When did he? He never got booed.
Barca | Burn out or lack of confidence?
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I think it's a combination of burn out and a over-reliance on the front-three.
Barcelona's midfielder is not actually that great. Busquets is superb, but Iniesta isn't the player he used to be and Rakitic is a good but not special player. Hence, they sort of rely on the front three to both create and score. So when teams sit back, the front three always have to do something to create space for themselves. It obviously doesn't help when the front three themselves are out of form, but that imbalance between the front three and the midfield three, is why I've always rated Pep's team higher. The unit or system was stronger and less reliant on individuals. Last season it was a lot of the time Messi opening teams up and winning games. That obviously can't happen forever and his form over the last month has dropped big time.
And as mentioned, burnout is another issue. In a year where they've got additional commitments due to being champions of Europe, they still don't rotate their front three. They've actually got noone of proven quality now that Pedro is gone. So they just keep playing MSN whether in the league, CL or that CL-winner thingie.
I still feel they'll win the double though. Sort of the way we recovered in 09 from almost letting Liverpool in.
Barcelona's midfielder is not actually that great. Busquets is superb, but Iniesta isn't the player he used to be and Rakitic is a good but not special player. Hence, they sort of rely on the front three to both create and score. So when teams sit back, the front three always have to do something to create space for themselves. It obviously doesn't help when the front three themselves are out of form, but that imbalance between the front three and the midfield three, is why I've always rated Pep's team higher. The unit or system was stronger and less reliant on individuals. Last season it was a lot of the time Messi opening teams up and winning games. That obviously can't happen forever and his form over the last month has dropped big time.
And as mentioned, burnout is another issue. In a year where they've got additional commitments due to being champions of Europe, they still don't rotate their front three. They've actually got noone of proven quality now that Pedro is gone. So they just keep playing MSN whether in the league, CL or that CL-winner thingie.
I still feel they'll win the double though. Sort of the way we recovered in 09 from almost letting Liverpool in.
Nothing to do with confidence. This isn't amateur football. Their forwards have spent the bulk of the season getting lauded as the greatest front trio in the history of the sport. Messi may not have scored for a few games until Sunday, but he has still been brimming with confidence. Case in point being the free-kick against Atletico in the 93rd minute. The safe or economical option would have been to ensure the shot was on target and hope for a rebound or deflection in the resulting mêlée. But he still had the bollocks to go for the far top corner, aiming for a tiny gap between Oblak and the junction of the far post and bar.
It's clearly burn out and it's happened before at this time of the campaign.
It's clearly burn out and it's happened before at this time of the campaign.
It's the old adage the season is a race not a sprint, the bandwagon was jumped upon very early this year.
I don't see how a team of multiple CL winners and world stars in Neymar and Suarez can be tagged with 'losing confidence'.
At one stage Barca were set up for a truly legendary season and were firing on all fronts, they have simply ran out of gas. All that they need to do for next season is strengthen the squad and create a strong second XI and not just a great first XI.
Tactically there is not much wrong with this side, it is simply fatigue.
I remember back in the day when they had the likes of Gudjohnsen and Henrik as back up strikers. Guys like Keita on the bench..
The current team is so woefully lacking in depth it is astonishing.. So yeah I hope for their sake they don't go back to the drawing board and rip this side up because it is the most beautiful team to watch in the world and for half the season was sweeping any team they faced off the park.. the same team made Bayern look like a bunch of school boys last year.
Everyone needs to relax and realise they're human and can suffer fatigue like anyone else.
At one stage Barca were set up for a truly legendary season and were firing on all fronts, they have simply ran out of gas. All that they need to do for next season is strengthen the squad and create a strong second XI and not just a great first XI.
Tactically there is not much wrong with this side, it is simply fatigue.
I remember back in the day when they had the likes of Gudjohnsen and Henrik as back up strikers. Guys like Keita on the bench..
The current team is so woefully lacking in depth it is astonishing.. So yeah I hope for their sake they don't go back to the drawing board and rip this side up because it is the most beautiful team to watch in the world and for half the season was sweeping any team they faced off the park.. the same team made Bayern look like a bunch of school boys last year.
Everyone needs to relax and realise they're human and can suffer fatigue like anyone else.
After the match as he was leaving the stadium.
If you're talking about the vid with him in the car, that's one idiot shouting at him.
I think they are missing Puyol.
Pique and Busquets are no captain material.
Pique and Busquets are no captain material.
For what I 've read in the press these days would say that is a mixture of physical problems , lack of management and key players that have disappeared . All this has been exaggerated as often happen to Barça and Madrid in bad times.
A couple of days ago Luis Enrique was quite rude to a journalist( http://www.marca.com/futbol/barcelona/2016/04/17/5714038e46163fe17f8b45c9.html ) who asked a question about the physical condition. Luis Enrique said something like " tell me your surname ... ahh ok , nothing more to say " .The journalist was Victor Malo (malo = bad ) and a couple of days before had written an article saying that Luis Enrique blamed the physical trainer Rafel Pol (http://www.diariogol.com/es/notices...la-a-rafel-pol-el-preparador-fisico-60438.php).
As happened to Mourinho in Madrid it seems that some players or club oficials are leaking information. Inda(another journalist) said that the technical talk before the pre-match against Atlético lasted four minutes. He said exactly " Many players complain that there are no indications in training or tactics or techniques, He looks like a scarecrow. He is more dedicated to cycling than to be in the Training city " (http://okdiario.com/deportes/futbol...contra-el-atletico-duro-cuatro-minutos-112496 ).
Then there is the matter of Neymar . He is gone from his last trip to Brazil, to his sister´s birthday(He forced a yellow card to not play the next game). In radio and in several press articles it is said that the club is concerned about his private life, too many parties and publicity events . Even some believe that is forcing his exit. (http://www.elconfidencial.com/depor...ar-ronaldinho-barcelona-luis-enrique_1185767/ ) (http://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/20160419/401206922602/preocupa-tren-vida-neymar.html).
The last thing is Neymar to Alba "vete a tomar por culo" (feck off)
( http://www.diariogol.com/es/notices...omar-por-culo-tienes-algun-problema-60562.php)
In any case I think they have la liga in the pocket, with a very easy schedule . They only need a bit of self dressing room management and Messi playing decently again
A couple of days ago Luis Enrique was quite rude to a journalist( http://www.marca.com/futbol/barcelona/2016/04/17/5714038e46163fe17f8b45c9.html ) who asked a question about the physical condition. Luis Enrique said something like " tell me your surname ... ahh ok , nothing more to say " .The journalist was Victor Malo (malo = bad ) and a couple of days before had written an article saying that Luis Enrique blamed the physical trainer Rafel Pol (http://www.diariogol.com/es/notices...la-a-rafel-pol-el-preparador-fisico-60438.php).
As happened to Mourinho in Madrid it seems that some players or club oficials are leaking information. Inda(another journalist) said that the technical talk before the pre-match against Atlético lasted four minutes. He said exactly " Many players complain that there are no indications in training or tactics or techniques, He looks like a scarecrow. He is more dedicated to cycling than to be in the Training city " (http://okdiario.com/deportes/futbol...contra-el-atletico-duro-cuatro-minutos-112496 ).
Then there is the matter of Neymar . He is gone from his last trip to Brazil, to his sister´s birthday(He forced a yellow card to not play the next game). In radio and in several press articles it is said that the club is concerned about his private life, too many parties and publicity events . Even some believe that is forcing his exit. (http://www.elconfidencial.com/depor...ar-ronaldinho-barcelona-luis-enrique_1185767/ ) (http://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/20160419/401206922602/preocupa-tren-vida-neymar.html).
The last thing is Neymar to Alba "vete a tomar por culo" (feck off)
( http://www.diariogol.com/es/notices...omar-por-culo-tienes-algun-problema-60562.php)In any case I think they have la liga in the pocket, with a very easy schedule . They only need a bit of self dressing room management and Messi playing decently again
Barsenal.
Arselona lol
Aye the point on midfield is true. Rakitic has been pretty poor this season too imo. Iniesta definitely not what he used to be, but he can still turn it up in some games(the 4-0 clasico comes to mind).
Real Madrid have a clear superiority in that area now.
Didn't they win the tripe last year with them as captains?
I actually think they miss Xavi a bit too. Obviously Xavi declined but he actually had a pretty good last season all things considered. Thought he was better in 2014-2015 than 2013-2014.
They've made some really poor signings lately too. Like someone noted, buying both Vermaelen and Mathieu and paying them high wages. Turan. Letting Pedro go without a replacement.
They've made some really poor signings lately too. Like someone noted, buying both Vermaelen and Mathieu and paying them high wages. Turan. Letting Pedro go without a replacement.
Exhaustion has definitely played its role in their massive drop of form. Among the big European sides, Barcelona are the one who has done the smallest rotation while they have probably played almost the maximum of possible games in the last two seasons. They won the treble in 2014-15 by playing the maximum of 60 games they could play. From a maximum of 64 games this season, they'll play 61, that makes us 121 games out of possible 124 within two seasons.
But they're not the only ones who play many games throughout the season. We must also take into consideration that they had reached the sky in their previous season. Not only did they win all the trophies they aimed for in the beginning of the season, they also did it in style. They were deemed unstoppable, almost unplayable by the press and the majority of football fans. And therein lies the big question: What do you do when you've reached perfection? How can you improve on that?
Absolute success often clouds judgement. And, up to a certain point, this isn't illogical. It's not easy to start a debate about what could potentially go wrong when everything seems to be working fine and the first team looks like a well oiled machine. In times like that, the discussion is usually about the 2-3 squad players who should be signed just in case... And usually that's when the mistakes are made.
Winning the treble means that the players have played to their limits and it will always be difficult for the same players to retain the highest level of performance for a second season in a row. Barcelona has, beyond the shadow of any doubt, the best starting xi in the world of football. But the best starting xi doesn't equal the best squad too. But this is not as easy as it sounds, very few people would have been taken seriously, if they had proposed massive improvements on this Barcelona side. Plus most of these players are synonymous with the best era in the history of the club. It's never easy to let players like Iniesta, Pique, Mascherano, Busquets or Alves go and replace them.
Add to that the fact that they weren't allowed to sign anyone. Even if they approached someone, he would have to wait till January 1st to play first team football. They had no other option that to use the same players. Rafinha's injury only made things worse by removing one option in the midfield from Enrique.
And now we come to the front three. The MSN has played 16058 minutes in the last 12 months. Bayern's attacking triplet has played 2500 less minutes, City's 4800, Real's 5800 and Atletico's 6200 less minutes. They have played 4800 more minutes than the average of the main attacking options of the teams that are still in the CL this season... which makes us 53 more matches in the last 12 months!!! (stats belong to G. Marcotti of ESPN, who added up the minutes of the three most used attacking players in each side)
The Messi factor: We all know that he's one of the best footballers of all time in football but how important has he really been for them since he became a regular starter for them? Let's put it that way: Barcelona have won three CL titles with him as their focal point and they have been eliminated prematurely in the competition 7 times. 7 years and 14 games in the knock out phase in which they were eliminated (2007-Liverpool, 2008-United, 2010-Inter, 2012-Chelsea, 2013-Bayern, 2014 & 2016-Atletico). Do these 14 games have anything in common? In fact, they do. Messi hasn't scored in either of them, he has zero goals in these 14 games. The conclusion is that No Messi=No Party, no matter who plays beside him. And the truth is that Messi hasn't been his usual self since his return from international duty.
They have also been unlucky. In the game against Valencia they could have been out of sight after the first 25 minutes.
But i stand by what i mentioned earlier. It's almost impossible to improve on ultimate success. Once you achieve it, it's almost certain that it will take its toll on you sooner or later. And it's always better to face these questions early in the season than in the run in for all major trophies.
But they're not the only ones who play many games throughout the season. We must also take into consideration that they had reached the sky in their previous season. Not only did they win all the trophies they aimed for in the beginning of the season, they also did it in style. They were deemed unstoppable, almost unplayable by the press and the majority of football fans. And therein lies the big question: What do you do when you've reached perfection? How can you improve on that?
Absolute success often clouds judgement. And, up to a certain point, this isn't illogical. It's not easy to start a debate about what could potentially go wrong when everything seems to be working fine and the first team looks like a well oiled machine. In times like that, the discussion is usually about the 2-3 squad players who should be signed just in case... And usually that's when the mistakes are made.
Winning the treble means that the players have played to their limits and it will always be difficult for the same players to retain the highest level of performance for a second season in a row. Barcelona has, beyond the shadow of any doubt, the best starting xi in the world of football. But the best starting xi doesn't equal the best squad too. But this is not as easy as it sounds, very few people would have been taken seriously, if they had proposed massive improvements on this Barcelona side. Plus most of these players are synonymous with the best era in the history of the club. It's never easy to let players like Iniesta, Pique, Mascherano, Busquets or Alves go and replace them.
Add to that the fact that they weren't allowed to sign anyone. Even if they approached someone, he would have to wait till January 1st to play first team football. They had no other option that to use the same players. Rafinha's injury only made things worse by removing one option in the midfield from Enrique.
And now we come to the front three. The MSN has played 16058 minutes in the last 12 months. Bayern's attacking triplet has played 2500 less minutes, City's 4800, Real's 5800 and Atletico's 6200 less minutes. They have played 4800 more minutes than the average of the main attacking options of the teams that are still in the CL this season... which makes us 53 more matches in the last 12 months!!! (stats belong to G. Marcotti of ESPN, who added up the minutes of the three most used attacking players in each side)
The Messi factor: We all know that he's one of the best footballers of all time in football but how important has he really been for them since he became a regular starter for them? Let's put it that way: Barcelona have won three CL titles with him as their focal point and they have been eliminated prematurely in the competition 7 times. 7 years and 14 games in the knock out phase in which they were eliminated (2007-Liverpool, 2008-United, 2010-Inter, 2012-Chelsea, 2013-Bayern, 2014 & 2016-Atletico). Do these 14 games have anything in common? In fact, they do. Messi hasn't scored in either of them, he has zero goals in these 14 games. The conclusion is that No Messi=No Party, no matter who plays beside him. And the truth is that Messi hasn't been his usual self since his return from international duty.
They have also been unlucky. In the game against Valencia they could have been out of sight after the first 25 minutes.
But i stand by what i mentioned earlier. It's almost impossible to improve on ultimate success. Once you achieve it, it's almost certain that it will take its toll on you sooner or later. And it's always better to face these questions early in the season than in the run in for all major trophies.
MSN are overrated, when Rakitic plays will Barcelona play well and he is tired.
It's Iniesta then Leo. Busquets is third in the pecking order. Mascherano is the one with the most "captain" attributes though and he's only 4th.
Burnout IMO, they've all played an insane amount including international tournaments. Watched them away to Sociedad and although their record is poor, they looked devoid of energy and ideas.
Theres a video on Reddit of Neymar screaming obscenities at Alba for refusing to pass to him.
Go feck yourself.. What? What? You got a fecking problem?
Neymar really is on the edge atm.
Go feck yourself.. What? What? You got a fecking problem?
Neymar really is on the edge atm.
that happens a thousand times in every game
For what I 've read in the press these days would say that is a mixture of physical problems , lack of management and key players that have disappeared . All this has been exaggerated as often happen to Barça and Madrid in bad times.
A couple of days ago Luis Enrique was quite rude to a journalist( http://www.marca.com/futbol/barcelona/2016/04/17/5714038e46163fe17f8b45c9.html ) who asked a question about the physical condition. Luis Enrique said something like " tell me your surname ... ahh ok , nothing more to say " .The journalist was Victor Malo (malo = bad ) and a couple of days before had written an article saying that Luis Enrique blamed the physical trainer Rafel Pol (http://www.diariogol.com/es/notices...la-a-rafel-pol-el-preparador-fisico-60438.php).
As happened to Mourinho in Madrid it seems that some players or club oficials are leaking information. Inda(another journalist) said that the technical talk before the pre-match against Atlético lasted four minutes. He said exactly " Many players complain that there are no indications in training or tactics or techniques, He looks like a scarecrow. He is more dedicated to cycling than to be in the Training city " (http://okdiario.com/deportes/futbol...contra-el-atletico-duro-cuatro-minutos-112496 ).
Then there is the matter of Neymar . He is gone from his last trip to Brazil, to his sister´s birthday(He forced a yellow card to not play the next game). In radio and in several press articles it is said that the club is concerned about his private life, too many parties and publicity events . Even some believe that is forcing his exit. (http://www.elconfidencial.com/depor...ar-ronaldinho-barcelona-luis-enrique_1185767/ ) (http://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/20160419/401206922602/preocupa-tren-vida-neymar.html).
The last thing is Neymar to Alba "vete a tomar por culo" (feck off)
In any case I think they have la liga in the pocket, with a very easy schedule . They only need a bit of self dressing room management and Messi playing decently again
Thanks, this is interesting.
I thought all along that Enrique was really lucky with this team. He was bad at Roma and his start at Barca was bad too. Neymar, Messi, and Suarez played beautifully together after the defeat at La Real but till then Luis Enrique had not shown anything special tactically, and after that everything was based on MSN. Madrid's midfield played better than Barca in the clasico for the 1st time since Pep, and Barca won only because of Suarez being in top form. Bayern had many many defensive injuries and Pep played suicidal tactics. Still, it was 2-0 till the 90th minute and Bayern missed a lot of chances. Barca's best match was the final v Juve.