Let's swap Turmoil for Triumph - Barcelona vs Real Madrid Copa Semi 2nd Leg

Discuss what could be a season defining game here.

It's the perfect time to eliminate Barca at their home.

Last night Ronaldo was fantastic, Kaka was in shape and with other players resting for this match I'm positive. let's do it.

MT makes better game threads

ramos/essien-varane-pepe-coentrao
------------xabi--------khedira-----------
di maria---------ozil-----------cristiano
----------------striker---------------------


no marcelo please! he is not ready.
i have a feeling tello might start so yeah even if arbeloa did arguably good when he faced him ( i dont remember very well how did they fare ) i prefer ramos there or even essien.

My game threads have more personality ( : vagi: )

Anyway I think Barca are there for the taking if we play our cards right. It's going to be a tough game for sure.

Not sure how I feel about Kaka playing this game. He has let us down in so many big games since he's arrived but I wouldn't mind playing him here, he's in good form and he did play in the Copa Semi last season which was a 2-2 (A result that would see us go through).

Idiot wrote:ramos/essien-varane-pepe-coentrao
------------xabi--------khedira-----------
di maria---------ozil-----------cristiano
----------------striker---------------------


no marcelo please! he is not ready.
i have a feeling tello might start so yeah even if arbeloa did arguably good when he faced him ( i dont remember very well how did they fare ) i prefer ramos there or even essien.

Arbeloa loves marking guys like Tello. Sure Tello would probably destroy him in a foot race but he won't get tricked or over commit when marking him.

Having said that I'm not sure about playing Arbeloa at RB. Barca's biggest weakness is the defence of their left flank. Any team with a good RB+RW combo will give them trouble. I would play Ramos because he gives more of a threat going forward.

Ramos should either play centre-back or not play at all, his last red card came playing as a right back, it brought back memories of the 5-0 defeat at the Camp Nou, David Villa had him for dinner that night.

Arbeloa is terrible but at least he defends well and is not usually in danger of being sent off. It's key we play with 11 men for the 90 or so minutes.

I also think Kaka should start, he doesn't add much to the game if he comes on as a sub and he's been in good form lately, the rest of the team picks itself out.

I'd also pick Benzema over Higgy but I wouldn't be surprised if Mourinho starts Higuain.

Lopez
Arbeloa - Varane - Ramos - Coentrao
Khedira - Alonso
Ozil - Kaka - Ronaldo
Benzema.

You bring up a good point there but you have to trust your players to do their thing when the chips are down.

As for the striker, with the gaping holes in Barca's defence I'd rather a player who made runs into the box play as striker.

Neither Benz or Pipa have been that good but Higuain's skill sets are going to be useful imo.

Pepe did not look good against Depor at all tbh but I think he'll raise his game for Barca, if he's in top physical condition I would play him.

For right Back i think Arbeloa is the best option. he is shat going forward but can stop fast player like Tello. Ramos and Essien can't.

For CB I prefer Pepe over Ramos. overall Pepe is a better CB than Ramos and he should be Varane's partner. although both Pepe and Ramos are in very bad form.

about Kaka i think we should start him. In his first Clasico at Camp Nou he was MOTM. and at the moment he is in shape and works hard. last week in Benabeu he was helping Coentrao all the time. i've never seen kaka working this hard.

so:

Yeah if Kaka starts and helps us go through I think I'll forgive him for being a flop these past two years.

I really hope he does well for our sake (and for his)

is di maria suspended for this game? I am really confused abt the rules

if not I would play our usual lineup but with ramos at rb, anything and anyone can defend better than arbeloa atm

higgy and would be the best choice against barcas cbs with his runs or even callegoat with his, he needs to improve his first touch tho

-----------------Casillas
---Arbeloa---Varane---Ramos---Coentrao
-------------Khedira---Alonso
----Di Maria--------Ozil---------Ronaldo
---------------Benzema/Higuain


If Di Maria's suspended, then Modric/Kaka at AM and Ozil at RW.

Di Maria is available for the Copa but not the league clasico.

He probably wouldn't have played the league Clasico anyway imo.

Maybe but we could have used him as a substitute at least.

I would rather have given that to one of our very deserving cantera

like lucas vasquez for example great little tidy player whose time on the pitch is limited by the vastly experienced juanfran

I agree Lucas is a tricky player. I like him.

22 players called up including Casillas (who isn't ready to play but is there to support the team)

albiol wasn't called up due to picking up a flu and marcelo was also left behinr for sporting reasons. no Nacho either hmm weird since he would be Albiols replacement on the bench

lets do this biatches altho deep down I know we will pplay bad

I expect Albiol and Marcelo to play the league clasico this weekend.

Anyway let's do this mutha lovers

according to marca we are starting this lineup:


this is perfect if its true now the only thing missing are the guys stepping up to the plate and delivering

Pinto, Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Xavi, Cesc, Iniesta, Pedro and Messi

Diego López; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Varane, Coentrao; Xabi Alonso, Khedira; Di María, Özil, Cristiano; Higuaín

alba acting like a bitch yo

Defensively we were brilliant. Varane GOATING as usual.

Best player in the world

"I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed."
Michael Jordan

Great game... I am so happy I just ran all over my office

"Shine bright like a diamond.....Ronaldo & Varane , Rest of the glitters are pure gold. But the look on Barca faces...PRICELESS "

BTW - My 100th Post