53 responses so far ↓

• layi // Mar 20, 2008 at 23:30

  it wasnt a poor performance, that is the normal barca performance for this season. bojan - 6

  so what do y’all think?

• Piotrek // Mar 20, 2008 at 23:34

  Rijkaard, Deco, Marquez, Zambrotta, Oleguer, Thuram, Edmilson and Ezquerro
  out!
  We have to make some proper transfers this time! And Bring Jose back!

• Winterhunt // Mar 21, 2008 at 0:00

  Enough is enough…… we deserve nothing, no trophies at all this year, almost hoping we get bounced out of CL by Schalke so that there can be no more excuses (like I have found myself making often) for not having an overhaul….. Time from The Translator, and at least to my eyes a world class keeper because I just can’t stomach Valdes, he never seems to pick up his defense, if they slip up even a bit, it’s as good as in the net…. Also he just really doesn’t have a clue about coming off his line and cutting off angles…..I can only imagine what he be like if he had The Crap Madrista defense that Casillas constantly has to bail out or how great it would be to have a keeper the level of Casillas who actually frustrates the other team by making saves of shots that should be goals….. Hell, we saw Hillenbrand do it time after time in the first leg….. Mourinho!!!! (I can’t believe I actually feel this way…..) We need to have more than one strategy that we employ over and over no matter if it works or not…. A DISGRACE!!!! I want 2.5 hours of my life back….. Actually, make that 10 for the last 3 leagu games as well!!!!!!!!!!!

• Winterhunt // Mar 21, 2008 at 0:08

  By the way, IMHO Thuram was far better than what we saw today…….. I’m not sure of the rush to send him packing, as far as a backup Center defender I’m not sure who you would want that wouldn’t complain about playing time and still give you quality…. Edmilson, Ezquerro, Oleguer are basically non-entities and not even worth mentioning as they are as good as gone…. But if Mourinho comes, We’ll want Deco as those two have and will work well together, and Not sure why we should give up on Marquez also a valuable player when healthy, as he can cover DM too if Yaya is injured ala today….. Get us a Coach, Get Messi healthy, get the team a proper training routine and in shape, and please get us a difference maker (in a positive sense) in goal…..

  We have a killer core with Messi, Bojan, Iniesta, Yaya all under 25, Sammy in his prime etc. Anyway enough ranting… I’m sickened by this……

• Blaugrana // Mar 21, 2008 at 0:14

  Where do we go from here now with this performance shalke are gona have a field day on us, if money or rijkaard can’t motivate these playerz wen the chips are down wat can?

• Hilal // Mar 21, 2008 at 0:15

  Sickening, nothing more to say. Who still thinks we can win anything with Rijkaard at the helm!?!? Well at least I wont have to hear the excuse that we are still in 3 competitions anymore!

  This is what he had to say after the game:
  “I do not think the team can be accused of not trying as we played better, but we did concede some easy goals. But I am proud of the way the players worked and it is a difficult time for them now, but I have no regrets in that sense,”

  I think that is EXACTLY what the players should be accused of! The fact that he can come out and say he is proud of the awful display we just saw is actually disturbing. Maybe he’ll come to his senses now and try something new so we can win a few games before the end of the season. (yeah right)

• Shakalero // Mar 21, 2008 at 0:31

  I thought we were going to win La Copa this year, at least. Now I think we should be happy if Villarreal doesn’t overtake 2nd place from us. Another year without a trophy. I hope they read this and the shame will make them win the CL.

• Varughese // Mar 21, 2008 at 1:42

  Its really sad. Stop blaming Rijkaard all the time. the players are not trying. bringing jose, will it change anything? he don’t know how to handle a super star squad. always remember that the egos are under check because everyone is having a torrid season. i have told it earlier also we are not passing well. because of that we are giving away ball cheaply. This season again could be trophy less season.

• Winterhunt // Mar 21, 2008 at 2:13

  Say what you want about Jose, and believe me I’ve never been able to stand the guy, but his teams never gave up when they got down, and they always seemed to find a way to will themselves to a victory…. Also, I’m no Chelski fan, (I’m not sure who I hate more Chelski or Liverpool or Man U and Ferguson…. pretty much can’t stand any Brit teams….), but to say Chelski has no stars is absurd…. Drogba, Lampard, Essien, Terry, Cole etc etc…. not crazy about those guys but you can’t say that they are not stars….. Look he won the Champion’s League with Porto, He completelt transformed Chelski, can’t stand him but always respected his teams and always have thought he got every ounce out of them, and his players loved him….. I am so sick of us passively losing and accepting it with so much talent at our disposal, and a really attractive Club and city that will attract just about any player we want and also the finances to pay for them….. This is just unacceptable…. I love you Frank but our guys need some discipline, some strategy that is not so predictable that everyone knows exactly how to play us……. I AM SICK!!!!!!

• Hilal // Mar 21, 2008 at 2:33

  Varughese, its not the players, its the manger. It is Rijkaards job to motivate the players, it is his job to make sure they give their all when they play, its his job to make sure training is good enough to ensure they are fit, it is his job to make sure the defense is organized so we dont concede shambolic goals, it is his job to make good tactical decisions. He has failed in all these points. How do you expect our players to perform at their best when they are being played out of position game in, game out. Iniesta is NOT A WINGER, he is a midfielder, Bojan is NOT A WINGER, he is a striker and guess who also is not a winger, HENRY! Yes once in a while you can play somebody out of position, but to do it every week is going to weaken that player. Look what happened to Messi when Rijkaard decided to play him down the middle for a month, he was completely ineffective, he stopped scoring goals and he lost a bit of confidence as a result. Rijkaard is a stubborn coach who only knows one system and is willing to sacrifice all the best qualities of our players in order to accommodate his increasingly predictable system. Stop defending the indefensible. The players have lost faith in him and that was more than clear today. Its over

  I guarantee that Mourinho would get the best of every player on that pitch, say what you want about his personality and his tactics, his players give their ALL, 100% EVERY GAME! I live in the UK and I watch Chelsea a lot, under Mourinho they may not have played attractive football, but the commitment, heart and desire he got from his players was unrivaled. Now that he has gone, so has that fire. Our fire left with Ten Cate, it gets proven every game we play without him. Together they were a force, Rijkaard without Ten Cate does not work. People always look at Chelsea as an example, but all he did was coach to their strengths, which were physicality and directness. Mourinho will coach to the strength of his team. Go watch some early Porto games, they played attractive enough football with nowhere near the quality we have. He will do exactly what we need, he will get rid of the dead weight, he will organize our defense and he will motivate our players to no end. Players like Messi, Iniesta, Eto’o, Bojan and Henry will always play attractive football. Not that I think Mourinho will come, I reckon he’s off to Italy, we probably missed our chance to get him. Would have been nice though!

• blaugranafan // Mar 21, 2008 at 3:15

  I am glad to see that some are learning how to cut losses and take corrective action. But are there really still people out there supporting Rijkaard??? Incredible.

  Varughese–Poor passing and an inability to keep possession is the fault of both players and coaches. Yes, it is the players who must execute on the field, but it is the coaches that make sure the training and preparation is adequate to successful execution.

  And for the record–we may still technically be “in” two competitions, but we won’t win them. If we end up with the league, it will be because Madrid lost it, not because we won it. And Barca as Frank currently have them playing are a pancake waiting to be flattened by the Man Utd steamroller.

  A pity Guddy didn’t fare well today. He was doing well before Frank yanked him without justification to play Deco.

• Hilal // Mar 21, 2008 at 3:25

  Blaugranafan it surprised me too that people could still defend him. He has done so many things wrong this season and so consistently if I had to list them all now I would be here all night!

  As for the two competitions, we will be lucky to get past Shalke at this rate and to be honest I dont think I want to. Do you know what Man Utd would do to our defense right now? I dont think the word embarrassing would suffice. I have a lot of friends who are man u fans and they would never let me live it down. Liverpool last year was bad enough, I still get shit for that….

  Also completely agree with you about Guddy and Deco. I think it is so unfair what he did to guddy. He started playing so well and then got yanked for no reason and replaced by a semi-fit Deco and then not played once till deco was injured again. Then ppl wonder why he isnt playing well, players need to play and when a player is playing well you dont stop playing him just to make one of your stars happy. Yet another reason Rijkaard should leave!

• Shahenshah // Mar 21, 2008 at 4:04

  Honestly, none of the barca players wanted the win today. Who is to blame? The players or Rijkaard? I dont know. I dont give a shit. All I know is something is wrong with the team.

  Bojan cannot play on the right. He was stopped everytime he got the ball. However when he was moved to the middle he looked so much better. Second half his gameplay improved by a ton.

  Henry basically gave up before he even got on. Limitless throughballs and crosses to him and he didnt even make an effort. He only started trying after he scored his goal………or perhaps after valencia came back and shut barca’s hopes down in under a minute. Its not like he doesnt have his speed. He totally outran arizmendi all the way back to the his box to snatch the ball away. He has the speed but he is too lazy to use it.

  Toure should not have played today. I admire and respect his commitment but he was no where near his usual self. Its pretty difficult to play with a messed up back.

  I have never seen Barcelona perform so shit offensively. No one was making any runs to create space. You cant beat a tightly marked defence by just standing there posing for esquire magazine.

  No one wanted the victory today until the last 15 minutes.

• Winterhunt // Mar 21, 2008 at 4:05

  Hilal, I think that if we really want Mourinho, then we will get him. I think Mancini will stay on at Inter, and I think that Mourinho has something to prove in regards to returning to Barca after being the translator, and now becoming the head coach. Also, I think the chance to replace Frank would be something he relishes because of their rivalry. Two other factors, just the sheer amount of talent we have (as well as the resources to get far more if needed), and the fact that he is accused of not playing attractivee football which he would at Barca because he has the personnel to. You rightly pointed out that he played the style he played at Chelsea because that what was the strength of the players he had…… What a novel idea, actually using your players strengths as oppossed to trying to squeeze square pegs into round holes….. Excellent points you made about how many players Frank has continually played out of position. Also the disorganisation of our defense, especially with the talent we have back there, and especially on set pieces….. this would never, ever be acceptable under Mourinho, yet we’ve been watching it for two years straight, and even with a talent upgrade the problem has not gotten any better…… And then our fitness, and amount of nagging injuries, sprains, muscle tears, etc coupled with how often we run out of gas at the end of games and concede leads, just screams of too lax a fitness training policy…. I really am sorry to say this as I wanted so badly for him to turn it around, and prove everyone wrong, but it is time for Frank to go, and for Laporta to do what is best for the club and get Mourinho….. It really is sad, because talent-wise we should be the best team in Europe, as even teams like Man U would kil for guys that can’t crack our starting lineup like Gio, Deco and Ferguson would sell his own Mother to have Sammy, and we have so much and do so little with it….. Nothing worse than seeing talent go to waste……

• layi // Mar 21, 2008 at 4:09

  rijkaard is a very funny guy, i’ll just like to sit down with him whether i can get some satisfyin answer…cab u remember just before the second goal, xavi contrived to lose the ball, then like 3 valencia players ran past him for the counter and he and gudjohnsen were just strollin leaving the defenders left on their own, thats a perfect example of our mentality right now

  where are the ‘we are still in 2 cups’, ‘almeria is a hard team’, ‘villareal didn’t deserve the match’, ‘athletico is a hard team’, barca were unlucky’, people
  dont get me wrong, im not going to lambast you, just wanna hear your point of view

• layi // Mar 21, 2008 at 4:17

  winterhunt, that has been my stand since when people were sayin the results were still manageable, there is nothing worse than seing talent go to waste…

  just look at the period when we started pressing valencia, at least they started runnin about more offensively even though it was still their laziness that caused the 3rd goal and numerous attempted counters but at least the offense was active, y can’t they always try to play like that rather than chillin like big boys throughout the match

  that guy abidal is so irritating now that i can vomit while watching him, always passing the ball away, jugging/walking backwards when there is a counter istead of runnin like a dog…just so irritating.

• FCB // Mar 21, 2008 at 4:30

  Ever since messi got injured….one tie and 3 losses…rijkaard is part of the problem but the players r just terrible rite now…wen they get the ball, their touches r just too heavy, their is no understanding between the players…messi doesnt solve all the probs but he gives the team lots of confidence. …two years ago when we won champions league and the league, i used to watch the games relaxed cuz i knew they would end up winning….this yr and last yr im always nervous wen i watch games. ppl say its cuz barca are predictable now, they need to change formation and shit! thats bullshit! two yrs ago i remember barca started the season terribly and marquez was like we r too predictable now, teams know what we r gonna do….than they ended up winning like 16 straight games which made them win the league and champions league….i know i shouldnt be comparing 2 yrs ago with now but this just shows its not about predictability or changing formations….this yr barca had two gr8 games against zaragoza (4-1) and celtic (3-2)…wut happened with predictability there?? its up to the players, they have the skills and they just need to find ways….if one way isnt working, they r experienced enuf to think of another way to attack…they r adults, they arent 6 yrs old….rijkaard makes the formation but the players should know how to dribble the ball which they cant do this yr. hopefully we’ll end the season in the best way possible

• Winterhunt // Mar 21, 2008 at 4:57

  You know, I hear you about Abidal but I’ve seen him be great, especially when he plays for France. Not to take the blame off of him but I think he, like the others, is mismanaged. I’m not sure that he really knows his role, or that it has been defined for him. This to me is a perfect example of where Mourinho would really benefit us, as there is no denying Abidal’s talent and pedigree, and I have seen him be not good but great…. Just watch him when France plays their friendly and you’ll see a completely different player. I think Frank’s laissez faire attitude has infected the team, so no one really knows their responsibilities….. But I know what you are feeling…. For some reason I have the exact same feeling for Valdes…. I know he is a far better keeper than most teams have but he just drives me nuts, as he always just looks so helpless and incompetent…. I’m actually really jealous (though I’m loathe to admit it) when I see Casillas play, and keep those guys in games they have no right being in, by making save after save after his defense has let him down….. With Valdes it seems to me that any breakdown in the defense, and he is helpless to bail them out….. But I am biased… I’m not sure why but I just cannot stand to even look at him….. and these days that goes for Zambrotta & Edmilson as well…. Look, we do have the core of an amazng team with Messi, Iniesta, Sammy, Bojan, Yaya…. all of those guys are arguably as good as anyone at their position on any team (well Bojan, not yet but his potential when played in the middle is off the charts….I mean the kid is 17…..17….crazy)….. So with a good, strong manager, and good personnel decisions we should be at the top for years to come… We do need to get rid of dead weight though, and we do need leadership in a Big Big Way……

• layi // Mar 21, 2008 at 5:18

  i agree with you, it all bothers down to rijkaard, the supposed manager….he should be in control, even xavi and iniesta close them quicker and actively in spain than in barca, likewise for other players..when abidal first came, he was almost perfect but now, he too has been infected with the laziness.

  i also agree with you that we have an amazing core(adding the wonderkids from the youth team) that if managed well can be devastating, thats the only thing consoling me now though i’m dissappointed that as other teams are increasing their trophy haul, we are not competing hard enough.

  also, at least now, we have resigned to the fact that they have a problem, so i’ll try not to be too pained about the rest of the season if it goes bad

• Joe Henry // Mar 21, 2008 at 9:03

  GO TO HELL RIJKAARD GO TO HELL. If we had a decent manger we would have one there goes the only trophy we could have one this year. If you love Barca Rijkaard leave now because your 100% the worst thing that could have happened to it at the moment

• blaugranaboy // Mar 21, 2008 at 9:03

  i have a lot to say but im not going to say it. i commented A LOT in that “let’s all cut our wrists” article. all i want to say, is where are the cheerleaders now???? all those people excusing and ignoring the problems, saying real fans dont complain. where u guys??? exactly. maybe now you are accepting the truth. about time. i agree with almost everything the above comments say. the only thing i dont is with VV, i know he has looked shaky lately, but in the past he has proven his pedigree. he has great reflexes and he is a local boy so replacing him wont be clever, it will affect the view of local fans and local players. the only other thing i want to say is that im not 100% sure its Rijkaard’s fault. i agree with all the pts above, and lately lots of his tactics and substiutions and his obvious lack to motivate is worrying. but just cause he plays playres out of position doesnt mean too much. ronaldinho wasnt a left winger when he came, but in the great years players would just run so much and move around, so it was just about 3 attacks, not so much strikers. but now, with the laziness, its not working. i want to ask what people think about this ronaldinho story?? that he isnt even injured and faking it. Cruyff made a mean comment towards it, and his word is golden. Does anyone think possibly he is the major problem, and his general bad attitude and depression is infecting other players around him? I think there is major issues between players, and that is really causing major problems. But a major offload is necessary. And people are SOOOO right about Adibal and Zambrotta, they look awful. Zambrotta never really has done well, but how can two players ranked world class in their position be playing like this. We need to sell Zambrotta, Edmilson, Marquez, Gudi, Edmilson, Ezquerro, and Deco no doubt. And I think its either Dinho or Rijkaard. Cant see both staying.

• blaugranaboy // Mar 21, 2008 at 9:05

  and its disgraceful the money Henry is earning and his performances. I wont mind letting him go too. But maybe new managemetn can change him.

• Joe Henry // Mar 21, 2008 at 9:09

  Come on mate i mean. the way I see it Henry was a super star under Arsenal Winger it all comes down to our ass Rijkaard god he is an idiot .

• John // Mar 21, 2008 at 9:18

  Again another weak performance… The fact the team are playing so badly is down to bad management… At it is heart there a massive problems which most of us are not aware of… The only way that this will change is whether Laporta has the guts to replace Rijkaard… So far he is still saying he has faith in Rijkaard… His (Laporta) players charter, offers of extra cash have come to nought… A side that conquered all two years ago is failing apart at the seems… Laporta needs to act and make changes! It is obvious to any Barca fan massive problems exist… if changes are not made then things will carry on…. the players also have to take some of the responsibility! To be devoid of any effort like they were last night was a disgrace!!! In some ways it would have been better if we’d have drawn a Man Utd or Chelsea in Champaions League as they will beat us and beat us well! the draw and Schalke will merely put off the inevitable unless we lose to them!!! Laporta can the dispense with the bullshit about having two compeititons to chase… (The domestic compeitions have been lost) and get Jose in to replace Rijkaard…

  What I really fear happening is this…. Laporta does nothing Madrid replace Schuster with Mourinho and for the next however many years.. Madrid dominate…. Mourinho will not F**c about, wherever he goes…he will bring success and a winning mentality… a great examaple of this was in the first game at Stamford Bridge between Barca and Chelsea… Ferreira was taken of at half time by Mourinho, the reason for him being taken of was not his performance, but because he asked for Ronaldinho shirt as they left the pitch at the end of the half.. Mourinho felt that this showed the wrong mentality and sent the wrong message to the players… so he took him off!! (can you imagine Rijkaard doing that, no, he is just let Ronaldinho miss half of the training sessions last season and still picked him. Can you imagine Mourinho letting that happen… somehow not! ) As we all know Chelsea went on to knock Barca out…. (I wont go on about the foul on Valdes for the fourth goal.. that should have meant the goal was dis-allowed)

  Barca need someone and instill some leadership, values, pride, responsibililty and hard work. Too many players are coasting…. we have world class players who at the moment are anything but world class! The only two teams we have beaten in the last month are bottom placed Levante and Celtic ( who are from one the weakest leagues in Europe) any half decent side has got a result against us! CHANGES ARE REQUIRED

• Dr.Osmo // Mar 21, 2008 at 11:37

  Txiki and Rijkaard out

• Taras // Mar 21, 2008 at 12:21

  No. NO! NO!!! I can’t believe it! Such a poor game for us. I have guessed the score but failed to guess the winner team.

• Zeshan // Mar 21, 2008 at 13:35

  Bring in The special one we need him ! sorry frank you had a great run but barca needs a change I Feeel sooo sick today !

• Hilal // Mar 21, 2008 at 18:06

  John I fear exactly the same thing you do regarding Mourinho, especially after what Laporta said after the game. I really hate to say this but I hope we dont progress past Shalke, there is no way we are beating man utd anyways so if we get knocked out by Shalke at least Laporta will have no choice but to act. I worry, very much like you, that we will get past Shalke and maybe gain a few points on Madrid and Laporta will not give Mourinho any sort of guarantee for next season and we will lose out to Milan or even worse….Real. The only thing that keeps me a little optimistic that Mourinho wont go to Real is their track record with managers. Mourinho will not like the idea that he could be sacked after only 1 year even if he wins the league like capello did and probably like schuster will as well.

• Nic // Mar 21, 2008 at 18:53

  I feel the problems are a lot more complex than just saying it is the manager’s fault or the players fault, and unfortunately these problems lie much deeper which ultimately makes them more difficult to change. One of the things we all admire about British teams is the never say die attitude that makes it possible for both Man United and Liverpool to make impossible comebacks to win Champions League Finals. That never say die attitude is also ingrained in their supporters (of course the word supporter in itself means someone who backs his team). We would do well to learn from them.
  My opinions on who should leave the club will come at the appropriate time, which is at the end of the season.
  There are a lot of fair points made above and it’s impossible for me to comment on every point made but one comment made me very sad. Blaugranaboy, what do you gain by saying:
  “where are the cheerleaders now???? all those people excusing and ignoring the problems, saying real fans dont complain. where u guys??? exactly. maybe now you are accepting the truth. about time.”

• morzzan // Mar 21, 2008 at 19:32

  hey my prediction was correct!!!!!

• Zeshan // Mar 21, 2008 at 19:51

  Why does everbody is saying that we will get beaten by man. utd they are not god in this game if barca gets back on winning streak again we will be favorite against them Visca el barca

• Hilal // Mar 21, 2008 at 20:04

  Zeshan, have you been watching Man utd lately? I watch them play every week and trust me when i tell you, they are the LAST team we want to face. We have conceded 11 goals in 4 games. NOT one of those teams can even come close to the attacking quality that man utd possess. Not a chance mate, in the form we are in now, we are screwed. It would take a turnaround of epic proportions and while I WOULD LOVE to believe it is possible I have seen enough from Rijkaard to know that nothing will change between now and then. Nothing has changed in the last 18 months, why would it change now?

• Shahenshah // Mar 21, 2008 at 20:33

  What are these players doing with their lives?

  Even Laporta tried to motivate these players with extra money. Did it work? Aw hells no.

  I honestly dont think all blame should be put on Rijkaard. The players are to blame too. Its their responsibility to step up on the field and show their maturity.

  These guys are not pre-schoolers who need someone to hold their hand and breast feed them every step of the way. The coach explains his ideas to them in the locker room and its upto them to execute these plans on the field to perfection.

  The great ronaldinho was benched by rijkaard for many games because his form was absolutely piss poor. It was not like he went upto ronaldinho and said “hey man, you can go get shitfaced drunk all night and not show up to practices and I will still let you play”.

  I am not saying Rijkaard is completely innocent here. He is definitely to blame on Barcelona’s poor form at the moment. However, its not just his head that should come under the guillotine.

• voonte // Mar 21, 2008 at 20:41

  As much disappointment I felt after this game makes me feel equally angry towards reactions like “let’s hope we don’t do any more progress this season so Laporta really understands how much this team suck, so we can get the coach/players we want and everything will be ok again”. Everybody can see that Barcelona is having problems so there’s no way Laporta doesn’t know about it. But Laporta is smarter than making too quick changes. Just look at Valencia. Besides this win, they are really having a tough time. (which made this loss even tougher for us..)

  And blaugranaboy, grow up.

• Hilal // Mar 21, 2008 at 21:20

  Shahenshah of course not and I do not think anybody is saying the coach is the only one to blame. The players have a huge responsibility and they are letting us all down, that being said a great coach would never stand for this behavior from his players. As for Ronaldinho, there were long periods of time where he didnt train, he partied all night and he still started most games. It is only recently that Rijkaard has been more strict with him, but its far too little far too late.

  If you think about it from the perspective of the players you can’t blame them that much. They are getting paid lots of money, they dont have to play exceptionally well and they still get a pat on the back even when they perform badly. It is no coincidence that the few players who play well week in, week out are the barca bred players. The ones who are playing for pride and the glory of the club. Football players are influenced by money and in a way they are like children and they do have to be kept in line. Look at what Capello did at Madrid in a single season. He took a team, with players a lot less motivated than ours, and turned them into a proper fighting team. They may not have played well but they fought to the death every game. That is what we are lacking. Look at Abidal, when he first arrived he was driven and hungry, he would run endlessly. Now look at him, he is lazy and slow, why should he run his ass off if he doesnt have to? It also points to a bad training regiment because it could also be that he was fitter at the beginning of the season. All of our players seem lazy or unfit, either way they are not being pushed as athletes at their level need to be pushed. In every sport the manager will push his players to their limits in order to get the best out of them. Rijkaard does not do that and the team is suffering for it.

• morzzan // Mar 21, 2008 at 21:39

  Mourinho, Mourinho!!! What is the matter with everybody??? Mourinho will do this, mourinho will do that, what did he do at Chelsea? He plays boring football, the most boring football on the planet!!!! With the “superstars” he had, what did he accomplish? Did he win the champions league? No he did not. Rijkaard was the same person who defeated him. The camp Nou faithful will jeer him even if he wins some silverware. I doubt whether he will be ellected as the coach though. There is more of a chance of someone else being more successful. But, I still have faith in Rijkaard, he is withoutdoubt one ofthe best coaches in the world! Better than Mourinho, it wasnt like his coaching was the reason for his success in England, it was mainlybecause of the players that he had. This is untrue as far as Porto is concerned, but then he did not have the best players there but somehow managed them well. Dont think that will surely work when a team filled with superstars is concerned. So definitely Mourinho is not the sloution.
  The players are not getting their act together. They play as if someone is making them to. The team definitely does not hard. No flowing passes, no dribbling, no kind of finishing whatsoever!

• morzzan // Mar 21, 2008 at 21:44

  And Zeshan, Man United will without doubt DESTROY barcelona if they play against them like they are persently doing. Ronaldo and Tevez, oh my god, will without doubt rip Barca apart!!!

• layi // Mar 21, 2008 at 21:59

  hilal, i agree with you on most of your points…it might not be rijkaard’s fault only but if u know why they are called ‘managers’, you’ll agree he should carry most of the blame.

  about mourinho, i really hate him but i wont mind if he was brought for even only a month to help us fish out the bad eggs and implement worldclass activities. ive been thinkin of other possible alternatives, there are not that much..any ideas?????how i wished rijkaard discovered himself, just wish i could rewind the last 18 months to give him another chance but to go through another one will be very hard

• Hilal // Mar 21, 2008 at 23:05

  Laudrup, the current Getafe coach would be an excellent replacement. Some of the football Getafe have been playing this season has far surpassed the quality of player that they have and that can only be down to the coach! I have heard a lot of great things about him, he is an ex barca player (always good) and he loves to play attacking football. The only thing im not sure about is if he can discipline a team properly because that is what we need right now! Also his resume is not that great so i am not sure if Laporta would take a risk on him. With Mourinho you know what you are getting.

• layi // Mar 21, 2008 at 23:08

  yes laudrup is good too, tot about him too

  there are very very very few rijkaards perfect for barca…oh rijkaard, what went wrong

• Youssef Gazia // Mar 21, 2008 at 23:12

  Good game, Pitty we couldnt seal it off. Are we nothing without Messi?

  ”2008 will be our year” - Andres Inieasta.
  Visca el Barca…

• layi // Mar 21, 2008 at 23:14

  2008 hasn’t ended…lol

• Youssef Gazia // Mar 22, 2008 at 1:06

  I understand that layi, but it doesnt look a very bright year, does it?

  if u know me, barca is a integral part of my life, when they lose my entire day is a loss, when they win, u catch the drift. Barca isnt justa ‘fling’ for me, in any case ……this is how it used to be done in the good days

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVnPaYa8rlE

  watch and reminence..

• Bob // Mar 22, 2008 at 2:38

  DANG seriously you people hate on the wrong players……… RAFA what can he??? do u want him to get a leg of steel and go in the field???? when did the wrong results started??? when he got injured you people are in crack and rkjaard has to go and bring mourinho in ,,,GIO,GUDDY,ZAMBROTTA, VALDES, HENRY,RKJAARRD,THURAM,MILITO,AND EDMILSON HAVE TO GO AND BRING IN SOME REAL SHIT THAT WILL KILL THEMSELVES LIKE PUYOL DOES AND SHOWS HOW MUCH THEY GETS ON THE BANK!!!!!!

• layi // Mar 22, 2008 at 4:24

  i was jokin youssef..

• layi // Mar 22, 2008 at 4:24

  but 2006 was better than the days you were depicting

• Hilal // Mar 22, 2008 at 4:47

  I wish i could tell you layi, i used to love him too! I always thought he was so clever, but he has been exposed now, the truth is unfolding. He had Ten Cate at his side, he had players who WANTED to give their all every game, he had desire. Now they are all gone and he is powerless. Sadly i do not think 2008 will be our year.

  I would actually prefer Laudrup to Mourinho because of his style, but i dont think it will happen just because of his lack of big team experience. With the pressure Laporta will be under i dont think we would risk a relative unknown. In that case i think Mourinho is the next best thing. Who else? Lippi, no thank you. Van Basten is not in the running anymore

• FCB - Canada // Mar 22, 2008 at 5:49

  For you layi.

  http://www.dailymotion.com/related/6884205/video/x2plfx_cl-0506-barcelona-all-goals_sport

• Shahenshah // Mar 22, 2008 at 16:51

  They could give laudrup a shot. Rijkaard didnt have much experience if not any at all when he showed up at Barca.

• layi // Mar 22, 2008 at 21:06

  we’ll have to wait till the season end for us to know the way forward

• layi // Mar 22, 2008 at 21:12

  thanks for the remembrance, fcb-canada….the days will come again soon hopefully

• Merv // Mar 23, 2008 at 6:21

  Did someone ask for a cheerleader? Sorry to chime in so late on the subject but due to family obligations I had to record the game and watch it at a much later date. I will say this, it has been terrible staying away from the Sports news and computer for fear of seeing the score. I hate to watch a game where I already know the outcome. In hindsight some might say I wasted my time.

  That being said, my stance hasn’t changed even with the disappointment of being knocked out of the Copa. The team and manager still have my full backing even though the season is not going the way I had hoped.

  I’m not so naive as to think there aren’t any problems. Of course there are. What exactly they might be, I have no idea. It could be so many things it boggles the mind, aside from the obvious ones the media are so quick to put into extra large bold font across their papers.

  Watching the game was still exciting for me though. Even when we went 2 down I thought to myself there was still plenty of time to even things out. My 3 year old fell asleep in my lap while watching the game. When Henry scored with the header I was punching the air with my fist and stiffling my yells. When Eto’o scored the second goal with a little over 10 minutes remaining I still believed we had a chance. Of course, I was very dissapointed when the final whistle blew. I toted my son to bed with a heavy heart and mixed emotions.

  Maybe my optimism for the team makes people believe I look at them through rose-colored glasses. Perhaps I do. But I also look at them as people. Not a single person is perfect. Perhaps I have to much compassion for the “human factor’. Maybe there is not much room for it in professional sports. I honestly don’t know because I’ve never followed any sport before this. It’s just the way I am….

  Many pundits say that Frank will be gone at the end of the season as if it’s a foregone conclusion. I’ve even heard one show say that Henry would be leaving, though he has come out and said different. There are so many rumors it gets disconcerting.

  For all the comments calling for a new manager and saying what team members should leave and that Barca deserve nothing… it’s all well and good if that is what you want say because I understand the frustration. All I can do is speak for myself because at the end of the day the Club is going to “get on with it” however they decide to “get on with it”. They will appoint whomever they decided to manage the club. The manager will still decide the starting 11 and the formation they are going to play and the rest is left up to the players on the pitch. So for me and me alone, complaining about it is futile. I choose to back Frank and the team and say that Barca deserve whatever they get. If they go on to win the CL then I believe they will have to win against some very strong sides and they will absolutely deserve it. If they don’t…..well they don’t. Same with La Liga. Whatever happens I’ll be here waving my imaginary pom poms.

  

• layi // Mar 23, 2008 at 22:42

  merv, the problem is that other supporters like me are more ambitious for the team unlike you that is more laid back….its just contrastin styles, dont listen to what they say to you…just do what you do as you stated

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