SBNation.com User Blog: Inder Methil

FC Barcelona: Assessing Tito Vilanova's Reign (So Far)

Inder Methil — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 16:23:43 -0000

We have all noticed the subtle changes in Barca's game this season. Tito, in my opinion, has a thankless job. How can anybody expect him to win more than Pep Guardiola? However there are some pleasantly surprising changes he has brought to the squad.

Pep Guardiola was a man who was always about the details. Every last move on the pitch had to be planned for and executed perfectly. Ironically, for all the talk of tiki-taka and total football, Barcelona's success during Pep's era was largely down to being organized. Players had their positions and were allowed a certain level of freedom but within strict limitations.

Players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cesc Fabregas have seen that side of Barca's game and found it difficult to overcome. In Ibra's case, being Ibra, he just switched clubs (and thank the big man upstairs for that). Fabregas, however, had just joined and had to stick it out. In the first half of last season, Fabregas was right up there with D10S in productivity and had Arsenal fans taking back their "he's going to be on the bench forever" comments.

Leaving aside the average fan's rants, those of us who were paying attention noticed that the 3-4-3 was made to get the very best out of the Cesc-Leo partnership. Yes, defense wise, we were prone to conceding, especially against teams that played with even half-decent wingers. However, one must keep in mind the reason we bought Cesc back.

Fabregas is a special player because of how he plays the game. Moreover, he was probably the only midfielder Barca lacked at that point. Cesc is a goal scorer and a player capable of an assist every game. Unlike Xavi who runs the game or Iniesta who is incisive in everything he does, Cesc is all about late runs, and assists. He is somewhere between a midfielder and a forward to put it simply. Anyway, I'm digressing, the point is despite Fabregas' ability to rack up assists, he was also bought with the intention to allow Barca to play a little more direct and in the long run, replace Xavi or Andres (although I do think Thiago will eventually take Xavi's spot).

The second half of the season showed that Cesc was finding it increasingly difficult to play in Barca's system. So what has changed?

Well, our manager. Pep was stubborn. It's his stubbornness that won us trophies. Tito, however, seems to have accepted that each one of our players brings something different to the team and is more willing to play a particular game according to it's needs. This is in no way me putting Pep down (I'm his biggest fan and would admit to worshipping him for everything he has given Barca as a player and coach), but rather about our opposition being more prepared for how we play and in turn, Tito being forced to change things.

Most people would say that taking charge of this current Barca squad is easy. I'd agree that it is indeed an advantage to have a team like this, almost as much as it is an advantage to managing a team with unlimited funds like Real Madrid and Chelsea. Realistically though, nobody would want the Barca job after Pep. Just like nobody would want to take over from Ferguson when he retires (if ever :P). Tito seems to have taken to the challenge really well, he has understood that change was required and that he had the personnel to pull it off.

Tito's ability to make Barca play different styles is great in fact. On the one hand he can set the team up to play like before, where we keep possession forever and if needed, bring in players like Cesc to make things more direct. However, I think his greatest virtue, is his rotation policy. The Zaragoza game aside, Cesc Fabregas has started all of Barca's Liga matches. This allows Xavi and Iniesta to be fit for the big games, while also allowing Barca to change from being direct to keeping the ball.

Then there is Tito's presence in the media or rather, how we, as fans, see him. To put it simply, the man is nowhere as charismatic as Pep Guardiola. Pep was calm, smooth and had suits that would make James Bond weep with envy. Tito? Well he just doesn't seem to care. Sweaters, Wenger-style-jackets, suits, it's all good really. Although as calm as Pep was , Tito does not seem to be the kind to "show the other cheek" when an opponent (read: Mourinho) says something about his team or club. You poke the man and you're going to get slapped in return, better believe it and something about that is liberating as a Culé. Since Mourinho took over at Madrid, things have been too heated and most of us would agree that Pep's rant before the Champion's League semi-finals was way overdue and should probably have happened earlier.

Defense: I'm sure many of you have something to say about this. I am also sure many of you who are complaining about this are also the ones who said that last year Barca were all about possession and nothing else. Well you can't have it both ways. Here are the facts, Barca's possession stats have definitely decreased since last year. The team is without a doubt, more direct at times. We have had a whole lot of injuries in defense (the argument on whether we should have bought another player or not will have to be left for another time). All this points to two things: Opponents are not prepared for a Barca who are this direct and hence, we score more and we will concede goals more often simply cause we don't have the ball as much and we don't have a defense (like last year).

The summary? We have a manager who is willing to experiment, give the kids a chance, attack more (even at the risk of losing the ball) and hence score more. We concede more goals as well but all in all, that really is something we can work on. As long as we're winning, who cares? Do we have a team that can win Champions League right now? No, cause that would need a solid and consistent centre back pairing. Do we have a team that can win Liga? Again, no but right now we are leaders and also getting better. I suspect that the team will reach their peak form in terms of fitness and tactically by February or March, so the best is yet to come. Moreover, Alba's return to Barca has been a superb purchase. The Catalan's ability to read the game, make overlapping runs and use his pace in defense is mind boggling. Then there are the cut back's, both Alba and Montoya (I have no further comment on Dani Alves at this point of time) to find players like Cesc, Messi, Xavi and Song (against Zaragoza) who make delayed runs into the box to shoot in acres of space is by itself worth the 14 million Barca paid for him.

Well that's it from me, this is more a rant than anything else but had to be said.

FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Defense? What defense?

Inder Methil — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 10:32:13 -0000

This Sunday, 7^th October, Barcelona face hated rivals Real Madrid at home without a defense. Well, to be fair, it’s really just one player I have a problem with and that’s Alexandre Song. Javier Mascherano is not immune to mistakes either but last season, he was without a doubt our most consistent CB and definitely more naturally inclined to play at the back than Song.

Alexandre Song, is fast moving to the top of my list of "Barca’s most useless players". Admittedly, a very short list. I understand that if he were brought in as a replacement for Busquets, then he would do alright. Song’s one touch passing is acceptable and he has a certain level of creativity that would allow him to play in more advanced positions as well but 20 million euros for a substitute that doesn’t offer anything new to the team?

They say his physique or rather his physicality would help us. Maybe, but I would still have chosen to keep Keita rather than pay 20 million to buy his replacement. As far as footballing traits are concerned, Song is a sort of jack of all trades without really excelling in anything.

1) He is not fast. i.e his pace definitely does not justify his price tag.
2) His positional awareness is abysmal and although it hasn’t shown yet, I can’t help but feel it’s bound to happen soon.
3) Despite all the talk about his physicality, the second goal Barca conceded against Sevilla showed that Song just let Negredo pass which was disappointing to say the least.

What I will give him credit for is that as a player who doesn’t speak Spanish or Catalan, he seems to have adapted quite well to the side if one were to believe Mascherano and Xavi. I might be overtly pessimistic but I do agree it’s too early to throw him to the wolves and that Song will need at least one season to really find his place in the team.

My problem is, that’s way too late for the clasico coming up. At this point, what I regret is Tito not giving Bartra ANY minutes this season. Bartra is a unique case, I must admit, from the games I saw him play in preseason. Like Montoya, Marc Bartra is surprisingly mature and calm on the ball and seems to keep it simple till he gains the necessary experience. Defenders, in general, are prone to making mistakes at a younger age and generally hit their peak only around 27 or 28 years of age. Bartra has shown talents that could make him great in that he has shown great positional awareness. I can’t help but feel that if Bartra were getting minutes, I would have chosen him over Song to play in defense.

Barca’s style of play(i.e the high defensive line) demands defenders to have one of the following two options:

1) Positional play, so that danger can be cut off before it starts. This is a trait that cannot be taught, it takes years and years of practise to get it right but in general the intelligence that the defender shows is something that he’s born with. Check Puyol’s top games and you will see. Our Captain has never been the fastest player on the pitch but he’s made up for it by reading the game so well.

2) Pace: When a player lacks the awareness and finds himself out of position often, then sheer pace is required to make up ground. Bartra doesn’t have too much pace but he isnt too bad either.

3) A mix of both: Mascherano has done well because he has a mix of both traits. Since he played as a destroyer for Liverpool, Mascherano was already aware of where he needs to be and if not, he had the pace required to make up for it. Finally, the Argentine is probably the best at last ditch tackling in Europe right now.

What does all this have to do with Song? Well, from the little we’ve seen of him, it does’nt look like he has any of these traits in abundance. Like many pivots or defensive midfielders, Song has a tendency to step up towards the ball to pressure the opponent which is alright if you have a solid back line to save you incase of an error but when you are playing in defense, it’s imperative that Song gets this right, especially in Barca, cause of the amount of space available behind the back line.

Neither does he have the pace to catch up if he makes a mistake. Worse still, he doesn’t seem to have Mascherano’s determination and grit to get back and make that last ditch tackle.

As far as the clasico is concerned, here are my predictions if Song starts:

1) Cristiano Ronaldo is gonna have a field day. Allow me to explain, on the very occasions when Ronaldo gets into that space behind Dani Alves, we could remain calm because usually what happens is Busquets drops deep and this allows Puyol to cover for Alves till the brazilian gets back. 9 out of 10 times, Puyol owns Ronaldo. Song, however, is prone to being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

2) Madrid will definitely score a couple of goals at least. The best we can hope for is that our attack scores more than theirs and that won’t be easy, with Pepe and Ramos as Centre backs for Los Blancos. Worse, Tito seems adamant not to give David Villa a start(I really hope I’m wrong here and that Villa does start and has a great game).

3) The fear that Barca used to instil in opponents, including Madrid has gone. We can be beaten. The slight advantage we have by playing at home is, in my opinion, cancelled out by the fact that Ronaldo and co. have done well against us recently and especially at Camp Nou.

All the dooms day talk aside, there are a couple of things that would have to happen for us to win. The most obvious is that Song and Mascherano are flawless on Sunday. The whole team will have to pressure and do it right but most of all Busquets will have to be on his A game so as to cut out any danger before Ronaldo, Benzema and co have time to run at Song. Furthermore, the two centre backs will have to extremely aware of the ball over the top which was our undoing in the 2^nd leg of the supercopa.

All that said, make no mistake that I am definitely giving Song the time he needs to improve. Unfortunately for Tito and Barca, our 2 starting centre back’s are out injured and therefore the coach will be forced to choose between Song and Bartra. Due to the reasons mentioned above, it is safe to say that Song will start in defense. Like Cristian Tello, Song just might find Real Madrid a little too much to handle so early into his Barca career. Tello was terrible in last season’s Clasico but Pep had little choice as far as a winger was concerned. The good news is that Barca have had time to prepare. Moreover, Song and Mascherano have had time to build some chemistry and we can hope that they have a good day.

Possible outcomes?:

A narrow loss thanks mainly due to Barca’s defense.
A narrow victory despite a shaky defense because our attack click and take their chances.
Not probable but possible, a draw.

Barcelona, however, can afford to draw this match. It is highly unlikely that Tito will set up the team to get a point especially at home. In conclusion, I hope all of you take this article as a warning. Even if we lose this match, blaming Song, Mascherano or Valdes is not an option simply because it takes time for a goalkeeper to get used to a new defensive line.

For more Barcelona vs Real Madrid coverage, be sure to check out our Clasico Storystream

Poll

Does Song have what it takes to be a CB for Barca?

Not a chance.

47 votes

too early to say

87 votes

f'sure!!

20 votes

154 votes | Poll has closed

FC Barcelona: David Villa And The Hype

Inder Methil — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 10:08:38 -0000

You read it right. I'm here to calm everybody(including myself) down. David Villa's return to competitive football has everybody in Europe and elsewhere frothing at the mouths. This is Barcelona, in essence, getting a guaranteed 20+ goal scorer back into action.

Last season, we were all a little disappointed that the team was a little too dependent on Lionel Messi who had to take too much responsibility on the goal scoring front. I, for one, half expected Cesc Fabregas to share the burden and in all fairness, he did in some way but after we lost Villa to that horrific injury in December, it was painful to watch Cesc lose his form entirely along with Pedro and Alexis.

Let's not delve into that season too much but basically everything that could go wrong, did(Murphy's law to the uninitiated). Our preseason sucked(much like Madrid's this season: food for thought?), our defense performed admirably considering the circumstances, our offensive capabilities had to improvise drastically causing midfielders like Xavi(who broke his own goal scoring record) to contribute more but that wasn't enough.

Now, DAHVEED VIYYA is back. Spain's all time top scorer. 3rd goal in a Champion's league final that was nothing short of epic. Remember that rocket into the top right corner in the Clasico? This is the man who has consistently scored 20 odd goals a season from before I started following football. At his peak, he is by far the best striker in the business simply cause he is such a huge threat from any distance (40 yards in).

But, this is also the same player who is just back from a very serious injury. 8 months of no competitive football is a long time for a player pushing 31 years of age. All fans (I'm at the very top of that list and this article could have more therapeutic reasons that I'm willing to admit) are dying from the excitement. To make matters worse, every time the Spaniard touches the ball, it seems to hit the back of the net. Remember Villa just before he broke his leg? Exactly! he played quite a few games(over a couple of months) carrying an injury to the same bone, and was terribly out of form. The club chose not to say that out loud till just before the CWC match. He had this annoying tendency to stray offside. It was all the more annoying cause anybody who has watched La Liga over the last 5 or 6 years knows what Villa is capable of (especially Culés, remember that chip over Valdes don't you?).

I guess, I'm trying to say that even if the club itself and the player feels that he will reach top form in 3 weeks, we(fans) should stop hyping it up too much. It is one thing being able to play a cameo of 15 minutes and scoring and entirely another of 90 minutes and scoring a winner (hypothetically speaking of course). My personal thoughts? I think I'm ready to give Villa another 2 months before he starts playing 90 minutes and an additional couple of weeks for him to score consistently.

That said, have you guys watched Villa closely (and with a cool head) when he has played? Is it just me or does he actually look better than he did even when he was fit? All of a sudden, the Spaniard is ready to risk dribbling out wide to help create disarray in opposing ranks. Now, unlike before, his short passes in and around the box is accurate, quick, creative and moreover he makes the right runs to receive the return pass. Not to mention last night's goal was one right out of the top drawer. As fans of Barcelona we aren't really used to long balls over the top, and last night, Villa's goal was pure class. The perfect run, the perfect take, switches to his left (weaker foot) and slots it through the keeper's legs. This is a 1:52 second video and you simply cannot deny that El Guaje is really motivated. All I ask is that fans shouldn't keep their hopes too high, lest we get disappointed and blame it on the player (SELL HIM?!)

David Villa vs Getafe - La Liga 12-13 (A) (via TheLonia2012)

Poll

how long will you give Villa to hit form?

no time left, he has to start now

43 votes

2 weeks

50 votes

1 month

61 votes

2 months

19 votes

173 votes | Poll has closed

Alexis Sanchez: The Jury Is Still Out

Inder Methil — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 07:13:32 -0000

Yes, unlike most of you here, I refuse to throw him to the sharks just yet. The young Chilean (he is just 23 years old) has taken a few big steps in recent years as far as his career is concerned. From South America to Udinese, a team known to buy young players cheap and sell them after a good season or two, Alexis found his way to Barcelona competing for a spot against players that were either more experienced or products of La Masia.

I think it is important that fans realize that Alexis was not bought with the intention of getting immediate results but a buy for the future, if that were not the case, we could have bought any one of hundred wingers in and around Europe that had experience in a big league and was a proven goalscorer.

Let's look at some of his characteristics.

Alexis is extremely fast. Fast enough to beat pretty much every defender out there on sheer pace when given the chance.

Technically he's very good. His ability to keep possession could improve and that is one of the aspects i expect him to improve on this season.

The Chilean can be played anywhere up front. Unlike our other forwards. David Villa likes to move centrally from the left and has a similar role in the National team. Pedro Rodriguez is a winger and isn't suited to play a central role. In times when the coach wants to play Lionel Messi right behind a true no. "9", Alexis gives Barcelona that option. In fact as a no. 9 his responsibilities are not to score or assist (at least those aren't his main priorities).

As a center forward, Alexis shows an aspect of his game that is hidden when he plays on either wing. The Chilean has excellent understanding of space and when and how to make runs which in turn forces opposing defenders to mark him. Of course, the perfect example was against Real Madrid last season in the Bernabeu, where his runs allowed Messi space to work his magic without having to beat 4 defenders every time he received the ball.

The bad side of his game is his tendency to hit the ground way too often for comfort. Read that again. I am not calling it a dive but even when the contact doesn't seem serious, he looks for a foul. I am of the opinion that players generally don't need to do their opponents any favors by staying up when being fouled, but Alexis definitely has to remove that from his game. Like Messi and Iniesta, referees give them the fouls they want (unless its a Clasico when Madrid are given too much leeway) because of their reputations. Neither player hits the ground, both ride challenges with all their strength. A recent comparison comes to mind: Ashley Young. The Manchester United winger recently got a reputation of falling under minimal contact and one can be sure that Alex Ferguson sat him down and explained that it isn't a part of the game he was looking for.

Let's hope Tito will do the same for Sanchez. That said, after a year filled with muscular injuries, Alexis was still capable of showing his talent when he was fit. If he can manage to curtail the diving (for lack of a better word) and stay fit, I am confident he will have his breakout year this season at which point many of the members here will be praising him to the heavens. Like Alba, Song, I think it would be prudent on our part to be patient with the Chilean.

oh and to hobo barca. Sorry I disagree with most people about Afellay. Yes, he is a good player but obviously not good enough for Barca (at least as a starter) and it isn't even cause of lack of talent but just that he doesn't really suit any of the spots in midfield or as a forward cause our starters in those positions are better. He was just too slow on the ball and didn't pass it on quickly enough thus getting caught in possession or allowing the opponent to get back into position.

Finally, I don't know if anybody else has seen this during the matches but Alexis Sanchez and Lionel Messi seem to getting on very well. The results will without a doubt start showing on the pitch more often as well and that can never be a bad thing.

The future, as I see it, is a forward line of Alexis, Messi and Pedro (Villa will be 32 or 33 and seeing less time) before Barca buy a certain Brazilian in 2014. At that point, all three forwards will be at their peak and Neymar will be gradually introduced to the Barca way. As far as Alexis Sanchez is concerned, the jury is still out. The least we could all do is give him this season before passing judgement.

FC Barcelona: Is 4-2-3-1 the future?

Inder Methil — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 05:44:06 -0000

Greetings folks,

So the headline is self explanatory but there are a few thoughts running around in my head. First off, I am and will probably always be a huge fan of the 4-3-3. In my mind, that formation (when played in the Barca way) requires a mix of courage (to play only one DM), versatility(from every player) and tactical discipline especially when the team is defending.

Pressing to regain possession is a double edged sword. On the one hand, chances of getting the ball in the opponent's half pays dividends for a quick counter attack but the risk of players being caught out of position and hence open in the back is high.

Hence, most coaches (not named Pep Guardiola) would opt for the 4-2-3-1. Jose Mourinho with Real Madrid has used this formation for a while now. It is safer (naturally,with 2 DMs) but it also restricts fluidity in the team. In fact, the creativity itself is restricted to the front 4 in general.

The reason Im writing all this is cause I believe, Barca might be set up to play a similar way with a few tweaks. One of the few arguments against the purchase of Jordi Alba has been that Barca might lose balance with two extremely attacking full backs like Dani Alves and Jordi Alba. That said, most of us seem to agree that alba will make Barca's game less predictable because the team will have a real,direct threat down the left flank.

Moreover, Alba's ability to link up with Xavi and Iniesta has shocked fans around the world. Spain's Euro campaign seemed to be all about quick 1-2's between Iniesta and Alba to create space. So, If that is what Barca will look like next year, what about the defensive part of our game?

Dani Alves, despite popular belief, is a phenomenal defender. Giving him some leeway for his natural attacking instinct, the few times Pep has instructed Alves to stay back(in the Clasico), he has owned Ronaldo and covered his side really well. Basically, Alves is no Marcelo. Although, he does get caught out once in a while, its nowhere as frequently as his Brazilian team mate.

From the little I have watched of Alba over the last year or so, he is very similar to Alves. The Catalan left back is infinitely better at attacking than he is at defending.However, his defensive capabilities (and price) are probably what tipped the balance in his favour over say, Gareth Bale?

However, will Tito use two defensive midfielders to allow for two attacking full backs? or maybe even Busquets alongside Xavi?

As I write this, I have my doubts as well. But with Keita gone, and the media largely agreeing that Barca will be looking for a player like Javi Martinez(who is a DM and can play as a CB), is it possible that Tito plans to play the 4-2-3-1? Is that the future?

Poll

Is the 4-2-3-1 the future?

Definitely possible

52 votes

No - Why fix something that's not broken? 4-3-3!!

104 votes

I don't know what I'm talking about...

8 votes

We stick with 4-3-3 but 4-2-3-1 will be introduced every now and then

115 votes

279 votes | Poll has closed

Alexis Sanchez: My Thoughts

Inder Methil — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:55:46 -0000

Bloody F****** Brilliant. Sorry to disappoint the haters. In my opinion, a player who isn’t from La Masia and doesn’t play for a team that has a player called Lionel Messi would consider a season good when he’s won 3 trophies, scored 15 goals (5 assists) inspite of injuries.

Allow me to put this into some form of perspective. Barcelona play a game that requires a level of fitness that is simply put , not normal. Too many of the club’s fans are spoilt rotten and choose to assume that our style of player is the "norm".

Think again, if any coach not named "Pep" asked me to run for 90 minutes(more so when we don’ t have the ball), chances are I’d say "when Eminem sings a ballad", I’ll run. Make no mistake, that level of fitness requires one thing more than anything, a great preseason and a state of mental-readiness.

Before the season, 99% of this community expected Alexis to be a great substitute for the likes of David Villa and Pedro (me included). Remember the good ol’ days when Barca won everything? Well if you do, then it is high time you force yourself forget. Time to get back to the "norm" and realise that in Alexis, Barca have a player capable of dribbling (only Iniesta and Messi are better).

With a player that young. I believe fans have to rate him on what his potential is more than how he has performed in his first season. Alexis did not have the advantage of being from the youth system (like Cesc), he has not played one touch football. He does, however, understand the concept of pressing like your life depends on it (thanks to Bielsa) and at times was even at risk of being blamed for working too hard and then getting injured. Anyhow….

So this is nothing more than my (re)-introduction into Barcablaugranes and I’m looking for Culés to rate Alexis’ season via comments. But before you do, check this out.

Alexis Sanchez - All Goals in Season 2011-2012 (via Dervyxable)

Visca Barca!!

FC Barcelona: Karma is a bitch.

Inder Methil — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:37:38 -0000

Well folks, everybody knows what happened. Quite frankly, at the time of writing , I feel like I’ve hit rock bottom. If there were a time for me to shed tears, this is probably it. But this isnt about being sad.

No, this is about seeing things the way they could be. For four years, we as Culés have been living in that shadow forced on us by a referee. It doesn’t matter what the referee’s name is and it definitely doesn’t matter what he looked like but it was the year 2009 and Chelsea were hard done. In the end, we know that the referee cannot be blamed….mistakes were made and that’s that

Karma, really is a bitch. However, it is also very complicated. Karma as we Indians know it isnt necessarily about payback or one person/team paying for something. After all, in the end we all know that Barcelona cannot be blamed for the incidents of 2009. The referee to put it nicely, was shite and yet it wasn’t his fault.

No, Karma is about a certain balance. It is an abstract circle. It is inevitable. It, like death, cannot be stopped. Nobody can escape. I guess, it’s complicated and simple at the same time aint it?

But that’s why, out of all this, Long before the emotions are forced out of my system, I realised something. Even before the game was done, I felt it. That inevitability.

Last time, Abidal was wrongly sent off. This time it was Terry(although he definitely deserved it). Last time Iniesta scored a last minute equaliser. This time it was Torres. Last time, we were in the beginning of an era that would define the history books. This time it seems, Karma has given Chelsea the opportunity of a lifetime. There is some justice to it, some sense of satisfaction can be attained from the fact that even if Chelsea win it (and I kinda hope they do), John Terry will never feel like he truly deserved that medal but moreover, I can at that point finally heave a sigh of relief. Relief that now the balance is back, they won the trophy that many thought they would win back in 2009 and they won it at our expense. We have finally been rinsed clean of any guilt (even if we don’t have the right to feel guilty about 2009). This ofcourse doesn’t have to be only if Chelsea win, because now they have the opportunity to do so and all is fair. After all, we beat Manchester United fair and square in 2009 and at that time, United were actually favourites to win the Champions League.

That said, it’s time to talk about Barcelona. Where do we go from here?

Well, this is the opportunity of a lifetime for this club. This, my fellow Culés, can be the Phoenix rising out of the ashes. This is when the greatness of the club (not just this specific team) but the club itself -the entity behind that badge we swear by- can be defined.

It is the fire that cleanses, but in the end what shall rise will have the same core but with a renewed desire to excel. This moment can be defined as the death of an era….or a start of a new one. This isn’t me trying to be optimistic in the hopes to better your mood but this is me looking at a situation with the clarity of mind that sometimes one feels when at their lowest. And this is me doing all that despite my innate need to be pessimistic.

This is the opportunity to rebuild. And its more than just thinking about it but quite literally rebuild. Now Pep Guardiola (and I now want him to renew more than anytime ever) will get to rest Xavi,Iniesta, Messi,Valdes,Alves,Puyol or whoever the fuck he wants to. Do any of you remember the last time these guys actually had a break? The summers are a two week affair at best before they’re back to training or back with the National squad. With preseason already scheduled to take place in Europe, Pep gets to put the players exactly where he wants to, that is training without the distraction and the expectation and the sheer noise that surrounds everything Barcelona and this team in particular does.

It is the opportunity to revive and infact improve. Success is great but losing definitely counts for more. Losing and losing bad, is the only time a person really learns anything. As long as a team doesn’t make it a habit, losing is alright and can actually be considered a good thing.

Now the reason I say Pep Guardiola should renew. How many of you envy Manchester United because they have Alex Ferguson? God knows I do. In my mind, Alex Ferguson is the greatest coach in the world for one reason and one reason alone. He rebuilds a squad and continues to win and be competitive. There is a stability that surrounds that aura as well, because you know that the club would never dare to fire Ferguson for as long as the fans love him(and make no mistake,the fans worship him).

This is the opportunity for Barca to make Pep Guardiola “that” man for the club. So, like I said, more so than ever before, at this point of time, Pep Guardiola is the only man who can get this team back to its feet again. Ofcourse, Spanish clubs arent renowned for that, but if ever there was a person who deserved that loyalty, it is Pep Guardiola (didn’t we as fans and the club screw him over enough when he was playing?)

Forgive the emotional post. I will probably regret this tomorrow but I think if I said otherwise, I’d be lying.

I love this club and this team more than ever so all hail FC Barcelona!

UEFA Champions League: FC Barcelona vs Chelsea FC: Tactical Preview

Inder Methil — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 06:53:57 -0000

As Gabe mentioned in the match preview, this is, without a doubt Barcelona’s most important game of the season. While the idea of reverting to a four-man defense would bring defensive stability, Barcelona simply need to win this match. I’ve had the opportunity to browse the internet and something stuck out, besides the Culés nobody really wants Barça to win. It’s the small things you know? At least for me. In fact to take a leaf out Pep’s book "in the big games, it always comes down to the small details."

So here goes,

First off Chelsea. Maybe it’s an English view of football but it seems they like the idea of "when in doubt, revert to long balls to the forward" but in this case there should be no doubt about how Chelsea will approach the game. I’m going to guess at a 4-5-1 formation with every attempt to make Didier Drogba the sole focus of their attack. That said, I guess I should mention that of all the big teams in England, this is a strategy that only Chelsea can play. Manchester United were expected to play a game like that in the Champions League final last year but thankfully fans saw both teams being proactive. Chelsea, however, are set up in such a way that they don’t really have many choices.

Their squad is ageing. The experience counts, but only for so much, and – despite what Roberto Di Matteo says – they seem to have conceded that actually playing the game is not an option. So it’s safe to say that they will hope to defend like mad and send hopeful lobs over our midfield to Didier Drogba. The only real threat besides the Ivory Coast international are in the form of Juan Mata and Ramires. The Brazilian especially was used as a winger who had more defensive responsibilities than offensive. Mata didn’t count for much in the 1^st leg.

Fact is, this isn’t a game where two coaches are going to be fighting it out tactically. Pep Guardiola will have to come with a plan to break through Chelsea’s parked bus while keeping Drogba quiet (and hopefully on his feet). I think the starting lineup will stay the same. The only possible change is if Torres were to play instead of Drogba but it seems nobody is seriously considering that option.

Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Cole; Mikel, Meireles, Lampard, Ramires, Mata; Drogba

Chelsea’s backline will stay narrow and compact (something they showed they are good at) while the five in midfield will provide width in attack and will also cover for wide players that Barca will use.

Barcelona, however, do have some problems. For one, Drogba is a serious threat. The 34 year old has not lost his touch one bit, while maintaining that strength to literally bully defenders. Worse, he is motivated because it’s Barca he’s playing. Expect Drogba to continue to use a burst of pace over a short distance to surprise defenders. Despite Pique sounding a little naïve in his presser where he said "he believes in Drogba’s honesty and hopes to see the same during this game", the Ivorian has become infamous for his theatrics. So even the slightest of contact (or that might not be needed), he will hit the turf with the intention to regain possession via a free kick or make Barcelona stop and play the ball out of touch so that the flow of the game is slowed down.

I think the main threats from midfield will be Ramires, Mata and Lampard. Ramires will try to use his pace down the wings and hope to square a pass to Drogba, like in the first leg. Mata, will use creativity if the pass is available and Lampard will hope for chances to make late runs into Barca’s area.

Like I said above, there is just the one tactic and if Chelsea surprise me by pressing and attacking, well that’s when Pedro, Alexis and Messi will take advantage.

Unlike Gabe, I expect Barcelona will go for the 3-4-3 but with some key changes. All the reports suggest that Gerard Pique is fit and will start the game. Pique will have to stick to Drogba all day long. It’s as simple as that really because just the height alone will make a difference in our game. Pique and Busquets in particular will have to deal with those long throw-ins that Chelsea use as well as with any set pieces.

Now, this is where Arron and I disagree. I think that Pep Guardiola will play Cesc Fabregas as the tip of the midfield diamond. Arron thinks that Pep will go for Dani Alves to provide width in midfield, therefore allowing Alexis Sanchez to cut in. The reason I believe that Fabregas is the man for this game is because of pure tactics. Fact is, Alves playing wide and providing crosses isn’t a very viable option. Chelsea’s defense has the height advantage over pretty much all our players and since they will probably go for 10 players behind the ball, their penalty area will be packed tight.

For all the nay-sayers to possession football (and you really wouldn’t believe some of the reasons), Pep will focus on possession more than ever. We need to make sure that the team is planted in Chelsea’s half and that’s where Cesc Fabregas comes into the picture. Cesc will probably play as the number ‘10’ and exchange roles with Messi. In fact, it is in this formation that Fabregas is most dangerous. It is the only formation where he can revert to his Arsenal days and have a free role while also having the support of the best player in the world.

The reason this can work is because Fabregas is something like a red herring. His late runs into the box forces Chelsea to go deeper (yes, that is actually possible) while also giving Messi space. Xavi and Iniesta will have specific roles as well. They will be expected to pass the ball out wide to Pedro and Alexis. Moreover, it isn’t just the width but they will have to pass the ball wide extremely quickly and get a return pass just as fast. If there was one problem with Barca’s tactics in the 1^st leg as well as against Madrid, it was that those vital passes outside the box were not executed fast enough.

The idea is to pass the ball wide, force Chelsea’s full back’s to cover Pedro and Alexis (hence breaking the line) so that the return pass to the centre of the field is made before Chelsea have the time to get back into formation.

Like I said, the small details, Xavi makes a cross-field pass to Pedro who uses his pace down the wings, Chelsea’s fullback runs to cover, Pedro returns the pass to Messi or Iniesta, who play a quick one-two with Fabregas to score.

Starting line-up: Valdes; Pique, Mascherano, Puyol; Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc; Pedro, Messi, Alexis.

Now, with the tactics done I must admit I expect a very difficult game. The key to the whole 90 minutes is Barça opening the scoring early in the game. Keep in mind that if Chelsea score first, Barcelona will have to score 3 goals to qualify and despite the negative tactics, one simply must admit that Drogba is the perfect player for the Blues to beat us.

However, Barca would probably have won that 1^st leg 9 out of ten times. It came down to sheer luck, that they didn’t score a goal (or five) and as difficult as I expect it to be, I get the feeling (it’s all about hunches and gut feeling for me) that the team are really irritated. Annoyed that the last two games have not gone their way, which is why I opted for Pedro and Alexis out wide. Pep will go for his best finishers to support Messi and from the interviews I’ve read after the Clasico, seems like everybody is baying for blood.

Really I hope I’m proven right and we qualify.

More so than ever before,

Visça Barça!!

Diver & Aguilar: For Fans!

Inder Methil — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:19:56 -0000

To all our community members who are willing.

Diver and Aguilar are photographers from London who have been documenting FC Barcelona for the last 5 years. They've been known to work with the club with regards to Advertisements and promotion campaigns while also working independently to document the club's culture, history etc.

I'm sure many of you have seen some of their work atleast if not, I strongly suggest you check out their website here. They have some really amazing images!

The reason for this post is:

They are currently working on a project surrounding the Clasico and will be photographing and filming the game in the Camp Nou this weekend.

What they need from you and as many sources connected to FCB is for the fans from all over the world to send them via email a photograph of themselves where they were while they we watching El Classico . They are looking to put together a giant multimedia collage of the pictures. The Theme of the images is quiet simply "The Agony & the Ecstasy " these are pictures more focussed on the emotions on the faces of people during the game and not so much a group shot of everyone sitting in a bar having a good time. They want pictures from every corner of the globe - india , china, south america , Africa as well as Spain.

The email address for the fans to send the pictures to is : clasico2012project@gmail.com They would like jpeg or png files as there is going to be a lot of data.

So folks, for those of you willing. Please make sure to send the pictures.

Cheers!

Visça Barça!

FC Barcelona: Is La Liga Possible? Yes. Probable? No

Inder Methil — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:19:30 -0000

HAY LIGA! Words, most Culés have heard over the last few weeks. 10…8…6…4..Houston, Madrid have a problem.

But Barcelona need a difference at the top of 3 points or less. If the point difference were to further reduce, then we can actually say that the Blaugrana stand a chance. The Clasico, simply cannot be taken for granted. And in fact, it is probably the only game during a league season when Barcelona are NOT clear favourites.

Yes, it is at the Camp Nou. Yes, we have Pep Guardiola at the helm. Yes, God happens to be wearing blue and red (God in all white is so clichéd anyhow, right?). Yes, our recent record against Madrid has been superb (barely believable). Then why am I always so nervous when it’s time for another Clasico?

Well, besides the fact that I worry if Pepe will kill Messi, Iniesta or Arbeloa if Madrid are not winning, we have to realise that Real Madrid has a huge, expensively built squad that was tailor made to beat Barcelona. It’s another thing that I believe Barcelona is still by far the best team in the world but resting on one’s laurels will never get a team silverware.

It’s simply a matter of information. Two teams have been playing each other regularly, both teams gain more information about the other every game. The team/manager that can collate and make sense out of that information stands a better chance in the next game. Information and small details, ladies and gents, that’s it. Past records stand for nothing as far as how a future game will go.

Indeed, if somebody were to have asked me about a month back, I would have agreed (reluctantly) that Madrid were the better team (10 point difference and all), but now, circumstances have forced me to state that I might have actually been a little hard on our team (because I didn’t consider the bigger picture). Mind you, I still believe that Barca have not performed as well as last year (with respect to the league) but it seems we haven’t done too bad either.

Firstly, a combination of tough fixtures and some horrendous referee decisions in addition to injuries have seen us drop points early in the season. Madrid kept extending that lead.

Second, that lead has diminished. Really all there is to it…it is no longer 10 points but 4. What does that change for the team itself?(the actual squad not us fans) Well, not a god damned thing. If anything, Pep Guardiola’s press conference says it all. Pep being…Pep, remains pessimistic(rightly so) and has stated that the absurdity of fans (my words, not his. I’m just trying to make sure all of you get the tone/point) believing that Barca will DEFINITELY win all their games and in particular, the clasico is nothing short of annoying.

It’s this presumptuous line of thought that, when spread, can infect the squad as well. Can Barca win the league? Sure, there is a chance. After all, 4 is better than 10 and is probably a fairer reflection on Barca’s season if compared to Madrid’s. This is where Barca deserve to be. But Madrid leading by 4 is also where they deserve to be.

Now, what happens next depends on both teams. Make no mistake, how Barca performs from now on till the end of the season is what will decide everything and is infinitely more important than how Madrid play from now on. Do we depend on Madrid losing points? Without a doubt but that won’t even be a question to consider or rather, it is an after thought. Barca have to win all their games and only after, can we afford to think about Madrid dropping points.

That said, there are certain stats that distract us fans from focussing on Barcelona’s fixtures alone (again, I cannot overstate this enough, thinking about Barcelona’s games is the only way to go), namely: April, last year, saw Madrid drop quite a few points and was also the major factor in Barcelona winning the league. In fact, the Capital side didn’t do too well at the Bernabeu either. So, obviously, omens combined with the rather difficult fixtures that Madrid have this season (not like we have it easier, I am so not looking forward to Levante away),forces fans to become a little too optimistic in our chances.

Like whenever Arron sounds overtly optimistic in his previews, my superstitious ways forces imaginary alarm bells to go off. If we lose the league (which is highly likely), Barca would have done quite well over the entire season. 4 points behind the leaders is acceptable and understandable considering the injuries that the team has suffered this year(and other factos like not playing well in away games). If we win it? It’ll be one for the history books. No team has come back from a 10 point deficit to win the league (and considering the opponent, this will be very difficult). Can we win it? Sure, but Real Madrid are favourites to win this league and sometimes we just need to wake up and smell the doo-doo(pardon my french). Here’s hoping all of us are realistic about our chances and that Pep and co. surprise us so that everybody can pick on "pessimistic Inder" after the season is done.

P.S:- How stupid do I feel writing that post on the Pasillo? Vote and let me know on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being Jim Carrey from Dumb & Dumber :P

Poll

How stupid am I for even considering the possibility of Barca performing the Pasillo?

1- ah not too bad

46 votes

2-meh not too bright

12 votes

3-what have you been smoking?

16 votes

4-just dumb

5 votes

5-dumb & dumber

33 votes

112 votes | Poll has closed

FC Barcelona: Controversies and Woooosah.

Inder Methil — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:16:21 -0000

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this is the curse of being winners. Make no mistake about it, people are watching every game Barcelona plays to catch that one moment amongst a thousand that the camera shows the referee got wrong except last night was not the same.

If it was any other club (especially the Evil Empire), everybody including Cules(who are really a little too soft) would have said "The referee got it right". Culés in general would have added, "those lucky bastards! But yes, those were fouls in the box and hence penalties". This despite that diva they play upfront who has a tendency to exaggerate.

It is the way it is, people like Mourinho and Ibrahimovic have a lot of reasons to talk about Barcelona. They are our biggest rivals and even though they could beat Barca(at some point in the future), they simply cannot ignore this team. Why? Well, right now we’re the ones winning.

4 years of total and utter domination of everybody including ‘the world’s richest club’. As annoying as that can be to fans of Barca, who try a little too hard (in my opinion) to prove the nay-sayers wrong, what all us really need to do is use our pressure points and say "woooosahhhh".

Follow directions:

Hold both ear lobes and say "wooooosahhh". Smile, cause we won.

Nesta, Ambrosini,Ibrahimovic and Allegri all came out guns blazing about how the referees favour Barcelona. The rule book, says they were penalties. Pep Guardiola came out saying they were fouls in the box and that he was taught the same since he was a child. Nesta, himself, agreed that he was pulling Busquets’ shirt during that corner. Mind you, there is absolutely no talk about the two penalties Barca were supposed to get in the 1^st leg, just that the referee gave a soft penalty.

Well, I would think a brilliant defender like Nesta who is/was known for his elegance and really is something like the epitome of the art of defense, would also be an intelligent defender. I guess not. What I mean is, if the Italian side have made a habit of pulling shirts and hacking at ankles , and in turn knew early on in the game that this referee was not going to allow those fouls. Then why did Nesta continue?

In case any of you want further proof via quotes through pundits. Well read this interview by Manchester United’s defender Rio Ferdinand(to get an idea on his opinion on Defending) and then know that the following were his thoughts on the 2^nd penalty via twitter: "The ref has followed the rules there….shirt pull=foul. Messi=nerveless"

Now for my personal logic on penalties and how to make sure that they are as consistent and non-controversial as possible(this is for Culés cause I couldn’t care less what fans of other clubs have to say on the matter anymore). If a foul is commited and a free kick given OUTSIDE the box and if said foul is considered fair and even commonplace then if the same foul is committed INSIDE the box, it is a penalty. Plain and Simple

Would the referee give a defender a yellow card and Messi a free kick if Nesta had pulled Messi down outside the box? Yes and God knows, Milan continuted to do that, cynical and tactical fouls all day long which got worse as the game went on. Nobody says anything about that ofcourse but if that foul is given then it IS and should be given a penalty if its inside the box. Saying that referees in Italy would not have given a penalty is just nonsense. Nesta should have known better than to try that in Europe.

Barça have won 13 out of 16 trophies since 2008. I remember that I used to hate F1’s Michael Schumacher. When asked, I would go on a rant about something or the other, lack of sporting behaviour blah blah blah. Fact is, I supported Mclaren and I hated that Ferrari always seemed to have the better car and were lucky enough to have arguably, the world’s greatest racing driver. It really is the same with Barca, people will despise us,as fans and the club that we support for as long as this team continues to win.

When Barça’s cycle ends (and it will definitely end), another club will take over and after two years of winning, everybody out there will hate them too. They will claim favourtism by UEFA,the referees, the money etc. Just keep in mind, that in the end, we won last night and we were the better team by miles!.

So far, in this seasons Champions League. Barcelona completed twice as many passes as Milan,6608 to 3217. Lionel Messi has scored 58 goals in all competitions (does not include his goals for Argentina), how many has Milan scored for their league(Serie A)? Consider this mini-quiz till Arron comes up with a more challenging question in his piece and you can answer via comment (cheating by using Google is allowed and encouraged)

Over the two legs against AC Milan, the Italians had 3 shots on target. That’s right, THREE. 2 of those shots were in the first leg and 1 in Camp Nou.In fact, Milan took only 3 shots over the whole 90 minutes in Camp Nou(1 on target). Barcelona, on the other hand took 21 shots (8 were on target).

The better team won, period. Haters will hate. They didn’t like that Culés were complaining about the pitch in Italy. Most of us realised that Barcelona played way below their usual high standards and that Milan defended admirably. I, for one, can accept that draw even before the results of last night’s match were known but I stick to the fact that the pitch at the San Siro was crap. Now, they have complains of their own. Well, remember that age old saying? "History is written by the victors".

Our team knows all this and I strongly believe that they will continue to fight for all trophies despite the inevitable hate that will flow in. We are just going to have to even the playing ground a bit by supporting the team even more fervently. That said, I suggest you stay away from the conspiracy theorists. Don’t even try to explain it to them. In the end, we won and qualified and nothing anybody says will change that.

Pressure on the ear lobes and "wooooooosahhhh".

Visca El Barca

(Bring on Chelsea or Benfica, whoever!)

Simply The Best

Inder Methil — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20:15:19 -0000

Honestly, This is by far the best video on Messi I've seen and kudos to whoever compiled/made it.Also "reminds" me just how great Lio is (hey, Jesus himself had his moments of doubt so I'm allowed a few). Truly, I have never seen a player who is so aware of every blade of grass on the pitch like Messi, every player around him and what their next move will be. All in a matter of seconds, he sees what we couldn't even dream of (trust me, I have tried and I'm sure some of you have as well) and somehow calculates what specific action is required ....Pele who?Maradona? Meh....When Messi is at this level (make no mistake ladies and gentlemen, he is at his best more consistently than any other to have played the beautiful game) then I have to ask myself "how do any of us dare to compare Ronaldo to Messi?" ....I hope you guys enjoy this as much as I did

Lionel Messi - Ultimate Skills Video | HD (via RousSportChannel)

La Liga:RCD Mallorca vs FC Barcelona: Live Game Thread

Inder Methil — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:48:37 -0000

La Liga: Matchday 29
Kickoff: Tuesday, 20 March 2012; 17:00 GMT
Iberostar Estadi, Mallorca
Referee: Miguel Ángel Ayza Gámez

Line-ups:

FC Barcelona (3-4-3):Valdes;Puyol,Pique,Mascherano;Iniesta,Thiago,Busquets,Fabregas;Pedro,Alexis Sanchez,Messi

Substitutes:Pinto,Muniesa,Xavi,Montoya,Keita,Tello,Cuenca

Mallorca (4-2-3-1): Aouate; Chico,Nunes,Ramis,Caceres,Tissone,Marti;Pereira,Castro,Alvaro;Victor

Substitutes: Calatayud,Zuiverloon,Cendros,Hemed,Alfaro,Nsue,Pina

FC Barcelona: Tello Is The Ultimate SuperSub

Inder Methil — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:21:23 -0000

Well, I’m sure everyone here would agree that Cristian Tello has surprised everybody. The kid, to quote Dani Alves, has "a 7^th gear" and one can see that every single time he receives the ball. It’s also fair to say that if Tello receives a pass with space, there are very few defenders out there who can catch him or get close for that matter.

Since Tello is naturally a centre forward or striker, his finishing abilities are supreme. With Barcelona’s and moreover Pep’s tendency to play strikers as wingers (to allow Messi to work his magic in the middle), the team has options that complement Messi’s false 9 role.

In essence, they have players like Tello, Alexis, Afellay (who isn’t a striker) who are capable of keeping the width that Barcelona need while keeping possession. How many times have we witnessed that situation? When Barcelona is comfortable in possession, with Xavi, almost single-handedly dominating the opponent from, just outside the box.

In that particular case, as Pep has learned, the opponent is in "Ultra defensive" mode a.k.a click the analog button on your xbox controller twice to the left. When the team finds itself in that situation, Xavi ,Busquets and Iniesta have specific roles which include, passing to draw defenders out and probing down the middle of the pitch or distribute to the left and right(something Xavi does a lot and still surprises me with his accuracy and timing).

Most of you will know that the idea of distributing it down the wings is to stretch the opponent’s defense and not allow them to put all 10 outfield players in their box. This is where Tello is tactically brilliant; the few times I’ve had the chance to watch him. The youngster seems to hug the line like no other winger in Barcelona’s squad. At this point, Tello has two options, either dribble and use his pace to get past the opponent’s full back to send a cross in (which isn’t his speciality and Isaac Cuenca is much more suited to this role) or cut back to pass the ball back to a midfielder (who by this time has moved closer to the box forcing Barca and the opponent to take those few steps, closer to goal).

However, the above is not Tello’s forte or at least not yet. In fact, the more I think about it, I get the feeling that Pep Guardiola licks his lips in delight every time he thinks of the options a player like Tello gives Barcelona with respect to tactics.

Pep, in his vast wisdom, has once again shown that tactical prowess is definitely part of his repertoire. Cristian Tello is to Barcelona, what Higuain is to Real Madrid. Mourinho has been clever about how to use his strikers. Pep has one more option in Isaac Cuenca but the point of all this is that Tello is a part of the B-team and being given his chance to perform. While he has done that extremely well, he is also expected to improve in certain aspects of his game such as crossing and his ability to beat a defender on the dribble.

Until that time, when Tello has reached a certain stage of maturity, he will most likely start on the bench and is a great super sub for any team. Think about it this way, Barca are playing Real Madrid, the score is 1-1 and it’s that stage of the game where things are beginning to stall (around the 70^th minute). Pep needs to change things, how about bringing on a forward who is faster than most fullbacks at their peak but now Tello faces Arbeloa who is tiring. Who would bet against Tello beating his man almost every opportunity he gets?

At this point of the game, the fight for midfield is still raging; chances are Messi plays deeper to support Xavi and Iniesta in keeping purposeful possession. There are two team mates in Tello and Alexis ahead who either stay wide or create space through off-the-ball movement(Sanchez is arguably as good as Messi in this aspect). You can almost visualize it, Messi receives the ball in midfield, drops a shoulder, skips past a DM and uses that magical left foot to send a through ball right between the opponent’s centre back and right back to Tello who is moving shifting up the gears against a half-dead Arbeloa. Tello is similar to Villa in that aspect but a whole lot faster. Maybe losing David Villa to injury really is a blessing in disguise?

Angles created, angles used, Tello runs straight at the keeper, forcing the centre back to cover for his team mate who is busy eating the grass Tello leaves in his wake. Messi runs straight down the middle, Alexis moves closer to the box and we find ourselves in a 3 vs 3 situation except that the 3 defenders are in panic-mode against 3 great finishers.

Why does Tello not start more games? Well, it’s because his game gives us so much more as a substitute. Next year, assuming the youngster renews, with a whole pre-season Tello would have improved his game and will be more suited to play as a winger. Although in situations like the one explained above, Tello and Alexis play more like two strikers with Messi as an orthodox no. 10. Isaac Cuenca, meanwhile, who is part of the first team, will remain as the favorite to start a game because of those mind numbing crosses he brings to the table but that’s a story for another timeJ

Makes you wonder huh? Does Barca really need Neymar?

Until the next time,

Visca el Barca!

Poll

Do you agree, that this year, Tello just might be the perfect impact substitute?

Yes

116 votes

No

4 votes

He should start instead of Cuenca

53 votes

173 votes | Poll has closed

Great interview with FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi

Inder Methil — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:57:14 -0000

Lionel Messi Full Interview With Sky Sports 2012 With English Subtitles - [High Quality] (via ShivDes357)

An interesting interview with Lionel Messi reveals certain charateristics about the player. One of the conclusions is that Messi who is infamously shy, is beginning to change in that aspect. Seems like our favourite player is opening up,finally:)

Maybe, now we can learn more about the world's greatest player. Notice how humble he is? I can't help but find that shocking, after so many years of being the best, arguably the richest and now being hailed as the best ever, how does Messi stay grounded?! You just cant help but like the guy!

Anyway, thought you guys would enjoy this.

Cheers,

Visca el Barca!

FC Barcelona: Reasons We Are Second

Inder Methil — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 07:16:07 -0000

Barcelona has, for all practical purposes, been great this season. This isn’t a personal opinion but rather fact. Perspective, however, can confuse fans of the club and it would be difficult to fault them for it. The Catalans have won 3 trophies so far, namely, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup. All three required the participants to have previously won a major trophy and simply cannot be taken lightly. There is a sense of pride that all Culés feel when they know that only their team is allowed to wear the "World Champions" insignia on the shirt. The Blaugrana are in the final of the Copa Del Rey and have qualified for the Champions League Quarter Finals with a good chance to progress further if they can get past A.C Milan. Any team in Europe would consider the season a huge (really really huge) success.

But, if you were to ask the average fan on their thoughts on the season so far, chances are they will be noncommittal on the subject and will choose to pass judgement only after the Champions League is done on the 19^th of May. The reason for this reversion to the cautiously peptimistic point of view (as opposed to the cocky and slightly arrogant show that many Cules had before the season) is of course Barca’s standings in the league.

To many, it has been a disappointing league and they wouldn’t be wrong. However, fact is, fans have become too used to seeing Barca destroy everybody and have assumed that winning the 4^th league title was only natural. Certain facts that really do say it all:

In La Liga,

Barcelona: 18 Wins, 6 Draws, 2 Losses

Real Madrid: 23 Wins, 1 Draw, 2 Losses

Yes, referees cost us atleast 6 points this season but that isn’t an excuse for Barcelona. Other teams may continue complaining, and in fact we as fans can complain as well but not the team or the coach.

The above stats say a couple of things loud and clear, which is, it isn’t that bad a season. Any other league and Barcelona would have been leading the table. However considering the expectations at our club is much higher, 6 draws is unacceptable(I feel stupid just saying that but it is how it is right?).

Which brings me to the main point. It seems that fans, including myself, have fallen victim to the constant drone of the media about La Liga being a 2 horse race to the point that all we do is talk about the Clasicos. This is a league and like all leagues, 2 matches don’t really matter. Real Madrid and moreover, Jose Mourinho has realised this. Inspite of his mind numbing antics, Por Que knew even before the season started that he could afford to lose both Clasicos as long as he could get the team to perform at a supernatural level the rest of the time. Aim for 36 wins so that 2 losses to Barcelona will not make a difference

This is something we have lost track of. It might even be said that the team lost the point somewhere along the way, because of all the noise that the Spanish media creates. Referees, as I mentioned above, cannot be made the excuse but nobody can deny that Madrid have got pretty much every call in their favour plus some and for Barcelona, it was almost the opposite. So if referees cannot be made the scape-goat, it also must be said that, the opposite would be that all the help Madrid got goes to show that they aren’t exactly as good as their stats show them to be.

Next season, assuming Pep renews (I don’t even want to think of the situations if he doesn’t), Barcelona will just have to focus on the other 18 teams. Focus on beating them. Keep in mind, we have only lost twice in the league and that’s nothing but the 6 draws? All those matches had one thing in common which was slow movement of the ball or a lack of urgency combined with injuries and dodgy decisions. The injuries can be worked on, the urgency HAS to be worked on and if both are managed then the dodgy decisions will turn out to be irrelevant.

This season, as much as people would like to say it’s over, it isn’t. With 12 matches to go, Barcelona will have to get into the groove, no more losses or draws, focus only on the winning. Even what Real Madrid does or doesn’t do won’t matter because the idea is to find some rhythm so that the Blaugrana can win Champions League and have a smooth transition into Euro 12 and/or preseason.

Having said that, since all the focus was on the Clasicos to the point that the team was distracted elsewhere, maybe it won’t be such a bad thing if we won all the Clasicos as well – just so that we stick to the plan you know? We shouldn't look fickle minded should we?

Poll

Which aspect does Barca have to improve on the most?

Avoiding Injuries

38 votes

Maintaining Urgency during a game

91 votes

129 votes | Poll has closed

Lionel And What He Means To Us

Inder Methil — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:33:37 -0000

I know, it's close to impossible to write about him. It is definitely impossible to write about him and feel like the piece justifies the player that he is. It is close to impossible to fathom the numbers. It is close to impossible for the numbers to encapsulate the player that he is.

I know, it is definitely impossible for all the permutations and combinations of the English alphabet to somehow, catch the essence of the player that he is. But then, everything he has done, was supposed to have been impossible as well wasn't it?

Many people say that Sanskrit(it's an ancient language to those of you who don't know) is the closest there is to perfection. Allow me to quote Sir William Jones on his thoughts on the language "The Sanskrit language, whatever be its antiquity, is of a wonderful structure; more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either, yet bearing to both of them a stronger affinity, both in the roots of verbs and in the forms of grammar, than could possibly have been produced by accident; so strong, indeed, that no philologer could examine them all three, without believing them to have sprung from some common source, which, perhaps, no longer exists."

No, I do not plan to write my thoughts in Sanskrit, but my point is this. Maybe, that's the only way to describe the man. Maybe English is simply, not enough but what we need is to invoke the mystical rituals of dynasties past and hope that the same Gods that have blessed that little one with so much, may take mercy on us and gift us the means by which we could truly- 'capture his spirit'.

It's close to impossible, all these things, cause in some weird profound way, it's a vicious cycle. The means justifies the end. That somehow you always reach that final solution and agree on that most Indian of attributes to finally come to the conclusion and decide to say:"ahhh fuck it, Ima have me a beer and watch the magic unfold". Or i wish atleast, cause tomorrow or day after when Leo works on overburdening my weak, miss-a-beat-every-once-in-a-while heart by running past 1...2...3...4....5 players and scores? I know I'll get that feeling of frustration once again.

The first year of Pep's era, you could see glimpses of the man he could grow up to be, almost like Pep was taking it easy on all of us. Like somehow he felt that if Messi was played centrally to begin with, people would just be too overwhelmed. There is only so much emotion a man can take right? That first year under Pep, was me talking to the TV everytime Leo started his run, "common, common, ahhhhhhhh goalllllllllllll" with a few fist pumps in between.

The second year, we were expecting bigger. The second year we wanted more. The second year what we asked of this player was considered impossible. We wouldn't dare say it out loud in case we jinxed it or worse, ended up looking like idiots, if he couldn't keep it up. That second year when Messi moved centrally, for me at least it was all about profanity. I used every different expletive in every language I know to celebrate the player that he was(in case you're wondering, that's Hindi,English,Malayalam,Tamil,Kannada,Arabic). No, I don't speak all of them fluently but like all great students of languages, I learnt the dirty words first;).

Then, ofcourse was the problem. By the end of the second year, my underdeveloped footballing mind(like all fans before the Messi era), just couldn't see how it could go anywhere but down. It was impossible after all, wasn't it? It had not been done before and we humans, aren't really that bright. We fear what we can't understand. We had reached the limits of our imagination and anything beyond was something like Jack Sparrow on a ship falling off the edge of the world. It was beyond what we were capable of handling.

Cules have to think about what they wish for. In our limited capacities, we can't stand looking at something that just cannot be understood, in fact we fear it so much that we could have hated it. But not him, not La Pulga, not that little fellow who everytime he scores, has a slight mischievious smile and two pointed fingers to the sky. That third year should not have happened. Since that impossible year, things have not improved. Somehow abusing the world, the opponent, the tv, some of my friends who dared to take an attempt at small talk during a game and just the cosmos,in general, was not enough. What were we to do, if the most primitive part of our communication skills-profanity-had left us high and dry?Keep in my mind, I did it in multiple languages. Admittedly not in Sanskrit, but I'm pretty sure a 2000 yr old language like that would not add extra emphasis to profanity, at least not more than, say, Hindi.

Since that damned year, my only real reaction is my jaw dragging the floor depending on the number of goals Messi has scored. The jaw dropping continued into this 4th year and I got used to the carpert burns on my chin.But Thursday night, was different. It was supposed to be impossible. So, now, I realize the futility of arguing about "Who really is the best".

There is a resignation towards the whole debate, a meek acceptance of your opponent's point of view just so that he or she would shut up. It is like having solved the universal equation that all physicists are crazy about, and not telling anybody. It is a secret that makes me smile from within. It is the knowledge and the comfort that radiates from my person when asked the question "Who is the best ever". I just smile and think to myself "It was supposed to be impossible, but both YOU and I know who it is, the only difference is I've accepted it." and nothing really had to be said cause it is inevitable.Sure, they would yap away about something or another but I strongly believe that all Cules feel the same as I. Keep in mind,this isn't the peak-- just his coronation.We've heard all the arguments, the responses, counter arguments, all of it.

But in the end, we all know "who the best ever is", and in our knowledge, we find comfort and get to sit back. No longer will my jaw drop. No longer will I ask myself, 'how'? Henceforth, every time Messi scores an "impossible" goal or breaks a record that was supposed to be "impossible", I will just smile and in a way, I guess the word below explains it(Huh! I guess English wasn't good enough after all)

-------------------------------------------------------------------" निर्वाण"------------------------------------------------------------------------------

La Liga: FC Barcelona 3-1 Sporting Gijon: Player Ratings

Inder Methil — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 11:49:59 -0000

If you didn’t watch last night’s match, you missed a great game. Unfortunately, fellow writer Guidance was unavailable and the task of giving the players a rating falls to me. So here’s my uber-biased thoughts on the game.

First off, kudos to the whole team and Pep Guardiola(good substitutions) for putting up a great fight and winning the match.

Victor Valdes 6.5

VV had a relatively quiet game and really couldn’t do much more about that goal the team conceded. If one were into the details, it could be argued that Victor was a little slow on the uptake but in my opinion, the blame falls on Adriano.

Dani Alves 7.5 Yellow

Ah good ol’ danny boy. *If I were Irish and drunk, I’d sing the song* Seriously, he did a good job of running tirelessly down that right flank. Played a few one-two’s in and around the box. Oh, should have gotten a penalty as well but obviously Barca are going to have to get used to winning without the referee. Fact is, by now even the most ardent *thou-shalt-not-blame-the-referee* fan, must be asking questions. Anyhow, the brazilian full back did a good job but I have no idea why he got a yellow.

Gerard Pique 5.5 Red

Well, Shakira’s boytoy just can’t keep his name out of the media these days eh? Rest assured, this time it was not his fault. Geri got himself a red card for what replays clearly show as the ball hitting him and then while attempting to regain possession, two players tripped over each other. Red was simply too harsh considering that Real Madrid seem to be playing football based on different rules. Nonetheless, it would be hard to judge any of the players considering how many yellow cards the referee was shelling out all night. I have a strange feeling he continued to give out cards on his way home as well.

Javier Mascherano 7

I have to admit it. Mascherano is doing himself a world of good by going about his job in a no nonsense way. The midfielder/defender kept things simple and made some good interceptions. Like Sergio Busquets in midfield, the Argentine knows he’s had a good day when people don’t mention his name too often. Keep in mind that the game ended with Barcelona having around 75% possession, so the defense wasn’t really tested. However, at this rate Javier will be Barca’s first choice centre back along with Carles Puyol. Note:Pique will probably start the CL game against Leverkusen allowing Pep to rest Puyol/Mascherano (depending on who needs it more).

Adriano 6.5

Yes, I blame him for the goal we conceded. Adriano shouldn’t have allowed the cross which ended up being Gijon’s only goal of the match. However, the Brazilian did show presence of mind to pull the ball back to Iniesta for Barca’s first goal. In general, he did make himself available on the left flank when the team were attacking (which was pretty much the whole game).

Cesc Fabregas 5.5

Just one of those days for our prodigal son. Pretty much invisible the whole game, Fabregas showed that he has a bit to learn as far as his tactical positioning is concerned. Let’s be honest, it is difficult to criticise him too much because this is his first year and 15 goals,15 assists already confirms it to be a successful one. However the dilemma that Pep faces untill Fabregas figures out the smaller details (like when to step into midfield to help keep possession and when to stay forward): what formation suits the Catalan the best? The 3-4-3 is perfect for Cesc because it brings out the best of his abilities and combines it effectively with his telepathic relationship with Lionel Messi. The 4-3-3 with Cesc in midfield is a bit of a hindrance because he isnt anywhere as good as Iniesta or Xavi in keeping the ball and moreover that innate ability to be patient under pressure which the duo are famous for. Nonetheless, Fabregas will get better but last night was not his best game in the blue and red.

Xavi 8.0 Yellow

The General is showing another side to his game. Scoring goals. Xavi has broken his personal record for goals scored in a season. The Catalan has 12 goals to his name with quite a few games left to continue his streak. It seems, Xavi’s favourite is to chip one over the keeper to conclusively end whichever match he chooses to score in. Of course, sticking to custom, the Catalan picked up a yellow card as well and by now I’ve lost count of why or how. Maybe Madrid’s conspiracy involves making sure that all key players are suspended by the time the next Clasico comes around? *Keep in mind I’m only half joking about the Madrid quips and really in the end it will be Barca’s fault if they don’t win the league*

Andres Iniesta 9.0 Yellow

The Ghost conquered midfield last night and was the main driving force behind the team’s attacking prowess. Barcelona is simply not the same without him. Iniesta scored the first goal and assisted Xavi for Barca’s third with a truly sublime messi-esque pass. Running at defenders like no other player can, Iniesta forced two of Gijon’s players to converge on him while somehow being aware that Xavi was making a run into space and executed the perfect pass. Really, what more can you say about the man that hasn’t been said before? Arguably man of the match with Seydou Keita. Oh, he got a yellow card as well but then you knew that by now right? I think, if my memory serves me right, it was for dissent in the argument that ensued Pique’s red card.

Seydou Keita 9.0 Yellow

Along with the yellow card, the Malian got himself a lot of fans with a strike that was stunning. Keita was starting his first game after the African cup and justified Pep Guardiola’s blind faith in him. I vaguely remember a quote by our illustrious manager along the lines of "As long as I’m here, Keita won’t be sold". After last night, I really hope that’s true and that he remembers last night’s goal come the summer transfer window. It’s quite surprising how often Keita scores or assists considering that he isn’t a starter for Barcelona. The midfielder had a brilliant game by contributing with a keypass in the build up to Barca’s first goal and scoring the all important second when Barca were 1-1 and a man down. Golazo is the only word that describes the strike, a left footed curler that would have made a world class striker proud. Finally, I can say with confidence that Keita is a central midfielder and not a defensive midfielder (I’ve always wondered about where he fits in) although he was alright when he was called to defend.

Pedro 6.0

The Canary islander needs to buck up. This is not Chelsea where a striker can go a few months without scoring, but Barcelona with a long list of forwards/wingers from the B team waiting to take his spot in the team. Cristian Tello being on top of that list. I might be a little harsh but what fans of the club are looking for is some form of contribution from Pedro. One simply cannot deny his work rate though and like Villa before him, if the goals are drying up, Pedro will run till he drops and that’s always good to see. However the winger needs to improve on his first touch, a player can get away only for so long with a poor first touch in a team like Barcelona where the system is based on one touch passing. Let’s hope we see the Pedro of last year soon. Pedro was removed around the 60 minute mark.

Isaac Cuenca 6.5

Inexperienced. Cuenca has obvious talent and is capable of beating multiple defenders as well as make a pass. However, in my opinion, it’s the lack of experience at this level which reduces how effective he is. Nothing anybody can do about that and Cules will just have to wait. In general, Cuenca did well and showed his pace but seemed to lack that final ball. He was replaced later on in the game by Cristian Tello.

Cristian Tello 6.5

The fresh legs definitely helped in that Tello’s pace helped create some panic in Gijon’s defense. The youngster is definitely making a name for himself and it would be a huge surprise if he isn’t promoted next season.

Alexis Sanchez 7.0

Had a clear shot on goal right after he was brought on but took one touch too many and scuffed the shot. Worse still, he suffered from a groin injury in the final minutes of the game and left the field. Reports are that Alexis will be out for 10-15 days and I can only hope that we don’t need him during the Leverkusen game. However, he did bring his good ability to hold onto the ball while laying off to his team mates. Alexis continues to amaze me simply cause he brings so much to Barca’s game. Namely: his strength allows him to hold on to the ball with his back to goal something that he displayed in the build up to Keita’s goal with a deft touch. Ability wise, Alexis is the closest we have to Messi and I assumed he would start the game. Second, his explosive pace is a pleasure to watch. All in all, he didn’t have much of an effect on the game but did assist Keita for the second goal. Let’s hope he’s back from injury soon.

Carles Puyol 6.5

Only 10 minutes left on the clock, Barca were leading by one goal and were down to 10 men (9 when Alexis was removed in injury time) and who better in the world to bring into the match than El Capitan?Puyol’s ability to calm my ever-on-edge nerves is amazing and when he was brought on, I had just one thought in my head "HA,you could shoot the man and he will still not let Gijon score". The man is a leader and I’m glad Pep decided to play him for the final minutes. However, in retrospect, I guess it seemed unnecessary cause Xavi scored Barca’s third.

Note: It was a brilliant performance by the team more cause of their never-say-die attitude and Pep Guardiola capped it all off by making the right substitutions while making sure that the team continued to attack and stick to their principles. Ironically, Pique being sent off actually helped the Blaugrana win the game. Sporting and Clemente made the mistake of thinking that they could win the match and made attacking substitutions. Further, Gijon opened up in the Camp Nou, when was the last time any of you remember a team attacking Barcelona at home in a league match like that?

The referee (yes, the same guy who refused to give us two penalties against Valencia) saw fit to produce 13 cards yesterday. 5 (4 yellow +1 red) for Barcelona. Maybe it was some kind of nervous twitch? While shelling out cards for God knows what, he also denied another two penalties. The first was a clear and blatant foul on Dani Alves in the box when the defender made absolutely no attempt at getting the ball and the other for a clear-as-daylight handling of the ball in the box but obviously not given. However if the ball were to bounce off the knee and touch Alexis’ hand while he was attempting score (like in the Atletico Madrid game), somehow the referees were able to see that through a sea of bodies. Hmm, Yes the rules say Alexis did touch the ball although unintentionally but something has got to give right? Maybe one of these days, the Spanish referees will wake up and remember the rules, then again, don’t get your hopes up.

FC Barcelona's-The Untouchables.

Inder Methil — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:05:57 -0000

Sometimes, football can be disappointing. Money, fame, players who act like they’re God’s gift to mankind. Football fans, however, are a naïve bunch and have expectations from their clubs that border on Utopia.

With all the noise that comes with transfer windows, it’s easy for fans to go a little crazy about a particular player. Arsenal fans were furious that Cesc left, Barca fans were ecstatic that he came home. Some players though are untouchable. Fans simply cannot doubt their loyalty. Xavi Hernandez is one of them.

So when reports of him leaving Barca emerged, I can’t help but wonder. Don’t these clubs know that? This isn’t some 20 year old fresh off the boat looking to make a name for himself. Xavi represents Barcelona. He is everything that is good about this club and not even the board could really get away with a sale like that even if they considered it.

The possession obsessed Catalan is THE fan. The die-hard Cule who became a player and arguably the most gifted midfielder of this era. Xavi represents more than just Barca’s style of play and along with Carles Puyol is the face of the club (yes, more so than that little fellow). So what exactly was Paris Saint Germain thinking when they came out stating that they were willing to pay his 80 million Euro buy-out clause? Xavi once said in an interview in 2010 when asked about the possibility of leaving Barca, "they would have to force me out, I wouldn’t leave until they forced me out on the streets or if I felt that I wasn’t useful to the club".

Yes, this is also the same player who considered a move to Milan when he was starting out cause he felt the pressure of having to be the "next Pep". His mother and him were the ones who were against the move, when the rest of his family thought Milan would be a good idea. Xavi rejected a multi-million dollar deal to stay in the club that has been part of his family since the days of his grandfather. So what were PSG thinking?

We live in a cynical time with uncertainities being a big part of the game but not all things are for sale. If Carles Puyol is the team’s brawn, then Xavi is the brain and together will remain an inspiration to all the young players in La Masia that with hardwork and loyalty, they could wear the blue and red someday.

The argument that these "reports" used was that the uncertainity around Pep Guardiola’s contract renewal could be taken advantage of and could be the catalyst needed for Xavi to leave. BAH HUMBUG is what I have to say to that.

Sometimes, a huge buy out clause in a player’s contract isn’t just about discouraging clubs through financial methods. Sometimes it’s a very big "Do Not Touch" stamp. Some players are, in my opinion, untouchable because they cannot/will not be sold and shall not be criticised because of the sheer effort and dedication they have shown towards the cause over the years. Barcelona are lucky in that aspect. Most clubs have one mascot, a player that is truly theirs, a player despite being the envy of clubs world wide is simply not for sale. 99% of the time, that player is from their youth system and easy to spot. The pride they show in the colours is there for everybody to see.

Liverpool have Steven Gerrard, Madrid Iker Casillas, Manchester United have Giggs and Scholes. Barcelona have Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Victor Valdes and Lionel Messi. They will never be sold if the club has a choice. So, when I read a comment by a fan (who claims to be a Culé) which went along the lines of "Sell Xavi!He’s old and we should buy Thiago Silva", I swear I couldn’t stop my jaw from hitting the floor. Do these people know what they’re talking about? Are we all in denial? Or is this an isolated case of a fan who’s idea of a football club is crazy transfers in FIFA 12?

That kind of loyalty to the club cannot be taught. Barcelona understand that more than most clubs and reciprocate in kind. So this is for those of you who have the time, watch it once and you realise just how much Xavi Hernandez is more than just a player for Barcelona. He is Barcelona.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells

Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills;

For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding;

For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;

Xavi 550 [ENGLISH SUBS] part 1 (via totalBarca)

Xavi 550 [ENGLISH SUBS] part 2 (via totalBarca)

Xavi 550 [ENGLISH SUBS] part 3 (via totalBarca)

Xavi 550 [ENGLISH SUBS] part 4 (via totalBarca)

Inder Methil

Messi or Maradona?

Inder Methil — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:50:47 -0000

So, here I am listening to Alice In Chain's Nutshell (for the 100th time and yes, Layne Staley was amazing) and pondering over that age old question, Messi or Maradona? This, ofcourse is thanks to a video I'm sure many of us have watched courtesy the mysterious barcastuff (urban legend, but they say it's Pep Guardiola disguised) and thanks to one of my favourite sports journalist Sid Lowe.

This is the video that they have uploaded and I wanted to know what the viewers thought about the whole thing.

Foreign Desk / Messi or Maradona? (via loscorresponsales)

Considering, the video is quite short and doesn't go into detail as much as we would like, here are some points that I think should be stated (some are included in the video)

Lionel Messi is 24 years old and has done more for club football than arguably any player ever. Diego Maradona reinvigorated a club side that did not know what winning really was and being a pioneer simply should be understated.
Maradona had a tough time because players weren't protected (as mentioned in the video) like today. However, Lionel Messi has to deal with defenders who are physically more fit, faster, and it can even be argued that they are tactically more knowledgeable (gone are the days when players could have a drink or a cigarette before a game).
Diego's off field antics should not be considered. This question is about who is the better footballer. So, although some may consider Messi boring off the pitch, that as well should not be factor.
Consistency. It's like trying to compare Zidane with Iniesta or Xavi. In my mind, there is no question that Iniesta is the better footballer, simply because everytime he's playing, he is brilliant. Yes, trophies are a factor but in this particular case, I simply could never get myself to believe that a player of Messi's consistency would exist. Maradona was brilliant but this level of trophies and almost a goal a game is new.
Maradona won Argentina the World Cup. Period. I could argue that it is a team sport but there is no denying it. The man was a genius.
UEFA Champions League could be considered bigger than the World Cup. The World Cup is a once in four years tournament. Champions League, every year. It depends on how you (the reader) look at it, which is the bigger tournament at this time. Personally, I think the Champions League has become more prestigious but that's just my opinion.
I'm sure I've left quite a few points out but I really want to know what you guys think (via comment) and end this debate once and for all. For those of you who know me well enough, well, you know my choice.

So, for now that's all I've got for you. This is more about the Poll and your thoughts on the matter (comment).

VISCA EL BARÇA

Poll

Maradona or Messi?

Lionel Messi

102 votes

Diego Maradona

28 votes

Too early to decide

40 votes

170 votes | Poll has closed

Pasillo? or not?

Inder Methil — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:49:33 -0000

Taboo, to mention it here. But this club and the team we worship are in dire straits. I haven't posted a piece here in quite some time but I guess this is as good a time as any to bring ourselves to talk about that elephant (which at this rate will only get bigger) in the room.

FC Barcelona is in need, moreso than ever in the last 4 years, of our support. Cules worldwide are being forced to answer a question that this team also faces. "To fight or flee?"

Character: It isn't just the team's character and fighting spirit that is in the spot light but the fans themselves will over the next few months, show their true colours. On the one hand, personally, I have been extremely disappointed by the attitude shown by many fans (not all) all across the web. People have gone from claiming Pep Guardiola leaving isn't a bad thing, to Lionel Messi's physical condition to our lack of fighting spirit when the team find themselves in a tough situation.

It isn't my place to judge fans and indeed, debate or questioning things could be construed to be a good thing. However, the one thing that sticks out for me is what has been asked off us in press conferences by Pep Guardiola and recently, Gerard Pique.

If it has come to a point that our players need to specifically ask fans to support them get past this dark time, then we must be doing something wrong. I know, I'm digressing but don't we as fans have a responsibility? Have we forgotten the tough times before Pep? Yes, as Cules we have been spoilt and it's something that always worried me. It seems fans have allowed complacency to set in faster than the players themselves!! I can't forgive myself that. I refuse to give up on this team even if we didnt win another trophy this season. For that matter, you can hold me to this, I will only really start worrying if we go another 2 seasons without winning anything.

FC Barcelona is in need, moreso than ever in the last 4 years, of our support. Cules worldwide are being forced to answer a question that this team also faces. "To fight or flee?"

BUT, living in denial is not an option either. We have or have most probably lost the league after the Osasuna game. Injuries, pitch conditions, Referees can be blamed to the Gods and back but that won't change that our expectations from this team are higher than any set of fans of any club (and rightly so, cause this is the only team capable of literally, anything) and yet, we have not performed and now we find ourselves 10 points behind the leaders and have to face the music, smell the coffee, roses, call it what you will...

The leaders, Real Madrid are our biggest rivals and things have gotten worse since you-know-who came to Spain *do not say his name out loud* and now there is talk from a large set of Madridstas (just as arrogant as many Cules who, dare to presume a victory in the Clasico after all the victories over the last 4 seasons like somehow the past decides the present) but not all of the possibility of a Pasillo.

That Spanish football tradition that is almost as stupid as shaking hands before a game in the open. The Japanese, Chinese and indeed a large part of the Eastern Asian peoples have a belief in "saving face". In battle between rival samurai clans, it was common for the victor to allow the vanquished a chance to save face. The idea being that, on the one hand, the victor looks like...well...a douche, if he chooses to humiliate his opponent (or in football terms, kick a player when he's down, sound familiar?) and the defeated side would not be forced into seeking revenge if he were shown the respect that a worthy opponent should be show.

Agreed, it might be a little late for this particular rivalry, but then one must wonder, has Por Que and co done anything to deserve the respect that the Pasillo was supposed to represent? There would have to be a difference of 16 points or more for all this to be an issue but it isnt law is it?

They have kicked,dived, abused,insulted even Pep Guardiola who has shown nothing but respect towards Madrid. To the question of Pep's humility, certain Madridstas claim that his humility is fake. To them I can only say, save your theories...untill a time comes when that is fact. And even then I would have to question it considering all that Por Que has done to provoke a reaction.

If Madrid didnt stick around when we won the Supercopa, although we did show them that courtesy when they won the Copa Del Rey (and rightly so) then who are we to blame them? who are we, as fans of the rivals to question their morals? But then also, a line was drawn wasn't it? Like all the other incidents that occurred. A line was indeed, drawn. We didn't draw that line but it is our choice whether to accept it or not.

I would agree with Pep, if when the clasico arrives,and we find ourselves 16 pts down, if he asks our players to stand in line and congratulate the winners then we should. If he feels that this is a tradition that should continue no matter the circumstances. Then I would blindly agree because I believe our illustrious manager is more than just a coach/manager. Why? Because to me personally, Pep Guardiola is an inspiration the kinds of which the world does not see often. To me, children have a worthy example who's footsteps to follow in.Somebody to follow and that whether you agree or not is much much more than just the sport. For that reason alone, any number of losses will never see me lose respect for the man.

Call me naive and I would gladly agree. I hope to stay one for ever more.

If, however, Pep and the players refuse to congratulate Madrid for their league win. Would you really find it in yourself to argue against that? In all likelihood, Barca will not allow themselves to get to that level. My confidence in the team beating Madrid in the Cam Nou, comprehensively even, is at an all time high. Also, I doubt Barca will find themselves 16 points short. Not because of form, or formations or tactics or peripheral tensions or any of that but .Pride. The players dont question their ability and blindly believe that they are the better team wherever the league trophy is next year so then why or rather, how can we doubt them? Again that isn't overconfidence from the players but something that shows itself through the amplification of their abilities/skills whenever they play against Madrid. Something, we as fans would never understand unless one of you find yourselves in the first team playing against Madrid. That is also, not a license for us to mock the opposition or brag about how we are better. Rather, it is a time for us to use caution and like Pep, let the game do the talking and may the best team win (you are allowed to wish and pray that Barca are the better team).

So, finally, Pasillo? or not? what do you think?

FC Barcelona: Conspiracy? Bah Humbug

Inder Methil — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:17:43 -0000

Everytime I find myself with a need to write, which at this point is usually once a week, I usually spend 5 days thinking about a topic and doing the necessary research. A part of that process of writing includes watching videos on youtube which I find, inspires me, especially when it involves writing about players like Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi etc. Today is not one of those days.

Today, I have the job of writing about a subject that although, unpleasant, has to be done. I guess it's two subjects that wouldn't be fused together if I were in a good mood but I'm not. The first has to do with penalties (or lack thereof) awarded to Barca players, or, Lionel Messi in particular.

The statistics show that since Florentino Perez was re-elected president (2009), Real Madrid were awarded 23 penalties as opposed to 8 given to FC Barcelona in the same period. So now that the numbers are established, I guess it would only be fair if i stated that penalties awarded to Real Madrid should not matter to us Cules. However, the reason I mention it is because the same referee who awarded Cristiano Ronaldo a penalty for a foul outside the box, failed to penalize an obvious foul on Messi inside the penalty area (against Sporting). Alright, human error can explain that and I'll accept it as a part and parcel of the game.

Real madrid fouls against Barcelona.wmv (via Miskat80)

What I'm trying to say is, where is the common sense that should be used by any referee? It's easy to see that certain players from both teams have a reputation that is embarrassing to their respective clubs. But for all the accusations of conspiracies that Cules have to endure from the Spanish capital side and more importantly, Jose Mourinho, nobody can deny that a player like Angel Di Maria should be given a nickname, say, "The Floppin' Fish?".

Lionel Messi has nothing in common with Floppy except for his nationality does he? Sure, he was awarded a yellow card for an alleged dive earlier in the season (do you guys think he dived? Looked like a clear foul to me) and was not awarded a penalty last week. La Pulga, to his credit, has an impeccable reputation as far as footballers and forwards are concerned. Unlike his, almost as famous, Portuguese counterpart in Madrid, he has worked hard to make sure that diving is not a part of his game. If anything, I believe that is the one area where La Pulga is actually inferior to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi never dive... (via neticool)

Allow me to elaborate. Cristiano, from what I have seen, has improved since his Manchester United days. He does not dive as much and probably doesn't need to since pretty much every defender in Spain is looking to stop him at any cost. He is prone to the odd slip every now and then, especially against defences that are hard to break (that and I'm sure he doesn't want Floppy to forget who's Boss). The point is, every defender out there also knows that you cannot afford to kick Ronaldo and hope to get away with it. If they so much as show him their cleats ("Oye, what do you think of these boots eh?! Nice?) before the game has started, he would probably be willing to fake an epileptic fit. You see, it's like swimming, once you've learnt it, you just cannot forget. Now that he's got his bad habit under control, he has in many ways ensured that defenders stick to the rules. Messi, however, isn't as lucky. They kick him and tug at his badly designed Nike shirt till all that excess sweat, which the players are complaining about, is squeezed out and yet the referees seem to be as blind as Tito Vilanova (I'll get to that later)

So what happened to the human factor? After all if human error is acceptable and referee's are allowed to make mistakes, then why can't these same referees take into account the player being fouled or the player committing the foul? I am not saying they should be partial about it, and if Mourinho is to be believed, then only Barcelona are the benefactors of human error. Yet, the discrepancy in penalties or fouls awarded is frightening. The El Clasico is a prime example of that. Sure, Dani Alves might be prone to theatrics, but if any neutral were to see the number of fouls Pepe and Marcelo get away with (please, don't tell me elbowing is fair) I'm beginning to think that it would be in Dani's best interests to fall and and risk that yellow instead of having his nose broken. It is a touchy subject and where does one draw the line? I am totally averse to diving or cheating in any manner, but I'm not sure if it's very healthy to keep getting kicked and elbowed and still refuse to fall. To each his own, but are you ready to lose the best player on the planet to injury cause the opponent exploits the ineptitude of the referee?

If human error is a part of the game that we, as fans, have to accept then why can't they insert a little common sense and know that Messi does not dive. It isn't in his nature. Ronaldo does not need to either but Di Maria?? Floppy is the kind of player that makes me wonder about this game that I'm obsessed about. Here is a player with all the talent in the world and yet, he chooses to suffer a convenient coronary every time a defender even thinks about putting a challenge in. The irony of it all is that Cristiano Ronaldo is fast becoming one of the few Madrid players I'm beginning to admire (I'm a fan of Iker Casillas btw) because of how excruciatingly annoying his team mates are. Kudos to him I guess, but that doesn't change the fact that the referee's in Spain are weak and the longer they let people get away with incidents like the ones occurred in the Clasicos, the more strength they give to Mourinho and his manipulation of the media. Pre-match rants and complaints about the referee is nothing but clever tactic to influence the officials. Referees have a thankless job but things have to change, soon.

Moving on, let’s revisit (Ugh) Jose-Por Que-Mourinho and his antics. After the Spanish Supercopa matches, and the attempt at blinding Barca's assistant manager, the Madrid coach went on to tell the media that he had no idea who Tito Vilanova was. I guess Tito's eye just happened to swirl around and fall on Mourinho's finger. Can you believe that I'm beginning to miss the good ol' days when Mourinho just talked and wasn't into physically assaulting the opponent? I'm digressing, after the Supercopa game the RFEF finally (and I thought the Indian Government was slow) decided to look into it from a legal point. Allow me to give you some perspective on the Vilanova's-eye-falling-on-Mourinho's-finger incident. Mixed martial arts, a controversial sport in the United States, does not allow eye gouging. A violent sport that allows your opponent to hit a fighter even if he's on the floor, Mixed Martial Arts is scary and right up there with Ice hockey, Rugby etc as far as injuries are concerned. Yet, the rules forbid eye gouging and any fighter found to have violated the rules receives an automatic disqualification and is suspended. It's the same with Rugby, where there are cases of players being suspended for eye gouging an opponent.

But the RFEF decided that Mourinho only deserved a two match ban (restricted to only Spanish Supercopa games) and a 600 Euro fine. Tito Vilanova was given a one match ban (Spanish supercopa) and the same fine. A week back, if anybody had asked me what kind of punishment Mourinho deserved, I would have said "anything below a 5 match ban would have been a huge disappointment and an embarrassment to Spanish football. 8-12 matches sounds about fair. Maybe 5-10 games with a huge fine?" The question of restricting the ban to only the Spanish Supercopa did not even enter my mind. Halve the ban and punish Tito with the same and it would have been okay but 2 matches? Are you serious? Do they not realise the consequences of their actions? I know Mourinho doesn't, even if he thinks otherwise. This has gone beyond Mourinho, Pep, Tito or the two clubs. There are a few million fans of both clubs in Spain alone and not all of them look at this as just a sport. Sure, all of us love Barca and our colleagues over at Managing Madrid worship Madrid but we are a small part of it.

Worse still, the RFEF justified the sentence by saying "he didn't look like he intended to hurt Tito Vilanova". Say What???? So if a person were to stab somebody and it just ended up being a small cut, then it's alright? That might be overly dramatic but you get the point.

With that one act of aggression and the RFEF's lack of cajones, violence is now overlooked and it’s akin to putting up a banner saying "Go ahead mates, lynching is back in fashion and anything goes". I am extremely happy to see that none of the Madrid fans I know, support or condone Mourinho's moment of insanity and the very few, who are predominantly fans of English clubs and Madrid sympathisers have decided against it and couldn't help but express their disgust. I had to listen to a lot of trash talk about Spanish football and the referees and how England is so much better but at least they didn't try to justify Mourinho's acts.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have obvious ulterior motives to the statement below but bear with me: I now, more so than ever before, really hope that Madrid don't win anything this year, under the assumption that if they go trophy-less this season, the pressure will mount on Perez to axe Jose Mourinho. It is in our best interests, as Cules, that Madrid is always competitive and I hope that by this time next year, they have a coach with some class and that we can look back on all this, laugh and enjoy a real Clasico.

A quote that Mourinho should live by:

"I represent an institution and in the newsrooms I respect everyone. It does not cost anything to behave with education."- Josep "Pep" Guardiola I Sala.

Your friendly neighbourhood Indian,

Inder Methil.

Poll

how many matches did Mourinho really deserve to be banned for?

5 games and a huge fine

47 votes

5-8 games

45 votes

8-12 games

89 votes

181 votes | Poll has closed

Sporting de Gijon vs FC Barcelona: Match Review

Inder Methil — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:53:06 -0000

Alright, first things first, apologies for the late review but unfortunately the writing staff has been extremely busy and since I'm the least tenured, I was forced to pick short straw so to speak.

There wouldn't be complains about this match if it weren't for the fact that my beloved club looked lacklustre against Gijon. I'm still trying to figure out how to pronounce that, is it "gi-hon?", with the hon sounding like a very nasal donkey?

Since we're talking about donkies, both teams (alright, especially "gi-hon") had work rates like the not so illustrious animal and that's really all I could say in Barca's favor.

The Catalans went into the match high on confidence after thrashing Bate 0-5 and everybody was hoping for another footballing lesson only to be let down. That match turned out to be a very stale encounter in which Barcelona won by the narrowest of margins. The Blaugranas started the match in a manner that suggested a comprehensive victory was just around the corner.

With Dani Alves making a short pass to David Villa in the 5th minute, Barca had their first attempt on goal which was deflected for a corner. Four minutes later the Spanish striker had another chance and sent a bullet towards goal only for it to go inches above the crossbar. However, Cules didn't have to wait much longer as Xavi hit a curving shot that went off the post only for utility man, Adriano to strike the rebound into the net. Lionel Messi seemed to have been brought down in the box in the 34th minutes but the referee (wrongly, in my opinion) did not see a foul and play went on.

The game in general, was unlike other matches where Barca had trouble scoring. Unlike the Milan or Valencia match, the Catalans did not look nervous at the back and for once, the feeling that Sporting were going to score, never arose. All in all, Xavi and co. did a great job of controlling the game by keeping possession and I don't think Sporting had even one threatening chance in the game.

However, the footballing Gods decided that Barca were not going to get away that easily and decided that an injury to a key player was in order, namely, Eric Abidal. The French defender was the next in a long line of FC Barcelona players who pulled a hamstring and will be out for 7-10 days. Fortunately, with the International break (The collective scream "Oh Boy" can almost be audible) upon us, important players like Andres Iniesta, Eric Abidal, Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez should be back to full fitness.

Maxwell was brought in as Abidal's replacement and did a decent job. There were a few half chances by the Catalans, most notably Lionel Messi's headed effort which uncharacteristically went straight to the keeper's hands. Further substitutions were made to shore up the defence and midfield and Pep, in his wisdom (and to my relief), decided to switch back to 4-3-3 once Gerard Pique and Seydou Keita were brought on for Adriano and Pedro.

In conclusion, like true champions, Barca although fatigued and lacking a spark in the final third, were able to grind out a favourable result and move to the top of the league. A relief for all Cules since our hated rivals, Real Madrid won against Espanyol.

Until the next time,

Inder Methil

FC Barcelona: Javier Mascherano 'the Destroyer'

Inder Methil — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:29:32 -0000

Like many fans, when I first heard that Barca acquired the services of Javier Mascherano in 2010, I assumed he would be a quality substitute for Sergio Busquets, if and when required and not much more. As usual, I couldn't have been more wrong. Mascherano represents a different aspect of football, one most Culés don't completely comprehend because of our obsession with attractive football.

He is the steel that every team, hoping to compete for titles, must have and is much more than just another defensive midfielder. The Argentine is unique, in that, I have never seen a player with his particular set of skills and so finely tuned at that. The midfielder/defender is also an ambassador of Argentinian football in many ways. Unlike their Portuguese speaking neighbours, the beautiful game in Argentina has not always been taken in the literal sense of the word. Who am I kidding, Argentinian football is rough and physicality is a major aspect of their game.

From club football level to the Albiceleste (the senior national team), Argentina is the Mr. Hyde of football, especially when you compare them to Brazil, who have always been known for their flair. That isn't to suggest that they haven't produced phenomenon’s (Maradona and Lionel Messi) but their style of play is more physical and less about "Joga Bonito". Mascherano is the product of that physical aspect of the game because, as fate would have it, he was blessed with the right combination of skills to make his underrated role on the field look, poetic (it's the only word I could think of to explain the essence of his style of play).

One aspect of his game includes tackles or regaining possession. Tackling has been an integral part of the game since its inception, but very few possess the right combination of timing and skill to execute a clean side tackle time and again. Like all midfield destroyers, Mascherano has his bad days and is probably more prone to a red card than most players in the Catalan side, but you just have to watch one of his videos to know how much of a handful he can be to even the best strikers when he's in form. So make sure you watch the one below:

The Ultimate Javier Mascherano Compilation (via TintinCompilations)

Guardiola, being the genius that he is, had the foresight to not only recognise the Argentinian's value but also a way to improve on them. After all, how many of us felt that Barca really needed Mascherano at that point of time? At the time, the first question that popped into my head was "Why did they bother selling Yaya Toure then?" Couldn't they have just convinced Toure to stay? Rest assured, Mascherano is the right kind of steel that Barca needed to further improve. Pep must have seen what all of us are only just beginning to realise. How does one replace an ageing player like Carles Puyol? Especially, since what Barca required, at the time, wasn't a marquee signing but a squad player and one of extremely high quality.

Moreover, Barca with Pep at the helm has always looked for players who can adapt to different positions on the pitch. Our beloved team's coach realised that there was just one final aspect to be added to the Argentine's game that would make him a legendary midfielder/defender: One touch passes. And where else in the world can anybody find a better place to learn that but in FC Barcelona?

In Mascherano, the Catalans found just the right type of player to replace Carles Puyol because he has the stubborn doggedness (for emphasis I should probably add synonyms like obstinate and tenacious, so stubbornly obstinate and tenaciously dogged:)) that automatically impresses. He simply will not let an attacker pass and if he does? The chances are, by the time the striker has reached Barca's goal, he would much rather just lie down and die than take the effort to kick the ball into the net. In the lion's absence (admit it, Puyol doesn't have hair, he has a mane) El Jefecito has become a beast in defence. So much so that, all of us have moved on from "we don't have a defender" to "God, why Busquets?!!!" Basically we can see Mascherano as the next Puyol, he has more than enough steel and his passing has improved and will continue to do so. The only thing lacking in Puyol's absence, is a sense of leadership and experience but Captain Catalunya isn't done is he? Also Gerard Pique is being groomed to take over the mantle, in my opinion.

Mascherano is the ugly duckling of this current crop of Blaugranas (In world football, second to Carlos Tevez as far as looks are concerned;)) but I can only imagine the kind of fear that he instils in opponents. Unlike the modern day defender or defensive midfielder, the Argentine isn't a big player and he isn't built like his predecessor, Yaya Toure. He makes up for that with just the right amount of aggression and an attitude that says "I am going to get that ball. That ball is mine and by the time I'm done, you'll be a kitten for the rest of the game" and moreover, that exquisite timing when it comes to tackling is something everybody has to witness.

After regaining possession, which he inevitably will, he has the ability that all deep lying midfielders require which involves getting back on your feet as soon as possible and relieving pressure by making a quick, short pass. I'll admit that in the passing department, nobody not named Xavi or Iniesta, comes close to Sergio Busquets but then how many times have we seen Mascherano play in midfield? After all, as far as most Cules are concerned, he is a defender and a revelation of sorts, in that role. He might lack the height to deal with crosses or set pieces but with Pique and Eric Abidal, the team has managed quite well haven't they? (I will not bring up Busquets and his mind numbing heading ability)

Last year, Mascherano's slide tackle saved the game against Arsenal FC in the Champion's League (although I'm sure Nicklas Bendtner would have found a way to miss that goal at any rate) and it could therefore be stated that the Argentine got us to the finals right? (The Madrid game was all La Pulga) I have no doubt that Javier will go on to save many more games for the Catalans and will, in time, turn out to be one of the great purchases of the Guardiola era.

His role in our beloved club might not attract too much in terms of accolades and invidual awards but I, for one, am extremely relieved he plays for Barca. I'll be looking forward to the next save and who knows, this time he might singlehandedly help Barca retain Ol' Big Ears.

P.S:- Thanks to Sebastian (editor-in-chief), here is a short list of players who will probably beat Mascherano in the "Who's Uglier department":

Peter Crouch

Frank Ribery

Dirk Kuyt

Untill the next time,

your friendly neighborhood Indian.

Poll

Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who's the ugliest of us all?

Javier Mascherano

2 votes

Carlos Tevez

60 votes

Dirk Kuyt

12 votes

Pete Crouch

15 votes

Frank Ribery

90 votes

179 votes | Poll has closed

FC BARCELONA and Ol' Big Ears: Can Lightening Strike Twice?

Inder Methil — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:36:10 -0000

The Champions League trophy is one of the most coveted for any European Club and has been for decades. Every club in Europe, depending on their stature, is either trying to win it or qualify for the tournament. For a club of Barcelona’s standing however, Barca reaching the semi-finals is the absolute minimum.

Allow me to give you the average fan's perspective on the tournament and that rather odd looking trophy. Firstly, the tournament itself guarantees financial benefits for any club that qualifies for the group stages. To the so-called smaller clubs in Europe qualifying for the Champions League for two or three seasons in a row allows for a huge influx of the moolah, and is the fastest way for said club to improve and ascend to the upper echelon of Europe’s elite clubs increases the appeal of the organization to the very limited pool of emerging world class talents.

To read a full report on the financial distribution for the 32 clubs who qualified for the Champions League last season, check out this link. In brief, 754.1 million Euros were distributed (in total, among all competing clubs), which included a share of the TV-revenue generated by Europe’s governing football body. Obviously, the finalists (Manchester United and FC Barcelona) receive the largest share. Current title-holders, FC Barcelona, "earned" 51.025 million Euro in the past Champions League campaign. But to ascertain how lucrative the Champions League is for the competing clubs we have to look at one of the smaller clubs. Tottenham Hotspur FC for instance generated a total of 31.3 million Euro, a massive financial boost for a club that is looking to break into the top four of the English Premier League and harbours the ambition to challenge for the title. In fact, every club is entitled to a minimum of 7.2 million Euros and although that might seem as a relatively small figure, clubs from outside the big three leagues would welcome the chance to make that kind of money.

Abidal lifting the Trophy - Barça Celebrate CL Win - Wembley 2011 *HD (via C83S87)

Moving on to the bragging rights and increase (or decrease) in stature of clubs who perform well in the Champions League, Arsenal FC serve as a prime example. Nobody denies that Arsene Wenger has taken Arsenal to new heights that have never been reached in hundred odd years of its history prior to the Frenchman’s arrival. However, over the last couple of seasons, in addition to the transfer policy set by the club's board and Wenger, there has been a drop in quality as far as the first team squad is concerned. From the days of Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera to, more recently, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, Arsenal finds itself at the crossroads. At this very moment, - although it’s quite premature to assess - recent results don’t highlight the Gunners as one Europe’s marquee sides (even if Fabregas chooses to live in denial and claim otherwise). For all of you who have a soft spot for the North London side, I don't mean to say that they cannot compete in Europe but rather that, with the current state of affairs, Arsenal and Wenger seem more likely to find themselves fighting for a Europa League spot rather than having a realistic chance of winning the Champions League. With the rather reluctant sales of Fabregas and Nasri, Wenger has set a dangerous precedent for the club and strengthened two of its main competitors for Europe’s top prize, FC Barcelona and Manchester City. The latter, although a Champions League newcomer, must be considered a serious contender, on the strength of their bench alone.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have clubs like Udinese, who are known to develop talent and sell them to help achieve a better financial standing and I can only presume, the idea is to get to a state where they are financially stable and able to compete in all competitions. Taking part in Europe's premier tournament would definitely help increase the rate at which these smaller clubs stabilize their account books. Unlike the Gunners (who seem to be in a crisis), the Italian side, are looking like a club on the ascension to become a top tier club.

Then there are the elite squads, certain clubs that always have high expectations. Already established as the best club sides in Europe, these teams have absolutely no problem attracting the most coveted players in the world. This is reinforced, if one were to believe the rumours connecting pretty much any player in the world to the current European Champions, FC Barcelona (Cahill? Cahill? Who the *beep* is Cahill? And why do people think he's good enough for Barca?). As I'm sure all of you know, at this very point of time (and admittedly since 2006), FC Barcelona are at the top of the food chain. As a Culé, I want to see the team in the finals of the Champions League every year, and once there, I just don't see them losing (not at the level they are in right now). However, Ol' Big Ears is more elusive than that isn't it? So elusive, in fact, that people think it's cursed. Since the current format of the tournament was incorporated, no club has ever won the trophy in consecutive years.

The closest any team has come to retaining the trophy was Manchester United, in the 2008-2009 season. Unfortunately for gum-chewing Ferguson and his all-conquering team, they had to overcome an historical Barcelona side, who were on their way to become the first team (ever) to win all six trophies on offer (within the same calendar year). Even with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and ever-green Ryan Giggs, the Red Devils were completely dominated, besides the first ten minutes of the game. In retrospect they would come to accept that they played against a team that would go on to redefine the beautiful game.

Under the tutelage of a certain Pep Guardiola FC Barcelona, would show the world that a team, largely made up of players from 'La Masia', can not only win, but win in style. The Catalan side has all the qualities required to conquer Europe once again. I think Jose Avila (Senior Editor for BarcaBlaugranes) said it best, "There have been many curses, the curse of Arsenal...gone. The curse of never beating Atletico in the league twice in a year, gone. All that's left is for someone to win it (Champions League) twice (in consecutive seasons)".

Jose hit the proverbial nail on its head, because if there is a team that can retain the trophy, it is this current crop of Blaugranas and this isn't me dreaming, but no one can deny that, if ever, eleven players have been deemed capable of achieving the impossible, it would be this Barcelona side. Realistically, it would be easier to take a wild guess at which teams can make it to the semi-finals this year and I would have to agree with Jose on this, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona look like favourites.

"And so castles made of sand, slips into the sea, eventually"- James Marshal Hendrix with the song Castles Made of Sand which, in my opinion, should be made the unofficial anthem of UEFA Champions League, explains the curse that besets the tournament well. In case, you're wondering, the song is about how people believe in something so strongly, but finally come to realise that some 'Castles' are indeed made of sand and collapse. I am inclined to believe that the curse can be overcome and Barca is the side to accomplish the impossible. However, one cannot deny that this trophy seems to need an unhealthy dose of luck to get to the finals, let alone win it. It's easy to see that the Catalans are favourites to win it, but they were favourites in the 09-10 season as well, when Jose Mourinho and Inter Milan, went on to beat Barca and were crowned champions of Europe. United were favourites to retain the trophy in 2008-2009, but Barca, it seems, didn't get the memo. Time and again, this tournament has been prone to controversy (referee's making questionable decisions) and has a scary tendency to give the Champions or the favourites an early exit.

Last year, it would have been safe to assume that United would have gone on to lift the trophy if they had faced any other team in Europe but Barca (yes, I believe the Red Devils would have beaten Madrid as well). But this tournament does not guarantee that the best teams always reach the finals, as shown by the 09-10 season. Let's all be honest, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich weren’t that great and I found the final extremely boring. Even after lifting the trophy, most people agreed that Inter weren't really champions (I know, I know, I must be another Cule who's bitter about Barca losing to them right?), although it would be unfair to take anything away from them, the fact remains that they simply weren't that good. Roughly 16 months removed from the historic night in Madrid and the Italian side is currently lingering in the relegation zone of Serie A.

One wouldn't bet against Barca, and I really do hope they go on to retain the trophy because no other team deserves it more. But considering, the 'curse' of the tournament and how teams like Madrid, United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and AC Milan have improved drastically in recent times, it would take a humongous dose of desire, hard work and luck (in regards to injuries for example) for Lionel Messi and co to lift the trophy again and rewrite the record books.

In conclusion, can they do it? Can the curse be broken? Sure and although I really hope they go on to win the coveted trophy again, at this point of time, it's hard to predict the same without entertaining a few doubts. Since Barca and Pep seem obsessed with 2-2 draws and the team's defence looking shaky, at best, I can't help but see bad omens everywhere (I'm stereotypically Indian, we are superstitious and more so for me cause this is Barca we're talking about). I will admit there could never be a more opportune moment in time, and if Barca want to eclipse all other great teams in the history of the game to become 'the best ever', this is the year to do it. And I really, really hope that happens.

Now let us pray, "Dear God, I really do hope you're a Cule. And if it is your will, that Barca don't win the Champions League this year, could we at least reach a compromise and make sure that they win the League and Madrid don't win anything? With the natural conclusion to that being, Mourinho losing his job?Amen"

Until the next time,

Inder-forever pessimistic- Methil

Poll

Who do you think will win this year?

AC Milan

2 votes

Real Madrid

19 votes

Bayern Munich

2 votes

Manchester United

6 votes

FC Barcelona

153 votes

182 votes | Poll has closed

Defining an era of dominance: Why FC Barcelona need Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho

Inder Methil — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:01:45 -0000

Now, before you Culés out there find creative ways to fill the comment box with expletives directed at me, I would really appreciate it if you read the article first. Whether we, as fans of the Blaugrana, like to admit it or not, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho are important for the world to truly appreciate the Catalan side.

Before you Madristas (for a blog dedicated to Barca, there are quite a few Madrid fans who frequent our site) decide to find creative ways to express your hatred towards me and other Cules in general, rest assured this is not just a piece about how great the Catalans are. I really hope that you approach this piece with an open mind.

Although the following is extremely hard for me to say, let alone write (on a Barca blog, no less), we must admit that there really is something special about Ronaldo and Mourinho (unfortunately, something they will never let anybody forget).

To state that the Real Madrid forward is a great player is to state the obvious but it isn’t just that, he really is a marvelous player. Cristiano, in addition to his ‘wealth and good looks’, performs at an unbelievable level for Los Blancos, and has an uncanny ability to maintain his outrageous from, despite the lack of similar as talented teammates. However, in the end football is a team sport, but to watch one player truly lead his team to victories week after week, is nothing short of spectacular. Apart from his blatant arrogance and ambition (sometimes a virtue, sometimes not) to be the world’s best, Ronaldo must be judged purely by his athletic abilities. After all, that is the only aspect of his being that matters to any of us (nobody really cares what he has to say about German Internationals he’s never heard of, incompetent referees or Barack Obama’s presidency) and for him to give football fans (minus Cules) the opportunity to watch him sprint down the wings (with a generous inclusion of, sometimes unnecessary, stepovers) and score week in and week out, can only be seen as a blessing. The Portuguese international has earned his place alongside contemporary greats, whether we (Cules) like to admit it or not.

Unlike Lionel Messi, Ronaldo does not have the support of Xavi or Andres Iniesta and although, Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria are great players, they more often than not disappear on the big occasions (not unlike CR7 himself), which makes Ronaldo’s performances for the all whites that much more impressive. Now that I’m done praising Ronaldo and before Sebastian (our tyrannical but well-meaning Editor-in-Chief) decides to ban me from the site for defecting, allow me to say that Lionel Messi is the best player in the world, period (in my opinion and the majority of the football watching world would agree).

But there is a reason why Messi is being talked about in the same breath as Pele and Maradona, his performances in a Blaugrana shirt warrant comparisons to the greatest players ever, because he is the first to live up to the hype. Whereas others disappeared or crumbled under the tag of being the next Pele or Maradona (Robinho, Saviola, Riquelme etc), La Pulga eradicated any doubt that he’s truly one of a kind. At the tender age of 23 he has won everything on club level, scooped every individual award available and did both several times. Granted, Messi is part of the arguably greatest team in the sports history, but, he is the standout performer in a team of world-beaters. Take the Chicago Bulls in their heyday. They had Pippen, Rodman, Kerr etc. but Michael Jordan was the undisputed King, the best among the best. One only has to look at the inflated transfer market to arrive at the conclusion that everybody (and I really mean everybody), is claiming so and so player is the next Pele or the next Maradona. Players like Javier Pastore, Alexis Sanchez, Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero are extremely talented, but let’s be honest, one look at these players and we know there is a ceiling to their individual potential. Lionel Messi however, appears not to have one. In La Pulga, the world found a phenomenon that surpassed everyones expectations. But a small part of the reason for that is because Messi has a worthy adversary in Cristiano Ronaldo, one who can truly compete with him. Cristiano Ronaldo is to Lionel Messi, what Joe Frazier was to Mohammad Ali (since I’m writing the article, I really don’t care what you have to say on the matter but as far as I’m concerned Ali was the greatest of ALL TIME) and every one of you has to admit, Ali simply wouldn’t have been that great without Frazier (remember the ‘thriller in manila’?).

Cristiano Ronaldo Vs Lionel Messi 2010_2011- Who Is The Worlds Best

Some might say that Ronaldo is unlucky to rise to prominence in the same generation as Messi, but they could not be more wrong because it is a symbiotic relationship. The fact that the diminutive Argentine has a rival like Ronaldo, and that they are constantly being compared to each other, proves how great Messi truly is. In any other decade Ronaldo would have been the best player by a distance.

Although, I’m sure the Portuguese himself (and maybe even Messi) would disagree with everything I’ve just stated, when you really think about it, that is the essence of a sport. We, as fans of the beautiful game, would not be witnessing one of the greatest decades in the history of the sport, if either one of these players were missing. The El Clasico’s have become that much more exciting. Widely accepted as the greatest football rivalry there is - who among us could have dreamt that it could possibly get better?

But it didn’t stop there, did it? In recent times the Clasico has gotten even more intense. If Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo weren’t enough to spice things up, try adding a touch of eye-gouging, referee bashing genius to the mix and suddenly we have the most exciting match-up in any sport, anywhere in the world.

Don’t get me wrong, I hate Jose Mourinho. I truly despise the man. The world of football hasn’t seen such a brash, loud mouthed, provocateur in a long, long, long (to the power of ten) time. But I have to admit; one can’t help but feel a sort of, grudging respect towards the man. He has won it all and anybody who states otherwise or gives reasons to claim that he didn’t deserve the accolades is wrong. If it wasn’t impressive enough that he won the Champions League with FC Porto, the translator went on to defeat a Manchester United side, which included Cristiano Ronaldo, to win the premier league title. After conquering the English Premier League twice with Chelsea FC, Por Que went on to win the treble with Inter Milan, along the road to victory his team also defeated the Blaugrana (though the Italian side benefitted from bad refereeing. Ironic, isn’t it? Since Mourinho very openly suggests that Barca is the sole benefactors of human error) to lift the Champions League trophy once more. Even though Mourinho is continuously finding new ways to prove that he is, in fact, slightly paranoid and ill-mannered, how else can one really define the brilliance of Pep Guardiola?

Fact of the matter is, if Mourinho didn’t exist, Pep Guardiola and co. would have gone on to destroy teams in Europe for years. Sir Alex Ferguson, although tactically brilliant, does not have a good record against Barcelona and most neutral fans would agree that Manchester United did not have a chance against the current crop of Blaugrana. Jose Mourinho, similar to the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry, needed to join Real Madrid to be truly tested. Although his recent actions were worthy of a long ban (and you have to be crazy if you think otherwise), they show that Barcelona with Pep Guardiola at the helm, are really getting under his skin. This is the first time in his post-Porto managerial career where the infinitely deep pockets of his employers didn’t ensure immediate success on a grand scale (the Copa del Rey is neither, important nor prestigious). This is also, in my opinion, the first time that he has been outclassed (in every sense of the word) by any manager. Pep Guardiola desperately needed Mourinho, as an opponent, to prove that he is the epitome of the modern manager.

We are Culés and we will always hate everything that Real Madrid, Mourinho and Ronaldo stands for, but without a worthy opponent, FC Barcelona’s area of dominance would’ve been stained. This current Barca team would not be competing for ‘the best team ever’ tag if they didn’t have Mourinho and Ronaldo as rivals. For Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola to be called the best player and manager in recent times, Mourinho and Ronaldo had to be the opponent. I will always question the tactics used by Madrid (under the Portuguese) to try and defeat Barca but if they can’t do it, then nobody can and that my friends is the hard truth.

Until the next time,

Long live Messi and Pep!

Poll

Messi vs. Ronaldo. Is it a rivalry for the ages?

Yes

122 votes

No

76 votes

198 votes | Poll has closed

UEFA Champions League: Opening the post-AC Milan debate

Inder Methil — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:49:35 -0000

Overreaction, fickle and spoilt: It gives me no pleasure to say this, but those are the three words that describe Culés. I am just as guilty as everybody and over the last couple of games, I have come to realize that it is no longer enough that our team wins but we, the fans, demand a comprehensive victory.

Spoilt, because a draw is a draw, nothing more, and definitely, nothing less. As a team, the Blaugrana have shown time and again that they have one thing that many other teams in Europe lack. They posses the spirit it takes to be champions. In times like these, where the world is waiting to pounce on a team that is always (with the emphasis on ‘always’) expected to win, and ends up drawing two consecutive games, we, as fans of the club, have a responsibility of sorts.

Look at it from a neutral point of view. Two consecutive draws, that’s what it is. We didn’t lose, but we didn’t win either. Yes, we have gotten used to seeing them destroy teams (the historically big teams of Europe as well), and we are therefore not wrong to expect Barca to continue to repeat these feats but the Blaugrana still drew in two consecutive games. Yes, our defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed but honestly, short of Sergio Busquets, transforming to the road runner on steroids, there wasn’t a chance in hell that he could have caught up with Alexandre Pato. The logic behind using Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano as centre backs, as opposed to the pairing of Javier Mascherano and Eric Abidal is questionable, I agree. Why didn’t Pep Guardiola opt to play Adriano as a left back, with the aforementioned players in the center, or even start Carles Puyol (despite his lack of match fitness). After all, like Arron Duckling (Senior Editor) mentioned in one of his comments, Milan weren’t expected to have too much width so wouldn’t it have been wiser to make sure Barca’s central defense was strong? On the other hand, isn’t it also possible that Pep had faith in his center backs ability to hold the line, since Milan were not going to attack too much?

Do you see what I’m trying to get at? One can only find fault in Pep’s unwarranted faith in Sergio Busquets as a defender (but that would be easy in hindsight right?). If the game had turned to be a win for Barca, not one of us would have given a damn about the defense.

Fact of the matter is, we as fans of this club are spoilt rotten. I won’t blame myself or any of you too much, but maybe, like the team, we too need to go back to the basics. This is not a wakeup call just for the team, but for us as well. We need to remember why we love this club and this team. Let’s go back to enjoying the game. Forget about the draws, every team falters and every team will be beaten and rest assured every cycle ends. This team could possibly be the greatest the world has ever seen. Twelve trophies in about three years is a success rate that will not be repeated any time in the near future, mark my words. Even if the cycle ends this year and the Catalan side don’t win any major trophies, Culés worldwide should remember what a great run it’s been.

On the other hand, the club and the team succeed because of the fans. How we react now, this moment, when everybody, besides fans of the Blaugrana,is just waiting to see the team fail so that they may finally tell every single one of us "HAH! How do you like them apples!" will define how this team does henceforth. Before you decide to give me a piece of your mind, allow me to say, I am not trying to tell you that you can’t question the team or the coach or even God (something I admit to doing, under the influence of some brew last night) for letting recent events happen. But what I am trying to say is - don’t panic. So the team drew two games, out of a possible sixty. It is going to be a very long season and a small part of me almost wants this team to lose. It will be the proverbial slap across the face that all of us need.

It says a lot about the Catalan side, when a big team like Milan didn’t play to win but hoped for a draw. Sure, luck was on their side and they got it. But don’t make the mistake of thinking they didn’t deserve it. How Pep and co. react from now on, is what really matters. Allow me to state a few facts (or what can be interpreted as facts), Barca have a coach who believes (strongly, I might add) that Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas were the most important requirements during the transfer window. Now who can prove him wrong? The team needed to have the luxury of losing a forward without having a crisis on their hands. With Ibrahim Afellay (someone I believe will make a huge impact henceforth), the Catalans have a solid substitute till Alexis is back. In Cesc Fabregas, the fans could not ask for a better player to take over from Andres Iniesta. In retrospect, Pep is a friggin’ genius and our only complaint is that the team doesn’t have enough support in the backline. That would basically mean the club had to spend more and buy a defender. How do we, considering our limited resources with respect to the details of the finances, logistics and requirements of the team, state with utmost certainity that Pep should have bought a defender instead of Fabregas? After all, that is the argument isn’t it? That Barca should have bought a defender instead of Fabregas (if you take into account the club’s finances).

With Carles Puyol back, Gerard Pique soon to return, and Eric Abidal and Javier Mascherano more than capable to deputize if required, the team has the necessary depth in defense (in my opinion). Sure, in a utopian world I would have loved to see Mats Hummels, Thiago Silva or even David Luiz in Barcelona, but that isn’t the case. What I’m trying to say is, let’s all go back to the basics and forget that this team has under performed recently, and just focus on enjoying the game. Have a little faith in Pep and the squad, God knows they deserve that from us. However, they are undeserving of the criticism they have received just because of two draws. Again, this is not my way of telling Culés worldwide that they need to chill out, just that they need to remember what really makes the difference between this all conquering FC Barcelona side and any other European team- the Spirit that all champions have.

Barca will be back, I won’t be presumptuous or arrogant (ever again) and predict a thrashing on Saturday but mark my words, Lionel Messi and co. are far from done and I, for one, don’t want to look like an idiot when in a few months time Pep Guardiola lifts his hand with four upturned fingers (domestic champions for the fourth consecutive season?)

More so than ever before,

Visca el Barca!!

Poll

so is this the End?

yes

24 votes

no

86 votes

110 votes | Poll has closed

Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho: Biggest hypocrite there is?

Inder Methil — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 16:13:14 -0000

I don’t plan to justify last night’s game in anyway, so rest assured; this isn’t one of my random rants on Jose Mourinho and his posse. However, over the two games (Barca vs. Real Sociedad; Real Madrid vs. Getafe) certain events came to light that contradict what is generally accepted in the football world.

Fact 1: Lionel Messi does not dive, Period. If anybody were to watch a video of any of the Clasico’s, this fact is reinforced.

Fact 2: Cristiano Ronaldo deserves an Oscar for his diving skills. But since one of his peers (read: Angel Di Maria) has taken up diving responsibilities, he seems to be trying to change his ways or not (depends on how you look at it).

Last night, due to some mind boggling defensive blunders, the Blaugrana found themselves in a sticky situation which involved trying to score a goal with about ten minutes to go. With the score line showing 2-2 and Lionel Messi finally being introduced out of necessity, Barca were looking a little desperate. La Pulga, with one of his mazy runs, found himself in the opponent’s box and looked good to finish till a defender’s leg put a stop to it. Now I’m sure there are many who think that was a dive and many others who think otherwise. In my opinion, it looked like a clear penalty. There was contact and our pride in Messi’s ability to stay upright under pressure does not change the fact that he was fouled.

Lionel Messi Never Dive vs Real Madrid 14/08/2011 (via CR7M10MAGIC)

Jose Mourinho doesn’t agree of course. Surprise, surprise! The translator made a statement after the Real Madrid game, which can only be interpreted as a shot at the league champions. During the Madrid game, a similar incident occurred, except this time the player involved was Cristiano Ronaldo. In that match, the defender was shown to clearly step on Ronaldo’s foot and I agree that he did not dive (this time). The problem was that the foul was outside the box and so was just as clearly, not a penalty. This is, of course, where my gag reflex kicks in. Ronaldo didn’t dive?? And Mourinho made a statement after the game, in a typically self-righteous tone, wherein he goes on to expound Ronaldo’s clean sheet as far as diving is concerned.

Cristiano Ronaldo Diving Manual - Tutorial (via UnknownGenius01)

It’s safe to say, that while Ronaldo fights for top spot with Angel "always-on-the-verge-of-falling" Di Maria, his coach and the "greatest manager in the world", Jose Mourinho, seems to be fighting to be top dog with Arsene Wenger with respect to hypocrisy.

After a few hours of sulking about the game, I read Por Que Mourinho’s statements except that this time he wasn’t screaming "WHY GOD WHY", and if it weren’t for the fact that I think Mourinho is actually not as smart as he thinks he is, and is in fact as stupid as he looks, I would have been laughing at his sheer arrogance. After all, as much as I despise Jose Mourinho for singlehandedly destroying the greatest rivalry in the sport, I will admit I enjoyed watching his "life is not fair" and "woe is me" speeches when he was manager of Chelsea or even Inter Milan but now that he’s in Spain, well I am not amused anymore.

But don’t take my word for it, before you scream ‘bloody murder’ and talk about how Barca cheats all the time, I’ll be the first to admit that Sergio Busquets deserved a red card for that hand ball last night and Real Sociedad should have got a penalty. However remember that Mourinho was not always manager of Real Madrid, and few years ago, Cristiano would never have said "He is the best coach in the world". After the translator left Chelsea, he released a list of the top divers in England or his version of it at that point of time which isn’t the same now, uh okay I’m confused. So just check out the link here.

True to his nature, he contradicted those statements yesterday and you can see that link here. I’m sure there are thousands of Madrid and Chelsea fans who will find a way to justify these statements, (funny thing about Mr. Por Que, I’ve met quite a few fans who have switched their allegiance from Chelsea to Inter Milan to Madrid according to his movements. ‘The club above all else’, is all I can say to them!), like how Ronaldo has improved and he doesn’t dive ‘as much’. To those of you, who feel sympathy for Mourinho and Ronaldo; please remember that it is an admission of guilt when you use the words ‘as much’. I, for one, admit that Dani Alves and Sergio Busquets are prone to theatrics and don’t try to justify it and I find peace in the fact that I’ve accepted the same. You guys should try it once in a while.

As for Jose-PorQue- Mourinho and his contradictions, I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, DE-NIAL IS NOT A RIVER IN EGYPT!

Untill next time,

Inder Methil

Poll

so, does Ronaldo dive?

hell yea!

25 votes

Deserves to join the Portuguese national swimming team..

49 votes

mayyyybe...

10 votes

84 votes | Poll has closed

FC Barcelona worldwide: The Team, the fans & the Camp Nou

Inder Methil — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:02:58 -0000

Why are we fans of the Blaugrana? Like fish and chips is to the English and coma inducing sweet tea is to the Indians, each club has a characteristic trait(s) or a personality that reaches out and connects to a fan. So that I’m perfectly clear, I am not talking about ‘fair weather’ fans but the diehard Culé, meaning: us.

FC Barcelona Anthem (english subtitles)

I believe all great clubs have a human feel to it, almost like its alive. I choose to live in denial and be naive enough to believe that I matter to this club just as much as it matters to me. This fact is strengthened every morning when checking the latest on F.C Barcelona (which starts with Barca Blaugranes and moves on to the official site) goes hand in hand with the aforementioned sweet tea (I’m a cup away from becoming a diabetic).

The only way I can justify waking up at 4:00 am in the morning with the sudden urge to write, while listening to ‘Hey You’ by Pink Floyd, is if I corroborated certain facts about being a fan of this club by quoting other fans (go figure). It’s the only way I could think of to try and bring out the essence of what it means to be a "Culé".

First things first, Culé literally means ‘arse’. The spectators on the top row would sit with their butts over the stands and I’m sure you can imagine what the view was like. Nowadays the word is synonymous with fans of FC Barcelona. Over the years, Cules have attained a ‘group personality’ of sorts. A unique and distinct behavior that is restricted to them.

Barcablaugranes author, and student at the renowned and prestigious Columbia Journalism School, Lorenzo Franceschi Bicchierai, confirmed what I suspected and this is what he had to offer:

"A very important trait of the typical Catalan fan is pessimism. During these years it’s something that has waned but Culés are actually famous for always expecting the worst. Obviously this cascade of trophies has changed that a little bit and you can always find some cocky fans as well."

It was always one of the aspects of the club and its fans that appealed to me. Being naturally pessimistic, I never expect the team to win even the easiest of games. I’ve tried being the ‘cocky’ fan but I’ll admit it doesn’t suit me. Also there is a certain sense of satisfaction to be had by saving the trash talk till after the team has won, especially when the game was against Real Madrid.

Along with the pessimism, Culés aren’t known to make a lot of noise. Lorenzo explains it well: "Barca fans are actually pretty quiet if compared with other fans. For example, Italian fans are usually much more noisy and passionate during games. The fact is that Camp Nou has a lot of old season ticket holders, and elderly people don’t like to chant slogans and cheer too much, they are there to enjoy the game."

So if we were all stereotypical Culés, that would mean we would have to be pessimistic and quiet. However, it helps that Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe and extremely intimidating for visiting teams. Like the fans, the stadium has its quirks too but no Culé could ever underestimate the significance of Camp Nou. It is the heart and soul of the club and is a landmark in the city. Longest serving Culé, our editor-in-chief, Adi-Oula Sebastian, and this is what he had to say about Camp Nou: "I’ve been to the Camp Nou a couple of times and it’s one of the most beautiful stadiums in Europe; It’s a special place with one of the most fascinating histories. During the Franco era it was one of the few, perhaps the only, places where Catalans were allowed to speak their language. And everyone who has been to Catalunya can attest to that – they do love their language!"

In the end every one of us has a reason for following a particular club, for Senior Editor, Arron Duckling, "it was all about the camaraderie. The first Barcelona game I watched was back in 2006, the first leg of the Champions League tie with Chelsea. Basically, I had grown up used to players being "ultra-professional", only interacting with each other out of necessity, and to see these guys having fun, and playing the way they did reminded me of the lower leagues, where players get along well. For me Barcelona is like the lower league team, who has made it into the big time. There is that humility that endears them to the public, and it also helped that supporting Barcelona annoyed my Chelsea supporting friends."

Bostjan Cernensek, yet another Senior Editor of this site, had a personal reason to support the Blaugrana since his grandfather was also a Culé:

"He is a big supporter of the team and no matter how busy we were we always found some time to talk about the team. We still do. I started watching Barca on a semi-regular basis before the turn of the millennium, roughly in 1998. Despite the lack of coverage (back then in Slovenia) my passion for the team kept growing and here we are now."

One of the reasons that the club is continuing to attract so many fans (besides the trophies) is what the club has achieved off the pitch over the years. Again Bostjan says it best "Not many teams can be as proud of their off-the-pitch achievements as Barca can" (referring to the years of oppression that the club and Catalans suffered at the hands of dictatorial regimes).

Another trait of the club that Bostjan, Arron, Sebastian and pretty much any Culé out there likes is the fact that Barca is not a collection of players brought together using piles of cash. "They have grown up together. They are not just a team, they are a family" are the words Bostjan used to describe the Catalan side.

Although I started following the Blaugrana since Ronaldinho joined (like Slovenia, the coverage of La Liga in India was nonexistent back then), there was one attribute that made me a believer which was that Barca were historically "only" the second-best team in Spain (after Real Madrid), and I loved watching the underdogs win. Over the years, after doing my homework on the club, I realize that I have lost track of the number of reasons to love this club. It’s a combination of things really, but similar to what Arron said, I took pride in the fact that I would be the only one supporting Barca among a large group of friends who are largely fans of English teams.

Jose Avila, Barca Blaugranes United States Senior Editor, admitted that the significance of Ronaldinho’s contribution cannot be undermined: "Ronaldinho, he gave Barcelona that confidence that they were a good team and could defeat anyone. He played a big part in making Barcelona what it is today, a winning team. In 2006 he was the best, and that whole squad just gave way to the current evolution but, Ronaldinho embodied that champion’s spirit that carries through today. If it wasn't for him they wouldn't have made the final nor have evolved into such a popular team. Ronadinho in 06 is comparable to the marvel Messi is today. There was no one like him, he was untouchable, and he played for the most untouchable squad. Thanks to him and the squad of 06 and the triumph over Arsenal in Paris we have CL trophies #3 and #4."

This isn’t supposed to be just an article but a tribute to all of you, here at BB and Culés in general. This club wouldn’t be where it is without the fans and that symbolic stadium. I would really like to read your reason for being a fan of the club so please feel free to do so via comment.

FC Barcelona - Champions league Cup 2010-2011 Celebration in the Camp Nou

Visca el Barca!

Inder Methil

FC Barcelona: Operation Conquer India

Inder Methil — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:55:46 -0000

It’s one more reason to love F.C Barcelona. That’s all that needs to be said really but I can’t get away that easy. After putting some thought into the recent friendly played in Calcutta and more importantly, Lionel Messi’s visit, I felt the need to try and analyse the implications of that game and the only way I know how to do so is to write, so here goes nothing.

In general, the attitude of big European clubs to India, and Asia in general, is to treat it as a large (extremely large to be honest) untapped market, which is true. I’m not naïve enough to believe Barca is different but I do like how the powers that be introduced the club to India. Poverty, a word that is well known in this part of the world, my country has 1.2 billion people and the growth rate is higher than that of China’s. After a few hundred years of being exploited by the British and Indian politicians, the poor get poorer and rich get richer. Any help (of any kind) is welcome and the general idea is to encourage private organizations (or any organization that isn’t affiliated with the Government) to invest so as to help improve the lifestyle of the downtrodden.

Messi mania grips Kolkata (via newsxlive)

So it gave me great pride when I first read that F.C Barcelona chose to go to a secluded area of India and help. Anantpur, a small town in the state of Andhra Pradesh, is as nondescript as they come. As expected in many rural parts of the country, poverty is rampant and Barca chose to invest in the form of a school using sports as a medium to encourage values and develop talent as well. Joan Laporta, personally visited the country in 2009 and considering the relatively low media coverage that the school received, I concluded that this act of generosity was, just that. It wasn’t meant to be an introduction of the club using charity as the selling point but charity for the sake of it. The club really wanted to help underprivileged children in the best way it knew how, by uplifting them through football. That doesn’t mean that the club was hoping to find talent so that they may find the Indian Messi or Iniesta (although Laporta did say that he hoped one of those children did develop and play for Barca someday). You can see the article here. I’m sure there are many fans of certain clubs (hint!) that are just waiting to jump to the conclusion that Barca isn’t actually ‘more than a club’ but just trying to project that impression. All I can say to those fans is, believe what you will, be as cynical as you want but that doesn’t change the fact that there are a group of children who have the opportunity to get a proper education.

Considering what I’ve seen of the slums in this country, I’ll admit that I root for those children. Maybe someday one of those kids will actually make an impact on the beautiful game and play for the club that I love. Having said that, the club itself has admitted that India is a gold mine waiting to be found. The law of averages says that the chance of finding another Messi is very high considering the sheer mass of our population. The Business point of view: - One should keep in mind that almost seventy percent of the country’s population is below the age of 30 and although most Indians are cricket fans, I assume that is the demographic that the club is looking at. From what I’ve observed, most Indians love sports, period. Football is as good as any if not better and there is a lot of money to be made.

However, there is one major obstacle. The English Premier League is the most watched league in the country and I dare say more popular than the Indian League. Considering that the sport demands loyalty to a club, I don’t see many fans switching to La Liga in the near future at least. The advantage the Blaugrana possess goes by the name of Lionel Messi. Like I’ve mentioned in one of my previous articles, Messi made such an impact in the days leading up to the friendly that many people, who until then didn’t really follow football, chose to spend their hard earned money and watch the game live. Although football, isn’t as popular as cricket (in India), I can only assume that there are many people here who would be willing to follow the game if it involves watching the diminutive Argentine every week.

The other obstacle is the unfavorable match schedules. I stay awake late into the night to watch Barca’s games (I would much rather not) and although the club has put in a request with the league to change the time schedule we will have to wait and see if the league agrees.

For the Catalans to make an impact in India, both problems have to be addressed as soon as possible while the memory of the Argentina friendly is still fresh in our minds and I believe, Sandro Rosell and co. are striking while the iron is hot because if rumours are to be believed, he plans to lead a team to India this month to analyse the local market and how to exploit it.

If I were in a position to give the club a suggestion then this would be it: there is one thing that Indians love just as much as cricket (and maybe more), Bollywood. To the uninitiated, that is the biggest part of the Indian film industry and from what I understand the biggest in the world (with respect to number of films made in a year). We Indians worship our silver screen brethren and it is scary how many people are willing to blindly follow a 20-something year old movie star. Like the Kennedy’s are to the Americans, we have our version of a modern royal family. Ask anybody in the country what the name Kapoor means to them and you will probably be lambasted with their whole damned history. The Kapoor family has been an important part of the film industry since my grandfather’s generation and produce stars like La Masia develops midfielders.

The latest in a long (ggggg) line of Kapoors is Ranbir Kapoor. A self confessed football fanatic, Kapoor jr. was present at Wembley stadium on that historic night when the Blaugrana lifted Ol’ Big Ears, for the fourth time in the club’s history, and for the Argentina friendly as well. If you haven't figured it out by now, I’m not a huge fan of Bollywood but feel free to check out this link at your own risk. My point is if Abishekh Bachan (the Bachans are as blue blooded as the Kapoors) is Chelsea’s Ambassador, it seems Ranbir Kapoor is Barca’s and if it isn’t official, it should be because that would be the easiest and most efficient way to attract Indian fans. Word of caution: The Indian masses generally have a short memory although I think the surname should do the trick. Just to be safe, I would include an extremely beautiful actress as well, say Katrina Kaif?

All in all, I think the club is heading in the right direction. If Rosell devotes his time to study the mindset of the Indian masses and works accordingly, I have no doubt that Barca will find a large and extremely loyal fan base in India. After all, Sachin Tendulkar (commonly referred to as ‘The Little Master’ and God of Cricket) is and will always be more popular than any film star and one can’t help but see similarities between him and that other little master (Lionel Messi). Let’s hope that in the near future F.C Barcelona announces a pre-season match in India (the rumour mills are already working overtime with respect to this). Until then,

Visca el Barca!