Pep Guardiola

[Mellotron]

Beaten by 10 men and a centre back pairing of Bosingwa and Ivanovich. Yes, the greatest side of all time.

Amazing. ONE result. That's how it works is it? So the AC Milan side of the early 1990s never lost a SINGLE game?

You may not like it, but the recent Barca team WILL go down in history as one of the best ever, I think plenty will talk about them as THE best ever.

 

[Frutos]

Now confirmed that Barca's assistant manager, Tito Vilanova, will be Pep's replacement.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Now confirmed that Barca's assistant manager, Tito Vilanova, will be Pep's replacement.

I was going to say, it would be unlike Barcelona to appoint from outside. They grow their own footballers, stands to reason they'll grow their own managers too.

Hopefully he won't persist with playing Tello, though.

 

[Mtoto]

Barca would still be going out but to add to your list of hypothetical situations.

Or if Fabregas hadn't taken a dive.

Or if Fabregas had scored from point blank range in the first leg.

Or if Barca had kept a player back on the half way line.

Football, innit.

Do you really think that if Messi had scored, the rest of the half would have unfolded identically? If Messi scores the pen, they are ahead and with 40 mins left, about 1.1 (ie. 1-10) on Betfair to qualify. Chelsea then have to try to find another goal. Perhaps they would have done, but it's much more likely that they would have failed to do so, or conceded more.

Probability, innit.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

If anyone is wondering what this Vilanova looks like, here he is meeting Jose Mourinho.

(Just to confirm, he is NOT the ghost-like creature behind)

 

[Southwick_Seagull]

If anyone is wondering what this Vilanova looks like, here he is meeting Jose Mourinho.

(Just to confirm, he is NOT the ghost-like creature behind)

What was Borat doing there?

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Do you really think that if Messi had scored, the rest of the half would have unfolded identically? If Messi scores the pen, they are ahead and with 40 mins left, about 1.1 (ie. 1-10) on Betfair to qualify. Chelsea then have to try to find another goal. Perhaps they would have done, but it's much more likely that they would have failed to do so, or conceded more.

Probability, innit.

That was the point, it's all ifs and buts, essentailly though if Fabregas hadn't taken a dive there never would have been a penalty.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

What was Borat doing there?

Glorious.

I wonder if Pep's leaving will make Mourinho stay on for another year. Presumably he wants to win the Champions League, Barcelona will theoretically be weaker for the loss of Guardiola, maybe Pep's decision will change his mind.

 

[Mtoto]

That was the point, it's all ifs and buts, essentailly though if Fabregas hadn't taken a dive there never would have been a penalty.

But while you can argue all you like about the quality of chances created in open play, when a penalty is awarded, which it was, there's much less room for doubt.

The likelihood of any professional scoring a pen is about 80pc, and in Messi's case, because he is supremely talented, highly experienced and gets a lot of practice in pressure situations, a bit higher than that. Between eight and nine times out of ten, it goes in. Chelsea got lucky - because it was missed, not saved - and found the one that didn't, but that's not the greatest of reasons to declare the Barca way of playing football dead and start dancing on its grave.

 

[BigGully]

The achievements are impressive.

But for me, it is the style in which he has achieved them that's quite brilliant.

The passing, movement, technique, control and of course it helps having a little magician too.

Fantastic, a team genuinely a cut above any other on the planet.

It will be interesting how they react to Guardiola leaving and their exit from the Champions League and La Liga disappointment.

To play their brand of football takes total trust, from players, fans, manager, coaching staff and the owners, I hope none of those panic.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Amazing. ONE result. That's how it works is it? So the AC Milan side of the early 1990s never lost a SINGLE game?

You may not like it, but the recent Barca team WILL go down in history as one of the best ever, I think plenty will talk about them as THE best ever.

I heard a stat the other day that over the past 4 years Barca have won only missed out on 3 cups out of a total 16. 13 cups in 4 years. Mental. I'm sure someone can fill in the details for me.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I heard a stat the other day that over the past 4 years Barca have won only missed out on 3 cups out of a total 16. 13 cups in 4 years. Mental. I'm sure someone can fill in the details for me.

Doh. Just seen this further up the chain. Silly me. Well, so good I might as well repeat it.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

But while you can argue all you like about the quality of chances created in open play, when a penalty is awarded, which it was, there's much less room for doubt.

The likelihood of any professional scoring a pen is about 80pc, and in Messi's case, because he is supremely talented, highly experienced and gets a lot of practice in pressure situations, a bit higher than that. Between eight and nine times out of ten, it goes in. Chelsea got lucky - because it was missed, not saved - and found the one that didn't, but that's not the greatest of reasons to declare the Barca way of playing football dead and start dancing on its grave.

I'm not sure but I think Messi has missed a few this Season.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Beaten by 10 men and a centre back pairing of Bosingwa and Ivanovich. Yes, the greatest side of all time.

You surely MUST be having a laugh. SURELY.

I mean....SURELY.

You do know, sometimes, teams lose football matches.

I once saw Michael Jordan drop the basketball. RUBBISH.

 

[leigull]

Saying well they've won a lot in the past is all well and good but I wouldn't be suprised if their era was on the wain. Well, now that Guardiola has gone maybe they can get someone in that prioritises sticking the ball into the onion bag rather than pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass from one touch line to the next.

Wow. You do realise they've scored quite a lot of goals this season? With their main striker injured for most of it

You surely MUST be having a laugh. SURELY.

I mean....SURELY.

You do know, sometimes, teams lose football matches.

I once saw Michael Jordan drop the basketball. RUBBISH.

I don't think he is unfortunately.

 

[Superphil]

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Barcelona, as of Sumer 2011, paid the highest average salary in the world of sport, I seem to remember. A youth system and keeping those players involves spending large sums of money.

 

[JBizzle]

The achievements are impressive.

But for me, it is the style in which he has achieved them that's quite brilliant.

The passing, movement, technique, control and of course it helps having a little magician too.

Fantastic, a team genuinely a cut above any other on the planet.

It will be interesting how they react to Guardiola leaving and their exit from the Champions League and La Liga disappointment.

To play their brand of football takes total trust, from players, fans, manager, coaching staff and the owners, I hope none of those panic.

Great post. Sure, Barca were good under Rijkaard but my goodness did Guardiola take them to the next level. Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, Puyol and Pique were all great players pre-Pep but the standard they set now is in a different stratosphere.

This team and this coach should not be judged on three freak results but on 13 (possibly 14) trophies out of the 18 entered over 4 years. That is simply exceptional and something all managers would love to achieve. To do it in the style they have is what takes them from being a successful team, to being the best team ever in my eyes.