Archive for the ‘Reviews: La Liga’ Category
November 22nd, 2009 | 
Author:
That Wasn't An Accident!
Review
I am utterly speechless. It’s so funny how its all sunshine for us, but when it rains, it becomes a freaking downpour! We are currently losing players at the rate of 1 player a day. So far, here is our list: Ibrahimovic, Abidal, The Yaya, Marquez & Messi. Messi was taken off 15 minutes before the end of the match because he was complaining about some pain in his left leg. To all the people who might have a little hope that Messi might be able to make it back in time for Inter, I’m sorry; but I’m going to rain on your parade. According to Dr. Ricard Pruna,( Barcelona’s medical team doctor) Messi will not be able to participate in the crucial tie that will decide our course in this year’s Champions League. To further add to the grief I’m feeling right now, he is also doubtful for El Clasico. Now, I do have some hope that he might return for El Clasico, I really do, but the fact that Guardiola said that the early signs don’t bode well has got me nervous. What’s even more ironic is that he got that smack, kick or whatever you want to call it to the face (image to the left) and he was able to get up and continue playing until the 75th minute!! Speaking of that incident, that was no accident! It really was not an accident. YOU CLEAR THE BALL! YOU DO YOUR BEST TO AVOID THE PLAYER!! YOU DON’T SWITCH TO FREAKING SLOW MOTION MODE. THIS ISN’T THE MATRIX 
!! The calmest person of us all is Guardiola who says he isn’t worried about the slip up even though it’s before El Clasico. He IS worried, though, about whether or not his players recover, do well on Tuesday and be prepared for El Clasico. Guardiola said something that basically sums up why we didn’t get all three points. He said: “When we took the lead through Dani Alves’ goal, the team simply forgot how to play.”
Pedro!!
Review
What a week we’ve been having, two frustrating draws and then this win. To tell you the truth, we really needed that win, and we got it. Does it really erase my fears and worries about this side that hasn’t been firing on all cylinders of late? No, but it does give me hope that we are improving on a regular basis. We’re still top of the table and our chances of qualifying for the next round of the Copa seem fair. We need to start firing on the European front. That is the only way that will convince me of ours credentials in this years competition. Manchester United started like crap in the last 2 seasons, and they ended up making both finals, so we’ll have to wait and see. Anyways, this is La Liga, let’s stick to it! We came into this match and applied the pressure right from the beginning, something that I was hoping Guardiola would tell his players to do.. and he did! Yay 
! The ball control and possession that was on display in the first half was extraordinary and we were bound to be rewarded for our efforts. Ibrahimovic is reportedly out for a week, but hey, who cares? He’ll miss International week which means that he will be fresh and ready to go when we enter the Inter/Madrid week that will define part of our season so far.
The Frustration!
Review
At this time last week, we were busy dispelling the notion of a crisis. We gave Real Zaragoza the spanking of their lives, went on to win in the first leg of our cup tie 2 – 0. So there was really no reason to think that we could have a bad match against an Osasuna side that has won, lost and drawn the same amount of matches; right? Wrong! Because we were pushed to our limits and yet we were playing decently. I mean it wasn’t the 5 star studded performance of last week but our quick passing, and blitzing past our opponents was a first. Iniesta had a good game, his dribbling and his passing were near perfect. But he still has that one weakness. He doesn’t know where to be and when to be there. Which is why I think he is not cut out for Henry’s position as of yet. Keita on the other hand hasn’t ceased to impress me. He, along with Abidal, are playing much better than they did last season and they have contributed equally to our high GF and low GA respectively.
I kinda am glad that this match turned out the way it did (except when we conceded, my look was kinda like Guardiola’s up there 
) because if there was any complacency left, it was definitely booted in the rear for good. They were rested, and they were performing but Osasuna was performing as well. We have to get used to something here, teams that are of equal “size” as Osasuna will tend to play the exact same way. This match proved that we could handle such teams because of our constant pressure on the goal and rapid passing.
One, Two Buckle His Shoe.. Three Four, A Hat-trick Keita Shall Score.
Review
Well well well, what can I say. What an eventful week. At first we were dubbed the team who couldn’t finish, after a scoreless draw with Valencia. Then, after the loss to Rubin Kazan, we were in serious crisis. Come Saturday, people were predicting (Goal.com ) that we would win the match undeservingly by a mere scoreline of 2 – 1. Madrid fans were going all out, saying that we can’t beat a mediocre team such as Rubin Kazan, to beat a team of (equal?) stature. Well pre-match to kickoff, kickoff to full time and full time to post-match, we have come to the simple “do not upset the beast” realization. For one, the scoreline was emphatic, but what was more emphatic than any scoreline was the way that scoreline was achieved. We are beginning to see the Barcelona of last season, with the bit of individual brilliance. Last season, was all about teamwork, this season (up until now) it was all about how Messi could dribble the entire Valencia back line and try to place the ball into the back of the net, or how Iniesta could run into the penalty box without thinking and end up giving away the ball. Sunday was the turning point of our season, and how good it feels to have rediscovered our form so early into the season, when we reside at the top of the table domestically as well as in Europe. Yesterday’s match was a display of the most selfless and well-organized team we have seen since, well since the Champions League final in Rome back in May. Mind you, we saw glimpses but this is what I like to call, total football. Recall last season, we hit stride even earlier, but after a loss and a draw. It was against Sporting that we hit stride and with.. you guessed it, the same scoreline! 6 – 1.
You're Stooopid!!
El Mestalla is not a happy hunting ground for the Blaugrana. If we travel back in time we will see that the last time Barcelona ever triumphed over the scheming bats away was back in 2007. From the 15th of December (which was, in fact, our last win at the Mestalla) until the 17th of October, there has been a cocktail of draws and one loss. The loss came in the Spanish Cup with a score-line of 3 – 2. The cocktail of draws that I mentioned were in the form of 2 – 2 and 0 – 0. No Henry, No Ibra and almost 99.9% of that starting line-up was busy playing matches in Europe, Africa and South America. In my opinion, since Spain qualified, why does Del Bosque need Xavi, Iniesta, Pique and Puyol? If only all the coaches in the world were like Guardiola; heck, he won the league, and didn’t care if he was to lose the remaining matches. The few “bright sides” to this match came in the form of Valdes and Puyol; if it wasn’t for that Catalan duo then we might have kissed first place goodbye for the coming week. And I thought the Almeria match was a bad performance.. Yeesh!
I guess we all saw the horrid start to the first half from the first minute. As usual Guardiola sent out a 4 – 3 – 3 with Valdes, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, The Yaya, Keita, Xavi, Messi, Iniesta and Pedro. It was kind of unusual (?) to see Messi start at the head of the three-pronged attack consisting of Iniesta on his left and Pedro on his right. For one, Pedro has been at his very best when starting on the left; but how can Pedro start on the left when Iniesta is on the left? The mix-up at the front was basically the reason why we had no friggin’ goals! Oh, and lets not forget about a certain despicable virus that affects all the players when they travel (NO not swine flu ) – The Fifa Virus.. God how much I hate it .
1st Half:
