if Barcelona played Stoke City on a cold november evening

[Smythe]

i have watched a lot of spanish football and no team has really targeted them with long throw ins and massive strong players like stoke have. Going forward i feel stoke could cause them problems but obviously defensively they could not cope

not really the Spanish way of playing the game is it

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

united play fairly direct and just couldn't cope..........stoke would need to actually get the ball from them in the first place to do anything, and barcas defence is better than people give it credit for......pique and puyol are superb......last night they even played a defensive midfielder in there, and he handled rooney and hernandez without too much trouble

 

[seagullondon]

not really the Spanish way of playing the game is it

exactly which would make it really interesting to see how they would cope. all prem teams have to bring lots of players back to defend the area but this wouldn't really be barcelonas way.

 

[theonesmith]

Yes it's all our fault, all the woes in the world are directly linked to the fact that Rory Delap can throw a ball a long way and that the exciting wing play of Etherington and Pennant only takes place in our 18 yard box before the biggest hoof ever upto the opposition goal. Man U losing last night was a direct result of them having to adapt their skills over a season to counter the threat of the bully boys Shawcross and Huth. 3 seasons now of easy mid table security for the Rugby Team. The top six all hate playing us, A 5 - 0 drubbing of Bolton in an FA Cup semi final with all goals from exciting open play sadly, oh my god what can the press report on now for all their loyal and sheep like readers who believe in everything they print about our anti christ footballing tactics.

Yes we should be relegated as soon as possible, how dare we grace the finest league in the world and rub shoulders with the best teams in the world ( See also Champions League final for confirmation of this superiority of Englaish teams! ) We should have tried to take a leaf out of the way Blackpool played in their first ever season in the Premier league and had all the plaudits heaping praise on us before heading back down to obscurity and a 2 paragraph report in the Sunday papers for the foreseable, with a pat on the back for not upsetting the apple cart!

For the record Barcelona are unplayable currently and they would have easily whooped Stoke on a wet windy wednesday in November 99 times out of 100 and sorry to say but even Barcelona Hove Albion would have been torn and extra backside last night!

Long may our fearsome reputation continue as it's worth 60 million a year to us!

Regards

JoeB

Great post, spot on.

 

[Joebananas]

Great post, spot on.

Thanks Mate :0)

Ironic I thought last night, that apart from the well worked goal for Rooney albeit offside, I didn't see much in Uniteds game that was any different to the way Stoke have to play against the top six but then were far more effective at it because of the extra muscle power of Huth etc.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Im sure they could cope in a one off game, but could they cope with it every week?

 

[APACHE]

Seeing that the Barca team contains numerous internationals and World Cup winners I think some poeple are being abit silly if you think that the tactics of a team like Stoke would be something that they haven't faced before. Do you think the manager just rolls up on matchday and sends them out uncoached, it didn't look like it last night.

 

[DT Withdean]

Huth & Co would either be sent off for violent fouls, or would give impressions of lamposts as the Barca maestro's run rings wound them.

Barca to win by many goals, eventually.

Stoke simply wouldn't get the supply of corners and attacking throw ins, as Barca don't give away possession.
Fletcher, Park, Evra and others are far better harriers than Stoke could ever be, but they weren't able to force mistakes in 2009 and 2011.

 

[Gwylan]

Huth & Co would either be sent off for violent fouls, or would give impressions of lamposts as the Barca maestro's run rings wound them.

Barca to win by many goals, eventually.

Stoke simply wouldn't get the supply of corners and attacking throw ins, as Barca don't give away possession.
Fletcher, Park, Evra and others are far better harriers than Stoke could ever be, but they weren't able to force mistakes in 2009 and 2011.

Yet another unnecessary dig at Stoke, they're not a particularly dirty team. You're right, Barca would murder Stoke but then they murdered the best team in the league.

 

[Fawkesy]

I think they could potentially do a job to stop them with their unfootballing tactics and their small pitch and good organisation.

anyone agree or am I just a bit of a mug and deserving of a

iv been saying this for a while now mate!

suppose we will never know, it isnt like Stoke are going to get into europe, especially through the fair play league! plus BArca would have to be knocked out of CL in the group stages.

 

[The Large One]

I've actually seen Barcelona play Dundee United. In the 'Fairs Cup'. Bloomin' years ago. I was a wee boy. Don't remember what the score was tho suppose I could research it or dig out the programme I've still got somewhere. All I remember thinking at the time was the Barcelona kit was FLAIR - and this despite Dundee United playing in orange

Dundee United beat Barcelona 4-1 on aggregate - 1966/67.

You saw Dundee United 2 - 0 Barcelona

Leeds United lost to Dinamo Zagreb in the final, having knocked out Kilmarnock in the semi-final.

 

[Easy 10]

Al, you REALLY need to get out more.

 

[Don Quixote]

I love stoke, quality side.

 

[upthealbion1970]

You could have Stoke AND Manure playing 22 v Barca 11 and Barca would STILL spank the pair of them together

 

[upthealbion1970]

Thanks Mate :0)

Ironic I thought last night, that apart from the well worked goal for Rooney albeit offside, I didn't see much in Uniteds game that was any different to the way Stoke have to play against the top six but then were far more effective at it because of the extra muscle power of Huth etc.

You're suggesting that Huth is stronger than vidic or Ferdinand

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Dundee United beat Barcelona 4-1 on aggregate - 1966/67.

You saw Dundee United 2 - 0 Barcelona

Leeds United lost to Dinamo Zagreb in the final, having knocked out Kilmarnock in the semi-final.

Cheers TLO!

 

[Joebananas]

You're suggesting that Huth is stronger than vidic or Ferdinand

Not suggesting, it's fact. Maybe not as good football wise but stronger definitely yes. Have you seen the man. He aint called the Berlin wall for nothing.

 

[upthealbion1970]

Not suggesting, it's fact. Maybe not as good football wise but stronger definitely yes. Have you seen the man. He aint called the Berlin wall for nothing.

The joy of opinions fella

 

[APACHE]

Just a small point, if the top team in this country couldn't win a corner v Barca how are Stoke going to?

 

[Seagull27]

Just a small point, if the top team in this country couldn't win a corner v Barca how are Stoke going to?

I think it's clear that Stoke wouldn't have a chance against Barcelona, but if a Stoke-like team with European level players were to play them would Barca struggle?