A big mistakes that Fletcher was at the bench?

   There was always going to be a gulf in class between Barcelona and Manchester United at Wembley, but that should not disguise the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson's tactical choices prevented us from seeing a closer contest.

   They suffered from a lack of presence in midfield and I was quite surprised to see Darren Fletcher sat on the bench while Javier Hernandez partnered Wayne Rooney in a two-man attack.

   I know Fletcher had been out for a while due to a virus and was lacking a bit of fitness, but his natural enthusiasm and his desire to play in the final - having missed out due to suspension in 2009 - would have got him through it. But Fergie didn't take that chance and there must have been a very good reason not to do so.

   I would have had Fletcher in the side because a central midfield comprising Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick was always going to lack legs. When you play Barcelona you are never going to have a lot of the ball so you need players with energy and at least one player with a bit of guile who can win the ball back and launch a counter-attack. United did not have that player, and suffered as a result as their midfield was overwhelmed.

   United pressed very well for the first 10 minutes or so and hounded Barcelona, but when Pep Guardiola's side did settle into their rhythm, Fergie's men were running out of energy and couldn't get near them. They desperately needed something in that midfield, four or five workmen, and they needed to disrupt the passing 'carousel'.

   Park Ji-Sung supplied some impetus but a 10-year-old has more energy than Michael Carrick. He is only effective if you are enjoying the lion's share of possession and it was never going to be that way against a Barca side that monopolises the ball.

   In fairness, there are very few teams who can stop Barcelona playing. Inter did so when knocking them out at the semi-final stage last season - they stifled them all over the pitch - but Jose Mourinho had the players to adopt that kind of approach and make it work.

   For Sir Alex and United, it is not in their mentality to play in a negative fashion; they try to stick to the club's tradition of attacking football. That meant United's midfield was outnumbered and outlclassed by Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Xavi, and they were inferior in all departments to be honest. The moment United's players tired, Barcelona capitalised and exploited the space.

 

Ne-Messi

   This time Alex Ferguson is not taking it lightly. There will be no complacency. No certainty. The talk of entering the final as underdogs will not be the product of typical footballing false modesty. History suggests he and his team need to beware.

   In 2009 Manchester United were torn apart by Barcelona in the Champions League final, lucky to lose 2-0, their defence, like the rest of us, standing back in admiration to watch Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o score. His side carved open time and again, creating little in response, afterwards the United manager could do no more than articulate what everyone saw to be true: "Barcelona," he said, "were by far the better team."

   Already this season Ferguson has fulfilled one ambition. He has knocked Liverpool off their perch (though, typically, he claims against all recorded evidence, never to have put it like that). He has set a record of domestic championships. Now he has another target in sight: he wants to join Liverpool's Bob Paisley as the manager of an English club to have won the most European Cups.

   And in Rome two years ago, he came nowhere near improving his continental tally. After destroying Arsenal in the semi final with their lightning breakaway football, Ferguson thought a similar tactic would work against Barca. To be fair, he was not alone in that thought. Before the match most commentators believed a midfield of Park, Anderson and Carrick could sufficiently disrupt and discomfort the Catalans for Tevez, Ronaldo and Rooney to hit them on the break. But on the day, Carrick disappeared, Park was by-passed, Anderson anonymous and worst of all, Ronaldo, the supposed matchwinner, reverted to show pony type, sulking and moaning his way through 90 minutes of embarrassment. Though he had a point afterwards when he complained, even as he prepared his exit route to Spain, that United did not have a sufficiently coherent tactical plan to deal with Barca.

   Ferguson has now reached a conclusion. Attacking-wise it will again rely on breakaway pace, with the jet-heeled Javier Hernandez central. But with Rooney pushing back when the opposition have the ball, to join Giggs, Carrick and Park in central midfield, the hope is they will not be swamped as they were in the Olympic stadium.

   Then, if they fall behind, Ferguson is said to have a plan B involving removing Park or Carrick, bringing on Chris Smalling, reverting to three at the back, moving his full-backs into wide midfield and pushing Antonio Valencia into attack to join Rooney and Hernandez. As reward for all his efforts at mimicry, Nani will remain on the bench.

   Of course, you can plan as much as you like and still come unstuck against Barcelona. Jose Mourinho, the master of preparation, was undone 5-0 at the Camp Nou despite spending weeks pondering how his new Madrid team might emulate his old Inter and out-defend them. The best way to beat them - as United showed in the semi final in 2008 - is to play out of your skin and get lucky, an approach, frankly, not recommended in coaching manuals often enough.

   All sensible prognosis suggests Barca will do it at Wembley, the albeit completely rebuilt place where they won their first European Cup. The finest club team assembled in a generation surely has the wherewithal to win its second title in three years, even against the club that has the best claim to match it as the world's most renowned.

   Except for this thought. Ferguson likes his football history, so he might take heed of this statistic: in 10 previous finals involving a club from the host nation, seven have been won by the home team. An eighth is not too ridiculous a possibility.

Mad-xi Rodriguez

Will his scoring form last longer?"Are you ready to consider about him?"to all Fantasy manager......

Sturridge-less

I changed Sturridge to Lovenkrands and Johnson to Nolan...thinking a CS about Taylor and Robinson...only have three 2-gamers how you all think about it?

Spectacle for week 36 - Champion decided upon war

   Wow, didn't touch the blog about Spectacle for week for a long time. I'm back!!! But in this close for a month's time, Premier League really have a major changes taken place. After 35 matches played, ManYoo had 73 of total points leading Chelsea 3 points which also had the same goal difference with ManYoo. Both teams will meet at this week Premier League game. If ManYoo wins the game, The Red Devil will overstep Liverpool becomes the team won the most. Otherwise, if this is a victory for Chelsea, Chelsea will become the league leader with same points with Red Devil but dominant at goal difference. The most intense league win situation in Europe nowadays none other than Premier League. Milan only needs more 1 points to get their 1st title since 2004. Barca now have a leading of 8 points in front of Jose Mourinho's side.

   The title has been decided on final day several times in recent years, but the top two level on points with just 180 minutes of play remaining is a rarity worth beholding. Given United's (shock?) defeat at Arsenal last weekend and Chelsea taking 25 points from the last 27 available to them, anything could happen on Sunday. A win for the Londoners and it is on like the proverbial Donkey Kong.
  
   Were it not for their mid-season stumbling, Chelsea would already be champions, something which midfielder Michael Essien observed with the most hackneyed analogy since Paul Merson compared the struggle to walk past a betting shop to that of walking past a hairdressers.
"It has been a sweet and sour season," said the Ghanaian. "To use a sandwich analogy: sweet bread at the top, sour filling and more sweet bread at the bottom. We started the season extremely well, had a sour middle part and are now ending strongly."

   Chelsea were the last team to beat United at Old Trafford. That 2-1 win came just over a year ago, but seeing the name Joe Cole (remember him?) on the scoresheet makes it feel like a lot longer. The league leaders and Champions League finalists have only dropped two points there all season, but if there was a team to win on Fergie's patch, Chelsea are the ones you would put your money on.

   Should Wednesday's reserve run-out against Schalke prove poor preparation for Sunday's clash and Chelsea win, United will try to take heart from what is, on paper at least, an easier run-in.

Real advantage:

• Villa - 1stly we don't talk about two-gamers, home match against Wigan is the best match-up for me. But according to the past 5 match Wigan was unbeaten at Villa's Park. N'zogbia and Diame are doubtful for Wigan and without them Villa will try to keep their 1st win in their last 5 meetings against The Athletics at home ground.

• Bolton Wanderers - Without Asamoah Gyan, Danny Welbeck and Fraizer Campbell, the Black Cats are now facing without recognised senoir striker problem. In this time, the Trotters should adding insult to injury. But I need to mention that if Daniel Sturridge is unavailable again I can say that my expectations of them will fall more quickly. 

• Newcastle United- This game will allow them to find back their state after they lose badly at Anfield. With the Magpies having Joey Barton that have most averaged 10.3 crosses per league game this season, i would enjoy this if they have a win at St' James Park.

Forwards: 

• Suarez - I can say it is a 'must' for all of you and his average points is a shocked after the prices are soaring. Although is an away game but I need to tell Fulham' defender, be careful!
• Bent - home ground match, 3 goals in 5 matches. The 3rd striker list for last season having a lot of local teamates helping him, hard to say that he won't score at this game. 
• Sturridge - a great option for this week but need to see the latest injury report about him since he miss the last 2 matches. 
• Lovenkrands - after Andy Carroll transfers to Liverpool and Leon Best was ruled out, the Magpies are having the problem that striker hard to find goals. But I can sure that this guy will have a pretty weekends. If not, you also can go on with Shola Ameobi which cheaper than Lovenkrands.
• Ba - after Frederic Piquionne, Ba is another favourite Hammer's  player for me. Same as Suarez, his prices are soaring. A great debut half season for him since played for West Ham at January.
• Steven Fletcher - with SEB still not fit yet until need to wait for the latest injury report, I would suggest that Steven Fletcher is a good choice. For last 3 games starts, he done a good job. 
• Odemwingie -  'The Mighty Odem' is going frenzy for this few weekends. 5 goals in last 6 matches. But maybe the prices will be you stumbling block. 

Midfielders:

• Downing - which Ashley Young is too expensive to me, I will take a cheaper and more reasonable option. With Albrighton are unlikely have a start, take Downing is a great choice. 
• Arteta - his price was dropped below 10 and I think for him the last few games would be the opportunities to restore his status. As a player that taking free kick and corner kick, very hard to say 'no' about him.
• Hitzlsperger - a good option if you think about for a West Ham midfielder, with Parker and Noble still not recover yet, Hitzlsperger will undertake more midfield control. With only 5.79, why you not consider about the German?
• Nolan - Joey Barton is too expensive for me, so I would prefer to another cheap option. With the Magpies captain' scoring rate is just behind of Malouda and Dempsey, he should hungry for the action. 
• Jarvis - no doubt of his performance at home ground. But need to mention that Stephen Hunt is back from injury and maybe will be another option for your fantasy team. Or maybe O'Hara? Take a choice on it.

Defenders:

• Walker - a great attacking full back and I like those types of fantasy players. Very hard to ignore him cause he play well at home ground but don't expect too much on him to get a CS. 
• Bridge/Jacobsen - the former Man. City player was missed last week games cause of loan terms and his is back for this week games. As I said I more likely choose attacking full backs than getting a CS. Jacobsen is not an expensive option but really worth on it. 
• Steven Taylor - with 1st choice centre back Williamson is going to end their season with injury, Steven Taylor is surely starts as Alan Pardew said. I will trust of my eye about sub players. Won't you? 
• Robinson - While the Black Cats lack of strikers, means that Bolton maybe would take a CS at home ground. If you want a cheaper and safer option, take it cause Steinsson still doubtful. 

Goalkeepers:

• Jussi - with Bolton lose at last 2 matches, home ground will be their way to come back to win. Prices dropped below 8, a better match-up, hope him can get a CS for Bolton. 

• Green - another cheap option for those who're finding a cheap and worthy GK. I won't expect him can get CS but have pretty performance and more wonderful saves.

2 Gamers:
   Quickly looking at the two-gamers you have to like Spurs slate (BPL and MAC) over that of Citeh (EVE and TOT).  Neither looks like a cakewalk due mostly to the clash with the other combined with the fact that both teams have been incredibly inconsistent all season.  I'd like to say that I favor Spurs over Citeh in general because the other match-up is much stronger but Spurs have shown themselves unable to capitalize on their matches against the dregs of the league so even something that looks as tantalizing as "home to Blackpool" isn't filling me with warm and fuzzy feelings.


Tottenham:  I don't like Hotspurs players except VDV and Bale but their price is not cheap. Defoe? Pavlyuchenko? Who will you pick? Forwards makes me very confused and I can say that, both of them will not play in 180 minutes. I really don't like Lennon and Modric much as a fantasy player(both of them failed to produce for my fantasy points) but not a bad bet for 2 games. Sort of annoying that Sandro got what is likely to be his only goal of the season last weekend.  His price went up and he probably used up his luck. Besides Bale, who can you take anymore? Dawson? Kaboul? Gallas? I don't think they can have a CS against Blackpool and Citeh. Gomes? I didn't bet too much on him. He looks like a time bomb. Lol.

Manchester City: Assuming Tevez is not recover yet, Balotelli will have a start and Dzeko will takes more times on the bench. The next I would ask that '' Can Balotelli do much?" He's one of the most frustrating fantasy players out there.  I'm leaning toward keeping Balotelli in my line-up but I could easily change my mind. Talk about Man. City midfielders, I more prefer on Silva and Johnson, Silva is the highest percentage to play in this 2 games. Johnson I would not expect him can play full matches but there will be another option to replace him, Milner.(Wright-Phillips was invalid from Mancini' side) I don't like Toure so much but I can say that he will almost definitely start both matches. For those who at Kolarov at discount you're obviously going to keep him. For those who buying at retail, I will go on with the cheaper option. Kompany and Zabaleta, maybe they are a bit overpriced unless you predict they can get a few goals or CS from both matches. For both matches, maybe clean sheet is too much for them.