Barca Blog

La Furia Roja!

2008-06-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

What a tournament this Euro 2008 has been. Simply amazing with some of the best that European football has to offer. Which is surprising in itself, since we're talking about national teams, not club teams. I've generally enjoyed the caliber of play among the various national teams. I know someone like Arsene Wenger might think club football is the pinnacle of the sport, and one can pull out some rotten national competitions from the past to support that argument, but this wouldn't be one of them. Euro 2008 was fun to watch and full of delightfully unexpected twists and turns.

Truth is this tournament has been a keeper. No joke about it. There were the flamboyant Dutch with their surgical destruction of both France and Italy. The gritty flair of the Portuguese. The Croatians with their tight attacking game. And then, there were the Turks.

Oh. My. God. The Turks. Those guys were unbelievable. They would just not go down, no matter what. Down two goals against the Czech Republic with 20 minutes to go, and they need to win. So, they do. And this after already coming back from behind in two previous matches. They almost took Germany to extra time in the semifinals with a late equalizer and only had to bow out in exhaustion after the Germans pulled a last minute goal of their own in the 90th minute. My heart goes to the Turks. Their squad was riddled with injuries and suspensions, but they didn't lose the plot until it was far beyond what any other side could've endured. They say no one remembers the losers, but I'll be damned if I'm going to forget them. The Turks were a huge part of Euro 2008, and if you don't believe that just imagine this tournament without them and their fighting spirit.

The other big surprise were Russia. Here was a side that didn't realize it was quite risky to be so attack oriented, and because of that the Russians pulled off some very impressive wins. Their incessant pace and unrelenting counterattacks even did in the tourney favorites, Holland. But Spain had the Russians' number from start to finish, and Arshavin & company finally had to bow out. Still, Russia have put themselves back on the football map, and I look forward to seeing how they progress on the road to South Africa in 2010.

And, then there was Spain. España. Castillian blood flows through my veins if removed by several generations, so it was especially exciting to see la Furia Roja dash all the old jinxes, batten down the hatches, and pull off an achievement to be remembered for some time to come. What Aragonés and his boys did was to confirm the superiority of attacking football. Intelligent attacking football. A game that was a mix of creative artistry with a dab of pragmatism and a sprinkling of luck. It was a joy to watch the Spanish passing game, but it became mesmerizing when the Spaniards started their 'dance' into space and those passes began to slice defenses wide open, like a rapier that finds a chink in otherwise thick armor. To be fair, the Spanish weren't always in top form, but even then, they showed they possessed cojones. This was big in and of itself, because it showed this Spanish side had belief in themselves. They had confidence to see it through, to beat Italy at their own game, as it turned out.

I think what I loved most from watching Spain was that they always attacked, even when other sides would've chosen to sit on a lead. An old military adage says that the best defense is a good offense. Spain showed how that applies to football too. In the final against Germany, the last 10-20 minutes of the match were played almost entirely in the Germans' half. The Spanish just wouldn't quit. I had to chuckle to myself as the Scottish announcer surmised that maybe the need to attack was part of Spanish DNA. Who knows, but it sounded good anyway.

So now it's all celebration in Spain. The trophy is theirs after a 44 year wait. Enjoy it, España, you deserve it.

"Many people will look at this Spain team because it has been a model for playing football. I think all football lovers want people to make good combinations, to get into the penalty area and to score goals. At the beginning I said that if we managed this squad well, we would be champions. The team just thought I was trying to give them confidence. I just hope Spain carry on in this way and have many more victories."
Aragonés

Ronaldinho to Chelsea?

2008-06-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

This article, along with a couple others, seem to suggest that possibly Ronnie, and even Deco, might be bound for the Premiership club, Chelsea. All I can say is that while I think Ronaldinho likely has greater skill than Deco, I'll miss the Portuguese more. At least Deco put in some consistent effort these last two seasons, something I wouldn't say about Ronaldinho. For the Brazilian, the proverbial 'light' went out and while there were sparks of inspiration from Ronaldinho even in 2007-2008 (that overhead kick against Atleti was 100% golazo) the fact remains he more often than not simply disappeared on the pitch. Of course, there are many fans from other clubs who can't believe that Barcelona would let go of Ronaldinho. His skills are formidible and his exploits are legend, but at some point a person can no longer live on ones laurels. At some point one has to produce, and that is something Ronaldinho stopped doing since the end of the last World Cup. So, if Chelsea or Manchester City are eager to see the Brazilian sign for their side, fine, more power to them. Maybe Ronaldinho will have a revival. But the fact remains that for two seasons Ronaldinho had failed to produce at Barça, and this while under a coach who felt players were adults and should be responsible for themselves.

The other potential problem I see for Ronaldinho signing with Chelsea (or Man City) is that we're talking about the English Premiership. This is a league whose fans reward effort and drive and grit above all else. English football is also a fast game and quite physical. I'll be very interested to see how Ronaldinho adjusts to the increased tempo of English football. On the other hand, a lot of running would do the Brazilian a world of good.

"We Were Not Prepared To Run"

2008-06-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

An article on Eto'o has some interesting things to say about Barça's performance last season. Not necessarily surprising, but certainly interesting. Thinking back on the Blaugrana of the last two seasons, it did strike me how little they actually ran on the pitch. Not all of them of course, but quite a few of them. Enough of them to leave an impression. Even in 2005-2006 that sort of lackadaisical manner to FCB's movement (except when in the attacking third and in possession) was apparent to me. Back then, I wrote it off as a case of excellent-men-oozing-with-confidence. Silly me. Funny thing was in 2005-2006 the one concern by many pundits was Barça's rather soft and squishy defence.

This can partially be attributed to an attacking philosophy, since emphasis on attack will create vulnerabilities in the back at the instant ball possession turns over. The problem is Barcelona never seemed to 'get' it until the latter part of this season, when it was evident that the squad were beginning to put immediate pressure on the opposition when possession was lost. Of course, it was far too late with dwindling morale and a few key players no longer committed to the cause.

One can only hope that Guardiola will make sure that the players are impressed with a new sense of greater movement. A pace-aggressive mentality in defense should effectively diminish Barça's natural vulnerabilities, allowing them to regain their winning ways.

During the Interrim: transfer goodness

2008-06-08T14:48:00.000-07:00

Interesting to see where Txiki is 'rebuilding' the squad. So far we've seen:

Keita to FCB
Piqué to FCB
Edmilson to Villareal
Zambrotta to Milan
Pinto stays at FCB
Henry stays at FCB
Alves to FCB
Cáceres to FCB
Giovani to Tottenham

Dealings possibly in the works are:

Ronaldinho, Deco, and Eto'o on their way out
D. Villa being shown interest from FCB
Ongoing talks between Barcelona and the Belorussian, Hleb

I think it may be safe to assume that of last season's squad, we can expect to see the following remaining: Puyol, Sylvinho, Abidal, Toure, Milito, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Krkic, Valdés, Pinto and Messi. Add those who've been signed on, and it looks like Txiki (Guardiola?) is really looking to stiffen Barcelona in the back, plus add a wider variety of players in midfield.

And I'm actually quite hopeful for Guardiola's leadership with the players. Like Rijkaard, Pep was a solid and gifted player, and in addition he was a good leader. Hopefully this will translate well into his role as coach of Barça.

Finished: 2007-2008

2008-05-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

It was a nice last match for Frank and his squad, beating a relegated Murcia 3-5. Hey, Giovani even got a hat trick! That one goal, the chip in traffic over the keeper-it was a keeper, no doubt. Henry looks like he's finally found his stride too. Interesting.

Anyway, it's over. Frank's gone, and so will a significant percentage of the senior squad, if rumors are anything to go on. Won't bother repeating what all is being speculated by whichever news source, since it's pretty much a no brainer that heads are gonna roll in FCB this summer. It's just too bad that the board doesn't apply in that regard. My personal axe to grind would be aimed right at Txiki's neck. He'd be hittin' the Ramblas in a second. Buh bye!

Having said that, Pep Guardiola's a smart guy, an experienced intelligent footballer, so he might just pull it off and bring out a 'new' rejuvenated Barça next season. The problem will be if he can maintain success for more than a year, or two. After all the sparkle has settled and maybe the squad hit a dry spell in the middle of a campaign. We'll see. In any case, I'll just spend my summer watching old games on Barça TV, and support Spain in Euro '08.

Until next season!

Sign of the Times

2008-05-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

According to an article, Barça training today saw only eight players attend. Rijkaard himself was absent as well. After the lack of support for the home club by the cules in Nou Camp yesterday, it's not that surprising. What a mess this has become. FC Barcelona are broken and their camp is abandoned.

Who's to blame? Well, it has to go deeper than a discussion of tactics and football philosophy, like my earlier post. I mean, Frank knows his tactics, he knows what he's trying to accomplish and what the risks are. But unlike Sir Alex, Rijkaard doesn't have a real say on which players to seek and which players need to go. That's Txiki's job, and I think, personally, the director is about as stable as Laporta. And I think jello is made of firmer stuff than Laporta. For example, why in the world did they let go of Saviola? Why is Oleguer still on the senior squad?

Of course the players are to blame too. Heck, even Levante, a bunch of players who haven't been paid in a long time by their club president, played with more verve and grit than the Blaugrana for much of the season. Word is the squad has fragmented into cliques, and has done so for some time. If you ask me, that's the result of too many big money players in one club. Egos so bloated that one of them's going to end up being 'wronged' in one ridiculous fashion or another.

But let's not forget the fans. Cules is an apt name for them at the moment, because that's exactly what they are. You support your squad through thick and thin. You don't whistle at them every time they get possession of the ball just because they're rubbish. That's exactly when supporters need to become the 12th player, and urge their side on in the worst of it.

In conclusion, I think the lot deserve one another, except maybe Frank. He was always a gentleman, polite, gracious and humble. Frank deserved better, so I wish him the best with his future.

God, one more game and this campaign can be consigned to some dark corner of History's hallway. Good riddance.

Ronaldinho, Where Are You?

2008-04-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

Was wasting an hour away, looking at videos off YouTube. Ended up looking at a few vids of Ronaldinho. One was a compilation of his days in France and his initial time with Barça. Then, it was the bicycle kicks. First, the one against Atletico this season, and then the one last season against Villareal.

As Ray Hudson is fond of saying: man, oh man. One can become furious with Ronaldinho's performance these last two years with FCB, but then all one has to do is look at what the man was capable of--and very likely still is, and one is left with awe. Such a talent. Amazingly so.

I may still want to see him leave the Blaugrana, but it won't be in anger. Maybe just a little sadder for it. And two parting words: thank you.

Intelligent Attacking Football

2008-04-30T13:27:00.000-07:00

From what I've seen of Barça, there is the distinct impression that Rijkaard is adamant of employing a game philosophy of attacking possession football. No matter who the opposition, or where it's to be played, or what is at stake, every situation has one tactic: attacking possession football. I have loads of respect for Frank and what he did with Barcelona in 2006-2007, but this idea of one tactic fits all just irks me to no end.

Anyone who watches Spanish football should likely know the best way to beat Barça. Play defensive, be ready to counterattack quickly, and always apply pressure whenever the Blaugrana are in possession. Training for a match against Barcelona is largely one dedicated to endurance and pace, because if you intend on squeezing out a satisfactory result against the Catalan side, you're going to be running your butt off. Seriously running. The good news is it really does pay off, because one thing Barça aren't skilled at is the transition from attack to defense.

One thing you can absolutely count on is that Barcelona will not collectively pull back into a defensive configuration. For example, they will never fall back into a 4-5-1. Ever. Barcelona don't hunker down in their own rear third and employ rapid transitions from defense to attack. They operate from the perspective of possession, building attacks slowly from the opposition's half. When they suddenly lose possession, Barça are extremely vulnerable to counterattack. And, until just recently, Barcelona have not been a side that collectively pulls back into defense, then works hard to regain possession.

All this means that when you play Barça you can bet they'll be predictable, which makes the task of preparation for a match against them a relatively easy one. It doesn't mean the game will be easy, but when it comes to Barcelona, what you see is what you get. And what you see rarely changes.

It's this predictability that I find unacceptable. There's no reason Barcelona can't employ an overall attacking philosophy, but please, employ it with some tactical finesse. For me, attacking possession football often results in the military equivalent of a frontal assault. You are basically hitting the opposition at their most prepared state. Everyone is back and prepared to defend, while the attacking side is stretched and vulnerable in their rear. A far better idea is to use possession football to tire the opposition, rather than seriously attack. Make a show of attacking intent, but don't seriously act on it unless an opening presents itself. Tire the opposition and get them a little riled to boot. Slowly pull back defensively, stretching the opposition. Then, attack with a killer pass. The intent even then is not yet of overt attack, but more of preparation. Wear the opposition down by forcing them to chase after the ball a lot. Once fatigue and frustration set in the other side, press the attack.

Such a game plan keeps the opposition guessing and sets the table for scoring chances. There is no single directive regardless the situation, but a series of stages based on the opposition's gameplay. It's an intelligent application of tactics in football. Intelligent attacking football.

Man Utd 1 - 0 Barça

2008-04-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

Well, it's a wrap. Blaugrana's 2nd season of mediocrity is done and over with. This time they won't even make the second slot on the table in La Liga, I'm almost sure of it. I'm still going to wear my blaugrana socks at the pick-up games on Sunday morn, but what a muck of a mess.

It's not like FCB were a total eff-up. They did show a lot of technical skill with their characteristic possession game, and the squad were beginning to play with a lot more activity (ie pace-aggressive), but when it came to scoring, they just didn't have what it takes. All I know is that while Frank had a lot of intestinal fortitude as a player, he's not been able to manifest that among his players as their coach. Basically, Barcelona got no guts. I don't even think it's a case of the players not wanting it enough, like some suspected last season. In FCB we have a club that is questioning itself, second guessing decisions.

Well, it has to end. Now. And the most obvious solution is Jose Mourinho. Barça need him back as successor to Rijkaard. Thank you, Frank, for winning the Double back in 2006-2007. It was a great moment and one I'll remember for a long time, but your sun has set over the city of Barcelona. And not only Frank, we need to see a number of players "move on to other challenges." My list is: Ronaldinho, Henry, Deco, Ezquerro, Zambrotta, Thuram, Edmilson, and maybe even Marquez. Get some new blood in there, younger blood. Rumor is that a lot of good young players will be looking for a new home in La Liga, so now would be the time to capitalize on it all.

And to be perfectly honest, I'm very curious to see what version of Barça Mourinho would put together. He obviously has a lot to work with, so it could be real interesting to see what the Portuguese could put together from so many components. In any case, something needs to be done. Something at the core, because what I'm seeing now wouldn't stand a chance against Koeman's Barcelona of 1994. The present crew have no guts.

Mourinho: the Future of Barça?

2008-04-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

So, Barcelona lost to Deportivo 2-0 yesterday. Can't really say I'm surprised either given that Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Xavi stayed home, while Victor Valdes, Andres Iniesta, Deco, Gabriel Milito and Eric Abidal were on the bench. Obviously, Frank feels he has bigger fish to fry in England this week. I can't blame his decision, so long as it all comes to victory in Moscow. A tall order for the Blaugrana who have this problem with scoring goals right now, but anything can happen, right?

Anyway, I'm already thinking ahead to next season, 2008-2009. I'm figuring Rijkaard will leave, and in fact I hope he does. Someone needs to put the 'hammer' down, so to speak, and who better than Mourinho? Jose's looking for a job and he's letting it be known Barça are his first pick. He's from the organization back when Robson was there, and so he knows what he's in for. Perfect. With the Portuguese connection we might see Deco staying for a second wind, and with Ronaldo admitting his desire to play in La Liga what a better environment than one with Mourinho at the wheel? The possibilities are simply delightful.

Tactical Musings

2008-04-24T09:47:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about Barça's tactics (again). 4-3-3, hm. Is this the way to go anymore for the Blaugrana? One has to wonder. Doubtless it's also a matter of tactical directives, not just formations. It disturbs me that Rijkaard has this almost slavish adherence to 4-3-3. Why bother? Three things matter more than keeping a specific formation: available player composition, the circumstances of the match, and tactical philosophy.

Player composition, first. How many in Barcelona's squad can one reasonably expect to run their ass off for as long as they're on the field? Eto'o, Messi, Giovani. Bojan, Javi, Iniesta, Gudjohnsen, Toure, Puyol, Sylvinho, Abidal, Zambrotta, and maybe Milito. I'd prefer they all did, but them's the breaks. Still, it's adequate.

It might be safe to say that most clubs in La Liga play Barcelona in a similar fashion. They stay extremely active, pack the box as needed, then wait for the counterattack to make it all worthwhile. It's expected that Barça will command a lot of possession and spend a lot of time in the opponent's half. Their attack is rarely a rapid affair, more a series of probes that look to expose or create a chink in the opponent's defense. To maintain such a continuous presence the Blaugrana need a lot of players up front, leaving themselves vulnerable to the counterattack. So, most clubs play very defensively against Barcelona--regardless of venue.

Barça believe in the attack and this is why I'm a cule, period. Still, one has to acknowledge that the one overriding factor is victory. Trophies are the goal, not how many pretty passes a side can put together. I don't care if you have 80% possession, if you can't create chances and capitalize on them, so what?

Looking at these factors, one sees that Barcelona have the players to keep pressure on the opposition and remain active. It can also be expected that the other clubs are going to play for the counterattack and keep to a defensive leaning with lots packed into the box if they can help it. Finally, Barça need to remain true to their attacking style. It defines them, to put it simply.

Here's an idea. Why not keep the opposition honest, keep them guessing? Depending on the game's situation what if Barcelona shifted between defense and offense approaches, maybe play the defensive counterattack for a spell, then flip to hardcore attack? If the situation warrants it, stick to what will win the game. For example, Barça are ahead by a goal and there's less than 10 minutes to go. Hell, play like Chelsea till that final whistle. I'd even switch to defensive just to get the other side in a lull, then wham! heavy offense. Show some tactical dexterity, ebb and flow to disrupt the other side's game plan. Rather than holding 4-3-3 up on a pedestal, fit the formation to the tactics in use. Trying to suck the opposition forward, exposing their soft underbelly? Go 4-5-1 for a spell. Then, boom! 4-3-3.

The problem is Barça are now predictable. They attack constantly and always play 4-3-3. Anyone with a clue and a heartbeat knows this, and thus knows how to defeat it. How about bringing a sense of excitement back into Barcelona's game and keep the other side guessing? Show the cules intelligent tactical diversity, and they might be able to get over their incessant harping for pretty runs and pretty passing. Especially if Barcelona start winning again.

Ronaldinho and Barclay's

2008-04-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

In this article, I had to chuckle a little when I read this: "Ronaldinho doesn't really like English football though, he much prefers Milan ..." Any cule would know this, seeing how little Ronnie likes to move other than when he has the ball or has a chance to score. Italian football has to be one of the slowest leagues in Europe. Ronaldinho should fit right in.

Barcelona 0 - 0 Espanyol

2008-04-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

A well played game for Barça against a determined Espanyol defense, but in the end the Blaugrana were unable to finish. It's been a complaint for some time that with the likes of Eto'o, Messi, Henry, and Ronaldinho one would expect a lot more goals. Like I've said before, there have been many injuries amongst the Barça strikers this campaign, resulting not only in reduced performances from recovered players trying to get their edge back, but also increased difficulty in the strikers being able to develop a rapport with one another. It's no wonder that the only Barcelona forward currently within the top 10 scorers for La Liga is Eto'o at #8. And for someone who's been injured as long as he has it's almost impressive he got that far for the amount of time he's actually played this season.

It was nice to see Barcelona active in both attack and defense. A lot of movement from the forwards too, on both counts. Messi looks like he has his edge back as well (he'll need it against Man U). There was no Ronaldinho, of course, but also no Henry. Both Giovani and Bojan saw a lot of game time, which only builds their confidence--especially the younger Bojan. He was getting hammered by the Espanyol back line, but that's part of the game. Giovani had to pay his dues as well. Everyone does.

Still, Barcelona had nothing to show for all their finesse and grace. The Espanyol keeper, Cameroonian Kameni, was phenomenal, likely having a career performance that game with at least 8 saves. It was also a 'derby' between the two Barcelona clubs, and that always brings a little more piss and vinegar to the table, so to speak.

Will Rijkaard be back next season? Got me. But, I have to say I liked the squad I saw out there in Nou Camp on 19 April. Tixi will probably dump up to 8 players from this season (hopefully including Ronaldinho and Henry), but if he can score Alves from Sevilla and Fabregas from Arsenal, this squad could really go places in 2008-2009. At the very least, beat the snot out of Los Merengues.

The Attacking Thang

2008-04-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, here we are into mid-April and Barça are floundering. They continue to be problematic in defense, possess an offense that has been riddled with injuries all season, have had a dressing room rumored to be rife with discord, and, now, seem a club seriously lacking in confidence. And to be honest, if a club like Barcelona can't grind out a win against a club like Recreativo Huelvo, well, they should be questioning themselves. There's a lot of meat here to chew on as to what the hell has gone wrong with the Blaugrana, but after some thought and some more listening I'm beginning to think it's Barcelona's philosophy of play. Truly.

This sort of flies in the face of my earlier opinions on the issue of game philosophy, since I've been an advocate for attacking fútbol. On the other hand, I've also been one for recognizing that theory and practice often have some fuzzy merging point that is dynamic at best, and downright frustrating at worst. One thing is certain with Barcelona: they need some philosophical and personnel changes.

4-3-3 is a part of the problem, but it's not the problem per se. That Thierry Henry isn't tracking back enough (like Ronaldinho before him) is not necessarily the Problem, but it is certainly part of the problem. I'm thinking the crux lies with the blind adherence to the attack at all costs. For reasons better explained by others, Barça are obsessed with the attack. The 'beautiful game' is assumed to be part and parcel to this idea of the incessant offensive, sort of like WWII Germany's tactical preoccupation with Der Blitzkrieg, even if it meant losing the military campaign. If it's not pretty attacking fútbol, then it's not worth watching, is kind of the position held at FC Barcelona. To hear how the cules in the Catalan city have wailed on about the waning fortunes of their club, one might feel the club officials at Barcelona may actually have no choice as to their position on the team's form of play. Either that, or lose their office right quick. However, I'm not interested in club politics, I just want to understand why Barça suck at the moment. And have for a couple years now. If we take this route, the obsession with attack, toward explaining why the Blaugrana are in seeming decline, then all the things that have been unfolding might start to fall in place more.

Let's go back to the 4-3-3 formation employed by Rijkaard. Now, we can't look at this formation in isolation, we have to see it in relation to what's out there in the field. These days it's all about controlling the middle third, maintaining a compressed defense, and employing the counterattack out of defense. Today's formations actually dictate this trend with 4-5-1 and 3-6-1 being considered conservative, 3-5-2 and 4-4-2 as ambitious, and 4-3-3 as downright gung-ho. The way some clubs play 4-3-3 is with the long ball, bypassing a relatively depleted midfield right through to their attacking line. It's still a lot of work for the midfielders, but at least with the long ball there's more time to track back should possession be lost.

Another club that's been using 4-3-3 is Manchester United. These guys play in a league that is historically thrifty about time, trying to play three matches in one just because, well, they can. Okay, Premiership jokes aside, no one can deny that the English league is one of the top flight fútbol leagues in the world. Man U have been hot this season too, which makes their choice of formation all the more interesting. So, how do they do it? With a lot of running, is how. A whole lot. From what I've seen of Man U nobody lounges, everybody is expected to defend. With as quick as the English game is, this is nothing to laugh about. I'm not a regular observer of English football, but from what I have seen of Manchester United doesn't so much shine defensively as it does offensively. As well it should. A formation like 4-3-3 will always give the opposition chances to score, but that might not matter if the attack can be maintained for the majority of the time, and goals follow suit. The key to my mind is a high level of activity, and I think Man U are a case in point.

With clubs that have midfield heavy formations, the ability to shift with the flow of play is easier, since the majority of the field players are situated in the middle portion of the pitch. The other advantage of formations like 3-5-2 or 4-5-1 is that they simplify the task of concentrating in defense. 4-3-3 is a formation that sacrifices that 'predisposition' for concentration by spreading out the squad almost evenly throughout the entire length of the pitch. Hence, all players in a 4-3-3 formation must be prepared to track back when transitioning from attack to defense.

The one real reason why 4-3-3 would be employed is because of it's advantages for attack. No surprises there. Not just the counterattack, but sustained pressure upon the opposition's defending third. For a club like Barcelona 4-3-3 is a natural choice given their affinity for short passing and ball possession. The trick is in quickly responding to transitions from attack to defense. Given that in today's game defensive prone formations that counterattack to score are the norm, Barça absolutely must be prepared to track back to a man. This is where the Catalan club run into problems.

Let's look at Barcelona's senior squad, at least what would've been their first selection at the beginning of this season. Front line was Ronaldinho, Henry/Eto'o, and Messi. Midfield would've been Deco/Toure, Xavi, and Iniesta. And, the back line, Abidal, Puyol, Marquez, and Zambrotta. Looking at these players the two most suspect would be Ronaldinho and Zambrotta, to my mind. Let's just face it, Ronnie couldn't track back to save his life, much less offer a decent challenge. Zambrotta is from a slower game (calcio), so while he's good, he's not quite adjusted to the relatively quicker tempo of the Spanish game. Other players who have since shown a lack of overall activity as the season has progressed are Henry, Deco, and even Abidal. With morale so low in the Blaugrana dressing room, one could even say the entire side have taken to a more static approach to their gameplay--which is suicide with a 4-3-3 formation.

Barça's scoring prowess is also down, but I think that's due more to a transition in progress, as well as an unusual spate of injuries. If next season we see a front line that has Giovani, Bojan, Messi and Eto'o, then this season of weaning the two kids will have been well spent.

But to get back to the crux of this piece, with a formation like 4-3-3, and a style of play that emphasizes possession and steady attack, Barcelona absolutely must be prepared to rapidly retreat into defense. Not only that, they have to be able to insure they are compact in defense as well. For a side that prefers to spend its time in the attack among teams that live and die by the 'fast break', serious thought needs to be spent in rapid defense. The front line will be the most active of all, since their numbers will be necessary in support of defense, and that will require traversing the entire length of the pitch. Midfield will have it relatively easier than the frontline, since their movement will be from the middle of the pitch, requiring less overall running.

Players like Ronaldinho and Henry cannot play full bore the entire length of the pitch. Ronaldinho just doesn't do that, and Henry is too old now. But, a front line with Giovani, Bojan, Messi, and Eto'o can, so next season should prove more promising. For now, I think it best to just close the books on this season, and jot it down as a learning experience.

Atletico-Barcelona: Sometimes you just have to tip your hat

2008-03-03T09:03:00.000-08:00

Watched that match between Barça and Atletico Madrid at the Calderon. 4-2, Atletico. Ouch. And it all started with so much promise too, that goal by Eto'o disallowed for apparent offsides. Then, came that absolutely amazing overhead kick from Ronaldinho. We may love to find the faults in this Brazilian, but jeez louise, does he leave us speechless at times. That goal even evoked images of Rivaldo during his tempestuous tenure with the Catalan club. Yes, there was so much promise for Barcelona, and it appeared the squad were firing on all cylinders, but two things were, critically, not in their favor. One, they were playing away, and two, Atletico were sizzling. Or, should I say, Kun was.

I don't know what it is about Barça when they play outside the Nou Camp but it seems the officials have them play under a unique set of rules. You know, something like, 'Sorry, guys, but you're just too good and we need some way to balance the field, because, Santa Maria, if we actually let you play with the same rules as everyone else in La Liga, it would be ... Unfair!' One of the methods most sides attack Barcelona is to, well, attack then. I mean fouls, and lots of them. Shirt pulling, foot stomping, shin kicking, leg tripping, back pushing, grabbing, groping--hey, you name it, I'm sure it's been used on the Catalan side. And, not only that, in cases of offsides the officials always judge in favor of the opposition. Unless Eto'o is clearly 5 meters behind the last defender--and standing absolutely still--at the time the ball is passed, well my friends, it's offsides. For Barcelona. Undoubtedly, Real Madrid fall into that same 'special' category, but where they differ is they play just as hard and prefer a venture out from the defense, rather than a display of offensive finesse and creativity. Ah well, a minor quibble from the author, and one the Blaugrana have had an effective answer to, but it's still a peeve. It only proves that Barcelona are in a league of their own.

The other point I want to make and must actually tip my metaphorical hat to, is that Atletico were in rare form. They were wired, ready for battle. and so was Kun Agüero. That kid was just unstoppable. He didn't quit, he was all over the place, and he was making gobs of stuff out of nothing. And it was infectious, because pretty soon the whole Madrid side were lighting up like a birthday cake of intense focus and desire. These guys wanted the win and were going to have it, dammit. And they did. 4-2.

Sometimes, you just have to accept it wasn't your day, and move on, get ready for the next match. Barça, move on. It ain't over till it's over.

A New Sort of Barcelona

2008-02-29T16:31:00.000-08:00

What a change these last few months have brought for Barcelona. I don't mean the drop behind Los Merengues as the Madrid club have delivered a steady string of victories, though it likely played a part in it all. No, I refer to the shift in Barça's style of play, which was a necessity if they were to remain a successful football club, both in La Liga as well as internationally. This change in tactics may have first been promoted, at least publically, by Cruijff himself, when he called for more defensive activity from the front line. It may also be that, making such suggestions theoretically, and successfully implementing them with today's relatively doted and pampered players, is another thing altogether. Whatever the case may be for Frank Rijkaard, I have to admit that those changes have been implemented, and what an impact it appears to be having on the club. Frankly, I'm impressed by Rijkaard once more.

Here is a club that has had a steady stream of controversy even before the season began, like a disturbing echo from similar times with Los Galacticos. It has only increased as the season progressed, though admittedly unevenly, and continues to the present. Not only that, this is a Barça side that has seen a number of injuries inflicted on it across the breadth of their squad, and again, all throughout the season. Imagine Real Madrid having the same luck this campaign with Van Nistelrooy and Robinho and Sergio Ramos and Diarra all out for months at a time. Toss the Blaugrana's tactical problems into that mix and the result poses one huge headache for Rijkaard. One so huge that the Dutchman wouldn't be faulted if he gave serious consideration to a nice long vacation on Majorca. Starting yesterday.

Yet through all that we see a Barcelona side that is slowly crawling up Real Madrid's back, is still theoretically capable of pulling off a Treble, and is starting to look ... hungry. Yeah, hungry. Somehow, Rijkaard has implemented serious change in Barça's tactical theory, one that the players have taken to heart (where Rijkaard should really be commended). Barcelona still have their beautiful short passing game, but now with a more pace/aggressive movement to the players as well. This for me, is the last component needed to make the Blaugrana a much more consistent and successful side.

They've always emphasized the offensive in terms of formation and gameplay, which went against the grain of the more general trend in top flight football. A mark of pride for many a Cule, present company included, but maybe a persistent trait that had need of more introspection in this era of increasing 'work rates' and greater overall physical performance. The lack of pressure placed on the opposing team as soon as Barcelona lost possession allowed lesser skilled clubs to quite simply overrun the Catalan side through fast breaks and counterattacks. Time and again Barcelona seemed to have this weakness in its defense that suggested a sluggish nature in their response to loss of possession, almost as if to assumingly say: not to worry, we'll just pull a couple lines back, wait for their attack to lose steam, and then, well, regain possession and score. This worked out fairly well in 2005-2006 when they won La Liga and the Champions League (though it may also have been that their squad was relatively fit for much of the season), but not so well in 2006-2007, or in the beginning of this campaign.

The advantage of the fast counterattack for the opposition was that they could pull all ten players back into their defending third and largely clutter any attempt by Barça to finesse their way through such a dense defense. So, with a little adjustment to their gameplan any squad could be a potential 'Barça Killer'. Toss in some internal strife in the Catalan club, and the prospects of pulling off an upset against Barcelona only improved. This has been the case since 2005-2006, and I would say that it was already manifesting itself in the season they won both La Liga and Champions League--clubs just hadn't figured out the solution to the Barça question, yet.

In September, 2007, Cruijff wrote in his column for El Periódico:

"The team has to advance all its' lines and begin putting pressure on the other side closer to their penalty area," he explained.

"If they can do that then the attacking threat against them will lessen and they will have to run less and the opposition will have further to go to reach their danger area.

"The individual performance of all the forwards would also improve and, as a result, the same will happen on an individual basis to the midfielders."

When I saw this it seemed the elder Dutchman had hit the nail on the head. How Rijkaard would implement that with a squad undergoing a clash of personalities in the dressing room was anybody's guess, but theoretically, Cruijff might have just found the answer to Barcelona's problems.

Fast forward to the present. I've watched Barça play Zaragoza away, Rangers at home, Celtic away, and Levante at home. In each match, Barcelona showed a lot of active determination to regain possession of the ball as soon as it was lost. And, every field player, including Ronaldinho, was rushing to pressure the ball player, or cut off the pass. It has been impressive to see. No more falling back to receive the opposition in ones defending half, Barça were rushing to put pressure on the opposition the instant possession was lost, the forward line initiating and continuing to harass the opposition's ball play without a moment's respite. Then, when possession was regained the Catalan side returned to its unique style of possession football, highlighted by the short passing game.

The interesting thing about this more aggressive approach is that it seems to begat more activity from the players even when ball possession is regained. There's a little more spring in Barcelona's step as it were, and their runs into space seem more frequent with greater participation amongst the field players in that regard.

As of this article, Barça are a mere two points behind Real Madrid. They might just pull it off. After the sort of season they've had this time around, it would be quite the accomplishment if Barcelona won the Treble. Never say never. It ain't over till it's over.

Where Was I?

2007-11-13T20:12:00.000-08:00

Isn't it funny? After their loss to Getafe, the Blaugrana just look toothless. Pretty passing, but little else. No intestinal fortitude, no GUTS. The front three look lost, led by a Ronnie who seems too tired to do the work when off the ball. The entire squad just sort of has that 'Oh, who's gonna go back and mark so-and-so?' approach. Unbelievable. Barça has an amazing array of talent on their side, but it still has yet to show some grit, to punch through adversity and make the necessary runs to either protect their own net or find the opponent's. These patty-cake away matches by Barcelona are embarrassing, showing a lack of creativity as well. Rijkaard is going to have to switch to a 4-4-2 if for no other reason than to at least trim a lethargic front three (I'm thinking Henry & Messi should stay up).

Geez, I look at Real Madrid's play and it's painful. I mean, those guys are good. Maybe what Rijkaard needs is a drill instructor from the French Foreign Legion. Give a lot of those affluent awarding-winning players a spine.

Ronaldinho Rumor Mill

2007-09-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

We all know about the recent 'interest' in Ronaldinho. His form really hasn't been its best since the 2005-2006 season, and this season has yet to show any real signs of improvement from the stellar Brazilian. The Spanish media have been rabid over it all, which has had an affect on all those who follow La Liga in general, or Barça in particular. Present company must be included in the foaming at the mouth syndrome - but only a few times? Anyway, here's a great editorial piece by Aaron Marcus on the situation. Enjoy!

Valladolid - Real Madrid

2007-09-23T22:13:00.000-07:00

How about Valladolid? Man, I watched the first half of that match and the boys from the province of León played Los Merengues like they were just another club. Real Madrid were having a time of it trying to build an attack. They'd try something and get shutdown by Valladolid's midfield. The home side's back four were very much up to the challenge provided by Van Nistelrooy, Raul, and Robinho. Lastly, Sisi and Kome proved to be capable and dangerous strikers in their own right with a quality that was equal to the task ahead.

As it turns out, Valladolid almost got three points out of the match, but had to settle for a draw after a Guti-Van Nistelrooy-Saviola combination found the ball in the back of the Valladolid net. Still, it was a fine showing and one that could have been a defeat for Los Merengues. For a squad with no real stars, Valladolid have been most impressive in their first season back from the second division. Well done.

Barça vs Sevilla: Cracker!

2007-09-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

To coin a Ray Hudson phrase, this match was a cracker! Sure, it was in Nou Camp, and, yes, Sevilla looked a little lost, but, man, the Blaugrana actually do have some cojones out there. First player that comes to mind is Abidal. Seriously, the left back owned Navas, and his runs up the left flank were sizzling. The Frenchman was tireless, always applying pressure on the Andalusian side. I was thoroughly impressed with Abidal.

How to describe the game? Well, it had that characteristic Barça short pass, possession game, but with something added: pressure. Barcelona were not inclined to let Sevilla rest easy, even in the visitors' defending third of the field. It was very satisfying to see the two forwards, Messi and Henry, tracking back to assist the defense, or pressuring Sevilla up in the attacking third when the Catalan side lost possession there. It was surprising to see Messi, of all people, winning tackles deep in his own half, then surging ahead to start an attack. Overall, I thought Barcelona showed a lot more strength and urgency when not in possession of the ball. This is a very good thing, and long overdue. Cruijff was right after all.

As a result, Sevilla were never able to kick start their own attacks. Certainly, the visitors had their moments, but it was few and far between - and rarely well coordinated. We all know the lethality of Sevilla's counterattack, and I was expecting to see it bite Barça, but it never really happened. And, again, a big factor in this was Barcelona's greater activity in applying pressure after losing the ball.

I mentioned Abidal first since he underscored that new sense of pressure for the Blaugrana. This cannot be emphasized enough, I think, because it neatly addresses one major weak point that Barcelona have had to deal with for the last two seasons. However, other names must be mentioned for this win. A big one is Messi.

The little Argentinian was all over the place, making incessant runs up the right side, tracking back into the defending third to make key tackles, then take it up for another attack. Messi just never gave up. In fact, I think I have to agree with Ray Hudson of GolTV. It appears that as the match grows older, Messi gets stronger. When Giovani was given that unabashed bear hug in the penalty box by Poulsen, Messi took the penalty with such confidence, I had to think, 'Ronnie who?'

Henry is another name. I believe the former Arsenal striker has finally won me over. One could see how hard the Frenchman was trying to make an impact on the game for his side, but it just wasn't happening. His one on one with the keeper failed to find the net, looking a pale impersonation of a younger Henry. That beautiful cross that was signed, sealed, and delivered especially for Henry saw him completely miss it somehow. His runs seemed disjointed. You could see the frustration on Thierry - not anger, but something a little deeper, more introspective possibly. He could've just pulled back at that point and waited to be substituted, but critically, he did no such thing. Henry came back and gave it a go once more. With pretty much the whole Sevilla side packing their defending third, Henry saw one opening with Messi at the end of that tight tunnel, and he went for it. Only one powerful, accurate pass - almost a shot really - was going to get it through to Messi. So that's what Henry did, he sent that ball sizzling right to the Argentinian, likely aware that if Messi couldn't control that ball, well maybe no one could. Lionel did not disappoint, controlling the ball nicely with a small flick that he then thundered past Palop with a volley. What a sweet goal that was. Not only for Messi, but also for Henry. Good one.

Lastly, mention should be made of Ronaldinho. Officially, the Brazilian had suffered a slight injury in training and therefore missed the match. Unofficially, there were other rumors, including an injury incurred while hitting the night clubs of the Catalan city. Now, I don't know who to believe, but if I recall the PSG manager had said Ronaldinho was too interested in the Parisian nightlife back then as well. What I can say is that Ronaldinho was substituted pretty early on in the Champions League match with Lyon. His performance that night was on par with last season. Given how well Barcelona played against Sevilla, it might behoove the Brazilian to get back on track or risk seeing more bench time. Yes, even you, Ronaldinho.

Fantastic Three Minus a Finisher

2007-09-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, another scoreless draw. This is not good, not for Barça. The Blaugrana do not play the 'not-losing' game. They go out to win - period. Rijkaard is all about attacking football as 4-3-3 attests. So, what's the deal?

For one, I think Cruijff has the solution to the counterattack strategy often employed by Barça's opponents, which also creates more chances at Barcelona scoring goals as well. The problem is that even if Barcelona employ a more pace-aggressive strategy for the front line, it still doesn't fix the other problem emerging from their gameplay: a finisher. Currently, there is no 'knife man' in Barça's senior squad, you know, the striker, poacher, whatever you want to call it. That man was Eto'o, but he's out injured. Gudjohnsen can possibly fill those large shoes, but the Icelander is really a converted midfield player with a penchant for chaotic spaces near the goal mouth. For all the beauty of a Ronaldinho or a Messi there is no ruthless mechanic of a striker to complete the circle.

Unfortunately, we did have such a man in Saviola just last season, but Tixi pissed that away after a long stew of a pout over the diminutive Argentinian's pay. But, now there are none - excepting the possibility of Gudjohnsen (as La Liga Loca suggest). I guess this means besides a stiffening of the back line and the rear of the midfield, we could've probably used another hard-core striker as well. Hm, it's making that whole Henry signing seem more and more superfluous. Boy, wouldn't it be cool if we could get Gerd Müller? Oh wait, that was a long time ago. Crespo? Forlan? Heck, I'll even take Inzaghi.

As it is, I'm already casting glances at Valladolid, since they hail from León - home of a few of my ancestors. Anything just so I'm not as crushed as I was last season. What makes the situation seem so bleak is that word has it Eto'o may be the odd man out for the sake of team chemistry. This means even after the Cameroonian is fit then immediately heads off for the African Cup, his effectiveness with the Blaugrana may come into question just as it did last season. Joy.

What Cruijff Said - Barça, Push Forward

2007-09-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

Dutch and Barcelona legend, Johan Cruijff, has a tactical suggestion for the Blaugrana and, frankly, I have to say he's correct:

"The team has to advance all its' lines and begin putting pressure on the other side closer to their penalty area," he explained.

"If they can do that then the attacking threat against them will lessen and they will have to run less and the opposition will have further to go to reach their danger area.

"The individual performance of all the forwards would also improve and, as a result, the same will happen on an individual basis to the midfielders."

This approach will yield two benefits for the Catalan squad. First, it doesn't conflict with how the side plays currently when in possession of the ball, since Barcelona push forward quite a bit anyway. Second, and more importantly, is what this does when possession is lost. Should the opposition regain control of the ball, they do so in their own defending third, and have the entire field to cross in order to make a shot at goal. Granted, the argument can be made that with a team geared for the counterattack, this is exactly where they want to be given the forward placement of Barça's back four. This is where Cruijff's suggestion, however, comes into play, because as soon as Barcelona lose the ball, it's the responsibility of the attacking players to apply immediate pressure. It allows the defending players the breathing space to track back without worry of an immediate counterattack, and opens up the possibility for the ball to be won back in the attacking third at a point of transition. With players as supremely skilled as Ronaldinho, Messi, Eto'o, Henry, and Dos Santos, regaining the ball at this point would be the opposition's worst nightmare.

The question that needs to be asked is can Barcelona's attacking players adapt to this strategy? I think so with some mild reservations. For Eto'o, Messi, Dos Santos, and Henry, I see no problems. Ronaldinho is another story, since he's not known for doing much when Barça lose the ball. I did see him track back in the last match against Athletic, which was almost shocking, so I'm sure he could come around on this idea, and he would have to. This is because with thirty percent of the field players assigned to the forward line, they are needed (and, indeed, ideally placed) to commit a 'rearguard' action against the opposing side so that the back four (and possibly Toure Yaya) can pull back in good order.

Barca - Athletic, 3-1 (Felt like 1-0)

2007-09-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

I know, spoken like a true spoilt cule. Still, it was a weird match. Iraizoz, the Athletic keeper, really couldn't be blamed for much despite the score. The first was a signature Ronaldinho set piece, the second was a Ronaldinho PK, and the last was a Toure cannonball that ricocheted downward after hitting the crossbar. It appeared to hit the goal line, but the linesman declared it a goal, and the referee went along with it.

The first period played much better for the Blaugrana who looked lively, sharp, and creative. Ronaldinho was full of energy and Henry started to look more settled. Messi seemed a little slow, but he would pick up after the restart. Deco looked sharp even. Heck, they all looked sharp, and they didn't even have Iniesta, Puyol, or Eto'o on the field. It was nice to see the back so solid in the first period, then dismaying to see it go all lax after the restart - ala last season. So like Barca to go flaccid like that. I'm glad Milito is back there now. Maybe him and Puyol will finally keep the fear of god in the opposition in front of Victor.

To actually see Abidal and Toure in action was also reassuring. Those two were sorely needed, giving Barcelona a spine that has an offensive bite. Very nice. I saw a hint of the potential of Dos Santos, especially with Messi as a playmate. Potent. Not the best day for either of them, but it was apparent those two are going places when they start hitting their stride together.

Final impressions. Barcelona have a boatload of potential here with a lot of depth. The potential lies not in the experience and skill of the individuals, that is unquestioned. It's whether Rijkaard can mesh this group into a cohesive unit. From what I've seen it looks to be in process still, but it looks like it's happening--given the first period play which was very impressive. You can almost feel it, that potential. It's definitely there but in need of some more tweaking. If Rijkaard pulls it off, it could get giddy.

srsly

Diamond Left Foot: Antonio Puerta

2007-08-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, Barça had a rough time of it with Racing Santander, but that's not what I want to comment on. The Blaugrana will either figure it out or they won't. And if they don't this year, then next. Or not. But, for Antonio Puerta the game is truly over. It's so saddening to read of such a young man (22 years old) dying under such conditions. Nevermind he was a unique talent in the world's sport. What breaks the heart is to read he was a month and a half from becoming a father as well. Tragic doesn't begin to describe it. And, of course, tragedy is all around us in so many ways, but I will not qualify Puerta's passing. Tim Stannard has a fitting piece on the young man. Please read it.

Barça: Pre-Season Assessment

2007-08-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

From all reports it looks like the squad for FCB 07/08 is meshing well as a unit. Even Eto'o has stated his acceptance of some bench time with the matches to come, and if he's ready that's saying a lot. Well almost, given Deco's present position, but talks keep percolating of interested clubs in Italy and England. Deco's situation appears the exception however, and most of the key players look set for the campaign ahead. Rijkaard picked a nice bunch of new blood for the Blaugrana, and Barça look to be sitting really pretty with potential in copious amounts.

At the goalkeeper spot it's Valdés. This is no surprise. He's capable, experienced, and had a good season last time around. Victor has the penchant for the occasional gaffe as many cules are well aware, but on the whole he's among the better keepers in La Liga. Jorquera is also quite capable if inexperienced, so the pair of goal-stoppers make for a satisfactory selection.

In defense, we finally see a vital strengthening in the addition of Milito and Abidal. With Gabriel Milito there are now three solid central defenders, Puyol, Thuram, and Milito. Márquez has been playing in the back four, true, but I seriously think he should return to his role of holding midfielder. Still, with Márquez the option of four good central defenders is always a pleasant one to possess. Abidal will do for the left back position what Zambrotta has done on the right. Having these players able to overlap into attack will play into Rijkaard's philosophy quite well.

Midfield hasn't changed that much though the arrival of Toure is important. From what I've heard Yaya Toure is a very capable holding midfielder with attacking abilities. He'll reinforce Deco in that respect (possibly replace him?), and if he's anything like his brother Kolo on Arsenal should be quite a dynamic player as well. Besides Yaya, the combination of Deco, Xavi, and Iniesta should continue to provide great support in attack. Where Yaya's importance lies in that he can significantly add to the defense as well--something only Deco seemed adept at among the midfielders. Also, one can't rule out the possibility that Márquez may finally move up to that position as well.

And, last but not least, attack. I'm sad to see Giuly go, since I always liked what he had to offer, and I wish him well with AS Roma. I like Gudjohnsen too, but can't see how he'll have much time off the bench barring injuries. With Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Messi, Henry, and Dos Santos all vying for three attacking slots the Icelander will be hard pressed to stay warm in many a match. Having said that, one also has to acknowledge that the front line for Barça looks very formidable. We're talking some serious football talent here. It's almost enough to make a cule giddy at the mere thought of those four names: Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Messi, Henry. Dos Santos is young, but his star is certainly rising with the potential to soar as well.

What we have here in the roster for FC Barcelona for the 07/08 campaign is the potential to repeat 05/06, and then some. Seriously. If you doubt this, just go back and look at all those names. Toss in that the club is meshing well as a team, and it's almost scary. On the flip side, with such amazing potential expectations will be high and failure to meet them will result in a furious response from the supporters. Rijkaard has what he needs to realistically attempt the treble, and most cules will expect nothing less than that. If he gets 2 out of 3, well, they may let him live. ¡España!

Blackburn vs Arsenal, 1-1

2007-08-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

Watched the first interval of this EPL match. Read Wenger's comments about Blackburn's style of play, and have to say I agree with the Frenchman. Hugh's side seemed more intent on bullying the Gunners into submission overall than actually concerned about playing intelligent football. I was impressed by how well Arsenal stood up to Blackburn, giving as good as they got, plus actually playing a nice game of football. They were creative and pushed forward incessantly. Blackburn seemed quite pleased to push the opposition around as much as they could get away with. Didn't see the second half, but if it was anything like the first, Arsenal deserved to win. Never have been a fan of aggression as substitute for skill, and watching Blackburn only reinforced my beliefs.

The post-Henry Arsenal look very promising with plenty of attacking talent, as well as a good right full in Sagna. A young team for the most part, yes, but a very nice mix. The injury Gallas picked up was unfortunate, but here's hoping it's not too bad.

Deco & Barça

2007-07-31T15:52:00.000-07:00

It'll be interesting to see how this whole Deco deal unfolds for Barcelona. Personally, I'd like to see Deco remain with the Blaugrana for a season or two more. Yeah, he's thirty this year, but Deco's still got the goods. If you asked me if I liked Iniesta better than Deco, I'd probably say, "Yeah." But, that's just a personal opinion spoken in isolation of team dynamics. Iniesta may be younger and more dynamic in attack, but the Brazilian has it all, doing much of it quite well indeed. Besides, Deco has grit in large quantities. The man does not back down from a challenge. Barça could do with a few more like him. Last season certainly proved that. You can be European Footballer of the Year, but if you don't have grit ... yeah.

Post Season

2007-07-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back after a disgruntled experience with Barça this past season. So much talent, yet so little to show. Like a magnificent sailing ship that could never find a gust of wind to save its life. Anyway, if interested in a review of the players from '06/'07 I can't recommend enough Linda's assessment here. We see pretty much eye-to-eye where the players are concerned.

I probably should give a gander to the Copa America games, and give my impressions of those. After this last season with Barcelona, I could probably use something on more neutral ground.

What's a Cule to do?

2007-02-11T15:12:00.000-08:00

Just last week I was ready to see Ronaldinho head out to wherever it is he wants to go, and was pretty disappointed with the Barça squad as a whole. Knowing the level of experience and skill the blaugrana possess can make their current performance to date a little hard to swallow. They're at the top of the table, but for a cule that only matters insofar as they play the beautiful game. Win ugly--ala Capello style--and it cannot but cheapen the victory.

And, then, the Catalan side plays like they did today against Racing at Nou Camp, and one is left to shake ones head, suppressing the smile that threatens to break across ones face. Frustrating? Oh, most definitely, and one can't decide whether screaming is in order or a sigh of relief is warranted. My solution is to do nothing--and wait. Let's see if this goes anywhere, or if it's just another brief flash in the pan.

Ronaldinho was simply brilliant, there is no denying that. He was completely on fire tonight, the maestro on the pitch. The set piece goal was 100% on the money, and even though Racing's able keeper was favoring that side of the goal and even got a good jump on the ball, the poor man had absolutely no chance at all. None whatsoever.

The Brazilian's mind was in complete sync with his will to win, and that went for the entire side too. The game could've been 5-0 but for the heroic effort of Racing's Calatayud. Still, Barça's play was such a joy to watch that it was its own reward, quite frankly. Nobody in the world can play like FC Barcelona when they are firing with all cylinders. Nobody. And, today we saw the '69 Z28 302ci overhead cam version.

The really nice thing is that Eto'o and Messi are both back. Messi played a bit in the 2nd period, and so would have Eto'o if not for a tactical substitution that saw Belletti replaced by Oleguer after the Brazilian hurt his shoulder while trying to make a meal of a challenge from a Racing defender (how do you say "dolt" in Portuguese?).

So, it was a joy to watch, make no mistake. I draw as much enjoyment from it as the next cule, but for now I will reserve any overt optimism for the blaugrana with respect to the league championship, or to victory in the Champion's League. There has not been any consistency to their performance, and until I see at least a consistent collective effort from the squad, I'll not offer any bright predictions or ringing endorsements. Let's just wait and see how Barça do during the next match.

I did think it was a good move by Rijkaard to give Marquez and Edmilson some flexibility in their positions, which saw the Mexican playing a little more forward than we are wont to seeing.

To sum it up, I'm hopeful, but let's wait and see.

Another 'B' Word: Betis

2007-01-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

Boy, how about that Betis-Barça match? Okay, I'm being cynical, but frankly, I'm getting tired of all this. Either the Blaugrana play as they damn well know they can, or they could be in danger of becoming the next Galacticos outfit.

You know, I've been trying to give Ronnie the benefit of the doubt, but now I'm just going to spelling it out. The Brazilian is not playing to his potential most of the time. He's, what, 25, and now he's over the hill? I don't think so. Ronnie needs to get in touch with his inner cojones, and get on with it. Period. Yes, I'm picking on Ronaldinho, but that's part of the price to the package, my boy. That's why you get paid the big bucks, dude, so get going!

And, what's going on with Saviola? The man is in a goal scoring groove, and for some insane reason, he still gets taken out and substituted. My god, who in the Barça organization is coming up with that idiotic brain fart of a decision? Rijkaard? Txiki? At this point, I'd say, "Screw the money, this little rabbit is tearing a new hole in the back of the net. Keep him in!" So, Xavier got a lot of money at a bad time, was that his fault? No, so don't continue to punish him for it. Besides, he's actually out there and scoring goals. Does someone in the upper tiers of FC Barcelona have a problem with that? Insanity.

I realize it's not all about Ronaldinho or Saviola, but it doesn't take an understanding in quantum mechanics to see that something is amiss in Barça. Sure, they are holding their own, and at the moment they are atop the table. But, you know what? I'd take last years squad over this years without blinking an eye, and it has nothing to do with Messi's or Eto'o's absence either. This 06/07 squad is flat in spirit. Like the Galacticos--though Barça play a better game still.

The Other Word that Starts with 'B': Beckham

2007-01-16T17:10:00.000-08:00

Okay, so ring in the new year. Yeah, whatever. All I can think about right now are two things: one, Barça were soundly slammed by Espanyol, 3-1, this weekend, and two, Eto'o is still not ready. Serendipitously, Rijkaard has provided a way for me to steer clear of these irritating thoughts, and I will jump at the opportunity.

I just saw in an article dated today that Rijkaard has gone on record, criticizing Capello for excluding Beckham from Los Merengues' A-team following his 5-year $250 million deal with the LA Galaxy. Frank says, "In theory, I wouldn't sideline the player. You always have to look to the interests of the team. Everyone wants to win things and if a player has a contract, he can still keep on working."

Yea, Frankie! Especially when you consider that Becks rejected the Blaugrana for Real Madrid when he left Manchester United that's a rather nice thing to say. Of course, it could also be nothing more than a poke at the Enemy, but I'll give Rijkaard the benefit of the doubt.

So, how about that deal? $250 million for five years. That is just incredible by any standard, but coming from the MLS, it's literally insane. I have no idea where this money is going to come from, but I do know the MLS is not known for loads of cash. Things are sort of done in a collective style in the MLS, so one can be sure this has been accepted among the various clubs, but the question remains. Where in the hell are they going to come up with that amount of cash? I only hope it doesn't sink America's modest--yet so far, steady--venture into the world of futbol. I still remember the days of the NASL, and that league died as nasty a death as any tragically flawed character--and all for money. Like I said, here's to hoping ...

Money aside (which I know is almost impossible, but let's pretend anyway), I wonder how Beckham will fare in the MLS. It'll have to feel like a significant displacement in the world of futbol for the not-so-young lad. The glamor of Hollywood may make up for it to a degree, but I would tend to think that David, for all his good looks and such, is still essentially a footballer. The standard of play might almost seem like a particularly intense practice match. Sure, injuries are still very possible, but the mediocre quality of play and the inconsistent pace of the American game could very well be jarringly apparent for someone of Beckham's caliber--Lalas' sense of indignation duly noted.

On the other hand, if he's serious about bringing the Beautiful Game to a higher level here in the States, then I could see where it might actually be satisfying for the Englishman. To be sure, Beckham has seen his best years--and not without capitalizing on them while with Man U--but he's still got some good years to go yet. It'll be interesting to see how the LA Galaxy incorporate Beckham into their squad, or more likely how the club forms a squad around the set-piece winger.

Certainly an interesting scenario, but one that'll have to wait until August it seems. But where are they going to get all that money? Welcome to America, David!

What Shall the New Year Bring? Eto'o

2006-12-21T19:26:00.000-08:00

There's a great article at ESPN Soccernet on Samuel Eto'o (and thanks, Linda, for the heads up). Apparently his recovery is coming along fine, and the Cameroon is only too ready to get back in it. This is good news, because as it turns out, the Blaugrana need him.

It's amazing to think Eto'o is about a month away from returning to the field. I never thought his absence would mean this much, that Gudjohnsen would fill in the gap, if not perfectly, at least adequately. One had hopes that Saviola would help more, but Txiki is a man slow to forgive, I guess. Add Messi's injury, and the whole picture for FC Barcelona looked grim. But, lo, Eto'o will make things right, no?

One must admit though, things could've been a lot worse for the Catalans, given their circumstances. Barcelona have survived to the knockout stage of the Champions League, and they trail top-of-table Sevilla by 3 points and a game in La Liga. Aside from Eto'o and Messi, the remaining squad is fairly fit and injuries have not been too severe.

The season began on a less than optimum note, however, as Barça lost to Sevilla in that cup whose name I forget now. There seemed to be some discord to the squad, and the players looked burned out even. Now, the Blaugrana have caught their second wind, their form shines more perfectly at times, and Eto'o is eager to play.

I miss seeing the Cameroon. And, he has been missed. It's been too long. No.9 needs to return to his place up front, and show us how a striker's supposed to make goals. Gudjohnsen is a fine forward, but I know better now. No one can replace Samuel. Not even Ronaldinho.

A Bit of Blaugrana Art

2006-11-26T19:28:00.000-08:00

The performance Barça put on Saturday at Nou Camp was one of a kind. No joke. Their opponents were Villareal, a club known for their attractive football. That night, however, the visitors were given a lesson in not only attractive football, but art as well. The Art of Football, that is.

When one realizes that Eto'o and Messi were out injured, one can see just how deep the Blaugrana bench really is. On the pitch to start the match was Valdes, Gio, Puyol, Thuram, Zambrotta, Deco, Edmilson, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Gudjohnsen, and Giuly. This side was bereft of some of their finest attacking talent, but to be perfectly honest, you wouldn't have known it. On that night it was like watching the men play the boys.

To be fair, Villareal did their utmost to wrest the match from the Catalan side, and they had one or two moments where the threat of goal rose before Valdes. But, for the most part it was the 'yellow submarine' that was under incessant attack. Not only would Barcelona not let up, but their quality of play was so good that Villareal were unable to contain it over the entire 90 minutes. The visitors held on heroically for most of the first period, but before the period came to a close, Barça had scored.

What was surprising was that the Catalan side took as long as they did to score. Such was the level of their passing and ball play that a goal was almost an after statement. To be sure Ronaldinho was the heart of his side's creativity and daring, but it was most assuredly not limited to him. Others of like mind were Iniesta, Deco, Gudjohnsen, Giuly, Zambrotta, Thuram--in fact, it might make for less writing to say who on Barcelona didn't display some form of inspired, artful play. That's the kind of night it was.

At the restart it would only get worse for Villareal as the Blaugrana were only beginning to 'flex' their collective skills. The side was slicing and dicing the poor visitors like a Japanese chef with yellow squash. Frustration was apparent with Villareal as harsher fouls began finding the knees and shins of FC Barcelona, but the referee, Perez Lasa, was quick to keep the game under control, and that he did well. The final blow came in the 88th minute when Ronaldinho did something even he had only dreamed of. Trapping a chip from Xavi, the Brazilian deftly controlled the ball with his chest, then as it bounced off him struck the ball with an bicycle kick, his back to goal. When it went into the far corner of Villareal's goal the score stood at 4-0, and everyone watching knew they'd just witnessed something special. A special player, and a special side. Rijkaard, well done. Txiki, don't you forget it.

More of the Same

2006-11-15T21:41:00.000-08:00

Messi is out for three months. Saviola is injured for 6 weeks. Edmilson is out for 10 days. Eto'o, Eto'o, Eto'o. If Barça are going to make it through to the knockout stage of the Champions League they must win against Levski Sofia and Werder Bremen. Unfortunately, none of the four will be there for the match in Bulgaria, and only Edmilson will likely make the Werder Bremen fixture. And while we're at it, how's Xavi and Belletti?

Rumors are floating about of a three month loan for Henrik Larsson, which is not a bad idea given that the Catalans have only Ronaldinho, Giuly, Gudjohnsen, and Ezquerro left for strikers. Either that, or switch to 4-4-2.

Tough times for Barça, no doubt. Oi, but it puts hair on your chest, doesn't it?

Is Transition Needed?

2006-11-05T15:06:00.000-08:00

I finally had the chance to watch Barça's match at Nou Camp against Chelsea. ESPN decided to show the match on their Deportes station, and I don't have the Spanish package, so it had to wait until Setanta broadcasted it as part of Chelsea TV.

Anyway, it was a painful experience, but one I had to watch as a fan. The loyalty thang, you know. Watching the match seemed important in finding out where Ronaldinho was with his form. This led to questions of the team's form and tactics as well, so it seemed appropriate to withhold posting until I saw the Deportivo-Barça match, which was yesterday.

As you all know, each match ended a draw, with the contest drawing level very late in the game. Deportivo and Chelsea both play very physically too. What I want to see is if any conclusions could be drawn about FCB's and Rijkaard's direction. Here's what it looks like so far.

First off, Barça need a strong back four that is physical and fast. What I'm thinking here is like Arsenal's back four of last season. That English side seemed transformed when Wenger made that shift with his main defenders. The Gunners still play very attractive football, but one has no doubts these days that getting through their defense is a very tough prospect. If Barça can likewise stiffen the back four in this manner, it should better address the counterattack issue.

Second, the Catalans need to shift to a 4-4-2 formation. If Rijkaard wants to keep Ronaldinho free, then put him up as a striker. The man is a good target anyway, and his intelligent passing makes him ideal as a pivot up front too. Also, this makes the Brazilian's freedom to roam less disruptive for the rest of the side who all have assigned areas and whatnot. I say this, because Drogba's equalizer in the CL match might have been nipped in the bud if Ronaldinho had put some amount of pressure as Chelsea built-up their attack on Barça's left flank.

With the 4-4-2 formation would come an alteration in the attack philosophy. I would move away from possession as the major means of play, and focus more on launching quick, deft attacks. Rather than try to regain possession as quickly as possible, Barça should accept the loss of the ball, and immediately pull back into defense. As soon as that ball falls into the opponent's possession, the Catalan back four need to be hussling back quickly, as should 2 midfielders. No questions, just get going. In other words, Barça need to make a rapid transition out of attack onto the defensive. Once possession is regained, the slow build-up can return, followed by deft attacks. But, as soon as the ball is lost--boom!--the back four and half the midfield should bolt to behind their 18 yard line.

On the brighter side, Ronaldinho appears to be on the upswing. Smiles are widening his face more frequently, and he's more intent on taking the ball to the defender. That move on Boulahrouz that resulted in Gudjohnsen tapping it in for the second goal was pure Ronnie.

Saviola actually started against Deportivo, and while his performance wasn't outstanding, the Rabbit did show a bit of spark at times. And he did draw the PK. I thought he should've stayed in (Giuly replaced him about midway through the second period), but it was promising to see him on the pitch for so long. Give the Argentine more time on the field, and he will only get better. And let's be honest here, Saviola is the only true center striker among the lot available at the moment.

Enough of the Whining

2006-10-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm as guilty as the next person, waxing on about the Barça 'crisis'. Are they having problems? Well, that's obvious. Can they pull out of it? I think that's another obvious 'yes', unless you fancy Los Merengues, or some other Spanish flavor in La Liga.

The key is that FCB are more than aware that something is not right especially the Man himself, Rijkaard. He's even put all the blame on his shoulders for the two losses to Chelsea and Real Madrid. The club is looking inward, reflecting upon itself, and this is a good thing. There is no denial, no propaganda, just honesty and a willingness to search for solutions.

And another thing: solutions don't arrive overnight. Look how long it took Real Madrid to get out of its Galacticos culture, though it's true that was a classic case of denial over a long period of time. At least Perez showed courage in the end.

I expect Barça to pull through, hopefully before it seriously impacts their chances in La Liga or Champions League. Playing the sort of football they do requires a delicate balance of creativity, understanding, and cojones. It's difficult to achieve, and largely based on a trust to create and innovate. Art is never easy, but when it's well done, there's nothing that resonates with the essense of Life quite like it.

So I've decided I can wait until Barça's well of inspiration runs full once more.

Barça Bumble at the Bernabéu

2006-10-23T18:32:00.000-07:00

What can I say? The Catalans lost against their nemesis, Real Madrid, to a score of 2-0. Ronaldinho was lacking in ideas or inspiration, Deco would've had trouble hitting the broadside of a barn with the ball, and Saviola should've been playing center striker. Admittedly, there were plenty of chances, but none of them could be converted. Plenty of chances.

I can only hope this is a wake-up call for the Catalans. After years of slumber Los Merengues appear to have awoken with a hunger. The time for napping after the feast is over, Barça. Get a move on.

1-0: Barça Stumble At Stamford Bridge

2006-10-18T18:01:00.000-07:00

It was a sort of conservative gameplan for each side it seemed. The Catalans seemed hesitant in their offensive third of the pitch, while Chelsea were very quick to pack their defense behind the 18 yard line. Barça had the better of the first period, but at the restart Drogba put away a fine finish to put the Blues a goal ahead.

Given how disheveled Drogba looked at the interval, I was surprised at his lethality as the second half just got underway. From that point, it was Chelsea's gameplan all the way as the English side fell back to hold onto their lead. The Blaugrana tried to penetrate Chelsea's defenses, but their attempts took on increasing desperation as the clock ran out.

It's not over yet for Barça, but they will have to make the remainder of their matches count in their group, if they are to be assured a spot in the knockout stage.

Barça Beat Sevilla, 3-1

2006-10-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

Ronaldinho got two goals from set pieces while Messi put the last one in to defeat Sevilla at Nou Camp. Thanks to Nido's ongoing dispute over a broadcasting contract no one has been able to watch a match where Sevilla plays--except those present at the stadium. What a crock is all I can think. Here's to hoping the Sevilla chairman can put his ego back in his pocket, and end this blackout. The only club it's really hurting is Sevilla.

Maybe There's Hope in the USA After All

2006-10-01T21:31:00.000-07:00

It looks like the development of America's soccer youth may finally be taking a turn for the better. Both the USSF and the MLS have decided to advocate the development of our youth with an emphasis not on winning and passing and running around a lot, but on actually playing with the ball. Things like dribbling and control and creativity and imagination. Why the change? Because our current crop of players are usually barren of such skills, resorting to the pass rather than use their head, play with the ball, think outside the envelope. That's not to say the first-time pass is a bad thing, but what happens when a first-time pass actually isn't a good idea? What if it's more advantageous for a player to take on a defender or to draw the defense to make space elsewhere? In that case, our youth may have a tendency to come up blank. Alas, it all becomes so predictable, as this last World Cup showcased.

That's one thing that makes Brazil and Argentina so strong, their unpredictability. That element arises from the individual who through creativity, individual skill, and confidence pulls something else out of his hat, and then we have the beautiful game. What's wonderful about this is that such unpredictability is infectious, and before you know it, there's a whole team playing together as an unpredictable element. When that happens, you have Holland of 1974, or the present Barça.

Now, I know the type of resistance many youth coaches may have to all this. First, it may draw away talent from their system. Second, the ideals being promoted by the USSF and MLS have not so much to do with team success as they do with developing individual skill. How does one develop a winning team with such a philosophy? Well, from the perspective of youth development, these kids are in a training period with the goal being a three-dimensional player capable of winning through any number of ways, both individually as well as collectively. If kids are drilled into winning through a team philosophy grounded on passing without recourse to individual options, then those kids will make poor two-dimensional players when they come of age. It all comes down to what the goal is here: to make winning youth teams of narrow focus and skill sets, or to develop players into adults with the skills to match someone like Ronaldinho, George Best, Johann Cruyff, or even Pelé? If you think some state tourney is more important than the World Cup or someday seeing an American elected World Player of the Year, then keep drowning individual talent for the borg-team mentality.

Football is a team sport, but at any given moment it's nothing more than a player with a ball. Allow that player the full spectrum of possibilities through a sound skill set, and creativity will have full rein to merge with the collective effort.

US Soccer Youth Development
MLS Youth Development

Athletic vs Barça, 1-3 (1-1)

2006-10-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

Watched the match between Barça and Athletic Bilbao at the San Mamés on the TV. The Catalans started it off a little shakey as the Basque side came at them tooth and nail. The home fans were completely behind Athletic, their collective chanting easily deafening the stadium. Yeste took a deflected cross, and volleyed it sensationally into Barcelona's net with only 12 minutes having passed in the first period. Barça picked up the pace as best they could but they just weren't clicking quite well. It didn't help that Mr. Fernandez Borbalan, the referee, did a poor job officiating, but at least he judged equally bad to each side. The blaugrana had two obvious occasions for a PK, but Fernandez did not see either--somehow. On the other hand, Athletic lost Casas to a straight red card outside the box for a foul on Gudjohnsen. In injury time just before the whistle, Gudjohnsen chased a ball on the left flank near Athletic's goal, brought it back and crossed it into the box. It found--guess who?--Puyol whose creative attempt at goal forced his marker, Ustartitz, to attempt an equally creative clearance, which ended up putting the ball into his own goal. So, at the interval it was all level once more.

Even a man down, Athletic were bound and determined to prevent Barça from scoring any further. At the restart, the Catalans pressed harder, but Athletic pushed back just as hard. Gudjohnsen was the recipient of some severe marking, but this seemed to raise his game, and in the 61st minute a pass from Xavi found the Icelander who with great speed of thought and flair slotted the ball into the far corner of Athletic's net.

Some of the wind went out of the Basque side, but not completely. They continued to attempt counterattacks, though the quality declined as the outnumbered squad became increasingly tired. In the 72nd minute, Saviola came on for Gudjohnsen, and five minutes later the Argentine 'Rabbit' slotted the ball past Lafuente for a third time following some sublime passing between Xavi and Iniesta.

I thought it ended up a good match for Barça. They showed persistence and just played through their uncharacteristic sloppiness until they produced results. Messi seemed to be struggling with form, though his intensity and tenacity were unabated. Ronaldinho seemed to disappear at times, but his case looked more a consequence of Athletic's strategy, to which the Brazilian adjusted with the team in mind.

Do I think Eto'o's absence, possibly for 5 months, is something to be of concern? Seriously, no. There are still Gudjohnsen, Giuly, and Saviola to choose from, each of which make excellent striker material. All have different player qualities, too, and this may work to Rijkaard's favor. A player of Eto'o's stature could expect to have a starting place on the field for nearly 100% of the time. With Gudjohnsen, Giuly, and Saviola this is most definitely not the case, and given their individual qualities, it offers Rijkaard more flexibility in choosing his starting XI.

La Liga: Nobody's Perfect

2006-09-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

It looks like the three clubs to be undefeated have been reduced to two now. Sevilla lost to Atletico Madrid today, while the Valencia-Barcelona match ended in a draw. As it stands now, there is a three way tie for 1st place between Barça, Real Madrid, and Valencia. Second place is split between Atletico Madrid and, you guessed it, Sevilla.

While I couldn't watch the match at Nou Camp on TV, I did get to view a live action log online. It looks like the Catalans were playing a little dull with sloppy play. Barça's previous match against Racing Santander took on a similar quality after the restart, though Giuly and Ronaldinho did cap it with two more goals very late into the game. It's too bad they couldn't do the same this time around, but Valencia are not a team to be trifled with.

Blaugrana Juggernaut

2006-09-15T12:30:00.000-07:00

I finally was able to catch the Osasuna match from this past week, having already seen Barça's 5-0 rampage of Levski Sofia. Work and family were conspiring to deprive me of ever seeing the 3-0 drubbing of the Pamplona side, but on the third attempt to get a broadcast on GolTV recorded, there was success at last.

What can one say? The Catalans are actually looking even more dangerous than last year, if such a thing is possible. Three signings during the summer (Gudjohnsen, Zambrotta, Thuram), and FC Barcelona have a squad with depth from back to front. Each one of those signings was a work of managerial efficiency, producing greater combined experience and versatility. Barça retain their devastating attack of last season, but have also considerably strengthened their defense. Zambrotta is a fullback who can confidently attack or defend, and from either flank. Thuram is a central defender who is every bit the match of Puyol--and that's saying a lot. Gudjohnsen is a striker with no fear and the skill and determination to match. All three look to have meshed well with the team.

There was a period late in the pre-season when hints of 'Galacticitis' appeared to have infected Barcelona. There was Eto'o's departure during halftime against Sevilla, and the whole deal with Ronaldinho's promotional obligation previous to game time. Word spread there was even a falling out between Rijaard and the Brazillian playmaker. But to see the show put on by the Blaugrana against both the Bulgarian and Pamplona sides leads one to believe such discord has passed. And, how could they not, after such a magnanimous gesture as the club's charitable sponsorship for UNICEF?

Expect 2006/2007 to be a sad year for all those who must play against the Nou Camp Boys. Here is a squad with class, creativity, and confidence written all over it. They play possession, attacking football, and give money to--rather than take money from--those they represent. And, children are who they represent. I'm beginning to think that Laporta and Rijkaard are about to leave the Cruyff era behind, and their legacy will be unmatched in the history of FC Barcelona. At least, it's starting to look that way. All I can say is, go for it, Barça.

More Than a Club

2006-09-14T16:49:00.000-07:00

FC Barcelona showed off their new jerseys in the Champions League match against Levski Sofia at Camp Nou. In their 107 years of existence, this is the first time that the Catalan club has put a sponsor on their shirt. But, here's the kicker--Barça aren't making a cent on the deal. They are giving their sponsor, UNICEF, $2 million a year for the privilege of displaying the name of the organization that looks out for children all over the world!

This is jaw dropping in today's lucrative global market of top notch football. Barcelona could have easily made a cool $22 million a year deal, but the club under Laporta's leadership did the right thing. The Catalan thing, it could be arguably said.

Barça, you are truly more than a club. An example for football, and Humanity.

¡Viva, Barça!

Trouble in Barça

2006-08-29T16:29:00.000-07:00

Word has surfaced in the news that Ronaldinho was left out of the Celta Vigo match as punishment for missing a practice session before leaving for Vigo. Rijkaard had been angered at their loss to Sevilla, and allegedly made example of Ronaldinho who had been at a promotional event right before the European Supercup final. No doubt Eto'o's departure from the stadium after the halftime break only worsened matters.

We can only wait and see how much of this is true, and what the ramifications will be.

Opening Match of 2006/2007

2006-08-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

Barça's opening match against Celta Vigo in Balaídos was an uncertain affair though ultimately ending favorably for the Catalans. It began rather nervously as each side fought frantically for possession. As a result the Blaugrana found it difficult to retain the ball for more than a few touches, whereas the Galicians couldn't quite wind up for a counterattack. As the game settled, Barça began to display their characteristic possession game, putting together numerous passes. Unfortunately, Vigo kept their defense very compact, allowing for precious few scoring opportunites for the visitors. The newly acquired Italian, Zambrotta, showed his flair for attack as he made runs up the right wing, but the Galician's Nené and G.López were showing some very nice flair of their own. In fact, as the first period was winding down it was a very skillful run by Nené down the left wing who placed a cross into a disheveled Catalan defense, and Baiano one-touched it into Barça's net at the far corner. The score at the half was possibly unfair for Barcelona given possession figures that exceeded 60%, but in the end we all know it's goals that count.

At the restart, the Blaugrana persisted in their game, and slowly it looked to be shifting in their favor as the Vigo defense came under steady Catalan attack. Finally, eleven minutes into the second period, Messi found Eto'o following a skillful build-up near the top of the Galician box. Eto'o dispatched the ball from a narrow angle, a low shot put past Pinto, and the sides were level once more. In the 60th minute Iniesta made a great run smack into the middle of the Vigo defense, squared the ball to Messi on the left, and the young Argentine showed why he will be a force to be reckoned with in La Liga. Receiving Iniesta's ball to one side, Messi spun and rolled the ball to the opposite side, beating his marker, then shot the ball low across Pinto into the far corner for the lead.

Celta Vigo were not to be outdone quite yet, and they replied with an equaliser only five minutes later. Angel crossed the ball on the counterattack, and G.Lopez found it immediately, the ball rolling past Valdes just quickly enough to be unstoppable.

Two substitutions were still available for Rijkaard after Motta had been replaced by Edmilson, and in the 74th minute little Giuly was brought out for Gudjohnsen. The Catalans continued to put pressure when a break came 87 minutes into the second half, Iriney being sent off after receiving a second bookable offense. Celta Vigo were clearly showing signs of fatigue, and the loss of a man on the field only worsened the prospects of retaining a point for their efforts. A minute later that point disappeared when Deco found Gudjohnsen deep in the box with a lofting pass. The Icelander tried to hit the ball in after chesting it well, but Angel blocked it, though incompletely. The ball arched serendipitously before Gudjohnsen and he made no mistake as he made a powerful volley that saw the ball rocket past a helpless Pinto and into the net.

The initial Catalan squad on the field was: Váldes in goal, van Bronkhurst, Puyol, Márquez and Zambrotta in defense (left to right), Deco, Iniesta and Motta in midfield, and Eto'o, Messi and Giuly in attack. Ronaldinho was absent due to injury. It was interesting that both Xavi and Oleguer were left on the bench, but such is the fate in the big clubs where a deep bench is necessary to compete in the Champions League.

I'm interested to see how Thuram will mesh with the side, but he'll only have that chance should Márquez or Puyol be unable to play. Zambrotta looks quite good though he'll need more time to find his 'place' as well. The absence of Ronaldinho in the match was palpable, a tribute to his abilities on the pitch as a player, but it was good to see that Barça can play and win a stiff contest without the gifted playmaker. After all, that's what deep benches are for, right?

WC '06: Out With a Whimper & Whine

2006-07-30T20:23:00.000-07:00

The World Cup is over, and for some time now too. There was a bitter taste in my mouth for so long over the whole cynical mess before I could find the energy to post closing impressions of the world tournament. It held so much promise with teams who seemed imbued with an attacking fervor and creativity in their heart. But, at the end of the day it was organization, a strong defense, and ability at penalty kicks that held the field. Ah geez, I don't want to say 'What a waste', and it wasn't really. Australia were a delight to watch, as was Ghana. Argentina and Spain were showing a lot of promise too. But, the trouble is many sides seemed preoccupied with what they had to lose rather than gain. Yes, yes, an old whinge if ever there was, but I'll not budge on the issue, because I can't stand defensive football, and what goes for 'attacking' in such a state of mind. Spain looked like a case of a little too much youth and not enough experience--though they had promise (the under-19 squad won the European championship this year, so don't be dis'ing España just yet).

Argentina seemed to be such a powerhouse this time around, being a side with so much talent and a cohesive squad, if that goal against the Serbs in the 31st minute was any indication. Peckerman looked like he had put together a world winner indeed. What frustrated me the most about Argentina--Peckerman in particular--was their last match against Germany. What was that about?? Why was Messi never put in, and why in the world was Riquelme taken out for Cambiasso?? It was painful to realize after all the promise and flair and skill, to see Peckerman suddenly put his tail between his legs and hunker down into a defensive mindset. What a ... waste.

To be honest, once Spain and Argentina were out that was it for me. I had hopes for Brazil and Portugal, but they weren't that hopeful. Brazil looked peculiarly defanged and declawed, El Gordo a case in point. Some also felt justified in laying blame on Ronaldinho for some reason, but I've watched him play brilliantly for Barca all season, and there was nothing wrong with his weight. Rather, Ronaldinho is a playmaker more than he is a scorer, maybe by choice since he certainly knows how to score on his own. I didn't see many of Ronaldinho's teammates who seemed all that interested in playing with him. That's just plain stupid, as well as sad, and it was their loss quite literally. At least FC Barcelona sees through the fame and fortune conferred upon the lad from Porto Alegre, and value him for what he is at heart: someone who really loves the game and is the best at it.

Portugal. Ah, now there is my dark side. Yes, I like Portugal, very much so. My grandfather's maternal surname was Pereira, and there's a fair amount of Portuguese in these veins. Oh, the complaints they had to carry. A cheating team, divers, harsh tackling, fouls galore. Oh my! Like somehow the rest of the field paled in comparison. Tell that to McBride. Or C.Ronaldo. Honestly, I didn't see Portugal play any 'worse' than any other side, and it seemed to me that they played only as hard and harsh as their opponents chose to. The Holland-Portugal match is a case in point. Holland were disgraceful, whereas Portugal made sure to meet the challenge no matter the severity. Even then Portugal didn't go as low as Holland, because I never saw the Portuguese take advantage of an injured player to retain possession of the ball. Simply put, Holland were jerks and deserved to lose.

Big Phil was such an inspiration to watch too. Now that's my idea of a coach! He's out almost on the field, directing, cajoling, swearing, and last but not least, supporting. Man, if Argentina had had Scolari, they would have won. Even with Portugal, Phil got them to the semi-finals, so kudos to the only Brazilian in this year's World Cup who had fire and a will to win. And, my thanks to Portugal for giving it everything they had. I appreciated it.

Well, we all know who won, so I won't go into further details, and it really is little more than that at this point. After all, attacking football ended with Spain, Argentina, and Portugal this time around. But I will say this: better Italy than France. So, a tip of the hat to the Azzuri. Oh, and Klinsmann's Germany was actually fun to watch this time around as well.

The Ebbing of the Tide

2006-06-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

O, Marea Roja. What happened? Where did your will to win go?

It's a painful thing to watch 'your' side drop out of the World Cup. True, only one side can hold the field when all is said and done, but maybe the pain is lessened for those fortunate enough to hold on just a little bit longer. When a young Spain fell to an aging France today, it was a bitter pill to swallow. The match began with promise after Villa put a penalty kick away in the first period. Not too long after Ribery made it level when the Spanish offside trap failed. The Spaniards could not respond before the interval.

Throughout the second period the match took on a chaotic quality with ripples here and there, either from Ribery's penetrating runs or from a crisp but short series of passes from Spain. Aragonés tried to ignite Spain's game when he brought on Joaquín, Luis García, and Senna (which saw Villa, Raúl, and Xavi retire from the field), but the combination just couldn't spark the side. Joaquín made a run or two that seriously threatened the French, but he was the only one willing to go at the French, mano a mano. Spanish passing was not as good as it has been this tournament either, and there was that tendency for wishful thinking as the longball was employed more than I would've liked.

In the end, late in the match in fact, it was two old guards of the French squad, Vieira and Zizou, who put the game beyond Spain's reach. First, Vieira headed a cross from close range, the ball getting inside the near post as Sergio Ramos tried in vain to keep it out. Then minutes later, the ball found Zizou with space and the Spanish side caught in transition. He expertly evaded one defender, then put the ball inside the near post.

I probably could say more, but I'm a little tired from it all. Tomorrow will be another day, and will likely see me rejuvenated. But, for now, I will rest and try not to think too much of what could have been.

O, España Triste.

Team USA: What to Do, What to Do

2006-06-23T22:25:00.000-07:00

Hey, I love baseball as much as the next American, but I also love the game of football, the game the Scots invented (No, really, they did. Read the book--though you need to know Latin). In fact, football is my No.1 choice for a sport. Why? Because I love to play it, and I love to watch it. I love to pick it apart in discussions, and I love to ponder its affect upon the world. And, I love Barça most of all.

I don't care how the world views the USA with respect to football (and vice versa). I know we suck at the game nationally and domestically. No surprises there. Heck, my favorite league is La Liga Primera, but then I get bored to tears watching Serie A. The MLS is something I watch when there is absolutely nothing else on, including SpongeBob Squarepants (when I start to see quality play that matches at least Bundesliga level, MLS will see more viewing time in this household).

But, hope is not lost. Did you know that Brazil's domestic league sucks? It's not because their player base is poor, quite the opposite. In fact, about 5,000 Brazilian professional footballers are signed to foreign contracts. That is a hell of an exodus of Brazilian talent, enough to fully man 100 or more clubs, at least!

Now, you must be wondering what my point is. Okay, it's this: football in America doesn't need to be loved or understood by the majority. It doesn't even need a very good domestic league. What it does need is an infrastructure for finding and developing young talent.

Millions of American kids have played, and continue to play, soccer, so we have the demographics. American culture is a mish-mash of many cultures, and new ones continue to establish themselves over time. So, we have the diversity. All that is needed is a long range program to find and develop football talent here. The MLS is only beginning to investigate the incorporation of youth academies, but I wouldn't necessarily put it in their hands. Rather, it should be the task of the USSF.

Football talent, the rare stuff, is found as early as 12 or 13 years, and by 16 or 17 they should be developed enough for consideration by professional clubs. If we can put together a program that instills a style of play that is attractive to professional football leagues, the development of American soccer youth might result in a similar exodus of talent to the best clubs around the globe. If we can have Americans elected as European Footballer of the Year, and a national team that is a world beater (and entertainingly so), I wouldn't mind how sucky our domestic league was--or, that most Americans have no interest in the world sport. We have more than enough now to make a global impact.

Football is not only a world sport, it's a world 'market', and I see the potential for us to export a commodity of high value. Yes, it's so American to think this way, but it could work. Just look at the Brazilians for a model.

OMG: España

2006-06-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

Wow, Spain are blowing me away. It's as simple as that. Before this tournament started I let a good friend know that I had decided to pick Spain as finalists in this World Cup. One can predict his response. In fact, even as I stated my belief, misgiving possessed me, and I qualified this rash wager with a Spanish loss to Brazil. Woe unto thee of so little faith.

Looking how La Furia Roja have played these last two matches, that wager is starting to edge toward ... prophetic? Okay, okay, much too soon to tell, but this Spanish side are coming in with all guns blazing, no doubt about it.

Tonight's match played against Tunisia was a tense one, the North Africans shocking all when they scored first in the 8th minute. The Spaniards tried desperately to find the equalizer in the first period, but had nothing to show for it at the interval.

At the restart, Aragones brought on Raúl and Fabregas for García and Senna, and the substitutes had an almost immediate effect as the Spanish game picked up steam. At the 55th minute Villa was taken off and Joaquín took position on the right wing. This permutation of a gifted side finally proved lethal for Tunisia. In the 72nd minute, Joaquín sent a low pass from deep in the Tunisian right flank. Torres let it through for Fabregas to connect with a hard shot that Boumnijel could only parry. Raúl pounced, then and there, tapping the rebound into the upper far corner for the equalizer. As the Spanish supporters went wild, one could almost feel the tension melt away from both Spain--as well as Raúl in particular.

From this point Spain shifted their game to a higher level. Tunisia tried to hold them off but fatigue was surely having its effect by this late hour. In the 76th minute, Fabregas sent a lovely curling pass into deep Tunisian space, perfectly timed for the sprinting Torres to collect. El Niño gauged his diagonal run against a charging Boumnijel well, flicking the ball with the outside of his right boot to put it past the North African keeper, and into the old onion bag.

The Spaniards added one more goal for insurance when Torres was held down in the box as a cross passed over him, warranting a penalty kick from the Brazilian referee in charge, Carlos Eugenio Simon. As it turned out, the Tunisians' impressive efforts were for naught, and the Spaniards showed the world the meaning of cojones.

White Star USA?

2006-06-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, the intent of this blog is to mostly reflect on football as a sport primarily, Spanish football in particular. However, the popularity of the sport worldwide is pervasive, and as such it does have an impact on politics to a degree. What I'm driving at is the peculiar phenomenon of Team USA in this World Cup.

Yes, I am an American, much more liberal than conservative (though I see advantages in both systems), so what I have to say will definitely be from an American perspective. Notice I said 'an American perspective'. It certainly will find detractors within the USA, but there will be many who might agree with these opinions as well.

Firstly, it's disturbing to see how political the national team's participation has become. There's the references to the terrorist problem (the only unmarked team bus in the tournament, hordes of bodyguards surround the team's presence, etc.), there's Arena's decision to base the team, well, on base at the US military installation, Ramstein, and finally, the attitude of the 'average' American fan in Germany.

Understandably, part of the political focus on the USA national team is our own damn doing. We started a war under less than agreeable conditions diplomatically, grounding our decision on no other basis than that we knew better than the rest of the world--which only made things worse once everyone found out we were mostly wrong. The war has been highly contentious and dirty, as insurgencies tend to be, and the world's opinion of America as the beacon of democracy has suffered for it.

Because of all the bad press, many Americans have a predisposition to shun the world in response. This is only exacerbated by the fact that many Americans are a culturally insular lot, and having dominated the world economically and politically (if not militarily) for the last five decades or so has given it a divine quality in that Calvinist sort of way. Incidently, this is partly why many Americans are so spiteful about the world's displeasure with our country: Americans thought their place in the world was a given, based on a sense of 'sanctity' with our form of government, and a sanctity validated by our overwhelming domination of the free world after WWII.

Some rather vocal American supporters in Germany tend to view the national team from a political perspective primarily. Sort of a sense that since the USA is such a global political powerhouse it should follow that Team USA express that same power on the pitch. Among some Americans at home who do not follow the sport, they find security in writing the game off as not worth the effort because the game is somehow deficient of entertainment. Certainly, there are more than enough sports of an American origin to occupy many US citizens domestically, but that should be no excuse to abandon a sport emphatically embraced by most of the world. On the other hand, it is an historical fact that leaders are not fond of humiliation, and for the USA, football--of the FIFA flavor--is an experience in humility.

I think what it comes down to is that, figuratively, many Americans want to play this game of football primarily because it is the world game. The stage matches our own ambitions, undoubtedly, and there is even the secret wish to be a part of the world as comrades (did I tell you we Americans are absolutely phobic about Communism--even now? Sort of how the ancient Romans would go bananas when someone mentioned the matter of kings. Still, it was the most accurate word I could think of) rather than restrict ourselves to that lofty and lonely perch as world leaders. Yes, there are Americans who like nothing better than to flaunt their supremacy upon the world, but there are also many who are truly embarrassed by the situation.

My guess is that the sport of football will keep a tenuous toehold upon our nation at least until we really do something in world competition. Once that happens, it just might take off in the USA, and here's why. For all the supposed glory to be found in such sporting events as the NFL's Superbowl or Major League Baseball's 'World Series', these competitions are really just domestic in nature, and have little value outside the USA's borders. Not only that, professional baseball's first international tournament, the World Baseball Classic, showed that our nation's best baseball players are surprisingly second to countries like Mexico and Japan ... and even Cuba. This uncomfortable revelation might actually accelerate the process of our true acceptance of football.

The question is can the USA produce a squad of footballers capable of winning the World Cup? I think that must be answered as an unqualified 'yes'. Our demographics alone make that a very comfortable bet. The problem is that right now, the US Soccer Federation (USSF) is not capitalizing on that advantage. The 'breeding ground' of US soccer has gravitated to the middle class mostly, meaning kids from the suburbs. Most of the hopefuls among this group only have high school, then college soccer as a means of being 'noticed' by the Major League Soccer scouts. In the meantime there is a vast untapped pool of talent among the many youth and amateur leagues in the USA, leagues that are sometimes highly ethnic in nature, and don't fit that suburban, "All-American" template.

Just to underscore how narrow the US professional game perceives football talent, the MLS places an unbelievable amount of value on a 'college draft'. This is a system of securing talent by the MLS teams whereby they take turns 'picking' players among the college soccer teams. These are players who are already in their early twenties for the most part, well beyond the age for refining raw talent. Essentially, there has been no comprehensive system in existence in the USA that seeks football talent anywhere it can be found, and at the earliest reasonable age possible. This seems to be changing, but in disjointed spurts at present. I don't think MLS teams have any sort of infrastructure for developing promising youth from, say, early teens on. It may simply be a case of lack of funds in a struggling industry, but the gap remains nonetheless.

If the USA is to develop a world champion side, they'll have to tap into the vast expanse of our football-playing youth. Talented 13 year old boys will have to be found wherever they can be found, then trained systematically to develop and refine the basics so that confidence can be expressed in the form of creativity and sublime skill. Once this is achieved, the mechanics of team play and tactics must then be instilled to unleash vision matched with cohesiveness. When that happens, we will win the World Cup. No doubt about it.

After all, we are Americans, right?

¡La Furia Roja!

2006-06-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

I was up at 0530 this morning, ready to catch the Spain - Ukraine World Cup match live, and my pick of the tournament did not disappoint. Spain were simply on fire from minute one of the match. By the 13th minute the Spaniard side had their first goal from Xabi Alonso and by the 17th it was 2-0 thanks to a deflected direct kick from Villa. It wasn't until the 27th minute before Ukraine even held onto the ball long enough to make a coherent attack before Spain's goal.

The Spanish side looked like a team that has played together for years, such was the depth of understanding in their play. Passes were crisp, accurate, and deadly intelligent. The pace while not in that near maniacal fashion of English play was still muy rápido, relentlessly tearing into Ukrainian space, chunk by chunk. One could say there was the touch of the 'Brazilian' in how Spain handled and moved the ball, and in fact I would claim that the strongest exhibition of the 'beautiful game' occurred today among España XI.

The Spanish defense was equally impressive, a rock solid bastion against attack, led by Puyol. Casillas had very little work to do today, and was so bored he decided to make a foray out of the penalty area, attempting to snuff a lone attack from Ukraine. When Casillas failed and his goal was left wide open, Pablo was there to dispossess the intruder comfortably. Puyol himself drove up the middle to snatch a ball from the Ukrainians late in the 2nd period. His run could be the envy of many an attacking midfielder as he first did a Maradona turn to escape one defender, started a give-and-go, then headed the return ball back to Torres who sent it screaming home from the top of the box. It was the last goal of the game, and served to underscore the excellence of the Spanish side today.

Aragonés' selection was pleasantly sensible with Villa, Torres, and Luis García up front. Xavi, Xabi Alonso, and Senna made up the midfield, while the back included Puyol, Pablo, Sergio Ramos, and Pernia. Raul came on in the second half, as did Albelda and Fabregas. It must be daunting for anyone who has to play Spain to realize just how deep the Spanish bench is (for example, Reyes sat out the entire match).

If Spain can retain this attitude, I wouldn't be surprised if they ultimately lift the cup. The Spanish team I saw today could've defeated the Brazilian team I saw last night.

Twice Champions

2006-05-28T16:30:00.000-07:00

The dust has pretty much settled over the Champions League final between Barça and the Gunners. It's provided a lot of time to reflect on the match and all its odd developments. I must admit to being a little preoccupied by the buildup with the World Cup this summer, but it seemed a wise move to hold on commenting on the final match in Paris.

The Champions League final left me torn in a manner of speaking. On the one hand, as a staunch supporter of Barcelona I was elated at seeing them lift the cup for a second time in their club history. They are a fantastic team of gifted players, led by a coach who has impressed upon them the positive results of intelligent, attacking football. The club as a whole is also led by a president who knows what needs doing, and has gracefully seen it through. Membership is up for Barcelona and debt is a thing of the past. Victory in Europe is a grand reward for all their efforts, and richly deserved.

The problem is that the European 2006 final has a taint to it, the unfortunate product of poor refereeing. There was so much expectation for this match between Arsenal and Barcelona, primarily because they were both well known for an attacking philosophy, grounded in grace, persistence, and skill. That these two teams should be the final two from the Champions League competition seemed the happy union of fate and justice. We had a final with the potential for football greatness. A classic in the offing, one to be talked about for years to come. Alas, it wasn't to be--or at least for the expected reasons.

With Lehmann's sending off in the 18th minute, any hope of 'jogo bonito' was abruptly terminated. No doubt, the game had many admirable qualities to it. The stubborn persistence of an undermanned Arsenal side was a phenomenal feat against a Catalan team who have arguably the most potent offensive punch in the European game. Yet, the pace of the game, the steady application of pressure by Barça, and maybe even the inclement weather proved too much in the end for the ten Gunners. Those first 18 minutes hinted at a match with so much potential, yet it wasn't to be. Sad really. Even for a Barça fan.

I would like to see a rating system started for referees around the globe. It would grade their performance based on the correctness of their decisions. It would not in any way be a means to retract or rebuke the acts of a referee in a completed match. The sole purpose would lie in determining the best group of referees for officiating the top competitions in the world. This way, one would have the best officiating the best.

As a side note, I have to remark on the criticism delivered by both Wenger and Henry after the match--especially Henry's. Wenger and Henry both were bitter in their defeat, and one cannot blame them, since to be so close yet not to achieve is a harsh pill to swallow even amongst the graceful. Still, Eto'o's goal was not offsides by any amount that could be readily discerned in realtime. The margin was so amazingly close that I believe the correct call was actually played by the linesman.

Then, there were those comments by Henry about Ronaldinho and Eto'o. He didn't see them, but he did see Larsson. Well, that was just plain petty in my book. Where did that come from, in fact? Has the Frenchman been harboring ill feelings for the Brazilian and Cameroon both this season? Whatever. Maybe when Henry reaches the ripe old age of 30, he'll learn a lesson or two in social grace and generosity.

Well done, Barça, well done. It wasn't the best stage upon which to claim victory, but a player can only play it as it comes. Maybe FIFA will take this as a wake-up call. Maybe, but I won't hold my breath.

One idea just came to mind. How about a friendly between Barcelona and Arsenal before the start of the 2006/2007 season? Play it in Paris, and let the players vote on their officials of choice.

FB Barcelona: More Than a Club--Champions!

2006-05-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

Barça became league champs today when Valencia lost to Mallorca, 2-1. The loss insured that the Catalan club were mathematically unbeatable. Not resting on their newly won laurels, Barcelona went on to beat Celta Vigo, 0-1, with Eto'o scoring the winning goal in the 55th minute after van Bommel made a cutting run deep into Celta's box.

Throughout the match at Balaídos, the Blaugrana played attractive, attacking football. Even after Ronaldinho was substituted with Edmilson in the 56th minute, their style of play never altered. For Celta Vigo, a win would've added insurance to an UEFA spot for next year, so a good result was likely desired by the home side, and they certainly played that way.

Ronaldinho's creativity was manifested on numerous occasions as one slicing pass followed another. Indeed, his teammates were sometimes slow in seeing the opening space, reduced to a belated chase of the ball for all the Brazilian maestro's work and vision. Many passes did connect though, but Barça were unlucky with their finishing, the end result a single goal in second period.

Celta Vigo had a few very good chances to even the score, but they could not capitalize, either from a sudden drought of good luck or the superb reflexes and positioning of Valdés. The Barça keeper was in very good form tonight, making Celta's task especially difficult.

As a whole, Barcelona look very strong, both offensively--and defensively. Certainly, there has been a noticable improvement in the Catalan side's defense. The vulnerability to counterattacks that had been a telling weakness with Barça has been addressed over the span of the season, and their recent perfomances show that Barcelona can defend solidly and decisively as needed.

But, Barça's passing game remains a joy to watch. I might even claim that it has improved upon itself during the season, because it seems Iniesta's vision and skill has matured. He is becoming a very exciting player on the pitch, capable of building or shifting an attack with a finesse that belies his youth. And, what I find most telling is that all this is coming from a side that has not been graced with the inclusion of Xavi or Messi for several months. Simply put, Rijkaard has put together a football juggernaut. Dream Team No.2.

I almost pity Arsenal.

Classic in the Making?

2006-04-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

The Champions League final in Paris on 17 May will be between Arsenal and Barcelona. After their 0-0 draw against Milan today, Barça earned their ticket to Paris. It was a performance from the Catalan side that showed as much skill in defense as for the attack, uncharacteristic to be sure, but necessary when playing among the best in Europe.

The final will be a match between two sides who live and breathe for the attack. Arsenal may have one of the most effective back four in Europe, but there is a reason why their roster contains names like Henry, Pires, Bergkamp, Fabregas, Reyes, Hleb, and van Persie. In the English Premiership, you will not find a classier and more skilled squad than the Gunners. Their ability for playing beautiful football at pace is synonymous with the name, Arsenal.

Probably the only team that could claim the English side their juniors in the arts of joga bonito are Frank Rijkaard’s Blaugrana. While Barcelona are not as staunch in defense, their ability to attack is as deep as it is lethal. Led by the Brazilian wizard general, Ronaldinho, the Catalan side can come at you from either flank or right up the middle. They can blaze past you, eviscerate you with a pass or two or three, or simply nutmeg their way through. Their pace varies, a weapon of inertia, waiting, lulling. Possession football is their trademark and the foundation of Barça’s attack.

Neither side is perfect, but one would be hard pressed to find any European side better on the attack than Arsenal or Barcelona. The Champions League final in Paris will hopefully see this manifested in a grand display of offensive vigor. I may be a Barça fan, through and through, but if the match, indeed, unfolds into a magnificent tapestry of attacking football, then I will find pride or satisfaction in that. Win or lose, such a match would be glorious. Joga bonito!

Milan and Beyond

2006-04-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

Barça are in good shape for their 2^nd leg match with AC Milan on Wednesday. They have the lead in aggregate goals (it’s an away goal as well), they play at Camp Nou, and they had their league match with Sevilla rained out this weekend. The Blaugrana should be rested and ready to take themselves to the final tier in Paris.

The Arsenal-Villareal semi final leg is actually more interesting in some ways. Both teams will be missing important players, but Villareal will be at El Madrigal, certainly a bigger pitch than the confining venue of Highbury. Arsenal have to be one of the classiest sides in European football—not to mention the English Premiership—but one should never dismiss the Yellow Submarine. As a famous baseball player once said, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” Personally, I think the Gunners will likely advance, but it’s a tough call given the potential of Villareal.

The final match-up I most dread--yet love--is Gunners vs. Barça. The Barcelona fan in me dreads it, because if any team has a chance to defeat the Catalan side, it’s Arsenal. The ‘ginga’ side of me would see it as a win-win situation for all those who love beautiful football, since no two European teams better represent the concept of joga bonito more demonstratively than Arsenal and Barcelona. It has all the potential for being a classic match, one of those special occasions that gets talked about for years—and not because of tragedy or melodrama, but sheer skill, flair, and art.

Yes, I know, counting my chickens before they’ve hatched. Time will tell, sure enough. I hate saying this, but … here’s hoping.

Barcelona Through To the Semi-Finals

2006-04-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

I watched the Barça - Benfica match on Setanta Sports yesterday. As you likely know, the Blaugrana beat the Portuguese side by a score of 2-0. It was a somewhat tense game, mostly because Barcelona created chances time and again but seemed unable to finish. It all began with the penalty kick four minutes into the game. Ronnie took it and sent the ball exactly where he wanted it--but Moretto was waiting there as well. The Brazilian made good on his miss 15 minutes later when Eto'o made a fabulous run down the right wing, sending a low sizzling cross back before the Benfica goalmouth. The ball passed several players until it came to Ronnie on the left, who put it away quickly at the near post.

The problem was that all Benfica had to do was tie it up, and they would be ahead on aggregate. But, in the first period the Portuguese side were quite tame. Koeman must've said something during the interval, because from the restart Benfica came out with intent. As time ran down, the Portuguese made a few chances of their own, including one by Simáo that somehow didn't find the net--and it really should've, he was that close. Hope finally ended for Benfica when in the 88th minute Belletti received a pass from Ronnie, and chipped it toward center in the penalty box--directly at an unmarked Eto'o. The Cameroon controlled the ball masterfully as he ran toward Moretto, then volleyed it powerfully past the keeper on the bounce. It was only then, at the 88th minute, when the tension was finally lifted from the Barça supporters in Camp Nou. Up until that point it was all touch and go, the eyes shifting from play to the clock, and back again.

Barcelona haven't seemed to be firing with all cylinders these last few weeks, and this match was no different. Such things shouldn't be surprising really. Form is a relative, and fleeting, quality, something that when you have, you squeeze for all it's worth, and when you don't, you just pray will return ASAP. One can't really control ones form, except to practice often and well, to be fit, and to stay confident. That last factor, confidence, is crucial both individually and collectively. Confidence won't guarantee good form, but it will go far to buffer a poor run. This is something Rijkaard seems to be doing well, because if there's anything the Blaugrana never seem to be lacking, it's confidence. Not only as individuals, but as a team too. It can't be emphasized enough how important this quality is in realizing maximum potential, and Barcelona have confidence by the bucketful. A lot of the credit for this should go to Rijkaard, because that's where it all begins--with the coach. It's an exceedingly difficult quality to impress on others, requiring a skill with people that not many have. I think Barcelona are lucky to have the Dutchman on their side, because confidence is an integral component to the backbone of extended success.

7 To Go

2006-04-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

I've been away for a bit. There haven't been many opportunities to watch Barcelona play these last 4 weeks, which is unfortunate. But, the Catalans are remaining strong in their attempt at securing the Liga Primera title. After a match with Real Madrid in Camp Nou, Barcelona came away with a 1-1 draw that probably should've been won, but no matter. They are still 11 points ahead at this point, and there are only seven matches left to the season. The Boys fromCamp Nou remain a tight squad, their derby proving just how creative they remain in very tight spaces. It was a fun game to watch especially as the time quickly ran down.

Given how sporadic my chances are for watching Barça, I think I'll shift away from the One, and start commenting on matches in general. There certainly is a lot going on as it is, the World Cup to boot.

11 Points Ahead, And Ten Matches To Go

2006-03-20T17:17:00.000-08:00

Barça won 0-2 against Real Sociedad last weekend without too much trouble. Early in the first period, a Ronaldinho pass found a lonely Larsson who slotted the ball into the net from close range. Soon after the restart Ronaldinho again located van Bommel, and though the Dutchman's shot rebounded off the far post, Eto'o capitalized swiftly, sending the loose ball through for a second goal.

With ten matches remaining in la Liga, the Catalan side are eleven points ahead of second place Real Madrid. That's a good place to be right now, since Barcelona are going to be spread pretty thin over the next month or so. Injuries are beginning to become a concern for Rijkaard now that Edmilson and Márquez have joined Messi on the bench. The Brazilian and Mexican were both injured in the Sociedad game, and it looks like they will be out for a month at least. Add the fact that Puyol will miss the first leg of the Benfica tie of the Champions League due to bookings, and one can see just how 'dicey' the whole affair has become for the Dutch boss. It will be interesting how Rijkaard will play his cards going into April, possibly even revealing the mettle of the man as a coach for a very demanding club.

It might not be a bad idea to review the senior squad at this stage. With only ten matches remaining in la Liga, the performances of the players are probably defined by now. I'll start with the defenders (including goal), then move on to midfield, and finish with, well, the finishers. This will be done in a separate post, most likely the following one.

Loss to the Pamplona Side: 2-1

2006-03-13T18:53:00.000-08:00

I only caught the 1st half of the match, but what I saw could best be summed up as fatigue. After the midweek tie with Chelsea, it looks like the Catalans were running on fumes in El Sadar. Osasuna were full of vigor and ready to battle, but Barça looked like they could've used one more nap before match time.

The Pamplona side didn't look especially threatening, not with Marquez and Puyol in the back. Osasuna certainly were aggressive and fought hard for the ball, but that's what most sides try to do against Barcelona anyway, since no one can match their possession game. Basically, it looked to be promising for Barça. Watch the wings, pull back on the counterattack, hoard possession, then strike when the cracks in defense start to appear. Certainly, the boys from Camp Nou were a bit tired, but they had the means to sink at least one ball into the net before the final whistle.

And that's the way it would've likely gone had Valdés held onto the ball in the 18th minute. It was an easy task really. The ball drops into the box nice and easy for the Barça keeper to catch--no lightning headers or volleys or deflections, just an arching ball with some pace to it. Valdés seems to catch it, then drops it! Valdo is right there and he doesn't even let the ball so much as bounce before he's tapped it into the net, putting Osasuna ahead.

My god, what is going on with Valdés? First that gaff of a pass that Villa sends home for Valencia a few games back. Now this. I agree with Rijkaard that Barcelona still have a comfortable lead, but Valdés has to make sure he takes care of the nickel and dime stuff. If not, pull the man out and give Jorquera a shot.

It didn't help that Edmilson was sent off, or that Motta followed him towards the end of the match. Messi and Puyol wil be missing for the Champions League match with Benfica, and now Edmilson and Motta will miss the next match at Real Sociedad. Hopefully, the appeal for Edmilson's booking will go through.

The good news is it's two weeks until the Champions League match with Benfica, so Barcelona can focus on the next two La Liga matches against Real Sociedad and Getafe. A couple wins in La Liga will do them some good, and set them up for the match in Portugal.

By the way, I just want to point out that Larsson has been doing very well with something like 8 goals to his credit this season. Given how few games he has played in I'd have to say the Swede is doing some fine work. Definitely an asset to the club, and one who should be missed when he returns to his homeland. An awesome striker, both in the air and on the ground.

1 - 1: Barça Are Through to the Quarter Finals

2006-03-07T15:56:00.000-08:00

It was somewhat anticlimactic, but Barcelona drew even with Chelsea at Camp Nou, giving the Catalans a 3-2 aggregate score, which insured their advancement to the quarter finals of the Champions League. Barça played quite well the entire 90 minutes, their signature attractive style coming through despite Puyol's warnings to the opposite. In the first half, Chelsea looked as if they weren't quite sure to press forward into the attack, or hold back in defense. As a result, Barcelona were able to dominate the first period without too much trouble. When the whistle blew at halftime, the score stood at 0 - 0.

At the restart, Mourinho decided to attack after all, and that's what Chelsea did. Barça were on to them though, and Valdés was rarely put to task even then. About midpoint of the second period Eto'o and Ronaldinho put together a couple of short, cutting passes that ultimately got the Brazilian through after bouncing off a Chelsea defender in the English side's penalty area. A swift low shot off to Cech's left zipped through, and the Catalans increased their aggregate lead to 3-1. This score stood until the dying seconds of injury time (3 minutes to be exact) when Puyol was charged with a questionable foul in Barça's penalty area, the referee awarding Chelsea a penalty kick. Lampard made the conversion, bringing the aggregate score to 3-2, but the final whistle soon followed, putting an end to the match, and Barcelona were through.

Some events that come to mind were first that Messi was substituted early on after hurting his left leg, I think. There was no real collision involved, so it looked to be an awkward step or slide that did the lad in. As soon as he collapsed on the pitch, you knew he was hurt. Rijkaard did the right thing by taking him out of the game, Larsson taking the Argentine's place. Messi got a big hug from his coach, Messi's disappointment understood too well by Rijkaard.

The other thing that caught my attention was Mourinho. God, what a jerk he can be sometimes. The Portuguese is a great manager and leader with a record that is the envy of many in his profession. But, seriously, does he have to lay it on so heavily like that? The man could not smirk enough for the camera, and he seemed to be perpetually shaking his head in disgust. What a frickin' whiner. I can only imagine what I'm going to read regarding Mourinho's post-game comments--but I bet it'll be typically accusatory and dodgy.

Lastly, I have to say something about Ronaldinho. He was magical tonight with a level of creativity that was a lot of fun to watch. The Brazilian had about three defenders on him whenever he had the ball, but that didn't seem to deter him. Ronaldinho's passes were so off the cuff that you could almost bet he was humming samba music. And, when Ronaldinho made that goal, it was something special, because it required not only deft ball control but also enough strength to withstand a physical collision while on the ball. Ronaldinho may have the skill set of a freestyling champion, but he also has significant body strength to battle it out if the situation warrants. Truly a great player that Barça are very fortunate to have.

A great day for FC Barcelona, one that put those bad feelings of 2005 away, and set them moving forward to the quarter finals of the Champions League.

Barça Best Deportivo

2006-03-05T18:29:00.000-08:00

This match seemed pretty mediocre by La Liga standards. Ronaldinho put the Catalans in the book first with a very nice free kick 2 minutes into the match. Deportivo responded 12 minutes later with a successful header from Juanma, followed by another accurate header by Andrade at the 27 minute mark. The Galicians held the lead until 12 minutes from the interval when Larsson put the ball away with a fine header of his own. In the second period, Eto'o tucked the ball into Deportivo's goal at the 61st minute, latching onto a zinging, low cross right in front of the goal mouth. The score stood at 3-2 at the final whistle, and Barça would add another victory to their record.

Yes, I know there were five goals in the match, but it still seemed an average display. Deportivo never really looked dangerous in the attack despite putting themselves ahead for a time in the first period. For their part, Barcelona didn't seem well connected Saturday night, and it showed in uninspired if effective play. I don't know, maybe it's that Deportivo play much like Barça, seeming most at ease in the possession game. That spark I'm so used to seeing in many of Barcelona's matches was simply missing, to be perfectly honest.

On the other hand, maybe this was the sort of match the Catalans needed this weekend after the intensity of Chelsea, followed by Zaragoza and the unpleasantries there. It does seem as if the pressure cooker has been going on in the Barça camp for some time now. First the whole disappointment upon their ouster from the Copa del Rey at Zaragoza's hands. Then, the loss of form leading to a diminishing lead in the table, followed by a few injuries and suspensions. It was a rough road leading to Stamford Bridge, the repairs of which only concluded at the proverbial final hour. So, I guess the boys from Camp Nou deserve a look the other way this once. They won, and that's what counts.

And, for all its lack of intensity, the Barcelona - Deportivo match was pretty foul-ridden. Players were falling left and right as late legs, flying fists, and errant slides found ankles, thighs, faces, and shins. One player, Andrade, was even hurt fairly badly, but that was due to a sliding collision with his keeper, Molina.

Real Madrid: the Healing Begins?

2006-02-27T21:15:00.000-08:00

Quite the sequence of events these last couple days, no? First, Ramos berates his fellow team mates for a lack of spirit in their loss to Mallorca on Sunday. Then, today we hear that the twice elected president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, has resigned as of now. I must tip my hat to Perez for knowing it was going to hell in a handbasket, and deciding there needed to be a 're-ordering' in the organization, beginning at the top. Real Madrid may be the old nemesis of Barcelona, but unless the prestigious Madrid club get their act together, the Barça - Real Madrid rivalry will be a shadow of its former self. It's one thing to best a skilled and powerful opponent, but kicking an adversary while they are down is another thing altogether. And that's where the Galacticos are right now.

I've decided to keep my snide comments of Real Madrid to myself for the present, and give it time to see if they can pull themselves together. I would be surprised if they couldn't, so it's just a matter of when.

Suerte.

The Galacticos Wilt in the Rain

2006-02-26T13:06:00.000-08:00

Excellent news has just filtered through the internet. Real Madrid, that amazing group of athletes led by a marketing team, have lost to Real Mallorca, 2-1. The match at Son Moix was played under sheets of rain at times. The adverse weather conditions seemed to put the lights out for the Galacticos, who scored a goal in the 32nd minutes, then carried on--of a sort. The Mallorca side sparked wonderfully into life in the final 10 minutes, producing 2 goal to deny the Madrid club of an expected easy win. Mallorca's victory comes at a crucial time, since they are currently hovering in the relegation zone.

This Chelsea Thang

2006-02-26T12:53:00.000-08:00

What is going on with the vocal sniping between Barça and the Blues? Can't Chelsea see that Del Horno's challenge was just plain wrong as FIFA rules go? When the Spaniard came barrelling in Messi had already tapped the ball ahead, and was beginning a sprint. How on earth did Del Horno expect to stop the ball while flying in the air--and smack into Messi--when the ball was rolling on the ground ahead of the Barça attacker? Apparently, Mourinho is being his typical spoilt 'I must win' self, and it's affecting his players. No one enjoys a good rivalry, but this is getting ridiculous. Now, we have a Spaniard criticising a Spanish team (or not, after all Catalunya is not Spain), while an Argentinian is talking about hating another club over football rivalry ... hm.

On the other hand, derby's are all about intense rivalry ('hate' is such a crass word). People have been known to die over a match result, usually from a riotous crowd. Some people just flat out die, things like heart failure or self-inflicted wounds. At least one war is alleged to have started over a football match. It may have been the excuse needed to set the two countries at each other's throats, but even considering that among many circles a football match would be an understandable reason for war, says a lot.

Could Spain defeat England in a war? I think so. England is not on many European's 'A-list' these days, and the USA would likely hang back over a spat between two allies--besides, they have their hands full at the moment. Maybe a three-pronged attack on the British Isles would work. Spain would come from the south, though they'll need to build another Armada--okay, maybe an Armadilla. The French would send special forces through the chunnel, and a surprise northern assault from Norway, via Hebrides - Isle of Man, would complete the operation. Combine German technical know-how and logistical support (maybe even, gasp, Russian), and the whole affair could be through in a fortnight. I always liked "Inglaterra" more anyway. It sounds so ... European.

A Victory Marred by Racism

2006-02-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

The good news is that Barça handily beat Zaragoza yesterday at the Romareda by a score of 0-2. The bad news is that Racism's ugly, idiotic face reared itself amongst the Zaragoza supporters. One hopes that such things would be past us these days, but there is still much work to be done in that department throughout the world (as current international events so convincingly indicate).

I had not the opportunity to watch the match on TV, but did monitor its progress through a number of match-casts on the internet. From the commentary it looked to be a scrappy, off-the-mark sort of affair for both clubs. The Aragon side were proving capable of their signature counterattacks, but could not finish what they started. Barcelona couldn't put the critical passes together though they were still able to retain a minimum of 60% possession throughout the match. Both sides had chances, but nothing tremendously dangerous, or particularly taxing for the keepers. It went on like this through the first period, and into the second. Then, around the 77th minute the game took a turn for the worse.

Zaragoza supporters started needling Eto'o with racist chants, while sieg-heil'ing for added effect. And, it wasn't just a couple people either. I don't know the actual numbers, but one article said a substantial section of Zaragoza supporters were guilty of the disgraceful display. Eto'o was so fed up that he began to walk off the pitch in protest. Players from both clubs converged on Eto'o, pleading with the Cameroon star to remain on the field, while the referee called time to deal with the situation. The supporters were warned on the PA to cease their actions, but from what I saw of the commentary they never really stopped.

Thankfully, Eto'o was persuaded to stay on and finish the match. What ensued after this was a fitting response to the ugly acts. It seems this event lit a fire in the Catalan side, and in the 79th minute a dangerous cross flew into the Zaragoza penalty area, which connected to Edmilson's foot for a powerful shot at goal. The ball would've gone in had it not been deflected at the goal mouth by the hand of Zaragozan defender Celades. He was sent off with a red card, and a penalty kick was awarded to Barcelona. Ronaldinho took it, sending it into the back of the net for 0-1. Not three minutes later, Barça were attacking once more. A perfect cross from Eto'o found Larsson who flicked it into the net for Barça goal No.2.

Sadly, even this turn of events did not fully silence the racists in the stands. But, at least Barcelona had responded as best they could to this disgrace, winning a difficult match within the last 10 minutes.

Real Zaragoza have been fined before for this sort of dishonorable behavior from their supporters. Surprisingly, the Spanish FA deemed it sufficient to demand a payment of a mere 600 euros as punishment. The referee, Señor Esquinas Torres, made sure to put it all down in his official report, so we'll just have to see if the Spanish FA suddenly become enlightened.

1st Leg: Two Own Goals, And a Harsh Decision

2006-02-22T16:23:00.000-08:00

Watched the Chelsea-Barça Champions League match at Stamford Moor-er, Bridge. Talk about a beat up pitch. I think they should declare it a wetland, and let the waterfowl have it. The good news was the pitch had little, if any, impact on the two sides' performances. While it was boggy the ball really only stopped dead from a bounce once ...

Anyway, it was a good game, full of excitement and trepidation. I had my popcorn all made and was nervously digging into it as the game unleashed. It started slowly as the two sides probed for weaknesses in the other's defenses. Barcelona were looking pretty good as their passing picked up in confidence. Chelsea almost seemed content to let the Catalan side attack in the first period, relying on the counterattack to make their chances. While the Blues did have a few opportunities before the halftime break, Barça appeared more active with a defensive response as well, their attacking players pulling way back sometimes to support. Overall, the football was attractive and spirited.

Then, in the 37th minute Del Horno of Chelsea picked up a red card, of all things. It was strange to be honest, sort of bringing back that distasteful sending off of Ronaldinho during the Copa del Rey match with Zaragoza. Del Horno had the unenviable task of marking Messi, and the Chelsea defender was having a rough go of it. When Messi made a mad run down the right flank, Robben was hot on his heels, and the two went back and forth with the ball until Messi put it past the falling Dutchman near the corner. As the little Argentinian rushed forward Del Horno came flying in out of nowhere, the two colliding sharply with the ball rolling on forgotten. The two were about finished with their rolls of 'pain' when the referee, Mr. Hauge, pulled out the red card, and showed it to an emphatic Del Horno.

Did Del Horno deserve that? No, he didn't. I figured it was worth a yellow at best along with a firm warning. After all, the Spaniard had been quilty of a number of infractions against Messi and he needed telling. But, a sending off was a bit much. On the other hand, ask me if this Barça fan really cares.

Another little incident which was missed by the referee was right before the end of the first period. It was in the Chelsea penalty area, and the Catalans were attacking. I can't recall if it had occurred after a cross, but anyway Marquez let loose with a shot at goal. Geremi deflected it with a hand, and even the commentator felt that was worth a penalty. But, nothing came of it.

So, when the first period concluded, Chelsea were down to 10 men. This is never a good place to be, but at least it was at home (fan support), and there was another leg to consider. Going over that first half, I have to say that Barcelona looked the stronger of the two. Ronaldinho appeared to be negated out on the left wing, but it almost seemed like someone forgot to consider Messi's impact. I know that's not the case, but given how much of a problem Messi was for Chelsea something must have been amiss. Chelsea also appeared content to just ride the match out to a draw--at least until they lost Del Horno.

At the restart the picture changed dramatically. Basically, Chelsea came out like bats from hell. You would've sworn that the Blues weren't short a man given how often they pressed their attack on Barça. Drogba came on at the restart, and between him and Robben the Catalan defense was very hard pressed for a spell. In fact, it was finally punctured in the 59th minute when a free kick from Lampard was deflected off Motta's knee and into the net after some confusion between Robben, Motta, and Valdés.

Now, the onus was on Barcelona. Rijkaard responded by making two substitutions, both of whom were offensive players, Larsson and Sylvinho. The Catalan side responded with a new surge of deep runs and probing passes, and in the 71st minute they were rewarded with a goal, an own goal on Terry to be exact. Ronaldinho took a free kick on the left corner of the Chelsea penalty area, and its curling path passed over Marquez and Terry. Marquez only just missed it while Terry nudged it enough to deflect it away from Cech and into the net. I suspect that the shot from Ronaldinho would've gone in even if it hadn't been deflected, but that's neither here nor there. It was a goal for Barça when all was said and done. So, the match stood at 1-1, the work of own goals. Well, at least the two sides were playing some good football, and there was no sign of either club letting up.

Being a man down really makes itself felt deep into a match though, as the legs tire and the lungs fight harder for air. The last 15 minutes of the game saw its effects on Chelsea's play, and though Drogba, Gudjohnsen, and Wright-Phillips attacked at every chance, the efforts were poorly supported, and just plain out of gas. Barça really turned it on at this point, making a number of counterattacks of their own along with their more characteristic buildups. It's really something to see Ronaldinho on a counterattack, supported by the likes of Eto'o, Larsson, and Messi. Chelsea defended ceaselessly as shots were deflected and passes headed away. The second Barça goal came in the 80th minute, a curling cross from Ronaldinho, I think, after a dramatic counterattack. Eto'o was unmarked and he put it away with a strong header. And that would be the extent of it. Barcelona continued to attack, but Chelsea would deny them anything further.

To be honest, Barcelona should've had a couple more goals in the game, but luck turned out fickle today. Terry was amazing in Chelsea defense. Sure, his was the own goal, but Terry more than made up for it by the tenacity of his defense. There are not many defenders in the world who can match up to Terry, and he showed why tonight.

But, let's be honest, I'm a Barça fan. I am completely ecstatic at Barcelona's victory. That is two away goals for the aggregate, which will come in very handy for the 2nd leg at Camp Nou. Barça played very well I thought. Their offense was creative and fluid, as well as willing to pull back in support of defense. It almost seems as if the squad has taken their play up a notch, because their fluidity of play is merging their attack and defense. Who knows, maybe Barcelona will become the ultimate counterattacking side. Picture a team with such depth of skill and fluidity that it can not only play the lulling game of possession, but can launch into a devastating counterattack from the defense. Wow, they would be ... Chelsea. But more.

Jogo Bonito

2006-02-20T18:10:00.000-08:00

Initially, I'd only watched the 1st period of the Barça - Betis match this past Saturday. What I saw wasn't very comforting. Sure, it was 3-0 at the interval, but two of those goals were care of Melli, a Betis defender. Larsson missed making it 4-0 with a header that was just wide of the post, and Eto'o missed making it 5-0 after a shot that was wide of, well, Camp Nou. Okay, so it wasn't that bad, but that punt by the Cameroon would've been a beauty in Australian Rules Football. Eto'o must've been, what, about 4 meters away from the goal mouth, if that? Finally, Betis were very unlucky in the attack, since they had many chances at the Barcelona goal, but it all came to naught. When the interval arrived, and the players went to their respective locker rooms, one word came to mind: luck. Yup, that first period had been a product of Lady Luck. Not a good thought for a Barça fan with the Chelsea match just four days away.

And then, came the 2nd period. Wow, what a difference that proved to be. The Catalans put on quite a show in the Art of Football. It was amazing to see the intricacy and creativity of Barça's play, and not just Ronaldinho. No, no, he may be the best in Europe, but the Brazilian is among a family of like minds in Camp Nou. I was impressed by the level of passing and creativity of damn near every Barcelona player on the pitch. I mean, my god, did you know that Puyol, of all people, can dribble with the best of them? He did so numerous times this night, and it was such a delight to see. That bastion of defense for Barça even made a run down the right wing, finishing with a dangerous cross in the penalty area! I can never say enough good things about Puyol, because he never ceases to amaze.

Yes, Barcelona went on fire in the 2nd period. Not in the sense of scoring a flurry of goals though they did score two more (and not Betis own goals either). It was how they elevated the art of the game that was so fine to watch, like an excellent play. You had to laugh in amazement at some of the twists and turns the Catalan squad made in the crafting of their art. High art, indeed.

To be sure, Betis got one back with a sweet free kick from Joaquin that curled round the wall, then zipped low right inside the near post. It was more consolation than anything at that point though, since Betis were still behind by three goals--soon to be four. I felt sorry for Doblas who had been so unlucky as to see two goals go in from his defender's boot in the 1st period. In the 2nd half Doblas lost his grip on a Ronaldinho set piece, watching it roll leisurely behind the goal line for Barça goal No.4. Then, with only 5 minutes of time remaining Messi collected the loose ball from a fallen Eto'o, and made his mad run toward the Betis goal. Doblas stopped the first point-blank shot from the young Argentinian, but was unable to hold onto it. Messi beat Doblas to the rolling ball by a quarter second and his second shot flew true into the back of the net.

Does Barcelona look ready for Chelsea? Well, that's like asking a man if he's ready for marriage--though maybe that's the fan in me talking. Heck, Barça are as ready as they'll ever be. Their defense actually showed signs of improvement in this match, funny as that may sound. It seemed as if the strikers and attacking midfielders were actually trying to help out in deep defense at times. Some seemed to have more trouble than others (Ronaldinho), but it was refreshing to see nonetheless.

And then there was that display of Football as Art in the 2nd period. I'll not forget that for years to come, and the best part is it'll always make me smile. Jogo Bonito.

The Plot Thickens

2006-02-12T22:23:00.000-08:00

Oh my! Chelsea have lost outright to Middlesbrough, 3-0! The Blues are a fit squad, too, with their best on the pitch. Mourinho was so incensed at his side's performance, he said he didn't bother talking to his players, but just went home to watch the video playback.

With both Barcelona and Chelsea dipping in form this Champions League match-up is looking more interesting with each passing day...

The Problem with Referees

2006-02-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

I watched last week's GolTV program from Mexico called 45/45. It's quite good with a panel of four commentators who work well together and bring a lot of different opinions to the table. One subject they discussed was the recent display of very poor officiating in leagues from several countries: Italy, Brazil, Mexico, and Spain. There have been a spate of bad calls in these countries, and the opinions of the program's staff seemed to consider a number of possibilities, including raising the bar of professionalism for FIFA's top of the line referees. That various FIFA departments may be overlooking the issue was also considered. What gives the whole situation some urgency is that the World Cup will be this summer. Having the tournament marred by questionable or inept officials would certainly bring disrepute to the game from a most embarrassing direction.

Valencia - Barça: 1 - 0

2006-02-12T14:06:00.000-08:00

What is there to say? The Valencia goal was a first period gift from none other than Valdés. One of the defenders--maybe Márquez, maybe Puyol--kicked the ball back to the keeper as Villa was lurking off to the side and about midway when Valdés returned the pass but without anywhere near the pace it needed to safely reach the defender. The young Portuguese was on that ball in an instant, his first touch a beautiful chip into the goal from about the edge of the penalty area. And that is where it stood at the final whistle.

As games go it was a tough match for the two sides, neither squad letting up. The referee, Perez Burrull, was a welcome breath of fresh air. He commanded the match well, booked those who warranted it, kept his cool and his judgement intact, and kept the game going. I've seen him officiate another match that had Villareal, and he was very impressive there as well. Perez actually overruled his linesman's call in that game, yet made sure to let his assistant know he appreciated the linesman's work. It's too bad there aren't more like Perez Burrull.

Watching Barcelona play, you can see they still have the defensive capability (Puyol was brilliant as usual--simply a rock), they have the midfield expertise to dominate possession, but they are really hurting in their attack. Absent were Ronaldinho, Deco, and Messi. Eto'o was back, but for some reason Rijkaard decided to keep Larsson on the bench. When Giuly was injured (yes, that's right, Giuly is now injured too) Larsson finally came onto the pitch. There were several good chances, but the excellent Cañizares was just able to deflect them from harm's way. The Catalans came at Valencia from the wings as well as the middle, but the home side packed their defense densely enough to repulse all attempts.

Well, we'll just have to see what happens in the coming weeks, but the date at Stamford Bridge is starting to look pretty dicey.

Real Madrid Crushed in the Cup

2006-02-08T16:35:00.000-08:00

Zaragoza absolutely trashed the Madrid-based Galacticos by an amazing score of 6-1. Milito scored four in a row, followed by two more from Ewerthon. No wonder Barça had such a rough time with the Aragón side--and it just goes to show how inferior the Madrid club are to their Catalan adversaries. From now on when I think 'Real', the word Zaragoza will come to mind. Man, oh, man. And, once again, I missed this one on the TV. Maybe I'll get lucky with a repeat this week.

Zaragoza. They won the King's Cup last year, and it looks to be a repeat this year as well. So, why don't these guys win the league? Certainly an impressive side with a lot going for it defensively and offensively, and their pace is on the level of the English Premiership with the skill to boot. A team to keep an eye on, no doubt.

And, Zaragoza, when you go to Madrid, put the Galacticos out of their collective misery. Okay? It's the merciful thing to do.

End of the Run, But Not the End

2006-02-05T16:13:00.000-08:00

I was unable to watch the Barcelona - Atlético Madrid match today, but just as well. 1-3 was the final score, a severe loss for Barça on their own pitch. It was going to be a hard match for them with Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Giuly all missing from the side. To make matters worse, both Messi and Márquez are now injured, the extent of their injuries unknown at present. What a mess for Rijkaard who has to plan for their upcoming match at Stamford Bridge in a little over a fortnight.

Personally, I think the Zaragoza matches have had an unfavorable impact on the squad. Though Zaragoza played very well, the whole bizarre affair has left a bad taste for the club (and its supporters). Rijkaard will find out just what he is made of these next few weeks, but I will be right behind him and the club. With the Copa del Rey out of reach, it's important for Barcelona to put in a good perfomance in the Champions League, and that means they have to beat Chelsea. They have to. And, make sure they hold onto La Liga's championship as well.

In a lot of ways, Barcelona are a tremendously strong team, but in some ways they are surprisingly fragile. It is a result of who they are, what they represent. FC Barcelona is Catalunya, the balance of Art and seny. And, to be honest, win or lose, I wouldn't want it any other way.

The Other Leagues

2006-02-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

Hmm. I did say way in the beginning of this blog that I'd talk about the EPL, Brazilian football, and Serie A. Okay here goes ...

The EPL is a great league to watch. Real pacey game with a surprising amount of skill to match. If my heart wasn't set on La Liga the English Premiership would be the main source for football goodness in this household. After all, they do have Chelsea. "Go, Blues!"

Brazilian football is another story. I don't know if it's the heat, or that all the good players are playing out of country, but to be brutally honest, Brazilian league football is pretty poor. It's slow, there's not a lot of creativity going on, and good ball handling is surprisingly absent. The sad part is I love Samba Football, but something has gone out of the Brazilian home game. Distressing really.

There was a one hour documentary on one of the football channels, a Brazilian film called Ginga! One short focuses on a lad who was trying desperately to be signed up with one of the 1st division clubs. He tries out once more after multiple rejections from previous attempts. This try-out is no different as he is not picked. The coach overseeing the try-outs explains with amazing honesty in the documentary that what he is looking for is strength mostly. Players who can stand up to the more physical aspect of the game. He realizes there are very talented players out there, but what wins games these days is strength matched with an aggressive, active mentality. Looking at the young man who is the subject of this short, it's obvious to see that his slight and small frame doesn't fit well with such a game philosophy. No doubt a very talented player, but someone who might be crushed too swiftly in the 'real' game.

Last is Serie A. Notice I didn't say 'last, but not least'. Very intentional, because Italian football does not impress me at all. A slow, if persistent, game with a wide spectrum of skill levels that seems to hinge on not losing, even nowadays. Why is that? Sure, there are some very skilled, and expensive, players in Serie A, but from what I have seen it all borders on boring. I think of the lot AC Milan looks the most interesting. At least they have some life to them, for god's sake. I'm sorry if this offends, but to this American, Serie A looks like the Day of the Dead's version of a football league.

Barca - Zaragoza: Official of Disrepute

2006-02-01T17:01:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it’s true that Zaragoza are a tough side, possessing active, aggressive, and creative players who defend well, then counterattack like bats out of hell. And, yes, Barcelona deserved to lose in the first leg of their Copa del Rey round with Zaragoza. And, yes, Óscar made a beautiful goal in the 66th minute that spelt the end for Barcelona. But, in the second leg, played in Camp Nou today, Barça were robbed. Pure and simple. Not by Zaragoza, no, no. They played as aggressively and cleverly as always, but the Catalans had figured out the solution this time around. FC Barcelona were robbed by the referee, Senor Rodriguez Santiago, who sent off none other than Ronaldinho with a red card. That’s right, a red card.

What on earth did the gifted Brazilian do, you ask? Quite frankly, I’m having trouble dealing with the reality even now, almost an hour and a half after the criminal act by the official. But what got Ronaldinho sent off was a shoulder barge beside a Zaragozan player. Sure, it was a little on the heavy side, and certainly a foul, but when I first saw the referee going into his pocket my first thought was, what? A yellow card for that? Worse infractions had already preceded this without a booking, so why the yellow, was my confused wonderment. Even the commentators were questioning the call. And then came that word that simply shocked on the screen: Roja. It was stunning. A red card. Ronaldinho was being sent off for a heavy shoulder barge, in an area far removed from anyone’s penalty area. My god. What a call by an absolute idiot.

Ronaldinho was completely shocked. First was an incredulous smile, then came the hesitation to leave the pitch as the sentencing set in. The smile left to be replaced by the realization, almost like a look of horror that he could no longer play in this match. It took Rijkaard himself to come out and gently lead the Brazilian off, because it almost seemed that Ronaldinho couldn’t bring himself to willingly leave his field of play. By the time the brilliant midfielder had reached his side’s bench, he was hunched over in tears.

The fans were livid, and they made sure to voice their contempt to this pretender of an official. The Barcelona players were livid, they stayed in that referee’s face as long as possible, and the sneers and slight waves of dismissal from the Catalan side were worth a thousand words. Even one of the commentators gave his opinion that this only capped his impression that though La Liga offered some brilliant football, its officiating was questionable at best. My question is: just how many pesetas did it take to buy this fool off?

Minutes after this disaster, this reckless and criminal act, Messi put the ball in the Zaragozan net, and then came the break. Barcelona needed one more goal , and a clean sheet, to secure this round of the cup. In the second period, Barça were all over Zaragoza, and Larsson came on sometime after the 60th minute to add a serious aerial threat to the Catalan attack. Then, another disaster struck for Barcelona in the 66th minute: Óscar sent a beautiful, curving ball from just inside the Barcelona penalty area that tucked itself into the far corner of the net. There was nothing Jorquera could do, and he had played a world-class match up to this point, making two unbelievable saves earlier. It wasn’t a set piece but a touch of sublime creativity from the Zaragozan as he closed the distance from the left side. But for Barcelona it meant not one goal was needed, but two. Only ten men on the field, less than a half an hour remaining, and Barça needed to put two into the net, or face elimination. The Catalan side fought long and hard with Iniesta, Messi, Deco, Larsson, and Edmílson all working overtime to create chances. In the 92nd minute a chance was converted by Larsson into a goal, but in the end it was one goal too few.

I think what further infuriated both Barcelona players and fans alike was that there were at least two occasions where Zaragozan players committed offences very similar to Ronaldinho’s, yet no Zaragozans were sent off. There was a clear instance where Deco was brought down at the top of the Zaragozan penalty box, and it didn’t even result in a booking. Again, I have to ask, just how much did it take to pay off this yokel of a referee?

When the final whistle blew, I watched Deco walk up to Senor Rodriguez Santiago, then speak to him with glowering conviction. Someone began to pull Deco away from the referee, but he left voluntarily, having said what he wanted. Puyol then made sure no other Barça players lingered near the referee, trying to insure, no doubt, that no more unnecessary bookings would occur. All around the stadium, spectators were waving white handkerchiefs in disgust. All I want to know is what Deco said. If it was vile, then it probably matched my own sentiments.

Oh, yeah, Pelé was in attendance. I wonder what he thought. Likely it brought back memories of the bad old days. Life can be so unfair sometimes, but this was a one of a kind.

Utter robbery.

[Edit: actually, Deco did get a yellow card for speaking his mind to El Tonto after the match. And, Deco went up to Señor Rodriguez Santiago not once, but twice.]

Dutch Cheerleaders!

2006-01-30T10:01:00.000-08:00

Just a quick comment here. I was watching the Volkswagon GolTV review, and saw something that surprised me. It was a Netherlands match between Den Haag and PSV. I forget the result, in fact I forgot just about everything about the match. The reason is they had cheerleaders! Yes, pretty young women in skimpy, tight clothing, jiggling around with pom-poms. Wow. Should I be proud? After all, I am an American. Seeing those bouncing babes sort of set off conflicting emotions. On the one hand, it almost seemed that it was Europe's--well, maybe just Netherland's--way of saying to the US, "Hey, you guys aren't that bad. See? We think cheerleaders are way cool!" On the other hand, is this the kind of impression we have on the rest of the world? America: the Land of the Gun--and Cheerleaders. There is a logic to this in a fuzzy sort of way, though deep inside my brain little warning bells are going off.

Mallorca - Barcelona

2006-01-29T17:08:00.000-08:00

The Mallorca - Barça match ended up a solid win for the Catalans, but I've seen the club play better (though it was an improvement over their Copa del Rey disaster against Zaragoza a few days past). It was as if Barça were still reeling from their drubbing by the Zaragozans last week. The match saw the Catalans playing a little on the sluggish side, relying on the long ball to somehow make up for their initial lethargy. On the other hand, Mallorca were not as quick or inventive as Zaragoza had been--though Okubo was a continuous threatening presence. The difference for Barcelona was that Puyol was back directing the defense, while Deco was back from suspension to help in the midfield.

I'm not sure if Barcelona was expecting too much from the referee, or if the referee didn't think much of Barcelona, but it did seem that Mallorca were getting away with some rough play in the beginning (much like Zaragoza had in the Copa del Rey match). No doubt, Barça know how to play rough, if need be, and they did respond in kind before too long, but the referee needs to remain balanced when meting out judgements. I thought the officiating was inconsistent in this case. Who knows? Maybe now that Barcelona are playing well, word is out to 'rein' them in more? Okay, so that's a bit too cynical, but I think something's a little odd. In that Zaragoza match, the referee was all over the place with his interpretations, but he was so bad it seemed to balance out as both sides appeared equally affected by a slew of bad decisions.

Anyway, things began to go Barcelona's way when Deco sent a beautiful long ball into Giuly's path at the top edge of the penalty area. Giuly controlled the ball with great finesse, then half-volleyed it on the bounce right past the colliding keeper, sinking the ball just inside the near post. A great goal by Giuly, and some impressive vision and skill from Deco.

I have to say I really like how Giuly plays. He is so quick, knows how to handle the ball, and can shoot or head with accuracy. His runs down the right wing are very good at unhinging the opposition's defense, and his crossing is effective enough. Giuly is a solid player who contributes much to Barça, and Rijkaard would be crazy to let the Frenchman go.

The score stood at 0-1 for the Catalan squad at the interval. Probably a goal for Mallorca might have been fair as well, but fate is rarely that. At the 73rd minute The Mallorcan, Tuzzio, was sent off with a well-deserved red card, reducing Mallorca's chances to practically nil. Messi came on for Larsson a minute after that, and the diminutive Argentine put the nail in Mallorca's coffin right quick. Just two minutes from stepping onto the pitch, Messi made himself a goal after getting past two defenders in the penalty area, then sending the ball past the keeper as Moya closed the angle. Five minutes later a blazing Messi latched onto a through pass from Ronaldinho inside the penalty area, kept just enough control beside a determined Mallorca defender, and chipped the ball over a charging Moya into the net. That was one helluva goal from Messi, showcasing his ball control, composure, and creativity. Very nice.

Overall, a fair game as Barcelona goes. They were slow to warm up to the challenge, but having Puyol back in charge of the defense gave Barça the breathing space needed. Mallorca tried to do what Zaragoza had done, but they didn't possess the skill, and they also had to reckon with Puyol's leadership.

Barcelona's game seemed to reverberate with the impact of their loss to Zaragoza, but based on their initial poise, and the performance of Puyol (and Marquez), it's good to see they are now working on a solution to a problem that will likely return with the match against Chelsea.

One of a Kind

2006-01-26T16:24:00.000-08:00

I have one more comment to make today. In the Zaragoza-Barcelona match one of the commentators said something that just rubbed me the wrong way (well, besides the fact that they both seemed to want Zaragoza to win). His comment had to do with who should be the No.1 striker in Barcelona's senior squad. According to him, Larsson was a better choice than Eto'o. He had also given a similar judgement on Ronaldo, saying he would pick Ewerthon over Ronaldo for the World Cup this summer (Ewerthon is Brazilian). He thought Eto'o and Ronaldo were not very good team players, and so this resulted in a poorer performance for their respective clubs. Larsson and Ewerthon were better choices because of this.

Now, before I lay into this guy's comments, let me say that I don't think this commentator's perception is necessarily wrong. Eto'o is not as good a team player as Larsson, and maybe the same can be said of Ronaldo and Ewerthon. But, quite frankly, he's missing the frickin' point. Eto'o and Ronaldo, like Georgie Best (bless his heart), are one of a kind players. Why? Because these guys make goals from absolutely nothing. To paraphrase Sir Matt Busby, you don't try to coach these types of players, you just let them play. So, they screw up from time to time, do what looks like a real dumb idea. So what? You know why they can do such screwy things? Because they can. They have so much confidence matched with unparalleled skill that they can screw up in front of millions, and it doesn't even bug them. The only thing that bugs them is that they missed. They missed. Whether it was in front of millions, or out in the backyard doing freestyle, it's all the same. Fear is not something these rare individuals encounter on the pitch, only a desire to go beyond. To try and do it. Their only thought is the ball in the back of the net, and everything else is just fuzzy logic.

So, don't try to make sense of these types of players. Just let them go and play. Do that and you'll see them make the impossible, possible.

Zaragoza - Barca: the Horror

2006-01-26T16:23:00.000-08:00

Just watched the Copa del Rey match between Zaragoza and Barça. Talk about a heartbreaker. Final score was 4-2, Zaragoza. Thank goodness the Copa del Rey is one of the few cup tournaments that has each side play at home, then decide based on aggregate goals. But, 4-2, man, that's rough for Barcelona. What's even wilder is that Zaragoza scored three of their goals during the first period all within 5 minutes! That's just embarrassing for a team like Barcelona. Downright embarrassing.

How did Real Zaragoza do it, you say? Well, they ran their heinies off, taking maximum advantage of superior speed on the counterattack. Their forwards, Ewerthon and Milito, were all over the pitch, making high speed runs just a shade fair of offsides, then sinking it into the back of the net after a 1-on-1 with the No.2 Barça keeper, Jorquera. Barcelona's defense is not known for a lot of speed in general, and with Olequer and Márquez in particular. These two were holding down the central defense for the visiting side, and it wasn't pretty--no siree. Sadly, it could've been 5-0 for Zaragoza within that critical 5-10 minute span in the first half. But, it wasn't (genuflections acceptable at this point), and when Larsson hammered the ball into the Zaragoza net near the end of the first period Barcelona looked to be back in the fight.

After the break, Zaragoza seemed satisfied with their plundering, the squad now playing deeper into their own half than before the break. It was almost as if they thought they could contain Ronaldinho and Messi. Well, as it turned out, Barça would only score one more goal--a penalty by Ronaldinho--but Zaragoza's defense had to fight very hard to keep those two 'giants' at bay. Messi in particular was one determined Argentinian. He came plunging into the home side's penalty area on numerous occasions only to have a Zaragoza player appear at the critical moment, booting the ball away from danger. Those Zaragozans, you got to keep an eye out, they come out of nowhere. No joke.

As the game was winding up in injury time it looked like Barcelona had a problem to solve at Camp Nou, but a minor one really. The final result would be 3-2, but they still had two away goals. Then with seconds left in the game disaster struck. Zaragoza were making a good run down the left flank, ran it all the way to the Barça goal line where a cross soon followed. It was deflected by Márquez ... with his hand. In the penalty area. Crap. Yeah, it was a penalty for the big Z's, a very tired Milito converting without trouble. Final result: 4-2.

Now it's not such a minor problem for my Catalans. Four goals is still a lot of goals to make up for even with two away goals on your end. To make matters worse, Camp Nou is a huge pitch, absolutely huge. This sort of space allows Barcelona to put their creativity and passing to good effect without fear of being crowded in, but what happens when you play a team that can blow past you on a counterattack? Barça may be forced to play a very, very patient possession game, relying on the deception and seduction of mundane play to set the table for bursts of sublime attacking into the box. Hopefully, Zaragoza will add to their own demise, letting frustration (and hopefully, home field hostility) to dismantle their focus and composure. Yeah, I know, wishful thinking--but it could happen!

And, I can think of another team Barcelona will be playing who are known for devastating counterattacks of beguiling quickness. A squad with one of the most solid defenses of any club in the world. Chelsea. Okay, breath evenly. One step at a time. On step at a time.

Eriksson? Not

2006-01-25T09:05:00.000-08:00

Glad to see Eriksson on his way out of the England job once the World Cup is concluded. After his latest episode with the tabloids he can't be gone soon enough. Sure, blame the tabloids for their predatory and selfish nature, I don't have a problem with that. But, if Eriksson had the integrity necessary for his office as England manager, then News of the World would've been left with a big fat check and nothing to show for it except fabricated lies. As it is, NotW got a great return for their expenses, and England's trust in the Swede is now clearly seen as betrayed. It'll be interesting to see which club or nation picks him up after this. With that sort of taint following you like broken wind, it'll have to be a club in dire straits. How's Iraq's coach doing?

_________________________

Henry and Barcelona. Wow, that would be unbelievable. Barça would be unstoppable, quite literally. Ronaldinho and Messi on the wings, Eto'o and Henry up front. Frankly, it would be unfair play. Clubs would have to barter for handicap goals before the match:

Barcelona: "So, what do you have to trade for?"

Other Club: "Uh, lemme see ... Oh, we have this great striker coming up through our youth system."

B: Chuckling heard. "I think we have that angle covered. Anything else?"

OC: "Hmm. Wellll, we do have our gate receipts for the match, but ..."

B: "How much do you think that will be?"

OC: "Say about £200,000?"

B: "Is that all?"

OC: Sighing follows. "Yes, well, let me look again. Ah, yes, I forgot about an expense we sort of automatically deduct ... catering and whatnot ..."

B: "Catering? Interesting. Tell you what, come up with £300,000, and we'll concede a goal to you, prematch agreement."

OC: Difficult silence ensues. "Very well. We will come up with £300,000-"

B: "By tomorrow."

OC: More uncomfortable silence. "By ... tomorrow. Fine. Are we finished here?"

B: "I believe so. Nice doing business with you."

OC: "Quite." Side leaves without another word.

B: "Catering. I should've asked how much that was. Hm. Maybe they're doing something we should be?" Chuckling.

FIFA: "Yeah, we thought that was funny, too."

The remainder leave together for lunch--on Barcelona's tab, of course.

In the Beginning

2006-01-25T00:52:00.000-08:00

Well, it's about time I got going on how much I love football--and, sorry, I just refuse to call it 'soccer' here. Sure, out of respect for others in person (I live in the USA, after all) you'll hear it referred to as 'soccer', but not here! No frickin' way. Anywho, I love this game, the beautiful game. There is nothing else like it in the world. All you need is a ball to kick and at least one leg to boot it around. Amazing.

So, come by as I comment on Barclay's EPL, the Brazilian League, Serie A, and last but not least, La Liga Primera. The World Cup is coming this summer, hosted by Germany, so there's lots to talk about. Until then.