CL R16: Barcelona FC vs Manchester City

ya city have been pretty crap in europe, don't see how experienced team like barca doesn't have the edge over these under achievers

that's the whole point of " on paper " .

they should be doing better based on the qualities of the players they have .

agree with farfan

People were saying the same shit last year and looked what happened.

As far on paper, there's only two teams who are better on paper than Barca so that argument doesn't wash either.

Paper does mean nothing though but Man City haven't been able to prove anything in reality too.

farfan wrote:that's the whole point of " on paper " .

they should be doing better based on the qualities of the players they have .

Not really.

We actually have years of inconsistency to go on which proves that "on paper" they are not as good as they have been looked at.

Look at last year against Barca....
"On paper", they should have been equal.... the games were played and it wasn't even close. That degenerates the supposed talent of their team when staking them up with the best.

So, "on paper", no they aren't better.

It wasn't that clear last year though. A send off for Demichelis who actually had taken one for the team by fouling Messi outside the box given as a penalty.

Noone is disputing that City has been underwhelming.

But the argument ws about squad/team on paper, and since Busquets Xavi and Iniesta are all over it Barca kind of have no midfield at all.
If those three play like they used to for those games of course it's no contest.
I'd say it's 50/50.

Last season it ended 4-1 on aggregate with 2 perfectly fine goals disallowed for Barca over 2 legs. Needless to say Nerman was playing on the right wing and had 0 impact in Tata's funny system when this season he will easily score 3 goals over 2 legs.



Typical Mule League team overhype. I'd take Silva from City's squad and even then I wouldn't know where to play him.

Agüero had 1 touch in Camp Nou until getting subbed off.

Deal with it.

hmm, maybe you're right Fußball.

At any rate, a lot can happen formwise from now until February, so maybe I shouldn't talk about that tie yet

Yes it was. It was clear last year. City offered no threat and were completely dominated in the 1st leg. I think 10mins in, they decided to try and soak up the pressure and not get beat by too much. They were outmacthed from the outset.

It was never close.

If they have been underwhelming for a considerable amount of time, how can they be better than others that have had one year of decline?

That doesn't make sense, that defeats the whole purpose of the term "on paper".
In fact, "on paper" they stink. They've proven that.

Let's judge them by what they have done, which is nothing.

Their not getting the edge over Xavi, Iniesta or Busquets.

it's funny tho because the people over hyping them aren't PL watchers tho

we are with you Fußball

City will easily cruise past Barca. Have you guys even seen Barca play lately? Can't even score past Getafe. Tata's system was much better. 4 midfielders provided some control. With Lucho Barca will play Neymar-Suarez-Messi upfront and no one will distribute them the ball. Maybe he will even pull Busquets-Mascherano double pivot = 0 creativity. How is this even a discussion?

B-Mac wrote:it's funny tho because the people over hyping them aren't PL watchers tho

we are with you Fußball

You really are dull.

So where are United when the cream of Europe are going at it? Away to Hull??

Will bump thread later after the games and quote myself to prove that I was right all along. Very predictable tie.

chemicalboy99 wrote:

B-Mac wrote:it's funny tho because the people over hyping them aren't PL watchers tho

we are with you Fußball

You really are dull.

So where are United when the cream of Europe are going at it? Away to Hull??

LOL

show me you're great European triumphs

away to lech poznan?

you really are thick

izzy wrote:Yes it was. It was clear last year. City offered no threat and were completely dominated in the 1st leg. I think 10mins in, they decided to try and soak up the pressure and not get beat by too much. They were outmacthed from the outset.

It was never close.

If they have been underwhelming for a considerable amount of time, how can they be better than others that have had one year of decline?

That doesn't make sense, that defeats the whole purpose of the term "on paper".
In fact, "on paper" they stink. They've proven that.

Let's judge them by what they have done, which is nothing.

Their not getting the edge over Xavi, Iniesta or Busquets.

if that's your definition of " on paper " , then city is interior on paper to CSKA and countless other undeniably lesser teams that dominated them in europe in the past 4 years .

reality = shit unit with shit tacticts ( what you're describing ) .

paper = world class players in almost every position .

farfan wrote:if that's your definition of " on paper " , then city is interior on paper to CSKA and countless other undeniably lesser teams that dominated them in europe in the past 4 years .

reality = shit unit with shit tacticts ( what you're describing ) .

paper = world class players in almost every position .

Not really.

"On paper", means you're ignoring everything you've seen regarding the team. That what they have done recently means nothing because of the names.

Well recently, their best players have been exposed. They've routinely come up short and have constantly been out-performed.

Those players in City's midfield aren't as good as the best in Europe and they sure as hell aren't better than Barca's midfield.

Perfect example? Kompany.

Reality = He is nowhere as good as people would lead you to believe.

On paper = One of the best CBs in the world.

Well, he isn't.
If we know how under performing they have been, surely we should factor that in when we say "on paper"?

izzy wrote:

farfan wrote:if that's your definition of " on paper " , then city is interior on paper to CSKA and countless other undeniably  lesser teams  that dominated them in europe in  the past 4 years .

reality = shit unit with shit tacticts  ( what you're describing  ) .

paper = world class players in almost every position .

Not really.

"On paper", means you're ignoring everything you've seen regarding the team. That what they have done recently means nothing because of the names.

Well recently, their best players have been exposed. They've routinely come up short and have constantly been out-performed.

Those players in City's midfield aren't as good as the best in Europe and they sure as hell aren't better than Barca's midfield.

Perfect example? Kompany.

Reality = He is nowhere as good as people would lead you to believe.

On paper = One of the best CBs in the world.

Well, he isn't.

the way we should gauge  a team  " on paper " is by  looking at the intrinsic value of each player put together .
it's an entirely theoretical process  that is completely detached from the reality of the team .
let's take dortmund as an example .

reality = bottom of the bundesliga.

paper =  one of the deeper rosters in the league with world class ( or near it )  quality in almost every position .

can you really dispute this ?

If we know how under performing they have been, surely we should factor that in when we say "on paper"?

we really shouldn't .

lots of variables contribute to under performing : bad tactics , incompatibility  etc ...
that doesn't  necessarily  mean the quality of each player is subpar .

farfan wrote:the way we should gauge  a team  " on paper " is by  looking at the intrinsic value of each player put together .
it's an entirely theoretical process  that is completely detached from the reality of the team .
let's take dortmund as an example .

reality = bottom of the bundesliga.

paper =  one of the deeper rosters in the league with world class ( or near it )  quality in almost every position .

can you really dispute this ?


we really shouldn't .

lots of variables contribute to under performing : bad tactics , incompatibility  etc ...
that doesn't  necessarily  mean the quality of each player is subpar .

Well then, what are you using as factors for your judgement?

These players at their best or what you have seen recently?

People believe citeh will actually win this? LoL. The tie will be rounded off at the emptyhad stadia (dont allow barca's form fool you). Btw farfan is right. "On paper" = big names, "Reality" = shitty performances.

Put me down as one of the people believing City will win this. I'll say right now they will progress.

Hell, I might get lucky and then I'd have a great I told you so moment to boast about.

Hapless_Hans wrote:Put me down as one of the people believing City will win this. I'll say right now they will progress.

Hell, I might get lucky and then I'd have a great I told you so moment to boast about.

Quoted.

Not sure why people are writing City off. They have an excellent defense consisting of 3 athletic beasts in Clichy, Mangala and Kompany as well as arguably the best RB in the World right now in Zabaleta since Lahm is still masquerading as a CM. Joe Hart is back in form now that he has actual competition and is one of the best GK's around.

Both the Fernando's have been excellent this season and I wouldn't be surprised if they both start. Milner is fantastic.

Then you have two magicians in Silva, Nasri who are incredible under pressure and can open up any defense.

Also having the best striker in the World doesn't hurt either.

The only question mark is Yaya Toure. Do you move him further up and leave Nasri out the team and risk losing control in CM OR play him in his natural position knowing full well he could have one of those days?

Doesn't matter if they progress or not - City isn't better than Barca "on paper". That's just bullshit.

Gil wrote:Not sure why people are writing City off. They have an excellent defense consisting of 3 athletic beasts in Clichy, Mangala and Kompany as well as arguably the best RB in the World right now in Zabaleta since Lahm is still masquerading as a CM. Joe Hart is back in form now that he has actual competition and is one of the best GK's around.

Both the Fernando's have been excellent this season and I wouldn't be surprised if they both start. Milner is fantastic.

Then you have two magicians in Silva, Nasri who are incredible under pressure and can open up any defense.

Also having the best striker in the World doesn't hurt either.

The only question mark is Yaya Toure. Do you move him further up and leave Nasri out the team and risk losing control in CM OR play him in his natural position knowing full well he could have one of those days?

omfggg!!...

City have faced similar struggles as Juve in Europe.I dont expect that to change especially since they'll be coming up against a formidable opponent once again.

City have to play a lot better at home than they did in the group stages if they are to get anything out of this game.