Comments on: Champions League – Can United Stop Barca?

By: Thomas Gaunt

Thomas Gaunt — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 05:00:32 +0000

I didnt condemn Greece in ’04. People talk about anti-football but what is the aim of the sport? It is to score more goals than the opposition. Fans pay money to go and watch their team, it is their choice. If they dont like the way they play they can stop watching, but i would bet yopu that the Greece fans were pretty happy in ’04 and the Inter fans in ’10… so i dont understand the critisim. The teams in question have no duty to satisfy anyone with attractive football, the onyl peoplethey have any duty to is their fans, and I didnt hear any complaints from Greece ro Inter fans.

Should Inter have attacked and giot beaten? where is the sense in that? Should we not praise brilliant defending? Inter and Greece played to their stregths which is what any good team must do.

By: Man man

Man man — Tue, 31 May 2011 21:46:51 +0000

Why admire lnter’s defensive tactics against Barcelona when we all condemned Greece at Euro 004 for similar tactics, nullifying great attacking teams including Czech Republic and Portugal to win that tournament?

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 27 May 2011 19:39:55 +0000

enjoyed the preview. and i agree with thomas, bout the lack of strength in Barce’s defense, that’ll give Man the hole they need. Hope they win!

By: Thomas Gaunt

Thomas Gaunt — Thu, 26 May 2011 09:21:45 +0000

Nice preview. However I have to disagre about your tactical analysis of Inter. They did not press Barce high up the pitch, in fact quite the opposite, they sat back and got men behind the ball. I do agree though that United should press Barce.

I think the key is that Barce’s defence is not strong especially aerially, the reason they keep clean sheets is because they always have the ball (which is a pretty good way ofpreventing goals!) So i think that Uni8ted have a good chance as long as their key players dont bottle it. Also think they need to man-mark Messi, with probably Park following him literally everywhere he goes – but noone seems to agree with me on that :-)

By: Thomas Gaunt

Thomas Gaunt — Thu, 26 May 2011 09:16:02 +0000

Giggs will and must start. The guy is experienced enough to deal with it and Fergie certainly wont drop him just in case he isnt up to it. You are right Fletcher isnot ready.

By: mark darby

mark darby — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:27:06 +0000

Giggs’ll be ok. If you look at his stats over the past few weeks, he’s actually outperformed himself from earlier in the year.

I think barca will win myself, but it’ll be a lot closer that 09, i think it might go to ET.

By: Ger McCarthy

Ger McCarthy — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:14:53 +0000

Thanks for the comments Mark but after the week Giggs has had I doubt his head is in the right place to be starting a CL final

Fletcher’s fitness and lack of match practice is also a concern so I think the midfield 4 will be Park, Carrick, Valenica and Giggs with Rooney playing off Hernandez.

Irrespective of whatever formation and selection Sir Alex Ferguson ultimately decides upon I cant see Barcelona losing.

By: mark darby

mark darby — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:26:24 +0000

I dont think Fletcher should start myself. A midfield of Valencia, carrick, giggs and park is what should be used. valencia’s pace will stretch barca and having giggs in there allows carrick to set back. If fletcher starts, it puts the onus on carrick to create which he isnt best at this season. Giggs has better ball retention and Park will also be there to swap with him. Parks constant running and giggs probing is the key to the midfield IMO