Barcelona In Decline?

[StevieH]

bayern do look bloody magnificent though. loads of technique and ability but they're all big and fast as well.

Yep they look amazing. Could be a force to be reckoned with and king's of Europe for a few seasons to come i think.

they've already signed gotze for next season and are probably getting lewandowski as well. ridiculous squad depth.

And the new manager of course!

yeah interesting that last night - pep history vs pep future. quite funny to think that chelsea were so sure they would get him when you see the shape that bayern are in.

[rijit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22254778

Well and truly thumped.

yup, they got some cans of whup-ass in specially didn't they? barcelona perhaps paying the price for not reinforcing their defensive options over the past couple of seasons.

bayern do look bloody magnificent though. loads of technique and ability but they're all big and fast as well.

yep , i saw them live a month or so ago at bayer leverkusan who are 3 rd ish and you'de think rivals? tbh munich made them look less than ordinary.

.Horrible redneck fans though

[nev]

There might be a lot of truth in this thread after last nights mauling, and here is a excellent blog just on that point.

http://gemsandrhinestones.com/2013/03/08/the-last-hurrah/

[rixalex]

7 Zip. Wow. Now that is embarrassing.

[oldgit]

Having lost last season's final at the Allianz Arena with virtually the same team as this,must have really hurt Bayern. That experience has drove them on to greater heights. The form of Robben has astounded me.

[smokie36]

It was the quality of the passing that astonished me. Fantastic.

Should be a cracker of a final.

Thought Robben was finished a couple of years ago!

[Chicog]

Best headline of the day: "Reliant Robben".

I'm interested to see if Guardiola tries to make Bayern play the tippy-tappy passing game, that to me would ruin this side.

[Chicog]

There might be a lot of truth in this thread after last nights mauling, and here is a excellent blog just on that point.

http://gemsandrhinestones.com/2013/03/08/the-last-hurrah/

I the the AC Milan side in the late 80's were better than Barca. Every dog has its day; Barcelona's best players have been Iniesta and Xavi IMHO, Messi is the icing on the cake, but with the former two in decline, Messi's absence is palpable.

Sometimes you put a side together that plays better as a sum than its parts, but I think Barca have peaked for a while; too many good players to replace, especially in defence.

[nev]

There might be a lot of truth in this thread after last nights mauling, and here is a excellent blog just on that point.

http://gemsandrhinestones.com/2013/03/08/the-last-hurrah/

I the the AC Milan side in the late 80's were better than Barca. Every dog has its day; Barcelona's best players have been Iniesta and Xavi IMHO, Messi is the icing on the cake, but with the former two in decline, Messi's absence is palpable.

Sometimes you put a side together that plays better as a sum than its parts, but I think Barca have peaked for a while; too many good players to replace, especially in defence.

Agree, especially there defence, maybe this blood doping has something to do with there decline, funny how Messi and in tennis Nadal suddenly are injured when all this doping came out, maybe nothing in it, but spanish cycling and tennis are both being questioned why not football?

[salty]

Ironically this will be a more successful season than last. Barca's only success then was the Copa Del Rey while this season barring a complete collapse they will win La Liga.

[salty]

As expected Barcelona have won La Liga with Real Madrid dropping more points tonight in a 1-1 draw with Espanol.

[salty]

A blow to Barcelona with Tito Villanova stepping down as coach. We would all wish him well but it does look as if he will not be coaching any time soon.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23376453

[jellydog]

A blow to Barcelona with Tito Villanova stepping down as coach. We would all wish him well but it does look as if he will not be coaching any time soon.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23376453

Good luck to Tito.

As an aside, I think there has been some slippage in upper management brainpower at Barca since Rosell was elected pres and Laporta exited. Management doesn't seem to be very proactive. This off season they have made the predictable signing of Neymar, but what else ? No help so far for the very spotty CB situation, allowing Valdez to stay after he gave 'em the finger and said he wasn't returning, confusion about the Alcantara situation.

Seems the Barca master plan is lacking an adequate master at the moment. They best find themselves a wise coach chop chop, and get their act together.

[salty]

You have to wonder if Guardiola had been able to forsee events unfolding now, would he have been interested in returning to the Nou Camp? It sounds like Barca may have had a plan B if they are going to name a new manager next week. Whoever he is, surely it will be a priority to shore up their dodgy defence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23384671

[salty]

I must admit as far as I am aware I never heard of this guy before.

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/daRSm?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=fc-barcelona

[salty]

And Martino is the new Barcelona Manager.

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/daS7J?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=fc-barcelona

Click on No 1 on the right for the story.

[MrRed]

And Martino is the new Barcelona Manager.

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/daS7J?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=fc-barcelona

Click on No 1 on the right for the story.

Who?

[jellydog]

And Martino is the new Barcelona Manager.

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/daS7J?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=fc-barcelona

Click on No 1 on the right for the story.

Who?

Here you go Red:

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/8053?cc=4716&ghg

[salty]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2374942/Barcelona-confirm-Gerardo-Martino-manager.html

[jellydog]

Bayern was lights out last night. Martino certainly has some work to do to get Barca back on the page with the elite.

Ribery was on fire. The guy plays like he's 20 years old.

[StevieH]

6-0 at half-time. ridiculously good. 77% possession.

[nev]

6-0 at half-time. ridiculously good. 77% possession.

Who was they playing?

[Sparkles]

6-0 at half-time. ridiculously good. 77% possession.

Who was they playing?

Levante

[jellydog]

6-0 at half-time. ridiculously good. 77% possession.

I'm a big Barca fan but I'm not happy with the state of La Liga. Its more and more a two horse race. You would think that the powers that be would see this is not good for the league in the long run, but no indication of any change. Plus, for Barca and Real Madrid, its not good preparation for CL play to be beating up on La Liga clubs week in and week out. No competition makes for a poorly tested club come CL crunch time.

[StevieH]

6-0 at half-time. ridiculously good. 77% possession.

I'm a big Barca fan but I'm not happy with the state of La Liga. Its more and more a two horse race. You would think that the powers that be would see this is not good for the league in the long run, but no indication of any change. Plus, for Barca and Real Madrid, its not good preparation for CL play to be beating up on La Liga clubs week in and week out. No competition makes for a poorly tested club come CL crunch time.

agree, it's a real shame what's happened to la liga - barca and madrid will probably only drop points in three or four matches this season. sid lowe writes extensively about this in the guardian and is always worth a read.