Barcelona vs Arsenal.

Real Madrid hasn't gone further than 1/8 finals in last 5 years, hardly a contender for trophy. This year they can maybe go far, but recently only Barcelona made significant results.

Liverpool too can be good in CL, if this * in past season and a half didn't happen, they'd continue to dominate in Europe along with Man. United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

So?

 

Exactly, this guy Ciaran doesn't know what he's talking about, just another brainwashed EPL fanboy.

 

With regards to the match, I found myself sitting laughing at just how good Barca's attacking movement is. I actually feel bad for future Barca sides because they're forever going to be compared with the current one. Messi's composure for both of his goals was absolutely spot on.

The red card decision for Van Persie was dreadful, and I listened to him say that it killed the game. But he can't complain when Arsenal had 0 attempts on goal.

 

EPL has the lowest amout of Englishmen compared to respective leagues in Europe, about 1/3.

Arsenal are one of the biggest disgraces, just ONE englishmen tonight!

Afew years out of date but :

BBC - Sport Editors: Premier League lacking English talent

BBC SPORT | Football | Brooking fears for England future

To be honest mate those 6 names you've mentioned are an ever decreasing list and this summer they proved what the premierSHIT has done to our beautiful game at a national level.

SPL are much better at giving homegrown players a chance.

 

It was impressive, it reminded me of a certain team.

 

Fair points. Surely there are quite a few more English players looking to break through though?

 

So..it's the reason why England are so *, kinda important if they ever want to win the WC.

 

England have better teams in the 3-6 position but I would say Spain is stronger at the lower end, and tonight proved (if we didn't know already), the top.

Nasri would be the only arsenal player to get into the barca squad.

Fabregas doesn't get a game for Spain Because of busquests!

 

No doubt, but they get overlooked and cast into the lower leagues and never improve. Cos of the demand for success in EPL they can't afford to gamble by waiting for a homegrown to come good.

 

I can understand that, it's usually the same with Celtic and Rangers. However, financial restrictions in the transfer market just now are perhaps forcing our teams to give youth a chance.

 

Pretty much sums it all up.

As much as Van Persie is a *, it was a ridiculous decision to send him off. But then again they didn't stand much chance against that Barcelona's tempo. Plus Bendtner's first touch when Wilshire sent him excellent ball ruined their every chance of taking anything.

Noticed how Arsenal's defence could never take a breathe for few seconds, as soon as they clear the ball suddenly Xavi and Iniesta are right in front of them.

If Affelay, Messi and Alves didn't miss so many times, 6+ goals could've been in Arsenal's net.

Who mentioned World Cup and England? I was talking about Premiership teams.

 

Do you think maybe the ref realised at HT that he should have sent RVP off and saw an opportunity to right his wrong? That was my first thought although I still argue that it was RVP's own fault and a deserved booking.

 

Barca defend in the other team's half. As soon as they lose the ball they have several players pressing the opponent on the ball to win it back. You need incredible composure, awareness and passing to play against Barca when they're pressing you like that.

Completely agree that they could have scored 6, if not for some good last ditch tackles.

 

Not his fault the ref didn't send him off first time. The second yellow was a very harsh and wrong decision. There was roughly a 1 second gap between the whistle and VP's shot.

 

Yea and they are killing the national game.

I know you want to see your team do well and dominate (believe me i'm loving it at the minute with Brighton) and foriegn players add flair no doubt, but when you're team is almost entirely foriegners then something is desperately wrong. For me Arsenal epitomizes everything thats * up with English football.

I'm glad to hear than Celtic and the neanderthals are doing their bit (albeit due to finances), cos you've got to have more local kids realising their dream of playing for their hometown club.

 

if im honest i think the lower prem teams are a bit better than the lower spanish ones, only down to money tho, but i do enjoy watching the spanish league over the english and one thing im sure about, Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City, Spurs, no-one in england is close to this barca team imo

on tonights game however, even tho RVP was harshly sent off, Arsenal were outclassed

 

Almost all of Celtic's first team is foreign.

'It's not his creed nor his nationality which counts, it's the man himself.'

 

The one thing I noticed about Barca tonight was whoever went out wide when they were upto the 18 yard box , was playing on the shoulder of the deepest back 4 player and they were always making the run forward for the pass , If the pass didn't come they were straight back onside.. I saw Villa doing that something like 3 times in one move when Messi was dancing across their 18 yard line.. Compare that to any team you see regularly in the EPL , SPL or Championship where a guy who makes the forward run anticipating the pass , is still off-side 3 seconds later as the ball eventually gets to him... That doesn't even come down to quality , it's just a discipline ingrained into the Barcelona team which doesn't allow for lazyness to creep in..

 

Do you not care that it's effecting your national game though?

There should be a balance, would you not want your kid (assuming you have a lad) to represent celtic one day?