the barca blueprint. wonderful.
okay so having watched last night's el classico, let's have a bit of break down.
Individually
- they have lionel messi.
- who is inhuman. he has absolutely no flaws, technically or mentally (magically). i haven't seen the old greats, but he is perfect.
- if rooney wins wpoy, i'll say it: it ain't even close. don't get me wrong, rooney is wazza, and united definitely need him more (in mvp conversations, this is a key factor), but i think messi is head and shoulders better than rooney.
- for the love of God, may messi never be injured.
- messi has a peter pan look on his face when he scores.
- they have xavi hernandez.
- who is john the friggin' baptist.
- passes like zidane and cantona in their day.
- they have a solid bunch of centre backs.
- they have a pretty good keeper (always underrated in my book; he looks like shane battier).
- i really like andres iniesta. i really like him. he is a terror. i'm not sure he's far off from kaka.
- (where the hell does barca find these ridiculously talented shorties!).
- they have speed on the flanks.
- water carriers in midfield.
- oh i actually forgot they have on the bench,
- ibracadabra.
- henry (sad as he is).
- bojan krkic (they fucking have a clone machine or something, COME ON!).
- they have a manager who inspired cesc fabregas.
- (does this count).
- he looks damn style, btw.
- they (individually) have excellent touch and shielding.
- they have an excellent passing game.
- they have speed.
- they close really really well.
- i think this has to do with how well they keep and play the ball. winning the ball back becomes intuitive - they read plays before they happen.
- watching ron-ron run through them with the ball, barca's trapping defense manages to both swamp him (preventing him from shooting) and prevent him from slipping a pass to an overlapping runner on a crisp route, at the same time. and ron-ron is arguably the best at doing that. but i suppose that when you train with messi and iniesta (not to forget ibra et al.) this is what results.
- their defensive line is solid.
- their flanks are a little weak.
- they excel in tight areas.
- they hold the ball really well.
- they run a lot of crisp overlapping routes.
- i don't think they switch play (as in swing the ball) as much as united does. but this is partly cos of all the above reasons, i.e. they don't need to. scholesy usually pings the ball inch perfect the width of the pitch for nani or valencia to go 1v1, with perhaps an overlap from evra (or god forbid, nev). but this is inherently high risk, even christiano crybaby ronaldo can't pull it off all day. and like i said, barca doesn't need to.
- a cross into the box is often their last option.
- even when the other team fouls them like mad,
- the ref usually protects them (he would otherwise have to be blind).
- they manage to play.
- they manage to play well.
- they have 'dirty' players who break up the opposing team's run of play.
- they are absolutely unselfish. absolutely.
- they play at a top level consistently.
- they've kept free from injury (this takes luck) for nearly the entire season.
Comments
- putting this team next to the gooners' invincibles squad. i'm pretty sure it's a good fight.
- i honestly can't decide; the fact is that messi can unlock any defence in the world, whereas i'm not sure contrari-wise.
- are they better than the united squads i've ever seen?
- what depressing thoughts; how the hell are english teams supposed to catch up.
- how to play them?
- high defensive line - i don't think this works unless the midfield dominates.
- a risk that must be taken. sitting deep and giving space to barca, no chance. a butts to the wall liverpool rubbish in their day couldn't stop this. heck, 15 men on a dead man's chest couldn't stop them from scoring.
- and the risk is great. barca on the counter, i think only man u with ron-ron and rooney could match.
- barca strikers are too good at breaking the offside trap.
- have you seen xavi and iniesta pass lately?
- did you know that messi can pass too?
- i haven't even mentioned ibracadabra - 1st leg nemesis of arsenal's 'high line'
- lock up messi.
- lock up xavi.
- play down the flanks.
- but note that barca is strong in the air defensively. damn that pique.
- hassle all day. foul hard and hope to stay on the field. but look out for puyol, marquez, busquets and keita when your back is turned.
- stay compact.
- boss the midfield - something the great trio of van der vaart, xabi alonso and fernando gago couldn't do.
good luck, mr mourinho. i've always been a fan of yours.
