JohannaK
Heroically Clueless
If you hate it already, to hell with politeness!
Fair enough. But Barcelona were a club with all the "moral high ground", as it were - a team of the people, the alternative to Franco's Madrid, representing the bohemian city of Gaudi and the region of Orwell's Homage to Catalonia. Hell, I can remember a time quite recently when, unless you had a reason to dislike Barcelona (such as coming from Madrid), then you almost automatically liked and admired them, and accepted them as your second or third team.
But not now.
Partly the success, I guess, but also partly the arrogance which has accompanied that success. Maybe that's just human nature for you - even the nicest, pleasantest of underdogs will become a bit of an arrogant bully when given the power? That's putting it a bit harshly, perhaps - not sure I could ever bring myself to really support Madrid against Barcelona, it would just feel so wrong.
tippy tappy bores
give me spurs-gooners anyday
Bold statement there.
(RvP>Bale)
So your thoughts about Nani's red card? The sending off altered the balance of the match without a doubt. Also, why bench Rooney?
Pangur Bán;12266515 said:As I predicted, referee intervention decided the Real v. Man Utd game. Wondering what the stats are on red cards in English teams versus Real/Barcelona in post-group stage match-ups? The English teams seem always to get red cards, most of them controversial. It's very strange because England usually finishes near the top of UEFA fair play leagues. I guess they are extra stupid and extra clumsy when they play these big games.
I know this is getting conspiratorial but I do think there is some pressure or bias for certain teams to go through and thats reflected in highly debatable referring decisions. I think a look at the Chelsea-Barca games over the past 10 years in the Champions League backs me up on this, Barcalona a part of the old crew of European Powers vs a relatively newcomer - it is like Old Money fighting New Money. Although amongst the English teams Manchester United doesn't get too many decisions against it..
Its all so plausible, remember they are still investigating betting scams involving thrown champions league matches over the past few years! Take the Bayern-Arsenal game - for Poldolski's goal - Neur had ran out of his net into no mans land; "mistakes" like that can easily change matches and make some gangsters a lot of money...