If there was one constant to January it was the solidness of the defence. Since conceding two against Alcoyano at the start of the month, Barça have only conceded two goals in the last eight matches. Subsequently this month’s top five is dominated by the defence, though Thierry Henry has done well since returning from injury scoring two vital goals in the Copa del Rey. This month’s top five is:
- Gabi Milito
- Victor Valdés
- Thierry Henry
- Carles Puyol
- Rafa Marquez
Well done to Milito, he has been in excellent form recently. This month he only played in six of the nine games but in those games Barça only conceded one goal in the cup game at Sevilla. Valdés was very close to winning, he had a splendid game at Villarreal and has kept six clean sheets in his last eight games.
If the attack can start doing it’s job a bit better we will be laughing.
5 responses so far ↓
ja la tenim aquí // Feb 1, 2008 at 14:08
Great transfer, well done Txiki! Happy that (1) the madrid medical staff rejected him a few years ago, (2) Chivu was asking too muc and (3) Porto found some other fools to pay 30 million euro for the injury-prone Pepe.
But why are there rumours the last days about getting another central defender (Garay, Fazio)? We have Milito, Puyol and Marquez. Not mentioning Thuram (whose contract expires) and Oleguer. And Abidal prefers to play there too. So why would you pay 20 million euro for Garay (ok, he’s younger then the others and we have to think about the future, but still I think we can wait another year or two) to come and sit on the bench? That’s more madrid-style.
Nic // Feb 1, 2008 at 15:25
Rumours help to sell newspapers. That’s not to say there is no truth in the stories, a club like Barça will always be watching out for players and planning for the future. So if a Barça scout is sent to watch someone, it undoubtedly ends up in the papers as a story that Barça are planning to buy. It happens all the time but very few are signed in the end.
ja le tenim aquí // Feb 1, 2008 at 15:55
Yeah I know, but Garay and Fazio don’t help to sell newspapers, I think. Yet. Hope anyhow they’ll spend their money more wisely.
Titi186 // Feb 2, 2008 at 0:54
I disagree with the top 5. I think there is a top three this month (or perhaps in the order I have listed them). And for me they have all been as vitial as each other. The defence has been remarkable this month as you rightly pointed out if our attack could be as potent as last year then Barca can take on anyody. Valdes is proving his doubters wrong every game and Thierry Henry is playing better especially against Murcia, and scoring more vital goals most notibly in the CDRey
1= Defence
1= Valdes
1= Thierry Henry
Is it me or has anyone noticed that Barca’s midfield is very innifective of late. Very unbalanced and very light.
Take Madrid, Guti (who I despise as Im sure you do
) plays through balls, Robinho is a great playmaker, in Milan and Manchester and Arsenal you have Kaka/Pirlo and Ronaldo/Scholes Hleb/Cesc respectively.
Its just lately the midfeild isnt having the desired effect for me. Not enough service to the front three and not dominating games. It might have something to do with the formation e.g. Madrid have 4 in the midfeild compared to Barca’s 3.
My point is valid as Nic has given me the proof I need with not one midfeilder in the top five bearing in mind this months top five was chosen without Messi, Eto’o, Toure, and Ronnie thourgh injury and ACN.
I hope Xavi does improve as I think he is a good utility player but I get confused sometimes what is his role - not the best attacker (we have Deco, Guddy, Iniesta) and not the best defender (Toure, Edmilson, Marqeuz) and I seem him as a wasted man sometimes (not rubbish though).
Anyway all we can hope for is Puyol’s injusry is not that bad an effect on the defence and the midfeild chips in with a few more goals.
Nic // Feb 2, 2008 at 2:47
Titi - I agree with you about the midfield players but it is strange how these things change in football. In December my top two were Iniesta and Xavi, and Gudjohnsen was playing well too.
http://fcbnews.com/december-player-of-the-month/
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