Barcelona need change... And Fast
Everyone makes mistakes and we should learn from that, right?
So the performances that have been played by the Blaugrana, has pointed out that there needs to be a lot of changes to the club. Yes they have won the title and have the opportunity to finish on 100 points. But the problem remains that this season has not been good enough.
Now then, Barcelona had endured a very strong start in all competitions and Real Madrid’s slow start ensured they would runaway with the title race for the majority of the season. Barca had started with 9 wins out of 9 in all competitions. And they looked like proving their doubters wrong that they could survive without talismanic coach Pep Guardiola.
However things have not always been rosy with the defence that they have. In one of the games, at the beginning they played an enthralling game against Deportivo La Coruna C.F., the game ended in 5-4 to the Catalans. As entertaining as that game sounds it brings a major concern to their defence. They seem to be lost, when it comes to the high pressing defence line that Pep Guardiola has instilled in the team. It has also highlighted the fact that Barca had failed to get a central defender. Guardiola is partly to blame for that, in his 4 year tenure he never failed to get a real centre back, other than bringing back Gerard Pique to the team.
One of the other issues in the defence is the right back position which is occupied by Dani Alves. Now then, between 2009 and 2011, he was looking like best right back in the world. But was he really doing anything in the back at the time? I feel that he was being covered by his midfield compatriots: Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, but why? Barca’s tactics was all about playing their trademark one touch passing and ball possession high up the pitch, which meant that the centre back will press up to the half way line; which then ensured that Alves will go and attack for prolonged periods of the game… It almost seemed that the Blaugrana had two right wingers! However come 2011-12, their one touch football had been worked out perfectly by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid. They were beginning to get exploited on the counter attack (this had even before that, but now they were being exposed) by some of the smaller teams in the La Liga and even in the champions league. It had been proved that Barca had either lacked pace at the back or they were going too far forward in order to be unable to track back in time.
This season has been pretty difficult for the Catalans, even though they were crowned champions of Spain, finishing with 100 points, the 7-0 aggregate humbling from Bayern Munich, left a huge black mark on Barca’s La Liga success. The Germans had exposed the defensive frailties and physical superiority in both legs; they had also proved that keeping possession was not the only answer to winning.
Neymar is a good signing, but is he good enough? I saw both his games against England, although he was better in his second game: it still highlighted that he needed to improve as a TEAM player. And if Barca are going to continue the possession football and trademark tiki taka, they will need a plan b. And possibly 2 new defenders…
Some of you may not agree with me so drop your comments below and tell me what you think eh?
Gracias amigos
Twitter: @BethelMoyo
So the performances that have been played by the Blaugrana, has pointed out that there needs to be a lot of changes to the club. Yes they have won the title and have the opportunity to finish on 100 points. But the problem remains that this season has not been good enough.
Now then, Barcelona had endured a very strong start in all competitions and Real Madrid’s slow start ensured they would runaway with the title race for the majority of the season. Barca had started with 9 wins out of 9 in all competitions. And they looked like proving their doubters wrong that they could survive without talismanic coach Pep Guardiola.
However things have not always been rosy with the defence that they have. In one of the games, at the beginning they played an enthralling game against Deportivo La Coruna C.F., the game ended in 5-4 to the Catalans. As entertaining as that game sounds it brings a major concern to their defence. They seem to be lost, when it comes to the high pressing defence line that Pep Guardiola has instilled in the team. It has also highlighted the fact that Barca had failed to get a central defender. Guardiola is partly to blame for that, in his 4 year tenure he never failed to get a real centre back, other than bringing back Gerard Pique to the team.
One of the other issues in the defence is the right back position which is occupied by Dani Alves. Now then, between 2009 and 2011, he was looking like best right back in the world. But was he really doing anything in the back at the time? I feel that he was being covered by his midfield compatriots: Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, but why? Barca’s tactics was all about playing their trademark one touch passing and ball possession high up the pitch, which meant that the centre back will press up to the half way line; which then ensured that Alves will go and attack for prolonged periods of the game… It almost seemed that the Blaugrana had two right wingers! However come 2011-12, their one touch football had been worked out perfectly by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid. They were beginning to get exploited on the counter attack (this had even before that, but now they were being exposed) by some of the smaller teams in the La Liga and even in the champions league. It had been proved that Barca had either lacked pace at the back or they were going too far forward in order to be unable to track back in time.
This season has been pretty difficult for the Catalans, even though they were crowned champions of Spain, finishing with 100 points, the 7-0 aggregate humbling from Bayern Munich, left a huge black mark on Barca’s La Liga success. The Germans had exposed the defensive frailties and physical superiority in both legs; they had also proved that keeping possession was not the only answer to winning.
Neymar is a good signing, but is he good enough? I saw both his games against England, although he was better in his second game: it still highlighted that he needed to improve as a TEAM player. And if Barca are going to continue the possession football and trademark tiki taka, they will need a plan b. And possibly 2 new defenders…
Some of you may not agree with me so drop your comments below and tell me what you think eh?
Gracias amigos
Twitter: @BethelMoyo
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