Within every fanatic there is someone who genuinely likes football and appreciates the game at its highest level. Barcelona are simply sensational and it is a pleasure to watch them play. There is nobody to blame for United’s defeat at the hands of the Spanish giants and we have no choice but to be humble, magnanimous and respectful of what is a truly great team.
This Manchester United side have achieved everything they could have this season. They deserve great credit and I am proud of them. Faced with a far superior opponent we looked second best, there is certainly no shame in that. We held our own for long periods against what may well be the finest football team in history.
Pep finally manages to pass the kidney stone
Rooney was nothing short of brilliant. Not only his goal but also his work rate were inspirational. You can see from the look in his eyes that this will not be his, nor our, last Champions League final.
You could not have asked much more from our players. Perhaps Chicharito was a little anonymous, maybe Valencia a touch too sulphurous, but frankly, it wouldn’t have mattered much either way. We were simply torn to pieces.
The tremendous thing about Barcelona is that they are brilliant both with the ball and brilliant without it. As late as the 86th minute they were chasing the ball down in our penalty area. There was constant pressure. They didn’t need to do that. It is just one of many reasons why they are so good. It should also be said that this was a fair game. There was no play-acting, no dirty tackles that I could see. It was only impressive.
In his last game as a professional footballer Van Der Sar put in a performance that reminds us how much he will be missed. The acquisition of a new goalkeeper will be just one of the moves United make in this summer’s transfer window. The elder statesmen, Giggs and Scholes will now need to be replaced too. There can be no more chastening way to learn you need to spruce up your midfield.
One suspects that we have seen the last of Dimitar Berbatov as a Manchester United player too. He was not sat among the players party during the game and his omission from even the bench was glaring. Whatever the story is there you can be pretty sure it is goodnight Vienna for the Bulgar.
Much like in Rome two years ago Ferguson was left motionless on the bench for the last half hour, out of ideas. He knew the jig was up, it would be physically impossible to maintain the pressure we put on them in the first 17 minutes. The great man is realistic enough to recognise quality when he sees it; "In my time as a manager, it's the best team we have ever faced. No one has ever given us a hiding like that".
Well done to Barcelona, they are worthy champions and we are lucky we didn’t lose by more. But as a Manchester United fan I hold my head high, we gave it a real go and that was one of the best European Finals for a long while. Besides, we’ll be back; "We've raised our play in Europe over last few years because we wanted to. We'll get better next year," says Alex Ferguson. It has still been a great season and Manchester United will march again.
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Comments
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Posted by Andrew on 05/28/2011
Arsenal still gave Barca the toughest fixture all season.
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Posted by Raj on 05/28/2011
It was the same when you played Schalke , you weren't brilliant but you looked brilliant , Barca today was for the taking , you had no midfield
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Posted by bigfem on 05/28/2011
barca was simply immaculate 2day. No doubt. But it was nani who lost us that game.
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Posted by Nathan Quao on 05/28/2011
Right on point,Mark.Barcelona were head,shoulders and bodies above us tonight and we can't take anything away from them.They are simply stunning.
We gave it everything tonight and a player like Rooney should look at himself in the mirror and be proud of himself.He worked hard and he scored a goal.It was clear we would have a tough game and so I didn't expect Chicharito to be an influence tonight but we've endured a tough season.Nobody thought we would be here tonight.All the pundits,writers and journalists said Real Madrid,Chelsea and Barcelona were the picks for this final and they said we were terrible but we got here and in this,we should find pride.
We should build and give it one more go at next season.We'll come good eventually.I know it.
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Posted by aussiered on 05/29/2011
Majestic in defeat. SAF nearly brought me to tears watching him walk past the trophy. The look in his eyes told it all and he will already be plotting another campaign. Berbe gone already vds picking his pension. Who will be next. For one a hope that true united fans understand what happened tonight because the boys did well and have delivered beyond expectation. So hurry up summer or winter depending upon you hemisphere and lets get going again.
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Posted by narniat on 05/29/2011
Agreed, and it goes both ways: I'm no ManU fan, in fact I am pretty far from being a ManU fan, but (as a fan of quality football) I have to respect their quality of play, sportsmanship and overall effort. Both teams played hard and fair...Real Madrid should be taking notes from both teams today. It was a joy to watch; beautiful beautiful football.
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Posted by Ian Hough on 05/29/2011
"Sulphurous" - it's not every day you see words like that in football blags, sorry blogs, but the man you applied that label to - Tony V - was missed most today.
Valencia has been inspirational since he resumed business on the right wing, but today it was downright weird seeing him play as a deeply-embedded clogger. How he didn't get sent off is a mystery. When one of theirs (I forget who now) got a yellow for pretty much his first offence I couldn't help but believe the Gods were smiling upon us. Unfortunately, we were playing AGAINST the Gods; Messi, Iniesta, Villa, Xavi, etc, simply outplayed us in the way continental sides used to outplay British sides way back when. We may have discovered tapas and jamon iberico this past few years, but I fear the real basis of this Latin superiority is rooted deeper than that. It's in the DNA.
The only differences between today and '09 were that we scored today, and (to our shame) we KNEW today how strong they were. Not that it did us any good.
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Posted by Sadly on 05/29/2011
I said after Rome and I will say it again-the way to have a CHANCE is fighting fire with fire and use our best passers of the ball-Scholes-Giggs should have started-and possible Anderson too---I also in general like Nani against Spanish sides---I thought that Berba should have STARTED not to mention left out. It was never going to be easy to get Chicha going with less than 40% of the ball-Berba's control would (maybe) have allowed more Rooney magic---Would it have helped-we'll never know-Evra did not do us proud and like we did against Arsenal we gave a goal within seconds of making a substitution-c'mon---
Barca were majestic but they also got the underdogs on a day when too many were not good enough-for United to give away 3 on a day when Rio and Vidic played well tells the story---to have only three players play well is not enough against Blackburn---and on to our next Wemberley date with City--Is it August 7th yet?
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Posted by Phil Walker on 05/29/2011
All very well written and I totally agree. I'm pretty devastated but Barca were awesome from start to finish and were a class above us constantly. I agree though that our European performances have been improving in the last few years and will hopefully get better. Still a great season clinching our 19th title. The team and all us supporters can all be really proud. Sir Alex's attitude to the defeat and recognition of Barca's amazing quality was great too. There certainly wasn't any shame on our part. Congratulations to Barcelona.Man United will be back.
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Posted by jnelson on 05/29/2011
class in a glass. well written. great game..
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Posted by Mike Stevens on 05/29/2011
All this talk of Sir Alex as one of the greats, which he surely is, but no Berbatov. He puts Owen on the bench and Berbatov is gone? Really? Berbatov just split the honors with Tevez as the Prem's leader scorer, at 20 goals. Owen, HAS NEVER SCORED 20 GOALS IN ANY ONE SEASON AS A PLAYER. That's an Opta stat curio, the fact that Owen has been so highly rated and priced, yet never reached the 20 goal marker any one Premier League Season (Only Premier League games, not European or Cup ties). I mean, he won the golden boot twice, twice he tied for the golden boot each time! And not with only one other person, but two, three-way ties as leading goalscorer, on 18 goals a piece. 1998, with Dion Dublin and Chris Sutton and 1999 with J.Floyd Hasselbaink and D. Yorke.
So, where was Berbatov again, at 20 goals, and way was a man who'd never scored 20 in a 38 game season in his place on the bench?
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Posted by Mo on 05/29/2011
One of the weakest United sides we've come to see in a while, but with United these things are all on paper. As they all proved at Wembley, when we get onto the pitch we gave it our all. All credit to Rooney Vida and Rio they were phenomenal. As much as Giggs can still play beautiful football, a 37 year old, even if that may be Ryan Giggs, can not match up to the pace of Barcelona, especially Messi, Iniesta and Xavi.
But regardless of the outcome. I'm very proud of our team. They came this far, their third final in 4 years, we KNOCKED liverpool of their F***ing perch, clinching a record 19 league titles. That's a big big bloody deal!
This won't be our last final and we will lift the cup again, maybe even from Barcelona. Just strengthen up our midfield and get a fantastic new keeper. GGMUTD!!
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Posted by Prabudh Goel on 05/29/2011
Good game. No Play acting. Good game by the referee. Proud of our players who gave all they had.
Just a thought on the formation. The way Madrid played them at Camp Nou.. 4(usual)-3(arrick,Wazza,Giggs)-3(Tony,Chich,Park).. Valencia and Park at the flanks making sure Barca full backs don't go forward. Rooney at the center with Giggs and Carrick against Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, and Chicharito up at front. Would have been different but could have given us a chance.
This team has depth to challenge for the league but not the best 11 for Europe. We need to buy some expensive proven quality to address that.
Congrats to Barca
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Posted by oswell mugota on 05/29/2011
Hats off to sir alex and the team,you did your best.its only that Barca was too good,especially messi.they move with gret speed and they give accurate passes.one mo thing that made our loss was that barca was shooting from afar otherwise in the box vida and rio were good.tough luck berba.
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Posted by Ben on 05/29/2011
As a Man United player, when you lose to such a great team as Barcelona, there's nothing you can do but accept the fate that they are definitely the best team in the world, and I agree on that Mark.
We might not be the best, but we were there at some point before Barca came into the picture. We were there before, and I guess our era might have ended. But eras continue after long waits.
I must say I heard the live commentary on radio, and when Villa shot the 3rd goal, I bet every United player's heart was smashed to smithereens in seconds.
But this is what we must accept graciouslly. If Sir Alex can do it, why can't we? There's no 'try again' next time, because we'll be in it the next time.
And right now, I guess we'll be searching for the likes of replacing Edwin Van der Sar, Scholes and Giggs, who have been fantastic in their United careers. Cheers to them.
And from now, let's hope United can do it the next season, and on. Glory Man United. Excellent season.
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Posted by Prasad on 05/29/2011
I'm not UTD fan,but, my 2 cents here.This Barca rips you apart(Giggs has some other works to do since 1991 ;) )if you try countering their strengths.Everyone knows,they are legendary in their build up play & passing game in midfield.When you try countering this in your midfield(certainly not best united midfield in years),you get punished. Park Ji Sung,the man in form, was busy marking Messi. Ryan Giggs was never given a go.Valencia didn't show his trademark runs & crosses.Instead all the midfield was trying to choke Barca midfield only to fail miserably.
Inter last year & Chelsea(almost twice - in that 1-1) in recent past have done it by focusing on their strengths-instead wasting energy trying to stop what Barca do best.They focussed on their strengths - defense & counter attacks.
SAF is far knowledgeable than me & I respect him. This defeat is no disgrace. But,my feeble mind feels United could have done better by focusing on through balls, triangles & one-two(see Rooney's goal).
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Posted by TYB on 05/29/2011
Barca deserved it thoroughly. Still it's no consolation to come in as 2nd best. One has to wonder what does it take to beat Barca. There's a reason they play how good they did, it's Barcelona's philosophy of football, ingrained into their young players since they were at their teens, or maybe even before that. The likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, and co, displaying a midfield masterclass like that, all were the result of Barca's training which took decades to produce. I'd say nobody in the world can play the style of football as well as they did simply because no one has the patience to build that kind of philosophy Barca did. The only way I see Barca can be beaten (not through luck) is Mourinho's Inter Milan kind of team, which he almost replicated with the current Real team, and even then you hope things go your way. So in conclusion, this current Barca crop IMO is one of the best teams of all time. There's no shame losing to a team like that,but it hurts knowing MU is 2nd best.
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Posted by JJ on 05/29/2011
We cannot use Barca's good football as reason to "accept failure". In football you must beat the best as they say 'in football anything can happen'. MU and Barca are professional football clubs - they live by playing football. You can't tell me that we should lose to Barca every time we meet just because 'they are the best at the moment'. After Rome we heard the same comments. So, if we go to the final again against Barca we will give the game away to them because they are the best? We can't prepare in 4 weeks to counter a team that plays one style of football (and we know they will). Last night MU had the same tactics used in 2009 - 'start at high pace and die after 10 minutes'. Lack of anticipation of passes and off-the ball runs by Barca was the order of the game. It made Barca look great. Poor play by MU. WE CAN'T ACCEPT FAILURE AND PAT OURSELVES AT THE BACK!!
Berba - sad. I don't know what he has done to deserve the "TEVEZ" treatment - We will see.
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Posted by Stijn on 05/29/2011
Hey Mark,
It hurts badly but I have to admit your analysis is right. But don't you think Ferguson was a bit 'naïve' by playing our normal game? I should have left Chicharito off and put Fletcher next to Carrick in the hope we could block their midfield with a huge wall.
Grtz
Stijn
GGMU
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Posted by Nana Nti on 05/29/2011
SAF and the boys deserve credit. Loosing to Barca and not any other team is even credit itself. Bravo!
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Posted by dk on 05/29/2011
Man utd n barca are domestic champions, they are good no doubt. But no way should any man utd fan declare this as one of the best CL finals ever when its dominated by barca for almost 80min. Such talk only distracts from the gulf in tactics & quality btw both teams. It is only a brilliant final because barca was brilliant. It was not a real go from man utd, and I think their fans firstly need to acknowledge that.
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Posted by RedDevilsFan on 05/29/2011
I think both managers got their tactics right... Barcelona just had better players doing what their manager told them to do... It was a good game... The lads played their hearts out and everyone can see after 90 minutes that they were already burning to have another go next season....
Berbas exclusion surprised me... i thought he would have at least started on the bench.... I hope he's not leaving but if he is... the club is bigger than any man...
We'll be back next season.... Glory Glory Man United! March on lads!
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Posted by chrishaun on 05/29/2011
COngrats Barcelona on their triumph. But some utd players did the team no favours with their displays. Notably Carrick followed by valencia and evra. Come on carrick this is the CL finals what more motivation do you need? Why did SAF leave out scholes, anderson and nani puzzles me. Even if these 3 players started we might not have won but at least would surely have given Barcelon a run for their money. SAF obsession with lesser players would have to stop. A team's midfield is like the brain and heart of the team, yesterday's midfield was daft of ideas and congested with weakness.
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Posted by Ashvin Abraham on 05/29/2011
The fact of the matter is that English Teams are really not that good at all. They spend a lot of time on making noise about how sensational they are, but there are quite a few international teams that are far superior. Bullying Blackpool, West Brom, West Ham, & the like is a very diffent prospect from playing Barca - they made United look like Buffoons yesterday.
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Posted by Fire Red on 05/29/2011
Although it ended as a loss, but the players has done their very best, to been dump out by Barca, it ok for SAF too, maybe next season,with more talented players, a Champions League trophy can be acquired. Rooney plays well today, goal in the very on target. It just that MVP formation kill the game.
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Posted by Ethan on 05/29/2011
Rooney was not that good. He scored the goal (Giggs was offside by the way) and that was really all he contributed. He had his moments where he was involved in the counter attack, but that was it. He kept wasting the ball and then complaining to the ref every time he didn't get a foul. This was not as hardly fought as you seem to try and make it appear... 70-30 possession, united only offered 4 shots the whole game, and only the offside goal was on target. United had the first 15 minutes and after that it was Barca 100% of the time. Giggs had gone missing, with Carrick in the midfield you can only expect a loss. Ferdinand couldn't keep up with any of the forwards and Chich needs to be told the offside rule in Spanish so that he understands. Park played alright, and Valencia was extremely lucky not to get booked early and sent off later. Van der Sar kept united in the game and if it weren't for him that game ends 5,6 or 7-1. Barca deserved to be there and united never had a chance
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Posted by Paul King on 05/29/2011
Hi Max,
I'm sorry but I do not share the same view. We did not put our best. Valencia was woeful and was even lucky to be on the pitch for 90mins!!! I believe we should have made changes by half-time by bringing Anderson & Fletcher to strengthen d midfield and removing Valencia & Chicharito.....and saying that Owen is a better option than Berba shows that my dear Bulgarian may be on his way out.....I feel him and if he does go, I wish him the best.....
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Posted by Danny Myers on 05/29/2011
yes we lost to a better team.. yes we could've performed better.. yes carrick was virtually anonymous during the game.. and yes this may indeed be the best team in the history of football.. there should be no regrets.. but why does it still hurt..?
losing to barca for a second time in 3 years has left yet another gaping hole our hearts... and as much as we may console ourselves that we'll be there next year the question remains.. if we want to get to the final we'll have to meet up with barca somewhere along the way again, and if so, how the hell can they be stopped when the most expensive players in the world (madrid) couldn't? for as long as this generaion of barcelona players still play, there is no better team in europe. there is no better team in the world. and that, is perhaps why it hurts so much...
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Posted by Zeid Nasser on 05/29/2011
There is a 'calmness' among most of us ManU fans, as we all knew deep down that this game was a 'bridge too far' for our team, and the squad we have this year did so well to actually win us a 19th title when it looked like it would take a miracle.
However, when Rooney scored, I must admit I started believing, and I honestly can't get out of my head the thought that maybe Barca were there for the taking, but that our players got scared and made mistakes.
That's football. We've done it to many teams, but this particular side have now done it twice to us.
Who said life is easier when you're a ManU fan!
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Posted by Rich Lancaster on 05/29/2011
Barca are almost impossible to beat, but Real Madrid beat them once, tied them twice and lost to them once over 4 games in 18 days. All this talk of Man Utd having played a great game, etc, etc. is baloney. We expected some magic from Fergie, we were led to believe he had something up his sleeve. Instead he did a bunch of weird tactical stuff that was clearly a mistake when watching it in real time. I mean, Rafael for Nani? Scholes coming on? Giggs playing the whole game when he was out of it for almost the entire second half? Valencia going to right back? Owen instead of Berba? When they were 2-1 down he did nothing to create even a remote chance of regaining an initiative (that would've been when Berba should've come on and the team go to a 4-3-3). The whole thing was bizarre, Fergie blew it, just because he is brilliant most of the time doesn't mean he is all of the time.
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Posted by wai on 05/29/2011
We played very good overall, but Evra was out of position. I never saw him defending his left side and we paid for that. The result might be different if we put two twins on the side back instead of Evra. Evra always lack concentration, we paid for it last year against Byan and this year with Baca.
I am still proud of ManU.
G-G-ManUnited.
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Posted by osamapai on 05/29/2011
Arsenal, i am so proud of them now. They gave barca the toughest time of all the teams. And i still feel had Robin was not given that RED card, i think Arsenal had written the script for Barca that day..Anyways, well played Barca
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Posted by sam on 05/29/2011
Come to think of it, only Arsenal could beat the outstanding Barca in UCL this season and they did it with two stunning goals from RVP and Arshavin! Lesson to be learned: what Arsenal did at Emirates Stadium could be used as a reference on how to beat Barcelona: tight defense and devastating counter attack. Man United didn't do any of the above so, they deserved to lose.
Sam
Fan of delightful and smart football
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Posted by EMMA NTE on 05/29/2011
SAF was just being human & not professional by his selection. he fielded the usual team all thru, kinda "rewards the guys who has taken the team this far" in '08 against chelsea, owen hargreaves played right back-that was tactical.Imagine Valencia @ right back Nani in front of him, Anderson & or Fletcher in the middle, that would av help contained Barca a bit I believed.All the same, congrats 2 FC Barca it was football at its finest, i only wished it wasn't against MAN UTD. 3 FINALS IN 4 YEARS IS SOMETHING 2 TAKE HOME.
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Posted by Mike on 05/30/2011
You can think putting all your best passers in to fight fire with fire would give you a chance, but the problem is that your best passers are probably terrible at defense, and still not as good passers/defenders as every Barca player. Rooney and Giggs were shanking dribbles off their shins all game, that's just what Barca's pressure does to you. Antonio Valencia looked absolutely gased about the 65th minute, and Vidic didn't even move when messi took his shot. It's like you step to the right to block, and he'll just cut the other way past you and dribble it in, brutal
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Posted by Andrew on 05/30/2011
I have to say that I think SAF made a mistake with his team selection yesterday. You simply cannot pick Giggs in a 2 man central midfield, he doesn't have the defensive nous to play the role. I would have given Anderson a chance to shine in a big game. Carrick did absolutely NOTHING, he marked space the entire game. He literally NEVER picked up a man. This is fine in a 3 man central midfield against weak opposition but useless against a firing Barca. Park and Rooney were the only ones that put in the required work DF.
I've heard pundits and commentators say you can't press Barca for a full 90 minutes. This is BS. You simply have to be tighter in the FINAL THIRD, let em have it in the middle but close down near the box (Messi goal, not one player closed any barca player). It's almost like a submission for a capable team like Utd to do this.
Valencia and Evra (who has always had occasional lapses) were terrible, right picks pre-game but just bad. Berba for Chic to bench IMO in a 4411.
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Posted by Andrew on 05/30/2011
I didn't have the space to put it in my whinge post above but credit where credits due. Barca deserved it. I know there's an air of acceptance with the result amongst Utd fans but as Utd we should be the ones that take it to Barca. Till next year then, where we put up more of a fight.
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Posted by David Smith on 05/30/2011
Congratulations to Barcelona. There aren't enough adjectives to describe just how truly special their football is at present. Appointing Pep in a year or two has to be on the mind of the Old Trafford bosses; a move that might even deliver us Messi one day! I always thought Jose would be Fergie's ideal replacement, but his lack of class and grace this season has left a sour taste in my mouth. Pep surely is the front runner now. Congratulations to my beloved United on a very good season as well. Our 19th is in the record book and that's brilliant. Our resentful rivals will revel in this loss, and so they should, but we get another shot at it next season. Hernandez had exactly the sort of game I thought he would and why I posted earlier in the week that Berba should get the nod instead. The writing was on the wall for the Mexican to be an anonymous afterthought, as now is Berbatov's Old Trafford exit. Giggs acted his age for once; Valencia was uninspired and Carrick failed to shine.
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Posted by alan on 05/30/2011
It's like like this Berba has scored lots of goals but against who (Liverpool/ Wigan) - he won't work for the team he just wants to knock them in!!!. SAF is looking for a worker(s) - he needs to find some one / some bodies - who will work hard up front and run back if needed. When did you see Berba run from the front to the back to help out! More workers up front and a much much stronger mid field that's what we want,( sorry but Carrick's f'in useless) but where can we get one to match Barca all round strengths, god knows so lets get the money ($) out of the bank.
Red For Ever and praying that we don't fall off our well claimed 19th perch!!!
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Posted by Kartik Vashisth on 05/30/2011
Winning against barcelona ws an uphill task and it would have cemented SAF as the best coach ever, even if United were still not the best team. I don't see any reason why United should falter in seasons to come specially with good defence. But even in near future, the problem will be... how to beat Barcelona???
I still am proud of the team... but then ... CL final... anyways great season....
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Posted by James on 05/30/2011
To be honest, some of SAF's tactics have been downright weird in the Champions' League finals, At Wembley, the set up was just totally bizarre. The only way you can combat a 4-6-0 formation (Barcelona), ie. a six-man, possession-based, pressing mid-field, is to stack your own mid-field. For United, that would mean a 4-5-1 with the personnel available. VdeSar, two Fabios, Ferd, Vidic; Carrick slightly deeper central mid-field, Fletcher right, Valencia further right, Anderson left, Nani further left; Rooney central and just up ahead, but not too far. Advance upfield keeping the ball, like Barca.
On the night, it was effectively two (Park and Rooney) versus six, because Giggs (slow), Carrick (reticent), and Valencia (can't tackle, poor temperament) were hopeless in their tasks.
The main problem was the system used and the fact that United are used to playing 4-4-2 so stuck to it.
I predict Rooney playing centre mid-field soon, from there he can control play, in a 4-5-1 setup.
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Posted by madervi on 05/30/2011
Please stop it with saying that Barca were a better team, it is not our fault as Manc fans to accept such mediocrity from the side. The gaffer has lost the plot again, keeping Carrick is the biggest mistake of the teams era. Berba needed to play, his hold up play is phenomenal and would have caused so much havoc to the rythm of Barca's fluid play. Yeah, Brac is a super team but to just accept derfeat that we were beaten by a better team is utter nonsense...the right players were just not utilised, Valencia was never in the wing, Nani used as a subsititute, Park just running around without cause or direction. Surely Stoke City with their aerial play could cause Barca problems.......wrong manager, go and learn how Murinho beat you so many times..then come back.....just a dinosaur,be gone please. Adapt or become extinct.But before anybody goes, please get rid of that nose-picking CARRICK....
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Posted by Man Man Man Forever on 05/30/2011
After Keano left, we have never had a midfield, this is the fundamental problem and I cannot fathom why the gaffer has not got a good midfield replacement for such a long time. I truly find it sad that market value players such a van der vaart, Luka Modric,Javier Mascherano were never bought and remember both Tevez and Mascehrano were offered as a package deal to Fergie years ago by Kia. Having such a super defence and attacking option were left to deal with the magic of barca since we have that clown of a player called carrick, please let us all stand together and get rid of that waste of space. I want my Keano back, ever since we were broken by AC Milan a few years ago with Gattuso playing at his peak, I wanted my Keano.....How much did MANU need you on this fateful night??????
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Posted by Jay on 05/30/2011
Lets see who manure went through to get to the final:
round 16 - Marseille
quarters - An out of form, out of sorts chelski
semi - Schalke
Now seriously, how do we consider this team to be the second best in Europe?
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Posted by flyingblues on 05/30/2011
This one is UP your A**es all Losers United fans!!
We Saw what United are capable when Referees dont give decisions your way.. Oh no was not Giggs offside.. So they helped you. But here are some funny stats for you.. you can not score 3 goals with 1 shot target.. of course the referee had to be a united dick sucker..
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Posted by Leon on 05/30/2011
Both team have played wonderful football. Man United has played as a great team but Barca was magnificent. Perhaps what Man United still missing is some creativity and understanding. They need to know more about their team mates style and thinking, so that their passing and attempt is much more successful. Man United also need to be much more careful not to get carried by opponents and panicked when they are losing goals. Sometimes, I noticed they become disorganized when they are losing like the match with Man City in FA Cup semi. If Man United can overcome such mountainous tasks, they will be more than enough to control the games than letting others controlling them.
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Posted by Urmstonian on 05/30/2011
No-one on earth gives us a chance of beating Barcelona next time we play them. In 2006, after Chelsea had just won the league twice and had Abramovich's billions behind them, no-one on earth gave us a chance of winning the next three Premier titles. Except one man. We'll never die.
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Posted by The Grimace on 05/30/2011
SAF is the greatest manager ever but he made mistakes. You can't put an old fellow of 37 up against a midfield like Barcelona's. And you shouldn't play your second best left back at right back. And of your two right wingers you shouldn't play the one-trick pony you should play the guy who can go down the left or through the middle as well. And when you need to hoard and treasure the possession you get you shouldn't leave your best Hold-the-Ball Bulgarian out in the cold. But if we'd had three substitutes on as well as the starting eleven we'd probably still have lost. Can't wait for next season and No 20!
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Posted by Rahul on 05/30/2011
I have to say that we got it wrong against Barca. We should've flooded the midfield with Fletcher, Anderson and Carrick. Perhaps Rooney and Nani on the wings, with Berba up front. Chicharito was out of his depth and Giggs just couldn't keep up with the speed of the game. Sometimes I feel like Fergie thinks twice before keeping Giggs out. Certainly, this was one game too far for him.
Without Fletcher and Anderson, the midfield was just non-existent. We made it too easy for them. If you give Xavi and co. time on the ball, they will find the final ball.
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Posted by Keith on 05/31/2011
Fergi, your time is up. The game has passed you by. Look how Inter, Arsenal and even Chelsea played Barca. They are not unbeatable. Carrick is one of your worst players. His lack of concentration and ball watching cost you a chance
at winning. His ball watching caused the 2nd goal
and his not clearing the ball properly cost the third goal.
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Posted by KRS on 05/31/2011
@flyingblues: Thank you for that comment - it brightened my day a little bit. However down we're feeling after the Wembley loss, we can all take comfort in the fact that when we wake up in the morning and look ourselves in the mirror, it's not your face staring back at us.
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Posted by Manutd Fan on 05/31/2011
So you guys think that SAF should be replaced after helping us achieve our 19th title, winning 2 CL finals, and came out with a team THAT IS ABLE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO FINAL?! If you are a ManUtd fan then you can fcuk off and support Barcelona. You guys said Carrick did badly? GO REWATCH THE GAME. How many times has he stopped the Barcelona players, steal their ball stop their play? Use your eyes and brains. He covered more than 10km in a 90min game, so you are saying he just jog for fun?!YES SAF DID GET THE TACTICS WRONG, BUT WITHOUT HIM, THERE WON'T BE MANUTD. MANUTD WOULD STILL BE STRUGGLING, NOT FIGHTING FOR CL FINAL. HUMANS DO MAKE ERRORS. Seriously fans who say that SAF should be sacked should fcuk off. Just because you watch the game and think you can get the tactic rights the player's moods right, conditions right? Just because you played football manager games means you are better than SAF? Dream on .
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Posted by aussiered on 05/31/2011
See it didnt take long for the s***heads to crawl out and proclaim themselves as United fans. If so why the continual bile of get rid of SAF and He did this and Carrick didnt do that yak yak yak.
Football matches have a winner and a loser generally. This time we were losers. But Id rather be as loser that has just won the 19th league title than be sat in any of the other 91 postions in the country. Ask a Luton Town supporter where they would rather have finished this season.
Honestly some of the comments just reinforce the female view of the male ability at multitasking.
You should concentrate on breathing and let the rest of us do the thinking. Or if that is too much for you crawl back to where you came from and continue supporting Shitty or Loserpool.
Ps Thanks to Scholesy for providing us all with nearly 20 years of pure class and humility. You will be missed on the field. Thanks for the memories and the goals. Class to the end. A lesson to many others
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Posted by Somnath Mallick on 05/31/2011
Hi Mark,
It really hurts losing again to Barca. But on the hindsight we should turn our focus to next season and new players who would come in. Now that Scholes/VDS are gone we need some World Class players to make it. This years EPL/UCL campaign would be tougher as the other teams would gunning for it. But frankly, good players are just not enough now. As proved by Barca. I wouldn't be surprised if we do see Barca in the UCL 5-6 times in the next 10 years. You need top class players to sustain success. We had them, but the golden era has come to an end. Now we need them again. Either from our Academy or from outside. But i am proud of my team for making this far and we can hold our heads high.
But i do get the feeling SAF got the strategy wrong somewhere. Berba should have been on the bench, now his future is in doubt. Lets wait for the next season and see what unfolds.
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Posted by El Tri 2014 on 05/31/2011
After Messi's goal, SAF should have subbed Scholes for Carrick and Nani for Chicharito. Changed the formation to a 451 with really no one occupying the striker spot - the counter attack dictating who's the striker. At some point, Man Utd. should have morphed to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey game, that's how you stop Barca. But I have to also say that Man Utd. did play their worst game this season, almost as bad as the loss to West Ham in the Carling tourney, Evra and Valencia really did not look their usual selves.
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Posted by Rayan Ka Goling on 06/01/2011
Barca is not unbeatable. If SAF has used correct tactics, there was a possiblity of an upset.
However, I personally think SAF made a mistake by playing 4-4-1-1, wherein in fact MU should have played 4-5-1 (VDS; Fabio, Rio, Vdic, Evra; Valencia, Fletcher (or Scholes or Anderson), Giggs, Park, Nani; Rooney). Carrick inclusion, IMHO, is wrong, as I believe he is more of a passer, not that in tackling compared to Fletcher. Hernandez is another wrong inclusion. Playing team like Barca who short passes to death, we need packed midfield with good tacklers.
Anyway, the game is over and in no way whatever I have written here will make any changes to the result.
Being a loyal MU supporter, I think MU need revamp. Sell Carrick, Gibson, Berbatov and buy Modric (or De Rossi) and Ashley Young and if really needed Sneijder; promote Wellbeck and Cleverley into first team. We are good for next season.
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Posted by matt on 06/01/2011
@ rayan
mate.. no one asked you who should be sold/bought. and theres no way your a loyal supporter.
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Posted by Ronnie on 06/01/2011
Agree ... facing the Barca, Mid-field is the key. No any team can play attack mode to Barca and win ... Should play F24, he has more defensive sense, and S18 who can tackle much. dun understand why B9 not even on the list ?! He is skilful enough to hold the ball and create chance to R10. Didn't mean C14 is bad, but he need someone to feed him in the mid field .... Another mystery is V25 and E3 ... they didn't perform as what they could. Should play N17. My pick : V1, F20, R5, V15, E3, S18, G11, F24, N17, R10, B9.
Well, frankly, despite a 30 years die hard fans, No one expect MU can reach the UCL final and crowned the 19th title this year with such minimal spending and change in the quad while other spent billion !! Salute to SAF ! And to the team ! Can't wait for the 20th next year ... LET'S GO DEVILS .......
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Posted by johanzul on 06/01/2011
Whatever it is, thank you SAF, staff and players. You had done your very best unfortunately your very best was not enuf to beat Barca. I'm for one can understand that and accepted defeat with pride. What I can't accept is most of the fans from last season and this season had been cried their lungs out shouting, telling, 'bombarding' that our current squad do have problem but I guess well that is the privileges we have as fans as we don't need to know or care of internal politics, financial issue, players problems, improve players skills and such. We are not paid to solve all that issues, heck basically is not our job to do so, in fact, the fans are the ones who got to pull $$$ from their pocket.
Long term, I do believe that the squad that SAF had put on now can conquered Europe but as for now, the debate is certainly over, it is proven they are not good enuf. Still, thank you again to SAF, staff and players for a wonderful season. Can't wait for next season to come. Still, Glory MU.
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Posted by Suren.K on 06/01/2011
Yes i do accept that the United team that faced Barcelona is very weak.
I think they should have gone with 4-3-3 combination. Defence is the same but midefield should have been Scholes,Giggs and Nani and forward should be Hernandez,Rooney and Berbatov.
The team which played aganst Barcelona cannot fight for UCL.
Midfield did not play any part and Valencia was only pushing Messi rather than playing. United went for long ball instead of a flat pass.
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Posted by David Smith on 06/01/2011
Rather than get rid of Sir Alex, which is just downright bloody stupid, let's get rid of the self-styled, know-it-all "United fans" on here. Some of you are thickos. Classy response from Berbatov, but you get the feeling the damage has already been done. Obviously, something has gone on behind the scenes, because Fergie would never leave out the Premiership's joint top scorer from the European Cup Final. It's a mystery now, but all will be revealed in due time. Glad to see Michael Owen back for another year. He's said the right things, carried himself throughout the season with class and without complaint and obviously worked hard in training. A reformed Scouser, who's proud to have helped knock his former employer off their perch, I applaud the decision to bring the lad back. I see Young continues to be linked with United, as does Modric, but I just don't see Nasri coming to the Theatre of Dreams. Glad to hear David Gill say he's gonna have a busy summer....goodbye Nani? Stay tuned!
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Posted by Chris on 06/02/2011
What ManU and Ferguson have to be commended for is that they played a clean,standup game and refused to park the bus using thuggish tactics like Mourinho did with Inter last year and RMadrid last month. As far as second guessing Ferguson's starting lineup, you have to be in a massive state of denial if you think that the result would have been any different had certain players been chosen over the ones that did start.I find it amusing when all these people talk about how Barca was so amazing because I watch all their games and this was a good performance but no where near their best of the year which was the 5-0 demolition of RMadrid last November. Ferguson actually did a great job with this ManU squad considering that when you look at the players they have,many of who are over the hill,there are teams in England and in Europe that are,on paper,superior to them. As long as he's at the helm of ManU, they'll always be one of the best teams in the EPL.
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Posted by porouze on 06/02/2011
Barca was at its best and ManU at its lowest.
The fault as every pundit is saying is bcos of SAF.
Imagine Morinho at half time when it was 1-1. He would have won it on penalties.
Imagine ManU had Valencia sent off. At least 6-1 to Barca.
Nobody understands why Giggs was on the field after 45 mins.
ManU could have have survived 120mins with the foll players VDS, Fabio, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Anderson,Park, Rafael (on Messi), Rooney.
Subs @ 70mins: Chico for Rooney, Nani for Valencia or Park, Scholes or Fletcher for Anderson or Carrick
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Posted by Bola on 06/02/2011
Two words, Micheal......... Carrick!! Carricks no show was the reason Valencia, Park and Rooney spent so much time in the midfield, the reason Vida and Rio had such a torrid time and the reason Giggs couldnt do anything creative. Hats off to Barcelona for playing football the right way but we could have given them a better match if not for...... Micheal Carrick.
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Posted by Damian Garside on 06/02/2011
Forgive me, but I am a bit sick of the fact that we are not as good on paper as other teams in the Premiership, let alone Barcelona. We have 300 million fans world wide and yet in consecutive Champions League Finals against Barcelona we play from 15-20 minutes and then get swept off the pitch. I have been thinking about it and believe that the team chosen for the final would lose to Barca 999 times out of 1000. Other options would have reduced those odds significantly.
We have to stop thinking that we can't compete with a team like Barca because they play football at a transcendental level. And that we might as well bow down and worship them. They are a brilliant side, but we really didn't make them break into a sweat and that's what we ought to have done. Maybe when our total fan base has dwindled to the tens of thousands instead of hundreds of millions, we can accept that we will never be able to rise to their level.
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Posted by Patrick on 06/02/2011
Barcelona is the MUCH better team, no doubt!
I think MU should have man-marked Messi and parked the bus. That way, they stand a better chance.
Mourinho recognized that. That is the ONLY way possible to beat this great Barcelona.
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Posted by okwudirir on 06/02/2011
definitely everybody, Carrick also is also a fault we have in Manu squad, he is too lackadaisical in nature he has lost his touch about 2 season ago, so if really want to clean our closet some players like him has to be axed, just my opinion. we really need a defensive midfielder.
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Posted by naraen khadka on 06/04/2011
we lost coz barca were gud bt nt better.they made shot frm farbox n rio n vida were jus enof for mesi n co.what we lack was al about tactics n fergie shud hav brought change earlier.chicha was nowhere in field probably supply wasnt powered 2 him.rooney was absolutly finest.we al know if anyone 2 beat barca then obviously that wil b MANCHESTER UNITED AND SIR ALEX FERGUSON. UNITED NEVER DIES.
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Posted by Turjo on 06/06/2011
Too many mistakes. Our typical open play, no Berba, Chico's lack of experience at this level, Scholsy not starting, Fletch not starting, giving Barca the chance to get set after the first intense 15 minutes... A lot of em. But still, we can come out and say we did what we do every week out there, we didn't change our style. *coughMourinhocough* Kudos to the Red Scott for that. We were beaten by the team with the greatest chemistry which means we're the second best, which also means we're closest to the top. Respects to Barca, a far superior side(for now) who grew up together playing that sort of football and showed us where everything went wrong. That lesson was deserved, but we'll come back stronger. GGMU.
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Posted by Sam on 06/06/2011
Ryan Giggs scandal....Could it be another reason for Manchester United comprehensive defeat in the Champions League final?
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Posted by kelvin on 06/07/2011
Lots of comments..and some venting of frustrations from fans...and the usual bunch of a**holes coming to our blog to gloat becuase there is nothing much left to say about their own teams.
I sat through the CL game numb from the fact that we were obviously outplayed again. It was less painful from other games where I felt we were poor. This time I jest felt that they were better....
On the whole I enjoyed the season...like always...some ups and some downs....and won some we did not deserve to..and lost or drew some we should have won.
As for the guys with the list of sackings required...hot air.
We have 19. Looking forward to next season.
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Posted by Nick on 06/07/2011
Bang on with this article. Great season for United, it's a pity they couldn't take the CL final, but Barca are far too good. You could draw some comparisons between the old United team where Scholes, Beckham and Giggs were peaking, a team in the mould of Barca today-home grown talent producing for the first team.
Van der Sar will be missed, is De Gea the answer-he is very young?
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Posted by Don on 06/17/2011
We had no real midfield to force Barca. They passed through at will, they dribble through at will and they won every ball that mattered. Fine team play with individual brilliance. Let's hope Phil Jones can become the new Roy Keane. Carrick does a decent job screening the defence but he was always a better offensive player. Jones could be the answer. A replacement for Scholes would be Luka Modric or even a modified lineup with Rooney behind the front two strikers. He had 11 goals and 11 assists - Berba and Nani figured in 23 each and had more time than Wayne.
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Posted by Football Uncovered on 06/20/2011
Good Post. I think we missed Fletcher alot again!
United fans can be proud of our team. We have had a good season.
But now...Scholes retired, VD Sar retires, Neville retires and Hargreaves released. Brown and O'Shea look to be leaving, and Gibson is just as well gone. Its time to rebuild and let our youth have a chance. Scholes said in a interview that the result vs Barce has pushed SAF to get to the same level.
Man United will be back firing next season and I tip them to take the 20th title.
Lets hope De Gea signs, and we add a solid defensive midfielder - although I think Jones is going to play there. I would love to see Cleverly get a good opportunity, and i would like to see us cash in on Berba so that Welbeck and Mechada can have an opportunity. I like our youth, our future is bright. Im sure Paul Pogba, James Tunnicliff and Ravel Morrison will get an opportunity too. We will challenge again!
Football Uncovered
www.uncoveringfootball.blogspot.com
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Posted by Kehinde on 06/23/2011
Man united sorry 4 defeat have told some unite fans dat barcel is more great dan dem (united) up barcel 4life
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Posted by Beeno on 06/24/2011
yes we were torn apart!this was the only final or game where i tawt we are underdogs,man for man,we were well compared but as a team we switch off at times where as Barca play on together as a cohesive unit!i truly love my team but we were out played and our game plan only worked for about 20mins in the game!for all the anti Man United supporters url should look back and say where was your team?2 teams made it to the ucl final!it was good against great!imagine how fans of lower clubs feel!so ya!Manchester United will always be a great team!united forever!
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Posted by 43v3RUnited on 06/28/2011
Did bigfem even watch the game??? how could u say that Nani lost the game? He barely played 20mins... Barca played the only way Barca knows, out-pass & out-class the opposition. United tried but it only lasted about 15mins. but we'll be back for sure....
VIVA UNITED!!!!
Posted by gonda simon on 06/29/2011
appreciation to united despite losing the game to barc,knocking Chelsea from semi final is so great and prove beyond expectation that they deserve to be in final,the only problems was in midfield and i think sir will look into that to challenge barc and win the champion league
Posted by bymnAnype on 01/31/2012
He came and conquered death and in Him we can do all things.
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Mark Payne writes about football for a variety of media outlets. He reported on the 2010 World Cup for Australia’s ABC network and worked at one of the FIFA fan sites. He has been ESPN’s Manchester United correspondent for four years. His writing attracts a worldwide following and in 2011 this blog was nominated for an award. To contact Mark for football discussion e-mail him on markpayne.editor@hotmail.com at any time. He wears lucky socks on match days.
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