Did Barcelona play anti-football?

[ian1964 10,720]

Defending well is a skill on it's own,it's not just luck that teams find it hard to score against a good defence,our skill is that we are a good strong team all over the park and capable of scoring as well,ask Lyon

[calscot 0]

Totally agree Ian.

[ian1964 10,720]

ANTI-FOOTBALL? Dry your eyes, Leo. . . game was for you to win not for Gers to throw away

 

 

 

Lionel Messi exposed his immaturity

 

 

Charlie Adam and Kevin Thomson close in on Ronaldinho as Rangers stick to the game plan

 

by Darrell King

 

LIONEL MESSI has contributed to many an enjoyable evening around Glasgow for those - myself included - who take great pleasure in watching him showcase his skills on Sky's superb La Liga coverage.

 

'Leo' is arguably the best footballer in the business right now. That mesmeric dribbling, when the ball seems attached to his boot, the sensational slalom runs and wonderful ability to finish, has rightly for me seen the 20-year-old Argentinian tagged as the new Maradona.

 

But Lionel should let his football do the talking. His attack on the Rangers' players for their display in Tuesday's Champions League draw with Barcelona, describing their tactics as "anti-football", is ridiculous.

 

The only thing anti-football about Ibrox the other night was the way both he - and his below par team-mate Ronaldinho - started collapsing and diving when anyone came within a foot of them as things started to drift away from Frank Rijkaard's side.

 

advertisementIt appears the tactics set out by Walter Smith have upset the diminutive Argentinian. Aw, diddums, Lionel.

 

Did that pesky little Scottish team not open up enough for you to rattle in a couple of goals for the cameras?

 

My goodness, surely they should have gone with three up top and allowed you - and the four other team-mates who join you on the short-list for World Player of the Year - to put on a show and reinforce just why you are one of the greatest talents on the planet?

 

Maybe Messi should look at his own application and over-elaboration on the ball as the reasons why he couldn't score.

 

After all, he was attacking a defence that contained a guy six months shy of his 38th birthday; a makeshift left-back who gave him as good as he got; and a defender who hasn't played 20 games yet in a country where he can't fully speak the lingo!

 

Unlike his more experienced team-mates, Thierry Henry, Eidur Gudjohnson and Carles Puyol, Messi showed a lack of understanding of the game - and the main objectives of this tournament.

 

His three amigos, in more diplomatic terms and without complaint, suggested Rangers had put most of their team behind the ball for most of the night.

 

They were spot on. It was backs to the wall, hoof it anywhere, don't give them an inch, fight and scratch for every ball.

 

Did that come as a shock to them? Not in the slightest. Had Henry, Gudjohnson or Puyol been Rangers boss they would have done exactly the same.

 

They headed home to Spain confident that, when Rangers turn up at the Nou Camp, they will get in behind more, finish with more aplomb, win by a few, and close in on the last 16.

 

Never mind Messi, the reaction is astonishing from some in this country to what was a fabulous, hard-fought display from a team who continue to punch above their weight in a section in which no-one gave them an earthly.

 

Smith had started out praying that Rangers could get a point, now they have seven. But some, even among his own support, had a pop at his tactics.

 

Opposition fans claimed they would hate to see their team play that way, and that Rangers fans had paid �£35 to watch a training session.

 

Sure, watching your team getting stuffed by three or four is so much more fun.

 

Smith went for it in the past, with teams that included such as Brian Laudrup, Paul Gascoigne, and Richard Gough - and took a right sore face from the likes of Juventus and Ajax.

 

Scotland's Euro 2008 wins over France illuminated this country and gave the nation two of the best sporting nights in our history.

 

Is the way Rangers played this week any different? Does it deserve any less praise?

 

The brilliance of Shunsuke Nakamura's late free-kick winner aside, was it that dissimilar to Celtic's home performance against Manchester United last season that took the Parkhead men into the last 16 of the Champions League? That evening, Celtic knew they were against players who man for man were technically superior. But Gordon Strachan got it spot on tactically, pressed United in midfield, and had players who were so determined that any inferiority in terms of ability was overcome by sheer endeavour.

 

Rangers, a team without a trophy and in turmoil for two years, were dumped out of two domestic cups by St Johnstone and Dunfermline a year ago.

 

Since then they are, incredibly, on a nine-game unbeaten run in the Champions League. But they are expected to go and launch themselves, gung-ho, at Barcelona?

 

Smith knows Rangers are not pretty to watch at times. They do lack flair and finesse, and could maybe do with bringing in the likes of Thomas Buffel to try and add a bit of magic dust.

 

The manager is still searching for the right blend in a squad that has seen more than 25 players come and go since he took the helm 10 months ago.

 

But he has to perform this against the backdrop of an insatiable appetite among his support for results.

 

And that, young Lionel, is what this game is all about.

 

The object of the premier tournament in club football, the Champions League, is to finish as high up as you can.

 

In a couple of months' time, that point Rangers snatched the other night could be worth millions of pounds, should they go through to the last 16.

 

Gordon Strachan summed it up perfectly after Celtic had beaten AC Milan a few weeks back at Parkhead.

 

On his way to address the media, delighted at what he had just seen as his players produced a stunning victory to beat the reigning champions, he came across a fan.

 

"It's lucky it's only the result that counts," Strachan was told.

 

Astonishing.

 

On Planet Glasgow, it's the norm for fans on either side of the Old Firm divide to refuse to give the other lot credit for their European achievements. Petty on both sides, maybe.

 

But, for me, that's fair enough. Rivalry is healthy if it's channelled properly, and it's no different to Spurs supporters wishing Arsenal get stuffed in Europe, as highly unlikely as that may be right now.

 

But for those within the supports of the Old Firm to have a go when the teams have just drawn with Barcelona, or beaten Milan, is simply unfathomable.

 

As for you, young Master Messi. Apparently your nickname is The Flea. Well, here's one in your ear, because it was you who didn't come up to scratch the other night, not Rangers.

[gisabeer 409]

Can I also point out that when England won the World cup they did so by employing the 4-4-2 formation while everyone else was still using 4-3-3. Was that anti-football?

 

It's the Italians who started using similar formations and tactics to Rangers, are they the parents of anti-football?

 

I would actually say that Rangers are playing a very Italian game of defending deep and then quick counter attacking. It seems we are also getting very Italianesque results.

 

We've wisened up, so why are we being pilloried for it?

 

Because were a scottish team and were supposed to lay down and get humped off the likes of barca. weve upset the apple cart and no one likes it but us. So what! The more i read in the papers that were upsetting the opposition makes me all the more confident.

 

bring on the the barca...AGAIN!

[ascender 352]

Apparently Barca have struggled in La Liga this season unless they get an early goal. There's no doubt they play very nice, passing football, but if that doesn't work, they don't seem to have any other options.

 

It was up to them to break us down and they couldn't. They have far better, more talented players, so why shouldn't we sit in and try to contain them. If we hadn't, we'd have been humped.