Grizzly Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 In each of the only two years in their history that they have played in Champions League, Kazan gets thrown into the same group as Barca which should be unlucky. In their two games last year they beat Barca at Camp Nou and tied them in Kazan. Until they beat Barca I don't think most people who are not Russian soccer fans had ever heard of the team. Yet they have done it again tying Barca 1-1 in Kazan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saviola7 Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Yep, crazy. Now Kazan is in their heads! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucklefan Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 In each of the only two years in their history that they have played in Champions League, Kazan gets thrown into the same group as Barca which should be unlucky. In their two games last year they beat Barca at Camp Nou and tied them in Kazan. Until they beat Barca I don't think most people who are not Russian soccer fans had ever heard of the team. Yet they have done it again tying Barca 1-1 in Kazan. I watched that game and from what I saw, I think they were playing too much defensively, they maybe even let Barça attack and get deep in Rubin Kazan's zone so they could regain possession and try a counterattack. Kazan players were quite effective in counterattacks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 The 2 draws in Kazan aren't that shocking though. We're talking about the best or second-best team in Russia. And they are way out there in Siberia so travel plays a part too. So its really only 1 freak result so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted October 2, 2010 Author Share Posted October 2, 2010 The 2 draws in Kazan aren't that shocking though. We're talking about the best or second-best team in Russia. And they are way out there in Siberia so travel plays a part too. So its really only 1 freak result so far. Kazan is a good team and the result may not be shocking but it is still surprising. Kazan is still largely a team of no-names while Barca is arguably the top team in the world. Rubin even lost the one recognizable name they had, Alejandro Domínguez, to Valencia this year but have still managed to stay on top of the Russian league this year. I would rank Russia as the 6th top league in Europe behind France and would also be surprised if a top French team had such a record against Barca. As far as the travel, Kazan is not located in Siberia and is still in European Russia. It is about 600 km east of Moscow which is not that much travelling by plane. I imagine Barca travels by charter so direct while it is about as far east as a team would have to play unless one of the Siberian teams qualified for Champions League, it is not that long a flight either, not much more than they would travel to play a Finnish team for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 The problem with people like you Grizzly is that you don't appreciate just how good the Russian league is. No one who realized how good Russian football is would ever start a thread like this. For years I've been saying it is on the rise and one of the best in Europe, but no one believes me, or hardly anyone. I mean, if it is good league as I say then it should come as no surprise that its best teams can compete with the elite in Europe. Why would anyone be surprised by that? As far as I am concerned, time to welcome the Tartars to the group of great clubs of Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted October 2, 2010 Author Share Posted October 2, 2010 The problem with people like you Grizzly is that you don't appreciate just how good the Russian league is. No one who realized how good Russian football is would ever start a thread like this. For years I've been saying it is on the rise and one of the best in Europe, but no one believes me, or hardly anyone. I mean, if it is good league as I say then it should come as no surprise that its best teams can compete with the elite in Europe. Why would anyone be surprised by that? As far as I am concerned, time to welcome the Tartars to the group of great clubs of Europe. Haha, good one Jefferey! Next time you try to piss me off at least try to be a bit less obvious and it might work. As you are well aware I am one of the few if not the only posters here who has attended a lot of Russian Premier and first division games and thus am well aware of the level of the league. 5 years ago when I would post about the quality of the league a lot of people were sceptical. Since the Euro sucess, the sucess of several teams in European Cup play and all the British commentators having to eat their words about their Arshavin predictions, most people are now aware of the quality of the Russian league. As I said it is the 6th best league in Europe. Nevertheless, as much as I am a fan of the Russian league, there is still a pretty big difference in level of play between it and La Liga. La Liga is even a pretty big step up from the 1st Bundesliga let alone the RPL. Likewise the difference in level between a team like Barca and Rubin is pretty huge even if Rubin has a good team. Upsets happen but after 3 games it looks like there is a pattern being established and that is what is surprising about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Haha, good one Jefferey! Next time you try to piss me off at least try to be a bit less obvious and it might work. As you are well aware I am one of the few if not the only posters here who has attended a lot of Russian Premier and first division games and thus am well aware of the level of the league. 5 years ago when I would post about the quality of the league a lot of people were sceptical. Since the Euro sucess, the sucess of several teams in European Cup play and all the British commentators having to eat their words about their Arshavin predictions, most people are now aware of the quality of the Russian league. As I said it is the 6th best league in Europe. Nevertheless, as much as I am a fan of the Russian league, there is still a pretty big difference in level of play between it and La Liga. La Liga is even a pretty big step up from the 1st Bundesliga let alone the RPL. Likewise the difference in level between a team like Barca and Rubin is pretty huge even if Rubin has a good team. Upsets happen but after 3 games it looks like there is a pattern being established and that is what is surprising about this. Oh, and I thought you'd find it funny. I wasn't trying to tee you off, it was a sort of homage, or so I had hoped. Patterns exist, it is just like that. Until this week's win at Valencia Man Utd had won 1 of their 18 matches in Spain, pretty bad record. As I see it Barça lacks urgency vs. teams it has no reference of, the travel hurts and we suffer in Russia, Ukraine, rarely winning big, and Rubin has a fantastic coach, he is a master. But they still played 11 behind the ball, Barça had 75% possession, and they were ultra-defensive, really too much so for a team in Champions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachesl Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Haha, yo guys should realize you are really soul mates, and are just waiting for the opportunity to proprely bind. Face it, you guys need each other! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share Posted October 3, 2010 Haha, yo guys should realize you are really soul mates, and are just waiting for the opportunity to proprely bind. Face it, you guys need each other! Following this post, I now officially hate you Beachesl! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Kazan is a good team and the result may not be shocking but it is still surprising. Kazan is still largely a team of no-names while Barca is arguably the top team in the world. Rubin even lost the one recognizable name they had, Alejandro Domínguez, to Valencia this year but have still managed to stay on top of the Russian league this year. I would rank Russia as the 6th top league in Europe behind France and would also be surprised if a top French team had such a record against Barca. Yeah, i would say 6th or 7th-best league. Portugal's big 3 are better than Russia's top 3 but the RPL has more quality in depth. Take 5th-place CSKA reaching the CL quarters or 4th-place Spartak heading for the 2nd round this season as good illustrations. You'll never see that from a non "Big 3" Portuguese team as Braga is making clear right now. La Liga is even a pretty big step up from the 1st Bundesliga let alone the RPL. Not anymore. Not La Liga as a whole, anyway. But yeah Barca are light years ahead of anyone in Germany. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucklefan Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 La Liga is even a pretty big step up from the 1st Bundesliga let alone the RPL. Not anymore. Not La Liga as a whole, anyway. But yeah Barca are light years ahead of anyone in Germany. I agree 100%. If you define La Liga's level based Barcelona and Real Madrid qualities then yes, La Liga can be looked as a strong league but if you look at whole, it's obvious that there are only 2 candidates to win the league, the rest is far behind and that makes the league a boring one IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKottonmouthed1555362307 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Because Barca doesn't give Kazan the credit they deserve they are arguably the best team in what is in arguably top 5 League in Europe. They do not play out of Siberia, only 2 RPL teams in Siberia and they are Tomsk and Novosibirsk, so travel ain't a big one. It's what I believe is big head syndrome where these Millionaires do not show up for a game because they can't get there heads around a team that can challenge them without Millionaires on the other side of the pitch. One thing teams like Rubin Kazan will do is bring 100% to every game they play, and with the the talent they have and the drive they can upset some talented teams if they don't show up to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Okay, its not Siberia. It's a few miles from Siberia. Point still stands though. It's far. It's what I believe is big head syndrome where these Millionaires do not show up for a game because they can't get there heads around a team that can challenge them without Millionaires on the other side of the pitch. That's not it either. Especially since Rubin probably has lots of millionaires too (just look at the name of the club ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Because Barca doesn't give Kazan the credit they deserve they are arguably the best team in what is in arguably top 5 League in Europe. They do not play out of Siberia, only 2 RPL teams in Siberia and they are Tomsk and Novosibirsk, so travel ain't a big one. It's what I believe is big head syndrome where these Millionaires do not show up for a game because they can't get there heads around a team that can challenge them without Millionaires on the other side of the pitch. One thing teams like Rubin Kazan will do is bring 100% to every game they play, and with the the talent they have and the drive they can upset some talented teams if they don't show up to play. Except Barça has totally dominated all three matches, missed plenty of chances, and apart from the rival's goals could be said to have played quite well always. No underestimation, full squad, overwhelming possession, taking all the responsibility for generating the play. Next time actually watch the games before you comment, it helps with accuracy and let's you off on those generic gems that are in fact totally false. Barça is still going to make it out of the group stage, and Rubin looks like it might, so it is not exactly a problem to have problems with Rubin. Barça can't beat Hercules either, in 1997 we lost the league on the basis of two losses to Hercules, those points were the difference. And this year they beat us 0-2 at home. Please begin comments now about the level of football in Alicante. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKottonmouthed1555362307 Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 I actually watched the game, I'm a RPL supporter and yeah, Barca didn't try hard enough, look at the stats. They probably should of fielded more non-regulars. 81% Possesion and only 4 shots on target, that's pathetic. One goal and it had to come from the Penalty spot. How can Barca hold that much possesion and get nothing, well sloppiness and not working hard enough in the trenches when it mattered, yeah they could pass the ball between each all day great, they couldn't hit the side of a barn though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 How can Barca hold that much possesion and get nothing, well sloppiness and not working hard enough in the trenches when it mattered, yeah they could pass the ball between each all day great, they couldn't hit the side of a barn though. That strategy seemed to work in the World Cup, not to mention almost every other time in the past 2+ years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKottonmouthed1555362307 Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 That strategy seemed to work in the World Cup, not to mention almost every other time in the past 2+ years. Yes, but it's the reason Barca lost to Inter last season, and nearly the La Liga to Real. I believe they just don't have the drive to change there style of flair, even when it's in a critical stage and it's failing. They believe they can get by on pure skill, and yeah they will be always one of the best teams in the world on skill, but it leaves them suspect in times of adversity, which may not come often, but when they do they have no answer for it. They won't win the Champions league if they can't figure that out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted October 7, 2010 Share Posted October 7, 2010 Yes, but it's the reason Barca lost to Inter last season, and nearly the La Liga to Real. no system is guaranteed to be successful every time. If there was one, football would be dull. The players are human, not robots. Plus luck will always play some part (as it certainly did against Inter). Barca got 99 points last season which smashed the previous league record though. Keep in mind also that Barca have been TERRIBLE in the tranfer market the past few years and have to rely heavily on the talent brought up through their youth system. As a result they have a small/shallow collection of good players. Yet still win the treble and follow that with a 99 point season. I believe they just don't have the drive to change there style of flair, even when it's in a critical stage and it's failing. They believe they can get by on pure skill, and yeah they will be always one of the best teams in the world on skill, but it leaves them suspect in times of adversity, which may not come often, but when they do they have no answer for it. They won't win the Champions league if they can't figure that out. huh? They just won it in 2009 playing this system. The reason they don't have a "Plan B" is because they have been TERRIBLE in the transfer market. Ibrahimovic was supposed to offer a different look, but it didn't work out. But "Plan A" still works 95% of the time and that's why they are still the most likely team to win the CL every season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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