The Beautiful Game Thread 10/11

[FifaInspected]

Did any of you guys watch that relegation battle in the EPL unfold this morning? Nothing compares to that kind of drama in any sport. 5 teams scrambling on the last day with their league status for next season changing with every goal that was scored by the contending teams. Teams were safe one moment, in the drop zone the next and then back to safe 10 minutes later. It was nothing short of amazing!

I had both computers, ESPN3 via the 360 and my iphone all involved in the providing the coverage.

[10spro]

Blackpool as many times during the season could not hold a lead with their familiar defensive issues. I was a bit surprised that Fergie put on a strong squad, considering they have a CL game coming up.

[toonarmy]

Congrats to the Toon for blowing a f***in 3-0 lead. Really hard to do and took a lot of skill to let the equalizing goal in with 20 seconds left. Nice finish to the season lol.

[10spro]

No Hockey tonight, but I am getting pumped up for the CL finals in Wembley. Fergie will try to avenge their loss back in Rome a couple of years back, they added Chicharito Hernandez who's been such a revelation in the Premier league, A. Valencia is back after a lengthy injury and adds mobility up front to the Reds.

Barca is more mature, much of the same team that won in 09 are returning and guys like Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets will try to control the midfield from the get go. Good luck containing Messi, he won't park himself in front of Vidic and Ferdinand. Hope the finals doesn't disappoint, go Barca!

[toonarmy]

Should be a great match. I think Barca wins this one, or at least they better. Hopefully Messi puts on a show.

[toonarmy]

Xavi's sense of vision and great skill leads to a goal by Pedro.

Rooney with the equalizer.

Fantastic match so far!

[wco81]

Giggs looked offside.

Will the English gripe about UEFA/FIFA not using goal-line technology if one of their teams beats Barcelona on a score that might have been reversed by replay?

[10spro]

Xavi's sense of vision and great skill leads to a goal by Pedro.

Rooney with the equalizer.

Fantastic match so far!

Good match. Pedro could have had two goals, (how did they leave him so open) a near miss by Messi, D. Villa had his chance too and Rooney converted on the only clear opportunity that the Red Devils had.

A. Valencia should have been booked for his foul on Messi.

If I were Pepe I would still have Puyol on D instead of Mascherano.

[10spro]

How can you leave the best player in the world with all that space? Stunning.

[toonarmy]

What a strike by Messi! On a side note, Xavi has around 80 completed passes as of now, and Barca has had possession of around 70%. Barca are so much fun to watch this season.

[toonarmy]

Stunning strike by Villa. 3-1. ManU are completely outclassed.

[10spro]

They are just toying with the Reds now. Even Blackpool would have put more resistance.

And with time left, I don't know what Fergie is waiting for. Guys like Chicharito, Valencia, Park have been invisible all night.

[toonarmy]

Wow, some of the most lopsided stats you will ever see in a CL Final. Utter domination by Barca. I cannot remember a club team this good when they are on their game. Wonderful win.

[RobVarak]

That's the big game performance that everyone's been looking for from Barca all year. Wonderful football!

[EZSnappin]

So beautiful to watch. Congrats to Barca - helluva way to cap a season.

[wco81]

Toying is the word. Man U was getting frustrated even in the first half as most of the play occurred on their half of the pitch. They were lunging and always a step or two behind on each pass, reactive while Barcelona got the ball to wherever it wanted.

Barcelona is accused of diving yet they don't need set pieces, at least today, to generate scoring chances. They could keep moving the ball around and get good shots on goal while denying the opponent from generating chances the other way. So they seem least in need of free kicks outside of the box to score.

As flustered as the United players were during the match, they seemed resigned at the end of the match to the fact that a vastly superior team beat them.

[toonarmy]

Loved to see the team let Abidal lift the trophy. Class move by Puyol and Xavi. It was fun to see a big match that was well-called, with little diving, and no controversy.

[davet010]

Toying is the word.

Nah mate, 'drybummed' is the word.

[wco81]

Now why can't I pass like that in FIFA?

[fsquid]

That was a great display. Wow.

[XXXIV]

They are currently my fathers second favorite club after Olympiakos...he is such a f***in front runner... but at least we will have something to talk about besides the bin laden cocktail joke when I make my sunday call to Crete tomorrow morning.

I am no where near a football expert but that has to be the best club I have ever seen.

[fsquid]

downloaded the match programme from the Champions LEague Final and of course they have a feature about 1999. Asshats.

[wco81]

Article about Barcelona's academy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/sport ... wanted=all

Sounds more like a boarding school with football as a focus than like a camp where the trainees are consumed with nothing but the sport during the time they're there.

But obviously their main goal is to harvest talent, not to produce well-rounded people.

[davet010]

Mmm, time to get some popcorn and settle down for the carnage at FIFA. If the Swiss Gnome thinks he's home free after yesterday's snow job, then he's got another thing coming, as it is confirmed that his deputy admitted in an email to the CONCACAF crook Warner that the 2022 WC was 'bought'.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/?cc=5739

But of course Blatter is not ultimately responsible for this (even though he's the head - obviously the term 'corporate governance' translates poorly into whatever his native language is), and sails serenely on towards his now-uncontested election on Wednesday.

[toonarmy]

Mmm, time to get some popcorn and settle down for the carnage at FIFA. If the Swiss Gnome thinks he's home free after yesterday's snow job, then he's got another thing coming, as it is confirmed that his deputy admitted in an email to the CONCACAF crook Warner that the 2022 WC was 'bought'.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/?cc=5739

But of course Blatter is not ultimately responsible for this (even though he's the head - obviously the term 'corporate governance' translates poorly into whatever his native language is), and sails serenely on towards his now-uncontested election on Wednesday.

It's all a big f***in disgrace with FIFA. What we are seeing is probably the tip of the iceberg. There's no telling how much unethical and criminal behavior has been going on that we will never know about.