Champions League 2012/2013

That should have had a graphic and sexual scenes warning

 

Biggest defeat in aggregatae in champions league history

 

I said months and months ago Barca' reign was over. I was right then and I am patently right now. It's not a knee * reaction. Barca haven't won the Champions League for 2 years, and that with the "greatest ever team" as well. If they were truly the greatest they should be steamrollering everything and everyone in sight, like Stein's 67 team, like Bayern in the 70s, Liverpool in the 80s or Ajax's total football team. But that's by the by.
Their current incarnation and dominance, is certainly over. If Real get a manager who can bring them together and make them play to anything near their ability, then they will be better. Dortmund and Bayern are already far superior to them. And anyone one of the English teams could just spend a few more million and surpass them.

It's all been downhill for Barca since the CL final of 2011, where they were astonishingly good.
Since then, they have more often than not, been intensely boring and * to watch. Unlike Morunho's teams though, they have not had the good results to make up for the * performances.

Goodbye Barca, you had a good run, now it's someone else's turn.

 

Well done Bayern, humiliated Barcelona over both legs.

 

Sounds absurd when they talk about Dundee United beating Barcelona over two legs in 1987 :smiley-laughing002:

 

Barça are still in intriguing prospect for next year if they sign another goal-scoring threat and an actual CB. The strife with Villanova (they lost some momentum with Roura), Messi's injury (plus all the other injuries), other sides figuring out how to play them, and them just not having another generation of equal talent from the youth system culminated in this annihilation. I'd like to see what can happen with Messi better, Deulofeu promoted, plus having an attacker, CB, and better GK signed. They have a lot of ground to make up.

 

Barcelona will be back, undoubtedly.

But they are going to find it hard to regain their status as the best side in world football, as long as this current Bayern crop are around.

 

Can't wait for the final

I'm in dortmunds corner pure for the lambert link

 

Great post.

 

Robben's been excellent again tonight. Hope he stays fit for once The whole team btw.

 

Their reign as the undisputed top club is definitely over, but they've still made the CL semifinals for what seems like forever in a row. It's not exactly like they're * now and most people actually agree that they've been more exciting this year because Villanova emphasized more on the offensive side than defensive side. They have already scored 6 more goals than that fantastically entertaining 2011 side in La Liga while surrendering about 15 more goals, still with 5 matches to spare. The suffocating defense of Guardiola is over, Villanova is much more open and they ship more goals, score more goals, and have less possession.

I feel like the only reason people like to see amazing sides is to tear them down in an effort to show how much smarter they were that they predicted their downfall. This is a historic defeat, but they still have the best player in the world with a fantastic set-up.

 

Astonishing football on display from Bayern, this is going to be a great final. Two rivals from Germany battling it out to be named the best team in the world.

 

Since Wembley
La Liga x1
Copa Del Rey x1
Spanish Supercup x1
UEFA Supercup x1
World Club Cup x1

It's been all downhill.

 

Kinda agree. The main problem was they never strengthened their squad. If they added an out and out striker, a commanding defender and a strong keeper, they could have dominated the last few years. Problem was, they signed to many mediocre players, by Barca standards. Sanchez, Song, Fabregas and Alba were their signings over the last two years. With the expection of Alba, they are squad players. Alexis Sanchez isnt a striker and been a bit of a disappointment. They seem scared to sign a striker.

Too early to write their epitaph, but a massive restructuring is needed. Be intersting to see what happens in the summer.

 

The kids all over the world will have a new team to support now.

 

Massive statement from Bayern tonight, Barca are definitely a shadow of the 2011 side, they need to rebuild or be left behind, Still think Dortmund will win, I'll probably get criticism for this but I think Dortmund have more talent in certain areas such as the wings than Bayern do

 

People honestly think Barca just need to buy Falcao and they'll be on top again, lol.
They need a GK, at least 2 world class defenders, two wingers and a top centre mid to replace Xavi, as well as another striker, maybe two if they lose both Sanchez and Villa.
They need to sell Valdes, Dani Alves, Pedro, Song, Villa, Sanchez as well at least.

I will be interested to see which way they will go:
Either, sell all the * and promote the youths (Montoya, Thiago, Tello, Delofeu, Cuenca, Bartra) play them all the time, rather than just giving them token appearances every now and again and hope that they turn out good enough.

Or they go mad and spend 100 mill to try and get back to the top. But as I've said they're already behind Bayern for next season, and the English teams surely won't be as * again. I'm telling you Barca have a serious dilemma. Plus on top of all the problems with players, they've still got a massive problem with their manager. Is he really all that good? He's romped the league because Real, bizzarrely, threw the towel in straight away. But he's lost the cup and, most crucially, the CL. Then there's his health issues. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they relieved Tito and looked for a new manager, which is yet another huge problem for them.

 

Did that not start last week ?