I don't really understand the sneering at Stoke, they play within the rules and play to their strengths. The rules don't say that teams should play with tippy-tappy flair - Stoke have developed a style of play that is difficult to break down. Good on them.
if Barcelona played Stoke City on a cold november evening
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Joebananas
New member
- Jan 30, 2011
- 54
Hellooooooooooooooo we are in Europe next year. The first bit of homework you haven't done properly tut tut! Oh and the Fair Play league mmmm again maybe go and do a bit of homework. Here's a Clue = We are about the same position in the Fair Play League as in the Premiership Table! Another typical lazy post having a dig at Stoke. Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story eh :0)
I shouldn't let it get to me but god it bloody doe's :0)
The Terminator
New member
- Aug 7, 2010
- 1,419
barca would MURDER them , i agree with someone above that if a team played like stoke with a better set of player they would have a chance , a bit like chelsea people forget that they didnt lose to them in to games , 0-0 and 1-1 and i belive in the second game chelsea should of had 5 pens ?
so basicly , playing like stoke is the way to beat barca (imho) but if it was stoke vs barca , barca would trounce them
so basicly , playing like stoke is the way to beat barca (imho) but if it was stoke vs barca , barca would trounce them
Joebananas
New member
- Jan 30, 2011
- 54
Would Barca trounce Brighton?
Austrian Gull
Well-known member
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
A cold November evening? There are plenty of areas of Spain where it can get a bit nippy, too. The Basque Country and Galicia are well rainy.
With modern refereeing, Stoke would have little chance of competing.
Joebananas
New member
- Jan 30, 2011
- 54
Mate theres nowhere colder than the Brittannia on a wet windy November evening trust me! Got the frostbite to prove it.
Ok Ok Barca would beat Stoke. Barca would beat any team in the world. The trounced Man U for gods sake now leave my poor little Stoke alone. Stop picking on us were not trying to be billy big bollocks you know just trying to hold our own in the Prem like everybody else tries to do and doing a bloody good job of it too please acknowledge :0)
Austrian Gull
Well-known member
I don't mean to sound like I'm having a go. I admire Stoke for everything they've achieved and would be delighted to be in your shoes (Cup Final, Europa League).
My beef is with Andy Gray who mentioned this "Stoke on a cold Tuesday night" argument as if Spanish sides never get stuck into Messi and company. The stupid sexist fool. Gray, I mean.
Joebananas
New member
- Jan 30, 2011
- 54
I know your not having a go don't worry was just pretending to throw my toys out of the Pram! I know the limitations of Stoke, I also know that people don't like our style but they have survived with this style for 3 seasons now whilst everyone else who has been promoted in the last 3 seasons have gone down again!
Pulis is now introducing some quality in Etherington & Pennant and whatever anyone says, it is quite exciting to watch and nothing like the hoofball we were labled with in our first season.
The way Hercules beat Barcelona was to put lots of players, like say 11, behind the ball and when Barcelona got frustrated but one player up front and catch them on the break twice for a 2-0 win. You get burned out trying to get possession of them in the middle of the field. You can have phases when you harry them and I thought for five minutes Man United might get back into the game but they were not good enough.
If their sweeper i.e. their keeper wasn't super alert Manchester United might have beaten them. Barcelona outwitted Man United as well as outplayed them. If they has Smalling instead of Giggs they would have made a better of fist of it.
If their sweeper i.e. their keeper wasn't super alert Manchester United might have beaten them. Barcelona outwitted Man United as well as outplayed them. If they has Smalling instead of Giggs they would have made a better of fist of it.
Joebananas
New member
- Jan 30, 2011
- 54
Yep thats what they have been saying every pre season for the last 3! You might be right one day!
I don't think the likes of QPR, Norwich, Blackburn, Wigan, Wolves, Reading or Swansea are anywhere near ahead of us in the pecking order just yet so pray tell your thinking behind this prediction?
Joe, I like Stoke (work with two STH and they are top blokes), but OLDHAM can trump you on a cold November night!
HG201
Proud Ruffian
I honestly reckon Stoke would give them a very good game, thye may not win, but it would be a lot closer than many would expect. Their physical game would be like something Barca have never experienced, which is why i think they'll do well in the Europa League next season. I would love to see the likes of Huth and Shawcross absolutely clatter the idiots like Busquets
Joebananas
New member
- Jan 30, 2011
- 54
That I concede is very true. My lord it is cold up on that Hill at Boundary Park
HG201
Proud Ruffian
Agreed, with the players they have, imagine if they did try short passing football! They would be humiliated week in, week out in the Premier League. Why would they do that when they can play with this style of play, which clearly suits them, and is very difficult to play against which is bringing them success!
Kalimantan Gull
Well-known member
Forget Stoke, I reckon Manchester United could give Barcelona a good game in a cold Tuesday night in November.
I think the most disappointing thing for the neutral about that final was that Man United are perfectly capable of giving Barca a good game and competing well, but they didn';t show it. Partly it seemed a ridiculous team selection, a kid up front, couple of old-timers in the middle and little pace; but partly because they just looked knackered. they looked the same as those England teams that turn up shagged in the World Cup or Euros.
It is clearly a lot harder to get through a Premiership season, plus competitive FA Cup, plus League Cup plus a Champions League campaign than Barcelona's equivalent. Fewer teams in Spain, few of them aim to give the opponents a kicking, less quality at the lower end of the league, better weather, one fewer cup and the main cup isn't considered too important.
I think the most disappointing thing for the neutral about that final was that Man United are perfectly capable of giving Barca a good game and competing well, but they didn';t show it. Partly it seemed a ridiculous team selection, a kid up front, couple of old-timers in the middle and little pace; but partly because they just looked knackered. they looked the same as those England teams that turn up shagged in the World Cup or Euros.
It is clearly a lot harder to get through a Premiership season, plus competitive FA Cup, plus League Cup plus a Champions League campaign than Barcelona's equivalent. Fewer teams in Spain, few of them aim to give the opponents a kicking, less quality at the lower end of the league, better weather, one fewer cup and the main cup isn't considered too important.
APACHE
LONGTIME DIEHARD
Here we go with the give Barca a kicking tactics, didn;t someone try that in the semis and came unstuck?
The_Viper
Well-known member
Barca would murder Stoke, and would have a good chance at triple figures against BHAFC, especially if they hit the gears they hit against Madrid earlier in the season. Only thing I disagree with JoeB with is the fact Huth is stronger than Vidic. I disagree, but otherwise, he's speaking the truth.
No it isn't.
Incorrect, same number in La Liga as there is in the Premiership.
I don't know of any teams of cloggers in the Prem, so don't know how you reach that conclusion.
I don't know why you think Blackpool and West Ham are 'quality'. They might have a couple of decent players each, but that's as far as it goes.
Agreed, but I don't think Xavi and Iniesta are brilliant because the sun shines a bit more.
Agreed, but United and the other teams put out the kids and the stiffs so don't see that it matters.
Given the farce this year with the final being played on the same day as a set of Prem fixtures it isn't important here either.
DT Withdean
New member
- Mar 5, 2011
- 1,089
Tons of hacking and late challenges in La Liga. Messi kicked out of the away Atletico Madrid game last Autumn.
Because of the success of Barca & Spain, the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Piquet have been playing non-stop football for 3 years despite not having a League Cup.
In the hyping of ManU before the final we were told by English 'experts':
- Barca knackered
- ManU rested after cake-walk against Schalke04. Due to the failure of Schalke and Chelsea in last few weeks, ManU first 11 virtually had 3 weeks off.
- Piquet poor without Puyol, and Abidal weak after cancer
- Barca fullbacks would be exposed by the greatness of Valencia
- Barca battered after being kicked in 4 recent games versus Mourinho's hackers
- Guardiola spent after those games, and Mourinho's catty mind games
- Park Ji Song class and will run all night.
- Hernandez world buy of the year, and with Rooney, will cut Piquet to pieces
- Vidic will destroy Barca at set pieces with a headed winner
- Carrick's immense range of passing. Imperious. Great in such games. Class.
blah blah blah
Non of the above happened.
Valencia's contribution was to carry out a series of bad loser assaults.
Barca were a class above, were always going to be, & deserved CHAMPIONS.
More and more English punters are open-minded about foreign football, and enjoyed the Barca show.