Pep to Bayern Munich Makes Plenty Of Sense.

So Guardiola decided to let the world know his next coaching destination. Some expected this decision to come in the summer, not January, but Pep is going to Germany. Although many thought he would be in the Premier League or Serie A, Pep will be heading to the Bundesliga. I always thought Bayern Munich was good fit for Pep. It appears Pep thought so too.

Bayern are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and in the world, in terms of history, financial strength and current standing as one of the powerhouses in European football. Although Barça have won two of the last four Champions League titles, Bayern played in the two other finals that Barça did not participate in, albeit they lost those two finals. So Pep is walking into a well-established team that has its house in order.

Some though are still surprised that he went to Bayern. Why? Look at the team he is going to inherit.  Pep is going to a team that has great talent and financial clout. Additionally, how many Bayern players were linked to Barça as potential transfers during Pep’s era at the club? Robben was linked to the left winger position but Madrid were not going to sell him to their arch enemy. Ribery was supposedly going to be signed by either Barça or Madrid which never happened. Lahm was linked to left back position and Mario Gomez was also one of those numerous strikers linked to the club for his aerial goal scoring capability. So if you can’t get them, join them.

Of course Pep’s problem will be communication with the players unless he picked up German and English while living in New York.  He is going to a heavy weight in the German league that can compete for a treble every season for the three years that he will be there.  It will not be a pressure free environment because the expectations at Bayern are always high, especially after what the disappointments they have been through these last three years. I also wonder if he going to tolerate having Uli Hoeness sit on the bench at home matches. I remember seeing him on the bench next to Klinsmann when Barça went to Munich for their second leg Champions League Quarter-Finals tie and it struck me as very odd and a nuisance. I doubt Pep will be tolerating that sort of thing when he’s there.

Now some wonder why didn’t Pep sign for three years when he was at Barça. Pep was hired when the club was going through some turmoil. Just a few months after it was announced that Pep would replace Rijkaard, then president Laporta survived a vote of no confidence before he was to step down a year later after his term ended. Thus, there was some uncertainty at the presidency level of the club so he wasn’t walking into a cushy job where he was going to be working with the same people for a long time. I also don’t think he was a fan of Sandro Rosell and wanted to see how things would work out with a new president and my gut feeling tells me that they didn’t see eye to eye. Perhaps, he knew staying at Barça was a very tough job and ultimately would end ugly which reminds of that great line uttered in The Dark Knight“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

Now the bigger concern is whether Pep will raid Barça for talent and only time will tell. It sure will be awkward to see him represent any other FCB except our own. He will be with them for three years and then, he will see if that Manchester United job is available. It seems that’s the job Pep has always wanted and I don’t think he was ever going to join Manchester City because Pep is not the type to upset fans and jump ship to United. Also, Chelsea’s way of handling managers probably made that job too toxic for his liking. Bayern makes sense for now. If the United job is available, Pep will go for it.It’s not going to be a cushy job because there are high expectations at the German club much like Barça Pep will be up to it and if he ever faces Barça in the future, then we’ll applaud him prior to kick off and then hope Barça beats Bayern.

Valdés’s Decision to Leave should be Respected and a Cause for Concern.

Victor Valdés’s announcement last week that he was not going to extend his stay with his club when his deal runs out next season caught many by surprise. The reaction to the news was mixed with some indicating that Valdés is free to go explore other leagues. Others however were upset that he made this announcement that could be deemed as ingratitude or even treacherous and a distraction that the team does not need.

After many years of great service for the club, Valdés has decided to venture elsewhere at the conclusion of the 2013-2014 season. I am not surprised by his decision. If Pep wanted to play elsewhere, then why can’t Valdés. There is no rule that says every player must retire with the club. Even the great Kubala ended up playing for Espanyol with Di Stefano after a decade’s worth of service. Ultimately, Valdés is entitled to expand his horizon and experience a different league.

However, there are concerns that cannot be ignored. The timing of his announcement was a bit puzzling to say the least. He could have said this near the end of the season and avoid creating a distraction for the manager and players for the reason of this season. Instead, everyone will have to answer questions about this topic which is what the club did not need as they continue their quest for a treble. I wasn’t too thrilled in the manner the announcement was made either when this decision was announced by his agent on the radio instead of having Valdés personally address which he has yet to do.

Nevertheless, the bigger concern for the club is finding someone to replace Valdés. Sure, many will point that Valdés has had his share of blunders over the years and that the style of play is a big reason in how he won all those Zamora trophies. Now it is true that Barça’s style doesn’t allow Valdés to face many shots in a game.  However, he is a vital piece of the team in terms of understanding the style of Barça and when he is on top of his game, this team becomes near unbeatable.

However, we now have to see if he will stay till the end of next season,  and who will come in to replace him and also Pinto but that’s a discussion best saved for another day. Barça went through an ordeal to find Zubizaretta’s replacement. It took close to a decade before the club finally settled on a goalkeeper when Frank Rijkaard picked Valdés to be the starter over Rustu. I certainly hope we don't go through the trial and errors of Baia, Hesp, Enke, Dutruel, Bonano, Reina, and Rustu again. If Valdés decides to stay, then great news but if he plans to seek an adventure to another league, then the club have their work cut out for them.

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The goalkeeper position is one of the toughest one at FC Barcelona. We have seen good keepers like Baia struggle with the pressure of playing at this club and Pepe Reina had his problems before going on to play for Villarreal and Liverpool. It’s not just about saves, but it’s also being able to play the ball with your feet and keeping the ball movement fluid. It’s not an easy task and hopefully the club can find someone who is comfortable playing for a club as big as Barça and can get used to the style and players of this club. The good news is that they have plenty of time to scout for the right choice. The problem is will the club be able to find a goalkeeper, or two if Pinto is not coming back, and spare us from the suffering of going through keepers on a yearly basis like we witnessed  before? Thus, Zubizarreta will have his hands full in finding the man who will replace his successor as the next long term Barça goalkeeper.

2012-2013 MIDSEASON AWARDS & REPORT CARD

FC Barcelona just played half their league fixtures and it’s been a great season so far for us Cules. FC Barcelona are still competing in all 3 competitions and have an 18 point lead over their arch rivals, Real Madrid and are 11 points clear atop of the league standings from second place Atlético Madrid after accumulating 55 points from 19 matches, a new Spanish league record. The only negative was losing out on the Supercopa. So with half of the season already in the record books, it’s time to hand out the midseason awards and grades.

MVP: MESSI – It’s a no brainer, 38 goals from 29 matches. Messi has started this season on fire. He scored 50 league goals last season and has surpassed half of that total already with 28. Barring any injury, the sky is the limit for Messi as he keeps doing what he loves to do; win.

Best Goal: This was a tough one. We have seen some great goals so far this season such as Adriano’s strike against Valencia, Iniesta’s blast against Levante, David Villa’s last gasp goal in the dying seconds against Sevilla, Xavi’s rocket from outside the box against Granada and Messi’s free kicks against Real Madrid. However, I thought Adriano’s goal against Atlético Madrid was the best goal out of them all. He made it look easy by the way he got away from his markers and then unleashed a ferocious shot from outside the box that struck the bar and bounced in for the goal. It will take a special goal to top that.

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Best Assist: This was an easier choice. The teamwork between David Villa and Iniesta in the buildup for the go ahead goal against Celta Vigo was art in motion. From Villa’s back heel pass initiated what would turn out to be a beautiful goal after Iniesta glided into the box where he sucked in defenders before somehow passing the ball back to Villa for him to score.

Best Transfer: Jordi Alba. Some would say Jordi Alba’s transfer may go down as one of the best moves in club history because of his low transfer cost. However, his arrival has been so good that people seem to forget about Dani Alves as the club’s most explosive fullback. Jordi has fit in perfectly without any adjustment period and already looks like someone who has been on this team for years.

Best Youngster: Montoya. This season has been one where Barça players haven’t been hit by the injury bug like last season. Thus, not many Barça B players or newly promoted players have gotten minutes to shine. However, one player though has made a good impression this season and that player is Montoya. He has filled in for Dani Alves superbly on two different occasions against Real Madrid. One can only imagine how high his stock would have risen if his shot had went in and didn’t strike the bar against Real Madrid. I believe it’s a matter of time before we start hearing rumors that the club is looking to offload Dani Alves because they have faith in Montoya to replace him.

Most Improved: Cesc. I was very harsh on Cesc last season. He was my choice for Most Disappointing Player award last season for his invisible act in the second half of that season. He seemed to be carrying on that form early this season too but he finally snapped out of his funk and he’s been a great fit either as a left winger, false 9, or in the midfield. Hopefully he can stay injury free and keep up the good work.

Best Game: 5-4 win victory against Deportivo. Some would say Barça’s 4-0 win against Espanyol was their best of the season but, as good as the first half was, the second half was less memorable. On the other hand, that 5-4 victory against Deportivo was madness. Barça rushed to a 3-0 lead before seeing their lead shrink down to 3-2. Messi then extended their lead to 4-2 but not before Deportivo drew one back. Messi claimed his hat trick when he scored the 5th goal but it was a nervy final 11 minutes after a Jordi Alba own goal made it a 5-4 game. Barça held on and these types of victories away played a big role in why they are the league leaders and showed the good and bad that this team had to offer. Since that game, Barça have only conceded two goals or more just once in the league.

Most Disappointing Player: Alexis. Victor Valdés and Mascherano had a poor start to the season with their sloppy play in the Supercopa and Pedro had his share of scoring slump. However, Alexis’s second season with the club has been a disaster. We cannot expect him to score once every temperate seasons. I appreciate that he runs hard and works hard for the team but he is not scoring up front and that is becoming more difficult to stomach when he squanders golden scoring chances. He has to pick it up or else he is going to be looking for a new team next season. The fans showing their discontent in yesterday’s Copa encounter against Malaga was a warning sign not for the player, but for the club too.

Grades:

Goal Keepers: B. That Supercopa performance dropped it down one grade. Valdes had an iffy start but is getting better while Pinto is the same old Pinto who has his moments.

Defenders: B-. Night and Day when Puyol and Pique are back and when they are not. Why Real Madrid didn’t punish Barça when they faced them at the Camp Nou back in October without those two in the starting lineup is beyond me. Barça have benefitted from Jordi Alba’s smooth transition from Valencia player to Barça player while Adriano has been playing superbly whenever he has had to step in either as a full back or center back. Mascherano has had his moments but some would attribute it to playing alongside Song, who is not cut out for the center back position, and a young and upcoming Bartra. Dani Alves remains the X factor in which you’re not sure if he’s lost a step or motivation. Barça currently have conceded the third fewest goals in La Liga behind Malaga and Atlético Madrid.

Midfielders: A. Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets have been superb this season and Cesc getting back into the grove is even better. Song has shown flashes of Yaya-esque potential but minutes will be hard for him to come by. Thiago is back and his absence has been deeply missed.

Forwards: C. Take away Messi and the forwards core have been disappointing. Villa has been fine in his few minutes but Pedro and Alexis have been in a long scoring slump. Tello has been fine but ultimately, this team is in a lot of trouble if Messi is ever ruled out of action for a long time. These guys have got to improve the second half of the season or those Neymar rumors are only going to increase.

Coaching:  A+. Tito Vilanova has done a superb job. His first season has been a smooth ride so far as his club set a new record for most points halfway through the season. Sure, there were minor hiccups of losing out the Supercopa and the Celtic loss. Other than that, he has managed the bring the best out of Cesc again and keep the ship steady while fighting that dangerous medical ailment that we hope he can overcome for his and his family’s sake. Keep up the good work Tito.

Caution ahead for Barça in lieu of 2013

Barça head into the New Year with a great domestic advantage against their arch rivals, Real Madrid, and their closest rivals to the league crown Atlético Madrid. The 16 and 9 points cushion provides our beloved Blaugrana wonderful breathing room in their league conquest and allow them to focus on the Champions League and Copa del Rey. However, Barça should head into the new year with extra caution and not repeat past mistakes and beat themselves.

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Cules are ending 2012 on a spectacular note as they find their club 16 points ahead of arch enemy Real Madrid. Lost in all of this is the fact that Atlético Madrid are 9 points behind. That too is a great lead but Barça need to remain focused the rest of the way especially with two difficult matches coming up against Espanyol at the Camp Nou and away to Malaga. Espanyol have found a new bounce in their step under “El Vasco” Javier Aguirre while Malaga defeated Real Madrid not too long ago and have conceded the fewest goals thus far in the league. A few hiccups here and there and their lead might shrink down again for Atlético to somehow catch up to them.

I have always been a firm believer that Barça’s biggest enemy is themselves. Last season showed us how Guardiola didn’t prepare for the season with a very difficult and congested fixture that sprung fatigue and injuries towards the end of the season. When Tito returns in mid-January (fingers crossed) he has to ensure that these mistakes do not play out again.

 

First, Tito has to cut down on the matches Messi is playing. Mission impossible, I know, but one has to consider the amount of wear and tear that Messi is racking up. Last season was a perfect example where Messi had finally hit the wall near the end and struggled against Chelsea and Real Madrid. Sure, the minor injury he picked up at Stamford Bridge didn’t help but you could tell that he and his teammates were almost running on fumes. Thus, Tito has to continue rotating his players, including Messi to keep them fresh especially with the treble on the horizon.

Another issue that has to be addressed is the dependency on Messi. We have seen the likes of Pedro, Alexis and David Villa struggle to get into rhythm, or minutes for the latter, and have not had the best of seasons when it comes to scoring. These upcoming Copa games have to be used for them to snap out of their funk and get their mojo back. Perhaps, they were focused on helping Messi break the Muller record but everyone’s hearts was in their necks when Messi went down in the Benfica match. That was a match he had no business playing in and was a perfect example for the others to step up and gain from those minutes. Had that injury been severe, how optimistic would you have been to know that those trio, along with Tello and a returning Cuenca, as the other players up front? We need those players to be sharp and in goal scoring form and not watch teams shut down Barça by hounding Messi.

 

Another issue Tito has to address is David Villa. Clearly the #7 is still #1 in many hearts of the Blaugrana faithful and many, including myself, wonder how long can Villa remain patient with his lack of minutes and starts? The last thing this club needs is unhappy players. Either sell him in January or start playing him. Sure, he doesn’t drop back and defend like Alexis but he does something that Alexis and Pedro cannot seem to be doing much of lately; scoring. The club says he will be a winter signing.  Well, he better be used as such or else it will be a distraction for the media to keep addressing if he finds himself on the bench often.

Finally, the rotations should consist of the youth players getting more minutes. Bartra showed he can fill in for Pique and Puyol and is a better fit than Song as a centre-back. Let him get the occasional starts over Puyol and Pique to keep them fresh ahead of the bigger encounters such as Champions League where Puyol’s presence is much more vital. Same can be said for Montoya who has been sensational this season who might see more minutes if Dani Alves and Adriano keep picking up injuries. Thiago and Cesc are now healthy so that should mean Xavi and Iniesta should get a breather from time to time too along with Song giving Busquets some time off. We need our best to be fit and fresh for the big games.

Although it’s too soon to talk about the treble, it’s already on every Culet’s mind and New Year’s wish list.  Tito has a deep squad so he has to make the most of it for all three competitions to be prepared for all situations and not drop points which will force Tito to keep using his starters more often. 2012 has had its share of ups and downs, with it ending on a positive note. Hopefully 2013 will have mostly more ups and fewer downs. For my 100th blog entry, I wish you and your family a Happy New Year and may 2013 be wonderful to you all.