The shocking yet in reality not surprising news that Jurgen Klopp is leaving Borussia Dortmund was announced this past Wednesday. And before his office seat was even cold and before the official press conference even happened, the excitement over Klopp’s next major press conference this summer had already started. … [Read more...]
An analysis of Barcelona’s new tactics
After another hard fought and tense El Clasico, Barcelona left the stadium with a 2-1 victory and a four point cushion atop of the league table. Barcelona has now won 19 out of their last 20 games and a team that just two months ago seemed on the edge of collapse now controls its own fate. … [Read more...]
La Liga Title Race: Mid-Season Check-in
With half of the La Liga season completed, the table is shaping up to look exactly what everyone thought it would. Currently Real Madrid (with a game in hand) sits atop of the table, one point ahead of their rivals Barcelona and 4 points ahead of last year’s winners, Atletico Madrid. All three teams are still alive in the Champions League and after next week’s Copa Del Rey matchup between Barca and Atletico, only one team will remain in that competition. Therefore, with 19 more games to be played (20 for Real Madrid) all three teams are more or less on even ground and can control their own … [Read more...]
What Luis Enrique and President Bartomeu apparently don’t understand about Barcelona
After Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 last weekend—with their best showing of the season— Luis Enrique said, “Victories are the only thing that can calm this wave [of noise]…as soon as we make mistakes, the crisis will be back. That’s very clear. I will concentrate on what I can control.” A few days later Barcelona’s President, Bartomeu, is quoted in the Wall Street Journal as saying, “There is a lot of tension around the club. I don’t like it. With this announcement that there will be an {Presidential} election hopefully we will reduce the tension.” … [Read more...]
FC Barcelona in turmoil
Any way you want to define it, Barcelona is in turmoil: Throughout this season their play has been lackluster and the team has lacked a definite identity, the transfer ban was upheld ensuring that the club cannot sign any new players till January 2016, the president had to resign due to less than professional behavior, their director of football—Zubizarreta— was fired, club legend Carlos Puyol stepped down from his administrative position, on Monday their star player skipped practice in what is being reported as a power play to force out the Luis Enrique as the coach, and if you … [Read more...]
Pep Guardiola and the Criticism of Luis Enrique
Panic is starting to set in around FC Barcelona. After the last two lost seasons—which were epitomized by the death of Tito Vilanova and the death of Barcelona’s trademark style—Barcelona fans were excited about the hiring of Luis Enrique. A former Barca man himself, the hope was that Enrique would be able to restore Barcelona’s style and recent success. Their faith was well placed early on as a fast start saw the club get 22 points out of 24 and earn sole possession of first place. … [Read more...]
Perez, Real Madrid, and the Curse of the Big Signing
In winning their 10th European Cup this past summer, Real Madrid seemed to have found its ideal strategy under Ancelotti. With the work rate and skill of Di Maria, the intelligence of the midfield, and the goal scoring ability of Bale, Ronaldo, and Benzema, the club was able to defend, counter, and attack with skill, precision, and intelligence. The players knew what was expected of each other and formed a very cohesive team. On paper then and with the turnover and problems at Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid was the clear favorite to win this year’s La Liga crown. However, after … [Read more...]
What the Transfer Ban means for Barcelona
With the 2014 summer transfer window closed, Barcelona’s transfer ban is in effect and the club will not be able to sign any new players till January 2016. With the fast start of academy players like Munir and Sandro combined with the summer signings and departure of numerous players, the club and some pundits claim the team will not be affected by the inability to sign new players and will be able to continue to contend for trophies. However, in football nothing is ever predictable and secure and as such the seriousness of the transfer ban needs to be understood. … [Read more...]
Analyzing the Signing of Luis Suarez
With Barcelona publicly announcing the successful signing of Luis Suarez, the constant rumor has become a reality. When Neymar is fit and Suarez’s ban is over, Barcelona will boast a frontline that contains 3 of the best strikers in the world: Messi is the best in the world, Suarez was the best in the EPL last season, and Neymar was arguably the best at the World Cup. Thus, on paper Barcelona’s new attack looks nearly unstoppable. However, just because something looks good and sounds good, doesn’t mean it is. As such, it is worth analyzing the problems Suarez’s arrival could have, as Eric … [Read more...]
Should he stay or should he go? Suarez’s transfer to La Liga
If recent media reports are to be believed, Luis Suarez may soon make the switch from the EPL to La Liga and with details already being talked about in public –Barcelona would pay around 30 million Euros (the number was a high as 85 million before Suarez’s “incident” at the World Cup) to Liverpool and possibly send Pedro and/or Sanchez as well— the possibility of a deal is real. Thus, the question becomes not if Suarez will move from the EPL to La Liga but should he? Eric Duffy explains. The reasons to move from Liverpool to Barcelona are simple. First, Suarez is currently one of the best … [Read more...]