Barça’s Ineffective Bang for their Buck

Barça defied the tough odds and gave us a memorable performance last week against Milan. The tide shifted from disaster to optimism and hope. We saw the old Barça that we were accustomed to seeing. The great win against Milan brought back hope and the mojo this team was lacking but also brought up a question regarding the club’s recent transfers.

FC Barcelona’s official website called Barça’s 4-0 victory a magnificent comeback. You can’t argue with them there. After all, the odds were against them and there were doubts following their lethargic displays against Real Madrid. There were talks of different lineups and formation, with one in particular from Mundo Deportivo indicating that Messi would be starting in the midfield. In the end, Tito and Roura went with what worked before, the usual starters and tactics under Pep.

There was the surprise of seeing Puyol on the bench with Mascherano starting in his place. Fortunately that Mascherano error did not haunt the team and cause a whole lot of second guessing either. Ultimately, the starting eleven got it done. Coincidentally, the starting eleven in that match where the same exact starting eleven that started that UEFA Champions League Final in Wembley against Manchester United back in 2011 with the minor exception of Jordi Alba starting in place of Abidal.

As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and what we saw from that match that these guys could get it done when they played the old system. This lineup had won before and in the end, Tito and the players went back to the old system and it paid off. However, why was this system changed in the first place? Only Tito can answer that. The bigger question though is the fact that most of the club’s recent transfers were sitting on the bench with the exception of Jordi Alba.

Jordi Alba and his transfer was a god send for this team after Abidal’s health problems. The same cannot be said for the other transfers. These past two seasons has brought us new players such as Cesc, Alexis, Song and Jordi Alba. Yet, only Alba started. So what does that say about the club and its spending? These guys were signed to be an asset and help the club. However, where were they for the big game? They were on the bench and were a non-factor.

Every summer, fans discuss about the need to sign new players to help improve this team. Why was Song signed again? When will Cesc ever show us he can replace Xavi and not be a small cog in a large wheel? Will Alexis ever become a part of the solution or just a hard worker?  We have to depend on the old guard again but the investments in these players are not paying off and that is a concern when the club has to scout again and invest in new reinforcements for the club for next season. Right now, the club is not getting the maximum bang for their buck or Euros for that matter.

March Madness Always A Wonderful Time Of The Year.

March Madness is upon us once again. The annual survival of the fittest in College basketball has commenced and already has had its share of upsets and surprises and Cinderella stories. The competition is unique and provides us with a month where we get to see the heavy weights and the small fries face off against one another where victory is never guaranteed. Without a doubt, March Madness is the most wonderful time of the year….right after Christmas, sometimes.

March Madness has been great to watch and now that I live in Spartan country, I am more invested in watching it. I have been following March Madness ever since I was exposed to it when I was 10 years old and Duke went on to win their first title under coach K. It seems like yesterday that the 1999 Final Four was held in my hometown in Saint Petersburg, Florida where the team I grew up rooting for, Duke, lost to UConn in the final. I was able to go see the teams practice for free and see others schools’ fans, students and alums root for their schools. It was without a doubt a memorable experience and was glad to have enjoyed a part of it. Just wish Duke hadn’t lost to UConn.

Me and my friend checking out Final Four practices

There is something unbelievable about this tournament that other sporting events cannot deliver. 68 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament is unparalleled in any other sport. Do or Die. It is indeed the survival of the fittest. One bad performance can be enough for a team to crash out and dash their hopes and dreams. The uncertainty and the unpredictability of it, is one important aspect of this tournament. This competition wouldn’t be this memorable if each edition of March Madness had the top seeds advancing to the Final Four. Instead, we have seen David slay Goliath on numerous occasions.

Valparaiso upset architects, father and son.

Over the years, we have witnessed great upsets such as when Richmond eliminated Syracuse, Weber State eliminated North Carolina, Hampton eliminated Iowa State, Santa Clara eliminated Arizona, Valparaiso eliminated Mississippi, Princeton eliminated UCLA, George Mason eliminated UConn, Gonzaga eliminated Stanford and Florida, Virginia Commonwealth University eliminated Kansas, to N.C. State pulling off the greatest upset in defeating Houston in the Final. There are so many that I apologize if I forgot to mention your school.

                              Jimmy V after NC State won the title.

If you love rooting for the underdog, then March Madness will not disappoint either. This competition has also given us a share of Cinderella stories. Gonzaga were a Cinderella story back in in 1999 when they eliminated Minnesota, Stanford and Florida before falling in the Elite Eight. George Mason had a memorable run when they defeated the likes of Michigan State, North Carolina, and UConn to make it to the Final Four. Virginia Commonwealth University defeated the likes of USC, Georgetown, and Kansas before falling to Butler in the Final Four. If there ever was a great Cinderella story, then Butler wins that prestigious label hands down.

Butler's Cinderella Run

Not too many teams can brag about making it to consecutive Final Fours, let alone consecutive Final Four National Championship Finals. Butler managed to do that in 2010 and 2011. Butler made it all the way to the Final Four when they defeated the likes of Syracuse and Kansas State to get into the Final Four where they eliminated my beloved Michigan State University Spartans in the National Semi-Finals before losing to Duke by 2 points in the National Championship Final. Butler defied the odds again the following year when they defeated the likes of Syracuse and Florida to make it to the Final Four yet again. They eliminated fellow Cinderella story, Virginia Commonwealth University in the National Semi-Finals before falling to UConn by 8 points in the National Championship Final.

We have already seen our share of upsets this year. Florida Gulf Coast eliminated Georgetown, Harvard knocking off New Mexico and La Salle knocking off Kansas State in the first round of March Madness. You can’t take anything for granted. Gonzaga were a top seed this year and were nearly beaten in their opening game before Wichita State sent them home packing a few days later. How times have changed. Back when I was a teenager, Gonzaga were a Cinderella team defying the odds and now there are the top seed being upset by another team donning the Cinderella label.

This truly is an uncanny tournament where most people don’t even know the majority of the players let alone where the heck some of these schools are located. Yet, people still tune in to watch. I am from Florida and I never heard of Florida Gulf Coast. I didn’t knew they were just south of my hometown. There is something about young kids playing to win a title …and earn a big pay day when they head to the NBA. This is the tournament that introduced us to future NBA legends such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Isaiah Thomas, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, and Dwayne Wade after guiding Marquette to the Final Four.

Dwayne Wade working his magic before his Heat days

We are almost down to 16 teams now. This tournament kicked off on Tuesday and the majority of the teams have been eliminated. So sit back and watch to see which team will be the next Cinderella story and which player will become a future NBA legend. There will be nail biting buzzer beating shots and some heart breaks along the way. May the best team win indeed.... and here's hoping it's Michigan State.

Here's to Coach Izzo bringing MSU another title

Gut Check Time For Barça.

<

Although we are only in February, the next few matches are essential in how Barça’s season plays out. They face a serious chance of being eliminated from Copa del Rey tomorrow.  They also face an uphill battle in their UEFA Champions League knock out tie with AC Milan.  Thus, the Blaugrana face a difficult test and we can only hope they show enough courage, character, and determination to overcome these upcoming important matches. If not, then their season is over by mid-March. It’s gut check time for Barça if they want to continue their quest for the treble.

The euphoria we were enjoying as we entered this new year was delightful.  Barça had the league all but wrapped up and could shift their focus to the cup encounters in their quest for another treble. Nevertheless, the chances of a treble could be out of the window as soon as tomorrow. Barça’s 1-1 away draw to Real Madrid was disappointing based on the number of absences in Madrid’s lineup. Mourinho now heads to the Camp Nou with his team that has scored 2 goals in their last three visits.

This is a must win game for the club. A high scoring draw eliminates them and they need to win to avenge last season’s loss in what was Mourinho’s first ever victory at the Camp Nou.  They cannot afford to let Real Madrid get a boost of confidence but they have squandered their opportunities to pile on Real Madrid before and let them off the hook. Will history repeat itself tomorrow?

Barça’s disappointing 2-0 loss to Milan is also a difficult obstacle to overcome. They have the players and the pitch to do it. They have defeated Arsenal at the Camp Nou following disappointing first leg results at the Emirates. They need to go out there and scores plenty of goals while keeping a clean sheet.

So Barça have their work cut out for them. If they fail to eliminate Madrid and Milan, then their season is over what with their great lead atop of the standings. It’s time for the players and Roura to display the intestinal fortitude to show they are the best in the world and get the results needed. If not, then we might not have much to look forward too since the league is all but wrapped up. The taste of success will be bitter sweet if that’s all that this side will be celebrating come June.  It’s time for them to get it done.

Barça Needs To Re-examine Its Youth Policy.

Barça keeps praising the fact that their recent success is because of its reliance on its youth setup. Puyol, Xavi, Valdés, Iniesta and Messi all came through La Masia and helped the club become what it is today. However, young players who have been promoted to the first team from the youth setup recently have been ignored and neglected and this is a worrying trend that might become a problem in the near future.

This season was the commencement of a new era following the departure of Pep Guardiola. Tito Vilanova has stepped in and done well after the disappointing result in the Supercopa. The league is basically theirs to lose while they continue their quest for the treble. With such a commanding lead atop of the standings, one would expect Tito and his assistant, and current interim manager, Jordi Roura to rotate the players into the starting lineups.

Although rotations have been occurring with everyone, not named Messi ,being rested occasionally, a certain group of players have been slighted. Barça B defenders Montoya and Bartra seem to have been left out of the mix. They had featured occasionally a few months ago but neither has seen minutes in 2013.

These players are considered first team players and not Barça B players. Thus, they cannot feature for the B team anymore. However, if they are not even dressing for games, their talents are going to waste. This a pressing concern because the club has made it a habit to hold on to Barça B players by promoting them to the first team. However, that tactic appears to be stunting player development rather than aiding it.

Jonathan Dos Santos is a perfect example of promoting a Barça B player to the first team when the possibility of him playing is impossible. He is a midfielder who has the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Cesc, Song and Thiago ahead of him so minutes were going to be hard to come by. He could have went on loan to another team but refused to do so. That was a mistake on his part as he is basically forced himself out of action. Cuenca played it smart after he accepted to go Ajax Amsterdam on loan than stick around and fight for scraps of minutes. Jonathan Dos Santos should have done the same.

Nevertheless, Montoya and Bartra do not face the same the logjam in their respective positions. Montoya is a brilliant fullback who has to contend with Jordi Alba, Adriano and Dani Alves for minutes. There was no excuse not to see him start a few games here and there recently in order to give those three full backs a breather. Bartra is an up and coming center back who will obviously take a back seat to Puyol, Pique and Mascherano in his respective position. However, the minutes have been hard to come by for him when the club’s league position allows for it. Yesterday was the perfect example where Bartra could have started against a Granada side that had only scored 22 goals in 23 matches. Instead, Bartra found himself sitting in the stands.

These two defenders should be playing more often to gain experience so they can be ready to leap into action in case a player suffers an emergency. Instead, they are being left out of the lineup and are collecting rust. These were players who were promoted and cannot find minutes. The big cause for concern is that the club will be repeating the same mistake next season if the stories are true that Sergi Roberto and Thiago’s brother, Rafinha, will be promoted next season.

Barça needs to stop putting in the players’ contracts these conditions that promise B players to be promoted to the first team. Their promotion is met with plenty of sitting around and lack of playing time. This also affects Barça B when they keep losing their best players to the first team and suffer without those players who would be gaining plenty of minutes over sitting in the stands.

If Barça is that concerned about losing their young players, then they need to re-examine their policy. Promotion without gaining experience is not a step forward. Perhaps the club has to accept that the only way to keep players happy and gain experience through minutes is by loaning them out.  If staying with Barça B is not an option, then loaning them out to other clubs should be looked into. I don’t want to see Bartra, Montoya, Tello, Sergi Roberto and Rafinha sitting on the bench or in the stands next season. Experience is the best form of education and these players will never excel if they continue to be given few minutes here and there.

 

Pep to Bayern Munich Makes Plenty Of Sense.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<

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

2012-2013 MIDSEASON AWARDS & REPORT CARD

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

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

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

}

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.