club that is better than Barcelona in the past 5 years.

Let me refer you to my post on the same page that answers this exact question....

Plan D wrote:Who's better then? In the last 5 years?

My point isn't that there's a better team....it's that they haven't dominated to the extent that I'd say they've been better then their closest European rivals.....Chelsea and Man Utd.

All three have consistently reached the latter stages....all 3 could say they could have as many or more than each other without being unrealistic. Chelsea were a penalty kick and a refereeing decision away from a CL win and a place in the final.....

In the end I think it's been too close to say any team definitely.