Frank Rijkaard has only sixteen first team players available for tomorrow evening’s match with Mallorca (kick off 9pm). This will be Rijkaard’s last home match in charge and he has brought in two players from the B team, Rafael Romero Serrano, known as “Fali”, and Jose Manuel Rueda to make up the numbers. Fali is 22 years old and normally plays at right back while the 20-year-old Rueda plays in midfield.
Barça have a problem in midfield as Iniesta and Gudjohnsen are both injured and Marquez and Xavi are both suspended. Ronaldinho, Sylvinho and Milito are also out injured, but Eto’o and Deco return after missing the game with Madrid through suspension. There really is very little to play for in this game for Barça. We cannot finish second anymore, while at the same time we already have a top four place mathematically secure.
Mallorca still have an outside chance of a Uefa Cup place and are currently 7th in the table on 53 points, three points behind sixth placed Racing Santander. They are on a good run at the moment and have won their last four games. Striker Dani Güiza has scored seven goals in those four games and 14 in the last 11 games to take him to top spot in the pichichi top scorers competition. With all the talk of Benzema, Drogba, Huntelaar and Van der Vaart, perhaps Barça would do well to look at what is on offer already in Spain.
Some of the local sportspapers have given a sorry example recently. Before the game in Madrid one of them asked Culés to turn off the TV before the game so as not to suffer the shame of the pasillo, under a title that said “let them suffer alone”. The same newspaper is now asking fans to attend tomorrow’s game with black handkerchiefs to protest against the team’s situation. Maybe it is because I am a foreigner and grew up with a different football fan culture, but I really find all this pathetic and a big part of the problem at Barça. I hope fans can realise how much they play a part in the players’ poor form and choose to support the team in these difficult times. I also hope Frank Rijkaard gets a warm send-off, as he truly deserves it. This will probably also be the last game for some of the players, but for the time being at least, that is all still just speculation.
Barça’s 18-man squad: Valdés, Pinto, Zambrotta, Fali, Oleguer, Thuram, Puyol, Abidal, Toure, Edmilson, Rueda, Deco, Messi, Giovani, Bojan, Eto’o, Henry, Ezquerro.
Possible starting XI: Valdés; Zambrotta, Thuram, Puyol, Abidal; Toure, Edmilson, Deco; Messi, Eto’o, Henry.
My Prediction: Barça 2 Mallorca 1
28 responses so far ↓
Frede // May 10, 2008 at 19:05
I don’t really care about the result of the match. I just want our players to show some dedication and the fans to pay some respect to Rijkaard.
Blaugrana // May 10, 2008 at 19:27
Barça 2-0 mallorca
BARCA 4 LYF // May 10, 2008 at 19:31
6-0 to Barca they’re going 2 do it for Rijkaard!!!
dnzi // May 10, 2008 at 20:26
4-1!
Joe Henry // May 10, 2008 at 20:34
Could not care less about tomorrow’s game that I might not watch it. won or lose I don’t care. To tell you he truth sorry I don’t feel bad for Frank. I know next year I will praise Frank when I remember the achievements he did but till I have good days and I make it throw these days I really can’t say I will miss you.
Joe Henry // May 10, 2008 at 20:47
But This to be said , Frank says it was a honor being in the Camp Nou. Well its been an honor ( to sum up ) Having you in the Camp Nou. Even thou I really really really mad at you for the extremely bad performances of the players ageist Madrid but 2005/2006 Season was a season of greatness and your achievement’s is such year should be remembered for generations. Thank You For all your work
Dr.Osmo // May 10, 2008 at 21:17
My Prediction: Barça 3 Mallorca 2
Goals: Henry 1, Messi 2 and Guiza 2.
blaugranafan // May 10, 2008 at 21:55
I think a lot of us find the Catalan press to be incredibly destructive, Nic. Well said.
Barca 2 Mallorca 1
Henry 23′, Edmilson (own goal, 54′), Bojan 72′
Andrei // May 10, 2008 at 21:56
I think that people will really start to miss Frank once he is gone. I really do not think that he could have done much about the team’s downfall, it was just the players who though they had become great and did not need to work anymore. I would actually put the blame on whoever is director of football at Barcelona and Ronaldinho because he has been horrible over the past two years.
Titi186 // May 11, 2008 at 0:21
To be honest I agree completely with Nic.
I am from England and some of the Barca fans who have grown up with the Spanish culture of football are a disgrace.
Yes Frank hasnt won anything for two years - he’s going.
Yes Ronaldinho form has dropped for the first time in nearly four years of pure and utter magic. You had the privelege of watching him on the feild. Unhappy at him now? - he’s going.
However, the fans need to realise Barca are trying to address the problems by changing the coach and some players so at tomorrows game you should pay respect to Frank and Ronnie for the things they have done and be ready to move on.
Imagine you are Pep Guardiola and you see thousands of fans waving black hankies at the game he will automatically think he is under immense pressure to deliver straight away when all Barca needs is time. Time and consistency.
You all will say ‘NO WAY’ to this but look at Messi - In a few years it could be him on the end of your discraceful booing and whistling and then who really wants to join a club which shows that level of respect? Im sorry its just not right I dont care how much people disagree with me on this site.
Thanks again Nic for taking the time to run the site it is much appreciated you should set up a PayPal donating thing you might strike it lucky
Nic // May 11, 2008 at 1:25
Hey Titi, why didn’t I think of that before. You can all now send me all your hard earned money by clicking on the “make a donation” button. All donations will go towards match tickets to improve the match reports.
Caleb // May 11, 2008 at 3:43
I hope Rijkaard gets a sending off worthy of his contribution to the club. I must say I hate to see him go. He is a great coach and an even better person. His comments after being fired are nothing short of admirable. The man oozes class.
Thanks Rijkaard for all of the beautiful football and three memorable trophies.
Rafael // May 11, 2008 at 5:30
1. Nic - I think all the media involvement is dependent on futbol culture, different in Spain, Italy, England etc.. South America in particular live by futbol etc..
2. Andrei - You are ignorant in regards to Barcas poor form. Essentially your blaming Ronaldinho for Barca’s 2 poor seasons. So because Messi was injured, or perhaps Deco was suspended was all Ronaldinhos fault too? Last time I checked there were other players in the Barcelona organisation - there were of course the players, management, fans etc. Stop placing the blame on one individual and using that individual as a scapegoat for MORE than just one problem. It is totally inaccurate and ignorant to claim that.
3. Frank has done a tremendous job. It will be good if Barcelona can produce some good futbol for the final time at home in respect for Rijkaard. As Toure said, Futbol has it’s cycles, and unfortunately the its time for Rijkaard to move on. He knows why, the whole world knows why. The only constant thing in life in general is change.
BOBBY // May 11, 2008 at 6:36
GUARDADO ALL THE WAY I AM AMERICAN AND GUARDADO HAS TO COME PLAY FOR BARCA AND HAS TO SHOW HIS SKILLS HELKL KILL RONALDHINO ON FORM LIKE THIS HAHAHAHAHA THATS FUNNY AND I THINK DOS SANTOS AND RAFA SHOUILD STAY NOW THAT MILOITO IS INJURED HE SHOULD STAy AND PICK UO FORM
Dr.Osmo // May 11, 2008 at 7:59
——————————-V.Valdes——————————
———————–Puyol———-Thuram———————
–Zambrotta(Fali 65′)——————————-Abidal—–
—————————-Yaya Toure—————————
——————————Deco(Rueda 75′)——————–
———Messi——————————Giovanni————
———————-Henry——-Eto’o—————————
Jay // May 11, 2008 at 11:26
3-1 Barcelona
voonte // May 11, 2008 at 13:15
I really hope Rijkaard gets a decent farewell today. He has done so much for this club, he has earned our respect. Even if we’re not happy with the past two seasons, he still deserves our respect.
If Ronaldinho would leave this summer, I completely understand him. If he does, I hope all of us, especially us fans, are really ashamed of what we have done. He has been treated like garbage, and he deserves a lot better. Just look at last season, lots of injuries, lots of other problems, Ronaldinho had to take care of attacking by himself, and he really saved us. Sure, he wasn’t in his best form, but there’s no player who can be if he’s teammates are not around. Without him, we would have ended up on a far worse position than we did.
The only way we can get up from the hole we have been digging for the past two seasons, is by taking care of our own and keep fighting.
Titi186 // May 11, 2008 at 13:38
@ voonte
Couldnt agree with you more. Spot on.
bLinD // May 11, 2008 at 14:08
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=691629 anyone knows if this is true?
Frede // May 11, 2008 at 17:16
@ bLindD:
No way in hell. Look at it: Puyol out? That says it all. You should always remember the grain of salt when you visit Goal.com.
Siim // May 11, 2008 at 19:08
Would like to see Giovani tonight. Not sure if he should be loaned out. Sold? No way.
FC Barcelona 2 - 0 Mallorca
Frank, you’ve been great, thank you.
azulgrana // May 11, 2008 at 19:15
Thank you voonte and titi among others for your comments. Finally we have fans on this site that make well informed comments rather than talk about how bad barca is and who to blame. Ronaldinho and Rijkaard should be respected for all they have done. Sometimes things don’t work out that doesn’t mean we have make life hell for the people who made watching barca for the last four years (except the most part of this season) so beautiful.
I think Rijkaard did his best with Ronaldinho but was unable to keep him motivated. I know that ultimately it is the player himself who has to motivate himself, but I would love to see Ronaldinho remain, if Gaurdiola thinks he can get the best out of him. Players need challenges. If the coach can do that, he can bring out the best of them and the team.
I hope more and more fans take a minute to really appreciate what our players, coaches, and barca have done for us rather than the other way around. If we consider ourselves part of barca, part of the family, then we must treat them as parts of our family, the barca family.
Lastly, I hope more and more fans get rid of Barca’s press. No matter what comments there are from inside barca (edmilson or eto’o incident), the press is the worst thing about barca. The other thing is: forget the madrid based press, their whole purpose is to screw with the minds of barca fans. I think barca should create its own newspaper that is published in house in order to set the facts right. Don’t even let sport and el mundo deportivo in the dressing room, press conference, nothing.
bLinD // May 11, 2008 at 19:30
http://www.vimeo.com/994902?pg=embed&sec=994902 I hope to see him playing for barca again
Taras // May 11, 2008 at 19:36
Barca 2-0 Mallorca.
fcbarcelona-ks.com // May 11, 2008 at 20:05
When can i see the match live in web ???
Piotrek // May 11, 2008 at 22:15
Barca 2-3 . Im laughing out loud.Great summary of last 2 years with Frank.
Most of Fans at CN were idiots today. How could they boooing at Etoo who scored 15 goals out of 17 matches he played in La Liga ? Pathetic.
layi // May 11, 2008 at 22:18
the fans disappointed me….
by the way, pinto is a very funny goalkeeper
today // May 11, 2008 at 22:49
For Etoo’s Booes were right.
His intentional getting suspension for classico disappointed us.
He deserved it for only this mathch, I think.
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