UEFA Champions League 2010-11

**shakermaker1982** · 05/05/2011, 11:39 AM

I'll predict early....

Man Utd 1 Barca 0

Hernandez.

**geysir** · 05/05/2011, 5:26 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I'm glad Barcelona won but that Real goal should definitely have stood.

First I thought it should have stood but I have my serious doubts. If it was a rugger game, the ref would have brought the ball back for a Madrid free kick.
Mascherano was definitely fouled (albeit accidentally) by an opposition player, that's still a clear foul.

Ronaldo passes the ball ahead, is fouled - ref gives a virtual play on.
Ronaldo stumbles into Mascherano, fouling him - ref can't wave play on, can he?
Madrid were unlucky that the Ref sussed it all out and got the decision right.
The choice the ref had was to pull the game back for the original foul or do as he did, but awarding a goal would have been a poor decision, imo.

**Stuttgart88** · 05/05/2011, 5:52 PM

But if Ronaldo is pushed into Mascherano is it a definite foul on Mascerano, or is it just the unintended consequence of Pique's foul on Ronaldo?

Ronaldo was "passive" in the whole incident. I'd have thought that the only person to do anything against the rules was Pique and, as you say, the ref could play advantage or call that foul.

**Schumi** · 05/05/2011, 9:58 PM

The rules say "An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if, in the opinion of the referee, a player... impedes the progress of an opponent" without saying anything about it having to be deliberate. Presumably impeding an opponent deliberately would be a direct free kick so it looks to me that an indirect free kick to Barca was correct.

**geysir** · 05/05/2011, 10:43 PM

Kevin Moran was a master of 'accidentally' falling over players, making it look like a 50/50 collision.

**geysir** · 06/05/2011, 12:59 PM

Any predictions for the Final?

Barca to go 2 up, completely outplaying Man U for long periods, Man U (unlike 2009) hold firm to the Ferguson faith and get 2 goals in the last 15 minutes to bring the game into ET which Barca dominate, get a wonder goal and hold total possession after that.
RTE panel pay tribute to Man U resolve, which they put down to the absence of Ronaldo.

**DeLorean** · 06/05/2011, 1:36 PM

Carrick masterclass leaves Barca chasing shadows
Barcelona 0 Manchester United 3

**shakermaker1982** · 06/05/2011, 1:45 PM

I think Carrick touched the ball twice in the 2009 final! Nice tidy player when no pressure but if a team presses him he is all at sea.

**DeLorean** · 06/05/2011, 2:00 PM

Yeah, he was decent in the games against Chelsea but it's easier to get in amongst them, and they don't press as hard as Barca. The team selection will be interesting, I think it will be....

Van der Sar
Fabio
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra
Valencia
Fletcher (if fully fit, otherwise Anderson)
Carrick
Park
Rooney
Hernandez

**gaisc�och** · 06/05/2011, 2:46 PM

I wish Ferguson would go with a 3-5-2.
I honestly think it would work against Barcelona.

They don't really play a center forward as such so why not play a sweeper?
Somebody a few yards behind the play no responsibility to mark just to cover any runs in behind and double up when required?

Van Der Sar (GK)
Ferdinand (SW)
Vidic (CB)
Evans (CB)
Fabio/Rafael (RWB)
Evra (LWB)
Anderson (CM)
Fletcher (CM)
Carrick (CM)
Rooney (CF)
Hernandez (CF)

I really hope he plays two up front with one player ready to track Alves and close him down... Fast...

The likelyhood is he will play 451
Van Der Sar
Rafael
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra
Valencia
Carrick
Anderson
Giggs
Park
Rooney

**geysir** · 06/05/2011, 6:30 PM

Van de Sar wouldn't mind a penalty shoot out, though it wouldn't be same without a JT to psyche out.

Does O'Shea not have a chance of starting?

**Closed Account 2** · 07/05/2011, 2:33 PM

I can't believe how much tickets are costing for this game, if you dont get them in the ballot (which was expensive enough anyway) and want to go you know you usually have to pay over the odds, but some of the prices on those re-sale sites are absurd, way more than a season ticket at some of the most expensive clubs.

**Stuttgart88** · 24/05/2011, 9:26 AM

I think Barca are the better team and should win, but if you look back on the 2009 final, United really should have gone ahead early on. If United score first it could be interesting. I worry about David Villa's form and think Rooney and Hernandez have more goals in them. A bad decision may also swing it United's way.

I predict Barcelona, but am not wholly convinced.

**shakermaker1982** · 24/05/2011, 9:40 AM

United 1 nil. Hernandez.

I just hope Giggs is not distracted. Carrick folds under pressure so United need a big performance from Giggs in central midfield.

**bennocelt** · 24/05/2011, 10:34 AM

UTD 2 Barca 1

Rooney, giggs and messi

**Closed Account 2** · 26/05/2011, 3:12 PM

Someone sent me this, I'm pretty sure I've got all the answers

All answers involve finals within the last 10 years…

1) Last Brazilian to score in a CL final ?

2) Last German to score in a CL final?

3) Last Czech outfield player to play in a CL final?

4) Last Russian to play in a CL final?

5) Last team to play in a final that had to qualify via a play-off (before the group stage) ?

6) Which year saw 2 Australian players named in the final squads (team or bench)? Name the players ?

7) Which recent West Ham player played 12 mins in a CL final?

8) Which player played 24 mins in a CL final and then played for Leeds the season after?

**DeLorean** · 26/05/2011, 3:26 PM

Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

All answers involve finals within the last 10 years…

1) Last Brazilian to score in a CL final ? Your man for Barca against Arsenal, played with Chelsea but name escapes me at the minute and I don't want to google!! Begins with B I think.

2) Last German to score in a CL final? Effenburg v Valencia??

3) Last Czech outfield player to play in a CL final? Smicer 2005??

4) Last Russian to play in a CL final? No idea

5) Last team to play in a final that had to qualify via a play-off (before the group stage) ? I know United had to qualify in 99 but that's not in the last ten years??

6) Which year saw 2 Australian players named in the final squads (team or bench)? Name the players ? No idea

7) Which recent West Ham player played 12 mins in a CL final? No idea

8) Which player played 24 mins in a CL final and then played for Leeds the season after?No idea

Poor enough return really!!

Edit- Belletti for No.1

**Closed Account 2** · 26/05/2011, 3:36 PM

Correct on 1 & 2, but 3 isnt Smicer and 5 isnt Man Utd in 1999

A very, very cryptic clue for 5, which probably won't help anyone is "A river runs through it".