Barcelona 'Myth' Finally Exploded!

I wrote an article about Barcelona on the old BBC 606 back in March 2011.

Here's an abridged version:

" Barcelona: The Myth
by Monkey Planet (U14411299) 09 March 2011

So the eulogising over “The Best Team in the World" continues.

If you believe all the media hyperbole and obsequious salivating you'd be wondering why UEFA are bothering to hold their competition this season. Just crown Barcelona the winners now and forget these trivial formalities of two-leg ties.

Are Bacelona over-rated? That would be a massive YES. Good side but definitely not one of the greatest.

Why?

Truly great teams win games in many different ways. They are flexible and adapt their playing style, when required, to overcome ALL opponents. They find a way to win that may require them to abandon ‘Plan A’ and go with ‘Plan B’ or ‘C’ or even ‘D’.

And that’s where this current Barcelona fall way short of the truly great teams. They’ve only got a ‘Plan A’. No back-up, no ‘other way’. Just retain possession, pass the opposition into submission, wait for mistakes, capitalise, attempt some theatrics following fair tackles - perhaps win a penalty - and hope this sees you through.

This was the case when they took on a weakened Arsenal side in last season's competition who provided stout resistance to wave after wave of passing attacks that weren’t really going anywhere for 45 minutes until Fabregas attempted a suicidal back-heel on the edge of the Arsenal area that handed Barcelona their first goal on a silver platter.

Three goals. One mistake, one penalty and one scored in open play. Possession is only one stat and ball retention alone doesn’t always guarantee victory. Especially in European competition.

Arsenal were able to draw level and seemed poised to punish Barcelona’s profligacy in possession until Van Persie’s ridiculous red card. They had the opportunity to expose this Barcelona side for what it really is and this was cruelly snatched away.

Arsene Wenger knew this.

Which is why he was so frustrated after suffering at the hands of officials for the second game running.

And it’s a fact that this Barcelona team has inherent weaknesses that a more resilient, courageous and artful team would have exposed.

The goalkeeper is highly susceptible to errors. The defence is hardly solid, has no pace, can be easily out-witted and out-manoeuvred. Their midfield defensive cover often goes missing and the players available are suspect.

They are far too reliant on the finishing of Messi and the midfield passing of Iniesta and Xavi. Stifle them, deny them space and they’ve got nowhere to go.

They can’t change their style because all their players have only been schooled in one style. They can fade badly in some matches and their away record is nothing to write home about (see 1-2 v Arsenal last season).

They have no alternative. Great when it works (v Real Madrid last season). A dead-end when it doesn’t (v Inter Milan the season before).

And don’t overlook the fact that at 4-3 on aggregate Barcelona were one composed piece of control and a deft finish away from defeat on away goals. If Van Persie instead of Bendtner had been given the same opportunity the ‘Catalan Giants’ would more than likely be out of the competition.

If they come up against a team with that won’t to succumb to their ‘Plan A’ in the later rounds of the Champion’s League I fully expect them to be knocked-out again. Just like when they ran up against the immovable object of Inter Milan who had them passing into a cul-de-sac and who had the playersamnd tactics to exploit their weaknesses."

After last night, anyone care to disagree now???

Thanks to Chelsea for finally exploding the myth of the 'greatest club side ever'.

Great perfomance, great goals, great win. And Lampard proved, once again, what a superb passer of the ball he is.