1.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 10:20:49
Great. Lots of memories there. The first semi final against Chelsea saw some of the strangest refereeing decisions I've ever witnessed and The transfer of Zlatan in exchange fir Eto'o and big money was a head scratcher especially as Zlatan clearly didn't fit the Barcelona system. The two finals against Man United however highlighted how far ahead of the rest this team was. Especially the first game when United could barely get the ball off them.

2.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 11:27:51
I remember my first semi with Chelsea, such a lovely girl😀.

{Ed025's Note - love it barry.. :)

3.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 12:18:43
This was the team of my early-teens. They seemed unstoppable and I don't think Pep has, or will ever, hit these heights again.

Great coach, but I think it shows how well everything aligned for him at Barcelona given that he's not had any real success in Europe since - despite the superior financial backing he has received at his two subsequent clubs.

Ed001, do you think he will ever return?

{Ed001's Note - he has always said he would eventually return there, though to go back into youth coaching, so yes at some point it seems certain.}

4.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 12:33:55
Great read ed! Thank you very much. How good was Hleb as a footballer? I remember him as a classy player, but I was so young at the time that I will readily admit that I probably liked him because of his name.

{Ed001's Note - very good but injury-prone. You are remembering him right, he was very classy.}

5.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 13:27:28
Could only get a semi Barry?

6.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 13:44:46
Too many John Smith's that night Flash 🍻.

7.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 13:59:33
I’m glad others rate Hleb. I thought he was a fantastic player at Arsenal, and also thought he’d be a real success at Barcelona as well.

8.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 15:20:48
That’s brilliant Ed, one of the best I’ve read. Thanks for the effort you put in mate in these, it’s really great.

On a related note, I kept reading how when Enrique took the Barcelona job, he imposed more “verticality” in the team. Without asking you to write an essay on it (although that’ll be brilliant) is it the case that Pep’s side tend to overload on one side first while Enrique’s way is just straight up towards the opponent’s box without so much build up?

{Ed001's Note - that is a simplistic way to describe it, but yes in essence you are correct. It is good you asked this as I was wondering what I would do next on the tactics series when I finish the one I am doing now, as I had actually caught up on the requests in that one. First and only time I have managed to catch up! But now I have verticality to explain next.}

9.) 03 Jul 2021
03 Jul 2021 18:50:44
Hahaha glad to be of service Ed001 mate, I’ll look forward to that piece. Maybe bump it up the list as well? 😜

Would you apply roughly the same distinction between our current team vs City (the verticality bit)?