Champions League Final 2009: FC Barcelona vs ManUtd: Champions of Europe!

[Warik]

Bah, Iniesta, Xavi, Henry and Messi will be fine. Messi and Henry because they've taken so many down the years, and Iniesta and Xavi because they can strike a football soooo sweetly. Very slim chance of any of them having problems taking a penalty. Eto'o should be avoided at all costs I think but knowing his sheer force of will he'd take one.

I just don't think practicing penalties is worth it. I highly doubt Utd and Chelsea practiced them at length last year, and I doubt SAF is wasting time in practicing them now.

 

[maz]

Its not wasting time really. Its an extra hour or so on the end of the session. Each player takes 5 penalties, thats 80-100 penalties. If it takes half a minute per penalty then you're talking 50 minutes at most. Its just about getting used to the whole scenario. Practising doesnt mean you're guaranteed to score, but its definitely not futile.

 

[Barcaman]

Its not wasting time really. Its an extra hour or so on the end of the session. Each player takes 5 penalties, thats 80-100 penalties. If it takes half a minute per penalty then you're talking 50 minutes at most. Its just about getting used to the whole scenario. Practising doesnt mean you're guaranteed to score, but its definitely not futile.

I agree, particularly because all predict a tight match. + we did already play 180 mins. vs. ManUtd last year with only one goal scored. Also Messi and Eto weren`t exactly great at taking penalties this season.

 

[Warik]

Messi has only missed one hasn't he? i'd hardly qualify that as not good. Eto'o however isn't fantastic but you know he'll want to take one regardless.

 

[Barcaman]

True. I just hope it doesn`t come to that. ManUtd have more experience from the last final + the final will be nerve wrecking as it is.

 

[Metaphysical]

practising penalties is important for variety's sake. you need to be confident shooting in all areas of the goal because if you keep putting penalties in one place keepers will suss you out. PLUS if you see a keeper moving towards where you wanna put it, you can change it up. berbatov obviously doesn't practice so when he tried to improvise in the fa cup semi-final he made a pig's ear of it.

of course the ideal scenario is to nail it into the top-corner (i.e. hargreaves and kalou in rome). no way in hell a keeper is saving that even if he goes the right way. but to be able to constantly place it there you need crazy technique, hence the practice.

I don't think iniesta would take a penalty, tbh. his confidence striking a ball comes and goes and I can see him not volunteering. if they're all on the field at the end of the game I can guarantee puyol, eto'o, messi, henry and xavi will take our first five penalties. following them sylvinho, pique, keita, iniesta... busquets and yaya will probably fight over who goes last.

 

[Gnegneri]

van persie's penalty in the semis was brilliant

no more pressure of course at that point, but still. magnificently placed!

 

[puta madrid]

Who are we going to face in the spanish super cup ?

 

[G.J]

I read this morning that our goalkeepers coach studied united penalty shoots from last season. Basically telling Valdes how each player likes to strike it. Dont think Pep will take anything for granted at this point.

 

[Quash]

I agree that practice definitely helps on pens, I know I can't really compare myself to the boys but I used to constantly under/overhit my pens so they were either pitiful or skied over the bar. As Bojan says, placement is a great skill because there are areas of the net that are simply unsaveable from a centrally-positioned keepdog.

 

[G.J]

practising penalties is important for variety's sake. you need to be confident shooting in all areas of the goal because if you keep putting penalties in one place keepers will suss you out. PLUS if you see a keeper moving towards where you wanna put it, you can change it up. berbatov obviously doesn't practice so when he tried to improvise in the fa cup semi-final he made a pig's ear of it.

of course the ideal scenario is to nail it into the top-corner (i.e. hargreaves and kalou in rome). no way in hell a keeper is saving that even if he goes the right way. but to be able to constantly place it there you need crazy technique, hence the practice.

I don't think iniesta would take a penalty, tbh. his confidence striking a ball comes and goes and I can see him not volunteering. if they're all on the field at the end of the game I can guarantee puyol, eto'o, messi, henry and xavi will take our first five penalties. following them sylvinho, pique, keita, iniesta... busquets and yaya will probably fight over who goes last.

Ronaldinho was exceptional. 90% of his penalties were to the left but he strikes it so well its almost impossible for keepers to save it.

 

[Esteve]

Ronaldinho was exceptional. 90% of his penalties were to the left but he strikes it so well its almost impossible for keepers to save it.

[YOUTUBE]aXR7v6jrrjA[/YOUTUBE]


DIIIINNNNHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[IraqiCulé]

Who are we going to face in the spanish super cup ?

I think we automatically win it? We're guaranteed at least one trophy next season.

 

[G.J]

Bilbao

 

[G.J]

[YOUTUBE]aXR7v6jrrjA[/YOUTUBE]


DIIIINNNNHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Was that the game where both Eto'o and Messi scored incredible solo goals? You were lucky eh!