Source: Sp Football Sports Blog /
The much awaited match against REAL MADRID - FC BARCELONA is over with the latter winning 0-2 & possibly deciding the final fate of this seasons Spanish League Title. FC Barcelona regain the Top spot of the classification table with a 3 point advantage that looks difficult to be overtaken with 7 games left in La Liga. But it is not all over for Real Madrid as yet, Barça is still in Champions League & the concentration & effort in this competition may affect Barça in the local competiton, however unlikely it may appear at this moment.
Allow me to put forward 4 conclusions that have come out of yesterdays match & that we should reflect on without the passion of a fan, but coldly with the observed facts.
Yesterday left no doubt that FC BARCELONA is the better team over REAL MADRID this season. Not only has Barça won Madrid twice this season, but has a 4 straight game streak over the arch rival. The "Balance of Power" shifted a couple of years back & Barcelona remain the Top Club in Spanish Football & the "reigning" Best Team in The World
The MESSI vs CRISTIANO RONALDO debate has been settled. LIONEL MESSI is today the Best Player in The World. Yesterday both were on the same pitch, under the same circumstances & conditions & we witnessed "live on air" how Messi solved things & Ronaldo was not up to the occasion.
The FC Barcelona style of game is far superior to the game practiced by Real Madrid. What is obviously clear is that Real Madrid without wingers & insisting to play through the center is predictable & very difficult. Added to this, there exists a clear lack of ideas in midfield & a the non-existence of real play makers.
Higuain again gave arguements to his detractors, that in the BIG games he disappears. Marcelo is not up to the levels required, that there is a real hole in the left hand side defence & that the double "defensive" midfield set up is not working. In fact, the main conclusion here is that Barcelona look a team while Real Madrid looks a collective of individual players.
Real Madrid Coach Manuel Pellegrini showed lack of ideas & seems to lack spirit in the reaction department. The man has failed in all the crucial & important moments this season for Real Madrid. The elimination in the Spanish Cup against 2ºB Division team Alcorcon, the elimination in the Champions League against Olympique de Lyon & the second loss this season against FC Barcelona. The line-ups have dewilded, the inactive attitude surprised, the match substitutes frightened & a persistent conservative streak all season that sends a message to opponents that Real Madrid is not as BIG as first expected; opponents lose respect for Real Madrid. Said in other terms, Manual Pellegrini is not up to the job, & his future at Real Madrid is seriously in doubt for next season.
The model of buying the Best Players in The World does not guarantee winning titles. Real Madrid invested a record 275M€ in signing players, & to this date looks like not winning any titles (Liga still up for grabs) with the objective of overtaking FC Barcelona a failure.
The signing strategy has failed. Look at those absent last night: Kaká, Benzema, Granero..., plus remember thoses sold: Robben, Sneijder... Here General Director Jorge Valdano must take some responsibility, it is he who has the final word on buying & selling players, plus who is the teams Coach.
The facts show that the "Real Madrid Florentino Project" has not worked this season & is not complete. Many critics have already, & will go much further, to conclude that the 2009-2010 Real Madrid project has been a "complete failure". Less pre-season fireworks & fanfare & more Football.
The much awaited match against REAL MADRID - FC BARCELONA is over with the latter winning 0-2 & possibly deciding the final fate of this seasons Spanish League Title. FC Barcelona regain the Top spot of the classification table with a 3 point advantage that looks difficult to be overtaken with 7 games left in La Liga. But it is not all over for Real Madrid as yet, Barça is still in Champions League & the concentration & effort in this competition may affect Barça in the local competiton, however unlikely it may appear at this moment.
Allow me to put forward 4 conclusions that have come out of yesterdays match & that we should reflect on without the passion of a fan, but coldly with the observed facts.
Yesterday left no doubt that FC BARCELONA is the better team over REAL MADRID this season. Not only has Barça won Madrid twice this season, but has a 4 straight game streak over the arch rival. The "Balance of Power" shifted a couple of years back & Barcelona remain the Top Club in Spanish Football & the "reigning" Best Team in The World The MESSI vs CRISTIANO RONALDO debate has been settled. LIONEL MESSI is today the Best Player in The World. Yesterday both were on the same pitch, under the same circumstances & conditions & we witnessed "live on air" how Messi solved things & Ronaldo was not up to the occasion.The FC Barcelona style of game is far superior to the game practiced by Real Madrid. What is obviously clear is that Real Madrid without wingers & insisting to play through the center is predictable & very difficult. Added to this, there exists a clear lack of ideas in midfield & a the non-existence of real play makers.Higuain again gave arguements to his detractors, that in the BIG games he disappears. Marcelo is not up to the levels required, that there is a real hole in the left hand side defence & that the double "defensive" midfield set up is not working. In fact, the main conclusion here is that Barcelona look a team while Real Madrid looks a collective of individual players.
Real Madrid Coach Manuel Pellegrini showed lack of ideas & seems to lack spirit in the reaction department. The man has failed in all the crucial & important moments this season for Real Madrid. The elimination in the Spanish Cup against 2ºB Division team Alcorcon, the elimination in the Champions League against Olympique de Lyon & the second loss this season against FC Barcelona. The line-ups have dewilded, the inactive attitude surprised, the match substitutes frightened & a persistent conservative streak all season that sends a message to opponents that Real Madrid is not as BIG as first expected; opponents lose respect for Real Madrid. Said in other terms, Manual Pellegrini is not up to the job, & his future at Real Madrid is seriously in doubt for next season.The model of buying the Best Players in The World does not guarantee winning titles. Real Madrid invested a record 275M€ in signing players, & to this date looks like not winning any titles (Liga still up for grabs) with the objective of overtaking FC Barcelona a failure.
The signing strategy has failed. Look at those absent last night: Kaká, Benzema, Granero..., plus remember thoses sold: Robben, Sneijder... Here General Director Jorge Valdano must take some responsibility, it is he who has the final word on buying & selling players, plus who is the teams Coach.
The facts show that the "Real Madrid Florentino Project" has not worked this season & is not complete. Many critics have already, & will go much further, to conclude that the 2009-2010 Real Madrid project has been a "complete failure". Less pre-season fireworks & fanfare & more Football.
