FC Barcelona Thread

Great post by Lo Zio, it is hard to argue with a post so well put and insightful....

To counter any of what you said I would just be accentuating your point about us British :DD so I won't bother :))
 
Bravissimo, Ben, you have amazing communication skills. That post is one of the best you've wrote. And you've wrote a lot of them!

I love watching any kind of football, and probably that's because I've been lucky to travel and to speak many languages. But as Ben says, I know a lot of people who is unable to enjoy "foreign" football (or culture, or whatever that is tagged as "foreign" for them).

I LOVE football itself no matter how it's played. I have the luck to regularly play 11-side football, 7-side football, indoor football and foot-volley, and it's always one of the highlights of the week for me. If I'm tired or busy at work, football is the best medicine to clear my head. I could say that it almost heals me when I'm a bit ill.

About how Ben defines the different schools of football, I think something needs to be pointed out.

Barcelona and Madrid are two teams that are expected to play offensive, very technical football. The fans won't allow the team to play deffensively, it's like a crime for a Barcelona fan to see the team packing behind. As Ben says, that would be even a major crime than a simple dive.

Now and then some friends from away come to Barcelona and come to the stadium. And they are always surprised to see how "cold" are the spectators and how the fans can even whistle to the team even if it's winning 2-0. That's because style is first. I've seen the stadium whistle the team after 20 minutes of rubbish football when the team was winning 4-0. It may surprise a lot of people, but that's how things are here and can be understood reading Ben's post. And I know Madrid fans are exactly the same. That's why some fans were critical with Mourinho last year, they can't stand their team playing counterattack. They prefer to loose playing offensively!
 
Sound like Arsenal has that reputation they play amazing footy but never win. Everyone laugh at Arsenal style over substance. Then, Saf had a go and all of UK followed when Arsenal won the FACup the last trophy w/ substance n no style. Even I felt bad by the manner in which we won.That what Arsene brought to this club.
 
But that's one of the reasons why I love Arsenal as well, bebo! I love watching them and they feel "familiar" to me. In my oppinion it's a very good thing to mantain the style even if you don't win!

Arsenal can't compete in terms of power or money with United, Chelasea or City, so sticking to its style is the way to go!
 
i'm flattered guys, thanks for your kind words. but i think u're reading too much in my post (it's not like i sad anything particularly enlightening)... it's just that, having spent lots of time wandering around spain, i got to know their culture pretty well, that's it. :))
drekkard said:
Now and then some friends from away come to Barcelona and come to the stadium. And they are always surprised to see how "cold" are the spectators and how the fans can even whistle to the team even if it's winning 2-0. That's because style is first. I've seen the stadium whistle the team after 20 minutes of rubbish football when the team was winning 4-0. It may surprise a lot of people, but that's how things are here and can be understood reading Ben's post. And I know Madrid fans are exactly the same. That's why some fans were critical with Mourinho last year, they can't stand their team playing counterattack. They prefer to loose playing offensively!
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yep i also remember i felt like i was in church (or in a theatre) during my first games at the nou camp and the santiago bernabeu. it's slightly different than in other spanish stadiums ......and fans from other cities (like valencia, zaragozza, sevilla) proudly like to remark that :D
obviously in every spanish city the aesthetic aspect of the game is the most important thing... but the diffference is, while in other spanish stadia fans still support their team, even when they're not "playing nice", barça and real fans are much more "demanding"... they almost feel like it's an obligation for the players to show them some breathetaking football every week..
...i guess that depends on the fact that both real and barça are 2 top clubs, so the fans standards and expectations are much higher..... but still, being a "small club fan" myself, i remember i found this attitude rather disturbing. :))
 
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Yes, I know it's disturbing for people not used to it. I've been going to the stadium all my life and even I get surprised.

But in truth, I confess I do as the rest, I sit there as someone who is going to see a theater play. We are three friends going there together and we speak of our lives while we watch the match, so it's quite a relaxed experience. But that's how it's always been for most people in the stadium! I mean, that's the way you're supposed to act there.

It's the team that warms the crowd and not the other way round as in most stadiums. I know it's a very singular case, but that helps understanding both clubs a lot.

It's stranger because I really love it when the stadium gets really hot in the big matches (Classicos and knock-out rounds).

So, imagine the impact I had when I was young and went to Highbury for the first time. It was like discovering a new way of watching football. I got instantly addicted to the stadium and turned into a gunner. Later on I went to other stadiums and I must say I have had the best times as a neutral fan in English stadia. And going to the pub after the match!
 
Yes, drekkard, i understand that you are attracted to the passion of English fans. It creates a marvelous atmosphere in the stadiums. There is a downside however when passion become fanatism. I'm not talking about hooliganism but about the stupid and useless rivalries. English fans expect their players to stay their whole carreer with their club. The moment those players have a lesser period they want them replaced by better players, but if those players go by their own to another club, then they are considered traitors. On top of that fans of (for example) Newcastle expect their players to hate Sunderland...which is ridiculous for professional football players.
At their best English fans are passionate and create a truly fantastic live football experience. At their worst, they are really ridiculous.

PS: i saw Messi's free kick against Atletico. IMO there was nothing wrong with it...
 
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drekkard said:
But that's one of the reasons why I love Arsenal as well, bebo! I love watching them and they feel "familiar" to me. In my oppinion it's a very good thing to mantain the style even if you don't win!

Arsenal can't compete in terms of power or money with United, Chelasea or City, so sticking to its style is the way to go!
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Well they haven't maintained their usual patient passing game since the departure of Fabregas, they're much more direct and capable of hitting on the break this season and utilising the pace of the likes of Gervinho, Walcott, AOC in wide positions.

They're no longer a poor imitation of Barca. They have more in common with their own classic fast paced counter-attacking side of the mid 00's.
 
nah I think Arsenal still pass the ball just not effective enough. Fast Pace ? Robin is as fast as Per and only Theo is fast and direct! Ox /Gervinho is running to only stop n turn back n pass (catching on the break is the exception not the rule ). Every football team gets a break n score I only see Benyaou/Rosicky/Ramsey trying to out pace to only fail.

Song/Rvp has become the mouthwatering passer of late. I think players are struggling to play like the Arsenal of Fabregas. Jack Wilshire is missing and he brings so much of what`s missing. Its the manager that dictates style of play the players try to execute it the most frustrating bit for fans to see. Those days you talking about the`00.... 4-4-2 are done n dusted.
 
And yet another scandalous referee right now against us... I dont know how the match will end, but the referee has ignored, again, 2 clear penalties and then very dubious sends off pique... Its not an excuse, but it starts to be unacceptable to be the team with less penalties awarded.

And now a third penalty ignored... Its getting a bit ridiculous. It is the same referee that ignored 2 more penslties against Valencia at Mestalla months ago. So, in 5 chances that he could have awarded a penalty, he ignored them all. Great...

ps. At the end a great victory with a great goal of Keita and another of Xavi playing the whole half with only 10 men.
 
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Iniesta left me speechless last night(as many times before), he is such a joy to watch, amazing performance by Don Andres...IMO Tello should be getting more minutes, he is much better than Cuenca(personal opinion)...all in all good performance, team stood up after Pique being sent off (doubtful referee decision)...
 
(I put this on the vids and clips thread, but guess it belongs here as well...)

Just amazing how in tune these two are...

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Great minds think alike. :)
 
I could spend hours just watching Iniesta play I must admit.

His touch, balance, technique, agility and intelligence are simply unbelievable.

Doesn't really get the credit he deserves in a team that contains Messi and Xavi.
 
And there used to be a time when both Iniesta and Xavi were heavily criticised even by Barcelona fans.
I remember somebody here complaining about Xavi, that he was a player who lost the ball lots of time. Maybe this person was right (although i remember at least expressing my doubts about that), but this proves that it isn't bad to be patient with young players...but as a Man Utd you know this better than most Matherto.
 
Claudio Borghi once said : "Andres Iniesta is like an erotic dream... when he plays you just want it to go on for a little longer, you don't want it to stop"...I think this explains everything... Epic Iniesta is epic :D
 
This team doesn't slow down they are playing like if they needed the goals... Great stuff all around attack , attack , score , score oh and doing it w/ style!

Messi makes history tonight congratulation !! brilliance has no size
 
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What more can you say? We'll need to create a separate dictionary of superlatives to describe him at this rate.
 
Greatest of all times. Only one challenge left for him... Making it into the cover of NBA 2K.

When he is rested and in shape, he's like having Jordan, Chamberlain and Stockton in one player. check his numbers this season! 50+ goals and 20 assists. And it's early March!

He's 7 goals away from being the maximum scorer ever for Barcelona... And he's still 24!

Best player ever for me, no doubts about it. We may enjoy it while it lasts, This guy is a living (and young) legend. thanks for all Messi. I dont care if we dont win any more trophies this season. When the pieces are in shape and rested, this is the best team ever, and it's just beautiful to see what they do in the pitch. I am so glad to have witnessed all this live. Wow.
 
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