The Beautiful Game Thread, 11/12

[rhymes450]

Looking forward to it. A Madrid win would leave Barca with a fair bit of ground to make up. Some of the best players on the planet on view but I'd be surprised if it turns out to be an exquisite match. Maybe too much at stake for that.

A Madrid win might seal the title. The gulf between Madrid, Barca and the rest of La Liga is so large that the top two clubs don't drop many points. If Madrid goes up six points with a victory, that's going to be tough for Barca to catch. Madrid has a game in hand over Barca, too, so essentially the lead will be nine points.

Agreed. That gulf between the big two and the rest takes a lot of the excitement out of the Spanish league. In the past, teams like Deportivo, Valencia and Atletico could at least compete to some extent but in the last few seasons the dominance of Real and Barca has been almost complete. Even this season, Barca lost a total of 5 points against Sevilla and Getafe, but they were completely dominant in both matches and probably should have scored a hatful. They're going into tomorrow's match on the back of a 5-0 win over 4th-placed Levante. Valencia are fighting the good fight considering the players they've lost in the last few years but I guess nobody will be surprised to see them 20 points or more adrift in May.

[10spro]

Platini's answer to they grumpy old Scot after Manu was eliminated. 'The world does not revolve around England, I like England a lot, it's football is fantastic, it's supporters are wonderful but you shouldn't criticise the Europa League just because you've played in three Champions League finals,'

[10spro]

Looking forward to it. A Madrid win would leave Barca with a fair bit of ground to make up. Some of the best players on the planet on view but I'd be surprised if it turns out to be an exquisite match. Maybe too much at stake for that.

Last year although the players were there for RM, they weren't playing as a team. This is their best chance to to upset Barca if you can call it that, but Messi's team got more intangibles at this point. But watching Real this year, they hurt you when you least expect it so if it turns into a bore especially if Mourinho decides to mark every Barca man mano a mano, watch out. Plus they have home advantage.

I would like Alexis to be a starter for the Catalanes and play more on the left side where I find him more dangerous.

Yeah, there seems to be a feeling that the momentum is with Madrid. Regarding Alexis, I'll bow to your superior knowledge. Not one of the first Barca players that springs to my mind but I'll be looking out for him tomorrow now that you've mentioned him. The "Barca B" team that won easily in the ECL in midweek shows the strength in depth they have and put me in mind of the famous Bill Shankly claim that the 2nd best team in England was the Liverpool reserves.

When healthy Alexis can surprise a lot of people. Here's a few of his moves the last time they played Real. I just like the Chilean international's work ethics.

[toonarmy]

Very entertaining match between Newcastle and Norwich. Always fun for me since they are my two favorite teams and have not met much at all over the past couple decades. Newcastle's defense was very suspect and they need to learn to defend against crosses and headers. Norwich burnt them bad all match. On a positive note, Ba continues to be freaking awesome.

On to El Clasico this afternoon! Hopefully Barca can pull this one out. Should be a great match between, IMO, the two best clubs in the world at the moment.

[10spro]

The way Van Persie has been lightening it up in the EPL for the past month and with 4 more games to go he may just catch Shearer for most goals in a single season. Dude is red HOT. The game with Everton looked like a sure 0--0 deadlock until the Dutchman came through with a brilliant volley.

Real has 3 points ahead and a game in hand so I will be rooting for Barca this afternoon to make the Spanish league a little more picante for Mourinho;s team. You got two players nominated for footballer of the year playing against each other, let the clasico begin.

[EZSnappin]

Time for el classico! Hope Barca win.

[toonarmy]

Great first half in El Clasico. I sure wish Latin football players weren't such d***** bags when it comes to diving and ridiculous theatrics.

[rhymes450]

Guardiola obviously reads your posts 10s. Top performance by Alexis. Messi made an enormous contribution to the first Barca goal but Alexis still had a lot of work to do with the finish. The second goal was a big blow to Madrid. Cristiano's radar was off-beam when he had two clear-cut chances. Sterling performances from Xavi and Iniesta.

[10spro]

It was a violin concerto for Guardiola and his pupils. Being down so early and with the consistent pressure that Real was putting on the best midfield in the world, Xavi and Cesc just couldn't connect in the 1st half and Alves's offensive skills couldn't cross much the opponent's field. Do it for the first 40 minutes or so but to play with that precision the full 90 minutes it's pretty damn hard to execute. Messi who took a few steps back to play closer to his midfielders and Alexis started to do their magic. Ronaldo who was invisible had a chance to tie it 2-2 at one point with a header but Real didn't do too much to challenge Valdes.

Regarding Alexis, give credit to Guardiola. It takes guts to start him in place of Villa who's no slouch but what I like in him is his energy, he reminds me a bit of Eto's vigor, good pace and has a tremendous potential. This game alone should make him one of the eleven starters for Barca from now on, no doubt.

[10spro]

To me beloved Boca Juniors. Celebrating the title acquired last week. Salud!

[toonarmy]

To me beloved Boca Juniors. Celebrating the title acquired last week. Salud!

Holy smokes!

[10spro]

Barcelona advanced to the World club championships after beating Al Sadd and will face Santos for the finals. They lost however D. Villa with a broken leg who'll be gone for at least 6 months. The Spanish national team will miss him more than Barca.

[pk500]

Messi vs. Neymar should be a compelling subplot within the Barca-Santos match.

[10spro]

L. Donovan is to play for Everton in a 2 month loan while D. Trezeguet looks to be playing for River Plate next season.

[10spro]

B. Ruiz doesn't score too often but when he does, he makes them golden as he did today against Bolton.

[10spro]

As if there was ever a shadow of a doubt. Barca just destroyed Santos in the Clubs finals easily with 2 goals from Messi winning 4-0.

[davet010]

oi, Mr Ku Klux Suarez...I think this 8 match ban is yours.

Can't wait to see what the moaning Scot will make of it.

[Macca00]

If he did it then he deserves the punishment - but I still think the proof is flimsy at best. EDIT: Statement from LFC's official site states they're going to appeal - no s***.

I am interested, however, to see what the FA hands down to Mr. Terry since there is actually video evidence and not the testimony of a single player against him (as is in Suarez' case). My guess is he'll get 1-2 games and that'll be it.....

[miget33]

I do enjoy LFC going with the, "Suarez knows black people so he can't be racist," defense.

And I hope Terry gets the chair

[RobVarak]

Lots of opinions and precious little evidence on either side. All we know is that the cameras caught nothing and that it was Suarez's word versus Evra's. We'll know more when the FA releases its findings of fact.

Given England's (and the FA's) history of idealistic progressiveness with respect to matters of race, I'm sure Mr. Terry will receive an equal amount of discipline.

[Macca00]

I do enjoy LFC going with the, "Suarez knows black people so he can't be racist," defense.

Er...it's moreso Liverpool going with the 'Evra contents Suarez called him racist names 10 times but not one camera caught sight of it and not one other player on the field mentioned it' defense.

But I agree with you, the fact that Suarez's grandfather is black has nothing to do with him being a racist or not.

Love Luther Blisset suggesting legal action be taken against Suarez. Brilliant.

[Jimmydeicide]

Maybe Carroll can find his form in 8 games. sigh. (Mumbles racist latino mutterings so no one can understand them )

[Macca00]

Maybe Carroll can find his form in 8 games.

Who?



If Carroll and Torres both played upfront on a team how many hours do you think it would take them to score? Or is hours the wrong unit of time?

[Macca00]

After tonight's performance, I would suggest that the entire Liverpool team (and subs) racially abused Patrice Evra and should be banned not for 8 games but for the rest of the season. Utter. F'ing. Garbage.

[RobVarak]

Utter. F'ing. Garbage.

Amen!

I swear this season has been one long game against a terrible hybrid side called Norwigan. Nothing but woodwork, missed penalties and desultory finishing.