Good Football is still about a month away. Until then I dont have much to write.
Schedule for 08-09 season of La Liga has been announced. hmm.. all the heavy weight games are stacked in december and the corresponding return games in May.
My partisan support for Villareal aside, it will be interesting to see the progress of Pep Guardiola at Barcelona as well as that of the one of the best young coaches of last season Unai Emery (at Almeria) now at Valencia. At this point it looks like they will keep Villa and Silva which can only be good. Valencia is the worst managed top-flight club in all of Spain if not in all of Europe. But any team that has the likes of Villa, Silva, Joaquin, Albelda and Baraja is unlikely to have another bad season like the last one.
Atletico Madrid has been hyper-active in the transfer market. Lots of new faces and high hopes on playing the Champions league. But first they will have to negotiate the tricky Champions League 3rd round tie, which is going to be against a good team due to their low-standing in Europe.
Back to Barcelona, the key question is can Henry still do it? He will be relatively fresh owing to the early exit of France in Euro 08 and Bojan who did not play in the Euro. Barcelona is still shopping around Etoo and get one of Berbatov, Drogba or Adebayor to replace him.
I think if Messi stays healthy for the most part of the season, I feel they will be a tough team to beat not only in La Liga but in the Champions League as well.
Oh well.. this post is descending into transfer talk. I cut it here :)
19.7.08
13.7.08
A new era begins tomorrow in Barcelona
A new dawn.
A new era.
The Pep Guardiola era at FC Barcelona officially begins tomorrow. And it couldnt have been any more messier, stressful or hyped. On and off the field this off-season has been one of the most turbulent in the history of FC Barcelona. Starting with the horror movie that was their last season, players like Ronaldinho and Etoo showing a lot of dicontent and discord among the ranks. The beleagured Rijkaard was promptly shown the door after the last game of the season. Bring the curtains down on a period 5 years in which Barcelona won 2 Spanish league titles and 1 Champions League in true Barcelona style 'wow'ing all the world with their slick football.
And then things started going south in 06/07 when they lost La Liga title to Real Madrid in the penultimate game of the season in an incredible few months of meltdown. And it got worse last season.
And then all the off-field non-sense of the president and his politics. That guff doesnt belong here.
So here is FC Barcelona circa 2008. Definitely No Ronaldinho. And mostly likely no Etoo either. Deco is already gone. Messi will play the first month or so as he plans to play in the Olympics for Argentina. The biggest signing they have made this year is that of Right back Daniel Alves from Sevilla and the impending purchase of Adebayor from Arsenal.
Will that be enough to take them past Real Madrid, who have been trying to finish the deal of Ronaldo from Manchester United. This garbage is running longer than Hanna Barbera. Ughhh!
Now this is Guardiola's team. The affectionate Catalan son returning to take over the reins of the team. The same player from the Dream Team of Barcelona of 90s. This is all such goody-goody storyline. Only that all of this doesnt matter if Pep cannot deliver. The pressure will be on. He has to first ensure Barça makes it to the group stages of the Champions League. And that without his best player. Leo Messi.
It is Guardiola time in Barcelona!
Jorgé - Amigo! what do u think?
A new era.
The Pep Guardiola era at FC Barcelona officially begins tomorrow. And it couldnt have been any more messier, stressful or hyped. On and off the field this off-season has been one of the most turbulent in the history of FC Barcelona. Starting with the horror movie that was their last season, players like Ronaldinho and Etoo showing a lot of dicontent and discord among the ranks. The beleagured Rijkaard was promptly shown the door after the last game of the season. Bring the curtains down on a period 5 years in which Barcelona won 2 Spanish league titles and 1 Champions League in true Barcelona style 'wow'ing all the world with their slick football.
And then things started going south in 06/07 when they lost La Liga title to Real Madrid in the penultimate game of the season in an incredible few months of meltdown. And it got worse last season.
And then all the off-field non-sense of the president and his politics. That guff doesnt belong here.
So here is FC Barcelona circa 2008. Definitely No Ronaldinho. And mostly likely no Etoo either. Deco is already gone. Messi will play the first month or so as he plans to play in the Olympics for Argentina. The biggest signing they have made this year is that of Right back Daniel Alves from Sevilla and the impending purchase of Adebayor from Arsenal.
Will that be enough to take them past Real Madrid, who have been trying to finish the deal of Ronaldo from Manchester United. This garbage is running longer than Hanna Barbera. Ughhh!
Now this is Guardiola's team. The affectionate Catalan son returning to take over the reins of the team. The same player from the Dream Team of Barcelona of 90s. This is all such goody-goody storyline. Only that all of this doesnt matter if Pep cannot deliver. The pressure will be on. He has to first ensure Barça makes it to the group stages of the Champions League. And that without his best player. Leo Messi.
It is Guardiola time in Barcelona!
Jorgé - Amigo! what do u think?
10.7.08
Does Football need Joan Laporta's politics ?
NO.
What a mess this is turning out to be at Barçelona. Completely overshadowing the steady work of new coach Pep Guardiola building a team with a new identity and character at Barçelona with the imminent loss of Ronaldinho and Etoo.
Arrgh..
Barça is still missing a #9 in the mould of Etoo. Henry.. seems like a spent force. Rest of the Barçelona midfield is very very small and at times is trigger-shy.
Uiy Qué pena esté señor Laporta y todo el rollo de la moción de censura.. las politicas.. ay ay ay!
Al menos nos falto un mes más de este periodo de las porquerias y tonterias.
What a mess Mr. Laporta and the whole circus has been.. We have a month of this madness left before the games start.
What a mess this is turning out to be at Barçelona. Completely overshadowing the steady work of new coach Pep Guardiola building a team with a new identity and character at Barçelona with the imminent loss of Ronaldinho and Etoo.
Arrgh..
Barça is still missing a #9 in the mould of Etoo. Henry.. seems like a spent force. Rest of the Barçelona midfield is very very small and at times is trigger-shy.
Uiy Qué pena esté señor Laporta y todo el rollo de la moción de censura.. las politicas.. ay ay ay!
Al menos nos falto un mes más de este periodo de las porquerias y tonterias.
What a mess Mr. Laporta and the whole circus has been.. We have a month of this madness left before the games start.
5.7.08
The Aftermath
of Euro 2008
A flurry of activity followed the Spain triumph in Vienna on the 29th of June. But mostly dealing with the ugly yet unavoidable reality of world football. Transfer talk and the gaudy sums of money associated with them.
Luis Aragones goes to turkish giants Fenerbahce. Language and cultural barriers aside, Luís is a very good coach. And Fener is a club willing to buy him any player he wants. Spanish League top-scored Dani Güiza is reportedly on his way to Istanbul.
Frankly I dont like much of this phase. Transfer talk. Rumors. Mudslinging between clubs and managers across Europe and sometimes across continents.
Proper football action atleast 6 weeks away.
The transfer talk is getting boring already.
Bring on the games. :)
A flurry of activity followed the Spain triumph in Vienna on the 29th of June. But mostly dealing with the ugly yet unavoidable reality of world football. Transfer talk and the gaudy sums of money associated with them.
Luis Aragones goes to turkish giants Fenerbahce. Language and cultural barriers aside, Luís is a very good coach. And Fener is a club willing to buy him any player he wants. Spanish League top-scored Dani Güiza is reportedly on his way to Istanbul.
Frankly I dont like much of this phase. Transfer talk. Rumors. Mudslinging between clubs and managers across Europe and sometimes across continents.
Proper football action atleast 6 weeks away.
The transfer talk is getting boring already.
Bring on the games. :)
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