[vamsi.kona]

The game between Arsenal and Barca was very good. The way Arsenal pressed in the second half was very interesting. This is what a true fan of football would want to see. The second leg would be interesting, irrespective of the result as you can be assured of allout attack from both teams.

And this interview of Xavi sums up Barca's philosophy. Makes an interesting read.

I'm a romantic says Xavi, heartbeat of Barcelona and Spain | Football | The Guardian

[figo_united]

Chelsea knocked out of FA cup too!

[figo_united]

Crucial Month Ahead for Manchester United!!! A flurry of tough fixtures!

23/2 - Marseille Away,
26/2 - Wigan away,
1/3 - Chelsea away,
5/3 - Liverpool away,
13/3 - Arsenal home(Assuming they beat Leyton orient),
15/3 - Marseille home,
19/3 - Bolton Home.

4 tough away matches in 10 days

[joslicx]

Originally Posted by figo_united

Crucial Month Ahead for Manchester United!!! A flurry of tough fixtures!

23/2 - Marseille Away,
26/2 - Wigan away,
1/3 - Chelsea away,
5/3 - Liverpool away,
13/3 - Arsenal home(Assuming they beat Leyton orient),
15/3 - Marseille home,
19/3 - Bolton Home.

4 tough away matches in 10 days

Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal are no more tough fixtures
I am more wary of Bolton than all of them. We can beat the big teams, its the smaller guys who are such a pain in the @**e. If you look at our record against big guys, we have beaten them all everywhere since last April!

[figo_united]

Originally Posted by joslicx

Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal are no more tough fixtures
I am more wary of Bolton than all of them. We can beat the big teams, its the smaller guys who are such a pain in the @**e. If you look at our record against big guys, we have beaten them all everywhere since last April!

Yes, But we still need our best 11 to beat them, and playing 4 AWAY matches in 10 days is very tough. that too with rio, park and valencia still injured!

[nfsfreak]

Shocking defeat to Gunners in League cup final (How many times should we lose a match of stupid errors!!! very embarrassing) followed by a straight forward victory against Leyton Orient. Next FA cup tie against ManU at OldTrafford is very tough.

Hope Schzesny & Konscielny recover from that error quickly; we badly need them with RVP out for 3 weeks (thereby missing Barca game) & Fabregas a doubt for this weekend PL match against Sunderland.

Chelsea powered a win over ManU in PL, hence keeping their hopes and Arsenal's hopes for crown alive. Impressed with David Luiz, though he is reckless at times.
Vidic picked a RED against chelsea, which means he is out of Liverpool clash.

[figo_united]

Originally Posted by nfsfreak

Chelsea powered a win over ManU in PL

powered??? did you watch the match?
They just stole it with help from the joke of a referee, for the third year in a row!

[addyhemmige]

Originally Posted by figo_united

They just stole it with help from the joke of a referee, for the third year in a row!

I didn't watch the Chelsea match, so will not comment on it but Man Utd usually do get the refereeing decisions in their favour when they are playing against smaller teams. The latest being the Rooney elbow saga against Wigan.

[figo_united]

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

I didn't watch the Chelsea match, so will not comment on it but Man Utd usually do get the refereeing decisions in their favour when they are playing against smaller teams. The latest being the Rooney elbow saga against Wigan.

chelsea have been getting away with huge help from the referee from last three years!

November 8th 2009: Chelsea 1-0 United

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Decisions which were wrong and changed the match:
1. Wayne Rooney was one on one with the keeper but wrongly ruled offside
2. Darren Fletcher won the ball against Ashley Cole but a freekick was given
3. From that freekick, Chelsea scored the goal, despite Wes Brown being fouled by an offside Didier Drogba
4. Antonio Valencia was fouled by John Terry in the box but no penalty was given

April 3rd 2010: United 1-2 Chelsea

Referee: Mike Dean

Decisions which were wrong and changed the match:
1. At 1-0 up and attacking momentum with United, Didier Drogba scored against the run of play to kill off the game when he was clearly in an offside position.

March 1st 2011: Chelsea 2-1 United

Referee: Martin Atkinson

1. John Terry intentionally blocked a shot from Nani with his arm but no penalty was awarded
2. David Luiz was guilty of at least three yellow card offences but was not sent off (- Ancelotti admitted he should have been sent off)
3. These decisions made all the more crucial by the fact Manchester United rightly had a player sent off and an incredibly soft penalty awarded against them (- Ivanovic later admitted the penalty shouldn’t have been awarded)

[GearOn]

Originally Posted by figo_united

1. At 1-0 up and attacking momentum with United, Didier Drogba scored against the run of play to kill off the game when he was clearly in an offside position.

March 1st 2011: Chelsea 2-1 United

Not to mention that goal handed Chelsea the Title such was its importance. Really hope next match Vs Liverpool is not ruined by a bad refereeing decision.

[nfsfreak]

Bad decisions now has become part of game.

IMHO, ManU really cannot complain here as they've received help numerous times to win matches, compared to those turned against them. People normally complain about ManU & SirAlex given preferential treatment in decisions. Can talk about how many times Nani or CR dived to win penalties.

Only way we can prevent these comments is by allowing reviews, not sure how feasible is that.

[nkapoor777]

Originally Posted by figo_united

chelsea have been getting away with huge help from the referee from last three years!

November 8th 2009: Chelsea 1-0 United

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Decisions which were wrong and changed the match:
1. Wayne Rooney was one on one with the keeper but wrongly ruled offside
2. Darren Fletcher won the ball against Ashley Cole but a freekick was given
3. From that freekick, Chelsea scored the goal, despite Wes Brown being fouled by an offside Didier Drogba
4. Antonio Valencia was fouled by John Terry in the box but no penalty was given

April 3rd 2010: United 1-2 Chelsea

Referee: Mike Dean

Decisions which were wrong and changed the match:
1. At 1-0 up and attacking momentum with United, Didier Drogba scored against the run of play to kill off the game when he was clearly in an offside position.

March 1st 2011: Chelsea 2-1 United

Referee: Martin Atkinson

1. John Terry intentionally blocked a shot from Nani with his arm but no penalty was awarded
2. David Luiz was guilty of at least three yellow card offences but was not sent off (- Ancelotti admitted he should have been sent off)
3. These decisions made all the more crucial by the fact Manchester United rightly had a player sent off and an incredibly soft penalty awarded against them (- Ivanovic later admitted the penalty shouldn’t have been awarded)

Wow! Thats some list man! Nice to know a fellow die-hard Red devils fan. But let's get over it figo_united. The league season is 38 games long and all teams (at least the big ones) benefit from bad decisions. Some happen in big crucial games which can alter the path to glory. Lets kick some Scouse *** this weekend! GGMU!

Originally Posted by nfsfreak

Bad decisions now has become part of game.

IMHO, ManU really cannot complain here as they've received help numerous times to win matches, compared to those turned against them. People normally complain about ManU & SirAlex given preferential treatment in decisions. Can talk about how many times Nani or CR dived to win penalties.

Only way we can prevent these comments is by allowing reviews, not sure how feasible is that.

Let me see what the british press makes of David Luiz's indiscretions. Remember, the only thing talked about in the press after the Wigan game and even now was Rooney getting away with an elbow. Did I hear anybody talking that David Luiz should have been sent off - not one but two occasions??

[figo_united]

Originally Posted by nkapoor777

Wow! Thats some list man! Nice to know a fellow
die-hard Red devils fan. But let's get over it figo_united.

hello nkapoor777 Lets try and keep this thread active!

Originally Posted by nkapoor777

The league season is 38 games long and all teams (at least the big ones) benefit from bad decisions. Some happen in big crucial games which can alter the path to glory.

Thats true, but its not fair if it happens in the SAME fixture year after year, that too a fixture of such high significance! it cost us the title last season

[addyhemmige]

Originally Posted by nkapoor777

Some happen in big crucial games which can alter the path to glory. Lets kick some Scouse *** this weekend! GGMU!

And look who the scousers kicked off!! Looked like it was a great game. Couldn't see it since I was travelling. From the match reports I see that both Carragher and Rafael were lucky not to be sent off.

The title challenge is open now. All this while, I thought that Man Utd would run away with the title, but now Arsenal have been given another chance. it's up to them to utilize this chance. This is going right to the wire.

[nfsfreak]

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

All this while, I thought that Man Utd would run away with the title, but now Arsenal have been given another chance. it's up to them to utilize this chance. This is going right to the wire.

But a draw against Sunderland made sure that Arsenal still trailing by 3 points ( ) but with game in hand
All these makes Arsenal Vs ManU match at Emirates of utmost importance.

Arsenal vs Barca tomorrow. Lets see how gunners cope up without RVP or Walcott. Good news for Gunners is that Fabregas and Wilshere could play and Barca's first choice CBs (Puyol n Pique) will not play.