tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post3377569036435871090..comments2024-03-22T05:48:26.129-05:00Comments on Braves & Birds: Are you Jose Mourinho in Disguise?Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-25472380142375560642009-05-01T07:46:00.000-05:002009-05-01T07:46:00.000-05:00Brewhouse Cafe. It's the epicenter for watching f...Brewhouse Cafe. It's the epicenter for watching footie in Atlanta. I watched the second legs against Chelsea, Benfica, and Milan at Brewhouse in '06, so I might need to go next Wednesday for good luck.<br /><br />Fado is Buckhead is also good.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-13674665417635381922009-04-30T15:42:00.000-05:002009-04-30T15:42:00.000-05:00Funny, I'm having this discussion while sitting in...Funny, I'm having this discussion while sitting in my office and to the left of me is a picture of me and my son and I'm wearing a Barca jersey. <br /><br />I support Barca against anyone in the world, except Chelsea. <br /><br />Chelsea has been better defending set pieces under Hiddink. I certainly agree with you there. But it still seems to be the way to attack them. Maybe it's still the memory of zonal marking from earlier in the year, but I'm terrified on any corner. <br /><br />Hiddink will open it up slightly at the Bridge. Having Ashley Cole back will strengthen the back line and now with a weakness in Barca center defense, Hiddink seemingly has the opportunity to be more forward in his attack. Still I expect our opportunities to come on counter attacks. <br /><br />Michael, you've following this longer than I have, what's the best place to watch a Wednesday afternoon match in Atlanta?Fritz Upchuckleshttp://www.primerica.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-647422490635793032009-04-30T15:27:00.000-05:002009-04-30T15:27:00.000-05:00Chelsea struggled to defend set pieces under Scola...Chelsea struggled to defend set pieces under Scolari. They've been better under Hiddink. Their players are all taller than Barca's. Barca lobbed a number of corners into the box and Chelsea dealt with them fairly well. How much more adapting did they need to do? Change their entire style of play to have Messi lobbing in crosses to Yaya Toure?<br /><br />Barca rarely complain about refs. Pep has avoided it this year. When you have an obvious penalty claim denied and the opponent can foul you all game and only get two cards, then you have grounds to complain.<br /><br />Martin Caceres is probably going to play center back. He's fifth choice after Puyol, Milito, Pique, and Marquez. You can probably guess how good he is. (Not very.) The other option would be to play Abidal at center back and put Sylvinho in a left back.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-20990598805174873812009-04-30T14:54:00.000-05:002009-04-30T14:54:00.000-05:00If Barca are as ethereally-gifted as we all agree ...If Barca are as ethereally-gifted as we all agree they are, is there any disgrace in going into the game with spoiling tactics? Get over it. It’s a shame that in trying to advance, Hiddink forgot to entertain you as well. <br /><br />As to the match itself, regardless of Chelsea’s tactics, Barca did a poor job of exploiting Chelsea’s weaknesses. Chelsea has shown time and time again that they struggle defending set-pieces in the air but Barca refused to throw the ball into the box. Had Chelsea been playing ManU, Arsenal or, hell even Hull City, they would be throwing the ball right under Cech’s crossbar. They were stubborn and didn’t adapt. Pep has to come up with a system to break Chelsea down. He hasn’t proven yet that he can do that. <br /><br />I think Barca is the best team in the world and they’re still heavy favorites to advance. But all this crying at Chelsea’s tactics and the referee has really made me question Barca’s mental strength. <br /><br />Who’s left to play center-defense for Barca at the Bridge? That’s the real concern (aside from this weekend’s match with Real) not with that Chelsea did.Fritz Upchuckleshttp://www.gabar.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-13316253027473831072009-04-30T13:43:00.000-05:002009-04-30T13:43:00.000-05:00It didn't have the feel of strong-armed bully to m...It didn't have the feel of strong-armed bully to me, nothing like watching the Pistons or Knicks thugging up the NBA in the late 80's and early 90's. There was nothing intimidating about their style of play, it was a simple case of 10 guys holding hands in front of goal because they have the home leg coming up.<br /><br />I will give gruding kudos for having MESSI! well-marked, but it was a cowardly display that I had hoped we were done with in top-flight competition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-78577297055299356342009-04-30T13:02:00.000-05:002009-04-30T13:02:00.000-05:00No, playing with ten behind the ball is playing li...No, playing with ten behind the ball is playing like a puss. It broadcasts "we don't think that we can compete, so we're going to go into a shell for 90 minutes and hope that Barca miss their chances."<br /><br />Everyone who takes the "what else did you expect Chelsea to do?" line is acting as if there is no happy medium between playing 3-2-5 like '54 Hungary and doing a bad imitation of '94 Norway and Ireland, which is what Chelsea did. It's apparently too much to ask that a team with internationals at every position would commit more than one player to attack.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-44508229330568158972009-04-30T12:38:00.000-05:002009-04-30T12:38:00.000-05:00Anony - Playing like vaginas?! If anything, Chelse...Anony - Playing like vaginas?! If anything, Chelsea played the role of the strong-armed bully. <br /><br />Hiddink would have been an idiot to send a team to Camp Nou to trade goals and see who gets the most. No one remembers losing semi-finalists, or even the manner in which they lose. Just get through it and avoid elimination.Fritz Unchuckleshttp://www.odwalla.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-26661666994062558372009-04-30T11:40:00.000-05:002009-04-30T11:40:00.000-05:00Yes Fritz, crying in the press is much more embara...Yes Fritz, crying in the press is much more embarassing than playing like a bunch of vaginas.<br /><br />The only thing Chelsea deserve from their display of football is a heaping pile of scorn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-69876514327818960472009-04-29T16:15:00.000-05:002009-04-29T16:15:00.000-05:00I hope Chelsea plays a different game on Wednesday...I hope Chelsea plays a different game on Wednesday. But with that said, they are never going to play Barca at their own game. That's just not smart football. Discipline is going to key to Chelsea advancing. That and a few long balls to Drogs. Hiddick can save the artistry for ManU in the final - if they make it that far.<br /><br />All the crying in the Spanish press is embarassing. Save some manhood for the Real match.Fritz Upchuckleshttp://www.theinternetisterrible.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-7486089142498060502009-04-29T09:02:00.000-05:002009-04-29T09:02:00.000-05:00Everyone hates you.Everyone hates you.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-1419174534519804132009-04-29T08:33:00.000-05:002009-04-29T08:33:00.000-05:00boo-hoo, crybabyboo-hoo, crybabyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com