When i began writing this blog i wanted it to be interesting, funny, and more importantly, relevant.. somehow its not such an easy thing to do.. i have a newfound respect for the bloggers who hold a full time job while blogging as a source of income.. somehow managing to find time and discipline to sit down and come up with interesting posts..
anyhow.. Tonight!!(well tomorrow morning in Malaysian time) is the night i’ve been waiting for in a long while!!.. the Champions League Final!! Manchester United vs FC Barcelona in the eternal city of ROME!!.. gonna wake up at 2.30..prepare my drinks and snacks & hopefully watch Man Utd tear Barca apart..
Here is my biased & irrelevant prediction on tonight’s much anticipated match..
barca will line up with a 4-3-3 formation while united will change between a 4-3-3 when they have the ball and a def 4-5-1 whenever we lose the ball.. picture below is of who i think will play tonight..
Barcelona
Manchester United
with-ball 
without ball
Keepers
Both keepers are usually solid and reliable.. Valdez has got superb reflexes while van der Sar is capable of leading the defence due to his immense amount of experience.. having said that, both are also prone to the occasional blunder valdez more so than van der Sar..
Defence
Nothing much more can be said about United’s defence, 14 matches without conceding a goal is amazing and its been a big factor in United’s 25-match unbeaten run in the Champions League. Rio & Vidic can be confident of handling Eto’o and O’shea has been outstanding recently and an ageing Henry, though still a magician, should not be too much of a handful. Evra is up against Messi again and although he handled him admirably the last time these 2 met, Evra has had a rocky return from injury but has shown recovery in the past few weeks.. Barcelona on the other hand will be without 2 key defenders in Abidal and Alves. Puyol should be deployed at right back to deal with Rooney cutting in from the left but im pretty sure Rooney will be asked to track back much more than he goes forward to double team Messi with Evra.. Down the right Park’s boundless energy and direct running will cause a makeshift leftback in Keita some problems and keep Keita from getting forward too much.. Pique and Yaya Toure will be down the middle to deal with Ronaldo although both do lack a bit of pace..
Midfield
Barcelona have enormous creativity in the likes of Xavi and Iniesta(although i hope he doesnt play).. Iniesta has been in excellent form this season and makes Barca tick, when allowed to play his game, he’ll punish any team as Chelsea found out.. I think key in Barca’s middle is Yaya Toure playing at centerback, because he is always the one who cleans up in midfield and protects the back 4, allowing Xavi & Iniesta to get forward.. if Utd can hassle the young midfielder Busquets then Barca will be in big trouble.. Andersons power and penetration paired with Giggs’ dribbling while Carrick picks out his passes can control the midfield..
Forwards
Statistically the best forward line in the world, Barcelona’s trio of Henry, Eto’o and Messi are a frightening prospect, but as long as Evra & Rooney team up well on Messi, and Anderson sticks to Iniesta like a Siamese twin then Barca’s frontline will be rendered useless without its supply.. Ronaldo if he plays anywhere near as well as he did against Arsenal in the semis, Pique and Toure are going to be in for a long long night.. Park and Rooney will provide ample backup on the counter-attack for Ronaldo..
Conclusion
Biased as I may be, the combination of United’s style of football, discipline and experience should provide too good for Barcelona’s free flowing brand of football.. if Abidal and Alves were playing then Barca will be much more of a threat as Rooney & Park will have to play in a 4-5-1 the whole match to counter their forays down the flanks.. My Prediction 3-1 to United!!
Glory Glory Man Uniiiiited!!
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