Subject: Champions League 2014/15

Besides, really? Getting those at 13 gives you such an advantage at 27? And it also makes you dribble defenders and lob the ball better? XD

that's quite plain and obvious.
Don't get irrational here.

Yes, and bicycle racers use blood self-transfusions to boost their performance. It doesn't mean that every hemophiliac is bound to be a super-athlete...

no, but it means that these self-transfusions help top racers become the best.

Getting those at 13 gives you such an advantage at 27?

yes, you have different muscles durability/endurance

also it helped him to become what he is today. Messi would be nowhere without the trainings he had between 13-17yo.

And it also makes you dribble defenders and lob the ball better? XD

come on, you're better than this :)

nobody questions his talent, but the injections did help him and could have helped other players as well, like Robben. but Robben couldn't take the GH.

"Plain and obvious" is your way of saying "I don't have reasons, so just take my word for granted"?
You put too many adjectives on others' posts and too few arguments behind your claims.

Really? If he had received hormones he lacked at 13, he would have recovered faster from injuries at 27?

no, but it helped him develop back then.

and yes, the GH does change the way the muscles are built and it increases their durability. and it has a lasting effect because of it.

no, but it means that these self-transfusions help top racers become the best.


You missed the comparison: Messi was sick, and he got treatment. Like hemophiliacs do. They don't get any boost form this beyond not being sick. Without hormones, Messi wouldn't be what he is today, because he wouldn't even be a normal adult...
But to claim that not only he overcome his disease, but he also got a "bonus" is not a statement you can back with medical evidence, just as I could not back than any one receiving a blood transfusion after a car accident will leave the hospital and defeat Usain Bolt
It is not the same to receive what you lack than to add extra stuff to your perfectly normal levels

(And no, Robben wouldn't get past average with all the dope in the world XD )
(edited)

I could not back than any one receiving a blood transfusion after a car accident will leave the hospital and defeat Usain Bolt

you know very well that this example makes no sense whatsover

it would if you had a talented hemophiliac sprinter training for years with regular transfusions

It is not the same to receive what you lack than to add extra stuff to your perfectly normal levels

nobody knows how much gh Messi received. it was administered by club doctor.

... and the hemophiliac talented sprinter wouldn't beat Bolt, at least not due to the blood transfers...


nobody knows how much gh Messi received. it was administered by club doctor

Then somebody does :P

... and the hemophiliac talented sprinter wouldn't beat Bolt, at least not due to the blood transfers...

sprint is a different sport, but make him a talented cyclist

would regular blood transfusions give him an advantage? yes ;)

spanish final ,Messi the scorer, Barca the CUP.

Are Juve really still underestimated that much? The vast majority seem confident that Real will destroy us at Bernabeu or something, i don't understand how can they be, maybe because of the old stereotype that "italian football is in decline" despite having three teams in the semi-finals?

it is in a financial decline though...

anyway, if Allegri starts with midfield Pogba-Marchisio-Vidal + Pereyra or Sturaro, then I'm comfortable about the final:)

on the other hand, if he uses Pirlo again...:F

its derby nobody is sure about the result , just look in past 16 matches Real 8 wins Juve 7, 16-18 goals...
i agree with borkos , no need for Pirlo , just pressing and the same passion with 1st match but Bernabeu will be an extra boost for Real's players (imagine if score is for example 1-1 last 10 min will be like hell for your team)...
nobody underestimates Carlito(best form)-Pirlo(best free kicks)-Vidal-Pogba , Juve is more team , Real has better units ....

Barca is in better form from 4 teams ...

Europa League:
Napoli x Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
Sevilla x Fiorentina

Sevilla the cup

lol
clear offsite Dnipro's goal !!!

I was surprised about Pirlo's low form, but I hadn't seen him for a while now... Especially considering pass accuracy/decision making, which are less age-dependent :S

Juventus obviously has a slight advantage due to winning the game, but that away goal makes it all relative. ANything can happen next week depending on what version of the 2 teams we see. In this week, though, I believe Wednesday's match was a level or two above Tuesday's. Real Madrid is far from its seasonal peak right now...


If we do get a Juventus-Barcelona final, though, it will be a tough one for my heart :P

juve had Pogba injured and real missed Benzema and MODRIC.

I'm a fan of modric I think he's not easily substituted by anyone else.

I agree Modric makes a difference for them. Benzema wouldn't add much, though. Well, of course, if Bale disappears then better Benzema than Bale :P But in my opinion 2 forwards + Isco & James behind them works better than adding Benzema and removing Isco/James.
But I think, beyond Modric, the team as a whole is not working as well as earlier this season, including when Modric first got injured. Many individual players, including CR, are not at their best, but also "collectively" they were less focused. For example, in Juve's first goal, Tévez, of all people, appeared absolutely alone 1 meter from the box. That's a huge defensive distraction/lack of coordination.

Pogba is one of Juve's best players. Still, as a team, I don't imagine them playing much better than last Tuesday, especially if Pirlo is at this level. At least, I haven't seen them play much better (and I'm not saying they play badly, I'm only saying Barcelona and Bayern played at another level).