Beaten by an average Chelsea team, couldn't even beat them with a man advantage with over 45 minutes and a 2-0 lead. Beaten by Celtic and now beaten by a young (but improving) AC Milan side that sold almost all of its stars. I said when the competition began I was 100% sure Barca wouldn't win the CL this year and my mate scoffed saying "You can never write Barca off", Real have been my favourites all along with Bayern not too far behind (I predicted a Real v Bayern final btw). Their tika taka has been found out, it was long ago by Hiddink but horrific refereeing allowed Barca to win it that year and in the 2011 final an ordinary Man U side thought they could play them in a game of football and win. Since winning the CL, Barca seem to have declined spectacularly and it's only the crisis at Madrid which has given them such an advantage in La Liga.
Totally agree, Xavi and Puyol getting on a bit don't help them either. They need to find a way to break down solid defending.
Do you actually get entertained watching Barca anymore, I wasnt exactly getting excited by this match as say Arsenal vs Bayern
Likewise... was boring today.German football seems to be the most exciting. Bayern to win the competition this years...
Barcelona's problem is a complete lack of a plan B. If your plan B is playing Pique as a center forward then you have problems. They are arguably the most one dimensional team in football at the moment - despite being one of, if not the best team in the world. Passing around trying to go down the middle and pass it into the net as your only method of football is being sussed out - and more teams in Europe will take advantage of that. If you play with no crossing, no shooting from distance, no power play, you can expect teams that are genuinely up for it to shackle you. They are extremely good, but more upsets are on the horizon unless they decide to add to their playing style.
Barcelona have become to cocky defensively, whilst they can get away with playing there incredibly adventurous style against mediocre opposition in La Liga, there getting found out by quality well organised sides who are set up to counter attack there gung ho style. I agree with Variars comments about a plan B. they just don't have it, they just continue to try and pass through the eye of a needle the whole time. They rarely knock it out wide and cross it in, and they never hoof it up to the front man. There a team of midgets so crossing it, or using the long ball is unlikely to work. They are going to have a big problem trying to overturn that deficit even at home, as AC Milan are clearly going to set up like Chelsea did last year with 11 men camped in there own half, and that is incredibly difficult to break down. Particularly when the 11 men are top European players, rather than the nonsense they come up against every week in la Liga
Hiddink and Chelsea really did show the world how to beat Barca, and that is.......stick it up them. Pack the mid field ,let them run around in their tippy tappy triangles all day. After 10 mins of getting nowhere fast they go to pieces, start diving all over the shop, whinging to the ref about every decision, and they get frustrated. That's when you hit them like a sledgehammer straight down the middle, especially someone like Drogba, and presto, the "unbeatables" have lost again. Take them on at their own game only if you want to get thrashed like Utd did. We know it, Celtic know it, and AC Milan know it.
Everyone started yapping about their 'downfall' last season when they lost out on the league and Champions League (Thanks to a certain set of Londoners ) this season they are pissing it in the league. They are also under a replacement coach for a coach only appointed this season which can't help. As long as Barcelona can keep producing top talent and attracting top talent, which especially the latter lets face it is a given, they will be a top side. Real may not even finish second this season but it's silly to go writing them off either. Madrid and Barcelona will be fine
Hardly he made his decision to leave with the Barcelona board before the Chelsea fixture was even set
I don't think Barca are as good or as feared as they were 2-3 years ago. That said they are still a top top side and will remain that was as long as players like Messi are there. I think the slight decline/injuries to in the likes of Puyol and Xavi and Villa these last couple of seasons have impacted on them a bit. They clearly don't have a plan B but when plan A is so good, you can see why!! For the record, I think Barca and Spain are very dull to watch. Technically brilliant and can be admired; but it's not entertainment.
Barca of 3 or even 2 years ago would never have surrendered a 2 goal lead with 10 men, nor lost to Celtic.
Barca were at their best the year they beat United 3-1, I honestly believe Bayern are now the world's best team.
United are in ascendency at the moment in my opinion. They have RVP banging in goals, they just need to strenghten their midfield and they are as good as anyone. Barca on the other hand, are falling imo. With the exception of Messi, all their best players are getting old. As someone said earlier, they have no plan B, they just plug away with their Plan A and get frustrated when it doesnt work and start play acting. They are winning La Liga sure, but really, who else in La Liga is any good, except Real Madrid? who are having a little mini crisis of their own. Its a two team league ala the SPL since Valencia lost Rafa and were forced to sell their best players (Silva, Villa etc). I think Chelsea have the foundations for a great team, we just need a goal scorer (not El Burro), hopefully Ba and do it, and a decent manager who can slap the players round the head and get them to perform as Jose did in 2005
I'd go a step further and actually say Bayern are world's best with Dortmund 2nd and Barca 3rd. Dortmund would mop the floor with Barca IMO. 1. Bayern 2. Dortmund 3. Barca 4. Real 5. Juventus
How can you include Dortmund and Juve, and leave out United as they have been there and done for the best part of fifteen years? I agree that Dortmund and Juve may very well be fine teams but need to achieve a level of consistency for a few years to attain Top 5 status. And what about your team? You have been there or thereabouts for the best part of 10 years. Up the Blues (Schalke that is) in the Champions League!!
I'd agree with that but swap Dortmund for Barca, I think Dortmund could be absolutely amazing if they keep their current players and add a couple more, they've been a bit off this season with some freak losses too. They need a world class keeper and to keep hold of Lewendowski which doesn't look likely anymore apparently he's going to Bayern this summer.
