We at punaltyshootout like our pies humble. We also like our hats salted and words tasty so that when the time comes and the general populace calls upon us to eat the abovementioned items we welcome the task with open arms. This is also one of the chief reasons we avoid writing previews for writing these pieces of purported prescience only leads to forced feasting on humble pies. What I want to say is we get things wrong. Like I did with the Man City previewing and like the other chief contributor among our massive writing team of two did yesterday with his el classico preview. Barca came, let in an early goal, scoffed at the stats which said they don't win games that often after conceding and proceeded to duly win the game.
While I am sure our other writer will in due course shed light on the various geometric shapes that adorned the bernabeu last night let me in the meantime chip in with a few observations through a EPL-tinted glasses view.
1. Ronaldo's tracking back was impressive. He made the dirty scoundrel Alves look like a chump all night and that's more than enough for me. His goal was more Pinto's fail than anything else although Benzema's waited and weighted pass that released him for the goal was brilliant. On a day where Mourinho had decided to defend and hit on the counter the goal had to come from Ronaldo's run and shoot. RM almost scored a second one when Benzema hit the woodwork after some excellent work from Altintop.
2. Pepe is a disgrace of a footballer. Out of all the scheming, conniving, card-waving, referee surrounding, play-acting, mouthing off about players who are under contract with another club-ing idiots at Barcelona, Messi is the only guy who comes anywhere close to a gentleman. His talent makes it unnecessary for him to indulge in any of these other petty nonsense. To tread on his fingers is just pure evil. And the play acting by Pepe when Cesc robbed him off the ball...sheesh. Such shit defending for Barca's first goal too. Hope they just ban the bastard forever.
3. Cesc. What's he supposed to be doing? At various points in the game he was with Pique, alongside Busquets, playing in front of Alves, playing behind Iniesta, in front of Iniesta, alongside Alexis and in front on Alexis. Does he know what's he got to do? Does anyone? Or is he being controlled by a kid with a playstation console in the stands?
4. Iniesta is just too good. Whatay touch. That air ball which he took on his boot and let fall gracefully a couple of feet away beating the defender who was closing down on him and opening up space... fack. Whatay control. I prefer his run at players and try and beat them approach to Xavi's look up and pass safely to Valdez boosting passes completed ratio approach.
5. If RM's first goal came from Pinto's fail, Barca's first goal from Pepe's fail. After the defensive errors cancelled out it was Abidal who scored the winner for Barcelona. Brilliant vision from Messi and good run from Abidal. On a day where the forwards weren't doing much it had to be the defenders. Reminds of that Nike Barcelona ad..we are the defenders who attack or some nonsense. They show the revolting face of Alves if I am not wrong.
6. Fail refereeing all day long. Most of the yellows would never have been an yellow in EPL. Pepe's yellow for the "stomp" on Busquets was too harsh, and so was Pique's yellow for the "rough" header. The linesman was a joke and rightly riled the Madrid defence up when he did not give most of the initial offsides allowing Alexis to run and shoot. When he finally did wave Alexis for offside, TV replays showed he was onside by a mile. Good job.
That's about it. I can persuade myself to write only so much about teams that aren't named Arsenal. Will be back with a Arsenal-Man Utd preview trying to predict how things will pan out the coming Sunday. Yeah, we never learn.
No comments:
Post a Comment