Barcelona, and the Laws of Power

One of the best things for a Barcelona fan on the web is to browse the posts and news here, read the Barcelona news Pep hunts for us from all over the globe, and the comments made by the blog members as a feedback. What makes it even better is to be away for a couple of days and come to read all together, so you live the sequence of discussions, difference in opinions, and expectations. All that, make this blog an interesting place to ramble in and for.

I am mentioning all that, because I had to be away for couple of days, even though it may surprise you but I survived without being on this blog for about two days! Incredible!

I came back in this special week, the week introduced by a show against Valencia, interrupted by a CL game, and with a Classico waiting to boost the excitement.

Guardiola rested his players against Shakhtar for the game against Real Madrid, the team achieved all what needed in the Champions’ league group stage, so may be this is a good time not to write another thesis-like article as “Guardiola favorite, not the fans’” and have some luxury relaxing issues to write about, so we save our batteries for the Classico!

An interesting book I read – and I recommend- was Robert Greene Best Seller “THE 48 LAWS OF POWER”, where the writer discuss how to apply your dominance and how to master the game of power using a strategic approach to stay ahead and in control, supporting his ideas by Interpretations, observance and historical models.

Now whether we agree on all what’s mentioned in that book, or we may raise some questions about some of the “Laws” and “Means” mentioned to achieve that objective, is something we are not here to discuss. The reason why I mentioned this book is the fact that Barcelona of Guardiola, and Guardiola of Barcelona, interestingly, meet and practice lot of the “Laws” mentioned in that book, so much that it raised my appetite to read parts of that book once again.

And here I pass you some samples you can compare with Guardiola performance, keeping in mind that when I say Guardiola I don’t mean exclusively the guy but also all the technical staff assist him and who need the credit as well, not sure how interesting it is for you but it seems to be inspiring break before getting back to serious business:

LAW 3 CONCEAL YOUR INTENTIONS

Keep people off-balanced and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelop them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.

LAW 9 WIN THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, NEVER THROUGH ARGUMENT

… Its more powerful to get people agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.

LAW 15 CRUSH YOUR ENEMY TOTALLY

All great leaders since Moses have known that feared enemy must be crushed completely. (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.) If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation. The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but in spirit.

LAW 17 KEEP OTHERS IN SUSPENDED TERROR: CULTIVATE AN AIR OF UNPREDICTABILITY

Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions. Your predictability gives them a sense of control. Turn the table: Be deliberately unpredictable. Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves. Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize.

LAW 21 PLAY A SUCKER TO CATCH A SUCKER-SEEM DUMBER THAN YOUR MARK

No one likes feeling stupider than the next person. The trick, then, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives.

LAW 23 CONCENTRATE YOUR FORCES

Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point. You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper than by flitting from one shallow mine to another – intensity defeats extensity every time. (…)

LAW 27 PLAY ON PEOPLE’S NEED TO BELIEVE TO CREATE A CULTLIKE FOLLOWING

People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.
LAW 28 ENTER ACTIONS WITH BOLDNESS

If you are unsure of course of action, do not attempt it. Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous: Better to enter with boldness. (…)

LAW 29 PLAY ALL THE WAY TO THE END

The ending is everything. Plan all the way to it, (…) by planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances (…)

LAW 30 MAKE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS SEEM EFFORTLESS

Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease. When you act, act effortless, as if you could do much more. (…)

LAW 32 PLAY TO PEOPLE’S FANTASIES

(…) Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the desert: Everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses.

LAW 35 MASTER THE ART OF TIMING

Never seen to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time. Always seem patient, as if you know everything will come to you eventually. (…)
LAW 41 AVOID STEPPING INTO A GREAT MAN’S SHOES

What happened first always appears better and more original than what comes after. If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making: Establish your own name and identity by changing course.

LAW 43 WORK ON HEARTS AND MINDS OF OTHERS

Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you. You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction. And the way you seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses.

LAW 45 PREACH THE NEED FOR CHANGE, BUT NEVER PERFORM TOO MUCH AT ONCE

Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt. It you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past.

LAW 48 ASSUME FORMLESSNESS

By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order: Everything Change.

I am aware that this is not a typical article on a football blog and I understand the gamble of posting it, but who said we need to follow a guideline? It’s a long season and it’s good to have a light different approach to tackle a topic concerning the club, especially that it’s more realistic than it may be seen for the first glance. Beside, this is not an article to lavish nonsense praise on Guardiola, his staff or the club as a whole, that’s not my style and as I mentioned again and again, its still too early to make an objective evaluation because we are still to witness the Guardiola era and how it will be on the long run.

By intension, I didn’t mention the relation between every law and the aspect I link to concerning Guardiola behavior, or the club over all performance, I am aware you may have more conclusions this way than it will be if I make it a more direct comparisons.

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From Valencia to Madrid!

Again I did no match report after Valencia game, I believe through the discussions made on the chat application and elsewhere on this blog or other Barcelona pages on the net, the match was discussed thoroughly, and I don’t want to repeat things I mentioned before the game in “Facing the Bats”, I think lot of what happened during the game was mentioned there already. But some fast remarks related to discussions I read without getting into extended details about the game:

- Guardiola strike again, great way to approach the game on all levels, its amazing how the coaching staff are improving the team dynamics after each and every game, dominating the midfield and isolating the opponent strikers seems to be a strategy now, not just a tactic. It was a “total football” style again, where everyone was a midfielder and a forward at the same time.

- Defense, again a clean sheet, looks easy, but keep in mind that Valencia is one of the best teams when it come to scoring rates, so they get as much credit as offense. Alves is the only player I don’t mind to pay the 50 M to get him, considering the fact that he is a full pack 3 in 1, backward, Play maker, and a goal scorer.

- Though not a lot of debates focused on the midfield but its necessary to point out the fact that the midfield domination operated by Yaya and xavi contributing with all the players aside of the defensive trio was again the key for victory.

- Gudjhonsen had a good game, but not as good as his normal level this season concerning the tactical role he had to play.

- Hleb: the reason he took Keita role was to guarantee possession and move on the left wing to open Valencia defense, aside of his weak finishing, he played his role decently taking in consideration his adaptation period and injury, but still we expect more.

- Messi: when the guy dribble and score he is labeled as selfish, when he sacrifices for the team and the tactics demanded by the coach we say he was invisible! Is it a coincidence that every time Henry scored, Messi was out of sight? Or could it be by intention pulling defense out of position and creating spaces? I was impressed by Messi dedication in this game! How the hell can he be that disciplined with all the skills he has?! But as you see, even if you are Messi, when you do a tactical role you get no credit, so we must not feel strange that players like Keita, and Gudjhonsen gets an unfair evaluation by the fans.

- Henry: I don’t remember when it was the last time Eto’o dribbled five players and scored! Why am I saying that? Because it’s strange to say Henry got easy assists and scored easy goals. He requested the pass in a perfect positioning, and in the perfect timing, it looks easy, but not at all. Again he proved that as a striker he can have an edge and with the new upgraded tactical structure Guardiola apply, I thing he may have a better chance to show his quality. Now its obvious there is no more Striker, winger or attacking midfielder; all have to switch positions again and again to mess up the defense of the opponent, so he will find himself facing the goal more often, good luck, and great game!

- The goal scored by Alves: Definitely no offside! The ball was drifted by Valencia player, and no offside call in that. Now for those who claim it was not intentional we say, if in the penalty area the ball moved to the player hand then no penalty, but if the palm moved to the ball then it is (even if sometimes it go like a natural reaction), the same with this ball, the player leg moved to the ball and he ended up hitting the ball behind his defense, bad luck but good decision by the referee.

Shakhtar:

"We will see if we continue to do things well, with the players who do not play as much. To see if I am wrong or right to choose them," Guardiola said.

Perfect way to approach the game and to motivate players. And it is confirmed that he rested his key players, which is reasonable even though I understand the call to keep the winning momentum but I prefer to avoid unnecessary injury risks specially that Shakhtar feels that Barcelona stole the victory in Ukraine so they will be mean on the ball and the players, especially on Messi.

My selection is:
Pinto, Piqué, Cáceres, Abidal, Sylvinho, Gudjohnsen, Busquets, Keita, Hleb
Bojan, Pedro

I know, I admitted after the away game that suggesting Sylvinho in my preview was not right, but this game has different objectives.

Real Madrid:

Thats another Story, Enjoy this game for now!

Ramzi Tanani