I posted a review of the match, for what it’s worth. I’m pretty outraged at the fan behavior. I expected better. It’s not like we’re battling relegation.

thats the only way i can explain the whistles eto’o was receiving from the beginning of the match. (the goltv dudes only seemed to notice the whistles in the second half when he took the free kick.)

he’s scored more goals than anyone on the team in the last few years, riddled with injuries, scored the tying goal in the champs league final, a higher goal efficiency than anyone in the world game, he works like crazy, and sure, he’s in a slump, but whistling him?

fools.

ps his quotes regarding not wanting to play for a team that didnt win silverware (often alluded to by kevin and others here) were misinterpreted. he even clarified this himself. what he was actually saying was that, according to his high standards, he wasnt doing enough if he hadnt helped the team win silverware in the last two years. he felt unworthy. but i hope he wasnt waving goodbye.

I only saw the second half and god how I wish I hadn’t…This is some utter nonsense we’re dealing with now at the end. We’re tied on points with Atletico going into the final match…What a bad send-off for Frank, who deserved much better. But at least now we know why you don’t sub off your best player…

Henry: When he was running rampant at Arsenal, they would use his pace to break him loose. He was usually playing at the shoulder of the defense, the way Inzaghi does now at AC Milan. One pass and the ball would find him in a spot where all he had to do was shoot, and he was deadly. He also took a great many of the free kicks for Arsenal. Not sure what happened when he came here with the frees. As for open play, we know all too well, unfortunately.

Ronaldinho: Pace, drive and committment were the hallmarks of that player. Those latter two goals in the 3-0 thrashing of the Galactico-era Evil Empire should have made the fans rise to their feet and applaud. It wasn’t as much the finishes as the run. He just shredded the defense, and was doing so all season. He just wasn’t the same after the World Cup, when you really look back at it.

And it really was a jailbreak on the opposing team’s box, because Messi, Eto’o and Ronaldinho were running at them, with Deco playing up. Scary stuff, and the stuff of glory days.

Just a little bit of perspective and more fond memories.

I sure hope that Fox Soccer doesn’t have the rights to Barca TV. That will mean pay-per-view for pretty much everything. Any Man U fans will know what I mean. And Fox’s PPV ain’t cheap.

The question is, does that mean Barca TV, as in the club-sponsored broadcasting arm, or the U.S. broadcast feeds? If it’s the latter, that would suck. They already have the English league, Serie A and loads of other stuff. What kind of love would La Liga get, given that they’re already serving two masters, unless they jettison Serie A or something?

Oh, and yes you are delusional after watching that magnificent match, Kyle. We’ll never see that R10 again. I’m not sure anyone else will, either. But that was a corker, wasn’t it?

Portero Pinto
Defensas Zambrotta, Puyol, Thuram, Abidal
Medios Edmílson, Touré Yaya, Deco
Delanteros Messi, Eto’o y Henry.

En la banquillo: Valdés, Fali, Rueda, Oleguer, Giovani, Ezquerro y Bojan.

will be interesting to see if the B-teamers get a chance before, for instance, Santi or Presas.

also will be interesting to see whether edmilson or toure is the man supporting deco in attack and creation.