Irresistible Barca
Team Barca!
Barcelona have set a new record in Spain by claiming their 16th win in a row by beating Zamora 6-0 in the Spanish Cup, thereby surpassing the historic 15 game winning run of the Real Madrid side of 1960/61 which starred the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano.
Barcelona has been one of the top teams in Europe over the past 2 seasons and are already 22 games unbeaten in all competitions since their2-1 away loss to Athletico Madrid. Their squad runs very deep this season and considering the fact that they managed to win the league title last season even with many players injured, their title should be much easier to defend.
The reigning World Player of the Year - Ronaldinho and 2nd runner-up Samuel Eto'o deserve much of the credit, as does coach Frank Rijkaard, for being able to inspire the team and play a game that is by far the best in Europe and probably, the world. Eto'o is the leading scorer in La Liga with 17 or 18 goals taking his tally to 23 in all competitions this season. Ronaldinho has already surpassed his goal tally of last season and when he is not scoring, he creates most of the chances to score for his teammates.
Barca have a lot more attacking options with the emerging star Lionel Messi providing stiff competition to Guily for the right wing attacking position. Messi, at 19, has already shown the world his attacking prowess and it is no wonder they already call him the "next Maradona". In my opinion, he is one of the players to watch out for along with Rooney in this year's World Cup.
The Barca midfield has been awesome this season with Xavi, Deco, Van Bommel providing the ball to the strikers. Even though Xavi is out for the season due to injury, Iniesta has managed to fill the gap wonderfully well. Mexico captain Rafael Marquez has been really been the most underrated performer in the side and has been incredible in his as a defensive midfielder. When he has been injured, Edmilson has filled his role admirably.
Captain Puyol has been a rock in the defence and is one of the best defenders in Europe. Oleguer and Edmilson have partnered him in the central defence and been performing well. However, the defence seem to be suspect in the dead-ball situations. Perhaps, buying another able central defender would help them to address this concern. Also, Valdes has been important for Barca in the goal, making some crucial saves this season.
The Barca President Joan Laporta has been wise and more importantly has not made stupid blunders like his counterpart in Real Madrid, Perez. He has given a free hand to Rijkaard in team matters. Thanks to the efforts of these people, the club has seen a metamorphic rise over the past 2 seasons and FC Barcelona has thrown the gauntlet to rest of the top European clubs.
Barcelona has been one of the top teams in Europe over the past 2 seasons and are already 22 games unbeaten in all competitions since their2-1 away loss to Athletico Madrid. Their squad runs very deep this season and considering the fact that they managed to win the league title last season even with many players injured, their title should be much easier to defend.
The reigning World Player of the Year - Ronaldinho and 2nd runner-up Samuel Eto'o deserve much of the credit, as does coach Frank Rijkaard, for being able to inspire the team and play a game that is by far the best in Europe and probably, the world. Eto'o is the leading scorer in La Liga with 17 or 18 goals taking his tally to 23 in all competitions this season. Ronaldinho has already surpassed his goal tally of last season and when he is not scoring, he creates most of the chances to score for his teammates.
Barca have a lot more attacking options with the emerging star Lionel Messi providing stiff competition to Guily for the right wing attacking position. Messi, at 19, has already shown the world his attacking prowess and it is no wonder they already call him the "next Maradona". In my opinion, he is one of the players to watch out for along with Rooney in this year's World Cup.
The Barca midfield has been awesome this season with Xavi, Deco, Van Bommel providing the ball to the strikers. Even though Xavi is out for the season due to injury, Iniesta has managed to fill the gap wonderfully well. Mexico captain Rafael Marquez has been really been the most underrated performer in the side and has been incredible in his as a defensive midfielder. When he has been injured, Edmilson has filled his role admirably.
Captain Puyol has been a rock in the defence and is one of the best defenders in Europe. Oleguer and Edmilson have partnered him in the central defence and been performing well. However, the defence seem to be suspect in the dead-ball situations. Perhaps, buying another able central defender would help them to address this concern. Also, Valdes has been important for Barca in the goal, making some crucial saves this season.
The Barca President Joan Laporta has been wise and more importantly has not made stupid blunders like his counterpart in Real Madrid, Perez. He has given a free hand to Rijkaard in team matters. Thanks to the efforts of these people, the club has seen a metamorphic rise over the past 2 seasons and FC Barcelona has thrown the gauntlet to rest of the top European clubs.
posted by Lucas @ 10:26 PM
12 Comments:
Naah.. A bit hyped up i feel .. SOmething like the unbeaten run of Arsenal - u know for sure that it aint gonna last !! Lets see how they get past chelsea !! Prob their first real test in a looong time
Barca has been winning all their matches whereas Arsenal drew a lot of matches...fyi, in their last 16 matches, they have scored 50 goals and let in just 6...and of course, Barca has been unbeaten not just in their league but also in the Champions League and Cup matches. Barca's winning streak will come to an end sometime but then their matches will always be remembered for the incredible way they played and how dominant they were. I know some of the most fanatic fans of Real Madrid who have accepted the fact that Barca, the way they are playing, are in an entirely different league altogether.
Chelsea have had good fortune and loads of luck in their favour in the past and this season. I don't think they would have done the double over Arsenal, had the refs been sane enough to declare and offside an offside and a legitimate goal a goal!I do not think except for Ferdinand's suspension lady luck was not as benevolent to Arsenal when they went unbeaten as she is to Chelsea right now.This lady luck factor has been acknowledged time and again by "Chelski" themselves with Jose and Cech confessing that they rode their luck in both of the encounters with Gunners.There are umpteen instances one can quote.Ultimately Somewhere, things have to come to a rollicking halt. And when it does it is going to culminate in Mourinho's quit/axe.Moreover, Seeing the fear psychosis he has in bringing Maniche just becoz' Essien is out for a fortnight, one can see how much pressure he is under. Well, Ranieri did not do badly either in his first season in "Chelski".So when he got the axe why not Jose?These might not happen in the near future as Chelsea will savour their second successive title.But losing to Barcelona might cause an imbalance.
Pardon me for taking off on a tangent...again...but Arsenal s run was something to marvel at and if it was hyped so be it.Just to refresh ur memory..it happened in 74 before that with nottingham forest.
Let us see when that gets broken.I wont be surprised if we lot dont see that during our lifetime.
Abt barca...they r awesome...and thism from a real fan...
Everyone talks abt the gunners depending a lot on Henry..isnt it the same with barca and ronnie?i am surprised noone talks abt that.
If u have seen them play, u wouldn't say that...of course, Ronnie creates lots of chances but then Eto'o is the one who has been scoring consistently for them...Deco has been amazing for them, winning balls, creating the attacks and in his absence, Van Bommel too has been good. Lionel Messi has been a revelation this season, attacking incessantly from the right wing. So, it's not just Ronnie who should get the credit.
We ll have to see how they fare when Ronnie isnt around. They might have great players but then pt that i am trying to make is that the presence of ronnie is important psychologically.Barca are a diff team with him around .
for eg- the game against Udinese they got the goals right at the end and didnt look like the barca we know.
And i am not taking any credit away from the likes of messi,deco,puyol,beletti..they are all part of the amazing barca team today.
A personal comment countering the deriding of Arsenal's run as a hype would be an obvious reference to United's CFL trumiph in '99. Their manager is still trying to save his face by quoting that win time and again. I hope ppl know about the so-called- congratulation message Fergie sent to Rafa on Liverpool turning the tables on Milan in an epic encounter. He had used obscene language(atleast in the public's eye,it is) like bas***d,lucky a**,something like that. Well, if Liverpool's fairy tale run had a hand of fortune, what do ppl have to say about United's win in 1999 at Camp Nou?Level headed ppl, pour in ur thoughts.
Which striker has played across 5 leagues in Europe? He is an African. Lucas, You haven't answered me still...
Other than Crespo, I can't seem to think of anyone else...is it Camarra?
Luc.. come on I even gave u a hint that u need not go deep down to the bottom of the table. He figures very much in the team inside the top eight of the table.But no Henri Camara.He, i believe has played in Scotland, France and England.
At last Walcott comes to highbury. But Henry is still not satisfied, as per the tabloids. The management must bring Julio Baptista(or any other estabilished star) in the summer and also retain Ashley, as per his demands. Very much reasonable considering the fact that Arsenal has spent only about 40 million pounds over 6 years( before the january transfer window) on players. Very less indeed.
Ahmed Mido
Spurs
Roma
Celta
Marseille
Ajax
Bang on target...
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