What a world we live in. It's the future, man. Not exactly the 'Jetsons' with talking robot maids (with sass) and food pills, but pretty darn close.
I was able to watch the first half of Cheslea 1, Barcelona 1 on television. Mind you, this is a game in England and I watch it live in the United States.
Next, I'm able to follow play-by-play, minute-by-minute updates of the second half at a high school baseball field via my cell phone.
Finally, due to the magic of DVRs I'm able to rewatch the second half I missed.
And for good measure the YouTubes had the Andres Iniesta goal posted shortly after the fulltime whistle, pending the inevitable UEFA copyright claim.
Anyways, some game, huh?
First and foremost, don't take this as straight-out Chelsea hate, but nobody wanted to see Manchester United/Chelsea -- Italian Style. And please, this wasn't a UEFA conspiracy pulled off by Michel Platini. Not even the insidious David Stern could pull off a hoodwink of that magnitude.
Basically, we saw that match already last year and it went to kick. Meh. Manchester United/Barcelona is simply more appealing. Fact.
One thing Wednesday's craziness at Stamford Bridge affirmed, why people like me loathe Chelsea. The displays during the final, waning minutes from captain caveman Michael Ballack was deplorable. The lack of class throughout from Didier Drogba is painful to watch. Even John Terry got in the ref's face. What's the point? Talk about sore losers.
And let's get down on Drogba. Chelsea fans want to throw all their anger at Norwegian ref Tom Henning Øvrebø. Fine with me. Do it. But reserve some for the Ivorian striker, who once again cost the team at chance at the trophy with the big ears.
Last week at the Camp Nou he blew a chance to give Chelsea an away goal.
Wednesday he had a glided chance on a plate in the 52nd minute, but again was denied by Victor Valdes.
His antics throughout are tiresome, too. The floppy, the crying, the chesting balls down with his arm. Enough already. Go to Italy, or anywhere.
That's probably the only major move Chelsea can make at this point, unless it totally shakes up the boat -- ship off Drogba -- and bring in any strike. You can afford it. Make Valencia an offer it can't refuse for David Villa. Make it a straight swap with Inter for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Anything, because what other move can the club make? Get a couple viable wide players?
Changing tone, it certainly has to suck to be a Chelsea fan right now just for that reason. The team is good enough to win the Champions League, but had its heart ripped out twice in two years. The team is great, but can't get over the hump -- even with Guus Hiddink's magic.
As Yankees' play-by-play soloist John Sterling might say -- That's baseball.
Now, a couple random thoughts.
* Michael Essien giveth, Michael Essien taketh away.
His goal was of the surreal variety. Nay, a one-in-a-lifetime variety. Notice who got the deflection started off Keita's back? Yep, Frank Lampard. He's got the magic touch. (And what was with the mad rush toward John Obi Mikel on the bench. I'll leave it at that.)
But as good as the Ghanian's goal was, he's whiffed clearance is the direct reason why Chelsea was knocked out.
* What was Dani Alves thinking? He might have swung his arms around more than Ricky Hatton did getting knocked out by Manny Pacquaio on Saturday. He'll be missed in Rome, natch.
* This clip of Michael Ballack is priceless.
* The would-be handball that Herr Ballack wanted called on Sammy Eto'o ... ehh... not that terrible. Kind of calls into question the whole ref's "swallowing the whistle" argument late in games. Personally, to decide that game in an extra time penalty, it just wouldn't sit well.
* Away goals? Let's discuss. UEFA, is this your best way to decide 180 minutes of football that ends 1-1?
* Naturally as English speakers, we'll get mostly the Brit take on this game. Let's not let what Barcelona did go unnoticed. Granted they are Barca, after all, but still it was a gritty, gutty win. No shots until Iniesta's goal, whilst down to 10 men and its second-string central defense? All the while getting beat up by Chelsea up-and-down the field? That's not too shabby. And to finally crack through the wall of blue shirts is impressive...even if they are Barcelona.
* Lionel Messi is going to need a massive final against Manchester United in Rome in a couple weeks to get that World Player of the Year award that everyone already wants to give him, since he was pretty invisible in this affair. Then again, he did thread the ball to Iniesta for the goal. Big play for a little player. (Sorry)
* Chelsea can be pretty pissed off that there wasn't a penalty called on Alves contact with Flourent Malouda in the box, but that red card on Eric Abidal for a phantom foul on Nic Anelka was probably the worst call in the game. How Barca responds without both fullbacks against Manchester United should be fun to see. I'd also wager Sir Alex Ferguson would trade Alves and Abidal for Darren Fletcher any day.
* Well, this might be moot since ESPN loses the Champions League and I won't hear Derek Rae after the final, but didn't we learn anything from the Euro last June? To say it was "surely now" the goal to put Barceloan through is a bit premature, no? Especially with Chelsea's knack for finding a late goal.
That's all I got and I want to watch "Lost."
Adios.
I was able to watch the first half of Cheslea 1, Barcelona 1 on television. Mind you, this is a game in England and I watch it live in the United States.
Next, I'm able to follow play-by-play, minute-by-minute updates of the second half at a high school baseball field via my cell phone.
Finally, due to the magic of DVRs I'm able to rewatch the second half I missed.
And for good measure the YouTubes had the Andres Iniesta goal posted shortly after the fulltime whistle, pending the inevitable UEFA copyright claim.
Anyways, some game, huh?
First and foremost, don't take this as straight-out Chelsea hate, but nobody wanted to see Manchester United/Chelsea -- Italian Style. And please, this wasn't a UEFA conspiracy pulled off by Michel Platini. Not even the insidious David Stern could pull off a hoodwink of that magnitude.
Basically, we saw that match already last year and it went to kick. Meh. Manchester United/Barcelona is simply more appealing. Fact.
One thing Wednesday's craziness at Stamford Bridge affirmed, why people like me loathe Chelsea. The displays during the final, waning minutes from captain caveman Michael Ballack was deplorable. The lack of class throughout from Didier Drogba is painful to watch. Even John Terry got in the ref's face. What's the point? Talk about sore losers.
And let's get down on Drogba. Chelsea fans want to throw all their anger at Norwegian ref Tom Henning Øvrebø. Fine with me. Do it. But reserve some for the Ivorian striker, who once again cost the team at chance at the trophy with the big ears.
Last week at the Camp Nou he blew a chance to give Chelsea an away goal.
Wednesday he had a glided chance on a plate in the 52nd minute, but again was denied by Victor Valdes.
His antics throughout are tiresome, too. The floppy, the crying, the chesting balls down with his arm. Enough already. Go to Italy, or anywhere.
That's probably the only major move Chelsea can make at this point, unless it totally shakes up the boat -- ship off Drogba -- and bring in any strike. You can afford it. Make Valencia an offer it can't refuse for David Villa. Make it a straight swap with Inter for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Anything, because what other move can the club make? Get a couple viable wide players?
Changing tone, it certainly has to suck to be a Chelsea fan right now just for that reason. The team is good enough to win the Champions League, but had its heart ripped out twice in two years. The team is great, but can't get over the hump -- even with Guus Hiddink's magic.
As Yankees' play-by-play soloist John Sterling might say -- That's baseball.
Now, a couple random thoughts.
* Michael Essien giveth, Michael Essien taketh away.
His goal was of the surreal variety. Nay, a one-in-a-lifetime variety. Notice who got the deflection started off Keita's back? Yep, Frank Lampard. He's got the magic touch. (And what was with the mad rush toward John Obi Mikel on the bench. I'll leave it at that.)
But as good as the Ghanian's goal was, he's whiffed clearance is the direct reason why Chelsea was knocked out.
* What was Dani Alves thinking? He might have swung his arms around more than Ricky Hatton did getting knocked out by Manny Pacquaio on Saturday. He'll be missed in Rome, natch.
* This clip of Michael Ballack is priceless.
* The would-be handball that Herr Ballack wanted called on Sammy Eto'o ... ehh... not that terrible. Kind of calls into question the whole ref's "swallowing the whistle" argument late in games. Personally, to decide that game in an extra time penalty, it just wouldn't sit well.
* Away goals? Let's discuss. UEFA, is this your best way to decide 180 minutes of football that ends 1-1?
* Naturally as English speakers, we'll get mostly the Brit take on this game. Let's not let what Barcelona did go unnoticed. Granted they are Barca, after all, but still it was a gritty, gutty win. No shots until Iniesta's goal, whilst down to 10 men and its second-string central defense? All the while getting beat up by Chelsea up-and-down the field? That's not too shabby. And to finally crack through the wall of blue shirts is impressive...even if they are Barcelona.
* Lionel Messi is going to need a massive final against Manchester United in Rome in a couple weeks to get that World Player of the Year award that everyone already wants to give him, since he was pretty invisible in this affair. Then again, he did thread the ball to Iniesta for the goal. Big play for a little player. (Sorry)
* Chelsea can be pretty pissed off that there wasn't a penalty called on Alves contact with Flourent Malouda in the box, but that red card on Eric Abidal for a phantom foul on Nic Anelka was probably the worst call in the game. How Barca responds without both fullbacks against Manchester United should be fun to see. I'd also wager Sir Alex Ferguson would trade Alves and Abidal for Darren Fletcher any day.
* Well, this might be moot since ESPN loses the Champions League and I won't hear Derek Rae after the final, but didn't we learn anything from the Euro last June? To say it was "surely now" the goal to put Barceloan through is a bit premature, no? Especially with Chelsea's knack for finding a late goal.
That's all I got and I want to watch "Lost."
Adios.
Labels: barcelona, champions league, Chelsea, Soccer
Surely fans of Chelsea will have lots of complaints about the refereeing and various claims for hand balls and penalties. Just as surely, every non-Chelsea fan will be relieved to not have to watch United-Chelsea AGAIN in Rome.
Barça did just enough and Iniesta (despite the unfortunate Landon Donovan hairline) managed to 'be champions' when he needed to be.
Chelsea had plenty of opportunity to get a second against a Barca back line without Puyol, Marquez or Abidal and weren't able, or perhaps willing, to push one across. I have little sympathy for them trying to inch out a 1-0 win over a two leg tie and failing.
Drogba should have spent more time burying one on one changes against Valdes than screaming four letter words at TV cameras.
Chelsea had 30 minutes of a man advantage, plenty of wide open chances (Mr. Fucking Disgrace in particular from six yards out), and decided to defend for 90 minutes in the 1st leg instead of trying for their own away goal that ended up beating them.
I don't feel sorry for them at all. I also think the no-calls were all pretty fair except the Pique hand ball which was still kind of 50/50. It was probably a make up for that horrible red card on Abidal anyways. Whatever, this neutral fan is glad to have a team to cheer for that I can actually stand. Even if they will have a makeshift defense that will probably get torched.
Chelsea does seem to do their "surround-the-ref-and-act-like-donkeys" act quite often, though they're hardly the only ones. Rooney has been known to do it on more than one occasion as well. Just look at Barca's reaction to the BS red card -- that's how you treat the refs, even when he's blown a call.
I know UEFA has the away goal rule because they want to do anything they can to stay away from PKs. But I agree -- it's not a great way to settle the match. But if we went to PKs more often in these 2-legged affairs, I think we'd be moaning about playing for draws even more.
(But UEFA DOES need to get rid of the away goal rule for ET. That makes zero sense.)
Just watched the Chelsea/Barça highlights again and it left me thinking about how utterly invisible Lionel Messi had been over both legs of the semi. Obviously, Hiddink wanted to take Messi out of the game like any smart manager would - but the Barça plan was certainly to do the same thing to Drogba. Now, the Ivorian SH*tman blew several chances but he was IN the game. Drogba always seemed a threat. Messi, until that final pass, might as well have been on the bench. Best player in the world?
Messi is a wonderful player, don't get me wrong. But I think that drawing conclusions on Messi (or any player/team) in Spain is impossible. La Liga is the 'And 1 Mixtape' league, and all results are for entertainment only. I'm not saying that Spain or Spanish players are no good - they won Euro 08.
But how good is Messi? Does his brilliance against the practice field defending in La Liga mean much? Remember all the players who have scored 20+ goals in Holland and then struggled in lands where defense is played. Yeah, I don't remember either.
La Liga is so top-heavy with the two big teams and so defending-averse that it is hard to judge how any player or team there would do in Italy or Germany or England. Rafer Alston was a hero on that 'And 1' tour and he is now a back-up player in the NBA and pretty much the ONLY guy to ever make that jump. Messi and Barca are going to make that same 'jump' the end of the month in Rome (minus lots of their already meager defense) so I guess we'll find out.
I like the And1 idea, but I wouldn't say La Liga is so top heavy.
Who would you take West Brom or Numancia?
You're right in the fact that Spanish players tend to give players like Messi a lot more space for fear of being blown by with speed.
Horrible feeling still from this loss. Lot's of issues most with my own team as Chelsea should have made all these arguments this morning moot with a second, but to control a game over two legs and instill their will, then to lose it late was crushing. I know Barca dominated possession, but they had only 1 serious chance, and it was in the 93rd minute. Gutted.
While I can not defend the post game antics, Eladio is right EVERY team does this, and the intensity was amped up as this is a CL semi, understandable in my mind and they were all penalized for their behavior.
On to the ref, At least the handball should have been called, I for one thought the Red Card was a makeup call for all of the fouls and take downs in the first half honestly, I think Pique's handball needed to be called. I can not understand the decision to call the Malouda foul outside the area, clearly he thought the first contact was fine, and the second contact was in the box. I could go on...
But Man U is going to smoke Barca. 3-1 and it won't be close.
I get your point about the bottom of the table - and I wasn't necessarily making a team for team comparison.
Barça is up 25 points on the third place team in La Liga. That is a huge gap. Besides just the gap in the table - I see a pretty big gap in quality between the top two in Spain and the rest of the league.
Based on my (very) amateur observation I would say that the third place team in La Liga is as far behind the quality of the top team as Everton or Aston Villa (fifth or sixth in England) is behind Man United. The teams chasing Real and Barça (Sevilla, Valencia, Atletico M and Villareal) are a good bit more off the pace than Chelsea and Arsenal are from the top in the Barclays.
And my point isn't the quality of Numancia versus WBA or Newcrapstle - but the size of the gap between them and the top of the league. The more 'easy-ish' games on the schedule for Barça and Messi - the more 4-0 and 6-1 games they can rack up. La Liga is already more offense than defense and add in those blow-outs and you get a distorted perception of how good Messi is because he dances around against overmatched opposition after they are already dis-spirited by being down 3-0 at the half.
Racking up stats in the dead ends of games makes for great Youtubes. Yankee fans hate on ARod for hitting most of his homers in games that are already decided, and it seems like Messi (and all the Barça attackers) rack up numbers in similar situations. Playing Bayern in the CL also gives no additional info.
Once again, I am not suggesting Messi isn't a wonderful, wonderful player. Just that the La Liga facts in evidence can only give a partial picture. The CL final is just a single game, but if Messi can look like the 'world's best player' against the 'best' team in the world he might make up for being the invisible man for nearly 180 minutes against Chelsea.
If Chelsea had scored when Barca was down 10 men do you believe for a second that Pep, Lionel, Inesta and the rest of that bunch would have chased down the ref your nuts. I wouldn’t have been in a spot to blame them. Why should an ounce of respect be given to someone who was as incompetent as Overbo. Drogba took things a bit too far and will likely be dealt with by UEFA. Chelsea are the evil empire of football and will be demonized anytime the opportunity arises. Poor officiating marred a great game of football. It is comical that players are lambasted for yelling at officials, lets take into consideration the magnitude of this game, they have every right to be livid and Overbo has no right to escape the pitch without hearing about it.
It is also a shame that Essien's wonder strike will be overshadowed.
That goal fucking ripped.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/2482274/
If Overbo calls for a PK on that Malouda foul early on in the game things might have gone differently for him. He was trying so hard to not decide the outcome that he ended up deciding the outcome.
When does Chelsea play Arsenal for third place?
The Malouda foul was in the box, but I am OK with that PK not being given. Technically, the first contact took place outside the box so whatever on the PK. The Drogba claim could have been given, but due to his non-stop antics should not have been given. The Pique handball was blatant and should have been given. The second handball that Ballack screamed about probably should have been given also.
I will say agree that the Chelsea players reaction was over the line and lacking in class, particularly Ballack. But you can't lump make a general statement about how they always pull that stuff. Chelsea has been much better with regards to harrassing the ref this season. Barca was worse with regards to that in the first leg, anyways. Also, Dani Alves is a twat and should have been sent off for dissent and/or foul play in one or both of these legs.
Chelsea definately should have been ahead by more than 1-0 and never in that situation. As a Chelsea fan, I can certainly understand they feel cheated; as a former ref, I try to cut more slack and won't pile on.
If Chelsea could just go ahead and get eliminated from this tournament, I would be a much more mellow person. PK's the last two years, then this is almost too much.
And if you're going to complain about commentary, how about Tommy Smyth? He is horrible. It's like he watches a game that's played in an alternate dimension where everything that happens is the opposite of what I see.
Chelsea probably should have had two penalties -- the Abidal pulldown of Drogba and the Pique handball. I don't think the Malouda foul was deserving of a PK and the Abidal redcard was harsh (although he probably should have gotten one for the earlier foul and was very close to getting another one earlier). But every game their are calls in the box that could have gone either way.
That being said, with the exception of a one in a hundred wonder goal by Essian, Chelsea couldn't score. How can they claim to be the better team when they get only get a "lucky" goal?
WSD has been having kind of a low-level ongoing debate about Messi v. Ronaldo for most of this season, but to me it seems pointless. CRon is just an immensely better and more valuable player. I like Messi a lot better, and he's more fun to watch when he's on, but he basically just does one thing incredibly well, which is run at people with the ball at his feet. Now, he's a virtuosic genius at that and it's beautiful to watch, but as in these Chelsea games, if you bottle that up there is no plan B. He can't affect the game in other ways, like from dead balls, or scoring with his head, or with his back to the goal, or defensively. CRon can do all of these things, and he's still pretty damned good at Messi's skillset too.
Hell, if I were starting a team I'd probably take Essien before I'd take Messi too. Crappy last-ditch clearance in this game aside, he's the best 2-way midfielder in the world when he's healthy. He's a monster. Well, he is if Xavi isn't. Xavi is way more valuable to Barca than Messi for me as well.
As far as the game goes, amazing stuff, cascading ref failure. Don't think Chelsea can complain a lot though... they lost a penalty on Pique's handball but they got a free phantom red card. The Malouda thing was never a penalty for me. Should have been the typical inside-the-box no-call on a marginal foul, but since it was on the edge, they gave it outside the box instead.