The Fate of Barça’s Future?

Back in April, FC Barcelona  displayed a huge banner in the Camp Nou prior to a league match kickoff that read “La Masia No Se Toca” which meant, La Masia is not to be touched. However, those words may have fallen on deaf ears under this regime. With the Montoya fiasco, following the Thiago fiasco, one has to wonder if the La Masia players wonder if their future lies elsewhere.

It’s been a difficult time for Barça fans what with the transfer ban and the way the club has been run by this current administration. It equally has to be tough for the Barça B players who are supposed to learn their craft from an dreadful manager such as Eusebio. The Blaugrana faithful used to take pride in watching players from the academy get called up. However, it seems that this club is more interested in picking players outside the club over those from within. So it is ironic that FC Barcelona’s response to FIFA transfer ban with the huge “La Masia No Se Toca” banner when they seem to be neglecting it as well.

The perfect example is the current situation with Martin Montoya. For the past few years, quite a few considered the young fullback as the heir apparent for Dani Alves. That belief was enhanced when Luis Enrique was brought on as the new first team manager. Montoya was a starter under Luis Enrique during their time together at Barça B. However, for reasons no one quite knows why, Barça decided to sign a nobody, Douglas, who has failed to show he is Barça material. Nevertheless, Montoya was put on the back burner and now he wants out in the winter transfer window.

Barça fans already had to go through Thiago leaving the club for Bayern and now Montoya is next to follow as another promising player who must play elsewhere. With the transfer ban still in effect, how can Barça afford to lose Montoya when Dani Alves is rumored to be leaving the club when his contract runs out at the end of the season. Douglas has been a nightmare of a signing where he struggled against S.D. Huesca.

Far more concerning for me is what will other players think about their chances with the first team? Deulofeu is out on loan again for the second year running and Adama is still working his magic with Barça B. You also the same situation with midfielders Denis Suarez and Sergi Samper. Denis is also on loan with Sevilla, with Deulofeu, while Samper is shining for the Barça B team. Barça did capture a diamond in the rough with Alen Halilović’s signing so the future looks bright for Barça.

However, it does not seem likely that these young players command starting minutes away anytime soon. Tello knew that and that is why he is playing on loan for Porto. Barça spent over 150 million euros this summer to strengthen the team and by the looks of things, they might need to spend some more next season if the transfer ban is lifted. Where does that leave the kids?

It’s easy for everyone to say that the kids need to be patient before their time comes. Montoya has been with the club for 15 years and he has had enough of sitting in the stands. I don’t blame players who are ambitious and want to play. Thiago did what he thought was the best for him, and if not for the injuries, he would he excelling with Bayern as he had when he was fit, and no one would fault him for making the move there.  Jonathan Dos Santos remained patient and loyal but no one wanted to play him and in the end, the club just wanted him gone.

My biggest concern is what are the Barça B players and the younger players thinking after what has transpired with Montoya. Do they think their future lies elsewhere? Just the other day, Eusebio lashed out on hisplayers following a loss and said they were interested in showcasing their talent for the winter transfer window. Well, to be frank, can you blame them?

Barça are currently a different system than the one Cruyff and Pep had installed. The same system that the youth players are supposed to be learning. So you have Luis Enrique playing a different style of football and you have Eusebio with his own style for Barça B. There is no clear cohesion from what the youth players are taught as they climb through the ranks. Barça hardly resemble the side that won the Champions League a few years ago while Barça B are hovering above the drop zone in the second division.

The idea of Barça B getting relegated would just be another step in the wrong direction for the club. People can say the players should be loyal. Sorry, but we have seen that both, clubs and players, are not loyal to one another. Figo was the Barça captain and he left for Real Madrid while Barça kindly showed Abidal the door. So spare me the loyalty speech.

In the end, the future of Barça’s future is not one to be messed with. This administration has made a mess of things during their time in charge and the way this Montoya situation has played out is alarming. If La Masia players see how the situations of Thiago, Jonathan Dos Santos and Montoya played out, how can we be sure that they are not thinking of an exit plan in the back of their minds. Better yet, can you blame them? You’d probably be weighing your options too if you were in their shoes since everything seems going backwards with Barça nowadays.

-@IBES16

Merci Henry!

Former Barça player, Thierry Henry, is calling it a career after 20 years as a professional footballer. His three seasons with the club saw him score 49 goals and win 7 titles. Merci Henry for those three memorable seasons!

The 37 year old Henry announced on his Facebook page today his retirement from professional football.  

After 20 years in the game I have decided to retire from professional football. It has been an incredible journey and I would like to thank all the fans, team mates and individuals involved with AS Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona, the New York Red Bulls and of course the French National Team that have made my time in the game so special. 

It is now time for a different career path and I am pleased to say that I will be returning to London and joining Sky Sports. I will hopefully share some of the insights, observations and experiences I have learnt over the years with you guys. 

I have had some amazing memories (mostly good!) and a wonderful experience.

I hope you have enjoyed watching as much as I have enjoyed taking part.

See you on the other side...

Henry’s career spanned 20 years where he played for Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, FC Barcelona, and NY Red Bulls. He came over from Arsenal to Barça in Frank Rijkaard’s last season as Barça manager. The following season, under Pep Guardiola, Barça won the treble where Henry was part of the attacking trio consisting of Messi, Henry and Eto’o. 2009 Henry also was part of the same team that won all 6 cups in one calendar year. Overall, Henry lifted the UEFA Champions League, two Spanish League titles, the Copa del Rey, the Supercopa, UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA World Club Cup.

Henry featured in 121 matches and scores 49 times with his most memorable performance against Real Madrid in the 2-6 victory where he scored a brace during the treble season. In my opinion, he is a Barça legend and will forever be remembered for contributing to the team treble and six cups Barça team. Merci Henry!

Fond Memories of Henry’s Time at Barça.

Titi Henry bids farewell to the world of football. As a former Barça player, his time with the club will be fondly remembered as one of those class players who helped shape the club into becoming one of the greatest of sides of all time.

When FC Barcelona signed Thierry Henry, his unveiling at the Camp Nou attracted the masses. After a bumpy first season, which would be Frank Rijkaard’s final season as Barça manager, Henry would help Barça become a force under Pep Guardiola. During Guardiola’s first season, the treble winning 2008-2009 side, Henry was one of the key players as he notched 26 goals in 42 games. The most memorable performance was the brace he scored in the Spanish capital against Real Madrid in that legendary 2-6 win that sealed the league title.

The following season, Henry slowed down, perhaps the toll of so many matches with Barça. His final season with the club saw Eto’o exit the team and Ibrahimovic come instead. The emergence of Bojan and Pedro while Henry struggled to regain his scoring touch, 4 goals in 32 games, along with interest from MLS, resulted in Henry leaving the club at the end of the 2009-2010 season. Nevertheless, he was part of the Barça side that won the treble and the sextuple in one calendar year and be considered one of the greatest sides of all time. Barça won the Copa del Rey, the Spanish league title, UEFA Champions League, Supercopa, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Henry was a unique player who displayed grace with the ball and displayed a superb scoring touch. He left an Arsenal side where he was considered “The Man” and left his ego in check to be one of the guys.  His chemistry with Messi and Eto’o and the rest of the players saw the front three score 72 goals in the 2008-2009 Spanish league. Not all players get to ride off into the sunset, but he left the club with another league title and the admiration of the Blaugrana faithful.  Henry’s playing days are over but his performances for Barça will never be forgotten. Merci Henry.

@IBES16

The Malaise of Having Zubizarreta as Barça’s Sporting Director.

It’s no secret that the current FC Barcelona board is not highly popular among the FC Barcelona fans at this moment. Out of all the directors and members of this administration, Zubizarreta stands out as one of the most disliked figureheads at this club. Zubizaretta’s tenure as Sporting Director at this club will go down as one who has been ridiculed on social media for his inept handling of his position. The thought he will remain with this club till 2016 is stomach-turning for some and one can only hope he does resign soon.

Zubizarreta, or Zubi, is a legendary Barça goalkeeper who was in goal when Barça captured their first ever Champions League title in 1992. Sadly, he was also in goal for the 1994 Champions League Final when Barça were embarrassed 4-0 by Milan. That was his final match for the Blaugrana, in which he committed a comical error that killed any chance of Barça making a comeback. Since that gaffe, Zubi has been more known for his mistakes for Spain, World Cup 1998, and for his mistakes as Barça’s Sporting Director.

Zubizarreta inherited the position of Sporting Director from the outgoing Txiki Begiristain following the 2010 Barça elections. Simply put, Zubi inherited a diamond mine with Pep in charge and the team were on top of the world as one, if not, one of the best teams in the world. Prior to becoming Barça’s Sporting Director, Zubi had the similar position with Athletic Bilbao. Of course, the requirement of Basque only players handcuffed Zubi in his ability to wheel and deal. Sadly, his ability to wheel and deal with Barça leaves much to desire whereas Txiki has enjoyed some success in a similar position with Manchester City since joining them in 2012. Meanwhile, Zubi’s diamond mine has become full of coal.

Zubi’s disheveled appearance (put a tie on!) makes one wonder if he is a director at the club or a Western Humanities professor on a sabbatical. His failure to dress for the part does not come close to his failure in performing his duties.  In the past, whenever there was a Barça transfer rumor, the running gag has been that Zubi is taking a nap and missed out on finalizing the deal. The man falls asleep once on a plane and it comes back to haunt him. Of course, images of him falling asleep at the Amsterdam airport while the plane was delayed just gave us more fodder to enjoy. His way of handling the media leave much to desire. Just recently, he was asked about the upcoming clash against PSG, and he replied he has not watched much of the French league this season. One of those “insert foot in mouth” moments from a man who has experience hoofing the ball down the pitch.

Nevertheless, the overall performance of Zubi as Sporting Director has been a big failure. Under his watch, FC Barcelona have seen the likes of Sergi and Oscar Garcia leave the club as coaches in the youth setup and coach elsewhere while Eusebio is still underwhelming at Barça B. Some would say most players under Eusebio have regressed and not improved, with unfavorable lineups and tactics. Speaking of the youth, the FIFA transfer ban occurred because Barça did not follow the rules in signing these some young players. Again, this was under Zubi’s watch.

Nonetheless, Zubi offered to be the fall guy and resign following the transfer ban. The club disagreed, which would prove to be a grand mistake by the club. Zubi had shown he is not up for the job thanks to his numerous mistakes when it comes to signing and watching over players. Under his watch, the young starlet, Thiago, did not play enough minutes to trigger the big buy-out clause and Bayern swooped in for his signature at a fraction of his buy-out clause. Meanwhile, the club failed to sign the likes of Ozil, Isco, Kroos, and most recently young player Asensio while opting instead to sign Cesc and Alex Song.

Barça’s fall from the best club in the world in 2011 to their current status of good enough to be in the top eight of Europe is not surprising. Mistakes have been made since Guardiola left the club and allowed it to be run by the board and Zubi. A perfect example of gross negligence by the club was the recent comments by Bojan Krkic Sr., who had worked for the club as a scout, in which he indicated that the club could have signed Thibaut Courtois and Raphael Varane in the past. However, the club opted to allow those players to be signed by Chelsea and Real Madrid instead. There is nothing like watching good talent slip through Zubi’s fingers to the opposition.

This past summer was going to be one of the biggest summers in club history. Barça knew they were facing a transfer ban and had to splash the cash to strengthen the team. One would think that they would do their best to have a strong team for now and for the future in case the transfer ban was upheld. Although Barça signed Claudio Bravo, ter Stegen, Rakitic and Luis Suarez, it was a surprise that the club ended up signing Mathieu, Vermaelen and Douglas as defensive reinforcements. For the past few seasons, Zubi neglected to sign proper defenders so it was not that big of a surprise to see these players signed after all.

Mathieu is a good signing for depth reasons but Vermaelen and Douglas are a different story. During the summer, the club was trying to offload Dani Alves but his suitors balked at his wage demands. Signing Douglas did not make sense seeing as he was not highly rated in Brazil and Montoya seemed to be the right back of the future. Fast forward to today, and it is rumored Dani Alves will not be given a new deal and thus will leave the club at the end of the season while Montoya will be heading off to another team in the winter transfer window because of lack minutes that no one knows for sure why. The idea that Douglas, who has failed to impress in his few outings, is the only bona fide right back for next season is another example of Zubi not doing his job.

The fiasco that is the Vermaelen transfer should be enough to give Zubi his marching orders. I was never a fan of the Vermaelen signing due to his history of injuries. We only got to see Vermaelen in one friendly with Barça B against Indonesia’s U19 team back in September. He was indisposed the rest of the time as he trained individually because of physical discomfort before succumbing to surgery this month that will rule him out for four to six months. What makes this infuriating is the alleged knowledge by Zubi that Vermaelen was not fit to be signed. There were reports during Vermaelen’s medical examination that club doctors informed the club that Vermaelen needed to be operated on. However, Zubi decided to ignore medical advice and finalize the transfer anyways for a player who will not be counted on this season.

All I want for Christmas is for the current FC Barcelona board to resign and bring forward early elections. Zubi being fired now would be a Christmas stocking stuffer for me. However, this board and Zubi will remain with the club for 2016, which is like finding coal inside your Christmas stockings. It is the equivalent of getting socks as a Christmas gift and unfortunately, that is what we are left with thanks to this inept board.

All Hail Messi.

2 new records for the little record breaker from Argentina. Messi became La Liga’s all-time leading goal scorer and the UEFA Champions League goal scorer in a matter of days this week. For Barça and its fan, we are thankful for Messi.

It’s that time of the year where we give thanks to our blessings, our loved ones, our health and our happiness.  I, for one, am also thankful for having some like Messi to root for most of the year. Messi left his country at a young age and missed out on a normal childhood and teenage life that many of us went through. While we went to the prom, took our driver’s test, attended college in pursuit of getting career, Messi was working as a Blaugrana player in a foreign country. His sacrifice and performance have made Barça a joy to watch.

Ten years since his debut, we have been lucky to witness a player not become the greatest player in club history, but perhaps of all time. Sadly, there are some in the Blaugrana faithful that have been negative to our little brilliant footballer. It’s tolerable when that comes from the inept board that thought of forcing him out of the club to satisfy their own selfish ambitions, but it is upsetting that some Barça fans also criticize and want him gone.

Some say Messi went through a horrible year in 2014. Really? He was minutes away for a domestic double and World Cup success, by carrying his country to a Final without much help,  and he had a bad year? When many say Ronaldo had a great 2014 by scoring 54 goals along with 17 assists….yet Messi only scored 52 goals and 22 assists and people have the audacity to say Messi had a bad year. Just because he went from having a super extraordinary season to an extraordinary season does not take away from what Messi did in 2014.

Who knows how long we will get to enjoy Messi representing Barça’s Blaugrana colors. I highly doubt he will retire as a Barça player. Not many Barça stars do retire with the club so the odds are not in his favor, especially under this current regime. That is why we should enjoy what Messi has done and keeps doing for the club and be thankful for having him on our team. I know I am. 

Will there be an inevitable divorce between Barça and Messi?

A week ago, there was panic in Barcelona over the comments made by Messi and his father about his future with Barça. A week later, we are celebrating Messi becoming the all-time goal scorer in Spanish league history and UEFA Champions League history. It has been all smiles for Messi but the question remains; will there be an inevitable divorce between Barça and Messi? History has shown that it is likely.

First of all off, congratulations to Messi on breaking two historic scoring records. Messi made his debut ten years ago and it was unfathomable that he would go on to accomplish so many feats with the Blaugrana. Where he ranks amongst the greatest players of all-time is up for debate. What is not debatable is that he is Barça’s greatest player of all time.

Barça have had many great players over the years and the majority share one thing in common; unhappy exits from the club. Throughout the history of the Blaugrana, many big name stars have exited the club for different reasons. It is very rare to see players retire as Barça players. Paulino Alcántara, Rexach, Migueli, Luis Enrique and Puyol are just some that come to mind that did. Some players in their mid-30’s, such as Cesar Rodriguez, left where their services were not needed and the players felt they still had some football left in them . Pep was 30 and wanted to play in other leagues. Kubala, the man the Camp Nou was built for, retired as a Barça player to become a youth manager before becoming the first team manager. However, his Barça coaching career did not last long and he was dismissed. Kubala wanted to still play for Barça but the club was not interested and he became a player manager for Espanyol where he teamed up with Real Madrid legend, Alfredo Di Stefano.

Barça’s first ever Golden Ball winner, Luis Suarez, exited the club because of financial reasons. The club had to cash in on their star player after they fell upon hard financial times. One of Barça’s first superstars, Josep Samitier, starred for Barça between 1919-1932. Unfortunately, he would become the first in a long line of Barça players who clashed with the board and left the club as a result. Samitier and the club had their differences and he left to join Real Madrid.

Maradona and Schuster both clashed with egotistical Barça president Núnez in the 80’s that saw Maradona get sold to Napoli while Schuster followed in Samitier’s path and joined Real Madrid when his contract ended. Others, such as Michael Laudrup and Romario had differences with Barça manager Johan Cruyff. Romario was off loaded after being in Cruyff’s doghouse following the 1994 World Cup success, while Michael Laudrup also joined the ranks of former Barça players to depart the club and join arch rivals Real Madrid. Laudrup was not selected by Cruyff for the 1994 European Cup Final because of the foreign players quotas at the time, so he joined Real Madrid the following season when his contract ended. There is also rumor that another reason why Cruyff dropped him was that Laudrup was fooling around with Cruyff’s daughter. Cruyff also had his problems with Barça president Núnez who ultimately fired the legendary manager.

Brazilians were no exception either after Romario. Brazilian legend Ronaldo also left the club after just one season after contract negotiations for a new contract fell apart and Inter ended up breaking the transfer fee record for him. Rivaldo on the other had problems with both the board and the manager Louis van Gaal and in the end, Rivaldo’s contract was terminated when Louis van Gaal was brought back to manage the club for a second stint. Ronaldinho went from savior to persona non-grata after many, including manager Pep Guardiola, thought he had lost his way and had become a negative influence on Messi. Brazilian born but Portuguese naturalized Deco had a quiet exit and joined Chelsea.

Even during Pep Guardiola’s era, Barça still had messy divorces with star players. This was however because of the manager, and not the board. Pep Guardiola tolerated the likes of Eto’o and Ibrahimovic for one season before ridding them from the club following clash of personalities. Even the return of the so-called prodigal son, Cesc Fábregas, lasted a few season before he was sold to Chelsea. More recently, Victor Valdés’s exit left a bitter taste for many Blaugrana faithful. Valdés never indicated his reason for leaving but there were whispers that he was not fond of the current Barça board, especially after not hiring his choice of goalkeeper coach when the position became available.

In a rarity, Hristo Stoichkhov left the club twice during the 90’s. The first time because of a deteriorating relationship with manager Johan Cruyff, and he was sold to Parma. He returned when Bobby Robson was the manager but his second exit, this time because of another Dutch manager, van Gaal, where the manager’s tactics were criticized by the Bulgarian Golden Ball winner. Hristo would leave the team and play in different countries before concluding his career in the MLS.

So what about Messi? Will he remain a Barça player till the day he retires or will he end up playing elsewhere else? As much as I am a football romantic, I am also a realist. History has shown us that the chances of Messi retiring as a Barça player are slim. Not one Barça Golden Ball winner has ever retired with this club. The comments from Messi and his father served as a warning shot to the board to not mistreat the player. It also enforced the belief that Messi will never leave the club unless the club wanted to sell him first. Hopefully, the next Barça board to take over from this inept board, and soon,  will make sure Messi stays with the club for a long time…….before he leaves Barça near the end of his career to play in Argentina for his childhood club, Newell’s Old Boys. At least that way, it will not be a messy divorce.

Barça Need to Get Back on Track.

Following consecutive defeats that saw them relinquish their top spot in the league standings, Barça are back in action with an away clash in Holland against Ajax Amsterdam. Luis Enrique has faced the music following his side’s disappointing performances against Real Madrid and Celta Vigo, and must get this team back on track or risk more pressure and criticism.

Lucho discovered how hot that seats gets in the Barça dugout. At one point, Barça were atop of the league standings with a commanding 6 point cushion ahead of Real Madrid. Now, they are in fourth place in the league and second in their Champions League group stage. Barça must taste victory today against Ajax Amsterdam to keep their pursuit of PSG for the top spot of their Champions League group and not be seeded second for the knock out stages.

Lucho was brought in to improve their style of play but that has not happened. Barça have been conceding goals in similar fashion as they have been the past two seasons. That 4-0 drubbing by Bayern still stings and we have seen this team struggle against teams ready to apply the pressure and be in front of Barça’s players’ noses ever since that heavy defeat. Barça used to be the one putting the squeeze on others by constantly pressuring  their opponents and winning the ball back. Now, they are on the receiving end of such treatment.

Lucho needs to abandon this tactic of playing fullbacks up front and having midfielders cover for them on the flanks while Busquets is left alone in the middle of the pitch as if he is on a deserted island. Barça needs to go back to the basics that made them successful. It is time to go back to the 4-3-3 and have players nearby to create a triangle formation where three teammates are nearby to help each other out. The occasional long ball is fine to keep the opponents honest with their off sides trap but the bread and butter of this team has been their style of one touch passes that we no longer see.

It’s also time to make every player work hard and be held accountable. Players must pressure to win the ball back and punish those who are sloppy. It’s also time to let the younger players play such as Bartra, Montoya, Sandro, and Sergi Samper. Mascherano was killed by Benzema and Celta Vigo’s goal came after he left his spot to contest a ball in the air, which he lost, and moments later, his absence was exploited for the goal. Dani Alves and Pique are a shadow of what they were five years ago and not sure how much longer they can be trusted. Busquets seems hurt or not at 100% so allow Mascherano and Sergi Samper to play his position while letting Rafinha and Rakitic play in place of the injured Iniesta and the aged veteran Xavi in the starting lineup.

The front three are slowly clicking but Lucho is wasting Messi by playing him farther and farther from the box. Keep him close to the box where and his teammates can work on their quick one touch passes much like the way they scored that Messi goal against PSG. Barça’s formula always worked as long as the right players are playing. The fact is we saw a Barça side play against Real Madrid with the same midfield from 2008-2009 and majority of the same players from last season’s Clásico.  That’s not progress but relying on the old guard yet again. Some will say that the club’s loss to Celta Vigo was unlucky since they hit the woodwork four times. We have seen them hit the woodwork often since the Chelsea elimination under Pep. That’s not luck, that’s a trend, or a bad habit, from not being clinical enough up front to go along with the poor defending from the back. Luck is no excuse since these are bad habits.

It’s still early in the season but with the way the club is losing off the pitch with their cases against Laporta and FIFA, they can ill afford to lose on the pitch. The pressure is on Lucho and he needs to take things back to basic or he will be in for a long season with us right beside him in anger.

Barça Board Needs to Resign and Call for Elections.

The time has come for this FC Barcelona board to step down and call for elections. There have been others, besides me, who have also asked for this that have been unjustly labeled as “spoiled.” It’s this sort mentality that seems to hold this club back when it’s time to demand for change.

I always loved the spoiled fans argument when fellow fans disagree with your displeasure with your club. I never understood how criticizing your club is not considered loyalty when the criticism is merited. Ever since Sandro Rosell and his friends were elected, this club has been heading backwards. It’s true that Barça won the league and Champions League title during Rosell’s first year but that was because they inherited a great team from the previous president Joan Laporta.

So it had to be devastating for the current Barça board when their civil liability case against former club president Joan Laporta and his board was dismissed. They claimed that Laporta had converted a “€79million loss into an €11million profit” by forging the accounts and presented proof that alleged supposedly proved that the club had lost €47million between 2003 and 2010. The judge however, ruled that Laporta did in fact leave the club with a profit and not the losses claimed by the board.

This announcement came on the heels of Barça’s disappointing Clásico loss to Real Madrid, so the mood in Barcelona was already sour. For years, we were told that Laporta stole and in the end, the board was left with eggs on their face. So of course, current president Bartomeu announced that the club will appeal that decision. That announcement was met with criticism by fans. The board suffered another black eye the following day when Barça were defeated by Celta Vigo in the Camp Nou and found themselves now behind Madrid after being at one time 6 points ahead.

During that match, a banner was unveiled at the Camp Nou stating that this was the worst board in history. The following day, Sport posted an online poll asking its readers if they want early elections and, after 10,000 and plus voted, the answer was an overwhelming Yes. Clearly, there is displeasure and discontent with the way the team is run on the pitch and off the pitch.

Back in 2011, Sandro Rosell was the club president and forced upon us that the club needed to sign that sponsorship agreement with Qatar Foundation which morphed into Qatar Airways.  Back then, Rosell indicated the importance of this deal by stating that “Barça would be sustainable, but with another dimension. I could not continue to keep all you need: the world’s best squad, the best manager…and rivals would have more advantages.”Well, here we are in 2014 and we no longer have the best manager the club has ever had, Pep Guardiola, and we no longer have the best squad anymore.

Rosell resigned following the Neymar signing controversy which is being argued in court and the club is already appealing the FIFA Transfer ban. We do not want another case against Laporta argued in court. We just want a president that was actually elected by the members, not appointed by a president exiting the club under dark clouds, or under shame.

Of course, you always meet those who say that we are complaining because we are “spoiled” fans. If we are tired because the club is mismanaged and wasting the talents of Messi and others, then we are not spoiled. Spoiled fans should not demand a board to resign? Spoiled fans should not demand better coaching and better signings? Spoiled fans should not be upset by failure? We are spoiled since we demand the board not to mismanage the club and watch it become Inter or Milan with aged veterans and poor signings? Hence, we are not spoiled from winning. We are hungry for more success. We demand better from FC Barcelona and we demand early elections and not wait till 2016 for the next round of elections.

Barça’s Nightmare in the Santiago Bernabéu.

Barça’s trip to Madrid under first year manager Luis Enrique was a nightmare for both team and manager. Mistakes in tactics and his reaction in the aftermath has some Blaugrana fans concerned about the team’s future. The good news is that Barça is still in first place but the question is for how long?

Luis Enrique’s first visit to the Santiago Bernabéu as a Barça manager made for great stories. However, his past was irrelevant since he managed at this venue for Celta Vigo last season. Barça came to the Spanish capital with a four point lead and were looking to expand it to seven. Luis Enrique opted to start Mathieu over Jordi Alba and the same midfield trio of Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta while giving Luis Suarez his first competitive start with Neymar and Messi.

The first El Clásico of the year started off with a bang for Barça but soon ended with a thud. It didn’t take long for Suarez’s to make his presence felt after delivering a superb pass to set up Neymar for the opening goal four minutes into the match. He also set up Messi on a great scoring chance which forced Casillas to pull off a great save to deny Messi from doubling their lead. For Blaugrana fans, there was not much left to remember from this match. Barça seemed like pedestrians out there after Madrid had a 2-1 lead that grew into a 3-1 lead.

I had expressed some reservations, or concerns if you would like, about Luis Enrique. This was his second test after that defeat to PSG and sadly, he failed this test too.  Lucho’s “Plan A” has flattered to deceive and there were doubts if there actually was a genuine “Plan B”. Well, “Plan A” sputtered to create many chances and the team seemed to fade away in the second half. “Plan B” was never presented for us to reflect on. The plan of attack was for the fullbacks to attack down the wings and have the midfielders cover for them. The only problem was Lucho had the wrong personnel to put this plan into action. Xavi and Iniesta are not the same as they were back in 2008-2009 season. Lots of games and age will do that to a player’s body. Alves was not an offensive factor and only defended well when Madrid sat back while Mathieu tried his best but was abysmal in the final third of the pitch. It was asking a lot for Busquets to cover all that exposed space seeing as he is not known as a fast player and so soon after recovering from an injury.

I also addressed my concerns about the defending of this team. The clean sheet records was one of the biggest misleading statistics coming into this match. Barça kept clean sheets but their defending left much to desire. For some seasons now, Barça have been plagued with subpar defending stemming from mistakes and lack of personnel. Lucho opted to go with Pique and Mascherano as center backs, ignoring what had transpired in the last league Clásico that was played in the same venue. I had warned that Benzema was a threat, especially after he terrorized Barça last season when he scored two goals in the first half in this stadium and could have had more in that game. So it came as no surprise that he scored yet again following a mix up between Iniesta and Mascherano that resulted in a counter attack from which Benzema scored his fifth league Clásico goal at home. Pique’s clumsiness resulted in a penalty for handling the ball while sloppy defending resulted in Pepe being left unmarked during a corner kick goal.

The 3-1 loss left a bitter taste for the Blaugrana faithful. Lucho was supposed to usher in a new era but instead, we saw flashbacks to eliminations by the hands of Bayern and Atlético. Fans weren’t happy and the media was ready to pounce on Lucho. We all thought the nightmare ended in Madrid but Lucho’s press conference yesterday just prolonged it.

When confronted by the media, Lucho went on the defensive. His answers regarding Messi allegedly taking injections, Vermaelen’s recovery, and Mathieu’s statement that he was surprised to find out he was going to start as a left back, were poorly dealt. He should have dealt with those questions with calm but instead came off annoyed. This was the last thing we needed following the defeat to Real Madrid.

Personally, I had some concerns with Mathieu’s statement that he was surprised that he going to start as a left back. Lucho had mentioned before that he would inform which goalkeeper was going to start the match two hours prior to kickoff. One can hope that Lucho did do the same in a game of this magnitude. Based on what I saw from Mathieu, where he seemed to struggle to whip in a cross, did Lucho try this out in training to see how he would perform offensively? Only time will tell if Lucho is an enigma or man with a plan.

This disappointing defeat to Real Madrid meant that Barça are still in first place with a tough schedule ahead along with teams breathing down their necks. They will be hosting Celta Vigo and Sevilla and traveling to Valencia along with traveling to Amsterdam and Cyprus to face Ajax and APOEL this month. Lucho has failed his first two big tests. This month will be his third test. Will he be able to keep his team atop of the league standings and will he ensure his team will get maximum points in those two Champions League encounters for the decisive final  match against PSG that will decide who will win the group?

I know it’s early into the season and I am a firm believer of it’s not how you start, but it’s how you finish. Lucho has time on his side but what he does not have, is the patience of fans that are waiting to be impressed on a consistent basis.

Lucho’s Honeymoon is Over.

FC Barcelona’s loss this past weekend to Real Madrid was as disappointing as they come. After securing a dream start after scoring an early goal, the tide turned after half an hour and Barça never recovered again. Luis Enrique decided to change his team’s approach and that big gamble did not pay off. After just 12 matches, his honeymoon period is over and Lucho will now have to face the criticism that awaits him following his team losing in its two big tests of the season.

For 30 minutes, Barça seemed to be doing well. Luis Suarez’s debut kicked off with a great assist to Neymar for an opening less than five minutes into the game. Messi almost doubled the lead but for an amazing save from Casillas in the 23rd minute to keep 1-0. Unfortunately, Barça were being exposed at the back prior to that scoring chance thanks to typical clumsy Barça defending. Unfortunately, clumsy defending, a few minutes after that scoring chance, would result in a penalty by a handball from Pique and the penalty king Ronaldo stepped up and scored the equalizer. From there, the rest of the match is a blur.

The second half was the Barça that we had seen against Bayern and Atletico in the past two years. The Blaugrana were being bossed around and lacked energy and creativity to find a way back. They looked beaten mentally and physically. Prior to this match, I addressed some concerns I had with the way Lucho was coaching this team.Although they had not conceded a single goal in league play, they defender flattered to deceive. His starting back four was a mystery but the bigger mystery was staring Mathieu as left back over Jordi Alba. He also went ahead with Pique and Mascherano partnership even though it had been exploited by Real Madrid in the past.

The back four seemed great on paper but was poor on the pitch. Mathieu attacked well but did not offer anything in the final third of the pitch. Mathieu even admitted he was surprised he was asked to start as a left back. Pique was his clumsy self again while Benzema once again relished playing against Barça while matched up with Mascherano. Dani Alves did not lose the ball much in the final third of the pitch but did not contribute offensively much either. His defending was nothing to write about. It only got better when Madrid decided to sit back and counter attack with fewer numbers but watching Marcelo bypass him and Xavi was a rerun of past disappointments.

Lucho’s strategy was a failure when you consider the lineup he submitted. The same midfield trio of 2008-2009 cannot be expected to perform like that team did back then and cannot be expected to perform in his direct style of constant pressure. Xavi and Iniesta are not young men anymore while Busquets has been playing hurt for a while. Many thought Mascherano and Rakitic would play in the midfield with Iniesta but alas, Lucho stuck with the old guard and the wear and tear of the old guard was too much to bear.

The big gamble of going with Luis Suarez paid off with some great scoring chances for others but I would have preferred seeing Sandro start or even Pedro due to his familiarity with the players. It was asking a lot for Luis Suarez to get out there and know where his teammates would be and gel with them. That comes with time. More bizarre was watching Barça attack Madrid down Carvajal’s side of the pitch and ignoring Marcelo, who was exposed by Germany as Brazil’s weak link. We used to see Messi and Pedro attack Marcelo often to the point that Mourinho benched him for Coentrao. Yet, Messi and Luis hardly attacked that right side of the field.

Unfortunately, Barça’s own wrongdoing caused them to be down 3-1 and when that happened, Lucho showed us that he has no Plan B; he just swapped one player with another who played in the same position. Lucho’s press conference today made him seem defensive and petty at times when questioned about what happened on Saturday, and it’s only after nine league matches. There is a long season ahead of us but Lucho has failed in his first two big tests; PSG and Real Madrid. That does not bode well for him and this loss means that Barça will now have three other teams breathing down their necks. Barça must overcome this train wreck of a performance but the honeymoon period for Lucho is over. 

Issues for Barça to address ahead of El Clásico.

Well, it’s that time again when most of the world stops to enjoy El Clásico. Barça travel to Madrid Saturday to face their arch rival Real Madrid. Barça sit atop of the standings with a four point advantage over Los Blancos. A win on Saturday would give them a beneficial seven point lead. However, this game seems to raise more concern than hope for some of the Blaugrana faithful with some issues that need to be addressed.

Luis Enrique’s era has been superb with the minor hiccup against Malaga and disappointing showing against Paris Saint-Germaine.  He heads to the Santiago Bernabéu with a four point cushion over his rival, Carlos Ancelotti. Last season, Tata Martino and the players departed the same stadium as victors following their 4-3 victory. The task at hand is for the manager and players to leave the stadium with a victory.

There’s no debating that this team is still a work in progress. The defending has been shaky at best with Pique still inconsistent, Bartra still lacking experience while Mathieu is recovering a knock. The full backs are such an important part of the offense since Lucho prefers to rely on these players than wingers but that also exposes the defense.  Who will start in the back four is everyone’s guess and unlike Tata, Lucho will not allow the media to be present for the whole training to publicize the starting lineup later on.

The other issue is what is Lucho’s Plan A? Finally, Luis Suarez will be allowed to play with the team, hence why it is a work in progress. Will we finally get to see Lucho’s Plan A come to fruition? The other concern is if Plan A is not working, what is the Plan B? The draw against Malaga showed us that Lucho’s strategy was to replace a player with another player who plays in the same role. Swapping out players is not exactly a great back up plan and his 3-4-3 Plan B against PSG did not convince many.

This is only Match Day 9 but a win goes a long way in ensuring Barça have a good grasp on the league crown with a commanding seven point lead. A loss means Barça will have Real Madrid, Atletico, Valencia and even Sevilla breathing down their necks.  Nevertheless, time has shown us to expect the unexpected when it comes to this game and I can never doubt these players in winning at the Santiago Bernabéu.  Need I remind you that ever since that embarrassing 4-1 loss in Madrid back in 2007-2008 season, Barça have only lost once in that stadium over the years with four wins and a draw in league play. Will Saturday make it a fifth for a Manita?

El Clásico: Evaluation Time for both Barça and Real Madrid.

Following just eight matches, El Clásico rears its heads for both Barça and Madrid. Both clubs have had their tests already but this is their mid-term exam. Have both teams addressed what their teams are lacking or is still there work to do? Come Saturday, we will know if there will be more questions or answers presented to the world.

This Saturday is Lucho’s mid-term exam, or evaluation, as Barça’s manager. Thus far, Barça are currently league leaders, four points ahead of Real Madrid and are in second place in their Champions League group stage. They have yet to concede a goal in league play but have conceded four in Champions League play. Lucho’s first test was during the September stretch where Barça drew with Malaga and lost to PSG. Lucho’s tactics came into question during that time where it was believed his Plan A was inadequate and his Plan B was non-existent. Merely swapping players in similar positions is not a Plan B. However, we are still unsure of his Plan A since he still has not had use of all his players. That will change this Saturday.

Contrary to the insistence of the Madrid press that Luis Suarez cannot play this Saturday, the Uruguayan international is set to make his first competitive debut for Barça in the biggest game possible. Perhaps we will see Lucho’s Plan A after all now that he has Messi, Neymar and Suarez available. I am curious to see what Lucho plans to do with “The South American Connection” on Saturday. Messi and Neymar are in fine form heading into this game so will Lucho start with Suarez and play him for 45-60 minutes or go with Pedro and then bring him on as a second half sub? My big concern is how will he react when he meets the likes of Pepe and not lose his head if confronted. I am also curious to see how Suarez’s inclusion will affect the rest of the team. Will the defense be less shaky now that he’s there and not rely too much on the fullbacks attacking? Even though Barça has yet to concede a goal in league play, they came close to on several occasions. Lucho has to wonder which of his players will center the heart of the defense along with Dani Alves and Jordi Alba. Lucho needs to figure out if Mascherano should start ahead of Busquets who has recovered from a hip injury.

Meanwhile, Madrid have had a “Más o menos“ start to the season. They did win the UEFA Super Cup but lost the Supercopa against Atlético. They also suffered a hiccup of their own when they squandered a two goal lead after allowing Real Sociedad to score four unanswered goals in a 4-2 loss. Real Madrid also didn’t do so well on their first big test when they lost to Atlético in the Santiago Bernabéu back in September. This was the third consecutive time that Ancelotti could not defeat Atlético in league play. He has yet to taste victory against Atlético or Barça in league play and one wonders what pressure he will face if he loses to Barça at home again and Los Blancos find themselves four points behind.

The other issue for Madrid is whether or not they are a better team without Alonso and Di Maria. Alonso gave them the bite they needed in the midfield while Di Maria was sensational and their workhorse down the stretch. Hands down, Di Maria was their best player towards the end of the season. Now, both are gone, along with Diego Lopez, and one has to wonder if this Madrid team has the proper team to face Barça. Are they too finesse or can they, especially Kroos, Rodriguez and Modric, defend and win the ball back without the likes of Alonso present? The fact that some consider Bale’s absence, through injury, a blessing since this means Isco can play, says something. As good as Bale is offensively, he does hurt this team defensively.

Speaking of defense, Madrid have conceded more goals, nine, than all the other top six teams in the league and have allowed far too many scoring chances than they should have. So both Barça and Madrid have their work cut out for them on the defensive side of the pitch. One wonders if this will be a box to box goal fest or will both sides be a bit conservative in their style to protect themselves?

Of course, for many, Saturday means it is Messi vs Ronaldo again. Both are gunning to be the best and to be the best, you have to win. I’ve said all that has to be said about Messi. Words cannot adequately describe what he has accomplished for Barça and Argentina. He has a shot at becoming La Liga’s all-time goal scorer and what better venue to do that then at the Santiago Bernabéu. He surpassed Di Stefano as the all-time top scorer in El Clásico in Madrid last season, so can he also surpass Zarra and become all-time scorer in league history in the same venue this Saturday?

Ronaldo is also one of the most dangerous goal scorers I have ever seen and is lethal when surrounded by the right talent. Now, ever since Ronaldo joined Real Madrid, his team has won only once on home soil in league play. Barça on the other hand have won three times at the Santiago Bernabéu during that same span. I, however think the player that Barça need to watch out for is Benzema. He has scored four goals against the Blaugrana on home soil from open play, while Ronaldo has only two goals, both from the spot. Benzema is a vital player for this team, even if he is not scoring. His presence is a cause of concern for defenders and last season, he could have scored a hat trick and more in the first half alone against Barça. Will Barça be ready to deal with him this time?

As a Barça fan, I am not sure what will happen on Saturday. I recall them losing 4-1 in this stadium the year they won the Champions League title in 2006, and they won at this stadium under Tata Martino last season. I do believe they can win at the Santiago Bernabéu. Last season, Iniesta said, “It’s hard to believe there are Barça fans who don’t believe in us. This team has won the right to the fans’ trust – sure we’ve had off days, but nobody should think Madrid are going to find us an easy prospect”. Well said Iniesta and here’s hoping that there is no off day in Madrid come Saturday.

Thank You Messi.

10 years ago today, Messi made his debut as a substitute against Espanyol. No one imagined the little teenager from Argentina would delight us for 10 years with unforgettable performances.

On October 16, 2004, Messi made his debut when he came on for Deco in the second half of the Barcelona Derby against Espanyol at the Olympic Stadium. The rest as they say is history. There is no need to repeat all his achievements, accomplishments and titles. We all know them and today, we have sensed how time has passed. These past 10 years of watching this great number 10 feels different. To some, those ten years felt like an eternity of watching a career grow and prosper or those ten years went by too quick, much like a blur in the way Messi dribbles past players.

Messi has been on an amazing run and we have been right beside him in the passenger seat watching him take charge in the driver’s seat. We have suffered the highs and lows during his ten years and that’s why perhaps we admire him because he is playing this sport from his heart and also feels our joy and pain. He plays for the club and for the fans as equally as he does for his country and one can never question that.

So as we celebrate 10 years of Messi, we, the fans, his teammates, and the club officials, can only thank him and give him the proper love and respect that he deserves. It’s the least we can do for the man who has done basically everything for this club over the years and we hope he continues to do so for many more years to come.