35 responses so far ↓

• Taras // Mar 24, 2008 at 21:16

  I thought he would have much less %…

• Jay // Mar 24, 2008 at 21:30

  Rijkaard, yes.

• Barca Fan_Miki // Mar 24, 2008 at 21:42

  I think that Rijkaard should be given another chance but only if he improuv somethink in the rest of the seeson , if not i think that the best replacment is should be Jose Mourinho and Barca board shoul try getting him in Barca becouse he is the best!!!

• Joe Henry // Mar 24, 2008 at 22:06

  NO Offense but Rijkaard should hit the road as off yesterday. Actually I really hoped to see him go before this season after the most horrible management in the UNIVERSE yes he should go yes yes yes i can not stop saying it. He lost us every thing. You guys take a look at Arsenal , they don’t have one star player YET they where top of the league for quiet some time. Its because of there Manager “Wenger”. Now That is a good coaching. A another example is Chelsea. One of the world’s biggest club under “Mourinho”. I’m telling you if we lose Rijkaard we win every thing and i mean every thing. WE HAVE THE TEAM FOR IT. I stooped once to think of the players i dream of having in Barca to make it better i couldn’t think of any one I mean it. Sure there is great players out there but we have the best. We could do it all just not under Frank. Thank you for the Champions League but its time to go !

• blaugranafan // Mar 24, 2008 at 23:24

  Nic–In your sidebar poll, you should absolutely have included the 4-3-1-2 formation which Argentina currently employs to great effect over the 4-2-4 which, to my knowledge, is currently extinct.

  Does anyone have the scoop on Pedrito? I don’t know anything about him other than he’s 20 and on the B team.

• Winterhunt // Mar 25, 2008 at 0:18

  Ok…. Here is my take if Frank can pull off the Champion’s League or La Liga, then he should stay because that would be impressive with all of our injuries etc. but if we crash out of The Champion’s League or cannot Catch Real and remain unmotivated then I would go for Mourinho….. But I wouldn’t change Frank unless it was Mourinho….. I wouldn’t go for an unproven quantity who hasn’t wo with a big club and command respect. If we got past Man U in Champion’s League and lost the Final, and won at The Bernabeu but couldn’t catch Real, but played hard from here until the end, then I would also keep Frank as I think his character is in keeping with the club….. but he does have a lot to prove, really no more excuses or half-hearted displays of effort by the team….. I wish he could do it but my biggest fear is he won’t and Mourinho will be at Real….. that would be disaster……. Though I don’t think he would go there after how they treated Capello, I think he would go to Inter or AC if he didn’t get the Barca gig which I think he wants the most…..

• Varughese // Mar 25, 2008 at 5:26

  I very much agree with blaugranafan, as a 4-3-1-2 formation may look much better than a 4-2-4 formation

• barcelonista // Mar 25, 2008 at 5:49

  mourinho wd produce results but barcelona will probably play a boring brand of football which fans will then eventually complain of. like cruyff mentioned earlier in the season, mourinho’s style has never complemented barcelona’s football philosophy.

  i think rijkaard shld be given another chance. you have to take into consideration that there’s been an absurd amount of injury in the dressing room this season. i hope he gets his act together though! silly mistakes and unmotivated play at this stage of the season cannot be tolerated already!

• e10 // Mar 25, 2008 at 6:59

  Rijkard is the right man.
  All he needs is to purchase a couple of key position players.
  Im with Rijkard, forget the rest

• Mike M // Mar 25, 2008 at 9:00

  I’m with Rijkaard all the way, but if the board decide to replace him, I would like to see Marcello Lippi become the new coach, at least he will be able to control the egos within the squad and play the players to their strengths, he will create a winning mentality within the squad and our defence would be solid. He is also well respected in world football.

  I would not like to see Mourinho in charge of the squad, as he cannot handle the egos of players and that’s what ultimately cost him his job at Chelsea.

• Joe Henry // Mar 25, 2008 at 9:11

  People who are saying Rijkaard should stay Please. Tell ONE thing he is doing correct. Mourinho is Chelsea Mike. Take a look at Chelsea today a mess 100% a mess from a team that was feared by every one to a very common team in the Premier League. Even if he is not the best pick for Barca he will be better than Franky. I would not like to see Wenger in the Camp Nou he is really the best Manger in the world yet Arsenal needs him and i hate to see Barca become one of those teams that destroy other team’s. I really hope Laporta would fire Rijkaard time and time again he had a chance to be in the top of the League but he blows it every time. Franky please go your an idiot. Every time we win its because of the stars on the pitch. Or the power that these player’s have for Barca. But he has to go for the smallest example why the hell is a player like Gudjohnsen see the pitch. After last year Gudjohnsen should have hit the road. and off course Franky who couldn’t even get us the world cup. It sounds big but it really isn’t. Barca lost because of Gudjohnsen and Frank which is a joke. If I keep on talking about that idiot i will never stop god i could write a book telling the world how bad he is.

• BARCA 4 LYF // Mar 25, 2008 at 10:46

  A 4-2-2-2 formation would be the best 4 Barca!

• fernando // Mar 25, 2008 at 11:34

  good morning, i want to show pictures to my son of the great barcelona dream team , and i want to make him a big poster , and i need some pictures from the 1990-1994 era of LAUDRUP, KOEMAN , BAKERO….or someone from that team.
  could be possible that someone upload some pictures of this era?

  gratefully and kind regards

  fernando

• Jay // Mar 25, 2008 at 14:17

  @Joe
  That is a terrible analysis from you, friend. Rijkaard was never the reason we blew it last season. You could see the players were not doing enough. He is the last man to blame. Yes, he makes mistakes. But any top coach would make them too.

  His footballing culture matches with that of the team. Something that all the huhahaha of Mourinho can’t make up for. He works hard to not only win games, but play well too. Not many teams or coaches do that.

  Gudjohnsen is also a decent player. He is very creative, alert and has an eye for a killer through-ball and is even a goalscorer. He isn’t nonsense. Or else, he wouldn’t be here.

  And regarding your book, I hope you manage to convincingly camouflage the trophies that Rijkaard has won for us. Because that is maybe how bad he is.

• Joe Henry // Mar 25, 2008 at 14:35

  Jay. Look man Frank did get us the Champions League i said that before. Look your want Rijkaard to stay fine that is your own personnel judgment but don’t say he is the best for the team. Tell me why the best player in the world is benched and about to leave ( Ronnie ). Tell me why last season when Gudjohnsen was really bad messing shots when the goal was empty he didn’t take him out and put in Saviola when we still had him. Eto was injured fine. But the team must not depend on a player. I love Barca and i did really like the way Frank use to be. I will cheer for Barca till i die regardless of what champions and trophies they win. I love the way they play and every thing about the team. All I’m saying is i don’t think he is the best man for the job. But I tell you this last season against Getafe you remember when we where thrown out of the cup, as the goals where coming in I saw it on TV he was Laugh out Loud with the assistant couch. Tell me how I’m a million miles away from the City and I was so pissed seeing it. I tell you if he atleast got the sprite to win ANY cup we would have one every cup. The man has won it all that he just don’t want any. True he got us a million trophies but maybe that is a part of the probelem

• BARCA 4 LYF // Mar 25, 2008 at 14:58

  Why’s is there a lot of us voting for Mourinho? Come on people, stick with Rikyaard!

• BARCA 4 LYF // Mar 25, 2008 at 15:09

  http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=634243. The latest bullshit by Goal.com!

• BARCA 4 LYF // Mar 25, 2008 at 15:26

  They keep trying to get people excited with rumours! Some things are true like this article: http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=616058. First they write that true article and mostly keep writing true ones until they write:http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=634243 this article because they want more people to visit their website! But what’s the point of lying just write what’s true and just tthe same amount of people will visit the website!

• Joe Henry // Mar 25, 2008 at 16:05

  We must put a probability that Ronnie is leaving. If you guess remember correctly that is what happed to Saviola a year back. Even if its not Chelsea or Inter he might leave. He is benched all the time i don’t blame him for leaving if he did. What can I say another great gift from Franky.

• Jay // Mar 25, 2008 at 16:49

  That doesn’t seem right again. Ronaldinho isn’t benched first of all. And whenever he is, it isn’t because of Rijkaard. Rijkaard has given him his chances. I like Ronaldinho more than Rijkaard. But Rijkaard is absolutely right regarding his team selection as far as Ronaldinho is concerned.

  Ronaldinho will leave because of his own fault. Not Rijkaard’s. What can a coach do if the player himself has lost the first thing you need to play football - LOVE for the game. Everything is secondary. Love for a club, nation and all that. You have to love the game first. From all your heart.

  And you are absolutely wrong again in questioning his thirst for trophies. He wants to win the league more than anyone after last season’s gaffe.

  I believe there are better coaches than Rijkaard in the world. Most definitely. But there is no one more suited to the ethics and traditions of football played by Barcelona. And surely not Jose Mourinho.

  Anyway, I’m really not interested in a debate. Thanks.

• Joe Henry // Mar 25, 2008 at 18:07

  To Jay. Extremely sorry if i offended you in any way. I only wanted to discuss and see how people are thinking. Nothing more nothing less. My only concern is for Barca. Maybe your right, but I can’t help and looking seeing the best players in the world winning nothing. Yes it happens I just don’t know who to blame. Sorry again thank you for every replay.

• Hilal // Mar 25, 2008 at 18:28

  Ok first of all NEVER believe what is written on Goal.com. I read it for fun only and to laugh at some of the stories. Remember when there was a fake picture of Puyol with a shaved head being circulated on the net…..goal.com reported as real almost immediately. No substantiation whatsoever to any of their stories!

  Joe your right, Rijkaard has to go, Mourinho might not be the best replacement but Rijkaard is not the man for Barca anymore. Yes his style of football is perfect for us, but style counts for nothing if the players dont want to play and they quite simply do not seem motivated under Rijkaard and have lacked any sense of desire or will to fight in the last 18 months. Rijkaard was given his chance and he blew it. With Real playing the way they have been recently we should easily be top of the table but we are still 4 points behind. Even the last game that we won 4-1 the team was really lacking, the defence was awful and the closing down by our players was almost none existent. It came down to great performances by Bojan and Iniesta, but that was pretty much it. If anybody thinks that the team as it is now can beat Man Utd you are going to be in for a real shock. Even with Messi, if the players continue to play as they are, lacking any real desire, we will get destroyed. With our defence? Are you kidding me…..Rooney and Ronaldo will have a field day!

  The only way I can see Rijkaard being successful at Barca is if we get a new assistant coach like Ten Cate. He was the one who kept the players in line and really provided the fire for the team. Ever since he left it has been downhill and that cannot be a coincidence. Frank is a great coach, but he is not strong enough with the players and when you have a squad full of superstars like Barcelona you need a STRONG figure in the coaching staff and we dont have that. Personally I think Mourinho would be good, and I dont think he would play the boring football everybody expects. I always tell people to go watch some Porto games from when he was their coach, they played very well. At Chelsea he was playing to the strengths of his team and the league he was in. I really do believe that at Barca he would do the same and play to OUR strengths! Anyways we will see soon enough if Rijkaard stays or goes.

• Jay // Mar 25, 2008 at 18:31

  Oh dude, you haven’t offended me in any way. Not of course. But I don’t want to get into pointless debates when we both eventually want the same thing - a successful Barcelona season.

• Jay // Mar 25, 2008 at 18:34

  The problem with coaching is that too much praise is heaped upon you when the team succeeds and too much is blamed on you when you fail.

• blaugranaboy // Mar 25, 2008 at 19:10

  This is a tough question. But all in all, despite often wanting him to leave, I think he should stay. A few people made really correct statements. Its damn true that since Ten Cate left the mess began. He was the disciplinarian and I think he kept the off the field antics of players way more in line. Rijkaard needs to be more hard. I also think that if Mourinho did come he would not play a Chelski type football. And he would be able to control players. Thats the main thing Rijkaard is at fault for, his inability to manage and motivate players. But a lot of the poor performances really need to be heaped on the players, not him.

  To be honest im way way way more upset and disappointed with Ronaldinho. His behavior at the moment is digusting. Even Cruyff took a nice swing at him in the media. The medical staff have found nothing wrong with him but he continues to be “injured”. Plus all you hear is about him partying and getting drunk or being depressed because his family is in Brazil (a pathetic excuse). And by the way, I agree with him being benched, if this is his approach to teamwork in combination with his awful form, he has no place on the pitch. Id rather let him go and cash in 4o or 50 million. Only problem with that is if he leaves maybe he decides to get his act together and then everyone will cry at letting him go.

  Either way I see one of the two leaving in the summer. It wont be both though. But its such a tough call, but if Roni leaves and then gets great again, losing him is by far more costly.

  And by the way, Gudi was told to leave the club on many many occasions by Txiti. He told him he had no place in teh squad. He just stayed cause of the money and nice lifestyle. And he is only really in due to the crazy injuries. He is by no means a favorite of mine, but recently he hasnt done badly at all.

  Either way I see

• Joe Henry // Mar 25, 2008 at 19:12

  Well Jay truly this is the problem specially under a team like Barca expatiated to win every thing. That means no chance to screw up. I really don’t know what would fit Barca best but you need a couch that can control the team and take a star out of the game and still seal the night. Each player in Barca is a huge star its the timing.

• Hilal // Mar 25, 2008 at 20:53

  Ronnie should definitely leave at the end of the season. I am not sure if what they say in the press is true and it doesnt really matter, what matters is what he does on the pitch and he has not done much recently. He has done all he can in a Barca shirt. He has led us to many victories and changed the face of our squad. and we should be forever grateful.I am sure wherever he goes he will be a huge success, but if he stays at Barca it will be bad for us and bad for his career. A player like Ronnie needs to feel loved and I dont think he feels that at Barca anymore, not by the fans and not by his teammates. He needs a fresh challenge with a new team.It is Messi’s time to shine, along with Bojan. Let them grow as players, they are hungry and they want to win FOR BARCA.

  I could see both Ronnie and Rijkaard leaving this summer. If we do get Mourinho he will definitely not stand for Ronaldinho’s antics so im sure he will make it a condition that Ronnie either gives 100% or leaves (as it should be).

  We also need changes to our medical staff, this is something that is not talked about much and it is probably the most serious of all our problems. Somebody mentioned above that injuries carry a lot of the blame this season, but the number of injuries we have had this season is not a matter of bad luck. It comes down to bad management, poor training regiment and ineffective medical treatment. Injuries that are supposed to last 1 or 2 weeks end up lasting 6 weeks, players are green lighted to play when they are not really fit, none of our players seem fit enough when they play, it also seems that advice given to players is not fantastic either. I worry that Yaya may cause long term damage to himself if he does not have an operation soon. I am not surprised that Messi went back to Argentina for his rehabilitation, he probably trusts the Argentina medical team a lot more.

• layi // Mar 25, 2008 at 21:56

  its very hard to diagnose our problem if we dont have the main and true facts, we can only suggest from what we see and hear…..but my main problem is also the same with joe henry, i cannot bear watching the best players in the world win nothing as time is passing by just because of some little problem, just look at the talents we have assembled and those coming up, no club can compare, yet we are winning nothing….no club has won the treble for some time now, we have the capability to win glorious trebles every season if everiything is right….i’m no longer sure whats best or us now, i just pray we make the best decision

• Nic // Mar 25, 2008 at 22:37

  Apologies for not replying sooner as my computer monitor decided to die and I’ve been rushing about to get a new one. Anyway, very briefly the 4-3-1-2 and 4-2-2-2 formation are basically versions of 4-4-2, but I agree the 4-2-4 is pretty much not used these days. I was thinking about the people who want to see the four fantasticos all playing.
  I think Jay pretty much summed up my feelings about Barça in general with the too much praise for winning/too much blame when failing comment. Rijkaard has made mistakes but I’m not convinced any of the other candidates will do any better. I think Mourinho is a great coach but not everything was perfect with him at Chelsea and the press and fans would turn against him much more quickly than they have with Rijkaard, if we weren’t clearly top at Christmas people would be calling for his head. As for Wenger he has failed to bring any young players through Arsenal’s youth system since Ashley Cole years ago, he relies on having good contacts and robbing other teams young talents. And Arsenal haven’t actually won the league since 2004, and they’ve not won anything in Europe with him in more than ten years.
  Fernando - you should try google images - http://images.google.es/imghp?hl=es&tab=wi

• Joe Henry // Mar 25, 2008 at 22:46

  Wenger is the best couch for Arsenal. But as for Barca ahhh i don’t think so . Wenger doesn’t like stars at all he likes low key players shining. Barca is nothing like that. On the other Hand Mourinho is. Maybe he is not the best pick. But I don’t know what needs to be done i just know some changes need to happen fast. NO WAY are the Whites better then as a team or as stars or as any thing to be the top League sorry if Robinio is not playing they suck. Not to mention there lame excuse for a Manager Schuster. The guy is still crying about the time Barca let him go. Every thing he compares to us the guy is an idiot. Besides the point why is the whites on the top of the league i have no idea. I just need an answer !

• Rafael // Mar 26, 2008 at 4:28

  I think there is an inside problem..

  Take for example Ronaldinho. How can someone of his calibure all of sudden be dropped on the bench (aside from injuries etc..)? He is the 2x World Player Of The Year.. He smiles everytime he touches the ball, football makes him happy. You can’t just win WPOY award, then drop in form all of a sudden..

  There is definitely an internal problem somewhere.. Ronnie is only 28! And you’ve seen him play at his best (Celtic)

• Jay // Mar 26, 2008 at 9:14

  Arsenal haven’t won anything since Cesc Fabregas came to prominence.

  And regarding Arsene Wenger’s youth policy, like Nic said, he relies on his vast network of contacts. And he has not played any role in the actual development of Fabregas.

  If talent spotting is done at the age of 11-12, like Barca did with Messi and Iniesta, then that is what you actually call “a perception for talent”. Fabregas was 16 and had already finished as the best player in the world youth championships of 2003, AFTER which Arsenal picked him up.

  Wenger is great with his football philosophies. But he has been given too much credit regarding the rise of Fabregas. I’m sure he’s always got an eye on Barca’s youth set-up. He even took away Fran Merida last year.

• Joe Henry // Mar 26, 2008 at 9:32

  The thing with youth players is that you have to give them a chance, trust and time. In other words you cant put a youth player only in the friendly games and expect him to gain experience. You must put him in an important game. It’s exactly like leaning how to drive you cant learn by driving in empty streets you must drive between corded street. It doesn’t have to be a rush hour thou. Wenger does this perfectly if you notice the cup games he always lets the new players play till the final. If he loses he doesn’t care that is why I don’t want Wenger in the Camp Nou. Wenger as a couch is great maybe the best with training and tactics but he’s ego will kill him and will kill the team.

• Barca Fan_Miki // Mar 26, 2008 at 13:45

  I heard something of Raffa Benitez coming in Barca in the summer and that he is the favorite for Laporta but the rest of the board likes Mourinho if anyone knews more about this please write it.Two of them are great but i think that Mourinho is better but Raffa is not so bed.

• Joe Henry // Mar 26, 2008 at 14:29

  I think Rijkaard still has a chance i know I insulted him earlier in this blog but. The way i say it if and only if we beat Real with a huge score or win the league or the champions i think he will stay for another 3 years. At Goal.com a comment caught my eye they said that Raffa (http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=635271) doesn’t win derbies and such thing are most important to the Barca fans. When i actually thought about it i actually concluded that I was most pissed when we lost ageist Real. In other words, If we had won that night I think i would be accepting maybe fighting to let Frank stay and start saying he is not that bad. So i guess your right Jay I must give him a another chance but i also got to say its the last straw. The Next Madrid game is at most important. It could mean he will stay at the Camp Nou for at least another year. So I think i can give Frank a final chance till of this year. I only wish that my judgment was wrong and that Rijkaard is capable of pulling it together.

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