Champions League Final

[bkkjames]

Time to make your picks gentleman and Migsy. BTW, any confirmation on the referee, I found this below today but not sure if it's accurate.

REFEREE FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL!

The Danish referee Claus Bo Larsen has been appointed by UEFA to take charge of the Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona on Wednesday.

Larsen is already known to United, having refereed the UEFA Super Cup final in August when he sent off Paul Scholes for two bookable offences during the 2-1 defeat by Zenit St Petersburg.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson did not contest the dismissal at the time, admitting that the referee had made the correct decision.

More recently, he was in charge of Manchester United's 3-1 win at the Emirates in the Semi-Final 2nd leg, where he also sent off Darren Fletcher.

Larsen, 43, speaks fluent English and also refereed Arsenal's 0-0 draw with Milan last season.

As for my prediction - 2 - 0 UTD.

Been playing the scenarios around in my head for a few days and at the end of it, I believe our back 4 will outperform theirs (I hope).

[StevieH]

i think united will attempt to kick the fuc_k out of barcelona and stifle them. then they'll win 1-0 with a deflected free-kick.

[junki3korean]

Manchester United!

[ThaiPauly]

United...on penalties

[mrtoad]

3-1 to United. I think United are better defensively than Barca, and will be able to catch them on the break. Hopefully.

[bkkjames]

No fan of Chelsea am I but caught the second half of the semi final in full over the weekend.

Barca were very lucky and I hope we line up

vds

oshea rio vidic evra

tevez carrick anderson rooney

ronaldo berbatov

and make messi, eto and co defend.

won't happen though - too much risk - perhaps late second half if we need a goal.

[StevieH]

No fan of Chelsea am I but caught the second half of the semi final in full over the weekend.

Barca were very lucky and I hope we line up

vds

oshea rio vidic evra

tevez carrick anderson rooney

ronaldo berbatov

and make messi, eto and co defend.

won't happen though - too much risk - perhaps late second half if we need a goal.

i hope you line up that way too, barcelona would take that midfield to pieces. think you're going to miss fletcher big time so will sit back, defend deep, invite barca on and look to counter-attack them.

[EastSaxCol]

Barça !!!

Possible ?

........................Valdes...................

.....Poyul...... Yaya..... Pique...... Gudjhonsen

..........................keita....................

...........Zavi.........Iniesta................Messi

..................Henry................Eto...............

"Next to Barça , Manchester United look like Rochdale" - Simon Kuper, Football Against the Enemy [1994].

[StevieH]

Barça !!!

Possible ?

........................Valdes...................

.....Poyul...... Yaya..... Pique...... Gudjhonsen

..........................keita....................

...........Zavi.........Iniesta................Messi

..................Henry................Eto...............

"Next to Barça , Manchester United look like Rochdale" - Simon Kuper, Football Against the Enemy [1994].

eh? gudjohnsen the forward at left-back?

[bkkjames]

Barça !!!

Possible ?

........................Valdes...................

.....Poyul...... Yaya..... Pique...... Gudjhonsen

..........................keita....................

...........Zavi.........Iniesta................Messi

..................Henry................Eto...............

"Next to Barça , Manchester United look like Rochdale" - Simon Kuper, Football Against the Enemy [1994].

eh? gudjohnsen the forward at left-back?

if newcastle can do it (duff) why not Barca!

[StevieH]

if newcastle can do it (duff) why not Barca!

they've still got sylvinho haven't they? he's not too bad.

they're going to miss alves and abidal big time though.

[binnsy]

I will be very happy if Barcelona stuff those aarrogant diving priks from Manchester.

[bkkjames]

I will be very happy if Barcelona stuff those aarrogant diving priks from Manchester.

So I take that you think Barca WILL win?

[kennkate]

2 - 1 To United winning goal scored in Added Time

[binnsy]

I will be very happy if Barcelona stuff those aarrogant diving priks from Manchester.

So I take that you think Barca WILL win?

YES 2 - 0

Let the party begin as its about to get very Messi 4 Fergies wonder team

[bkkjames]

I will be very happy if Barcelona stuff those aarrogant diving priks from Manchester.

So I take that you think Barca WILL win?

YES 2 - 0

Let the party begin as its about to get very Messi 4 Fergies wonder team

Careful binnsey, or I will sick your new manager on you!

[Devil]

2-1 Barca

Late winner

[Graphics]

Barça the winner of course...

Iniesta, Etoo and Henry will take care...

Barça to win 2 x 1

Brilliant

[EastSaxCol]

Barça !!!

Possible ?

........................Valdes...................

.....Poyul...... Yaya..... Pique...... Gudjhonsen

..........................keita....................

...........Zavi.........Iniesta................Messi

..................Henry................Eto...............

"Next to Barça , Manchester United look like Rochdale" - Simon Kuper, Football Against the Enemy [1994].

eh? gudjohnsen the forward at left-back?

Yes, that was an oversight.

Therefore:

................Valdes............

.....Puyol.......Yaya.......Pique.....Keita

.................Busquets.............

......Xavi.......Iniesta........Messi

..............Henry.........Eto............

they've still got sylvinho haven't they? he's not too bad.

A bit on the slow side though.

Anyway, I'm going for Barça 4 Man u 2

[Devil]

Barça !!!

Possible ?

........................Valdes...................

.....Poyul...... Yaya..... Pique...... Gudjhonsen

..........................keita....................

...........Zavi.........Iniesta................Messi

..................Henry................Eto...............

"Next to Barça , Manchester United look like Rochdale" - Simon Kuper, Football Against the Enemy [1994].

eh? gudjohnsen the forward at left-back?

Yes, that was an oversight.

Therefore:

................Valdes............

.....Puyol.......Yaya.......Pique.....Keita

.................Busquets.............

......Xavi.......Iniesta........Messi

..............Henry.........Eto............

they've still got sylvinho haven't they? he's not too bad.

A bit on the slow side though.

Anyway, I'm going for Barça 4 Man u 2

Barca go 4-3-3

See Image

[bkkjames]

It's ok Devil, he will figure it out sooner or later mate.

Maybe Gudjonsen can line up as a forward now

[EastSaxCol]

It's ok Devil, he will figure it out sooner or later mate.

Maybe Gudjonsen can line up as a forward now

Don't worry about you arrogant pr*ck. Your bubble will be burst soon enough.

[EastSaxCol]

Barca go 4-3-3

See Image

Is that the final line-up then. Or like me, only guessing what the best formation could be ?

[StevieH]

Yes, that was an oversight.

Therefore:

................Valdes............

.....Puyol.......Yaya.......Pique.....Keita

.................Busquets.............

......Xavi.......Iniesta........Messi

..............Henry.........Eto............

looks bad that. two midfielders in the back four. they won't beat united with that side.

[Jacqqq]

I'll go for 1-0, Barca.

Go, Barca !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EastSaxCol]

Yes, that was an oversight.

Therefore:

................Valdes............

.....Puyol.......Yaya.......Pique.....Keita

.................Busquets.............

......Xavi.......Iniesta........Messi

..............Henry.........Eto............

looks bad that. two midfielders in the back four. they won't beat united with that side.

Maybe not ? And your original ideas for a starting line-up are ... ? Believe me Barça will win. Made even sweeter because of the no-nothing altitude of the OP.

[StevieH]

Maybe not ? And your original ideas for a starting line-up are ... ? Believe me Barça will win. Made even sweeter because of the no-nothing altitude of the OP.

oh i agree about the OP, but i don't think barcelona will beat united without dani alves and abidal and potentially without iniesta as well. i think united will kick the shit out of messi and xavi, the ref won't punish them and then they'll nick it by way of a deflection or dodgy peno.

[Sparkles]

I'll go for 1-0, Barca.

Go, Barca !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it will be 1-0 too but the other way capping a fantastic season for United with all on Merseyside cheering on their fellow Brits. I expect Ronald to to play up front alone ,Rooney wide left, Park wide right ,dropping back and harrassing Henry. Midfield of Carrick , Anderson , Giggs. Super sub Teves on the bench with Berbatov if things dont go as planned. United , on paper, better defensively but Messi and Iniesta dangerous every time they have the balll and thats usually a great percentage of the time.If United win expect a video link up direct to the big screen from Rafa congratulating Ferguson and the team ..jing jing.

[EastSaxCol]

Maybe not ? And your original ideas for a starting line-up are ... ? Believe me Barça will win. Made even sweeter because of the no-nothing altitude of the OP.

oh i agree about the OP, but i don't think barcelona will beat united without dani alves and abidal and potentially without iniesta as well. i think united will kick the shit out of messi and xavi, the ref won't punish them and then they'll nick it by way of a deflection or dodgy peno.

Agreed. Without Alves and Abidal, you've got to say Manu are favourites ... but anything can happen. It's crucial that Henry and Iniesta can play (as I understand it, they were in training with the rest of the players on Sunday.) If those two are out, you've got to say that Barça have a massive task on their hands. But not an impossible one. Here's hoping.

[Macclad]

I reckon Man U 2-1.But they are going to miss Fletcher and if they let Barca run at them the way Liverpool did they could be in trouble.