BobbyBiscuit Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 Bravo, Jose Mourinho for dousing Barcelona myth By Martin Samuel Last updated at 1:17 AM on 30th April 2010 * Comments (20) * Add to My Stories Being Jose Mourinho, he did not stop at defeating the team. He beat the club. The most significant aspect of Mourinho's victory over Barcelona was that it removed, once and for all, their pretensions to football's moral high ground. Mourinho knocked Barcelona from the mountain top by revealing them to be cheats and bad sports. No worse than the rest, of course, but no different: and different is what Barcelona have always claimed to be. In doing this, he settled a score from February 2005, when Chelsea lost 2-1 at the Nou Camp after Didier Drogba had been wrongly sent off by referee Anders Frisk. Mourinho was banned and described as an enemy of football by UEFA for saying he saw Frank Rijkaard, the Barcelona coach, enter Frisk's room at half-time when Chelsea led 1-0. He was wrong. From his vantage point, he could not have witnessed such an intrusion; but that does not mean it did not happen. Indeed, the official UEFA report contains evidence from the stadium supervisor that Frisk had to order an agitated Rijkaard back to his dressing room three times. Yet, while Mourinho was demonised in UEFA, Rijkaard later received the UEFA president's medal from Lennart Johansson for his dignified conduct over the affair. Barcelona were very dignified when Chelsea players behaved in poor fashion after last season's semi-final defeat, too; then again, dignity is more easily maintained when the referee has as good as given you the game. Forget the halo It has allowed Barcelona to perpetrate a myth. Not just that they are a superior football team, but a superior club, too. And while Inter's victory over two legs should not harm our regard for Barcelona's football, which remains the finest in the world, we will brook no more lectures from the Barcelona club. They turned the sprinklers on. That is all you need to know about the class of the superior Catalans. As Inter happily, harmlessly, let loose in front of their own fans – banished to the gods, as always at the Nou Camp – a faceless Barcelona employee doused with powerful jets of water the one quarter of the pitch in which the visitors stood, while the loud broadcasting of the club song attempted to further drown their celebrations. The unexpected shower was a spiteful gesture and certainly no accident. No water fell anywhere else. Yet, having already seen Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes confront Mourinho for running to Inter's supporters at the end, it was no surprise. There has always been a spoiled, dark side to Barcelona. Rijkaard, post president's medal, berated the Italian referee Stefano Farina on the field for five minutes at the end of a match in the 2006-07 Champions League campaign, after his team had drawn 2-2 at home to Mourinho's Chelsea. That night should have been the end of Barcelona's claim to elevated ideals, but beautiful football is an effective masking agent and the brilliance of players such as Lionel Messi and Xavi has allowed the arrogance to continue unchecked. Daniel Alves, the dirtiest player in last season's Champions League and a serial diver during the semi-final matches this season, was even allowed to describe the one-shot-in-94- minutes win over Chelsea 12 months ago as total football. There was further delusion this year. 'The champions fall like a champion,' dribbled a headline in Sport newspaper, ignoring the fact that they also cheat like champions, if Sergio Busquets's fake facial injury, complete with sneaky glance through his fingers to make sure it had achieved the desired red card, is anything to go by. If Barcelona are so good - and they are - what frightened Busquets about playing Inter off the level? It proved a fatal error anyway. Inter Milan had played six games with 10 men already this season and had lost only one of them. And so to Madrid... They could not stop Barcelona winning on the night, but prevented them from progressing and in 180 minutes there were only 29 when Barcelona were leading the tie, compared to 132 minutes for Inter Milan and 19 minutes when the tie was a draw. As for Mourinho, aside from turning the tables on Barcelona, he proved once more what really makes him special: he is the first manager that people would pay to watch manage. He is the Barcelona of bosses, in fact; and there is no greater compliment. Interesting take on Wednesday's game. The do-good attitude of Barca is rather nauseating I have to say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azteca1903 Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 I normally can't stand Martin Samuel but it's difficult to disagree with anything in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc_don Posted May 2, 2010 Share Posted May 2, 2010 Anyone watching the wednesday - palace game? Good game so far, plenty of grit and passion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowie Posted May 3, 2010 Share Posted May 3, 2010 Anyone watching the wednesday - palace game? Good game so far, plenty of grit and passion. Aye - was a good game... was good to see the keeper getting involved at the end! Much better than the liverpool chelsea match! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maverick sheep Posted May 3, 2010 Share Posted May 3, 2010 one of the wedensday players threw a punch at a fan afterwards, then a couple more chased the player while the stewards rushed him off. The bbc didn't pay too much attention for some reason. Cowards. Apparently going to be some photos from the luton game in the papers. Players had to escape out the back of the stand after the game because fans stormed the pitch and started wreakin havoc. Police and stewards cowering from stuff bein launched. Typical Luton fans. Hope they never get promoted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasgow sheep Posted May 3, 2010 Share Posted May 3, 2010 one of the wedensday players threw a punch at a fan afterwards, then a couple more chased the player while the stewards rushed him off. The bbc didn't pay too much attention for some reason. Cowards. Apparently going to be some photos from the luton game in the papers. Players had to escape out the back of the stand after the game because fans stormed the pitch and started wreakin havoc. Police and stewards cowering from stuff bein launched. Typical Luton fans. Hope they never get promoted. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2957550/Ugly-scenes-spoil-York-win.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc_don Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 What the hell is going on at motherwell? Hibs 4-2 up after the first half! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentorred Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 What the hell is going on at motherwell? Hibs 4-2 up after the first half! 5-6 Now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc_don Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 Its been a crazy game. Fir park looks even worse on tv. Motherwell penalty now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasgow sheep Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 What a match a fir park, and what a stunning goal to win it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc_don Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 Completely agree gs! What a great watch. That has to be one of the goals of the season surely. Fantastic spirit. Shame our players don't even know what that is. MegaLOL at Hibs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyBiscuit Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 What a match a fir park, and what a stunning goal to win it. It was a draw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptayles Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 FIT THE FUCK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mizer Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8663871.stm Highlights of the game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Padre™ Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8663871.stm Highlights of the game Basically 11 of the goals were down to awful defending, and one was an absolute fucking peach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowalski Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 Rob MacLean now back working for the beeb? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_widdows Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 Seen the current form table? Team P W D L F A Pts Celtic 6 6 0 0 14 4 18 Hamilton 6 4 1 1 11 3 13 Rangers 6 4 1 1 9 4 13 St Johnstone 6 2 3 1 8 6 9 Falkirk 6 2 2 2 4 4 8 Dundee Utd 6 2 2 2 5 6 8 Hearts 6 2 2 2 4 6 8 St Mirren 6 1 4 1 6 6 7 Kilmarnock 6 2 0 4 5 8 6 Motherwell 6 1 1 4 11 16 4 Aberdeen 6 1 1 4 6 12 4 Hibernian 6 0 1 5 10 17 1 Hibs have only won 2 games since the end of January and Motherwell have been faltering of late, yet both teams could be representing us in the Europa League come a week on Saturday. Hibs have actually only taken 9 points from a possible 45 since end of January. Seems the trick to getting european football in the SPL is to get all yer points by mid january and then just go to sleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baggy89 Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 Seen the current form table? Team P W D L F A Pts Celtic 6 6 0 0 14 4 18 Hamilton 6 4 1 1 11 3 13 Rangers 6 4 1 1 9 4 13 St Johnstone 6 2 3 1 8 6 9 Falkirk 6 2 2 2 4 4 8 Dundee Utd 6 2 2 2 5 6 8 Hearts 6 2 2 2 4 6 8 St Mirren 6 1 4 1 6 6 7 Kilmarnock 6 2 0 4 5 8 6 Motherwell 6 1 1 4 11 16 4 Aberdeen 6 1 1 4 6 12 4 Hibernian 6 0 1 5 10 17 1 Hibs have only won 2 games since the end of January and Motherwell have been faltering of late, yet both teams could be representing us in the Europa League come a week on Saturday. Hibs have actually only taken 9 points from a possible 45 since end of January. Seems the trick to getting european football in the SPL is to get all yer points by mid january and then just go to sleep Obviously fluked into Europe due to other teams being so bad, purely papering over the cracks. JH&CBMG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc_don Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 Well one of the hivie i know certainly wants rid of yogi and i'd certainly noticed that they'd not won many hands since the turn of the year. Just makes me laugh that someone else is nearly miserable as me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDU_64 Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 Well one of the hivie i know certainly wants rid of yogi and i'd certainly noticed that they'd not won many hands since the turn of the year. Just makes me laugh that someone else is nearly miserable as me. I looked at a Hibs board after the Derby defeat and there certainly is a lot of discontent down Leith way. Good enough for Brazil and Hughes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrant Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 Well one of the hivie i know certainly wants rid of yogi and i'd certainly noticed that they'd not won many hands since the turn of the year. Just makes me laugh that someone else is nearly miserable as me. I've always thought he was an overrated manager. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyBiscuit Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 Well one of the hivie i know certainly wants rid of yogi and i'd certainly noticed that they'd not won many hands since the turn of the year. Just makes me laugh that someone else is nearly miserable as me. They've had their fingers in a lot of pies to be fair... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrant Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 They've had their fingers in a lot of pies to be fair... It still goes to show that when the gloves are off they've not got the bottle for a fight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harcus Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 I expected Hibs to have third place nailed down by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reekie_Red Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 Just watched the highlights of the Motherwell v Hibs game. Looked a hell of a lot more entertaining than our 6-5 game at Fir Park ten years ago. Some good goals, some shocking goals, horrific backpass by Giles Coke, but stunning goal by Jutkiewicz (why couldn't we have found this player rather than Rutkiewicz?) to grab the draw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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