26 responses so far ↓

• Youssef Gazia // Mar 10, 2008 at 18:38

  ”We should not resist the pain and accept it as part of the deal: for without the suffering we could never experience the wonderful feeling of pride and elation when things go well.” So, so true!

  Visca el Barca…

• fofo // Mar 10, 2008 at 20:10

  U r right but this doesn’t mean that we should analyse the bad situation for Barca in the field. Any team may lose any game in football, but the problem with Barca is that the team lost the silution in difficult games. I belive that to play 4-3-3, U need two strong wingers. But with the absence of injured Messi and real Ronaldinho, it is better to return to 4-4-2 with Eto and Henry forward. From the first moment of the match, I knew that it would be difficult to win. I think Rikard should think again about plans he uses in games.

• Rajab - Realmadrid fan // Mar 10, 2008 at 20:31

  Thats football, Nic. When you guys were just two points behind and we were knocked out of the champions league, we hated ourselves (realmadrid fans). It is hard. Very hard, but as loyal fans we have to be there in good and bad times.

  Good luck for your team, Nic

• Taras // Mar 10, 2008 at 22:16

  fofo- Henry and Eto’o in front? HENRY? We need to win games in La Liga, and Henry does nothing to help the team. Ronnie now is much better then Henry. At least he tries a lot to get back to his best. Henry yet does nothing.

• Joe Henry // Mar 10, 2008 at 22:18

  Look the way i say it Real has nothing to do other then to win the Leaga this year so i think that winning the Champions League this year is a batter target then the Leaga. Should we lose all hope ? NO but still losing games shouldn’t be a big deal and who knows maybe what happened with Real last year happens with us this year.

• John // Mar 10, 2008 at 23:14

  Nic… I wish I could share your optimism… Of the clubs you mention Man Utd have been improving over the last two years as have Arsenal, Inter look more than likely to win the League in Italy , Lyon are six point clear in France and Bayern Munich are seven points clear and Klinsmann joins in the summer as a new coach.. SADLY it looks highly likely that Madrid will retain the title in Spain…

  Every team can have bad days… But Barca have had a bad 18 months… The league table does not lie… two years ago Barca would not have surrendered so many points in so many weak performances. Our league position is worse than last year which was worse than the year previous. You cannot say with the players in the squad that Barca are playing anyway near to their full potential. Change for changes sake is not the way to run a club… Ask Chelsea…. But there are fundamental problems that exist at Barca that need addressing… being here in England I have no idea of the full picture of what is going on behind the scenes but our weak performances and inconsistency highlight endemic weaknesses that if not addressed will only become greater by putting off tough decisions… In summer the club backed away from doing this and issued codes of conduct and the like… where are we? 8 points behind Madrid!

  I am not bashing Rijkaard… he has done a great job and produced a side that played Breathtaking football that won two leagues and a champion’s league… However, one has to recognize that things are not working and that something has to be changed…

• Speeka // Mar 11, 2008 at 1:29

  Yes Henry had a poor game, but saying that the guy does nothing just isn’t fair. His goal against Celtic has been forgotten so quickly, when arguably it was the goal that decided the tie.
  Yes some will say “Crisis”, especially if its a slow news week. With a head to head still to come with Madrid & 11 more matches,(Madrid’s unpredictable form) that 8 point gap doesn’t seem so big, especially for La Liga, which usually has more twist & turns than a Bryan Singer movie.

• Morzzan // Mar 11, 2008 at 2:25

  Though it was Henry’s goal that was the decider, comon, do you remember the Thierry Henry of Arsenal? Someone who would score virtually every day. He is merely someone of the past I feel, Arsene Wenger sold him after he probably squished the last drop out of him.
  Yeah, except for Manchester United, all the top clubs of Europe are under a cloud. Yeah Man U lost but still, look at their current form. Its dangerous, like the days when Barcelona won the champions league . I seriously feel this year, its going to be United’s year in the Champions League. I hate united but still, they are just awesome, simply awesome!!

• Morzzan // Mar 11, 2008 at 2:26

  And nic, thanx for the reply……….

• e10 // Mar 11, 2008 at 8:47

  My opinion at this moment , even though there are about 10 games left, if Barca don’t go back to the Barca of 2006 they will once again hand the La Liga on a platter to Real Madrid.

• blaugranaboy // Mar 11, 2008 at 10:07

  John and Morzzan are speaking the truth. Just cause Henry scored one nice goal doesnt make up for his many many matches of poor and lazy play. Henry at Arsenal use to score goals like that regularly, at Barca we can barely score at all. And Barca are in somewhat of a crisis, and all you have to look at is the way we play. In the 2 great yrs we had everytime I watched a game teh only question I asked was “how many goals will be score tonight”. I never considered losing. The crisis is just the way we play and the form of so many players. There must be personaly issues with coaching staff and players that need resolving. But I trust Laporta to do so. If any one reads Spanish press, they claim up to 11 playes will be sold, including big star. We have only strengthened our squad, on paper, since our winning years so you have to question why the huge stars, with the talent and experience, are playing so poorly.

• Titi186 // Mar 11, 2008 at 14:37

  Nic, sometimes I disagree with you but you talk the most sense in this article than I have ever ehard.

  2nd place and a CL semi-final/Final is hardly a crisis. My teeam, Arsenal, drew three games but beleive me people are still head over heels with our manager. Two points clear at the top of the PL, in the quarter finals of the CL. Get real SOME barca fans. Sometimes you just have to accept teams are better than you. In our case it is only 1 team, Real Madrid, and you have given this team no chance.

  Eto’o being injured for over half the season, Messi’s two unfortunate hamstring injurys (get well soon otherwise it seems some fans will hang themselves), and Ronnie’s phenominal drop in form over the last few months and Henry still adjusting to a new life, divorce and his childs custoday battles… What do you think would happen!!

  In my opinion, Rijkard needs to play either a 4-4-2 like Speeka and fofo say with Henry and Eto’o or play a 4-3-3 and drop Henry. Otherwise the team will never click. Those of you that follow the PL will know Liverpool had a similar problem.

  Unless you have two out and out wingers, 4-3-3 is USELESS. Barca have none. Messi is injured and Ronnie although playing better hsnt beaten a man one-on-one in ages so Barca dont have a winger.

  Play 4-4-2, with TH14 and E9 with Ronnie, Xavi, Iniesta, and Toure and the results will follow. Although you may need a new manager for this to come about as Frank doesnt seem to know how to change system when needed.

  And stop slating Henry you muppets. He isnt the team by himself. Eto’o cost the game yesterday in the 1st minute with his chance. Eto-o has done fcuk all on the wings when he has played there and Ronnie has done fuck all when playing the centre. Thats what has happened when they have played out of position. So why slate just Henry when he plays out of position? Henry is second top-scorer but needs a second front man like Bergkamp in Arsenal to play off. Unless him and Eto’o get a run of games together how do you think are gonna click??

  Stop saying I just am blibkered by Henry, Im giving a valid opinion and if you are gonna play 4-4-3 by all means drop Henry just dont expect the team to click by playing a different 3 each week it aint gonna happen.

  Thanks again for a wonderful article Nic.

• Shahenshah // Mar 11, 2008 at 15:53

  We could have won those games if we started them right. What on earth would compel you to put Ronaldinho - a player we are hoping/praying/believing would step up in Messi’s absence just as Messi had in his - on the right side when he has made his living starting the attack on the left flank? Ronaldinho needs to stay on the left and I cant stress that enough.

  You dont fool around against teams like Villareal and Atletico like that. Put him in the centre, that doesnt work then put him on the right. You are asking for too much. He is not that versatile anymore.

  In both games, when the positioning didnt work out in the first half, he put Ronaldinho back into his spot on the left side during the second. Thats when Ronaldinho started to show flashes of promise but by the time that changed occured, it was too little too late.

  My main problem is not Henry, its Rijkaard’s decisions. Maybe I lashed out on Henry because I was angry Barcelona lost at home to Villareal, adding to Messi’s injury woes and Madrid’s lucky run. Maybe because he was given Ronaldinho’s spot in the first half and did not use it to full advantage. Maybe because he was given Eto’o’s spot in the second half and did not use that to his full advantage.

  I am not saying Henry is shit, I am saying Henry thinks he is the shit. I have seen flashes of brilliance throughout the season but they havent been consistent enough to convince me. He needs to work hard to get into the attacking trio, not be given the chance because of his past merits. He could be so much more productive if he tried on the field instead of complaining to others.

  It doesnt take rocket science to figure out the proper positioning for Ronaldinho is the left. Last year when I started supporting Barcelona, I saw that the attack always came from the left flank with Ronaldinho as the focal point (Messi’s third goal against Madrid, Henry’s goal against Rangers). This year with Ronnie gone, Messi had to step up and tear shit up. The focal point switched and the attack began from him on the right side (Xavi’s goal against Celtic).

  Now Ronaldinho is back so might as well use him properly and put him on the left where he has always belonged not someone who just showed up last august.

  Someone mentioned here that creativity on the wings is what Barcelona thrives and I for one do not want them to stop doing that.

  Almost everyone here knew that Iniesta would be the one taking Messi’s position. It makes more sense seeing how our pale faced executioner is not only a creative midfielder (Spain has a lot of them eh) but he can also dribble quite well. He has always been the replacement for the wingers.

  You dont change the whole team dynamic for one player. The one player needs to be part of the team and adapt to its ways.

  In conclusion and most importantly, leave Ronaldinho on the left.

• Nic // Mar 11, 2008 at 16:23

  Thanks for all the interesting replies, you know I like to create a bit of a debate. Anyway a couple more thoughts: First is that the last two defeats was the first time Barça had lost back-to-back league games since February 2006. Does that mean we were rubbish then (three months away from a league and Champions League)? Or does it mean we have been pretty good since then? True, there are some problems and with the players we have we should be doing better. But it is a difficult chemistry to get 25 players to all work together in one direction. There will be changes in the summer and I’m confident that those responsible will make the right decisions. Of last summers four signings I thing we can say we are happy with three of them. It is an easy thing to ask for change it is much more complicated to actually decide on which changes will be the right ones.

  Secondly on the 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 argument. There is no magic formation that guarantees success. One of the reasons I love Barça so much is because they always try to win with style. For me the three best managers I’ve known at Barça (Cruyff, Van Gaal and Rijkaard) have all played with three forwards. I should also point out that they are not usually wingers as such, more forwards who play wide like Stoichkov, Rivaldo or Messi and Ronaldinho. They are not wingers but they use the space on the wings. The out and out wingers have not usually done very well (Overmars, Simao). As for 4-4-2 I think that is more or less what Barça played in the first half against Villarreal, Ronaldinho was playing inside behind Eto’o and Henry which would make him the attacking point of your classic midfield diamond shape. Did it work? No is the simple answer, it meant our full backs got forward as we were playing nobody wide but left us struggling at the back as Toure was not as mobile as usual to cover. There was another article I read today showing the poor record in the games that both Henry and Ronaldinho have started. There are only 8 games that they both started of which Barça lost three (Getafe, Atletico and Villarreal) and drew one (a horrible 0-0 with Osasuna in September). For me it is more a question of only having one of these two in the team because neither of them works enough at pressurizing. You can carry one star if he makes up for his lack of defending with some magic at the other end, but carrying two players like this does not work. In the past we saw the same thing with Saviola and Ronaldinho. So for me I would stick with 4-3-3 but make sure that either Henry or Ronaldinho sits out. You could even leave them both out in favour of Iniesta on the left, though I imagine Iniesta will be needed now in midfield due to Toure’s injury.

• voonte // Mar 11, 2008 at 17:04

  Great post and comment, Nic.

  Barca is having a tough time, still, we’re positioned 2nd in the league, and still fighting in CL and Copa del Rey. That’s a decent result for a not-so-good season, I’d say. That’s not even all, the defense has been superb this season, with three great signings.

  All the complaining about Henry, Ronaldinho, and the rest of the players is really making me sick. A lot of barca fans have gotten too used to winning and getting good results. I think this experience will be invaluable.

• FCB - Canada // Mar 11, 2008 at 18:19

  Voonte, everyone likes winning teams plain and simple but the way Barca have played this season shows that something needs to be done. I think Ronnie needs to stay on the left and Frank needs to play Sylvinho more. Maybe try Gudjohnsen also. Ronnie and Gud are great friends so maybe that can translate into results if they are playing together. I will say that I am not a big fan of Eto and never have been. I think a lot of his goals have been handed to him on a silver platter. I agree with Titi, he should have done much better then he did against Villareal. First attempt on goal he had plenty of time. Should have tried to lob over the goalie. A lot of bad touches and poor passing. What’s with all the offsides also. I am trying to like Henry but I don’t blame him as much as people do even though I think his signing was a mistake. I don’t know how people feel about Thuram but I think he needs to go with a few others.

  Sadly I think Copa del Rey will be our only prize.

• Taras // Mar 11, 2008 at 18:34

  FCB - Canada:

  I’ve heard that Ronnie and Henry are best friends but they can’t play together.

• blaugranaboy // Mar 11, 2008 at 22:16

  Titi186, being an Arseanl fan, maybe u cant help but support Henry, but ill also admit that possibly we are being to hard on him. the fact is though, for all the hype and reputation he brought, he hasnt delievered. and he cant keep whinning about the formation, he knew what he was walking into and by no means should we change the formation just for him. and he may have scored a few but hed score 2 or 3 in a game, everyone was hopeful, then have another massive dry spell. and his goals have been mainly tap ins and even handballs. its also possible he hasnt been fit and his personal issues are affecting him. the day we bought him i was excited and thought it was a mistake, but i really hope he can throw all this back in my face and refind his touch. but there is no one who actually watches the matches that can truthfully say that Henry was meet the expectations people had of him and say he has been playing well. the truth is his performances lack effort, his touch is poor, and his attitude seems all wrong. he has lost that cocky swager, his confidence.

• blaugranaboy // Mar 11, 2008 at 22:19

  i meant i wasnt excited when we signed him. all i saw was some silly “galactico” strategy. and dont throw the celtic goal in and say that reedems him

• voonte // Mar 11, 2008 at 22:37

  blaugranaboy, you’re right, Henry hasn’t delivered what most of would expect. But, we should keep in mind that it’s still his first season in Spain and the team and he can still do plenty of good things for barca.

• Rafael // Mar 12, 2008 at 3:03

  I don’t think they should’ve signed Henry in the first place.

• Shelley // Mar 12, 2008 at 12:05

  Supporting your team is like a big rollercoaster ride, you have to be there good times and bad times, through up and down…thats football, your team (no matter what team it is) can’t win everything every season, if they did, surely the excitement and joy of football would be gone…from a Celtic Fan.
  Barcelona- Mes Que Un Club + Celtic- More Than A Club

• FCB - Canada // Mar 12, 2008 at 15:34

  Shelley you are right but last year was a downer and there were expectations to do better this year especially after 4(?) new signings. Anyways what’s done is done lets hope that we can win CL.

• BARCA 4 LYF // Mar 12, 2008 at 16:40

  I think Thuram and Edmilson and Ezquerro and Oleguer should all go! We should sign Garay, Mascherano, Benzema, Drogba, D.Alves, Aguero and Lahm. But of course Lampard is coming to Barca for cheap cos of da webster rule and I think Modric is too! And there is that Brazilian kid Neymar who we are intersested in! I don’t wanna sign Poulsen he is a dirty playa but instead of him we should buy Quaresma! He’s cheaper than that overrated Portugese c**t C.Ronaldo! And Sylvinho should go too!

• blaugranaboy // Mar 12, 2008 at 20:28

  yeah thurm, edmilson, ezquerro, deco, marquez, and gudi should just leave. they are all dead weight. but lol, u cant buy everyone man. garay is signed. mascherano just signed with liverpool. no pt getting benzema, too expensive and inexperienced. drogba would be great but only if we sell henry or dinho, otherwise its just too packed. alves is top priority i read, i think we will get him, and it would be great. lampard is a poor buy, his form has been so average the last 2 years. modric would however be a smart buy, or diego from bremen, that kid is amazing and will bring attack from the midfield.

• Taras // Mar 12, 2008 at 22:01

  BARCA 4 LYF:

  Wow! Just imagine what happens if Benzema, Drogba and Quaresma will move to Barca! CRISIS!!! Ronnie, Eto’o, Messi, Henry, Benzema, Drogba and Quaresma! In a few months half of them would leave because of the concurense! And imagine how much money will we lose!

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