A look at the coming season

Football site Goal looked last weekend forward to the coming season.








Season Preview: Barcelona

Arjun Miglani - Goal


2007-08: Where It Ended
The latter months of last season seemed inspired by Murphy’s Law. The phrase, “If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong” loomed large over Barcelona’s fortunes, or lack thereof. Having endured the heartbreak of losing the title on the last day the season before, Barça fans were left exasperated as they watched the Frank Rijkaard era crumble before them. They never looked like winning the league, even suffering the unbearable humiliation of a thrashing by champions and bitter rivals Real Madrid at the back end of the season. In Europe, they stuttered their way to a semi-final against eventual winners Manchester United before seeing those dreams vanish as well. Not even the Copa Del Rey could provide any sort of joy, as even Valencia, a club that had turned into a comedy act, managed to see the Catalans off in the semis.

As the season descended into despair, talk of a major overhaul gathered pace. The group that had delivered the double only two years ago would have to be split up. As expected, coach Rijkaard was thanked for his services and asked to move on. Ronaldinho, the poster boy of the era, also had a price tag, a move deemed unthinkable not so long ago. Clearly, the Camp Nou was going to be a hive of activity over the summer.

Summer Activity
The name of Pep Guardiola is synonymous with Barcelona, and so it was no surprise that the appointment of the former captain was met with delight from the Barça faithful. The embodiment of Blaugrana values, Guardiola was seen as the perfect man to impress upon his charges exactly what it means to put on the famous shirt. Of course, his lack of managerial experience could not be ignored, but even his brief career record in this regard is impressive, having secured promotion for the B team in his first season in charge. Having been appointed coach, he wasted no time in beginning to form his own squad, to mark the beginning of a new era.

First, he had to get rid of the deadwood. The most talked about sale, of course, was that of Ronaldinho to Milan. Once the icon of Barca’s revival, he was now seen as the icon of their decline, representing the “all play no work” attitude that had befallen certain members of the squad. Guardiola’s intolerance for players with this mentality was made apparent when he let Deco, another former fan favourite, and Giovanni Dos Santos, a hot prospect, leave due to similar concerns. Players well past their prime such as Zambrotta, Edmilson, Ezquerro and Oleguer were also released, while Thuram retired. Consequently, there was a lot of space for fresh blood.

Guardiola’s summer signings all have a reputation for being hard workers in common, a clear signal of intent regarding the direction he plans to take. There are no superstars, with only Daniel Alves being arguably close to that category, but equally there are no players whose attitude has ever been in question. The back line has undergone considerable re-enforcement, with Alves, Piqué and Cáceres being brought on, as well as Henrique, who has subsequently been sent on loan to Bayer Leverkusen. Despite his flair going forward, Dani Alves is known for his uncompromising approach at the back, an attribute exhibited by Pique and Caceres as well. The signing of Piqué represents an important ideological step as well, with Guardiola clearly being interested only in players that will show pride every time they walk on to the pitch.

In midfield, Seydou Keita and Aliaksandr Hleb were snapped up. The signing of Keita is perhaps the best example of the type of player Guardiola needs in his new vision. Arguably the most under-rated player in the league last season, Keita quickly became a fan favourite at Sevilla due to his seemingly endless pit of energy, as well as his excellent footballing brain. His signing alone ensures a significantly higher amount of determination around the Barca camp this year. Similarly, Hleb is a player known for doing the simple things right and not slacking off. When one remembers Guardiola’s playing days, it is not hard to see why he was attracted to the pair.

The make-up of the front line, however, remains shrouded in mystery. After being odds on to leave for the entire summer, it now appears that Samuel Eto’o has been given yet another chance. While all the noises coming from the management are the usual clichéd responses about a change in attitude from the striker, one can’t help but wonder whether Eto’o’s continued presence is more a result of no other club being able to afford his wages than some sort of epiphany on the part of the Cameroonian. That said, his pre-season has been phenomenal.

Thierry Henry remains at the club, despite his transfer being regarded by all and sundry as a disastrously failed experiment. With names like Arshavin, Van Persie and Palacio still doing the rounds of the rumour mill, Pep’s plan for the forwards is still quite unclear.

Analysis and Prognosis
It appears that Guardiola’s Barca will be characterized less by flair and more by steel. Of course, with players like Messi, Iniesta and Xavi in their ranks, there will be no shortage of party tricks, but the overall impression of the current squad is one that will not let their guard down for a second, a problem all too apparent last season.

The defence has been strengthened considerably, and the tremendous depth in that area should be music to Barca fans’ ears. Injuries played havoc with the back line last season, but in Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Sylvinho, Dani Alves, Caceres and Pique, plus some promising youth players, there should be no such problems. The left side is a slight concern, but then there is a serious dearth of quality left backs in world football as a whole. Indeed, the only worrying sign is the continued presence of the woefully inconsistent Victor Valdes in between the sticks.

It is harder to find a more complete midfield in Europe this season that that which will stride out at the Nou Camp. In Yaya Toure and Keita, there are two of the best spoilers in the game, but two players who also possess a classy touch. Complementing them are Xavi and Iniesta, two clear standouts from Euro 2008, and Hleb, a player very much in their mold. This combination of strength of skill should ensure that Barca win the vast majority of midfield battles over the season.

It seems ridiculous to state that a frontline containing Leo Messi is a source of concern, but the current Barca selection provides more questions than answers. Is Samuel Eto’o really the management’s first choice, and how long will it be before his loses his temperament again? Does Thierry Henry have another quality season left in him, and will he be left to rot on the left wing again? How much responsibility will be thrust on young Bojan’s shoulders? Why is Eidur Gudjohnsen still picking up a salary? Clearly, the current set of forwards does not contain any apparent balance. Having said that, on paper, as little as that might mean, there is still an abundance of talent available. Watch out for young Pedrito as well, a player promoted from the B team who has impressed in pre-season.

As with the start of any new project, it is unrealistic to expect any great immediate success. However, there are enough signs, not least the fact that Barca have won every game under Guardiola so far, to suggest that there will be some joy for the Barca faithful come the end of the season. Europe will probably be a bit too far for a side in transition, but the league is a very realistic possibility. As always with Barca, one must compare them to Real Madrid, and the champions’ squad certainly does not appear to match up to Barca’s at the moment. Ramon Calderon’s relentless and ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo has only served to alienate one of the club’s most exciting players, Robinho, who now looks certain to leave. While other clubs have also strengthened, Barca undoubtedly appears to have the best balance among the Primera. A maiden La Liga title in his first season could well be on the cards for Pep Guardiola’s men.