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.
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