As predicted, it was a total demolition job, United didn't create a single legitimate chance, just the offside goal, whereas Barca must have had over 20 shots compared to what was effectively 2 hopeful at best shots off target. United can forget about ever beating this team, it wasn't a contest at all, for the most part United were reduced to humping long balls forward that either went out of play or were mopped up easily, and even after Barca went 3-1 up and were just seeing out time United couldn't hurt them.

The only team to beat them in the CL, or come close to stopping them were of course Arsenal, though I'm glad Barca progressed, they're the better team and Arsenal would only have ****ed things up, it would have been unforgivable if we'd knocked them out only to let United win it, though Real Madrid would probably have knocked us out and then beaten United. I could be wrong, it's possible knocking out Barca would have given us the confidence to win things, but I doubt it.

But still, Arsenal deserve credit for their one top performance of the season, I know United fans don't like to give Arsenal any credit, but they're one of the few teams technically gifted enough to hurt Barca, and numerous people in sport have lauded them for how fit they are, which was one of the keys to us beating them at the Emirates I think.

Sneijder would be a good start for United, but they'd need a complete overhaul to stop Barca in europe, with refereeing that favours technicality over physicality, much more cultured and technical players would be required, the sort who'd struggle against the physical teams in the Premiership, so United would need 2 teams, one for beating Barca and Real, and one for beating Stoke et al, same with any Premiership team that wants success on both fronts.

I think raiding Inter would be a good start, they've got the technical players, but there's too much ego in Italy for these teams to do well in europe normally, without a great manager...

Barca just need a top left back as much as anything, and more strength in depth, Rooney's goal shouldn't have counted, but it was Abidal who played them into trouble, dwelling on the ball, allowing his clearance to be charged down, and then giving possession away with the throw in... I wish him well after what happened, but he did seem the weak link, though having Mascherano at centre back wasn't ideal of course, so another centre back might make sense.

Anyone who thinks any two players, unless one was Messi, would be enough for United to beat Barca is deluded in the extreme, they'd barely get a touch, that's why I said United would need an overhaul and a team that could play possession football in some way comparable to Barca, plus supreme fitness and defenders who are cultured rather than physical.

The only United player who'd get in the Barca team is Evra, so saying 2 players will change anything is ridiculous.

Finally, how good is Messi? I used to love Iniesta, but Messi showed he can do everything better than Iniesta now, his passing was amazing, as good as you'll see, and when you add that to the dribbling of a God, he's almost the complete footballer, his dribbling is better than you'd think possible and to do it on the big stage shows he can win every trophy he goes for over the next 10 years or more with the right manager. I think it'll be very rare for them to get stopped in the CL between now and the day Fergie retires.