Closed Barcelona vs Chelsea

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

So Glad Madrid beat Farca! Thank god. Mourinho deserved that win. Also sorry to go a bit off topic but I find it amusing that CR7 scored the winner and no one is making a big deal but If Messi scored everyone would talk about how he's the best...Typical. Anyway after the loss hopefully they are tired and deflated. We are nice and rested. Let's do this. Predciting us to pull of a major upset, 2-1

[MagicManMata 24]

I would go for Bertrand instead of Meireles (LM) with Ramires on the Right and Mata down the middle. He can cover Daniel Alves' forward runs so that there isn't a 2v1 on the left side and also the way he played yesterday i think he can run up and down the left flank all week. Otherwise, pretty much the same 11

I would stick with the same players we had in the first leg, as they played the entire match as a cohesive unit. That said, Bertrand was so stellar against Arsenal that it would be hard to exclude him from the squad. Tough choice for RDM no doubt, but in the end it is better to have options than not.

[Spike 12,049]

Barcelona FC has issued a worrying statement about their talisman Lionel Messi, as he wasn't present at training or El Classico against Real Madrid. Various reports state that Messi was last seen in West London alongside, what eye witnesses state to be a a man from South Yorkshire.

[Shane 2,275]

Barcelona FC has issued a worrying statement about their talisman Lionel Messi, as he wasn't present at training or El Classico against Real Madrid. Various reports state that Messi was last seen in West London alongside, what eye witnesses state to be a a man from South Yorkshire.

I'd wait till the end of the second leg to start cracking the Messi jokes

[capriccioso 2,545]

Cech

Ivanovic-Cahill-Terry-Cole

Mikel-Lampard

Ramires-Kalou-Bosingwa

Drogba.

That'll do them. Bosingwa to be used like how Chivu was by Inter in 2010.

[Strike 7,489]

I would stick with the same players we had in the first leg, as they played the entire match as a cohesive unit. That said, Bertrand was so stellar against Arsenal that it would be hard to exclude him from the squad. Tough choice for RDM no doubt, but in the end it is better to have options than not.

I am sure Bertrand will be sent on if Dani Alves is getting space on the right. This is better. more flexibility in case of tiredness and tactical changes

[Spike 12,049]

I'd wait till the end of the second leg to start cracking the Messi jokes

Fuck that. He didn't show up against Chelsea and did worse against Real Madrid. People on TC always get stuck into Chelsea players after one bad game, so why the hell can't I make fun of Messi after two bad games?

[Shane 2,275]

Fuck that. He didn't show up against Chelsea and did worse against Real Madrid. People on TC always get stuck into Chelsea players after one bad game, so why the hell can't I make fun of Messi after two bad games?

Because it wouldn't be a suprise if he scored a hattrick on Tuesday.

[Shane 2,275]

Cech

Ivanovic-Cahill-Terry-Cole

Mikel-Lampard

Ramires-Kalou-Bosingwa

Drogba.

That'll do them. Bosingwa to be used like how Chivu was by Inter in 2010.

Chivu is actually decent defensivly though, and Rambo did an excellent job in that role on Wednesday. Also I don't hate Kalou, like the majority of people on here, But I'd still rather Mata.

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

For some reason I hav this feeling we have clinched it but sadly no. Barca will score only hope we can too, and hopin that the stat of

11v11= chelsea win/draw. No reds please guys!!

Chech

Iva-Cahill-JT-Cole

Bertrand-Mikel lamps-Rambo

Mata

Drogba

[capriccioso 2,545]

Chivu is actually decent defensivly though, and Rambo did an excellent job in that role on Wednesday. Also I don't hate Kalou, like the majority of people on here, But I'd still rather Mata.

To what end? We're not looking to attack. This is about sending out the most defensive side possible, right? Also Mata can't create much when we have 25% possession...

Alternatively to Bosingwa, we could try Bertrand on the left wing. But Bertrand would never have played in an occasion like this, in front of 90,000 passionate Barcelona fans. I think he'd be a bit rabbit-in-the-headlights.

[Spike 12,049]

To what end? We're not looking to attack. This is about sending out the most defensive side possible, right? Also Mata can't create much when we have 25% possession...

Alternatively to Bosingwa, we could try Bertrand on the left wing. But Bertrand would never have played in an occasion like this, in front of 90,000 passionate Barcelona fans. I think he'd be a bit rabbit-in-the-headlights.

It's more like 10,000. The Camp Nou is incredible but some of the fans can be like Manchester United's. Most nights it can sound rather dead. Far too much focus on the prawn sandwhiches.

[Shane 2,275]

To what end? We're not looking to attack. This is about sending out the most defensive side possible, right? Also Mata can't create much when we have 25% possession...

Alternatively to Bosingwa, we could try Bertrand on the left wing. But Bertrand would never have played in an occasion like this, in front of 90,000 passionate Barcelona fans. I think he'd be a bit rabbit-in-the-headlights.

Leave Rambo on the left wing, He did a great job on Wednesday, why change that?

And If Mata can't do much with 25% possesion, what is Kalou going to do in fairness? Mata is better at holding the ball and utilizing it then Kalou, and is capable of magic.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Leave Rambo on the left wing, He did a great job on Wednesday, why change that?

And If Mata can't do much with 25% possesion, what is Kalou going to do in fairness? Mata is better at holding the ball and utilizing it then Kalou, and is capable of magic.

Keep Mata fresh for games where we will need his attacking ability. Kalou to track back. Mata is too good a player for us to waste his energy by getting him to do nothing but run around.

[Shane 2,275]

Keep Mata fresh for games where we will need his attacking ability. Kalou to track back. Mata is too good a player for us to waste his energy by getting him to do nothing but run around.

I can't see us keeping Mata fresh for other games, Since this is probably our biggest game in the last 2 years. Kalou should come on if Mata isn't doing the business, but I think we really need to start Mata in this one.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

Keep Mata fresh for games where we will need his attacking ability. Kalou to track back. Mata is too good a player for us to waste his energy by getting him to do nothing but run around.

Agreed, Mata won't have much of an influence on the night. People say he MUST play, he can change games. Yes but he needs possession of the ball, plus when we do have the ball we won't play Tiki Taka. We'll try to get it to Drogba as soon as possible. Mata didn't exaclty have a big influence on the first leg. Some will say where will the creativity and passing come from. Well look at our goal against Barca. It was Lampard who who gave the pass, And Ramires who made the run. We need to use a more defensive and physical player than Mata.

[English Freak 456]

Agreed, Mata won't have much of an influence on the night. People say he MUST play, he can change games. Yes but he needs possession of the ball, plus when we do have the ball we won't play Tiki Taka. We'll try to get it to Drogba as soon as possible. Mata didn't exaclty have a big influence on the first leg. Some will say where will the creativity and passing come from. Well look at our goal against Barca. It was Lampard who who gave the pass, And Ramires who made the run. We need to use a more defensive and physical player than Mata.

Well in that case, you'd want to use Essien (defensive & physical) or Romeu (more defensive).

[English Freak 456]

Keep Mata fresh for games where we will need his attacking ability. Kalou to track back. Mata is too good a player for us to waste his energy by getting him to do nothing but run around.

Kalou would be just as ineffective as Mata, probably worse. Mata has the ability to pull off something brilliant & if he does manage to get a touch of the ball, I'm sure he'll make a better decision than Kalou would ever be capable of.

[communicate 2,703]

Fuck that. He didn't show up against Chelsea and did worse against Real Madrid. People on TC always get stuck into Chelsea players after one bad game, so why the hell can't I make fun of Messi after two bad games?

Because even Messi played bad game, he was still the most dangerous man on the pitch in both games. Yes even in el classico. I saw him made a run and the whole defense move to the left giving xavi whole space for himself.

He is the only person who is capable of opening our defense, he ran at our defense make our defense have to scramble, collapsing and he attract not 1 not 2 but 6 players when he made his run.

[MagicManMata 24]

Mata has to start IMO. Kalou is a good player but we may well have to pot 1 here and Mata is where it all starts for us these days.