March 2008 - Posts

• Who is to blame for Barca going out of the Cup?

  Rijkaard once again changed the players in the team but there were still the same problems, finally do you think it is the system which is wrong and they are too predictable for the opposition? Henry was left on the bench and Gudjohnsen was given a starting place but the team looked slow and disinterested until the last 20 minutes. Rijkaard looks like he has lost his ability to motivate the players and maybe it is time to play say a 4-4-2 at times with Henry and Eto'o up front which is the way that Henry says he wants to play. Posted Mar 21 2008, 11:26 AM by Tim with 4 comment(s)

• Do you think it was right to leave Ronaldinho out for Valencia game?

  After all the controversy involving Ronaldinho recently he has now been left out of the Barca team to face Valencia in the cup. The club published a medical report showing that there was nothing wrong with Ronaldinho after he had been claiming of injury suggesting that he does not want to play. Do you think that is the case that he isn't interested anymore or do you think the club has put too much pressure on him recently and not given him support? Posted Mar 20 2008, 10:25 AM by Tim with 1 comment(s)

• English teams dominate draw but Barca are favourites

  Everyone has been talking about the success of the English teams in the Champions League this season with all four sides getting throuh to the quarter-finals while Spain and Italy both only have one representative. It reflects the way the Premiership is dominating football with its extra financial muscle and it looks as though Barcelona this season is the only realistic opponent to them. Barcelona is a success story for club that still remains in the hands of the members - socios - and has not sold out to big money. If you look at the English teams in the draw the only one which hasn't got a foreign owner is Arsenal and even they are partly owned by Americans. Barca make their money through a global base of fans who support the team for what they represent and not from money moguls from overseas. The big question though is whether Barca are capable of stopping the English sides this season. Looking at sheer ability then the answer of course is yes because Barca have a side which can match any but let's face it they are a long way off their best. Players are out of form and Messi is injured. It's probably a good thing that they are playing a weaker side in the next round as at least this gives the team time to find its form for later in the season for the crunch matches.         Posted Mar 14 2008, 09:32 AM by Tim with 3 comment(s)

• Barca got the best draw with Schalke?

  It looks like Barca got lucky with the draw today as it looks as though Schalke are the weakest team in the draw but they have to be careful as it won't be an easy tie. I think Manchester United are the toughest team for Barca because they are the team in form at the moment where as Arsenal have been struggling with injuries and I don't think Chelsea or Liverpool have been so convincing. It will be an interesting game for United though against Roma but Barca can't afford to look any further ahead than the Schalke game. Posted Mar 14 2008, 09:26 AM by Tim with 1 comment(s)

• What is wrong with Barca?

  Except for Xavi and maybe Iniesta the whole team seems to be struggling at the moment, the play is too slow and there is no real desire. Ronaldinho's decline has been incredible from a top player to a joke, I can't remember the last time he actually beat a player. Henry similarly has been terrible and doesn't even look like he cares on the pitch, most of the time he just stands around watching and nothing else. Ok he may be good at encouraging the other players especially the kids coming through but is that what you pay 16m for, I don't think so. Rijkaard also seems to be basking in his previous success. Posted Mar 10 2008, 04:54 AM by Tim with 6 comment(s)