Time for Barça to Take Charge.

After 18 games, FC Barcelona sit four points clear at the top of La Liga. They are La Liga’s Winter Champions, which is a nice label. But the Blaugrana faithful know that Winter Champions don’t get trophies in the trophy cabinet.

Happy New Year everybody. Barça are back in action this Saturday after enjoying a holiday break. They return to action enjoying a nice four-point cushion ahead of their archrival, Real Madrid. After a wobbly October, Barça made amends for those poor losses to Sevilla and Real Madrid that threatened to derail the season early. Although you don’t win the league early in the season, you can absolutely lose it.

Thankfully, Barça did what contenders do, and they fought back instead of hanging their heads low. An eight-game winning streak in La Liga flipped the narrative, pushed them past Madrid, and put them where they belong, as league leaders.

Right now, Barça look like a team that has found its mojo again. Although the concerns about the high press continue to linger, the team seems to have health, and momentum in their favor. Currently, the entire squad is almost healthy. Furthermore, the intensity is there, the legs are fresher, and the football seems to have a purpose.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid are wobbling. Performances have lacked authority, and they seem a couple of bad results away from unraveling with their manager’s future questioned. The recent Mbappé injury only tilts the balance further in Barça’s favor. Momentum in football is fragile, and this is the moment for Barça to take advantage and take charge.

Barça open the new year away at Espanyol in the Derbi Barceloní. These games are never simple, and Espanyol have been solid this season. That’s exactly why it’s the perfect test. A chance to set the tone for the second half of the campaign.

Barça are to compete for La Liga, Copa Del Rey, Super Copa and the UEFA Champions League in the next few months.  It’s time to get the results to put more pressure on Real Madrid and other rivals. Playing back at the Camp Nou, even if at half capacity, still an advantage. However, there has to be an emphasis on rotating the players to keep them fresh, especially Lamine Yamal who has to be taken care of and not stretched thin by club and country. The 18-year-old Lamine Yamal is a rising star who finished as the runner up for the title of the best player in the world. His a phenom whose talent is undeniable but whose long-term health is non-negotiable. Brilliance means nothing if it burns out too soon. In order for Barça to have another successful season, the likes of Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha, Cubarsi and others have to be properly taken care of when it comes to minutes played. 

The Buccaneers Are a Sinking Ship.

 

Winning is the best deodorant in sports. It covers everything. Win ugly, and nobody cares how it smelled. But the Buccaneers aren’t even doing that anymore. Lately, they’re losing ugly and there’s no masking that.

In prior years, the Bucs would finish the season on a hot streak. However, this season, the Bucs are mired in a four-game losing streak and have dropped seven of its last eight. That’s not a slump. That’s a collapse. Saturday’s game against the Carolina Panthers is a must-win — winner takes the division, unless the Falcons have something to say about it. But even the stakes don’t feel dramatic anymore.

The team is a mess. The offense has actually been alright. It has been productive, but it’s also been careless. Turnovers at the worst time have been the offense’s worst self-inflicted wounds. Perhaps if the Bucs rested Baker Mayfield a few games instead of having him out there getting battered could have prevented some of the turnovers. As for the other side of the line, the defense has been atrocious. They are not dominating teams and without causing turnovers, the defense just is part of the show. All season long, the Bucs have given up big plays and have been guilty of missed assignments and missed tackles. Quite frankly, no one is intimidated when they face the Bucs. For a team built around defense and coached by a defensive-minded head coach, that’s unforgivable. Even the special teams have been team players in also playing poorly. Injuries were an excuse in the past but everyone is back and the team still looks the same.

The interesting factor here is that, for once, many fans won’t even be angry if the Bucs lose and miss the playoffs. Even if Tampa sneaks into the postseason, no one expects them to do anything. Just an early exit and a waste of talent. The fans don’t care and are tired of this team’s direction under head coach Todd Bowles.

Under Todd Bowles, the ceiling is painfully clear.  This ship is sinking, and staying afloat just long enough to delay the inevitable isn’t success; it’s denial. At some point, the Bucs either fix the foundation or stop pretending duct tape is a solution. The Buccaneers don’t need another cosmetic win. They need a new direction, and the longer they wait, the deeper the water gets in this sinking ship.

Bucs Still Look Familiar.

Another year, another déjà vu season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Midway through the season, the Bucs are now 6-4. We are back to watching the Bucs go through the routine pattern under head coach Todd Bowles.  With seven games to go, will the Bucs finish the season the same way they have the last few seasons under Bowles?

At this point, watching the Bucs under Todd Bowles the last few seasons feels like tuning into an ’80s TV classic — something like Knight Rider or The A-Team. Sure, they are exciting to watch, but after a few seasons, it got repetitive and stale. That’s what Bucs fans are dealing with now. Under Bowles, the Bucs kick off the season in impressive fashion and then go on a losing streak a late-season hot streak to win the division and get to the playoffs.

This year, the Bucs are doing the same thing. The Bucs started the season on a winning note. Sure, it involved last minute heroics by beating teams they should beat. The Bucs were once 6-2 and now they are 6-4 and should they lose to the Rams tonight, they will be 6-5, and on a three-game losing streak.

The team’s inconsistent performances only deepen the frustration. One week, the offense shows up firing while the defense seems lost. The next week, the defense is showing up while the offense struggles to get going.  Obviously, injuries to some key players doesn't help, but one can only hope everyone shows up for the Bucs on game day.

Will this season be another typical Bowles season that started with promise, slipped into the same old rut, with fans now expecting a late surge to win their division and get to the playoffs? Overall, what the Bucs are doing is not a recipe for real success. Until something changes at the top, Tampa Bay fans may be stuck watching the same old show that they have been watching. All we are left with is a cycle that the Bucs can’t seem to break, which is unfortunate since it will be a waste of talent that the Bucs are blessed with.

Barça’s Big Reality Check.

 

Barça’s season suffered a big reality check after their 2-1 loss away to Real Madrid. This result confirmed that Barça are nowhere near as good as they were last season. Their results have been disappointing and at times lucky. There is a strike contrast between last season and this season, and unless things change, expectations for success should be low.

El Clasico is the game of the century, even if it might be played a few times a season. This past Sunday was a litmus test to see how good Madrid are, and also how good Barça truly are. However, this test was to be a difficult one with all of the injured players missing this clash. What wasn’t needed was the bulletin board material from Lamine Yamal to provoke the Blaugrana’s archrivals.

Lamine Yamal went on a show, with Barça legend Pique being a part of, before the big game, and made a throwaway comment that the Madrid media made a bigger deal out of it. Supposedly, that comment also became locker-room fuel for Madrid. In a big game, it’s best to do your talking on the pitch. A lesson learned by the young star but what was more disappointing was how no one from the club, or Lamine’s agent would have advised against appearing on any program before the big match. Moreover, one would expect Pique to think that an appearance by Lamine on his show before a big game would not be a great idea, but then again, Pique is also known for making many blunders.

Barca’s loss to Madrid was not surprising based on their performance. They were not the better side in the first half and only played better in the second half, after Madrid’s level of performance dropped. The starting lineup and tactics by Hansi Flick were wrong, and it didn’t help that he could be pitch side because of his suspension from last week’s sending off.

Players were flat and Flick’s insistence on playing with a high line — a tactic that has been exposed repeatedly this season by lesser teams, hindered their performance. Madrid’s plan to press high worked with Barça being forced into errors, yet the team continued to play out from the back. Barça needed to go long, relieve the pressure, and fight for second balls. Instead, they played straight into the trap.

It is never easy to win when you are missing key starters, but every team has to deal with that problem. A major disappointment this season has been the lack of fitness and the number of injuries, which is quite a contrast from last season. Last season, Barça hired Julio Tous as head of fitness training and he was praised to the high heavens on how this team was so intense and running hard. Fast forward to today and the spark is gone, so what has changed?

Barça didn’t spend the summer playing in the FIFA Club World Cup like Real Madrid. However, the Blaugrana somehow looked exhausted. Meanwhile, Madrid, with more minutes and travel in their legs, looked fresher, faster, and hungrier. Injuries have taken a toll but some players have also

failed to deliver this season.

In a big clash as this one, Barça seemed passive and more of a finesse team, while Madrid seemed gritty and determined to run like hell. Madrid’s energy died down in the second half but Barça couldn’t raise their intensity and capitalize on it. Koundé in particular appears sluggish, without a spark. Defensively he has been ho-hum but offensively, he has been a nonfactor. His wasted scoring chance in the second was deflating to the team and the fans.

We can discuss the bad officiating but that is a weak excuse. There is something deeply wrong with this club. Players look off the pace, they concede too many scoring chances, and they are not effective when they possess the ball. Hansi Flick has to make the correct adjustments, and hopefully things will improve when he has everyone back healthy, However, it was just announced that Pedri is now injured, and he was the standout player this season. Time is running out and although you don’t win the league title in October, you can just as well lose it.

Lady Luck Smiles on Barça.

After months of battling adversity, FC Barcelona have reclaimed what belonged to them; top of La Liga. Prior to the New Year, with rivals Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid breathing down Barça’s necks, it seemed Lady Luck was nowhere to be found. However, after a series of nail-biting encounters, fortunate breaks, and sheer resilience, it appears Lady Luck was smiling as Barça are in pole position for domestic and possible European glory once again.

This current season under Hansi Flick has been anything but boring. After 11 matches, the Blaugrana enjoyed a 6-point lead over Real Madrid and a 10-point lead over Atlético Madrid. Six matches later, Barça’s lead all but evaporated and were in third place in La Liga standings, with a soul crushing 2-1 loss at home to Atlético before the winter break. However, Barça are back as La Liga leaders, ahead of Real Madrid because of a tiebreaker and four points ahead of Atlético Madrid.

Lady Luck smiled on Barça as Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid squandered an eight point and six-point lead respectively, allowing the Blaugrana to capitalize and reclaim the league’s top spot. With eleven rounds to the end of the competition, Barça control their destiny again.

Lady Luck also continued to favor Barcelona in the Champions League. Barça finished second in the League Stage, with late wins against Borussia Dortmund and then the last second winner in the penultimate match against Benfica where they managed to overcome a 4-2 lead by scoring three times in the final 22 minutes. Their luck carried with the knockout stages draw where Barça avoided a clash against Paris Saint-Germain and other European heavyweights and instead landed a more manageable path with rematches against Benfica in the Round of 16 and then Borussia Dortmund in the Quarterfinals and then either Bayern Munich or Inter Milan looming in the Semi-Finals.

Thankfully, the rematch with Benfica was not as insane as their last encounter. Barça survived a Cubarsi red card early in the match that put them at a serious disadvantage in Portugal. However, the Blaugrana dug deep and withstood relentless pressure from the Portuguese side, Lady Luck smiled again when Raphinha scored at the hour mark from outside the box, with a bit of help from a slight deflection, and Wojciech Szczesny putting in a brilliant performance. The return leg was drama free as Barça won the second leg comfortably 3-1 and now await Borussia Dortmund in the Quarterfinals.

Lady Luck continued to smile on the Blaugrana during the Copa del Rey Semi-Finals.  In a wild encounter, Barça found themselves down 2-0 after just six minutes. However, they did not hang their heads down and instead battled back and scored four unanswered goals. It was then Atlético’s turn to have Lady Luck shine on them when they scored twice to force a draw with all to play for in the second leg in the capital.

Barcelona’s fighting spirit shone through in that game and the recent match away to Atlético where they found themselves down 2-0 again with 20 minutes to go courtesy of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Once again, Barça refused to play and scored twice to pull level with Atlético before Lady Luck smiled when Lamine Yamal’s effort took a wicked deflection to take the lead in stoppage time. Ferran Torres then scored the fourth and final goal of the game that also gave them the head-to-head tie breaker against Atlético.

Unfortunately, Lady Luck can’t always be there. Casado and Cubarsi are already injured and one can only hope that there won’t be any more injuries, especially with La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League still up for grabs. With a couple of months to go before the end of the season, we shall see if Lady Luck will continue to smile on the Blaugrana.

Barça starts 2025 with a bang and with doubts.

FC Barcelona has kicked off 2025 with a series of impressive results. The Blaugrana are unbeaten so far this year and have secured significant victories over Athletic, Real Madrid and Benfica. However, there are doubts about this team moving forward in different positions.

Barça may have ended 2024 in disappointing fashion, but 2025 have seen them excel as they to challenge for all three trophies this year after already capturing the Spanish Super Cup. Unbeaten in eight matches stretched between four different competitions, it seems that Barça may have found their grove back. Barça gave us an unforgettable commanding 5-2 win over Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa final and an exhilarating come from behind 4-5 victory in Portugal over Benfica in the Champions League. Barça finished second in their Champions League group and will enjoy a bye in the knockout stages.

The attacking duo of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal has been instrumental in Barcelona's recent success. Their synergy and creativity have consistently troubled opposition defenses, contributing crucial goals and assists. Midfielder Pedri is enjoying being the maestro orchestrating play with precision, dictating the tempo and linking defense with attack seamlessly, and it’s great to see the scrappy Gavi back in action. Even Frenkie de Jong has put in some decent performances recently which is a plus for the midfield. Defensively, Jules Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, and Alejandro Balde have formed a formidable backline. Their performances have been pivotal in maintaining the team's defensive stability.

However, not all is well for the Blaugrana as there are lingering questions for Hansi Flick. Despite the positive outcomes, manager Hansi Flick still has a 7-point mountain to climb in the league standings. Furthermore, he has some difficult decisions to make regarding some of the players.

The first issue that Flick must deal with is the goalkeeper dilemma. The choice of the starting goalkeeper remains uncertain, as both Wojciech Szczęsny and Iñaki Peña have exhibited inconsistencies. Flick will have to get it right in who will command the goal the rest of the way.

Another area of concern is the defensive partnership in the center of the back four. After Iñigo Martínez went down with an injury, Flick was able to call up Ronald Araújo to fill in. However, who will Flick select when Martinez, Araújo and Christiansen are all fit to be the ideal partner for Pau Cubarsí in central defense. It is remarkable that the teenager Cubarsi is the sure bet while the other three have their flaws and injury history. Will Flick rotate partners or settle on one of the three to strengthen the backline.

The final concern is what Robert Lewandowski’s role will be during the second half of the season.  The veteran striker’s position in the starting lineup is under scrutiny and he usually disappears in the second half of the season. It doesn’t help that the Blaugrana seem to score more when he is not in the starting lineup. Flick will have to assess whether to continue with Lewandowski as a starter or perhaps utilize him as an impactful substitute, a super sup much akin to Henrik Larsson’s role in the past, and go with Ferran Torres up front or rely on a false 9 as a way to optimize the team's dangerous attack.

As Barcelona battles on all three fronts in the next few months, Flick’s decision about these areas will be essential for sustaining the Blaugrana’s momentum and achieving their objectives. The team's depth and talent provide a solid foundation, However, clarity in these areas will be pivotal for continued success.

Frenkie de Jong – The Barça Grinch

Frenkie de Jong arrived at FC Barcelona with much fanfare in 2019. His signing, after dazzling the footballing world with Ajax, was heralded as the next Barcelona midfield maestro. Yet, just a few years later, the narrative has shifted dramatically. From the next big thing, Frenkie has become a high-paid villain raising the ire of the fans. He has become the Barça Grinch.

• By Ibrahim Ayyub
• Follow Ibrahim on Twitter

Back in 2019, Frenkie de Jong’s potential was undeniable. His performances in midfield for Ajax showcased a superb ability to dictate play, break lines with precision passes and also carry the ball with grace under pressure. Expectations were sky-high for de Jong at the club and international level. When FC Barcelona won his signature, his arrival was viewed as the successor to Barça legend Sergio Busquets where he could become a linchpin for the team’s return to its glory days. As a longtime Barça fan, I was exhilarated that Frenkie was going to play for my beloved Blaugrana.

Action speaks louder than words. Well, Frenkie’s performances on the pitch have been inconsistent in the past few seasons. He has struggled to consistently leave his mark on the pitch, with the occasional moments of brilliance, has failed to resonate with fans who were counting on him to influence games. Ultimately, Frenkie hasn’t delivered enough for a player of his caliber.

The excuse of having played under different managers is valid but weak. The argument has been raised that he is playing out of position but he failed to impress to replace Busquets, during and after the legendary midfielder’s departure. The fact that two youth academy players, 17-year-old Marc Bernal and the now 21-year-old Marc Casado were ahead of him in the pecking order didn’t help matters. Under current manager Hansi Flick, Frenkie is not considered the starter even though he is the current captain of the team.

His return from injury kicked off with a superb cameo performance against Real Madrid alongside Marc Casado. However, that sprinkle of magic was soon forgotten following his dreadful performances that coincided with Barça’s poor performances that saw them concede their spot atop the league standings. As a second half substitute, who came on at the hour mark away to Real Betis, Frenkie conceded a penalty and was dreadful the remainder of the match. The final insult was Barça’s big clash against Atletico Madrid at home prior to the winter break. Frenkie did not start ahead of Marc Casado, and when Hansi Flick subbed off Casado in the 80^th minute in a 1-1; Frenkie remained on the bench while much maligned center back Eric Garcia got the nod. Barça ended up losing the match 1-2 and Frenkie never got on the pitch. In fact, he also didn’t feature in Barça’s prior game against Leganes who are fighting for survival.

Although Frenkie de Jong may still be deemed an important asset for the Oranje, the same can’t be said for his current club. At the moment, he is the Barça Grinch. Fans always look for a scapegoat or a whipping boy, to aim their hatred at, and right now, Frenkie is ahead of the pack of the least popular Barça player. Hopefully, Frenkie de Jong will return to the promise he once held. After all, if the Grinch was able to redeem himself, then maybe, just maybe, Frenkie’s best days with the Blaugrana are yet to come. If not, perhaps he can redeem himself by finding a new club in January.