Monday 21 October 2013

What went wrong against Osasuna?

One must realise that playing Osasuna at their ground (which is aweful anyway) was tough. They cut the grasses out straight away when Barca match looms around to cut down the passing rhythm. This makes passing aweful, as the players displayed it. There were chances after chances created but they werent reaching the players as the ball travelled faster. If it was Camp Nou, Neymar could have scored on a hattrick. He missed three out and out chances when he was one on one with the goalie only that the threaded pass went beyond him. Barca passing style depends on the type of ground they play. Many accuse Montoya was terrible in the attack, I would straightaway prefer him to Alves when it comes to defending. In attack everyone where on wrong boots so pin pointing Montoya is not fair. Ok he lost two balls when in position, but that was because no player was inside the "D" and once it was crouded out by the Osasuna defence. The two crosses he actually gave could put Alves into shame. The lad is just playing his second match in the season, meanwhile we always hand Alves more than a match to get back into his normal self. 
Defense was in safe hands but there crops a question as we are not depending on our full backs to score or assist. There were times when Adriano and Montoya were the only wingers in position as our actual wingers were busy in the middle. Pedro is seriously getting down. His "NO GOALS" is not a worry but him being invisible for most part of the game is worry some. Neymar was Neymar and no doubt about that. 57 million invested safely. Cesc was.. CESC actually. Its high time we realise Barca's tempo slows down with Cesc as False 9. He dont have the pace and artistry to play there. We need a striker, a number 9, and I would trust some of the Barca B lads to show up. Sandro or Sanabria (from Juvenil A). Buying old horses would just add onto the liability list that is exceeding in our team. Bartra and Puyol again showed we dont have to invest 40 million to learn how to defend. The blame I put is on Iniesta and Xavi. They were keeping the passing tempo but they werent setting up in that magnitude. We are yet to see the best of Iniesta, a player who just didnt had a bad day in the office till this season. I am shocked to see him not taking on defenders and still carrying the ball forward. He is loosing them now.
We seriously have to think about some of the alternatives when the pitch doesnt support our system. I blame the pitch more than the players, eventhough they should have stood up to the task. Osasuna player said before the match that they will crop out the grass to cut down their rhythm. We should have interpreted that in a different way. Its fine we drew but Barca drewing and Barca loosing is pretty much the same thing for the fans now. Its high time Barca realise it and introduce a plan B. We are seeing the same style that we displayed last year without Messi. Thats worry some as Bayern showed us. Dont the Barcelona team management have an analyst to figure this out? WE are loyal to our style but we have to adapt to alien conditions too.

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