Spaniards Abroad: David Villa.

Spaniards Abroad: David Villa. The Night David Villa came to Saint Petersburg, Florida.

David Villa is a Spanish football legend. His accomplishments for club and country are exceptional. A winner with four different clubs along with a European and World Cup medal with Spain, David Villa has had a marvelous career. He is now in the twilight of his legendary playing career here in the United States with New York MLS side, NYCFC.

When I learned that David Villa would be playing with his club at a friendly in my hometown in Florida, I did not have to think twice about going. On February 17, 2016, NYCFC faced Montreal Impact in Saint Petersburg, Florida. The venue was Al Lang stadium, home of the NASL side, Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The grounds of Al Lang stadium used to host baseball games since 1923 and underwent many renovations and changes throughout the years. However, it became the home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies a few years ago and underwent a major facelift in late 2014 to become a soccer only stadium. It is a quaint stadium that seats over 7,000 fans and on this night, would be hosting David Villa.

It was a pleasant evening with a nice cool breeze blowing from the marina located next to the stadium. The fans were diverse in their allegiance with some there to see David Villa, some to see Andrea Pirlo while others were there for Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. For this Cule, David Villa was the main attraction.

David Villa hails from the Asturias region located at the northern tip of Spain. He joins the small list of players from that region who would go on to play for Barça; Quini and Luis Enrique. Just like those two Barça legends, David would feature for Sporting Gijon. He made his debut in 2001, when Sporting were in the second division, and after two impressive seasons, he was sold for €2.7m to Real Zaragoza. His debut with Zaragoza was around the same time FC Barcelona had just elected Joan Laporta as club president and helped usher in the new era for the Blaugrana. That same season, David Villa won his first major club trophy when Zaragoza defeated Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Final. He had scored from the spot to give his side the lead before halftime. The Final was held in Barcelona, at Espanyol’s old stadium, the Montjuïc so Cules took notice of this young scorer. He later earned his first cap for Spain in 2005 under Luis Aragones.

After two seasons with Zaragoza, he was sold to Valencia for €12 m. He managed to score 28 goals in all competitions, 25 of them coming in the league, in his debut season. That strong performance earned him a spot in Spain’s 2006 World Cup roster where he would go on to score three goals. He won his second Copa del Rey trophy in 2008 when Valencia defeated Getafe in the Final, while scoring against FC Barcelona in the Semi-Finals at the Camp Nou.

That summer of 2008 would be special as Luis Aragones did not include Raul in his Euro 2008 roster, thus allowing David Villa to become the new Spanish number 7. It was a controversial decision that was soon forgotten when Spain finally ended their long wait of winning a major international trophy by defeating Germany in Euro 2008 Final. He scored four memorable goals in the tournament but missed the Final after suffering an injury in the Semi-Finals against Russia. Two years later, he would help steer Spain to World Cup glory over Holland in World Cup 2010 by scoring five of Spain’s eight goals in the tournament.

Barça had attempted to pry him away from Valencia in 2009 with Real Madrid hot on his heels. Ultimately, the transfer never went through but Barça managed to sign him a year later, just before president Laporta’s tenure concluded. David, Messi and Pedro formed the “MVP” trident scored 98 goals, with David scoring 23 goals in all competitions, including a memorable brace in the 5-0 win over Real Madrid, which helped the club win the league title and their fourth Champions League title with David scoring a spectacular goal in the final against Manchester United at Wembley. It was during his first season with Barça that Villa also surpassed Raul to become Spain’s all-time goal scoring leader.

His second season with the club saw him suffer a broken tibia during the FIFA Club World Cup and cause him to miss the second half of the 2011-2012 season and Euro 2012 with Spain. His third and final season at the club would see him score 16 goals in all competitions as he had to fight Alexis, Tello and Pedro for minutes. He would then be sold to Atlético Madrid for €5.1 m where he would go on to score 15 goals in all competitions and help Atlético win the league title, at the Camp Nou against Barça, and play in the Champions League Final where his side fell to their derby rivals Real Madrid.

He would represent Spain one final time during in their dreadful 2014 World Cup campaign. David indicated that this was going to be his final appearance for La Roja. He would score his 59th and final goal for Spain in their final group match against Australia. It was not the fitting end that many had wished for one of the greatest Spanish players ever.

Many, including myself were surprised to see Villa leave La Liga for the MLS after his lone season with Atlético. He was going to cross the Atlantic and play for the new MLS club in New York, NYCFC. Prior to joining his new club, he had to travel all the way to Australia for a short loan spell with Melbourne City and then headed back to New York. His was the club’s first ever captain during NYCFC’s inaugural season in MLS that saw him score 18 goals. Although that was an impressive tally, his club though failed to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs.

So here he was, David Villa, in my hometown in Florida. NYCFC were part of the teams taking part in the Rowdies’s Suncoast Invitational along other MLS teams as they prepare for their upcoming season. While I watched him warm up with Pirlo and the rest of the team, I managed to chat with an older gentleman from the Asturias region who happened to live in the area. Just like me, he came to see Villa. Villa hasn’t changed much in appearance from when he signed with Barça. He rocks has the same haircut and soul patch that we have accustomed to seeing over the years. What was I noticed was different was that, for once, Villa looked fit during warm-ups and did not resemble the player we had seen these past few seasons in Spain who appeared in pain and sluggish while recovering from injuries.

I took my seat near the field without knowing what to expect from David Villa. Was I going to see a David Villa treating this friendly without interest as he nears retirement? Any doubts towards his professionalism were quickly put to rest when, early into the match, he showed that he still had his powerful shot after he tested the Montreal keeper from distance. In the 20th minute, Villa showed that he still had his pace when he managed to chest the ball down before bursting towards the goal with the ball at his feet. His attempt was wide, but flashbacks came flowing back to his Valencia and Blaugrana playing days. Nevertheless, he showed scent for the goal like a shark that smelt blood. He came close to scoring in the 31st minute when Pirlo delivered a free kick from just outside the box to him but Villa’s effort struck the crossbar.

Villa would start the second half and in the 54th minute, Pirlo whipped a pass into the box, and Villda headed the ball to down to his teammate Diskerud, but his effort was stopped by the Montreal keeper. A few minutes later, Villa had a chance to score from close range but mishit the ball and the keeper had an easy save to make. In the 63rd minute, after a short corner kick, Villa had another attempt from outside the box but was off target.

David Villa’s night came to an end in the 68th minute. He gave Pirlo the captain’s armband and headed for the bench while receiving a warm embrace from his manager, Patrick Vieira and a nice round of applause from the fans in attendance. I was in a state of disbelief that David Villa actually played in my hometown and he did not disappoint.

I have to admit that I was impressed by both, David and Pirlo’s attitude on the pitch. Many might assume that these world class players came to the U.S. to cash it in and take it easy. You cannot make that assumption about these two. Both were leading the charge and demanding the ball from their teammates and urging them on. Their competitive fire still burns and they expect the same from their teammates.

After the game ended, the fans started to leave the small but lovely stadium of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He made his way to some fans and signed some autographs before heading off to the locker room. I waited outside the stadium to get one final glimpse of David Villa as he was the first player to board the team bus. The legendary Spanish player was leaving my hometown and he still looked like he still had something to offer to the football world. The fans in New York are sure lucky to have him.

First Year Struggles of New Barça Strikers.

Luis Suarez’s sluggish goal scoring start to his Barça career has been a bit disappointing, but at the same time, he is not the first to do so either. Compared to other new Barça goal scorers, he’s actually doing quite well.

FC Barcelona is a unique club. Unique when it comes to being coached and unique in how the team plays. That is why not every great player does well after joining the Blaugrana. We have seen the likes of Vítor Baía, Zambrotta, and Hagi arrive at Barça and then fail to impress. Goal scorers are also not exempt from this list. From Mark Hughes to Maxi Lopez, and even Ibrahimovic to some, Barça has seen its share of disappointing strikers.

In all fairness, Luis Suarez did not get to fully integrate with the team before the season started. Because of his idiotic and gross misconduct during the World Cup, Luis Suarez was banned for the early part of the season. That killed any chance of gelling with his new teammates and new team style but he has slowly improved his performances since his debut in El Clásico. Yet, some are a bit upset with his lack of goals. However, when compared to other Barça goal scorers debutants, there is no reason to be upset.

Here are the statistics of first year Barça goal scorers after their first 19 matches for the Blaugrana:

Thierry Henry: 7 goals & 8 assists.

Ibrahimovic: 12 goals & 4 assists

Pedro: 10 goals and 1 assist

David Villa: 11 goals & 5 assists

Alexis: 8 goals & 2 assists

Neymar: 6 goals & 9 assists.

As for the Uruguayan international, he has scored 6 goals and provided 11 assists in his first 19 matches. So, if one wants to compare, Suarez is basically following in the footsteps of Neymar in terms of goals scored. It’s true the other names on that list have scored more, but then again, all of them, with the exception of Henry, played during Pep’s era where the team was considered one of the best in the world.

 

Nevertheless, keep in mind that Luis Suarez’s goals and assists combined were the most when compared to those other players. He may not be scoring as much, but he has been directly involved in 17 goals in his 19 matches. That is more than those players did during their first 19 matches.

Last season, we were told to be patient with Neymar and look how good he has been this season. So let’s be patient with Luis Suarez too. After all, it could be worse; Santi Ezquerro only scored one goal after joining Barça fall of 2006-2007 season.  So let’s hold judgment till after the season has concluded.

Lay Off Luis Suarez.

Luis Suarez’s first season with FC Barcelona has not been all fireworks. Although expectations were high for Luis Suarez, his performance thus far is not as disappointing to justify the criticism he has received. In fact, you could say he is doing just as well as other Barça strikers before him have done at this stage in their first season.

Yes, the huge price tag of Luis Suarez’s transfer perhaps raised expectations of the numbers of goals “El Pistolero” would score this season for the Blaugrana. Thus far, he has only scored six goals as a Barça player. For some fans, that is a disappointing number of goals. However, let’s not be too harsh on the player. He has struggled at first but his signing was not just about goals; it was about making the team better.

First of all, Luis Suarez did not get a proper summer preseason under his belt and was not allowed to play with the first team till October. Obviously, the blame entirely lies with him for getting punished by FIFA for his stupid act and yes, he should have been in better shape while serving his FIFA ban. However, his performance for the first team after serving his ban, has been beneficial for the team.

He has scored 6 goals and provided 11 assists in his first 19 matches as a Barça player. He also added another assist yesterday in Barça’s Copa del Rey victory over Villarreal on Messi’s opening goal. Some will point out that Suarez has been a disappointment with those six goals but has he?

When you look back at other forwards who played upfront for Barça in their first season and compare their numbers to Luis Suarez’s number, you will not notice a big difference in terms of production. Courtesy of @Barca19stats, Pedro scored 10 goals and had an assist in his first 19 matches. David Villa scored 11 goals and had 5 assists. Alexis scored 8 goals and had 2 assists in his first 19 matches and Neymar scored 6 goals and had 9 assists in his first 19 matches. Heck, even Thierry Henry had 7 goals and 8 assists in his first 19 matches.

Thus far, Luis Suarez has been directly involved in 17 goals in his first 19 matches. That is more than those previously mentioned players had done in the same time span. To say he has disappointed by not scoring more goals is a bit harsh. Pedro grew up in this system and played with Xavi and Iniesta at the peak of their careers. David Villa had experience from playing with that superb midfield during their Spanish National team days. Suarez, like David Villa, had to accept from being the go to guy for goals and to be Messi’s right hand man. Furthermore, the midfield is being utilized differently under Luis Enrique along with the sad realization that Iniesta and Xavi are not as great as they were a few years ago.

Meanwhile, you could say Suarez’s numbers are similar to Neymar’s numbers. If Cruyff, and others, said to give Neymar time to adapt then surely the same should also be said for Suarez. So please, let’s lay off the guy for now. His off the ball movement along with his work rate in recovering balls have been impeccable. He, Neymar and Messi have been performing well together ever since that awful loss to Real Sociedad back in January which has resulted in Barça’s current ten match winning streak. So, let’s ease off in criticizing Suarez and appreciate what he brings to this team.

Spain have been Defeated but not Beaten.

World Cup 2014 was a train wreck for La Roja. The defending champions were embarrassed by Holland in the opening match and never recovered from that sucker punch that knocked the wind out of their sails and saw them exit the World Cup after just 3 matches. Many were ready to announce La Roja’s era was over however those talks are premature. Spain has been defeated but not beaten and the talented youth players for Spain ensure a bright future for La Roja.

 All good things must come to an end and Spain’s run came to a grinding halt in Brazil. Losses to Holland and Chile brought down the curtains on any chance of Spain repeating as World Cup champion.  I had previously written that history was not on Spain’s side and sure enough, Spain became the third consecutive European World Cup champion to crash out of the World Cup during the group stages while they attempted to defend their crown.

France won the World Cup in 1998 and crashed out in 2002 World Cup group stages while Italy won the World Cup in 2006 and crashed out in 2010 in similar fashion. Italy would pull off an encore performance in this recent World Cup, while France would get back in the World Cup Final in 2006. World Cup 2018 will be Spain’s opportunity to rebound with a strong showing like France did in 2006 or fall flat on their face and revert back to their disappointing selves we had seen prior to 2008.

Since Del Bosque will remain in charge for Euro 2016, it’s time for him to start the new project with the talented youth he has available. The days of Xavi, Torres, Villa and others is over and it’s time to focus on the likes of Thiago, Jesé, Isco, Deulofeu, Koke , De Gea, Bartra and others to supplement the veterans still representing Spain. The talent is there and Del Bosque didn’t suddenly forget how to manage a team, just made some glaring mistakes in terms who he called up and who he started. I still can’t understand him omitting Fernando Llorente.

His faith in the veterans backfired after an entertaining but grueling Spanish league season that left many players hurt or exhausted for the World Cup. Now, he will have the chance to make amends for that mistake if he does not squander the talented players available present. Not many managers get a to stick around after an embarrassing exit which is why Del Bosque better make the most out of the talent he has available. The talent is still absurd and he has the right ingredients for another competitive team; just as long as he chooses wisely his ingredients.

2012-2013 End of Season Awards.

The 2012-2013 season just concluded and our beloved Barça competed for four cups. In the end, they succeeded in winning one out of four competitions by capturing their 22nd league title and ended the season on a positive note when they managed to reach 100 points and finish 15 points ahead of Real Madrid atop of the standings. So, as we enjoy the summer break before another season is upon us, it’s time to hand out the awards.

A season in transition as Tito Vilanova, and at times Jordi Roura, managed the club after Guardiola opted not to return to Barça for another season. Nevertheless, FC Barcelona continued to add trophies to the trophy case with the capture of their 22nd league title.  Sadly, there is still the lingering sting from the Bayern Munich 7-0 aggregate thrashing in their sixth consecutive UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals. Furthermore, there were some sad farewells with Abidal not returning and perhaps other players too bidding farewell to their Barça playing days.

The season started off with the team losing to Real Madrid in the Super Copa with sloppy play from Valdés and the back four would turn out to be a common theme for the rest of the season. FC Barcelona did have enjoy a great first half of the season as they were still competing in all 3 competitions and enjoyed an astonishing 18 point lead over their arch rivals, Real Madrid by setting a new Spanish record of  accumulating 55 points from 19 matches.

Unfortunately, the club failed to make use of that great gap and once again, we saw an exhausted and unfit Barça struggle in the second half of the season. Barça were eliminated by Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Semi-Finals and could not defeat a makeshift Madrid team in league play the same week. Fatigue and injuries would also affect Barça, with Messi struggling with injuries, as they were manhandled by Bayern in the Champions League after struggling to eliminate the likes of Milan and PSG.

Barça though would end the season on a positive when they captured the league title by reaching 100 points although they would be without Messi’s services in the final month or so. Messi still managed to win another FIFA Golden Ball and won the league’s Pichichi top scorer award again. We also had to say a sad farewell to Abidal when the club announced they would not be offering the inspiration player a new deal and others might soon follow suite and leave the club as well. So, as we enjoy the summer break before another season is upon us, it’s time to hand out the awards.

MVP: MESSI.

Messi scored 38 goals from 29 matches halfway through the season. Although he was ruled out of action near the end of the season, he still managed to score 60 goals in 50 matches and win the Pichichi with 46 goals. I did state in my midseason awards that “Barring any injury, the sky is the limit for Messi as he keeps doing what he loves to do; win”. Sadly, the injury he picked up against PSG made him ineffective in the first leg of the Bayern 4-0 loss and would not feature in the second leg 3-0 loss. Nevertheless, he essentially was the big reason why this club won its 22nd league title and hopefully he will learn to take it easy next season and not play in every single match. He is human after all.

Best Goal: Messi v Athletic Bilbao

 This is usually a tough one but even though we saw some great goals so far this season from Adriano, David Villa, Iniesta, Xavi and Jordi Alba, Messi’s goal against Athletic Bilbao simply stood out from the others. It was artistic and the closest thing I have seen to resemble art in motion. Messi just simply took on four Bilbao players and displayed his amazing grace on the ball as he managed to glide each one of them before unleashing a powerful shot that Gorka could not stop. It simply was a footballing masterpiece by one of the all-time greats of the game who keeps making it look easy even when playing hurt.

Best Assist: Xavi to Villa against Milan

Barça’s style means we get to see a lot of assists but for me, Xavi’s through ball to David Villa against Milan was the best one for me this season. Barça needed a third goal against Milan and the ease with how Xavi delivered that through ball with his only touch, with such vision and precision, to find Villa inside the box was one of the best things I saw this season. Sadly, we don’t get to see too many of these superb through balls from Xavi and hopefully we’ll see more next season.

Best Game: FC Barcelona 4-0 AC Milan.

This game was nearly perfect. We saw the Barça of old that we were accustomed to seeing under Pep. Barça’s performance was daring, courageous, energetic, and totally in control. They hounded Milan all over the pitch and Messi scored a great brace in the first half before Villa and Alba scored in the second half to overcome the disappointing 2-0 first leg loss. Wish we saw more of than the rest of the way.

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Best Transfer: Jordi Alba.

Although his performance dipped a bit in the second half of the season, Jordi Alba still was a great transfer by Barça. As I said back in January, 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. His goal against Milan will be remembered for quite a long time.

Most Improved Player: Tello.

Tello’s progression was one of the positives of the season. The young man went from the player who just aimed for the goal to one who could cause problems with his shooting and passing. Barcelona media compared some of his goals to those of Thierry Henry and it was fully justified. For some inexplicit reason, Vilanova never turned to him in the big games. He was in the stands for the first leg against Bayern and never left the bench in the second leg. The sky is the limit for Tello and here’s hoping he’ll continue to improve and that he is still with the team for next season.

Best Youth Player: Montoya.

Unfortunately, not too many young players got to play much with only Bartra and Montoya featuring when needed.  Cuenca won this last season with Tello also impressing and he did well this season too. Montoya, whenever he was not neglected by the manager, filled in for Dani Alves superbly on two different occasions against Real Madrid. He scored in the team’s final league match and one hopes he will feature more, along with Bartra, next season, and not be omitted from the squad when rotations are needed.

Most Disappointing Player: Cesc.

For the second year in a row, Cesc sadly wins this award. I was in favor of the club signing him from Arsenal but his time with the club thus far has been disappointing. He still stood out after the disappointing seasons from the likes of Pique, Mascherano, Pedro, Alexis and Dani Alves to name a few. He seemed to have finally snapped out of his funk only to fall back into during the second half of the season. Yes, it is true that he finished second behind Messi with his 11 league goals and finished the season with 14 goals and 12 assists. However, he was supposed to be a part of the puzzle for Barça. Yet, where was he for the big games? He did not feature in the 4-0 Milan win and 4-0 Bayern loss and was either a substitute or was subbed off against Madrid and PSG. This was the same problem last season but we’re still trying to figure out how to best utilize Cesc. He failed to impress on regular basis and now we have to weather a summer of transfer rumors linking him with a return to England.

2012-2013 started off with a bang and the club endured a blip in form near the end, but it was a successful one nevertheless. More importantly, we saw Abidal and Tito battle back from their medical problems and return to us which is the biggest prize of them all. Here’s hoping that next season will be even better where the awards will be less harsh on some of the players.

 

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.

 

Messi - Caution v Obsession

Messi finally did it. 86 goals in one calendar year is truly a remarkable achievement by the 25 year old player who keeps finding ways to astonish us with his record breaking feats. However, perhaps it’s time for us to be cautious now and focus on what is best for Messi and the team. The obsession for this record might have affected Messi and his teammates' style of play. Now that the record is over, there should be a shift to caution.

Messi should not play today. He would be making his fourth appearance in two weeks. There is no need to play the Copa match against a side that is not in La Primera. This game should be used to give players who are going through a tough spell in terms of performance or ending their goalless streak. Pedro, Alexis and David Villa should be playing these minutes. They need some goals to give a boost to their confidence.

Some would argue that their goal scoring is down because of injuries or bad luck. Perhaps, they were also too focused on making sure Messi broke that record. The obsession for this record might have somewhat affected his teammates but now that is over with, it’s time for others to step up. I would prefer to see the likes of Pedro, Villa and Alexis scoring 15-20 goals a season to Messi’s 50 than seeing him score 86 while David Villa and Alexis only have close to 10 goals each in all of 2012.

The injury scare against Benfica made us all second guess Tito’s decision to bring on Messi. He shouldn’t have stepped onto the pitch, record or no record. This was a meaningless game against a team desperate to advance to the next round. Sure, he wanted to break the record. Lovely! Imagine if he was gone for the next 6 months with an injury in a meaningless game. Sure, he could have been injured against Betis but if you want to get down to it, which game do you prefer a player to get injured in? In a game that counts or not? Let’s not forget how Eto’o got injured and how David Villa got injured. One was in a friendly and one was in a serious fixture. Injuries happen but if the game doesn’t mean much, then rest the player and decrease the chances of wear and tear which could lead to fatigue. Thus, rest Messi today, Tito.

 

Busy week for Barça.

FC Barcelona sure had a busy week with Mascherano signing a new deal and the return of David Villa and Carles Puyol to training among the good news headlines. However, they had to deal with some whining from the Catalan FA and Espanyol following the cancellation of the Copa Catalunya. Fortunately, that brief moment of cry babying was forgotten when the good news was announced about Eric Abidal joining the team for their trip to Paris when they face Paris St. Germaine and three former teammates.

  What a busy week it was for Barça indeed. It kicked off with the good news that Javier Mascherano had signed a new deal with the club that will see him remain with the club till 2016. I won’t lie. I thought his transfer was one that never made sense. Busquets was already the starting Defensive Midfielder and his playing time caused Toure Yaya to leave. So why sign a well-known player who will be playing as a backup to Busquets?

Fortunately, Guardiola used him as a center-back and the rest is history. Sure, he was caught out a few times late last season that allowed the opposition to exploit him as the weakest link. However, his overall performances since joining the club have been impeccable and here’s hoping the next four years will see more domination from Mascherano.

The other good news was seeing Puyol and Villa back training. We always knew Puyol would be back but there are doubts about David Villa. When he broke his leg back in December, doctor s said he would be out a few months. Villa’s injury has been rather a mysterious one. There was talk of Villa coming back late in the season against Real Madrid so he can be ready for Euro 2012. Well, the injury took more time than expected and we never saw him play for Barça or Spain. I think this is Villa’s last season with the club, especially with Neymar lurking around the corner.  He will probably feature next week for the first time since December.

Hopefully the old David Villa will return and not an old David Villa that we saw struggling throughout the first half of last season before the big injury. He was playing hurt supposedly so we will see. I think this is his last season to impress, especially with Neymar still lurking about.  Unfortunately, this sport is notorious for “what have you done for me lately” when it comes to treating players and Villa hasn’t really done much.

As for the Copa Catalunya being scrapped after no one could work out a decent schedule and Catalan FA objected to Barça’s B team representing. Good Riddance. If the Catalan FA doesn’t like what transpired, then maybe they should abstain from calling up Barça players for their annual international friendly. I don’t recall the club raising a stink when backup goal keeper Jorquera suffered a major injury while representing Catalunya in their annual December friendly that forced Barça to get Pinto. The cup has no real meaning and the fact that Mourinho did win this cup for Barça when he was the assistant manager, doesn’t really give it a warm spot in our hearts either.

I enjoy the idea of the Copa Catalunya but the Catalan FA and Espanyol have to wake up and realize that Barça are involved in other friendlies so they can’t adjust their schedule to accommodate them. Maybe they should have scheduled it before the end of the last league season and not wait till the last second. Poor planning is what killed this cup, not Barça. The Catalan FA should accept that it will never become a popular summer tournament as long as Barça has lucrative deals to play other teams and in other countries at the same time. In my opinion, they should just hold it like the TIM Trophy in Italy where Milan, Inter and Juventus play each other all in one evening in three round-robin 45-minute matches. That’s the only way I can see this cup being held in the future but that’s not what the Catalan FA has in mind.

Barça now will play their third summer friendly today when they travel to France and face PSG. The venue will be a special one for Barça. The Stade de France was the venue where Barça defeated Arsenal to win their second Champions League title. It will be nice for those who featured or were on that team and celebrated that magical night, to return to this venue again. This friendly will also feature three former Barça players, Thiago Motta, Maxwell and Ibrahimovic, representing the French side too along with Thiago Silva, a player Barça were very interested in signing this summer. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN Deportes and streamed live on ESPN 3.

However, the big star attraction of the trip is Eric Abidal. The French defender made the trip to his country with his teammates today. Sometimes we forget that these players are human, regardless of their talent, achievements and wealth, so it is great to see Abidal up and about as he recovers from the medical procedures he underwent to save his life. He has given Barça a lot as a player but also a lot as a brave man. Here’s hoping he continues to recover and resume a normal healthy life with his family.

8 teams left, 10 Barça players still in the World Cup.

With the World Cup Quarter-Finals just around the corner, we are now down to eight teams. From
those eight teams, FC Barcelona has 10 players left in this tournament. The tournament started with
14 Barça players, a big majority of them representing Spain, and although not all advanced to the
knockout stages, some left a positive and negative lasting impression. The 10 Barça players means
that FC Barcelona is the most represented club left in this tournament and some of those players
have even been selected as man of the match in this tournament.

For Spain, FC Barcelona has Victor Valdes, Pique, Puyol, Sergio Busquets, Pedro, Xavi, Iniesta and
the new addition to the club, David Villa representing “La Furia Roja.” The other two players are
Argentina’s Messi and Brazil’s Dani Alves. It is possible that all ten players will be participating in the Semi-Finals and it is also possible that all ten players can be returning home if they suffer a defeat in the Quarter-Finals. Fortunately, none of the teammates will be facing each other this round but there is a strong likelihood that Messi might face his fellow teammates in the Spanish squad in the Semi-Finals if both teams are victorious.

Additionally, four players thus far have been chosen as man of the match. Messi was chosen for his
performance in Argentina’s match against Greece. The other three were all for Spain with David Villa
being chosen in Spain’s match against Honduras, Iniesta against Chile and Xavi in Spain’s Round
of 16 against Portugal. The four players who are no longer in the competition are Rafa Marquez,
Touré Yaya, Abidal and Henry. Rafa Marquez was the only one eliminated from the knockout stages
while the other three were eliminated in the group stage. France’s Abidal and Henry had a
tournament to forget with France’s horrible performance and off the pitch controversies that made
them the least liked country in the competition. Abidal especially will want to forget the game against
fellow teammate Marquez after committing a foul inside the box that gave Mexico a penalty kick. Touré Yaya also could not participate in the knockout stages after the Ivory Coast finished third in their group. Rafa Marquez captained the team in their last two games of the group stage and the Round of 16 loss to Messi’ Argentina.

The World Cup also has had its fair share of Blaugrana players doing well in this competition with
Xavi completing the most passes in the tournament with 368 passes, with Sergio Busquets second
with 327, and Piqué fourth with 306 passes. New addition to FC Barcelona, David Villa is tied for
joint top scorer of the World Cup with 4 goals, together with Slovakia’s Vittek and Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain, Even though Messi has not scored any goals, he has the most shots and shots on target in the tournament with 23 shots, 13 of them on target. Yet, both Rafa Marquez and Touré Yaya did manage to score a goal in this tournament. Andres Iniesta also scored against Honduras in the
group stages and perhaps Messi will finally break that goalless streak against Germany in the
Quarter-Finals. Only 3 more wins ensures one of the remaining eight nations will be crowned as the
new World Cup champions, will one of the Barcelona players be hoisting that precious trophy?