Barcelona 0 - 0 ManU: Stalemate in Spain Edition
Barcelona 0 - 0 ManU: Stalemate in Spain Edition
So what’s to say about a game that ended 0-0 with few shots on goal? Well, first, thank you for missing that penalty Cronaldo. That’s the first thing. The second thing is to scratch my head and wonder how it is that Barcelona didn’t score. The third and final thought I have is a little [...]
So what’s to say about a game that ended 0-0 with few shots on goal? Well, first, thank you for missing that penalty Cronaldo. That’s the first thing. The second thing is to scratch my head and wonder how it is that Barcelona didn’t score. The third and final thought I have is a little more long-winded and deals with tactics. And isn’t really a singular thought at all, but a full-fledged review.
The starting lineup was an adventure, that’s for sure: Valdes, Zambrotta, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Toure, Xavi, Deco, Iniesta, Messi, Eto’o. That sort of formation isn’t something you see out of Frank Rijkaard every day and were it not for Deco’s lack of match fitness, I would have been very much in favor of such a lineup. As it was, it worked out fairly well, except for the times when Deco was obviously a little out of sorts, couldn’t link up with his teammates, and lost the ball in important positions. That’s to be expected, though, and I don’t mean for that comment to come off as derogatory towards Deco at all. I understand full well that Rijkaard is playing with what he’s got, but it just smacks of bad timing to throw Deco out there for his first game since March 4.
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Barca v Deportivo La Coruna, or “She’s warming up….” Saturday, 1 p.m. CT, GolTV
Well, her song isn’t done, but you have to wonder. We’re in third place, one point behind Villarreal and eleven behind the Evil Empire, with five matches left to go. That’s fifteen points. Barring a massive collapse, alien abductions and the like, that’s a lotta points to make up, even if you count the three [...]
Well, her song isn’t done, but you have to wonder. We’re in third place, one point behind Villarreal and eleven behind the Evil Empire, with five matches left to go. That’s fifteen points. Barring a massive collapse, alien abductions and the like, that’s a lotta points to make up, even if you count the three we’re going to get at the Bernabeu.
Right now, I hope we’re thinking that “fewer matches are better” next season, and will play to overtake Villarreal for the automatic Champions League spot.
But standing in our way is Deportivo La Coruna.
Man U 1-Barca 0, a.k.a. “No silver for you!”
I’m going to be brief with this one because it’s late and my legs are tired from a long, cold ride home to watch a match that left me absolutely gutted. Time’s up. No silver. I usually detest the idiots who do the post-game analysis for ESPN but this time, they were right. When it came [...]
I’m going to be brief with this one because it’s late and my legs are tired from a long, cold ride home to watch a match that left me absolutely gutted.
Time’s up. No silver. I usually detest the idiots who do the post-game analysis for ESPN but this time, they were right. When it came to the front line, only Messi came to play. Others did their jobs but at the front, where the difference should have been made, we had nothing. No, we had less than nothing. When was the last time we scored a freakin’ goal? Schalke? I can’t even remember, is how long it’s been.
And the taste in my mouth is a bitter one.
Barca v Man U, a.k.a. “The Big One” 1:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2
You know why this man is smiling? Because he is thinking about getting in some Red Devil ass, that’s why. Because this is it. The real deal, and he is the most pivotal player on the pitch for so many reasons, but most importantly, because they can’t score if they don’t have the ball. If [...]
You know why this man is smiling? Because he is thinking about getting in some Red Devil ass, that’s why. Because this is it. The real deal, and he is the most pivotal player on the pitch for so many reasons, but most importantly, because they can’t score if they don’t have the ball. If we are playing our possession game well, Yaya is a pivotal part, with his intelligent passes out of the back, deft footwork and physical presence.
Help a cule brotha out!
Before I get to the preview of Tuesday’s all-important match against ManU at Old Trafford, I’d like to cover something that is very close to my heart: This summer, my brother and I are going on a 3-week European vacation in July. And since most of the people here are situated around the world, I [...]
Before I get to the preview of Tuesday’s all-important match against ManU at Old Trafford, I’d like to cover something that is very close to my heart: This summer, my brother and I are going on a 3-week European vacation in July. And since most of the people here are situated around the world, I figured this was a pretty good location to ask for some advice.
Now, I’m no chump when it comes to visiting foreign countries (or at least I like to think so), but I don’t know diddly-doo-doo about the places I’m going (which is why I’m going). So if any of you have any advice on what to do, where to stay, who to drink with in any of the following cities, please give a shout out in the comments or if you want to keep it private, email me at barcelona [at] theoffside [dot] com.
1. Barcelona - You may have heard of this place and while there are obvious destinations for me (The Camp something or other…), it’s the details I want to experience.
2. Pamplona for the running of the bulls. Not sure I need advice on anything other than where to stay (and by now there’s probably nowhere)
3. Madrid - As long as you don’t say the Bernabeu…
4. Prague
5. Bratislava
6. Budapest
I speak Spanish, but not a damned word of Czech, Slovak, or Hungarian, so I’m going to get by on English and sign language. And beer. Enough cerveza and I’ll be fluent in all those languages. If you have any suggestions of side trips, I’ll be rocking the rail pass, so I’d probably be into going somewhere that isn’t on the beaten path in Eastern Europe.
Okay, thanks in advance for helping me out!
Manchester United - Barcelona: Champions League, Tuesday 2:45pmEST
Update: Check out the liveblog on the main page This. Is. It. There’s no tomorrow, no next match. We’re in it to win or we’re out on the street. The whole season, all the good and all the bad, have led up to this moment, this game, these 90 minutes. Everything bad can be forgiven with [...]
Update: Check out the liveblog on the main page
This. Is. It. There’s no tomorrow, no next match. We’re in it to win or we’re out on the street. The whole season, all the good and all the bad, have led up to this moment, this game, these 90 minutes. Everything bad can be forgiven with a glorious display or the last 4 games of misery can be compounded and turned into an absolute firestorm.
So where do we stand in this second leg away from home? It’s 0-0 on aggregate, so we’re definitely not behind, but neither are ahead. The advantage we have is a draw including goals means we advance on away goals. However, any loss whatsoever and we’re gone and a goalless draw (the least likely of the circumstances, I would think) leads to extra time.
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Gnus you all can use, including Brazilians and Frenchmen
Guess who’s coming to dinner at Old Trafford? Yes, lads and ladettes, it’s already been announced: Thierry Henry will be getting the start at Old Trafford next Tuesday, because of his fine legacy of bedeviling the Red Devils. Woot! No word on the rest of the starting lineup, but I’m already excited.
Guess who’s coming to dinner at Old Trafford?
Yes, lads and ladettes, it’s already been announced: Thierry Henry will be getting the start at Old Trafford next Tuesday, because of his fine legacy of bedeviling the Red Devils. Woot! No word on the rest of the starting lineup, but I’m already excited.
Barcelona - ManU Liveblog
Daryl of the Offside homepage will be doing a Liveblog of the game, so feel free to stop by and check it out. I already linked it once, but in case you didn’t know what the blue, underlined letters were, here it is again. As always, check out the Where to Watch page to find out [...]
Daryl of the Offside homepage will be doing a Liveblog of the game, so feel free to stop by and check it out. I already linked it once, but in case you didn’t know what the blue, underlined letters were, here it is again.
As always, check out the Where to Watch page to find out where other cules are currently drinking heavily and shouting at televisions.
